Stirred

???

Chiba Makoto.

As Chiba Makoto listened to Unohana Retsu recount the matter with what seemed like a touch of annoyance, his entire being practically turned into a giant black question mark.

What did she mean, based on the direction I excelled in? That I had specifically joined the Gynecology Department?

Hey, hey, hey, wasn't that the most shamelessly misleading statement possible?!

Back then, what I excelled at most was clearly surgery! It was you... you underhanded, shameless, despicable, hateful woman, who forcibly shoved me into the Gynecology Department, where there weren't even any extra male creatures!

That was absolutely naked misdirection. Had you completely omitted the part in the middle that should have said, "to compensate for a relatively weak area of expertise"?

Yet despite cursing Unohana Retsu to the depths of his heart, Chiba Makoto wore a helpless, aggrieved expression on the surface.

"Makoto..." Unohana Retsu called out earnestly.

"Teacher, I'm here."

"You wouldn't blame your teacher for accidentally revealing your name in front of outsiders, would you?" Unohana Retsu asked gently, as though she might apologize at any moment.

Chiba Makoto straightened his back, as if some sort of will was about to rise completely, and answered without hesitation.

"Of course not. No matter the time, place, or circumstances, this disciple will never question Teacher. I will also unwaveringly uphold and support Teacher's will and decisions! The path Teacher walks, I shall follow; the future Teacher gazes upon, I shall go toward; the target of Teacher's blade shall likewise be my enemy!"

Put simply, all Chiba Makoto meant was: Teacher, if you tell me to go east, I would never dare go west.

Yet this magnificent and resolute declaration left not only Unohana Retsu stunned, but even Yamada Seinosuke, kneeling beside them, wore a blank expression.

At that moment, Yamada Seinosuke clearly felt that there was an insurmountable gap in rank between himself and Chiba Makoto in certain respects.

All he did every day, aside from verbally abusing his subordinates, was follow Captain Unohana around like a puppet and say things like, "Yes, yes, yes," "Captain is always right," and "As you command"—utter trash.

How could he be like Chiba Makoto, casually speaking such impassioned words without losing that sense of simple sincerity and innocence?

In fact, looking at Chiba Makoto's pure and steadfast expression, Yamada Seinosuke subconsciously believed his words. It was merely that his speech sounded somewhat more ornate than usual.

No wonder he had followed Captain Unohana for centuries without earning her favor and becoming her disciple. The gap... was simply too great!

Unohana Retsu smiled as well and said, "That's too exaggerated, Makoto."

"No, Teacher. Those are words from the bottom of my heart. No matter what, please allow me to follow you for the rest of my life."

Chiba Makoto spoke in an incomparably solemn and earnest tone. The gaze he directed at Unohana Retsu seemed to shine with pure admiration.

"No, Makoto. You'll soon grow strong enough to stand on your own. You can't keep following me forever." Unohana Retsu seemed to rebuke him with some displeasure, but her crescent eyes revealed a tenderness and satisfaction she could not conceal.

Hearing that, Chiba Makoto's outward expression did not waver in the slightest, but inwardly, he could not help complaining.

What kind of joke is this, my respected Teacher Unohana-the-Underhanded-Retsu? You exposed me before the upper echelons of the Seireitei ahead of schedule, putting me at who knows how much risk. How could I possibly bear to let go of your beautiful thigh?

At least a hundred years... no...

As Chiba Makoto's thoughts raced, he considered Kurosaki Ichigo, the Substitute Soul Reaper who would likely appear a little over a hundred years from now. To be on the safe side...

Chiba Makoto immediately pressed both hands against the tatami and declared with incomparably firm determination, "At least two hundred years. Teacher, please allow me at least two hundred years to repay your kindness."

Unohana Retsu silently watched Chiba Makoto for several seconds before asking.

"Makoto, are you serious? Do you understand what that represents? In my personal judgment, you have the potential to awaken Bankai within a hundred years. At that time, it may not even be impossible for you to succeed me as the Lieutenant of the Fourth Division."

A lieutenant?

Yet Chiba Makoto's heart remained completely unmoved. He even felt like laughing...

Before that monster Aizen Sōsuke, an ordinary lieutenant is basically made of paper. They might even be toyed with by Aizen Sōsuke without realizing it.

Kyōka Suigetsu... that is a truly impossible-to-guard-against illusion-type ability. The higher one's status in the Seireitei, the more likely one is to receive Aizen Sōsuke's special attention.

Chiba Makoto had no desire to experience something like a sow turning into a giant dragon, or a beauty turning into a sow—especially the latter!

Therefore, Chiba Makoto had not the slightest interest in becoming a lieutenant. At least... before he had a 99.9% chance of remaining undefeated, Chiba Makoto would never take on such a hot potato.

By comparison, hiding behind Unohana Retsu was undoubtedly far easier and safer.

Although Chiba Makoto had once wanted to stand up to Unohana Retsu and say "no," rice cooked a little softer and stickier was clearly more fragrant.

"Of course, Teacher. So long as I can remain by your side, I don't mind never becoming a lieutenant or even a seated officer for the rest of my life!" Chiba Makoto answered without the slightest hesitation or reluctance in his tone.

At that moment, Unohana Retsu was truly moved from the bottom of her heart. Her slightly widened eyes carefully examined Chiba Makoto before her.

Although... there were times when even Unohana Retsu could not quite see through Chiba Makoto's heart, his actions alone were enough to show that his heart was undoubtedly kind and simple.

Two hundred years was quite a long time, even in Unohana Retsu's eyes.

For Chiba Makoto, who had joined the Fourth Division less than two months ago, it was undoubtedly even longer. For some Soul Reapers with relatively weak spiritual bodies, two hundred years accounted for nearly the entirety of their lifespan.

For some reason, Unohana Retsu actually felt a trace of unprecedented emotion...

Someone is willing to give up the future of becoming a lieutenant just to follow a wicked person like me, burdened with such profound sins?

"Get out!"

Unohana Retsu suddenly shouted, leaving both Chiba Makoto and Yamada Seinosuke frozen. Neither had expected such abrupt behavior from Unohana Retsu, so utterly unlike her usual gentle demeanor.

Yet before Chiba Makoto and Yamada Seinosuke could react, an invisible pressure descended over their heads, followed by Unohana Retsu's voice, seemingly devoid of all emotion.

"Must I repeat myself a second time?!"

Chiba Makoto and Yamada Seinosuke immediately shuddered and hurriedly retreated outside the room.