Chapter 158 156 The Touching Little Hand, the Stirring Heart

Chapter 158 156. The touching little hand, the stirring heart

For Shiba Kūkaku, the recent time is not so special, but at least it is plain enough, so plain that she thinks it is just the most insignificant time in her long life as a god of death.

"Sister, I'm going out!"

Today is the same start again. Not long after Shiba Kūkaku got up, she heard her brother Shiba Ganju asking her for instructions.

"No! Ganju, why do you always want to run to Rukongai all day long? I don't mind if you like to play with those civilians, but you should at least learn from your brother Haiyan?

I don't ask you to graduate from the Maou Spiritual Academy in one year like him, and become the vice-captain in less than five years, but you should at least be able to pass the entrance examination of the Maou Spiritual Academy, right?"

But today, Shiba Kūkaku obviously doesn't want to relax her control over her naughty brother as usual.

Because for some reason last night, her father Shiba Mura found her very late at night and mentioned the uncle named Shiba Isshin from the branch family.

Konghe had heard of that uncle Isshin before. He was said to be the most outstanding descendant of the branch family in the past few hundred years. He had a talent that was not much worse than that of her elder brother Shiba Haiyan. However, he was very low-key. Even though he already had the spiritual pressure of the captain, before he mastered Bankai, Shiba Isshin was always willing to be a small transparent person with only the seventh seat in the 10th Division.

But that was it, because Shiba Isshin was still a member of their branch family, not the main family. No matter how powerful Shiba Isshin was, generally speaking, he had nothing to do with their main family.

Normally, it was like this.

But for some reason, late last night, after her father Shiba Mura found her and had a long talk with her, Shiba Kūkaku unexpectedly heard from her father that she should spend more time with Shiba Isshin.

And from her father's mouth, Shiba Kūkaku also vaguely heard his father's concern for her elder brother Shiba Kaien.

Although Kūkaku asked about her elder brother's recent situation, her father did not answer, but his father's expression had betrayed him.

However, Shiba Kūkaku, who had never served as a formal Shinigami in the Gotei 13, could not understand for the time being that her elder brother Shiba Kaien, who was already a vice-captain, could still be troubled by any dangerous things.

In Shiba Kūkaku's eyes, the vice-captain was already a synonym for powerful.

At least in the entire Soul Society, there were only a few dozen Shinigami whose strength could exceed that of the vice-captain level.

However, these questions could not prevent Shiba Kūkaku from getting up in a bad mood early this morning.

And her bad mood meant that her younger brother Shiba Ganju could not think of faking it over with her.

"No way, Sister Konghe, don't you know how strong I am? You want me to study at the Maou Spiritual Academy?

There's no problem getting in, but the problem is that the Maou Spiritual Academy has a six-year graduation system!

No matter how good or bad my grades are, I will graduate after six years. At that time, I will be assigned to a certain team as a low-level Shinigami soldier, and I will face unknown risks every day. Sister, can you bear it?"

Shiba Ganju's words are very reasonable.

At first glance, Shiba Konghe didn't seem to have any reason to refute, but as a sister older than Shiba Ganju, especially replacing the role of father and mother, Shiba Konghe, who is responsible for disciplining Shiba Ganju on weekdays, has the same special rights as elders.

"Ah! It hurts, sister Konghe, please be gentle!"

Shiba Konghe pinched Shiba Ganju's right ear, and then dragged Shiba Ganju into the house. The latter was in so much pain that he begged for mercy.

"Yes, I know your weight very well, so tell me, who taught you these words!

I don't believe that with your brain, you can come up with such a logically clear excuse!"

What can elders do to younger generations?

Unreasonable!

Anyway, she is the elder sister, she has the final say!

If there is no reason, then there is no need for a reason!

"I say, I say! It was the captain of the 5th Division, Aizen Sosuke!

When I went to Rukongai to play with friends before, I happened to see the captain of the 5th Division, Aizen, also playing with the children of Rukongai, and teaching them calligraphy with great interest. I saw that he was so nice, so I tried to chat with him, but I didn't expect that he had no airs at all! He actually chatted with me!

We talked a lot that day, and in the end I said that I didn't want to go to the Maou Spiritual Academy to study, so he gave me this trick"

Shiba Ganju covered his ears that were pinched red, and answered painfully.

"Captain of the Fifth Division, Aizen Sosuke?"

Shiba Kūkaku was unhappy when she heard this. No matter what kind of person Aizen Sosuke was, in her eyes, he was a dog-headed military strategist who gave bad advice to his brother.

And it was foreseeable that because there would be no intersection between the two, this image would only become deeper and deeper in Shiba Kūkaku's heart.

In short, favorability, -20.

"Then you should have less contact with him in the future. This kind of captain is not a good captain at first glance! Captain Kuchiki Sojun of the 6th Division, Captain Kyoraku Shunsui of the 8th Division, Captain Ukitake Jushiro of the 13th Division, Captain Unohana Retsu of the 4th Division, and Captain Soi-Feng of the 2nd Division are all good captains!

At worst, you can even go to Captain Zaraki Kenpachi of the 11th Division!

Anyway, it's better not to let me hear that you have any contact with Captain Aizen again in the future, especially you are not allowed to ask him questions, do you hear me!"

Shiba Kūkaku put his hands on his waist and ordered Shiba Ganju.

"I know, Sister Kūkaku"

In response, Shiba Ganju only agreed verbally, but in his heart he was thinking that he would not do it, and he would go to the 5th Division's team house to find the kind captain for advice.

He felt that with the "deep" friendship he had established with Aizen that day, Aizen would definitely not refuse such a reasonable request from him.

I am such a little genius!

Shiba Ganju secretly admired himself in his heart.

But unfortunately, he was destined not to go to the 5th Division's barracks today.

On the one hand, Shiba Kūkaku did not allow it. After a lecture, he was forced to learn Kidō and Shunpo under the sight of his elder sister.

On the other hand, it was because the Soul Society was not peaceful today, especially for their Shiba family.

Not long after Shiba Kūkaku began training Shiba Ganju, a huge black cavity was opened above the first area of ​​West Ryukon Street.

Countless Hollows filed out from it. The terrifying spiritual pressure gathered was so oppressive that even Shiba Kūkaku, who was the inheritor of the family's special skills and had not entered the Shinō Spiritual Academy and had not undergone systematic learning, could feel the oppression.

The last time she felt this way was the rebellion of the Kasumigaoji family nearly 20 years ago;

The last time was the more distant noble hunting incident that has now been stopped.

And the losses of the Soul Society in these two times were not small.

However, this time, unlike the last rebellion of the Kasumigaoji family, which basically killed and injured more than half of the nobles in the Soul Society, this time, the terrifying spiritual pressure reaction appeared outside the Soul Society, so.

"This time it shouldn't be a big problem. If it's outside, it's not so easy to get in. At least even if they get in, it's enough time for the captains of the 13th Gotei Squad to react."

Shiba Kūkaku comforted himself.

After the last rebellion of the Kasumigaoji family, the Central 46th Office made a summary.

The Central 46th Office gave three core reasons for why the incident became so serious later:

First, the judgment of the danger of the Tapirs was not accurate enough;

Second, the incident happened too suddenly;

Third, more than half of the captains of the Soul Society were blocked in the Central 46th Office at that time. Due to the special position, most of the captains could not use their full strength.

And now, at least in the eyes of Shiba Kūkaku, these three conditions are not available for the current 13th Gotei Squad.

Therefore, the advantage is mine!

But soon, the bad news came one after another, and Shiba Kūkaku almost fainted.

"What? You said that the captain of the Gotei Thirteenth Division has sent as many as seven captains from the present world since last night?"

"What?! The captain of the Sixth Division, Kuchiki Sojun, was found dead at the door of his own house?!"

"What?!! The captain of the Tenth Division has lost contact, and it is likely that he was also killed?!!"

As Shiba Kaiyan is temporarily away from home, and Shiba Village has gradually begun to let go of family affairs, Shiba Kūkaku, the current nominal highest power holder of the Shiba family, looked at the urgent messages, and only one red word popped up in his mind,

Danger!

Especially after the message that one of the few lower-level nobles who have followed their Shiba family so far desperately passed to Shiba Kūkaku, "The group of great hollows are advancing towards the center of the Soul Society, and their Shiba family and the residences of the few small nobles belonging to the Shiba family are all on their attack route", Shiba Kūkaku could no longer sit still.

"Notify everyone in the main family and the branch family to evacuate immediately! Ganju! You hide too!"

Although Shiba Kūkaku's strength is not high, for a long time, because Shiba Kaiyan was obsessed with handling the affairs of the 13th Division, she chose to temporarily entrust the affairs of the Shiba family to her. In this case, Shiba Kūkaku still showed the courage and determination that only a family head can have.

However, the seriously injured young noble looked embarrassed after hearing the order.

"What? Is there a problem?"

Shiba Kūkaku asked.

"To reply to Lord Kūkaku, the main family of the Shiba family may not have any problems, but as for the branch family, most of the combat power there has been taken by Lord Shiba Isshin, who has been designated as the future head of the branch family, to resist the attack of the Great Hollow this time.

Isshin-sama said that everyone has the responsibility to protect the Soul Society, especially at this critical moment, the five nobles must set an example."

The little noble said with admiration in his heart.

This is why they are still willing to follow the Shiba family.

"That stupid uncle! "

After listening to this, Shiba Kūkaku also showed the same admiration as the little noble, but out of rational thinking, Shiba Kūkaku still "cursed" in a low voice.

What role can a god of death who doesn't even have a Bankai play in a situation where two captains may have been killed?!

But thinking about it, Shiba Kūkaku did not issue another order to ask Shiba Isshin to withdraw.

On the one hand, this is the personal behavior of Shiba Isshin, a branch family. As the head of the family, she has done her utmost to remind the people of the branch family to take refuge;

On the other hand, Shiba Kūkaku is actually looking forward to Shiba Isshin's achievements.

Therefore, Shiba Kūkaku did not continue to waste time on this topic of Shiba Isshin, but after arranging everything, she went to her own The courtyard where her father was.

The final arrangement was that she would take her father Shiba Mura to take refuge together.

As for the rest, the safety of the Soul Society, Shiba Kūkaku could only choose to trust the one who was said to be the strongest god of death in the Soul Society in the past thousand years, the captain of the 13th Division of the Gotei, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni.

However, when Shiba Kūkaku walked into the courtyard where her father was, she found that something was wrong.

Because a bloody smell came to her face, and when she opened the door, the servants of the Shiba family who she was familiar with were lying scattered in the courtyard.

"No way"

An ominous premonition surged into Shiba Kūkaku's heart.

But she couldn't figure it out. Kuchiki Sojun of the Kuchiki family was like this, and their Shiba family was also like this. Didn't it mean that those great hollows were resisted by all the remaining god of death in the 13th Division of the Gotei. Under resistance, will it take some time to break through to their nobles' exclusive territory?

Unfortunately, reality does not allow Shiba Kūkaku to figure this out now.

Rational analysis tells Shiba Kūkaku that she should turn around and run away immediately, because the courtyard is too quiet at the moment, which means that the battle inside is likely to have ended, and her father has never appeared, which means that her father is likely to have died;

But emotional emotions are urging Shiba Kūkaku to go in and take a look, maybe her father has just defeated the invading enemy and is waiting for rescue.

In the end, there is no doubt that emotion defeated reason.

Because Shiba Kūkaku stepped into this silent courtyard that was so quiet that it made people's backs cold.

Didn't leave A few steps, the breeze blew gently.

In this midsummer morning, Shiba Kūkaku even shivered.

Not because of the temperature, but because of "heart".

She came to her father's bedroom, no one.

Study, no one.

Until Shiba Kūkaku came to the rockery behind the courtyard that collapsed due to the battle, he finally saw his father.

At this moment, she finally felt the sadness in the heart of Kuchiki Byakuya when he sent the message of his father's death at the doorstep to the other five nobles and the captain.

Because her father, Shiba Mura, was also floating on a pool of blood at this moment, and his blood dyed the entire pond red.

Unlike Kuchiki Byakuya, Kuchiki Byakuya did not see the murderer, but she, Shiba Kūkaku, did.

Even Shiba Kūkaku had an illusion that this strange-looking Arrancar was waiting for her here on purpose.

Because he stood there until she appeared, and then slowly turned to her.

"Oh, the Lord! The mask of flesh and blood, the myriad things, flying high, the thing named after humanity! Scorching heat and strife, rolling back across the sea to the south, marching forward!

Hado No. 31, Red Fire Cannon!"

The red fireball condensed and formed in Shiba Kūkaku's hand, and then flew towards the Arrancar.

The latter raised his hand and lightly tapped it, and the fireball was like the flame of a match in the cold wind, just ignited and quickly extinguished.

"The Lord, the mask of flesh and blood, the myriad things, flying high, the thing named after humanity, truth and moderation, only standing on the wall of dreams without guilt with claws.

Hado No. 33, Blue Fire Falling!"

Shiba Kūkaku stood in the same place again and continued to chant, and the blue explosion rushed along the ground, raising a hot wave in front of the Arrancar, and then.

It was extinguished with a light flick.

"The bones of beasts, spires, red crystals, and steel wheels are scattered all over the place. When they move, they are like wind. When they stop, they are like space. The sound of spears hitting each other fills the empty city.

The sixty-third of the way to break, the thunder roar cannon!"

Still standing in the same place, Shiba Kūkaku clasped his hands together and pushed towards the Arrancar. Lightning whistled out from his hands, causing a huge splash in front of the Arrancar. After the seemingly intimidating explosion, the Arrancar was unscathed.

"The thirty of the way to bind, the mouth flashes three times!"

"The ninth of the way to bind, the wheel collapses!"

"The Sixty-first Way of Binding, Six-Staff Light Prison!"

"The Fifty-Seventh Way of Breaking, The Earth Turns!"

Just like a turn-based game, Shiba Kūkaku stood in place and tried her best to release all the abilities she had mastered to the Arrancar, and the Arrancar on the opposite side took them all.

However, the more she fought, the more desperate she became.

Seeing that no matter what kind of ghost art she used, the Arrancar on the opposite side who killed her father could be easily defeated without any effort.

Shiba Kūkaku was confused.

So, is this the difference between the captain-level and the ordinary Shinigami?

At this moment, Shiba Kūkaku finally understood why her father was so persistent in training another captain-level Shinigami for the Shiba family, even if this person was from a branch family.

Because this is really a difference between heaven and earth.

So this Arrancar, this hateful Hollow, is teasing her?

Shiba Kūkaku knew that she couldn't escape anyway.

From the moment she stepped into the yard, her fate may have been doomed in the eyes of this Arrancar.

But at least, she is a member of the Shiba family.

"Even if I die, I will die with dignity!"

Shiba Kūkaku pulled out the small knife that she had always worn as an ornament on her waist.

That was her Zanpakutō.

After years of not using it, her movements were a little rusty, but for her now, it didn't matter whether she knew how to zanpakutō, as long as she could hold the knife.

So, Shiba Kūkaku raised her Zanpakutō and rushed towards the Arrancar.

As expected, her knife flew.

The Arrancar just flicked it lightly, and Shiba Kūkaku couldn't control her Zanpakutō and could only let it fly out.

And Shiba Kūkaku herself was knocked down in the pond and choked on the water filled with her father's blood.

It's over.

Lying on her back on the pond, Shiba Kūkaku saw the Arrancar finally raised the butcher knife towards her, and Shiba Kūkaku closed her eyes.

She only hoped that after her death, her useless brother, Shiba Ganju, could find the Shiba family secret technique she left behind and pass on the technology.

But after waiting for a while, Shiba Kūkaku found that she was still alive.

She quickly opened her eyes, but found that in her field of vision, the right half was the familiar white haori, and the left half was her own Zanpakutō.

At this moment, it was held in someone's hand, blocking the butcher knife that the Arrancar was about to drop on her.

"Sword Hunters, Great Sword Hunter Chief Higashino Hideichi"

This person who suddenly appeared was not difficult for Shiba Kūkaku to recognize, because in the entire Soul Society, only the Sword Hunters, a very special squad, had no specific number on their captain's haori, also known as the Great Sword Hunter Chief.

"Miss Shiba, the Zanpakutō of the god of death is something that cannot be easily lost~"

Higashino Hideichi left Shiba Kūkaku a cool side profile, and then when he returned Shiba Kūkaku's Zanpakutō to Shiba Kūkaku, the warm big hand accidentally touched Shiba Kūkaku's right hand, and inadvertently touched Shiba Kūkaku's heart.

At that moment, Higashino Hideichi's figure was deeply imprinted in Shiba Kūkaku's brain.

Then, Higashino Hideichi pulled out his Zanpakutō,

"Attack, soldiers! Those who hate soldiers, Taoyuan!"

In an instant, the transparent spirit stone wall surrounded a large area behind Higashino Hideichi, including Shiba Kūkaku and the long-dead Shiba Village.

World isolation!

As long as Higashino Hideichi does not release the Shikai, or Higashino Hideichi does not die, then everything in this space is separated from the Soul Society.

"Bullying little girls is not a good thing to do. Let me, the great sword hunter, be your opponent!"

Then, Higashino Hideichi pointed the tip of his sword at the Arrancar opposite him.

Of course, for Higashino Hideichi, who was not affected by Aizen Kagami Suigetsu, he actually preferred to call the "Arrancar" in Shiba Kōkaku's eyes.

Tosen Kaname!

Higashino Kaname's previous slacking behavior was not to tease Shiba Kōkaku, Higashino Kaname didn't have that kind of mood.

For him, all this was just waiting for Higashino Hideichi to arrive "in time".

"Let's fight!"

Tosen Kaname, who was still wearing the captain's haori, said to Higashino Hideichi without any politeness.