Restricted Death

Chapter 167 Favorability: 90
"No, we must send Captain Unohana back to the Fourth Division immediately."

Kyoraku Shunsui spoke urgently, as he was truly powerless to help Unohana Retsu with her injuries. Blood kept gushing from her wounds, and all he could do was minimal. As he spoke, he began to lift Unohana Retsu up in his arms.

"Wait!"

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni suddenly called out to him.

He forced himself to calm down and consider all the possibilities that lay ahead.

If Unohana Retsu were sent back to the Fourth Division now, the news that Unohana Retsu was seriously injured and on the verge of death would surely spread. A captain of the Tenth Division and a captain of the Fourth Division fought a deadly battle in front of the Captain-Commander and several other captains.
Is this something that can be known to the outside world?

What kind of public opinion will be stirred up in the Seireitei at that time?
Yamamoto took a deep breath and said to Chojiro Sasakibe beside him, "Immediately send a message to the vice-captain of the Fourth Division and tell her to bring a few members over."

The fewer people who know about this, the better.

Upon hearing this, Chojiro immediately left the space and used the Heavenly Soaring Void Technique to summon people.

After giving the order, Yamamoto turned his gaze to Shin, who still had that indifferent expression.

However, at this moment, he had no time to consider what to do with the letter.

The most important thing is to save Unohana Retsu's life.

Kyoraku Shunsui is doing his best to save her, but apart from the Fourth Division, almost no one has studied the Reidou (a type of magical artifact) in detail. Even the captain's understanding of Reidou is probably about the same as that of the students at the Spirit Arts Academy.

Ukitake then began to persuade Shin: "Shin-kun, are you really going to just stand by and watch Captain Unohana die?"

Xin calmly said, "What the Captain-Commander told her back then probably didn't include that she absolutely had to live, otherwise she wouldn't have agreed. I'm doing this for all of us."

Ukitake looked at Retsu Unohana lying on the ground and fell silent for a moment.

They had considered many scenarios for this battle, the worst being that the two would fight on such a large scale that one of them would unleash some powerful demonic technique, resulting in the death of one of them.

However, given that Unohana Retsu was seriously injured, they had never considered that Shin wouldn't go to his aid; otherwise, they wouldn't have left without even bringing a medical grim reaper.

Yamamoto's face grew increasingly cold and hard.

Kotetsu Isane arrived immediately with two team members after receiving orders from Sasakibe Chojiro. She followed Sasakibe Chojiro into the space beneath the Twin Demons and saw Unohana Retsu lying on the ground, barely breathing. In a daze, she felt as if a sledgehammer had struck her heart.

She felt like she was going crazy, and desperately rushed to Unohana Retsu's side, taking Kyoraku Shunsui's place. In her panic, she couldn't even use the Return Path immediately.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, before beginning to treat Unohana Retsu.

After their initial shock, the other two members of the Fourth Division also belatedly rushed over.

Chojiro Sasakibe's message did not specify who the injured person was, but only stated that the person had suffered a severe heart injury and needed immediate treatment.

For this purpose, they also brought some related medicines and medical equipment.

At first glance, it was just an emergency field mission.

"Yune..."

Lying there, Retsu Unohana finally managed to make a sound. Half of her face was stained with the blood she had just coughed up, a truly shocking sight.

"Captain, I'm here, I'm here, you'll be alright, Captain..."

Yongyin kept talking, but her voice was trembling, and tears were falling down her face.

She looked up abruptly at the letter standing there, and the black asauchi that Kyoraku Shunsui had pulled out and tossed aside earlier.

Why did this happen? Why didn't Xin save the captain? He could have done it. What happened?
Numerous thoughts flashed through her mind, but she said nothing. She lowered her head again and exerted all her strength to unleash the Ghost Path.

Although it took a little time, Kotetsu Isane is, after all, the vice-captain of the Fourth Division, and his skill level is second only to Unohana Retsu in the entire Thirteenth Division.

Thanks to her and two other members of the Fourth Division's best efforts in treating her, Retsu Unohana's injuries finally stabilized, and her breathing became weak and even.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this.

Seeing that Unohana Retsu was finally out of danger, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni said to Sasakibe Chojiro, who was standing next to him, "You'll take charge of what happens next."

"Yes."

Yamamoto glanced at the letter again.

"follow me."

Kyoraku, Ukitake, and Soi Fon looked at each other in bewilderment as the two of them left the area first.

Ukitake sighed, "How could this happen..."

Captain-Commander Yamamoto's calm tone at the end made none of them dare to step forward and try to dissuade him.

Ukitake asked Kyoraku, "Will Nobu-kun... be in trouble?"

Kyoraku shook his head: "I don't know."

It seems that this time, Xin has deceived them all.

But what was his reason for doing this? It's impossible for Shin to have any deep-seated hatred for Captain Unohana. Could it really be to fulfill Unohana's wish to die?
Then why leave Unohana Retsu alive so she could receive treatment?

None of them could figure it out.

At this moment, Suzaku stepped forward to inquire about the situation of Isane Unohana Retsu. The reason Yamamoto entrusted him with the next task was that this matter could not be spread outside, and even if they left here, Unohana and the others could not return to the Fourth Division for the time being.

The Hill of Twin Killings.

Yamamoto brought the letter here.

The so-called Shuangji consists of a spear and a scaffold, and is a torture instrument used by Soul Society to execute sinners. After being released, it takes the form of a giant bird called "Destroyer King", which is said to have the destructive power of a million Zanpakuto.

The location here is quite high, overlooking a large area of ​​the Seireitei complex. Not far from here is a white tower called the Palace of Penitence.

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni stared at the giant tower for a long time, then slowly spoke with his back to the letter.

"I'll only ask you one question: do you really want to kill Unohana?"

The wind howled on Shuangji Hill, and the old voice sounded particularly cold, hard, and hoarse.

After a long silence, Shin slowly spoke up and replied: "Captain Kyoraku's ability to respond is actually quite limited, not even as good as that of an ordinary member of the Fourth Division. He alone cannot hold out until the rescue arrives. However, if we send Captain Unohana back to the Fourth Division as Captain Kyoraku suggested, there is still a glimmer of hope."

When his sword pierced Retsu Unohana's heart, it left a portion of spiritual energy there, ready to activate the power of "Stagnation" at any time.

When Kyoraku Shunsui was treating Unohana Retsu, he was completely unable to treat her heart injury. If it weren't for the ability of his Zanpakuto to keep Unohana Retsu alive, she would have really died.

Just as Yamamoto had said before, she clearly had the strength to stand up and treat herself at first, but she just lay on the ground waiting to die.

"Commander-in-Chief, your order, to some extent, has already sealed Captain Unohana's fate. In a way, you and I are both murderers who wanted to kill Captain Unohana."

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni turned around, the veins on the back of his hand holding the cane bulging, his withered face obscured by the shadows of the twin beams.

The wind lifted the hem of Shin's haori, but Shin suddenly felt the spiritual pressure enveloping him recede like the tide.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto slowly raised his head and looked up at the distant sky.

Calm and peaceful, with clouds drifting by, nothing particularly dangerous is happening in the Soul Society or Seireitei at the moment.

If what Tachikawa said earlier is true, then he did indeed make the decision to give up on Unohana.

Regret?
As the Captain-Commander, how could he possibly regret it? Everything should be prioritized for the Soul Society. Even if it seems cold and ruthless, he did nothing wrong.

And Tachikawa Nobu.

Still harboring the desire to save Unohana, what backup plan did Unohana Retsu have left on her so that she could wait for Kotetsu Isane and the others to arrive?

He couldn't quite understand Shin at this moment. Following the expected trajectory, Shin's intentions seemed extremely simple: everything was for Unohana.

Will everything always be like this?
Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni asked again, "Didn't you think about the consequences of doing this?" Shin chuckled, "Captain-Commander, that's the second time."

Captain-Commander Yamamoto simply stared at him coldly.

"We need to consider the long-term future of Soul Society. That's what you, Captain-Commander, will have to do. In my opinion, you are just as pitiful as Captain Unohana. You have imprinted the concept of mission and responsibility deep in your soul, while I am just a captain of a small 10th Division in Seireitei. I don't have such a broad and cold mind. I just need to do what I should do and follow my heart."

"As for the consequences you mentioned, I have no regrets now that I have done it."

#
When Unohana Retsu opened her eyes again, she stepped into a quiet room.

This is neither the Fourth Division nor the First Division; it's an unfamiliar room.

"Captain, you're awake."

Kotetsu Isane's surprised voice rang out.

Retsu Unohana slowly sat up and first checked her wound. It was wrapped in gauze, but it had been properly treated, and it seemed that she just needed to wait for it to heal.

"Captain, you scared me to death! I thought... I thought..."

As Kotetsu Isane spoke, his eyes reddened again, and his voice trembled uncontrollably.

Unohana Retsu glanced at her, then lowered her eyes and asked a question.

"What about him?"

Kotetsu Isane paused, remained silent for a moment, and then hesitantly asked, "You mean... do you believe me?"

"..."

Yongyin pursed her lips: "I don't know. He was taken away by the Captain-Commander. The Vice Captain of the Sparrow Division said we should stay here and wait for you to recover."

Silence.

Retsu Unohana glanced at the black ashen sword beside the letter, beside her own Zanpakuto.

She raised her right hand, which glowed with the spiritual energy of the Dao, and covered her chest. After a moment, she removed the gauze from her body, and the place where she had been pierced was now just a faint white mark.

Seeing this, Yongyin immediately felt completely relieved and said, "Captain, you..."

She wanted to ask the other person about the truth of some things, but seeing Unohana Retsu's appearance, she stopped herself from saying the words that were about to come out.

The captain has become the same again. I could see her smile and feel her gentleness just yesterday. Why... was everything that happened yesterday just an illusion?

Retsu Unohana had already gotten up, straightened her clothes, picked up her Zanpakuto and hung it on her body, paused briefly, and then picked up her Asauchi as well.

Pushing open the door and stepping out of the room, I saw two other members of the Fourth Division in the courtyard.

Not only them, but Kyoraku and Ukitake were also there.

Soi Fon was also there, standing alone at the door, seemingly on guard duty.

"Captain Unohana."

"Unohana-senpai!"

Ukitake and Kyoraku were talking when they saw Unohana Retsu come out and immediately came over.

"You...are you alright now?"

Upon hearing that Retsu Unohana seemed to be alright, Chojiro Sasakibe and Soi Fon also rushed over.

This is a courtyard in the Seireitei. The matter between Unohana Retsu and Shin needs to be kept strictly confidential, so Sasakibe Chojiro arranged for them to be here, and has already given instructions to the members of the Fourth Division.

"Where is the captain?"

Unohana's gaze fell upon Chojiro Sasakibe.

Chojiro was taken aback upon hearing this and said, "I will go and inform them immediately."

Retsu Unohana calmly said, "Tell him that I will keep my promise."

"Eh?"

Chojiro Sasaki was stunned.

Promise...

What appointment...?

His eyes widened suddenly, then he nodded quickly: "I understand!"

Kyoraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jushiro exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise and doubt in each other's eyes.

Soi Fon, who had been silent all along, couldn't help but speak up at this moment: "Captain Unohana, do you mean that all of this is over?"

She could guess what the agreement between Unohana Retsu and the Captain-Commander was. Judging from the Captain-Commander's temperament and the recent events, it was probably an agreement to restrain Unohana.

Retsu Unohana didn't respond; she just watched her quietly.

Soi Fon then said, "You went through a life-or-death situation today. It was Tachikawa who almost killed you. Don't you hate him or resent him?"

Kotetsu Isane silently clenched his fist.

"Then do you know..." Unohana Retsu asked, "why he wanted to kill me?"

Soi Fon was taken aback. The Captain-Commander hadn't told her about this. Although she had been a participant all along, she had only ever been a subordinate who obeyed the Captain-Commander's orders.

Her mind raced, and she came up with what she thought was the answer.

"Is it because he knows about your past as the first Kenpachi that he insists on fighting you?"

Unohana Retsu lowered her head and glanced at the black ashen sword in her hand.

“I insisted that he kill me; he was just following my wishes and obeying my orders.”

She paused, then added, "It was before."

Soi Fon stood frozen in place, unable to understand, while everyone else remained silent.

After saying this, Unohana Retsu looked at Sasakibe Chojiro and asked, "Can we go back now?"

Chojiro Sasaki hesitated. The Captain-Commander had not yet given the order, but...

He gritted his teeth and said, "I hope Captain Unohana won't bring this up..."

"Don't worry," Retsu Unohana said.

"I know what to do."

Her gaze swept past Chojiro Sasakibe, across the courtyard, and looked toward the distant horizon.

"I know what to do..."

She repeated what she had said.

at the same time.

Shin, who was in the First Squad's barracks, suddenly paused, realizing something.

【Unohana Retsu】

【Favourability: 90】

(End of this chapter)