How to Repay Teacher

Unohana Retsu, who had been watching Chiba Makoto's reactions closely, caught sight from the corner of her eye of that seemingly innocent and gentle face taking on a slightly aggrieved yet silent expression. For some reason, she felt a certain sense of pleasure.

Could this be why Yoruichi so often teases that young master of the Kuchiki Clan? It seems... not bad...

At that thought, Unohana Retsu's smile seemed to brighten a little as she said, "Makoto, if you have any objections, you may voice them."

"I..."

The corner of Chiba Makoto's eye twitched uncontrollably. He could clearly sense a faintly wicked amusement beneath Unohana Retsu's seemingly gentle and intellectual tone.

Even though... it was merely a feeling, as one of the same kind, Chiba Makoto could certainly sense it!

This definitely was not an opening for negotiation. It was merely the wicked pleasure of wanting to savor the last shred of hope being stripped from her prey.

However, choosing a department was far too important to Chiba Makoto. Even knowing that this was a trap Unohana Retsu had set to toy with her prey, he could only jump into it.

"Tea... Teacher..."

Chiba Makoto gritted his teeth and utterly discarded his so-called dignity and integrity before the beautiful, intellectual woman. Then, lightly biting his lower lip and pinching the corner of his Shinigami uniform between his fingers, he made his unease and embarrassment utterly convincing.

"My specialty is External Wound Healing. That... gynecology stuff wasn't taught at Shin'ō Academy..."

By the end, Chiba Makoto cast Unohana Retsu a timid, ashamed glance. Then, as if afraid of her scolding and disappointment, he hurriedly bowed halfway over the tatami and called out loudly.

"My deepest apologies, Teacher. From now on, I will work twice as hard to make up for my shortcomings."

For a moment, a trace of guilt and hesitation flashed through Unohana Retsu's conscience.

What an innocent child. Perhaps she should not be teasing him like this.

Yet in the next instant, that trace of guilt and hesitation vanished without a trace.

After all, Unohana Retsu had been a notorious villain in the Soul Society a thousand years ago, as well as the First Kenpachi. Her conscience... truly was not much to speak of.

"Makoto, I know that Shin'ō Academy's teachings on Kaido and Medical Skills contain nothing concerning gynecology. This is not your fault. After all, when I compiled Shin'ō Academy's Kaido and Medical Skills textbooks, I never expected there to be a student who held such pure enthusiasm and passion for Kaido and Medical Skills."

After a pause, Unohana Retsu changed her tone and said, "However, this is also so that you can grow more quickly. Whether it is Kaido or Medical Skills, treatment fundamentally requires an understanding of soul body structure, correct?"

"Yes, Teacher."

Although Chiba Makoto knew there was more to Unohana Retsu's words, he had no way to deny such basic common sense.

Unohana Retsu nodded in satisfaction and continued, "As for your proficiency in Kaido and Medical Skills, I carefully reviewed your treatment records at Shin'ō Academy. You are already quite accomplished, but if you wish to improve further, you will inevitably need to conduct in-depth research into and gain a deeper understanding of soul body structure..."

"For ordinary new division members, the best approach is naturally to begin by studying deceased soul bodies in the Mortuary. But given your level, you can skip that stage. That is why I intend to assign you to the Gynecology Department."

"Wh... why not assign me to the Surgery Department, where I am more proficient?" Chiba Makoto vaguely understood Unohana Retsu's meaning, but he still could not help steeling himself to argue for it.

Unohana Retsu showed no impatience at all and patiently explained to Chiba Makoto.

"Because male and female soul bodies differ greatly in structure. Since you yourself are male, if you wish to study the structure of male soul bodies, you can more or less research them on your own. But if you wish to come into extensive contact with the structures of all kinds of female soul bodies, then the Gynecology Department is undoubtedly the best choice."

At that moment, Chiba Makoto felt his whole body go numb. Though he vaguely sensed that something was off, rationally, Unohana Retsu's words seemed entirely correct.

C-completely outmatched. I can't refute her!

"Makoto, do not carry too many unnecessary burdens or feel embarrassed. You are already a Fourth Division member. When treating patients, Fourth Division members see only the patient, and all other distracting thoughts can be cast aside. Besides, you would not want an emergency treatment to fail one day because your understanding of female soul body structure was lacking, would you?"

Unohana Retsu gently persuaded Chiba Makoto, causing a trace of doubt to arise in his heart.

Could it be... Teacher Unohana truly has no other motives and is only trying to nurture me?

Seeing the expression on Chiba Makoto's face gradually soften and calm, Unohana Retsu continued, "Moreover, even I have deeply studied the structure of male soul bodies countless times in the past."

Hearing that, Chiba Makoto's heart, which had only just settled, abruptly went blank. He stared at Unohana Retsu in a daze.

Unohana Retsu gave Chiba Makoto a mysterious smile and said in a teasing yet enigmatic tone, "Do not be fooled by how I look. I am a genuine Thousand-Man Slayer."

???

Chiba Makoto.

W-was that a dirty joke?

She had practically slammed it into top gear and ripped the gearshift right out!

Instinctively, a trace of envy even arose in Chiba Makoto's heart. To be cut down by a beauty as peerless as Unohana Retsu could be considered dying without regre—

Wait?

Chiba Makoto's mind cleared, and he instantly came to his senses.

Thousand-Man Slayer?!

When others said that, it might be a euphemism for something, but Unohana Retsu was someone who could genuinely become a Thousand-Man Slayer. When she said she had deeply studied the structure of male soul bodies, she did not mean she had simply cut them open, did she?

At that thought, Chiba Makoto's gaze abruptly cleared, only to meet Unohana Retsu's faintly smiling expression.

"Makoto, you were not thinking something rude just now, were you?" Unohana Retsu asked with a smile.

Chiba Makoto answered rationally and solemnly, "I was merely wondering why Teacher treats me so well. In the future, I truly will not know how to repay Teacher..."

Hearing this, Unohana Retsu was just about to take the opportunity to mention Chiba Makoto's Zanpakuto's ability, but Chiba Makoto gave her no chance to speak and continued.

"I can only study Kaido and Medical Skills with tenfold, a hundredfold effort, so as not to disappoint Teacher's expectations and kindness."

Well, well. He even knew how to answer before she could ask, did he?

Unohana Retsu nearly choked on her breath. She pursed her lips, then broke into a smile.

Makoto had this side to him as well. That did make things a little more interesting; he would not be too dull.

Then Unohana Retsu said gently, "Makoto, come with me. I will take you directly to the Gynecology Department."