After a while, Hasumi Ren received a summons from Captain Yoruichi after finishing his daily training.
"After a brief discussion with Captain Unohana, you have been granted permission to observe and study within Squad 4. However, you are still a member of Squad 2, so your schedule will be as follows."
"During periods without active missions, you may spend three days a week at Squad 4. The other two days, unless exceptional circumstances arise, you will remain here for training."
Upon receiving the notice, Hasumi Ren expressed his agreement. This split schedule was the perfect way to maximize his gains.
He could participate in training within Squad 2 to gather Hakuda and Shunpo experience fragments...
...and also head to Squad 4 to collect Kido fragments while learning the intricacies of Kaido.
Life was certainly looking up.
Things proceeded smoothly after that, and he began his advanced studies within Squad 4.
Ren shed his Punishment Force uniform, changed into his Shihakusho, and crossed the wide streets of the Seireitei, moving from the oppressive atmosphere of Squad 2 to the peaceful environment of Squad 4.
Upon reporting to Squad 4, Ren learned that the person in charge of his instruction was Vice-Captain Yamada Seinosuke.
When they met again, Yamada Seinosuke eyed Ren with a critical gaze.
Yamada had a slight impression of Ren, but he hadn't expected the man to reappear before him in this capacity.
"Member Hasumi, Captain Unohana is busy with division duties, so I will be the one to guide you through the basics of Kaido. Once your foundation is solid, she will find time to personally oversee your studies."
"I don't quite understand why the Captain cares so much about a member of Squad 2... but since it's her order, I will carry it out diligently."
Yamada Seinosuke's tone was flat, carrying a hint of distant coldness.
He really didn't like the look of Ren.
In Yamada's eyes, Kaido was the sacred path of the healer, requiring decades of dedicated study.
What kind of patience or talent could a member of the Punishment Force—whose business was combat and assassination—possibly have for this?
Moreover, Yamada had been frustrated lately by orders involving the nobility, so he had little interest in looking after a newcomer from another squad.
But Captain Unohana's orders were absolute.
Thus, Yamada Seinosuke suppressed his irritation and began a systematic course of instruction for Ren.
During the day, Ren participated in simple medical treatments, working alongside ordinary members to handle external trauma for the wounded.
At night, he joined the instructional classes led by Yamada Seinosuke, alongside other new recruits with weak foundations.
Yamada started with basic spiritual anatomy, speaking rapidly and packing in dense content, rarely giving anyone time to ask questions.
As Yamada lectured, scattered fragments continuously drifted from him, absorbed by Ren and transformed into knowledge flooding his mind.
[SYSTEM: Gained Kido - Kaido Insight x5, Kido EXP +50]
[SYSTEM: Gained Kido - Kaido Insight x6, Kido EXP +60]
...
After Yamada finished his explanation, he looked toward the newcomers.
Most were dizzy, looking as if they were drowning in a sea of knowledge, unable to find their bearings.
Only Ren's eyes remained clear, looking as if he wanted more. A flicker of doubt crossed Yamada Seinosuke's eyes.
"Hasumi, did you understand everything I just said?"
"More or less."
Seeing Ren's nonchalant expression, Yamada's eyelid twitched.
He had never seen such an arrogant fellow within Squad 4.
Yamada cleared his throat and asked a few random questions about the points he had just covered. To his surprise, Ren actually answered them all.
Furthermore, Ren's answers showed an understanding remarkably similar to his own.
As Ren continued to answer, Yamada Seinosuke's eyes gradually widened. Unconsciously, the depth of his questions became more complex.
"Then... if the pathways between the Saketsu and Hakusui are damaged, should one first repair the soul's deficit or reconstruct the pathway channels?"
"Vice-Captain Yamada, I don't think you've covered that yet."
"However, theoretically, the priority should be repairing the soul's deficit."
Ren thought for a moment before offering a tentative approach.
"But specifically, it depends on the patient's state. If spiritual pressure is leaking too quickly, prioritizing the repair of the pathways might be more effective in stabilizing vital signs..."
At that moment, Yamada Seinosuke snapped back to reality, realizing his lapse in composure.
He truly looked at the man before him for the first time.
Then, Yamada Seinosuke pursed his lips and gave a slight nod. Leaving behind a single, airy sentence, he turned and walked away.
"You... are decent."
"You flatter me, Vice-Captain," Ren said to Yamada's profile. Yamada glanced at him but said nothing more.
The few newcomers behind him watched Yamada's departing back, then looked at Ren as he began packing his things to leave, their eyes filled with shock.
They had been in the squad for a while now. Vice-Captain Yamada was always rigorous and humorless.
They had never heard him praise anyone like that before.
Just then, a tall girl approached. She looked at Ren somewhat timidly, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
"Excuse me, I haven't seen you before. Are you a new recruit too?"
Hearing her voice, Ren turned his head to look at her.
The girl didn't look very old, with short, silvery-grey hair, but she was well-developed.
Her height was exceptionally prominent among girls her age, and it looked as though she was still growing.
"No, I'm from Squad 2. I'm just here occasionally to study Kaido."
"Ah, I see... Well, I look forward to working with you. By the way, I'm Kotetsu Isane. And you?"
Ren paused for a moment, carefully studying the clean-cut girl before him.
"Hasumi Ren."
Kotetsu Isane's eyes sparkled. She softly repeated Ren's name before offering a bright smile.
"Okay, I've got it."
Ren nodded, packed his things, and turned to leave.
Kotetsu Isane watched Ren's back, her eyes twinkling for a moment, but then she didn't give it much more thought.
She simply treated him as another talented colleague.
Over the following days, Ren continued his studies in Squad 4 according to his plan.
Yamada Seinosuke gradually noticed something unusual about Ren.
Unlike other members, this guy didn't spend his free time privately reviewing and memorizing knowledge.
Instead, he preferred to wander around, looking here and there.
But the strange thing was that his learning progress didn't suffer because of it; on the contrary, it was frighteningly fast.
Spiritual pressure diagnosis techniques taught yesterday could be used proficiently the next day. Compound wound treatment techniques demonstrated in the morning could be put into practice by the afternoon.
What shocked Yamada Seinosuke even more was a practical Kaido lesson where Ren treated a case simulating internal spiritual pressure damage.
That kind of injury required spiritual pressure channeling and tissue repair, usually necessitating cooperation between two or more members.
But Ren did it alone.
Both of his hands sequentially glowed with different colors of Kaido light.
First, a warm yellow to channel the chaotic spiritual pressure, then shifting to a pale green to repair the damaged spiritual tissue.
Simultaneous dual-threading—precise and efficient.
"This is already... a seated officer's technique."
Yamada Seinosuke stood to the side observing, his pupils shrinking slightly.
'How could this guy's progress be so fast?'
'How long has he even been at this?'
What Yamada Seinosuke didn't know was that behind Ren's rapid growth, not a single drop of sweat came from his own efforts.
As long as he spent time active within Squad 4, Ren could pick up a large volume of Kaido experience fragments.
These fragments came from the research and practice of the Squad 4 Captain, seated officers, and even ordinary members, scattering across every corner of the barracks as invisible gifts.
Ren was like a sponge, frantically absorbing this knowledge.
His Kaido level climbed at a rate visible to the naked eye.
[SYSTEM: Kido Level Up!]
[SYSTEM: Kido: LV5 (EXP: 10/8000)]
At that moment, Ren's Kido level finally broke through to Level 5, reaching the level of a vice-captain.
Beside him, Yamada Seinosuke watched Ren's increasingly exquisite treatment techniques and fell into a long silence.