When the topic of the future came up, the two fell into a momentary silence.
However, sensing Ichigo's silence, Kukaku already had a prepared response.
"It's okay, you haven't had enough time in the Living World, right? Time in the Soul Society is very long. I can wait!"
"And there's Rukia, and that female classmate of yours, right? No problem, the Soul Society allows three wives and four mistresses! I don't intend to interfere with your marriage either."
Kukaku smiled faintly.
Although her current state wasn't entirely appropriate, her every move still revealed the cunning and calculation of a great clan's head:
"As long as you return to the Shiba Clan, unlike Uncle did, everything is negotiable. Don't carry too much emotional burden. This is a transaction!"
Hearing this, Ichigo, witnessing such a way of thinking for the first time, was also very surprised.
'To even offer oneself as a condition… is this the head of a traditional great clan?'
But indeed, with Kukaku putting it this way, Ichigo felt less burdened.
"Alright then!" Ichigo agreed. Anyway, he would agree now. What happened after he left was not his concern.
After settling the conditions, the two quickly got up, dressed, washed up, and prepared to head to the Sokyoku Hill.
But then, Ichigo suddenly discovered a problem!
"Uh, did Yoruichi leave her Heaven-Stepping Adornment behind?"
"Nope!" Kukaku gave a sly smile. "In your words, this is the cat's tiny, tiny, cute revenge, right!"
"Yoruichi wants you to walk up there yourself, to comfort the unbearable pain she felt from the whipping, I guess!"
"Ah, this." Ichigo pouted. "Clearly, she's weak but loves to play. Fine, whatever..."
Hoisting Zangetsu onto his back, Ichigo headed towards the exit...
For him, it was still early. The difference between flying there and walking there wasn't significant.
Exiting with Kukaku, Ichigo identified their location… it should be near the Sokyoku Hill, not far from the execution ground.
After all, the Sokyoku Hill was practically a landmark of the Soul Society, very conspicuous.
Taking Kukaku with him, Ichigo directly sprinted towards the Sokyoku Hill.
However, Ichigo's forward progress didn't last long before he quickly stopped.
Because ahead, the 5th Division's Lieutenant, Hinamori Momo, was waiting for Ichigo with a team of elite 5th Division's seated officers, her face full of hatred.
Looking at Ichigo, the naive girl slowly drew her sword, words saturated with hatred forced out from between her teeth:
"Kurosaki Ichigo, I've finally waited for you!"
"Three days! Do you know how I've spent these three days?"
"You couldn't imagine, right? Captain Aizen had long predicted your route and specifically arranged for us to block you here!"
"Today, we will definitely slay you here! To comfort Captain Aizen's spirit in heaven!"
After saying this, Momo fired a signal flare into the sky.
Then she led the 5th Division's seated officers to surround them.
Simultaneously, dense footsteps sounded from all around, clearly indicating many people were rushing to this location!
However, hearing Momo's words, Ichigo was utterly bewildered.
"What, what, what, what situation? Kill me to comfort Aizen's spirit in heaven?" Ichigo looked at Kukaku in confusion.
"Ah, didn't Yoruichi tell you?"
Kukaku showed perfectly timed surprise:
"Captain Aizen of the 5th Division was killed. The murderer is identified as you. So you've been issued a wanted order by the Central 46. You didn't know about this?"
"I..." Looking at Kukaku's fake surprise and mischievousness, Ichigo was speechless.
Clearly, Kukaku knew, but she hadn't told Ichigo about it either.
After that incident with Yoruichi, this first-meeting bold and straightforward big sister had turned into a pure agent of chaos.
"So, this is another one of her little schemes?" Ichigo scratched his head.
"Mhm! Consider it a warm-up, Ichigo!"
"Fine."
Ichigo looked ahead at Momo, who was staring at him with intense hatred, and sighed.
'Yoruichi is one thing, but why is Aizen also like this?'
'Wasn't he supposed to write a letter saying Hitsugaya Toshiro killed him, watching the sick pleasure of Momo and Hitsugaya turning their blades on each other? Why write about him?'
However, looking at Momo, Ichigo also felt a sense of injustice for Hitsugaya.
"Hey, Hinamori Momo, right? Do you know? Admiration is the furthest distance from understanding!"
"Clearly, you greatly admire your Captain Aizen, but you do not understand that man!" Ichigo said earnestly.
During these past few days, Yoruichi and the others had fully laid their cards on the table and been open and honest with him, so he also knew about Aizen's information.
However, if Momo were so easily persuaded, she wouldn't be one of the most disliked characters in Bleach.
"So what? I don't need to understand Captain Aizen! I just want to avenge him! Even if it costs me my life!" Momo said hatefully.
Hearing this, Ichigo shook his head.
"Naive, so naive. If some things could be accomplished just by betting one's life, what meaning would this world have?"
"You should know, human life is the least valuable thing!"
After saying this, Ichigo used Shunpo, instantly moving from within the circle of Shinigami to right in front of Momo.
His Zangetsu was swung!
Watching the constantly enlarging Zangetsu blade before her eyes, Momo's pupils contracted sharply. She hurriedly raised her Tobiume to block!
But the moment Zangetsu made contact with Tobiume, Momo immediately understood why Ichigo said some things couldn't be accomplished even by risking one's life!
The force transmitted from Zangetsu was so firm and unstoppable!
Even as Momo exerted all her strength, gritting her teeth until they bled, pressing her entire petite body forward, she was still struck by the broad side of Zangetsu!
Thud!
Struck by the wide blade surface of Zangetsu, Momo flew backwards at high speed like a ball in a killer tennis match!
Her petite body crashed into the crowd like a cannonball and exploded!