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

There's no way around it; no matter how strong Unohana is, she's still just a Shinigami. At best, she can become a half-Transcendent after Hollowfication. But Saito learned a lot from Iori, and the power he wields is far stronger than Unohana's.

"Is Kenpachi alright?"

You mean her?

Saito tilted his head, a sly smile on his face: "Captain Shihouin really went to great lengths to keep her under control!"

But that last one…

She made a chopping motion with her hand: "I knocked her unconscious with the back of the knife."

"Ha~"

Iori crouched down and gently touched Unohana's neck with her fingers. Her pulse was weak but steady.

"how is she?"

"Can't die."

Yoruichi walked over, not at all surprised that Iori was there, and grinned as if she had expected it.

Yoruichi's face was pale but her eyes were still bright: "But don't ask me to do this kind of job next time... The title of the first Kenpachi is really well-deserved."

However, as expected, Lord Saito is also very strong. Between the two of you... I feel that Lord Saito is more suitable for the title of 'Kenpachi'.

Haha~ You flatter me~

Saito grinned: "I'm just somewhat skilled in kendo."

Chapter 582 Spring Water's Little Lesson in Life.

Saito almost burst out laughing, but knowing the occasion and atmosphere were inappropriate, he managed to maintain his composure.

Originally, her life was much happier and more fulfilling than Unohana's, and those little moments of jealousy from her early years were nothing to worry about. However, she still had one regret: she had never defeated Unohana in her professional career, which was something that the proud female Shinigami couldn't let go of.

But now she has everything she needs!

Although she reached her current level because of Iori, finding such a perfect partner is also her skill, there's no problem with that!

If it weren't for the fact that Aizen Yuuki had just "died," making it somewhat inappropriate, Saito would definitely have let out a long, joyful howl to vent his happiness.

……

The torrential rain in Seireitei finally stopped, but the air was still filled with a damp and oppressive atmosphere.

Inside the Fourth Division's barracks, the Hollowfied captains were placed in a specially designed treatment room. Layers of binding spells flickered in the dim room, binding their restless spiritual pressure like chains.

The team members were completely baffled as to how to treat the Hollowfication and didn't know where to start. What made them even more at a loss was that even their superior, Retsu Unohana, had become a "patient" this time... Suddenly having to take charge of treating so many pillars of Team Thirteen was too much of a challenge for these people's endurance.

Iori was also in the Fourth Division. After quickly reporting the incident to Yamamoto, he immediately rushed here, partly to visit Ukitake and the others who were sealed away, and partly...

He stood at the end of the corridor, his gaze passing through the half-open door to the slender figure covered by a white sheet. Yuki lay there quietly, as if she were merely asleep, but her pale face and the wound on her chest silently proclaimed a cruel truth.

“Iori…”

Chunshui's voice came from behind him. His right arm was wrapped in bandages, and the sleeve hung loosely at his side. He still had that cynical smile on his face, but the weariness in his eyes was impossible to hide.

As expected, the right arm has been "preserved separately," but it was not a simple cutting. Instead, it was divided into two parts in a spatial sense using advanced ghost techniques—this was the great ghost master's masterpiece, and the right arm will be reattached in the future after it is restored to its original state.

"Spring water".

Iori didn't turn around, her voice low and hoarse, "You shouldn't have come. You need to rest your injured hand."

"Ha, it's just an arm. Compared to some people who are locked up their whole bodies, I'm already very lucky."

Chunshui walked to his side, her gaze also falling on Youji's corpse. "But you, how long have you been standing here?"

"do not know."

Iori shook her head. "Time seems... to be no longer important."

Chunshui was silent for a moment, then suddenly chuckled: "You know what? I used to think you were a frighteningly strong young man, and sometimes I even thought you were just plain indifferent... Now I realize that you can also show this kind of expression."

"..."

Iori did not respond, but slowly raised her hand, her fingertips lightly touching the door frame, as if trying to grasp something, but then helplessly letting it fall.

“She is very important to me.”

He said in a low voice, his voice filled with unspeakable pain, "It's more important than I imagined!"

“Iori…”

Chunshui turned her head and looked at Yizhi's profile. A hint of vulnerability appeared on that usually calm face.

He sighed and patted Iori's shoulder with his only remaining left hand: "I understand."

"you understand?"

Iori gave a bitter smile. "Even I don't understand... why I only realized how much I cared about her after I lost her."

"Feelings are something you only realize later."

Chunshui gazed into the distance, her eyes somewhat dazed. "Just like I was back then... watching everything unfold, unable to stop anything, unable even to utter a single word like 'I hate this.'"

If you ask why, it's because I was born into nobility, and there are too many things I couldn't choose for myself..."

Iori finally turned her head to look at Shunsui: "Have you had a similar experience?"

"Yes."

Chunshui smiled, but the smile was full of bitterness. "When you're young, you always feel like you have plenty of time and can say things slowly. But when you finally want to say them, you find that the opportunity is gone."

The two fell silent, and only the faint hum of the demonic barrier remained in the air.

“Iori,”

Chunshui suddenly spoke up, "Do you know? Yuuki has always... cared about you a lot."

"..."

"Although she thought she had kept it a secret well, everyone isn't blind; they all pretty much figured it out."

"Is it so obvious?"

"A girl in love is always so endearing!"

"Ah!"

Iori's body trembled slightly, her fingers unconsciously clenching: "I actually know... but that's precisely why I hate myself even more. If I had realized her feelings sooner... perhaps the ending would have been different."

"Regret is the most useless emotion."

Chunshui shook her head. "Instead of wallowing in pain, think about what kind of person she would want you to become."

Chunshui's tone became unusually serious: "Carrying her share, she lives a more dazzling life than anyone else."

“You’re right… I can’t stay depressed like this forever.”

Iori opened his eyes, the sadness in them gradually replaced by determination. He looked at Yuuki and whispered, "I will... I definitely will."

Chunshui smiled with satisfaction and patted his shoulder again: "That's more like it. Come on, it's too cold here, come with me for a drink."

Iori nodded, took one last look at Yuuki, and whispered, "I love you, sister... Yuuki."

He then turned and followed Chunshui.

At the end of the corridor, a faint ray of sunlight pierced through the clouds and fell on the two figures, as if drawing a gentle conclusion to this heavy conversation.

"It's a bit out of place... but I'm quite happy, it feels like we've gotten closer again."

Chunshui stroked the stubble on his chin: "After all, you're not usually this emotional... As expected, it's Yuuki... who has such a big influence on you."

If you have any worries in the future, feel free to come and talk to me. At least I can still offer some guidance on life experience.

"Hmm~"

Iori nodded silently, but a hint of a sneer flashed in her eyes.

Chunshui sighed, "People still have to look forward. As long as you live long enough, you'll encounter all sorts of things, and your loved ones will leave one by one. We, the Grim Reapers, are already very lucky... Anyway, please accept my condolences."

Condolences?

Iori disagreed.

Why such emotional reaction? Because you can't see that the "corpse" inside is actually a large-scale listening device!

It's such a pity... we won't be able to see someone's expression after hearing those words.

Chapter 583 This is outrageous!

Inside the 12th Division barracks, Kiryu Hikifune's office remained exactly as it had been when he left. The documents on his desk were neatly stacked, and the greenery by the window looked slightly wilted from neglect. Yuuki sat in her large office chair, her fingertips lightly tapping the armrest, her gaze fixed on the newly cleared sky outside the window.

Footsteps echoed outside the door as team members hurried past carrying documents, but none of them glanced into the office—they couldn't see her. Or rather, what they saw wasn't "Aizen Yuuki," but something else entirely.

Imagine ants turning into elephants, mountains into valleys, and the sun into fireflies—though these are all illusions, they are what people perceive as reality through their five senses.

Zanpakuto is the manifestation of a Shinigami's inner potential, and this is her innate ability.

“Iori…”

She murmured softly, her fingertips unconsciously touching her chest.

If the "corpse" is real, there should be a fatal wound there, but it is perfectly intact.

All that everyone in Seireitei witnessed was an illusion. Yuuki was confident that no one could see through her illusion, but she also knew that Iori was unusual. Not to mention that she had never shown Iori her "Shikai", even if the ability of Kyoka Suigetsu could work, she would not hope to deceive Iori with just an illusion.

—Because the corpse would definitely have had physical contact with him, and for the person who knows her best, even the most perfect disguise will have flaws.

Therefore, the corpse is "real":

Using spirit remains and cloning technology, a body identical to Yuuki's was created, with identical spirit particle wavelengths and data.

Even so, Yuuki was still worried about whether Iori would suspect her... until just now.

Through certain hidden devices left inside the "corpse," she clearly heard every word Iori said and felt every subtle emotional fluctuation in him, thus verifying that it was all from the heart and not an act.

Those words were like a dull knife, slowly but steadily carving into her heart.

She only realized now how important she was to Iori... even though he always seemed so carefree and nonchalant...

"It's even more than I imagined..."

She repeated Iori's words, a bitter smile curving her lips. "How...foolish. In the end, we're just 'family' brought together by fate. I've never thought you were that important. You're just indulging in wishful thinking...wishful thinking."

It was so foolish that she didn't even have the energy to laugh...

Outside the window, a butterfly fluttered by, its wings shimmering in the sunlight.

Yuuki's gaze followed it, but her thoughts drifted back to that rainy night: the image of Iori holding her "corpse," with rainwater mixed with blood sliding down his cheeks, was still clearly imprinted in her mind.

She was there, silently watching Iori's every move among the many passersby. The sorrow and despair emanating from Iori even infected others, leaving everyone feeling gloomy for a long time.

"It's not too late to stop now."

A voice echoed in her heart, "Go back to him!"

Yuki's fingers tightened suddenly, her nails digging deep into her palm, the pain instantly bringing her back to her senses.

"Do not……"

She shook her head, her eyes regaining their resolve. "There's no going back."

She stood up and walked to the window, from which she could overlook most of Seireitei. In the sunlight, the golden-domed buildings gleamed, like a pristine desert.

"What a beautiful sight!"

She said softly, "Unfortunately, it is built on such a fragile balance."

A gentle breeze swept by, ruffling the stray hairs on her forehead.

Yuuki closed her eyes and felt the flow of spiritual particles in the wind. She could detect the spiritual pressure fluctuations (captain level and above) in every corner of Seireitei—the captains bound in the Fourth Division, Mayuri Kurotsuchi frantically researching in the R&D Bureau, and... Iori drinking with Shunsui.

"I'm sorry, Iori."

She opened her eyes, the last trace of hesitation vanishing from them. "But I have to do it."

She turned and walked to the corner of the office, where an inconspicuous cabinet stood. Yuuki lightly traced a line on the cabinet door with her finger, and intricate demonic runes flickered on and off. The cabinet door slid open silently, revealing a spherical device emitting a ghostly blue light inside.

"Just one last step..."

She carefully took out the device, a cold smile appearing on her lips. "The Twelfth Division is truly full of hidden talents. I originally wanted to find out about Kiryu Hikifune's research, but I didn't expect to find that someone's ideas are in sync with mine."

Kisuke Urahara, who would have thought that this unknown, ordinary seated officer's research projects and progress would be far beyond even Kiryu Hikifune's reach?