Bleach: No cheat codes, he joined Aizen's side.

Chapter 222. Yoruichi Shihouin VS Soi Fon (Part 220)

On the streets of Rukongai, there were no pedestrians, no onlookers, only the warm sun hanging high overhead, and a pair of "master and servant" who had been separated for a long time.

As a member of the lower-ranking noble family, the Hoshino family, Soi Fon has been loyal to the Shihōin family for generations. It is not wrong to say that Soi Fon is a servant of the Shihōin family.

"Lord Yoruichi, have you truly betrayed Soul Society?"

Soi Fon, panting, half-squatted on the ground, releasing her spiritual pressure in a restrained manner.

She never imagined that her reunion with Yoruichi Shihouin would be like this.

Before this, Soi Fon had imagined similar scenes countless times in her mind. Every time, her first words were to question Yoruichi Shihouin about why she had left without saying goodbye that day.

But now, Soi Fon, who was almost killed by Yoruichi Shihouin in one move, is somewhat confused as to what exactly made the former Yoruichi become like this.

Did the Captain-Commander and his team not wrong Kisuke Urahara back then?

But Xiuyi is not...
In short, Soi Fon's little brain was completely unable to make sense of the logical relationships involved.

"If I told you that I didn't mean to do it just now, and that I just mistook you for someone else, would you still believe me, Koya?"

Seeing Soi Fon's somewhat wavering yet stubborn gaze, Yoruichi Shihouin immediately withdrew her spiritual pressure and dissipated the lightning surrounding her body.

Not only Soi Fon, but even Yoruichi Shihouin herself was completely unprepared to meet Soi Fon under these circumstances.

Originally, Yoruichi Shihouin's plan was that all her actions upon returning to Soul Society should be completely secretive, and no one in Soul Society should know that she had secretly returned.

She was only there to gather information about the current situation in Soul Society on behalf of Kisuke Urahara.

However, Yoruichi Shihouin tragically discovered that in less than fifty years since she left Soul Society, the entire Soul Society had become almost unrecognizable to her.

Aside from the fact that the Gotei 13 remained largely unchanged, the return of Shuichi Higashino, the formation of the Sword Hunters, the relentless pressure from the Yayoi Tsuna family, and even Barragan's attack in Hueco Mundo, all completely exceeded Yoruichi Shihouin's expectations.

It's hard to imagine that all of this happened in just a few decades.

Especially now, the former captain of the 11th Division of the Gotei 13, Kenpachi Azajo, who has been buried in obscurity, is suspected of secretly joining the Tsunayoshiro family's camp. This makes the current Soul Society even more incomprehensible to Yoruichi Shihouin.

Yoruichi Shihouin initially thought she would likely disappoint her "little sister" again, and planned to find an opportunity to use Shunpo to force her way out. However, Soi Fon's answer completely surprised Yoruichi.

"I believe you. So, Lord Yoruichi, are you also willing to believe me?"

Soi Fon answered Yoruichi Shihouin almost without hesitation, and to show her sincerity, she also withdrew her spiritual pressure and released her Zanpakuto, restoring it to its Asauchi form.

"Of course I believe you, Kotori~"

Yoruichi Shihouin naturally knew and trusted Soi Fon completely; otherwise, she wouldn't have been so calm and relaxed, allowing herself to talk to Soi Fon in such a place.

However, this is not the scene that Higashino Shuichi hoped to see.

In Higashino Shuichi's memory, Soi Fon's reaction should not have been so calm and indifferent.

"Judging from your expression, you seem quite disappointed?"

At this moment, Yulu Tuoli, who was still pressed against Higashino Shuichi's back, breathed into Higashino Shuichi's ear.

"Actually, this is quite normal~ After all, in that little one's heart, there is another person whose status is similar to that of the kitten. She has already given that other person all the excitement, anger, and questioning she should have, and that other person has already given her an answer, hasn't she?"

Higashino Shuichi remained silent.

However, the way he turned around already expressed his attitude.

Indeed, Higashino Shuichi forgot that, in essence, he and Yoruichi Shihouin were not much different from Soi Fon, because they were both "victims" of that incident.

In the original storyline, Yoruichi Shihouin never appeared in front of Soi Fon after her defection, and no one explained anything to Soi Fon. As a result, the misunderstandings and resentments deepened over time.

However, now, because Higashino Shuichi was recalled by Tsunayoshiro Kanbara ahead of schedule, and has maintained a fairly good personal relationship with Shihouin Yuushirou Sakimune, the current head of the Shihouin family.

Furthermore, over the decades, Higashino Shuichi has never given up on insisting that he was wronged back then.

This led Soi Fon to almost implicitly accept the fact that Kisuke Urahara was one of the members who were wrongly accused along with Shuichi Higashino.

As a close friend of Kisuke Urahara, Yoruichi Shihouin naturally had ample reason to defect with him.

With this foundation, Soi Fon may still resent Yoruichi Shihouin for leaving without saying goodbye back then, but that level of anger is no longer enough to influence Soi Fon's judgment.

"Huh? Why are you leaving?"

Aren't you going to watch anymore?

Seeing that Higashino Shuichi had shaken her off and left in another direction, Yuru Takuru stood there in a daze and asked in confusion.

Isn't this just the beginning of the real show?

"No need. I can already guess what will happen next. Why don't we go check on Rukia's current situation? You mean you've temporarily placed her at 41 Sakura Avenue in Seireitei?"

"Hisano Shuichi said listlessly."

A reunion without conflict lacks the passion that makes it worth watching.

However, Shuichi Higashino may have mistakenly underestimated the persistence of a young girl, or rather, he failed to realize the impact that the recent series of events in Soul Society would have on Soi Fon.

He thought that Soi Fon wanted Yoruichi Shihouin to believe her in order to help Yoruichi Shihouin clear her name, and from Soi Fon's perspective, this was indeed the most normal thing to do.

However, Soi Fon spoke earnestly to Yoruichi Shihouin.
"Since you, Lord Yoruichi, are willing to believe me, then please come back with me. I assure you, I will personally guard you until your innocence is proven!"

"Hahaha," Yoruichi Shihouin laughed from the bottom of her heart, because this Soi Fon was a little different from before. At least based on Yoruichi Shihouin's past impression of Soi Fon, the little Soi Fon of the past would never have said such a thing to her.

However, this Soi Fon made Yoruichi Shihouin feel a little bit of familiarity.

Soi Fon, so simple and stubborn, seems to have changed little compared to the Soi Fon of the past.

"Sho Aya. No, I should call you Captain Soi Fon of the Second Division of the Gotei 13. What if my answer is no?"

"What would you do?" Yoruichi Shihouin stood there straight, separated from Soi Fon by only half a street.

The streets of Rukongai are not as wide as those in Seireitei; they are very narrow, so narrow that Yoruichi Shihouin could probably walk through them with just a few light steps.

However, the street that runs between Yoruichi Shihouin and Soi Fon is very long, so long that Soi Fon knows it's a distance she can't cross today.

There is only one way for her to reach the other side.

"Steep and kill! Suzume-bumblebee!"

Soi Fon's response was the cold, icy release command of her Zanpakuto.

"Come on, Koya, let me see if you've improved in these past few decades!"

Faced with Soi Fon's Shikai, Yoruichi Shihouin was not one to be coy and accepted the result with great composure. At the same time, she was also glad that she had found a place to put the body of the girl named Rukia before she returned to fight. Otherwise, she would have been in a situation where she could not clear her name no matter what she did in front of Soi Fon.

"You'll be surprised, Lord Yoruichi!"

Soi Fon said coldly.

Once she entered battle mode, her eyes gradually became clear and cold.

This was a characteristic she developed after countless training sessions with Higashino Shuichi, which he honed in her.

Because Higashino Shuichi constantly taught Soi Fon during their private training sessions that if Soi Fon didn't fight with the intention of killing her opponent, she would never achieve a true victory.

This time, Soi Fon was determined to capture Yoruichi Shihouin no matter what.

She firmly believed that even a Hollowfied Shinigami like Shuichi, who single-handedly defeated several Captain-level Shinigami during his defection, causing the entire Soul Society to lose face, could be accepted by the current Soul Society. There was no reason why Yoruichi, who had not made any mistakes, had not been Hollowfied, and had simply "accidentally" followed Kisuke Urahara and the others to the human world, could not be forgiven.

It's worth noting that another person in a similar situation to Yoruichi, the head of the Kabuto family, Sayako Kabuto, one of the five great noble families, was also forgiven after returning home.
She remains the same aloof and powerful head of the Kabuto family, unchanged in the slightest.

Unfortunately, Soi Fon's thoughts could not be known to Shuichi Higashino, otherwise the latter would have given Soi Fon a good whack on the head and told her that there are differences between people, and between heads of families.

What is the status of the Kabuto family in Soul Society?
Even the Shiba family's scumbags are inferior; aside from having a seemingly prestigious title, they have no real power.

And what is the status of the Shihouin family in Soul Society?
Leaving aside the minor nobles who still support the Shihouin family, your status as a current captain of the Second Division and a die-hard loyalist is enough to make people wary.

Therefore, if Kabuto Sayaka can be easily forgiven, can Yoruichi Shihouin also be forgiven?
Even now, in the Soul Society where the Kuchiki family hasn't made a complete decision yet, and the Tsunayo family is at the height of its power.

Even if the Tsunayoshiro family wasn't among the masterminds who drove Yoruichi Shihouin to defect with Kisuke Urahara, as beneficiaries, the Tsunayoshiro family would never have so easily allowed Yoruichi Shihouin, a former head of the Shihouin family with top-tier captain-level strength, to return, unless Tsunayoshiro Shinbara was an idiot.

Such a reality might be incomprehensible to Soi Fon, who has never thought about things from that level of perspective, but Yoruichi Shihouin is fully aware of it.

Even though she hasn't learned much since her return, based on the fragmented information she has gathered and what she has seen and heard so far, she can guess just how much the Tsunayo family has expanded.

Under such circumstances, she absolutely cannot return to Soul Society as a sinner.

Therefore, Yoruichi Shihouin also put in eight-tenths of her effort in this battle.

In mid-air, figures, lightning, and fierce winds intertwined continuously.

As the only spectator, Yuru Takuru clapped her hands happily on the spot, wanting to find someone to talk to about her feelings. However, Higashino Shuichi had already left to check on Rukia's condition.

"what!

It hurts so much, it hurts so much!

Got it!

"I can do that!"

Seeing that Soi Fon and Yoruichi Shihouin had completely lost their passion and the scene was becoming more and more explosive, and the surrounding space was beginning to show signs of collapse, Takuro Amatsu slapped his forehead and then made a replica of Higashino Shuichi next to him.

"The little guy used the Sixty-Seventh Thunderclap of the Haka to temporarily block the kitten's vision, and then took the opportunity to sneak up behind her and launch a sneak attack!"
What a pity, it was so close to success!

If even a single honeycomb pattern can be left on the kitten, the kitten is in danger!

"Well, you're right!"

"Wow~ The little guy used the 73rd Binding Spell, Mountain-Reversing Crystal, to defend against the kitten's Instant Kick. Perfect timing! But the kitten probably didn't expect that this was just a trick by the little guy. On the surface, it seemed that the little guy was protected inside the Mountain-Reversing Crystal, but in fact, the little guy ran out from another direction the moment the Mountain-Reversing Crystal was about to close. She wanted to launch a sneak attack on the kitten from below!"

Will she succeed?

"of course not!"

"Oh! What a pity. But isn't there only one bandage in the Shihouin family? Why can the kitten use it on the little guy?"

"Thank goodness, the little guy dodged it, otherwise the fight would have been over!"

"You forgot? The bandages on the Zanpakuto that Shihouin Yuushirou Sakimune gave me before were fake."

As the head of the Shihouin family, if he doesn't have the real thing, then the real thing must be in the hands of the little cat~

In this private space, Yulu Tuoru was completely absorbed in the frenzy of watching the battle with the "Higashino Shuichi" she had created, although it was entirely Yulu Tuoru's own self-indulgence.

But she thoroughly enjoyed the process.

Meanwhile, in the distance, Yoruichi Shihouin and Soi Fon were unaware that in another dimension, another Zanpakuto was spying on their battle, and it seemed to be reaching its climax.

Both of them realized that continuing this stalemate would not lead to any results.

Although Yoruichi Shihouin made significant contributions to Soi Fon's Slash Fist and Oni Style, the addition and continuous optimization by Shuichi Higashino led Soi Fon to completely adopt a pragmatic approach that leaned towards Higashino's style in this timeline.

After Soi Fon abandoned those useless fancy moves and unnecessary actions, her completely concise fighting style gave her a lot more room for error in her hand-to-hand combat with Yoruichi Shihouin.

Thanks to these margins of error, coupled with the threat of Soi Fon's Zanpakuto's two-hit kill, even the experienced Yoruichi Shihouin did not gain much advantage in her fight against Soi Fon.

Therefore, it's time to increase the intensity.
(End of this chapter)