Wide-range healing? Spiritual energy replenishment?
In that instant, a subtle shift occurred in the scarred face of Zaraki, and his gaze toward Makoto changed completely. There was a faint gleam in his eyes, a glimmer of interest.
It was precisely because Zaraki's brain was largely composed of muscle that he understood better than anyone the potential of such an ability for the Eleventh Division.
If Ayasegawa's description was correct, and Makoto's healing ability was indeed as extensive as he claimed, then equipping the Eleventh Division with "Senju Makoto" would essentially mean they could indulge in battle and bloodshed without limits.
Perhaps, he and his subordinates could truly let loose!
Zaraki licked his lips, his beast-like gaze fixed on Makoto, and he ordered, "Kid, release your zanpakuto!"
At that moment, almost all the eyes in the arena were drawn to Makoto. Most of them were filled with envy and jealousy, especially from the graduating students.
To gain the attention and favor of a Division Captain was a dream come true for an average graduate. It often signified respect from the Captain and promised status and power within the Division.
However, what was a dream come true for the average graduate was a rather ominous turn of events in Makoto's eyes.
He really did get targeted by Zaraki!
"Captain Kenpachi, the arena's rules prohibit the release of zanpakuto without reason," Makoto explained.
The scar on Zaraki's face twitched, and a wild, beastly grin spread across his features. Slowly, he raised his zanpakuto, its irregularly serrated edge gleaming menacingly.
Then...
"Thud!"
To the astonishment of everyone, instead of aiming the blade at Makoto, Kenpachi drove the zanpakuto directly into his own body. Blood splattered onto the floor in a crimson cascade.
"There, now it's not without reason..." Kenpachi said nonchalantly, as if nothing had happened. He casually withdrew the zanpakuto from his body, blood flowing freely as he tilted his head slightly and ordered, "Draw your blade and heal me. Otherwise, I'll chop you into pieces and let you heal yourself."
For a moment, Makoto's lips twitched involuntarily.
This battle-hungry beast is really ruthless!
There was no room left for refusal. If Makoto hesitated, Zaraki would undoubtedly strike him down without a second thought.
At that moment, Makoto couldn't help but glance toward the corner of the arena where the Vice-Captain of the Fourth Division, Yamada Seinosuke, stood.
He was a cold and aloof male Shinigami, and also the older brother of Makoto's fellow student, Yamada Hanataro.
Before the graduation ceremony began, Makoto had already communicated his desire to join the Fourth Division through Yamada Hanataro and received approval from Yamada Seinosuke.
However, at this moment, Seinosuke seemed to have not noticed Makoto's gaze, appearing completely indifferent as an outsider. He didn't care in the slightest about the fact that his prospective member was being forcibly recruited by Zaraki.
Is this worth it?
Seems like my previous performance...
"Hasn't shown enough value yet, so Yamada completely has no intention of stepping in?"
"Although his spiritual particle control results at the Shin'o Academy were quite impressive, that alone is far from enough compared to offending the Captain of the Eleventh Division."
Makoto's mind raced as he understood the situation. He simply didn't have enough status to refuse Zaraki.
"Although the ideal of division selection emphasizes mutual respect and effort, it also depends on who the other party is, doesn't it?"
Faced with Zaraki's forceful demands, Makoto, as a mere graduate of the Shin'o Academy, had no choice but to endure and comply. Any resistance would only seem laughable.
"The simplest way to escape Zaraki's attention might be to further draw the Fourth Division's attention, demonstrating my worth to join them…"
As for feigning a mediocre healing effect—Ikkaku and Ayasegawa had experienced that countless times. It would be instantly seen through!
With that thought, Makoto slowly drew his zanpakuto, reciting its release phrase.
"Endless vitality, All Encompassing Creation."
Instantly, his zanpakuto began to change slightly in form—its blade and handle elongated, making it more conducive to slashing. At the same time, the floor around Makoto suddenly sprouted a number of vibrant green saplings.
Then, with a thought, a sapling near his foot rapidly extended like a vine toward Zaraki's abdominal wound.
"Endless vitality..."
In the next moment, delicate flowers bloomed on the vine-like sapling, absorbing the spiritual particles in the air. The tip of the sapling, now touching Zaraki's wound, shimmered with a soft green glow.
Zaraki's eyes flickered as he felt a warm sensation spreading from his abdomen. The wound healed astonishingly fast, and even a faint amount of reishi was replenished.
Just as Zaraki was lost in astonishment, a momentary flicker of uncertainty and hesitation flashed in Makoto's slightly lowered eyes, before it quickly shifted into resolve.
In the next instant, at the tip of the sapling that was in contact with Zaraki's wound, a small, special reishi particle, slightly larger than a normal reishi particle, silently entered Zaraki's body. As the wound continued to heal, this special spiritual particle fused completely with Kenpachi.
No one noticed this, not even Zaraki himself. After all, a single spiritual particle was incredibly small—smaller than the cells that make up the body. Without special instruments, it was impossible to visually detect the changes at that level.
As the wound was fully healed, a faint smile crept onto Makoto's face.
Success!
Sure enough, even a captain-level Shinigami hadn't detected the planting of the "Seed of the Forest."
Originally, Makoto had planned to slowly mingle within the Fourth Division for decades or even centuries, getting closer to captain-level Shinigami, and then looking for an opportunity to plant the "Seed of the Forest." He hadn't expected Zaraki to actively have him heal his wound just to test his abilities.
Although Makoto was more than 90% confident that he wouldn't be discovered, the risk was still present. If Zaraki detected something, he could easily be sentenced to severe punishment by the Soul Society.
But this opportunity was simply too rare!
Healing a captain-level Shinigami injury wasn't something that came by every day.
Especially given that, for the past few hundred years, large-scale wars had not occurred in the Soul Society. Captain-level Shinigami rarely sustained injuries anymore.
Otherwise, simply relying on the "Seeds of the Forest" embedded in the majority of Shin'o Academy students would no longer satisfy Makoto's needs.
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