Chapter Summaries

Chiba Makoto mastered Shunpo until Yoruichi Shihoin decided to give him a more dangerous training partner. She dressed him in Kuchiki Byakuya’s clan regalia and left him facing Byakuya’s fury as he released Senbonzakura.

• Chiba Makoto learned that his Reishi Control could counter Suzumebachi’s Two-Hit Kill by removing its marked reishi from his spiritual body.
• After several months of training, Chiba Makoto’s Shunpo became as strong as Shaolin Fon’s, so Yoruichi Shihoin sought a new training partner for him.
• Yoruichi Shihoin led Chiba Makoto to a secluded corridor, then returned wearing a mischievous grin after dressing him in Kuchiki Byakuya’s Ginpa'kasa and Star-Binding Restraint.
• Kuchiki Byakuya saw Chiba Makoto wearing the Kuchiki Clan’s symbols and, enraged by Yoruichi Shihoin’s prank, released Senbonzakura.
• Kuchiki Byakuya’s Zanpakuto scattered into countless cherry blossom petals and swept toward Chiba Makoto.

Chiba Makoto tried to explain that Yoruichi Shihoin had put the Kuchiki Clan’s Star-Binding Restraint and Ginpa'kasa on him, but Byakuya’s pride and Yoruichi’s taunts drove them into a public confrontation. Makoto stopped fleeing in a plaza to protect Unohana Retsu’s reputation, and Byakuya demanded that he draw his blade.

• Chiba Makoto retreated through Kuchiki Byakuya’s cherry-blossom blades and explained that Yoruichi Shihoin had placed the Star-Binding Restraint and Ginpa'kasa on him.
• Yoruichi Shihoin provoked Byakuya by asking whether Makoto would return the heirlooms as charity, prompting Byakuya to pursue him and vow to reclaim them.
• Soul Reapers gathered to watch, mistaking Makoto for the Kuchiki heir and Byakuya for a Fourth Division member.
• Makoto rejected the idea of begging for mercy because yielding publicly could damage his teacher Unohana Retsu’s reputation.
• Makoto stopped in a plaza, and Byakuya ordered him to draw his blade for the Kuchiki Clan’s honor.

Chiba Makoto revealed that his Zanpakuto, All Things in Nature, was a healing-type ability that he had adapted to strengthen grass and grow trees. After clarifying why he possessed the Star-Binding Restraint and Ginpa'kasa, he fought Kuchiki Byakuya, who realized he might have wrongly accused him.

• Chiba Makoto released All Things in Nature and explained how he used its healing power to strengthen plants and grow trees.
• Chiba asked Kuchiki Byakuya to apologize for calling him a thief, and Byakuya introduced himself and promised to apologize regardless of the result.
• Chiba and Kuchiki Byakuya began fighting, with Chiba's wooden palm shattering most of Byakuya's cherry blossoms.
• Kuchiki Byakuya pierced Chiba's shoulder with Byakurai, but Chiba healed the wound with grass and kept attacking.
• Kuchiki Byakuya evaded Chiba's wooden palms and sent cherry blossoms at him, while Chiba used trees to block them.

Chiba Makoto and Kuchiki Byakuya continued their duel, each fighting to uphold his convictions as the spectators watched. Byakuya collapsed unconscious from exhaustion, while Makoto remained standing and returned his belongings to him.

• Kuchiki Byakuya deduced that Makoto could not move while using his ability, and Makoto let him believe he had uncovered its flaws.
• Byakuya and Makoto declared their reasons for refusing to lose, then resumed their battle with Senbonzakura and Makoto’s giant trees.
• The duel became a war of attrition as both fighters appeared to run low on spiritual pressure, though Makoto concealed how effectively he could endure.
• Byakuya unleashed his potential twice but eventually collapsed unconscious, while Makoto stayed on his feet.
• Makoto caught Byakuya’s Star-Binding Restraint and Ginpa'kasa as they fell, then placed them gently over him.

After Chiba Makoto defeated Kuchiki Byakuya, Kuchiki Sōjun graciously apologized and took his son away. On the way back to the Fourth Division, Makoto encountered Aizen Sōsuke, who praised the fight and offered to cover the plaza repairs, prompting Makoto to offer Fifth Division women a discount at the Gynecology Department and recommend Yamada Seinosuke to Aizen.

• Kuchiki Sōjun picked up the defeated Kuchiki Byakuya and apologized to Chiba Makoto for his son's rash behavior before leaving with him.
• Yoruichi Shihoin teased Makoto for not dodging during the fight, but he insisted he disliked pointless battles and took his leave.
• Aizen Sōsuke emerged from the shadows and explained that the plaza was in Fifth Division territory, then praised Makoto's battle.
• Makoto offered a 10% discount to Fifth Division women who requested him at the Gynecology Department, and recommended Yamada Seinosuke to Aizen for men's medical concerns.

Chiba Makoto deflected Aizen Sōsuke’s attempt to engage him and learned from Urozakuro how Kyōka Suigetsu’s Complete Hypnosis could be countered. He confirmed Aizen had likely witnessed his Zanpakuto’s true ability and asked Urozakuro for a favor.

• Chiba Makoto praised Yamada Seinosuke’s medical and Kaido skills while steering Aizen Sōsuke away from recruiting him, then left.
• Aizen Sōsuke watched Chiba Makoto go and suspected they were alike, while Chiba hurried back toward the Fourth Division.
• Chiba Makoto asked Urozakuro whether touching Kyōka Suigetsu’s blade before its release could counter Complete Hypnosis, and she confirmed it could.
• Urozakuro told Chiba Makoto that Aizen Sōsuke and Tōsen Kaname had secretly left Seireitei during the Adjuchas attack using Kyōka Suigetsu.
• Chiba Makoto concluded that Aizen had witnessed his Zanpakuto’s true ability and asked Urozakuro for a favor, prompting her to reminisce about his former attitude.

Chiba Makoto negotiated with Urozakuro to keep watch over Aizen Sōsuke and learned that Aizen had been writing his name and staring at it for hours. Alarmed that Aizen might have discovered his connection to Urozakuro—or developed unsettling intentions toward him—Makoto realized he needed to investigate Aizen further.

• Chiba Makoto bargained with Urozakuro until she agreed to spend three hours each week gossiping with him and keeping watch over Aizen Sōsuke.
• Urozakuro told Chiba Makoto that Aizen often wrote his name in his room and stared at it for one or two hours.
• Chiba Makoto reasoned that Urozakuro was unlikely to be under Kyōka Suigetsu’s influence, and grew alarmed by Aizen’s apparent fixation on him.
• Urozakuro recounted Aizen and Yamada Seinosuke’s conversation, leaving Chiba Makoto convinced he had to uncover Aizen’s intentions.

After defeating Kuchiki Byakuya, Chiba Makoto returned to Unohana Retsu and explained his weakened spiritual pressure, while she warmly praised his loyalty and urged him to rest. The next day, Kuchiki Byakuya arrived with Kuchiki Sōjun to apologize to Makoto.

• Unohana Retsu waited at the gate for Chiba Makoto, and he told her about his fight with Kuchiki Byakuya.
• Makoto explained that using his wood-element abilities temporarily weakened his spiritual pressure and said he had fought because he would not let Unohana Retsu's disciple flee in disgrace.
• Unohana Retsu affectionately pinched and kneaded Makoto's cheeks, then asked whether he wanted a seated officer position in the Fourth Division.
• Makoto declined the position and said he only wanted to remain by Unohana Retsu's side as her disciple.
• The next morning, Kuchiki Sōjun arrived with Kuchiki Byakuya and gifts, and Byakuya apologized to Makoto for acting impulsively.

Kuchiki Byakuya apologized to Chiba Makoto with a precious Ginpa'kasa, strengthening their friendship and Chiba Makoto’s standing in Soul Society. As Chiba Makoto’s popularity as a physician grew, he discovered that Aoki Risa led a secret association devoted to winning him over and began imagining her motives.

• Kuchiki Byakuya gave Chiba Makoto a Ginpa'kasa as an apology and a symbol of the Kuchiki Clan’s friendship.
• Chiba Makoto accepted the gift and grew closer to Kuchiki Byakuya, while nobles came to see him as the heir’s close friend.
• More patients sought Chiba Makoto’s care, and Aoki Risa moved into a neighboring office as he became one of Gynecology’s most popular physicians.
• Female Soul Reapers teased Chiba Makoto and asked him for unnecessary treatments, while rumors spread about a Special Association for Winning Over Physician Chiba.
• Chiba Makoto learned from Urozakuro that Aoki Risa was the association’s president and brought secretly taken photographs of him to its meetings.
• Chiba Makoto suspected that Aoki Risa was scheming to keep Shaolin Fon away from him, though he dismissed the idea that Aoki Risa had romantic feelings for him.

Chiba Makoto and Kuchiki Byakuya visited Shin'ō Academy on entrance exam day so Makoto could check on the young Ichimaru Gin. Makoto explained that Gin had mastered Shikai before enrolling, and Gin sensed Makoto watching him from the crowd.

• Chiba Makoto beat Kuchiki Byakuya at Go and asked him to arrange a flower-arranging instructor so Makoto could prepare a gift for Unohana Retsu.
• Chiba Makoto invited Kuchiki Byakuya to Shin'ō Academy to watch a young boy take the entrance exam, and the two joked about Makoto's unwanted title on the way.
• Chiba Makoto and Kuchiki Byakuya arrived at the academy, where teachers welcomed them and Rukongai youths gathered for the entrance examination.
• Chiba Makoto told Kuchiki Byakuya that the boy he had come to see was a genius who had mastered Shikai before enrolling.
• Chiba Makoto used his connection to the Seed of the Forest to locate Ichimaru Gin, who sensed Makoto's gaze and looked toward him.

Chiba Makoto watched Ichimaru Gin excel in the Shin'ō Academy entrance examinations, then told him that the man he was seeking was Fifth Division Vice-Captain Aizen Sōsuke. Gin revealed his hatred but concealed his real motive, refusing to involve Chiba in retrieving what Aizen had taken.

• Chiba Makoto discussed Kuchiki Byakuya's noble upbringing and its limits while they watched the Shin'ō Academy entrance examinations.
• Ichimaru Gin released Spiritual Pressure close to vice-captain level and placed first in every test except height.
• Chiba Makoto congratulated Gin with Kuchiki Byakuya present, then showed Gin around the academy and urged him to stop hiding his eyes.
• Chiba Makoto told Gin that his description matched Aizen Sōsuke, and Gin briefly showed intense hatred and killing intent.
• Gin told Chiba that something important was in Aizen Sōsuke's hands, but declined Chiba's offer to help retrieve it.

Ichimaru Gin accepted Chiba Makoto’s hair-braided wrist cord, unaware that it let Chiba monitor him and was meant to protect him. As Gin entered Shin'ō Academy amid widespread attention for his talent, Aizen Sōsuke took an interest in Senju Makoto.

• Chiba Makoto gave Ichimaru Gin a wrist cord and told him to contact him if he ran into trouble at Shin'ō Academy.
• Ichimaru Gin treasured the gift but murmured that he still had to take back what belonged to Matsumoto Rangiku.
• Chiba Makoto heard Gin through the cord, which was made from transformed strands that remained connected to his will and could help protect Gin.
• News spread that Ichimaru Gin had entered Shin'ō Academy with near-vice-captain-level spiritual pressure and had already mastered his Zanpakuto's Shikai.
• Hirako Shinji urged Aizen Sōsuke to recruit Gin into the Fifth Division, and Aizen left while quietly murmuring Senju Makoto's name.

Aizen Sōsuke reflected on his search for an equal and focused his attention on Chiba Makoto, while Chiba Makoto took Kuchiki Byakuya into Rukongai. Their walk was interrupted when a small, onion-haired figure crashed into Byakuya.

• Aizen Sōsuke recalled discovering the Royal Guard and pursuing experiments to evolve beyond Soul Reapers and Hollows.
• After studying Chiba Makoto's blood, Aizen concluded that Makoto was a unique being and the companion he had long sought.
• Aizen watched Shin'ō Academy, interested in the person Chiba Makoto watched.
• Chiba Makoto and Kuchiki Byakuya traveled through Rukongai, where Byakuya reacted with surprise to its squalor.
• A small figure fleeing pursuers darted from an alley, collided with Kuchiki Byakuya, and fell to the ground.

Chiba Makoto and Kuchiki Byakuya rescued Hisana from debt collectors in Rukongai, and Hisana asked them to adopt her younger sister, Rukia. Byakuya paused at her plea, leaving Makoto wondering whether Byakuya was developing an early attachment to Hisana.

• Hisana was seized by debt collectors who threatened to force her into labor because she could not repay her loan.
• Kuchiki Byakuya offered to pay Hisana's debt but realized he had no money with him, so Chiba Makoto paid the collectors five thousand kan.
• Hisana thanked Byakuya and Chiba Makoto, then asked them to adopt her younger sister, Rukia, who had Reiryoku.
• Chiba Makoto recognized Hisana as Rukia's elder sister and wondered if Byakuya was beginning a romance with her.
• Kuchiki Byakuya stopped and looked at Hisana as she pleaded for Rukia.

Kuchiki Byakuya brought Hisana and infant Rukia toward the Seireitei, intending to take them in, but Chiba Makoto warned that Hisana’s weak spiritual body could not survive long amid the powerful spiritual pressure there. Byakuya asked Makoto to find a solution and tried to deny his feelings for Hisana, while Makoto teased him about them.

• Hisana led Kuchiki Byakuya and Chiba Makoto to the roofless ruin where she lived and brought Rukia out from beneath the floorboards.
• Byakuya told Hisana to follow him, and Makoto learned that Byakuya intended to bring her to the Kuchiki Clan.
• Makoto warned Byakuya that Hisana’s spiritual body could collapse after prolonged exposure to the Seireitei’s intense spiritual pressure.
• Byakuya asked Makoto to find a way to protect Hisana, and Makoto agreed to investigate while cautioning that the Kuchiki elders might oppose taking her in.
• Byakuya denied that he planned to marry Hisana, then drew his sword and attacked Makoto after Makoto teased him about being too young.

Kuchiki Byakuya bought a house for Hisana in Rukongai, while Chiba Makoto watched over baby Rukia and later considered Byakuya’s request about resisting spiritual pressure. On his way back, Makoto met Kusajishi Yachiru, who brought him to watch Zaraki Kenpachi fight.

• Kuchiki Byakuya bought three houses in South District One and arranged for Hisana to live in the middle one, while refusing to repay Chiba Makoto for the purchase.
• Chiba Makoto held Rukia outside, changed her after she wet herself, and privately planned to tease her about it when she grew up.
• Kuchiki Byakuya left Hisana at the house and returned to the Seireitei with Chiba Makoto, who began thinking about how a spirit without Reiryoku could endure intense spiritual pressure.
• Chiba Makoto confirmed through Urozakuro that Aizen Sōsuke had made no unusual moves, then encountered Kusajishi Yachiru on his way back to the Fourth Division.
• Kusajishi Yachiru clung to Chiba Makoto and invited him to watch Zaraki Kenpachi fight, and Makoto agreed before asking her to stop calling him Brother Makoto.

Chiba Makoto watched Zaraki Kenpachi overwhelm Kensei Muguruma in a spar and recognized Kensei as a potential target for his plans. After Kensei conceded, Chiba approached him and offered treatment.

• Chiba Makoto gave up trying to change Kusajishi Yachiru’s nickname and followed her to watch Zaraki Kenpachi face Kensei Muguruma.
• Kensei Muguruma released Dan Kaze into Shikai and attacked Zaraki Kenpachi, but his strike failed to break through Zaraki’s defenses.
• Zaraki Kenpachi wounded Kensei Muguruma and demanded that he use Bankai, but Kensei conceded instead.
• Kusajishi Yachiru left with Zaraki Kenpachi, and Chiba Makoto approached Kensei Muguruma to offer treatment.

Chiba Makoto treated Kensei Muguruma after discovering that his cardiac aorta had been torn. He began a difficult emergency repair with his Zanpakuto while the Ninth Division watched in alarm and confusion.

• Chiba Makoto examined Kensei Muguruma’s wound, and blood sprayed from it as he pulled Kensei’s hand away.
• Kuna Mashiro and the Ninth Division members mistakenly treated Kensei as though he were dying until he shouted that he was still alive.
• Chiba Makoto revealed that Kensei’s cardiac aorta had been torn, prompting the Ninth Division to panic and call for help.
• Chiba Makoto used his Zanpakuto’s grass blades to stabilize Kensei and began locating and repairing the injury without medical equipment.
• Kuna Mashiro watched Chiba Makoto’s tentacle-like grass enter Kensei’s wound and asked what seat he held in the Fourth Division.

Chiba Makoto treated Kensei Muguruma’s severe cardiac artery injury with his unusual green grass ability, despite the Ninth Division’s alarm at learning he was from the Gynecology Department. After Unohana Retsu arrived and praised him, Makoto repaired Kensei’s other injuries and finished treating the artery, leaving Kensei unconscious and unaware that Makoto had planted something inside him.

• Chiba Makoto told Kuna Mashiro that he was from the Gynecology Department, alarming Kensei Muguruma and the Ninth Division Soul Reapers.
• Chiba struggled to treat Kensei’s cardiac artery while Kensei moved and the Ninth Division members urged him to stop.
• Chiba invoked Unohana Retsu’s name to reassure the Ninth Division, and Kensei collapsed after hearing that Chiba was her disciple.
• Chiba forced the green grass into Kensei’s wound to stop the bleeding, and Unohana arrived and praised his work.
• Chiba repaired Kensei’s other injuries, carefully treated the cardiac artery, and pulled out the grass as Kensei passed out.

After treating Kensei Muguruma, Chiba Makoto learned from Unohana Retsu why childbirth among spiritual bodies was considered an unsolvable medical problem. He resolved to research the subject, and Unohana asked whether he wanted her to find him a married couple or volunteer himself.

• Chiba Makoto watched the Ninth Division Shinigami take Kensei Muguruma away and reflected that his successful treatment might change how the Seireitei viewed his medical abilities.
• Unohana Retsu praised Chiba Makoto's healing ability, and he told her about caring for Rukia and his fondness for new life.
• Chiba Makoto asked why childbirth was rarely addressed by the Gynecology Department, and Unohana explained that spiritual bodies had to harmonize their souls to conceive, a process beyond ordinary medical skills.
• Chiba Makoto decided to research childbirth and contribute to gaps in Kaido and Medical Skills.
• Unohana Retsu asked Chiba Makoto whether he wanted her to provide a married couple for his research or whether he planned to offer himself.