With that, Toshiro proceeded to beat up Isshin again.
Bang! Thud! Crash!
Ping! Pang! Pong!
After a long while, Toshiro finally let go of the bruised and battered Isshin, feeling refreshed as he exhaled.
After the commotion, everyone quieted down. Then Isshin suddenly said, "Oh, right, Toshiro. I have some family matters to attend to today, so I'll head back first."
Toshiro frowned. "Captain, you're not slacking off again, are you? Normally, I'd let it slide, but wait a moment. I want to introduce someone new joining our 10th Division."
"Hey, come in, Ashido. Don't just stand outside," Toshiro called towards the door.
Ashido hadn't entered with Toshiro earlier, and he had stayed outside.
After Ashido entered, Toshiro introduced him to Isshin and Rangiku. "This is Ashido. He'll be joining our 10th Division from now on."
Then Ashido introduced himself. "Captain Shiba, Lieutenant Matsumoto, hello. I am Ashido. I'll be part of the 10th Division from now on. Please guide me."
"Oh, hello. Come to think of it, we saw you following Toshiro when we went to welcome him back earlier. Were you part of the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force before?" Isshin asked.
When Isshin and the others went to welcome Toshiro, they saw Ashido following him. So Isshin assumed Ashido was a Shinigami from the expeditionary force, now recruited by Toshiro for the 10th Division.
Hearing Isshin, Ashido hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded. "Well, if I had to say, I am indeed part of the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force, just not the current one."
"Oh? How so?" Isshin asked curiously.
Before Ashido could speak, Toshiro answered for him. "Ashido was part of the first generation of the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force. When the expeditionary force was established centuries ago, he served as its commander. Later, due to certain circumstances, he stayed in the Forest of Menos to fight Hollows. The Soul Society believed Ashido had died in battle. This time, when I went to Hueco Mundo, Shunsui asked me to help find Ashido. I gave it a try and, unexpectedly, really found him."
Isshin Shiba continued, "So you saw his abilities and tricked him to our 10th Division."
"Hmph, so rude, Captain," Toshiro snorted. "What do you mean 'tricked'? It was an invitation. Besides, originally, I was the one 'tricked' to the 10th Division by you."
"Alright, alright, enough of that," Isshin waved his hand. "I have some important matters today, so I'll head back first. As for Ashido's position, you decide. After all, you handled the 10th Division's affairs before. And Ashido is someone you brought back, so arranging his duties is up to you."
Then Isshin said to Ashido, "My apologies, Ashido. Normally, when someone joins our 10th Division, I, as Captain, should properly welcome you. But unfortunately, I really have some important matters to attend to today. So we'll have to do it next time."
With that, Isshin walked towards the door.
As Isshin passed Toshiro, Toshiro couldn't help but ask, "Captain, is there something important going on?"
Originally, regardless of Ashido being the former first commander of the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force, even if he were just an ordinary Shinigami joining the 10th Division, Isshin should have offered some encouragement. But now, Isshin was leaving Ashido aside, in a hurry to leave, which was quite strange.
Moreover, today was the day Toshiro returned to the 10th Division.
Although Toshiro, Isshin, and Rangiku often bickered, their relationship was surprisingly strong. Toshiro just returned, and Isshin was already leaving. There must be something important, making Toshiro both curious and concerned.
Hearing Toshiro, a trace of sadness appeared on Isshin's face. He wanted to say something to Toshiro but ultimately couldn't bring himself to. He just said somewhat sorrowfully, "It's nothing much. Just some family matters I must attend to."
Then, without waiting for Toshiro's next question, Isshin quickly left.
Toshiro frowned, looking in the direction Isshin left, then turned to Rangiku and asked seriously, "Hey, Rangiku, what exactly happened to the captain?"
"Sigh..."
Hearing this, Rangiku sighed. The usually unserious Rangiku became uncharacteristically serious. "Toshiro, actually, while you were away from the Soul Society, something happened here."
"What happened?" Toshiro asked with a serious expression.
Although he didn't know what it was, judging by Rangiku's expression, it wasn't trivial.
Rangiku took a deep breath and answered solemnly, "The head of the Shiba Clan, one of the Five Great Noble Houses, former Lieutenant of the 13th Division, Shiba Kaien, died in battle with a Hollow."
"What?!" Toshiro exclaimed in shock.
Rangiku explained to Toshiro, "Some time after you went to Hueco Mundo, a Hollow with fusion abilities, capable of devouring and assimilating others, appeared in the Soul Society. Shiba Miyako, the Third Seat of the 13th Division and wife of Lieutenant Shiba, was unfortunately devoured. So Lieutenant Shiba sought revenge for his wife, but unfortunately, he was also devoured and assimilated. To maintain clear consciousness and uphold Shinigami dignity, Lieutenant Shiba ultimately impaled himself on Kuchiki Rukia's Zanpakuto and sacrificed himself."
"I see. No wonder Captain, who's usually carefree, looked so sad," Toshiro understood.
Isshin was the head of the Shiba Clan's branch family and Shiba Kaien's uncle. With Kaien's death, Isshin was essentially an elder mourning a younger generation's death. Although Isshin wasn't much older than Kaien and his hair wasn't white, losing a relative must be painful.
Rangiku continued explaining to Toshiro, "Your return timing is unfortunate. Today, Captain and other Shiba Clan's members are going to pay respects to Shiba Kaien. So he doesn't have time to properly welcome you and Ashido."
Toshiro shook his head. A welcome wasn't important to him. He was just worried about Isshin.