The Tenth Division patrol members acted swiftly, transporting the severely injured Ayakawa Hiko and the others to the Fourth Division barracks as quickly as possible.
Over the next few days, Hasumi Ren visited the Fourth Division daily, following Unohana to provide follow-up treatment for the group.
Under the Fourth Division's care, Ayakawa Hiko and the others recovered rapidly. Within just a few days, they regained consciousness, though they remained weak and required bed rest.
That night, the Fourth Division ward was quite peaceful, with only the moonlight outside casting a silver glow through the paper windows.
The Fourth Division members on duty patrolled softly, their footsteps incredibly light for fear of disturbing the patients.
Right at that moment, a dark figure quietly slipped into the ward, walking straight up to the beds of Ayakawa Hiko and the others.
The person wore a standard Soul Reaper uniform, his face obscured in the shadows. He leaned close to the bed, keeping his voice extremely low.
"Young masters, you're awake, aren't you?"
Ayakawa Hiko stiffened and slowly opened his eyes. The moment he saw the man, his pupils shrank, and an ominous premonition welled up in his heart.
He recognized this person. When they had visited the Tsunayashiro estate, this was the very man who had led them to Tokinada's room.
"My lord sent me to check on you all, and also to offer a reminder. Regarding this incident, you know exactly what should and shouldn't be said."
A cold smirk curled the corners of the man's mouth, the threat in his tone becoming increasingly apparent.
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the group.
"Behind each of you stands your respective family. You ought to consider their well-being carefully."
With those words, he slowly extended his hand, revealing several pills resting in his palm.
"These were prepared for you by my lord."
Ayakawa Hiko and the others turned deathly pale, trembling all over as they stared fixedly at the pills.
They understood perfectly. Tokinada was trying to silence them permanently, shutting their mouths once and for all.
One of the noble scions shuddered in terror, instinctively trying to back away, but he was confined to the hospital bed and unable to move.
The dark figure's eyes turned cold. Just as he reached out, intending to forcefully shove the poison into their mouths...
The abrupt sound of a door opening came from the ward's entrance.
The dark figure jolted and whipped his head around, only to see a silhouette standing in the doorway, having appeared without him noticing.
Upon making out the figure, his expression drastically changed. Cold sweat beaded on his palms, and his first instinct was to flee.
The dark figure never expected that his actions would be discovered by Unohana Retsu.
Unohana watched the man's movements with keen interest, her perpetually squinted eyes opening just a fraction.
"How could someone dare to come into the Fourth Division and pull such petty tricks?"
"I truly wonder if it is bravery, or simply ignorance..."
Unohana wasted no words. Her figure blurred, and in an instant, she appeared right in front of the dark figure.
With a gentle flick of her Zanpakuto, a massive slash mark materialized across the man's body.
Before he could even react, blood sprayed out.
A flash of ruthlessness crossed the man's eyes, and he bit down on a poison pill hidden in his mouth.
The next moment, the dark figure collapsed heavily onto the floor, completely devoid of life.
A glint of coldness flashed in Unohana's eyes as she crouched down to inspect him.
Moments later, several figures hurried into the ward, their expressions grave.
"Captain, this person is..."
Unohana Retsu waved her hand dismissively, her gaze sweeping over the corpse on the floor as she spoke in a calm tone.
"He swallowed poison. He is already dead."
She then used her Zanpakuto to prod the black pills resting in the man's palm.
Turning to the squad members behind her, her tone remained flat.
"Clean this place up. Oh, and go fetch Hasumi Ren."
"Yes, ma'am!"
The squad members replied in unison and went about their tasks.
Peace returned to the ward once more, leaving only the sounds of the room being cleaned and a few heavy breaths.
Ayakawa Hiko and the others lay in their beds, their faces pale and their bodies still trembling slightly, their eyes filled with lingering fear.
The scene that had just unfolded lingered in their minds like an unshakable nightmare.
They looked at the Fourth Division Captain, Unohana, wanting to speak up, to say that this was all Tokinada's conspiracy, to say that Tokinada was trying to silence them.
But the words caught in their throats, unable to be voiced.
Tokinada's threat wrapped around their hearts like a curse.
Behind them stood their respective families.
If they told the truth, the Tsunayashiro clan would undoubtedly retaliate, and their entire families would be doomed beyond redemption.
They lacked the confidence to resist and the courage to sacrifice their families.
Ultimately, the group silently lowered their heads, a flicker of despair and compromise flashing in their eyes.
It seemed that death was the only way they could protect themselves and their families.
Just as they were drowning in their inner turmoil, a familiar figure appeared in the room.
"Captain Unohana, you were looking for me?"
Hasumi Ren pushed the door open and walked in, raising an eyebrow slightly as he noticed the bloodstains being wiped from the floor.
"Someone came. You were right before."
Unohana looked at the surprised Hasumi Ren, her expression calm.
"To think they actually dared to come... How brave."
Hasumi Ren pondered this. The only person who would make a move against them seemed to be that one individual.
Speaking up, Ren looked at the group around him.
"Do you guys really have nothing to say?"
Ayakawa Hiko and the others looked up at Ren, visible despair and numbness in their eyes.
"Do you not know, or do you not dare to speak?"
Hearing this, Ayakawa Hiko lowered his head, his body trembling slightly as he gave a small shake of his head.
Ren understood immediately.
"In that case, let me introduce someone to you."
"Perhaps he can help you."
Ayakawa Hiko stared blankly, lifting his head to look at Ren.
"Are you talking about..."
The next day, someone knocked gently on the door to the ward.
As the door opened, a cherry blossom-colored haori fluttered in the breeze, and Kyoraku Shunsui's figure appeared.
Looking at the group before him, he let out a soft sigh.
"That kid Hasumi Ren really knows how to cause trouble for me. The Eighth Division has a lot of official duties to handle, you know..."
"Oh my, you little ones seem to be recovering quite well. I hear you have something you want to discuss with me, is that right?"
Hasumi Ren had no idea what was discussed inside the ward.
When Kyoraku Shunsui came out, he patted Ren on the shoulder, signaling that the matter was resolved.
Sometime later, Hasumi Ren received a notice from Tsukabishi Tessai and returned to the Kido Corps.
However, he never saw Ayakawa Hiko or the others again.
Furthermore, the rumors and gossip that had previously surrounded him vanished without a trace.
No one dared to gossip about Ren behind his back anymore, nor did anyone intentionally ostracize him. The atmosphere within the Kido Corps became unusually peaceful.
The attitudes of the people there toward Ren had also undergone an earth-shattering change.
All their past hostility had completely disappeared.
In its place was a subtle, barely perceptible sense of awe and reverence.
One day, Hasumi Ren was in a corner of the training grounds, focused on practicing double incantations.
Spiritual pressure intertwined at his fingertips as the auras of two different Kido spells merged perfectly, fluid and stable.
Just then, a figure walked up beside him, blocking the sunlight from the side.
Ren paused his movements to see Tsukabishi Tessai standing before him with a gentle expression.
Tsukabishi Tessai let out a soft sigh, patted Ren's shoulder, and spoke quietly.
"Hasumi Ren, thank you for everything regarding this recent incident."
Ren was slightly taken aback but quickly recovered, giving a faint shake of his head.
"It was no trouble at all."
He knew that Tsukabishi Tessai must have learned about the incident, knowing that he had saved Ayakawa Hiko and the others, as well as the convoluted schemes behind it all.
Tsukabishi Tessai smiled, a hint of complexity flashing in his eyes.
"From now on, just focus on your training in the Kido Corps with peace of mind. No one will dare to run their mouths anymore."
Ren nodded, saying nothing more.
Tsukabishi Tessai departed.
Ren adjusted his state of mind and resumed practicing his double incantations.
With the Kido fragments he had absorbed previously, the guidance from Unohana and Tsukabishi Tessai, and his continuous daily practice...
His mastery over double incantations was becoming increasingly proficient.
Spiritual pressure flowed at his fingertips as the two Kido auras intertwined flawlessly without the slightest disruption. The incantations rolled off his tongue, fluid and swift.
Two different Kido spells were released simultaneously, complementing each other to multiply their power, yet remaining precisely controllable without a single deviation.
As the last trace of spiritual pressure dissipated, Hasumi Ren slowly opened his eyes, a flicker of realization passing through them.
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