ushernet Chapter 243 – Trouble
Chapter 243 – Trouble
Chapter 243 – Trouble
The black cat that was Yoruichi Shihōin arched its back, its fur standing on end, as it leaped away with incredible speed.
Boom!
Kukaku Shiba's fist slammed into the floor where the cat had been moments before, creating a gaping hole. Yoruichi, transformed back into her human form, glared at Kukaku.
"Kukaku, what are you doing? Trying to kill me?" Her voice was a deep, masculine rumble, startling to anyone who hadn’t encountered her before.
"You've got it wrong, Yoruichi. I don’t just want to kill you, I'm going to kill you!"
Kukaku aimed her right palm at Yoruichi, a blast of blue flames erupting from her hand.
"Hadō #33 - Sōkatsui!"
Boom!
"Hadō #31 - Shakkahō!"
"Hadō #54 - Haien!"
Boom!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
One Kidō spell after another, unleashed from Kukaku's hand, chased after Yoruichi, reducing the already-damaged Shiba estate to even greater ruin.
Fifteen minutes later, Kukaku leaned against a door frame, panting heavily, her eyes fixed on Yoruichi with a mixture of fury and exhaustion.
Though Yoruichi hadn’t transformed back into her human form, her mastery of Shunpo was more than enough to effortlessly evade Kukaku’s attacks.
"Have you calmed down now, Kukaku?" Yoruichi strolled towards her, her feline grace still evident even in her human form.
"Hmph! If I hadn't known you were exiled from Soul Society decades ago, I’d never forgive you!"
For decades, Yoruichi had been Kukaku’s closest female friend. To say there was no bond between them would be a lie.
However, during the attack on the Shiba Clan two nights ago, Kukaku had clearly heard the captain of the 2nd Division mention that the assailants included assassins from the Shihōin Clan!
But Kukaku also understood that noble affairs were complex. It wasn't always the head of the family who called the shots. Family interests always came first.
Furthermore, while Yoruichi was the twenty-third head of the Shihōin Clan, her father, the twenty-second head and the first captain of the 2nd Division, was still alive and well.@@@@
While Yoruichi’s current strength might surpass her father’s, back then, she had undoubtedly been weaker.
And considering Yoruichi’s carefree nature, she was hardly the type to manage family affairs diligently. Thus, most of the Shihōin Clan’s business was still handled by her father.
In other words, the attack on the Shiba Clan was likely orchestrated by her father, not Yoruichi.
Kukaku's outburst had been more about venting her frustration at the Shihōin Clan than at Yoruichi personally.
“......”
“Kukaku, the Shihōin Clan is also one of the five great noble clans. Protecting the Soul Society is part of your legacy, isn’t it? You don’t want to see it destroyed by Ailin, do you?”
“Hmph! That’s your Soul Society, not mine.”
“What about Kaien? How do you think he would react if the Soul Society was truly in danger?”
Kukaku’s eyes narrowed at the mention of her brother. She sighed, her gaze fixed on the night sky.
Her brother had undoubtedly been the one most affected by the attack. His wife had been a spy, planted by their enemies. She had betrayed him, revealing the Shiba Clan’s secrets to their assailants.
But in the end, Miyako had chosen to protect him, dying at the assassins' hands.
After burying his wife, Kaien had returned to the 13th Division. Rumor had it that he had sought out Rukia, determined to break through his limits and achieve Bankai by battling Ailin’s disciple.
This time, they had been fortunate that Ailin had arrived.
But what about next time?
The only one who could protect her and Ganju was herself!
For their sake, her brother would undoubtedly train tirelessly, striving to achieve captain-level strength as quickly as possible.
However, Kukaku also knew that if the Soul Society truly faced the kind of crisis Yoruichi had described, while she and Ganju might stand by and watch, Kaien would undoubtedly fight to protect it.
He wasn't just their brother; he was the head of the Shiba Clan!
Protecting the Soul Society was ingrained within his very being.
Having shared everything she remembered from that night, Kukaku made a decision.
Kaien would be the last head of the Shiba Clan.
From now on, the Shiba Clan would no longer be one of the five great noble clans. They would become mere fireworks masters, their skills passed down through generations in Rukongai.
As for Ganju...
Let him live a happy, carefree life!
If he had children, they would inherit the Shiba Clan’s secrets and the knowledge of how to create and launch their Fireworks Cannon.
If he didn't, then let the Shiba Clan fade into obscurity.
Whoever wanted to protect the Soul Society could do so. She was done.
...
“This is bad...” A black cat sped through the night, occasionally using Shunpo to traverse the air.
Yoruichi was heading back to the Seireitei. If her clan hadn’t known Rukia was present at the Shiba estate during the attack, then this could be explained away as an accident. Even Ailin, in his anger, wouldn’t overreact. He might simply chastise Rukia for her lack of strength.
It was like when Yamamoto’s third disciple, Shin'etsu Kisaragi, had gone to investigate the Kasumiōji Clan. Shin'etsu, in an attempt to save a few of his subordinates, had fallen into a trap, succumbing to the influence of a Bakkōtō blade. He had attacked Head-Captain Yamamoto within the 1st Division barracks. The Kasumiōji Clan, in turn, had accused Shin'etsu of coveting their Bakkōtō blades, framing him for the attack. Even Yamamoto, lacking evidence, had been unable to avenge his disciple.