Having healed the wounds on her own front, and since Unohana could not reach the wounds on her back, she intended to return to the Fourth Division and find an excuse to have Isane Kotetsu treat her.
Just as Unohana Retsu stood up, Soifon's hand reached out, firmly clasping her wrist.
"I will treat the wounds on Captain Unohana's back," Soifon said.
Unohana blinked, then smiled. "Captain Soifon hasn't learned Kaidō, I presume?"
"I indeed haven't learned it systematically." Soifon released her hand and spread her palm open. "But having been treated so many times, I've roughly understood the principles. Perhaps a long illness turns the patient into a doctor?"
As she spoke, the fluorescent light of Kaidō lit up in Soifon's palm, its purity no less than that of Isane Kotetsu, who had immersed herself in Kaidō for many years.
Unohana's smile froze. She raised her eyes to look at Soifon's calm face, a trace of astonishment flashing through her gaze.
—Kaidō is not a skill one can understand just by watching... Captain Soifon.
Nevertheless, Unohana obediently turned around and sat down in front of Soifon, keeping her back to her.
Soifon gently pushed aside the other party's cascading long black hair. Under the moonlight, wounds of varying depths crisscrossed the snow-white skin.
She hovered her palm over the wounds, and the treatment began.
"Mm..."
The itchiness of healing wounds and the comforting Kaidō spiritual power caused Unohana to involuntarily relax.
"By the way, Captain Soifon." With a mischievous smile playing on the corners of her mouth, Unohana suddenly spoke out of nowhere. "How is... my skin?"
Soifon paused for a moment, then her fingertips gently brushed over the fine, healed skin on Unohana's back.
"Mm... Muscles tight, skin smooth. Grade AA+."
Her fingertips slid slowly down along the line of the spine, stopping near the waist.
"Relax, Captain Unohana..."
Instantly, Unohana's breathing skipped a beat, likely not expecting Soifon to be so bold.
Finally, Soifon patted her back. "All done, Captain Unohana. No scars left."
"..." Unohana tightened the Shihakushō across her chest. "Thank you, Captain Soifon."
After venting her desire for battle, Unohana Retsu restored her usual gentleness, but she also confessed her past to Soifon.
Fortunately, they had the wide Captain's Haori, which completely covered their tattered Shihakushō beneath, making them look no different from usual.
"Captain Soifon doesn't seem surprised..."
Tonight, Unohana Retsu had said this phrase more than once.
To Unohana, the fact that Soifon could listen to what she considered explosive truths without a ripple of emotion was, in itself, surprising to her.
"Captain Unohana shouldn't have forgotten that I originated from the Stealth Force, right?" Soifon walked with her arms crossed over her chest. "Regarding the legacy of Kenpachi, I have read about it in the collection of the Shihōin Clan. So, when I saw the sword wound on Captain Unohana's chest, I had already connected it to Captain Zaraki."
It was still solemn nonsense, but by pulling on the banner of the Shihōin Clan, it was much more convincing.
"It seems I was presumptuous." Unohana laughed self-deprecatingly. "However, please keep this a secret from Isane, Captain Soifon..."
"I will."
After saying this, her figure blended into the night, disappearing at the end of the Rukongai.
Unohana Retsu stood in place, watching the direction Soifon had left, feeling somewhat reluctant to part...
Proficient in both Kaidō and Kendo—there were not many people who could give her such pleasure in battle.
After all, sparring partners who couldn't be broken were rare.
If only Captain Soifon could... every day...
No, even if she could have such a hearty and dripping battle with her every week...
Slowly shaking her head, Unohana Retsu restrained her increasingly heavy breathing and walked toward the direction of the Fourth Division.
Tsk tsk, one cannot be too greedy as a Shinigami... Unohana Retsu.
Another period of leisurely daily life passed. Soifon took Yoruichi Shihōin's token and found Yushirō Shihōin, having him take her into the Shihōin Clan's library.
Although the materials were not as complete as the Great Log Gallery managed by the Tsunayashiro Clan, this was at least the foundation of the Four Great Noble Clans; Soifon still found what she wanted.
—The method to enter Muken and the locations where the keys were hidden.
At the same time, Soifon received a notification sent from the First Division.
[Tenth Division 3rd Seat, Tōshirō Hitsugaya, has mastered Bankai. He will accept the Captain's Assessment in the Dangai tomorrow.]
Besides the Captain-Commander who supervised as a fixture, there were also Soifon, Aizen, and Gin Ichimaru.
Seeing the list, Soifon wasn't sure if the Captain-Commander knew about the things the three of them were doing in Hueco Mundo and planned to take them all to the Dangai to kill them.
Soifon shivered. It shouldn't come to that, right? There's still a fish that slipped through the net, Kaname Tōsen...
But fortunately, Tōshirō's promotion to Captain was also unremarkable. After activating Bankai, he fought a few rounds with Soifon. Soifon showed off a bit of her Kendo level, and everyone went through the motions and passed him unanimously.
Although Tōshirō's Bankai was a bit green—falling short of the best but better than the worst—no matter how rookie he was, he was still a tier stronger than the Vice-Captains.
Except Sasakibe.
After returning to the Soul Society, Tōshirō put on the Tenth Division's Haori and ran up to Soifon, bowing deeply.
"Teacher Soifon! Thank you for your..."
Soifon was not very adapted to such solemn gratitude and slightly stepped away from the direction of his bow.
"This is the last time. Don't bow to people randomly outside from now on. You are the Captain of the Tenth Division, after all."
After saying this, she didn't wait for Tōshirō's response, waved her hand quickly, turned, and left.
"Understood... Teacher Soifon."
Tōshirō tugged at the Captain's Haori on his body, feeling that he didn't look as dashing wearing it as Teacher Soifon did.
However, thinking that he could show off his Haori in front of his grandmother, Tōshirō smiled again.
...
Late at night, in the home of a certain high-ranking noble.
Sōsuke Aizen and Soifon, wearing black cloaks, silently obtained a key to Muken from the family of a certain member of Central 46.
"I only realized today after watching your battle with Captain Hitsugaya that Captain Soifon is also a Kendo Grandmaster."
Strolling leisurely in the courtyard, Aizen played with the key in his hand, looking at Soifon with a gaze full of inquiry.
If an increase in Spiritual Rank belonged to natural talent, then training Kendo to such a perfection required comprehension and brains, in addition to the aptitude of the Spirit Body.
He was certain that Soifon was absolutely an all-around genius no less than himself.
"At our level, Kendo is nothing but a minor trick. There is nothing amazing about it," Soifon replied. "No matter how strong Kendo is, it is not as strong as Reiatsu."
Of course, no matter how strong the Reiatsu, one still had to maintain their style points.
Soifon took out a notebook, silently crossed a line on the list, and led Aizen toward the home of the next Central 46 member.
"Impressive. Captain Soifon speaks with profound insight."
Seeing that she possessed high-level sword techniques without being arrogant, and could even point directly to the core essence of battle, Aizen appreciated her more and more.
"However, Captain Soifon is collecting the keys to Muken to release which prisoner?"
____
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