The Captain-Commander's "Care" (1)

On the way to the First Division, Liu Ziyun followed behind Unohana, his heart pounding like a rabbit was bouncing around inside him—no, a whole warren of rabbits, dancing to a disco beat.

He finally couldn't help asking, "Captain... I don't think I've had much to do with the Captain-Commander, have I?"

Unohana didn't slow down. "Oh?"

"I only saw him from a distance once, when school started for the new students. He just glanced at me then, like I was no different from a rock by the roadside," Liu Ziyun recalled. "Why does he suddenly want to see me now?"

Unohana said calmly, "Perhaps he thinks you're a promising talent and wants to... give you some guidance."

Liu Ziyun blinked. "Captain, that doesn't sound right. Isn't your usual guidance enough for me? Surely the Captain-Commander doesn't have some medical skill that even you can't match?"

His words were three parts confusion and seven parts flattery.

But Unohana wasn't falling for it.

She stopped and glanced back at Liu Ziyun.

Her gaze was gentle, with a hint of... danger?

"Enough." Her voice was still soft, but the chill in her words made Liu Ziyun shiver. "Don't show off how low your IQ can go in front of me."

She paused. "I don't believe... you don't know why the Captain-Commander wants to see you."

Liu Ziyun: "...Uh."

She saw right through me!

Unohana continued, "From now on, when you're in front of me... put away that pathetic disguise of yours."

She paused, then added, "Otherwise... I wouldn't mind having a little 'discussion' about swordsmanship with you."

Liu Ziyun immediately shut his mouth.

A discussion about swordsmanship?

Discussing swordsmanship with the First Kenpachi?!

Wouldn't that be asking to die?!

He obediently lowered his head and continued following Unohana.

Neither of them said another word for the rest of the journey.

But Unohana was thinking about something else:

This brat... it looks like he really does know a few things.

He even knows all about my background...

But how could he know so much? And... he seems to have been avoiding something all along.

She glanced at Liu Ziyun.

Then what exactly... is he avoiding?

The First Division Barracks.

Chōjirō Sasakibe was already waiting at the entrance.

The First Division lieutenant always wore an impeccably neat Shihakusho and had a face as stern as stone.

"Captain Unohana, the Captain-Commander is already waiting."

"Sorry for the trouble, Vice-Captain Sasakibe."

The two followed Chōjirō Sasakibe to the Captain-Commander's Office.

They pushed open the door to find Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai sitting upright behind a massive desk, resting with his eyes closed.

Hearing their footsteps, he slowly opened his eyes.

His gaze was as deep as an ancient well.

"Captain Unohana." His voice was low, carrying an intangible authority.

"Captain-Commander." Unohana bowed. "I've brought him."

She paused, then added, "Then from here on... sorry to trouble you with this brat Ziyun, Captain-Commander."

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto nodded. "Don't worry. I know my limits, Captain Unohana."

Unohana smiled faintly. "Yes. Well then... I'll take my leave."

With that, she turned and left.

Before she went, she gave Liu Ziyun a meaningful look.

That look clearly said, Good luck. You're on your own.

Liu Ziyun: "..."

Huajie! Don't go! If you leave me here alone with this old man, I'll die!

But he didn't dare say it aloud.

The door closed.

Only Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto and Liu Ziyun remained in the office.

The air seemed to freeze.

"Brat," Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto said. "Follow me."

"Y-yes!" Liu Ziyun quickly answered.

Head lowered like a timid young wife, he followed Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto out of the office to the First Division's private training ground.

The training ground was vast, its surface paved with special materials that could withstand the aftershocks of a Captain-level battle.

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto walked to the center of the grounds and turned to face Liu Ziyun.

His gaze was calm, but appraising.

"According to several Captains..." he began slowly, "you have the talent and potential to succeed the Fourth Division Captain."

Liu Ziyun's heart tightened. Here it comes! It's starting!

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto continued, "So... let me put you to the test."

The instant the words left his mouth—

Boom!!!

A terrifying surge of Reiatsu erupted from Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto!

It wasn't an attack, just... a release.

Like someone casually stretching their body.

But that Reiatsu was enormous.

So enormous... that the air throughout the training ground began to warp!

The instant the Reiatsu enveloped Liu Ziyun, his first reaction was—

So heavy!

But immediately afterward, he froze.

Because... he didn't feel any weight or pressure.

Instead...

His body began to grow excited.

His eyes began to turn bloodshot.

His muscles began to tremble uncontrollably.

It felt... like someone who hadn't eaten for days smelling roast meat, or someone who had gone thirsty for days seeing a clear spring.

It was... a craving for battle!

An urge... to kill!

A frenzy... a desire to charge forward and have a good, uninhibited fight with the man before him!

Liu Ziyun bit his lip hard, forcing himself to stay calm.

No... I can't act on impulse...

He's the Captain-Commander! Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto! The master of Ryūjin Jakka! The strongest Soul Reaper in the Seireitei!

If I charge at him... I'll die!

But he couldn't control himself.

His body trembled more and more violently.

His fingers unconsciously reached for the Zanpakuto at his waist.

Just as he was about to lose his reason and draw his blade—

"What's wrong, brat?" Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's voice rang out, calm but tinged with puzzlement. "Have you even forgotten how to breathe? Your body won't stop trembling..."

He paused. "How are you going to fight... like this?"

The words were like a bucket of cold water dumped over Liu Ziyun's head.

He abruptly snapped out of it!

R-right!

I'm here to receive 'guidance,' not to throw my life away!

That feeling just now... it was too dangerous!

He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

His body slowly stopped trembling, but his heart was gripped by lingering fear.

That was close... If I'd charged at him just now, he probably would have cut me down with one strike, right?

Even if he didn't kill me, I'd have been seriously injured...

Thank goodness... He thought I was scared and called me back to my senses.

He looked up at Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto and forced a smile. "S-sorry, Captain-Commander... It's my first time facing someone as strong as you, so I'm a little... nervous."

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto looked at him without speaking. After a few seconds, he slowly said, "Raise your head and look at me."

Liu Ziyun quickly raised his head.

"Now..." Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto said, "fight me using Hakuda. Let me see... what you're made of."

Liu Ziyun: "..."

Hakuda?!

Fight you with Hakuda?!

Your 'Ikkotsu' can smash someone's kidneys with one punch, and your 'Sōkotsu' can turn someone into ground meat with two. Are you kidding me?!

But he didn't dare say it aloud.

He could only brace himself and take a stance.

His left foot stepped forward, his right foot planted behind him.

He held his left fist upright in front of him, his right fist across his waist.

His waist bent slightly, his center of gravity sinking.

His stance... was textbook.

But it was also very... flashy.

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto frowned slightly at the sight.

He lightly tapped his cane against the ground—

Thud!

The cane sank into the ground and stood firmly upright.

Then he let go of it and walked toward Liu Ziyun.

He didn't use Shunpo; he simply walked.

But every step carried an intangible sense of pressure.

When he reached Liu Ziyun, he raised his foot—

And kicked at Liu Ziyun's front foot!

It was a very simple move.

But its speed was astonishing!