Yamamoto's sudden enthusiasm forced Tsuna to hide out in the Shiba residence for two days.
The reason he didn't return to the Human World was simple—there were still matters to deal with in Soul Society. Most importantly, someone who had changed her surname—Shiba Yuzu—was about to arrive.
In Rukongai, at the entrance of the Shiba residence, Tsuna placed the locator Urahara had given him on the ground and waited patiently.
"Why isn't my old man here yet?" Ichigo had already started pacing in circles, clearly anxious.
"Stop spinning—you're making me dizzy," Tsuna complained. It was rare to see Ichigo this impatient.
"Tsuna, he's worried Uncle and Aunt might run into the Kōtotsu, right?" Tatsuki immediately saw through him.
"Relax," Tsuna said. "Uncle Isshin isn't like you—he's not that unlucky."
Ichigo snapped back instantly. "Oh? So the last time we ran into the Kōtotsu was my fault?! Why couldn't it have been your bad luck instead?!"
Tsuna could only laugh awkwardly.
(Should he really say that with Ichigo's luck, running into the Kōtotsu in the Dangai was practically inevitable?)
Just as the two were glaring at each other, space distorted in front of the Shiba residence.
Kurosaki Isshin, dressed in a Shihakushō, stepped out from the Dangai carrying Yuzu and Karin. Behind him followed Kurosaki Masaki.
"Old man! Why did you bring Yuzu and Karin too?!" Ichigo exclaimed. To him, the Dangai was still dangerous.
Isshin scratched his head. "I wanted them to stay at the Ishida house, but your mom insisted."
Masaki shot him a glare. "You've been married to me for over ten years and never told me you still had family here. If we're visiting for the first time, of course everyone comes together—that's basic etiquette!"
"Of course Dad wouldn't think that far," Karin said flatly.
"Dad just wanted a honeymoon with Mom!" Yuzu added confidently.
Tsuna and Tatsuki didn't step forward.
In their eyes, someone else had more right to welcome them.
"Uncle Isshin… welcome home."
Ichigo stepped aside.
Behind him stood Shiba Kūka and Shiba Ganju, dressed in formal attire—far removed from their usual rough appearance.
These were the finest clothes they owned, symbolizing the Shiba family's former noble status—the most solemn welcome Kūka could offer.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Aunt, and you two younger sisters. I'm Kūka. This is my younger brother, Ganju. Welcome to the Shiba family."
Kūka bowed slightly.
She couldn't even remember the last time she had followed noble etiquette.
But today—it was worth it.
As her voice fell, Kinchō and Ginchō launched a barrage of fireworks into the sky.
Day or night didn't matter.
As Soul Society's top fireworks experts, this level of spectacle was non-negotiable.
After introductions were finished, Isshin burst into laughter.
Bringing his entire family back home—
It felt good.
But after only a couple of laughs—
BAM!
Kūka kicked him straight to the ground.
She had held it in long enough.
Her face twisted like a demon's as fists and kicks rained down.
"You're laughing?! You dare laugh?! You disappeared without a word—do you know how worried we were?!"
"You even changed your surname! Did the Shiba family ever wrong you?!"
…
Tsuna couldn't help laughing.
There was no way someone like Kūka could tolerate stiff formalities.
The ceremonial clothes were already the utmost respect she could offer.
Everything else—
was just her pent-up frustration.
"Uh… Mom, let's go inside first," Ichigo said, stepping in to shield Isshin while ushering the rest of the family inside.
"Masaki—save me!" Isshin cried miserably.
Ichigo subtly shifted his body, blocking the scene behind him.
"Oh my, Isshin," Masaki said sweetly, tilting her head. "If you did something wrong, you have to be punished."
"Reflect on yourself, idiot old man," Karin added.
"Please repent properly, Dad," Yuzu said, slightly kinder—but still left him behind.
Poor Isshin.
His family showed zero sympathy.
But he didn't mind.
He knew Kūka had struggled alone all these years.
Her punches weren't heavy—
He just screamed louder… to make her feel better.
After the chaos finally settled, Isshin was allowed inside.
Following a visit to pay respects to their ancestors, the Kurosaki family enjoyed a lively meal at the Shiba residence.
Thanks to the Shiba family no longer being part of the Five Great Noble Houses, there were no rigid formalities.
Combined with Kūka's personality—and familiar company like Tsuna—
The Kurosaki family had a genuinely good time.
After the meal, Isshin stood at the entrance, picking his teeth and gazing toward the Seireitei.
He had only taken two days off from the clinic.
This trip wasn't just about returning home—
He also had to go back to the Seireitei.
Even though he was no longer a captain, he had violated Soul Society's laws.
He had abandoned Squad 10 without notice.
No matter the reason—
That responsibility was his.
Yamamoto not sending forces to hunt him down was already mercy.
Isshin knew full well—
That old man had definitely known he was hiding in the Human World.
Now that he had returned—
He had to face it.
Visit Squad 10.
Then report to Squad 1.
That was his duty.
"Still worried?" Masaki asked, taking his hand.
"…Maybe you should stay here," Isshin said. "If something goes wrong, Kūka can send you back."
His greatest fear was dragging his family into danger.
Without Masaki's insistence, he wouldn't have returned at all.
"Isshin," Masaki said gently, "I trust you. And you should trust me too. We can protect our family."
In her palm was the illusion spike Tsuna had given her—
enough to instantly restore her peak strength.
"Still…"
"Old man, you've got me, don't you?"
Ichigo stepped forward.
"With my current strength, ordinary captains can't defeat me. I'll protect Mom and the others."
Isshin's eyes welled up.
…His son had really grown up.
"Ichigo—"
Before he could get emotional—
"If anything goes wrong, we'll just throw Tsuna in as the rear guard," Ichigo added bluntly. "This whole thing probably has his involvement anyway."
His instincts—
surprisingly accurate.
"Ichigo, don't trouble Tsuna like that," Masaki scolded.
"Yeah, Ichigo, making me the rear guard? I'm heartbroken~" Tsuna said mockingly from behind.
"Don't give me that! The way you talked to that old man—you're clearly not afraid of him!" Ichigo shot back.
He might not think much—
but he wasn't stupid.
Tsuna showed zero fear toward Yamamoto.
"Relax, Uncle," Tsuna said confidently. "As long as I'm here, no one in the Seireitei can touch you. Not even Yamamoto."
Masaki hesitated. "Wouldn't that trouble you too much?"
"Not at all. I've relied on you plenty over the years. That's what friends are for, right?"
Tsuna stretched lazily.
"I already promised Yuzu and Karin I'd take them to see where Uncle used to work."
"What?! Why didn't you discuss that with me first?!" Isshin protested dramatically.
"What, worried your already fragile 'great father' image will drop even further?" Tsuna grinned. "I'm actually curious how your subordinates talk about their former captain."
Tsuna really was curious.
Before Hitsugaya joined—
how did Squad 10 even function?
Matsumoto Rangiku wasn't exactly diligent.
Isshin himself was even worse.
Once Hitsugaya joined—
they dumped all the paperwork on him.
So before that… who handled everything?
Isshin turned completely gray.
He could already imagine Rangiku exposing all his secrets in front of his daughters.
After bidding farewell to Kūka, Tsuna and the Kurosaki family headed toward the Seireitei.
This time, Tsuna didn't bring anyone else.
Aside from accompanying Isshin to Squad 10—
he had another matter to deal with.
And if things really escalated—
He wasn't confident he could protect a large group…
…in front of the strongest Shinigami in a thousand years.
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