Just as Kazuma and the Captain-Commander were still exposing each other's embarrassing secrets, a knock at the door interrupted their conversation.
A moment later, Chōjirō's voice came from outside.
"Captain-Commander, news has come from the Hakutōmon. A group of Ryoka defeated Jidanbō and attempted to force their way into the Seireitei, but they were repelled by Third Division Captain Gin Ichimaru, who arrived at the scene."
After hearing this, the Captain-Commander frowned, seeming to consider something.
He remained silent for a moment before saying to Chōjirō, "I understand. Chōjirō, notify all division captains. A captains' meeting will be held immediately."
"Understood. I will see to it at once."
Chōjirō did not ask who else was inside the room.
He had always strictly observed his duty as a lieutenant.
He still remembered something Kazuma had told him many years ago.
There were some things that, even if you knew them, you had to pretend you did not.
That was how one lived a little longer.
Curiosity killed the cat, and there was certainly some truth to that saying.
...
On Ichigo's side, even without Yoruichi as their guide, they had still managed to feel their way to the Hakutōmon.
After the incident with Gin Ichimaru, the group began wandering aimlessly around Rukongai.
Orihime asked Ichigo for his opinion.
"Kurosaki-kun, what do we do now? That gate has been closed again. How are we supposed to get into the Seireitei?"
Ichigo thought for a moment, then asked Jidanbō which district of Rukongai they were in.
Before coming to Soul Society, his old man had still given him a little basic preparation.
"This is West Rukongai. Ichigo, why are you asking that?" Jidanbō replied.
Ichigo's eyes lit up.
"Then do you know where the Shiba Clan is?" he quickly asked.
The Shiba Clan?
Jidanbō was secretly surprised.
This Ryoka actually knew so much information. He could not help wondering whether the boy before him had some unknown background.
So he asked tentatively, "I know of the Shiba Clan, but what do you want with them?"
Ichigo did not answer directly. Instead, he asked back, "You don't need to worry about that. Can you take me to the Shiba Clan's residence?"
Jidanbō frowned, looking troubled.
"That may be difficult. After all, my duty is to guard the Hakutōmon, so I cannot leave my post lightly. However… I can find someone familiar with the Shiba Clan's location to guide you."
With that, Jidanbō turned and asked the souls watching nearby whether anyone knew the exact location of the Shiba Clan.
At that moment, a little boy in the crowd timidly raised his hand, saying that he knew where the Shiba Clan was and was willing to lead them there.
However, Uryū Ishida did not seem impressed. He even pushed up his glasses with a hint of disdain and said in a deliberately affected tone, "Child, do you not know who we are? We are enemies who invaded this place."
The little boy looked at Uryū nervously, but he still gathered his courage and answered, "We all saw what you did just now. And you also treated Jidanbō's injuries, so I don't think you're bad people."
Before long, under the little boy's guidance, Ichigo and the others successfully arrived at the Shiba Clan's territory.
"I can only bring you this far. Up ahead is the Shiba Clan's place. Goodbye."
After saying that, the little boy ran off without looking back.
Although he had said he was not afraid, deep down, he was terrified.
Ichigo and the others had originally wanted to ask him for more information about Soul Society, but seeing the boy run away like smoke, they could only feel helpless and brace themselves as they continued forward.
"Halt! This is Shiba Clan territory. You would be wise not to trespass."
When the Shiba Clan guards saw Ichigo's group step into their territory, they hurriedly shouted to stop them.
Orihime, Chad, and Uryū did not understand why Ichigo had come to this place.
Could this Shiba Clan actually help them enter the Seireitei?
Ichigo studied the approaching guards, then took out a badge engraved with a 'falling-heaven collapsing whirlpool crest' and said to them, "I am Ichigo Shiba of the Shiba Clan. I want to meet Kūkaku Shiba."
When the guards heard Ichigo's words, their expressions changed.
They quickly hurried up to Ichigo, took the badge, and began carefully examining it.
After checking it, the guards confirmed that it was indeed a Shiba Clan token, and not just any token, but the symbol of the head of a Shiba branch family.
However, the branch family head, Isshin Shiba, had been dead for decades.
Where had this boy gotten such a thing?
One guard raised his head and looked at Ichigo's face with doubt, unable to make a decision for a moment.
"Kid, where did you get this badge? Do you know what it represents?"
The guard looked at the boy before him, his eyes full of suspicion.
They were not sure whether this person calling himself Ichigo Shiba was telling the truth.
Ichigo scratched his head innocently and answered, "Huh? My father gave it to me. He said that if I ran into trouble in Soul Society, I should come find Kūkaku Shiba, he said she would help me."
As he spoke, he even shook the badge in his hand, as if proving that his words were true.
The guards looked at one another, seeming half convinced and half doubtful.
Of course they knew the Shiba Clan's badge, but this boy had appeared out of nowhere, so they could not let their guard down.
After all, matters involving the clan could not be treated carelessly. One small mistake could create major trouble.
However, seeing Ichigo's innocent expression, the guards also felt that perhaps he really was telling the truth.
Even so, they did not dare overlook anything suspicious.
They decided to report the matter to their superior first before making a decision.
The guard took the badge from Ichigo again.
"Whether what you said is true or not, wait here first. I will go report this."
After the guard left, Orihime immediately began asking questions nonstop.
She looked at Ichigo curiously, her eyes shining with interest.
"Kurosaki-kun, why did you say your name was Ichigo Shiba just now? When did you change your surname? What relationship do you have with the Shiba Clan?"
Orihime blinked her large eyes and stared closely at Ichigo, as if trying to find the answer from his expression.
Her voice was full of curiosity, as though she had discovered some enormous secret.
Ichigo was left somewhat overwhelmed by Orihime's string of questions, but he still tried to answer calmly.
"Well… I really am Ichigo Shiba. Shiba is my dad's surname! Because of some special circumstances, he followed my mom and changed his surname to Kurosaki."
After hearing this, Orihime's eyes widened even further, and disbelief appeared on her face.
"Huh? Then is your father also a Shinigami? Why would he stay in Karakura Town instead of Soul Society? He doesn't look like a Shinigami at all. And does that mean your mother is also a Shinigami?"
Ichigo helplessly shrugged.
"It sounds a little unbelievable, but my dad and mom are both Shinigami. My dad was also apparently the captain of the Tenth Division. But because of some reasons, he became an ordinary person, so he stayed in Karakura Town."
"Eh?!"
Ichigo's words shocked Orihime, Uryū, and Chad.
Even Chad's usually expressionless face twitched a few times.
Even Uryū, who had always maintained his cool and composed act, could no longer keep his calm expression. His mouth fell open wide.
Not only was Ichigo's entire family apparently made up of Shinigami, but his father had even been a captain.
Fortunately, they did not know that Masaki had originally been a Quincy.
Otherwise, their worldview would have shattered even harder!