Restricted Death

Chapter 143 Unohana's Invitation

Unohana Retsu rarely sits down for a private conversation with Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni. Although they have known each other for so long, the last time the two sat down to chat face to face was hundreds of years ago.

The captain of the Fourth Division was calmly brewing tea for the Captain-Commander, her demeanor dignified and composed, as if she had always been this way.

The white steam rising from the tea kettle slowly spread between the two of them. Yamamoto's deep-set eyelids trembled slightly as he gazed at Unohana Retsu's pale fingertips stroking the teacup.

"You can't fight him, that's an order."

Unohana Retsu showed no surprise; she seemed to have known the other party's purpose all along. She simply smiled and said, "That sounds familiar. When was the last time I heard that?"

It must have been several hundred years. She met Kenpachi Zaraki after the Seireitei took notice of him. At that time, Kenpachi was just a child, probably around the same age as Tachikawa is now.

"Whether it's him or Tachikawa, you know very well their significance to Soul Society."

“I understand,” Retsu Unohana replied softly. “Otherwise, why would I have endured it for hundreds of years?”

The word "endure" sounded too harsh to Yamamoto, causing him to frown.

“The Captain-Commander must have spoken to Tachikawa about this,” Retsu Unohana said again. “I can imagine his reaction. This kid is different from Zaraki, and completely different from me. He’s not pure at all. How can such a complex person wield such a pure sword? I don’t understand. I’m very curious.”

"You can't fight him!" Yamamoto raised his voice slightly, emphasizing his words. "You'll kill him!"

Unohana paused in pouring tea, then looked up at Yamamoto. "Captain-Commander, you know me better than anyone else."

"..."

Over the years, very few people from their generation remain, and few know about those past events. Most people think that Captain Unohana of the Fourth Division is a gentle and kind person, but Yamamoto still bluntly says that Unohana would kill Shin. No one knows Unohana better than him; he was the one who personally subdued such a person.

"Captain-General, how long have we lived? How many years have I been captain? Must I spend the rest of my life atoning for my sins?"

Yamamoto sneered, "Since you know you have committed sins, do you really want me to watch you commit another one?"

Unohana Retsu remained silent for a long time before filling the teacup in front of Yamamoto.

Yamamoto softened his tone and said, "I no longer consider you a sinner. You know the original intention of the Gotei 13 and the circumstances at the time. Isn't this good enough? Why do you still want to think about the past?"

“Right now…” Unohana Retsu lowered her eyes and chuckled inexplicably.

She looked out the window and said slowly, "The Seireitei is so peaceful right now. This kind of peace makes me want to vomit."

Yamamoto's expression turned somewhat unpleasant.

"However, I have no intention of breaking it. Right now, I just want to get rid of these days that make me feel disgusted."

Unohana Retsu looked directly into Yamamoto's unfriendly gaze: "Actually, I have never considered myself a sinner. For so long, I have not felt that I am atoning for my sins. It's just that after meeting Zaraki, there is no one who can arouse my interest anymore. Whether I kill or not, a thousand years ago, I just wanted to find something to do because I was bored. My life now makes me feel nauseous. It wasn't much better a thousand years ago."

“Captain, you have never misjudged me. All this time, you have not trapped me, you have only trapped Gengmu. It is the same now. If you can trap that child, then do it.”

#
The Fourth Division team building.

"Captain, you're back."

Kotetsu Isane saw Unohana sitting in her office and went inside.

"Ah."

Unohana Retsu responded, "Where's Tachikawa?"

Should I call him over?

"No need."

Shin and Captain Kotetsu were both summoned to the First Division, and Kotetsu Isane suspected that something had happened.

Unohana Retsu said to Kotetsu Isane, "In a few days, Tachikawa Shin will probably be appointed as the captain of the 10th Division."

"Huh?" Kotetsu Isane was stunned.

"Why...why? Captain Shiba isn't..." She was momentarily at a loss for words.

Although she knew that Shin already had the strength of a captain, what happened suddenly was something she had not expected.

"Why...who knows?" Unohana Retsu asked calmly.

Kotetsu Isane stood there stunned for a moment, then suddenly turned around and left the office. He then ran to Shin's office, but couldn't find him there. After making some inquiries, he found Shin coming out of the ward at the general clinic.

"What's wrong?" Xin asked, noticing her hurried appearance.

"You're going to be appointed as the captain of the 10th Division?"

Xin looked surprised: "Has the order already been issued?"

This is too fast.

"It was the captain who said it."

"I see..." Shin seemed thoughtful, knowing that Retsu Unohana had also been called to the First Division.

His request was not granted during his previous conversation with the captain and the others.

He smiled and said, "I was planning to talk to you about this tonight."

Kotetsu Isane stared at him blankly for a long time before suddenly laughing and saying, "This is a good thing."

There seemed to be some reluctance in her eyes, so Xin took her hand and said, "I'll miss you too."

Yongyin's face suddenly turned red, and she quickly broke free. Then she looked around and realized that they were outside the ward, with passersby around.

She said, "I...I didn't say I couldn't bear to part with you...Why are you doing this? Aren't you afraid of being seen?"

"What am I afraid of?" Xin chuckled.

Kotetsu Isane pursed his lips and said, "The captain said the appointment might be finalized in a few days, so you... will be leaving soon too."

"I can come to the Fourth Division often."

“If you were the captain, you couldn’t be so casual; team affairs would be the priority,” said Kotetsu Isane.

After chatting with Kotetsu Isane for a while, Shin pondered whether he should say something to Unohana Retsu, but did not take any action.

That night, Kotetsu Isane stayed at Shin's house. It seemed that because she knew Shin was about to leave the Fourth Division, Isane was unusually clingy that night.

Over the next few days, Shin and Unohana Retsu didn't have much interaction, only discussing work-related matters.

It wasn't until the Fourth Division received a field mission that Shin learned from Isane that Retsu Unohana was actually leading the team out herself.

That's quite rare.

"Where are you going on field assignments?"

"From Rukongai." Kotetsu Isane explained the mission details to the letter.

Hollows have been discovered in the 80th district of Rukongai. Members of the 11th Division have already gone to clear them out, and members of the 5th and 4th Divisions will follow to provide support.

Zaraki Ward.

Xin's expression was inscrutable after hearing this.

Unohana Retsu seems to be extending an invitation.

(End of this chapter)