Chapter Seventy-Four: Fourth Division

“Hurry! Bring the equipment up, quickly!”
“Stop the bleeding!”
“Bandages! Hemostatic cotton!”
“Over here!”
After the invasion by the rogue, Squad Four was thrown into chaos.

First, Ikkaku Madarame, the third seat of Squad Eleven, and Yumichika Ayasegawa, the fifth seat, were defeated by the rogue and admitted to Squad Four’s infirmary. Not long after, Captain Sajin Komamura of Squad Seven and Captain Kaname Tosen of Squad Nine were also brought in after suffering grave injuries.

This sudden influx left the already timid and apprehensive Squad Four members even more flustered and at a loss.

Within less than a day of the rogue’s incursion, two captains of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads had fallen. Though their wounds were serious rather than fatal, it was clear both had been defeated by the same individual.

What sort of power must one possess to bring down two captains single-handedly?

For the first time, every member realized that even the supposedly secure Seireitei was not as safe as they thought.

Compared to this fear, the shock caused by Komamura’s strange face—revealed to everyone for the first time—seemed utterly insignificant.

“Well then, I’ll leave them in your care.”

After treating the more severe injuries, Captain Unohana entrusted the rest of Komamura and Tosen’s care to her subordinates and left the medical ward herself.

As vice-captains of their respective squads, Iba and Hisagi received notice immediately. After conferring, they decided Iba would visit Squad Four to check on their captain’s condition, while the more composed Hisagi would go to the site of the battle, hoping to find clues about their opponent from the traces left behind.

“…”

Because of the gravity of the situation, this investigation was, surprisingly, conducted jointly by Captain Soifon of Squad Two and Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi of Squad Twelve—a collaboration between the Stealth Force and the Research and Development Institute.

“Hm… the residual spiritual particles are quite obvious.”

Lightly brushing his fingers over the scorched marks on the ground, Mayuri pinched his chin, a trace of interest curling his lips. For him, analyzing spiritual particles was as simple as drinking water.

“There’s no attempt to hide the traces—a clearly careless fellow.”

“Rather than that, I would prefer you could tell us the enemy’s whereabouts.”

Standing nearby, Soifon, whose temperament had changed drastically since Yoruichi’s departure, was now cold and detached toward everyone, even her own vice-captain—so it was no surprise she showed nothing but disdain for Mayuri, who had once been a criminal.

“Hmph. Barbarians are always barbarians, no matter their appearance. They never use their brains.”

Mayuri, for his part, despised those who preferred brute force to resolve everything. As an accomplished scientist, he prided himself on wielding a power far greater than theirs.

“What did you say?”

Hearing herself mocked, Soifon was not about to let it slide. Tension immediately flared between the two.

“…”

Having hurried from the front lines, Hisagi, now in charge of squad affairs, didn’t even dare interject as the atmosphere between the two grew charged and volatile.

“Listen. The traces of spiritual particles here are indeed obvious—clear enough to deduce what sort of ability the opponent used. But it’s impossible to locate them.”

Mayuri raised a finger, drawing circles in the air.

“If we were in the world of the living, it would be easier. But in the Soul Society, where spiritual particles are everywhere, it’s impossible to find a specific individual. Oh… was it lightning?”

He glanced at the instrument in his hand. After analyzing the strange symbols that appeared—though no one knew how he reached his conclusion—he announced it. Soifon, for her part, had no idea what the symbols meant.

“A user of lightning, combined with the reports of an overwhelming, unfamiliar spiritual pressure sensed here…”

Mayuri straightened, tilting his head back, his grin stretching wide.

“Interesting.”

The look on the scientist’s face was proof enough he had found something to intrigue him.

“Research material that can rival a captain isn’t easy to come by. We’re quite lucky this time.”

He stowed the instrument away and slowly drew the blade at his waist, now wholly ignoring Soifon and Hisagi’s presence.

“Now, how to ensure the durability of the specimen—that’s a major issue.”

His odd tone sent chills down Soifon and Hisagi’s spines.

“How fascinating, this rogue…”

———

Squad Four, Captain’s Office

Creak.

The once tightly closed door was pulled open, and Captain Unohana, master of this room, slowly walked in.

“How is the treatment going, Isane—!”

“Um, Vice-Captain Sasakibe, please don’t move.”

“That’s not important! When is Retsu coming back?”

The scene before her was her vice-captain Isane Kotetsu trying to heal Chōjirō Sasakibe, who, oddly enough, was throwing a child-like tantrum.

“My, my. It looks like your back injury isn’t serious.”

With her ever-constant gentle smile, Unohana walked in.

“C-Captain?”

“Ah, Retsu.”

Rip.

Gently tearing the bandage, Unohana smoothed out the wrinkles at Chōjirō’s waist.

“Oh, as expected, Retsu’s technique is the best.”

“That’s not technique, it’s skill. How many times must I tell you to get it right?”

Unohana was at her wit’s end with Chōjirō’s way of putting things, but helpless to change him.

“Come now, don’t fuss over such trivialities. By the way, is Komamura alright?”

“The wounds have been treated—he just needs rest. However…”

Unohana closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again, a flicker of dissatisfaction passing through her gaze.

“He used Bankai, didn’t he?”

“…”

Chōjirō neither confirmed nor denied it.

“Judging by the spiritual pressure, he didn’t reveal his true form, but from the outset, our agreement with the Head Captain was: ‘No use of Bankai within Seireitei,’ wasn’t it?”

“Uh… well, I didn’t use my full strength, so forgive me this once.”

Damn. All he’d been thinking about was ending it quickly, and he’d completely forgotten his earlier promise.

“So, how much strength did you actually use?”

“About thirty percent, I’d say.”

“What?”

Having served as Unohana’s vice-captain for years, Isane knew about the relationship between the two. Since neither had tried to keep her out of their conversation, what she heard now left her in shock.

Not only did he possess Bankai… but he managed to defeat two captains using only a third of his power…

A… a monster…

Isane involuntarily swallowed hard.

“Rather than explaining all this to me, you’d better focus on what’s coming next.”

“What’s coming next?”

Chōjirō arched an eyebrow.

What, could Retsu see the future now?

“It’s a message from the Head Captain, relayed just now by Third Seat Okuyasu.”

“Wait, wait, you can’t be serious…”

“He wants you to return to Squad One immediately and explain everything.”

“What—what—what—what—what—what—?!”