Mastered Shikai Before Graduation!

"Oh, is this the new recruit our division took in this year? What an interesting little fellow. You sensed my presence beforehand, and your body reacted on its own?

With talent like yours, you'd have no trouble joining any other division. Why did you choose our Fourth Division?"

Looking at Yoru Machi, who seemed to be facing a formidable enemy, the black-haired beauty with the grace of a Yamato Nadeshiko wore a gentle smile as she questioned him. Yet for no apparent reason, Yoru Machi felt a chill run down his back.

People with perpetually narrowed eyes were all monsters! Don't be fooled by the gentle, neighborly-big-sister appearance of the black-haired beauty before him.

Yoru Machi knew that the black-haired beauty before him was Unohana Retsu, one of the four longest-serving captains in the Gotei 13. She had even been among the very first members when Old Man Yamamoto established the Gotei 13.

Unohana Retsu had once been known as the most heinous villain in the history of Soul Society!

Don't let her current gentle and serene appearance fool you. The number of people she had cut down with her blade could probably circle Soul Society once.

Had she not encountered an equally monstrous young man, Unohana Retsu might still have been the strongest and most ruthless Kenpachi.

"Answer my question, young man. With your level of strength, wouldn't the Eleventh Division suit you better? Why did you choose our Fourth Division?"

Unohana Retsu continued to look at Yoru Machi with a smile as she asked, but anyone with eyes could see that powerful Reiatsu had already begun to emanate from her—and its target was Yoru Machi before her.

Yoru Machi had suppressed and sealed his Reiatsu to a certain degree. Ordinary Soul Reapers should not have been able to spot anything amiss.

But that only applied to ordinary Soul Reapers. Before the former strongest Kenpachi, Yoru Machi's little tricks clearly had little effect.

Of course, Unohana Retsu had only noticed that Yoru Machi was concealing his strength. As for how much he had concealed, even she did not know.

However, Yoru Machi's reaction to her sudden appearance had convinced Unohana Retsu that his swordsmanship was definitely not merely at the "above average" level stated on his information sheet.

Naturally, Unohana Retsu could not simply ignore someone who had hidden his strength in order to join her division.

"Joining the Fourth Division has always been my dream. For that reason, I specifically trained in healing arts at Shino Academy.

As for why, I've always longed for the life of the Fourth Division. And my admiration and respect for Captain Unohana are also part of the reason.

As for my strength, please believe me, Captain Unohana. I truly have no ulterior motives. I simply didn't want to attract too much attention.

If Captain Unohana does not believe me, you may take me to the Development 01 Bureau for Reiatsu testing or surveillance."

The powerful Reiatsu receded like a tide the instant Yoru Machi finished speaking. By then, his black Shino Academy uniform was drenched in cold sweat, and even the ground beneath his feet had been pressed deeply inward, showing just how intense the Reiatsu he had endured was.

At the side, Isane had already gone limp and collapsed to the ground. Although Captain Unohana's Reiatsu had not been directed at her, merely sensing that abyss-like captain-class pressure had been enough to instantly rob a newcomer like her of the ability to resist.

"You not only concealed your swordsmanship, but also falsified the level of your Reiatsu, didn't you?

To withstand the Reiatsu I just released, your own Reiatsu must be quite formidable as well. Just what level have you reached?"

Unohana Retsu did not doubt Yoru Machi's words too much and chose to believe him.

It was not because Yoru Machi was so ridiculously handsome that he had maxed out Sister Hana's favorability the moment they met. Rather, Unohana Retsu believed that if Yoru Machi truly were a spy sent by Hueco Mundo or somewhere else, they would not have sent such a weak undercover agent.

Besides, having lived for thousands of years, Unohana Retsu believed she possessed the ability to judge people and detect lies. She could also tell that most of what Yoru Machi had said was true.

At the very least, his longing for the life of the Fourth Division and his admiration for her should have been genuine. Although Unohana Retsu did not know why, there had been no obvious fluctuation in Yoru Machi's Reiatsu when he said those things.

"I have some confidence in my swordsmanship, though naturally it cannot be mentioned in the same breath as Captain Unohana's.

As for my Reiatsu... I actually mastered my Zanpakuto's Shikai a year ago."

Upon hearing Yoru Machi reveal the truth, both Unohana Retsu before him and Isane, who had just been overwhelmed and collapsed by Unohana Retsu's captain-class Reiatsu, showed extremely astonished expressions.

Soul Reapers possessed Zanpakuto, and Zanpakuto were part of a Soul Reaper's soul—their most important means of battle.

Although the Zanpakuto wielded by Soul Reapers initially all appeared in the form of long swords, that was not their true form.

As everyone knew, a Zanpakuto was part of a Soul Reaper's soul. Every person's soul was different, so the Zanpakuto they manifested were naturally strange and varied as well.

Shikai was the first-stage release of a Zanpakuto. Zanpakuto in Shikai possessed different abilities and correspondingly enhanced the Soul Reaper's Reiatsu.

Do not underestimate Shikai. The Gotei 13 had at least a four-digit number of Soul Reapers in total, yet those capable of releasing their Zanpakuto accounted for no more than a tenth of them.

Soul Reapers capable of releasing their Zanpakuto were basically considered elite Soul Reapers. Even within the Gotei 13, they qualified to serve as seated officers.

Under normal circumstances, a Soul Reaper without several centuries of experience could not possibly achieve Zanpakuto Shikai. Yet Yoru Machi was only a Sixth-Year Student who had just graduated from Shino Academy, and he had already achieved Zanpakuto Shikai before graduating!

"No wonder you wanted to hide your strength. If word spread throughout Soul Society that you possessed such talent, you would surely receive special attention.

But are you truly certain? With aptitude like yours, you should be able to rise through the ranks more quickly in another division. I could even recommend you to the Captain-Commander and make an exception for you to join the First Division."

A Soul Reaper who had mastered Shikai before graduation had not appeared in Soul Society for centuries. The First Division's standards were high, but as long as he was not being appointed a seated officer, Unohana Retsu felt that Yoru Machi would have no problem joining the First Division.

"Thank you for your kindness, Captain Unohana, but I still wish to remain true to my original intention. My wish is to join the Fourth Division and become—"

"Ikkaku, is that guy you said would be worth cutting really here?"

Before Yoru Machi could finish, a somewhat excited and rough male voice rang out from outside the Fourth Division's recruitment office.