"I know..."
Kuchiki Rukia had no intention to argue with Abarai Renji, because with the presence of Kuchiki Byakuya, she didn't dare to speak back.
"..."
Kuchiki Byakuya slowly opened his eyes, a wisp of cherry blossom petals swirling around him, highlighting his extraordinary demeanor.
This man, who always valued his appearance, had a glint of coldness flash in his eyes, and he asked in a cold voice, "That human... where is he?"
The air seemed to drop a few degrees.
A chilly feeling crept into Kuchiki Rukia's heart, as anyone could sense the coldness exuding from Kuchiki Byakuya. This usually composed man was angry!
"..."
Kuchiki Rukia slightly turned her head, recalling every moment spent with Kurosaki Ichigo during this period, and slowly shook her head, saying, "It has nothing to do with him..."
This was the first time Kuchiki Rukia defied Kuchiki Byakuya's words.
The next moment, the coldness around Kuchiki Byakuya intensified as his body shunpoed right in front of Kuchiki Rukia, his icy gaze landing on her: "Are you trying to say that this happened voluntarily?"
"...Yes."
"Then let's go!"
Kuchiki Byakuya's eyes gradually narrowed.
Just as they were about to leave, a black blade light and a blue arrow flew towards them, as someone arrived!
It was Kurosaki Ichigo who realized something was amiss after returning home, and the Quincy Ishida Uryu who came to stop them. They already considered Kuchiki Rukia, who had been helping them understand the world, as a comrade!
Unfortunately...
A newly empowered Shinigami like Kurosaki Ichigo and a young Quincy were no match for Abarai Renji and Kuchiki Byakuya!
These two young fellows...
Didn't even see Kuchiki Byakuya's move clearly before being completely overwhelmed, nearly being slain by him!
In this overwhelmingly unbalanced battle...
Kuchiki Byakuya easily defeated the two, directly dispelling the spiritual power shared by Kuchiki Rukia from Kurosaki Ichigo, even driving him to the brink of death!
"This human..."
Kuchiki Byakuya's eyes slightly lowered, ignoring the dying Kurosaki Ichigo, his gaze only falling on his sister Rukia as he softly said, "Should not possess your spiritual power..."
Kuchiki Byakuya shook his head on his own, calmly continuing, "Enough, I've already disabled his spiritual power, he's already dead, let's go..."
"Brother..."
Kuchiki Rukia slowly clenched her fists.
This was something Kuchiki Rukia never imagined would happen!
Kurosaki Ichigo, killed by Kuchiki Byakuya... just because of her involvement... this was something Rukia could never forgive herself for!
Just as Rukia gritted her teeth, wanting to stay and live or die with Kurosaki Ichigo, he mysteriously revived out of his dying state!
Even while lying on the ground, even after losing his spiritual power, Kurosaki Ichigo's hand suddenly reached out, firmly grabbing Kuchiki Byakuya's pant leg: "Hey, if you want to take Rukia away, at least make sure I'm not breathing anymore..."
This guy's vitality...
Was astonishingly resilient!
Even after being struck in a vital spot by Kuchiki Byakuya, he managed to survive and remain conscious!
Only...
For a noble patriarch like Kuchiki Byakuya, having his pant leg grabbed was undoubtedly an offense, especially knowing her brother this well, Rukia's expression changed dramatically!
Kurosaki Ichigo, this fool...
Will definitely be killed by her furious brother!
If they don't stop Ichigo soon, even if he miraculously came back to life, he wouldn't survive for another minute!
The next moment...
Kuchiki Rukia's figure suddenly appeared beside Kurosaki Ichigo, kicking his hand off Byakuya's pant leg, gritting her teeth as she said, "Mere human! Who allowed you to offend brother..."
"Rukia..."
Ichigo's face suddenly looked puzzled.
The entire street fell into silence.
Kuchiki Rukia slowly lowered her head, suppressing a pained voice from her throat: "Kurosaki Ichigo... recognize your identity! You're just an ordinary human..."
Rukia covered her eyes with her hand, fell silent for a moment, then looked up at Byakuya: "Brother... I'm clear-headed now... He's just a human... Leave him here to die in pain... Let's go, brother, back to the Soul Society..."
"..."
Kuchiki Byakuya fell silent.
The next moment, the noble patriarch slowly nodded. How could Rukia's little thoughts escape his notice?
However, he did not reject Rukia's request, as a brother. Moreover, from Byakuya's own judgment, Kurosaki Ichigo, who had been struck with a Zanpakuto in a vital spot, could not live much longer...
Tap tap tap...
Tap tap tap tap tap...
Footsteps suddenly echoed on the street.
A figure slowly walked out of the shadows, and an elegant voice reached everyone's ears: "Well said... This little one is just a mere human after all...
I didn't know there could be such arrogant students in Shin'o Academy, having not seen you for just over two months, how could you become like this, Rukia?"
"Hmm?"
Kuchiki Byakuya's brow slightly furrowed.
He recognized that voice!
Past or present, this man's every identity was troublesome, especially since his status made even Byakuya take him seriously... The Kuchiki family patriarch's identity was insignificant in his presence!
Of course.
There was a friend of the newcomer present.
Abarai Renji instantly recognized the newcomer's voice, a strange look flashing across his face as he couldn't help but gaze towards him: "Hey, Uehara Naraku, why are you here?"
They were old classmates!
Abarai Renji showed no aloofness at all!
Of course, Abarai Renji didn't realize that Uehara Naraku's appearance this time meant real trouble for them!
"Just happened to patrol the Mortal World."
Uehara Naraku's figure appeared under the street lamp, dressed in a white captain's cloak, a trace of unrelenting sorrow on his face: "I just didn't expect that Senior Kuchiki Byakuya would try to kill a human here..."
Uehara Naraku looked up at Byakuya, calmly continuing, "Please, Senior Kuchiki Byakuya, tell me... how do you differ from the Hollows invading the Mortal World?"
"..."
Kuchiki Byakuya's brow furrowed even deeper.
To be honest, he didn't usually dislike Uehara Naraku, just looked down a little on this somewhat extravagant noble patriarch.
In the Quiet Spirit Court, almost every Shinigami knew that Uehara Naraku was famous for being kind-hearted, lacking any airs with anyone.
For a Shinigami to kill a human was no big deal...
After all, in battles between Shinigami and Hollows, problems couldn't always be avoided. The life and death of humans weren't issues to Shinigami; a human's physical death would mean their soul would go to the Soul Society, living in another form.
However...
This was prohibited on the surface.
In private, Shinigami never cared about events before a human's death, especially in Byakuya's status; killing a human, even a Shinigami, wouldn't cause any trouble...
All of this was under the premise that no one pursued the matter!
The Central 46 definitely wouldn't probe into the actions of a noble patriarch like Byakuya, and the other members of the Guardian Court Thirteen Squads wouldn't care about such matters...
The only one likely to care would be the Uehara Naraku in front of them.
Unfortunately, considering it from any perspective, the dual identity of Captain of Squad 5 and patriarch of the Uehara family gave Uehara Naraku the right to question Byakuya.
"Rukia..."
Uehara Naraku glanced at Rukia with a complicated expression, his demeanor gradually becoming serious: "I heard you. You sounded a bit arrogant speaking about your brother... what does humanity mean in your eyes?"
After saying this, Uehara Naraku's gaze fell on Byakuya: "Rukia, then tell me, is your brother... of high status?"