The mornings of the Fourth Division always began earlier than those of the other Gotei 13 divisions.
Having already become accustomed to such a schedule, Rin had finished tidying everything up early and was once again helping inside Lieutenant Yamada Seinosuke’s office.
“Alright, Rin.
Today is your induction ceremony, so there’s no need for you to stay here helping anymore.
You’ll have plenty of work waiting for you afterward.
Right now, what you should do is go prepare.
Don’t forget that after the ceremony comes the Seat Officer Challenge.
There are still many things you need to take care of…” Seinosuke looked at Rin, who had been busy since daybreak, and sighed helplessly.
“Even if you just go take care of those flowers and herbs of yours, don’t stay here any longer.
Looking at you working nonstop gives me a headache.”
That was indeed true.
After all, today would mark Rin’s official entry into the Fourth Division.
Work within the Gotei 13 was never something to be treated casually.
Regardless of how freely he had come and gone during his internship, once he officially became a member of the Fourth Division, he would simply be a new recruit.
The Lieutenant’s office was no longer somewhere he could enter whenever he pleased.
No matter how close their relationship had become, proper etiquette still had to be observed.
“Yes, Lieutenant, I understand.
Then…
what about the flower garden I cultivated behind the division?”
Seinosuke rolled his eyes.
“That place was practically abandoned anyway.
Since you were the one who developed it, you can continue using it.
I’ll officially designate it as your personal cultivation area, so you don’t have to worry.”
“Thank you very much, Lieutenant!”
With his concerns completely gone, Rin immediately bowed before happily heading toward the backyard to tend to the medicinal plants he had cultivated.
Watching him leave, Seinosuke smiled faintly before standing up and making his way toward the captain’s residence.
Captain Unohana’s courtyard was spacious and elegant.
Flowers and greenery filled every corner.
A small bridge arched over flowing water, while a path paved with smooth pebbles added a quiet charm to the scenery.
A large hot spring occupied one corner of the courtyard.
In the center lay a wide open space completely free of decoration.
Captain Unohana was quietly seated beneath the veranda, calmly admiring the blooming flowers before her.
“Captain…”
“Do you truly intend to appoint Rin directly as the Ninth Seat?”
“Isn’t that a little too soon?”
“Besides, won’t the other Seat Officers object?
After all, none of them have ever personally witnessed Rin’s Kaidō abilities.”
The reason Seinosuke had deliberately sent Rin away earlier was precisely because Captain Unohana had already decided to promote him directly to Ninth Seat immediately after today’s induction ceremony.
Although Ninth Seat was not considered a particularly high-ranking position…
It already stood among the upper-middle tier of the division’s officers.
Those ranked above Ninth Seat generally served as leaders of various medical squads, taking responsibility for more important and complicated duties.
Within the other divisions of the Gotei 13, promotions usually required a Seat Officer Challenge.
If a lower-ranked officer wished to advance, they would formally challenge the higher-ranked Seat Officer.
Victory meant taking over the opponent’s position.
Even newly enlisted members were permitted to issue such challenges if they possessed sufficient confidence.
Normally, these challenges were held once every year after the induction ceremony for new recruits, making them one of each division’s most important annual events.
The Fourth Division, however, functioned somewhat differently.
As the medical and rescue division, many of its members were not particularly skilled in combat.
If promotions depended solely upon fighting ability, many highly skilled healers would inevitably lose their positions.
New recruits were not permitted to participate in Seat Officer Challenges during their first year.
Instead, they first had to accumulate practical experience through ordinary medical work before earning the right to challenge.
Furthermore…
The challenge itself did not revolve around combat.
Instead, it focused entirely upon Kaidō.
The examination consisted of two sections.
The first tested theoretical knowledge.
Both sides would alternately ask and answer medical questions.
Every question required a standard answer, with Captain Unohana personally acting as the final judge.
The second section tested practical ability.
Using specially prepared artificial spirit bodies borrowed from the Twelfth Division, Lieutenant Seinosuke would preset various illnesses and injuries.
The participants then had to correctly diagnose the condition before treating it.
Finally, they would be evaluated according to treatment quality, efficiency, speed, and several other standards.
Because of this unique system, the annual Seat Officer Challenge was considered one of the best learning opportunities for members of the Fourth Division.
Even those who did not participate often broadened their medical knowledge simply by watching.
Ordinarily…
Rin would not have been eligible to participate this year.
Yet Captain Unohana intended to appoint him directly as Ninth Seat.
Such an unprecedented decision would undoubtedly encourage many lower-ranked Seat Officers to issue challenges.
Although Rin had interned within the Fourth Division for two full years…
Very few people truly understood the extent of his talent.
Other than Seinosuke, who had personally taught him…
Almost no one knew the true level of his Kaidō.
As a result…
Today’s outcome would only be one of two possibilities.
Either Rin would establish himself in a single day as a medical genius acknowledged by everyone…
Or he would become the target of endless doubt and criticism.
“Seinosuke…”
Captain Unohana never turned to look at her lieutenant.
Instead, she quietly asked,
“If I remember correctly…”
“You were once an ambitious person.”
“You always wanted to change how everyone viewed Kaidō.”
“So when exactly did you become so conservative?”
“Although the Fourth Division rarely fights on the front lines…”
“The courage to challenge others is one of the very foundations upon which the Gotei 13 was established.”
Those words immediately silenced everything Seinosuke had intended to say.
Yes…
When had he become like this?
Perhaps…
It had started when the other divisions gradually began looking down upon the Fourth Division.
Little by little…
He himself had unconsciously begun retreating.
Why shouldn’t true geniuses receive exceptional treatment?
Why should they always follow rigid traditions?
Wasn’t the Gotei 13 originally a place where the capable rose while the incapable were left behind?
Countless thoughts surfaced inside his heart.
Yet…
“But Captain…”
“Is it truly alright for him to attract so much attention?”
He still could not completely suppress his concerns.
“It doesn’t matter.”
Captain Unohana’s gentle voice remained calm.
“Among this year’s graduates…”
“The other two are no less remarkable.”
“Besides…”
“If talent like his is allowed to quietly wither away…”
“That would be the greatest waste.”
“After today…”
“He will likely enter the sight of many important people.”
“And that…”
“…is when his true trial will begin.”
Her words carried more than one meaning.
“Yes, Captain.”
“I understand.”
The hesitation in Seinosuke’s eyes gradually disappeared.
“I won’t go easy on him.”
“I will make sure to train him properly.”
Captain Unohana simply nodded.
“Very well.”
“You may go.”
Meanwhile…
Rin, who had already arrived at his medicinal garden, remained completely unaware of everything being discussed.
He fetched bucket after bucket of fresh water from the nearby well before carefully watering every medicinal herb.
This garden had been built entirely by his own hands.
From the first bricks…
To the soil…
To every seed…
As well as the temperature regulation devices and Kidō stabilizers installed throughout the garden…
Everything had been gathered little by little over the past two years.
Because of this project…
He had also become acquainted with Lieutenant Hiyori Sarugaki of the Twelfth Division.
Only after assisting her with numerous experiments had he finally obtained many of these specialized instruments.
Of course…
The process had been far from easy.
After all…
The only reliable way to persuade a research fanatic was through an exchange of benefits.
He possessed no genuine friendship with anyone inside the Twelfth Division.
The only reason he had established any connection with Hiyori at all was because she had accidentally discovered his astonishing ability to cultivate plants.
Since then…
She had repeatedly asked him to help grow all sorts of bizarre experimental species.
Most of the plants growing throughout the garden were various improved strains of gentian flowers personally cultivated by Rin.
There were numerous different varieties.
Even the enhanced gentian flowers he had used during the Hollow incident had all originated from this very garden.
Besides those…
There were also a small number of other experimental plants.
Every single one had been cultivated for a specific purpose and served as an important specimen for his ongoing research.