BLEACH: Blade of Purification

A two-story white building with clean walls, an overhanging roof, and exposed wooden beams and pillars stood in a relatively remote area of the Seireitei, avoiding the hustle and bustle of the main thoroughfares. Because of its secluded location, it occupied a larger plot of land. Outside the white building was a garden, ensuring that any view from the windows would be of a pleasant, scenic landscape.

This was the barracks of Squad 4 of the Gotei 13. Squad 4 was the medical unit, so this white building was commonly known as the General Relief Station or the General Service Office. Shinigami from Squad 4, carrying medical packs, bustled back and forth inside.

However, at this moment, there were not many Shinigami moving about.

Some time ago, due to a mission undertaken by Squad 11, Squad 4 had been filled to capacity with their warriors. And since the members of Squad 11 generally looked down on Squad 4, the healing environment had been quite poor.

Fortunately, those difficult days had passed. Now, the Squad 4 barracks had few patients and was relatively quiet. Because of this, when the heavy snow began to fall, Captain Retsu Unohana, considering her squad's previous hard work, had immediately given all of them leave to return to their dormitories early.

But that didn't mean there was no one left on duty.

Currently on duty in the Squad 4 office was a pale-faced, unremarkable-looking man with shoulder-length black hair. Just looking at him gave one the feeling of not wanting to get close, as he radiated an intensely unpleasant, scheming aura.

But this man was no nobody. He was the current Lieutenant of Squad 4—Seinosuke Yamada.

As he was handling squad affairs in the office, he suddenly sensed something. Frowning slightly in thought, he put down his work and left the office, heading out into the garden.

By this time, the garden was no longer the lush, green, and flower-filled place it usually was. It was now a uniform sea of white, the heavy snow having covered everything in a short amount of time.

However, what Seinosuke hadn't expected was that someone else was already standing in the snow-covered garden before he arrived. It was a woman with a gentle and serene appearance and center-parted, long black hair. She was the complete opposite of Seinosuke. Wearing a Captain's haori over her Shinigami uniform, her most striking feature was her glossy hair, which was braided and draped over her front.

"Captain?" Seinosuke called out to the woman.

Yes, she was the current Captain of Squad 4—Retsu Unohana.

"Ah, Seinosuke," Unohana said without turning to look at him, as if she had already sensed his approach.

Her gaze remained fixed in one direction—the direction of Squad 1—without wavering. Following her line of sight, Seinosuke also looked that way. The phenomenon occurring there was the very reason he had come out.

Even from such a great distance, they could see that the sky in the direction of the Squad 1 barracks was dyed a brilliant orange-red, like the afterglow of a sunset on a clear day.

But on a day like today, such a sight should have been impossible. A thick layer of clouds covered the sky, completely obscuring the sun. More importantly, even without looking at the sky, even without paying attention to the heavy, ancient Reiatsu rippling through the air, anyone with even slightly decent senses could feel that the temperature of the entire Seireitei had quietly risen.

"Is that..." Seinosuke asked tentatively.

"That is the Captain-Commander's Zanpakutō—Ryūjin Jakka."

Although he had already suspected it, Unohana's confirmation still made Seinosuke's jaw drop.

From the time he entered the Shin'ō Academy until his current position as Lieutenant of Squad 4, he had heard countless legends about the oldest and most powerful fire-type Zanpakutō. But he had never witnessed its true power. He sometimes wondered if there was any enemy left in this world who could force the Captain-Commander to draw his sword.

Having grown accustomed to thinking of Ryūjin Jakka as just a legend, Seinosuke never imagined that he would witness its power at this moment, without any warning or preparation. Even from such a vast distance, its terrifying might made his hair stand on end. He couldn't begin to imagine what kind of fearsome being was fighting the Captain-Commander.

But thinking this way raised another question.

"Is there an enemy invasion? But the Shōkainai Alarm hasn't sounded."

"No," Unohana said, gently shaking her head. Although she was standing here with Seinosuke, she had certainly perceived far more than he had. A faint, eager smile played on her lips, but in the end, it was suppressed, not allowed to grow any larger.

She spoke as if instructing Seinosuke, and also as if warning herself.

"Whatever is happening there is none of our concern. As long as no orders are given, all we need to consider is being fully prepared to treat whoever needs to be treated afterward."

"So... as usual, the other squads prepare for what happens before and during the battle, while Squad 4 is responsible for what comes after?"

"Precisely."

"I understand."

Although he still didn't know what was happening or who might be sent to Squad 4 for treatment, it wasn't as if he couldn't make any preparations at all.

However, what Seinosuke didn't expect was that just as he turned to leave, the distinct sound of a Shunpo, a Flash Step, echoed through the garden, undisguised.

He instinctively turned back and his eyes widened slightly in surprise at the sight of the newcomer.

"Mr. Saitō?"

"Lieutenant Yamada," Saitō Gotsuki, who had rushed here at top speed, gave a slight nod in greeting before immediately turning to Unohana, his voice urgent.

"Captain Unohana, I must ask you to accompany me to Squad 1 immediately. A situation may arise that requires your presence."

"..."

Unexpectedly, Unohana did not answer right away. She narrowed her eyes slightly, and for some reason, a hint of gloominess clouded her usually kind face. The question she asked was also strange.

"Is this an order from the Captain-Commander?"

Saitō, unfamiliar with Unohana, was taken aback by her question, but only for a moment. Only Seinosuke vaguely sensed something was off.

Saitō immediately shook his head in denial. "No, it is a request from my master."

The gloom on Unohana's face vanished instantly, returning to her usual expression. But for some reason, she seemed slightly disappointed.

"I understand," she replied. "Wait here. I will gather some things and be right there."

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