From then on, Kenpachi Zaraki had the pink-haired loli Yachiru Kusajishi sitting on one shoulder, and the black-haired, black-eyed youth Makoto Senju sitting on the other.
He would draw his jagged Zanpakuto, laughing wildly and maniacally as he hacked away at enemies, blood splattering all over Makoto…
Behind Kenpachi Zaraki stood hundreds upon thousands of muscular men, recklessly charging forward with their Zanpakuto swinging, while Makoto acted as an all-providing “healer,” forced to connect himself to them using vegetation…
Thinking up to this point, Makoto’s face turned completely pale.
The image was too intense, the development far too absurd—Makoto didn’t dare think any further.
‘No way, absolutely not, impossible…’ Subconsciously, Makoto took a step back, a triple refusal echoing in his mind.
Too dangerous!
It was far too dangerous!
No matter from what perspective he considered it, staying in that kind of environment was insanely dangerous.
Even setting aside the fact that joining Squad 4 was his only chance to plant the Forest Seed into other captain-level Soul Reapers, just for his own safety and reputation, he could absolutely not join Squad 11.
Under no circumstances!
Even if he died, he would never accept being surrounded by a horde of muscular men!
‘This is bad!’ Feeling Kenpachi Zaraki’s burning gaze, Makoto’s panicked brain worked at top speed, frantically searching for a way to break free.
Meanwhile, Kenpachi’s smile grew increasingly broad yet ferocious as he said, “Makoto Senju, right?
Stick with me from now on.
What’s so good about Squad 4?
Follow me, and I’ll show you the joy of slaughter and help you discover your true biological instincts.” As for Yachiru Kusajishi sitting on his shoulder, far from being upset about having her spot shared, she seemed to have found a new playmate, happily coming up with a nickname for Makoto.
“That’s right, Big Brother Makoto!
Let’s do our best together from now on, nice to meet you~” Big…
Big Brother Makoto?!
As soon as this death-flag nickname came out, Makoto suddenly felt that his end was not far off.
‘Am I…
going to be stabbed to death by the muscular men of Squad 11 at such a young age?’ Just then, a sharp, cold voice sounded from behind Makoto.
“Captain Zaraki, snatching people by force like this isn’t right.
Makoto Senju is a recruit designated for Squad 4.
We can’t hand him over to Squad 11.” Kenpachi Zaraki turned his gaze toward the man wearing a standard Shihakusho with a Squad 4 lieutenant badge pinned to his shoulder.
“Squad 4 Lieutenant, Seinosuke Yamada.” Kenpachi thought for a moment before remembering Seinosuke Yamada’s identity.
With Seinosuke Yamada’s appearance, Makoto finally breathed a slight sigh of relief.
It seemed…
his effort in using Shinra Bansho to heal Kenpachi Zaraki’s wound at all costs had finally drawn Seinosuke Yamada’s attention.
Even though Seinosuke Yamada was merely the lieutenant of Squad 4, making his status unequal to Kenpachi Zaraki’s, he nonetheless represented Squad 4 after all.
That was far better than Makoto trying to reject Kenpachi’s invitation purely on his own.
However, Kenpachi Zaraki paid no mind to Seinosuke Yamada’s arrival, speaking directly in a commanding tone, “Squad 11 wants this kid.” “That won’t do.” Compared to his younger brother Hanataro Yamada’s timid and submissive nature, Seinosuke Yamada spoke with a cold and sharp tone, refusing Kenpachi Zaraki almost without hesitation.
The corner of Kenpachi Zaraki’s mouth curled slightly as a terrifying, invisible aura began to permeate the surroundings, his tone turning bloodthirsty as he asked, “Hmm?
You bastard, do you want me to cut you to pieces?” Yet, faced with Kenpachi’s threat, Seinosuke Yamada wasn’t flustered at all; instead, he unleashed his sharp tongue.
“Captain Zaraki, please don’t intimidate me.
I’m just a minor lieutenant.
If you leave me psychologically traumatized, I’m afraid Squad 4 might become hesitant and overly cautious when treating Squad 11 in the future.
It would be terrible if a patient accidentally ended up missing a part—or having a few extra parts added.” Instantly, Kenpachi Zaraki’s eyes narrowed dangerously, like a dozing beast slowly revealing its fangs.
“Are you threatening me?
If you want to bargain, bring Retsu Unohana here first!” “Captain Zaraki, were you looking for me?” Just then, a remarkably gentle voice resonated from the direction of the hall entrance.
A pure white, wide captain’s haori with the number “4” embroidered on its back, her hair tied in a braided ponytail draped over her chest, her beautiful features radiating a peaceful and gentle aura.
Captain of Squad 4 in the Gotei 13—Retsu Unohana!
In almost an instant, the graduates in the hall recognized the identity of the gentle female Soul Reaper standing at the entrance, respect and admiration naturally appearing in their eyes.
Unlike Kenpachi Zaraki, a newly appointed Soul Reaper captain, Captain Unohana was a Soul Reaper recorded in the textbooks of the Shin’o Spiritual Arts Academy—a legend who had served as a captain for nearly a thousand years, with an unquantifiable number of Soul Reapers treated by her hands.
Having two captain-level Soul Reapers appear over a mere squad selection was undoubtedly something that excited the present graduates immensely.
However, as a suffocatingly terrifying Reiatsu gradually leaked from Kenpachi Zaraki once more, seemingly entering a confrontation with Captain Unohana, the atmosphere…
suddenly turned tense.
‘Oh no!’ ‘Is Captain Zaraki planning to attack Captain Unohana?’ ‘Is the Squad 11 captain really a lunatic?
That’s a major crime!’ At this moment, a considerable number of graduates couldn’t help but worry for Captain Unohana, who looked like a gentle and kind big sister.
After all, “Kenpachi” was a title meaning “the strongest swordsman in the Soul Society,” as well as the title held by the captain of Squad 11, which specialized in combat.
And Soul Reapers who inherited the title of “Kenpachi” were mostly branded as lunatics.
Among them, this Kenpachi Zaraki—who had taken office only recently after stepping over the corpse of the previous Squad 11 captain to claim the “Kenpachi” title—was undoubtedly a lunatic among lunatics in the eyes of these graduates.
As for Captain Unohana, she was merely the captain of Squad 4, which specialized in medical treatment.
She clearly looked unsuited for combat, and what was recorded in textbooks was only Captain Unohana’s achievements in healing Soul Reapers and developing Kaido and medical arts.
Although Captain Retsu Unohana was a senior captain with nearly a millennium of service, having healed countless injured Soul Reapers over thousands of years, with a gentle and kind personality that earned her the respect and love of countless Soul Reapers…
Would a newly promoted lunatic captain really show respect to Captain Unohana?