Shinigami: Medicine Can't Save The Soul Reaper Society

"Stay back!"

Kōga gasped heavily, his breath ragged as he watched Unohana, who stood just a few steps away, her sword poised to strike. His eyes widened in panic, and he shouted in desperation, "Don't come any closer!"

Unohana's expression was darker than ever, a thick, almost tangible killing intent emanating from her, enveloping the atmosphere around her.

Behind her, Muramasa, whose upper body lay slumped on the ground, cast a fleeting glance at the captured Makoto before the last flicker of light in his eyes faded.

"Master… I'm glad I could help… one last time…"

As Muramasa's consciousness dissipated, the manifested spirit forms of Senbonzakura and Shinso also rapidly vanished into nothingness.

Yet Kōga paid no heed to Muramasa's death. His gaze remained fixed on Unohana, his voice trembling as he yelled, "Stay back! Step away, or I'll kill Makoto right now!"

Unohana let her hands relax at her sides, her voice calm yet cold. "Give Makoto back to me, and I won't kill you."

However, under the overwhelming pressure of her killing intent, Kōga's mind was on the verge of collapse. He gripped Makoto even tighter, unwilling to let go of his only lifeline.

"Step back! Get lost, or I'll slit his throat!"

Kōga's hysterical screams echoed as his trembling Zanpakuto pressed harder against Makoto's neck, leaving thin trails of blood.

Although Makoto had recovered from severe injuries multiple times in the past due to his Zanpakuto's abilities, Unohana knew that his current state was different. His Zanpakuto had recently betrayed him, leaving him temporarily unable to use its powers.

Unohana's eyes flickered with hesitation, and she forcibly suppressed the volcanic fury brewing within her. Her voice, though low, was steady. "Calm down. Don't hurt him."

"Drop your Zanpakuto! Step back!"

Kōga's demand caused a visible tremor in Unohana's eyes.

Since she had first wielded a sword, never once had Unohana been forced to release her grip on her Zanpakuto—not even when she suffered defeat at the hands of Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's fiery Bankai, Zanka no Tachi.

She was the first Kenpachi, the strongest Kenpachi—a title symbolizing the mightiest swordsman in Soul Society.

For a true swordsman, releasing one's grip on the Zanpakuto was the ultimate defeat.

Unohana's gaze wavered, and her grip tightened, then loosened, on her Zanpakuto's hilt. Over and over, she struggled with the impossible demand placed before her.

Makoto observed Unohana's internal conflict, noticing how her grip on the hilt gradually relaxed. At that moment, he understood the decision she was about to make—she was prepared to do what no swordsman should ever do: relinquish her blade.

Seeing this, Makoto's heart stirred with deep emotion. He couldn't bear to see his teacher forced into such a dilemma.

'I can't let her suffer like this!'

Makoto's eyes narrowed, and he resolved to take action. Despite the apparent best course of allowing Unohana to retreat and staging a counterattack after Kōga fled, he refused to let her endure this humiliation.

After all, he hadn't expected Unohana, who had been strictly ordered to stay away from the front lines, to come to the human world in search of him. Nor did he expect her to be willing to relinquish her sword for his sake.

The thought of Unohana's unwavering kindness and care filled him with warmth. He couldn't let her face this hardship alone.

Makoto wasn't worried about being seriously hurt; even if his throat were slashed or his head severed, his near-immortality would allow him to survive. What concerned him was whether Unohana would react in an unpredictable manner upon discovering his unique ability.

Nevertheless, Makoto steeled himself, prepared to risk everything, even his own life, to resist Kōga. Just as he moved to act, something unexpected happened.

A small wound on Kōga's chest suddenly erupted with a surge of white substance.

"Ahhh!!!"

Kōga let out a bloodcurdling scream, his face twisted in agony as if enduring unbearable pain. His grip on Makoto slackened, and the Zanpakuto pressing against Makoto's neck lifted slightly.

In that instant…

Unohana's figure blurred, and by the time she reappeared, she had already passed Kōga. Her blade gleamed, slicing through the air dozens of times in a flash. Kōga froze in place, his body stiff and unmoving.

A heartbeat later, as Unohana sheathed her blade, countless deep wounds appeared on Kōga's body, and he collapsed into a pile of dismembered flesh.

Makoto stared, bewildered.

Even with his deep understanding of spiritual forms, he knew that reassembling Kōga from such a state would take weeks, if not longer.

Suddenly, a familiar foot appeared in his line of sight. Before he could react, Unohana kicked the remains of Kōga far away.

Makoto was dumbfounded. '…There's no way he's coming back from that.'

Moments later, Unohana knelt before him, her elegant face soft and calm. "It's over, Makoto."

She gently placed her hand on his neck, her healing energy glowing with a soft green light, closing his wounds.

Makoto blinked, taken aback by how quickly she shifted from a terrifying killer to a gentle healer.

"Uno… Unohana-sensei…" he stammered, his heart pounding as he tried to meet her gaze. Overcome by a mix of guilt and awkwardness, he looked away. "I… I'm sorry for troubling you, Sensei."

"What nonsense are you spouting, Makoto? You still owe me a hundred years of companionship by my side. How could I allow anyone to take you away from me?"

"Sensei…"

…

Meanwhile, on a distant rooftop, Aizen watched the scene unfold. His haori was torn in several places, but his composure remained intact. He casually tucked away the Hōgyoku, which had triggered Kōga's Hollowfication.

Glancing briefly at the scattered remains of Kōga, Aizen smirked and turned to Gin. "Gin, gather up Kōga's pieces. Can you handle it?"

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