Aoto was somewhat afraid of Captain Unohana.
It wasn't because she was the First Kenpachi, or because she might see through his true identity. It was because of all the little things that had happened back when he was in the 4th Division.
Simply put... his experience was about the same as Kira Izuru's.
They'd both seen the young women's various "true" sides in private.
Especially Captain Unohana.
The source of all those especially bold discussions among the female squad members about male anatomy was Captain Unohana.
Aoto had even had the dubious honor of being used as a teaching aid while she explained things to the others.
Even now, thinking about it made his whole body tingle.
That was why he was especially polite whenever he faced Captain Unohana.
It gave Captain Unohana a bit of a headache.
She thought highly of her junior, Hyakume-ki Seikyo.
As long as he didn't challenge Zaraki Kenpachi, he would definitely become a captain someday.
But although she'd never revealed her true nature in front of him, he was still so afraid of her... It seemed she'd taken her jokes a little too far back then.
Aoto told Captain Unohana about the 11th Division members' earlier behavior and hoped the 4th Division would cooperate.
Captain Unohana naturally had no reason to refuse.
After receiving her agreement, Aoto took his leave. He still wanted the 4th Division to provide records of which 11th Division members had come for treatment most often over the past few days, but... he'd wait until Assistant Captain Yamada Seinosuke was around.
Seeing how cautiously Aoto acted, Unohana Retsu finally resisted the urge to make him stay and listen to a lesson.
She had a feeling that if she did, he'd run away even faster!
The 11th Division's training ground was also crowded at night, with plenty of people training there.
After all, the place had powerful lights from the World of the Living, keeping it as bright as day even at night.
The squad members who wanted to improve their strength weren't about to waste the nighttime hours.
Although Abarai Renji had only joined the 11th Division a few days ago, he'd already grown fond of its atmosphere.
Training here, he could really feel his strength increasing steadily.
Not every squad member had higher spiritual pressure than he did, but Abarai Renji still had a lot to learn when it came to combat experience.
This rough-and-ready fighting style was completely at odds with what Abarai Renji had learned at Shino Academy, yet it suited him surprisingly well.
He'd been a wild kid since he was little!
At that moment, Abarai Renji was sparring with Kira Izuru, a fellow graduate.
Although Kira Izuru belonged to the 4th Division, as long as he had Abarai Renji, an 11th Division member, vouching for him, members of other divisions could also come train at the 11th Division at night.
After running into Abarai Renji again in the 4th Division infirmary, he'd started coming to the 11th Division to train every night.
He studied healing techniques during the day and practiced combat skills at night.
After all, Kira Izuru didn't want to stay in the 4th Division forever.
Abarai Renji had just used a technique he'd recently learned to knock Kira Izuru's Asauchi out of his hands. Kira Izuru felt he'd have to work even harder.
But as he went to pick up his Asauchi, he saw someone else pick it up first.
Aoto hadn't expected to see an Asauchi slide right up to his feet as soon as he entered the 11th Division.
He picked it up and noticed the battle marks on the blade... He really liked using the tip to fight!
Seeing Kira Izuru running over, Aoto understood.
He held the sword out to Kira Izuru, hilt-first, and said earnestly, "Next time, even if your weapon gets knocked away, don't just give up. You still have other ways to attack!"
Kira Izuru knew who Aoto was. Taking the sword with both hands, he bowed deeply and replied, "Thank you very much for your guidance, 4th Seat Hyakume."
"Mm." Aoto patted Kira Izuru on the shoulder and spoke quietly. "Judging by your habits with the Asauchi, you should study the way of the quick sword! Don't copy Abarai's fighting style. It doesn't suit you!"
Kira Izuru nodded, then fell into thought.
Aoto smiled and walked toward the center of the training ground.
Only after Aoto had passed by did Abarai Renji walk over to Kira Izuru. "What's wrong, Kira?"
"4th Seat Hyakume just recommended that I study the way of the quick sword." Kira Izuru glanced at his Asauchi. "He seems to have figured out my habits from the way I use it."
"Are all Seated Officers that impressive?"
The feeling reminded Kira Izuru of the time Captain Aizen had arrived when a group of powerful Hollows suddenly ambushed them in the World of the Living.
4th Seat Hyakume was surely nowhere near as powerful as Captain Aizen, but he still gave Kira Izuru the impression that his depths were unfathomable.
Even though he was a Soul Reaper now and no longer a student, he still felt as if he couldn't even see Aoto's back.
"I guess so! The other squad members all say 4th Seat Hyakume is no weaker than the other captains who aren't good at fighting."
Abarai Renji had already gotten used to 4th Seat Hyakume's strength. He also hadn't felt any particular awe toward Aizen, who had saved him, so Aizen hadn't chosen him as a target to manipulate at will.
Captains who weren't good at fighting... Did he mean Captain Aizen or Captain Unohana?
In Kira Izuru's mind, both of the captains he'd met in person were skilled fighters.
After all, one was a medical division and the other a rescue division. Neither was a squad that fought on the front lines!
If 4th Seat Hyakume could stand shoulder to shoulder with those two, he had to be incredibly impressive.
But as they watched 4th Seat Hyakume walk to the middle of the training ground, something neither Abarai Renji nor Kira Izuru had expected happened.
A powerful spiritual pressure burst from him, instantly making every Soul Reaper there feel unsafe.
"Every bastard who went to freeload at the 4th Division last month, step forward!"
Aoto's words made everyone present feel a chill in their hearts.
The ones whose hearts nearly stopped from fright were the squad members who'd done something wrong.
It had been several days since 4th Seat Hyakume returned from the World of the Living, and they'd spent all that time on edge.
They'd thought the crisis had passed, only for him to suddenly make his move now.
They really were... doomed!
Still, though each of them wore a long face, they stepped forward.
After all, they really didn't dare lie to 4th Seat Hyakume.
The saying that he could make life worse than death didn't just mean you'd have trouble eating or sleeping.
Plenty of Soul Reapers with enough nerve had already tried provoking 4th Seat Hyakume, and then shown everyone else what happened.
Seeing them obediently step forward, Aoto felt some of his anger fade.
It seemed his authority was still enough to keep them in line.
"Who else hasn't come forward? You can avoid some punishment by turning each other in, but don't make false accusations!"
Everyone immediately looked around at one another and saw that they were all there!
Ah, there went their hard-won chance to avoid some punishment!