A day later, the entrance of the Shihōin family was already packed with people.
These were all nobles, big and small, from within the Seireitei, all carrying extremely valuable gifts to visit Yamamoto Genryūsai.
However, the Shihōin family's gate remained tightly shut.
As one of the Five Great Noble Clans, if the head of the Shihōin family didn't give the word, these nobles wouldn't dare to force their way in.
But one person was an exception!
"To have distinguished guests at your door and yet refuse them entry—this is not the Shihōin Clan's way of hospitality!"
A man with fox-like eyes said with a smile.
Others wouldn't dare to barge into the Shihōin family, but he would.
Because he was the head of the Tsunayashiro Family, Fuuka Tsunayashiro.
Yamabuki narrowed his eyes; an annoying fellow had arrived.
The Tsunayashiro Family was the most disliked of the Five Great Noble Clans.
They had contributed nothing to the Soul Society from beginning to end, despite possessing considerable power.
During the Thousand-Year Blood War, from the Zero Squad down to ordinary squad members, everyone in the Soul Society worked together to resist the foreign enemy.
Only the Tsunayashiro Family, instead of fighting the Quincy alongside the Gotei 13, took advantage of the Zero Squad's annihilation to sneak into the Soul King Palace and steal the Zanpakuto, Shirafune, forged by the Sword God Ōetsu Nimaiya from an ancient Menos Grande.
They even tried to make an artificial human the Soul King to control the Three Realms.
Millions of years ago, they were also the ones who led the dismemberment of the Soul King, tearing him open, reducing his power, and discarding his organs, which is why two of Yhwach's Royal Guard members in the later stages were related to the Soul King.
The Tsunayashiro Family bears a large part of the responsibility for the Gotei 13's heavy casualties.
"What should we do?" Yamabuki asked.
Shihōin Chika held a cup, a playful smile on his face: "Why ask me? You're the chief of staff! You make the decisions."
The other party's purpose was very simple.
Fuuka Tsunayashiro hadn't come alone; he had brought a large retinue of servants, all carrying heavy boxes.
No need to guess, the boxes surely contained vast amounts of wealth.
Fuuka Tsunayashiro probably intended to use this money to bribe Yamamoto, making him his family's retainer.
This was quite in line with ancient Japanese notions.
No matter how strong an individual's power, they had to pledge allegiance to a certain family head.
For example, Miyamoto Musashi, who was known as peerless, also had to pledge allegiance to a major power for money and fame in his youth.
"Then I'll go first." Yamabuki stood up.
The reason he was so diligently building up the Gotei 13 was for his retirement plan.
Only when the Gotei 13 was strong enough would Head Captain Yamamoto allow him to retire, collect his pension, and live a leisurely life.
To elevate the image of the Gotei 13, Yamabuki rubbed his cheeks; he had to be cool, arrogant, and audacious to showcase the Gotei 13's prestige.
So much so that his entrance wasn't through the door, but a direct Shunpo in front of these people.
Fuuka Tsunayashiro smiled as he saw someone come to greet him and walked forward.
"What are you here for?" Yamabuki asked coldly.
Before Fuuka Tsunayashiro could speak, his servant behind him had already flared up.
"Do you know who is standing in front of you? This is the head of the Tsunayashiro Family! You should kneel to answer," the servant shouted.
Fuuka Tsunayashiro did not stop his servant.
What did it mean for the other party to send such a young man to greet him? He was testing the other party's attitude, and the other party was also testing his attitude.
Yamabuki didn't waste words with these underlings; he directly released his spiritual pressure, pinning the two servants to the ground, unable to move!
Fuuka Tsunayashiro was secretly surprised; what strong spiritual pressure, even surpassing his own! Is this young man from the Shihōin family? Why had he never heard of him before?
"My subordinate is ignorant, please don't mind him, young sir. May I ask who you are…?" Fuuka Tsunayashiro asked with a chuckle.
Yamabuki's face was stern: "Vice-Captain of the Gotei 13's First Division, Yamamoto Genryūsai's adjutant, Yamabuki."
Fuuka Tsunayashiro was startled; Yamamoto Genryūsai's adjutant?
He already possessed such formidable strength?
However, upon reflection of Yamamoto's terrifying power, like a demon descending to the world, it seemed not so strange for him to have such a strong person as his adjutant.
"My apologies! We are here to visit Mr. Yamamoto, please be accommodating. These are all gifts for Mr. Yamamoto." Fuuka Tsunayashiro waved his large sleeve, pointing to a dozen large boxes behind him.
As the saying goes, one cannot be faulted for too many gifts.
Although Yamabuki knew the other party had ill intentions, the Gotei 13 was simply too poor right now and desperately needed these things!
However, Yamabuki said with a cold face, "Captain Yamamoto is resting and is not seeing any guests right now. You may return!"
Is the Captain-Commander someone you can just see whenever you want?
The sense of mystery and prestige must be upheld!
Originally, these nobles had no good impression of this swaggering youth, but upon hearing that this youth was actually the subordinate of that Yamamoto Genryūsai, they immediately became respectful.
Fuuka Tsunayashiro, with a smiling expression, took a small wooden box from his subordinate and handed it over: "Young brother, were you one of those who defended the Seireitei yesterday? This is a small token of appreciation from the people of the Seireitei, on my behalf. Please accept it; otherwise, my conscience will not be at ease!"
Would Yamabuki be bought off by such a third-rate tactic?
Of course he would!
Although he was currently well-fed and clothed, everything he ate and used came from the Shihōin family's money.
He was so poor now that all he had left was the clothes on his back and a single sword.
Yamabuki struggled to resist the temptation to reach out his hand, maintaining an aloof demeanor: "Such tactics are useless against me. Captain Yamamoto said he is not seeing any guests. Please return…"
Before he finished speaking, a playful voice chimed in: "Yamabuki, don't be so heartless. Didn't they come all this way just to thank Captain-Commander Yamamoto?"
Shihōin Chika instantly appeared before everyone.
These nobles kept muttering to themselves, "Could it be that Yamamoto Genryūsai has already been bought by the Shihōin Clan?"
If so, from now on, the Shihōin family would stand alone among the Five Great Noble Clans.
However, Yamabuki's subsequent actions and words once again shattered these nobles' worldview.
"Captain Shihōin! Hello." Yamabuki bowed slightly to Shihōin Chika.
All the nobles present, including Fuuka Tsunayashiro, were utterly shocked.
They had heard clearly before that the organization Yamamoto Genryūsai had established was called the Gotei 13, which meant that besides Yamamoto, the Captain-Commander, there would be twelve other captains.
Yamabuki calling Shihōin Chika "Captain" meant that it wasn't the Shihōin Clan who had bought off Yamamoto Genryūsai, but rather the head of the Shihōin family had already joined the Gotei 13!
....
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