The light of the Senkaimon gradually dimmed in the dedicated return area behind the Fourth Division barracks.
The space returned to calm, leaving only faint ripples of Reishi.
Shinobu Kocho landed gracefully, her fingertips brushing past the butterfly ornament in her hair.
The Soul Society.
The final destination for the souls of this world.
When she first arrived here, Shinobu Kocho simply couldn't believe her own mind, thinking it was all an illusion.
But when she truly saw the Rukongai that Asuka had spoken of, and saw those black-clad Soul Reapers, she had no choice but to accept this reality.
However, in this reality, Asuka was nowhere to be found.
She couldn't find any trace of the black-haired boy. She had asked countless people, yet never received an answer.
Aside from what Asuka had occasionally mentioned to her—that he was born in the 78th District, Inuzuri—she knew absolutely nothing about his world.
Even after she went all out to become a Soul Reaper just to gain more authority to search for wandering souls.
But this man was like a dream only she had seen, leaving no trace behind.
Over seventy years had passed. Her tears and sobs had slowly been smoothed over by time, and she had grown accustomed to life here...
"Sixth Seat Kocho!"
"Squad Leader, you've returned!"
As the Squad Leader of the Fourth Division's 14th Advanced Relief Squad, her duties followed her like a shadow the moment she returned.
The division members passing through the barracks stopped in their tracks upon seeing her, bowing respectfully in greeting.
Some of the younger members who admired her were just like Aoi and Kiyo, always pestering her with endless questions.
This gave her some rare, heartwarming memories of the past amidst the long years.
She responded to every member with a gentle smile, but her footsteps never ceased. With a clear destination in mind, she headed deep into the barracks, preparing to report the situation in Fuyuki City to Captain Retsu Unohana.
Just as she turned a corner in the corridor, a slightly hurried, cautious voice rang out behind her.
"S-Squad Leader Kocho! Have... have you just returned as well?"
Shinobu Kocho stopped at the sound, only to see her Vice Squad Leader, Hanataro Yamada, jogging up to her.
He was panting heavily, a thin layer of sweat on his forehead, carrying a massive medicine box half his height on his back.
As the Seventh Seat of the division, Hanataro's earnest and responsible attitude, along with his solid foundation in Kaido, earned him everyone's trust.
However, his personality was no different from when he first joined the division, always carrying a timid sense of humility.
"Good day, Vice Squad Leader Yamada," Shinobu smiled as she looked at Hanataro. "Yes, I just returned from the World of the Living. By the looks of it, you just finished a mission too?"
Hanataro nodded hastily, habitually giving a slight bow. "Y-Yes! I went to the West 37th District of the Rukongai! I was handling the aftermath of a small Hollow group attack. A few wandering souls were severely injured, but they have been stabilized."
"Oh my, there's no need to be so nervous. It's not like I'm Head Captain Yamamoto," Shinobu chuckled.
She gestured for Hanataro to walk with her, and the two strolled side by side down the quiet, brightly lit corridors of the Fourth Division barracks.
Hanataro scratched his head in embarrassment. "Did you go to Fuyuki City, Squad Leader Kocho? I heard the situation there is... quite unstable?"
"Yes, I happened to come across a heavily injured division member. Recently, Hollow activity in Fuyuki City has been unusually frequent, and the Spiritual Pressure environment seems a bit chaotic. If this continues, trouble is bound to happen sooner or later."
She briefly recounted the events, omitting the details of how she instantly killed the Hollow and healed the Soul Reaper.
To her, that was simply too ordinary of an occurrence.
"I see... Thank you for your hard work!" Hanataro bowed slightly once more, speaking from the bottom of his heart.
The atmosphere between the two was relaxed and harmonious; Hanataro's humility and Shinobu's gentleness always complemented each other perfectly.
They conversed in low voices about recent division affairs and shared insights on treating patients in the Rukongai. Before long, they arrived outside the Captain's office.
Hanataro consciously stepped half a pace behind.
Shinobu raised her hand and knocked gently three times on the heavy wooden door, which was carved with the Fourth Division's flower, the [Gentian].
"Come in."
A gentle, soft voice that seemed capable of soothing all anxiety came from within, and the two pushed the door open.
The Captain's office was spacious and bright, permeated with the faint, refreshing scent of medicinal herbs.
Captain Retsu Unohana sat upright behind a massive desk stacked with numerous documents and files.
Her hands were folded on the desk, and she looked at the two entering with her usual calm smile.
"Captain," Shinobu and Hanataro bowed simultaneously in a respectful posture.
"There is no need for formalities, Sixth Seat Kocho, Seventh Seat Yamada." Retsu Unohana nodded slightly. Deep within her profound eyes lay the wisdom accumulated over a thousand years and an indescribable majesty.
"Seeing you both looking so travel-worn, I assume your missions were completed successfully?"
"Yes, Captain!" Hanataro answered first, his voice carrying a hint of nervousness. "The injured in the West 37th District of the Rukongai have been properly treated, and their conditions have not worsened!"
Shinobu followed up with her report. "Captain, last month I was ordered to go to Fuyuki City in the World of the Living to assist in treating the injured caused by abnormal Hollow activity—"
"During the mission, I encountered several severely injured patients. I performed emergency Kaido treatment on their wounds. Their lives are no longer in danger, and I have advised them to return to their divisions for follow-up recuperation."
"Mhm, handled very well," Retsu Unohana nodded. "Healing the wounded and saving lives is the duty of our Fourth Division. Thank you for your hard work. I will have the Comprehensive Relief Clinic follow up on those injured members."
"Thank you, Captain," Shinobu and Hanataro expressed their gratitude once more.
Retsu Unohana shifted the topic, her gentle gaze falling on Shinobu. "Is the situation in Fuyuki City severe? I recall that the level of Hollow activity in that area shouldn't require the intervention of a high-ranking Seated Officer."
Shinobu's expression turned serious. "Yes, Captain. Over the past two months, both the number and aggressiveness of Hollows in Fuyuki City have significantly increased. The situation is quite abnormal."
"During the treatment process, I also encountered highly aggressive Hollows. Although I successfully eliminated them, I faintly sensed that the Spiritual Pressure field there is becoming unstable. It might be necessary for the Head Captain to dispatch someone to investigate thoroughly."
Hanataro listened from the side, a look of deep thought and admiration appearing on his face.
'Ah... Squad Leader Kocho is so amazing. Not only can she treat the wounded, but she can also deploy alone as a combatant... I'm so jealous.'
As Retsu Unohana listened to Shinobu's report, the gentle smile on her face remained unchanged, but a very subtle light seemed to flicker deep within her eyes.
"Is that so? I understand..." Retsu Unohana slowly leaned back in her chair, falling into deep thought.
The occasional chirping of birds drifted in from outside the window.
The sunlight shifted, illuminating the fine dust floating in the air.
After a long while, Retsu Unohana finally spoke again. "I will report this matter to the Head Captain. Thank you for your hard work, Kocho."
"If there are any further abnormal reports from Fuyuki City, or if you discover new clues during your missions, be sure to notify me immediately."
"Yes, Captain!" Shinobu and Hanataro replied in unison.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the two respectfully exited the Captain's office.
The Captain's office quieted down for a moment. The gentle smile on Retsu Unohana's face gradually faded, replaced by a look of profound contemplation.
She stood up and walked slowly to the large window, her gaze falling upon the meticulously pruned pine and cypress trees in the courtyard.
But the focus of her vision was clearly much further away, as if piercing through the barracks' architecture and casting toward the distant World of the Living, to that city named Fuyuki.
'Could it be... that Fuyuki City is a potential Jureichi that we have never discovered, or one with incorrect records?'
'Could there be some unknown changes taking place...?'
'Perhaps I should make a trip to the Department of Research and Development... Is it possible that this is some trick Kisuke Urahara pulled back in the day...?'
She furrowed her brows slightly; no one knew what she was thinking.
Leaving the slightly solemn atmosphere of the Captain's office, Shinobu and Hanataro walked back along the corridor they had come from.
"Vice Squad Leader Yamada, have you been to the locations in the Rukongai that I instructed you about recently?"
"Of course! It's an order from Squad Leader Kocho! Naturally, I wouldn't shirk it!"
Hanataro straightened his back, responding with a loud and clear voice, "I go every week to check on the living conditions of those individuals you mentioned!"
"Thank you so much, Yamada-kun."
"No! It is my honor!"
The two chatted casually, enjoying the brief moment of relaxation after returning from their missions.
As they spoke, a figure appeared at the intersection ahead in the corridor, seemingly waiting for them.
The newcomer wore a standard Shihakusho, with the Fifth Division's flower, the [Japanese Andromeda], embroidered on his chest.
Seeing Shinobu and Hanataro approaching, the Fifth Division member immediately took a few steps forward. After coming to a halt, he bowed slightly in greeting, his movements flawlessly standard. "Excuse the interruption, Sixth Seat Kocho, Seventh Seat Yamada."
Shinobu and Hanataro stopped in their tracks and returned the greeting.
"Hello, member of the Fifth Division," Shinobu nodded in response. "Is there something you need?"
The division member stood up straight, his tone respectful and clear:
"By order of Captain Aizen, I have come specifically to inform Sixth Seat Kocho: The paperwork you submitted before your departure last month regarding the application for a temporary clinic in the 78th District of the Rukongai has been reviewed and approved by the Captain."
"The approved documents have been placed in the archives of the Fifth Division's Document Department. You may go and retrieve them at any time."