Chapter Sixty-Six: The So-Called Cultivation

“So, this is what it’s come to?” Yamamoto Shigekuni’s lips twitched as he stared at the three kneeling before him—a pair of adults and a child, all bruised and battered, and a white-haired little one who was sincerely remorseful for his mistakes.

Well, I know it’s hard to make sense of all this, so perhaps it’s best to start from the second day when Kyoraku and Ukitake, still young boys, arrived at the First Division barracks…

“All right, you’re both ready, aren’t you?” Chojiro, dressed in casual clothes, stood tall and proud in front of Kyoraku and Ukitake. He eyed their outfits and nodded in satisfaction.

“Um…do we really have to go?” Ukitake Jushiro raised his small hand, clearly frightened by whatever Chojiro was leading them to do.

“We’ve come this far, Ukitake, are you really thinking of backing out now?” Chojiro feigned indifference, glancing at the pale-faced Ukitake. “To become apprentices of the Funoji Pavilion, you need fearless courage! If you can’t handle even this, how will you ever fight bravely on the battlefield?”

What a stirring speech! Kyoraku and Ukitake’s faces flushed bright red, as if they were about to embark on some grand and glorious quest.

“Let’s go!” Chojiro waved his arm and marched forward, leading his two young charges.

…

“Teacher, is this the battlefield?” The young Kyoraku regarded the building before them with solemnity.

“That’s right. This is the perfect battlefield, handpicked by me to temper your resolve.” Chojiro was equally serious, nodding emphatically to affirm his words.

“Gulp…” Ukitake swallowed hard and nodded vigorously, as if gathering his courage.

“Excellent! Onward, brave youths!”

“Oh!”

Clang!

Somehow, music fitting the scene wafted from nowhere.

“Teacher, it’s all white—I can’t see anything…”

“Keep your voice down! We’re training your concealment skills here.” Chojiro gestured for silence to Kyoraku, then focused intently on the situation before them.

“But teacher…this is really hard…” Young Ukitake’s face flushed as he struggled to hold himself up.

“Hang in there! Endure! This is a perfect training regimen designed to push your stamina to new heights!”

“Mmnnn~~~” Ukitake gritted his teeth and persevered.

“Clatter…”

Suddenly, the sound of a door opening echoed from within the building.

“Oh, someone’s coming, stay hidden…” Chojiro quickly lowered his head, pressing Kyoraku’s down as well.

“Tap, tap, tap…” Footsteps approached from inside, light and soft—likely a woman.

“Remember, I’ll say it again: don’t make a sound, stay hidden.”

…

“Splash.”

“Tch, she went inside?” Hearing the strange noise, Chojiro bit his lip in frustration, but could only wait for another opportunity.

…

But no matter how long they waited, no second person appeared…and the first one showed no intention of leaving.

“Teacher…how much longer do we have to wait?” Young Kyoraku couldn’t help but ask.

“Quiet! If results were so easily achieved, wouldn’t everyone throughout history be a sage?”

“Hmm…you’ve got a point.”

Adults always win arguments with children; that’s an eternal truth.

Ha, well said.

Chojiro secretly reveled.

“My, the three of you seem quite lively. What are you all doing here?”

“Really, I said to be quiet. We’re training.”

“Oh, so it’s training.”

“Mmm, so you all need to endure.”

“Teacher…”

“What? You’re really annoying.”

“…Who were you just talking to?”

“Huh? What do you mean, obviously…”

Huh?

Chojiro’s eyelid twitched slightly.

Something felt off.

Who was speaking to me just now?

His neck turned stiffly, emitting creaks like a machine that hadn’t been oiled in years, as he looked behind him.

A white captain’s haori, glossy black hair tied high at the back, with two soft locks framing her face. Of course, her smile betrayed not the slightest trace of anger.

“Gu-oh…gu-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh?” Chojiro was so startled he lost his grip, tumbling from the bamboo fence.

“Ca…Captain Unohana!!!!”

Of all women in the Soul Society, only Unohana matched that description.

Was this embarrassment? Just yesterday he’d turned down her marriage proposal, and today he was caught spying on the women’s hot spring.

Embarrassment wasn’t enough to describe it.

“May I ask what you’re doing in my Fourth Division, Lieutenant Sasakibe?” Unohana’s smile never wavered as she asked gently.

Oh no…oh no, in his eagerness to peep, he’d forgotten that the only women’s hot spring in the entire Seireitei was in the Fourth Division. What now?

“Teacher brought us here for training.”

“Mmph! Shut up, Shunsui!” Chojiro rushed forward to cover Kyoraku’s mouth.

“My, so I didn’t mishear—it is training.”

“No…you must be mistaken, Captain Unohana…” Chojiro was sweating bullets.

Think! Think! Is there any way to get out of this?

“That’s it, right? Lieutenant Sasakibe specially brought these two here to hone their concealment and endurance. This really is the perfect place for it.”

“Oh?” Chojiro froze, then quickly let go of Kyoraku and stepped forward to grasp Unohana’s delicate hand.

“Oh, you understand, Yachiru! That’s a huge help, thank you so much.”

…

Unohana glanced at her hand in Chojiro’s grasp, her face briefly flushed before she returned to her smiling demeanor.

“Lieutenant Sasakibe.”

“Yes?”

“Please brace yourself.”

“Waaahhh! I’m sorry!!!”

And so…

“By the way, teacher, why wasn’t Ukitake beaten?”

“Shut up. If you want to blame someone, blame your lecherous face, Shunsui.”

“Grrr~~~”

Boom boom.

The veins on Yamamoto’s forehead began to pulse irregularly.

“So teacher, you were beaten for being lecherous too?”

“Idiot! A teacher must share the trials of his students!”

“Wow, so it’s all my fault, teacher?”

“What did you expect?”

“Teacher…”

“What?”

“Your talk is so righteous, but your skin is really thick.”

“…That’s true…”

“One after another…”

The veins on Yamamoto’s forehead finally burst under the strain, igniting his fury.

“Those who’ve been beaten for peeping, you’d better shape up!!!”

“Yes, yes, we’re sorry!!!”