Shinigami: Medicine Can't Save The Soul Reaper Society

At the bottom of the letter, a crude drawing of a cat caught Makoto's eye. His expression darkened slightly.

"A damn stray cat dares to repay kindness like this? I pushed myself to the brink of exhaustion and fell unconscious for their sake!"

"And me, a dignified man, would never fear such petty threats. Let alone have my relationship with Unohana-sensei undermined so easily!"

"Though… Yushiro is quite adorable. Taking care of him a little is purely voluntary on my part!"

These thoughts flickered through Makoto's mind as he carefully inspected the envelope, ensuring it hadn't been tampered with. Without hesitation, he muttered an incantation-less spell and cast "Hado #11: Tsuzuri Raiden," reducing the letter to ashes.

Meanwhile, Urahara Kisuke and Shihōin Yoruichi had successfully escaped from the Seireitei. To Makoto, this development was undoubtedly a good thing.

Whether it was part of Aizen's larger schemes or not, Kisuke and Yoruichi remained powerful allies Makoto could potentially leverage.

As for why Makoto refrained from revealing more secrets to Kisuke and Yoruichi, there are two reasons: the lack of sufficient trust between them and his inability to provide concrete evidence.

In fact, any actions or statements from Makoto that deviated too far from his role, status, or capabilities would only arouse suspicion.

Above all, Makoto simply wasn't strong enough yet.

While Aizen needed time to perfect the Hōgyoku and advance his Hollowfication experiments, Makoto also required time to strengthen himself.

The 'Seeds of the forest' he had integrated into the Hollowfied Shinigami were yielding results, accelerating the absorption rate of his spiritual energy.

Still, the death of Love Aikawa at the hands of Unohana brought him genuine heartache.

Aikawa had served the Gotei 13 with distinction, shedding blood and earning merit, all while being an ideal vessel for spiritual energy cultivation.

Unfortunately, Aikawa's luck faltered—he was the first to face Unohana, whose repressed killing intent had been simmering for a millennium.

Ironically, Aikawa's demise seemed to partially satisfy Unohana's bloodlust, restoring some of her reason. Otherwise, it was likely that Makoto and the rest of the Hollowfied Shinigami would have been slaughtered as well.

"Next, it's the true reshuffling of the Gotei 13…"

"The captain positions for the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 10th, and 12th divisions are all vacant, with many vice-captain and seated officer roles also unfilled…"

"More than half the captain seats are empty!"

Makoto pondered silently, momentarily entertaining the idea of vying for a captaincy himself.

Given the dire shortage of combat power, which was hampering the Gotei 13's functionality, the criteria for selecting captains would likely be greatly relaxed.

But he quickly dismissed the thought as futile.

His recent firsthand experience with Central 46's attitude made one thing clear: while captains held significant authority and prestige in the Seireitei, to Central 46, they were mere tools for maintaining stability and expendable assets.

Instead, Makoto preferred staying under Unohana's protective wing, accumulating strength in the Fourth Division. Unlike other divisions, Makoto found a certain fondness for the Fourth Division's environment.

"Even if I don't pursue a captaincy, I can still seize this opportunity to place trusted individuals within the Gotei 13…"

Lost in thought, Makoto failed to notice Aoki Risa staring at him in a daze.

To others, Makoto had always seemed gentle, like a spring breeze.

Now, after sleeping for an entire day and night, his unkempt and slightly disheveled appearance contrasted with the sharp light in his eyes, sparking admiration in Risa's heart.

Sensing her gaze, Makoto waved a hand in front of her face.

Startled, Risa snapped back to reality and apologized repeatedly. "Ah—ah, I'm sorry, Vice-Captain Senju…"

Makoto's face darkened slightly as he looked at her. "Risa, what did you just call me?"

"Ah?!"

Flustered, Risa stammered, her panic growing.

"Shouldn't it be 'Makoto-kun'?" he asked seriously.

Stunned, Risa stared at the man in front of her, whose face softened into a gentle smile. Her eyes grew warm, and her chest tightened with emotion.

"Makoto-kun… hasn't changed. Even after rising from an ordinary officer to vice-captain overnight, Makoto-kun is still the same…"

Seeing the shifts in Risa's expression, Makoto stood up quickly, concern etched on his face.

"Risa? Are you thinking of Fifth Seat Aoki again? Why don't you rest for a while?"

Taking a deep breath, Risa shook her head firmly. "No, Makoto-kun. No matter what, I must carry on my mother's wishes and support the Aoki family. Besides, the division is understaffed—there's no time for rest."

Touched, Makoto patted her shoulder gently. "Risa, once Captain Unohana returns, I'll recommend you to fill the vacant Fifth Seat position."

Risa's teary eyes widened as she waved her hands frantically. "No, no, Makoto-kun! You can't do that for me. My abilities… I'm not good enough."

"How could that be? Risa, you're incredibly talented," Makoto said, his tone serious yet kind.

"And recommending promising officers for seated positions is part of my duty as vice-captain. I've always thought you were outstanding."

"I… I…"

Risa was overwhelmed with emotion, tears threatening to spill.

She remembered all too well how, after her father's death, noble families had mocked the Aoki household, predicting their fall from grace.

Yet Makoto, far from scorning her struggling family, treated her with nothing but warmth and care.

"Don't overthink it. Work hard and spend less time on that meaningless association. Focus on your Kaidō and medical skills," Makoto said, pausing briefly.

"If you run into questions, feel free to find me during evening breaks. I'll tutor you."

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