"Oh? So this is the new recruit our division managed to find this year? Quite an interesting boy. You sensed my presence in advance and your body reacted instinctively, didn't it?
With talent like yours, you could have joined almost any other division without issue. Why choose the 4th Division?"
The black-haired beauty before him, exuding the gentle grace of a Yamato Nadeshiko, looked at Minami Yojuro with a warm smile as she spoke. Yet Yojuro couldn't shake the chill running down his spine.
Slitted eyes… always monsters behind them! Don't let that "gentle big-sister-next-door" act fool you—the woman before him was no harmless beauty.
Yojuro knew very well who she was: Unohana Retsu, captain of the 4th Division and one of the four longest-serving captains in the entire Gotei 13. She had been there since Yamamoto first formed the organization.
Once upon a time, this same woman had been feared across Soul Society as an unprecedented, peerless villain.
Don't be deceived by her serene demeanor now. The number of lives she cut down with her blade could likely circle Soul Society itself.
If not for the fact that another monster had appeared long ago, Unohana might still be the most savage and terrifying Kenpachi in history.
"Answer me, boy. With your level of strength, wouldn't the 11th Division be a better fit? Why choose the 4th?"
Unohana's smile never wavered, but sharp eyes could see the truth—spiritual pressure was already radiating from her, and its sole target was Minami Yojuro.
He had sealed and suppressed his reiatsu to keep it from drawing attention. Against ordinary Shinigami, the disguise would hold.
But against the former strongest Kenpachi? Such a trick had little effect.
Unohana could tell he was hiding something. She didn't know exactly how much power he was concealing, but his reflexive reaction to her sudden arrival made it clear: his swordsmanship was nowhere near the "above average" rating listed in his file.
And for someone who wanted to conceal their strength yet still enter her squad—there was no way Unohana would let the matter slide.
"Joining the 4th Division has always been my dream," Yojuro replied steadily. "That's why, back at the Shin'ō Academy, I went out of my way to train in Kaido.
As for reasons… I've always admired the life of the 4th Division, and I've deeply respected Captain Unohana for as long as I can remember. That admiration is part of my motivation.
As for my strength, please believe me when I say I harbor no ulterior motives. I only wished to avoid drawing too much attention. If Captain Unohana doubts me, you may take me to the Research and Development Institute for a full reiatsu examination—or even place me under surveillance."
At his words, the crushing reiatsu that had been weighing him down receded like a tide. Still, Yojuro's black academy uniform was drenched in sweat, and the ground beneath his feet had cracked under the pressure, showing just how heavy that spiritual weight had been.
Beside him, Isane had collapsed completely to the floor, her body limp and trembling. Though Unohana's pressure hadn't been directed at her, merely sensing that abyss-like captain-level reiatsu was enough to overwhelm a newcomer like her.
"Not only did you underreport your swordsmanship, but you also lied about your reiatsu level, didn't you?"
Unohana's smile never faded. "To withstand the pressure I just released, your reiatsu must already be quite strong. Tell me—what level has it really reached?"
Minami Yojuro's words didn't raise much suspicion in Unohana Retsu, and she chose to believe him.
It wasn't because Yojuro was so handsome that he instantly maxed out her favorability on first meeting, but rather because Unohana reasoned that if he really were an infiltrator sent by Hueco Mundo or somewhere else, they wouldn't send someone with such "weak" credentials.
Besides, having lived for thousands of years, Unohana was confident in her ability to read people and detect lies. She could tell that most of what Yojuro said was true.
At the very least, his longing for the lifestyle of Squad Four and his admiration for her seemed genuine. She didn't know why, but when Yojuro said those words, there hadn't been any fluctuation in his spiritual pressure.
"When it comes to swordsmanship, I do have some confidence—though, of course, nothing that could compare to Captain Unohana.
As for my spiritual pressure… actually, I already mastered my Zanpakutō's Shikai a year ago."
Hearing Yojuro's honest admission, both Unohana and the still-weak Isane, who had collapsed under the weight of her captain's pressure earlier, wore expressions of utter shock.
Shinigami possess Zanpakutō, and these blades are part of their very soul—their essential tool for battle.
At first, all Zanpakutō appear in the form of a long blade, but that is not their true form. Since each soul is different, the true manifestation of a Zanpakutō is endlessly varied.
Shikai is the first stage of release for a Zanpakutō. Upon reaching Shikai, the blade gains unique abilities and simultaneously boosts its wielder's spiritual pressure.
And Shikai is not to be underestimated. Among the thousands of Shinigami in the Gotei 13, fewer than ten percent can actually achieve it.
Those who can release their Zanpakutō are already considered elite-level Shinigami, qualified even to serve as seated officers.
Ordinarily, a Shinigami wouldn't reach Shikai without several centuries of experience. But Minami Yojuro, a mere sixth-year student who hadn't even graduated from Shin'ō Academy, had already achieved Shikai!
"No wonder you wanted to hide your strength. With such talent, if word spreads in Soul Society, you'll be placed under special watch.
But are you certain about this? With your potential, you could rise much faster in another squad. I could even recommend you to the Head Captain for special admission into Squad One."
A Shinigami who could achieve Shikai before even graduating—such a talent hadn't appeared in Soul Society for centuries. Even though Squad One had the highest standards, as long as Yojuro wasn't aiming for a seated position immediately, Unohana felt that joining them wouldn't be a problem for him.
"I deeply appreciate your kind offer, Captain Unohana. But I wish to stay true to my original intent.
My dream has always been to join Squad Four and become—"
"Ikkaku! That guy you said is worth a fight—is he really here?"
Before Yojuro could finish speaking, a loud, excited, and rough male voice rang out from outside Squad Four's recruitment grounds.
°°°
A/N: Second to the last of the lil mass release