Cannot Be Forgiven!

Yet at this moment, Kurosaki Makoto's account seemed to offer an entirely different answer.

If it had only been Kurosaki Makoto's word, cautious Captains like Kyōraku Shunsui, Urahara Kisuke, and Hirako Shinji would certainly not have believed it so easily.

However, there was Soi Fon's corroboration, and she had not learned this secret only recently, but at a much earlier time.

The chronological order of events undoubtedly greatly increased the credibility of this claim.

After all, before Aizen Sōsuke's betrayal, who could have foreseen what would happen now?

While the many Soul Reapers frowned deeply and sank into thought, Chiba Makoto continued speaking.

"Unfortunately, Vice-Captain Chiba Makoto's incomplete soul was already on the verge of dispersing, with no possibility of treatment or preservation. Out of sympathy, I could only record some of the sounds related to him, allowing him to leave behind a few more traces in this world."

As he spoke, Soi Fon carefully took a recording pen from her chest as though it were a treasure and said,

"Everything Mr. Kurosaki Makoto said is correct. This recording pen contains a portion of Makoto's final words."

Then Soi Fon pressed the play button, releasing Chiba Makoto's frail voice, which seemed to come from an unconscious state.

As Chiba Makoto's final words played, that voice—frail yet full of gentleness—brought tears to the eyes of all the Soul Reapers present who had known him well.

Decades had passed in the blink of an eye. Yet now, as the Soul Reapers looked back, they realized that the man's every expression, smile, and mannerism remained so clear in their minds.

Even in death, he never forgot to protect Soul Society. Even in death, he never forgot to keep his promises. Even in death, his heart remained with the Seireitei...

Even Kyōraku Shunsui, usually