The next moment, a soft and delicate hand gently pressed against Senju Makoto's forehead, interrupting his thoughts.
"Makoto, why is your spiritual pressure still so low? Do you feel any discomfort?" Unohana asked, her tone both gentle and concerned.
Though visibly weak, Makoto managed a relaxed smile and replied, "No problem, Sensei. At the time, I kept Shinro Bansho active to continuously heal the members of Tenth Division. Later, I got caught in the backlash of a Cero and had to treat some injuries myself, so I suppose my spiritual energy got a bit overdrawn."
Hearing this, Unohana finally seemed reassured. She rose slowly and said, "I've already taken care of your initial wounds. Rest here for now. I'll take you back to the barracks for further treatment shortly."
"Understood." Makoto nodded and added, "Sensei, you don't need to worry about me. I'm your disciple, after all—I can take care of myself. Once I recover a bit of spiritual pressure, I can handle the rest of the healing on my own."
Watching her kind and considerate disciple, Unohana—beneath her outwardly gentle demeanor but inwardly cold and bloodthirsty nature—felt a twinge of guilt.
If only she'd waited a bit longer before rushing off to attend that sudden captain's meeting, perhaps Makoto wouldn't have ended up so badly hurt.
She softened her voice even further, a hint of teasing in her tone, "Oh? Are you trying to disobey your teacher already? Ignoring my instructions, are you?"
"No… I wouldn't dare…" Makoto quickly responded, his words revealing his genuine respect and perhaps a hint of fear.
Only then did Unohana elegantly turn and head toward another makeshift medical tent set up by the rescue squads.
As Makoto watched her graceful figure recede, an unusual thought slipped unbidden into his mind.
Would this finger of mine… be able to pierce Unohana-sensei?
*(TL/N - nah this is not intentional guys💀 if you are wondering if i purposely did it.🥲)
Of course, it was a serious and logical thought.
After all, battles between Shinigami are often described as fights of spiritual pressure.
Spiritual pressure forms an invisible magnetic field around a Shinigami's body. If the difference in pressure between two opponents is too vast, it becomes impossible to inflict significant damage—even the abilities of a Zanpakutō fail to function properly.
However, Makoto's index finger had already undergone a Perfect Spirit Body Transformation. In essence, it existed on an entirely different dimensional level compared to an ordinary spirit body, with a corresponding density of spiritual pressure that was worlds apart.
It was for this reason that Makoto had been able to effortlessly block an Adjuchas' attack with just one finger earlier. By merely flexing that finger, he had cracked the bone tail of the Adjuchas using nothing but pure spiritual body strength.
If Unohana hadn't arrived at the scene, Makoto might have furiously attempted to use a single finger to brutally pierce the enormous Adjuchas—a creature nearly the size of a house.
Why did that image feel so… uncomfortably hentai/perverted in style?
Makoto shook his head, trying to banish the odd mental picture of his enraged self doing something bizarrely experimental.
With a deep breath, he firmly pushed the unsettling vision from his thoughts.
Makoto took a moment to sense the spiritual pressure within his body. It was roughly equivalent to that of a third- or fourth-year student at the Shin'o Academy.
However, thanks to the "Seed of the Forest," which continuously absorbed dispersed spiritual energy from various Shinigami, his spiritual pressure was steadily recovering. At the very least, it was sufficient to avoid drawing suspicion about the brief period when his spiritual pressure had completely vanished.
Complete disappearance of spiritual pressure... Even if others were unaware of Shinro Bansho's abilities, such an anomaly could lead to troublesome suspicions and attention.
Makoto's eyes narrowed slightly as he recalled the entire sequence of events. Those who might have detected the moment he truly unleashed Shinro Bansho and experienced the disappearance of his spiritual pressure were...
That Adjuchas, who was already reduced to dust. Beyond that, there were Ichimaru Gin and, perhaps, Aizen Sosuke or one of his subordinates hiding in the shadows.
Ichimaru Gin... That dark and extreme little schemer had almost completely been shaped by Matsumoto Rangiku.
Makoto had never considered recruiting or taming Gin. In fact, he had no intention of forming any deep connection with him, wanting to avoid getting entangled in his complex dynamic with Aizen.
The reason he treated Gin and Rangiku wasn't out of some hidden agenda—it was simply because it was his duty as a healer.
What surprised Makoto, however, was that when faced with the Adjuchas' threat, that little schemer Gin hadn't fled. Despite the agony of undergoing a recent "soul transplant," Gin had forcibly unleashed his Zanpakuto, Shinso, to shield Makoto from one of the Adjuchas' attacks.
This act earned Makoto's unexpected gratitude and acknowledgment.
After all, despite his outwardly cold and venomous demeanor, Gin possessed a passionate and grateful heart deep down. As such, Makoto wasn't too worried that Gin would betray his secret.
The real problem, as always, was Aizen.
Just as Makoto was grappling with this troublesome thought, the tent flap suddenly lifted.
Wearing black-rimmed glasses and exuding an air of warmth and scholarly elegance, Aizen entered.
What the…?!
Makoto barely stopped himself from crying out in alarm.
Watching Aizen approach step by step, Makoto's supposedly gravely injured and immobile body instinctively tensed, ready to spring into action at any moment and flash-step straight toward Unohana's location.
But Aizen merely sat down at the edge of the bed and asked in a calm, gentle tone, "Makoto-kun, I came to check on you. Are you all right?"
Makoto didn't dare let his guard down for even a moment. He braced himself, fearing Aizen's next words might be, Scream all you want. Everyone is already under the control of my Kyoka Suigetsu. Even if you scream until your throat tears, it won't make a difference.
Despite his inner vigilance, Makoto's face betrayed nothing but a touch of gratitude and the perfect amount of surprise as he replied, "Thank you for your concern, Vice-Captain Aizen. I'm fine. But what brings you here?"
"A Hollow attack on the Rukongai," Aizen explained. "I came with Captain Hirako to provide support, but it seems we arrived too late. Captain Unohana had already dealt with the Adjuchas by the time we got here, so I stayed to help with some of the cleanup work…"
At this point, Aizen sighed deeply, his expression softening into one of sorrow and regret.
"Unfortunately, the cost was high. The Third Seat, the Seventh Seat, the Nineteenth Seat, and twenty-three other division members perished. Ten division members lost parts of their souls... It's a heavy price to pay. Thankfully, it seems you're unharmed, Makoto-kun. That, at least, is a small consolation amidst the tragedy. Otherwise, I'd have lost yet another friend."
What?!
Makoto's mind reeled.
That touching display of genuine emotion, so moving and sincere—if he hadn't been reincarnated with foreknowledge, he might actually have believed Aizen!
Aizen, having a friend like you… truly is my greatest blessing!
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