Restricted Death

Chapter 147 Confession with Unohana

"This is it."

Before them lay an extremely spacious and enormous area, surrounded by hard, bare rock walls. Ahead was a deep, square pit that looked as if it had been carved out. Looking up, they could see the clear blue sky and the sun. The path the black cat had led them here clearly led underground.

It is certain that there is no such place within the Seireitei; rather, it is a special space constructed using special technology, located below the double-topped execution platform.

This should be the secret base of Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihouin, the place where the two trained and played when they were young. In the original work, Ichigo Kurosaki also trained his Bankai here.

“What a hidden gem! I didn’t expect you to actually know about such a place,” Xin said.

The black cat stood on a boulder, its gaze wandering around, as if it were recalling something.

"It's been a long time since I've been here either," it said calmly.

"May I use this place freely?" Xin asked.

"What do you want to do?" the black cat asked back.

The letter slowly said, "I'm just doing something I don't want to be disturbed by."

The black cat read the letter for a while and said, "Whatever. This place is abandoned anyway, and I probably won't need it again. Consider this a way of repaying the favor of those fish. I probably won't be back for a long time after I leave."

It has now appeared in Soul Society as a stowaway, and it doesn't know if its situation will change in the future. At present, the hope is probably not high.

After thinking for a moment, it said, "This place can only conceal spiritual pressure of ordinary levels. If it exceeds its limit, it will be detected."

Upon hearing this, Shin recalled that in the original story, Renji found this place based on Ichigo's spiritual pressure.

That must be true. He looked around. If he were to desperately unleash his spiritual pressure here, he would definitely be discovered by the Shinigami of Seireitei. However, this was not a problem for him.

Shin was actually quite eager to ask the other party about the Transcendental Body. The Transcendental Body was something created by Kisuke Urahara, and it wasn't widely used in Soul Society. It could forcibly copy the original form of a Zanpakuto and materialize it. It could be used to train Bankai and quickly master it in a short time. Kisuke Urahara learned Bankai in just three days by relying on the Transcendental Body.

But if you bring up this matter, it's tantamount to telling yourself that you know the other party's identity, which will probably only arouse the other party's suspicion.

After weighing the options, Shin abandoned the idea. Surely he couldn't possibly have to reach 100% of his Zanpakuto unlocking progress before mastering Bankai?
His current strength is growing fast enough. If he really needs to use the Transcendent Body, perhaps he can think of a way to do it from Mayuri Kurotsuchi first.

"It's okay, as long as the location is secluded enough."

#
It was as if Shiba Isshin had suddenly vanished into thin air.

Matsumoto Rangiku went to look for him many times but couldn't find him. When she asked Shiba Kaien, he said he didn't know. When she went to the First Division, she was told that Shiba Isshin was no longer a Shinigami of the Gotei 13 and that the Gotei 13 had no obligation to look for him.

The First Division also told her that the Tenth Division would be looking for a new captain.

This situation made Rangiku feel somewhat flustered, and rumors spread throughout the entire 10th Division because their captain had been suddenly removed from the squad.

She didn't understand what had happened to her captain. If he really didn't want to be captain anymore, he should have explained everything before leaving. What did it mean by leaving so suddenly?
At least the attitudes of the First Division and Shiba Kaien made her realize that things were not as simple as they seemed on the surface.

After returning from the First Division, Hitsugaya came over and asked, "How was it?"

Matsumoto Rangiku frowned: "We couldn't find the captain. The First Division said they would find a new captain for the Tenth Division."

"A new captain?" Hitsugaya was somewhat surprised upon hearing this. "Who?"

Who could be the new captain...?

Matsumoto Rangiku carefully considered the Shinigami who were qualified to become captains in the current Gotei 13, and inevitably thought of a certain silver-haired Shinigami.

Could it be him...?

She shook her head; now was not the time to think about these things.

"That captain, I hope I don't catch him!" she said through gritted teeth, planning how she would make him pay if she ever saw Shiba Isshin again!

At this moment, Hitsugaya suddenly said, "Do you think it's possible that this was originally a consensus reached between the captain and the higher-ups?"

Matsumoto Rangiku asked in confusion, "What do you mean?"

Hitsugaya shared what he had been thinking about recently: "From the captain's hiatus to his expulsion from the team, nothing happened in between, and everything happened so suddenly. The First Division's handling of the situation was far too swift and calm..."

"..."

Matsumoto Rangiku looked thoughtful.

Hitsugaya said, "I think that although our captain is lazy, he is not an irresponsible person. If he really wanted to leave the team, he should have explained everything before leaving. The fact that he is doing this now means that he has some unspeakable difficulties."

Matsumoto Rangiku understood what he meant and couldn't help but mutter, "What kind of hardship can't he even tell me? I'm his adjutant, after all."

Hitsugaya pondered for a moment and then said, "Also, all of this may be for the sake of the future new captain of the 10th Division."

"..."

A new captain?
The light in Matsumoto Rangiku's eyes flickered uncertainly.

#
Shiba Isshin was absent from the latest captain's meeting.

The meeting did not mention Shiba Isshin's expulsion from the squad, and the captains looked at the empty space where the 10th Division captain should have been standing, each with their own thoughts.

After the meeting, the team leaders got together and started talking about Shiba Isshin.

"Did Captain Shiba choose to leave on his own initiative?"

"This was a bit too sudden."

"Yes."

"Who should take over the position of captain of the 10th Division? Why didn't the Captain-Commander mention this earlier?"

"Among the current thirteen teams, there are indeed some who are qualified."

The group chatted casually. None of them were fools to be captains, and they could easily understand that Shiba Isshin's expulsion from the team was related to Shiba Kaien's recent appointment as captain.

This should be considered another form of indirect transfer of power.

“Aizen, you could recommend your vice-captain,” suggested Komamura Sajin, the captain of the 7th Division.

Although Gin Ichimaru lost to Kaien Shiba in the previous battle for the captain of the Third Division, it is common knowledge that he has mastered Bankai and is fully qualified to become a captain.

"No." Aizen shook his head with a smile. "Gin isn't thinking about that right now. Let's follow the Captain-Commander's arrangements."

Regardless of whether there's any inside story behind this, Aizen wouldn't have planned to send Gin Ichimaru to the 10th Division even if there wasn't.

As for the reason, there is someone in the 10th Division who can have a great influence on Gin, and this person happens to be someone that Aizen cannot easily eliminate at the moment.

"Captain Unohana!"

Jushiro Ukitake quickly caught up with Retsu Unohana, who had left.

"Ukitake, what's the matter?" Unohana Retsu asked with a gentle smile.

Do you have time now?

Unohana Retsu quietly looked at the handsome middle-aged man, who seemed to have something to say to her.

The two had known each other for a long time, and Unohana could guess what Ukitake wanted to say.

Her smile remained unchanged as she softly replied, "No." "Oh, is that so? Then let's find a place to sit..." Ukitake was about to speak with a smile when he suddenly stopped halfway through.

He stared blankly as the other person turned and walked away.

I was rejected...

Ukitake's expression became complicated.

"Captain Ukitake."

At that moment, Shiba Kaien came over.

"The petrel."

"I'd like to talk to you."

"..."

The two returned to the 13th Division's barracks together. They had been in a superior-subordinate relationship, and even after Kaien became the captain, they did not become estranged.

She was still very familiar with everything about the 13th Division, but Shiba Kaien had no time to pay attention to it.

"You mean, you want me to jointly recommend Tachikawa Shin as the captain of the 10th Division?" Ukitake's tone was a little strange after hearing Kaien's words.

He truly hadn't expected Haiyan to do such a thing. In recent days, he had often thought about Tachikawa Shin's matter, but he had overlooked Haiyan in the crucial part of it.

“That’s right.” Shiba Kaien nodded. “Captain, you are well aware of Shin’s strength and abilities. If there is any shortcoming, it is that he has only been a Shinigami for a short time and lacks seniority and experience. Becoming a captain just two years after graduation is indeed unprecedented. However, this does not mean that he is incapable. He founded the student council at the Spirit Arts Academy and did some things within the Fourth Division, which is enough to show that he is a person who dares to act.”

Another point is that the 10th Division has been operating smoothly, and the vice-captain Matsumoto Rangiku is a very capable person. If a new captain is appointed soon, there shouldn't be any trouble.

"..."

Ukitake then asked, "If it's a joint endorsement, who else do you plan to ask?"

The team leaders must jointly recommend the candidate; six team leaders are required.

Haiyan said, "You're the first one I've contacted. I'll visit the others as well. I'm confident I can persuade Captain Unohana and Captain Kyoraku. I probably can't persuade Captain Aizen; he'll likely recommend Gin Ichimaru. I hope you can help me too..."

This was the result of his careful consideration. He had only been the captain for a short time, and his relationship with the captains was not as deep as that with the vice-captains.

Soi Fon, Byakuya Kuchiki, Sajin Komamura, Kaname Tosen, Kenpachi Zaraki, and Mayuri Kurotsuchi are the people he plans to persuade.

Ukitake pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "You're doing this for your friend."

He understood Haiyan's actions and felt deeply moved.

Haiyan nodded gently.

“However, you don’t need to go to such great lengths,” Ukitake added.

"What do you mean?" Haiyan asked, puzzled.

Ukitake explained, "If Captain-Commander prefers Nobu, then the other captains will also agree."

Haiyan paused for a moment: "You mean, the Captain-Commander originally intended for Shin to become the captain of the 10th Division?"

"That's the gist of it." Ukitake nodded, then added, "When the position of captain of the Third Division was vacant, the Captain-Commander approached him. Now that it's the Tenth Division, Shin should be the first candidate."

"That's it."

Haiyan breathed a sigh of relief. "I was overthinking it."

"You've already done a great job for your friends," Ukitake said with a smile.

Haiyan remained silent. In his heart, he hadn't done this entirely out of trust in himself. Now, hearing Fuzhu speak of him in this way, he couldn't help but feel a bit complicated.

After a moment's hesitation, Ukitake slowly began, "It concerns your uncle..."

“I’m fine, Captain Ukitake,” Kaien said. “I can guess some of the inside story… It’s one of a kind in the Thirteenth Division to have two Shiba captains at the same time. Neither Kuchiki nor Shihouin could do that. Moreover, my uncle said that he didn’t want to be a captain. He’s probably enjoying himself somewhere in Rukongai right now.”

Ukitake smiled and said, "It's good that you understand."

Haiyan chuckled, "This can be considered me taking over my uncle's job."

#
Retsu Unohana returned to the Fourth Division barracks and, as soon as she opened the door to her office, she suddenly saw someone standing inside.

Her eyes flickered slightly, and she closed the door behind her.

"What's up?"

The room was quiet, with a few rays of white light slanting in from the window, and the air filled with the unique herbal scent of the Fourth Division.

Shin began, "The captain knows I'm about to leave the Fourth Division, so I have some things I'd like to say to the captain."

Unohana Retsu walked slowly to a spot not far from Shin.

"The captain's appointment probably hasn't been finalized yet," she said softly.

Shin didn't respond to that question, but instead continued, "Why did the captain know that I deliberately concealed my Zanpakuto when I joined the Fourth Division?"

"Tell me."

"For you, Captain."

Unohana Retsu's expression didn't change much upon hearing this, as if it were something she had expected. Gradually, a half-smile appeared in her eyes.

"Yeah."

“However, it’s not what the captain thought,” Xin added.

"Do you know what I'm thinking?"

“Captain, you were the first Kenpachi, the strongest swordsman in the Seireitei. I admire your skill in swordsmanship, and I happen to be someone who has my own understanding of swordsmanship, which is why I came to the Fourth Division.”

Unohana Retsu listened quietly to him say these things. She didn't say anything more. A few days ago, she had volunteered to go to Rukongai to carry out a field mission. If Shin was willing to fight her, that was the opportunity she gave him.

But the letter never arrived.

She considered many reasons, such as concerns about the commander-in-chief's orders, or perhaps he himself was not prepared.

"Captain, your understanding of swordsmanship is probably different from mine. Although I long for a chance to spar with you, Captain, it is not a life-or-death battle."

The many emotions in Unohana Retsu's eyes gradually faded, and her voice became unusually calm.

"Ah, I remember you told me last time that if I asked to die at your place, you wouldn't want to fight me."

"Yes."

Her voice seemed to grow even colder: "Are you confident you can kill me?"

Xin met his gaze calmly: "I don't believe anyone can defeat me in swordsmanship. I'm saying this just to tell you, if I choose to spare your life in a fight, would you be willing to continue living?"

The indoor temperature instantly dropped to freezing point.

(End of this chapter)