I Just Hate Loud People

"Two from the Shihoin Family, one brought by the Shihoin Family, one from the Kuchiki Clan, and one from the Tsunayashiro Clan."

"What a bumper harvest this year~ A bumper harvest~"

The Big-Eyed Monk clapped happily as he spoke, though his expression did not show much happiness.

"What? Why can they go in when we can't?"

"Exactly, exactly."

"And that gloomy-looking guy the Shihoin Family brought—what clan are you from? What right does someone from a mere lower-ranking clan have to pursue further training in the Soul King Palace?"

They could not accept it. Nobles since birth, these great nobles considered themselves superior to others. When they discovered that they were no longer among the special few, their fine upbringing proved as flimsy as paper, pierced with a single poke. They shouted, believing that if geniuses like them were not qualified to enter the Soul King Palace, no one else should be either. If anyone was, that was unfair. This was even more pronounced among the Tsunayashiro Clan, the foremost of the Five Great Noble Clans, who had never thought much of any other clan.

"Did the Shihoin Family sneak him in? Heh, then the Shihoin Family members should be disqualified along with that lowlife."

"That's right~ That's right~"

"A mere lowlife."

The young masters and ladies of the Tsunayashiro Clan's main line made one cutting remark after another. Had they all been allowed in, they would have turned a blind eye to the person Yoruichi had brought and been willing to do her that favor. But now that they had not gotten in, sorry, no one else could go in either.

"Uh..."

Listening to the nobles behind him, Kisuke Urahara broke out in a cold sweat. Though he wanted to argue, talent sometimes crumbled before powerful backing. A genius who had yet to mature was only a genius; only one who had matured could become truly strong. To avoid standing out and being snuffed out early, a genius could only keep his head down for the time being. In the end, those who defied the powerful and grew braver with every battle... were mostly just protagonists in novels.

"I brought Urahara. Got a problem with that, you Tsunayashiro brats?"

Just as Kisuke Urahara found himself in a difficult position, Yoruichi Shihōin narrowed her eyes. Like a mother cat baring her fangs and claws to protect her kitten, she bared her sharp fangs at the children of the arrogant Tsunayashiro Clan, currently the foremost of the Five Great Noble Clans.

"Uh..."

The Tsunayashiro young masters immediately backed down. This was Yoruichi Shihōin, the big sister among the Five Great Noble Clans. There was a long-standing saying: anyone who had never been beaten by Yoruichi Shihōin did not deserve to be called a great noble. That saying reflected two things: first, Yoruichi Shihōin's domineering ways; second, Yoruichi Shihōin's standing among the nobles.

They were merely prospective heirs of the Five Great Noble Clans, while she, despite her youth, was already the head of one of those clans. That was the difference in their status. If they continued pressing the issue, they would be challenging a clan-head-level figure, something heirs like them could not afford.

"We..."

The Tsunayashiro brats immediately panicked, afraid that Yoruichi's palm would come flying at them the next moment.

"You're Tokinada, aren't you?"

As everyone's eyes darted about in panic, one young master from the Tsunayashiro Clan's main line spotted the pale-green-haired Tsunayashiro Tokinada hiding behind Yoruichi Shihōin with his head deliberately lowered.

"Uh..."

Hearing the main-line young master's shout, the pale-green-haired youth reluctantly raised his head.

"So it is you, Tokinada? What are you doing over there? Are you planning to betray us Five Great Noble Clans too?"

The main-line young master's lips curled slightly as he looked at Tokinada. Since he could not target Yoruichi Shihōin or the person under her protection, and likewise could not keep harassing the Kuchiki young master without risking a conflict with the Kuchiki Clan, he could only target Tokinada, a member of his own clan's branch line. In short, since they had started this, they had to drag someone out and down to their own circumstances to preserve the face of the Tsunayashiro Clan, foremost of the Five Great Noble Clans. Little did they know that their behavior had already thoroughly disgusted everyone.

"I..."

Tsunayashiro Tokinada was the most talented member of the Tsunayashiro Clan, yet he had been born into a branch line-an awkward position that not only meant he was destined never to become clan head, but also subjected him to constant suppression by the main line for being too talented.

"Come back! Tokinada, you're one of us Tsunayashiro Clan members, aren't you?"

The main-line young master smiled at Tokinada.

"Yes~ Yes~ Hurry over here beside us~ Tokinada~"

The other main-line young masters and ladies beckoned to Tokinada, like evil spirits in the abyss trying to drag someone down.

"I..."

Tokinada hesitated. He did not want to give up this opportunity.

"Tokinada, what are you waiting for?"

"Do you think qualifying to train in the Soul King Palace makes you better than us?"

"I'm telling you, Tokinada, stop dreaming. A branch-line member like you will never get to inherit the position of clan head."

Watching Tokinada hesitate, the main-line young master felt he had been made to lose face. He roared angrily, his face twisted like an evil spirit's.

"Exactly~ Exactly~"

"Take a look at your background!"

"You bastard..."

Not one of the other main-line young masters and ladies spoke up for Tokinada. The branch-line children kept their heads down, not daring to speak, while the members of the other Five Great Noble Clans watched coldly. This was an internal matter of the Tsunayashiro Clan; they could not interfere.

"I..."

Tokinada looked at the ugly faces of his clan's young masters, then at the bowed heads of the other branch-line members. His body began trembling uncontrollably as he slowly walked toward the Tenchūren.

Faced with this bullying, the Big-Eyed Monk watched the scenes unfolding before him with great interest, as though watching a monkey show. It delighted him.

"That's right, Tokinada. Remember your place. You're nothing but a branch-line child. Your bloodline is impure."

The Tsunayashiro main-line young master spoke to Tokinada with a pointed undertone, his eyes fixed on Kisuke Urahara. In his eyes, even branch-line members of his own clan were bastard trash, let alone Kisuke Urahara, who was not even a member of the Five Great Noble Clans and possibly not even a noble.

"Ah, so noisy~"

"Who's shouting here and disturbing my sleep?"

Just as Tsunayashiro Tokinada slowly walked toward the Tenchūren like a walking corpse, a voice made everyone freeze.

"Who's talking?"

The Tsunayashiro main-line young master looked from side to side, unsure where the voice had come from.

"Stop looking. I'm right in front of you~"

"Big sis, put me down."

Before the main-line young master could say anything more, the voice rang out again.

"Take it easy. This is someone else's family business."

After hearing Sōgo's words, Yoruichi Shihōin lowered the sleeping bag from her shoulder.

"What are you talking about, big sis? Family business? What family business? Am I the sort who likes sticking his nose into other people's affairs?" Sōgo slowly unzipped the sleeping bag and stepped out, roaring at the top of his lungs, "I just hate loud people!"

"Aren't you the loudest one here? Hey!"

The young noblemen of the Five Great Noble Clans covered their ears and silently griped.

(End of chapter)