It was precisely this conflicted mindset of theirs that made both Unohana and Zaraki simultaneously long for and dread their reunion. Their anticipation stemmed from their shared desire to continue the battle they had started centuries ago.
Their fear, however, came from the fact that neither Unohana nor Zaraki was truly ready to face the other in combat.
Unohana was uncertain whether the current version of herself could draw out Zaraki's full power.
Zaraki, on the other hand, doubted whether he still had the right to fight Unohana at all.
After all, in Zaraki's memory, he had been the loser in that battle.
…
"This is the 4th Division."
At the gates of the 4th Division, Kyoya watched as Zaraki came to a halt, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
Clearly, upon arriving here, Zaraki had sensed Unohana's Reiatsu. Otherwise, given Zaraki's personality, Kyoya couldn't imagine what else would make him stop in his tracks.
"This… is that woman's Reiatsu!"
A surge of overwhelming spiritual pressure erupted from Zaraki's body as he suddenly bolted forward, charging straight toward the source of Unohana's presence within the 4th Division.
"Hey, Zaraki-"
Seeing this, Kyoya quickly followed.
He wanted to witness the expressions on Zaraki and Unohana's faces when they reunited, but he didn't actually want them to start fighting right here and now.
…
In the 4th Division's Captain's office, Unohana was carefully trimming the branches of a potted plant on her windowsill with a pair of scissors.
The 4th Division was the medical division.
Within the Gotei 13, any injured Shinigami would be sent to the 4th Division for treatment.
Unohana's Kaido came from the teachings of Kirinji, the [Hot Spring Demon] of the Zero Division. After Kirinji's promotion to the Zero Division, Unohana's proficiency in Kaido became the strongest in all of Seireitei.
During the Reigai Incident, Unohana's Reigai had been able to instantly heal Kyoraku and Ukitake after they were severely wounded by Yamamoto, allowing them to continue fighting.
It was only when Unohana's true self intervened that the Reigai was defeated.
Though the Reigai were more battle-hungry than their original counterparts, their overall combat abilities still fell short of the real versions.
However, unless the injuries were life-threatening, Unohana rarely needed to intervene personally.
As such, she usually spent her time in her office, cultivating her mind and spirit.
After all, while the current Unohana appeared as a gentle, reliable, and nurturing figure, deep inside, she remained the same bloodthirsty 'greatest criminal' she had always been.
That said, the passage of time was an unpredictable force.
A thousand years ago, Yamamoto had been the leader of a killer group.
When facing Yhwach, Yamamoto hadn't hesitated to unleash his Bankai, regardless of whether it would destroy Soul Society itself.
But after spending a millennium as its protector, his heart had softened. Protecting Seireitei had become his top priority, even if it meant compromising with the nobility to maintain stability.
If even Yamamoto had changed so much, how could Unohana be any different?
If a person spent their entire life pretending to be good, who could say they weren't?
Unohana Yachiru had become Unohana Retsu for over seven hundred years.
In those seven centuries, who could truly say whether the current Unohana wasn't, beneath her bloodlust, a woman who had grown to cherish peace?
However, today, for the first time in centuries, Unohana's calm was shattered.
Snip.
A branch she had just finished trimming was cut once more.
The once perfectly balanced potted plant now looked incomplete, its harmony ruined.
"This Reiatsu…"
Slowly setting down her scissors, Unohana turned her gaze toward the entrance of the 4th Division.
At the same time, her right hand rested on the hilt of her Zanpakuto.
Her left hand unconsciously touched her chest, where an old wound seemed to ache faintly.
For hundreds of years, every time she thought of that boy from the Rukongai, Unohana would recall the moment he had stabbed her.
Back then, Unohana had proclaimed herself the Strongest Swordsman in all of Soul Society.
Even Yamamoto, with his overwhelming spiritual pressure and the power of his Zanpakuto, Ryujin Jakka, could only subdue her… not surpass her in pure Zanjutsu.
Thus, Unohana had bestowed upon the 11th Division's Captain the title of [Kenpachi], the Strongest Swordsman.
This had been acknowledged by all the Captains of the Gotei 13 at the time.
Most of the original Captains of the Gotei 13 could be considered the strongest in their respective divisions.
Unohana had undoubtedly been one of the most formidable warriors, second only to Yamamoto himself.
In this moment, Unohana's eyes turned icy, her cold gaze burning with fighting spirit.
But when she sensed Zaraki's current Reiatsu, that battle-hungry glint faded into sorrow.
Back then, that nameless boy who had pierced her chest with a single strike had been a force of pure terror.
Facing him, Unohana had felt the same dread she experienced when standing before Yamamoto.
Yet now, the boy who had once instilled such fear in her wielded a Reiatsu barely reaching the level of a mid-tier Captain.
All of this… was her fault.
'If only I had been strong enough to draw out his full power back then, that boy could have become an unrivaled warrior… one who could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Captain-Commander Yamamoto himself.'
'If I had been weaker… if I hadn't been able to let that child experience the thrill of battle… then perhaps he wouldn't have sealed away his own Reiatsu in his obsession with the joy of slaughter.'
'I had been strong, but not strong enough.
'I had been weak, but not weak enough...'
Sensing Zaraki's rapidly approaching Reiatsu, Unohana let out a soft sigh and suppressed her fighting spirit.
Now was not the time for her and Zaraki to fight.
…
Boom!
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"
"Everyone, be careful! The intruder is heading for the captain's office… protect Captain Unohana!"
The chaos Zaraki caused quickly sent the 4th Division into a panic.
Some of the squad members froze in shock, while others immediately sprang into action… evacuating the wounded, sending distress signals to other divisions, and rushing toward the Captain's office.
Though everyone knew that a Captain was the strongest fighter in their division, and that Captain Unohana's power far surpassed that of an ordinary Shinigami…
Unohana had never openly displayed her true strength. Her Reiatsu, controlled with terrifying precision, never weighed down on her subordinates.
This led to a common misconception… that because she led the medical division, she must be weaker than the Captains of combat-focused divisions.
So when they saw Zaraki charging straight for the captain's office, every capable member of the 4th Division rushed to intercept him.
They were afraid of death.
But Unohana was the 'goddess' of the 4th Division, adored by all… men and women alike.
Losing their own lives was nothing compared to the thought of their Captain coming to harm.
If their deaths could buy time for reinforcements to arrive, then their sacrifice would not be in vain!
…
"That woman… She's here!"
Zaraki smashed through the wall with a single kick, bursting into the Captain's office. His eyes locked onto Unohana, who was calmly trimming her potted plant as if nothing had happened.
… Snip.
When Unohana looked up, her gentle smile instantly extinguished Zaraki's fighting spirit.
"...No."
"You shouldn't be like this."
"I-"
Zaraki took a few steps forward, as if he wanted to say something.
But before he could, Kyoya caught up.
The moment he saw Unohana's smile, he knew that this reunion would not lead to the fated battle of the [Kenpachi].
"Alright, Zaraki."
Kyoya stepped between them, blocking Zaraki's path as he bowed slightly to Unohana.
"My apologies, Captain Unohana."
"This division's member of mine is new to the Gotei 13 and isn't yet familiar with the rules. On top of that, he was injured last night. When he heard of your unparalleled skill in Kaido, he became desperate for treatment and… may have acted rashly."
"Please, as fellow members of the Gotei 13, overlook his transgression this once."
"I'll make sure to educate him properly from now on."
…
"Captain Kyoya…"
Unohana sighed inwardly.
That boy who had once struck her down with a single slash… now, centuries later, he was being restrained by a child.
How tragic.
A being who should have stood at the pinnacle of all Shinigami had been reduced to this… all because of her.
And now, he was being lectured on 'proper behavior'.
There was no denying that Kyoya was talented… his Zanjutsu might even surpass her own.
Given time, he might reach the level of Yamamoto.
But the man standing before her now, the one Kyoya was so casually holding back…
He was a natural-born monster, a being who should have been unrivaled from the very beginning.
He should have been waiting at the summit, waiting for challengers like Kyoya to rise and face him.
Instead, he had become Kyoya's subordinate.
If he ever realized the truth, that she was the reason he had weakened, how much would he resent her?
Suppressing these thoughts, Unohana spoke slowly.
"The 4th Division is a medical squad. Our duty is only to heal the wounded."
"Other matters… do not concern us."
"However, Captain Kyoya…"
Her smile remained, but her voice carried an unspoken warning.
"I expect the damages caused by your division's member to be repaired promptly."
"Otherwise…"