CHAPTER 238: Confident, Not Arrogant

"Kazuya…" Unohana spoke coldly. "You joined the academy, fought Captain Soi Fon on your first day, befriended many influential figures, and helped us out with the Arrancar's situation — you did everything to win favors on behalf of Kisuke… You and him are deeply involved."

From their initial encounter, Unohana had an alarming sense that the charismatic youth concealed ulterior motives behind his nonchalant, womanizer demeanor. 

This foreboding feeling now rang true.

The newest recruit to the 4th Squad was in league with none other than Kisuke Urahara — the exile pinned with the crime of orchestrating an Arrancar Invasion that nearly resulted in the death of multiple Captains and Vice-Captains.

"Well, I know that guy," Kazuya answered without hesitation, confirming her thoughts with a nod. "But we—"

"You betrayed us," Unohana interrupted him with a decisive tone. "After Isane treated you like family. After I gave you…" She trailed off as a disappointing expression clouded her face, startling even herself. "From the very beginning, you exploited our trust. For what reason did you infiltrate our ranks?"

She had come to appreciate the cheeky young man for his daringness, so his betrayal stung harder than the tip of a blade through her body. If it happened before she became the Captain of the 4th Squad, she'd have cut him down without hesitation. Even ten betrayals wouldn't have mattered back in those days.

She had lost that edge — healing others and saving lives had made her… soft.

"You are right about one thing." Kazuya gripped the sharp edge of her sword with his hand and pushed it back. Even as blood flowed out from his lacerated palm, he met her gaze steadily and rose to his feet. "I did infiltrate your ranks for a purpose."

"I knew it… You…" Unohana paused and drew back her Zanpakutō, returning it to its sheathed. With an odd look, she gazed at the thick red fluid oozing out of his wound. "We'll talk after I use Kaido."

The sight of blood had strangely cooled her head, allowing her to rethink the situation. Probing Kazuya's sincere gaze, she felt compelled to hear out his side of the story.

'There had to be a reason for everything… I want to know his story.'

After the genuine joy he had brought Isane — a happiness Unohana herself could never provide — he deserved the benefit of the doubt.

She clung to the sliver of hope that he wouldn't be guilty. He could be coerced into following Kisuke's orders, or perhaps… there was a chance Kisuke wasn't the bad guy here.

Kazuya raised his hand, revealing unblemished skin where the previous cut had been mere moments before.

"Accelerated self regeneration?" Unohana asked with a surprised look. "Impossible. Shinigami can't have this ability."

Unohana had not witnessed Kazuya unsheathe his Zanpakutō, as such the regeneration couldn't have come from his Zanpakutō.

"Just a little talent of mine," he replied vaguely. "Well, aren't you going to ask about this purpose of mine?"

"I was just getting to that," Unohana murmured. "So tell me, what exactly—"

"All will be revealed in due time," he interrupted her again with a cheeky grin, making it the most someone had ever done in one day and lived to tell the story with their head intact. "Let me eat these delicious cookies!"

True to his word, he plopped down and began munching on the lovingly crafted confections Unohana had prepared for him and Isane. His carefree manner suggested either reckless overconfidence or a complete disregard for the consequences of angering Unohana.

"You are arrogant—"

"Captain," he said with a faint smile. "You have lived a hundred times longer than me. Surely you know the line between arrogance and confidence. It's a little thin, but it exists nonetheless."

Unohana crossed her arms. "Arrogance is self-centered and focused on elevating one's own ego, whereas confidence is rooted in self-assuredness and unwavering belief in one's capabilities."

"Exactly! There is no arrogance here. Just a charming lad who knows the extent of his abilities," he spoke with a keen gaze. "And I'm damn sure I can kill everyone in the Soul Society."

The conviction in his voice left Unohana with little doubt as to the authenticity of his claim. Having not witnessed enough of Kazuya's abilities, she refused to trust his claim of killing everyone in the Soul Society, which included herself, Kenpachi Zaraki and Yamamoto Genryusai — two men she had yet to defeat.

Unohana's eyes narrowed to dangerous slits, losing every trace of the gentleness she had been known for in the past few centuries. "Is your ultimate aim, then, to slaughter every soul here?"

"Quite the opposite, actually." He leaned back with a heavy sigh. "I was dispatched by Kisuke to save the Soul Society from its impending doom."

Unohana arched a skeptical brow. "Soul Society has weathered two millennia; we even survived a war against the King of Quincy. What force can cause our downfall?"

The foundations of the Seireitei were rock-solid, so much so that not even the death of Captain-Commander Yamamoto himself would trigger a collapse. Only an inside job by a figure of great influence could inflict irreparable damage.

"You guessed that right," he said, as though reading the thought right out of her mind. "A Captain in your ranks is waiting for the right opportunity to take over your world. He is the guy you won't ever suspect to be a cunning fuck—I mean fox."

"One of the captains?" Unohana's thoughts immediately turned to Aizen, whose recent behavior had been rather suspect. "Which one? And what evidence do you have for your brazen claims?"

"The evidence is a little far away. Ah, fuck it. I'll carry you there myself."

"Huh? Where are—"

He swooped her in his arms, princess style, in one fluid motion, her loose kimono Shihakushō nothing more than a minor obstacle for the young man. Though she had not let her guard down for even a fraction of a second, he had approached her without a shred of malicious intent.

Even more shocking was the realization that his speed surpassed that of any opponent she had faced. As the most notorious battle-junkie of her time, her tally of foes easily crossed four digits.

"Wait just—"

"Time waits for no one, Unohana."

He launched himself forward with an explosive speed, accelerating beyond anything achievable via Shunpo or any other technique known to Shinigami.

"Hang on tight."

"Hmph."

With a sigh, Unohana wrapped her arms around his neck, still annoyed about being carried like a damsel in distress. Nevertheless, she had to admit that his raw speed far surpassed her own.

Wherever their destination lay, there was little doubt they would arrive in record time.

Indeed, only a few moments later, they reached their destination — the 8th Squad's barracks.