Bleach: The Fifth Division Captain

Unohana Retsu.

Among the Gotei 13, aside from Yamamoto himself, she was the Shinigami who had served the longest as a Captain—a millennium ago, she had been the fearsome first Kenpachi.

Though now she had tempered her killing intent and no longer exuded that unnerving presence.

Still, the name alone carried weight.

Facing her for the first time, Seiya couldn't help but feel a bit nervous.

"G-Greetings... My name is Seiya Arima, a first-year student at the Shin'ō Spiritual Arts Academy."

"You're quite tense. Is it because this is our first meeting?" Unohana chuckled gently. "I hope you'll grow accustomed to it. After all, once you join the Gotei 13, you'll need to interact with the 4th Division often as we handle medical and logistical support. It's something you should get used to sooner rather than later."

Her tone carried a faint air of admonishment.

But there wasn't much Seiya could do about it. She had lived for thousands of years, far beyond his comprehension. When someone so senior—a true "elder of elders"—lectured him, he could only take it.

Seiya nodded nervously, forcing out a response.

"Yes, understood… Thank you for the guidance!"

Unohana smiled warmly and nodded before stepping into the room to open the curtains.

Outside was a beautifully maintained garden. Bonsai trees and lush greenery were carefully arranged, with sparrows flitting among the branches.

A warm breeze drifted in, brushing against Seiya's body, reviving his dulled senses.

As the memories of recent events resurfaced, Seiya hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Um... Captain Unohana, may I ask you a few questions?"

Adjusting the window latch, Unohana turned back to him, folding her hands neatly in front of her. Her serene smile remained unchanged.

"Are you curious about what happened that day?"

Her answer was so direct that it was hardly surprising when she pinpointed his concern.

Seiya nodded earnestly.

"I want to know what happened."

"Unfortunately, I cannot share too many details right now. The matter still needs to be reviewed and adjudicated within the divisions. For now, all I can tell you is that it was Aizen, our 4th Seat, who brought you to us for aid."

As expected.

The figure he had seen just before losing consciousness hadn't been a hallucination.

But that revelation only deepened his confusion.

If Aizen had indeed delivered him here, why was Unohana so reluctant to disclose more? What required internal adjudication?

The situation seemed far more complicated than Seiya had imagined.

His expression grew increasingly perplexed, but Unohana showed no inclination to elaborate on anything related to Kiganjō—perhaps out of disdain for the man?

As the original Kenpachi, Unohana likely held contempt for someone like Kiganjō, who had gained his title through opportunism.

But no matter the reason, Seiya knew better than to press further.

"I understand. Thank you for helping me, Captain Unohana."

Unohana smiled softly, inclining her head in acknowledgment.

"It was nothing but standard treatment. The main credit lies with your own physical resilience. Truthfully, even without healing, your body would have recovered with time."

So, in a way, was all of this an overreaction?

As Seiya mulled this over, Unohana stood up.

"You seem much better now. You should be able to complete the discharge procedures soon."

She turned toward the door and called out, "Seinosuke, please escort Seiya to the front. The 4th Division barracks can be quite labyrinthine for first-timers."

A lean man stepped into the room. Tall and thin, with long hair and a face etched with a subtle air of melancholy, he exuded an aura of quiet authority.

"This is Seinosuke Yamada, Vice-Captain of the 4th Division. I have other duties to attend to, so I'll leave you in his care. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask him."

Seiya nodded quickly.

"Yes… Thank you again for your assistance, Captain Unohana!"

"It was nothing," she replied with a light chuckle before leaving the room.

Seinosuke, however, showed little interest in conversation. He cast a cool glance at Seiya before turning his back and speaking in a low voice.

"Let's go. I'll take you to handle the discharge paperwork."

Seiya had many questions.

Where is Aizen? How did Kiganjō react afterward?

But now wasn't the time to ask. Seiya swallowed his curiosity and followed Seinosuke in silence.

Come to think of it, I fought against Kiganjō myself…

With that thought, Seiya instinctively checked his progress.

[You have undergone a life-or-death trial, gaining deep insight into your opponent's strengths and techniques.]

[Swordsmanship +10 | Hakuda +5 | Shunpo +5 | Kidō +5]

Seeing this series of notifications, Seiya blinked in surprise.

What? This much progress?

Multiple attribute increases weren't new to him; he had experienced similar gains while observing Yoruichi's practice sessions.

But this… a total boost of 25 points… was on another level entirely.

The tangible growth in his stats, paired with a noticeable increase in his spiritual pressure, clearly elevated Seiya to a new tier of strength.

Seiya couldn't help but feel a rush of satisfaction. Yet, at the same time…

The more he gained, the more he became aware of the gap between himself and true powerhouses.

Kiganjō didn't even release his zanpakutō. He fought me using only his raw spiritual pressure…

The reality was undeniable.

Had Kiganjō released his zanpakutō, Seiya doubted he would have been able to mount even a semblance of resistance.

The fact that he managed to gravely wound Kiganjō's right arm was nothing short of extraordinary.

"This way. When you reach the entrance, just let them know your name is Seiya Arima," Seinosuke instructed before turning to leave.

The cold indifference caught Seiya off guard, and he blinked in mild confusion.

Why does he seem so distant? Did I offend him somehow?

Seinosuke Yamada.

Seiya had no strong impressions of the man. Historically, Seinosuke had served as the 4th Division's Vice-Captain over a century ago.

Since he never appeared in the anime or manga, his personality remained a mystery.