Chapter 166 - Aizen: His Caution Surpasses Even Mine!
"Just kidding. But you know, your luck with women has made even that guy Shunsui envious for a long time."
Unohana brushed past her earlier remark. Some things were best said once—cling too tightly and it lost its charm.
After spending so much time with Renji, she realized her own personality had subtly shifted as well.
"I've never had any relationship with any woman."
What was there to be envious of?
A black line crossed Renji's face. Luck with women was one thing, but having too many of them around was not a blessing.
He wasn't the type to flaunt himself surrounded by women. Perhaps his counterpart in the daily world would enjoy it, but not him. He preferred not to draw attention. To survive, fewer eyes upon him was best.
"Then they must be very disappointed."
"Not really. They don't know me. Maybe they only like what's on the surface. If they truly understood me, they wouldn't like me."
"So you want to change that?"
Unohana was surprised.
So Renji disliked being pursued? Was that why he stopped attending the flower gatherings?
She realized he wasn't someone who sought the spotlight.
Did that also explain his aversion to battle?
His spiritual pressure was already strong, yet he avoided fighting, choosing instead to train quietly and heal comrades. It all aligned with his character.
"Yes, I don't like it much. I'd rather be alone."
Compared to being in everyone's sight, he preferred no one noticing him at all.
If only he had Megumi Kato's talent for blending into the background.
"So those rumors that you like men—they were wrong then?"
"Shunsui, right?"
Only that shameless man would think that.
Perhaps Yoruichi and Urahara, back when they hadn't left Soul Society, would join in the gossip too.
In any case, among the captains and vice-captains, only a few had such loose tongues.
"I never said who."
Though Renji guessed it right, Unohana refused to admit it.
"By the way, you may be assigned to an external mission soon."
Of course.
Now Renji understood why Unohana sought him out.
It seemed he could no longer avoid it.
Normally, the Fourth Division had no external missions.
They were doctors. Healing was their duty—combat belonged to others.
But sometimes, they too had to go out.
Since joining, Renji had never gone on such a mission.
"Leaving Soul Society?"
"Yes. Lately many Menos and strange things have appeared in the Human World. The Head Captain wants an investigation."
"I'm the one investigating?"
Renji was dumbfounded.
He was a doctor—why send him?
Had the old man been captain too long? Was his brain leaking?
"You'll lead the squad. You don't have to fight."
"A small squad?"
"Yes."
No need to think further.
It had to be Aizen's doing.
Those Hollows and strange entities in the Human World—if Aizen hadn't sent them, Renji wouldn't believe it. His plan must be nearing its start.
Naturally, he needed to test the strength of every Soul Society member.
That fit his character perfectly.
By letting Renji lead, he could toss one or two Hollows their way.
If Renji proved weak, Aizen could have the Hollow kill him. If Renji proved strong, he would adjust his plan to target him specifically.
So it was time to meet Aizen.
"So, Sister Hua, you came all this way just to tell me this? You could've said it at the squad barracks."
Once he understood, Renji stopped resisting.
He knew there was no avoiding it.
Not only Aizen—others wanted to see his strength. Perhaps even the old man himself. Since graduating, Renji had never drawn his blade, remaining vice-captain all this time.
Though the Fourth Division wasn't a combat squad, a vice-captain could not be weak.
"You've guessed it, haven't you?"
Unohana looked at him. From his expression, she knew he understood.
"Yes."
"So I'll say this: I don't want my vice-captain dying on this mission." Her eyes sharpened. "That's why I want to test your strength."
It had been long since she last fought. She had hoped not to fight again, but Renji's case made her realize she had to know.
She had no strength requirements for her division. But this time, Renji would be leaving on assignment. She had to know where he stood. For everyone else, she at least had an idea. Only Renji was a mystery.
"Should I feel honored?"
Renji gave a bitter smile. His first real opponent—the original Kenpachi.
Could he refuse?
As the words formed, he saw her draw her Zanpakuto.
"No one will disturb us here. Let me test you."
"…"
No escape.
"You go first."
In battle stance, Unohana's tone lost all warmth.
"Then I won't hold back!"
Renji swung his Zanpakuto down at her.
"Good strength, and your speed is sharp. Clearly you've trained in the blade."
Sword, fist, walk, demon.
The four basic Shinigami arts.
Shunpo and swordplay alike—Unohana saw that Renji had practiced diligently.
But still—
He was far from the genius he had once been called.
Unohana frowned. His level didn't match the legends.
After several exchanges, her impression was that Renji's strength was only at vice-captain level.
"Sister Hua, I think this is about my limit!"
Renji thought to himself. What he revealed now was only the strength of a vice-captain.
He had to hide!
Under no circumstances could he expose his true strength or abilities.
"Use your Zanpakuto's ability," Unohana said with a nod. She did not press the matter further. Though Renji fell short of the legends, she did not scold him. His strength was still acceptable.
For now, she wanted to see the Zanpakuto's ability.
"Alright, Sister Hua. My Zanpakuto is lightning-type—it can control thunder and lightning."
Lightning-type?
"Shine, Raiden!"
After using the Goro Goro no Mi's power, Renji unexpectedly discovered three old schemers hiding nearby.
Damn it! Sister Hua said no one was here!
If he hadn't chosen to pair Observation Haki with the lightning fruit and pass it off as his Zanpakuto ability, he wouldn't have noticed them.
But since those three were watching, Renji didn't mind letting them think his Zanpakuto was lightning-type.
He had planned from the start to expose this ability anyway.
As for his other powers, he would keep them hidden as long as possible.
In fact, he had even thought about making temporary contact with Aizen if invited.
Who knew that the moment he left Fourth Division with Unohana, those three would follow?
Lightning serpents coiled around his blade, their destructive aura piquing Unohana's interest.
"Your Zanpakuto is similar to Hitsugaya's?"
"Yes, but a little different."
"Then I'll get serious."
"Hey, hey, Sister Hua, are you trying to kill me?"
Before he finished, Renji's body was cleaved in two.
Yet even split apart, he still spoke. That surprised her. Raising her blade again, she asked curiously, "I gave you time to react, but you didn't try to dodge, so I cut down. I trust my control of force."
From their earlier exchanges, she knew Renji's battle reflexes were sharp.
So when she struck, she deliberately gave him time.
He could have avoided it, but chose not to. So she followed through.
She could restrain her blade at will—if it truly injured him, she would stop instantly.
Now it seemed Renji only wanted to demonstrate his ability.
"So this is your power?"
"Yes. As long as I hold Raiden, it allows me to elementalize into lightning. Anyone struck by it suffers paralysis. I can also control small currents to electrocute others.
Raiden also grants me a speed boost, but I must keep hold of it. If it leaves my hand, I lose the ability."
"I see."
Unohana nodded, giving his Zanpakuto a mental rating.
It was strong.
Elementalization alone was valuable. Add in speed and lightning control, and it was formidable.
The only drawback was needing to hold the blade.
"Then I don't need to worry about my vice-captain dying on this mission."
Her earlier concern eased. This power gave Renji a life-saving option.
And besides, he would not be alone on the mission, nor assigned to combat.
"Come, let's pick herbs for you to use."
"Hey, hey, Sister Hua, are you cursing me?"
Renji's face darkened.
What did that mean? That he would return from the mission injured?
"I'm not. I only hope you come back unhurt. After all, if you return wounded, it'll trouble me!"
"Trouble you how?"
"…"
Hey! Say something!
Unohana clearly had no intention of continuing.
On purpose! She was definitely doing it on purpose!
She had claimed not to care about his teasing words earlier, but this was obviously her way of revenge.
That mysterious smile of hers—was this really the Sister Hua he knew? Perhaps that version had never existed at all.
Renji shook his head. Casually glancing toward Aizen's hidden direction, he followed Unohana away.
In any case, his ability had now been "exposed" to Aizen and the others.
What they did with that knowledge was no longer his concern.
He was curious, though—now that his ability and threat level were revealed, would Aizen continue to watch him?
Before, Aizen had not known his powers and believed him simply strong. But now that Renji had laid it out clearly, surely he would lose interest?
"Aizen-sama, he doesn't seem as strong as we thought," Tosen said. After Renji and Unohana left, they did not follow further. He had sensed everything in their battle.
"True, but that ability could be troublesome," Gin replied. Renji's fighting strength looked like any vice-captain's.
Yet Renji's legend had long spread—hailed as a genius unseen in a hundred years.
Gin himself had already far surpassed him.
"Who knows?"
Aizen smiled faintly, gazing in Renji's direction, thoughts stirring.
"So Aizen-sama believes he hid his strength?"
But hadn't he shown everything? Why would he hide his power? Unless… he wanted to keep it from Unohana?
"A test will tell. Without life-and-death stakes, not revealing everything is normal. And who told you what eyes see and ears hear must be true?"
Your senses will betray you.
Aizen did not believe Renji was as he appeared. Back then, Renji's spiritual pressure had shaken even him.
How could years pass with no progress—worse, a regression?
He resolved to continue testing.
If Renji knew, he would curse aloud. Truly a sly schemer—they thought alike.
(End of Chapter)
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