With Yoruichi's skills, reaching her destination undetected was not difficult. She wasn't heading to Kuchiki Rukia's holding cell, which Ichigo and the others were still searching for, but rather to Squad 13.
Unlike Ichigo, who charged into the Seireitei to save someone armed with nothing but sheer conviction, Urahara and Yoruichi were intimately familiar with this place they once called home.
Even if they called Hirako and the others over, they wouldn't have absolute certainty in bringing Rukia back to the World of the Living. Now, relying solely on Yoruichi herself and the remaining five brats, they had to recruit other capable individuals if they wanted to save her. Squad 13 Captain Ukitake Jūshirō was the best candidate.
Ukitake's past cooperation with Urahara proved that he didn't view him as an enemy at heart. Kind and righteous by nature, he wouldn't just stand by and watch Rukia die.
At the same time, Ukitake was one of the few highly senior captains currently in the Seireitei, and the only one who could influence another veteran captain—Kyōraku Shunsui. As long as these two took action regarding Rukia, Urahara's plan would have the most solid guarantee.
But why was *this* person at Squad 13? Yoruichi stared at Kyōraku Shunsui, who seemed to have recognized her. Given the current full-scale invasion of the Seireitei, shouldn't he be holding down the fort at Squad 8?
"Why did little Sayo come here? Could Lord Chōzuka be here too?"
"Where did her little clothes go? Could it be that this isn't Sayo!"
Kōtsubaki Sentarō and Kotetsu Kiyone gathered around, chiming in one after another until they were just short of concluding that the cat in front of them wasn't Sayo at all.
"It's summer, and cats hate the heat the most. You have to remember, Sayo is very smart," Shunsui replied with a smile, quickly changing the subject. "Any intel on the Ryoka?"
"Not yet. It seems the Ryoka didn't land in this area. As for the other squads, it might take a while longer for reports to come in."
"Then I can relax for now. If there's anything you can't handle, you can come find me. I should head back to my squad first."
"Yes, Captain Kyōraku!"
Shunsui waved at the two of them and scooped Yoruichi up from the ground. "Sayo, let's go! How about keeping me company for a drink later? You're not talking? I'll take that as a yes!"
Even if Sayo was smart, she couldn't talk, right? Sentarō and Kiyone watched Shunsui's retreating back, silently complaining in their hearts: *If Lord Chōzuka knew you were making his cat drink, he'd call you a dirty old man again.*
Little did they know, the cat currently in Shunsui's arms really could talk...
"Where are you taking me, you dirty old man?"
"Didn't I just say we're going for a drink? Also, is 'dirty old man' a new nickname you came up with for me? I haven't heard that one before, Yoruichi."
Sure enough, this guy had recognized her. Yoruichi remained vigilant inwardly, though her tone stayed light and brisk. "Look at how you raised Lisa. You know exactly what she reads all day long. Is that something a girl should be reading?!"
"Hahaha, it seems she's doing quite well in the World of the Living because of me. Has she gotten even prettier?"
"Heh, the title 'dirty old man' really suits you perfectly!"
"Let's end the catching up here, Yoruichi. Even if you bring up Lisa, I won't accompany you in doing anything absurd."
Shunsui's tone suddenly shifted, his voice dropping low. "I know all about Urahara and Ukitake's agreement. If you came to Squad 13 for Rukia, he would likely cooperate with you again. However, due to his illness, he has been unconscious for twelve days—ever since Rukia returned to the Seireitei."
"Urahara sending only you can be seen as a gesture of goodwill toward the Seireitei, or perhaps toward Ukitake. But whether it's goodwill or exploitation, I am the one judging that now. You could keep waiting, but I don't think you have the time." Shunsui suddenly smiled again and patted Yoruichi's head. "So, have a few drinks with me later. Getting me drunk might be a good choice."
*Kyōraku Shunsui, one of the few old ghosts of the Seireitei,* Yoruichi muttered inwardly. Relying on sentiment to influence his judgment really wouldn't work. Aside from Ukitake Jūshirō, who grew up with him, no one could influence him through personal charm alone.
This was also why Urahara sent her to find Ukitake. Compared to Kyōraku Shunsui, Ukitake was much easier to talk to.
Of course, winning over Kyōraku Shunsui wasn't absolutely impossible, but it couldn't be done without paying a price to get him "drunk."
At the same time, the degree of Shunsui's drunkenness determined how "absurd" his actions could be. Yoruichi felt this was also a hint: if he was slightly tipsy, he might say a few words; if he was heavily buzzed and in high spirits, he wouldn't mind stretching his limbs.
But if he got completely wasted, he might just fall straight asleep. Even if Ukitake's condition improved and he woke up, he'd have to be called over to help sober Shunsui up.
There was another possibility: the "wine" itself was hard to swallow, and this dirty old man wouldn't drink a single drop. When sober, he was the Captain of Squad 8 of the Gotei 13. It went without saying how he would handle the Ryoka invading the Seireitei and the fugitive Kuchiki Rukia.
However, Yoruichi didn't need to worry about this problem. Urahara Kisuke, back in the World of the Living, had anticipated that she might face both Ukitake and Shunsui simultaneously. The "wine" had already been prepared by him.
Although it might not suit his taste one hundred percent, Yoruichi felt the other party definitely wouldn't refuse. Just having her bring Ichigo and the others over had already produced an effect. Since the two sides weren't necessarily enemies, there was a possibility of sitting down, catching up, and cooperating.
The "wine" had already been prepared by Boss Urahara. Now it all depended on whether she, the "bar hostess," had the silver tongue to coax this old fox into a good mood.
To think the dignified twenty-second head of the Shihouin clan would be reduced to this—Yoruichi would never have imagined it over a hundred years ago. It could absolutely be considered a family scandal.
And it was all Kōe's fault. If that guy's head wasn't screwed on wrong, would she have ended up taking this step?!
Coupled with the fact that he had attacked her earlier, she needed to find a chance to settle this score properly!
"It is time to settle the score with them properly." Hearing the report from a passing Squad 11 member, Kōe muttered to himself with a dark expression. "Taking Sayo to blackmail me... those two brats messed with the wrong person."
"U-um, Chōzuka Kenpachi, it was your cat that took the Ryoka away..."
"Hmm? Are you saying it's Sayo's fault, or mine?!"
"N-no, that's not what I meant! It's those two Ryoka who are too despicable! I—no, we all believe Sayo was coerced! To lay hands on such a cute cat, they're simply inhuman!"
Kōe's expression worsened upon hearing this. Seeing this, the Squad 11 member stopped his flattery. He could tell that this former Ninth Generation Kenpachi, who had established his authority by beating up the current Kenpachi, desperately needed to vent his anger right now. If he kept talking, he might end up reporting to Squad 4...
As for those Ryoka, they probably wouldn't get off as easily as just reporting to Squad 4.