Wait!
Fujimiya Makoto suddenly furrowed his brow.
Compared to the Little Broken Sword's true ability, if it were only this much, it seemed… somehow… acceptable?!
Suddenly, Fujimiya Makoto couldn't help but gasp.
"Is this the Little Broken Sword's terrifying power?"
"Dragging my bottom line into the abyss without me realizing it."
"The Little Broken Sword is truly terrifying."
"Hmm?"
Bakusai looked at Fujimiya Makoto, who was suddenly muttering to himself, tilting her head in confusion.
Just then, a figure kicked open the window and rushed into the room like a shadow, shouting and leaping onto Fujimiya Makoto's bed like a swallow diving into a forest.
"Makoto!!!"
"Thud——"
The level-10 gymnast, Saito, executed a perfect 720-degree Thomas spin in mid-air and landed smoothly, her small feet landing squarely on his stomach with a dull thud.
Fujimiya Makoto's eyes almost popped out of their sockets.
"Oh ho!!"
Saito's single immortal eye widened, and she excitedly grabbed his shoulders, shouting, "I knew it! The spiritual pressure I felt earlier wasn't wrong!"
"You're awake! Makoto, you did it!"
"You left a mark on that old hag! You're amazing!"
Saito shook his body vigorously, completely ignoring Fujimiya Makoto's expression of near collapse.
"Wait, Saito, wait!"
Fujimiya Makoto struggled to break free, but she was too strong.
The issue between Saito and Teacher Unohana wasn't just about grudges.
It was an obsession!
Now, just because Fujimiya Makoto left a scar on Teacher Unohana, Saito was so excited she could barely contain herself, probably smiling in her sleep.
It wasn't until Takitori Bakusai intervened that she stopped:
"Senior Saito."
"Makoto-kun can't take much more, please stop."
Bakusai grabbed her wrist.
Saito's immortal eye finally paused, and she turned to look at the dangerous woman beside her, confused:
"Why are you here?"
Takitori Bakusai's eyes behind her glasses seemed to flash with a subtle light, and she narrowed them slightly.
But she still replied as gently as ever: "Because Makoto-kun's injuries are severe, and Captain Tenjiro was temporarily called to the Royal Palace, so it's better to stay by his side."
"I also know a bit of healing Kidō."
"Hmm——"
Saito's immortal eye fixed on Bakusai.
She suddenly felt a bit concerned.
Come to think of it, back in Hueco Mundo, this person seemed to have a pretty good relationship with Makoto too.
At this thought, Saito felt a little irritable.
But she couldn't just lash out at someone for no reason.
So she casually said, "Never mind! Tenjiro's already back, and I'm here to take Makoto to the 1st Division barracks!"
"Go to the 1st Division barracks first!"
"Old Man Ryunosa said there's a meeting soon."
"Eh?"
Takitori Bakusai was slightly taken aback.
But before she could react, Saito had already slung Fujimiya Makoto over her shoulder like a sack of rice and leaped out the window with ease.
In the blink of an eye, she disappeared.
After Saito's spiritual pressure faded, Takitori Bakusai's expression returned to normal.
The girl adjusted her slightly slipped glasses and watched Saito's departing figure with interest:
"Senior Saito really cares about Makoto-kun."
"How cute."
...
Tenjiro's skills were, of course, impeccable.
Though he complained about having to work right after intense training and how Fujimiya Makoto was wasting his spiritual energy again, as a doctor, he was highly competent.
After just a short bath, the last few marks on Fujimiya Makoto's body disappeared completely.
Saito stood guard nearby the entire time.
From the moment Fujimiya Makoto started bathing, she leaned against the wall outside the bathroom, staring into the distance, lost in thought.
By the time the two arrived at the 1st Division barracks, all the other captains were already present.
"Clang——"
The door opened.
Fujimiya Makoto and Saito stepped into the barracks.
However, unlike usual.
Almost the moment Fujimiya Makoto entered, many eyes in the room turned toward him, their expressions complex.
Wariness, surprise, suspicion, indifference, friendliness.
All sorts of emotions.
Only Captain Unohana, standing at the end of the line, turned her head and gave him a gentle smile.
But seeing Captain Unohana's current appearance, Fujimiya Makoto's expression froze.
Usually, Captain Unohana let her long black hair flow freely, but today, for some reason, she had tied it up, with the end of the braid falling over her right shoulder, perfectly covering the scar on her neck.
A dangerous hairstyle!
But, whether it was an illusion or not.
After tying up her hair, even her originally cold and distant aura seemed to soften, becoming gentle and elegant.
At first glance, one might mistake her for someone's kind wife.
Despite this, most of the captains present still dared not meet her gaze directly.
The unparalleled great evil of the Soul Society.
Yachiru Unohana.
These titles were earned through the countless strong opponents she had slain with her sword.
Yet…
The captains present all turned their gazes to Fujimiya Makoto.
In just a few years, he could already face such a powerful opponent?
Truly worthy of being… Captain Ryunosa's chosen one.
The atmosphere in the barracks was heavy.
Only Saito seemed completely oblivious to the tension.
Noticing Captain Unohana's sudden change in hairstyle, her single eye widened, and her cheeks puffed up, almost unable to hold back.
"Pfft pfft pfft——"
"What's with that hairstyle?!"
"She looks like someone's wife!"
Fujimiya Makoto immediately covered her mouth, his grip so strong he almost lifted Saito's petite body, causing her legs to kick frantically in mid-air.
Captain Unohana smiled kindly at the two of them.
Her voice remained calm:
"Take your place, Makoto-kun."
"Yes."
After quietly warning the foolish Saito twice and even kicking her, Fujimiya Makoto quickly walked to Captain Unohana's side.
However, his gaze couldn't help but linger on Captain Unohana's braid.
After hesitating for a moment, he asked softly:
"Captain Unohana?"
Yachiru Unohana seemed to notice his gaze and gently lifted the end of her braid, revealing a gap that only Fujimiya Makoto could see.
The dark red scar slanted across her fair neck, like a centipede imprinted on her skin, slightly grotesque.
Fujimiya Makoto's expression remained puzzled.
Even with Captain Unohana's own healing abilities or the vitality of 'Minazuki', she could completely erase this scar, right?
Why go to the trouble of covering it with her hair?
As if seeing through his thoughts, Captain Unohana smiled gently:
"After all, it's something Makoto left me."
Fujimiya Makoto's expression stiffened.
When Captain Unohana said this, her expression seemed slightly provocative, as if she were eager for another go.
In an instant, the wounds on his body, which had just healed, began to itch again.
Truly worthy of you, Captain Unohana.
As the two whispered quietly, the old man standing in the center slammed his sword sheath against the ground, producing a dull 'thud'.
"11th Division, Vice-Captain."
"Fujimiya Makoto."
"Do you know your sin?"
In the next moment, all eyes in the room once again converged on him.
Fujimiya Makoto looked up in confusion:
"Ah?"