"The Seireitei is surrounded by a barrier called the Shakonmaku, covering the ground and sky."
"Even the Captains of the Gotei 13 cannot break this barrier."
"Then what should we do?"
Hearing Yoruichi say this, Ichigo was shocked, "If we can't even enter the Seireitei, how can we rescue Miyako-nee?"
"Don't worry, there is something in the Rukongai capable of breaking the Shakonmaku."
Yoruichi said solemnly.
"Let's go, I'll take you to meet an old friend first."
The old friend Yoruichi mentioned was naturally Kukaku.
As descendants of the Five Great Noble Families, Yoruichi and Kukaku still had contact.
However, later, Yoruichi defected with Kisuke and left the Soul Society, so the two sides lost contact.
Counting now, they hadn't seen each other for over a hundred years.
But Yoruichi was sure Kukaku wouldn't refuse her request.
Rather, she was here to help Kukaku.
After all, the person Ichigo wanted to save was Kaien's wife!
At the same time, Ichigo was the son of Kukaku's uncle, Isshin.
Yoruichi believed that as long as she told Kukaku Ichigo's true identity, Kukaku would naturally stand on the same side as them.
Perhaps Kukaku had already started preparing to attack the Seireitei.
...
"Yoruichi-san, aren't we there yet?"
Under the night sky of the Soul Society, the exhausted faces of Ichigo and the other three looked at Yoruichi.
"Well, young people, be a little patient."
A few drops of cold sweat appeared on the black cat's forehead, and her tone was less confident than during the day.
"We're almost there."
"But, Yoruichi-san, you've said that over ten times already."
"This time it's really soon!"
Yoruichi's confidence was somewhat lacking.
There was no other way.
The changes in the Rukongai were too drastic compared to what Yoruichi remembered.
Although in the over 110 years in the human world, Yoruichi had witnessed earth-shaking changes there, souls brought to the Rukongai by Shinigami after death would lose their memories of life in the human world.
Therefore, the Rukongai hadn't changed much for millions of years.
But Kyoya's existence and the emergence of the Revolutionary Army directly caused huge changes in the Rukongai.
Whether it was buildings, roads, or anything else, let alone over a hundred years ago, even compared to twenty or ten years ago, it was almost changing every year.
The consequence was that Yoruichi got lost!
"You've said that several times too!"
Ichigo complained.
But all they could do was follow behind Yoruichi.
After all, the three of them were in the Soul Society for the first time and were very unfamiliar with everything here.
Although Yoruichi was just a black cat, according to Kisuke, Yoruichi had lived in Soul Society for hundreds of years.
Even if Yoruichi was lost now, as long as she wandered around a few more times, she would surely find a familiar place to anchor their current position.
Fortunately, in the end, Yoruichi did not disappoint Ichigo and the others, finding that very exaggerated-looking building.
There was no other way.
Decades ago, the two fist-shaped gates of the Shiba Clan were among the few landmark buildings in the Rukongai.
They could be seen from very far away.
In recent years, the construction industry in the Rukongai had greatly improved due to road and house building, with all sorts of strange buildings not much worse than those in the human world.
Coupled with people gradually moving from scattered individual households to live in neighborhoods along convenient transportation routes, the roads and buildings in Yoruichi's memory had deviated significantly.
Luckily, although the overall layout of the Rukongai had changed a lot from Yoruichi's memory, the Shiba Clan had not moved and was still in its original location.
"We're here, this is the place."
Seeing those quite artistic arms, Yoruichi's heart finally settled.
This time coming to the Soul Society, her task was to protect and observe Ichigo's condition.
According to Kisuke's prediction, Ichigo, possessing Quincy, Shinigami, and Hollow powers, naturally had immense Reiatsu.
In Kisuke's view, Ichigo, like Zaraki, was born with Reiatsu at the Shinigami's limit.
No, possessing three different types of Reiatsu, Ichigo's true Reiatsu must surpass the Shinigami's limit.
Over the years, based on Ichigo's characteristics, Kisuke created the two modified souls, Jinta and Ururu.
Although they looked like children, their Reiatsu alone was no less than that of a Gillian-level Menos Hollow.
If Kisuke fused the Hogyoku with them, they could instantly possess the essence of the [Soul King].
Although not reaching the level of the true Soul King, it would be enough as a temporary 'wedge' to stabilize the world.
However, after Ichigo activated his own Reiatsu, although it was strong, it fell far short of Kisuke's imagination.
Kisuke had Yoruichi follow Ichigo and the others to observe his condition, so he could guide Ichigo accordingly.
Just as Ichigo and the others approached the manor, two burly figures suddenly appeared, blocking their path.
"Sorry, this is private property. Please stop here!"
"Oh? Long time no see, Koganehiko, Shiroganehiko."
"Can't you even recognize my voice anymore?"
Looking at the black cat in front of them, smiles appeared on Koganehiko and Shiroganehiko's faces.
"This voice..."
"Is it Yoruichi-san?"
"Long time no see, Yoruichi-san!"
After all, the Shiba Clan was being hunted by other nobles of the Seireitei who wanted to exterminate the clan.
Even though Yoruichi was the head of the Shihoin Clan and had a friendship with Kukaku, she didn't dare to make it public.
Because of this, whenever Yoruichi came to see Kukaku, she transformed into a black cat to avoid being discovered by other nobles watching the Shiba Clan.
Of course, since Yoruichi wanted to communicate with Kukaku, she wouldn't hide in front of the Shiba Clan's members.
Therefore, including Koganehiko and Shiroganehiko, everyone knew Yoruichi's true identity.
Although Yoruichi hadn't visited for a hundred years, for Shinigami, a hundred years wasn't considered long.
"Is Kukaku home?"
"I need to discuss something with her."
"She is, Yoruichi-san."
"This way, please."
Koganehiko and Shiroganehiko respectfully led Ichigo and the others into the compound, and Shiroganehiko's loud voice began to shout.
"Aneki, Yoruichi-san is here."
"Oh? Really?"
A slightly hoarse voice came, startling Ichigo and the others.
None of the four had expected that the person Yoruichi-san brought them to find was a woman.
Tap tap tap tap...
Rapid footsteps approached.
From the rhythm of the steps and the sound of shoes contacting the floor, Ichigo and the others already pictured a fat woman weighing at least over two hundred pounds.
Whoosh-
The door ahead opened, revealing indeed a person who looked somewhat fat and tall.
However, contrary to Ichigo and the others' expectations, this person wasn't a woman, but a man wearing a white headscarf.
"Yoruichi-san, Aneki invites you in."
"Yo, Ganju."
Yoruichi jumped down from Ichigo's shoulder, stood on the ground, and looked up at Ganju in surprise.
"After not seeing you for a hundred years, you've grown up a lot!"
In Yoruichi's memory, among the three Shiba siblings, Kaien was undoubtedly the most outstanding.
Even after joining the Gotei 13, he was among the top tier.
He was even seen by Captain Ukitake as his successor.
Although he was the Lieutenant of the 13th Division, he actually performed the duties of the Captain.
After all, Ukitake's health condition often forced him to recuperate at home.
The power of the Soul King's right hand held the authority of [Stagnation].
It resided within Ukitake, preventing his illness from worsening and preserving his life.
But when Ukitake's parents took him to the temple of Mimihagi, Ukitake was already in a near-death state.
In other words, all these years, Ukitake had only been maintained in a 'near-death' state by the power of the Mimihagi.
When not engaging in strenuous activity, it was manageable, but once Ukitake engaged in intense combat, his body would begin to deteriorate.
Although the power of Mimihagi prevented Ukitake from dying-
It only kept him from dying, while the suffering he endured was not reduced in the slightest.
And since Kaien became the Lieutenant of the 13th Division, Ukitake had been recuperating at home almost all the time.
Even Captains' Meetings were attended by Kaien.
Kukaku was the calmest of the three siblings.
Regarding whether to enter the Seireitei, even though her uncle Isshin assured them it was safe, she still disagreed with the entire Shiba Clan returning to the Seireitei.
Instead, after Kaien entered the Seireitei, she alone supported the Shiba Clan in the Rukongai.
Ganju, perhaps because his elder brother and sister protected him too well, was somewhat unruly back then.
In Yoruichi's eyes, Ganju wasn't much different from a hoodlum.
However, upon meeting again this time, Ganju had changed so much that Yoruichi almost didn't recognize him.
His robust physique, dense Reiatsu, and the occasional sharp glint in his eyes made Yoruichi realize that this previously least promising young master of the Shiba family had now become a capable powerhouse in his own right!
"You've grown so much."
Looking at Ganju, Yoruichi couldn't help but think of her own little bee.
She supposed that leaving so abruptly back then must have been quite a blow to Sui-Feng.
She wondered what changes Sui-Feng had undergone over the past hundred years?
'Would she still rush up and call me 'Yoruichi-sama' upon seeing me?'
Shaking her head, Yoruichi led Ichigo and the other four to follow behind Ganju into the main hall.
"Yo, long time no see, Yoruichi!"
A familiar voice came from ahead.
Ichigo looked up and saw a woman wearing a white cloak with a golden collar sitting casually at the back of the hall.
For a moment, Ichigo felt as if his vision contained nothing but this woman!
"This woman is so strong!"
It took a while for Ichigo to shake off this feeling, cold sweat dripping from his forehead.
Without a doubt, the woman Yoruichi brought them to find was the strongest person Ichigo felt he had ever met!
This kind of existence, openly radiating her power, compared to the restrained Kisuke, the steady Tessai, the cold Gin, made Ichigo feel her strength more acutely.
"Ichigo, are you okay?"
Orihime asked Ichigo worriedly in a low voice.
She didn't expect that just looking at Kukaku would make Kurosaki seem as if he had seen something terrifying, even breaking out in a cold sweat.
"I'm fine, Inoue."
Ichigo shook his head.
He wasn't exactly a novice now.
The reason he could sense Kukaku's terror was that he was the strongest among them.
Whereas Inoue, Uryu, and Sado hadn't reached the level where they could perceive her fearsomeness.
"Yoruichi-san, how does this Nee-san compare to the Captains of the Gotei 13?"
Ichigo covered the right side of his mouth with his hand, bent down, and whispered into Yoruichi's ear.
Since he wanted to come to the Seireitei to rescue Miyako, Ichigo naturally learned from Kisuke about some of the Seireitei's existence, knowing that the strongest in the Seireitei were the Captains of the Gotei 13.
Earlier today, the one who knocked him out of the Seireitei was the Captain of the 3rd Division, Ichimaru Gin.
He was naturally prepared to face the Captains.
But both Gin and the current Kukaku made Ichigo feel that he might have taken things too simply.
He wasn't even confident against Kukaku.
If the Captains of the Gotei 13 were stronger than Kukaku, could he really rescue Miyako?
"Hey, kid, if you want to ask something, just ask me directly."
Hearing Ichigo's question, Kukaku snorted, "That black cat left the Seireitei over a hundred years ago. Compared to a hundred years ago, five or six of the Gotei 13 Captains have changed."
"What she can tell you is just outdated information from a century ago."
"Do you think relying on intelligence from over a hundred years ago can accurately reflect the current state of the Gotei 13?"
Having his whisper overheard, even Ichigo felt somewhat embarrassed.
However, it must be said that he was indeed 'thick-skinned' Ichigo… for things he didn't want to hear, Ichigo would selectively become deaf.