Nobu saw Unohana Retsu standing beside Kotetsu Isane.
Their gazes met—and from the gentle smile on Unohana's face, he felt a chill seep straight into his bones.
"Captain!"
Isane, unable to contain her excitement, called out softly.
"Mm."
"Nobu was amazing!"
Watching a battle on a recording was one thing—but seeing it unfold up close was entirely different.
She herself wasn't a combat-oriented Shinigami, yet even she could now say with certainty: Nobu's strength had already surpassed hers.
"Yes, very strong," Unohana said with a calm smile, offering nothing more.
"That's enough for now," Nobu said to Madarame Ikkaku.
Ikkaku didn't object. That slash earlier had already shaken most of his fighting spirit away.
"Why'd you hold back?" he couldn't help asking.
"You couldn't dodge it. Were you really planning to take that head-on?"
Ikkaku's mouth stayed stubborn. "How do you know I couldn't?"
Nobu smiled faintly. "Fine, let's say you could. But I told you already— I don't use that move on friends standing in front of me."
"…."
Ikkaku was silent for a moment, then asked, "That move got a name?"
"Yasha Shankū," Nobu said offhand.
The two left the center of the grounds together and returned to the crowd.
Nobu gave Unohana a slight bow. "Captain."
"You've made quite the lively exchange event," she said warmly.
"My apologies for not informing you in advance."
"It's fine. I've already said—anything regarding internal renovations or construction, you can handle entirely."
Only now did the crowd begin to recover from what they'd seen.
A fight between two high-ranking seated officers was rare. Most couldn't tell the exact difference in their power, but the feeling was clear—though the bout had no decisive ending, it seemed like Nobu had won.
That alone made the Fourth Division members' spirits soar.
On Ikkaku's side, Ayasegawa Yumichika said lazily, "You lost again."
"I know," Ikkaku replied, face still a bit stiff from the wind of that strike.
"He's really strong," Yumichika added, glancing toward Nobu.
"I know."
Ikkaku sighed, then turned to the other Eleventh Division members. "Don't you dare embarrass us."
The squad members exchanged glances, but all of them felt a bit uneasy.
They hadn't expected Fourth Division's Third Seat to be this strong. What about the others in Fourth Division?
Nobu began encouraging his own squad members to step up.
The crowd murmured among themselves, but before long someone raised their hand to volunteer. Nobu grinned. "No rush. One at a time."
Unohana quietly took her leave at that point.
Seeing that things here were headed in a good direction, Isane felt relieved and went to catch up with her.
"Captain, what do you think of this exchange?"
"It's good. The members are lively. Third Seat Tachikawa should have good judgment—there's nothing else I need to worry about."
Isane smiled faintly. "Nobu always does things that surprise people… and win their praise."
Unohana's lips curved slightly. "It won't just be this once."
...
For all Nobu's brilliance earlier, the other Fourth Division members' performance left much to be desired.
Aside from Ikkaku and Yumichika, Eleventh Division had brought eight more members.
Out of the eight matches fought, Fourth Division won only one—and that was with a seated officer on the field.
Meanwhile, the Eleventh Division members were wearing smug, self-satisfied looks that made the Fourth Division grit their teeth.
Nobu had expected this. With a quiet sigh, he didn't demand more from them. For the weakest division in the Gotei 13 to take even one win wasn't bad.
But it would change.
He told Ikkaku, "Thanks for coming."
"Then buy us drinks," Ikkaku grinned.
"Deal."
Nobu then addressed his squad:
Even medics shouldn't be completely helpless. In the field, that only made you a burden. From today, all members of Fourth Division would need to train their own combat ability.
Exchanges like this would be held every month, and at the end of the year, there would be a comprehensive strength assessment. Apart from the Pharmacology Unit, anyone who failed would be punished accordingly. This had already been approved by Captain Unohana.
The squad burst into uproar at that. A few seated officers looked ready to protest—until Nobu's last sentence made them swallow their words.
Unohana's authority in Fourth Division was absolute. No one dared oppose her will.
After tying up the aftermath, Nobu left with Ikkaku and Yumichika, finding a nearby izakaya.
Ikkaku didn't stand on ceremony—he grabbed the menu and ordered half of it.
While they waited for food, he asked, "Why's Fourth Division suddenly doing this?"
Nobu rolled his eyes. "Reason? You Eleventh Division guys know best, don't you?"
He meant their long-standing habit of looking down on Fourth Division.
Ikkaku put on an innocent face. "For the record, I've never looked down on you."
"Me neither," Yumichika added, hand raised.
"It's not just that," Nobu said with a wry smile. "Recruitment from the Academy is always tough. Even if we fill the roster, most who come here want to leave as soon as they can. So we have to make changes."
Ikkaku listened, then sighed. "You think a lot—doesn't sound like a rookie talking."
Yumichika's voice was mild. "This is the same man who founded the Student Council at the Academy. If he came to Fourth Division and did nothing, that would be strange—and make it look like the division buries talent."
The words were pleasing to hear. Nobu clinked glasses with them.
After a drink, Ikkaku mused, "Our captain and vice-captain never touch squad affairs. From the outside, Eleventh looks like an elite force, but inside it's loose and messy. Tachikawa—you should come to Eleventh."
"Third Seat Tachikawa's already doing his job. Shouldn't you, as a Third Seat, be doing more for your squad?" Yumichika said pointedly.
Ikkaku's face twitched.
Nobu laughed aloud.
After a few more rounds, all three were slightly drunk. Ikkaku and Yumichika both found Nobu easy to get along with—capable, but not rigid, and good company in conversation.
"Next month I'll bring people here again for a proper spar," Ikkaku said, flushed, clapping Nobu on the shoulder.
"Won't be you next month," Nobu shook his head.
"What do you mean?"
"I'll pick a different division each month."
They both stared at him.
"You can still come find me for a match anytime," Nobu added. "If I've got the time, I'll oblige."
Ikkaku frowned. "If you do that, it's going to get big. First Division will notice."
"Exactly."
Nobu's tone carried no worry—only anticipation. "Might as well make it bigger."
The two exchanged a glance, wordless.
After parting ways, Nobu walked back to Fourth Division, a touch unsteady from drink.
Today's fight had shifted quite a few opinions about him.
Not only was his Kaidō exceptional—his combat ability, even against an Eleventh Division Third Seat, had held its ground without faltering.
The fact spoke for itself.
Seated in his office chair, he finally glanced at his system's updated stats.
[Reiatsu Level: Lv40]
[Zanpakutō Unlock Progress: Lv38]
Beneath Reiatsu Level, a new line had appeared:
[Third-Class Reiatsu]
Captain-class reiatsu—meaning his spiritual pressure had reached the point where, after death, his body's reishi concentration would be too high to disperse naturally back into Soul Society.
Yet his Zanpakutō still hadn't achieved Bankai.
It was close, though.
He covered his face with a book and lay still.
A knock came at the door.
"Come in."
The footsteps were light. Still sluggish from drink, Nobu didn't immediately place them.
"You've been drinking?"
Isane's voice.
Lowering the book, he looked up at the tall beauty before him and smiled.
"Ah, Isane-neesan. Just had a few with Madarame-san and the others."
She caught the faint scent of alcohol. She'd come to discuss today's exchange event.
Looking at his clean, youthful face—sharp lines softened in the low light, hints of fresh bamboo still in his bearing—she noticed especially the clarity of his eyes.
When he smiled, his brows lifted slightly, like the breeze of early March brushing over new-blossomed peach branches. Flecks of light danced in his gaze, like stars falling into a thawing lake, rippling outward with warmth.
For no reason, she glanced away. She didn't know his exact age—never asked—but he was surely much younger than her.
She poured him a glass of water and handed it over. "Since you've been drinking, you should rest in your quarters."
But when Nobu took the cup, his hand closed gently over hers.
"Thank you, Isane-neesan. You're always so good to me."
She jolted as if shocked, the cup slipping from her grasp, spilling its contents over his clothes.
For a heartbeat she froze, then stammered, "I'm sorry, I—I…"
Grabbing tissues from the desk, she leaned in toward him.
"Let me wipe it off for you."
---
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