Bleach: In Soul Society, I just want to retire

The Adjuchas Hollow, now a grotesque beast filled with newfound power, didn't understand the girl's cryptic remark. It roared furiously and prepared to attack again. But before it could move, its perspective suddenly shifted unnaturally.

It took a moment for the creature to realize what had happened. Its head was no longer attached to its body. Instead, it was lying on the ground, and from its new vantage point, it could see the rest of its massive form in scattered pieces. Arms, legs, and torso—everything had been severed cleanly, now strewn across the battlefield.

Even for a great Hollow like an Adjuchas, such an attack was fatal.

"No… this… this can't be," the Hollow stammered, its voice trembling with disbelief. "What did you do to my body…?"

But the girl didn't bother to answer. With a single decisive swing, she severed its head completely, cutting off its last words. The Hollow let out a final, agonized roar before its dismembered remains began to dissolve into nothingness.

The battlefield fell silent once more.

Yamabuki Ditang, still observing from within his inner consciousness, let out a low whistle. "Wow. That was… something else."

The girl turned, her expression unreadable. "What exactly do you mean?"

"I mean, I've got it all figured out," Yamabuki said with a completely serious face.

"What do you mean?" she asked suspiciously, narrowing her icy blue eyes. "You understand my abilities?"

Yamabuki shook his head. "No. What I've realized is… you have chuunibyou."

The girl froze.

"Seriously," Yamabuki continued, his expression as grave as if he were delivering a eulogy. "What kind of normal person dresses like that? And that line—'You're already dead'? Do you think I haven't seen Fist of the North Star? That's such an old, cringe-worthy joke! Who even says that anymore? You've got full-on second-year syndrome, and I'd appreciate it if you didn't use my body to live out your embarrassing fantasies."

The girl's jaw tightened, her face reddening slightly. For a moment, she seemed too stunned to speak. Then, with an audible growl of frustration, she clenched her fists and glared at him.

"You… you absolute idiot!" she spat. "Next time you're on the verge of death, don't expect me to save you! Keep your pathetic body to yourself! Who would want to help you anyway?!"

With an indignant huff, the girl crossed her arms and turned her back to him. Her voice began to fade as she retreated into his inner world.

Yamabuki could feel her presence slipping away as control of his body returned to him.

As soon as Yamabuki regained consciousness, a wave of unimaginable pain hit him like a freight train. It was as if every nerve in his body was screaming at once.

His voice trembled as he muttered, "My forearm is broken… my ribs are shattered… my shoulder blade is dislocated… my internal organs feel like they've been through a blender… and I've got dozens of wounds all over my body. I might be bleeding internally!"

He coughed violently, blood spurting from both his mouth and nose. The coppery taste filled his mouth as he struggled to stay upright.

All of this… for a single mission?

The corners of Yamabuki's vision darkened, and he felt his body swaying uncontrollably. He tried to address the survivors who were watching him with wide, terrified eyes. "Everyone… it's okay now. You can go back… go back…"

Before he could finish, the darkness overtook him, and he collapsed to the ground.

In his unconscious state, Yamabuki drifted into a dream. In it, he was lounging in a luxurious hot spring surrounded by beautiful women. They doted on him, pouring wine into his cup, feeding him grapes, and giggling at his every word. He felt like King Zhou of the Shang dynasty, reveling in endless pleasures.

The warmth of the hot spring felt so real, so soothing, that for a moment Yamabuki wondered if he was truly dreaming.

His eyes fluttered open, and he found himself sitting in a large wooden barrel filled with warm water. Steam rose lazily from the surface.

At first, he thought he was still dreaming. But then he noticed the peculiar scene around him.

Not far away, a man with a crew cut was reading a book. After a few moments, the man closed the book, walked into a nearby kitchen, grabbed a handful of plants, and began chopping them into pieces. He then dumped the chopped herbs into the barrel Yamabuki was sitting in.

Yamabuki's eyes widened in horror. "Wait a second… are you making soup out of me?!"

The man ignored him. Instead, he pulled out a large wooden spoon and stirred the water. He even took a small sip, as if tasting for seasoning.

Yamabuki's heart nearly stopped. "Have I been captured by cannibals?!"

Before his panic could spiral further, two familiar voices called out to him.

"Big brother! You're awake!"

Yamabuki turned and saw Chojiro and Hanako standing nearby, their faces lighting up with relief.

"Chojiro? Hanako?" he asked, confused. Slowly, his memories began to return—the fight, the Adjuchas, the aftermath. "What… happened after I passed out?"

Chojiro explained, "After you fainted, the people you saved carried you here to see a doctor. My sister and I stayed to look after you while the others went home."

"Doctor?" Yamabuki repeated, looking at the man with the crew cut. "Wait, this guy is a doctor? Why is he cooking me in a barrel then?"

Hanako giggled. "That's his special treatment. He calls it 'hot bath therapy.'"

Yamabuki blinked, stunned. "Never heard of it," he muttered.

As he checked his body, he realized that his injuries—every single one—had been healed. His broken bones were mended, his internal organs were functioning normally, and even his spiritual pressure felt stronger than before.

"How long was I out?" he asked.

"About three or four days," Hanako replied.

"Three or four days?!" Yamabuki exclaimed, suddenly alarmed. "Old man Yamamoto is going to kill me if I don't report back soon!"

He climbed out of the barrel, wincing slightly as the last traces of soreness faded. Hanako turned away shyly, covering her eyes with her hands.

As Yamabuki dressed, Chojiro hesitated before speaking. "Big brother Yamabuki, you said you're part of an organization called the Gotei 13, right?"

"That's right," Yamabuki replied, tightening his belt.

"Can I… can I join too?" Chojiro asked, his voice trembling with excitement. "I know I'm weak now, but I'll work hard! I can do anything—cook, clean, wash clothes—whatever you need!"

Yamabuki sighed, placing a hand on the boy's head. "The Gotei 13 isn't a place for odd jobs, Chojiro. You've seen what we do. I nearly died out there. You and your sister should focus on living a peaceful life."

Chojiro's face fell, but he clenched his fists. "I'm not asking to mess around! I want to become strong so I can protect Hanako!"

Yamabuki froze. "What did you say your name was?"

"Quebo Chojiro," the boy replied.

Yamabuki's heart skipped a beat. The name was unmistakable. Quebo Chojiro, the future vice-captain of the 1st Division, Yamamoto's right-hand man, a loyal and steadfast Shinigami for over a thousand years.

For a moment, Yamabuki stared at the boy, his thoughts racing.

"You want to join the Gotei 13?" he asked carefully.

"Yes!" Chojiro replied, his determination blazing.

Yamabuki sighed, then smiled. "Alright. Pack your things. You're coming with me."

Chojiro's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?!"

"Yes, but what about your sister? Won't she be left behind?" Yamabuki asked, glancing at Hanako.

The siblings exchanged uneasy looks.

Before either of them could respond, the crew-cut man spoke up. "Don't worry about that. The little girl is mine now. She sold herself to cover your medical expenses."

Yamabuki's jaw dropped. "WHAT?!"

Hanako forced a smile. "It's okay. Big brother saved so many people. This is the least I can do…"

Yamabuki clenched his fists. "Give me half a day. I'll bring back the money. Just let her go!"

The man laughed. "Money? You think you can buy her freedom? She's too useful. I'm not letting her go!"

Yamabuki's hand moved to his Zanpakutō. "Don't push your luck," he said coldly.

The man smirked. "Oh? You want to fight? My name is Kirinji Tenjirō. Fighting is my second favorite thing, right after healing. Let's see what you've got!"

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