While the words were reasonable, losing a Seat Officer out of nowhere was no small loss for the Tenth Division.
Yoriichi sighed, silently sheathing his Zanpakuto.
He looked at the seemingly endless ancient street, and the fearful, envious, and lingering gazes of the Rukongai residents on both sides of the street.
For some reason, a flood of complex emotions—nostalgia, sadness, and more—rushed into his heart.
Most of those Rukongai residents were people he knew.
And this was the street he had lived on for ten years.
Just then, the child on the ground slowly regained consciousness.
"Hiss…"
He rubbed his eyes and touched the back of his head, feeling intense pain throughout his body.
The dazzling sunlight made him shed a few tears.
He slowly opened his eyes.
Amidst the busy crowd, the Nichirin earrings fluttering in the wind, like spotlights, were the first to catch his eye.
"Hmm?"
The boy froze for a second, then immediately shouted, "Yoriichi-ge!"
This voice immediately caught Tsugikuni Yoriichi's attention.
He turned his head to look.
Amidst the Shinigami surrounding him, the boy's face was very familiar.
If he remembered correctly, it should be the child he saved a few months ago.
He wasn't sure if it was the older brother or the younger brother…
…Meanwhile, on the other side.
"Rukia, by the way, what kind of person is your brother?"
In a courtyard with flowing water, two girls were eating watermelon and chatting about daily life.
The girl named Hinamori Momo casually spat out a few watermelon seeds, her fair legs swinging from the eaves, and asked in a gentle voice, "Being a Shinigami must be very hard, right?"
"It's been almost four months. Has he not come back even once?"
"It's alright," Rukia propped herself up with one hand, gazing up at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle.
The ethereal clouds in the sky were so free and leisurely; she didn't feel lonely.
"You get used to it. After all, Brother is considering our future."
"When I grow up, I will become a Shinigami and help him share his burdens."
"Momo, what about you?"
She slowly sat upright, her black pupils like the water in a deep pool at night, looking at her side: "I heard you recently got a younger brother? Is it true? He must be very annoying, being a boy…"
"Eh, how did you know?" Hinamori Momo put a finger to her chin, her tone slightly surprised.
"Your information is well-informed. It only happened this morning."
"His name is Tōshirō Hitsugaya."
"I don't find him annoying at all; in fact, I find him a bit cute. At least Grandma likes him very much."
"I plan to become a Shinigami after he grows up. After all, Grandma can't be left without care."
Families in Rukongai are not entirely composed of blood relatives.
Aside from remote areas, in districts closer to Seireitei, Rukongai residents are led by the stationed Shinigami to get a number upon their appearance.
They then live with the family corresponding to their number.
A typical family usually consists of two to three people: one elder with two children. When the children grow up, they are obligated to support their elders.
This fragile family relationship barely maintains trust among Rukongai residents and accelerates the process of some souls integrating into Soul Society.
Overall, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.
The Tōshirō Hitsugaya that Hinamori Momo mentioned was her younger brother. In terms of the soul's age, he was seven this year, as he was seven when he died.
He had striking white hair.
Rukia listened quietly, then asked, "Does he possess reishi?"
"He does, I think," Hinamori Momo recalled for a moment. "I remember he drank a little water this morning."
"Then you're lucky," Rukia smiled, retracting the hand that was propping her up, picking up a slice of watermelon beside her, taking a quiet bite, and saying, "Who knows, his talent might even be stronger than yours, big sister."
Although her tone was somewhat teasing, it was not impossible.
Hinamori Momo waved her hand: "Oh, what big sister? He's very wary and doesn't talk much yet. Even if I wanted to be his older sister, he wouldn't give me any chance."
"I'll have to see in the future. If not, being childhood friends isn't bad either."
At this point, a faint smile appeared on Hinamori Momo's face.
Rukia felt a mix of emotions upon seeing this.
Just then, knock, knock, knock.
A knocking sound came from outside the courtyard.
Rukia raised her head and called out loudly, "Who is it?!"
…No one spoke.
Confused, Rukia and Hinamori Momo exchanged glances, then slowly stood up.
She cautiously walked to the corner of the courtyard, picked up a slender long sword leaning against the wall, and then slowly walked towards the main entrance.
She clutched the item her brother had sent back earlier, hidden in her sleeve.
Whoosh… A strong, deep breath echoed in her chest.
Although the security in one of the Districts was very good, it couldn't stop some lunatics who liked to take risks.
Ever since she could remember, she had seen no fewer than ten cases of Rukongai residents committing crimes in one of the Districts, some even committing murder and breaking into homes.
Her brother was not here at the moment.
It was just the two of them, two girls.
They had to be careful.
…"Yoriichi-ge, see you again!"
The "brother" waved at Tsugikuni Yoriichi, then disappeared at the end of the street.
The clamour of human voices filled his ears, as if he had returned to the past.
Yoriichi silently tucked his Zanpakuto under his clothes and walked towards his home.
In front of the door, it was very quiet.
Yoriichi slowed his breathing, placed his hands on the door, and was about to knock.
A faint scent of blood vaguely appeared in his nostrils.
The scent of blood came suddenly.
He disregarded politeness.
Whoosh.
He instantly flashed into the courtyard.
At this moment, dust was scattered throughout the courtyard. Following his senses, he focused his gaze on one spot.
By the shimmering pond, a Shinigami dressed in a Shinigami uniform was holding a Zanpakuto, confronting two girls.
At first glance, this scene looked like bullying, with the strong oppressing the weak.
But in reality, a few drops of blood were dripping from the Shinigami's waist.
The scent of blood that Yoriichi initially smelled originated from him.
"Kaneda, Twelfth Seat?"
"It's you!?"
Hearing Tsugikuni Yoriichi's voice, Kaneda slowly turned around.
His face was somewhat distorted, and veins were slowly throbbing on his forehead and cheeks.
Some veins even broke through his skin, like tentacles, waving in the air.
His whole body exuded the reishi of a Hollow.
Seeing this, Tsugikuni Yoriichi's anger surged, and he sternly said, "Kaneda, Twelfth Seat, have you been corrupted by a Hollow?"
It was his first time seeing a Shinigami controlled by a Hollow.
If it weren't for the reishi purifier in Rukia's palm, it might have been too late by the time he returned.
What exactly was going on today?
First, an Adjuchas appeared.
Then, Kaneda, the Twelfth Seat, who was presumed dead in battle, reappeared, seemingly transformed into a Hollow…
If such a mission report were to be written down and submitted, the Gotei 13 would probably send it back to be rewritten on the grounds of fabricating facts.
It was too bizarre!