Chapter 91: Yoruichi's Plight
Somewhere in Rukongai, nestled within a stretch of rolling valleys, lay a secluded hot spring grotto.
The milky-white waters emitted a hazy mist.
The dark-skinned girl soaked in the water, leaning against the rocks by the hot spring, exhaling comfortably with a long sigh.
"Ah... pure bliss~"
Yoruichi narrowed her eyes, revealing a kitten-like expression.
Just as she was about to relax properly, her ears suddenly twitched.
Footsteps approached from the distant cavern.
And they were fast!
Yoruichi's gaze turned cold as she extended one hand from the hot spring, fingertips glowing with spiritual particles.
Then, she saw a boy wearing a Shin'ō Academy uniform and a young girl from the Onmitsukidō appear at the cavern entrance.
Recognizing the two, Yoruichi paused slightly before curling her lips and dispersing the fully charged Kidō in her hand.
"My, how frightening—walking in to see someone pointing Kidō at me."
Seeing Yoruichi wield Kidō so skillfully, Satoru let out a small sigh of relief.
It seemed her injuries weren't severe enough to affect her control over spiritual particles.
Yoruichi lounged in the water, lazily draping one arm over the rocks behind her:
"What can I do? Someone seriously insisted I shouldn't let others see my body."
As she said this, she fixed her teasing smile on Satoru.
Satoru: "..."
He coughed and changed the subject. "Where are you hurt? How bad is it?"
At this, Yoruichi turned slightly, lifting her other arm from the water.
A long wound stretched from her shoulder down to midway along her upper arm.
Though the bleeding had stopped, the severity of the injury was still evident.
Satoru frowned slightly.
Just as he was about to speak, Yoruichi stood up from the water.
The sudden movement startled him.
With a splash, Yoruichi turned around.
On her back, an area the size of two palms had been scorched, exposing the dermis beneath.
Satoru clicked his tongue.
"They really went all out."
Yoruichi's back had clearly been struck by high-level Kidō.
Fortunately, he had prepared the Hell Hot Spring in advance to treat his and Suì-Fēng's hands last time.
Without the hot spring, relying solely on healing Kidō would likely have left significant scars.
Imagining that scenario, Satoru narrowed his eyes.
"Easy there, easy there."
Sensing the shift in Satoru's demeanor, Yoruichi waved her hand with a laugh.
"It's just a few injuries... For the Onmitsukidō, getting hurt is as routine as eating or drinking. No need to make a fuss."
Satoru sat cross-legged on the ground. "How did you get hurt?"
Hearing this, Suì-Fēng, who had been standing to the side, lowered her head.
"I'm sorry, it's all my fault. If not for me—"
"Has nothing to do with Suì-Fēng."
Yoruichi settled back into the hot spring and turned around, waving dismissively.
When it came to serious matters, her expression grew more solemn.
"Satoru, have you heard of the 'Tsunayashiro' family?"
Satoru thought for a few seconds. "One of the Five Great Noble Families?"
Before crossing into this world, he hadn't actually heard of this family.
Only after arriving here, as his knowledge expanded, did he gradually learn about previously unknown families.
Yoruichi nodded. "Yes, one of the Five Great Noble Families—and one of the true power players in the Soul Society."
"In the Central 46, the Tsunayashiro family and its vassal families hold a staggering forty percent of the seats!"
Forty percent?
This time, Satoru was genuinely surprised.
Among the Soul Society's Five Great Noble Families, the Tsunayashiro alone held forty percent of the Central 46 seats.
Did that make the other four families insignificant in comparison?
Seemingly guessing Satoru's thoughts, Yoruichi smiled.
"The Kuchiki family still holds considerable power—they account for over thirty percent."
"Several hundred years ago, the influence of the Five Great Noble Families was roughly equal... The reason it's like this now is quite simple."
"The old heads of the Shiba and Tsunayashiro families are still alive and well."
"But in my family, the Shihōin clan, most of the older generation has passed away."
"Though the younger generation has talent, they're all too young to hold their own."
"The minor nobles are all opportunists—they side with whoever's winning."
"Just wait. Once I grow stronger and more capable, they'll all come crawling back!"
As she spoke, Yoruichi flashed a big grin, flexing her arm in a power pose.
Satoru asked curiously, "Is the Tsunayashiro family really that strong? If they're so powerful, why haven't I seen any of them in the Gotei 13?"
Yoruichi scoffed. "Because the Tsunayashiro family looks down on that sort of thing."
"Their members have always believed nobles should remain aloof and superior."
"To quote their old man: 'We of the Five Great Noble Families disgrace our lineage by serving as mere enforcers in the Gotei 13.'"
"Satoru, don't underestimate them just because they don't have any captains."
"Their family's waters run deep!"
Satoru nodded thoughtfully.
Yoruichi's words had indeed given him pause.
Until now, he'd assumed all of Soul Society's power was concentrated in the Gotei 13.
Beyond the captains, he thought Soul Society had no other significant forces.
The so-called nobles were just a bunch of freeloaders—relying on institutional privileges dating back a million years to lord it over the captains.
But hearing Yoruichi's explanation, it seemed there truly were capable individuals among the nobility...
"I'll keep that in mind."
"But let's get back to you. Why bring up the Tsunayashiro family all of a sudden? Could your injuries...?"
Yoruichi replied, "Not long ago, after the prison assault incident, the Captain-Commander ordered us to lead attacks on several of the rebels' hidden bases."
"Thanks to our surprise assaults, the rebels suffered heavy losses—three high-ranking officers were killed on the spot."
"But... in truth, we didn't hit all the bases we knew about."
"While attacking some locations, the Onmitsukidō kept surveillance on the remaining hideouts."
"After testing the waters several times without incident, the rebels finally took the bait and began large-scale relocations."
"Once we confirmed their final rally point, Suì-Fēng and I personally went to monitor them, planning to strike soon and wipe them out completely!"
"Then last night, we were discovered."
"Several highly skilled individuals tried to surround and kill us."
"Had it been other Onmitsukidō members, they might have succeeded... Too bad for them, they ran into me—Yoruichi Shihōin!"
"Catching up to my speed isn't so easy!"
Though Yoruichi made it sound lighthearted, Satoru could imagine how perilous the situation must have been.
Under Satoru's gaze, Yoruichi narrowed her eyes:
"During our escape, I took a Sōkatsui head-on and wounded one of them."
"Through the tear in his stealth suit, I saw... the Tsunayashiro family crest!"
----------
For advance chapters join my Patreon.
[email protected]/Aarvan