Yoriichi bid farewell to Ishida Soken. Though the latter wished to converse more with Yoriichi, he had to temporarily abandon that idea due to the other party's identity and mission.
He thought that both their lifespans were extremely long, and there might be a chance to meet again in the future. It wouldn't be too late to discuss cooperation then.
This was only their first meeting; acting too suddenly might lead to counterproductive results.
He watched Yoriichi disappear into the Dangai, feeling a sense of loss.
Upon returning home, Ishida Soken raised his hand and shot a blue arrow into the sky.
Not long after, Ishida Ryūken, Katagiri Yae, and his wife quickly returned to the residence.
Ishida Ryūken looked around, his tightly furrowed brows never relaxing. He asked his father, "Father, have those four Shinigami left?"
"Who won? Was it a mutual defeat?"
He mainly wanted to ask the latter, as a mutual defeat was the outcome he most desired.
Ishida Soken's expression was complex. He tapped Ishida Ryūken's head, signaling him to be careful with his words, then said,
"The later Shinigami won. The three Shinigami before him were sent back to the Soul Society. Ryūken, you cannot curse our benefactor like that."
"If not for him, the Ishida line might have already suffered a great calamity."
"We should harbor gratitude."
"He? A benefactor?" Ishida Ryūken's eyes widened slightly. His youthful nature made him pout defiantly.
"I don't want to. He's just a Shinigami. Why should I call him that?"
"Father, you're exaggerating. Even without him, we definitely wouldn't have been exposed."
"Ultimately, all these troubles were caused by the Shinigami. They should be the ones to resolve them; that's their duty."
Ishida Ryūken's words made Ishida Soken shake his head gently.
What Yoriichi Tsugikuni said earlier was indeed correct; Ishida Ryūken was too self-centered.
This personality might not have had much impact before, but in the current situation, it was extremely prone to attracting disaster.
Ishida Soken sighed softly: "It seems you still don't understand, Ryūken. There has never been such a thing as 'duty' in this world."
"We are Quincy. If the Shinigami knew our identity, it would be reasonable for them to let us be."
"However, he risked intervening and fighting those three Captains…"
Ishida Soken did not mention the subsequent abandonment of erasing their memories, but Yoriichi's trusting tone at that time was deeply etched in his heart.
He paused briefly, his eyes filled with complex emotions: "Enough, Ryūken. Don't go out these days. Stay home and reflect properly."
"Yae, I'll trouble you. Please keep him confined for at least fifteen days."
He looked at Katagiri Yae, who, despite a slight hesitation, nodded.
Meanwhile,
Ishida Soken's decision greatly surprised Ishida Ryūken. How could his usually kind father become so resolute?
What exactly did that Shinigami say to his father?
He desperately wanted to resist and defend himself, because in his view, this was the Shinigami's responsibility.
However, the more he spoke, the more Ishida Soken realized how immature he was.
This further strengthened Ishida Soken's determination to forge bonds for his son. He knew that only when one had someone to care for in their heart would their personality gradually become mature and steady.
Everything was for the future of the Ishida.
He had to do it.
...
...
Outside the Spiritual Arts Academy in the Soul Society, several clear voices suddenly rang out.
"It's been hundreds of years since I've been back. The changes here don't seem significant… Yamamoto, you're not a qualified Head-Captain."
Shihouin Sennich familiarly patted Yamamoto Genryusai's shoulder, his beaming smile causing the latter's face to darken.
Thump.
Yamamoto Genryusai slammed his staff heavily on the ground, a dull sound echoing, as if venting his displeasure:
"Shihouin Sennich, you are already among the deceased. What right do you have to judge this old man?"
"Furthermore, stop smiling. You've been like this for hundreds of years. Why can't you be more mature and composed?"
Anyone unaware would think Yamamoto Genryusai had become a junior, being patted and poked by a 'youngster.' What kind of decorum was that?
Shihouin Sennich's lips curved slightly, his smile unrestrained:
"Because this is me! I haven't seen you in hundreds of years, Yamamoto. Which grade are you planning to assign me to as a teacher?"
"Just so you know, I only know Hakuda."
Yamamoto Genryusai snorted lightly: "This old man naturally knows."
"Given that you may not stay in the Soul Society for long, this old man has decided to unify the Hakuda curriculum for all six grades."
"You are not a teacher for a specific grade, but a unified Hakuda teacher for all six grades, personally instructing them in Hakuda techniques."
"This course will last for seven days or even longer."
Hearing this number, Shihouin Sennich exaggeratedly said, "Oh, aren't you afraid of working me to death? Six grades combined, that's at least a thousand people, right?"
"So what?" Yamamoto Genryusai glanced at him askance: "Will you, made of reishi, feel tired?"
At these words, Shihouin Sennich instantly fell silent. His previous playful demeanor vanished, replaced by a long sigh:
"You knew, huh? Indeed, we don't need rest. To be precise, our sleep was taken by Hell."
"No wonder that kid thought we were good material for teachers. So, Yamamoto, you were waiting for us here."
"Oh well, who told us we're Shinigami too."
Shihouin Sennich seemed resigned to his fate.
At this moment, Saito Furofushi, standing nearby, looked impatient and loudly declared:
"You can shut up, Yamamoto Genryusai. He teaches Hakuda, so we're not going to teach Zanjutsu, are we?"
"Let me make it clear, I won't be as willing as him. Even if I don't need rest, working for seven days straight… What do you take us for?"
Even prisoners of war and donkeys don't have it this bad.
These words caught Yamamoto Genryusai's attention. He looked at Saito Furofushi with slight surprise: "Aren't you prisoners of Hell?"
"To avoid going to Hell, you work and educate Shinigami to atone. Is there a problem?"
"This old man doesn't believe that your occasional teaching can offset the cost of my disciple releasing you to move freely."
"Saito Furofushi, you are also nearly a thousand years old. Why are your actions and thoughts still so naive?"
"It's no longer the time when you were a Captain."
Utilize everyone to their full potential.
As long as it helps Shinigami grow, who cares about their thoughts?
Besides, it's only seven days, not much. A thousand years have passed, what's another seven days?
Even a thousand years ago, Yamamoto Genryusai's attitude towards them was always firm, never compromising.
Furthermore, it was a seller's market now, and what was being sold was their time spent in the Soul Society.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni could send them to Hell at any time. As long as they didn't want to return to Hell, they had to agree to these terms.
For this reason, Shihouin Sennich didn't think much of it, but Saito Furofushi had always been spoiled and arrogant, which was why he questioned it.
At this question, the three instantly fell silent.
Finally, Bakuzan Saigyunzai broke the eerie silence.
She exhaled softly and asked, "I understand. When do we start?"
"Also, our three courses should be separate, right?"
"Each person will teach a maximum of five to seven hours a day."
"In that case, it's really nothing…"
"It officially begins tomorrow. Today, we'll give the students a chance to sign up first." Yamamoto Genryusai's tone was steady as he silently walked forward, quickly entering the Spiritual Arts Academy.
"Shihouin Sennich will teach Hakuda, and you and Saito Furofushi will teach Zanjutsu."
"Since your personalities are completely opposite, students can also be divided into two groups and choose their teachers themselves."
"I have to admit, that kid is quite good at finding people. Your personalities even save us the trouble of assigning classes."
One was gentle and generous, dignified and steady; the other was enchanting and wicked, cruel and irritable.
They almost encompassed all the strengths and weaknesses of women.
Normally, Shinigami would choose the former.
But some people just happened to prefer the latter.
Yamamoto Genryusai, having lived for two millennia, still couldn't understand the reason behind this.
But considering the plan to accelerate Shinigami learning, he was too lazy to think about it.
He attributed it all to the diversity of human personalities.
Bakuzan Saigyunzai nodded gently at the remark. Indeed.
If she remembered correctly, hundreds of years ago, when Saito Furofushi was still alive, she had a group of supporters, or so-called fans, who liked her.
The more irritable she became, the more excited those fans got. Even when she hit people, they would shout 'harder, harder,' and she never understood why.
Now she understood. It was probably because some of Saito Furofushi's characteristics resonated with them.
He would hit them... but they wouldn't die, so he naturally let her be. When one admires someone, they compare their actions to others.
With these thoughts, Bakuzan Saigyunzai imperceptibly shook her head.
Immediately after, the four officially entered the Spiritual Arts Academy.
Not long after, under the leadership of Yamamoto Genryusai, three classes were established, and students were encouraged to sign up.
...
At the same time, Yoruichi Shihouin, upon learning that Shihouin Sennich was not dead and was appearing at the Spiritual Arts Academy, almost choked and spat out the tea in her mouth.
"Cough, cough..." She coughed repeatedly, tears streaming down her face.
Thud.
She put down her teacup and took a long time to recover. She looked at Yoriichi Tsugikuni and Uta beside her, her voice hoarse and choked:
"What's going on...? Why is my grandfather back?"
"Did you do it?"
Although she didn't know the reason, Yoruichi Shihouin instinctively believed that this must be Yoriichi Tsugikuni's doing.
She didn't know why he didn't come back earlier or later, but precisely after Yoriichi completed his mission?
She didn't know how to describe this matter.
Yoriichi can now revive a dead person?
They are Shinigami, but not truly gods of death!
It was so outrageous it overturned her worldview.
...
Near the veranda, opposite the low table.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni quietly watched Yoruichi Shihouin coughing repeatedly, and a sigh quietly rose in his heart.
He was truly a bit confused; he hadn't said anything yet, so how did she so accurately guess it was his doing?
In his opinion, a dead person coming back to life was not some world-shattering event, after all, they had never truly died.
On the low table, steam rose from the teacup.
Yoriichi gently held the teacup, feeling the lingering warmth, and took a small sip, saying calmly:
"Why be so surprised? It's just your grandfather being revived..."
"This isn't worth being surprised about? Do you know how long my grandfather has been dead? A full three hundred years!"
The shock in Yoruichi Shihouin's heart at this moment was like surging waves, hard to calm.
She urgently wanted to know the whole story, because if her grandfather could be revived, then what about others?
"Three hundred years?"
Yoriichi silently calculated this number, recalling what Shihouin Sennich had said before... Yoruichi is over three hundred years old?
Yoruichi Shihouin didn't realize she had inadvertently revealed her age. She continued to press:
"Please, you must tell me what exactly happened when you went to the Human World."
"Also, where did those two women beside him come from?"
Since the four did not hide themselves when entering the Spiritual Arts Academy, Yoruichi Shihouin easily grasped the facial features of the three people other than Yamamoto Genryusai.
Although she was a Captain, she had never seen those First Generation Captains.
The first moment she saw those two women, she even thought they were romantic entanglements her grandfather had gotten into from who knows where.
"They are your grandfather's colleagues. As for the details of the mission, I cannot tell you; it is confidential."
"Not even if I'm the head of the Shihouin Clan?"
Yoriichi pondered for a moment, then shook his head: "No."
Matters of Hell supersede all nobles. However, if it were just casual conversation, he could roughly reconstruct the events through fragmented words.
Yoruichi Shihouin was initially extremely depressed, but as the conversation deepened, her eyes gradually lit up.
At the same time, Uta, who was beside them, also became deeply interested in these matters.
The Shinigami missions she could access were very few; she had never left Seireitei since entering it.
Although Seireitei was large and had many recreational spaces internally, it was ultimately too dull.
She thought that when Yoriichi had free time, perhaps during a vacation, the two of them could go to the Human World to have some fun.
But for now, just listening was enough.
After a while, Yoruichi roughly understood everything.
Of course, due to it being confidential, she didn't explicitly state it, only remarking:
"So, Grandfather Sennich once also conceived of the Hakuda technique of Shunko?"
"I can imagine his expression when he saw you use Shunko; his jaw must have dropped."
"Speaking of which, Yoriichi, how long will they stay in Soul Society?
"Can I go too?"
She also wanted to sign up for Shihouin Sennich's Hakuda class, for no other reason than that she hadn't seen Grandfather Sennich in hundreds of years.
Indeed, she was now a Captain, a Hakuda master, but a true master always carries the heart of a student.
What's wrong with relearning Hakuda?
Acting on her thoughts immediately, Yoruichi Shihouin instantly summoned someone to sign her up, and also to sign that person up herself.
As her voice fell, Suì-Fēng appeared in the courtyard.
Suì-Fēng gazed deeply at Yoruichi, her emotions extremely complex.
No... where did Yoruichi's grandfather come from? How did he just appear and immediately occupy all of Yoruichi's heart?
Suì-Fēng sighed softly. Even though her heart was full of reluctance, what could she do?
As a subordinate, as a maid, even if the Captain wanted the stars from the sky, she had to complete the task without fail.
As Suì-Fēng was leaving, Yoruichi suddenly remembered something and looked sideways at Yoriichi, asking:
"If I'm not mistaken, your sister, Matsumoto Rangiku, should also be studying at the Spiritual Arts Academy now, right?"
"Do you need me to look after her?"
"No need."
Yoriichi gently shook his head, "Her future path should be chosen by herself."
"Besides, I don't know if she chose Hakuda or Zanjutsu."
"Let everything take its natural course."
"You're right too."
Yoruichi pondered for a moment, a thoughtful look flashing in her eyes.
"But having said that, if I meet her, I will definitely help you look after her."
"After all, you allowed Grandfather Sennich to see the light of day again."
"I haven't had a chance to properly thank you."
"How about this..."
Yoruichi glanced at Uta, recalling her previous keen interest in matters of the Human World, and decisively slammed the table, saying,
"Next time you two want to vacation in the Human World during your holiday, the Shihouin Clan will cover all expenses, including the location and dining."
"I remember that although you are a couple, you probably never had a real honeymoon, and it seems you didn't have a wedding either."
"I know this might be because of the short time, not enough to plan, plus you're a Captain and can't get away..."
"Or perhaps you already experienced one during your human lives, but humans are humans, and Shinigami are Shinigami; the two cannot be confused."
"If you can't make a decision, then I'll help you decide. This is also for your happiness..."
"Yoriichi, what do you think, for Uta?"
Yoruichi was full of anticipation.
As soon as these words were spoken, both fell silent.
Uta's heart rippled, evidently not having thought of these things.
Indeed, as Yoruichi said, she had always believed that things done during her human life did not need to be repeated even after becoming a soul.
Of course, having children was an exception, as they currently had no children.
Uta thought that a wedding was too much of a waste of time and would interfere with Yoriichi's work, so she never brought it up to Yoriichi.
Ultimately, in the era she lived in, as commoners, their marriages were relatively simple even when they got married.
But Shinigami are different.
Yoriichi's eyes flickered slightly. He took a sip of tea, his emotions similar to Uta's.
Although he had a calm demeanor, he also couldn't settle down when it came to things like weddings or honeymoons.
Before the two could speak, Yoruichi continued:
"Haha, don't be shy! You two are the model couple in Seireitei. How can a couple not have a wedding?"
"Perhaps human thinking makes it difficult for you to accept these things, after all, one wedding is enough in a person's life..."
"But ultimately, you're not humans anymore."
"With such a long lifespan, why still act with human thinking?"
"If you have no ideas, I'll help you prepare."
"Yoriichi, don't back out now."
"Cough, cough..."
Yoriichi coughed repeatedly. How did things develop into this? He clearly hadn't said a word, right...? How was a wedding already happening?
Although he personally wasn't particularly resistant, things were developing too quickly.
Thinking of this, his gaze shifted slightly to Uta. Seeing her distracted, he imperceptibly sighed in his heart.
Oh well.