Several months later, at the Technology Development Bureau.
"Captain Katori, has my son's Reigai reached a usable state?"
Ginrei Kuchiki observed the Reigai in the culture tank, which looked identical to Sōjun Kuchiki.
Outwardly, they were indistinguishable, and their spiritual pressure fluctuations were extremely similar, except the Reigai's was very weak, weaker than an ordinary squad member's.
"This Reigai's spiritual pressure is low, but its internal organs are fully developed. It's ready for Sōjun's organ transplant," Sora said.
Ginrei had successfully persuaded the Central 46 to revise the ban on Reigai technology.
The Technology Development Bureau could now create Reigai for the treatment of physical disabilities.
However, the nobles were still wary of the technology. Any Reigai created had to be destroyed after the treatment was completed.
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Captain Katori," Ginrei nodded slightly.
Sora had called Ginrei over today to inform him that the surgery could be performed.
The parts Sōjun needed to transplant were not his spiritual core, so there was no need to consider whether they could bear his original spiritual pressure. Therefore, the cultivation of the Reigai did not take a long time.
"Akon, go inform the 4th Division to help bring Sōjun over."
"Yes, sir!"
During the cultivation period, Sōjun had been recuperating in the 4th Division. Akon immediately went to notify them to bring him over.
A short while later, members of the 4th Division brought Sōjun over.
The ones who came were all acquaintances of Sora—Retsu Unohana, Isane Kotetsu, and Rii Hoshino.
"Professor, we've brought Lieutenant Kuchiki."
Isane Kotetsu pushed the wheelchair over.
Unohana highly appreciated Isane and brought her along on many occasions.
Rii Hoshino was now a seated officer in the medical team and was also Unohana's capable assistant.
Sōjun looked a bit better than before. After recuperating in the 4th Division for a while, some color had returned to his face.
However, his organs had suffered irreversible damage, and his current state was being maintained by a large amount of medication.
"Captain Katori, I'm sorry to trouble you, cough, cough—" Sōjun coughed up a pool of blood after saying just one sentence.
"Rest assured, there are no difficulties in this surgery. You just need to take a nap, and you'll be healed," Sora said with a smile. "Akon, take Lieutenant Kuchiki to the medical room first."
After spending some time with them, Sora found that, compared to Urahara and Mayuri, Akon was more suited to be a deputy.
Urahara and Mayuri were both people with many of their own ideas.
Therefore, Sora put them in charge of different departments, each leading a research team, while Akon became his research assistant.
"Captain Unohana, you've come as well," Sora greeted her.
"This is the first Reigai transplant case since the revised ban took effect. I wanted to come and witness it," Unohana said with a smile.
"With Captain Unohana overseeing, this transplant surgery will surely be foolproof," Sora nodded.
"Don't mind me, I'm just here to watch," Unohana shook her head gently, indicating she would not be participating in the surgery.
"Then please follow me. Akon should have prepared the operating environment by now."
After the pleasantries, Sora led the group to the medical room.
Akon had already set up the surgical environment. Sōjun and the Reigai lay on two separate operating tables.
Both had several tubes inserted into them, through which a high-concentration reishi fluid flowed into their bodies.
Sora, Isane, and Rii all put on surgical gloves.
Sora would personally preside over this surgery, but in the future, such operations would become common, and he would not perform them himself.
At that time, these transplant surgeries would be handed over to the 4th Division, with the Technology Development Bureau only responsible for providing the Reigai organs.
Unohana had brought Isane and Rii along so they could gain some experience in transplanting Reigai organs.
"Captain, the anesthesia has taken effect. We have three hours for the surgery," Akon reminded him.
"Akon, Rii, you two take out the Reigai's liver first," Sora did not take the scalpel Isane handed him. "Isane, you open the abdomen."
"M-me?" Isane was a bit flustered.
It was actually her first time participating in a major surgery, and she was a little nervous.
"I will be watching over you," Sora said with a smile.
Isane came to the operating table and prepared to make the incision.
"Once you've found the right spot, don't hesitate," Sora reminded her, seeing her hesitation.
"Yes!" Isane nodded firmly, psyching herself up.
After finding the right spot, Isane quickly and successfully opened Sōjun's abdominal cavity.
Sōjun's lungs had not worsened, but their function was much weaker.
His liver was a different story. Some of the drugs he had been taking had put a burden on it, causing the already fragile organ to deteriorate further.
"Without a transplant, Sōjun Kuchiki would likely have at most five or six years to live."
Retsu Unohana saw the condition of Sōjun's internal organs and quickly made a judgment in her mind.
Sora turned to check on the progress of Akon and Rii.
Rii was the lead surgeon for the Reigai, with Akon assisting.
This was not Rii's first transplant surgery. Before this, she had performed a spiritual core transplant on Shizuku Saitō with her professor.
However, that surgery was performed in secret, and not even Unohana knew about it.
Rii moved the scalpel, skillfully cutting open the Reigai's abdomen and exposing the organs within.
With a few turns of the scalpel, Rii quickly removed the Reigai's liver.
"Professor, the Reigai's liver has been removed."
"Isane, remove the patient's liver."
Isane nodded. Her nervousness had gradually subsided, and her hand was steady. She quickly removed Sōjun's liver.
"Well done," Sora nodded gently. "Leave the rest to me."
Akon brought over the Reigai's liver.
"The key point of this surgery is to adjust the spiritual pressure fluctuation when activating the liver with healing Kidō. However, the Reigai's spiritual pressure is extremely similar to the original body's, so this process is not complicated," Sora explained to his two disciples as he worked.
Isane and Rii carefully observed and sensed their professor's healing Kidō.
A liver transplant was a simple operation for Sora. He quickly connected the Reigai's liver to Sōjun's spiritual body using healing Kidō.
"The lung transplant is similar. I'll leave the rest to you two," Sora said.
"Yes, sir!"
A short while later, Isane and Rii worked together to transplant the Reigai's lungs into Sōjun.
Sōjun's injuries were not limited to his lungs and liver; his arm had also been affected by Baraggan's 'Respira'.
Afterward, they also transplanted the Reigai's arm onto him.
After the surgery, Akon administered the anesthetic reversal agent to wake Sōjun up.
"Whew— no mistakes... I was so nervous just now!"
Isane patted her chest.
"To be able to perform such a surgery right after graduating, Isane, you're much better than I was!"
Rii praised her.
"You both did very well," Sora nodded with a smile.
"Hehe, it's because the Professor taught us well!"
In his daze, Sōjun heard that his surgery had been performed by recent graduates and was instantly wide awake.
"I've recovered?" Sōjun quickly checked his body. The feeling inside was completely different from before.
"The surgery is over. You can try to stand up and feel how your body is doing," Sora said with a smile.
Sōjun tried to stand up. Although the effects of the anesthesia hadn't completely worn off and he was still a bit drowsy, the constant feeling of being on the verge of death was gone.
Sōjun looked down at his own hand.
This arm had been touched by Baraggan's 'Respira' and a part of it was gone, but now it was restored.
"The Reigai's arm is newly cultivated, so it's a bit different from your original one. You'll need to exercise it for a while to get it back to how it was," Sora said.
If Sōjun wanted to recover his strength, he would need a period of rehabilitation.
"Thank you for giving me a new life," Sōjun's face was full of gratitude. "Captain Katori, if you ever need anything in the future, please do not hesitate to command me!"
"Go outside first. Your father is still waiting for you," Sora patted Sōjun's shoulder. "Go home and focus on your recovery."
Sora glanced at his panel, and two notifications popped up.
[Completed one teaching session with disciple Isane Kotetsu during the transplant surgery. Rewards settled.]
[Completed one teaching session with disciple Rii Hoshino during the transplant surgery. Rewards settled.]
These teaching missions were similar to the experimental teaching missions he had received before. As long as the disciples learned something, he would be rewarded.
The rewards were calculated dynamically based on the content of the teaching; the more complex the lesson, the greater the reward.
This time, he received a total of 20,000 general experience points.
Sora went outside the medical room and saw Ginrei Kuchiki pacing back and forth, clearly worried about the surgery.
"Captain Katori!" Ginrei came up to him.
"No need to worry, Head of the Kuchiki Clan. The surgery was a success," Sora stepped aside. Sōjun was right behind him.
Seeing Sōjun's stable condition, Ginrei was finally relieved.
"Thank you for your help, Captain Katori. If you ever need anything in the future, you may command this old man," Ginrei said solemnly.
"You two are really alike. Sōjun said the same thing when he first woke up," Retsu Unohana said with a smile.
"It is only right. The Kuchiki clan will not forget Captain Katori's kindness in saving Sōjun," Ginrei nodded slightly.
"Sōjun will need a period of rehabilitation after he goes home to fully recover," Sora said gently.
Transplanting the Reigai organs for Sōjun had also been beneficial for Sora.
A favor from the Kuchiki clan was very useful and might come in handy in the future.
And since Ginrei had pushed for the revision of the Reigai technology ban, other Shinigami with missing limbs or organ problems could also benefit.
The key was that the authority to create Reigai was now in the hands of the Technology Development Bureau.
The bureau could obtain more research funding by creating Reigai.
...
Katori Dōjō.
Nelliel was sparring with Sōya Azashiro.
Nelliel's spiritual pressure was much stronger than Sōya's, so she was suppressing it to fight him.
Batsu'unsai sat on the swing under the red maple tree, giving pointers to the two.
Most of Katori Sora's disciples had already graduated and had gone to work in various divisions.
Sajin Komamura went to the 7th Division, while Isshin Shiba and Lisa Yadōmaru went to the 10th.
Most of Sora's disciples prioritized joining divisions that currently had no captain.
Isshin was very confident in himself and wanted to become the captain of the 10th Division.
Lisa chose the 10th Division because she felt Sajin's strength was too great to compete against, and the other vacant captain spots were already being aimed for by her senior classmates. The 10th Division was her best hope of becoming a captain.
Now, the only disciples who regularly trained at the dōjō were Sōya Azashiro and Nelliel.
A golden light glowed at Sōya's fingertips, and a rope of light shot towards Nelliel.
Nelliel sidestepped the rope. Sōya immediately raised his hand, and the rope instantly reversed course, about to ensnare her.
Thump—
Nelliel's figure vanished in an instant.
The next moment, she appeared behind Sōya and quickly drew her sword.
"So fast!" Sōya felt the blade against his neck. "I still can't get used to the speed of Sonído!"
"Changing from a Shunpo Iai to a Sonído Iai makes it faster, but the speed of spatial transfer doesn't translate into power," Batsu'unsai shook her head gently.
Nelliel was not a Shinigami and couldn't use Shunpo or Kidō. Her training was a bit different from the other disciples.
With nothing better to do, Batsu'unsai had decided to help Nelliel modify the Katori style swordsmanship so that she could use it as well.
"Someone is coming," Batsu'unsai's brow twitched.
"Then I'll go inside."
Nelliel sheathed her sword. She was a Hollow. If an outsider saw her, it could bring trouble to the dōjō.
Therefore, she would always stay indoors when there were visitors.
"It's Kakyō... but she's with an unfamiliar spiritual pressure."
Batsu'unsai clearly sensed the spiritual pressures approaching the dōjō.
"Didn't Kakyō say she was going back to her hometown?" Sōya asked, puzzled.
A short while later, Kakyō arrived with another person.
"Grandmaster!"
"And this is?"
Batsu'unsai looked at the person beside Kakyō, a blind man.
She suddenly remembered something about Kakyō.
"He is that friend from your hometown, isn't he?" Batsu'unsai said with a smile.
"This is Kaname Tōsen," Kakyō nodded and explained. "I brought him here because he also wants to become the Professor's disciple and train at the dōjō."
"Lord Katori," Kaname Tōsen bowed his head in greeting. "I wish to train at the Katori dōjō!"
On the way, Kakyō had already explained the relationships in the dōjō to him, so he knew this woman was the first-generation captain, Batsu'unsai Katori.
"Oh~ so you've come to become a disciple," Batsu'unsai chuckled lightly. "Then you'll have to wait a while. Sora has some business today and might be back late."
She didn't say much more, just let Tōsen wait there.
Sora's repeated success in choosing disciples had proven his excellent judgment. Batsu'unsai would not interfere in his selections.
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