The Out-of-Body Experience

Seireitei, the 8th Division barracks. In a room beside the captain's office, a tasteful painting on the wall was the room's only decoration.

Lin Nan lay quietly on the bed, his eyes closed and his body wrapped in bandages. Four figures stood beside him, studying him with curious gazes.

"So this is the person who came through the Negacion?" Yan Yuan Jinle, the Third Division Captain, asked with interest as he looked at Lin Nan on the sickbed.

He had a long, thin face and neatly parted, slicked-back hair. A pair of gold-rimmed glasses sat on his nose, and his slightly sinister gaze made him look like the strategist of a criminal gang.

"That's right. My squad members have been searching for him in secret for almost ten days. At first, he often managed to get away. Fortunately, I was nearby when trouble broke out in District 26 today. I heard my squad members report the unusual situation and followed him all the way to the 11th Division, where I finally caught him," Katori replied gravely.

She looked serious now. Her bright, peach-blossom eyes held none of the coyness and carefree manner she'd shown in front of Unohana Yachiru. Instead, they carried a hint of authority. "Does Captain-Commander Yamamoto know yet?"

Yan Yuan Jinle shook his head. "Not yet, but I suspect... we'll have a hard time keeping it from him."

Katori gave a slight shake of her head and smiled softly. "I never intended to hide it. I just wanted to see him in person before reporting it. After all, I've been a Soul Reaper for more than two hundred years, and I've never seen a soul come out of the Negacion alive."

Yan Yuan Jinle nodded in agreement, then said solemnly, "Indeed. It's unheard of. The Four Great Noble Houses, the newly established Central 46, and the Captain-Commander still haven't agreed on this person's identity.

"Some suspect he's a spy from Hueco Mundo. Others think he's a rebel scout who got caught by a Menos Grande along the way. And some believe he's just a lucky Ryoka..."

At this point, a trace of concern crept into Yan Yuan Jinle's calm voice. "In any case, we must handle this carefully. Are you really prepared to hide him?"

Katori adjusted her glasses lightly. "I am. I've carefully examined his spiritual pressure, and there's no trace of a Hollow in it. Besides, if I don't say anything, who would know he's the mysterious person who came out of the Negacion? I can simply present him as a talented Rukongai resident."

The three captains present exchanged glances but said nothing.

"I'll train him in secret as a warrior, then give him an opportunity to distinguish himself on the battlefield. He'll earn merit in battle and be promoted to an 8th Division squad member on the spot, then gradually rise to become a Seated Officer. That path should have no obvious flaws."

Yan Yuan Jinle thought it over, then asked, "And how capable is this 'Rukongai resident'?"

Katori pointed to Lin Nan on the bed and said softly, "Yesterday, he fought Kenpachi in a Zanjutsu match. They exchanged three blows. Kenpachi wounded him once; you can all see what happened to him."

At her words, the three captains' expressions changed. For anyone below captain level, simply surviving a fight with Kenpachi was already a miracle.

But this kid had not only survived—he still had all four limbs! And he'd even managed to land a counterattack!?

"Of course, Sister Retsu may have held back. The wounds on him didn't damage any bones. He may have lost consciousness because of the impact of powerful spiritual pressure." Seeing the three men staring in astonishment, Katori quickly added.

She'd wanted to mention that the blow that injured Kenpachi yesterday had been dealt while two captain-level opponents were holding her back. But that might sound too unbelievable to these three, so she decided against it.

Yan Yuan Jinle pondered for a moment, then nudged his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "That theory makes more sense. Otherwise, it would be terrifying."

Across from him, a rough, hoarse voice chimed in. "As far as Zanjutsu alone goes, in the current Soul Society, I doubt anyone besides Old Man Yama and you could get the better of Unohana!"

The speaker lounged carelessly against the back of his chair. A headband haphazardly held down his unruly, upright hair, and a thick, coarse beard covered his lean, iron-hard face. His appearance was intimidating. He was none other than Zhi Xing Nai Wu Gang, Captain of the Seventh Division.

In response to Zhi Xing's sincere praise, Katori's beautiful eyes remained calm. She shook her head faintly. "In a pure Zanjutsu match, I'm not confident I could even draw with Sister Retsu—

"My Cloud Style isn't as fierce as Captain Yamamoto's Gen Style, nor is it as flexible and adaptable as Sister Retsu's style, which draws on the strengths of many schools."

At this, the bald captain seated across from Yan Yuan Jinle, his lower face covered by a golden skull mask and a pair of slightly comical round glasses perched on his nose, raised his thumb and gave a muffled grunt or two to show his support.

"Come on, Jiumianjing! We know you like little Katori and are always trying to flatter her. But you can't even open your mouth, so stop grunting at us. That noise always reminds me of roast pork in Rukongai," Zhi Xing Nai Wu Gang immediately mocked from the side.

"But little Katori's Zanjutsu is impressive, too. We've all seen that for ourselves."

The Ninth Division Captain, Kumoi Entetsu, turned to look at the man who'd called him out. He raised his middle finger and gave an irritated grunt. Zhi Xing wasn't about to be outdone. He stuck out his tongue and pulled a face, making his already unfortunate-looking features even more ridiculous.

Yan Yuan Jinle glanced sideways and said helplessly, "At least show some restraint in front of Captain Katori, you two. Zhi Xing Nai Wu Gang, stop teasing him."

Zhi Xing Nai Wu Gang was still pulling his face. At this, he complained, "Why use my full name? You're so serious. Are you three glasses-wearing types ganging up on me?"

Katori lowered her head and coughed softly. "Don't drag me into this. Let's get back to business!"

Inside the dim, shadowy Playback Room.

Lin Nan pressed his ear firmly against the wooden door, listening intently to the voices coming from the other side.

The voices gradually grew clearer. By the end, it sounded as though someone were standing just behind the door, talking.

"Is there really someone outside?!" Lin Nan glanced at the door in disbelief, then instinctively looked back toward the Playback Room.

His notes didn't say anything about what this door was.

"Maybe I should quietly open it and take a look. I might discover the truth about this place..." He turned back and gently pushed the door open a crack.

Pale gray mist poured in from beyond the door. Lin Nan instinctively covered his nose and mouth and backed away, but he didn't smell the pungent odor he'd expected.

"So it's just ordinary fog..." Lin Nan relaxed and quickly peered outside through the crack.

He couldn't see anything but thick fog.

The voices outside didn't seem to have noticed someone opening the door. They continued talking among themselves.

There was no time to waste. Lin Nan hurried back to the Playback Room, fetched a pen, and wedged it into the crack in the door. Then he lowered his body and slipped into the thick fog.

The instant he disappeared completely into the fog outside the door, the scene before his eyes suddenly changed.

He was in a simple room. Another version of himself lay quietly on the bed, wrapped in bandages, while he stood beside it. Across the bed sat four people wearing white haori.

Lin Nan stood in the open space in front of them, but they acted as if he weren't there—as though he were invisible.

"This... I..." The sight had once again exceeded Lin Nan's expectations. "What's happened to me? Am I having an out-of-body experience? These people are wearing haori. Are they captains?"

Just then, he saw the thin-faced captain with narrow-rimmed glasses part his lips. "So this is the person who came through the Negacion?"

Zhi Xing Nai Wu Gang put his playful expression away, picked up the teacup in front of him, and took a sip. After clearing his throat, he said seriously, "This kid managed to last three rounds against Kenpachi without losing an arm or a leg. That means his soul is very strong. Looks like your division will be getting another powerful warrior!"

"Hard to say. I have a feeling those rising nobles will use this incident to make trouble." A hint of concern appeared on Yan Yuan Jinle's lean face. "The Central 46 is deliberately trying to limit the strength of the Court Guard Squad and is constantly giving us trouble."

"Those idiots get a few peaceful days and forget who they are. The moment they hear the rebels are coming, they all nearly piss their pants," Zhi Xing Nai Wu Gang spat impatiently.

Yan Yuan Jinle glanced at him and sighed. "These rising nobles were only allowed to take positions of power because they swore undying loyalty to the Four Great Noble Houses. They're nothing like the old nobles who dared to stand toe-to-toe with the four families.

"But the Court Guard Squad is now under the control of Central 46. As far as Central 46 is concerned, the weaker the Court Guard Squad becomes, the more room they'll have to seize additional power.

"So if we want to keep this man, we must first sever any ties between him and the rebels. Otherwise, Central 46 will certainly interfere."

The captains fell briefly silent. After a moment, Katori Batsunsai sighed softly. "Let's hope Captain-Commander Yamamoto can handle it when the time comes!"

Zhi Xing Nai Wu Gang filled his cup with tea and scoffed dismissively. "What are they supposed to be? They can't fight or command troops. They've got nothing but a bit of dirty money!"

The bald Captain Kumoi Entetsu grunted in agreement.

Yan Yuan Jinle shook his head. "No. They may not wield as much influence as the Four Great Noble Houses, but with the houses' tacit approval, they can gradually take control of most government offices in the Government Office District and build up their own power. We can't underestimate them."

Katori Batsunsai agreed. "That's right. I hear even the Shino Academy textbooks have removed the phrase 'One King Five Dukes.' It seems the times really have changed. Still, with that man from the Shihoin House, perhaps there'll be less pressure on the Court Guard Squad."

Zhi Xing Nai Wu Gang still looked unconcerned. He shrugged. "Whatever happens, back when the nobles were tearing each other apart, it was the Court Guard Squad that stepped in to put down the rebellion. They wouldn't be where they are today without us. If they piss me off, I'll cut them down with one slash..."

Kumoi Entetsu grunted emphatically and raised his thumb in support of Zhi Xing Nai Wu Gang. The two exchanged a glance, then slapped their hands together.

Lin Nan stood to the side, stunned into silence.

They knew I was connected to the "Menos Grande Invasion"? They wanted to keep me here on purpose. What were they planning to do with me?

Seireitei had been so chaotic a few centuries ago. If they kept me here, would they use me for something?

Too much information kept whirling through his mind. For the first time since transmigrating, he felt completely at a loss.

As anxiety gripped him, he saw the four captains' eyes sharpen at the same time. They all looked in his direction.

"Has he already woken up?"