few days later.
"Good news!"
Yoriichi had just emerged from his meditation on Ikotsu when he saw Yoruichi Shihouin appear before him.
The joy on her face had not yet faded, and a hint of emotion lingered, her tone quite excited:
"Yoriichi, do you remember what I mentioned before, about my Vice-Captain of the Second Division, Marechiyo Oomaeda, retiring?"
"He's getting olthatants to travel the world while he's still relatively young."
"For a Shinigami, retirement isn't simple."
"Most Shinigami don't even have the option to retire; they have to fight the duty until the end of their lives."
"He's different; he's a noble, so he's preparing to hold a few days of banquets to celebrate his successful retirement."
"Guess what happened today?"
"..."
How could he possibly guess that?
He wasn't from the Second Division...
After a moment's thought, Yoriichi said, "The retirement was moved up?"
"No!" Yoruichi's voice rose a few degrees, the corners of her mouth curving up to reveal her white canines as she laughed:
"You're still too young; mere retirement isn't enough to make me this happy."
"Although Marechiyo has worked in the Second Division for over two hundred years and contributed a lot, he is still just a Shinigami."
"What I care about is the banquet."
"To tell you the truth."
"My brother, whom I've always longed for, yearned for, and wished to see—was finally born today!"
She deliberately elongated the first few words of "brother" for a few seconds, emphasising it, her expression filled with excitement:
"Do you know what this means?"
Despite being utteKuchikifused, Yoriichi hesitated and said, "Does it mean... your position as head of the family is gone?"
"How could that be!" Yoruichi retorted, putting her hands on her hips as she explained,
"Don't limit your thinking to the past; there are many examples of female Shinigami becoming family heads in the Soul Society."
"I already told you, even if my brother becomes the family head, it will only be after I retire."
"I'm mainly emotional because Shiro's birth will alleviate a lot of my pressure."
"Oh." Mentioning Shiro, Yoruichi then remembered what she had overlooked and added:
"I probably haven't introduced him to you yet, but my brother's name is Yushiro Shihouin."
"Unless something unexpected happens, he will be the twenty-third head of the Shihouin family."
"His birth means that the Shihouin family has an heir, and the elders are very happy, so they decided to hold Marechiyo's retirement ceremony and Shiro's birthday celebration on the same day."
"This symbolises death and Freshman."
"Of course, the word 'death' isn't really appropriate here, but the meaning is close enough."
"Marechiyo also agreed; anyway, for him, he can retire any day, as long as it's within this year."
"So..."
Yoruichi pondered for a few secondUtahweresmile gradually fading with her words, and then she slapped the table, saying, "The time has changed; it's two days from now, and you absolutely must remember to be there."
"This banquet will be very different from previous ones; many nobles will attend."
"As Yamamoto's disciple, you should meet them to avoid being harassed by those short-sighted fellows in the future."
"Moreover, with this identity, they won't be able to refuse you when you need their help in the future, as no one among the nobles isn't afraid of Yamamoto Genryusai."
When Yamamoto Genryusai was mentioned, Yoruichi Shihouin's tone became serious.
"I know you don't like dealing with nobles, but... I remember, you haven't found your wife yet, have you?"
"Maybe they have a way."
"Although the Gotei 13 holds an important position in the Seireitei, when it comes to connections... three Yamamoto Genryusai couldn't compare to one high-ranking noble."
The noble families' network of connections was like a dense spider web, almost every household intertwined, as it involved all aspects of industries in the Seireitei and Rukongai.
Just like the Ōmaeda family, they were involved in industries such as catering, antiques, manufacturing, mining, and finance.
Backed by the Shihouin family, they participated in almost anything profitable, so much so that even though the Ōmaeda was just a small lower-ranking noble, their family assets were top-tier among middle-ranking nobles.
Even if other nobles were envious, they dared not act, because that represented the will of Shihouin.
As for the high-ranking nobles... they earned far more than Ōmaeda, so why interfere and provoke the Shihouin family?
This was the advantage of being backed by a major power.
Having Yoriichi participate was also the elders' intention, as the relationship between the Shihouin family and Yamamoto Genryusai was very delicate.
On one hand, the current family head was under Yamamoto Genryusai's jurisdiction, which initially represented the Shihouin family's concession, a choice made by the twentieth family head, Shihouin Sennich.
Later, the twenty-first family head, the twenty-second family head, which is Yoruichi's father, and Yoruichi herself, also followed their elders' will and joined the Gotei 13.
Joining was joining; it was no big deal because parental orders could not be defied.
However, one point was very important...
The reason Shihouin Sennich chose to concede was that Yamamoto Genryusai was in his prime at that time and very powerful.
Coupled with their good relationship, Shihouin Sennich put aside the face of a high-ranking noble to join the Gotei 13 and become the first Captain of the Second Division.
But what if Yamamoto Genryusai died?
No one can escape death.
A thousand years have passed.
A thousand years ago, Yamamoto Genryusai still looked middle-aged, but now he was white-haired and old.
This change was very thought-provoking.
Those elders dared to assert.
Once Yamamoto Genryusai died, the new Captain-Commander would undoubtedly be one of his disciples, either Kyōraku Shunsui or Jūshirō Ukitake.
As for Tsugikuni Yoriichi, it wasn't that no one mentioned him, but he was too young and lacked the seniority to command respect.
At that time, what should the Shihouin family do?
The Shihouin family had served as Captains of the Second Division for generations, out of respect for Yamamoto Genryusai.
Once Yamamoto Genryusai died... would they still need to concede, would they still need to put aside the dignity of a high-ranking noble?
This was an extremely difficult choice.
If they didn't concede... it would seem very heartless.
If the Kuchiki Clan continued to serve as Captains of the Sixth Division and continued to follow the will of their ancestors, then the reputation of the Shihouin family would plummet.
If they conceded... they were high-ranking nobles; looking back at the family heads before the twentieth generation, there had never been a precedent of being subservient to others.
There was no way; neither option was a good one.
So...
The elders came up with a compromise.
First, maintain good friendships with Yamamoto Genryusai's disciples.
Then, on the day Yamamoto Genryusai dies, they would combine these relationships and the opponents' strength to determine whether it was necessary to continue conceding and serving as the Captain of the Second Division.
The first to be approached was Yamamoto Genryusai's youngest disciple, and the most easily influenced disciple—Tsugikuni Yoriichi.
Since he was unaware of the intricate twists and turns among the nobles, Tsugikuni Yoriichi naturally never pondered such distant matters.
His expression was as calm as water, his eyes quietly looking at Yoruichi Shihouin, and he nodded slightly, saying, "I know."
"However, I will find my wife myself; they don't need to worry."
"I appreciate the good intention."
If Uta were in this world, then so be it.
But it was clear she wasn't.
The help of those nobles, to him, was like illusory clouds, of no practical use whatsoever.
Yoruichi's expression showed a hint of helplessness upon hearing this.
She shook her head slightly and sighed, "You, you're still like this."
"But that's exactly what I admire about you."
"Sometimes I really hate them too; their words are too hypocritical, they give me goosebumps."
"But what can I do? They are all advisors and dependents of my Shihouin family."
"My parents don't show up often, so they can only flatter me."
"Only you and Kisuke treat me as a friend, not as a high-ranking noble."
"If all my friends could be like you, that would be great."
"That day will come." Yoriichi knew very well that Yoruichi Shihouin had no airs.
Those people's flattery towards her was mainly due to the vast difference in status and some vested interests.
Even if a higher-status person told a lower-status person not to mind their opinion.
Ththe e lower-status person would definitely deduce whether there was some deeper meaning behind those words.
They couldn't afford to gamble; once they guessed wrong, it would be a great disrespect and would implicate their entire family, so they could only maintain respect as much as possible.
Because only by doing so would they not make mistakes.
For example, those retainers during the Warring States period, facing someone like his father.
Yoriichi understood.
However, the changes of an era are always silent, like the sword ban during the Taisho period... samurai were swept into the dustbin of history.
Since this has happened, what else couldn't happen?
Yoruichi also looked forward to that day, when as the family head, she wouldn't have to live so exhaustingly.
Sighing, she said, "Perhaps, I don't know if I'll live to see that day."
"Back to business."
Yoruichi raised her eyes: "How is Hisana?"
"She's doing well." Yoriichi nodded, and after a moment's thought, "She should have recovered quite well these past few days. Although I haven't gone out, Rukia comes frequently."
"The symptoms of reishi poisoning have greatly alleviated."
"After observing for about half a month, she should be able to be discharged."
"Half a month?" Yoruichi thought for a moment, then shook her head, "No, that's too long."
"You should remember a machine I told you about before, the one that can lower the surrounding reishi concentration."
"You did mention it, what about it? Has it been created?"
"More or less."
"It's just that there were some minor accidents during the research and development."
"Kisuke, that guy, moved to the Twelfth Division a few days ago, didn't he? He renamed the Twelfth Division something like the Department of Research and Development, and he's serving as the first director."
"Since both the machine and the assistants are new, and with the data you brought back after coming out of Hueco Mundo, all his attention is focused on the research of Zanpakuto."
"Research is research, as long as he can create what I need."
"But I don't know what got into him, he changed the design of the reishi diluter into a Zanpakuto."
"And due to the special nature of the technology."
"Even a Rukongai with no Shinigami talent who wields that Zanpakuto can absorb all the surrounding reishi, thereby achieving the effect of diluting reishi."
"This sword also possesses the characteristic of releasing reishi."
"In other words, once Hisana masters it... she will be a Shinigami."
Upon hearing this, Yoriichi remained silent.
This wasn't a small problem at all; it was a huge problem, wasn't it?
Shinigami? He had never thought of letting Hisana become a Shinigami, because her body was too weak.
Furthermore, becoming a Shinigami meant fighting Hollows.
If she died, how would he explain it to Rukia?
Frowning slightly, Yoriichi opened his mouth, just about to ask Yoruichi if there was any room for manoeuvre.
The next second, Yoruichi explained:
"Of course, this Shinigami is not a Shinigami in the traditional sense."
"Even if she wields that sword, it's impossible for her to have any spiritual pressure within her body."
"You know about Quincy, right?"
"Their fighting style is not entirely the same as Shinigami."
"We Shinigami fight by relying on the spiritual pressure within our bodies, while Quincy fight by relying on external reishi."
"They can absorb and release reishi, turning it into arrows."
"The sword Kisuke forged is similar to a Quincy's ability; it can form a Shinigami's sword pressure."
"Furthermore, this sword, which appears to be a sword, is not actually a sword."
"Normal Zanpakuto can repair themselves after breaking, but this one cannot; it requires internal parts to be replaced periodically to maintain its normal operation."
"So I thought, if Hisana could master it, even without any spiritual pressure in her body, she could still have a certain degree of self-preservation."
"Kisuke's completion of this matter was a fortunate accident."
"Let's see when we can send the machine over; after all, she's your sister."
As she spoke this last sentence, Yoruichi's expression became incredibly serious.
She admitted that there was a difference between the envisioned finished product and reality.
The envisioned reishi diluter should not have required replacement, and there would be no need to worry about accidents, making it very safe.
But the reishi diluter that actually appeared had a certain offensive capability, which led to reduced durability.
If an accident occurred, for example, if the parts reached their expiration date... and there was no one around.
Given Hisana's body, she might not be able to last until they arrived.
—There's a give and take, I suppose.
Looking at Yoruichi's expression, which was impossible to dislike, Yoriichi couldn't speak.
Because Yoruichi Shihouin had been putting in effort from the beginning to the end of this matter.
It would have been absolutely impossible for him to get Kisuke Urahara to spend effort researching thee reishi diluter based on his own influence.
Not to mention that the other party was already a Captain.
Now that there was a result, and it was remarkably effective, only the durability was a concern...
This small flaw seemed insignificant in the face of its effectiveness.
What more could he blame?
Silently exhaling, Yoriichi braced one hand on the ground and slowly stood up.
Rustle...
His crimson eyes looked through the top of the building towards the outside, and he said in a slightly deep voice, "Now, thank you, Yoruichi."
"I think Hisana should be very happy."
"No need to be polite with me." Yoruichi's tone was relaxed and natural,
"You are one of only two Shinigami who treat me as a friend; helping friends is what I should do."
"My Shihouin family isn't some small household; we can afford this expense."
"Also, Yoriichi..." Yoruichi called him by his name, raising an eyebrow slightly.
"Are you interested in partnering with me to sell this machine?"
"You should know how much value a machine that can release sword pressure anytime, anywhere possesses."
"If all goes as expected, this will become an essential tool for all Shinigami before going on missions."
"Because it can save their lives at critical moments."