A pitch-black hell butterfly fluttered past.
Above the rooftops, a shadowy figure darted by with ghostly speed.
It was a messenger Shinigami, clad entirely in black cloth, dressed like a ninja.
Guided by the hell butterfly, he first discerned the direction ahead before heading straight toward the newly established 11th Division.
"Halt."
However, as he reached the entrance to the 11th Division's training grounds, a blade silently barred his path.
Kuruyashiki Rōma stood quietly in place.
Despite his small stature, the cold edge of his sword carried undeniable authority as he gazed calmly at the member of the Onmitsukidō before him.
"Kuruyashiki, Ninth Seat."
"I bear orders from the Captain-Commander."
The Onmitsukidō messenger knelt swiftly, delivering his message.
Kuruyashiki Rōma merely nodded and sheathed his blade.
"Wait a moment."
"The Captain... and Vice-Captain are currently occupied."
"Understood."
Kuruyashiki turned his gaze toward the two figures standing in the courtyard, facing each other.
Fujimiya Makoto gripped his sword with both hands, his focus entirely on Unohana Yachiru.
Unohana-sensei, on the other hand, stood relaxed, a serene smile on her face.
Then—
"Clang!"
Their blades met, the impact of immense speed and force producing a sharp, crisp sound before instantly disengaging.
The edges shifted fluidly with their footwork and movement, circling around Unohana as they exchanged strikes, each slash aimed precisely at vital points. The rhythmic clashing of steel filled the air.
Makoto's swordsmanship had reached the Twelfth Stage—a level that represented considerable skill for any Shinigami, one that most could only dream of achieving in their lifetime.
Even someone as formidable as Unohana Yachiru occasionally found herself impressed by his technique. She would then adjust her speed and power, her blade always finding the fleeting gaps in his movements while keeping her own strength restrained below his.
Though their exchange had reached speeds beyond what even most vice-captains could perceive with their eyes, neither showed any sign of escalating to a true battle.
Not a single new wound appeared on Makoto's body.
This was a pure contest of skill against skill.
Unquestionably, Unohana Yachiru still held the overwhelming advantage.
Yet Makoto felt no discouragement. Instead, he repeatedly analyzed his own flaws mid-battle, striving to correct and refine them with each swing.
However, today, the familiar mechanical chime of [Little Broken Sword] did not ring in his ears.
It wasn't that his cheat had disappeared.
Rather, it was because...
[Swordsmanship: Twelfth Stage (99/100)]
[Swordsmanship Bottleneck · Fourth Tier]
(Use Talent Points to Break Through?)
This line of text remained stubbornly fixed on Makoto's status screen.
"Clink!"
A faint metallic sound echoed.
Makoto, who had been wholly focused, suddenly stiffened, his forward step faltering for the briefest instant.
Yet even such a minuscule opening was impossible to hide from Unohana-sensei's eyes.
In the next moment, her blade pierced through the air with a tearing sound, stopping just before his throat—the cold edge pressing lightly against his skin.
Makoto let out a wry chuckle and raised his hands in surrender.
"I lose, Sensei."
Unohana Yachiru slowly withdrew her sword, her expression still gentle. Her gaze softened as she looked at him.
"I had assumed it would take you longer to reach this level."
"It seems I underestimated you, Makoto-kun."
"You came to the barracks seeking a match because you sensed it, didn't you?"
"The bottleneck in your swordsmanship."
Makoto nodded. "How did you overcome it, Sensei?"
"This might sound arrogant, but... I feel like this barrier shouldn't be this difficult to break through."
"Yet no matter how much I train, I remain stuck."
His self-awareness was precise, and he trusted his instincts.
Even disregarding the three years he had spent as a Shinigami in life-or-death battles after crossing into this world, Makoto had never ceased training since the Gotei 13's establishment three months ago.
But now that his Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō had all reached considerable heights, few could truly challenge him—and even fewer stood at a level where they could offer meaningful guidance.
With his current strength and the [Sword Prodigy] trait granted by Unohana-sensei, Makoto understood his own condition better than anyone.
Instead of answering immediately, Unohana posed a question of her own.
"What do you believe are your current shortcomings, Makoto-kun?"
After a moment of thought, he replied, "My Hakuda is weaker than my Zanjutsu."
"And I still struggle to unleash high-level Kidō at full power."
As for everything else?
Without boasting, Makoto believed his current foundational combat ability was enough to contend for the title of "Gatekeeper of the Captain-Class" against future Komamura Sajin or Muguruma Kensei (without his mask).
By Soul Society's standards, that was far from weak.
But compared to Unohana-sensei's expectations, there was still a considerable gap.
Unohana considered this before asking, "Which low-level Kidō, around the 30s, are you most proficient in?"
"Use it at full power and show me."
"Understood."
Makoto, fully aware of the vast difference in skill and insight between them, complied without hesitation.
"Lord of Flame, crimson mask, weave of flesh, all things of this world, take flight and cluster together!"
"With surging heat and chaos, cross the sea and march onward!"
"Hadō #31 · Shakkahō!"
Fourth-class Reiatsu (Peak). Full incantation. Full power.
The combination of these factors produced a fireball three to four times larger than normal—an intimidating sight.
Under ordinary circumstances, even a weaker Captain-level opponent would avoid taking such an attack head-on.
Yet Unohana Yachiru merely extended a single finger toward the incoming blaze.
"Hadō #1 · Shō."
With those quiet words, an invisible shockwave burst from her fingertip, meeting the fireball head-on.
Makoto's eyes widened slightly as he sensed something unusual.
Then—
"BOOM—!"
The flames and force collided midair, actually locking in a brief stalemate before both exploded violently, sending rippling waves of spiritual energy outward.
Unohana turned to him. "Did you notice the difference, Makoto-kun?"
"Yes."
Makoto frowned slightly.
With his perception and combat insight, he could clearly tell that the difference wasn't between a #31 and a #1 Kidō, nor was it a matter of raw power.
In fact, Unohana-sensei had used the exact same amount of Reiatsu as he had.
Under normal circumstances, Shō should have been effortlessly overwhelmed.
The reason for the temporary equilibrium lay in how Unohana-sensei had condensed the entirety of Shō's force into an infinitesimal point the moment she released it.
This level of control over spiritual particles was something his half-baked Kidō skills couldn't hope to match.
"So..."
"The gap lies in spiritual particle manipulation?"
"The finer the control over Reiatsu fluctuations, the greater the destructive potential?"
He muttered to himself, "Or perhaps... Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō are fundamentally interconnected?"
"At the bottleneck stage, progress in one reinforces the others?"
Unohana, who had unknowingly stepped beside him, gently ruffled his hair.
Watching her disciple lost in deep thought, her smile softened further.
As expected of Makoto.
His ability to grasp the essence of things at a glance never ceased to amaze her.
How truly... delightful.
If only time could pass a little faster.
Unaware of the dangerous glint in his teacher's eyes, Makoto remained absorbed in his contemplation.
If his theory was correct, then he wouldn't be able to specialize solely in swordsmanship like Kenpachi, becoming a one-trick powerhouse.
Just as he was pondering this—
Kuruyashiki Rōma, seeing that their spar had concluded, approached with the Onmitsukidō messenger in tow.
"Captain Unohana."
"The Captain-Commander has issued orders for the Gotei 13's first official Captain's Meeting this afternoon."
"Your attendance is mandatory."
Unohana's brow furrowed briefly, as if recalling something, before she nodded.
"Understood."
"Very well."
The messenger vanished instantly.
Unohana turned her gaze into the distance.
Though the new Seireitei's organizational structure had been established, it was still undeniably a makeshift operation.
In the three months since the Gotei's founding, most of the former instructors still hadn't fully grasped their responsibilities. Shortages in personnel and literacy issues had caused numerous chaotic incidents—some even comical.
But if these were the only problems, another two or three years would likely suffice to iron them out.
The real issue plaguing the Seireitei was the undercurrents swirling beneath its grand facade—hidden alongside the nobility licking their wounds.
And the enemies who had once appeared before them, now lurking once more in the shadows of the living world.
The tree may desire stillness, but the wind will not cease.
"Makoto."
Unohana suddenly called his name.
"Yes!"
Snapped out of his thoughts, Makoto straightened immediately.
Unohana glanced back, her smile flawless.
"There's a meeting this afternoon."
"Don't forget."
Makoto's face fell.
For the past three months, all divisional paperwork had been dumped onto him.
This time was clearly no exception—she was pushing the responsibility onto him again.
The young man let out a long, suffering sigh.
"Yeees, ma'am~"