Fourth Division Barracks.
Unlike the Eleventh Division, where you could hear shouting and the clash of swords from far away, this place was almost unnaturally quiet.
A faint scent of medicinal herbs drifted through the air, mixed with the clean smell of bedding warmed by the sun.
The corridors were bright and spotless. Now and then, a Shinigami in uniform walked by softly, keeping their voice low.
With two huge men like Kurayashiki Kenpachi and Ashido standing at the entrance, the whole scene felt completely different.
One was boisterous to the point of being loud; the other was as silent as a stone. They stood out against their surroundings.
"Oh my, Captain Kurayashiki of the Eleventh Division! And Vice-Captain Ashido!"
A man hurried over to them. It was Yamada Kiyonosuke, the Fourth Division's vice-captain. He spoke respectfully. "What brings you both to the Fourth Division?"
"Oh!" Kurayashiki Kenpachi boomed, slapping his chest with a loud thump.
"I came for a checkup! See if anything's wrong with me!"
Yamada Kiyonosuke hurriedly waved his hands. "Captain Kurayashiki, you give me too much credit. With your level of Reiatsu, my Kaidō isn't strong enough to penetrate it."
He was telling the truth. A captain's Reiatsu was like an iron wall to an ordinary Shinigami. Trying to examine it by force might even cause a backlash.
"Please have a seat. I'll go fetch Captain Unohana right away!"
He bowed slightly to the two men, then turned and jogged deeper into the barracks, his retreating figure somewhat hurried.
Kurayashiki Kenpachi scratched his head and took a seat on a nearby bench. Ashido stood quietly at his side.
Before long, faint footsteps sounded.
A figure appeared at the end of the corridor and approached at an unhurried pace.
She wore a captain's haori over her Shinigami uniform, her long black hair falling neatly down her back. Her steps were graceful and steady, and a gentle smile rested on her face, the sort that put people at ease.
The Fourth Division Captain, Unohana Retsu.
"Captain Kurayashiki, Vice-Captain Ashido, welcome."
Her voice was gentle, like a stream thawing in spring. "Please, sit."
She gestured for Kurayashiki Kenpachi to remain seated, then took a chair across from him.
A soft, clear green glow radiated from her. It wasn't harsh; it held the warmth of life itself.
Looking at Kurayashiki Kenpachi, she asked with a smile, "Captain Kurayashiki, are you feeling unwell anywhere? Please, tell me what's bothering you."
Kurayashiki Kenpachi scratched his head again, a little embarrassed. After gathering his thoughts, he briefly explained what had happened when he went to Zaraki District.
He focused on the shiver that had climbed up his spine when he first saw the young man, and the tremendous letdown he'd felt after knocking him down with a single slash.
"It just didn't feel right," he concluded, frowning. "My instincts are rarely wrong, especially when it comes to judging an opponent's strength. But this time, the difference was huge."
As he spoke, Unohana Retsu listened gently, the green light of her Kaidō steadily enveloping Kurayashiki Kenpachi.
But when she heard the words "Zaraki District," "black-haired young man," and "stirred my fighting spirit"—
Her fingers, guiding the Kaidō's spiritual power into Kurayashiki Kenpachi's body for a thorough examination, paused for the briefest moment.
The steady, gentle green light in her hand wavered slightly as well.
But her smile didn't change in the slightest. Her voice remained calm and gentle, as though she were merely asking to confirm:
"Then, Captain Kurayashiki, did you... kill that young man?"
"Huh? No, no!" Kurayashiki Kenpachi hurriedly shook his head, a little too vigorously.
"I got carried away and used all my strength. I did hit him pretty hard, and the cut was deep. But luckily Ashido reacted quickly and stopped the bleeding. He should be alive."
He paused, then added, "Besides, by the rules, we shouldn't just go around killing 'great villains' in Rukongai."
"I see." Unohana Retsu gave a slight nod. The glow of Kaidō in her hand steadied again and grew more concentrated.
The green light seemed almost alive as it seeped delicately through Kurayashiki Kenpachi's skin, flowing through his meridians and Reishi to check every possible irregularity.
At that point, Yamada Kiyonosuke, standing nearby, couldn't hold back his curiosity and asked softly:
"Captain Kurayashiki, what made you suddenly decide to go to Zaraki District? It's a rather dangerous place."
Remembering the book he'd read, he unconsciously shrank his neck.
Ashido glanced at his captain. Seeing that he had no intention of explaining in detail, he took the initiative and answered concisely:
"It was because of the book The Killer of Meteor City. The captain read it, became interested in the character described in it, and wanted to see the place for himself."
"'The Killer'?!" Yamada Kiyonosuke's voice rose slightly. A lingering look of fear flashed across his face. "Th-that 'killer' in the book was truly... truly terrifying."
He patted his chest to calm himself, then looked a little puzzled.
"But the 'killer' in the book was a woman, wasn't she?"
"Hm?" Kurayashiki Kenpachi and Ashido turned to look at him at the same time.
The two high-ranking officers from a combat division had fixed their eyes on him. Yamada Kiyonosuke felt a little nervous, but still pointed at his head and spoke with conviction:
"Didn't the poem have a signature at the end? 'Shu Hua.' That's clearly a woman's name, isn't it? Anyone with a name like that must be a powerful woman."
"Huh?" Kurayashiki Kenpachi froze for a moment, then burst out laughing as if he'd just heard something incredibly funny. He waved his large hand.
"How could that be? You're overthinking it! The pure slaughter and power described in that book, that kind of oppressive presence—how could a woman possibly have that? No way, no way!"
He laughed without a care, speaking just as casually.
But before his laughter had even faded—
A bone-chilling cold suddenly shot up Kurayashiki Kenpachi's spine from his back, racing toward the crown of his head like a lightning bolt!
At the same time, he felt a distinct sting on the side of his neck!
It wasn't killing intent, but something deeper and quieter, a terrifying pressure that seemed capable of freezing his soul, pressing against his vital point like a tangible force.
A voice, still gentle and even touched with a hint of amusement, came from right behind him:
"Captain Kurayashiki..."
At some point, Unohana Retsu had moved behind his chair and leaned forward slightly. Her voice was soft as a whisper.
"Do you have... some grievance against women?"
The "thing" pressed against his neck applied a little more pressure.
Every hair on Kurayashiki Kenpachi's body stood on end!
The smile froze on his face, and his muscles stiffened.
It wasn't fear. It was his body's instinctive response to extreme danger!
He could even feel his Zanpakutō trembling faintly in its sheath.
"N-no! Absolutely not!" He reacted swiftly, changing his tune without hesitation.
"I was wrong! The 'killer' must be an incredibly powerful woman! Definitely!"
The pressure on his neck vanished.
Unohana Retsu straightened and walked back around to face him. The same gentle smile was on her face, as though the terrifying moment that had frozen the air had been nothing but an illusion.
She clapped her hands lightly. "Well, the examination is complete. Captain Kurayashiki is in excellent health. His Reiatsu is stable, and there's nothing wrong."
She considered for a moment, then gave her diagnosis. "Perhaps it's simply been too long since you visited a place with such... a distinctive atmosphere as Zaraki District. Your body and senses may have had a slight 'stress' reaction. A little adjustment should be all you need."
Kurayashiki Kenpachi breathed a sigh of relief and rolled his still-stiff shoulders.
Unohana Retsu continued smiling, her tone light as she suggested:
"As for whether that 'killer' is a man or a woman, that question is actually quite simple."
She turned her gaze to Ashido. "Vice-Captain Ashido said you went to Zaraki District because of the book The Killer, correct? Then why not ask the author in person?"
Kurayashiki Kenpachi's eyes lit up. Right!
He sprang to his feet and headed for the exit, his voice booming. "Ashido! Let's go! To the Ninth Division!"
"Please wait a moment, Captain Kurayashiki," Unohana Retsu called gently.
Kurayashiki Kenpachi turned back.
Unohana Retsu had also risen to her feet. She straightened her sleeves, wearing a suitably curious, gentle smile.
"Coincidentally, I have a few questions about literary writing that I'd like to ask that 'Zhi Ge' myself."
"Why don't we pay a visit together?"
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