"Hello, Captain Unohana."
"Hello, Suzuki-kun. Shunsui said you are willing to join the 4th Division—have you really thought this through?"
"Yes. As for Kaido, I am very willing to learn. As for the rest, Captain Kyoraku has already arranged for Captain Aizen to teach me practice."
Suzuki Makoto knew he hadn't come to the wrong place. Just a little persuasion, and this Captain Unohana would likely be willing to spar with him.
After all, this former great villain of the Soul Society didn't start learning Kaido because she put down the butcher's knife to become a Buddha on the spot, but to heal her opponents and herself so she could fight more satisfyingly.
"In that case, the 4th Division welcomes Suzuki-kun's arrival. Starting today, you are the Lieutenant of the 4th Division."
Retsu Unohana did not act coy either. She was indeed interested in this man who had also slaughtered his way out of the Zaraki District. Unlike Kenpachi Zaraki, that battle maniac who cared about nothing but fighting, Suzuki Makoto was obviously the type of... methodical battle maniac.
Perhaps before truly enjoying that life-and-death battle with that child Zaraki, she could learn more from Suzuki-kun.
Shunsui Kyoraku took his leave after handing over to Retsu Unohana. What remained was this seemingly kind big sister leading Suzuki Makoto to learn the various rules and regulations of the 4th Division while observing Suzuki Makoto's style of conduct.
"If Captain Aizen is responsible for Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō, then there is indeed no need to worry. However, when it comes to Kaido, I am still more skilled. When Suzuki-kun has time, you can come to me to learn."
"Right now works."
Changing into the 4th Division Lieutenant's uniform and tying the identification badge on his arm, Suzuki Makoto wrapped his outer coat over the sword case, looking completely like someone traveling light.
"Don't you need to put your luggage back in the squad barracks first?"
"This is a sword case; it holds all my swords. I never part from them."
Retsu Unohana nodded in understanding and looked at Isane Kotetsu.
"Isane, you are temporarily in charge here. If anything happens, just use Tenteikūra to contact me. I will take Lieutenant Suzuki to get used to the work of the 4th Division first."
"Yes, please rest assured! Lieutenant, do your best too."
Suzuki Makoto smiled and waved his hand.
"Call me Suzuki or Makoto; don't use such a strange title."
The man and woman walked toward the depths of the squad barracks. Isane Kotetsu also withdrew her curious gaze and turned back to work seriously in the hospital.
"Suzuki-kun, this is my private residence."
Just seeing the spotless dojo in the center after opening the door, one could understand that Retsu Unohana was no doctor who had become a Buddha on the spot; in her heart, she was always that slaughtering Yachiru.
"Shall we learn Kaido first, or test our skills first?"
Suzuki Makoto stopped pretending. He was quite happy that this woman craved his skills, because he also craved Unohana's Yachiru.
"As for Kaido, having a chance for practical application is naturally simpler than written study."
Unohana shed her wide Captain's haori. Her seemingly somewhat bloated figure instantly transformed into one of capability. And the killing intent that had been suppressed all along flooded the entire dojo like mercury pouring onto the ground.
This wasn't because Retsu Unohana had any prejudice against Suzuki Makoto and wanted to fight, but as the First Kenpachi who had killed countless people, as soon as she drew her sword, this aura of slaughter would instantly ooze from her every gesture, as if she had been soaked in a sea of blood for countless years; just seeing it allowed one to smell that scent of blood.
Suzuki Makoto put down the sword case and drew his own Sukunagiri. This blade had been with him the longest and was the handiest to use.
"Please rest assured, Suzuki-kun. My Zanpakuto, Minazuki, possesses healing abilities. So, please do not hesitate to attack."
Undoing the braid confined in front of her chest, Retsu Unohana revealed her only scar without scruple. As someone with strong intuition for combat, Suzuki Makoto was the second man in a thousand years to give her such pressure.
"Pardon my intrusion."
Suzuki Makoto drew his blade and advanced. Retsu Unohana steadily received it. It was as if the two shared a telepathic bond; neither used even a bit of Reiatsu, and their fighting spirit was confined solely within this small space. They simply began to clash blades cleanly, without any superfluous, flashy means.
The more they fought, the more excited they became.
Unohana once called herself Yachiru because she had viewed and learned every single fighting style in the entire Soul Society; nothing new could surprise her anymore. That was why she treated Kenpachi Zaraki so differently, because that boy, upon their first meeting, was able to constantly evolve based on his battle with her.
And Retsu Unohana never expected to meet a second man like that, and he was right in front of her now.
What surprised Unohana even more was that Suzuki Makoto evidently possessed systematic fighting styles. Some of these styles were ones she had never even seen in the Soul Society. And this man had not only learned so many styles and moves but was able to master and integrate them thoroughly, never sticking to the fixed moves of any single school.
Suzuki Makoto felt the same way. As a "stamp collector," he had always dedicated himself to learning all sorts of wonderful styles. Whether strong or not, as long as it was something new, it made him curious. And Retsu Unohana's moves truly brought him joy at every moment.
The two quickly entered 'the zone'. They stopped thinking about superfluous things, focusing their entire attention on the other's blade, predicting the other's movements, thinking about how to respond. Two encyclopedias of swordsmanship were currently exchanging information with extreme efficiency, constantly learning from each other and responding with newly learned moves.
Knock, knock, knock.
When the knocking interrupted their battle, the dim light around them reminded them that this fight had lasted from daylight until evening.
Their current states were somewhat disheveled. After all, since they hadn't used Reiatsu, the defensive power of the Shihakusho naturally couldn't be utilized. But fortunately, both had ways to cover it up.
Retsu Unohana immediately draped the Captain's haori from the ground over her body. At the same time, using Reiatsu to swiftly braid her long hair, she covered her chest. Suzuki Makoto, on the other hand, directly grabbed the jacket covering the sword case and put it back on over his clothes.
The woman walked over and opened the door. Outside was Isane Kotetsu.
"Captain, I sent you a Tenteikūra, but I didn't receive a response, so I brought Captain Aizen to find you. He said he came to teach Lieutenant Suzuki."
Sensing nothing amiss, Isane Kotetsu enthusiastically stepped aside to reveal the figure of Sosuke Aizen.
____
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