The Saitō family was one of the most distinguished noble families in the Soul Society.
It was said that their ancestors once had a powerful shinigami who led the clan step by step toward glory.
Unfortunately, that ancestor was killed on one of his later missions, and from then on, the Saitō family never recovered.
For generations, no true genius had been born, and the family's prestige gradually faded.
By the time of Arata Saitō, he was the only surviving male.
Even the previous head of the family had died of illness three years ago.
Only a few loyal servants remained to maintain the estate, and it could be said that the family now existed in name only.
If the noble families had not still respected the alliance that the Saitō ancestors once had with the captains of the Gotei 13, they would have long since divided the estate and destroyed the clan.
The struggle among nobles was far more brutal than the conflicts between ordinary shinigami.
When Arata thought about it, he suddenly remembered that his ancestors once had connections with the Gotei 13.
Without hesitation, he returned home, found the heirloom that had been passed down through the family for generations, and immediately headed for Seireitei.
The guard at the White Gate, a young shinigami from the Fourth Division, initially wanted to stop Arata, but when he saw the embroidered emblem of the blue gentian on the token, his attitude changed instantly.
He rested his spear, smiled, and opened the gate.
Arata paused for a moment, surprised.
"Is this the power of connections?" he thought.
Passing through the gate and following the path he remembered, Arata soon arrived at his destination, the Fourth Division barracks, before noon.
The shinigami on duty inside noticed him almost immediately.
Judging by his uniform and badge, he was a sixth-year student of the Shin'ō Academy.
But since it wasn't recruitment season yet, his presence there was highly unusual.
"Hmm… Saitō-san? What brings you to our Fourth Division?"
A slender shinigami woman with short silver-gray hair approached, carrying a pile of books in her arms.
It was Kotetsu Isane, the vice-captain of the Fourth Division.
She had been on her way to deliver reports to the captain, but upon hearing the commotion, she came to see what was going on.
When she saw the unfamiliar student, her eyes immediately fell on the name engraved on his badge, Saitō.
Moreover, his appearance was striking: a muscular build, taller than Captain Zaraki, darker skin, and purple hair reminiscent of the Shihōin family.
It wasn't hard to remember such a man.
"Vice-Captain Kotetsu," Arata said calmly, bowing.
"I have come to request an audience with Captain Unohana. This is the Saitō family token; please deliver it to the captain."
Kotetsu Isane carefully took the token.
It was a small purple amulet, embroidered with the gentian flower, the symbol of the Fourth Division.
She wasn't sure how to react.
She had only recently been promoted and still hadn't fully adjusted to the responsibilities of vice-captain.
This item was unfamiliar to her, but she sensed it was not ordinary.
"Isane-chan, it's all right. Just take him to see Captain Unohana."
"I know her well enough to tell you, she won't blame you."
A hoarse but gentle voice came from within the quarters.
Isane turned and saw an elderly woman with snow-white hair slowly emerging from the shadow of the corridor.
"Yakumo-san!? Didn't you retire last year?" Isane was astonished.
Yakumo Kadori, formerly the Seventh Officer of the Fourth Division, was a legend.
She had served in the division for hundreds of years, and nearly every medical shinigami serving in the team today had once been her student.
Due to injuries, she had retired last year at Unohana's insistence and had rarely appeared in Seireitei since then.
The old woman smiled, the wrinkles on her face softening, and her voice was warm and calm.
"I've been busy all my life, never at peace," she said.
"Today, I decided to take a little walk to the Fourth Division… I didn't expect to meet an old friend."
She paused, and her gaze fell on Arata.
"If I'm not mistaken, you're a child of the Saitō family, aren't you?"
Those words surprised both Isane and Arata.
"Yes, my name is Saitō Arata, son of the last head of the Saitō family," he replied.
"May I ask, Miss Yakumo, what is your connection to my family?"
The old woman merely smiled faintly and waved her hand.
"Yuyune-chan, take him to Captain Unohana."
"I believe this is urgent."
"Oh! Yes, understood!" Isane nodded and turned.
"Saitō-san, please follow me."
Arata gave a brief nod and followed her, but his thoughts were far from calm.
Who exactly was that woman?
She had recognized his family's heirloom and called him an old friend.
Could she have known one of his ancestors?
Before he could reach a conclusion, they arrived at the captain's office.
Isane knocked on the door.
"Enter," came a gentle yet authoritative voice from within.
When they entered, Arata immediately saw a woman in a captain's haori kneeling before a low table, carefully arranging several plum blossoms.
Her long black hair gleamed under the light and gently cascaded down her chest.
Although she wore the traditional black shinigami uniform, she couldn't hide her elegance or presence.
The room carried the faint fragrance of plum blossoms, but there was something else as well.
A scent familiar to him, though he couldn't remember from where.
"What is it, Isane?"
Captain Unohana Retsu spoke calmly, not lifting her gaze from the flowers.
"Is there something that requires my attention?"
"Yes, Captain," Isane replied.
"This is Saitō Arata from the Shin'ō Academy. He came to see you and brought the symbol of the Saitō family."
Upon hearing that name, Unohana paused.
Her movement slowed, and her gaze froze.
After a moment of silence, she raised her eyes and looked at the young man before her.
"Saitō…?" she repeated softly.
"May I see that token?"
Without a word, Arata took out the purple pouch and handed it to her.
Unohana received it carefully, her long fingers brushing over the embroidered gentian flower.
At that moment, something in her expression changed.
Memories, long buried in the past, stirred like the scent of an old flower.
Silence filled the room.
After a long pause, Unohana exhaled softly, almost inaudibly.
"Isane," she said quietly, "you may go. Just leave the books on the shelf."
"Understood, Captain."
Isane neatly placed the books on the shelf and bowed.
"Then I'll take my leave."
As she exited, she glanced back for a moment at the captain.
Never before had she seen such an expression on her face, one that seemed to recall something painful yet precious.
"Could it be… that Captain Unohana and the Saitō family know each other?" she thought.
And she remembered the words the old woman Yakumo had said earlier, "an old friend."
"No, no, no…" she muttered, shaking her head as she walked down the corridor.
"I shouldn't think about it. I need to focus on training."
The instructor course at the Academy was starting soon.
If she didn't improve her skills and ended up embarrassing herself in front of everyone, she wouldn't just lose her reputation, but also the honor of the Fourth Division.