Just as he had foreseen for the future.
Arima Shinya's strike landed cleanly, slashing across Kiganjo Kenpachi's shoulder—ripping through muscle, blood vessels, and tissue in a single blow…
Until it stopped, caught against a collarbone as thick as a bear's.
Although he had expected such an outcome, seeing it with his own eyes, the boy couldn't help but show a trace of admiration.
And a hint of regret.
After all, it had been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
The enemy had been careless, not taking him seriously. And he, gathering every bit of strength he possessed, had seized that one, fleeting moment—
A perfect moment.
But unfortunately, Arima Shinya's strength had its limits—he hadn't been able to cut completely through Kiganjo Kenpachi's body.
That was all…
As these thoughts swirled in his mind, a dark shadow flashed before his eyes.
Before he could even react, his body instinctively shrank back—yet, in the next instant, Kiganjo's open palm struck him squarely, sending him flying like an arrow loosed from a bowstring.
He spun helplessly through the air before crashing into a kimono shop by the side of the street.
The impact shattered part of the building. Arima Shinya tried to stand, but without strength left in his body, he sank back into the debris.
His entire body tingled with numbness, heavy and aching. He couldn't even move a finger.
That was the price for pushing his spiritual pressure to its limit.
He had literally become defenseless prey—that was the true image of Arima Shinya at that moment.
The Möbius ring had not yet dissolved.
But this was already his limit, the point where an indomitable spirit reached its final resistance.
So… what fate awaited him? The distant future he could no longer see was now just a blur.
As he pondered this, Arima Shinya heard something.
Outside, Kiganjo Kenpachi's hysterical roar echoed through the air.
"GAAAAAAHHHH!!!"
Damn… he still has enough energy to scream like that?
The boy couldn't help but smile bitterly—but deep down, he wasn't surprised by the outcome.
With a spiritual power equivalent to that of a low-ranking officer, to have wounded someone at the level of a captain was already an extraordinary feat.
He then closed his eyes.
Outside…
With one hand pressed over the wound on his shoulder and his face drenched in sweat, Kiganjo Kenpachi bellowed furiously.
"Damn it! What are you standing there for?! Hurry up and take care of this wound!"
Being injured was nothing new—he was, after all, a troublemaker from the Rukongai district. Normally, he would never show such a humiliating side of himself…
But this time was different.
A mere low-ranking soldier had managed to wound him like this.
It was like being bitten by a rabbit—anyone would be shocked, even outraged.
Shame. Frustration. Rage.
Those emotions mixed together, erupting into an outburst of fury that he unleashed on everyone around him.
"Move, you useless bastards!"
The members of the 11th Division, startled, rushed toward him.
Blood gushed from his shoulder as his subordinates scrambled to stop the bleeding amidst the chaos. Kiganjo's face twisted more and more with each passing second.
All useless.
Those who didn't help were trash.
Those who dared resist were filth.
"I just wanted to drink and have fun with a woman… how the hell did it end up like this?!"
He smacked one of the nearby soldiers across the head.
The shrill screams that followed and the blood splattering across the ground slowly soothed his irritation.
Once his mood had somewhat stabilized, Kiganjo muttered:
"Enough… I can't get distracted by this now. The real problem is that insolent brat."
"I'll crush every bone in his body, tear off his arms and legs… and then I'll come up with better ways to make him pay."
Turning toward his still-panicking men, he barked:
"What are you waiting for? Go find that bastard who's still breathing and bring him to me!"
But before they could move—
A commotion rose in the distance.
"A noble is passing by! Captain, a great noble is coming with his entourage!"
"What…?"
Kiganjo furrowed his brow and looked in the indicated direction. Indeed, he saw a crowd gathering, clearing a path along the street.
The presence of a noble always came with a grand procession—there was no mistaking it.
Damn it.
More important than venting his anger was making sure a noble didn't see him in such a pitiful state.
If word of this reached old man Yamamoto… the consequences would be far worse.
"Listen up! I'll go on ahead! Once the nobles pass, bring that brat to our barracks!"
With his hand still pressed against his bleeding shoulder, Kiganjo Kenpachi hurried away.
Soon after, the nobles' carriage appeared—majestic, wrapped in an almost dreamlike aura.
Arima Shinya, still lying among the rubble, stared up at the ceiling above him.
Blood loss made him dizzy, his breath short.
Damn… at this rate, I'll go into shock.
Someone… someone, please…
On the edge of life and death, he saw a familiar silhouette enter the wreckage. The figure approached and stopped before him.
That calm, serene, and mysterious smile…
There was no mistaking it.
"Captain Aizen… sensei…"
Before he could say another word, Arima Shinya lost consciousness.
…
…
…
A gentle fragrance surrounded him.
When he opened his eyes, what he saw was an unfamiliar ceiling.
His body was covered by a white sheet. Beside the bed, a porcelain vase held freshly picked flowers.
White gardenias.
Their delicate scent masked the smell of disinfectant, giving the room an air of refined elegance.
Arima Shinya sat up, confused, looking around.
Where… where am I?
This doesn't look like the Soul Society's hospital.
Then… where did they take me? Am I still in Seireitei?
As he wondered, light footsteps approached from outside. Soon, the sliding door opened with a soft sound.
A familiar, yet somehow unfamiliar, figure stepped into the room.
Familiar, because her image was classic—impossible to forget once seen.
Unfamiliar, because this was their first true meeting.
A woman with a gentle and serene appearance.
Long black hair parted down the middle.
Over her white kimono, she wore the haori symbolizing the rank of a captain.
Her eyes swept across the room before settling on the boy.
Then she smiled—a smile as soft as a flower in bloom.
"You're awake? What a relief."
"You slept for three whole days and nights. Even I started to get worried. Knowing that you're safe will put the Fourth Seat Aizen a bit more at ease too."
"Ah, forgive me, I forgot to introduce myself. This is our first time meeting, isn't it?"
Her hands clasped gently before her body, her smile calm and warm.
"I am Unohana Retsu, Captain of the Fourth Division."
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