Urahara: Araki, you need to learn to restrain yourself! Araki: What?!

"Lieutenant Sasakibe, please follow me~"

Unohana Retsu said, a smile on her face, as she led Chōjirō Sasakibe.

"Oh! Yes, of course…"

Chōjirō Sasakibe's expression remained normal, calm as he followed closely behind Unohana Retsu.

"Be careful, there's a threshold here~"

"Right, thank you for the reminder!"

Judging solely from the conversation between Chōjirō Sasakibe and Unohana Retsu, there was nothing unusual about their interaction.

Unohana Retsu was diligently playing the part of a hospitable host, while Chōjirō Sasakibe acted as a 'gentlemanly' and 'polite' guest!

If this scene were witnessed by some of the higher-ranking nobles in Soul Society, they would surely smile and praise, "This is an excellent example for us all!"

But the problem was, this conversation wasn't spoken by high-ranking nobles! This was spoken by the former Soul Society's 'Great Villain', Unohana Retsu, and Chōjirō Sasakibe, the Lieutenant to Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13 in the Seireitei!

This was extremely jarring! It was like two bloodthirsty beasts from the mountains had suddenly gained sentience, put on human clothes, followed human rules, and spoke human words! Not only was it full of dissonance, but it also sent chills down one's spine, making one feel cold all over…

At least, all the members of the Gotei 13, 11th Division who witnessed this incredibly jarring scene, each felt this chill penetrate their very core, trembling in fear~

And Chōjirō Sasakibe, who appeared calm as he followed behind Unohana Retsu, was far from as serene on the inside as he seemed…

"This, this is really that Unohana Retsu, the 'Great Villain' who was known as Soul Society's top 'Murderous Demon'?!"

"Unbelievable, Captain Unohana actually used 'you' (formal) with me?! She actually used honorifics with me? It's simply mind-boggling…"

At this moment, a storm raged within Chōjirō Sasakibe's heart. He had long heard that Unohana Retsu's personality had changed somewhat after being defeated by Araki! But Chōjirō Sasakibe had never imagined that Unohana's personality could change so drastically…

Moreover, Chōjirō noticed that it wasn't just Unohana's personality that had changed; even her appearance had undergone a huge transformation!

Chōjirō realized that the First Kenpachi, who always wore her hair down, had actually put her long hair up?! This seemed incredibly absurd to Chōjirō!

If Chōjirō hadn't already been aware of Unohana's 'glorious deeds,' he would never have believed, based solely on Unohana's current appearance, that the Unohana standing before him was the same Great Villain who had once been known as the 'unblinking killer' throughout Soul Society!

The current Unohana, more than an assassin, resembled a kind older sister…

"So, so terrifying…"

"Even though Lieutenant Unohana's personality seems much gentler than before."

"But I feel that the current Unohana is even more terrifying than before!"

Chōjirō Sasakibe felt the terrifying oppressive aura emanating from Unohana Retsu, who walked directly in front of him, and the chilling presence that struck deep into his heart. Beads of cold sweat instantly broke out on Chōjirō Sasakibe's forehead.

"If the former Captain Unohana was an invincible, incredibly sharp 'Treasured Blade'! Then the current Lieutenant Unohana is more like someone who has moved from the light into the shadows! From a 'Treasured Blade' displayed openly, she has returned to a 'mundane' scabbard, making it impossible to discern the blade's edge…"

"A 'Treasured Blade' is good, undoubtedly incredibly sharp! But everyone can see it clearly! Everyone knows its sharpness! Therefore, no one will easily touch it; it is a power displayed in plain sight…"

"Once returned to the scabbard, because the sharp weapon is hidden within the scabbard, it makes it impossible to discern its true nature! No one will ever know how sharp the 'blade' in that scabbard truly is?! Nor will anyone know whether what's hidden in the scabbard is a dagger or an invincible 'Treasured Blade'!"

Chōjirō Sasakibe watched Unohana Retsu walking in front of him, muttering to himself.

"Without a doubt, this current 'Lieutenant' Unohana, who hides herself in the shadows, is even more terrifying than before!"

Finally, Chōjirō Sasakibe reached a conclusion: he believed that Unohana, now reduced to a Lieutenant, was more terrifying than Unohana when she held the Captain's position.

"Lieutenant Sasakibe…"

"Captain Araki is already waiting for you inside~"

Just as Chōjirō Sasakibe was looking at Unohana Retsu's back, his heart churning with turmoil, Unohana Retsu, who had been leading him, suddenly spoke, interrupting Chōjirō Sasakibe's thoughts.

"Oh. Yes, of course!"

The moment Chōjirō Sasakibe heard Unohana Retsu's voice, he snapped out of his thoughts. He first nodded repeatedly to Unohana Retsu with a respectful expression, then stood outside the Captain's Office of the 11th Division.

Undoubtedly, Chōjirō Sasakibe had a very strong will to survive, terrified of somehow offending Unohana Retsu!

"Then, Lieutenant Sasakibe, I have led you to Captain Araki's location! Now, please go in by yourself and discuss important matters with Captain Araki!"

Unohana Retsu looked at Chōjirō Sasakibe, speaking with a smile.

"Oh, alright!" Chōjirō Sasakibe, upon hearing this, first instinctively nodded repeatedly to Unohana Retsu. Then, as if something occurred to him, he immediately looked at Unohana Retsu and said, "Captain Unohana, actually, what Captain Araki and I are discussing isn't a major matter! If you don't mind, why don't you join us in the discussion? What do you think?"

"Since it's not a major matter, you two can discuss it yourselves! I still have matters of the 11th Division to attend to!"

After hearing Chōjirō Sasakibe's words, Unohana Retsu finally revealed a slight smile and cast an approving look at Chōjirō Sasakibe, as if to say he was teachable.

"Alright then, please wait!"

Chōjirō Sasakibe looked at the slight curve of Unohana Retsu's lips and slowly exhaled in relief.

It seemed he had temporarily passed Unohana Retsu's test!

"Mmm…"

Before leaving, Unohana Retsu gave Chōjirō Sasakibe a deep look, then turned and departed gracefully.

It was precisely that glance from Unohana Retsu before she left that made Chōjirō Sasakibe shiver with fright!

Chōjirō Sasakibe finally saw a glimpse of the First Kenpachi in Unohana Retsu's eyes just before she left!

Indeed, Unohana Retsu hadn't changed; she was still that 'Murderous Demon' wielding a sharp weapon! It was just that this time, Unohana Retsu, as the 'Murderous Demon,' was hidden among the populace, making it difficult to truly perceive her!

"Terrifying, terrifying!"

Chōjirō Sasakibe muttered to himself as he pushed open the door to the 11th Division's Captain's Office.

"You're here…"

As Chōjirō Sasakibe stepped into the Captain's Office, he saw Araki, the 'true' Captain of the 11th Division and the second 'Kenpachi,' whose eyes were bloodshot as if he hadn't slept for days.

"Araki… Captain!"

"I'm not saying this to be mean, but you really should learn some self-restraint!"

"Don't squander your exceptionally talented body!"

Chōjirō Sasakibe's heart trembled as he looked at Araki's bloodshot eyes. In that moment, Chōjirō Sasakibe finally understood why Unohana Retsu had undergone such a drastic change! This must be inextricably linked to Araki's tireless efforts, day and night!

"Huh?"

Araki, who had long anticipated Chōjirō Sasakibe's arrival, twitched an eyelid in response.

What idiotic nonsense is this guy spouting? Restraint? Are you kidding me?! Does his body need restraint? He's a man with no limits!

Ahem… no!

What the hell is all this talk? He's a respectable person!

Thanks to reader YO灬YO for the 500 reward~