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Shin scouted the area for a while before heading back in the evening. He used Shunpo to find Kiyotaka Shīhōin and report on the surrounding situation.
There were indeed Gillian-class Hollows, and quite a few of them. There were also several Adjuchas—four more, besides the three Shin had eliminated.
As for Vasto Lordes, Shin hadn't found any. If he had, they wouldn't have survived.
After speaking with Kiyotaka, Shin left and headed for the central encampnt of the 4th Division.
On his way, however, he ran into Kyōraku Shunsui, now the Captain of the 8th Division. Alongside him was Jūshirō Ukitake, Kyōraku's close friend. Both were disciples of Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.
Shin glanced at Ukitake. He knew that the right arm of the Soul King resided within him. Ukitake, with his gentle deanor, offered Shin a warm smile.
"Well, fancy eting you here, Shin."
Kyōraku was sowhat familiar with Shin, having t him during the graduation assessnt. Suddenly, he leaned in close to Shin and whispered, "So, what's the deal between you and Captain Unohana?"
"Oh? I didn't take you for a gossip," Shin remarked, looking at the ever-curious Kyōraku Shunsui, not particularly inclined to indulge him.
"Would you mind telling ? I'm just curious. You know, Captain Unohana really went to bat for you earlier," Kyōraku said, unbothered by the label.
Hearing this, Shin gave him a surprised look and asked for the details. He soon learned about the incident with the Captain of the 3rd Division, though he showed no particular reaction.
"By the way, I have another question, if you don't mind asking. Was that massive destruction earlier your doing?"
Kyōraku asked Shin again. So had suspected Shin was behind it.
"Yes, it was . Just ran into three Gillians."
Shin didn't ntion they were Adjuchas. If he said he had one-shotted three Adjuchas, it would be a bit too shocking.
"It really was you? You're stronger than you look," Kyōraku said, sizing up Shin.
Three Gillians... even he would have had to put in so effort. The current Kyōraku was much stronger than when Shin had first t him; he had already achieved Bankai. Kyōraku was a genius, otherwise he wouldn't have been a student of Yamamoto. Both he and Ukitake were exceptionally talented. Though Ukitake was frail and sickly, his strength was not to be underestimated.
"Back to my previous question—are you and Captain Unohana a couple? It's the talk of every squad right now," the scruffy-looking Kyōraku asked again. Even though he wasn't yet the middle-aged man he would beco, his deanor had always been a bit unkempt, sothing Shin attributed to his natural disposition.
"You seem desperate to know. If you really want an answer, I suggest you go ask Retsu Unohana yourself," Shin recomnded.
"I think I'll pass," Kyōraku said with an awkward laugh, clearly a bit intimidated by Unohana.
That terrifying aura... he didn't dare provoke her.
"By the way, this is the way to the 4th Division barracks, isn't it? Are you two heading there as well?" Shin asked Kyōraku and Ukitake.
"That's right, Vice-Captain Shin. I'm not feeling well, so Captain Kyōraku is taking to see soone," Ukitake said with a gentle smile.
"Oh, I see. Then what's the relationship between you two? I suspect it's not as simple as it seems."
Shin shot Kyōraku and Ukitake a strange, appraising look—the kind of look one gives when they suspect sothing more is going on between two people.
"Hey, hey, what's with that look? I'm not into that," Kyōraku said quickly. He was still hoping to find a beautiful woman; he couldn't let anyone get the wrong idea.
"Right, I get it," Shin said with a knowing smile.
Kyōraku's face darkened as he saw Shin's teasing smirk. He clearly didn't get it at all; he was completely misunderstanding them.
"Ukitake, aren't you going to help clear my na?" Kyōraku asked Ukitake.
Ukitake coughed a few tis, looking at Kyōraku with a hint of exasperation. The more you tried to prove your innocence in a situation like this, the more suspicious you looked.
"Don't worry, you don't have to explain anything to . I get it," Shin said with a knowing nod. "I may not understand it, but I won't judge."
Without giving Kyōraku a chance to draw his sword and attack, Shin vanished in a flash of Shunpo.
"What an incredible Shunpo," Ukitake said, his face showing a hint of surprise. He certainly couldn't move that fast. This Vice-Captain Shin was truly worthy of Captain Unohana's high regard; he was probably on par with so of the Captains.
However, Ukitake's frail body wasn't suited for Shunpo or hand-to-hand combat.
"That bastard really pisses off! If he hadn't run so fast, I would have..."
"Even if he hadn't run, you couldn't have done anything to him, could you?" Ukitake said to Kyōraku with a smile.
"I guess you're right."
Kyōraku rubbed his nose. Setting aside whether he could even defeat Shin, there was still that powerful figure behind him—a figure he didn't dare to cross.
"Let's get to the 4th Division. Ukitake, why didn't you tell you were injured earlier?" Kyōraku asked, his gaze turning to Ukitake with a hint of annoyance.
As Ukitake's best friend, Kyōraku knew about his frail health and always looked out for him. But to think he would hide his injuries... Kyōraku was very displeased. Did he not consider him a friend?
"I'm fine for now."
Ukitake shook his head. The 4th Division was already overwheld with injured Soul Reapers. He didn't want to add to their burden.
Kyōraku shook his head. That was his friend's personality. He'd have to keep a closer eye on him in the future.
Afterward, Kyōraku and Ukitake also arrived at the 4th Division barracks. Just as they were about to look for Retsu Unohana, they were told by a 4th Division mber that she wasn't there.
"Not here? That's impossible. I'm sure she's here," Kyōraku said, channeling his inner detective.
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