"So, where's Isane?" Masatsuki Aozaki asked.
"You've got some nerve. Isane's older than you, and you're calling her that way?"
Seinosuke Yamada gave him a serious look and said, "She went to get medicine. She should've been back by now."
"Maybe she's avoiding coming back because you're here."
"How can you even say that with a straight face? The most annoying person is sitting right in front of me," Seinosuke retorted.
Masatsuki rolled his eyes. "Still, Ukitake-senpai really has it rough, having to drink that bitter stuff every day."
"Not all medicine is bitter, you know," Seinosuke replied. "And besides, this isn't for Captain Ukitake."
"You're joking, right? If it's not for my senior, then what—it's for me?" Masatsuki pointed at himself, laughing dismissively. "Do I look like someone who needs medicine? I'm perfectly fine."
Seinosuke gave him a look filled with pity but said nothing.
Masatsuki sensed something was off. When he glanced at his hands, he nearly jumped in shock.
What hands? His arms were wrapped entirely in bandages, thick enough to resemble oversized cocoons. His actual hands were barely visible.
"When did this…"
"When you passed out yesterday from Reiryoku exhaustion, I personally treated and bandaged you."
Seinosuke snorted. "I really don't know how you managed to wreck yourself like this."
Masatsuki smirked. "Aww, are you worried about me?"
Then it clicked. He remembered.
Rentaro's Shikai didn't enhance his physical abilities, but those threads of his were absurdly tough.
By the time Masatsuki finished beating him down, his own hands were nothing but torn flesh and blood.
At the time, the situation was urgent, so minor injuries like that didn't seem worth worrying about.
Seinosuke snorted again. "You really think highly of yourself. I was just worried that the captain would be upset."
Masatsuki asked, "How long until I recover?"
Seinosuke stroked his chin, considering it for a moment. "About half a month."
Masatsuki raised an eyebrow. "How did I even manage to do this? My hand bones were shattered in several places, and yet I walked in here like nothing was wrong."
"If you don't mind, how about letting me borrow your body?"
Seinosuke rubbed his chin, a thoughtful glint in his eyes.
"I'd love to dissect you—get a better understanding of your body's structure."
"Who knows? It might push Soul Society's medical and biological research forward."
Masatsuki scoffed. "Yeah, no thanks. Let's leave that noble cause to someone else."
Rolling his eyes, he added, "You're just trying to kill me."
"Tch. Caught on, huh? What a shame…" Seinosuke clicked his tongue in disappointment and shook his head.
Masatsuki sighed dramatically. "This means I'll lose half a month of training."
"The guys in the Nest of Maggots are going to miss me."
Seinosuke rolled his eyes again.
Seriously injured, and the only thing this guy cares about is training? What a lunatic.
The two continued chatting idly until there was a knock at the door.
Seinosuke responded, and the door slid open.
A beautiful woman with a gentle, serene presence stepped inside, closing the door softly behind her.
Whether intentionally or not, Retsu Unohana completely ignored Seinosuke and Jūshirō Ukitake.
She walked straight to Masatsuki's bedside, glanced down at his hands, and furrowed her brows.
Seinosuke Yamada shot up from his chair, straightening his posture before quickly reporting,
"Captain, 3rd Seat Masatsuki's treatment is mostly complete. He just needs to rest and recover now."
Hearing this, Retsu Unohana gave a slight nod.
Despite Seinosuke's abrasive personality, his medical skills were widely recognized—even the nobles had tried to recruit him away from the 4th Division.
Still, Unohana didn't seem entirely reassured.
Under the watchful eyes of the others, she performed Kaidō, scanning Masatsuki Aozaki's body inside and out one more time before finally relaxing.
She smiled as she took a seat beside his bed, nodding approvingly.
"You're recovering well. The wound on your chest has almost healed, and your Reiryoku levels are stable."
"If nothing unexpected happens, the injuries to your shoulders and hands should be fully healed in about half a month."
"For now, avoid any strenuous activity and focus on resting."
"Yes…" Masatsuki Aozaki replied, though his face was one of pure misery.
Seeing his expression, Unohana couldn't help but find it amusing. At the same time, she felt a sense of relief.
Feigning nonchalance, she said, "I was at a 1st Division meeting earlier. I heard your opponent this time was captain-level."
"And you defeated a captain-level rebel… all on your own?"
Both Jūshirō Ukitake and Seinosuke Yamada looked utterly shocked.
They hadn't heard a word about this.
Ukitake had arrived at the 4th Division before Masatsuki. The moment he heard his junior had been attacked, he had rushed over in a panic.
As for Seinosuke, his rank simply wasn't high enough to be privy to such a major incident so soon.
"You already know?" Masatsuki scratched his head sheepishly. "Honestly, it was just a captain-level rebel. It wasn't that big of a deal."
Seinosuke shot him a look of pure disdain.
This guy? Embarrassed? Humble? Yeah, right. He was definitely showing off.
Unohana turned back to Seinosuke and gave him a gentle smile.
"Seinosuke, step outside for now."
"Captain, I—"
Seinosuke opened his mouth to argue.
He really didn't want to make Retsu Unohana mad.
But she simply shook her head, cutting him off.
"The next part of this discussion involves captain-level matters."
Seinosuke froze for a second, then nodded in understanding before walking out of the room.
The details of a captain's meeting weren't something just anyone could listen in on.
Meanwhile, Jūshirō Ukitake turned his head with great interest, perking up as if ready to take detailed notes.
Unohana didn't stop him.
It wasn't the first time he had missed a captain's meeting due to health reasons.
"So… what did you discuss?" Masatsuki asked.
Unohana smiled.
"Naturally, it was about the attack on you."
"The aftermath, the punishment for the rebels… and your reward."
"Oh? I'm getting a reward?" Masatsuki looked genuinely surprised.
During service in the Gotei 13, accomplishments weren't typically rewarded directly.
Instead, they were recorded and could influence future position transfers—usually after a Shinigami left their squad.
Under normal circumstances, resigning from the Gotei 13 wasn't an option.
There were only two ways a Shinigami could be forced out.
The first was being deemed a threat by the Central 46 and exiled to the Nest of Maggots.
The second was a formal transfer of position.
After all, the Seireitei functioned as the governing body of Soul Society, with numerous noble clans, the Central 46, the Gotei 13, and various administrative and special departments.
One such example was the Shin'ō Medical Institute, which Masatsuki had mentioned before.
In the original timeline, Seinosuke Yamada—despite his sharp tongue—had eventually left the 4th Division and become the institute's director.
For Masatsuki Aozaki, a currently serving 3rd Seat of the 2nd Division, to receive a direct reward was practically unheard of.
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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