章 83: Chapter 84: Is this truly a Healing-Type Zanpakutō?
Makoto slowly drew the Zanpakutō from his waist, his voice low as he chanted the spirit incantation.
"Endless vitality! All-encompassing creation!"
Instantly, lush grass began to spread from Makoto's feet, covering the entire plaza in a thick green carpet.
"A Zanpakutō that can alter terrain?" Byakuya muttered instinctively.
This scene didn't escape the eyes of the Shinigami gathered around the plaza, drawing gasps of astonishment.
In the Seireitei, there existed an unofficial but widely accepted belief among Shinigami:
The more extravagant the form a Zanpakutō takes after Shikai or Bankai release, the more fearsome and powerful its abilities tend to be.
A simple, unassuming blade could not bear the weight of overwhelming power.
Thus, as the onlookers watched Makoto reshape the entire plaza with his Shikai, their expressions shifted subtly.
"No," Makoto explained in a gentlemanly tone, raising his voice slightly. "My Zanpakuto is a healing-type ability. It absorbs Spirit Particles from the air to mend spiritual injuries, symbolizing the healing of all things."
He paused, then added with deliberate gravity:
"It is inherently weak in offense. However, after witnessing the death of a comrade, I understood that protecting others isn't just about healing—it's about standing in front of the weak."
As his words settled, the grass around him bloomed with small, vibrant flowers. To his left, a humble blade of grass swelled and grew, transforming into a tree as tall as Makoto in mere moments.
Under Byakuya's watchful gaze, Makoto hung the Kenseikan and Silvery White Windflower Silk Gauze
In the tree. The tree grew taller, its branches stretching skyward.
"What are you doing?" Byakuya demanded.
"I have explained this already," Makoto replied calmly, his gaze unwavering. "These two items were forced upon me by Shihouin Yoruichi. I have no intention of disrespecting the Kuchiki family. In fact, I hold the Kuchiki family, a paragon among nobles, in the highest regard."
He paused, his grip tightening on his Zanpakutō. "Regardless of victory or defeat, I will return both items. However, I must ask for an apology for your accusation that I stole the Kuchiki clan's honor."
Byakuya's expression hardened. For the first time, he realized he might have misjudged the young man standing before him. Perhaps Makoto had merely crossed paths with the Kuchiki family by chance, and it was that accursed cat's ploy to sully his reputation for her amusement.
And yet, Byakuya had played right into her hands, treating an innocent person as an enemy, releasing his Zanpakutō unnecessarily, and escalating the conflict to this point.
"I am Kuchiki Byakuya of the Kuchiki family," Byakuya declared with the formality befitting a noble.
"Fourth Division, Senju Makoto," came the calm reply.
Hearing that Makoto was merely a regular member of the Fourth Division, Byakuya's brows furrowed deeply. Guilt began to take root in his heart.
The Fourth Division was known for healing, not combat. Yet here he was, forcing one of its members into a fight. Was this not a disgraceful act of bullying, unbecoming of the Kuchiki name?
"Regardless of the outcome, I will apologize," Byakuya stated firmly.
"Very well. Please, enlighten me."
Makoto nodded, his Zanpakutō slicing through the air. Instantly, several blades of grass swelled into towering trees that hurled themselves towards Byakuya.
"Boom!"
The impact caused a deafening explosion, but Byakuya had already vanished, replaced by a swirling tide of cherry blossoms. The flowers surged forward, cutting deep fissures into the advancing trees.
The message was clear: to be ensnared by these petals would mean a beautiful yet bloody end.
Before the blossoms could overwhelm him, Makoto manipulated his trees, intertwining them into a massive wooden hand the size of a house. With a thunderous crash, it swatted the cherry blossoms out of the air, scattering them in all directions.
The surrounding Shinigami watched in stunned silence, question marks practically floating above their heads.
This is... a healing Zanpakutō?
This is just an ordinary Fourth Division member?
The sheer force of that attack was nothing short of terrifying.
Byakuya, who had dodged the strike, now regarded Makoto with unprecedented seriousness.
So strong.
Not only was his spiritual pressure at a Vice-captain's level—possibly even slightly stronger—but his Zanpakutō's ability, apart from a weakness to fire, was proving exceptionally troublesome.
Yet before Byakuya could analyze further, the enormous wooden hand extended toward him once again, its reach growing longer and faster.
Byakuya's hand tightened on his Zanpakutō's hilt. With a flick of his wrist, the cherry blossoms coalesced into a tidal wave, crashing against the wooden hand.
For a few breathless moments, wood and petals clashed in a cacophony of destruction, splinters and fragments flying everywhere. Ultimately, the wooden hand crumbled into a pile of shattered timber just five meters from Byakuya.
"Hadō #4: Byakurai!"
In the instant the cherry blossoms obscured Makoto's vision, a sharp streak of white lightning pierced through the chaos, striking his shoulder.
"Pfft!"
Though Byakurai was a low-level Hadō, its speed and penetration were formidable. Despite Makoto's attempt to evade, his shoulder was pierced.
Even so, his expression remained calm. A blade of grass wrapped itself around the wound, glowing softly as it began to heal.
In response, he waved his Zanpakutō once more, summoning two more colossal wooden hands to attack Byakuya from both sides.
Having tested the waters, Byakuya had no intention of clashing head-on again. With a flash of Shunpo, he dodged, directing his cherry blossoms to surround Senju Makoto from all angles.
Yet Makoto didn't move. Around him, trees erupted from the ground, forming an impenetrable forest that blocked the cherry blossoms' advance.
The few petals that managed to slip through the gaps failed to reach him, leaving the spectators in awe of his defensive prowess.
This duel between two opposing forces continued, each displaying skill and ingenuity. In their clash of ideals and abilities, the audience couldn't help but wonder:
Was this truly a healer's Zanpakutō?
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