Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Unohana's Lesson
"Ah? Why?"
Ren asked, visibly puzzled. After spending two days with Aizen, he found it incredibly convenient to have him around as a walking encyclopedia of the Soul Society.
Now, hearing that they wouldn't be together for the afternoon class left him feeling a bit out of sorts.
"This afternoon's first class is an elective. I chose calligraphy. Didn't you want to learn Kaido? Unfortunately, the two classes overlap," Aizen explained. Only then did Ren notice the small bag Aizen had been carrying—it must have held his calligraphy tools.
"Who's teaching Kaido today?" Ren asked, ever curious and ready to consult his personal 'Aizen-pedia.'
Aizen gave him a helpless look. "Ren-kun... I don't know everything, you know. Elective instructors change frequently, depending on who's available to substitute. How could I possibly know who it'll be today?"
"Oh, I see. No problem. I'll find out when class starts."
Ren stood, patting his stomach. "I won't head back to the dorm after lunch. I want to spend some time practising shunpo again."
Watching Ren's retreating figure, Aizen mused inwardly. He had always considered himself industrious—relentlessly so—but his new roommate clearly had a similar mindset.
The only difference was that Aizen worked in secret, while Ren made no attempt to hide his relentless drive.
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"We meet again. How are you adapting to life at the Shin'ō Academy?"
A gentle, melodic voice floated down from the podium at the front of the classroom. Its owner, a smiling Unohana Retsu, was looking directly at Ren.
Ren glanced at his personal 'Luck: 1' stat and wondered if this counted as good fortune. Surely it did, right?
The very moment he decided to study Kaido, the substitute teacher turned out to be none other than the greatest expert in the field.
"I have you to thank, Captain Unohana. Otherwise, I'd still be starving in Rukongai. The food here at the academy is excellent," Ren said sincerely.
It was true—without Unohana's intervention, he would've struggled to even gain entry to Seireitei, let alone enrol at the Shin'ō Academy. And worst of all, he probably would've gone hungry for a few more days.
"Your main concern is food? And remember, here, you must address me as sensei," Unohana replied, her tone laced with amusement.
She found this boy intriguing. Over the past two days, she'd already heard several reports about Ren's impressive performance at the academy, which piqued her curiosity. That curiosity had brought her here today.
She specifically volunteered to substitute for this class to observe Ren in person.
At first, she'd thought of him as a promising talent with exceptional aptitude for combat. But seeing him enrolled in Kaido made her question his intentions.
Was he aiming to become a support specialist? Or… was he pursuing something far more....akin to her own path?
Are you like me, Ren?
At the thought, Unohana's smile took on a subtle, almost dangerous edge, causing Ren to inadvertently feel a bone-shivering chill run down his spine.
"Bakudō and Hadō adhere to structured ranking systems, while Kaidō does not. It's a healing-focused form of Kidō that doesn't require incantations…"
Unohana began her lecture on the fundamentals of Kaido. Though many in the class were already familiar with the basics, no one dared to voice any complaints. Most were either too awed by her grace or too intimidated by the aura she sometimes exuded.
Ren, meanwhile, was engrossed in the lecture. Using a notebook he had 'borrowed' from Aizen, he jotted down notes furiously.
As Unohana continued explaining, Ren realized that Kaido might be the most challenging branch of Kido. The lack of incantations made casting much harder, as it relied heavily on one's precise control over spiritual energy.
In its simplest form, Kaido worked to heal spiritual bodies by repairing them with reishi. However, the intricate precision required made it a task beyond the reach of most shinigami.
According to Aizen, hundreds of students across all grades took Kaido electives every year, but only a handful ever passed the course with a satisfactory grade. In essence, Kaido demanded innate talent, and without it, success was nearly impossible.
"I will now demonstrate a basic application of Kaido. I'll need a volunteer," Unohana announced.
Several eager hands shot up immediately. Many of her fans clearly hoped to be chosen.
However, Unohana's gaze passed over them, landing instead on Ren. "Let's have the new student experience this firsthand. Hoshino Ren-kun, come up."
Ren didn't hesitate. This was a prime opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Kaido. He was even more eager since it would involve his own body, allowing him to experience the technique up close.
Unohana gestured for him to extend his hand, and he complied.
Her soft, alabaster-like fingers closed firmly around his wrist, pulling him forward effortlessly. He was suddenly much closer to her than he anticipated.
Grasping his wrist with one hand, Unohana used the other to deftly push up his sleeve. The motion caused a slight tickling sensation, and his well-toned arm was exposed.
"You've trained well," she said with a kind smile, her tone almost motherly. Yet, it contained a strange sweetness that sent another shiver down Ren's spine.
She lightly traced a single finger along his arm. Ren understood her intentions, but inwardly, he wished she'd get on with it—it tickled!
Before he could say anything, a sharp pain erupted along his arm. Crimson droplets began to trail down his skin as Unohana's finger glided from his wrist to his forearm, leaving a long, deep cut in its wake.
The pain didn't faze him. Having endured countless injuries in his training, Ren possessed a high tolerance for discomfort. He focused all his attention on observing what came next, knowing this was the pivotal moment where she would demonstrate Kaido.
Seeing his calm composure, Unohana's eyes sparkled with a subtle, predatory gleam—hidden from view but unmistakably present. It was as though she had found something—or someone—worth savouring.
However, Unohana's movements didn't pause. "Watch carefully, everyone," she instructed.
A soft, pale blue glow began to emanate from her hand, and with slow, deliberate grace, she ran her glowing fingers over the wound on Ren's arm.
It was like witnessing magic. Wherever her delicate fingers touched, the wound vanished completely, leaving behind only traces of blood as evidence that it had ever existed.
Ren's expression turned serious. Despite this being just a basic demonstration, the technique and precision Unohana displayed were extraordinarily refined. To him, the results seemed nothing short of miraculous.
It wasn't until his wound was completely healed that Ren snapped out of his reverie, savouring the sensation he had just experienced.
"All done, Ren-kun. You may return to your seat," Unohana said, releasing his hand with her gentle tone pulling him back to the present.
Ignoring the inexplicable looks of envy and curiosity from some of his classmates, Ren walked back to his seat with his mind firing up with all kinds of thoughts.
So this is Kaido…
But how did Unohana manage to do it?
This question burned in Ren's mind. He knew one thing for certain: he wasn't a spiritual entity at all. He was a living, breathing human being!
For Unohana's technique to have worked on him so seamlessly… something didn't add up.
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