Chapter 63: It Was All Kurosaki's Doing, Every Single Thing
Fourth Division, General Relief Station.
"Due to timely medical treatment, Captain Kenpachi is out of danger."
Retsu Unohana pushed open the door of the first operating room and gently reported the situation to the pink haired girl who had rushed over, as well as to Ikkaku Madarame and Yumichika Ayasegawa from the Eleventh Division.
"Phew… thank you for your hard work, Captain Unohana."
The hearts that had been stuck in Ikkaku and Yumichika's throats finally settled. They bowed deeply and thanked Retsu Unohana with uncharacteristic solemnity.
"It was mainly thanks to Isane. I was busy examining Vice Captain Hinamori's body and only came over to help a little at the end. If possible, when Captain Kenpachi wakes up, please try to persuade him not to discharge himself immediately. Moving around recklessly will only worsen his injuries."
"We… we will try our best."
Retsu Unohana knew this request was somewhat unreasonable, so she sighed quietly and shifted her gaze to the silent Yachiru.
"Vice Captain Yachiru, may I ask who Captain Kenpachi was fighting?"
"At first we ran into a ryoka, but then… the ryoka was rescued. We chased after them, and then this happened."
Yachiru's eyes flicked to the side as she spoke in a deliberately vague way.
"So who exactly did it? Say it clearly, Vice Captain."
Ikkaku scratched his head in frustration.
"To snatch a ryoka out of the Captain's hands and leave him this badly injured, there is no way you did not get a clear look at their face, right? Tell me what they looked like and I…"
"Baldy, what are you planning to do?"
Yachiru's stare turned unfriendly, sending a cold sweat down Ikkaku's back.
"Even if you knew, do you think you could beat them? That is an opponent Captain Kenpachi could not defeat even after using Shikai."
"?!"
"You said Shikai?!"
"The Captain…?!"
The moment she said it, it was not only Ikkaku and Yumichika who were stunned. Even Retsu Unohana's eyes widened slightly.
The name of the current Captain of the Eleventh Division was known throughout Seireitei.
His origin story was no secret either.
With a broken sword he had picked up on the ground, he had killed the previous Kenpachi in broad daylight.
Kido, Shunpo, swordsmanship, hand to hand combat.
Saying he knew none of them would be an exaggeration, but it was true that he had been almost entirely self taught, relying overwhelmingly on pure sword fighting to crush all opponents. He had earned the awe of countless Shinigami with his maniacal style and overwhelming power.
That madman… actually had a day where he released his Zanpakuto and fought like a Shinigami.
And even pushed to that point, he still could not avoid defeat.
Just thinking about it was enough to send a shiver through anyone.
What on earth had happened out there?
Who exactly had he run into?
"It was Kurosaki Ichigo, was it not?"
Retsu Unohana asked suddenly.
"Kurosaki… Ichigo? Who is that supposed to be?"
Ikkaku frowned.
"Ikkaku, you are behind on information," Yumichika said quietly. "He is one of this year's most outstanding Freshmen at the Spirit Arts Academy. He caused quite the commotion some time ago, and together with another equally famous genius, he is a disciple of Captain Aizen. He is quite popular among the Gotei 13."
Ikkaku's expression twisted. His voice was full of disbelief.
"…You are telling me a Freshman who has not even been enrolled for a full year beat the leader of the strongest combat Division in the Gotei 13? And you are saying there is more than one of these freaks?!"
"…I did not know they were that strong. That is far beyond the rumors. I can only say it is fortunate the Captain is still alive. Otherwise we might be greeting an even more outrageous Captain."
Yumichika bit his thumbnail, his mood very complicated.
"Quit dreaming. From the moment they helped the ryoka, they have no place in the Gotei 13 anymore."
Ikkaku waved that idea away impatiently, then turned back to Retsu Unohana.
"Captain Unohana, do you know this Kurosaki Ichigo?"
"Know him? Not really. I have only met him once," she replied.
Her mind drifted back to that afternoon.
"I taught him a little swordsmanship and Bakudo."
"No wonder A Ichi dared to take a direct hit from Little Kenpachi," Yachiru said suddenly, as if something had clicked. "He recovered in an instant even after taking damage."
"So that is how it is. He wore the Captain down by trading injuries. What a shameless way to fight."
Ikkaku snorted when he heard that.
"This kind of stubborn opponent who never feels the cruelty of battle and only chases victory is truly beautiful," Yumichika murmured, shaking his head in admiration.
"You two idiots, what do you know."
Yachiru jumped up and smacked both of them on the head, then put her hands on her hips with a look of disappointment.
"What Kenpachi likes most is fighting. An opponent who cannot die is the best kind of opponent. And A Ichi is not weak. He even has a second personality."
"What! Two against one? That is no different from those guys who play tag team with dirty tricks. Equally despicable."
"Then we have no choice but to avenge the Captain. Come on, Ikkaku, once we find them, we will take them together."
"Right."
Whether they were dizzy with anger or obeying an instinctive sense of danger, the two of them rushed out immediately.
They did not notice that Retsu Unohana's gaze had grown colder.
"Vice Captain Yachiru, could I trouble you to discipline those two afterward for running wild in the hospital?"
"Ah? Sure. Leave it to me."
"And about Kurosaki Ichigo aiding the ryoka, please tell them not to file a report."
"Eh?"
Yachiru was stunned.
Not that she minded. In fact she wanted to repay Ichigo and thank him for holding back.
But should it not have been her line to say?
"The situation is this," Retsu Unohana said softly. "I have found some clues on Vice Captain Hinamori's body that I want to confirm in person with someone. Before that, I want to try trusting Kurosaki kun, and also trusting Takeru.
"To trust that they know what they are doing."
She looked out the window at the seemingly peaceful scene outside. A trace of worry lingered between her brows.
…
Sokyoku Hill, the true center of Seireitei.
To be honest, Takeru did not want to fight too fiercely in this area.
Because it was very likely to affect the large public bath.
He had rushed through last time and missed many experiences.
He had not even admired the cherry blossoms in full bloom, or sat in the pool with petals drifting down, drinking tea and sake.
Whether this regret was what nudged him into agreeing to soak in the hot spring at the secret base on Sokyoku Hill with Yoruichi or not, the result was the same.
They had already bathed.
And it had indeed been comfortable.
The healing hot springs had washed away the fatigue piled up from his recent training.
"So while I was fighting Kenpachi, you were here in a hot spring with Yoruichi and Inoue?"
"Not just that," Takeru replied. "I also talked to Yoruichi in detail about Sensei and learned more about her. It will help with future cooperation. You can think of it as contributing to alliance diplomacy."
"… "
Ichigo was speechless.
"Anyway, eat first. You need to replenish your strength."
Takeru dragged him over to the flat patch of rock where Yoruichi and Orihime were sitting. A luxurious rug was spread over the stone, and there were piles of exquisite bento boxes on top of it. Several were already open, revealing an array of delicacies from land and sea.
Seeing it all, Ichigo could not help rubbing his eyes.
"Yoruichi, Inoue… where did all this come from?"
"Do not make such a big deal out of it," Yoruichi said. "My little brother Yushiro sent it. We cannot exactly camp out here until noon tomorrow without food and water, can we?"
The way Yoruichi handled things faintly reminded Ichigo of Shiba Kukaku. That sense of familiarity was one of the reasons they had warmed to each other so quickly.
"Shihōin has been here? Wait a second… is Yoruichi that long lost sister he kept mentioning?"
"Well, those are old stories," she said, brushing it off.
"Kurosaki kun, you are hurt, are you not?"
Orihime's eyes immediately locked onto the damage at his collar.
"Ah… this? It is nothing. I patched it up myself. My Bakudo is no worse than a Fourth Division member's. Maybe still a little behind Captain Unohana, though."
"Then let me fix your clothes."
"Oh… that ability is so convenient."
Ichigo watched the torn part of his uniform knit back together under a warm orange glow. The polite refusal on his lips turned into pure admiration.
"It is nothing," Orihime said. "In my opinion, the truly useful power is the ability to defeat the enemy. Just like Takeru and Kurosaki kun."
"You have gotten pretty strong," Yoruichi said, chewing as she looked him over. "To stand your ground against Kenpachi Zaraki… and you have not reached Bankai yet, have you?"
"Not yet."
Before Ichigo could answer properly, Yoruichi swallowed her food and spoke up first, her expression holding a hint of mischief.
"But do not underestimate him. Even without Bankai, he can protect himself."
"In that case, tomorrow you two will take Rukia and run," Takeru said after a moment's thought. "Kurosaki and I will stay behind to hold off the enemy."
"Just running away with Rukia will not be enough, right? What other plans do you have? Tell me everything now. I will cooperate as much as I can."
A sharp light flashed in Yoruichi's eyes.
"There is no special plan. It is just that Sensei arranged for his Division's Vice Captain to fake her death to draw attention and muddy the waters. In truth, the Vice Captain is not only hiding to avoid being found. She also has another mission."
Takeru calmly revealed the rest of the plan.
"Sensei stationed her in a secret research facility in the Fifth Division's jurisdiction. There, he has prepared the necessary equipment. The purpose is… to help Vice Captain Hinamori, who is a Bakudo master, perform surgery to extract the Hōgyoku.
"As long as we rescue Rukia and bring her there, then complete the separation and remove that hot potato from her body, the Soul Society will no longer have a reason to execute her."
"In other words, once we finish that step, half of the mission is done," Ichigo concluded.
"And the other half?"
Yoruichi raised an eyebrow. Orihime also leaned in, listening very seriously.
"The rest depends on whether Captain Hitsugaya, who is pursuing Ichimaru Gin to investigate Vice Captain Hinamori's death, can expose his plot that same day and bring this farce to an end.
"Speaking of which, what preparations have you two made?"
After laying everything out, Takeru turned the question back to them.
"It is not as if we have nothing. If I have to sum it up in one phrase… we will play it by ear."
Yoruichi answered with folded arms and a careless tone.
But inside, she felt anything but relaxed.
All she felt was pressure.
Because Yoruichi did not understand what Aizen was really aiming for.
She had been deliberately building a good relationship with Takeru and Ichigo, hoping to use that connection to probe deeper into Aizen. But the more she heard from Takeru, the less she felt she understood.
Calligraphy classes, promoting younger students, teaching techniques, guiding them through Bankai training, soaking in hot springs together, exchanging thoughts and calling it a pleasant, fruitful conversation, then fighting side by side to save Rukia.
Takeru had described all of it in a light, casual tone, without embellishment, and Yoruichi could tell he was not deliberately polishing Aizen's image. Even so, her imagination struggled to match those scenes with the Aizen she and Kisuke knew.
Every part of it sounded like the actions of an incredibly dedicated teacher, maybe even beyond what a normal teacher would do. In just a few months, he had helped Takeru and Kurosaki Ichigo grow to this level.
To say all of that was done just for the sake of the Hōgyoku felt absurdly roundabout. Calling it manipulation almost seemed like oversimplifying it.
It did not match the Aizen in her memories at all.
Had Aizen… changed?
Yoruichi almost wondered if the hot spring had made her light headed.
Mysteries were piling up.
For now she could only go along, stay flexible, and choose to trust them.
She sighed inwardly and snapped back to the present, just in time to see Ichigo eating with great enthusiasm. That sight suddenly reminded her of something.
"By the way, Ichigo."
"What is it, Miss Yoruichi?"
"Did you talk that good for nothing little brother of mine into sending me a welcome gift?"
"Uh… I guess something like that happened," Ichigo said, his chopsticks pausing mid air.
An ominous feeling crept up on him.
"Oh ho."
Yoruichi narrowed her eyes, a dangerous smile spreading across her face.
"I was wondering why he suddenly sent over piles of cat food and cat toys, and the most ridiculous thing of all, catnip. So it was you whispering in his ear."
"…No, that has nothing to do with me. Takeru, say something. You know what is going on, help me explain. In the end this is still your responsibility."
"What are you talking about?"
Takeru looked genuinely shocked.
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