Upon hearing Shimo's words, Unohana was briefly taken aback. Then, she smiled like a blooming flower.
Under the moonlight, her black hair swayed in the breeze, and her picturesque face became a breathtaking sight against the tranquil forest backdrop.
"But I'd still like to know," she added with lingering curiosity, "what was the name of that final sword technique?"
Shimo didn't respond immediately. He paused, deep in thought.
While the technique stemmed from the sword technique that the system gave to him, the essence of the strike was a culmination of various sword arts he had painstakingly mastered and internalized on his own.
"Limitless," he finally answered with quiet certainty.
Limitless—the concept of infinite inclusion and endless refinement. It was his first technique and also the foundation upon which Shimo was building his own sword way, integrating and perfecting everything he had ever learned.
Unohana tilted her head slightly, mulling over the meaning of the name.
"Infinite and boundless, is it?"
She looked up, eyes warm and playful. "My, Shimo-kun, your ambition runs deep."
Her tone was teasing, but her smile was radiant as ever.
There was no mistaking it: the Unohana Retsu standing before him now was a world apart from the one who had just moments earlier radiated killing intent like a demon from hell. That version of her had been the First Kenpachi, the embodiment of carnage and bloodlust, wreathed in an aura of death.
Now, she was gentle and serene, every word and every gesture embodying elegance and grace.
Shimo could only respond with a smile, brushing off her words.
He couldn't exactly tell her the truth—that the name "Limitless" was borrowed from a certain technique given to him.
If he really said that, he might as well bang his head into a brick.
As she spoke, Unohana casually gathered her loose hair and began re-braiding it into the signature rope-like plait that hung down over her chest.
"Why do you call me Hana-ne?"
That question touched something deeper—a matter of the soul.
Shimo's expression cracked instantly.
Why did Unohana care about things so far beyond what Rukia ever noticed?
"Is it not okay for me to call you that?" he countered, trying to recover his composure.
She paused for a beat, then let her braid fall into place as she mused aloud:
"I don't think there's anything wrong with it."
"I actually quite like the sound of it."
Shimo's eyes lit up. "Then I'll keep using it."
Once Unohana had finished tidying herself, the two walked together out of the training grounds.
The duel tonight had clearly pleased her deeply.
It had been a long time since the Fourth Division had welcomed such a gifted soul into its ranks. Though she suspected his motives weren't entirely pure, he was still a cut above the typical support-oriented recruits.
But… something still nagged at her.
Given Shimo's current strength, was the position of Sixth Seat truly worthy of him?
As that thought settled in her mind, she turned to him and asked,
"Shimo-kun, would you be interested in becoming the lieutenant of the Fourth Division?"
At that moment, Shimo had actually been contemplating whether he should submit a formal challenge for the seat—and then she just offered it to him?
Was this that mythical moment of perfect synchronicity?
But just as he was savoring the idea, he noticed something was… off.
He glanced sideways—Unohana was smiling sweetly, but something about her expression sent chills down his spine.
"What dangerous thoughts are you entertaining?" she asked with a frosty undertone.
Shimo immediately straightened up and replied righteously, "I was only wondering whether I'm truly fit to take on the role of lieutenant."
"And," he added quickly, "what would become of the current lieutenant, Yamada Seinosuke?"
The chill in Unohana's aura faded in an instant. Her gentle smile returned.
"It's fine. I have full confidence in your ability."
"You'd still be in charge of the Sixth Relief Squad."
At the mention of the current lieutenant, the light faded from her face slightly.
"He'll be reassigned to the Shin'ō Academy to take up a post there."
Clearly, Unohana knew her lieutenant's personality well.
Though Seinosuke obeyed her orders without question, many in the Fourth Division feared—or even disliked him. That made him poorly suited to continue as lieutenant.
And as for what had happened this afternoon in the Sixth Relief Units's barracks…
Unohana had heard about it.
Shimo's actions had won over a significant portion of the team.
In her view, that alone made him a more suitable candidate for the position.
Not to mention… his strength.
At that thought, Unohana let out a small chuckle and shook her head.
There were few Shinigami who could claim such mastery of the sword. Even among captains, Shimo's Zanjutsu would stand out.
If possible, she was determined to make him her lieutenant.
That way, she could spend more time… arranging flowers.
Unohana had already laid out her plan.
"In that case," Shimo smiled and nodded,
"I'll submit a challenge for the seat tomorrow."
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