South Rukongai.
Yoriichi slowly described the black-clothed man's abilities to Hikifune Kirio.
The focus was on power amplification and injury transfer.
Of course, he didn't forget the elephant.
Yoriichi guessed.
That elephant should be the source of his power.
"An elephant?"
Hikifune Kirio pondered.
Click.
She closed her notebook, put it back into her chest, nodded, and understood: "I understand. I will report this information to the Captain-Commander. In the future, investigations will likely be based on this information."
"Of course."
"But don't have too high hopes."
"After all, that guy managed to hide his Bankai for so many years without exposing it. He must be a private soldier or a loyalist raised by a noble family since childhood."
"If it weren't for today's incident, perhaps he would never have appeared on the stage until his death."
"Nobles..."
At this point.
She sighed, "It's really troublesome, but fortunately, I'm leaving tomorrow. Everything in Seireitei shouldn't bother me."
"I can also make the delicious food I want to make."
"Little Brother Yoriichi."
Hikifune Kirio raised her chin, revealing a smile.
"If there's a chance, I'll treat you to a meal."
"I hope you can make further progress on this basis, so you can see an even vaster world."
"Seireitei is still too small."
Her words were a bit unclear, but Yoriichi didn't delve into them.
Seeing that the matter was concluded.
He was about to turn and leave.
But the next second.
"Captain!"
A Shinigami hurried over from a distance, stating that all the Rukongai residents nearby had fallen into a coma, likely caused by the rebel faction.
After the barrier broke, Reiatsu radiated dozens of kilometres away, indirectly affecting three areas.
Due to the large number, they were difficult to handle, so the Fourth Division had to be called.
Additionally, the Sixth Division members injured by the rebels also needed treatment. The Kuchiki Clan is not skilled in Healing Kido.
Upon seeing the Shinigami lying on the ground, Hikifune Kirio asked, "How many people were affected?"
"Around a hundred thousand..."
"A hundred thousand?" Hikifune Kirio frowned. Such a number was already enough to be called a large-scale disaster.
If luck were bad, a large number of Rukongai residents might die due to soul collapse.
It seemed that the rebel faction had gone to great lengths to eliminate Kuchiki Sōjun.
Silently exhaling, she then used a machine to contact the Fourth Division—the distance was too far, and neither Tenkei Kūra nor Hell Butterflies would be fast enough.
After Retsu Unohana agreed, Hikifune Kirio turned around.
Suddenly, she saw.
Tsugikuni Yoriichi remained in place, not yet having left.
"Oh?"
"Little Brother Yoriichi, you haven't left yet?"
"Hmm..." Yoriichi nodded and replied,
"I heard your conversation just now, and I'll help too. After all, I also bear some responsibility for this matter."
"Coincidentally, I'm also slightly proficient in Healing Kido."
"Is that so?" Hikifune Kirio thought for a moment and did not refuse. However, since some Shinigami were already being treated and their lives sustained,
She had someone bring Tsugikuni Yoriichi to the disaster site.
Not long after, they saw a village of unconscious Rukongai residents.
Treatment and soothing then began.
After the last few Rukongai residents were awakened, a Twelfth Division member quickly walked out from a forest on one side.
She was holding a child in her arms.
Blood stained her fingers.
Walking up to Yoriichi, she respectfully said:
"Vice-Captain Tsugikuni... is it alright if I call you that?"
"I found this child in the forest two kilometres away. She is suspected to be a resident of this district as well."
"She fell to the ground and became unconscious when her Reiatsu burst while she was climbing a tree to pick fruit."
"Her head was also cut."
"Please take a look..."
Tsugikuni Yoriichi's gaze followed, and with just one look, his eyes froze.
Because.
This child closely resembled Rukia.
But after careful observation.
He found.
There were still relatively obvious differences between the two.
Such as clothing, hairstyle, and temperament...
But even so, Yoriichi couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
Who... was she?
...
...
"Where are the injured?"
On the other side.
Retsu Unohana, who arrived ahead of the Fourth Division by riding Minazuki, descended from the sky with Kiyonosuke Yamada.
Her white haori combined with her gentle smile was very eye-catching.
However, the male Shinigami beside her was somewhat ordinary.
His expression was cold, and his physique was thin.
If it weren't for the division emblem on his shoulder.
An ordinary person would probably mistake him for an extra at first glance.
Kiyonosuke Yamada, the current Vice-Captain of the Fourth Division, was the only existence in the entire Soul Society whose Healing Kido technique was second only to Retsu Unohana.
Thud.
Landing, he looked around, carefully observing the surroundings. Under the trees, the dim light caused his cold eyebrows to furrow slightly.
When his gaze swept over the heavily injured and unconscious Shinigami on the ground, he couldn't help but "Tch" in disdain.
Incompetent fellows, to actually require Captain Retsu Unohana to personally appear...
Seireitei does not need these incompetent Shinigami.
Unfortunately.
These words could only be thought in his heart, after all, it was a noble division.
Perhaps an inconspicuous extra within it was the descendant of some high-ranking or mid-ranking noble.
"Alright."
In just a few minutes, Retsu Unohana concluded that the treatment was complete.
She slowly stood up, her smile still kind and gentle.
Looking at Kuchiki Sōjun, who had not yet left: "That will be eighty thousand Kan."
Her tone was like a spring breeze, but Kuchiki Sōjun could hear the undeniable authority within it. He took eighty thousand Kan from his person and handed it to Retsu Unohana.
Subsequently, seeing his subordinate members' injuries healed, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
As the Fourth Division hurried over, Retsu Unohana continued:
"Then, will the Kuchiki Clan also bear the treatment costs for those Rukongai residents?"
"Indeed." Kuchiki Sōjun nodded,
"All of this began because of me, so it naturally must end with me. I believe Father will also be pleased."
"By the way, your prices for treating Rukongai residents and Shinigami aren't the same, are they?"
"It depends on the situation. If there are no obvious injuries, naturally there's no need to save them; they will slowly regain consciousness on their own. But if there are obvious injuries..."
"Ignoring issues like lifespan, it's one thousand Kan per person."
"One thousand Kan?" Kuchiki Sōjun thought for a moment, "That's acceptable, not too expensive."
Even if the casualty rate was one-tenth, it would only be ten million Kan.
This amount couldn't even buy a single Senkōbaku.
Using this money to gain peace of mind.
It was worth it.
As the Fourth Division members dispersed, Yoriichi slowly walked out of a forest on one side.
He was holding a child by the hand. The child was a bit shy, her eyes darting around, seemingly unable to comprehend the current situation.
Who would tell her...
Why, just from climbing a tree to pick fruit, did she inexplicably gain an older brother?
And this older brother seemed to have a very high status...
He was a Shinigami...
Could this be a dream?