Cat Demon.
This was Kuchiki Byakuya's exclusive term of disdain for Shihoin Yoruichi.
Shihoin Yoruichi had always relied on her Shunpo to bully the young Kuchiki Byakuya, forcing him to work hard at Shunpo as well, which made Byakuya extremely angry at her yet also somewhat respectful.
The two of them were acquainted.
Shihoin Yoruichi and Kuchiki Byakuya were both Patriarchs of the Four Great Noble Clans.
That was also why Shihoin Yoruichi understood Kuchiki Byakuya's character very well; she knew exactly what this little guy was like—a complicated person who followed the rules yet valued feelings very highly.
"Tsk…"
Shihoin Yoruichi chuckled softly, flashed forward to land in front of Kuchiki Byakuya, and teasingly reached out to grab the aloof young man's chin. "I really don't know what to say about you… compared to when you were a kid, you're not cute at all anymore!"
"…You!"
The aloof young man sprang back!
Unfortunately, with his Spiritual Power sealed by Uehara Naraku, his speed was nowhere near Shihoin Yoruichi's; his chin was grabbed by her in an instant!
"Be good and tell me, why are you staying in the Mortal World…"
Shihoin Yoruichi laughed lightly as she stroked Kuchiki Byakuya's chin and went on, "Someone like you is only suited to being a high-and-mighty Captain of the Shinigami. How could you possibly be willing to stay in a place like the Mortal World? Even with your Spiritual Power sealed, staying in the Soul Society would be safer, right!"
"Shut up."
Kuchiki Byakuya's face instantly darkened as he spoke coldly. "Cat Demon, tell me, where is Urahara Kisuke?"
Even with his Spiritual Power temporarily sealed, the aura around Kuchiki Byakuya was still icy and arrogant, as if he was still that overwhelmingly powerful Captain of Squad 6!
"What do you want him for?"
A hint of interest immediately appeared on Shihoin Yoruichi's face. "Don't tell me you're planning to buy a Gigai from Urahara? Are you really planning to live in the Mortal World?"
"I want to ask him what he did to Rukia…"
A flash of cold light crossed Kuchiki Byakuya's face. His gaze locked firmly onto Shihoin Yoruichi before him, and in that split second he caught a flash of shock in Yoruichi's eyes, which made his heart suddenly tense up!
Kuchiki Byakuya slowly clenched his fingers and stared straight at Shihoin Yoruichi as he continued, "I think you people should know where I adopted Rukia…"
"…"
Shihoin Yoruichi's expression finally changed completely.
In this world, there were very few people who could make this woman, Shihoin Yoruichi, become serious—but the owner of the orphanage where Rukia once lived was definitely one of them… Yakushi Kabuto!
That was Urahara Kisuke's teacher!
Looking at Shihoin Yoruichi's face, which had drastically changed, Kuchiki Byakuya continued in an icy voice, "When I adopted Rukia, Mr. Kabuto told me something…
If anything ever happened to Rukia, I should go find his former disciple Urahara and ask clearly, so I would know exactly what Urahara had done to Rukia."
Although Kuchiki Byakuya didn't really like Yakushi Kabuto, that always-smiling orphanage director, his own father had a very good relationship with Kabuto.
What Yakushi Kabuto said could barely be trusted.
Or rather, for Kuchiki Byakuya, at this moment nothing was more important than finding Urahara Kisuke and getting to the bottom of the truth!
Kuchiki Byakuya respected the rules of the Quiet Spirit Court.
He also didn't want to see Rukia being judged by the Quiet Spirit Court for no reason, and according to his estimation, Rukia would almost certainly be sentenced to the ultimate punishment.
If Rukia had truly committed some heinous, unforgivable crime, Kuchiki Byakuya would absolutely not defy the rules; but if Rukia had really been framed by someone…
Then they couldn't blame him for whatever he might do to save his little sister!
Originally, Kuchiki Byakuya had still been somewhat doubtful about the words Yakushi Kabuto had left behind, but seeing Shihoin Yoruichi's expression now, he already knew that what Kabuto said was indeed true!
His little sister Rukia…
Was hiding a huge secret!
"…"
Shihoin Yoruichi fell silent for a while before a sigh finally crossed her face. "Mr. Kabuto actually knew about that already… Yeah… something like that… how could it possibly be hidden from Mr. Kabuto?"
They had hidden the unfinished Hogyoku inside Kuchiki Rukia's body, thinking they had kept it from Yakushi Kabuto all along; they hadn't expected that Kabuto had been watching this whole time…
Compared to Shihoin Yoruichi, Urahara Kisuke was more accepting of such things; he had already known that his teacher had a high probability of being aware of the secret on Rukia's body.
Since Yakushi Kabuto had already told Kuchiki Byakuya about Rukia, Urahara Kisuke and Shihoin Yoruichi no longer intended to keep this matter concealed.
Once Kuchiki Rukia was executed…
The secret inside her body would definitely be exposed!
No matter what, that Hogyoku absolutely could not be exposed in the Soul Society. No matter whose hands it fell into, it might cause a disaster!
Especially with two forces still coveting the Hogyoku from the shadows…
Orochimaru and Aizen Sousuke's group hiding in the Hollow World…
And the Fifth of the Thirteen Deadguard of the Uehara Race, Senju Tobirama, who had always coveted the Hogyoku!
"All right, undo the seal for me first…"
Kuchiki Byakuya cast a glance at Urahara Kisuke.
Earlier, he hadn't paid much mind to being sealed by Uehara Naraku, precisely because he believed Urahara Kisuke could help undo the seal—after all, besides Urahara, there was also a former Captain of the Kido Corps here.
These two…
Were both extremely skilled in Ghost Path Technique!
A mere seal—wouldn't it be child's play?