Chapter Seventy-Nine: Night

“So, Retsu, why don’t you let Hanataro off the hook this time?” With Hanataro and the injured Ishida boy in tow, Chojuro made his way straight to Captain Unohana’s office in the Fourth Division.

“It’s rare to see you plead for someone else,” Unohana remarked.

“Don’t make me sound cold-blooded. I’m actually quite warm-hearted,” Chojuro sighed in relief, seeing that Retsu wasn’t truly angered by the matter. Hanataro should be fine.

“But about that soul from the world of the living you brought back…” Unohana looked at Chojuro, sprawled carelessly across the tatami, and asked, “Why did you save him?”

“That’s not a question you ought to ask, Retsu,” Chojuro squinted at Unohana, then leaned in, lifting her delicate face in his hand, his gaze dangerous. “Or do you have doubts about what I did?”

“Yes, I do have some questions,” Unohana replied, flashing her most beautiful smile.

“To give you cause for doubt is entirely my fault.” Sensing the peril beneath that lovely smile, Chojuro immediately prostrated himself, bowing deeply. No way would he dare confront Retsu with that sly, sweet smile—he’d be torn apart without a trace.

But as for why he rescued the Ishida boy, Chojuro knew well enough. The first reason was Tousen—after all, he’d personally ‘sent’ him to the Fourth Division, so defeating Ishida Uryu was a task he felt compelled to handle himself, a convenient excuse. The second reason was Ishida’s current strength.

After removing the Spirit Glove and defeating Mayuri, Ishida’s spiritual pressure had plummeted. He was no longer on the level of captains; even against regular seated officers, he’d have less than a fifty percent chance. If he were sent directly to the Repentance Palace, who knows what he’d encounter. Bringing him to the Fourth Division was the safer option—a truth Chojuro didn’t want to admit.

He had little fondness for those little souls from the living world, except for that Inoue girl.

Chojuro grumbled inwardly.

“What are you planning next?” Unohana knew Chojuro had fled from the First Division, and if he returned now, the Head Captain would surely keep him under tight surveillance. She wanted to see what he intended to do.

“Well, there’s no reason for me to take the stage just yet…” Chojuro had already decided his next steps: wait for the right time to act.

“So let me stay in the Fourth Division for now, Retsu.” With that, Chojuro dove into Unohana’s embrace, nuzzling against her chest like a child.

Oh, so soft and comfortable…

Unohana was momentarily stunned, not expecting such behavior. Recovering, she smiled sweetly, “My, my, there’s nothing to be done, then…”

“Good night, Chojuro.”

“Huh?” Sensing something was off, Chojuro tried to look up, but with a thud, he lost consciousness…

…

“This is what I get for my own actions…” Chojuro muttered, rubbing the bump on his head that still hadn’t gone down.

A thousand years, and still not even a touch allowed? He thought some shameful thoughts, shook out his white haori, and left the Fourth Division in high spirits.

That night.

Just as he was leaving, he heard a report from the Fifth Seat of the Fourth Division: the Vice Captains of the Fifth, Sixth, and Third Divisions had all escaped from prison. Knowing his moment had come, Chojuro hurried off.

“I only have one task… Let’s hope it goes well,” Chojuro rolled his shoulders, then sat atop the roof of a building.

They should be arriving soon…

He hadn’t even warmed his seat when two slender figures came into view.

“Hey, you’re really not even trying to hide…” He poked his head out lazily, greeting those below.

“Captain Gin Ichimaru.”

Gin Ichimaru, Captain of the Third Division, and his rescued Vice Captain—was it Kira Iizuru or Ieharu? He couldn’t recall… He settled on Iizuru.

“Oh my, what a coincidence running into you here, Vice Captain Chojuro,” Gin’s perpetual fox-like smile lifted as he looked up at the bored figure above.

You’re really playing the part—though I didn’t bother suppressing my spiritual pressure, you should’ve noticed me ages ago.

“Vice Captain Chojuro?” Iizuru stared in surprise at the man who landed lightly before him. He’d only heard rumors of his strength, but becoming a legendary figure surely meant he was formidable.

“So you really did rescue him. I thought it’d just be you.” Chojuro glanced briefly at Iizuru, but his attention returned to Gin; he had little interest in Iizuru.

“How unpleasant, Vice Captain Chojuro,” Gin waved, his fox-like face sly. “You make it sound like you’d prefer to catch me alone and finish me off.”

“You’ve got the idea. But it doesn’t really matter, does it?” Chojuro flicked his haori, hand gripping the sword at his waist, his expression eager.

“A Vice Captain can’t interfere in a battle between captains.”

“That’s true…”

Gin lowered his head, his expression unchanged, but his hand moved to his sword hilt.

“You should step back, Iizuru.”

“But, Captain Gin…”

“I’m doing this for your own good, Iizuru.” Gin cut him off, continuing, “Because I’m considering whether to use my Bankai from the very start.”

His smiling eyes opened a sliver, and a viper’s glint flashed in Gin’s gaze.

To use a captain’s trump card right away—what level had this man reached?

“Hey, is this alright? Going all out from the start?” Chojuro was bemused.

What impression had he left, that Gin would open with Bankai?

“Oh, nothing wrong with it. Or perhaps…”

Gin turned sideways, using his haori to shield his grasped sword.

“!”

“Shing!”

A flash of white shot straight for his head. Chojuro jerked backwards, then used the momentum for three quick backflips, dodging Gin’s sudden attack.

“Dodged, eh…” Gin smiled, then pressed his sword down, slicing through Chojuro’s haori and sending the blade toward him.

“Clang!”

Chojuro used the back of his blade to deflect Gin’s attack, then lunged straight for Gin’s chest.

“!”

Gin tried to slice him at the waist, but Chojuro used shunpo to evade, spinning in midair and landing behind Chojuro.

His sword, somehow, was already sheathed.

“Wow, that was close—one misstep and I’d be dead,” Gin turned, his long sleeves falling to conceal the short sword in his hand.

Chojuro slowly turned, fixing a cold gaze on the silver-haired, smiling fox before him.

“If you think this is just a game, you’re in for a dangerous surprise, Captain Gin.”