Moonlight filtered through the paper windows, casting cold, lonely spots of light onto the infirmary floor.
Unohana Retsu sat quietly on an empty bed near the window, her hands folded over her knees in a posture as gentle and refined as a painting.
Her captain's haori shimmered softly in the moonlight, and on her face—which usually wore a gentle smile—was a look of utter serenity.
"Captain Unohana... what are you doing here?"
"I should be the one asking you that, Hasumi-kun."
Unohana's voice remained as gentle as ever, yet it sent a wave of alarm through Hasumi Ren.
"Instead of resting properly in the middle of the night, you're wandering around the corridors and wards of Squad 4..."
The moonlight illuminated half of Unohana's face. Her tone was measured, and her eyes, calm and waveless, held a certain scrutinizing depth.
"Would you mind telling me what you're looking for?"
A cold sweat broke out across Ren's back.
He hadn't expected the Captain of Squad 4 to take notice of his actions.
"My injuries aren't that serious and I couldn't stay still, so I wanted to walk around. I don't believe I've violated any regulations, Captain Unohana."
"Oh?"
Unohana gave a soft, gentle smile, yet it made Ren feel an invisible pressure.
"That kind of excuse might work on an ordinary squad member, but Hasumi-kun..."
She slowly stood up. Though her movements were light and graceful, Ren subconsciously took half a step back.
"Do you really think such a petty trick can deceive me?"
Her tone remained mild, but the implication was entirely different.
She stepped forward, her long shadow stretching in the moonlight until it nearly enveloped Ren.
"Deliberately choosing the dead of night to visit every ward housing the seriously injured... do you really intend to brush that off as a simple stroll?"
Ren's heart began to race.
He could feel the faint, oppressive aura emanating from Unohana steadily growing stronger.
"I'll ask you once more, Hasumi-kun."
Her voice was as light as a night breeze, yet it carried an undeniable weight.
"What exactly are you doing?"
She opened her eyes slightly, revealing a smile of extreme gentleness.
Yet, cold sweat soaked Ren's back.
He knew that the seemingly gentle woman before him was one of the most senior captains in the Gotei 13.
The First Kenpachi—a being who had truly emerged from a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.
Since she had already discovered his actions, continuing to play clever in front of her was nothing short of a death wish.
In a flash, Ren made his decision.
He took a deep breath and met Unohana's gaze.
"I... I was learning Kaido."
"Learning... Kaido?"
Unohana's brow twitched ever so slightly.
"Yes."
Ren's expression was earnest as he began his explanation.
"To tell you the truth, I'm very interested in Kaido, but the curriculum at the Spiritual Arts Academy is limited."
"Having the honor of coming to Squad 4 today and seeing the seniors demonstrate their exquisite skills, I couldn't help but want to see and learn more..."
"I was wandering at night because I was criticized by my captain during the day. That's why I chose late at night, hoping to see if any squad members were still working so I could observe them."
What he said wasn't far from the truth, and his sincerity was at its peak.
As he spoke, Ren raised his right hand, palm upward, and channeled the spiritual pressure within his body.
A pale green light slowly coalesced in his palm, steady and pure.
Within the light, reishi threads could be seen weaving together into a basic healing spell. The effect Ren displayed was already comparable to an average member of the squad.
"This is..."
A slight change finally appeared in Unohana's eyes.
She stepped closer, carefully examining the Kaido light in Ren's palm.
After a moment, she extended her index finger and lightly touched the edge of the green glow.
Hum. The light vibrated slightly but did not dissipate. Instead, under Unohana's guidance, it became more condensed, and the arrangement of the reishi spell was quietly optimized, increasing its efficiency by at least twenty percent.
Unohana withdrew her finger, the scrutiny in her eyes replaced by genuine surprise.
"Such precision in reishi manipulation and such an understanding of healing spells... which squad do you belong to?"
She looked at Ren again, her gaze now tinged with inquiry and curiosity.
"Reporting to the Captain, I am currently a fifth-year student. As for my placement after graduation," Ren hesitated for a moment before speaking truthfully, "it has already been decided that I will join Squad 2."
"Squad 2, under Captain Shihoin? That is quite a pity."
Unohana nodded slightly. She paced to the window, gazing at the moonlight outside, falling into a brief moment of contemplation.
However, Ren noticed that her gaze seemed to be flickering toward a certain direction outside.
Following her gaze, a dark shadow emerged from the darkness, bowed slightly to Unohana, and then vanished again.
Ren looked in the direction she was staring but saw only the moonlit courtyard and the swaying shadows of the trees.
Unohana had noticed it long ago.
The extremely well-hidden spiritual pressure appearing nearby was exactly as expected—it belonged to the Stealth Force.
They had been monitoring him from the shadows, or perhaps, protecting him.
"It seems Captain Shihoin values you very highly," Unohana said softly, her tone unreadable.
"Squad 2 is indeed a good place; the Stealth Force needs people with all sorts of special talents. Your gift for Kaido might play an unexpected role there."
As she spoke, she suddenly changed the subject.
"However, if you ever change your mind, you might consider working for Squad 4."
Ren was stunned. He hadn't expected Unohana to extend an olive branch so directly.
"Thank you for your kindness, Captain Unohana."
Unohana turned around and gave him a slight smile.
"I'm merely giving you another option. In the Seireitei, it's always good to have another path."
She walked back to Ren and spoke warmly.
"Let's end tonight's walk here, Hasumi-kun. Get some rest. While your injuries aren't severe, recovering from spiritual exhaustion still takes time."
"Tomorrow afternoon, I'll have someone check on you one more time. If there are no issues, you can be discharged."
"Yes, thank you, Captain Unohana."
Unohana nodded and said no more, turning to walk toward the door.
As she pulled the door open, she suddenly stopped and turned her head slightly, her profile outlined by the moonlight.
"By the way, Hasumi-kun."
"If you truly want to learn Kaido in the future, you may come to Squad 4 and ask openly. Please don't do these strange things again."
With that, she gently closed the door, her footsteps gradually fading away.
Ren stood still for a long time before finally letting out a slow breath.
'So... I managed to fool her?'
He could faintly sense that Unohana hadn't necessarily believed his story, but rather... she no longer cared.
Unohana Retsu, the First Kenpachi hidden beneath a gentle exterior, felt more inscrutable than anyone he had ever met.
That brief ten-minute conversation had been far more stressful than facing those two assassins today.
Ren walked to the window and looked at the spot she had been watching, faintly guessing something.
It seemed Captain Yoruichi was really looking out for him.
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