A Decision for the Future

Not long after Sōsuke Aizen disappeared around a corner in the dormitory corridor, the air stirred soundlessly, and a figure like a silver fox quietly appeared in the shadows beside him. Gin Ichimaru narrowed his eyes, his trademark inscrutable smile on his face, and spoke with a hint of indolent amusement:

"My, my, Captain Aizen, you really are... considerate of your subordinates. You even came in person to visit and treat a Shin'ō Academy student over something as minor as an injury. So, was there anything 'special' about that kid Liu Hao? Something worth all that 'concern'?"

Aizen did not break stride, nor did he so much as shift his gaze. He raised a hand and elegantly adjusted the glasses on his nose, a cold glint passing over the lenses in the dim light. His voice remained calm and untroubled, as though he were stating the most ordinary of facts:

"Just a little insect that occasionally strayed from its prescribed path and caught a fraction of my attention. His talent for Reiatsu is acceptable, and his temperament is... a little more composed and cautious than his peers', but that is all. Perhaps his struggle to survive in Rukongai left him with an unnecessary sensitivity to power and control, and... fear." He paused, the corners of his mouth seeming to curve into the faintest, almost imperceptible smile. "There is no need for concern, Gin. For the time being, we need not consider such an insignificant piece on our board."

"Is that so... That's good, then," Gin Ichimaru replied with a smile, as though he really had only asked in passing. Yet his gaze flickered almost imperceptibly toward Liu Hao's dormitory, and deep in his perpetually narrowed eyes, a faint, inscrutable glimmer seemed to flash.

The two walked side by side, their footsteps echoing through the empty corridor before they soon disappeared into the depths of Shin'ō Academy's complex buildings. Sunlight streamed through the high windows, casting long shadows behind them that receded into the distance.

Inside the dormitory, Liu Hao's taut nerves finally relaxed only when he could no longer sense the two powerful, obscure Reiatsu signatures outside the door. He slowly leaned back against the head of the bed. His back was already soaked with cold sweat, and the damp, chilly clothing clung uncomfortably to his skin. He let out a long breath and looked toward the door with a complicated expression.

He went out of his way to come here... So it really wasn't just "concern for a student." Did he come to see if I was really hurt, or was he probing for something? Liu Hao wondered. I hope that performance fooled him. I don't want a monster of that caliber watching me again... For now, I'm still far too weak. A mixture of lingering fear, relief, and an even stronger desire for power churned in his heart.

Just then, Renji Abarai returned after seeing Aizen off, pushing the door open and stepping inside on tiptoe. The nervousness and a little of the excitement he had felt in the captain's presence still lingered on his face. Seeing Liu Hao leaning against the head of the bed, he hurried over and asked with concern, "Liu Hao, how do you feel? Is your body any better? Captain Aizen treated you himself, so you must be all right now, right?"

Liu Hao gathered his thoughts and nodded, trying to sound natural. "Yeah, much better. The injury wasn't that serious to begin with. My Reiatsu pathways were mostly just a little disrupted. Captain Aizen's Kaidō is amazing; he smoothed them out easily."

"That's good!" Renji breathed a sigh of relief, then his face lit up with a guileless, slightly admiring smile. "Captain Aizen is a really good person! When he heard you'd been hurt and taken leave, he offered to come see you as soon as class ended, and he even treated you himself. A captain like that... it'd be great if I could join his division someday!"

Liu Hao looked at Renji Abarai, who genuinely believed Aizen was a "good person," and the corner of his mouth twitched. He was at a loss for words. I put myself through all this to avoid him, and you went and brought him right to my door without a second thought... I really have to hand it to you, Renji. But he knew he could not explain it to Renji, so he swallowed the complaint and forced a smile. "Ah... yeah, Captain Aizen is... pretty 'helpful.'"

Afterward, Renji Abarai ran to the cafeteria and went to some trouble to bring Liu Hao a light but nutritious meal for an invalid. He watched Liu Hao finish eating and reminded him a few times to get plenty of rest before rushing off to the training grounds for extra practice, as energetic as ever. He seemed to want to make up for being somewhat distracted in class by his worry over Liu Hao by working twice as hard.

Silence returned to the dormitory. After eating and resting for a while, Liu Hao felt that the injuries Aizen had treated were indeed no longer a serious concern, and his disrupted Reiatsu had also settled down. He hesitated no longer. Sitting cross-legged, he laid his awakened Tang Dao Zanpakuto across his knees, held both hands lightly over the blade, closed his eyes, and entered deep meditation once more.

This time was completely different from the serene introspection and guidance of his circulating Reiatsu he had experienced before. His consciousness seemed to be drawn swiftly downward by an invisible force, piercing the surface layer of Reiatsu mist and reaching directly into the depths of his soul, that strange space he had "visited" not long ago.

The starry backdrop still shone brilliantly, and the void beneath his feet remained boundless. The woman in close-fitting black battle clothes, Tang Dao in hand, stood a short distance away with her arms folded and an air of composure, as though she had expected him.

Seeing Liu Hao's consciousness manifest, she raised her striking brows and curved her lips in a hint of a smile. "Oh? You're back. So, did you manage to fool that 'kind and amiable' Captain Aizen?"

Liu Hao spread his hands, his voice a little helpless. "Can't you sense what's happening on my side? Why bother asking me?"

"Hmph." The woman snorted softly, making no secret of her contempt. "Sensing it is one thing. Isn't it more fun to hear you admit in person that you're a coward whose palms sweat at the sight of a captain?"

Her words left Liu Hao speechless for a moment. He sighed. "Come on, that's Sōsuke Aizen! Captain of the Fifth Division of the Gotei 13! His strength is unfathomable, and his mind is deeper than the sea. I'm a Shin'ō student who only just awakened his Zanpakuto and can't even use Shikai. Isn't it normal to be a little nervous in front of him? Should I be like Renji and foolishly believe he's a great guy?"

"Does being nervous help?" the woman asked coolly. "If he wants to do something to you, the result will be the same whether you're nervous or not. If all else fails and you think it's dangerous here, why not run away to the World of the Living? Soul Society is vast, and Seireitei isn't your only choice."

"Easy for you to say!" Liu Hao grew agitated. "I haven't even fully mastered you yet. I don't know my Zanpakuto's true name, let alone how to use Shikai. Even if I escaped to the World of the Living, with what little I can do, they could send any Seated Officer or even a stronger division member to drag me back. I'd be even worse off then. Power! Without enough power, it doesn't matter where I hide!"

The woman quietly watched his agitation, and a barely perceptible hint of satisfaction seemed to pass through her eyes. She nodded, her tone softening slightly. "Well, that much is true. With your half-baked skills, running off would just make you easy prey. All right, enough nonsense. Since you're here, don't waste time. Let's continue training!"

The moment the last word left her mouth, a cold light flashed in her eyes. The Tang Dao in her hand became a bolt of black lightning, tearing through the void as it slashed down at Liu Hao's head! Her movement was even faster and fiercer than last time!

"Again?!" Liu Hao yelped. His consciousness instinctively used "Shunpo," and he twisted aside, narrowly avoiding the lethal slash. The wind from the blade brushed his consciousness, bringing a sharp pain at the level of his soul.

As he moved at high speed, desperately dodging the woman's relentless attacks from tricky angles, he could not help shouting, "Hey! At least give me a weapon, will you? Leaving me empty-handed like this, are you trying to train my Shunpo or teach me how to take a beating?!"

The woman pursued him like a phantom, her flashing blade weaving a net of death. Her voice rang out clearly amid the whistling blade wind. "Figure it out yourself! I don't offer weapon rentals here!"

Liu Hao was furious at her shameless answer, but he did not dare lose focus. As he dodged with all his might, his mind raced, recalling how Ichigo Kurosaki, the protagonist of the "Bleach" anime he used to watch, had trained with his Zanpakuto, Zangetsu, in his inner world. Hadn't he... also been chased and slashed at, then gradually come to an understanding?

The woman seemed to notice what he was thinking. Her assault eased slightly, and her voice dripped with undisguised mockery. "Stop thinking about things you saw in those comics! That stuff has nothing to do with me! You do need to accept the 'blade' with your heart and understand the essence of my power, but only if I'm willing to let you understand and use it!"

She turned her blade, forcing Liu Hao to stumble. "I can be the source of your power, your other half. But I can also refuse to open myself to you, or even suppress you instead! Otherwise, why would you need my 'acknowledgment' to learn my true name and use Shikai? Those fictional stories are nothing but simplified appearances. The reality is, if you can't satisfy me, don't ever expect to learn my name or truly use my power! So stop thinking about useless things, and now, concentrate on—getting slashed!"

Before she had finished speaking, her assault resumed, even more violently than before!

Liu Hao's heart trembled at her words, and he abandoned all thoughts of taking a "shortcut." He gritted his teeth and devoted his full attention to this seemingly unfair "training." If he had no weapon, he would deal with her using the abilities he already had!

He began trying to use his knowledge of Kidō while dodging. Spiritual light flickered at his fingertips, and low-level Hadō such as "Shakkahō" and "Sōkatsui" fired one after another, attempting to disrupt the rhythm of her attacks or create brief obstacles. At the same time, he constantly used Hakuda techniques to block, redirect force, and even attempt counterattacks at extremely close range.

Yet against the woman, who wielded a Zanpakuto and had absolute control over this space of consciousness, his efforts seemed utterly feeble. She often dispersed the light of his Kidō with a casual slash or canceled it out through more exquisite Reiatsu control. His Hakuda punches and kicks could not break through her blade's defense at all. Instead, meeting it head-on often left the arms and shoulders of his "consciousness body" "cut" by the blade, sending clear waves of pain through him.

The battle—or rather, the one-sided special training—continued for who knew how long. Liu Hao's consciousness body was covered in wounds, his Reiatsu fluctuations had grown extremely chaotic and weak, and he moved and dodged more and more slowly.

Finally, as he tried to close in using Hakuda, his lack of stamina—Reiatsu—slowed him by half a beat.

A sharp light flashed in the woman's eyes. Her Tang Dao became a straight black line and, with unstoppable force, instantly pierced the Reiatsu defense Liu Hao had hastily gathered before his chest, viciously "stabbing" into his "chest"!

"Agh—!"

It was not the agony of flesh being pierced, but an overwhelming impact and weakness, as though the very source of his soul had been struck hard and the structure of his Reiatsu was on the verge of collapse! Liu Hao's consciousness body went rigid, then fell helplessly backward and lay limp in the void, finding it difficult even to maintain its shape.

The woman withdrew her blade and stood, then walked to his "side" and looked down at his battered state. The first expression that could be called a "smile" appeared on her face that day, though it was still teasing. "See? Without your Zanpakuto's help, how could you possibly beat me with your paltry Kidō and Hakuda? I told you long ago: obediently let me slash you, build up experience taking hits, and develop your body's—your spirit body's—instinctive reactions. That's the proper way. Yet you still dared to resist and struggle, bringing this suffering on yourself."

She crouched down and reached out with a slender but strong finger to poke the spot where Liu Hao's "forehead" was. "All right, seeing as you worked fairly hard today, though you were very stupid, I'm in a good mood. That's enough 'communication' for today. You can get lost and go back now."

Without waiting for Liu Hao to respond, she raised her foot and gave the "abdomen" of his consciousness body a light kick that looked casual but actually contained the power of some kind of law.

A gentle but irresistible force of rejection swept over him. Liu Hao felt the world spin, and the starry sky and the woman's figure rapidly blurred and receded...

Liu Hao's eyes snapped open as he emerged from deep meditation. He gasped for breath, cold sweat covering his forehead. His chest seemed to retain the phantom pain of being "stabbed," and his Reiatsu was somewhat unstable.

It took him quite a while to calm down. He stood, paced a few steps around the narrow dormitory, and loosened his somewhat stiff limbs.

Then he suddenly froze.

He instinctively touched the places where he had used a ball of Reiryoku to create "wounds" in reality to fake his injuries—his chest, shoulders, arms... They were as good as new.

His skin was smooth, with no burns, no bruises, and not even the slightest abnormal trace of Reiatsu. It was as though the serious injuries that had been "dripping with blood" only a few hours ago and required Captain Aizen's personal treatment had never existed.

What happened? Liu Hao wondered in astonishment. How are all my wounds healed? No one could have come to use Kaidō on me again during that time... Did Aizen happen to heal them completely when he treated me? No, that's not right. I could clearly feel that he was mainly treating my disrupted Reiatsu pathways, and only gave the damage to my muscles and bones some preliminary stabilization. There's no way it could have healed this quickly or completely...

He carefully recalled every detail of Aizen's treatment and confirmed that, although the gentle spiritual light of his Kaidō had been exquisite, it had not contained such tremendous power as to instantly heal all physical damage. Otherwise, the Fourth Division's medical skills would have become the stuff of legend long ago.

Then what explained this bizarre recovery? Had his body's—his spirit body's—self-healing ability suddenly increased dramatically? Or...

Just as Liu Hao was puzzling over it without finding an answer—

Deep in his soul, in that space of consciousness.

The woman in battle clothes stood alone beneath the starry sky, seemingly able to "see" Liu Hao's bewildered expression in the outside world. A cold smile touched with a hint of malicious amusement curved her lips, and she murmured so softly that only she could hear:

"What a slow-witted idiot... He doesn't even know how he recovered. 'My' power isn't just for cutting people."

She gently stroked the Tang Dao in her hand, identical to Liu Hao's Zanpakuto in the real world. The inscriptions on its blade seemed to glow faintly beneath her touch.

"Still..." Her gaze grew somewhat profound as she looked "upward" in the space of consciousness, as if piercing layer upon layer of barriers to see the condition of Liu Hao's body in reality. "Given your current Reiatsu strength and your body's—your spirit body's—capacity, it wouldn't be impossible to tell you my true name. But once you use Shikai, your body probably won't be able to withstand the sudden impact and burden of the Reiatsu that surges up with the release of my true name. Forcing Shikai might grant you power for a time, but it's more likely to damage your foundation, or even... cause your spirit body to collapse."

She withdrew her gaze and looked down at the empty starry sky beneath her feet, a rare, almost gentle note of anticipation entering her voice:

"So, keep going a little longer, my... 'king.' Temper your body, stabilize your Reiatsu, gain a deeper understanding of combat and power, and... understand me. When the time is right, I will naturally tell you who I really am."

"After all, I don't want my 'host' to be a short-lived fool who can't even withstand the Reiatsu of Shikai."

Her murmurs gradually faded into the silent starry sky. The woman slowly returned her blade to its sheath, a sheath formed by a thought, and her figure gradually faded as well. In the end, she became one with this space of consciousness that belonged to the two of them alone, entering a tranquil state of "watchfulness."

In the days that followed, Liu Hao's life returned to the academy's demanding but regular rhythm. He continued his high-intensity Zankensoki training every day, and every night without fail he entered deep meditation, undergoing day after day of "special training" in the space of consciousness with the Zanpakuto woman, whose temper was less than pleasant and whose teaching methods could only be described as "violent."

Though he was beaten black and blue every time, Liu Hao could clearly feel his Reiatsu control, combat instincts, and understanding of his own power improving at an astonishing rate. Those "injuries" also healed quickly in reality, as though they were some special "gift."

Renji Abarai had not been idle either. Spurred on by Liu Hao and his own desperate efforts, his Asauchi finally underwent a transformation one day, becoming a Zanpakuto with a distinctive shape and a wild air—the original form of Zabimaru.

Like Liu Hao, he had yet to learn his Zanpakuto's true name and could not use Shikai. Even so, the Reiatsu resonance and increase in power that came from holding a weapon of his own brought his combat abilities a step further. The two often sparred after training, testing what they had learned against each other and improving rapidly.

Time flew. Amid sweat, training, occasional horseplay, and growth together, three years passed in the blink of an eye.

The elite class students at Shin'ō Academy had shed the inexperience and uncertainty they had shown upon entering. All had sharp eyes and solid Reiatsu, and they had begun to look like the Soul Reapers they would one day become.

On this day, as usual, Liu Hao and Renji Abarai arrived early at the large training ground where they gathered each day. This time, however, the atmosphere was somewhat different.

At the center of the field stood neither their usual instructors, Itō Shōta and Nakamura Sōya, but two figures wearing a white Captain's Haori and a lieutenant's armband.

One was a woman with a dignified, tranquil air, long black hair reaching her waist, and a gentle smile that no one dared meet directly—the Fourth Division Captain, Retsu Unohana, also known as Yachiru Unohana.

The other, standing behind and to her side, was a tall woman with neat silver hair and a stern expression touched with concern—the Fourth Division lieutenant, Isane Kotetsu.

Beside Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu stood a temporary long table, apparently holding a roster, brushes, and ink.

The students gradually assembled. Seeing the two important figures there in person, they could not help holding their breath and standing straighter. Their homeroom instructor, Nakamura Sōya, strode to the front of the formation, cleared his throat, and announced:

"Quiet! Students, as the academy informed you earlier, beginning tomorrow, the elite class will enter a month-long period of 'combat training.' As usual, most of you will form squads and travel with your instructors to designated areas to train in actual combat against Hollows, honing your skills and gaining experience."

He paused, sweeping his gaze over the students below and lingering briefly on Liu Hao and a few others before continuing:

"However, there is an additional announcement today. Some students in our class have taken elective courses in Kaidō over the past three years and studied it relatively systematically. After consultation, the academy and the Gotei 13 have decided to offer these students who aspire to join the Fourth Division and devote themselves to medicine and rescue a valuable internship opportunity."

He raised his voice slightly. "All students who have taken Kaidō courses and aspire to join the Fourth Division will no longer take part in the regular combat training against Hollows once the training period begins tomorrow. Instead, you will go to the Fourth Division Barracks for a medical internship! During the internship, you will receive personal instruction from the Fourth Division's Seated Officers and even its lieutenant, and take part in treating actual patients and providing spiritual healing, gaining valuable practical medical experience!"

A low murmur immediately rose from the students. Some were envious, some thought it a pity that they would miss the exciting battles against Hollows, and others looked thoughtful.

Nakamura Sōya raised a hand for silence. "We will now register those interested. Students who wish to participate in the Fourth Division internship and aim to join the Fourth Division in the future, please step out and register with Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu. Once registered, report directly to the Fourth Division Barracks tomorrow to begin your internship. The remaining students will gather here as usual tomorrow to be assigned to combat training squads."

His gaze swept over everyone again. "All right, anyone interested may come forward now."

When he finished, the training ground was quiet for a moment.

Then, under the gazes of the crowd, Liu Hao stepped out of the formation first, without the slightest hesitation. His pace was steady and his eyes resolute as he walked straight to Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu's table.

He bowed slightly and spoke clearly and respectfully. "Lieutenant Kotetsu, I'm Liu Hao, a student in the elite class. I've taken elective Kaidō courses for the past three years, and I hope to join the Fourth Division in the future. I'd like to apply for this internship."

Isane Kotetsu looked up at the red-haired student before her. She had met him once by a river in Rukongai three years ago, and he had now grown into a tall, upright young man. A gentle smile appeared on her stern face. She nodded and picked up her brush. "All right, Liu Hao. Please wait a moment."

She began skillfully recording Liu Hao's information. With Liu Hao taking the lead, several other students who had also studied Kaidō and either longed to join the Fourth Division or felt it better suited their path of development gradually gathered their courage, stepped out of formation, and came to the table to register. There were only five or six of them, but that was not a small number for the elite class.

After registering, Liu Hao quietly stepped aside to wait. The other students who had finished registering followed his example, standing together in a small group.

Once everyone interested had registered, Nakamura Sōya spoke again. "Students who have registered may leave first and return to prepare for tomorrow's internship with the Fourth Division. The rest of you are dismissed as well. Gather here on time tomorrow and prepare for combat training! Remember, during combat training, follow your instructors' commands in all actions and stay safe!"

"Yes!" the students answered in unison, then dispersed.

On the way back to the dormitory, Renji Abarai walked beside Liu Hao. Looking a little regretful, Renji clicked his tongue. "Ah, Liu Hao, it's a shame you won't be able to join us for combat training tomorrow. I heard some pretty powerful Hollows occasionally show up in the training area. It'd be a great chance to test the results of our last few years of work."

Liu Hao smiled, his calm voice tinged with anticipation. "For me, interning with the Fourth Division is the best chance to test what I've learned in three years of Kaidō. What you learn on paper can only take you so far. Treating actual patients in a real Medical Corps is far more meaningful than practicing on dummies or each other at the training ground."

"That's true..." Renji scratched his head. "But the Fourth Division is a medical and support unit. I guess you won't have many chances to fight Hollows head-on in the future, right? Your Zanjutsu and Hakuda are really good too. It's a shame."

Liu Hao glanced at him and spoke meaningfully. "The Fourth Division's main duty is medical care and rescue, but that doesn't mean there's no fighting. Quite the opposite: Medical Corps often have to go deep into the most dangerous front lines to save the wounded while surrounded by enemies. How could they manage without enough combat strength? I'm sure the Fourth Division has corresponding combat training and assignments too. Besides..." He paused. "There's more than one way to use power. Healing is a powerful and important kind of 'power' too."

Renji Abarai nodded, seemingly only half understanding, then grinned. "But seriously, Liu Hao, you're really strong! Sometimes when we spar, I feel like I'm no match for you. You must have been holding back, right?"

Liu Hao laughed and shook his head. "I wasn't holding back enough to lose to you on purpose. It's just that when we fight, I spend more time observing and breaking down your moves, looking for ways to counter them. When I judge that I can't gain an advantage by continuing in the areas you're best at—like your ferocious Reiatsu suppression and Zabimaru's strange attacks—and might even lose because my total Reiatsu is lower than yours, conceding or settling for a draw is the most reasonable choice. That doesn't mean I'm weaker than you; it's just a different tactical choice. A real fight to the death would be another matter."

Renji found the explanation a little convoluted, but he understood the gist. He grinned and clapped Liu Hao hard on the shoulder. "No matter what, you're my strongest rival and my companion! Even after we join different divisions, we've got to spar often!"

"Of course," Liu Hao replied with a smile.

The two returned to the dormitory and began their respective evening training. Liu Hao sat cross-legged with his Tang Dao across his knees and soon entered a meditative state to communicate with his Zanpakuto. Renji Abarai held his awakened, fearsome-looking Zabimaru in its unreleased form and began Tōzen as well, trying to sense the whispers of the "snake" hidden within the blade.

Moonlight streamed through the window lattice and fell upon the two figures training in silence. Their three years at the academy were about to reach a crucial turning point. Starting tomorrow, the paths they had chosen would officially diverge, leading them to different parts of Seireitei and toward different challenges and futures. But the deep bond and understanding they had forged in Rukongai and tempered together at Shin'ō Academy, like the awakened Zanpakuto in their hands, held their fates firmly together. Whatever lay ahead, they would watch over each other and move forward together.