The Duty of the Kuchiki Family  

"Seireitei, I have returned again."

In Kisuke Urahara's underground base, Ailin walked out from the blue spatial vortex between two pillars.

Without deliberately concealing his spiritual pressure, he hurried towards the Kuchiki Family manor.

After all, as a captain dismissed by the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, Ailin's Zanpakuto had been reclaimed by the Gotei 13. On the surface, without a Zanpakuto, Ailin could not pass through the Kuchiki Family's Senkaimon to enter Soul Society.

Of course, those in the know understood that Ailin's ability was "Sword Creation." As long as Ailin returned the Zanpakuto, no one would truly verify whether that sword was the one Ailin created or Ailin's true Zanpakuto.

Even if they wanted to verify it, without the abilities of "Blade God Oetsu Nimaiya" or " Ichibe Hyosube," they would not be able to know the Zanpakuto's name.

However, on the surface, Ailin still needed to give the Captain-Commander some face.

"Uncle Ailin."

After sensing Ailin's spiritual pressure approaching, Byakuya Kuchiki left Ginrei Kuchiki's bedside and came to the main gate to welcome him.

"Mm, Byakuya, how is father-in-law doing?" Seeing the current Byakuya, Ailin felt a bit dazed. Another six years had passed, and Byakuya had grown up!

The Byakuya Kuchiki standing before Ailin now, except for the captain's haori, looked almost identical to the noble model from Ailin's memory.

"Captain Unohana said that Grandfather's time has come."

Ailin's heart sank.

Time has come – this was not a good phrase, whether in the living world or Soul Society.

Ginrei Kuchiki possessed captain-level spiritual pressure and had a lifespan of five hundred years. Currently, Ginrei Kuchiki was also approaching the end of his lifespan.

"Byakuya, according to our observations before we left last time, Grandfather should have had ten more years of life remaining. How is it that only six years have passed, and he can no longer hold on?"

As they entered the Kuchiki Family manor, Ailin asked Byakuya.

"Not long ago, Grandfather went to the living world to carry out a mission and was ambushed and seriously injured. Although his injuries healed under Captain Unohana's treatment, this severe injury greatly consumed what little time he had left..."

Upon approaching the bed where Ginrei Kuchiki lay, the space in front of Ailin began to ripple. Seeing this scene, a glimmer of hope arose in Byakuya's heart.

If Uncle Ailin used the abilities of that Zanpakuto, perhaps he could completely heal Grandfather.

"Fall in love with him – Void Bandages!"

Under Byakuya's expectant gaze, a ring of fluttering bandages lifted Ginrei Kuchiki into the air.

The protruding dots on the bandages emitted a green glow, and under this green light, Ginrei Kuchiki's injuries, even his Shihakusho, began to completely recover.

After a dozen seconds, the glow of the Void Bandages dissipated, and under Ailin's control, Ginrei Kuchiki was gently lowered onto the bed.

Ginrei's eyelids fluttered, and he opened his eyes. After seeing the familiar surroundings, he asked in confusion, "What happened? Am I not dead yet?"

"Grandfather, your son-in-law happened to have a healing-type Zanpakuto and has restored your current physical condition to its optimal state at this time."

"But..." At this point, Ailin shook his head. The ability of Void Bandages was to restore an object to its "original state."

Ginrei Kuchiki's injury had already brought his remaining lifespan to an end. The optimal state that Void Bandages could restore him to was the original appearance of his soul at this moment.

When it was time for Ginrei Kuchiki to die, he would still die. After all, his "original state" now was that of a dying man whose life had already reached its end. Ailin did not say the rest, but Ginrei Kuchiki and Byakuya Kuchiki both understood clearly.

Ginrei was fine, as he had accepted the fact that he would die long ago. Byakuya's eyes, however, were filled with immense sorrow.

From a young age, after his father Sōjun Kuchiki's death, Byakuya had been guided by Ginrei Kuchiki.

It could be said that Byakuya's feelings towards Ginrei Kuchiki were deeper than his feelings towards his own father.

"Father-in-law, I heard from Byakuya that during your mission to the living world, you were ambushed and fell unconscious. Who dared to lay a hand on you?"

Glancing at Byakuya, Ailin did not rush to console him but instead directly asked Ginrei Kuchiki. Ailin's question also temporarily diverted Byakuya's attention. Indeed, they could not let the culprit who attacked Grandfather go unpunished!

When Ginrei Kuchiki heard Ailin's words, his expression changed, as if he had suddenly remembered something.

"Ailin, immediately erect a barrier to conceal our spiritual pressure in this room."

"Understood."

Seeing Ginrei Kuchiki's expression, Ailin also realized that the one who attacked Ginrei this time was likely no ordinary person. It might even be a "noble" from within Seireitei itself, coveting the Kuchiki Family's status.

Immediately, Ailin's right hand fingers manifested a yellow spiritual pressure, tracing patterns in the air. A faint yellow light screen then enveloped the room.

Defensive barrier – Mirror Door!

"It's done, father-in-law."

"Mm."

After the barrier was established, Ginrei Kuchiki visibly relaxed. Then, he struggled a few times, and Ailin quickly came forward to support the old Kuchiki and help him sit up.

"Ailin, Byakuya, remember what I'm about to say in your hearts. This is the origin of the Five Great Noble Families of Seireitei, as well as the 'destiny' our Kuchiki Family bears. More than two million years ago, the world was in chaos..."

Ailin and Byakuya listened intently as Ginrei Kuchiki recounted to them the origins of the Five Great Noble Families and the secrets behind the formation of the three realms.

It was Byakuya's first time hearing these secrets. As for Ailin, in his previous life, through anime and some information, he already knew more than Ginrei Kuchiki.

But at this moment, hearing the descriptions passed down from Ginrei Kuchiki, an eyewitness from one of the Five Great Noble Families, he also learned more detailed information.

"Our Kuchiki Family has always believed that with the Soul King's power, if he wanted to rebel, there is no existence in this world that could resist the Soul King. This world must also be the world the Soul King desires.

Therefore, we must follow the Soul King's will, guide the noble families in the right direction, and become a model for the nobles, in order to maintain the peace and stability of Soul Society.

Protecting the Soul Society created by the Soul King and upholding and enforcing the rules of Soul Society – this is the duty of our Kuchiki Family."

"Cough, cough..."

After speaking so many secrets in one breath, Ginrei Kuchiki also appeared somewhat fatigued, covering his mouth as he coughed a few times.

"Father-in-law, did you tell us all this because it is related to the ambush you encountered this time?"

"Correct."

Ginrei Kuchiki glanced at his palm, already stained red with fresh blood. "This time, I originally intended to visit you and Haruko on my way to carry out a mission in the living world. However, in the process of searching for you two, I discovered..."

"What?" Ailin's heart shook.

Ginrei Kuchiki's reason for going to the living world to carry out a mission was actually to make a detour to visit Ailin and Haruko?

If Haruko knew about this, how heartbroken would she be?

However, Ailin quickly suppressed his unease and continued listening to Ginrei Kuchiki's account of what happened.

"On my way to find you two, I happened to come across some humans. They were neither Shinigami nor Quincies, but they possessed the power to exterminate Hollows. I was very curious at the time and inquired about it. From their mouths, I learned that they called their power 'Fullbring.'

I exchanged blows with a few of them and found that, based on the nature of their power, it leaned more towards Hollows than Shinigami. 

At that time, since I was in a hurry to go and see you two, I did not linger. I only intended to report their existence to Seireitei before immediately leaving. But when I was about to send a message, I was ambushed by the enemy...

Due to my advanced age and the severe injuries from the ambush, I did not choose to fight back. I immediately returned to Seireitei through the Kuchiki Family's Senkaimon."

Ailin frowned. "So you're saying, Grandfather, you didn't see the person who attacked you?"

Contrary to Ailin's expectations, Ginrei Kuchiki shook his head. "No, I saw them. Although it has been many years, as the heir of one of the Five Great Noble Families, I would not mistake them."

"The heir of one of the Five Great Families?" Byakuya abruptly stood up, furious. "Grandfather, the one who attacked you, was it someone from the Shiba Family?"

"Yes, the Shiba Family seems to have been targeted by the other four great noble families all this time. Now that the Tsunayashiro Family is extinct and the Shihōin Family has that cat demon, the Shiba Family dares not retaliate, so they set their sights on Grandfather instead?"

"I'll go to the 10th Division right away, find out where the Shiba Family's main branch has relocated, and then lead the Sixth Division to attack their doorstep and avenge Grandfather!"

"Calm down, Byakuya!" Ailin pulled back Byakuya, who was about to rush out. Compared to the clueless Byakuya, Ailin knew more about the situation.

He also did not believe that the one who attacked Ginrei Kuchiki was the heir of the Shiba Family.

Among the Five Great Noble Families of Soul Society, the Shiba Family had always wanted to expose the sins of the other five great noble families, who wished to betray the Soul King, and make them accept the punishment they deserved. As a result, the Shiba Family had been targeted openly and covertly by the other four great noble families.

By now, the Shiba Family had already been forced to leave Seireitei and could only settle in Rukongai.

It was only in this generation that the Shiba Family's branch member, Isshin Shiba, became a genius, allowing the Shiba Family to re-enter Seireitei. The Shiba Family's main branch had no intention of entering Seireitei. It was only because the next generation's wife was a Shinigami that she followed them into the Gotei 13.

Most importantly, Ailin did not believe that someone from the Shiba Family would attack Ginrei Kuchiki.

"Cough, cough..."

"No, it's not the Shiba Family." Ginrei Kuchiki's words made Byakuya calm down somewhat.

"Grandfather, if it's not the Shiba Family, could it be the Shihōin Family? But aside from that cat demon, I haven't heard of the Shihōin Family having an heir as the next head of the family."