章 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.

"..."

Yoruichi fell silent, Kukaku's words hitting home.

After a long pause, she finally spoke, her eyes narrowed with curiosity. "Kukaku, what's with that getup? Are you still injured? But when you were attacking me, you didn't seem hindered at all…"

Yoruichi's curiosity was understandable. Kukaku's attire was rather peculiar. She wore a high-slit red dress, her left arm, from her hand to her elbow, wrapped in white bandages. Her head was also bandaged, giving her the appearance of a heavily wounded individual.

"Oh, you mean this?" Kukaku chuckled, waving her left arm. "Yoruichi, you wouldn't believe it. During that attack, my left arm was severed, and I suffered a severe head injury… If it weren't for Captain Ailin healing me, I'd be a cripple now. I wrapped my arm and head in bandages as a constant reminder, so I'd never forget what happened that night!"

Yoruichi's eyes widened. So, that was why Kukaku had been so furious. The battle had been far more brutal than she had imagined.

"Why are you here, Yoruichi? Come to gloat? To rub salt in the wounds of a defeated family?"

Kukaku's words held a deeper meaning. The "victor" she referred to wasn't just Yoruichi, but the other four noble clans, those who had persecuted the Shiba Clan for a million years.

The "defeated" wasn't just herself, but the entire Shiba Clan, their legacy shattered, their ideals seemingly crushed.

"No, you've got it wrong, Kukaku. I'm here to learn more about what happened that night."

"Oh?" Kukaku raised an eyebrow, then settled down on the doorstep, leaning against the frame. Her long, red dress, with its high slit, exposed her leg, the fabric cascading down her knee, covering everything below her navel.

"Why ask me? It was your clan who orchestrated the attack. The Shihōin Clan must know far more than I do. Why not ask them instead of me, someone who was merely a victim?"

"Kukaku, that attack involved Ailin's disciple. He might be holding back his anger for now, appeased by Soi Fon and Shunsui, but if he doesn't receive a satisfactory explanation, I fear he'll unleash his wrath upon the entire noble class. It could destabilize the Soul Society, leading to chaos…

That's why I need to understand what happened that night so I can reason with him. I have to convince him to abandon his plans."

"Hahaha…" Kukaku burst into laughter. "So, even you lot are afraid of him?"

Yoruichi ignored Kukaku's mockery, her gaze fixed on her friend.

How strong was Ailin?

Even Yoruichi didn't know the answer.

Even Urahara couldn't provide a definitive assessment.

However, based on Urahara's predictions, if Aizen ever made a move against the Soul Society, their only hope would be Ailin.

Even Head-Captain Yamamoto wouldn't be able to stop him, but Urahara believed Ailin could?

While Yoruichi had her doubts, she never questioned Urahara's judgment.

Ailin might be their greatest asset against Aizen.

Antagonizing him now, even if they could dissuade him from his plans, might make it difficult to secure his help in the future.

Ailin had acknowledged his debt to Urahara, but they weren't sure how far that debt extended.

This was why Yoruichi had rushed back from the World of the Living.

But before she could reason with Ailin, she needed to understand what had happened that night.

"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.