So-Called... Genius

Faced with Aizen Sōsuke's subtle probing, Chiba Makoto's heart instinctively tensed.

So-called "probing" was only used on targets of value, or targets that had aroused certain suspicions.

Thus, the moment Aizen Sōsuke spoke those words, Chiba Makoto understood that he had thoroughly caught the attention of that terrifying man.

Whether... this chance encounter had truly been a coincidence no longer mattered.

Chiba Makoto's thoughts raced, while his face displayed just the right amount of youthful bashfulness expected from an innocent boy receiving praise. "Vice-Captain Aizen, you flatter me. I'm only a newcomer."

To say nothing else, during the two months since joining the Fourth Division, acting young, acting like a boy, and acting innocent had practically become Chiba Makoto's instinct. No matter how much was on his mind, not the slightest flaw showed on the surface.

After a pause, Chiba Makoto shifted the conversation, subtly reclaiming the initiative as he asked, "Vice-Captain Aizen, it seemed you called my name right away. Do you know me?"

This... was practically a meaningless question to Chiba Makoto. On the surface, it seemed even less like something he should pursue, lest it provoke more suspicion. His priority should have been figuring out how to quickly get away from Aizen Sōsuke.

Although... this was the Fourth Division's quarters, so it was unlikely that Aizen Sōsuke would act directly within the Seireitei.

But Chiba Makoto understood that, for Aizen Sōsuke, who possessed Kyōka Suigetsu, the strongest illusion-type Zanpakuto, no one knew how many Shinigami's five senses his Kyōka Suigetsu had already controlled.

Therefore, in Chiba Makoto's eyes, facing Aizen Sōsuke alone was extremely risky!

First, Chiba Makoto needed a central topic to shift the focus onto Aizen Sōsuke and thereby divide his attention.

Second, Chiba Makoto tried his best to consider things from the perspective of an ordinary Shinigami. Being suddenly called by name late at night by a Vice-Captain-level Shinigami was undoubtedly something one had to ask about.

Faced with Chiba Makoto's question, Aizen Sōsuke smiled gently and said,

"How could I not know Makoto's name? Captain Unohana's disciple, a genius personally acknowledged by Captain Unohana as having talent in Kaido and Medical Skills no less than her own, and the first male Shinigami in Seireitei history to join the Gynecology Department."

???

Chiba Makoto.

Was Unohana Retsu usually bragging about him like this outside?

Chiba Makoto did not think he qualified as any sort of genius. Over the past two months, he had studied desperately every day, yet he could only barely keep up with Unohana Retsu's routine daily instruction.

He had even drawn upon quite a few medical concepts from his previous life.

Unfortunately, although Chiba Makoto had been a freshly graduated medical student in his previous life, the Soul Society's medical system was completely different from the medical system of his former world. More importantly, physical bodies and spiritual bodies were fundamentally different as well.

Thus, the medical knowledge from Chiba Makoto's previous life often merely gave him a few different angles from which to think.

Seriously, Teacher, why did you have to drag me into your bragging?

While silently complaining, Chiba Makoto outwardly looked startled and said helplessly, "Vice-Captain Aizen, that is probably just a rumor. I have only been in the Fourth Division for two months, and now I can only be said to have barely finished learning the necessary Medical Skills and Kaido texts of the Gynecology Department."

At that, Aizen Sōsuke raised his brows slightly and asked, "Makoto, do you not know that ordinary Fourth Division Shinigami generally need three to five years before they can successfully master even part of the Kaido and Medical Skills required by their respective departments? Shinigami lacking the talent may never manage to master them completely."

"What?"

At that moment, Chiba Makoto was genuinely surprised.

No one had told him that common knowledge!

Chiba Makoto had not entered the Mortuary to undergo the Fourth Division's standardized basic training. Instead, Unohana Retsu had directly assigned him to the Gynecology Department. Then, he discovered that Aoki Risa, who had likewise just joined the Gynecology Department, had long since perfectly mastered its Kaido and Medical Skills.

As a result, Chiba Makoto had somehow developed the mistaken impression that his own talent was rather average by Fourth Division standards.

"No wonder... Teacher Unohana directly granted Aoki Risa special permission to join the Rescue Squad. Aoki Risa must have been studying Kaido and Medical Skills since childhood. She herself is probably talented too..."

As Chiba Makoto murmured softly, he instantly understood certain minor details he had previously overlooked.

"Makoto, what did you say?" Aizen Sōsuke asked somewhat curiously.

Chiba Makoto scratched his head and said like an innocent boy who had just realized something, "Nothing. I just understood that I seem to have misunderstood something in the past..."

Aizen Sōsuke stepped forward and patted Chiba Makoto on the shoulder, speaking with an intimate, friendly manner. "Makoto, your talent is quite remarkable. I hope you will take good care of the Fifth Division in the future..."

Chiba Makoto, meanwhile, perfectly played the role of a flattered, simple boy who had never seen much of the world and only focused on studying Kaido and Medical Skills. Seemingly unable to handle Aizen Sōsuke's warmth, he responded in kind to Aizen Sōsuke's friendliness.

For a time, the atmosphere between them appeared exceptionally harmonious and friendly, carrying the air of an affectionate elder brother and a respectful younger brother.

Just as Chiba Makoto felt it was about time and was preparing to find an excuse to get away from Aizen Sōsuke, Aizen Sōsuke, who had been actively talking to him all along, casually mentioned, "Makoto, if one wanted to separate a Zanpakuto from a spiritual body, is there any way to do that?"

Chiba Makoto froze slightly, then looked at Aizen Sōsuke in surprise. Though inwardly wary, he feigned ignorance and answered, "Vice-Captain Aizen, isn't that obvious? Just reach out, pick up the Zanpakuto, and set it on the ground beside you."

"Not..."

Aizen Sōsuke pushed up his glasses, which reflected the light and made his eyes difficult to see. His tone, however, remained quite gentle as he asked,

"Not that kind of separation, but complete separation. I mean extracting Shinigami powers from an ordinary spiritual body."

??!!

Chiba Makoto.

At that moment, Chiba Makoto was utterly shocked!

Is it really appropriate to ask me something like that so bluntly?

If someone didn't know better, they might think we were accomplices planning to secretly do something major.

Immediately, Chiba Makoto reacted in a manner fitting his persona, sounding both somewhat panicked and sternly cautionary. "Vice-Captain Aizen, that is an extremely dangerous idea. The Seireitei would never permit it."