Arata forced himself to focus on examining the wound, and a bright green light flashed at his fingertips.
Although he didn't know why Unohana Retsu hadn't turned to the Fourth Division for help with healing, at this moment, he had neither the reason nor the courage to refuse her request.
"The wound is deep, but fortunately, it avoided any vital parts." The light from Arata's fingers entered Unohana Retsu's wound like water. "But these remaining spirit particles…"
He slightly furrowed his brows, feeling the unique corrosiveness of the Quincy spirit particles left in the wound. The woman's injury was constantly cycling between regeneration and destruction.
"What is it? Can't handle it?" Unohana Retsu looked at him with a smile, her pale face in the candlelight resembling a fine porcelain mask.
There were still faint traces of blood on her breath; it was obvious her injuries were more severe than they first appeared.
Arata didn't respond. Instead, he suddenly formed his fingers into the shape of a blade, and the purple-black spiritual pressure condensed into a thin needle in his palm.
"It will hurt a lot, please endure it."
As soon as he said that, he swiftly pierced three acupuncture points around the wound with the spiritual needle.
Unohana Retsu's body suddenly stiffened, her nails digging deep into the tatami, but she didn't let out a single sound.
"You–" Saito Fuma was just about to erupt, but in the next moment she saw those stubborn blue spirit particles beginning to leak from the wound like a tide, turning into specks of light and dispersing into the air.
Yakumo Kadori covered her mouth and whispered, "Mr. Arata, you… are you directly disintegrating Quincy spirit particles?"
"Just a little trick." Arata's forehead was covered in sweat. This kind of delicate operation was quite exhausting for someone like him who had just finished a battle.
The ability to break down spirit particles wasn't something he learned from Unohana, but something he accidentally mastered while studying the power of Meigetsu.
The deeper he developed his Zanpakutō, the more he realized how complex Meigetsu's ability was.
At first, he thought it was limited to absorbing and devouring enemy spirit particles to replenish his own energy. Later, based on that, he gradually discovered the ability to disintegrate stubborn spirit particles, and so accidentally achieved a healing effect as well.
When the last trace of blue spirit particles had been cleared, he immediately shifted to gentle Kaidō therapy, and the wound began to heal at a pace visible to the naked eye.
Unohana Retsu's tense body gradually relaxed, and a flicker of surprise danced in her eyes. "Your Kaidō technique is quite special," she said softly. "It doesn't feel like the orthodox style of the Fourth Division, more like…"
"Just a wild technique I picked up from a former enemy." Arata cut off her thought and deliberately let his fingers tremble slightly as he withdrew the spiritual pressure, feigning exhaustion.
He had to walk a fine line, show his value without revealing too much of his power.
The purple-haired loli suddenly shoved her face between the two and looked around suspiciously. "Brute, since when are you so gentle? Last time you were injured, your intestines were practically falling out and you stuffed them back in yourself!"
"Fuma-chan!" Yakumo Kadori quickly pulled Saito Fuma back, her eyes behind the glasses shifting from Arata to Unohana.
"Don't say such horrible things. Yachiru-neesan ran here from Rukongai as soon as she heard about the attack on the Western 3rd district!"
Unohana Retsu put her haori back on and tied the sash with an elegant motion. "I had just finished my shift." She looked out the window toward the smoke still billowing. "Didn't expect to arrive only to see someone's house almost blown up."
"Ha? Who are you pointing at?" Saito Fuma jumped to her feet and pointed a finger at Arata. "If this guy hadn't shown up out of nowhere—"
It was clear the two were about to start fighting again, so Yakumo Kadori quickly stepped between them, her full chest rising and falling with her quickened breath.
"Alright, alright, stop arguing the moment you meet!" She pushed up the glasses slipping down her nose, then turned to Unohana Retsu and said quietly, "Yachiru-neesan, Fuma-chan is just worried about my injuries, that's why she's so fired up."
Saito Fuma crossed her arms and snorted coldly, her purple twin-tails bristling stubbornly. "Who's worried about you, glasses?! I just can't stand people acting all high and mighty!"
Unohana Retsu chuckled at those words and casually brushed her fingers over the hilt of her Zanpakutō at her side. "Oh? Then how about we go out and spar a little? A good chance to see if you've made any progress lately."
"Can't wait!" Saito Fuma instantly drew her Zanpakutō from its sheath; the blade glinted coldly in the candlelight. "This time I'll definitely chop off that annoying long hair of yours!"
Yakumo Kadori nervously tapped her foot against the floor, then suddenly clutched her ribs and let out a soft groan.
Arata quickly supported her trembling body, and the Kaidō light in his palm lit up again. "Miss Yakumo, please be careful, your wound has reopened."
That cry of pain truly made both women, who were already poised to clash, freeze at the same moment.
Unohana Retsu pulled out a bottle of emergency healing medicine from her chest and handed it to Yakumo. It was a special supply she had received from the Fourth Division and hadn't used even when she herself was wounded.
Saito Fuma also awkwardly returned her Zanpakutō to its sheath and stepped closer. "Hey, glasses, you okay? Want me to go drag that quack Shijima over here?"
"No need to bother Captain Shijima. He's been very busy lately." Yakumo Kadori gave a weak smile and then shook her head.
Suddenly, as if she remembered something, she grabbed Unohana Retsu's wrist and said, "Ah, right, Yachiru-neesan, we have to report Mr. Arata to Lord Genryūsai!"
Unohana Retsu looked at Arata thoughtfully, a trace of curiosity flickering in her dark eyes. "Indeed, the sudden appearance of a strong Shinigami must be reported to the First Division."
Then she changed her tone: "But before that… Mr. Arata, would you be interested in joining my 11th Division?"
"Ha?!" Saito Fuma immediately exploded and grabbed Arata by the collar. "What's that supposed to mean, brute? You want to steal him from me? I found him first!"
Unohana Retsu gracefully smoothed her long hair, in sharp contrast to the messy twin-tails. "Oh? But just a moment ago I heard someone suspect he might be a Quincy spy."
"That… that was…" The purple-haired loli was speechless for a moment, then angrily stomped her foot. "I don't care! He has to join the Sixth Division! My lieutenant just died recently!"
Yakumo Kadori watched the two of them bicker endlessly and suddenly couldn't help but laugh. "Since both of you think so highly of Mr. Arata, why don't we just let him choose for himself?"
The room suddenly fell silent, and all eyes turned to Arata at once.
The candlelight cast flickering shadows on his bronzed face, making his eyes appear even deeper.
Arata took a deep breath and bowed respectfully. "I'm grateful for the kindness of both captains and would be honored to serve the Soul Society, but…"
He lifted his head, his gaze sincere and firm. "It would be best to let Lord Genryūsai decide on something as important as this."
Such an answer was clearly beyond everyone's expectations.
Unohana Retsu slightly raised her eyebrows, and the corners of her lips lifted significantly. "Interesting, you really know how to read the situation."
"You said your name was Arata, didn't you?"
"Yes, Captain Unohana."
"Mm, you have quite the spirit."
Saito Fuma curled her lips in disdain, her expression extremely sour. "Tsk, boring! You should've just stayed with me from the start. Now we have to go see that old fart…"
Yakumo Kadori clapped her hands lightly. "Then it's settled! When morning comes, we'll head to the First Division and report to the commander."
She turned her head and looked at the dark sky beyond the paper doors. "But before that, we should all get some rest, especially Yachiru-neesan. Your wounds still need to heal."
"Yakumo is still so thoughtful, unlike a certain midget who just wants to argue all day."
"Brute, you wanna fight again, huh?"