Yamada Seinosuke's notebook contained scattered, unorganized entries reflecting his own understanding. Without a systematic structure, it differed completely from standard pharmacology or Kaidō texts, making it all the harder for Nobu to grasp.
Nobu ended up consulting numerous reference books, dedicating most of his remaining days before the competition to unraveling the notebook's complexities.
And indeed, this notebook contained insights of immense value, going far beyond mere preparation for today's evaluation.
The week Unohana had set passed quickly, and soon the day of the formal competition arrived.
Having been informed the day before, Nobu made his way to the largest courtyard within the Fourth Division barracks.
A sizable crowd had already gathered, with seated officers standing toward the front.
Nobu spotted familiar faces—among them, Iemura and Shingyōji Sen himself.
Although Nobu was currently assigned to the First Advanced Relief Team headed by Shingyōji, they'd barely interacted; Iemura usually led Nobu's field missions.
Shingyōji's expression remained calm, showing little reaction beyond a brief glance when Nobu arrived.
Nobu approached, greeting the seated officers he knew, though few replied warmly.
"Shingyōji-senpai," Nobu greeted politely.
Shingyōji nodded slowly, pausing briefly before speaking, "I heard you've secluded yourself studying Kaidō these past days. Iemura-san mentioned approving your leave. How are your preparations?"
Though challenged by a junior, Shingyōji demonstrated grace befitting a senior officer, concealing any irritation he might have felt.
Nobu flashed a relaxed smile. "I managed well enough. I look forward to your guidance, Senpai."
Seeing the cordial exchange between Nobu and Shingyōji, murmurs arose among the watching squad members, but the noise quickly faded as Unohana-taichō entered alongside Kotetsu-fukutaichō.
Meanwhile, a few squad members placed two long tables, each bearing a hollow, white sphere.
Nobu eyed the peculiar spheres carefully. He'd only been informed of today's specific evaluation yesterday—these spheres were specialized devices crafted by the Twelfth Division's Technology Development Bureau.
Without any ceremonial preamble, Kotetsu Isane announced clearly:
"Today marks the seated officer competition between Division member Tachikawa Nobu and Third Seat Shingyōji Sen. There will be three evaluation rounds, judged by Captain Unohana and all seated officers within the top ten positions, and witnessed by all Fourth Division members."
"The first evaluation will be Kaidō proficiency. These are 'Reishi Restoration Devices.' Each contains 2,300 Reishi chains simulating spiritual pathways. Exactly 2,000 of these chains are broken. You have one hour to repair as many as possible using Kaidō. Results will depend on the number repaired and time taken."
Isane's words sparked instant astonishment among spectators.
Two thousand chains?!
Many felt their scalps tingle. Repairing even minor spiritual damage within a person's body was delicate, painstaking work, yet this device required the reconstruction of an incredible two thousand chains.
Was this even possible for a human?
Witnesses silently admired—As expected from a battle for Third Seat.
All eyes shifted toward Nobu, wondering if this fresh Academy graduate truly understood spiritual pathways at all.
Kotetsu Isane motioned Nobu and Shingyōji to inspect their devices first.
Nobu stepped forward, examining the white sphere carefully. Looking closer, he noticed countless slender threads, nearly invisible, suspended inside.
So these are the Reishi chains…
Nobu placed his palm gently on the device, injecting a stream of Reishi. Instantly, the sphere illuminated brilliantly.
Never having operated one before, Nobu experimentally adjusted his energy into Kaidō. Immediately, the red glow faded, allowing him to sense the delicate flow of energy within.
Countless tiny pores, finer than sesame seeds, dotted the interior surface, marking entry points for these threads. Injecting Reishi amplified these tiny openings into visible "pathways." Kaidō was needed to reconnect these threads into chains.
These fragile chains required careful spacing to avoid collision—an intensely demanding mental task.
Two thousand chains…
Several minutes later, Shingyōji spoke first, "I'm ready."
Nobu withdrew his hand. They briefly inspected each other's spheres, confirming conditions before stepping back.
Kotetsu glanced at Unohana, who nodded slightly. Isane then placed a small timer between the two competitors.
The courtyard fell silent, the crowd holding its breath.
Kotetsu lightly tapped the timer's switch; the soft ticking filled the silence, clear as heartbeats.
Immediately, Nobu and Shingyōji began their work.
Nobu tested a quick repair first, discovering it wasn't overly difficult. Being purely training equipment, these devices required no concern for complex human factors. At his current proficiency, he estimated he might repair five or six hundred chains within an hour, assuming continuous focus.
The repair itself took mere moments, but the real challenge lay in planning each chain's path meticulously to avoid collisions. As the device filled, the task would grow increasingly complicated.
Without careful foresight, swift early repairs would block later pathways, making completion impossible.
After a few minutes, Nobu abruptly slowed down. Shingyōji's Kaidō proficiency unquestionably surpassed his own; competing directly would guarantee defeat.
Nobu's mind raced. Suddenly, he stopped using Kaidō and flooded ordinary Reishi into the device. Immediately, countless red pathways exploded outward, visible to all.
Instantly, all previously intact or repaired chains crumbled away.
Observers murmured anxiously, confused by Nobu's action. Shingyōji spared him a brief glance before returning to his meticulous work.
Unohana narrowed her eyes slightly, while Isane's heart tightened in worry.
Oh no! Did Nobu-kun misunderstand the process? Did he just ruin everything?
Nobu withdrew his energy again, gazing at the now-empty interior. He resumed using Kaidō—but also quietly activated his Zanpakutō's hidden ability.
He intended to form a centralized spiritual hub, linking every entry point simultaneously—eliminating complex pathway calculations.
Such a method was far easier said than done.
Normally, stabilizing such fragile chains in one location was utterly impossible—not just for Nobu, but even Shingyōji couldn't achieve it.
The observers watched nervously as Nobu's device repeatedly flashed red over several minutes, causing whispers to speculate he'd failed to repair even a single chain.
Yet, after several worrying flashes, the sphere finally settled into a stable glow of Kaidō energy.
Time ticked steadily away. Observers glanced anxiously between the timer and the spheres, though unable to see clearly inside from afar.
Kotetsu Isane quietly sighed in relief seeing Nobu's device finally stable. At least he hadn't ended completely empty-handed.
The timer rang abruptly, shrill and clear.
"Time's up."
Nobu and Shingyōji simultaneously stepped back, the courtyard tension palpable as the squad members waited, breathless.
"We'll now inspect and evaluate results," Isane declared, moving first toward Shingyōji's device. She peered inside carefully, then turned a small knob at its base.
Instantly, the sphere split neatly apart, floating open in midair to reveal its interior clearly.
The onlookers gasped audibly. Countless glowing white threads formed an intricate, breathtaking web inside.
Spectators murmured excitedly—There had to be at least a thousand chains there!
As expected from Shingyōji-san!
Several seated officers hurried to count carefully. Minutes later, they confirmed loudly:
"1,573 repaired chains, plus the original 300 intact—totaling 1,873!"
Shingyōji remained calm, knowing he could have completed all two thousand given a bit more careful planning.
"You truly are impressive, Shingyōji-senpai," Nobu praised sincerely.
Shingyōji nodded respectfully in return.
Next, Isane approached Nobu's device. Her eyes widened dramatically upon looking inside.
"Kotetsu-fukutaichō?" Nobu prompted gently.
Frozen in surprise, Isane raised her head slowly. Nobu smiled warmly at her, prompting her to finally turn the knob beneath his sphere.
It unfolded in midair—and gasps echoed everywhere.
Unlike Shingyōji's chaotic web, Nobu's chains lay evenly spaced, orderly and clear, all leading inward to one bright, beating core—
A heart.
A living heart, composed entirely of glowing Reishi, pulsing steadily.
Silence fell instantly. Even Unohana stood frozen momentarily, eyes fixed upon the glowing heart in astonishment.
Unohana had subtly advantaged Nobu in choosing this device. She'd severed these chains herself, anticipating Nobu would use his Zanpakutō's suspected "rewinding" ability to restore them easily.
Yet… this was utterly unexpected.
How did he manage this?!
She knew better than anyone present how fragile these chains were; they should've been impossible to stabilize like this.
Kaidō alone couldn't achieve this.
Did she misunderstand his Zanpakutō's power entirely?
"Kotetsu-fukutaichō?" Nobu gently prompted again.
Isane snapped back to attention, staring blankly at him.
"Shouldn't we count them?"
Isane gazed at the flawless, dandelion-like arrangement before her, realizing instantly:
No counting necessary.
All 2,300 chains were perfectly restored.
---
bonus chaps
100 stones -> 1 chapter
200 stones -> 2 chapters
300 stones -> 3 chapters
and so on
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