The 'organs' where Shinigami store and use Reiatsu, second only to vital spots in importance, are the Hakusui and Saketsu.
Among these, Hakusui is where Shinigami absorb and store Reishi, while Saketsu is where they control Reiatsu and Reishi.
The technique [Senka], combining Zanjutsu and Shunpo, was created specifically to destroy a Shinigami's Hakusui and Saketsu, depriving them of Shinigami's powers.
Since Isshin lost his Reiatsu, Kukaku's first thought was naturally that his Hakusui had been damaged.
"No."
Kyoya shook his head, "Captain Shiba isn't injured."
"Then how did he lose his Reiatsu?"
"He transferred his Reiatsu to a human!"
Kukaku froze completely.
After learning of Isshin's disappearance, she had imagined various scenarios of him being persecuted by Seireitei's nobles.
But in the end, he brought this upon himself?
Now Kukaku understood why her uncle didn't want to return to Seireitei.
Seriously, even though Kukaku wasn't a Shinigami, she knew transferring Shinigami's power to humans was a major crime in Seireitei!
Even as 10th Division's Captain, Isshin would face Central 46's sanctions.
Under such circumstances, unless Isshin wanted to die or be imprisoned, he couldn't return to Seireitei.
Moreover...
Kukaku looked down, seeing the orange-haired girl's gaze toward her uncle, and the smile on his face...
Probably soon, they'd have a new 'aunt'!
"Let's go, we're returning."
Seeing Isshin so carefree in the living world, Kukaku didn't want to disturb him.
Perhaps her uncle didn't want to see her right now either!
...
Having the Senkaimon certainly made traveling between Soul Society and the living world much more convenient.
This time, since Kukaku wasn't in a hurry, Kyoya didn't use Yata no Kagami to rush their return.
"Kyoya-sama, aren't you going to ask anything?"
Back in Rukongai, seeing Kyoya showed no intention to question her, Kukaku couldn't help speaking up.
"Ask what?"
Kyoya stretched lazily, looking at Kukaku.
"Uh..."
Kukaku paused, then said blankly: "Like why I care so much about Captain Shiba, what relationship I have with him, things like that..."
"Ha..."
Kyoya chuckled lightly.
He hadn't expected that simply taking Kukaku to see Isshin to ease her worries would make her overthink so much.
But in reality, from his omniscient perspective, except for those never appearing, Kyoya had general impressions of all Bleach's characters.
For important supporting characters like Kukaku, they held almost no secrets from him.
Moreover, Kyoya's current perception could cover all of Soul Society.
If he wished, he could monitor certain people twenty-four hours nonstop.
Rather, everyone Kyoya invited to join the Revolutionary Army had passed his preliminary assessment.
Those becoming officers needed not just strength but solid character.
Division Commanders and Vice-Commanders necessarily gained their positions through Kyoya's understanding and sufficient trust.
Currently, Kyoya's Revolutionary Army had seven divisions.
1st Division: Commander Kisaragi Shusuke, Vice-Commander Sarugaki Hiyori.
2nd Division: Commander Madarame Ikkaku, Vice-Commander Madarame Shino, his sister.
3rd Division: Commander Ayasegawa Yumichika, Vice-Commander Gori Taketsuna.
4th Division: Commander Kukaku, Vice-Commander Ganju.
5th Division: Commander Ichinose Maki, Vice-Commander Chiba Susumu. (T/N: Fun Fact: Chiba Susumu is Ichinose Maki's VA in the Anime.)
6th Division: Commander Kano Ashido, who was brought back from Hueco Mundo's Forest of Menos, Vice-Commander former 11th Division's 10th Seat, Harugasaki Seizo.
7th Division: Commander Hitsugaya Toshiro, hailed as the Revolutionary Army's top genius, Vice-Commander Abarai Renji, who graduated from Baltigo Academy several years after Hitsugaya.
All seven division's commanders possessed Captain-level strength.
Among them, Shusuke, Ikkaku, Ichinose, and Hitsugaya had all achieved Bankai, their Reiatsu reaching 3rd-Class Reiryoku, nearly matching Gotei 13's Captains.
Kukaku not only had astonishing Kido skills but also mastered Rokushiki's secret techniques as a Hakuda expert, researching Kido-Hakuda fusion with notable results.
Yumichika possessed strong innate Kido talent, and combined with his Zanpakuto's ability, even Captain-level opponents restrained by it could only surrender.
Though Ashido lacked Bankai potential, his swordsmanship talent wasn't poor.
With conviction and effort, he progressed considerably in Great Swordsman level, not much weaker than Gotei 13's Captains.
Adding Koga and Kyoya himself, the Revolutionary Army now had nine Captain-level powerhouses.
Within ten years, Renji and Rukia would also cross the Captain-level threshold.
Then the Revolutionary Army's top-tier strength would nearly match the Gotei 13's.
If Kyoya's Revolutionary Army joined the Thousand-Year Blood War, they'd certainly give the Wandenreich Quincy a hard time.
Of course, both Kyoya and Yhwach knew that battles in Seireitei wouldn't change this world's future situation.
Only battles within Wahrwelt would determine this world's future direction.
Precisely because of this, Kyoya didn't particularly care whether Kukaku served him sincerely.
Having one more or less Kukaku meant little to Kyoya.
At most, Seireitei's Shinigami would suffer more casualties.
Those Kyoya could bring into Wahrwelt numbered only three at most: Hitsugaya, Rukia, and Renji.
Koga needed to guard Baltigo, as his Zanpakuto's Ability had little effect against Quincy.
Kyoya even suspected that if Koga joined the war, his Bankai would be the Quincy's primary target.
If they stole Koga's Bankai, the Quincy would gain tremendous advantage against Seireitei's Shinigami.
So facing Kukaku's question, Kyoya chuckled: "Kukaku, does your concern for Captain Shiba, or your relationship with him, harm the Revolutionary Army, Soul Society, or Rukongai's residents?"
Kukaku paused, shaking her head: "How could it?"
"Since I chose to join the Revolutionary Army, I naturally accept its spirit and direction."
"In this regard, even if Gotei 13's Shinigami tried to destroy Rukongai's current situation, I'd protect Baldivia!"
This was truly Kukaku's heartfelt words.
Before joining the Revolutionary Army, like her elder brother, Shiba Kaien, she leaned toward returning the Shiba Clan to Seireitei, standing atop the nobility again.
Whether to inherit the Shiba Clan's ancestors' will and expose the Seireitei's nobles' 'original sin' would depend on the Shiba Clan's future development.
But after joining the Revolutionary Army and understanding its actions and 'revolution's' significance, she suddenly realized that rather than following ancient erroneous rules, she should join the revolution born from the people, truly treating Soul Society's Rukongai's residents as people!
As Kyoya said, he founded the Revolutionary Army to give Rukongai residents a new choice.
And undoubtedly, Kukaku ultimately chose the Revolutionary Army!
If the Revolutionary Army took over Seireitei, the lives of Rukongai's residents would undergo earth-shaking changes.
Even if not matching Seireitei's residents with Reiatsu, it wouldn't remain stagnant like for millions of years.
The Revolutionary Army didn't disappoint Kukaku's expectations.
In just twenty years, Rukongai's changes were visible.
Many Rukongai's residents over twenty definitely had the deepest understanding of this change.
"Then isn't that right?"
Kyoya glanced at Kukaku, "The Revolutionary Army is essentially a group of like-minded people discussing how to improve Rukongai."
"As long as you're willing to contribute to improving Rukongai, what does your identity matter?"
"Or do you think, Kukaku, our Revolutionary Army, like Seireitei's nobles, distinguishes people by status?"
"If so, tell me, who is nobler than whom?"
"If not, what are you worried about?"
"That's right..."
Kukaku was dumbfounded by Kyoya's words.
Yet she felt Kyoya made perfect sense.
This was hard to handle.
Finally, Kukaku shook her head, temporarily setting aside Kyoya's words.
"Never mind, I'd better clarify with you, Kyoya-sama."
"My real name is Shiba Kukaku!"
"10th Division's Captain, Shiba Isshin is my uncle."
"13th Division's Lieutenant, Shiba Kaien is my biological brother."
"4th Division's Vice-Commander, Ganju is my biological brother, Shiba Ganju."
"Although Uncle and Brother are in the Gotei 13, this doesn't affect my brother and me being in the Revolutionary Army, and we're always proud of that identity."
"Hahahaha..."
After speaking, Kukaku scratched the back of her head and laughed goofily.
Kyoya looked at Kukaku, having anticipated her confession.
But he never expected Kukaku to hold such attitude toward the Revolutionary Army.
Clearly, in current Kukaku's view, the Revolutionary Army's importance seemingly surpassed the Shiba Clan's million-year perseverance.
Since Kukaku had such resolve, Kyoya naturally wished to reciprocate equally.
"Well, Kukaku, the future Revolutionary Army will certainly be proud of you too!"
"By the way, don't slack in training recently."
"You know 7th Division's Abarai Renji, right?"
"He's currently the second person with Reiatsu to completely master Rokushiki after you."
"If you don't train hard, be careful when he comprehends Rokushiki's secret techniques and challenges you for your commander position!"
"Heh, that red-haired kid you personally taught?"
Hearing this, Kukaku felt not nervous but showed an expectant smile, her hands making cracking sounds.
"I'm looking forward to it too!"
As the first in the Revolutionary Army to completely master Rokushiki and comprehend multiple secret techniques, Kukaku knew how terrifying they were.
Among them, Life Return's effects made even Kukaku admire Kyoya.
Ordinary people without Reiatsu, comprehending Rokushiki's secret techniques, could reach Revolutionary Army's cadre or Gotei 13's seated officer-level.
As someone with Reiatsu and not low talent, Kukaku's progress was naturally greater.
Under Life Return, she trained her physique to previously unimaginable peaks.
Precisely this powerful physique, supplemented by other Rokushiki's offensive secret techniques, enabled Kukaku to reach Captain-level.
Moreover, she considered herself not weak among Captain-level.
When her brother married years ago and returned home, she thoroughly beat him in their spar.
Then Kukaku knew that from then on, she was the Shiba Clan's strongest.
And she would lead the Shiba Clan to find a new path.
"Ha, alright, seems I worried for nothing."
Kyoya had intended to use Renji to motivate Kukaku, but now, it seemed she was most excited about his growth!
Probably true… as the Revolutionary Army's sole Hakuda Expert currently, Kukaku struggled to find opponents for all-out battles.
Not that other commanders were weak, but Hakuda Experts advocate direct fist-and-foot, blade-to-blade collisions, not ability counters and nullifications.
The two felt different.
"Oh, Kukaku."
"Practice some swordsmanship recently too."
"In a few days, I'll formally visit Seireitei as Revolutionary Army's Supreme Commander to discuss establishing relations with the Gotei 13's Captain-Commander."
"If possible, I'll request a batch of Asauchi from Seireitei."