Capítulo 100: Chapter 101: An Unsolvable Problem
Watching the Ninth Division shinigami whisk away Muguruma without so much as a word of thanks or an offer of payment, Makoto could only sigh at how times had changed. Beyond that, there wasn't much else he could do.
"Shinigami these days…" he muttered to himself. Clearly, they hadn't yet endured the infamous "Effective Medication" sessions developed by Mayuri Kurotsuchi. If they had, they might have appreciated just how gentle of a healer I truly was.
Regardless, having successfully treated Muguruma, Makoto had at least achieved his objective.
Perhaps now, he could finally shake off the nickname "Gynecology Noble." This might serve to inform the shinigami of the Seireitei that, despite being stationed in the gynecology ward under Unohana's arrangement, his true expertise lay in surgical treatment.
Having witnessed the entire procedure, Unohana herself nodded in approval. "Makoto, your Zanpakutō's ability is uniquely advantageous for treating external injuries. Even the spiritual bodies of captains can be directly supplemented with spiritual particles."
Makoto scratched his head and replied humbly, "There's still a lot of room for improvement. Treating captain-level shinigami is still rather inefficient, especially when it comes to reconstructing intricate spiritual structures. If only it could work as efficiently as a Hollow's 'High-Speed Regeneration.'"
Hearing this, Unohana's serene gaze softened further. "Makoto, I believe you'll reach that level someday."
After a moment's pause, she asked curiously, "Weren't you supposed to be resting today? What brings you here?"
Makoto didn't hesitate, recounting the events of the day in detail. He even included Byakuya's unusual plan to raise a young Rukia in secret.
However, Unohana showed little interest in Gin Ichimaru or Byakuya Kuchiki. Instead, she was somewhat surprised. "You held a child in your arms for hours? I wouldn't have pegged you as someone so patient and affectionate with childrens."
Makoto recalled Rukia's innocent, shining eyes and her irresistibly cute face, so delicate that one couldn't help but want to pinch her cheeks. Though he felt indifferent toward older children, his heart softened entirely at the sight of such harmless, tiny life. A faint smile appeared on his face as he replied, "Maybe so. When it comes to newly born life, I seem to have no resistance. It's as though I can see the continuation of life itself in them…"
Walking alongside Makoto toward the Fourth Division barracks, Unohana furrowed her brow slightly, her tranquil thoughts beginning to stir.
The creation of new life…
Was it a feeling entirely different from witnessing life fade away in her hands?
Makoto, oblivious to Unohana's subtle change in demeanor, suddenly thought of a question. "Sensei, why does the gynecology ward have so little information about childbirth? Isn't that within the ward's purview?"
Unohana came back to herself and explained, "It is within our purview, but… it's an unsolvable problem."
"Huh?"
Makoto was taken aback and realized he had overlooked an important fact.
In the Soul Society, the birth of new life between two spiritual beings was exceedingly rare—almost to the point of being negligible. Outside of the Rukongai, where statistics were not officially tracked, even noble families and shinigami residing within the Seireitei had few descendants. Despite their long lifespans, often spanning centuries or even millennia, the number of offspring per generation remained shockingly low.
Take, for instance, the Kuchiki clan. The head of the family, Ginrei Kuchiki, had only one frail son, Sojun Kuchiki, who in turn had only one grandson—Byakuya Kuchiki. This was why Byakuya had been designated as the heir at such a young age, given Sojun's poor health.
It wasn't about preferring chaotic succession struggles over stable lineage, but for an ancient and prestigious clan like the Kuchikis, whose legacy spanned tens of thousands of years, the scarcity of heirs was unthinkable unless absolutely unavoidable.
"Why?" Makoto asked Unohana. "Is it really that difficult for spiritual beings to produce new life?"
"It is," Unohana replied with a nod. "Extremely difficult, in fact. And it's not something external assistance can usually resolve. This is why we rarely see such cases in the gynecology ward."
Makoto was about to agree absentmindedly when the phrasing struck him as odd.
External… assistance?
Is it me, or has Shinro Bansho and Urozakuro corrupted my thoughts?
Unaffected by his inner turmoil, Unohana continued, "Unlike the living world, where life begins with a fertilized egg, the creation of new life in the Soul Society involves nurturing a new soul from existing ones. This process verges on trespassing into divine territory."
"To conceive a child, two spiritual beings must undergo a prolonged and profound synchronization. Only when their souls resonate in perfect harmony can they give rise to a new life that inherits traits from both parents. Such conditions, however, lie outside the realm of conventional healing or medical science. Thus, even though gynecology technically oversees this domain, we lack the means to provide assistance."
Makoto frowned and asked incredulously, "Even you can't do anything, Sensei?"
Unohana's expression stiffened slightly. For a fleeting moment, her usually gentle eyes took on a hint of awkwardness. "I have neither experience nor research in this area. Besides, it's not a field of medicine that interests me."
After a brief silence, Unohana noticed Makoto deep in thought, as if pondering something significant.
"Makoto," she asked softly, "are you considering researching this?"
"Huh? Oh, yes." Makoto raised his head, his expression warm and confident. "As your disciple, I feel it's my responsibility to innovate and contribute to areas where healing and medicine lack understanding."
Unohana smiled warmly but then seemed to recall something, her gaze turning curious. "How do you plan to conduct this research? Shall I arrange a couple for you to observe? Or… do you intend to volunteer yourself?"
"???"
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