After being embraced once more by his mentor, Unohana, Fujimiya Makoto's severe injuries and waning consciousness plunged him into a deep slumber.
Though the [Wall of Sighs] served as a final safeguard, it didn't mean maintaining his "will" came without a toll on his spirit.
In his haze, he faintly sensed someone carrying him as they moved swiftly.
—Probably heading back to the medical station, right?
That's what he thought.
He had no idea how much time had passed before Fujimiya finally felt his body recover slightly, slowly opening his eyes.
Yet, the moment his thoughts began to stir, an agonized scream suddenly pierced his ears.
"N-No! Stop! Aaah—mmph!!!"
Fujimiya was jolted awake by the sound.
That was unmistakably Shihouin Senjumaru's voice!
What the hell was being done to him?!
Struggling to turn his head, his body ached with even the slightest movement. It took him a long while to barely glance to the side.
The next instant, his pupils trembled in shock.
His dear mentor stood by the thatched shelter, while he, Shihouin Senjumaru, and the remaining injured were each laid out on dry straw mats.
In Unohana's hand was a peculiar object—its lower half resembled a hilt, while the upper half looked like... a geoduck? No, perhaps a sea cucumber?
In any case, it was a slimy, fleshy, writhing creature covered in barbed tendrils.
"Heal the pain, Minazuki."
Then, under the horrified gazes of everyone—and accompanied by Shihouin Senjumaru's screams—Unohana Yachiru forcefully shoved the geoduck-like creature into the dark-skinned youth's mouth, muffling his cries.
Fujimiya stared blankly as the creature, seemingly alive, writhed and extended deeper into Senjumaru's body, its tendrils secreting a glistening fluid.
The sight sent chills down everyone's spines.
"Fascinating, isn't it, Fujimiya-kun?"
Just as he stood frozen, someone beside him whispered with suppressed laughter.
Katori Bunsai adjusted her glasses, her eyes gleaming with intrigue as she explained softly, "Unohana-sama's Zanpakutō is a rare biological-type healing class—exceptionally uncommon."
"Even I've only read about a handful in The Secret Chronicles of Ten Thousand Zanpakutō Forms."
"Rumor has it, if Unohana-sama changes her release command, her Zanpakutō can take on different forms."
"Ah... I-I see..." Fujimiya replied, forcing a shaky smile. "That's... really impressive."
"Right?!" Katori's eyes sparkled. "Thanks to Unohana-sama, so many injured have survived!"
"Wait—hold on!"
As if struck by a realization, Fujimiya abruptly looked down at his own body.
Unfortunately.
It was already tightly wrapped in layers of bandages.
"Looking for something?"
Just as he pondered this, Unohana-sensei—having finished "treating" Senjumaru—quietly approached, her voice calm as she inquired.
Cold sweat drenched Fujimiya's body.
At this moment, what answer could possibly save him from the fate of having a sea cucumber shoved down his throat?!
"N-Nothing, really..."
But before he could finish, his damn Zanpakutō decided to act up again.
[Eww~ Sensei's sword! Super ugly!]
[I've never seen anything so disgusting in my life!]
[And that poor dark-skinned guy—getting stuffed with something that huge must make him wanna die, huh? Heehee!]
[I'll record this scene right now and print ten thousand copies for the Spirit Library!]
[This is! The ultimate humiliation, yaaargh!!!]
The shelter fell dead silent.
He said it!
Brave Fujimiya had once again voiced what no one else dared to say!
The other veteran Shinigami lying in the shelter looked at him as if he were a hero.
Before Unohana could respond, Senjumaru—who had been lying there in a daze, seemingly traumatized—suddenly twitched violently, as if struck by an overwhelming stimulus. With a hoarse, broken voice, he roared:
"I'LL KILL YOU, YOU BASTARD—!!!"
"RYŪMA!!!"
But Fujimiya had no time to deal with him now.
Sweat poured down the young man's back.
Unohana Yachiru watched him calmly, her usual gentle smile in place.
Except, her Zanpakutō had already transformed back into its sea cucumber form.
She lifted it, examining it closely with mild puzzlement.
"Hmm..."
"Is it really that ugly?"
"I always thought it was rather cute."
Fujimiya's face darkened slightly, but he forced himself to explain: "A-Ah, Sensei... you know me, I'm always saying the opposite of what I mean."
"What my Zanpakutō says... usually isn't what I'm thinking."
"Really?"
Unohana smiled sweetly.
"Really!" Fujimiya swore solemnly.
"Is that so?" Unohana sighed lightly. "I was just thinking, if Makoto truly disliked this form, I could change it for you."
Fujimiya froze, then immediately perked up, pivoting his stance:
"...But!"
"Sensei, sometimes trying new things isn't bad either."
"Right?"
Unohana's smile returned. "Oh? Then that's wonderful."
Fujimiya braced himself.
Compared to having Minazuki shoved down his throat, he'd rather be swallowed whole by it.
Then, Unohana slightly altered her release command:
"Devour his wounds, Minazuki."
In the next instant, the sea cucumber morphed into a massive, heart-shaped... plug.
Unohana smiled as she aimed the tip at him.
[Wait!]
[Sensei! Sensei, no!]
[It won't fit! There's no way something that huge can fit!]
Fujimiya's eyes widened as he gulped hard.
Could this damn sword sink any lower?!
Unfortunately, this time, Unohana-sensei paid no heed to the sword's protests.
With a whoosh, the heart-shaped object split open at the tip, forming octopus-like tendrils.
Plop!
It swallowed Fujimiya whole.
Treatment began.
"Tch..."
The surrounding onlookers collectively shuddered.
Never mind.
They'd rather take the sea cucumber.
Only Katori Bunsai's eyes sparkled as she scribbled furiously in her notebook.
This was incredibly rare semi-release Zanpakutō data!
Must document it!
...
After briefly tending to the wounded, Unohana and the others led the group back toward the 64th District headquarters.
This ambush had netted them two of the Five Great Noble Clan heads—albeit newly appointed ones—but it was still an undeniable victory.
Moreover, the information in their minds would be the greatest prize of this operation—the very reason Unohana had chosen to bring them back alive.
Dojo
Shihouin Senjumaru and Shiba Yozu appeared unbound, but multiple Kidō restraints had been layered upon them.
Currently, their physical abilities were no better than an average Shinigami's.
And now, they stood before someone they couldn't have defeated even at their peak.
Thud.
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's cane tapped lightly against the wooden floor.
Chōjirō Sasakibe and Shigekuni Yamamoto stood silently behind him like attendants.
Senjumaru and Yozu looked up simultaneously.
So, this was the leader of the Genryū?
Everything they'd seen on the way here contradicted the image they'd formed from intelligence reports.
These so-called "rogues"—the Genryū Shinigami—were clearly bound by strict codes of conduct.
From the mountains to the streets, the civilians lived in peace and stability.
There was no sign of pillaging or devastation.
In fact, it was far better than many noble-ruled territories.
Yamamoto's gaze was calm as he regarded the two young men, his tone steady:
"First meeting. I am Genryūsai."
"I assume you both understand why I've invited you here."
"Is there anything you'd like to say?"
Yozu seemed visibly dispirited.
He stared at Yamamoto, as if he had many questions but didn't know where to start.
Senjumaru, however, had recovered somewhat from his earlier humiliation.
Facing Yamamoto, he smirked and replied breezily:
"Oh, plenty..."
"But, old man."
Senjumaru leaned forward slightly, tilting his chin up.
"Will talking buy us our lives?"
Chōjirō frowned, about to interject, but Yamamoto raised a hand to stop him.
"That depends," the old man said evenly, "on whether your information is worth your lives."
He emphasized the word "heads."
Clearly, ordinary intel wouldn't satisfy him.
Senjumaru thought for a moment, then grinned.
"Then how about this—a piece of intel that concerns your life, old man, and everyone else's."
"Tell me..."
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"Have you heard of the Tsunayashiro clan's... 'Sacred Treasure'?"