"These…!"
The sight before Tsunayashiro Hikaru's eyes was like a basin of ice water poured over his head, instantly chilling his heart.
At the same time, a burning anger, like magma spewing from the depths of the earth, also surged wildly within his heart.
He couldn't explain what was happening to him.
But clearly…
The intruders were two impolite individuals!
They actually tore down the wall… wait…
The wall!?
"I…" Hikaru wanted to curse.
This was killing stone!
You actually shattered it with one punch?
Then what was the point of the killing stone's existence?
Damn it!
Tsunayashiro Hikaru's eyes narrowed, the gloom in them solidifying like two thick pools of ink.
After a brief thought.
He—decided to flee!
A wise man does not stand under a tottering wall; although the plan was exposed, as long as he was alive, as long as he wasn't caught on the spot, there would always be a day for him to retaliate.
What about Yoruichi Shihouin?
Could Yoruichi Shihouin disregard the rules between the upper noble clans?
As long as there was no evidence, not even Yamamoto Genryusai could prosecute him!
Thinking of this, he gritted his teeth and whispered towards the door: "Yūji, you and Yūda go and stop them for me!"
As his voice fell, a resonant voice of acceptance sounded from outside the door: "Yes."
Swish! When the two men had led their troops away, Tsunayashiro Hikaru pulled Kisuke Urahara and prepared to leave through the secret passage.
The latter was bewildered; isolated from the outside world, he didn't know what was happening.
But from the sound…
—Someone broke in!?
Is it Yoruichi?
He froze for a second, his eyes instantly widening, then he decisively shouted loudly: "Yoruichi, I'm here!"
"I…"
Before he could finish speaking, Tsunayashiro Hikaru's face instantly turned incredibly grim.
With a cold expression, he stretched out his hand like lightning and quickly covered Kisuke's mouth.
At the same time, he casually grabbed a stack of papers from the table and stuffed them into Kisuke's mouth, cursing under his breath: "Damn it!"
"Shut up! Kisuke Urahara!"
"Say one more word, and I'll kill you!"
"Woo woo woo…" Kisuke Urahara's eyes were wide, filled with unwillingness.
Even with his thousand wits and many methods, at this moment, he couldn't utter a single word.
He could only make unwilling whimpering sounds.
It's over!
…
Outside the house.
Yoruichi stepped into the courtyard, treading on shattered stones. A gentle breeze blew, lightly caressing her cheek, and she suddenly felt an itch in her ear.
Was it an illusion?
Who was calling me?
Is it Kisuke?
Her gaze slightly deepened, Yoruichi swept over the annoying noble private soldiers in front of her, who were like locusts, and whispered to Tsugikuni Yoriichi beside her:
"Did you hear that?"
"I feel like Kisuke is calling me…"
"You heard it too?" Yoriichi's expression was as usual, his dark red eyes like unfathomable deep pools, quietly surveying a corner of the courtyard, his tone flat,
"It seems our luck is good, it's the main culprit."
"The sound came from over there."
Following Yoriichi's gaze, Yoruichi slightly frowned. Her feet moved slightly, then, after a moment of hesitation, she slowly said:
"Can you handle it alone?"
"They don't have clan crests on them, so why don't you leave them to me, and you go after Kisuke."
"If any of them are high-ranking nobles, and you don't hold back, the trouble will be immense."
Masked unknown individuals are the most deadly; you never know their identity beneath the mask.
Using information asymmetry to frame others is not something the nobles are doing for the first time.
Yoruichi was already familiar with this.
Therefore, she made such a decision.
Yoriichi was silent for a second, then asked: "Are you alright?"
"What could be wrong with me? I am the head of the Shihouin Clan, who can punish me?" Yoruichi slightly pouted, her voice very soft.
"Unless Tsunayashiro is insane enough to hide direct descendants among these private soldiers, no matter how elaborate the framing, it won't affect me."
Hearing this, Yoriichi understood: "Understood."
He took a deep look at the private soldiers in front of him.
Instantly.
Bang!
He transformed into an afterimage and disappeared. The private soldiers, who had intended to stop him, couldn't keep up with his speed and could only watch him disappear from sight.
"Damn it!"
Among the crowd, Yūda gnashed his teeth, his face showing an angry expression, and veins bulging on his forehead.
Before he could break free from his anxious emotions, Yoruichi Shihouin, rubbing her wrists, stepped forward on the shattered stones, a hint of excited smile on her lips.
Crack, crack, crack!
Her whole body emitted the crisp sound of bones, as if warming up.
At this, Yūda immediately snapped back to attention, adopting a defensive stance, and growled: "Yoruichi Shihouin, what do you want to do?!"
"You know me?" Yoruichi smiled, showing an 'as I expected' expression, "Indeed, you are from the Tsunayashiro Clan, aren't you?"
"Kidnapping my friend…"
Two fair canine teeth slightly showed as her lips curled up, glinting dangerously in the sunlight. She paused.
Creak…
Clenching her fists, she smiled and retorted:
"Are you ready to face my wrath?"
…
…
"How was it exposed?"
"Why was it exposed?!"
Inside the secret passage, the anxiety in Tsunayashiro Hikaru's heart had not subsided.
He walked hurriedly through the passage made of killing stone, his brows fluctuating between dark and light.
His location being discovered was a minor issue; the suspected outflow of evidence or clues was a major one…
This was something he hadn't anticipated before the operation.
Of course… he could deny it, but the clan would still symbolically punish him because the Four Great Noble Clans would not let him off.
The Kuchiki Clan would also not let him off.
This matter was like an ant's nest in a thousand-mile dike; once it appeared, it symbolized the deterioration of the situation… Damn it!
He only hoped that Yūda and Yūji could hold them off for a while longer.
As long as he could enter the Tsunayashiro Clan's territory through this secret passage, no matter how capable Yoruichi Shihouin was, it would be impossible for her to see Kisuke Urahara again!
Because he had already made up his mind.
After he returned… he would kill Kisuke Urahara and read his memories!
Harboring these thoughts, Tsunayashiro Hikaru hurried his steps, the expression on his face gradually easing with the change in his mindset.
He thought he had already escaped danger, but he hadn't expected.
Boom!
Suddenly, three meters ahead, the killing stone layer above shattered, a fist piercing through it, and a large amount of sunlight poured in.
The fist, with its five fingers together, then opened and grabbed outwards. Instantly!!
Whoosh!
The previously indestructible killing stone was now as fragile as paper. Within a mere three seconds, it was widened into a passage large enough for one person.
Before Tsunayashiro Hikaru could react or escape, Tsugikuni Yoriichi jumped down from that passage.
Thud!
Tsugikuni Yoriichi landed steadily, light illuminating the surroundings, and the pervasive stone dust made the secret passage hazy.
The surrounding air seemed to have hit a stop button; for a moment, only his resonant breathing could be heard.
This sound was so piercing, like a maggot in the bone, drilling into Tsunayashiro Hikaru's ears.
Facing Yoriichi's indifferent, emotionless gaze, an unnamed rage suddenly surged from Hikaru's heart.
Knowing that the plan was completely exposed, with even the evidence presented, Tsunayashiro Hikaru roared in a low voice:
"Tsugikuni Yoriichi… you, why are you like a lingering ghost, so persistent? Is Kisuke Urahara really that important to you?!"
"Even at the cost of being enemies with my Tsunayashiro Clan, you must save him?!"
"He is a Captain."
Yoriichi's expression was as calm as still water, completely unconcerned by Tsunayashiro Hikaru's gaze, which was almost spitting fire with anger.
His gaze swept over Kisuke Urahara behind Tsunayashiro Hikaru, he paused for a moment, then continued:
"Finding him, saving him, has nothing to do with who you are."
"Why would you think that we, the Gotei 13, would easily abandon a Captain?"
"Besides, he is also my friend."
"What about a Captain!?" Tsunayashiro Hikaru said indignantly.
"The Gotei 13 has replaced so many Captains in recent years, and Yamamoto Genryusai said nothing. Why is it that only today he cares?"
"Is he really that irreplaceable?"
"You bastards!"
"What do you take the noble status and honor for?"
"What you said has nothing to do with me." Yoriichi gently shook his head, took a step forward, his voice slow.
"I only know that if he were abandoned, the Captain's position would become a joke."
"At the same time, your choice to act at such a critical moment is a provocation to my teacher. As a student, I naturally must help my teacher alleviate his worries."
"Tsunayashiro… never mind, I don't want to know your name. Hand over Kisuke Urahara, it's better for everyone."
"Otherwise, if my teacher gets angry, I don't think you can bear the cost."
His calm voice echoed in the narrow space, even forming an echo.
These seemingly indifferent words, in Tsunayashiro Hikaru's heart, were a provocation to the upper noble clans!
As the Soul Society developed to this day, he was one of the very few Shinigami who felt nothing for the nobles. The contemptuous tone was like a heavy hammer, striking heavily on his heart.
The rage in his eyes solidified, his hands trembled slightly, clearly, he was looking at a sinner:
"Tsugikuni Yoriichi! Have you thought this through?!"
"You are merely a lowly noble!"
"Do you really want to meddle in this matter?!"
"If you retreat now, I can still pretend nothing happened…"
"But if you still insist on fighting me to the end, even if you are Yamamoto Genryusai's disciple, I will never let you off!"
His voice was somewhat fierce but inwardly weak; listening closely, his confidence was lacking, because in terms of his strength, he couldn't possibly defeat Tsugikuni Yoriichi.
So at this moment, he could only use the power of his clan to threaten the other party.
Under normal circumstances, a regular Shinigami would give the Tsunayashiro Clan face upon hearing this; a few tens of thousands of dollars a month isn't worth risking one's life.
But these words to Tsugikuni Yoriichi…
He merely shook his head slightly:
"I already said, my involvement in this matter has nothing to do with nobles. You don't need to pressure me with your status; I am well aware of my teacher's power and deterrence."
"What you did is inherently wrong. Even if it goes to the Forty-Six Chambers, I will be in the right. What do you think the Gotei 13 protects?"
"Kidnapping Kisuke Urahara for your personal gain… Do you really think those nobles are fools?"
Any approval of these actions would undoubtedly be handing over a handle to the enemy.
The root of the nobles is in the Seireitei, in the Soul Society.
Kidnapping a Captain is undoubtedly challenging the authority of the Seireitei.
If becoming a Captain doesn't even guarantee one's safety, who would protect the Gotei?
Evidently, at the moment Tsunayashiro Hikaru committed these acts, this matter became like a rolling avalanche, unstoppable.
He only had two choices.
Admit his mistake.
Or, be made an example of.
There are clear class divisions even among the upper noble clans, and while Tsunayashiro Hikaru was among the top of the pyramid, there were still clan elders above him who could judge him.
Therefore… for the authority and interests of the clan, combined with Yamamoto Genryusai's appearance.
He took a deep breath, seemingly having made a decision, extended a finger, and decisively cursed:
"Tsugikuni Yoriichi! I'll remember you!"
"Your existence is simply an anomaly among the nobles!"
"I will report to the clan elders and strip you of your status!!"
"Just you wait!"
Grabbing Kisuke Urahara by the collar with one hand, Tsunayashiro Hikaru's muscles bulged, and with a sudden forceful throw, he flung Kisuke away, landing him beside Tsugikuni Yoriichi.
"The shame of today! I will surely repay it another day!"
After saying this, he turned to retreat, seemingly implying compromise.
However, the next second.
Bang, bang, bang.
Yoruichi Shihouin, who had been pursuing along the secret passage, instantly appeared within the passage, with clear reishi ripples appearing on the ground along the way.
When she stood in front of Tsunayashiro Hikaru, blocking his path, she smiled and said:
"Finally caught up. I was wondering who it was, turns out it's you, old brother Hikaru."
Her eyes moved slightly, her bandaged fists faintly showing blood. Yoruichi Shihouin raised her hands, rubbing and stretching her muscles and bones, in a ready-to-strike posture:
"You little rascal, how dare you kidnap my friend? I've already taught your private soldiers a lesson, next…"
Crunch…
Crunch…
These crisp sounds were as irritating as flies in Tsunayashiro Hikaru's ears.
Watching Yoruichi Shihouin slowly approach, his pupils suddenly contracted:
"Yoruichi Shihouin! What do you want to do?!"
"Don't forget your identity!!"
"As the head of the Shihouin Clan, how can you be so barbaric!"
"Huh?" As if hearing a joke, Yoruichi Shihouin immediately laughed.
"Identity? Tsunayashiro Hikaru, has your brain perhaps stiffened from being in the heir position for too long?"
"My Shihouin Clan acts, why do we need to explain to others?"
"Who do you think I am? Who do you think you are?"
A dangerous smile, cold and sarcastic, curled on her lips.
"Brother Yoriichi can't hit you, but I'm different. Today, I'm definitely going to show you why flowers are so red."
"You…" Tsunayashiro Hikaru's eyes trembled. Seeing that the situation couldn't be reversed and that he was destined to be beaten, an angry and distorted voice followed:
"Damn it!"
"Yoruichi Shihouin, my Tsunayashiro Clan will definitely not let you off!"
"You two dog men…"
Words unfinished.
Bang!
A blurry fist print appeared before his eyes.
"Ah!"
The pain completely destroyed his reason, and Tsunayashiro Hikaru instantly turned into a cannonball, violently crashing against the killing stone wall.
The entire passage trembled.
And because the killing stone was indestructible, no matter how much he was beaten, the passage remained intact.
Countless fists rained down upon him, and he could only shout unwillingly:
"Don't hit my face! Damn it!"
"Shihouin…"
"You…"
Bang!
"Just you wait!"
"I…"
Bang, bang!
"I must… kill you!"
Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!
"Ah!"