Soul Society, the Great Seireitei Medical Center.
After returning to Soul Society, Natsuro didn't bother greeting old acquaintances. He wouldn't be staying long anyway, so there was no need.
Instead, he came here seeking the former 4th Division lieutenant, Seinosuke Yamada.
Before long, a man appeared before him, clad in white robes edged with gold that marked him as a noble, a white cap on his head.
"So, you're the one who wrecked the 11th Division barracks and got punished by the Central 46 with exile to the Human World? My so-called successor?" Seinosuke sneered the moment he saw Natsuro.
"I had thought entrusting my position to you would be a help to Captain Unohana. Never expected you'd turn out like this."
"I'd already heard from the 4th Division members that you speak without thinking. Seeing you now, I see it's true."
Natsuro cast him a sidelong glance. "And I'd heard you talk without thinking. Now I see that's true too.
Anyway, I'd say Captain Unohana's quite happy to have me as her lieutenant. After all, I can provide her with something no one else can… isn't that right, former Lieutenant Seinosuke?"
"You…" Seinosuke's words caught in his throat. He couldn't deny it. He knew very well what Unohana's true passion was, and Natsuro clearly fulfilled that for her.
As for himself, Seinosuke knew he could never satisfy her. He had no fighting strength.
"Fine. What did you come here for?" Seinosuke finally sighed, his expression tinged with defeat.
"I want to ask you something about the Captain," Natsuro said.
"…What? You've taken an interest in her? If you're here trying to dig into her hobbies through me, forget it." Seinosuke scowled.
"…Not that." Natsuro was speechless, then studied him more closely. Seinosuke's feelings for Unohana seemed a bit… unusual.
"Then what is it?"
Natsuro explained what he had noticed: every time he suggested Unohana should fight Zaraki Kenpachi, her expression had turned oddly conflicted, as if she had a secret she couldn't speak of.
After hearing this, Seinosuke fell into a long silence.
"So… even you don't know what's going on?" Natsuro frowned. Of everyone who knew Unohana, Seinosuke seemed the most likely to tell him.
The only other was the Head Captain himself, but Natsuro had no intention of asking him.
"I do know. Of course I know. I was just debating whether I should tell you." Seinosuke finally said.
"So it is something unspeakable?" Natsuro asked.
"Mm. You could say it's the result of Captain Unohana's long and careful consideration…"
Seinosuke hesitated. After all, it was a decision Unohana herself had made. Did he even have the right to interfere?
But if he didn't… Unohana might die.
Before, Seinosuke hadn't been able to intervene. He lacked the strength. But the man before him did not.
And compared to respecting the Captain's will, Seinosuke feared far more the thought of her dying because of it.
At last, he spoke: "Do you know the story between Captain Unohana and Captain Zaraki?"
Natsuro nodded.
Seinosuke blinked, then gave a bitter smile. "So she even told you that. She must truly have enjoyed fighting you."
That reassured him a little. He had once believed Natsuro was perfect for the 4th Division lieutenant's seat precisely because of this.
And now, though Natsuro had been punished and sent to the Human World for his recklessness, at least Seinosuke's instinct had been right.
Natsuro nodded too, recalling Unohana's sword techniques, techniques she never repeated twice.
"Did you know she once called herself Unohana Yachiru?" Seinosuke asked like he was reciting a precious memory.
Natsuro froze. That he had not known.
Seeing him finally ignorant of something, Seinosuke allowed himself a small, smug smile. He had feared that despite following Unohana for over a thousand years, he knew less than Natsuro did. That would have been shameful.
"Still, the name Yachiru really suits her," Natsuro admitted.
"I think so too. Unfortunately, after she was defeated by Captain Zaraki, she abandoned that name." Seinosuke sighed.
Natsuro nodded. He could guess her reasoning, she probably felt unworthy of the name.
But truly, who in this world was more worthy of the title Yachiru than her?
Zaraki's little lieutenant, Yachiru Kusajishi?
"After all this, you still haven't told me why Captain Unohana takes her fights with Zaraki so seriously," Natsuro pressed.
"…Because Captain Unohana intends, at the right time, to use her own life to unlock Zaraki's seal!" Seinosuke finally revealed.
Natsuro froze, stunned. He had never imagined that was her plan.
"So… can I beg you to stop her?!" Seinosuke's eyes reddened, staring hard at him.
Natsuro was silent for a long moment, then gave a strained laugh. "The Captain's burden really runs that deep, doesn't it?"
Seinosuke only nodded grimly. To sacrifice one's life to resolve an old wound… it was something he himself could not comprehend.
Once, he had chosen to respect her decision. But now, with Natsuro here, he wanted someone who might save her from herself.
"…But this isn't something that can be stopped," Natsuro said at last. "It's her own will. If you prevent her, she'll only live the rest of her life in torment."
"I know. That's what I thought before. But since you came back, I thought… maybe you could help her somehow." Seinosuke's expression twisted with pain.
"How? Kill Zaraki first? Then she'll never resolve her obsession." Natsuro sighed. "The only real solution is to find a way for Zaraki to regain his full power on his own."
Seinosuke agreed but had no answers. Even Unohana had sought one for a thousand years and failed. How could he succeed?
Natsuro said nothing. In truth, he had glimpsed the possibility of Zaraki regaining his strength, but…
How long would it take for Zaraki to climb back to his former height through battle alone?
Suddenly, he remembered Unohana's bankai. He remembered its effect. His eyes narrowed.
Then he gave a bitter smile.
So that's it. Her bankai itself exists solely to help Zaraki break his seal?
Her obsession was so deep it had reshaped her zanpakutō itself.
By using her bankai, she could push Zaraki to the brink of death again and again, and then heal him, over and over, until he clawed his way back to his true power.
And the proof that Zaraki had regained it? That he would surpass even her, landing a final, fatal blow.
He now understood everything. But what could he say?
This was Unohana's own decision, her way of resolving a thousand-year obsession. No one had forced her.
So what was to be done?
If he wanted to help her, the only path lay through Zaraki himself.
He thought a while. There was only one way.
Unohana would only believe Zaraki had recovered his strength if he could defeat her easily once more.
But as things stood, how could the current Zaraki hope to do that?
Natsuro frowned. He had fought both of them. Zaraki had impressed him deeply, especially that monstrous body.
But in terms of battle power, Zaraki was nowhere near Unohana's level right now.
And the only way for him to grow stronger was to be beaten within an inch of his life again and again. Natsuro had assumed Unohana could do that easily.
But now he feared… one day, when she finally saw Zaraki's power return, she would feel her life's wish fulfilled, and let herself be killed.
"…What a headache." Natsuro muttered. He truly liked Unohana, not only for her kindness, but for her skill as a swordswoman. She was the kind of opponent he needed.
Over time, he had grown unwilling to imagine her dying this way.
"That's all I can tell you. Whether you can stop her… is up to you now." Seinosuke finally said.
"Mm. Thanks for the information." Natsuro nodded, then rose to leave.
Seinosuke watched his back disappear. After a long time, he shook his head, his face a mixture of helplessness and faint hope.
...
4th Division.
"What are you thinking about?" Unohana asked as she looked at Natsuro beside her. Ever since he had returned, he had seemed lost in thought, which piqued her curiosity.
Just what could trouble Natsuro so much?
"Captain, are you really planning to sacrifice yourself to unseal Zaraki Kenpachi's power?" Natsuro finally asked directly.
Unohana froze for a moment, then gave a faint smile. "So, you must have gone to see Seinosuke."
"That's right. He's been with you the longest. If I had questions, naturally I'd go to him," Natsuro replied.
"Is that why you agreed to return to Soul Society?" Unohana asked, suddenly realizing.
"More or less." Natsuro nodded.
"I'm a little flattered," Unohana said with a gentle smile. "I thought you truly didn't care about anything."
"I'm still a person, not a Hollow," Natsuro shot her a look.
"Then, you should be able to understand my choice, shouldn't you?" Unohana countered.
"I can understand it, but I don't agree with it." Natsuro frowned.
"Sealing his own power was Zaraki Kenpachi's choice. If he can't regain it, that's because he's too weak. You don't need to shoulder that responsibility."
Unohana only shook her head with a soft smile, saying nothing.
Natsuro sighed helplessly. "Then tell me, Captain... What would you consider proof that Zaraki has regained his true strength?"
Unohana was silent for a while, then asked, "Are you planning to try and help him regain it?"
"Why not? It's worth a try. You never know," Natsuro said casually.
Unohana gave no answer. In truth, she herself wasn't sure how powerful Zaraki truly was. Even a thousand years ago, she had never forced him to his absolute limit.
Seeing the faint uncertainty on her face, Natsuro walked over, reached out, and snapped the flower she had been arranging. "Looks like even you don't know."
Unohana stared at the broken blossom in silence.
"What a troublesome woman," Natsuro muttered. He had originally wanted to help Zaraki unlock his bankai, since Zaraki was the only current Gotei 13 captain who couldn't use one.
But now, he realized the problem wasn't only helping Zaraki recover his strength, it was also making Unohana accept that he had.
That was the real difficulty.
"…You don't need to help me," Unohana said quietly.
"I want to. Isn't that allowed?" Natsuro replied carelessly. The second half of his life had been lived entirely on his own terms, no one could bind him.
Living as he pleased. That was Natsuro's way.
Unohana was speechless. He was so domineering that even she, the one supposedly being helped, couldn't bring herself to refuse.
Natsuro rose to his feet and headed for the door.
"Where are you going?" Unohana asked in surprise.
"Sitting here won't give me answers. I'm going to the 11th Division to take a look."
"Just don't destroy their barracks this time," Unohana said helplessly. She knew she couldn't stop him.
"Mm." Natsuro nodded. Now that he had the privilege to fight in Muken (the underground prison), if he battled Zaraki again, he would take him there instead of wrecking buildings.
Soon, Natsuro arrived at the gates of the 11th Division.
The Shinigami who saw him were shocked at first, then quickly straightened up respectfully.
"Sir, may we ask what brings you here?"
The men of the 11th didn't hold any grudges against him. Their squad was pure in purpose: they lived for combat, and they revered strength.
And he had shown himself to be stronger than all of them. To them, whatever he did was right. Even destroying their barracks hadn't earned him blame.
"I'm looking for Zaraki Kenpachi," Natsuro said directly.
"Captain Zaraki is inside. But… could we ask you not to fight him here again?" one of the Shinigami asked with a wry smile. They didn't blame Natsuro, but they didn't want to see their captain punished with exile again.
"Don't worry. This time, the battlefield won't involve your buildings," Natsuro said calmly.
"…Alright then."
The Shinigami let out a breath of relief.
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Currently on Chapter 489 - Resurrección: Segunda Etapa