Unohana Retsu recalled his performance from a few decades ago, when Aizen Sosuke submitted his application for promotion to captain. His overall level had just barely crossed the threshold for captain, and his strength in Kidō was his most prominent aspect.
"The Reiatsu that Captain Aizen displayed that day was only one-fifth of mine…"
Arata didn't know how to respond. Should he now tell Unohana Retsu that Aizen was mocking you captains? That would be too shocking.
So he chose to remain silent.
But in Unohana Retsu's eyes, Arata's silence was perfectly understandable, it was the expression of his astonishment at such a secret piece of information.
After a long pause, Arata tried to continue the topic: "If all this is true, then it means that Captain Aizen has actually possessed captain-level strength for a long time, but has been hiding it from everyone."
"Including you and Captain Yamamoto."
Unohana Retsu's eyes darkened, and a rare solemnity appeared on her face. "No, things aren't as simple as you think." She met Arata's gaze and solemnly said, "Aizen Sosuke is very likely planning something, something that will bring great harm to the Soul Society and even the Soul Society itself."
This time it was Arata's turn to be shocked. How does this woman's mind work?
Just based on the fact that Aizen had concealed his Reiatsu, she concluded that Aizen could be a threat to the Soul Society.
Moreover, the way she referred to him changed in an instant, from "Captain Aizen" to "Aizen Sosuke." There was no longer a trace of respect in her tone, and her face was filled with a coldness that could kill with a glance.
Arata didn't like seeing that expression on Unohana Retsu's face, because it reminded him of her predetermined fate, the one in which she chooses to sacrifice her own destiny to nurture a stronger Kenpachi.
That was something he had always resisted.
Arata skillfully brewed tea while trying to soothe her: "Captain Unohana, there's no need to be so tense. Although Aizen is very secretive, that in itself reveals his calculating nature. That is indeed a strength, but it can also be a weakness."
The tea was quickly ready. Arata smiled and offered a cup to Unohana: "Captain, please try the tea to calm your mind. The Omaeda family's tea is not inferior to that of the Saito family, and its aroma is quite unique."
Unohana Retsu was stunned by Arata's composure. They had just opened such a serious topic, how could he sit there so calmly drinking tea, even inviting her to relax?
Unohana Retsu truly wanted to express her irritation, but the fresh aroma of tea that brushed her nose on the breeze slightly distracted her. Unconsciously, she brought the cup to her lips; the warm tea was sweet in her throat and immediately diluted the negative emotions in her heart.
"Captain, would you like another cup? This is white tea from the modern world. Its advantage is that it minimally affects sleep, so you don't have to worry about insomnia from drinking too much." As he spoke, Arata had already refilled Unohana's cup himself.
Unohana Retsu wasn't angry, she drank the cups one after another. Her body and mind, which had just been tense from the topic of Aizen, gradually relaxed.
After a while, she asked again: "Arata-kun, you said that Aizen is calculating, which is both a strength and a weakness. What do you mean by that?"
Arata smiled and suddenly realized that those who follow the path of the sword possess a pure heart of a swordsman, or from another perspective, one could say they are stubborn. Perhaps that was one reason why old Yamamoto rarely truly saw Unohana as his.
On one hand, Unohana Retsu herself is unprecedented, a villainess whom only the old man could restrain; once he dies, she has no leash. On the other hand, Unohana is most suited to be the striking fist, the brain can be occasionally engaged, but when it comes to deeper matters, she is hard to redirect.
"Captain Unohana, being calculating means you act thoughtfully and won't rush in without sufficient certainty. Since Aizen was promoted to captain, nothing major has happened in the Soul Society. That suggests his plans are enormous, so large that they cannot be completed in decades."
"You're right. Although there have been a few tremors, large and small, over the past decades, they all remained limited to the nobility and Rukongai, without significantly affecting the stability of the Soul Society."
Unohana Retsu agreed with Arata's explanation. Indeed, it was a perspective she hadn't considered before. This kind of analysis enlightened her, and a glimmer of appreciation sparkled in the way she looked at Arata.
She hadn't expected that this half-apprentice of hers, with an exceptional talent for the sword, also possessed such keen insight.
"That also means that before he reaches his goal, we have more time and opportunities to gather data on Aizen, and then work backward to deduce his hidden objective and course of action." Arata took out a flower cake from his pocket and offered it to Unohana as if presenting a gift, then continued: "Besides, the enemy is in the light, and we are in the shadows, which gives us a huge advantage."
Unohana Retsu took a bite of the cake. Its taste was identical to the one in the gift box Isane had brought her earlier, but now it seemed to carry some special, indescribable note that awakened an even deeper sense of satisfaction.
"Just now, Arata-kun said I was his mentor and friend. I didn't expect that you'd already 'taught' me something in return so soon, hehe…" Unohana Retsu gently smiled, regaining the image of a composed queen of schemes.
"Ah, well… um…" Arata awkwardly scratched the back of his head. Bad, he had really dug a hole for himself.
Seeing the moonlight slowly pouring through the window, Arata suddenly had an idea and quickly said: "Oh, right! Captain Unohana, it's already late. We should go to bed early. Tomorrow we have class in the training session."
Unohana Retsu's smile didn't fade, instead, it grew wider. "Arata-kun is right. It's truly time to rest early. Please, stand up." She made an inviting gesture.
Arata breathed a sigh of relief, quickly stood up, and bowed: "Then… Captain Unohana, please rest. I will take my leave."
However, as he stood and turned toward the door, his step halted. His gaze unconsciously slid over the empty table, the key was gone.
Where were his keys?
A subtle feeling of discomfort appeared on its own, like a thin vine silently wrapping around Arata's heart.
He clearly remembered that just before entering room 403, Unohana Retsu had taken the key to room 404, his own. Yet the key was not in his hand now, nor was it lying on the table.
"Are you looking for your key, Arata-kun?" Unohana Retsu's voice was even slower than before, like a night breeze stroking silk strings, leaving only the faintest echo.
"Here it is." She extended a graceful hand, white and slender, with neatly trimmed and smooth nails. She held the brass key lightly between her thumb and index finger.
Unohana Retsu merely held it, with no intention of returning it, letting it dangle in the small space between them.
"It really is quite late," Unohana Retsu's voice was still gentle, but it carried a tone that tolerated no objection. "At this hour, there may not be any staff on duty outside. If Arata-kun keeps going back and forth, won't it disturb his rest?"
The air seemed to freeze briefly, leaving only the quiet chirping of crickets outside the window and their shallow breathing, which now sounded especially clear in the silence.
Arata suddenly realized that this woman had no intention of letting him leave.
———
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