章 7: Chapter 7: The Gentle Captain
For a moment, the atmosphere in the entire arena grew suffocating.
The spiritual pressure leaking from Zaraki Kenpachi became increasingly violent and brutal, as if at any moment his beastly fangs would show, tearing apart the seemingly gentle and kind Captain Unohana, as though she were nothing more than a delicate morsel.
Perhaps it was due to the stark contrast in appearance between the two, or perhaps it was a natural instinct to sympathize with the weaker party, or even an empathetic feeling born from their own sense of vulnerability, but many of the graduates instinctively began to worry for Captain Unohana.
Despite the tense atmosphere, Captain Unohana expression remained unchanged. Her face still wore a soft smile, her gaze was warm as she looked at Zaraki Kenpachi.
Then, just as the tension seemed about to snap—
"Hmph!"
Zaraki Kenpachi let out a cold snort, hefting his jagged zanpakutō onto his shoulder, and spoke in a tone full of dissatisfaction.
"This brat, you can leave him to the Fourth Division for now!"
At this moment, the many graduates who witnessed this scene couldn't help but doubt their own ears.
What?!
This madman, Zaraki Kenpachi… actually backed down?!
Kenpachi then tilted his head slightly, his eyes shifting as he looked towards his companions, Ikkaku and Ayasegawa, and spoke.
"Take care of recruiting the newbies. Bring me back a batch that can take a beating."
"Got it, Kenpachi-sama."
Ikkaku and Yumichika, having just come to their senses, immediately responded.
With that, Zaraki Kenpachi, looking somewhat fatigued, turned and walked toward the exit of the arena. He brushed past Captain Unohana without a second glance, leaving without a word.
Meanwhile, Captain Unohana smile remained as warm and gentle as ever. There was no trace of displeasure at Kenpachi's seemingly rude behavior, nor any hint of smugness.
"Everyone…"
As the graduates were still recovering from the shock, Captain Unohana raised her hand and waved, smiling softly.
"If you're interested in healing or the way of the soul, the Fourth Division would be more than happy to welcome you."
In an instant, her gentle words stood in stark contrast to Kenpachi's brutal display. Many of the graduates felt as if they were on the verge of being completely entranced by her kindness.
It seemed Captain Unohana had no intention of lingering. She cast a soft glance over the crowd before gracefully turning to leave the arena, as though she were merely passing through.
"Captain Unohana is so gentle..."
"Even though she's a captain, she seems so concerned about us?"
"To serve under Captain Unohana would truly be a blessing."
"Though… the Fourth Division is a healing division. It seems a bit dull…"
---
In the next moment, the arena was filled with murmurs.
There was no denying it—the beautiful and gentle image of Captain Unohana caused her position in the hearts of many of the graduates to soar. Several of them began to reconsider their division choices.
However, the nature of humanity, in a certain sense, also encompasses instincts for combat, killing, and thrill. After acquiring extraordinary power, it was rare for a Soul Reaper to want to use such power solely for healing.
The Fourth Division, after all, was dedicated to healing. Though every year, the Fourth Division would send recruits to the Soul Reaper Academy…
After the graduation ceremony, the doors of the academy were wide open, but those willing to join the Fourth Division were still few and far between.
Many of the graduates, still feeling uneasy after the departure of the two captains, were left wondering what could have caused Kenpachi Zakari unusual retreat.
However, Senju Makoto's expression remained unchanged throughout. Despite retaining much of his past life's memories, he was well aware of the terrifying presence of Unohana Retsu.
If one were to mistake this seemingly gentle and beautiful woman for an innocent lamb, they would undoubtedly meet their end.
'Unohana Retsu, originally Unohana Yachiru, once known as one of the most infamous criminals in the history of the Soul Society, having mastered over 8,000 styles of swordsmanship before joining the Gotei 13 as the first Kenpachi…'
The information about Unohana Retsu flashed through Senju Makoto's mind as he subconsciously licked his lips.
If he could somehow plant a seed within Unohana's body, the spiritual energy that could be drawn from it would be immense…
No, no, no, that's far too dangerous!
His gaze immediately shifted, becoming clear. As tempting as it was, such an idea was far too risky and uncertain.
Unlike Kenpachi Zaraki, a brute beast, Unohana Retsu had spent years cultivating herself, and as the captain of the Fourth Division, her understanding of spiritual bodies was unrivaled in the Soul Society. Her terrifying abilities extended beyond her knowledge and experience; she could even perceive the flaws in Sosuke Aizen's "Kyoka Suigetsu" through sheer intuition.
Though the "Seed of the Forest" was a mere speck of spiritual particle, smaller than dust, there was no guarantee Unohana would not detect it.
Moreover, in order to plant this "Seed of the Forest," one would first have to draw blood from Unohana Retsu...
Impossible!
No matter how he thought about it, such an endeavor was simply out of reach.
If he could pull off such a feat, he would not only become a figure of power in the Soul Society but could walk with unmatched confidence, knowing no one would dare challenge him.
However, the danger of facing such a woman was too great. If she detected any hint of hostility, his life would be forfeit.
Perhaps the monsters and dangers hidden within the Soul Society were more terrifying than he had imagined. After Sosuke Aizen's rebellion, there were rumors of a "King of Quincies" who would be all-knowing and omnipotent, poised to become an even greater threat.
Unfortunately, in his past life, Senju Makoto had never investigated the so-called Quincy King in detail—he had only heard whispers of such a figure.
'A world fraught with danger...'
Senju Makoto couldn't help but silently sigh.
In a more peaceful world, he might have chosen to live a quiet, stable life, much like he did as a doctor in his previous life.
But in this perilous world, without the means to protect oneself, one would be forced to live in the decaying Rukongai.
Even setting aside the harsh environment and lack of resources, the occasional Hollow attacks, the residual shockwaves from battles between powerful warriors, or worse, Sosuke Aizen's hidden killings to collect souls within Rukongai—all of this made survival nearly impossible.
Thus, Senju Makoto understood that if he wanted to survive in the Soul Society, it was far better to proactively join the Gotei 13 and become a Soul Reaper than to live in constant fear of death.
However, there was still time...
At least, it was still quite early. The birth of the "True Hero, Ichigo Kurosaki" was many years away. At this moment, when Kenpachi Zakari had just become the captain of the 11th Division, Ichigo's great-great-grandmother had yet to be born.
There was at least a hundred years before that time!
A hundred years... If Senju Makoto worked diligently, he could spread his influence across a good portion of Seireitei.
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