Visiting the Ninth Division Together

Fourth Division barracks.

Unlike the Eleventh Division, where you could hear shouting and the clash of swords from far away, this place was excessively quiet.

A faint scent of medicinal herbs wafted through the air, mixed with the clean smell of bedding dried in the sun.

The corridors were bright and tidy, with occasional squad members in Shinigami uniforms walking by quietly, their voices hushed.

With Kurayashiki Kenpachi and Ashido, two large figures, standing at the entrance, the entire atmosphere seemed to change.

One was cheerful to the point of being noisy, the other silent as a stone, completely out of place with their surroundings.

"Oh my, it's Captain Kurayashiki from the Eleventh Division! And Lieutenant Ashido!"

A man hurried forward. It was Yamada Kiyonosuke, the Lieutenant of the Fourth Division. His tone was respectful. "What brings you two to the Fourth Division?"

"Oh!!" Kurayashiki Kenpachi's voice boomed as he slapped his chest with a bang.

"To get a check-up! See if something's wrong with me?"

Yamada Kiyonosuke quickly waved his hands. "Captain Kurayashiki, you flatter me. With your spiritual pressure, my Kaidō wouldn

"How is that possible! You're thinking too much! The pure slaughter and power described in the book, that oppressive feeling, how could a woman possibly have it? Impossible, impossible!"

He laughed without any guard, speaking casually.

However, before his laughter even died down—

A bone-chilling coldness, without any warning, surged from the spine of Kurayashiki Kenpachi's back, shooting straight to the crown of his head at lightning speed!

At the same time, his skin on the side of his neck felt a clear stinging sensation!

It wasn't killing intent, but a more profound, more tranquil, yet seemingly soul-freezing terrifying pressure, clinging to his vital points like a tangible entity.

A voice, still gentle, even with a hint of a smile, sounded from an extremely close distance behind him:

"Captain Kurayashiki..."

Unohana Retsu had, at some point, appeared behind his chair, leaning slightly forward, her voice soft as a whisper.

"Do you have any dissatisfaction towards women?"

The "thing" pressed against his neck applied a slight bit of pressure.

Every hair on Kurayashiki Kenpachi's body stood on end in that instant!

The smile froze on his face, his muscles stiffening.

It wasn't fear, but the most direct reaction of his body's instinct to extreme danger!

He could even feel his Zanpakuto humming faintly within its sheath.

"N-no! Absolutely not!" he reacted with lightning speed, changing his tune without hesitation.

"I was wrong! That 'murderous fiend' must be an incredibly powerful woman! Definitely!"

The pressure on his neck disappeared.

Unohana Retsu straightened up, walking back around to face him. Her gentle smile remained on her face, as if the terrifying moment that had frozen the air was merely an illusion.

She lightly clapped her hands: "Mm, the examination is complete. Captain Kurayashiki's body is very healthy, his spiritual pressure is stable, and there are no issues."

She paused for a moment, giving her diagnosis: "Perhaps it's just that you haven't visited places with such a... unique atmosphere as the Gomukure District for a long time. Your body and senses might be experiencing a slight 'stress' reaction. It will resolve with some adjustment."

Kurayashiki Kenpachi breathed a sigh of relief, moving his still stiff shoulders.

Unohana Retsu continued to smile, her tone relaxed as she suggested:

"As for whether that 'murderous fiend' is male or female, that question is actually very simple."

Her gaze shifted to Ashido: "Lieutenant Ashido, you said earlier that you went to the Gomukure District because of the book Murderous Fiend, right? In that case, why not just ask the author of the book directly?"

Kurayashiki Kenpachi's eyes lit up! Right!

He shot up from his seat and turned to leave, his voice booming, "Ashido! Let's go! To the Ninth Division!"

"Please wait a moment, Captain Kurayashiki," Unohana Retsu called out to him gently.

Kurayashiki Kenpachi turned back.

He saw Unohana Retsu slowly stand up as well, adjusting her cuffs, a hint of perfectly measured curiosity and gentle amusement on her face.

"As it happens, I also have some questions about literary creation that I'd like to ask Teacher 'Zhi Ge' about."

"Shall we pay them a visit together?"