Sojun Kuchiki.
Mirai knew the name.
He was the oldest son of the Kuchiki family. He was also the Lieutenant of the Sixth Division. People knew him for being kind and polite. He was not arrogant like other nobles. He had a very good reputation in his squad and with other nobles.
Some people said he was physically weak. However, no one doubted his skills. No one doubted that he would lead the Kuchiki family.
Mirai did not think the fighting between nobles would become this bad. The future leader of a top House like the Kuchiki was dead.
This was not just a small fight anymore.
The situation was much more serious than he thought.
Mirai stopped feeling shocked. He tried to breathe normally. He looked at Yoruichi again. She was sitting in her chair and looked very sad.
He did not ask how the man died or who killed him.
Instead, he asked about things that worried him.
"Will this make the fight bigger? Will it spread into the Gotei 13 or the Rukongai?"
Yoruichi opened her eyes. Her eyes looked empty in the light of the candle.
She looked at Mirai and moved her lip. She gave a smile that was not warm.
"Do not worry. The old leaders and Yamamoto have a plan. This mess will stay with the nobles.
"If they let it spread, it would hurt the Seireitei or the World of the Living. If that happened, do you think Yamamoto would not use his sword, Ryujin Jakka?"
She sounded like she was making fun of them. "Also, they are just fighting for power. They want an empty seat and its votes."
"Are they fighting for a noble seat?" Mirai asked. He wanted to find the real reason.
Yoruichi stopped and moved her body. It seemed hard to talk while lying down.
"You know that the Shiba family is one of the Five Great Houses. But they have not lived in the noble area for a long time. The whole family moved to the edge of Junrinan."
"Yeah. I have seen their building from far away a few times," Mirai said. He remembered it.
The Shiba house looked strange. It looked like a giant chimney. It was very easy to see at the edge of Junrinan. It did not look like the elegant buildings in the noble area.
The Shiba family was one of the Five Great Houses. They moved out of the noble area hundreds of years ago. They lived in the Rukongai and moved many times. This was very unusual in the Soul Society.
Yoruichi sighed softly. She felt many things.
"It is because the leader of the Shiba family, Kaien Shiba, sent a letter to the Noble Council.
"The Shiba family is leaving the nobility completely."
"They are leaving the nobility?" Mirai was very surprised. "Why?"
In the Soul Society, being a noble meant having power and resources. Nobles were safe and helped make big decisions.
Living in the Noble District was a dream for many normal souls. They would work many lifetimes for it.
Also, the Central 46 made big choices. But the Noble Council was also very powerful everywhere.
The Shiba family was one of the Five Great Houses. They had a very important vote in the council.
Because they had power, other groups wanted to use them.
For example, if the Omaeda family wanted to do something big, they might need the Shiba family's help. If they had the Shiba family, they would surely succeed.
Why would they give up that power? Maybe there was a reason.
"Did something happen to the Shiba family? Are they becoming weak?" Mirai asked.
Yoruichi moved her lip. "It is not exactly that they are weak. Many years ago, the old leader of the Shiba family died.
"Kaien Shiba is the new leader. You probably saw him in the World of the Living. He is the 3rd Seat of the Thirteenth Division. He decided to leave the nobility.
"He gave up being a noble so he could join the Gotei 13.
"The Lieutenant position in the Thirteenth Division is empty. I heard they are saving it for him.
"If Captain Ukitake gets too sick, Kaien will probably become the Captain."
Mirai understood. "I see. It is a trade."
He traded his noble seat for a good job in the Gotei 13. He would be under the protection of Yamamoto.
There was a lot of fighting among the nobles. This was a smart way to survive. He gave up one thing to save his family.
Mirai realized he was wrong about Kaien Shiba before. Kaien was very brave and could make big choices.
"That is enough. This talk makes me angry." Yoruichi waved her hand. She still looked worried.
"You came here late at night. Did you just want to hear gossip? Is something wrong?"
Mirai shook his head. "I already found the answer."
He came to see how bad the trouble in the Soul Society was.
Now he knew that Sojun Kuchiki was dead. The situation was much more serious than he thought.
However, Yoruichi said the trouble was only for the nobles.
It would not affect a normal Shinigami like him if he stayed away.
Yoruichi sat up. She looked at Mirai for a few seconds.
"Is that true? Good." She did not ask more. She changed the topic.
"Also, I want to tell you something. I will be working with Kisuke Urahara.
"He was just promoted to 5th Seat. I will let him manage the Maggot's Nest."
Yoruichi looked disgusted.
"Too many people working for me are nobles or have links to noble families.
"The Maggot's Nest will probably have trouble soon.
"I do not trust those people to watch the prisoners.
"Kisuke is smart and he is not involved with the nobles. He is the best person for this."
Mirai nodded. He understood.
There were three places for prisoners in the Soul Society:
The Ninth Division managed normal prisons for Shinigami who broke the law.
The Central Great Prison was for very bad criminals. The Central 46 controlled it.
The Maggot's Nest was managed by the Second Division. It was a very secret place.
The people there were not normal criminals. They knew secrets or were too dangerous.
It was a secret prison that no one knew about.
Kisuke had already built a base for Mirai. Mirai did not want to stop Kisuke's career.
Also, Yoruichi gave the Maggot's Nest to Urahara for a reason.
She did not trust the nobles in the Second Division.
The noble groups were very complicated. Even the nobles serving the Shihoin family might have their own plans. Maybe they wanted more power.
Mirai thought for a bit. He looked at Yoruichi and spoke calmly.
"If you need help, tell me."
Yoruichi laughed. Her purple hair moved.
"Hahaha! It is rare to hear you being so helpful! But I do not need your help this time.
"This does not really involve the Shihoin family. I do not want to be part of this mess."
She stopped laughing and moved her shoulders. "But I am the Captain of the Second Division. I have work to do.
"I will just lock up the people who cause trouble. I need to stop them from making things worse."
"Okay, if you have nothing else, go back." She leaned back in her chair. She looked lazy again.
Mirai did not say anything else. He stood up and left.
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Sorry, everyone I had the posting schedule set up incorrectly over the last four days, which is why the latest chapters didn't go up. I apologize for the mistake, and thank you for your patience. The uploads should be back on track now
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