An entire day passed.
Only after night fell did Chika finally creep toward the gate under cover of darkness and quietly cut Saitō and Rukia down.
The instant their feet touched solid ground, both women let out long breaths of relief.
They'd gone the entire day without food or water.
Their stomachs were practically touching their backs, and loud growls repeatedly protested their treatment.
Ignoring their aching bodies, the two stumbled toward the kitchen.
Moments later, they were devouring everything they could get their hands on.
One hand held steamed buns while the other clutched enormous bowls of porridge, and the two ate with the fury of people determined to wipe hunger from existence.
Meanwhile, everyone had begun wondering where Kazuma and Batsu'unsai had gone.
The pair seemed to have vanished completely.
In reality, they'd traveled deep into a remote mountain forest outside Karakura Town.
Kazuma had deliberately chosen such an isolated location because of what happened when he drew down the power of the Solar Star for Yamamoto.
This time, he wanted a place where there was virtually no chance of innocent people getting caught in the aftermath or anyone interfering.
After careful consideration, this remote wilderness had been the obvious choice.
"Ready?"
Kazuma's expression turned serious as he looked toward Batsu'unsai.
He'd decided to guide the power of the Lunar Star into her Zanpakutō.
"Are you absolutely sure this is safe?"
Batsu'unsai still sounded uneasy.
She'd already asked him the same question several times.
"Relax, my dear wife. It'll definitely work."
Kazuma answered with absolute confidence.
"I already tested the process on Yama-jii!"
That was not exactly the most comforting way to phrase it.
Kazuma once again manifested his divine form and raised the imperial seal, drawing down the power of the moon.
Unlike the fierce, overwhelming Solar Star, the moon hung quietly in the night sky.
Silver moonlight poured down like flowing water, gentle and serene.
Even when small fluctuations appeared during the process, they caused nothing comparable to the chaos created by the Solar Star.
After a lengthy process, Batsu'unsai successfully absorbed the power of the Lunar Star.
Silver light erupted around her body.
As the lunar power continued merging with her, her reiatsu climbed steadily until she stood only half a step away from entering an entirely new realm.
Given enough time, she'd eventually reach the same level Yamamoto had attained.
At the same time, the spiritual power within her was gradually beginning to transform into lunar energy.
"Wife, you've gotten even prettier."
Kazuma immediately leaned in with a shameless smile and started flattering her.
Batsu'unsai had already been naturally beautiful.
Now, with the Star's power flowing through her, her pale skin had become even more flawless and translucent, smooth and luminous like fine white jade.
Her long black hair fell over her shoulders like a waterfall, brushing lightly against her pale neck and giving her an even more graceful, captivating appearance.
"Pah! Don't think I don't know what you're planning."
Batsu'unsai shot him a knowing look.
"Forget it."
She'd seen straight through his thoughts.
Did he seriously expect anything to happen out here in the middle of the wilderness?
"Then we'll go home?"
Kazuma immediately scooped her into his arms and rushed back toward the estate with suspicious enthusiasm.
Of course, there was one thing he intended to do first this time.
He was putting up a barrier.
No more idiots were interrupting them!
...
"My dear wife, there's something else I need your help with."
After spending the night together, Kazuma held Batsu'unsai tightly in his arms.
Over the next several days, he intended to infuse Chika and the others with star power one by one.
But the Seventh Division couldn't remain without a captain indefinitely.
Someone still needed to handle its affairs, and Batsu'unsai was easily the best person for the job.
"Hmm?"
Batsu'unsai raised her head slightly from his chest, her cheeks still faintly flushed, and waited for him to continue.
"I'd like you to return to Soul Society for a while and oversee the Seventh Division in my place. It'll also give you a good opportunity to get familiar with the new power you just obtained."
Kazuma spoke with such sincerity that anyone unfamiliar with him might have believed every word.
In reality, he simply didn't want to go back and deal with paperwork.
He'd assumed his request sounded perfectly reasonable and that Batsu'unsai would readily agree.
"Hmph! You just want me to go back and do all the miserable work for you again."
Batsu'unsai pouted and lightly punched him in the chest.
"You've certainly planned this out nicely for yourself."
She'd seen straight through him.
"Oh, come on, my dear wife. You've completely misunderstood me!"
Kazuma immediately denied the accusation without the slightest hesitation.
"I'm only making this arrangement because circumstances demand it. I genuinely have too many things to handle right now. I can't exactly split myself in half and work in two places at once."
"So I have no choice but to ask someone as capable and intelligent as you to step in. With your ability, handling a division should be effortless."
Once his little scheme was exposed, Kazuma launched into a detailed explanation of all his upcoming plans, hoping to convince her that returning to Soul Society was absolutely necessary rather than merely convenient for him.
"All right, all right! Your reasoning is flawless. I'll go back, happy?"
Batsu'unsai rolled her eyes so hard they practically disappeared.
Then her pale hand suddenly reached toward Kazuma's waist, pinched a piece of soft flesh with terrifying precision, and twisted.
Hard.
"OW! Ow, ow, ow!"
Kazuma immediately screamed like a stuck pig.
His entire body contorted from the pain, his handsome face twisting hideously as cold sweat poured from his forehead.
Tears even began gathering at the corners of his eyes.
No matter how powerful a man became, this technique remained terrifying.
Whoever had invented it must have been a demon.
Kazuma begged and protested, but Batsu'unsai showed no mercy. Her fingers kept twisting until he genuinely felt as though she might tear a chunk out of his waist.
Only then did she finally release him.
"My dear wife… wasn't that a little too brutal?"
Kazuma immediately rubbed the abused spot with a miserable expression, repeatedly sucking in cold breaths.
"Aren't you afraid you'll permanently damage me?"
Before sending her back to Soul Society, Kazuma wisely decided that further appeasement was necessary.
He spent an entire day accompanying Batsu'unsai around Karakura Town.
By the end of it, he was exhausted.
Not only had he been forced to carry bags of every size imaginable, but he'd also endured her complaints, indecision, and endless scrutiny over every purchase.
"I'm heading back to Soul Society now."
Batsu'unsai looked thoroughly satisfied after a full day of shopping and good food.
"Finish whatever you're doing as quickly as possible. I have no intention of handling your division forever."
Since she'd already agreed, it was finally time to return.
Kazuma took her hand and led her into a narrow, dimly lit alley with almost no foot traffic.
It was secluded enough to avoid attracting attention from spiritually aware humans.
He thoughtfully opened a Senkaimon for her.
"Safe travels, my dear wife."
Kazuma's voice softened, genuine reluctance visible in his eyes.
Batsu'unsai took a breath and stepped through the gate, disappearing into the light.
Then something ridiculous happened.
The secluded alley Kazuma had deliberately chosen to avoid attracting attention happened to contain the exact same drunk he'd encountered upon first returning to the Human World.
"G-GHOST!"
Another terrified scream rang out.
Whether the man possessed incredible luck or the worst luck imaginable was hard to say.
Somehow, he'd managed to witness Kazuma's supernatural nonsense twice in a row.
This time, however, Kazuma didn't even need to knock him unconscious.
The drunk's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed on his own.
Kazuma stared at him for a moment before laughing helplessly.
The poor bastard really was unlucky.
Still, at least Kazuma had been spared the effort of hitting him again.
Shaking his head, he left the troublesome alley behind.
...
Soul Society
"Why are you here?"
A Senkaimon slowly appeared inside the First Division tea room.
Yamamoto had assumed Kazuma was returning, but when the light faded, the person who stepped through was Batsu'unsai, whom he hadn't seen in many years.
"Captain-Commander. It truly has been a long time."
Batsu'unsai smiled gently, warmth and nostalgia in her voice.
Kazuma had already told her that Yamamoto had regained his youth, but seeing it with her own eyes was another matter entirely.
The man before her no longer resembled the weathered old warrior covered in wrinkles she remembered from recent years.
Instead, he once again wore the vigorous, powerful appearance of his prime.
The contrast was so dramatic that Batsu'unsai needed a moment to process it.
For an instant, it felt as though time itself had reversed.
Looking at Yamamoto's younger face brought back memories she hadn't revisited in centuries — hard-fought battles, desperate struggles, and the many years they'd once spent standing on the same battlefield.
Seeing him like this again felt almost unreal.
"This appearance…"
Batsu'unsai murmured quietly.
"It must have been over a thousand years since I last saw you like this."
A thousand years had passed in what now seemed like the blink of an eye.
Yet those distant memories remained vivid enough to feel like yesterday.
Standing before the rejuvenated Yamamoto filled her with a strange sense of unreality, as though she'd somehow stepped into a dream from the distant past.
"That brat Kazuma infused you with star power as well?"
Yamamoto's eyes remained as sharp as ever.
One glance was enough for him to recognize that Batsu'unsai now stood only half a step away from reaching the same level he'd attained.
"Your perception is as keen as ever, Captain-Commander."
Batsu'unsai smiled, impressed by how quickly he'd seen through her transformation.
A thought naturally crossed her mind.
If the handful of monsters from their generation had possessed power like this a thousand years ago, they probably could have beaten Yhwach senseless before he ever opened his eyes.
"Why did you return alone?"
After a brief exchange of greetings, Yamamoto got straight to the point.
"Where is that brat Kazuma?"
As captain of the Seventh Division, Kazuma carried considerable responsibility.
Unfortunately, he also had an irritating habit of neglecting those responsibilities whenever the opportunity presented itself.
"Where do you think?"
Batsu'unsai complained with obvious irritation.
"That shameless bastard pestered me until I agreed to come back and oversee the Seventh Division for him."
Truthfully, she hadn't wanted to return to Soul Society at all.
Unfortunately, Kazuma's mouth was far too persuasive.
After enough sweet words and shameless coaxing, he'd eventually talked her into agreeing against her better judgment.