Chapter 18: Unohana's Attention-Ceifador Restrito(Desculpe, mas você forneceu apenas "易安z", que parece ser um nome ou uma palavra incompleta. Poderia enviar um texto completo para tradução?)

"Miss Rangiku, do you know this Shin Tachikawa?"

Noticing Matsumoto Rangiku’s reaction, Retsu Unohana spoke up. The top students of the Shin'o Academy were always targets of interest for the Gotei 13, and as the lieutenant of the Tenth Division, Rangiku’s underlying thoughts were immediately apparent to Unohana.

"Did you just say," Rangiku asked, "that this Shin Tachikawa's Zanpakuto is of the Healing-type?"

"Indeed," Unohana replied. "It has been a long time since the Academy has produced such a Zanpakuto. This is rare and welcome news for the Fourth Division."

Rangiku stood frozen. Beside her, Yachiru Kusajishi seemed oblivious to their conversation, concerned only with why Rangiku had suddenly stopped feeding her.

*Shin Tachikawa…*

*How could that kid possibly have a Healing-type Zanpakuto?*

Rangiku found it impossible to believe. Shin simply didn't strike her as a doctor. It wasn't that his Kido skills were poor, but compared to his other talents, healing was actually his most unremarkable subject.

The boy had sworn just a few days ago that he would prioritize the Tenth Division after graduation. But if his Zanpakuto was of the Healing-type, he would have only one destination: the Fourth Division. Only there could a Healing-type Zanpakuto be developed to its full potential.

Rangiku felt a sense of turmoil. Based on the talent Shin had displayed, he was already at the level of a high-ranking officer. It was only a matter of time before he reached lieutenant level, and becoming a captain was not out of the question. Was she really going to watch such a talent slip through her fingers just like that? She had put so much work into recruiting him!

"Miss Rangiku?"

"Oh... it’s nothing." Rangiku forced a smile.

If Shin had no Zanpakuto, she would have had some leverage to compete with other divisions. But with his specific affinity, she felt the argument was effectively over.

*Why did it have to be that type of Zanpakuto, of all things?*

Thinking it a great pity, she saw Yachiru staring at her expectantly and tossed another flower her way. Nearby, Nanao Ise glanced at her with a look of mild curiosity.

***

Though Unohana guessed that Rangiku had likely interacted with Shin Tachikawa, she didn't take it to heart. A student with a Healing-type Zanpakuto was an asset no other division could hope to contend with the Fourth Division for. She handed the file to Isane Kotetsu and returned to her flower arrangement.

After leaving, Rangiku headed straight for the Tenth Division barracks. She pushed open the captain’s office door only to find her captain, as expected, napping at his desk. Irritation flared; she marched up and slammed her hand down on the desk with a loud crack.

"Captain!"

Isshin Shiba jumped, startled, and lifted his head, looking around in a daze. "Huh? What happened?"

"Captain! Someone is being snatched away right from under our noses and you're still slacking off! You might as well resign right now!"

Listening to Rangiku’s shouting, Isshin lazily stretched. "Is someone trying to poach you? I don't think any division is short of a lieutenant right now."

Rangiku rubbed her forehead. "I’m talking about Shin Tachikawa!"

"Him?" Isshin looked surprised. "Isn't it too early for graduation season? What about him?"

"I was just at the Fourth Division. I heard the news that Shin Tachikawa has manifested his Zanpakuto, and it’s the Healing-type."

Isshin’s demeanor became slightly more serious. "Are you sure?"

"The file was sent from the Academy to the Fourth Division. How could it be fake?" Rangiku retorted.

"I see..." Isshin stroked his chin. "If that’s the case, then there’s nothing to be done. The Fourth Division is where he belongs, Rangiku. This is beyond our control."

Rangiku sighed in frustration. "I finally found someone I really wanted. If you were just a bit more responsible, Captain, I wouldn't have to spend so much time scouting for talent."

Isshin looked slightly displeased. "Rangiku, being a captain is hard work, you know. You’re on your day off, but I’ve been working diligently all morning. You just happened to walk in right when I took a break."

Rangiku didn't believe him for a second. If her captain actually worked diligently, the sun would have to rise in the west.

"Regardless," Isshin advised, "Shin Tachikawa is a talented junior. He will have a greater impact in the Fourth Division. Who knows? We might even have to rely on him to heal us during a mission one day."

At the end of the day, he was just an undergraduate student. Top students appeared every year. This Tachikawa might be more impressive than most, but it wasn't enough for Isshin to lose sleep over.

***

The student council he had helped Shin establish was a worthwhile endeavor, and he didn't feel he had lost anything. Rangiku, however, felt a deep sense of imbalance. She had made many trips to the Academy to court Shin for the Tenth Division, and now the cooked goose had flown away.

*No, I must find someone even better than him! Someone like Kaien Shiba... or Gin!*

Meanwhile, at the Fourth Division, even though it was a day off, Unohana and Isane did not leave after the Women's Soul Reaper Association meeting.

"Isane, take some time to go to the Academy and assess Shin Tachikawa’s situation. Miss Rangiku seems quite invested in him," Unohana instructed.

If his talent and character were both exceptional, he could quickly become a high-ranking officer upon joining the Fourth Division. The Fourth Division was a medical unit; internal rank didn't strictly prioritize raw combat power. A Healing-type Zanpakuto, if developed properly, would far outstrip the average member who relied solely on standard Kido. Even within the Fourth Division, few members possessed Healing-type weapons.

"I understand, Captain."

Unohana glanced at the file on her desk again.

"The boy also founded a student council. It was quite a popular topic a few days ago. He might be a very interesting person. It has been a long time since the Fourth Division had an infusion of fresh blood."

Soul Reapers lived long lives, and their perception of time was somewhat blurred—what Unohana called "a few days ago" was actually a month prior.

"From the Rukongai, Zaraki District... most proficient in kendo, and even defeated his own kendo instructor..."

It remained to be seen just how far this "proficiency" went. A thoughtful expression crossed Unohana’s gentle face. Her eyes flickered, as if she had recalled something from the distant past.