Harvest

Retsu Unohana.

Other than Head Captain Yamamoto, she was the Shinigami who had held the position of captain in the Gotei 13 for the longest time. She was also a great villain from a thousand years ago—the First Generation Kenpachi.

Though she had now reined in her killing intent and no longer revealed that extraordinary aura.

Still, a person's reputation cast a long shadow...

This was Arima Shizuya's first time meeting her face-to-face, so he was somewhat nervous.

"H-hello... My name is Arima Shizuya, a first-year student at the True Spiritual Arts Academy."

"You're very nervous. Is it because this is our first meeting? Hehe, I hope you can get used to it somewhat. After all, once you enter the Gotei 13, the Fourth Division serves as the primary medical and support organization, so you should become accustomed to dealing with us as soon as possible."

There was quite a strong lecturing tone to her words.

But there was nothing he could do about it. After all, she was well over a thousand years old.

When an ancient, ancient, ancient, ancient, ancient senior several generations above you lectured you... even if it was uncomfortable, all you could do was endure it.

Arima Shizuya nodded nervously and replied.

"Y-yes! Thank you for the guidance!"

Retsu Unohana smiled and nodded. She walked into the room and pulled open the curtains.

Outside was a beautifully arranged courtyard, with neatly trimmed potted plants and greenery, birds of unknown species perched upon them...

A warm breeze poured into the room and brushed over Arima Shizuya, stirring even his slightly sluggish nerves back to life.

Memories of the past rose in his mind. After pondering for a moment, Arima Shizuya could not help but ask.

"Um... Captain Unohana, may I... ask a few questions now?"

After adjusting the window support, she turned around, folded her hands before her, and spoke with a calm smile.

"Are you curious about what happened that day?"

The answer was far too obvious, so being called out on it did not make things awkward.

Arima Shizuya simply nodded.

"I want to know what exactly happened."

"It would be inconvenient for me to disclose more specific details for the time being, as the matter still requires an internal ruling. So, I'm sorry... Arima-kun, but for now, I can only tell you that it was Aizen Fourth Seat who brought you to the Division Barracks and requested aid."

As expected.

The figure he had seen before losing consciousness had not been an illusion.

But the questions that followed only increased rather than diminished.

Since she knew Aizen had brought him here, why was Retsu Unohana unwilling to reveal more? And why did it still require an internal ruling...

The situation seemed even more serious than he had imagined. Arima Shizuya's expression became indescribably puzzled, while Retsu Unohana would not even mention Guiganjo—was it because she loathed him too much? As the First Generation Kenpachi, someone like her surely despised opportunists like Guiganjo most of all.

But regardless, since Retsu Unohana had made her stance clear, Arima Shizuya naturally would not press the matter... He could only accept reality.

"I understand. Um... thank you for helping me, Captain Unohana."

She chuckled and nodded, replying calmly.

"I merely used some ordinary methods. More importantly, Arima-kun's physical condition is quite good. In truth, even without Healing Way treatment, given enough time, Arima-kun would have recovered on your own."

So, in a sense, had this all been making a mountain out of a molehill?

While Arima Shizuya was still mulling it over, Retsu Unohana rose to her feet.

"You do look much more energetic. You should be able to complete the procedures and leave the Division Barracks shortly."

She turned toward the door and called out.

"Seinosuke, please take Arima-kun out later. Since it's his first time at the Fourth Division's Division Barracks, it would be easy for him to get lost."

A lean-looking man entered from outside. He was thin and tall, with a slender frame.

He wore his hair long, and his face seemed to carry traces of sorrowful contours.

"Arima-kun, this is the Fourth Division's Vice-Captain, Yamada Seinosuke. I have urgent duties to attend to shortly and cannot remain here long... If you have any questions, please speak with Seinosuke."

Arima Shizuya nodded repeatedly.

"Understood... Uh, thank you for your help, Captain Unohana!"

"Hehe, it was nothing."

Retsu Unohana soon left the room.

But Seinosuke, who remained behind, seemed to have no interest in speaking with Arima Shizuya. He merely shot him a cold glance, then turned his back and said softly.

"Come. I'll take you to complete the procedures."

There were many things he wanted to ask.

Where was Aizen? What had Guiganjo done afterward? But this was clearly not the time for questions, so Arima Shizuya could only swallow them down and remain silent.

Come to think of it, I did fight Guiganjo before...

Then, based on his abilities.

Shouldn't he have made some "progress" as well?

The thought settled for an instant, and Arima Shizuya saw familiar words appear before his eyes.

You underwent a trial of life and death, and fully experienced your opponent's abilities and strengths...

Kendo +10 Hakuda +5 Shunpo +5 Kido +5

Seeing that long string of information, Arima Shizuya could not help but freeze.

Huh? The gains were this outrageous?

He had already received bonuses to multiple attributes before when he watched Yoruichi crush weaklings.

So he was not surprised now... He simply had not expected to gain a full twenty-five attribute points at once! Aside from the direct changes on the panel, if attribute points of this magnitude were converted into spiritual pressure, they would be enough to raise Arima Shizuya's Spiritual Might to an entirely new level.

Arima Shizuya could now say with certainty that his strength had crossed into another tier! It would be a lie to say he was not happy, but at the same time.

He could not help but sigh.

After all, the greater the gains, the more obvious the gap between himself and his opponent became.

Guiganjo didn't even release his Zanpakuto, so he was fighting me with nothing but his own spiritual pressure...

That was indeed the truth.

If his opponent had released his Zanpakuto, Arima Shizuya might not even have been able to mount that counterattack at all.

As it was, seriously injuring the other man's right hand could be considered an exceptional performance in its own right.

"Head out from here, greet someone at the entrance, and tell them you're Arima Shizuya."

After saying that, Seinosuke prepared to turn and leave—making Arima Shizuya blink as if his teeth hurt.

He's so cold toward me. Did I offend him somehow? Yamada Seinosuke.

Arima Shizuya had no impression of this person, but he had indeed been the Fourth Division's Vice-Captain a hundred years ago.

Since he had appeared in neither the anime nor the manga, there was no way to guess what his personality was like.