Sudden Upheaval / Rescue

Could this kid have opened a hospital later because he studied medical knowledge?

Very likely.

The members of the Fourth Division are mainly responsible for medical care, and there are many girls among them. The members are also very friendly and enthusiastic towards the newcomer Shiba Isshin.

Just as Shiba Isshin absorbed in a group of girls, he suddenly felt a chill down his back, as if a snake had crawled up his spine. He quickly turned around and saw someone peeking in from the doorway.

It was none other than Ōtōgawa Utsugi, the Captain the Tenth Division.

This person is so scary!

Shiba Isshin couldn't help but shudder.

The news that Shiba Isshin to join the Fourth Division quickly reached his father's ears. The uncle burst into tears, feeling that his good-for-nothing son had finally done something worthwhile. There were many girls in the Fourth Division, and it would be even better if he could find a daughter-in-law for him.

Yamabuki Chidori said, "You're overthinking it. You probably won't be able to hold your grandson in your lifetime."

Shiba Isshin lost his Shinigami powers due to White Ichigo's attack and was forced to remain in the Human World.

Ultimately, they were considered traitors by Soul Society, and shortly afterward, Shiba Kaien, the head of the Shiba Clan at the time, died in battle. As a result, the Shiba Clan, one of the Five Noble Clans, was directly removed from the list and could only remain in Rukongai.

Yamabuki Chidori had anticipated these events, but it remains to be seen whether the future will allow her to change course.

It would be really fun if Shiba Kaien were still alive.

After Shiba Isshin rejoined the Fourth Division, he had a very fulfilling day. He usually studied medicine with his Captain and practiced swordsmanship in his spare time. To his surprise, his Captain was also a master swordsman.

I've never won a sword fight before.

Despite Captain Unohana's usual delicate appearance, which doesn't seem like she'd be a fighter at all, her aura completely changes the moment she picks up a sword.

Because life has been too peaceful these past few years, and Unohana is the Captain of the healing squad, she hardly has any opportunities to fight. Over time, many Shinigami have forgotten that this seemingly delicate woman was once hailed as an unprecedented and unparalleled sinner.

Shiba Isshin originally thought that his life would continue like this forever.

Tonight, Shiba Isshin's father, the Lieutenant the Tenth Division, suddenly approached his son and said he needed to leave for a while.

Shiba Isshin found it strange; his father would leave for a few days every few years, but Shiba Isshin hadn't paid much attention to it at the time.

"Where are you going? What's your mission?" Shiba Isshin asked.

Shiba Lieutenant said nonchalantly, "There's no mission, just Hueco Mundo extermination operation. It's organized every two or three years to weaken the Hollow population and prevent them from consuming too many souls. It's routine. I'll be back in three or four days at most. Take care of yourself. If anything happens and I'm not around, you can ask Captain Unohana or the Chief Strategist for help. They're trustworthy people."

Shiba Isshin nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

Since ancient times, the birth of Hollows has never stopped. The Shinigami and Hollows have been fighting each other, and there has never been a moment when the Hollows could be completely eradicated.

Yamabuki Chidori knows that what's needed to protect something is balance.

Destroying something requires force.

The primary mission of the Gotei 13 is to maintain the balance of the Three Realms, and Hollows are also a part of that balance.

Eliminating too many voids would also cause the Three Realms to become unbalanced.

Therefore, it is best to keep the number of souls in the Soul Society, the Human World, and Hueco Mundo roughly the same, so that they can coexist for a long time.

The Soul Society constantly monitors the number of Hollows. If there are too many Hollows, they will send out Shinigami to subdue them; if there are too few, they will not be affected.

This has become a rule.

Shiba Lieutenant has also participated in several missions.

Typically, these missions are led by the Lieutenant, with rookie Shinigami participating. Eliminating Hollows is only one of the objectives, but it also allows these rookie Shinigami to experience what it's like to be on the battlefield.

"Do you want me to come with you this time? I can provide medic support," Shiba Isshin said.

Shiba Lieutenant calmly replied, "I don't need your help. I'll have to take care of you when we get to the battlefield."

Shiba Isshin smiled but didn't say anything. If they really started fighting now, this Old Man might not be able to beat him.

"Get some rest, we have to get up very early tomorrow," said Shiba Lieutenant.

Shiba Isshin felt his heart beating very fast and his mind was in turmoil.

Could this be the legendary... heart attack?

No way? I'm so young, I'm not going to have a heart attack, am I?

Shiba Isshin on taking his pulse and pinching his philtrum that he finally managed to fall asleep.

When I opened my eyes the next day, I found that my father had already left home and was preparing to go to Hueco Mundo to carry out a subjugation mission.

After finishing his meal, Shiba Isshin prepared to go to work. Today, the Fourth Division was still very peaceful. At most, they would see a few patients with colds and fevers, prescribe some medicine, and they would be fine.

Actually, even without medication, it will heal on its own in a few days.

Taking medication is more about seeking psychological comfort.

Shiba Isshin take advantage of his lunch break to find a place to get a good night's sleep, but he found that the anxiety he felt last night had returned.

"What on earth happened?" Shiba Isshin muttered to himself.

Just as he was about to turn over and compose himself, the Fourth Division suddenly sounded the assembly alarm.

Shiba Isshin jumped up from the bed in the lounge.

Why did the Fourth Division sound the alarm?

Is there an emergency patient?

Or is it...?

There's no time to worry about that now; since the alarm's sounding, I have to get to the designated assembly point as quickly as possible.

When they arrived, Shiba Isshin realized that not only he, but all the members of the Fourth Division who had gathered there looked bewildered. They didn't know what had happened either; they had only gathered there after hearing the alarm.

Just as everyone was whispering among themselves, Unohana walked over with a serious expression on her face.

Chapter 127: Sudden Change

"Everyone, please be quiet! I have something very important to announce." Unohana's expression was very serious.

In the minds of these team members, their Captain rarely showed this kind of expression.

Unohana has always given the impression of being very gentle, with a kind, saintly smile on her face, and she never loses her composure even in the face of the most dangerous situations.

But now, this solemn expression was actually on the Captain's face, which shows how important the matter was.

"This morning, we dispatched a squad to attack Hueco Mundo. We just received news that this squad encountered Hollow Tide and was besieged by countless Hollows. Many Shinigami have already been killed or wounded. We've been ordered to send reinforcements from the 2nd Division, Fourth Division, and 11th Division simultaneously. Our Fourth Division's mission is to treat as many wounded as possible while ensuring our own safety. Is there anyone willing to volunteer?" Unohana said solemnly.

The members of the Fourth Division are all doctors and rarely participate in combat, so their combat strength is visibly low.

This incident happened suddenly, Hueco Mundo is too far from Soul Society. If we stayed put and waited for the wounded to be rescued, some of them might die from their injuries.

The best approach is to take the initiative.

Shiba Isshin never imagined that his own father would be involved in such a thing.

No wonder I've been so upset since last night, now I know.

"I want to sign up! Let me go!" Shiba Isshin said urgently. His father was fighting on the battlefield and could lose his life at any moment. How could he just sit idly by?

Unohana glanced at him quietly. "Team Leader Shiba, anyone can go, but not you. Haven't you noticed your heart is already in turmoil? I know your father is also in that team. If... I mean if... you witnessed your father's corpse with your own eyes, could you still remain calm? Could you still help the other wounded?"

That's impossible, of course.

Shiba Isshin knew that if he saw his father's corpse with his own eyes, he would probably collapse on the spot.

"Therefore, please be sure to stay," Unohana said. "Medical treatment is a very delicate job. If a doctor's emotions fluctuate, it could easily lead to a misjudgment and cause further harm to the injured. Besides, the 11th Division is involved in the rescue this time, so you won't be helping with the combat."

"But..." Shiba Isshin anxious, his heart was pounding like it was being fried in oil, how could he possibly calm down in this situation?

"Captain, please let me go!" Shiba Isshin said anxiously.

"I said no, and that means no. Shiba, I know this is cruel to you, but please be patient." Unohana made the calmest judgment. "Besides, I will go myself this time. No matter how badly this person is injured, as long as he is not dead, I am confident that I can save him. Please rest assured."

Shiba Isshin certainly knew how skilled Unohana was in medicine, but the current situation was not determined by the level of medical skill.

The person trapped was her own biological father.

How can you expect me to stay calm? I'm not an animal.

Shiba Isshin gritted his teeth, turned around, and ran out of the Fourth Division.

The other team members nearby all looked nervous.

"Captain, should we go after him?" one of the team members asked.

"No need, just organize people and set off with me immediately," Unohana said.

After leaving the Fourth Division, Shiba Isshin was momentarily lost. In truth, he knew that Unohana's decision was correct. Concern clouded his judgment, and even if his father were seriously injured, Shiba Isshin would lose his ability to make accurate judgments, let alone the possibility of his father dying in battle.

As a member of the Fourth Division, once you lose your calm judgment, you're no different from a cripple.

Then he suddenly remembered what his father had said before he left.

If you have time, you can talk to Captain Unohana and the Chief Strategist.

Since Captain Unohana wouldn't allow me to participate in the rescue operation, I'll have to go to the Chief Strategist.

Shiba Isshin Flash Step rushed to the Staff Department. The other Staff Officer looked up in confusion, and Shiba Isshin kicked open the door to Yamabuki Chidori's office.

"Chief Strategist, about Hueco Mundo..." Shiba Isshin could even finish his sentence, Yamabuki Chidori had already guessed what he was going to say.

"Do you want to join the rescue operation? But your Captain won't allow it?" Yamabuki Chidori asked.

"Yes, I know what the Captain is worried about, but... my one and only father is in grave danger right now. Chief Strategist, please approve my participation in this rescue operation," Shiba Isshin pleaded.

"You're now a member of the Fourth Division, under the management of Unohana. What if something unpleasant happens if I overstep my bounds and manage her? I don't want to go back tonight and have her force-feed me goji berries!" Yamabuki Chidori expressed her helplessness.

Shiba Isshin, however, grasped the crux of the problem.

"Fourth Division... If I'm not a member of the Fourth Division, can I still participate in this rescue operation? But... what about Captain Unohana..." Shiba Isshin very worried.

During this period, Unohana was very kind to him.

Shiba Isshin had planned to stay in the Fourth Division, but now this has happened...

He felt he would be letting Captain Unohana down if he left the Fourth Division.

"But this is the only way. I heard that the 2nd Division and the 11th Division have both participated in the rescue operation. Could you let me join one of those teams now?" Shiba Isshin asked anxiously.

"Both of these teams are full, but I have a squad that isn't full. Would you like to consider it?" Yamabuki Chidori took out an armband from her drawer. It was the armband of the Tenth Division.

"The Tenth Division... but the Tenth Division isn't participating in the rescue this time!" Shiba Isshin said.

"The decision-making power is with me. Whether the Tenth Division participates in this rescue or not can be decided with a single word from me," said Yamabuki Chidori.

Shiba Isshin had no way out at this point, and nodded vigorously. "Please, I'll join the Tenth Division right now."

"Alright, go find Captain Ōtōgawa Utsugi of the Tenth Division now and ask him to send people to rescue us. You can go with them. I'll persuade Unohana about it," Unohana Yamabuki Chidori said.

Shiba Isshin rushed to the Tenth Division as fast as he could without even saying thank you.

Yamabuki Chidori sighed and shook her head. It seemed she would inevitably have to drink milk with goji berries when she got home tonight. Who could stand taking such supplements every day?

Moreover, this event also exposed the biggest weakness of the Gotei 13.

The support speed is clearly insufficient.

Can't I think of a way to provide support from a distance?

When Yamabuki Chidori first awakened her Zanpakuto ability, she developed a Wormhole technique, but at the time, the ability was too unstable to be used in actual combat.

Now that this Wormhole has matured into a fully functional Wormhole, it should learn to enhance its stability on its own.

Chapter 128: Rescue

Fifteen minutes later, the rescue team had assembled in the open area and was preparing to enter Hueco Mundo.

Unohana spotted Shiba Isshin immediately. Although Shiba Isshin was extremely anxious, he felt a chill run down his spine upon seeing Unohana. He had just inquired and learned that his Captain used to be quite violent.

"Won't Unohana me to pieces after we get back from this mission?" Shiba Isshin to himself.

However, Unohana did not blame him, but only gave him a gentle smile. Then the Garganta opened, and everyone entered Hueco Mundo.

The Tenth Division excels at reconnaissance and searching, and they quickly found a clue in Hueco Mundo: a Hollow's corpse was not far from the opening of the Garganta.

Judging from the wound, it appears to be a knife wound.

Battles between Hollows are fought using teeth and claws, rarely using weapons; in other words, these Hollows are fought by Shinigami (Death Gods).

"Judging from the traces left at the scene, someone must have gone in that direction!" a team member pointed to the place where the moon was rising.