Hasumi Ren did not answer immediately.
As for the reason, it was certainly because...
There were still Hakuda and Shunpo fragments to be picked up in the Second Division.
His current identity and schedule allowed him to move freely between these two divisions.
He couldn't afford to favor one over the other.
"I'm quite satisfied with my life right now; each division has its own merits."
"The Second Division also has things I need to learn, and Captain Yoruichi treats me well. So, I don't have any thoughts about transferring for the time being."
Isane nodded, though she didn't fully understand.
She stopped asking, but the admiration in her eyes didn't fade in the slightest.
After a moment of silence, she spoke again.
"Um, Hasumi, I have a question I'd like to ask you."
"Go ahead."
"It's about the phase adjustment of the third node during spiritual pressure conduction..."
Isane earnestly described her confusion.
Hasumi listened, nodding occasionally, and then began to explain.
His tone was calm and his reasoning clear, breaking down every difficult point with precision.
Isane listened intently, her eyes growing brighter and brighter.
When he finished, Isane let out a long breath.
"So that's how it is. I've been stuck here for a long time, unable to figure it out."
She looked at Hasumi, a layer of something complex appearing in her gaze.
"Why do you learn so quickly?"
Hasumi looked up as Isane lowered her head, talking to herself.
"I've been watching you for a long time. When Vice-Captain Yamada demonstrates Kaido, you only see it once, and then in the next practice, you can do seventy or eighty percent of it. After a few more days, you've basically mastered it."
She paused, her tone carrying a hint of disbelief.
"It's as if you were born with the knowledge, mastering things after just one look."
Hasumi was silent for a few seconds.
Then he smiled, neither denying nor confirming.
"Eat your food quickly; it's getting cold."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I was being too presumptuous."
Hearing this, Isane realized she had been talking too much.
A blush rushed to her cheeks, and she hurriedly raised her hands to hide her flustered expression, which only made her look more embarrassed.
Hasumi laughed, indicating he didn't mind, and Isane slowly regained her composure.
After lunch, in the afternoon.
Hasumi arrived at the training room as agreed.
Unohana was already waiting there, holding a scroll of ancient texts.
Seeing him enter, she placed the scroll on the table.
"Your progress in Kaido practice this morning was good. Your perception and control of spiritual pressure have reached a considerable height."
Hasumi listened quietly.
"Next, I will teach you some techniques for double incantation."
"Your foundation is already solid. Now, you can attempt the following exercises."
Unohana gestured to Hasumi, and he understood, following her to the Fourth Division's Kido training grounds.
On the way, Unohana explained the subsequent techniques and concepts to Hasumi.
"The ultimate goal of double incantation is to simultaneously release Bakudo and Hado, achieving the effect of binding and attacking the enemy at the same time."
"Therefore, your understanding of both incantations and the flow of Kido spiritual pressure must reach an extremely high level."
A moment later, the two arrived at the Kido training ground.
"You already have a foundation in the simultaneous mobilization of Kido spiritual pressure. Next, I will demonstrate the method of double incantation."
"During the double incantation, recall that way the spiritual pressures intertwine and use the incantations to mobilize that pressure."
After explaining the basic theory, Unohana softly opened her mouth, reciting two Kido incantations at the same time.
The two incantations were obscure and difficult to pronounce, with different spiritual pressure fluctuations intertwining and overlapping as she spoke.
After finishing the recitation, Unohana looked at Hasumi.
"You try."
Hasumi felt the sense of clarity as the fragments merged into his body. He recited softly, coordinating with the mobilization of spiritual pressure.
Once Hasumi finished the recitation, he looked up at Unohana.
Unohana was silent for a few seconds.
Then she nodded slightly, her tone as usual.
"Good. Continue."
Hasumi repeated the practice. Under Unohana's guidance, he tried to combine the feeling of the double incantations with his previous experience of merging Kido spiritual pressure.
And the system prompts before him confirmed that his proficiency in double incantation was steadily increasing.
[SYSTEM: Kido branch skill—Double Incantation proficiency increased by 15%]
[SYSTEM: Double Incantation: Entry (24%)]
After a brief period of guidance, Unohana rose and left.
Hasumi remained in the training room, continuing his double incantation practice.
Watching the proficiency steadily rise, he trained with even more effort.
Unohana walked alone down the corridor, her pace a bit slower than usual.
The scene from just now lingered in her mind.
Kido techniques, learned as soon as they were taught—just like with Kaido before.
No, it couldn't even be called teaching.
She had only demonstrated it once.
Unohana stopped and stood by the corridor window.
Outside was the courtyard of the Fourth Division. The afternoon sun shone on the trees, covering the emerald leaves in a layer of warm gold.
She thought back to a long time ago, when she first started learning Kaido.
That boy was now running along the path she once walked, but at a much faster pace.
Perhaps one day, his level of Kaido would surpass her own, or even reach the heights of the person who taught her Kaido.
The wind swept through the corridor, blowing the strands of Unohana's hair.
'What a pity.'
'That it's only talent in Kido, though.'
Then, she suddenly gave a soft laugh, as if amused by her own abrupt thought.
Unohana composed herself and walked away slowly.
A few more days passed.
In the Fourth Division Captain's office, Unohana Retsu and Yamada Seinosuke sat opposite each other, the aroma of tea curling in the air.
Hasumi sat to the side, quietly listening to their conversation.
"In the past month, the number of attacks on Soul Reapers reported by various divisions has increased by forty percent compared to the same period last year, which has led to a significant increase in the Fourth Division's workload."
Yamada Seinosuke placed a report on the table.
"Particularly in the outer areas of the Rukongai, there have been many cases of Soul Reapers disappearing without reason. Reports state that most were the work of Hollows."
Unohana picked up her teacup.
"What are the movements in Hueco Mundo?"
"Unclear," Yamada shook his head. "There hasn't been any news regarding Hueco Mundo for a long time."
Unohana was silent for a moment.
"Perhaps the activity of Menos Grande has become more frequent," she set down her teacup. "I hope the various divisions strengthen their vigilance."
Yamada nodded and put away the report.
Hasumi listened from the side, his expression unchanged, but he was secretly thinking.
He remembered the Fourth Seat of the Fifth Division he had helped treat a few days ago, who was said to have been attacked by an Adjuchas.
That Adjuchas was later captured alive and sent to the Central Underground Prison.
He heard that the Fourth Seat's life had been hanging by a thread, and if not for Hirako Shinji's timely intervention, the man likely wouldn't have survived.
At the time, he thought it was just a coincidence, but now, hearing Yamada's words, his heart stirred.
Could that Adjuchas have also been released by Aizen?
It seemed Aizen was planning something again.
"Hasumi."
Unohana's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Are you going to the Kido Corps to study in a few days?"
"Yes," Hasumi replied. "I might need to take a day off then."
"Remember to balance both sides. Do not neglect one for the other or fall behind in your progress."
Unohana spoke in a low voice.
"Your talent in Kaido is far more important than your talent in Kido."
"The Soul Society does not lack powerful killers, but it is sorely lacking in skilled doctors."
Hasumi nodded.
"Understood."