NOTAKING
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Bl@ch: Chapter 55
🕑 Added 2025-04-26 19:21:41 +0000 UTC "Are you thinking of going over that wall in that thing?" The elder asked, his eyes flashing in shock.
Before anyone could respond, a loud, marching sound echoed toward the group, growing louder by the second. Without warning, the door to the house flew off its hinges, crashing to the ground as a man stumbled in, followed by a boar who strutted confidently into the room.
"Ho, boy! Bonnie threw me again! Hey, how’s it hanging, old man!?" The man’s voice was booming and full of energy, as if he were on a mission of his own.
"Ganju! Why are you here?!" the elder shouted, his voice rising in shock. "Go home!!"
But Ganju wasn’t paying attention to the elder anymore. He turned his gaze and saw Ichigo standing there, and his eyes narrowed in anger.
"What the hell?! What’s a Soul Reaper doing here?!" Ganju exclaimed, his tone filled with suspicion and fury.
Ichigo glanced at him, his expression unfazed. "Do you have a problem with that?" he asked, his voice dripping with indifference.
Without waiting for a response, Ichigo slapped Ganju across the face, sending him flying backward.
Crash!
Ganju slammed into the wall, the entire structure shaking from the impact, leaving a sizable hole in the stone.
"Why you crazy, dandelion-looking freak! Are you picking a fight with me?!" Ganju yelled, glaring at Ichigo as he staggered to his feet, brushing off the dust.
Ichigo, unbothered, turned away, ignoring him completely.
"I knew this would come to this," the elder muttered, shaking his head.
Uryuu looked confused. "You knew him? Who is he?" he asked, turning to the elder for an explanation.
"What? You don’t know who I am?" Ganju grinned, puffing out his chest with pride. "Heh, alright, I’ll tell you. My name is Ganju!! The self-proclaimed Deep Red Bullet of West Rukongai!! The self-proclaimed but universally acknowledged boss of West Rukongai! Voted number one for fourteen consecutive years in a row!! And…" he paused dramatically, pointing an accusing finger at Ichigo, "The self-proclaimed number one Soul Reaper hater of West Rukongai!!"
Before Ichigo could react, Ganju lunged forward to attack him, but Ichigo easily sidestepped, making Ganju run headfirst into the wall and crash right outside.
"Ugh, damn it!" Ganju shouted, gritting his teeth as he tried to stand up. But before he could gather his bearings, a horn sounded in the distance , signaling the arrival of more trouble. Ganju froze, his eyes widening in realization.
"Oh no, boss!" his friends shouted in panic as they looked toward the direction of the horn's sound.
Ganju straightened himself, wiping the dust from his clothes as he quickly mounted his boar, Bonnie, who snorted and stamped her hooves, eager to get moving.
"I'm not running away, dandelion!" Ganju called back with a defiant grin, his eyes flicking toward Ichigo. "I'll be back to settle this!"
With a whip of his reins, Ganju spurred Bonnie into motion, charging out of the house with a burst of speed, disappearing into the distance as his boar's hooves echoed on the dirt road.
Ichigo glanced after him for a moment, an unreadable expression on his face.
' I'll make sure to bang your sister, ' he thought,
....
The next morning, the group set off towards Kukaku Shiba's place. It was a long and arduous journey from the village, but with the map in hand, they pressed on, determined. As they walked, the atmosphere grew heavier, as if the land itself was holding its breath. The road twisted and turned, leading them into a part of the Soul Society that seemed more isolated, as if hidden from the eyes of the public.
Eventually, they reached their destination, and the sight before them was impossible to miss. Standing tall in front of them was a massive, sprawling structure—an eccentric, almost chaotic-looking place, with smoke rising from the chimney and an array of strange contraptions scattered around. The building was adorned with various oddities, giving it the appearance of a place where anything could happen. It was a home that screamed both danger and creativity, a perfect reflection of its owner.
As they neared the entrance, two imposing figures stepped out from behind the house, blocking their way. The towering men were dressed in armor that glinted in the light, and their eyes were sharp, scanning the group with suspicion.
"Who are you?!" one of them barked, his hand instinctively reaching for the sword at his waist. "You're dressed strangely. And one of you is a Soul Reaper!"
"You're a suspicious-looking lot," the other man added, his tone just as hostile. "Koganehiko and Shiroganehiko will not let you pass!"
"Go!" they both shouted in unison, their voices deep and threatening. "Or you will die here!"
Ichigo, Uryuu, Orihime, and Chad exchanged uncertain glances, but just as the tension reached its peak, Koganehiko’s eyes widened, recognizing someone behind them.
"Mu... Mr. Yoruichi??" he stammered, his posture instantly shifting from aggressive to submissive. "Forgive us. Head inside."
With a quick, almost apologetic glance toward the group, Koganehiko and Shiroganehiko stepped aside, allowing them to pass. The group followed Yoruichi through the strange building, which had an almost labyrinthine layout. The walls were adorned with unusual trinkets and memorabilia, making it feel like they were walking through the home of a collector, or perhaps a mad genius. The scent of incense mixed with the tang of metal and fire, adding to the overwhelming sense that this place was far from ordinary.
They soon reached the inner sanctum, where the true shock awaited them. As they entered, they were met with the unexpected sight of a woman seated on a cushion, her posture relaxed but commanding. Her presence was undeniable, and it was clear that she was the one in charge. Kukaku Shiba, with her striking features and a gaze that seemed to see through them, was not what they had expected. Many of them had thought she would be a man, given her reputation. But now, seeing her in person, they understood why she had such a fearsome name.
"It’s been a long time, Yoruichi," Kukaku said, her voice smooth, yet edged with authority.
Ichigo, ever the blunt one, couldn’t help but stare at her. His gaze lingered on her chest without hesitation, and Kukaku caught it, giving him a sly wink.
'She's definitely joining,' Ichigo thought to himself, his mind racing. 'I'll have Orihime repair her arm if possible.'
Orihime, who had been watching the exchange with wide eyes, blushed at the implication. She shifted uncomfortably but didn’t comment.
Kukaku raised an eyebrow at the group, clearly unfazed by Ichigo's blatant attention. "Who're the kids?" she asked, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.
Yoruichi, unfazed as always, stepped forward. "Kūkaku... I've come to ask you for a favor."
"Of course you have," Kukaku replied with a sigh, clearly accustomed to this kind of request. "That’s usually the case when you show up. Is it trouble?" She puffed on her pipe, the smoke curling around her like a veil.
Yoruichi’s eyes narrowed slightly as she subconsciously let out a soft "meow," which caused everyone to stop for a brief moment. The sound of it was enough to make the entire room chuckle lightly, breaking the tension that had settled over them.
Yoruichi gave the group a hard glare, silently telling them to stop laughing, and they quickly quieted.
"Okay, go on. Let’s hear it," Kukaku said, clearly intrigued. "I love trouble."
Yoruichi then explained the situation, outlining their plan of action, and Kukaku listened carefully, nodding every now and then.
"I see," Kukaku said after a moment of silence. "I get the picture. Fine, I accept." She lit her pipe again, the flame flickering in the dim room. "But if you're going, I’m assigning a man to oversee the operation. That’s all right with you, right?"
"Of course," Yoruichi replied, her voice steady.
Just as Yoruichi finished speaking, Kukaku stood up and walked toward a door on the far side of the room. She opened it, and to the surprise of everyone, none other than Ganju walked out, his eyes widening as he saw Ichigo standing there. The shock on his face was unmistakable.
"WHAT?!" Ganju exclaimed, his expression turning to one of utter disbelief. "What’s a Soul Reaper doing here?!"
Before anyone could react, Ganju made a beeline for Ichigo, but Kukaku quickly intervened, delivering a swift smack to the back of his head.
"Enough, Ganju," she scolded, her tone sharp. "You’re not pestering Ichigo today."
After a brief moment of silence, Ganju, now nursing a sore head, grumbled and stopped his antics, though he didn’t seem particularly pleased.
With that, Kukaku led the group through more of her strange and eccentric home. They passed through various rooms filled with odd mechanical devices and what appeared to be strange blueprints scattered across tables. It was clear that Kukaku was a woman of invention and eccentricity, and her house reflected that.
They finally reached the back of the house, where Kukaku opened yet another door, revealing a massive structure that took everyone by surprise—a giant firework launcher, unlike anything they had ever seen before. The massive contraption was clearly built for something far larger than just a mere display.
"This," Kukaku said, a wicked grin crossing her face, "is how you're getting over those walls."
TO BE CONTINUED
