No Sense of Fair Play... All Things in Nature

After that, Unohana Retsu paid Chiba Makoto no further mind and instead asked the Fifth Rescue Squad about that day's mission.

At first, Chiba Makoto kept eating with little interest as he listened. But when he heard the specific details of the mission, his gaze sharpened.

In Rukongai, residents had been successively afflicted by a strange condition involving the loss of parts of their souls.

At the request of Shiba Isshin, Vice-Captain of the Tenth Division, which was responsible for patrol and security duties, the Fourth Division had dispatched the Fifth Rescue Squad to Rukongai to assist in the investigation and determine the cause of the missing souls.

Upon hearing of it, Unohana Retsu, who was stationed in the Fourth Division, had grown interested. While treating the Fifth Rescue Squad to a meal after their busy day, she also intended to personally learn the details of the soul-loss incident.

Facing Unohana Retsu's questions, Aoki Chiyoko described the entire course of events in detail.

The area where the soul-loss phenomenon had occurred was an extremely poor and remote district of Rukongai. As a result, the Tenth Division, which patrolled and guarded Rukongai, had only discovered the situation rather late. Preliminary statistics showed that more than a hundred residents had lost portions of their souls, not including a considerable number who had gone missing.

Unohana Retsu frowned and asked, "It shouldn't be some sort of illness, should it?"

Aoki Chiyoko shook her head and answered gravely.

"No. I led the Fifth Rescue Squad in thoroughly examining every resident with missing soul fragments. Although these residents displayed irreversible spiritual particle loss, drastically shortened lifespans, and the loss of certain emotions, the missing portions of their souls showed no consistency. It should not have been caused by some unknown illness."

Unohana Retsu nodded and said, "That leaves many possibilities. It could have been the work of a Hollow with high intelligence capable of concealing its spiritual pressure, some strange unknown creature in the Soul Society, or perhaps the ability of some Zanpakuto..."

Hearing Unohana Retsu's final speculation, the members of the Fifth Rescue Squad could not help but feel a slight chill run through their bodies.

"N-No way, Captain. Could there really be a Zanpakuto ability that requires devouring souls? And how could a Shinigami do something so evil?" Aoki Risa asked in disbelief.

"Who knows?"

Unohana Retsu gave a noncommittal reply before saying, "Everyone has worked hard today. Please make sure to rest well afterward."

"Thank you, Captain."

As the banquet came to an end, Unohana Retsu left with Chiba Makoto, who was completely stuffed, heading toward the courtyard.

"Makoto, your expression seemed somewhat unusual when you heard about the soul-loss incident. Do you have any thoughts on it?"

Unohana Retsu suddenly asked Chiba Makoto.

Chiba Makoto shook his head. "No. It was my first time hearing about something like this, so I was a little shocked."

"Mm..."

Unohana Retsu nodded and said, "There was one oversight in Fifth Seat Aoki's examination of those residents with missing souls. I intend to personally confirm it tomorrow. Come with me."

Chiba Makoto paused slightly, then nodded in agreement.

Or rather, Chiba Makoto had never been in a position to refuse. Unohana Retsu was merely informing him.

"Rest well. We'll leave tomorrow morning after we wake up..."

Amid Unohana Retsu's gentle farewell, Chiba Makoto returned to his room, his eyes carrying an added trace of heaviness and gloom.

Partial soul... loss?!

Chiba Makoto was no longer a Shinigami who knew nothing. His grasp of Medical Skills made him understand that this matter was far from simple. Unohana Retsu had likely recognized the problem as well, which was why she had decided to personally make a trip to Rukongai tomorrow.

Under normal circumstances, he had never heard of an illness that could directly cause partial soul loss. But if it had been the work of a Hollow, Hollows generally would not consume only a portion of a soul. That simply made no sense.

Apart from that, only two possibilities remained: some unknown creature, or the ability of a Zanpakuto.

The former would undoubtedly pose an enormous hidden danger to the Soul Society. The latter would mean this was an exceptionally evil incident.

Yet at that moment, Chiba Makoto could not help thinking of someone—Aizen Sōsuke, as well as the technique for stripping Shinigami powers that he had mentioned not long ago!

Could Aizen Sōsuke have already begun conducting experiments in Rukongai?

Using Shinigami directly as test subjects would make it far too easy for the Seireitei to notice, so he set his sights on Rukongai instead?

Or had Aizen Sōsuke already begun creating the Hogyoku?

For a moment, Chiba Makoto felt an overwhelming sense of danger and urgency. He understood that his current strength was still far from enough to deal with the major events that would soon arrive.

Although, after his contact with Aizen Sōsuke not long ago, Chiba Makoto had chosen to have Unohana Retsu reject Aizen Sōsuke's further attempts at contact in the Fourth Division's name. In theory, that should not have provoked Aizen Sōsuke's hostility or suspicion...

But it was hard to say whether Aizen Sōsuke might casually include innocent him among his test subjects. One careless mistake, and he could be dead for good.

After pondering quietly for a while, the somewhat gloomy Chiba Makoto temporarily set aside all the speculations in his mind. He decided to wait until tomorrow, when he followed Teacher Unohana to Rukongai and confirmed the situation for himself.

Then, Chiba Makoto placed his Zanpakuto between his legs and began that day's training.

His vision darkened...

The next moment, Chiba Makoto arrived once more in the familiar grassland beneath a blue sky, instinctively preparing himself for an attack.

Ever since Chiba Makoto had proactively asked All Things in Nature to train him in Bankai half a year ago, All Things in Nature had become increasingly lacking in fair play.

At first, All Things in Nature had still been hesitant, as if reluctant to hurt Chiba Makoto. Then, once the training began, she happily slaughtered Chiba Makoto in all sorts of creative ways. Now, she had developed to the point where she would proactively start slaughtering Chiba Makoto under all kinds of baseless pretexts.

For example: calling him some despicable, shameless, vile, disgusting pervert master... It was all slander!

It had gotten to the point that Chiba Makoto was nearly developing a stress response whenever he entered his inner world, terrified that All Things in Nature would greet him as she had last time by saying, "Jam Jam Master's expression is actually still so perverted today. Accept heavenly punishment!"

Yet, to Chiba Makoto's surprise, All Things in Nature rarely appeared before him of her own accord that day, her expression inexplicably filled with sorrow and silence.

Though his entire body was tense, Chiba Makoto asked warily, "All Things in Nature? What's wrong?"

"Jam Jam Master..."

All Things in Nature drifted directly in front of Chiba Makoto and asked with concern in her eyes, "That's what I should be asking Jam Jam Master."