The Captain Changes and Ten Unohana's Grueling Training

When Retsu Unohana saw Lisa Yadōmaru leave, she smiled and said, "No wonder my Little Ten likes teasing this Little Lisa! Hehe, she's very considerate."

Shunsui Kyōraku chuckled. "Is that so? My Lisa is a charming girl."

Compared to Shunsui Kyōraku's unreliable remarks, Jūshirō Ukitake was much more dependable. In fact, he was almost too dependable as he slowly explained why they had summoned Retsu Unohana. The reason was simple, but if word got out, it would be enough to shake the entire Soul Society. The news was—

"The replacement of the captains."

And this time, they were actually replacing the captains of nine divisions in total: the Second, Third, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Ninth, Tenth, 11th, and Twelfth Divisions.

What did it mean to replace nine captains at once? Apart from Yamamoto, Retsu Unohana, and Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake, who were present, every captain in Soul Society would have been replaced.

Retsu Unohana's heart stirred. Remembering Ten Unohana's plan, she couldn't help thinking, Could Little Ten be waiting for this opportunity? At that thought, Retsu Unohana composed herself and asked, "If so many captains are being replaced at once, will there be enough candidates?"

Shunsui Kyōraku, true to his position in the Eighth Division, the intelligence division, answered immediately. "We decided to replace them precisely because we have candidates. Ever since that large-scale attack on Hueco Mundo a century ago, we've had considerable success, but the consequences were severe as well. The captains of Soul Society were all left with aftereffects of varying severity. Apart from us, there aren't any captains we can really put forward, so we've spent nearly a century looking for successors. It wasn't until the old man founded the Shin'ō Academy and allowed people from Rukongai to become Soul Reapers that some talented people emerged. That's why the captains who should have been replaced a century ago have stayed on until now."

Retsu Unohana already knew all this, but thinking it might have a bearing on Ten Unohana's plan, she asked for more details. "Then who are the next captains?"

Shunsui Kyōraku pressed down the brim of his straw hat. "That's why I called everyone here: to discuss those candidates. First, let me tell you who they are. The Second Division goes without saying; it's bound to be Yoruichi of the Shihoin. The Third Division's successor is named Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi, the Fifth's is Shinji Hirako, the Sixth's is another member of the Kuchiki Clan, the Seventh's is Love Aikawa, the Ninth's is Kensei Muguruma, the Tenth's is Isshin Shiba, and the Twelfth's is Kisuke Urahara. We can discuss them later. The problem now is, what do we do about the one captain's successor we're missing?"

Jūshirō Ukitake said, "I suggest Ten Unohana be the next captain of the 11th Division."

Retsu Unohana offered no opinion, thinking to herself, Little Ten won't take the position of next captain.

Shunsui Kyōraku thought Retsu Unohana had fallen silent because Ten Unohana was involved, so he moved past the subject. "Then let's discuss how to train the next captains."

Retsu Unohana said calmly, "What's the rush? Aren't those candidates still at the Shin'ō Academy?"

At that, Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake didn't know what to say. Although they were both veteran captains, they were still less senior than Retsu Unohana.

With nothing else to say, Jūshirō Ukitake made conversation. "So many of the next captains are in Little Ten's class."

Wasn't that obvious? Soul Society's geniuses were concentrated in Yoruichi's and Ten Unohana's two classes. If they didn't come from those classes, where else would they come from?

Retsu Unohana felt a little embarrassed, so she took the initiative to speak. "Then I'll train Ten Unohana as a future captain."

Seeing this, Shunsui Kyōraku quickly said, "Then we'll leave the remaining captains to train the other candidates."

Jūshirō Ukitake added, "Once they're able to serve as captains, the captains with severe aftereffects can step down."

Retsu Unohana nodded. "Then Little Ten can be the next captain of the Tenth Division." Retsu Unohana was thinking of Ten Unohana's plan.

After saying all this, Jūshirō Ukitake breathed a sigh of relief. "Since changing captains is such a troublesome matter, we should inform Old Man Yamamoto in advance. Once they leave the Shin'ō Academy, we'll give them special attention, and they can succeed the captains once they achieve Bankai."

With that, he coughed lightly twice.

Then he said to Retsu Unohana, a little embarrassed, "Um, Captain Unohana, there's a girl named Isane Kotetsu among the Shin'ō Academy students graduating soon. I'd like her to join your Fourth Division. Don't worry, her grades are very good. I met her younger sister in Rukongai, a very considerate child, and for other reasons, I decided to help."

Retsu Unohana smiled. "Sure! I'll go see her when the time comes. There shouldn't be a problem."

Then Retsu Unohana saw Jūshirō Ukitake and Shunsui Kyōraku pick up the sake bowls on the table. They also filled hers, but Retsu Unohana didn't drink, so she took only a small sip before making an excuse and taking her leave.

She still had to go back and tell Ten Unohana the latest news.

"Hm?! So the captains will be replaced soon?" Ten Unohana said, somewhat delighted.

Retsu Unohana, however, poured cold water on him. "No. We have to wait until you graduate, and then until all those people achieve Bankai."

After that, Retsu Unohana continued slowly, "Before then, I'll teach you and Rangiku swordsmanship to improve your strength."

"Mm."

Under normal circumstances, nothing much happened in Soul Society.

On a mountain.

"Faster."

"Faster!"

"Be nimble."

"Turn."

"Circle around."

Retsu Unohana, Rangiku, and Ten Unohana each held a Zanpakuto on the mountaintop. Retsu Unohana was teaching Rangiku off to one side, while Ten Unohana was monotonously swinging his Zanpakuto over and over on the other. The sheath of his Zanpakuto had also been made heavier by Kidō that Retsu Unohana had placed on it. According to her, it weighed several thousand jin, but Ten Unohana felt she had greatly understated it.

"Faster." Retsu Unohana's sheathed Zanpakuto struck Rangiku's hand. The blow wasn't hard, but her hand still turned red.

Compared to Rangiku, Ten Unohana was actually in a far more miserable situation. There was a very steep slope below him, and one careless move would send him and his sword rolling down together. Fortunately, his Zanpakuto was sheathed, so he wouldn't be killed by his own blade. Even so, it was miserable: not even half a day had passed, and Ten Unohana had already fallen many times...

At least Ten Unohana was allowed to use his Reiatsu. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to lift the sword with its sheath, which had so much Kidō placed on it.

I didn't expect Mom to be so ungentle when she's training us. Has she turned dark? The moment Ten Unohana's thoughts wandered, disaster struck...

Clang.

Boom.

"Aah!"

Ten Unohana cried out as he fell down the mountain. A trace of sympathy flashed through Retsu Unohana's eyes, but she quickly suppressed it. Better to suffer a little more now than lose his life when the plan begins.

Retsu Unohana was a Captain-level figure, so she could fight Rangiku while thinking about this.

Smack! "Don't stop." Retsu Unohana saw Rangiku stop swinging her sword again because Ten Unohana had fallen down the mountain, and smacked her on the bottom. Rangiku hurriedly continued, using Shunpo to circle Ten Unohana at high speed and attacking with her Zanpakuto—and it was released.

"Ah?! Young Master Unohana, what happened to you?" At the foot of the mountain, a slender woman with blue-white hair walked over to Ten Unohana and spoke in surprise.

Ten Unohana climbed to his feet and said, panting, "I'm fine. I'm practicing swordsmanship!" With that, he used Shunpo to head back up the mountain. His Shunpo was less than half as fast as usual, so the woman easily caught up with him. She took hold of him and said, "Let me treat your injuries!"

Ten Unohana pulled his hand free and used Shunpo to head up the mountain again, saying as he went, "Thanks, Sister Isane, but there's no need. I have to get back up the mountain quickly, or my training will be doubled!"

The woman—no, Isane Kotetsu—hurriedly followed him when she heard that. "All right, then. Keep going. I'll see if I can treat you a little while you're on your way, though it definitely won't work very well."

Ten Unohana nodded. He had a very good impression of Isane Kotetsu. She was introverted and shy, a little indecisive, and had grown up in Rukongai. She was tall and worried about it. Ten Unohana liked her a lot, though he didn't know why.

"Huff... huff... huff..." Ten Unohana panted heavily as he reached the top. Only then did Retsu Unohana and Rangiku stop training, and Retsu Unohana hurried over to treat his injuries.

Isane Kotetsu caught up behind him. Retsu Unohana's healing was famous throughout Soul Society, and by the time Isane Kotetsu arrived, Retsu Unohana had already healed Ten Unohana. So training resumed...

Isane Kotetsu was dumbfounded by Rangiku's training. Wasn't this far too exhausting?! Then she saw Ten Unohana's training and couldn't quite understand it, so she went over for a closer look. Retsu Unohana said, "Don't touch Little Ten. His sheath weighs several thousand jin."

Isane Kotetsu was stunned. She stared blankly at Ten Unohana as he swung the Zanpakuto in his hand again and again, finally realizing what kind of training he was undergoing.

"Young Master Unohana, let me heal you." Isane Kotetsu wanted to help treat Ten Unohana, but as soon as she reached his side, she didn't dare move. She was afraid that if she touched him, she might knock him over.

There was a mountainside below them, after all. If he rolled down, the same thing would happen again. Only then did Isane Kotetsu understand what had happened to Ten Unohana earlier.

Isane Kotetsu stared blankly at Ten Unohana's small figure. At that moment, she felt that he was a man who stood tall between heaven and earth.

"Be careful, Young Master Unohana. I'm going to heal you now," Isane Kotetsu said very cautiously, slowly, very slowly, bringing her slender, delicate hands toward him.

The blue-green Reiatsu unique to healing Kidō slowly lit up...

Retsu Unohana saw this but didn't stop her. After all, it would also help Ten Unohana's training. She turned some of her attention back to Rangiku's training, and Rangiku was struck more often as a result. Even so, Rangiku's and Ten Unohana's swordsmanship improved at an astonishing pace...