Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Convalescence and Unohana
Chapter 49: Convalescence and Unohana
"Hiss... that hurts!"
Yato Uchiha tightly gripped the pristine white bedsheets, tears almost bursting from his eyes:
"Captain Unohana, please be gentle..."
"Bear with it, or you can scream if you like," the beautiful woman in the white haori smiled gently.
"I’ll be very quick."
"...Never mind. Captain Unohana, could you please hand me my Zanpakuto? I’ll just bite down on the hilt."
"You boys, always trying to act so tough."
Unohana Retsu shook her head in amusement. The movements of her hands didn’t pause for a single moment, her ultra-thin scalpel continuously piercing into Yato’s body.
Fascia and flesh were separated, the sharp tip of the blade reaching straight to the bone. But the most terrifying and unbearable part was Unohana Retsu’s Reiatsu invading his body.
A few beads of sweat rolled down Unohana’s pale face. This was clearly an incredibly delicate surgery, and the toll it took on her wasn’t small either.
"The reason Itto Kaso is a forbidden spell isn’t just because of the requirement to sacrifice a limb to activate it, but even more so because its flames can scorch Reiatsu itself!"
"I have to excise the corrupted Reiatsu along with the necrotic physical tissue."
"You are very lucky, 3rd Seat Yato. In the current Gotei 13, I am probably the only one capable of performing this surgery."
"However, for the next month, you must rest your body completely. If you get restless, use Jinzen to meditate... There, all done."
Having completed the surgery, Unohana Retsu stopped her movements and placed her hand on Yato’s chest to confirm his vital signs.
The bedsheets beneath the boy had long since been dyed crimson with blood. He lay on them in complete exhaustion, motionless, his spirit drained to the extreme.
Several 4th Division medical officers filed in. They wiped Yato Uchiha’s body down with warm water, changed the bedsheets, and poured a copious amount of medicine down his throat.
"After taking this medicine, sleep for a few more days, and you’ll be able to walk again."
"I am truly grateful, Captain Unohana. It’s all thanks to you."
"Oh my, it’s nothing at all. As the medical center, our 4th Division’s very foundation should be compassion. However..."
Unohana Retsu waved her subordinates away and leaned in close, smiling with the utmost gentle elegance:
"Yato-kun, why is it that you always used to detour around the 4th Division?"
A bitter expression crossed the boy’s face as he braced himself and forced out a reply:
"There are too many excellent female Soul Reapers in the 4th Division. I was afraid I’d get too deeply entangled. You know, at my age, I should be using my prime years to strive for reaching a Class 3 Rei-i..."
"Is that so?" Unohana stroked her braided hair and leaned in a bit closer.
"I actually thought it was because your Captain forbade you from coming."
"Captain Unohana, why would you ever think such a thing..."
"Because she was afraid I would chop you to pieces."
Unohana was still smiling pleasantly. As a veteran Soul Reaper who had lived for over a thousand years, time had left an air of mature elegance on her face; she looked both gentle and intellectual.
"I used to thoroughly enjoy ’playing’ with Furofushi Saito in the past. Captain Hikifune believed that since you also possess a Multi-Stage Release Zanpakuto, you would attract my attention."
Yato Uchiha let out a dopey, oblivious laugh, pretending not to understand a word.
"However, your Captain Hikifune is severely underestimating me." At this point, the 4th Division Captain suddenly shifted her tone and cleared her throat:
"I have long since cultivated my moral character, taking it upon myself to heal the sick and save lives. Hacking people up is not something a compassionate healer should be doing."
Yato nodded like a chicken pecking at grain, not daring to offer the slightest objection.
"Moreover, 3rd Seat Yato, the most important point is..." Unohana Retsu patted him on the head like she was teasing a child:
"Plucking a flower before it has fully bloomed is just far too reckless a waste of a precious resource, wouldn’t you agree?"
After delivering that line, she smiled and left, carefully closing the door behind her.
Inside the hospital room, Yato was left alone, staring blankly at the ceiling in a daze.
Please come pick me up quickly, Captain Hikifune. It seems there really is someone in the 4th Division who wants to chop me up...
...
For the following half month, Yato Uchiha stayed in the 4th Division’s Seated Officer convalescence ward, doing rehabilitation exercises with the help of the medical staff.
The 4th Division revered benevolence and love. They were primarily responsible for first aid, medical treatment, and the daily cleaning and sweeping tasks of the Seireitei. They were also tasked with repairing damaged Shihakusho. Just looking at the types of duties they handled, it was obvious that the vibe of this Division was very gentle and easy to get along with.
Yato Uchiha felt quite comfortable staying here. Except for a certain Captain who was sweet on the outside but terrifying on the inside occasionally dropping by to scare him—euphemistically calling it "psychological resilience therapy"—it was honestly more comfortable than being in the 12th Division.
During this time, quite a few people came to visit him.
The most frequent visitor was Byakuya Kuchiki. As Yato’s old classmate and former roommate of two years, he dropped by almost every other night. He never came empty-handed; the rare medicinal herbs and nutritional supplements hoarded by the nobles were piled up on Yato’s bedside table like a small mountain.
Kirio Hikifune and Hiyori Sarugaki came three or four times, which was already quite a feat considering how busy a Captain and Lieutenant were.
The Seated Officers and squad members of the 12th Division also occasionally visited with gifts. Their phrasing during conversations was extremely proper and cautious; after all, Yato Uchiha was the 3rd Seat, an officially high-ranking officer and a big boss!
The rest were Soul Reapers Yato had gotten to know over the past half year. They were casual acquaintances, so their visits were mostly out of courtesy—social calls.
Kaien Shiba didn’t visit even once—that guy had suffered injuries even worse than Yato’s. He was currently lying in the ward right next to Yato’s, unable to even sit up; he had to be fed his meals by someone else.
On the very day Yato was finally able to walk, he hobbled over on crutches to see Kaien Shiba and found a beautiful young woman taking care of Kaien’s daily needs.
That was likely Kaien Shiba’s future wife, Miyako Shiba.
It was worth mentioning that Zaraki was nowhere to be found; that ferocious beast of a man couldn’t be seen anywhere in the Seireitei.
Yato Uchiha had specifically asked the 4th Division staff about it. According to them, on that day in the Zaraki District, the guy woke up the moment he was out of danger. He left carrying the pink-haired little girl on his back. He didn’t look sluggish or weak at all; rather, he seemed incredibly vicious and excited.
Yato understood. Zaraki probably hadn’t fought to his satisfaction and went off to find more strong opponents to hack at.
As for Zaraki’s safety... the boy wasn’t worried about it in the slightest.
That was the future Kenpachi, after all!
Days passed one by one, and the date of Yato’s discharge drew ever closer. His body was steadily recovering, and his Reiatsu was growing back much like flesh and blood.
On this particular day, Yato Uchiha was lying in his hospital bed as usual, his legs crossed as he read the newspaper.
The newspaper was called the Seireitei Communication, the official publication issued by the 9th Division. It recorded matters big and small across the Soul Society. There were even personal ads for marriage in the corners; it was quite popular.
With a creak, the door was pushed open. Yato Uchiha glanced at the medical officer in the pink uniform out of the corner of his eye and casually remarked:
"Hm? Isn’t it a bit early for changing the dressings today?"
What answered him wasn’t the gentle, soft voice of a woman, but the rich, mellow chuckle of a man:
"Yato-kun, I’m truly sorry I’m only just coming to visit you today."
The boy’s pupils shrank violently. He lowered the newspaper and looked at the handsome Lieutenant standing by the door.
Kyoka Suigetsu... truly an incredibly convenient ability, Sosuke Aizen.
☆☆☆
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