"Vice-Captain Sasakibe, please follow me~"
Unohana Retsu spoke with a smile on her face as she led Chōjirō Sasakibe onward.
"Oh! O-okay..."
Chōjirō Sasakibe maintained a calm expression as he closely followed behind Unohana Retsu.
"Be careful, there's a threshold here~"
"Understood. Thank you for the warning!"
Judging solely from the conversation between Chōjirō Sasakibe and Unohana Retsu, there seemed to be nothing unusual between them at all.
Unohana Retsu dutifully played the role of hostess, while Chōjirō Sasakibe acted as a "gentlemanly," "polite" guest!
If some high-ranking nobles of the Soul Society had witnessed this scene, they would surely have smiled and praised them. "This is an example for us all!"
But the problem was, these words had not been spoken by high-ranking nobles! They had been spoken by Unohana Retsu, the former "great villain" of the Soul Society, and Chōjirō Sasakibe, the aide to Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13 in the "Seireitei"!
It was just too jarring! It was like two bloodthirsty beasts from the mountains had suddenly gained enlightenment, dressed themselves in human clothes, followed human rules, and begun speaking human language! Not only was it deeply unsettling, it also sent chills down one's spine...
At the very least, every member of the Gotei 13, 11th Division who witnessed this bizarre scene had felt that chill shoot straight to the crown of their heads, leaving them trembling in fear~
And Chōjirō Sasakibe, who appeared to be calmly following behind Unohana Retsu, was far less calm beneath the surface...
Is this really Unohana Retsu, the "great villain" hailed as the Soul Society's number-one "Murderous Demon"?!
Unbelievable. Captain Unohana actually addressed me as "you" with honorific language?! She actually used polite speech with me? This is simply absurd...
At that moment, a raging storm had risen in Chōjirō Sasakibe's heart. He had long heard that Unohana Retsu's personality had changed somewhat after her defeat at Araki's hands! But he had never imagined that Unohana's personality would change so drastically...
Moreover, Sasakibe realized that it was not only Unohana's personality that had changed. Even her appearance had undergone a tremendous transformation!
Sasakibe noticed that the First Kenpachi, who had always worn her hair loose over her shoulders, had actually tied up her long hair?! To Sasakibe, it was simply inconceivable!
If Sasakibe had not already known of Unohana's "glorious deeds," then judging by her current appearance alone, he would never have believed that the Unohana before him was once the infamous, merciless great villain of the Soul Society!
The current Unohana seemed less like a killer and more like a warm, understanding older sister...
So, so terrifying...
Captain Unohana seems much gentler than before.
But somehow, I feel that the Unohana before me is even more terrifying than she used to be!
Feeling the terrifying pressure radiating from Unohana Retsu as she walked ahead of him, that aura which struck directly at the heart, Chōjirō Sasakibe was so startled that a layer of cold sweat instantly covered his forehead.
If the former Captain Unohana was an unstoppable, incomparably sharp Treasured Blade, then the current Vice-Captain Unohana is more like someone who has moved from the light into the shadows! She has gone from a Treasured Blade displayed openly to an ordinary sheath, making it impossible to see her edge...
A Treasured Blade may be sharp beyond compare, but everyone can see it! Everyone knows how sharp it is! Thus, no one would touch it lightly. That is strength displayed plainly in the light...
But once it returns to its sheath, the weapon is concealed within, and no one can fathom its true nature! No one will ever know whether the blade within that sheath is sharp or not! Nor will anyone know whether it hides a dagger or an unstoppable Treasured Blade!
Chōjirō Sasakibe watched Unohana Retsu walking before him and muttered inwardly.
Without question, this Vice-Captain Unohana, who has hidden herself in the shadows, is even more terrifying than before!
In the end, Chōjirō Sasakibe reached his conclusion. He believed that Unohana, now demoted to vice-captain, was even more frightening than Unohana when she had held the position of captain.
"Vice-Captain Sasakibe..."
"Captain Araki is already waiting for you inside~"
Just as Chōjirō Sasakibe stared at Unohana Retsu's back, his heart roiling like a stormy sea, Unohana Retsu, who had been leading him all this time, suddenly spoke and interrupted his thoughts.
"Oh. O-okay!"
The instant he heard Unohana Retsu's voice, Chōjirō Sasakibe snapped out of his thoughts. He first nodded repeatedly at her with a respectful expression before finally stopping outside the doors to the 11th Division Captain's Office.
Without a doubt, Chōjirō Sasakibe had an extremely strong survival instinct. He was terrified of offending Unohana Retsu in any way!
"Vice-Captain Sasakibe, I have brought you to where Captain Araki is. Please go in alone and discuss your important business with Captain Araki!"
Unohana Retsu smiled as she spoke to Chōjirō Sasakibe.
"Oh, okay!" Upon hearing this, Chōjirō Sasakibe habitually nodded repeatedly to Unohana Retsu. Then, as though he had suddenly remembered something, he immediately looked at her and said, "Captain Unohana, what Captain Araki and I need to discuss is not actually anything important! If you do not mind, why not join us for the discussion? What do you think?"
"Since it is nothing important, you can discuss it yourselves! I still have 11th Division matters to handle!"
After hearing Chōjirō Sasakibe's words, Unohana Retsu finally revealed a smile and gave him a look that said he was teachable.
"Very well, please take care!"
Seeing the slight upward curve of Unohana Retsu's lips, Chōjirō Sasakibe slowly let out a breath of relief.
It seemed that he had managed to get past Unohana Retsu's test for now!
"Mm..."
Before leaving, Unohana Retsu gave Chōjirō Sasakibe a deep look. Then she turned around and departed gracefully.
It was precisely that final glance from Unohana Retsu that made Chōjirō Sasakibe shudder!
At last, just before Unohana Retsu left, Chōjirō Sasakibe had seen the shadow of the First Kenpachi in her eyes!
Sure enough, Unohana Retsu had not changed. She was still that "Murderous Demon" who wielded a deadly weapon! Only this time, Unohana Retsu, the "Murderous Demon," had hidden herself among the people, making it impossible to see her clearly!
"Terrifying, terrifying!"
Muttering to himself, Chōjirō Sasakibe pushed open the doors to the 11th Division Captain's Office.
"You're here..."
After entering the Captain's Office, Chōjirō Sasakibe saw Araki, the "true" captain of the 11th Division and the Second Kenpachi, whose eyes were bloodshot as though he had not slept for days and nights.
"Captain Araki!"
"I'm telling you, you really need to learn some restraint!"
"Don't ruin that extraordinarily gifted body of yours!"
Seeing the bloodshot eyes of Araki, Chōjirō Sasakibe's heart could not help but tremble. At that moment, he finally understood why such enormous changes had occurred in Unohana Retsu! It surely had everything to do with Araki's tireless efforts day and night!
"Huh?"
Araki, who had long anticipated Chōjirō Sasakibe's arrival, twitched slightly.
What nonsense was this guy talking about? Restraint? What a joke! Did his body need restraint? He was a man with no limits!
Ahem... No!
What the hell was that supposed to mean? He was a decent man!
Thanks to reader YO Huo YO for the 500 reward~
Before you continue