Shinigami: Medicine Can't Save The Soul Reaper Society

He's Back?!

Makoto's heart skipped a beat, an instant surge of panic coursing through him. It was the kind of thrill one might feel when caught red-handed, sneaking around at home and doing something mischievous, only to realize the parent was right behind them.

Of course, this particular sensation wasn't caused by Koga's unexpected return.

What truly had Makoto flustered was the possibility of Koga witnessing the scene before him. If Senbonzakura ever caught wind of this, Makoto genuinely had no idea how he'd face Byakuya in the future.

What could he even say in explanation?

"Byakuya, I'm sorry. When I was taken hostage, I, um, accidentally and unintentionally—well, perhaps a bit too conveniently—completely stripped down Senbonzakura's armor for some... research purposes. You know, all in service of the woman you adore, Hisana. Surely, you'd understand where I'm coming from, right?"

No, that wouldn't work.

Quickly, Makoto rushed forward, determined to redress Senbonzakura and restore the armor to its rightful state.

However, taking something off and putting it back on were two entirely different skill sets!

Compounding the problem was Makoto's profession. As a skilled medic in the Fourth Division, he was adept at helping patients remove clothing when treating their injuries. Undressing? He was an expert. But dressing someone? That was a completely uncharted territory for him.

Usually, after bandaging wounds or administering treatment, he simply left his patients to pull up their own pants and be on their way. Additional services had never been part of the package.

"Wait, what's this white cloth for?"

"What are all these straps supposed to connect to?"

"And this thing—wait, is this a... stomach wrap?"

Makoto stared helplessly at the heap of clothing, which resembled the intricate layers of a traditional samurai ensemble. His eyes darted toward the oddly shaped piece in his hands, which suspiciously resembled a delicate undergarment.

Confusion consumed him. Oh, how he regretted not paying closer attention when he was disassembling Senbonzakura's armor earlier.

Instinctively, Makoto cast a pleading glance at Shinro Bansho. Surely, she might offer some advice, being a fellow woman in some sense of the word.

But in the next moment, realization struck him like a thunderclap.

Asking Shinro Bansho for help? That was like winking suggestively at a blind person.

With her flat-chested, streamlined physique, Shinro Bansho had never had any need for such elaborate garments. Naturally, she lacked any experience in this regard.

At that moment, as Makoto looked at the disassembled Senbonzakura lying helplessly before him, he could feel his soul leave his body.

Anyone who walked in on this scene would undoubtedly misunderstand him!

What now?!

A dozen ideas raced through Makoto's mind.

Perhaps... kill Senbonzakura and destroy the evidence?

Or eliminate Koga, and frame a dead man? After all, dead people couldn't argue back!

But all these options carried immense risks.

Just then, Makoto froze mid-action, his thoughts interrupted by a sharp realization. Turning his head, he glanced in Koga's direction. What's more, just beyond Koga, Makoto could faintly sense Soi Fon's "Seed of the Forest" monitoring from the shadows.

Koga had been exposed.

Fon was tailing him!

This drastically limited Makoto's available options.

Looking to Shinro Bansho, Makoto forced a gentle smile. "Shinro Bansho, how would you rate your master's treatment of you normally?"

"Reasonably average," Shinro Bansho responded cautiously.

Makoto, however, feigned deafness. "Oh, you think it's 'excellent'? Well then, this is your chance to repay that kindness."

"???"

Shinro Bansho was utterly baffled.

---

Meanwhile, outside the villa, Koga stood at ease, observing the unbroken barrier around the property. His tense expression softened slightly.

The intact barrier meant Makoto was still inside. More importantly, it meant Koga's key leverage hadn't been compromised.

However, as Koga stepped through the barrier and pushed open the villa's door, his eyes were met with a shocking scene.

Makoto lay sprawled across the wrecked living room, drenched in blood.

The entire room was in shambles, as if a fierce battle had taken place.

What the...?!

Koga's mind reeled. His scalp prickled as unease crept up his spine.

What happened here? Could Makoto have been killed?!

Rushing forward, Koga bent down to lift Makoto, who lay collapsed on the shattered remains of a sofa.

Makoto's complexion was ghastly pale, even more so than Koga's, who had suffered his own injuries. His breathing was faint, and he appeared to hover on the edge of unconsciousness.

"Hey, Makoto! Makoto!" Koga called urgently, shaking him.

Under Koga's frantic calls, Makoto finally stirred, his eyes fluttering open in confusion.

But before Koga could say a word, Makoto seemed to snap back to awareness. His voice was anxious and strained.

"Quick, Koga! Stop Shinro Bansho!"

"What?!" Koga blurted, confused.

"Shinro Bansho's personality is the polar opposite of her healing abilities—she's a depraved sadist! She delights in torturing and killing her targets!"

Makoto clung to Koga's wrist, his eyes filled with urgency.

"After you and Muramasa left, she couldn't hold back any longer. She attacked Senbonzakura. I tried to stop her, but she overpowered me and left me in this state!"

"She's taken Senbonzakura upstairs. If you hurry, you might still be able to save her…"

Koga stared at Makoto's earnest and frantic expression, his concern seemingly genuine. Against his better judgment, he believed Makoto's words.

While securing Makoto was his primary objective, losing Senbonzakura—a vital ally—was an unacceptable risk.

After quickly assessing Makoto's injuries—fractured right arm, multiple lacerations, extensive blood loss, and a mangled left leg—Koga found himself convinced by the evidence. Makoto's battered state lent credibility to his claims about Shinro Bansho's sadistic tendencies.

Without hesitation, Koga dashed up the stairs, leaving Makoto to recover on the sofa.

Watching Koga's figure disappear at the top of the staircase, Makoto's brow furrowed.

Where's Muramasa?

Based on the intel he'd gleaned from Gin's wrist strap, Koga should've returned with Muramasa in tow. Why was he alone?

---

Koga burst into the second floor and shoved open the door to Makoto's room.

Inside, he was greeted by the sight of Shinro Bansho standing over Senbonzakura, green vines sprouting from her body like tendrils, poised to remove the final layer of Senbonzakura's clothing.

What stunned Koga most, however, was the expression on Shinro Bansho's face—a twisted blend of exhilaration and depravity, as though she were savoring her prey.

In that moment, any lingering doubts Koga had vanished.

Unleashing the power of his zanpakutō, Koga roared, "Stop right there!"

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