A Restrained Sense of Danger

At that moment, the invisible atmosphere between Chiba Makoto and Ise Nanao had already drawn the attention of some of the Vice-Captains.

Chiba Makoto frowned, his gaze fixed on the strangely shaped blade at Ise Nanao's waist, a trace of gravity and vigilance flashing through his eyes.

He had never felt this instinctive sense of danger from Hyōsube Ichibē, nor did he feel it from the current Aizen Sōsuke.

It was a sense of danger... as if he were being countered.

Coming back to her senses, Ise Nanao had evidently realized something as well. Kidō light flashed from the hands pressing against the strangely shaped blade, finally calming its abnormal reaction.

However, Chiba Makoto understood that Ise Nanao had only temporarily suppressed the blade. The threat it posed to him had not diminished in the slightest.

Chiba Makoto gave Ise Nanao, who had lowered her head, a deep look. Rather than saying anything to her directly, he took the seat Chōjirō Sasakibe had once occupied and looked over the Vice-Captains gathered below.

Aside from several familiar veteran Vice-Captains, there were also those appointed after Unohana Retsu succeeded as Captain-Commander: Aoki Risa, Kuna Mashiro, Yadomaru Lisa, Kuchiki Rukia, and Akon, whom Kurotsuchi Mayuri had personally selected as his Vice-Captain.

Although Chiba Makoto looked gentle and harmless, the powerful prestige he now carried made the many Vice-Captains present fall silent in an instant.

In particular, those Vice-Captains who had never been especially close to Chiba Makoto could not help but reveal a measure of awe in their eyes as they looked at him.

Yet that solemnity lasted less than a few breaths before a pink figure lunged straight into Chiba Makoto's arms.

"Brother Makoto~~~"

Kusajishi Yachiru clung directly to Chiba Makoto, calling out in a sweet, adorable voice.

Faced with this pink-haired