Facing Sosuke Aizen’s subtle probing, Makoto Senju’s heart tightened almost instinctively.
“Probing” was only ever used on high-value targets, or on those who had aroused some form of suspicion.
Thus, the moment Sosuke Aizen spoke those words, Makoto instantly realized he had fully caught the attention of this terrifying man.
Whether…
this chance encounter was actually a coincidence no longer mattered.
Makoto’s mind raced, but his face perfectly assumed the bashful, innocent look of a pure youth receiving praise as he replied, “Lieutenant Aizen, you praise me too highly.
I’m just a newcomer.” If nothing else, over the two months since joining Squad 4, playing the role of a naive, pure youth had integrated into Makoto’s instincts.
No matter how much his mind raced, his face betrayed absolutely no weakness.
Pausing, Makoto shifted the conversation to subtly regain some initiative, asking, “Lieutenant Aizen, you seemed to call me by name just now.
Do you know who I am?” This…
was practically a pointless question for Makoto.
It seemed like something he shouldn’t probe into to avoid raising more suspicion; his priority should have been figuring out how to quickly escape Sosuke Aizen.
Although…
this was the Squad 4 barracks, and the likelihood of Sosuke Aizen initiating a fight directly within Seireitei was low.
But Makoto knew that for Sosuke Aizen, who possessed the ultimate illusion-type Zanpakuto, Kyoka Suigetsu, no one knew how many Soul Reapers’ five senses were already under his control.
Therefore, in Makoto’s eyes, facing Sosuke Aizen alone carried an extremely high risk!
However, firstly, Makoto needed to shift the focus of the conversation back to Sosuke Aizen to distract him.
Secondly, trying to think from the perspective of an ordinary Soul Reaper, suddenly being addressed by name in the middle of the night by a lieutenant-class officer was a detail that one would naturally ask about.
Facing Makoto’s inquiry, Sosuke Aizen smiled warmly and said, “How could I not know your name, Makoto-kun?
You are Captain Unohana’s disciple, recognized by her own mouth as a ‘genius whose talent in Kaido and medicine is in no way inferior to hers.’ And you are also the first male Soul Reaper in the history of Seireitei to join the Gynecology Department.” ???
Makoto Senju.
Did Retsu Unohana usually boast about him like this to others?
Makoto didn’t think of himself as a genius at all.
Over the past two months, he had studied like his life depended on it every single day, and even then, he was barely managing to keep up with Retsu Unohana’s daily guidance.
He had even utilized quite a bit of medical concepts from his previous life.
Unfortunately, although Makoto had been a freshly graduated medical student in his past life, the Soul Society’s medical system and his previous world’s medical system were completely different concepts.
More importantly, physical bodies and spiritual bodies were fundamentally different.
Thus, his medical knowledge from his past life mostly just gave him slightly different angles of thought.
*Seriously, Teacher, if you’re going to boast, why do you have to drag me into it?* While Makoto couldn’t help but complain inwardly, on the surface he looked appropriately startled and said helplessly, “Lieutenant Aizen, that must be a rumor.
I’ve only been in Squad 4 for two months, and I’ve barely managed to finish reading the essential medical books and Kaido texts required for the Gynecology Department.” Hearing this, Sosuke Aizen raised an eyebrow slightly and asked, “Makoto-kun, do you not know that for ordinary Squad 4 Soul Reapers, it generally takes three to five years to successfully master just a portion of the Kaido and medicine required for their respective departments?
Soul Reapers who lack talent might never even fully master them.” “What?” At this moment, Makoto was genuinely surprised.
Nobody had ever told him this common knowledge!
Since Makoto hadn’t entered the Mortuary to undergo Squad 4’s standardized basic training—having been placed directly into the Gynecology Department by Retsu Unohana—and had subsequently found that Risa Aoki, who had also just joined, had already perfectly mastered the department’s Kaido and medical procedures…
…this had given Makoto the illusion that his talent was rather average by Squad 4 standards.
“No wonder…
Teacher Unohana directly permitted Risa Aoki to join the Relief Class.
Risa must have been studying Kaido and medicine since childhood, and she must be highly talented herself…” Makoto muttered softly to himself, instantly understanding some of the minor details he had overlooked in the past.
“What did you say, Makoto-kun?” Sosuke Aizen asked with mild curiosity.
Makoto scratched his head, acting like an innocent boy who had just seen the light.
“Nothing, I just realized I seem to have misunderstood some things in the past…” Sosuke Aizen stepped forward and patted Makoto’s shoulder, acting warm and friendly.
“Your talent is quite remarkable, Makoto-kun.
Please look after Squad 5 in the future…” Makoto perfectly acted the part of a flattered, simple youth who hadn’t seen much of the world and was solely focused on researching Kaido and medicine, responding to Aizen’s friendliness as if slightly overwhelmed by it.
For a moment, the atmosphere between the two was exceptionally harmonious and warm, presenting an image of two closely bonded brothers.
Just as Makoto felt it was about time to make an excuse and distance himself, Sosuke Aizen, who had been actively chatting with him, casually mentioned, “Makoto-kun, if one wants to separate a Zanpakuto from a spiritual body, is there any way to achieve that?” Makoto was slightly startled.
He looked at Sosuke Aizen in surprise, harboring deep vigilance underneath as he played dumb.
“Lieutenant Aizen, does that even need to be asked?
Of course you just reach out, pick up the Zanpakuto, and set it down on the ground.” “No…” Sosuke Aizen pushed up his glasses, which reflected the light and obscured his eyes.
In a highly gentle tone, he asked, “Not that kind of separation.
I mean a complete separation—extracting the Soul Reaper power from a normal spiritual body.” ??!!
Makoto Senju.
At this moment, Makoto was thoroughly shocked!
Is it really appropriate to ask me something like this so bluntly?
If someone else heard this, they’d think we were co-conspirators planning to pull off some massive, covert scheme.
Instantly, Makoto reacted in a way that fit his persona—appearing both flustered and serious as he warned, “Lieutenant Aizen, that is a highly dangerous thought.
Seireitei would never allow it.”