June in Seireitei. The sun burned hotter than usual.
Perhaps it was the conversation with Aizen—or perhaps it was the weight of the uncertain future ahead—but Higashi Shuuichi's mood was foul.
He loathed high-stakes gambles, especially when he knew Aizen's Hōgyoku would soon allow for the safe, perfect Hollowfication he needed. Something that should've been within arm's reach had become a risk-laden gamble with his life.
And that alone soured his already dark mood.
But worse news was waiting.
When he arrived at the 4th Division barracks, where he thought he might reset and ground himself, he was greeted by a group of members—some happy, some awkward—only to learn that, after five years of absence, his position as Vice-Captain had already been reassigned.
"Yamada Kiyonosuke..."
Shuuichi barely managed to suppress his anger. He stormed toward the Vice-Captain's quarters, already prepared to reclaim what he believed was rightfully his.
But just as his hand reached for the door—
Rationality returned.
"Wait a second... isn't this actually a good thing?"
No Vice-Captain role. No obligations. No official ties to the 4th Division. That made him... free.
Thank you, Kuryashiki Kenpachi. Your blessings have proven true.
Shuuichi didn't hesitate a second longer. He turned on his heel, leaving the barracks entirely, his new target already set: the 9th Division.
First, swindle a Vice-Captain slot from Muguruma Kensei.
Then, size up which Division Captain had weak enough spiritual pressure and soft enough will to challenge and replace. After all, if he wanted to increase the odds of Urahara Kisuke choosing to save him later, being a Captain would make a much bigger impression than being a mere Vice-Captain.
But the 4th Division wasn't somewhere Shuuichi could just waltz in and out of without consequence.
He hadn't even reached the edge of the corridor before a gentle, familiar voice rang out behind him.
"Welcome back, Shuuichi."
"C-Captain Unohana?"
Turning around awkwardly, Shuuichi saw Unohana Retsu, the ever-kind, ever-smiling "big sister" of the Gotei 13.
"Won't you come sit with me for a while? I heard your last five years were... quite the experience~"
Her voice was as soft as ever, like chatting with an old friend.
"Of course, Captain Unohana," Shuuichi replied with a rehearsed polite smile.
He followed her—not into her office, but into their special room.
A private underground training hall.
"I told you before—I don't mind you vanishing suddenly. I don't care what you go off to do. All I ask... is that every time you return, you bring me a new surprise~"
As soon as they entered, her entire demeanor shifted. The smile remained—but the air around her turned razor-sharp.
And Shuuichi knew, immediately, there was no escaping what was about to happen.
He squared off with her, adjusting his stance. He knew her too well by now—Unohana Retsu was not like Zaraki Kenpachi, who fought for the joy of combat.
No, after years of forced "training" at Shuuichi's hands, Unohana now held a very personal desire to see him bleed.
If he couldn't satisfy her in battle, she might actually kill him this time.
He launched forward—his signature close-range opening slash, clean and precise. One of his best techniques.
Also, one Unohana had memorized like the back of her hand.
She casually raised her blade to intercept—only to pause as she noticed something strange about the Zanpakutō's blade.
"Shihōin family's sealing bandages?"
She recognized them immediately, being the ancient warrior she was.
"You're distracted, Captain. Big mistake."
In that heartbeat of distraction, Shuuichi unleashed Kuryashiki's own technique—Moon Split Slash.
The sharp edge carved a clean, blood-red line across Unohana's chest.
"So he taught you his Moon Split technique..."
But rather than react with pain or fury, Unohana laughed.
"Looks like you did go somewhere interesting~"
Before her words even faded, she vanished—soundless, traceless.
Shuuichi didn't even feel it when both his arms were sliced clean off.
It was only when he noticed the weight of his Zanpakutō no longer in his hands that he realized she was behind him, blades gleaming—one sword, one dagger—both dripping with his blood.
"Is that all Kuryashiki taught you?"
She mocked, a far cry from her usual composed self.
But Shuuichi didn't waste time replying.
He spun on one foot, throwing a fierce roundhouse kick toward her side.
A flash of silver—and his left leg was gone.
Expected.
But by then, his arms had already regenerated.
If he pushed his stamina to the limit, he could regrow limbs nearly instantly. But the cost was immense—several times normal exertion.
No need to go that far yet. This speed was enough.
Right foot planted, new hand grasping his blade from the floor—
"Caress Slash!"
His strongest move, now refined after witnessing Yamamoto's own use of it firsthand.
The fusion of aura and momentum, spiritual pressure compressed and released in a single devastating stroke.
Unohana's eyes lit up.
"Yes... Yes, Shuuichi!"
She didn't even try to dodge.
This was the very technique she'd lost to, centuries ago.
The same one she had taught him—hoping for this day.
She met it head-on.
Steel clashed with steel.
The entire underground arena—reinforced to withstand Captain-level battles—cracked under the pressure.
Dust swirled.
Unohana stood firm.
She had blocked it.
But—
Not Kuryashiki's part of the strike.
She looked down to find a gaping wound torn through her abdomen.
She dropped to one knee.
Only to be gently caught by Shuuichi's hands.
He met her gaze, calm and sincere.
"Captain. You never used your Shikai, and you never went all-out with your spiritual pressure... but this time, I think—I think I've won, haven't I?"
Unohana simply smiled wider.
"That's not for you to decide, Shuuichi-kun. This fight's not over yet~"
But he saw it in her eyes.
She acknowledged him. At last.
Maybe—just maybe—she'd begun to truly look forward to the day he would surpass her.
Ten minutes later.
A familiar scene.
Shuuichi collapsed to the floor, utterly drained.
Unohana stood over him.
"Will you tell me the name of the technique you used to wound me before?"
"It's called Eryū—'Flow Sever,' Captain."
Both of them—bloodied and smiling.