When Makoto Senju listened to Retsu Unohana recount the matter with a seemingly vexed expression, his face practically became a living question mark meme.
What did she mean by “based on the area of my expertise”?
Specially adding a Gynecology Department?
Hey, hey, hey, that is undoubtedly the most shameless, misleading framing ever, okay?!
At the time, my best field was clearly surgery!
It was you…
you black-bellied, shameless, despicable, loathsome woman who forced me into the Gynecology Department where there isn’t a single other male soul in sight!
This is a blatant misdirection!
Didn’t you completely omit the part where you were supposed to say “to make up for a relatively weak area of capability”?
However, though Makoto tore Retsu Unohana to shreds in his mind, on the outside, he wore a pitiful, helpless look.
“Makoto…” Unohana called out, her voice earnest and grave.
“I’m here, Teacher.” “You won’t blame Teacher for accidentally letting your name slip in front of outsiders, will you?” Unohana asked gently, looking as if she were ready to apologize at any moment.
Makoto Senju straightened his back, as if some unyielding will was rising within him, and replied without a moment’s hesitation: “Of course not!
No matter the time, place, or situation, this disciple will never question you, Teacher.
I will steadfastly support and uphold your will and decisions!
The path you walk, I shall follow; the future you gaze upon, I shall advance toward; the enemies you draw your blade against shall be my mortal foes!” To put it simply, his grand speech boiled down to: *Teacher, if you tell me to go east, I’ll never dare to go west.* However, this magnificent and resolute declaration did not just make Retsu Unohana blink in surprise; even Seinosuke Yamada, who was kneeling to the side, was left completely dumbfounded.
At this moment, Seinosuke Yamada clearly felt an insurmountable gap in skill level between himself and Makoto Senju.
All he did day in and day out, besides exchanging sharp-tongued barbs with his subordinates, was parrot “Yes, yes, yes,” “Whatever the Captain says is right,” and “By your command” like a puppet.
What a useless fool he was.
How could he compare to Makoto, who could effortlessly deliver such a passionate, stirring speech that still somehow managed to sound pure and sincere?
In fact, looking at Makoto’s pure, earnest, and resolute expression, Seinosuke unconsciously believed him, thinking that his speech was just a bit more flowery than usual.
No wonder he had followed Captain Retsu Unohana for hundreds of years and still hadn’t won her favor or become her disciple.
The gap…
was just too wide!
Unohana let out a brilliant smile and said, “You’re exaggerating, Makoto.” “No, Teacher, these words come from the bottom of my heart.
No matter what, please allow me to follow you for the rest of my life.” Makoto spoke in an incredibly serious and solemn tone, his eyes shining with pure, starry-eyed admiration as he looked at Unohana.
“That won’t do, Makoto.
You will soon grow strong enough to stand on your own.
You can’t keep following me forever,” Unohana scolded, looking slightly displeased on the surface, but her crescent-shaped eyes betrayed a warmth and satisfaction she couldn’t entirely hide.
Hearing this, Makoto’s outward expression didn’t waver in the slightest, though he couldn’t help but complain inwardly.
*Are you kidding me, my esteemed, black-bellied teacher, Retsu Unohana?
You’ve prematurely exposed me to the Seireitei’s top brass, subjecting me to who knows how many invisible risks.
How could I ever let go of your thigh?* *At least a hundred years…
No…* As Makoto’s mind raced, he calculated that the Substitute Soul Reaper, Ichigo Kurosaki, probably wouldn’t appear for another hundred years or so.
To play it safe…
He pressed both hands against the tatami mat and said with absolute determination, “At least two hundred years.
Teacher, please allow me at least two hundred years to repay your kindness.” Unohana quietly stared at Makoto for a few seconds before asking: “Makoto, are you serious?
Do you understand what this means?
By my personal judgment, you possess the potential to awaken Bankai within a hundred years.
When that time comes, it’s not impossible for you to succeed me as Captain of Squad 4.” *Captain?* However, Makoto’s heart didn’t flutter at all.
In fact, he wanted to laugh…
*An ordinary Captain is as flimsy as paper in front of that monster Sosuke Aizen.
They might even get toyed with by him without even realizing it.* *Kyoka Suigetsu is a truly unavoidable illusion-type ability.
The higher one’s position in the Seireitei, the easier it is to receive Aizen’s ‘special attention’.* Makoto definitely didn’t want to experience the sensation of a sow turning into a dragon, or a beautiful woman turning into a sow—especially the latter!
Therefore, he didn’t have the slightest interest in becoming a Captain.
At least…
not until he had a 99.999% guarantee of being absolutely undefeated.
Only then would he consider touching such a hot potato.
By comparison, hiding behind Retsu Unohana was undoubtedly the easiest and safest option.
Although Makoto had once wanted to act tough and say “no” to Retsu Unohana, there was no denying that soft-cooked rice tasted much sweeter.
“Of course, Teacher!
As long as I can stay by your side, I don’t care if I never become a Captain or an officer for the rest of my life!” Makoto answered without a shred of hesitation or longing in his voice.
At this moment, Unohana was genuinely moved.
Her slightly opened eyes carefully examined Makoto in front of her.
Although…
sometimes even she couldn’t see through Makoto’s mind, his actions today were enough to prove that his heart was undoubtedly pure and sincere.
Two hundred years was a very long time, even to someone like Retsu Unohana.
For Makoto, who had joined Squad 4 less than two months ago, it was an incredibly vast span of time.
For some Soul Reapers with weaker spiritual bodies, two hundred years could easily span most of their lifespan.
For some reason, Unohana felt an unprecedented stir in her heart…
*A sinner carrying such deep guilt like me…
actually has someone willing to give up their future as a Captain just to follow me?* “Get out!” Unohana suddenly snapped.
Both Makoto and Seinosuke Yamada froze, completely caught off guard by this abrupt burst of anger that contrasted so sharply with her usual gentle demeanor.
However, before they could react, an invisible, crushing pressure descended upon their heads.
Unohana’s completely emotionless voice rang out: “Do I need to repeat myself?!” Makoto and Seinosuke shivered, immediately scrambling out of the room.