The next morning, sunlight streamed through the window.
Kazuma climbed out of bed early, feeling a mix of nervousness and anticipation.
Today, he was going to visit two important figures: Captain Chika Shihoin of the Second Division and Captain Yachiru Unohana of the Eleventh Division.
He straightened his Shihakusho, tied his hair back, and left his quarters.
...
First stop: the Second Division barracks.
The environment here was tranquil and shaded by lush trees, feeling like a world apart from the rest of the Seireitei.
As expected of the division that spearheaded the Onmitsukidō.
Kazuma knocked on the door of the Captain's office and entered upon receiving permission. Chika Shihōin sat at his desk, watching him with a faint smile.
After exchanging pleasantries, Kazuma stated his purpose.
"Captain Shihōin, I would like to ask for your guidance regarding the Shihōin clan's unique Shunpo techniques. I hope to learn them to improve my mobility," Kazuma said sincerely.
Chika's expression hardened.
He shook his head. "It's an exclusive art of the Shihōin clan. It cannot be taught to outsiders."
Kazuma felt a pang of disappointment but nodded in understanding.
Chika's lips suddenly curled into a cunning smile.
"However... if you are willing to marry into the Shihoin clan and become one of us, I can teach you the techniques."
Hearing the proposal, Kazuma nearly choked.
His eyes widened as he quickly waved his hands. 'I want to learn the Shihōin's Shunpo to gain the strength to protect Batsu'unsai. If I marry into your clan, what's the point of it?!'
"Thank you for the kind offer, Captain, but I must decline," Kazuma explained hastily.
Chika did not press the matter.
He simply smiled and waved Kazuma off. Kazuma exhaled, relieved he had avoided an awkward political trap.
He thanked Chika, bid him farewell, and hurried away.
...
Next was the Eleventh Division.
This morning had made Kazuma realize that learning the secret arts of noble clans was no easy task.
However, Kaidō—the Healing Arts—became widespread a thousand years later, resulting in the reorganization of the Fourth Division into a medical squad.
Captain Unohana likely wouldn't refuse him.
Kazuma arrived at the Eleventh Division barracks.
The atmosphere was a complete contrast to the Second Division, filled with the clamor of sparring and raw, violent energy.
He found Unohana's office and entered.
Unohana greeted him warmly.
She was, after all, Batsu'unsai's closest friend.
"Captain Unohana, I hear you pride yourself on mastering all sword styles in the Soul Society and have given yourself the name Yachiru. You must have fought many life-or-death battles. Do you always win in a completely one-sided fashion?" Kazuma didn't ask to learn Kaidō directly, he needed to lay the groundwork.
Unohana took a sip of tea. "Most battles end in a one-sided victory, yes. But I have encountered troublesome opponents. The Captain-Commander, Captain Saito, Captain Batsu'unsai... they are all strong. I have never defeated the Captain-Commander, but with the others, I have shared wins and losses."
"Wait. You said Batsu'unsai is a master of swordsmanship? Did I hear that right?" Kazuma automatically skipped over Saito.
He knew the original Gotei 13 were killers, but he hadn't realized Batsu'unsai's sword skills were on par with Unohana's.
"Batsu'unsai only acts like a delicate girl in front of you," Unohana smiled serenely. "When she truly fights, she is ruthless. She will not hesitate to cut an enemy down. She is a great villain in her own right. She is the Captain of the 8th Division, why would you think she is just a pretty face, Kazuma?"
"I'm aware of her strength. I just didn't know she was a sword master on your level. And Batsu'unsai is very well-behaved. You aren't allowed to slander her, Captain," Kazuma vehemently defended her image.
"Is this what love is?" Unohana tilted her head.
'Love! Love my ass!' Kazuma thought of the classic meme.
"I'm getting sidetracked. Captain Unohana, since you've been through so many battles... is there a way to rapidly recover from injuries on the field?"
"Kazuma, why do you ask this?" Unohana found the pivot strange. "It's true that i've learned such an ability. It was taught to me by a man named Tenjiro Kirinji."
"During my time fighting in Hueco Mundo, I was injured many times, and recovery was agonizingly slow. I've been thinking about this problem since I returned. Given your combat experience, I decided to ask for your guidance," Kazuma explained.
"I see. Are you hoping to learn this skill?"
"If possible, yes." Kazuma was overjoyed.
For Unohana to ask directly meant she was open to it.
"Captain Unohana, I actually have another idea. Why doesn't the Gotei 13 have a dedicated medical squad? Shinigami are scarce. This could drastically reduce the loss of our fighting strength."
Unohana's eyes lit up. "Kazuma, that's a brilliant idea! I had never considered formalizing it in that manner. Please excuse me. I must go to the First Division and report this to the Captain-Commander immediately. If this comes to fruition, you will have performed a great service."
Unohana set her teacup down, brushed past Kazuma, and rushed out the door.
'My goodness, she's in a hurry. This isn't something that can be built in a day and she just abandoned her guest.' Kazuma stood up.
He had achieved his goal for the trip, so he headed back to the 8th Division.
...
As he returned, Kazuma ran into Batsu'unsai on her way out. "Are you going on a mission?"
"The Captain-Commander called an emergency Captains' meeting. Be prepared. We might be deploying," Batsu'unsai instructed him and quickly left.
'An emergency meeting? Unohana's report must have yielded results instantly.'
...
In the First Division, Yamamoto was handling paperwork when Unohana requested an audience.
"Captain-Commander, Lieutenant Satou visited me today, and we discussed matters of medical care. Inspired by his ideas, I believe it is necessary for the Gotei 13 to establish a dedicated medical squad. This would greatly enhance our combat effectiveness and reduce attrition." Unohana went on to list the logistical benefits.
Yamamoto stroked his beard, pondering the proposal.
"I agree."
"Chōjirō, immediately notify all Captains to convene for an emergency meeting to finalize this matter," Yamamoto ordered.
"Yes, Captain-Commander."
Chōjirō raised two of his fingers. "Black and white net. Twenty-two bridges, sixty-six crowns and belts. Footprints, distant thunder, sharp peak, engulfing land, hidden in the night, sea of clouds, blue line. Form a circle and fly through the heavens. Bakudō Seventy-Seven: Tenteikūra."
Chōjirō broadcast the summons directly into the minds of the Captains.
Shortly after, in the First Division meeting hall, all thirteen Captains had assembled.
Except for Unohana, everyone was on high alert, assuming a major threat had emerged.
Yamamoto struck his staff against the floor. "Silence. This emergency meeting has been convened because Lieutenant Satou of the 8th Division has proposed a major structural shift for the Gotei 13. After he and Captain Unohana discussed it, she brought the proposal to me. After consideration, I believe it's highly feasible."
The Captains began to whisper among themselves.
"I agree to the formation of a medical squad," Batsu'unsai was the first to speak.
The suggestion was strategically sound, and besides, Kazuma was the one behind the idea.
Everyone in the room knew where her loyalties lay.
"I concur."
"This will reduce casualties among our grunts."
After a brief discussion, the vote was unanimous.
Yamamoto looked at Unohana. "The proposal is passed. You will oversee the preparations for the medical squad, as you are the only one who currently knows the techniques. Furthermore, I am officially incorporating medical arts into the Shinigami Kidō curriculum. We shall designate it 'Kaidō'—the Healing Arts. As for Lieutenant Satou's contribution, I will report it to Central 46."
Unohana stood and bowed. "Thank you for your trust, Captain-Commander."
"It's decided. Dismissed."
...
When Batsu'unsai returned to the 8th Division, before Kazuma could even speak, she grabbed him by the collar and kissed him.
"Kazuma, what is in that head of yours? How did you come up with such a genius idea?"
"I assume the Captain-Commander agreed?"
"Unanimously. He ordered Unohana to build the medical squad and officially named the techniques Kaidō. He's also reporting your contribution to Central 46. I wonder what kind of reward you'll get!" Batsu'unsai's face was alight with excitement.
In truth, Kazuma had a selfish motive for proposing the medical squad.
He wanted to secure a personal goal: eternal youth.
He knew that a thousand years later, Unohana's appearance remained completely unchanged, while Yamamoto had grown old and scarred.
This made Kazuma realize that mastering advanced Kaidō was the key to halting aging.
He proposed the idea to guarantee himself a convenient position in the squad's construction—as its architect—so he could master the skill.
"If we master Kaido, maybe we can stay young forever and spend a much longer time together," Kazuma said, pulling her close.
Batsu'unsai smiled and tapped his forehead. "You and your vanity. But if we really can learn Kaidō, it wouldn't be a bad thing."
"Then we'll have to work hard and ask Unohana for guidance."
Kazuma and Batsu'unsai immersed themselves in learning Kaidō.
Apart from eating, sleeping, and completing missions, all their time was devoted to the Healing Arts.
Even while eating nabe, they would debate Reishi application and cellular repair, acting like scholars possessed.
They frequently visited the Eleventh Division to humbly seek Unohana's guidance and Unohana patiently answered their questions.
During their studies, Kazuma and Batsu'unsai confirmed that advanced Kaidō could indeed halt the aging process.
The Reishi manipulation used to treat wounds could be inverted to continuously repair and maintain one's own cellular structure.
...
As time passed, their Kaidō skills grew exquisite.
They learned how to treat severe trauma and mastered advanced techniques to restore depleted life force.
During a fierce border skirmish with a Hollow pack, several Shinigami were gravely injured and on the verge of death.
To test their studies, Kazuma and Batsu'unsai took to the field.
Their hands glowed with pale green Reishi as they infused Kaidō energy into the injured, swiftly halting hemorrhages and repairing tissue.
Upon waking, the grunts saw the bloodthirsty Captain of the 8th Division and her terrifying Lieutenant actively healing them.
They felt incredibly honored to be treated by such high-ranking officers.
For a time, the grunts of the Gotei 13 were full of praise for the pair.
"You two are so warm-hearted, always stepping in to help the injured," Unohana teased them over tea.
"Yare yare. We were just testing the results of our studies. We aren't that noble," Kazuma deflected.
"Regardless, your idea has benefited the entire Gotei 13. However... Yamamoto reported your merits to Central 46 months ago, but you still haven't been rewarded.... What a bunch of stubborn old fools, sometimes I want to draw my sword and slaughter those self-righteous nobles!," Unohana said, her smile turning dangerously cold.
"Captain Unohana, perhaps the nobles have their own considerations."
In truth, Kazuma wanted to march into Central 46 and ask the codgers why he was being ignored.
If he wasn't satisfied with their answer, he wouldn't mind taking a page from Aizen's playbook and secretly slaughtering the entire Central 46 during the chaos of the coming Quincy Blood War and let Yhwach take the blame.
Kazuma was perfectly capable of managing the Gotei 13's internal politics himself, he didn't need a shadow council of nobles holding him back!