Chapter 98: The Schemer Strikes
No one knew the outcome of that astonishing clash of Bankai between Nagatsuro and Byakuya atop the Hill of Twin Executions. Though, at the moment both released their Bankai, everyone felt a spiritual pressure that ranked among the very greatest in the entire Soul Society, truly, not a soul knew how it ended.
Because, in truth, there was no outcome.
What I know of that day is as follows...
A recollection from the author—
At that time, the sky was shrouded in dark clouds, thunder roared, lightning flashed, cherry blossoms danced, and people surged in a sea as far as the eye could see!
Oh? You say there weren’t that many people? Well, I wasn’t wrong: a “sea” of “people”—weren’t there two of them?
Of course, they were not the only ones watching this battle...
“This spiritual pressure...”
Asagi, sparring with his squad in the Sixth Division training grounds, suddenly turned his head towards the direction of the Hill of Twin Executions. This momentary distraction was immediately seized upon by his opponent, who rushed in with sword raised—only to be sent flying back by a single effortless blow from Asagi.
“Brother?”
Rukia, who had just regained her freedom, was in the captain’s office of the Thirteenth Division, pouring tea for the ailing Ukitake. But as a seated officer, her own power rivaled even that of a vice-captain, and she too sensed the immense spiritual pressure her brother was releasing from afar.
“My, my, what an inscrutable fellow,” Gin Ichimaru murmured as he stepped out of his room, gazing with his foxlike smile toward the distant Hill of Twin Executions.
“Hmph...”
Meanwhile, in the First Division captain’s office, Shigekuni Yamamoto rested with his eyes closed, not even bothering to open them. He merely grunted in annoyance through his nose.
Yet, for the two at the heart of it all, their focus was fixed solely on the battle before them. Once more, the Hill of Twin Executions became a battlefield.
“Oh my, it seems your injuries have completely healed. That’s wonderful news.”
“!”
“!”
Both Nagatsuro and Byakuya were taken aback.
That gentle, serene voice suddenly cut through the tense atmosphere between them. For someone to interject so naturally in a duel between captains without either noticing—her strength was not to be underestimated.
But while Byakuya was merely startled, Nagatsuro felt only terror.
“To be able to fight so freely again, it makes me very happy,”
He turned his stiff neck to look behind him; the voice had come from there.
“Wouldn’t you agree, Vice-Captain Shakunabe?”
A smiling face, eyes curved into slits from the force of her smile, her presence gentle and calm—yet the sight alone made Nagatsuro’s blood run cold.
“Lie...Lie... What a coincidence...”
“Yes, what a coincidence. But you haven’t answered my question yet, Vice-Captain Shakunabe.”
Her eyes, though still smiling, flashed with a cold glint that made Nagatsuro’s composure crumble entirely.
If you asked who in all Soul Society was Nagatsuro’s nemesis, it wasn’t Shigekuni Yamamoto—it was Retsu Unohana.
“Uh, well, this is...”
Nagatsuro scratched his head awkwardly, glancing toward Byakuya behind him, desperately signaling for help, hoping he’d come up with some way to get them out of this predicament.
“Oh, so it’s Captain Kuchiki,”
Before Byakuya could react, Unohana spoke first, turning her gentle smile toward him.
“It’s not good to engage in strenuous activity so soon after recovering from a serious illness. Please go back and rest.”
“...”
Byakuya shifted his gaze to Unohana, opening his mouth as if to speak, but she once again cut him off.
“Captain Kuchiki...”
Her smile grew even more serene, her voice all the gentler.
“Please go back and rest.”
“...”
The landscape behind her suddenly faded to black.
After a brief consideration, Byakuya immediately retracted his Bankai and vanished with a flash step, leaving Nagatsuro behind, stricken and helpless.
Little Byakuya, you actually abandoned your mentor and ran! Have you no sense of honor?!
“Well then, can you answer my question now?”
Seeing Byakuya’s wise retreat, Unohana turned her gaze back to the remaining man.
“Well...it seems...”
“Please don’t push yourself so hard right after a serious injury, Vice-Captain Shakunabe.”
“Y-Yes, ma’am.”
Relieved to see Unohana wasn’t pressing him further, Nagatsuro let out a long breath.
“So, please return to the Fourth Division for a check-up.”
“Gulp...”
He had thought luck was on his side today, that Unohana might let him off—but clearly, he’d been too optimistic.
Swallowing hard, Nagatsuro forced a dry laugh.
“Uh, really, there’s no need to trouble you. I should be fine...I think.”
His nerves were so taut that even his words came out jumbled.
“Oh, but that won’t do. Without a thorough examination, how can we be sure?”
Unohana’s smile didn’t falter; she made not the slightest concession.
“No, really, it’s fine. There’s no way I could trouble someone as busy as you, Lady Unohana...”
He backed away, hands raised defensively. Was he joking? If he fell into Unohana’s hands, who knew what she might do to him?
“I am a doctor, after all. This is my professional duty. Please cooperate, Vice-Captain Shakunabe.”
“No, well, even so...”
“Please cooperate, Vice-Captain Shakunabe.”
No longer willing to waste words, Unohana instantly shrouded the world behind her in darkness, her voice softer and sweeter, smiling as she addressed Nagatsuro once more.
“Y-Yes, ma’am...”
In the end, he could only bow his head in resignation.
...
“Oh?”
As one of their companions vividly recounted the great battle between First Division Vice-Captain Shakunabe and Sixth Division Captain Kuchiki, a shinigami among the listeners raised an eyebrow.
“How do you know all this in such detail?”
“Of course I do! I risked my life hiding nearby—if I hadn’t seen everything with my own eyes, how could I stand here and brag about it?”
The storyteller thumped his chest with pride, his bearing so earnest he nearly raised his hand to swear an oath.
“Is that so? Then that’s rather strange.”
“What’s so strange? You’re just jealous of my storytelling skills, aren’t you?”
The speaker glared impatiently at the questioner. No one likes being doubted when they’re on a roll.
“No, I just wanted to ask...”
“How do you know what the captains and vice-captains who weren’t even present were thinking?”
“...!!”
Oh no, he’d gotten too carried away and embellished the story without realizing it.
Feeling the odd stares gathering around him, the storyteller scratched his head and burst into awkward laughter.
“I...I’m from another world...haha...”