"As you can see,"

Unohana said calmly, "Fourth Division is extremely looked down upon by the other squads."

"I've tried to change this perception for a long time, but it's had very little effect."

As she spoke, the light in her expression dimmed slightly.

"It wasn't until you arrived that I realized… the problem doesn't lie with others, but with the Fourth Division itself."

Shimo was a little taken aback.

"Does it have something to do with Kurikashima Daiki?"

Unohana nodded and explained,

"Not just him. There are many others like him—bullying the weak, defying superiors… it's not uncommon."

"That's why I want to entrust you with the task of reforming the Fourth Division."

Shimo felt troubled.

"But I've only just joined the squad..."

Unohana's smile remained warm, as if it could melt the coldest room.

"It's fine. You just need to deal with the rule-breakers the same way you handled Kurikashima Daiki."

Shimo was still hesitant.

He lowered his head, resting his chin on his hand, lost in thought.

Only when the atmosphere around him grew uncomfortably quiet did he finally realize something was wrong.

He abruptly looked up at Unohana.

Still the same gentle smile—but an undercurrent of cunning darkness seemed to swirl beneath it.

"Shimo-kun, are you ready to tame the tiger?"

"Uh… I'll do my best,"

he replied quickly, trying to avoid being "slashed."

Back in his room, Shimo let out a long breath.

"Being around Hana-ne is so stressful..."

"That hidden darkness... it's like she could suddenly turn into a demon from hell and cut me down."

He shivered at the thought.

"I came to Fourth Division for an easy life..."

Things were clearly spiraling far beyond what he had expected.

"Screw it. No point dwelling on that."

"I have something more important to take care of tonight."

His battle with Ikkaku earlier had made Shimo realize he might be capable of climbing even higher on the Time Staircase.

Earlier that day, he had already completed his scheduled Zanpakuto Meditation training, so he hadn't pushed further after gaining the Spiritual Pressure Amplification.

But now, he still had one more chance to train in Zanpakuto Meditation.

Seated cross-legged on the cushion in the middle of the room, Shimo closed his eyes, focusing his spirit.

His Zanpakutō lay flat across his legs, one hand resting on the sheath, the other on the blade.

Within moments, as his consciousness blurred, he entered the world of his Zanpakutō once again.

What greeted him was the same unchanging Stair of Time.

The Throne of Time still loomed at the distant horizon—so far away that even after climbing a hundred steps, it was barely any closer.

Compared to the seemingly endless staircase, a hundred steps was but a trivial beginning.

Following the previous climb's trail, Shimo released his spiritual pressure and continued his ascent, enduring the mounting pressure.

One step.

Two steps.

Three steps…

On the Time Staircase, time once again lost its meaning.

Shimo had no idea how long he had been climbing.

He only knew that before he reached his limit, he didn't need to stop.

Sweat dripped down, soaking his Shihakushō and staining the twisted clock beneath his feet.

"How many steps has it been…?"

He felt his spiritual pressure nearing depletion. Even his consciousness began to blur.

The surge of power from his earlier boost made him overly immersed in the thrill of growth, and he failed to realize—he hadn't fully mastered this power yet.

Crack!

Without thinking, Shimo raised his foot to take another step—only to hear a faint shattering sound beneath his sole.

Strangely enough, his foot immediately restored itself.

As if some invisible force reached out and reassembled it in an instant.

Shimo continued climbing.

Crack!

That crushing pressure again shattered the bones in his foot.

And again, some strange force surged forth, healing it almost instantly.

This phenomenon continued for dozens of steps!

Crack!

A violent sound burst from both legs, abruptly snapping Shimo out of his hazy trance.

"Hiss—"

His eyes flew open, and he sucked in a breath of cold air.

"What the hell am I doing!?"

He still didn't fully understand what was happening.

He watched in shock as the fractured bones in his legs slowly reformed under the same strange force.

"What… is this…?"

Shimo forced his eyes open, observing everything in detail.

His heart pounded wildly. A near-uncontrollable excitement surged in him.

"Okay, retreat first."

Suppressing his emotions, he willed himself out of the Zanpakutō's world.

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