Inside the Squad 4 barracks, the faint scent of medicinal herbs filled the air. A few squad members hurried past carrying baskets of herbs, nodding politely to Hasumi Ren as they went. Everything was as quiet and peaceful as any other day.
With his duties finished, Hasumi Ren walked down the covered corridor toward his quarters, his pace slightly slower than usual. His mind was still replaying the events of the past few days—Aizen's instruction, his breakthroughs in Kido, and those experimental logs. Not to mention the strategies he had formulated with Urahara Kisuke. These matters could not be shared with anyone; he needed time to process it all.
"Hasumi Ren."
A warm, steady voice echoed from behind. Hasumi Ren halted and turned around.
Yamada Seinosuke stood at the far end of the corridor, holding a document, his face bearing its usual sullen expression. He walked over with slow steps, his gaze lingering on Hasumi Ren for a fraction of a second.
"Vice-Captain Yamada," Hasumi Ren said with a slight nod.
Yamada approached him, sizing him up from head to toe. Though his look was detached, Hasumi Ren couldn't help but feel it concealed something deeper.
"Have you been busy with missions lately?"
"They've been manageable. Not long ago, there was a joint operation with Squad 2, so I went to the Rukongai to provide reinforcement."
Yamada nodded, choosing not to press further. After a brief silence, he suddenly spoke up. "Your spiritual pressure has increased significantly."
Hasumi Ren caught himself by surprise.
Yamada continued, his tone remaining perfectly flat. "If I am not mistaken, it should already be at the fourth rank."
Hasumi Ren didn't deny it. "Yes, I've had a few breakthroughs recently."
Yamada said nothing. He simply stood there, staring at Hasumi Ren. A trace of complex emotion flickered deep within his eyes—a profound astonishment that he had severely suppressed, leaving only the barest tip of the iceberg visible.
Yamada Seinosuke, a veteran Soul Reaper who had served as the vice-captain of Squad 4 for countless years, was doing everything in his power to mask the turmoil in his heart.
"Fourth-rank spiritual power," he murmured, turning the words over as if weighing their true significance. "You haven't even been with Squad 4 for a full year."
"That's correct."
"Less than a year to reach the fourth rank, while completely mastering organ-repair procedures and demonstrating substantial aptitude in soul restoration." Yamada raised his eyes to the sky beyond the walkway. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows across his face. "Even without my presence involved, I suspect Captain Unohana would still favor you above all others."
"I spent years walking this path just to reach where I am today." Yamada's voice dropped to a near whisper, as if speaking to himself. "I used to think my progress was fast enough, but you... Heh, you truly prove there is always someone better."
Hasumi Ren fell silent for a moment. "You give me too much credit, Vice-Captain Yamada."
Yamada shook his head. "No, I am merely stating facts." He turned to face Hasumi Ren directly. "You know, it has been an exceptionally long time since Captain Unohana took such a keen interest in anyone. She is... training you in swordsmanship, isn't she?"
Hasumi Ren caught himself off guard, parting his lips slightly but offering no verbal response. He knew exactly what Yamada was referring to. On the training grounds of the mountain behind the barracks, Unohana would draw her Zanpakuto and engage him in genuine blade-to-blade sparring. They hadn't gone out of their way to hide it within the division; anyone paying close attention could notice that the periods when Unohana and Hasumi Ren vanished perfectly coincided.
Reading the answer in his silence, Yamada didn't dwell on it and simply pressed on. His tone was level, yet a faint, almost imperceptible hint of loneliness lingered between his words. "She teaches you Kaido, instructs you in swordsmanship, and keeps you by her side to learn." He locked eyes with Hasumi Ren. "Do you have any idea what that signifies?"
Hasumi Ren remained silent.
Yamada chuckled, a deeper layer of bitterness creeping into his expression. "Did you know? I have never once seen her draw her blade." Yamada's gaze grew distant, as if reaching back into his memories. "In all my years with Squad 4, I have seen Captain Unohana treat countless casualties. I have seen her arranging flowers at her tea table, and I have seen her strolling through the courtyard—but I have never once witnessed her unsheath her Zanpakuto."
Hasumi Ren could only offer his silence in return.
Yamada let out a soft sigh. "You are different to her."
Hasumi Ren found himself at a loss for words, simply standing there and watching Yamada.
The silence between them stretched out before Yamada suddenly smiled. The bitterness had evaporated, supplanted by a sense of quiet acceptance. "Treasure it," he said, clapping a hand onto Hasumi Ren's shoulder. "There are very few people who catch Captain Unohana's eye. Earning her validation is a profound blessing."
Hasumi Ren nodded. "I will."
Yamada withdrew his hand, his features smoothing back into his typical detached expression. "If you ever run into anything you don't understand regarding Kaido, feel free to ask me. Though at your current level, there is likely very little left for me to teach you."
Hasumi Ren shook his head. "You are far too modest, Vice-Captain Yamada. Your mastery over soul restoration is something I cannot even begin to match."
Yamada glanced at him, seemingly caught off guard by the response. "You certainly know how to flatter." He paused, his faint smile fading as his expression hardened into one of absolute gravity. "However, there is something I must warn you about."
Hasumi Ren's focus sharpened. "What is it?"
Yamada hesitated for a brief instant before speaking deliberately. "I've had some interactions with the Great Noble Houses recently. Someone has been digging into your background."
Hasumi Ren's brow furrowed. "Digging into me?"
Yamada nodded. "They were asking about your performance within Squad 4 and inquiring about your current circumstances. Though they framed it discreetly, their intentions were transparent." He looked directly at Hasumi Ren. "They have taken an interest in you."
Hasumi Ren fell silent for a beat. "Which noble house?"
Yamada studied him, hesitated for a split second, and then quietly uttered a single name. "Tsunayashiro."
A chill swept through Hasumi Ren's eyes. 'Tsunayashiro again.' Kyoraku Shunsui had already smoothed things over on his behalf once before, but it appeared they hadn't given up.
Noting the shift in his demeanor, Yamada refrained from prying and simply continued. "I have no idea what sort of bad blood you have with the Tsunayashiro Clan, but you would do well to watch your back." He paused. "Given your current strength, you might not fear them openly, but there is no guaranteeing what unpredictable measures they might resort to. This is merely a word of caution—it would be best if you didn't venture too far from the Seireitei for the time being."
Hasumi Ren drew a deep breath, suppressing the turbulent emotions rising within him. "Thank you for the warning, Vice-Captain Yamada. I'll keep my guard up."
Yamada nodded and turned to depart. After taking a few paces, he abruptly stopped. "Hasumi Ren." Yamada didn't look back. "Don't disappoint Captain Unohana."
Staring after the man's retreating back, a wave of warmth welled up in Hasumi Ren's chest. "I know."
Yamada offered no further reply, lengthening his stride as his figure gradually vanished into the far end of the corridor.
Hasumi Ren stood rooted to the spot, staring into the empty corridor for a long time. Finally, he withdrew his gaze and turned toward his quarters. 'Tsunayashiro.' The name echoed relentlessly in his mind. Those people still hadn't let it go.
But it didn't matter. His current strength was a far cry from the days when he was a helpless rookie anyone could push around. Furthermore, he had Unohana, Urahara, and even... Aizen standing behind him. A faint smile played on the edge of his lips. 'If they think they can touch me, they're in for a rude awakening.'
He pushed open the door to his quarters and stepped inside. Behind him, the sunlight remained brilliant, and the gentle fragrance of medicinal herbs still drifted through the air. Everything appeared exactly as it always had. But Hasumi Ren knew that some things had irrevocably changed.