45 Yoruichi's Plan  

The Shiba clan had always opposed this. But with the Shiba clan's power, they were simply unable to stop the actions of the other four clans.

Afterwards, the Shiba clan insisted on the ideology that "We should reveal the sins we have committed and let the people of this world judge us," yet they were covertly targeted by the alliance of the other three clans and more nobles, gradually declining into destitution...

When Yoruichi Shihōin first learned of this secret, if not for Kisuke Urahara's consoling and enlightening, she would not have known how to handle herself.

To think her noble status that she believed was so esteemed was actually the greatest "betrayal" in this world?

It was from that time that Yoruichi Shihōin became the noble among all nobles who was the least noble-like.

The Five Great Noble Families who established Soul Society were the greatest traitors. Then what exactly were these Quincies who were being surrounded and exterminated by Soul Society?

Yoruichi Shihōin did not understand.

If not for the direct order of the Captain Commander, Yoruichi Shihōin wouldn't even want to carry out this mission against the Quincies. But even so, Yoruichi Shihōin felt very troubled.

If it was only her alone, then after seeing the Quincies, she could decide whether or not to carry out her orders. But accompanying her this time was the old man Yamamoto's disciple, Jūshirō Ukitake.

Yoruichi Shihōin didn't dare make any sly maneuvers right under Jūshirō Ukitake's nose. Normally speaking, even if she personally defected from Soul Society, it wouldn't matter to the Shihōin clan.

However, for an issue relating to Soul Society's own position, even if Captain Commander Yamamoto spared the Shihōin clan, the other nobles might target the Shihōin clan like they did the Shiba clan, causing the Shihōins to decline to the same state as the Shibas.

The Five Great Noble Families worked together to ambush the Soul King, stealing the Soul King's power to split open the three realms, occupying Soul Society and establishing the Seireitei.

But beneath them were the twelve upper nobles and thirty-nine lower nobles forming the Noble Alliance, jointly holding the highest authority of the Seireitei.

The Shiba clan had already declined while the Tsunayashiro clan was exterminated over a decade ago...

The rottenness amongst nobles was far darker than Yoruichi Shihōin could imagine. But she knew the Shihōin clan alone could not withstand them. So Yoruichi Shihōin thought of the Kuchiki clan.

If Ailin accompanied her, Yoruichi would have ample room to maneuver. Hence, Yoruichi Shihōin did not conceal her thoughts from Ailin at all.

"Captain Ailin, the mission this time is to surround and exterminate the remnants of Quincies discovered in the living world. However, before exterminating them, I want to secretly investigate just what kind of existences Quincies are without Captain Ukitake finding out. When the time comes, I'll need you to cover for me so Captain Ukitake doesn't learn of my whereabouts. What do you think?"

"Just like that?"

"Just like that."

Ailin nodded. "Alright, Captain Yoruichi. Let me first explain things to my wife and father-in-law before setting out with you."

"Okay, I'll wait for you at the 2nd Division."

***

Cough cough Cough cough...

After splitting up with Yoruichi, Ailin walked towards his own quarters. When he was still some distance from his room, he heard a few coughs.

Instantly flash stepping over, Ailin pulled open his room's door to see Haruko Kuchiki currently coughing while preparing a lunchbox.

"Haruko, I've said it so many times already. Your body isn't well, just focus on resting in bed..." Seeing this, Ailin hurried forward to take the things in Haruko Kuchiki's hands, supporting her to sit in a chair.

"But Ailin, if I don't get up to do some things for you, wouldn't that make me seem like a useless wife?" After sitting down, Haruko Kuchiki took a few deep breaths to catch her breath, smiling as she spoke to Ailin.

Haruko Kuchiki's health had always been rather good. But starting three years ago, her health had deteriorated at a visible rate. Even the 4th Division Captain, Retsu Unohana, was helpless about this situation. However, she gave Ailin a suggestion.

—If Ailin wanted Haruko Kuchiki to live longer, then the time Ailin spent together with her would have to be reduced, even to the point of never seeing each other again.

Up till now, Ailin still clearly remembered Retsu Unohana's momentary bone-chilling gaze when she said those words to him. And due to those words from Captain Unohana, Ailin and Ginrei Kuchiki realized what Haruko's condition truly represented.

Most Shinigamis of Soul Society resided in Seireitei. They rarely wandered out to the Rukongai.

This was because ordinary spirits didn't possess Reiryoku. If they frequently lingered by the side of those with powerful Reiryoku, their souls would be constantly oppressed by that powerful Reiryoku, ultimately leading to their souls gradually weakening until death.

Haruko Kuchiki was Ginrei Kuchiki's daughter, naturally possessing Reiryoku. It was just that her talent wasn't good while she also lacked interest in becoming a Shinigami, hence she did not cultivate.

But with Haruko's personal Reiryoku, even long-term proximity to Captain-class figures shouldn't bring any issues. The only reason that could lead to Haruko weakening to her current state was—

Long-term coexistence with someone whose Reiryoku surpassed the Captain-level, causing tremendous pressure to her soul that reacted onto her body, leading to her physical condition continuously deteriorating.

Such circumstances were completely unexpected by both Ailin and Ginrei Kuchiki.

After fully producing all those copied Zanpakutōs, Ailin's Reiryoku tier had broken through, reaching the extent of a "Century Captain".

Ailin hadn't expected that even after restraining his Reiryoku to the limit, his own Reiryoku would still bring tremendous pressure to Haruko's soul.

Ginrei Kuchiki hadn't expected Ailin's strength to actually reach such an extent.

A "Century Captain" wasn't referring to someone who held the Captain seat for a hundred years before being called a "Century Captain".

Just like over two hundred years later, when Shunsui Kyoraku said to Coyote Starrk during their fight that Tōshirō Hitsugaya was a genius captain and that Hitsugaya might surpass him in a hundred years' time — it was acknowledging that Tōshirō currently possessed the strength of a "Century Captain".

The most intuitive display of a normal captain and century captain's strength disparity was that a century captain's shikai already possessed power comparable to a normal captain's bankai.

In other words, if you could defeat a captain-class expert who released bankai using just your shikai, it signified you had attained the strength of a century captain.

Not even at Ginrei Kuchiki's peak had he reached that realm. Thus, after learning of Captain Unohana's suggestion to Ailin, Ginrei Kuchiki hadn't known what attitude he should hold towards Ailin.

On one hand, Ailin found a true monster genius for the Kuchiki clan. If nothing unexpected happened, the Kuchiki clan would have no worries for at least a millennium.

Because a century captain's lifespan had reached a thousand years, double that of the five hundred years captains possessed.