BLEACH : THE NINTH KENPACHI

Zaraki wields a Zanpakutō. Although his Zanpakutō was not issued by the Spiritual Arts Academy, the fact that he can wield one at all confirms what he is—he's already a Shinigami in essence.

Moreover, his spiritual power is immense, yet he has no formal training to shape that power or release it as proper Reiatsu.

But even so, during my fight with Zaraki, I noticed that he unconsciously swung his blade with such force that sword pressure—Kiai— erupted naturally.

Captain Unohana should understand how remarkable that is.

Unohana Retsu lowered her gaze. Of course, she understood. In truth, she had known of Zaraki's power long before Gosuke Shigure.

But she chose not to voice it now.

Instead, she responded, following the line of Gosuke's statement: "That would mean... he's a born fighter."

"Yes," Gosuke Shigure nodded. "I believe so as well."

"Zaraki's strength is considerable. He was never trained in the standard Shinigami disciplines, yet with a blade alone, he's already comparable to fully trained combatants. If he could be taught to control and utilize his spiritual energy—to master Reiryoku and convert it into Reiatsu—then with time, I believe he could attain captain-class strength. Perhaps one day, he could even surpass me... and inherit the title of Kenpachi."

At the mention of Kenpachi, Unohana Retsu gave Gosuke Shigure a long look. Her suspicion deepened—did he know something?

It seemed as if everything Gosuke said somehow brought her back to old memories.

But after some thought, Unohana dismissed the notion. She had never spoken of those events to anyone. There was no way Gosuke Shigure could know the truth.

She gave him a composed smile. "Captain-class? Captain Gosuke certainly holds him in high regard."

"You understand, among the Gotei 13, those who reach the rank of captain are few."

"To carry the name of Kenpachi is another matter entirely—it's a title bestowed only upon the strongest Shinigami, and even among captains, it's rare to find one worthy of it."

"Too high a rating?" Gosuke Shigure smiled calmly. "I don't believe so."

"Zaraki deserves that rating."

Unohana Retsu laughed softly. But then her tone became serious.

"Captain Gosuke has yet to state the true purpose of his visit."

Gosuke Shigure did not hesitate. "Firstly, I would like to ask Captain Unohana to instruct Zaraki in the basic fundamentals of a Shinigami—Zanjutsu, Hakuda, and Shunpo."

"To give him at least a foundation."

"Oh?" Unohana's eyes narrowed slightly in curiosity.

She asked, "Captain Gosuke, you are a seasoned warrior yourself. Your skills in Zanjutsu, Shunpo, and Hakuda are exceptional. Why ask a medic like me to teach him?"

Gosuke replied, "Although you now serve in a medical role, in my view, your strength surpasses that of many captains. You are not just a healer—you are a legendary warrior, a true master of numerous sword styles. Among all the fighters I've seen, your proficiency is peerless."

"And more importantly... Zaraki himself told me you once encountered him in battle—and defeated him. That makes it fate."

"For these reasons, I believe you are the only one qualified to guide him."

"As for Kidō... whether or not Zaraki learns it is irrelevant. The Eleventh Division thrives on direct combat—our Shinigami rarely use Kidō in the field. But for Zanjutsu, Hakuda, and Shunpo, I would like you to give him the basics."

As Gosuke spoke, Unohana sighed inwardly.

Defeated Zaraki? Is that what he believes?

Only she knew the truth.

She had lost that battle.

It was she who failed Zaraki, whose weakness forced him to suppress his own strength.

And so, hearing this, she felt a renewed sense of duty.

If Zaraki was to reclaim the strength he buried because of her, she had a responsibility to help him.

Truthfully, if Zaraki were to awaken his true instincts, he wouldn't need techniques like Zanjutsu or Hakuda to fight at the highest level. But even so, mastering the Shinigami fundamentals could still help him evolve.

"Since Captain Gosuke has asked, I'll do my best to teach Zaraki," Unohana said with poise.

"I cannot guarantee how much he will absorb, but I'll attempt to guide him."

"With that," Gosuke Shigure said gratefully, "I'll leave him in your care, Captain Unohana."

Unohana Retsu tilted her head slightly. "Captain Gosuke mentioned a first request... what is the second?"

"The second," Gosuke said, "is a personal request."

"I would like you to teach me Kaidō."

If the first request was for Zaraki to be initiated into the Gotei 13 with proper Shinigami knowledge, then this second one was purely Gosuke's own matter.

Unohana's curiosity was piqued. "And why does Captain Gosuke wish to learn Kaidō?"

Gosuke answered honestly, "Because Kaidō is practical—especially for someone like me."

"My Eleventh Division is a combat force. Both my men and I are in constant risk of injury."

"Normally, we would wait for the Fourth Division's support. But not all battles give us that luxury. There are times when help doesn't arrive."

"So I thought—if I could learn Kaidō, even just the basics, I might be able to stabilize injuries on my own... or help others in the field."

"I see." Unohana's expression softened.

It was a reasonable request.

Since she had already accepted the role of Zaraki's teacher, she did not refuse Gosuke's second appeal.

"If Captain Gosuke wishes to learn Kaidō, I will find time to instruct you," she replied sincerely.

After all, when Tenjirō Kirinji of the Royal Guard taught her Kaidō centuries ago, his goal was not just for her to use it—it was to pass it on, to let it flourish.

Kaidō was not like Hadō or Bakudō, which were used for offense and restraint. Kaidō existed for healing—for saving lives.

Unfortunately, over the centuries, the mindset of the Gotei 13 had not changed. Most Shinigami still craved destructive power. They devoted themselves to Hadō and Bakudō, ignoring Kaidō as though it were a lesser art.

To many, Kaidō was seen as ineffective in battle—a Kidō with no combat value.

But what few understood was that mastery of Kaidō did more than just heal wounds—it extended the time one could fight.

And when two warriors could continue fighting beyond their limits...

It made battle all the more beautiful.