Shinobu Kocho suddenly remembered the matter.
It was to ensure the efficiency of her relief squad's medical patrols in the remote areas of the Rukongai, and also partly out of her own personal motives.
She had submitted this application a month ago, hoping to establish a small temporary supply point and clinic in the Inuzuri District, requesting the corresponding budget.
Procedurally, this had to be reported internally to the Fourth Division first, then reviewed and signed by the Fifth Division, which oversaw relief coordination, before finally being submitted to the First Division for approval.
Since it was not an urgent matter, she had not paid it much mind after submission. She certainly had not expected the approval to come through so quickly after just a month.
"I see. Please pass on my thanks to Captain Aizen for his efforts, and thank you for making a special trip to inform me," Shinobu said with a grateful smile.
Captain Aizen truly was a good person. Back when she was studying at the Shin'o Academy, she had frequently sought advice from this gentle, elegant, and highly popular instructor.
Even though she hailed from the Rukongai, Captain Aizen treated everyone equally. He answered all her questions without fail, saving Shinobu—who had only just been introduced to the concept of Spiritual Power—from taking many unnecessary detours.
Had she not possessed a talent for Kaido and been recruited early by the Fourth Division, Shinobu's personality would have made her quite happy to serve under such a refined captain.
"It is merely my duty." The Fifth Division member bowed once more. "The documents are ready for collection at your convenience. If the Sixth Seat has no further instructions, I shall take my leave."
"Alright, take care," Shinobu nodded.
The Fifth Division member departed with a steady stride, his figure soon vanishing at the far end of the corridor.
"Ah, so that application from before was finally approved," Hanataro said with a look of realization, clearly happy for Shinobu.
"This is wonderful, Squad Leader! With the approval, that temporary clinic in the 78th District can be up and running in no time. The souls living out there won't have to travel so far for medical treatment and medicine anymore!"
As the Vice Squad Leader of a medical team that frequently visited the remote areas of the Rukongai, he deeply understood the significance of that temporary clinic to the residents of the Inuzuri District.
"Yes, it truly is a good thing."
Shinobu nodded, her heart feeling a bit lighter.
Providing whatever medical assistance she could to the residents of the Rukongai was one of her primary reasons for staying in the Fourth Division and serving as a relief squad leader, aside from her ongoing search for Asuka.
The office area of the Fifth Division possessed a completely different atmosphere compared to the Fourth Division.
While the Fourth Division was constantly permeated by the fresh, crisp scent of medicinal herbs, this place was forever steeped in the smell of paper and ink.
Under Captain Aizen's leadership, the Fifth Division—a combat support division—was renowned for its astonishing efficiency in processing paperwork.
That sense of meticulous order silently permeated every floor tile and every white wall.
Shinobu walked down the familiar corridor leading to the captain's office, her gaze sweeping over the squad members in the Fifth Division dojo. Under the guidance of their Seated Officers, they were swinging their Asauchi and training with desperate intensity.
'It's so nostalgic... I wonder how everyone will change after so many years pass...' she thought, a sudden wave of melancholy washing over her.
In an open document processing area piled high with waist-deep stacks of paperwork, she spotted a petite figure.
Momo Hinamori, the Vice Captain of the Fifth Division, was currently submerged in a sea of paper.
However, despite appearing overwhelmed, she was anything but flustered.
Three unrolled scrolls floated in the air before her simultaneously.
Her slender fingers annotated, stamped, and sorted the various documents at a speed that nearly left afterimages.
The calligraphy brush twirled and danced nimbly between her fingertips—dipping into the ink, striking the paper, and returning to the inkstone in a flawless rhythm.
She casually tossed a document with still-wet ink, sending it sailing perfectly into the correspondingly numbered rattan filing basket in the distance.
Her intense focus and efficiency seemed to condense the flurry of flying documents into the imposing image of a fierce tiger descending a mountain, exuding an aura that commanded admiration.
"My, my, as expected of the legendary Tiger of Documents. What an imposing presence!"
"Ah! Miss Shinobu!" Momo Hinamori keenly noticed the newcomer and immediately lifted her head from the flood of paperwork.
The serious, authoritative expression befitting a Vice Captain instantly melted from her face, replaced by a bright, genuine smile. "You're here! Did you come to pick up the documents the Captain approved?"
She asked while lightly tapping her finger in the air.
Several floating documents quietly rolled up like birds returning to their nests, flying back to her hand to stack neatly, instantly making the surrounding space look much clearer.
Thanks to her excellent academic performance and meticulous work ethic, Momo Hinamori had been highly regarded by Aizen during her internship at the Shin'o Academy. After graduating, she joined the Fifth Division and was swiftly promoted to Vice Captain.
To repay his recognition, she had maintained this astonishing level of efficiency in her work day in and day out for years.
As a result, she, Captain Aizen, and fellow Fifth Division member Genji Ishikazu were collectively known throughout the Gotei 13 as the Dragon, Tiger, and Eagle of Documents.
"Then I'll trouble you, Vice Captain Momo," Shinobu smiled and nodded in response.
"Don't call me that!" As fellow members of the Women's Soul Reaper Association, Momo Hinamori and Shinobu Kocho shared a close personal relationship, so they rarely bothered with the strict formalities of their ranks.
Shinobu's eyes swept over the mountain of files piled up beside Momo, and she sighed. "It seems the workload of the Fifth Division is just as staggering as ever."
"It's all part of our support duties!" Momo's smile carried a hint of helplessness, yet it shone with a proud radiance.
She quickly stood up and nimbly rummaged through a dedicated wooden cubby behind her labeled "Approved - Fourth Division".
"Ah! Found it!" She pulled out a thin scroll stamped with the seal of the Fifth Division Captain and handed it to Shinobu with both hands. "Here you go, Miss Shinobu. Captain Aizen has already signed and approved it! Setting up a temporary clinic in the 78th District is a wonderful idea. It will definitely help so many residents in the Rukongai!"
"Thank you for the kind words, and please pass on my gratitude to Captain Aizen for his trouble." Shinobu took the scroll, glancing toward the tightly closed door of the captain's office. "Is Captain Aizen available for guests right now? Since I'm already here, I should really thank him in person."
"Of course! The Captain just finished an internal squad meeting, so he should be free right now."
Momo immediately responded and walked briskly to the door. After respectfully knocking three times, she pushed it open just a crack and leaned in. "Captain, Sixth Seat Kocho of the Fourth Division is here to collect the documents and wishes to thank you in person."
From inside the room came Sosuke Aizen's gentle, mellow voice, as soothing as a soft breeze.
"Please come in, Miss Kocho."
'Although this isn't my first time visiting Captain Aizen's office, it's always such a pleasing sight,' Shinobu thought.
The room was neatly lined with classic tomes and meticulously organized files. The gold-stamped titles on the spines caught the light, reflecting a faint gleam. One prominent title read:
"Back of the Pine Needle".
This was Captain Aizen's serialized column in the monthly Seireitei Communication, which Shinobu occasionally bought to pass the time.
Aside from the faint scent of ink in the air, the room was filled with an elegant, scholarly atmosphere.
Sosuke Aizen sat behind his wide desk and set down his quill. The ink from the nib bled into a small, deep blue patch on the unrolled scroll before him.
"It has been a while, Miss Kocho. How have you been recently?"
His smile was as impeccable as ever, like a thawing stream in spring, carrying a warmth that seemed to nourish all living things.
Following Aizen's gentle gesture, Shinobu elegantly took a seat in the chair across from his desk and gently placed the approved scroll near the edge.
"Captain Aizen, I made a special trip here to thank you for supporting the Fourth Division's application to establish a temporary supply point and clinic in the 78th District of the Rukongai. The procedures were quite cumbersome, so I truly appreciate your efforts."
"It was no trouble at all. There is no need to be so formal, Miss Kocho," Aizen said with a slight nod, relaxing back into his chair.
He lightly pressed the tips of his fingers together, his posture entirely at ease. "Supporting the residents in the remote areas of the Rukongai and ensuring the efficiency of the Fourth Division's medical patrols is a highly necessary and visionary measure, both from a moral standpoint and in accordance with the duties of the Gotei 13."
"As the Fifth Division is responsible for support and coordination, it is only natural that we offer our full cooperation."
His gaze, carrying the gentle warmth of a mentor, passed through his glasses and fell softly upon Shinobu. "Captain Unohana has also spoken highly of your work in the Fourth Division on numerous occasions. Orderly and deeply dedicated, you are a model Soul Reaper."
"You praise me too highly, Captain Aizen. I am merely fulfilling my duties," Shinobu replied, bowing her head slightly in gratitude.
"Fulfilling one's duties is already a rare and commendable quality." The curve of Aizen's smile deepened slightly. "Miss Kocho, if you ever require the coordination or support of the Fifth Division while conducting your work in the Rukongai in the future, please do not hesitate to come and discuss it with me at any time."
"Whether it involves material allocation, manpower reinforcements, or any difficulties with paperwork, Momo and the others will do their utmost to assist you."
"Even if you simply encounter some everyday troubles, you are always welcome to speak with us. We are all colleagues, and we should help one another whenever possible."
His words were sincere and reassuring, flowing into her heart like a warm current.
Touched by this gentle concern, a sudden thought sparked in Shinobu's mind.