Chapter 146: Acupuncture
When the final record was filed into the shelf.
Isane let out a soft breath, raising her hand to rub her somewhat sore neck. Continuous head-down organizing had left her neck stiff.
The records room was quiet, only deepening night seeping in through the window.
"Alright, finally finished before shift change."
"Tsukasa, thank you."
She turned toward Suoh, smile carrying the relaxation of completed work.
Suoh shook his head, gaze sweeping the orderly records room.
"No need for thanks. I didn't really help much."
"Of course you did. Work's done anyway. I'll take you to see the captain. This way."
The two left the records room. Isane led him through the barracks' midsection toward the independent courtyard where Unohana resided.
Moonlight gently wrapped the courtyard like gauze. The wooden veranda held a slight chill.
A figure sat quietly under the eaves.
Suoh and Isane ascended the steps.
By the clear moonlight, that figure became distinct.
Unohana Retsu's thick black hair was currently not woven into her signature chest-draped braid.
Instead it fell naturally like a waterfall over her shoulders, only casually and loosely braided in several sections at the ends.
She wore a light-colored kimono adorned with pale red four-petaled flowers, collar properly gathered, exposing only a small section of elegant white neckline.
Hands holding a porcelain cup, gazing at the distant night.
Her posture elegant as poetry, serene and gentle.
Hearing movement from behind, she didn't immediately turn.
This was Suoh's first time seeing her in such homey, gentle appearance.
The Unohana before him had shed the dignity and distance belonging to a captain.
More like a classical beauty leisurely enjoying the night in her own garden.
This nearly perfect elegance and relaxation stirred his heart. A deeper understanding emerged.
People were complex.
Unohana Retsu, who guarded Seireitei with exquisite medical skills and gentle demeanor, was her. But that one who existed in distant time standing at Soul Society's peak of swordsmanship and bloodshed—Unohana Yachiru—was also her.
Both were real existences, running parallel without contradiction.
This moment, Suoh felt he truly recognized the woman before him.
Previously, knowing canon, he'd maintained some awe and wariness facing her.
But such thoughts vanished completely after tonight.
"Pardon the intrusion. Good evening, Captain Unohana."
Suppressing his thoughts, he smiled, greeting respectfully.
"Good evening."
Unohana slowly turned her head, gaze settling on Isane, carrying knowing amusement.
"Isane came too. Filing complete?"
"Yes, Captain. Thanks to Tsukasa's help, everything's organized."
Isane answered respectfully.
"You both worked hard."
"Sit. Have some tea and rest a moment."
Unohana nodded slightly, gaze shifting to Suoh.
She lifted the teapot, taking out two clean white porcelain cups, unhurriedly pouring freshly boiled tea.
Water sounds flowing, tea fragrance spreading with steam.
Suoh and Isane sat on either side of her, accepting teacups.
The courtyard quiet, moonlight like water. Only evening wind and people.
With such scenery, Suoh abandoned thoughts of speaking. As though he'd come to Fourth Division purely for this cup of tea.
Unknown how long passed. Perhaps only brief moments, or half a cup's time.
Unohana gently set down her cup, lips curving slightly, voice soft as the night breeze.
"Tsukasa, you came specially, patiently helping Isane finish division duties."
"Surely not to request this cup of tea from me? Have you encountered some confusion?"
Her insight as keen as ever, yet skillfully leaving room, guiding the topic toward ordinary consultation.
"Yes, Captain Unohana. I do have some questions about training methods I'd like to consult you about."
Suoh restrained his scenery-appreciating relaxation, setting the teacup aside, straightening his posture, nodding sincerely.
Though he didn't know why no surveillance was deployed around the captain's residence area, since timing and location proved perfect, he wouldn't dwell on it mentally.
He explained in detail his current situation using Kikou for vision-sealing training, including progress made during this period and bottlenecks encountered.
Explained his idea—under harmless premises, temporarily stripping senses to strengthen spiritual awareness and combat information processing ability, to handle more complex, strange situations.
Unohana listened quietly, expression calm and focused.
After Suoh finished, she pondered briefly before slowly speaking.
"I see. Focusing on tempering spiritual awareness to transcend the five senses' shackles."
"Very insightful and quite bold thinking."
"The path you've chosen—in Soul Society's long history, some have attempted it."
She paused, briefly organizing thoughts, then clearly explained.
"Using your zanpakuto's characteristics to seal vision proves very safe."
"But the other four senses' perceptual roots are deeply embedded in the soul's spiritual meridian vital points. To achieve your desired sealing degree, roughly two paths exist."
Unohana raised fingers, enumerating.
"One: Pharmaceutical assistance. Fourth Division texts contain quite a few drugs that can weaken specific sensory information input short-term. Safest method, but during drug effectiveness, spiritual pressure circulation also gets affected, slightly sluggish. Suitable for static meditation perception, not the dynamic combat you mentioned."
"Two: Needle acupuncture on spiritual meridians. Souls have acupoints. Through condensing high-density spiritual pressure into needles, you can influence related sensory information transmission. Needle application requires extreme caution. This needs extremely detailed understanding of meridian pathways plus superior spiritual pressure control. Otherwise, slightest error—if meridian blockage counts as light consequence, severe cases damage fundamentals, difficult to restore short-term."
She finished, quietly looking at Suoh, tone gentle with warning.
"Whichever path you choose, training cannot be rushed."
"Especially acupuncture method. If interested in learning, you must do so within Fourth Division, under my instruction, before attempting initial practice."
"Understand?"
"I understand. I choose the second path."
"Tempering through dynamic combat is what I pursue."
Suoh seriously listened to this detailed, professional answer. His mind cleared.
Meeting her gaze, without slightest hesitation, he firmly chose.
From past hakuda training, he had some research on acupoints. Just hadn't delved deeply these years.
He also knew that finding corresponding acupoints could indeed impact the body.
Also because he understood, he knew sealing five senses' difficulty and risk weren't as low as imagined. Couldn't just stick needles in himself.
Since pharmaceuticals sounded impractical, naturally choosing the second path.
Moreover, with Unohana personally instructing, this path had maximum safety guarantee.
Unohana smiled faintly, having anticipated this choice, refilling his teacup.
"Drink tea. Training's path is long. Sometimes you must calm your mind and savor the present."
Gently bringing the cup before him with a slight smile.
"However, I won't teach you for free. Next month many new members will join. Your Special Emergency Team must help the division train newcomers, share some pressure."
"Yes. My duty."
Suoh lifted the teacup, nodding acceptance.
The tea break lasting some time ended after ten-some minutes.
Isane saw him to the gate, softly reminding.
"Tsukasa, since the captain agreed to teach you, she'll definitely transmit knowledge seriously. You absolutely cannot attempt acupuncture privately."
"Don't worry, Isane-neesan. I understand."
"Do I look like someone who'd be that reckless?"
Suoh responded, grinning at her easily.
He wasn't some fool ignorant of depth. Would definitely only try when timing arrived.
Simply a matter of natural progression. He could wait.
"Good to know. Then be careful on your way."
Seeing this, Isane couldn't help smiling.
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