You are very strong, but my painting style is better than yours!

She entered a specific demonic incantation as the password, and the heavy stone door slid open silently, revealing the dark space inside.

Entering the laboratory, the scene is chilling—countless culture chambers float in mid-air, filled with various experimental subjects.

Yuuki walked to the central experimental table and placed a drop of Iori's blood into a sophisticated spiritual particle analyzer. A complex stream of data immediately appeared on the screen, and she stared intently at it, her fingers flying across the dial.

"really……"

She murmured, "The stability and soul density of the spirit particles far exceed those of ordinary people, even surpassing Vastod... but this cannot explain his evolutionary speed... the capabilities of machines are ultimately limited."

Her gaze shifted to the three pillars at the deepest part of the laboratory, the one in the center of which was slender, and a determined smile curled at the corners of her lips.

As Yuuki leaned against Jin, a cold white mist surged out, and a dark blue crystal floated in it, its surface shimmering with an ominous light—the Hogyoku (a semi-finished product).

Yuhime slowly brought the crystal that sealed Iori's blood droplet closer to the Hōgyoku. The dark blue sphere immediately trembled violently, and strands of dark red lines spread out like the blood vessels of an embryo.

"The reaction was so violent... As expected, Iori's body contains fragments of the Soul King, even at a concentration comparable to Yhwach's... If this drop of blood could be used to repair the flaws in the Hogyoku..."

Her voice was filled with fervor: "Soon, I will be able to create an existence that transcends the ethereal!"

Researching this doesn't require much Soul King power; simply accumulating spiritual particles or increasing spiritual pressure isn't difficult. However, fusing Hollow, Shinigami, and Quincy powers into one is very difficult.

Conversely, if the integration is successful, then scaling up becomes much simpler.

Of course, if it could only be researched using Iori's blood, then the finished product would hardly surpass Iori herself. Aizen Yuuki only used it to make the Hogyoku more complete. In her mind, the Hogyoku was the key to unlocking perfect evolution!

She reached out and touched the crystal, feeling the vast, ocean-like energy within it, and a flame of ambition gradually ignited in her eyes.

“Iori…”

She whispered the name, her tone complex, "This time, I will never lose to you again."

……

After Yuuki left the laboratory, Iori quietly appeared and watched everything, a complex look flashing in her eyes.

He casually took the Hogyoku out of the barrier, narrowed his eyes slightly to understand its structure, and then revealed a look of surprise:

This thing is indeed based on a fragment of the Spirit King, but during its creation, some unpredictable random change occurred, causing its abilities to change long ago and no longer be limited by the fragment of the Spirit King.

Of course, this poses no threat to Iori.

This thing can't possibly reach the level of a Soul King, let alone Iori.

only……

"Ah~"

With a quiet sigh, Iori's eyes shimmered with iridescent light, and pale golden ripples spread across his fingertips, subtly coating the Hogyoku with a sacred glow. This caused its internal structure to continuously collapse and reorganize, eventually forming a miniature universe encompassing countless tiny stars.

He didn't take the Hogyoku, but quietly left the laboratory. As for the transformation that occurred to the Hogyoku, he left it to Yuuki to discover for herself.

That bet...

Let Yuuki win this time, otherwise she'll definitely be unhappy.

There's nothing I can do; she's the older sister. Iori is someone who values ​​family ties.

He was also curious: what would happen to Yuuki if she were to have everything she held dear crumble before her eyes at her proudest and most complacent moment?

But that would be too cruel to Yuuki...

"Let's be fair and only use the power of the Shinigami."

Iori raised her right hand and glanced at her Zanpakuto, Meikyō Shisui.

"The first person to witness my Bankai... isn't that enough to show my respect?"

Chapter 575 Yes, why do you think so?

The twilight in Seireitei always carries a solemn golden hue, as if even time itself slows down here.

Saito, immortal and ageless, strode across the long corridor paved with bluestone slabs. Her footsteps were particularly clear in the quiet courtyard. She looked up at the majestic First Division barracks in the distance, and a slight smile appeared on her lips.

This time, she didn't return as the captain, but as a grim reaper about to be relieved of her burdens, coming to deliver her final mission.

From that moment on, she was free in every sense of the word.

“What a rare guest, Saito.”

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's voice came from inside the door, deep and authoritative.

He sat upright in the main seat, his cane lightly tapping the ground, his gaze piercing.

Retsu Unohana, standing to the side, smiled gently and kindly. Since she was also there, she had obviously been notified in advance.

"It's been a long time, you look great."

"Thankfully, rice these days is good for you."

Saito walked into the room, casually sat down on a futon, and took off his Zanpakuto, placing it horizontally in front of his lap.

To be honest, she hadn't cared much about it before, but now she's becoming increasingly picky, and she really doesn't want to sit on things like futons unless absolutely necessary. Perhaps she's been influenced by Iori; that man's philosophy has always been to pursue pleasure but with moderation.

"Old man, Hachi, I've come back to return the captain's haori."

Her tone was relaxed, as if she were just talking about the weather. "I should have taken it off a long time ago. The expeditionary force's cloak has been around for hundreds of years, but I would politely decline this one for the current garrison."

"Old man, Xiao Ba"—hearing such rude terms of address, the two were not angry, but instead showed a hint of melancholy.

This means that Saito is truly retiring this time.

Of the three, Yamamoto is undoubtedly the oldest.

Even in his youth, he had a stern face and spoke in an old-fashioned manner. His fighting style was also quite ferocious, and he established a reputation that no one dared to provoke him. Few people could call him "Old Man" directly; they usually referred to him as "Shizi Zhai" or "Yuan Liu Zhai".

Of the two, Saito and Unohana, the former is surprisingly older—appearances can lead to great misunderstandings, but reality is cruel, and saying it out loud will anger someone.

Saito was also puzzled. Everyone was eating the same food, so how come some people grew so tall, and all their fat grew in the right places?

Some people exercise like crazy but still stay short; all the fat they should have gained went to their arms and thighs... That's just how unfair God is.

"Yachiru" is a nickname, just like Shikisai. Retsu Unohana is not his real name either. This first Kenpachi, like Saito, came from Rukongai. His real name only has the character "Retsu".

Incidentally, the surname Unohana was given to Yachiru Retsu by Yamamoto, the most cultured man at the time, when Yachiru Retsu decided to retire his sword (yes, the old man's hobby was the arts). Many heroes of Rukongai only acquired their surnames after officially joining the Gotei 13.

But this is where the differences in life's circumstances come into play:

In April of that year, Yachiru swept through Rukongai, fought a battle with a wild man, and then fell into a period of stagnation, feeling as if she had died once. From then on, she laid down her sword and changed professions. In her memory, Yamamoto took the snow-viewing grass that blooms in April (Uzuki) as her surname, which is "Uzuki no Hana" (meaning "flower of the Uzuki").

As for the immortal one, there's only one who follows the crowd: "Saito"... Luckily, her name is somewhat recognizable.

Yamamoto frowned slightly, but quickly relaxed.

"Have you finally decided?"

he asked in a deep voice.

"Yes, we've lived in a daze for over a thousand years, it's time to live for ourselves for once."

Saito's gaze swept over his two old friends, a hint of nostalgia flashing in his eyes. "It feels like just yesterday that we fought together in Rukongai."

Unohana took a sip of tea and said gently, "Back then, you weren't as composed as you are now."

Saito laughed heartily: "Are you praising me or insulting me? Back in the day, among a group of you, I was considered particularly composed!"

Yamamoto snorted coldly, but did not object.

Saito is indeed quite composed. She appears unrestrained and carefree, but she would neither kill indiscriminately for pleasure, nor be driven by a violent temper to burn down an entire Rukongai, nor would she, like a chuunibyou, easily fall into her own world... all of which are memories she would rather forget.

Thinking back to the Gotei 13 back then, and then looking at them now, it feels like a completely different world.

Memories flooded back, and the three fell silent for a moment, a faint sadness filling the air. Saito's smile faded, and he said solemnly, "Thank you for taking care of me all these years."

Unohana shook her head: "We should be the ones saying that, there's no need for thanks."

“We have all witnessed your contributions to the Seireitei over the years.”

Yamamoto looked directly into Saito's eyes and slowly said, "Now that you've made your decision, I won't keep you any longer. However—"

He paused.

"Don't forget your roots are here... At least show up occasionally and have some tea with old friends."

"The captain is very busy, and I can't bear the responsibility of bothering you."

Saito grinned: "Don't worry, I live in Rukongai not far from Seireitei anyway."

"...So we really are going to live together?"

"Yes."

Saito thought for a moment, then turned his gaze to Unohana's face and sighed softly, "Retsu, there's something I've been keeping to myself for a long time."

"Ok?"

"I may have always been... a little jealous of you."

Saito stopped there.

Although it's not easy to say it outright, she was the original leader, but ultimately, due to differences in talent, she watched helplessly as Retsu, this talented killer, gradually surpassed her. When the Thirteenth Division was formed, everyone was a veteran, and each division had the same status, yet Yamamoto singled out the Eleventh Division and made Retsu "Kenpachi".

Saito was not dissatisfied at all. Like everyone else present, she felt that only Yachi Ryūretsu was qualified.

But this objectively different treatment is naturally very uncomfortable.

Whether it's swordsmanship, reputation, spiritual pressure, or even figure... he has to surpass her even in terms of surname!

...Now it all seems like a thing of the past.

"But after all these years, I only now realize that I wasn't jealous of you, but rather I felt lost in my own life, unable to find what I wanted to do, unlike you who always had clear goals."

Saito smiled gently: "But now I've found it."

"That would be great."

Unohana was also happy for Saito.

"Thank you. If you hadn't comforted me back then, things wouldn't have turned out this way... But I'm still a little sorry."

"Feel sorry?"

"I feel like I've left you behind by getting ahead of you in 'a happy life' and things like that. I'm so sorry."

"..."

"But there's nothing I can do about it. After living for over a thousand years, I've only just realized that there are so many wonderful things in this world waiting for me to encounter... Sigh, maybe that's why my achievements in swordsmanship are not as great as yours."

Saito patted Unohana on the shoulder, looking like a caring older sister sighing with emotion.

"You can dedicate your life to the sword, seeking nothing else in this life; it's truly admirable."

Unlike me, I fell for him so easily... I can't help it, after all, that face is totally my type, and you would too... oh, I forgot, you're not interested in this kind of thing.

Alright, then farewell.

"..."

As if saying "Finally, that's satisfying," Saito laughed and got up to leave, leaving Unohana, who was wearing a smiling mask, in the room.

At this moment, the dignified Captain-Commander Yamamoto remained silent, not uttering a single word...

……

As night fell, Yamamoto stood alone in the courtyard, gazing at the starry sky.

The image of Saito leaving lingered in his mind—a sense of ease and relief he had never seen in her before.

Once upon a time, they fought side by side, forging the foundation of Seireitei in blood and fire. Now, one by one, their old friends have departed, either dying in battle or retiring, leaving only him and Unohana standing firm in the torrent of time, like stubborn rocks.

"Captain."

Chojiro's voice came from behind, "The night breeze is cool, you should rest."

Yamamoto didn't turn around, but simply asked, "Chōjirō, tell me... is all that we've protected, and all that we've sacrificed over the past thousand years... worth it?"

"of course."

Sparrow was taken aback, then respectfully replied, "This subordinate dares not speak presumptuously, but the existence of Seireitei is the answer itself."

"Yes... In any case, the order of Seireitei is necessary for the three realms."

Yamamoto chuckled softly, looked up at the bright moon hanging high in the sky, and murmured to himself, "Saito, I hope you can find true peace."

"It seems that Captain Saito's retirement has had a significant impact on you."

"Ha... Sparrow, do you think I'm old?"