Chapter 658 - 658 The True Duty of The Shiba Clan

West Rukongai.

Toshiro was being led by the Zero Division's members towards a certain location.

The Zero Division group was efficient. After completing all their business in the Seireitei, they didn't stay long. Instead, they immediately wanted to take Toshiro to the Soul King Palace to meet the Soul King.

However, unlike when they came, the Zero Division's members did not directly return using the Tenchuren. Instead, they took Toshiro to West Rukongai, saying they needed to find someone first.

Along the way, Toshiro remained silent, showing no desire to communicate with the Zero Division. He simply looked at the familiar scenery around him, filled with emotion.

'Come to think of it... it's been a long time since I last visited Rukongai to see my grandmother.' Passing through Junrinan, the First District of West Rukongai, Toshiro suddenly couldn't help but sigh with a hint of sadness.

Toshiro himself came from Junrinan in West Rukongai. His grandmother lived alone at home. In the past, he would often take time to visit her, but recently, the entire Gotei 13 had been busy dealing with Aizen. As a result, Toshiro hadn't visited his grandmother for a long time.

"Is that so? I recall Captain Hitsugaya is indeed from the Rukongai. For someone from the Rukongai to achieve what you have is truly remarkable!" Ichibe'e said, flattering after hearing Toshiro's sigh.

Although it was flattery, Ichibe'e's words were correct to some extent.

While a large portion of the Gotei 13's Shinigami come from the Rukongai, most of them are only ordinary seated members. Becoming a Lieutenant is generally their limit. Becoming a Captain has only happened to a handful over the centuries.

For instance, among the current Captains of the Gotei 13, aside from those of unknown origin like Yamamoto, Unohana, and Komamura, Captains like Sui-Feng, Byakuya, Kyoraku, and Ukitake are of noble birth, comprising nearly half of the Captains.

Others, even if not nobles, were basically born and raised within the Seireitei. The only Captains truly born into poverty in the Rukongai are essentially Toshiro, Zaraki, and the former Gin.

Therefore, Toshiro becoming a Captain was already a great achievement, let alone breaking the Shinigami limit and being about to become Captain-Commander.

In short, Toshiro can be considered the person from the Rukongai who has achieved the most.

However, in the end, Toshiro still 'passed by his home three times without entering', not taking the opportunity to visit his grandmother.

This wasn't because he was unfilial, nor because he was too busy going to the Soul King Palace. The main reason was that Toshiro had just broken the Shinigami limit and reached the True God level. He hadn't yet fully mastered his True God level power. He was afraid that when he saw his grandmother, his emotions might fluctuate and he might accidentally hurt her if he lost control.

This wasn't a joke. With Toshiro's current god-level power, unless he consciously restrained it, even a tiny bit of power emitted unconsciously could kill an ordinary person without Reiryoku.

So, visiting his grandmother would have to wait until he could perfectly control his own power.

…

West Rukongai, Suburbs.

Arriving here, Toshiro saw a towering 'chimney' in the distance. At that moment, he also understood what this place was.

"Hey, Monk, you brought me here, don't tell me it's to borrow the Shiba Clan's cannon to shoot everyone up to the Soul King Palace?" Toshiro said speechlessly, looking at Ichibe'e beside him.

"Monk? Huh? How did Captain Hitsugaya guess my nickname is 'Monk'?" Ichibe'e asked, rubbing his bald head.

Toshiro's mouth twitched, 'Was that even a question? You're dressed like a monk!'

"Ahaha... Although I don't know how Captain Hitsugaya guessed it, my nickname is indeed Monk. Captain Hitsugaya can just call me 'Monk' from now on. As for borrowing the Shiba Clan's cannon to shoot everyone up to the Soul King Palace, in a sense, you're not wrong..."

Ichibe'e explained: "Although the Tenchuren is the Zero Division's mode of transport, it doesn't have the ability to return to the Soul King Palace on its own. So, we need to borrow the Shiba Clan's cannon to launch the Tenchuren back to the Soul King Palace."

"That's just... pathetic." Toshiro commented speechlessly again.

With such a grand name as [Tenchuren], it can't even fly back to the Soul King Palace on its own and has to be shot up using the Shiba Clan's cannon. That's just incredibly lame! (T/N: Heavenly Pillar Palanquin)

However, this also shows that the Shiba Clan truly deserves to be one of the great noble families, once ranked alongside the Kuchiki and Shihoin Clans.

The Shihoin Clan has the [Heavenly Gifted Armaments], possessing various divine weapons. The Shiba Clan possesses the [Flower Crane Cannon], capable of firing shells that penetrate the Sekkiseki.

And now it seems the Flower Crane Cannon isn't just for the Sokyoku... it can even shoot you up to the Soul King Palace.

Perhaps launching the Tenchuren to the Soul King Palace was the Shiba Clan's true duty as one of the former great noble families.

"Oh my? I was wondering who it was. The Zero Division and... Captain Hitsugaya?" As Toshiro and the others approached, Shiba Kukaku sensed them and actively came out of her house.

Isshin was once called Shiba Isshin, the head of the Shiba Clan's branch, and the uncle of Kukaku and her brother.

Toshiro had also gone to the Shiba house with Isshin back in the day, so he knew the Shiba siblings.

"Kukaku-san knows the Zero Division as well…? That makes sense. Over a hundred years ago, when the Zero Division descended into Soul Society, it was probably also a Shiba Clan's member who launched the Tenchuren to the Soul King Palace. Even if it wasn't Kukaku-san herself, she should at least have met the Zero Division." Toshiro realized.

"Ah, that's right. The Shiba family was once one of the great noble families of Soul Society, and our most important duty was to launch the Tenchuren back to the Soul King Palace after the Zero Division descended. Although the Shiba Clan has long since declined over the years, this duty has been passed down." Kukaku's answer matched Toshiro's guess.

"You're here to launch the Tenchuren, right? Then come with me!" Kukaku didn't waste words and directly led the group to the launch pad.

"Alright, it's ready. Get in quickly! It's about to launch!" Kukaku called out to the group after finishing preparations.

The Zero Division's members and Toshiro immediately got into the Tenchuren, which was stuffed inside the cannon barrel.

"Three... two... one!"

"Boom!!!"

With a loud bang, the Tenchuren shot into the sky, flying towards the Soul King Palace.