Time rewind.
First Division barracks.
Tea room.
"Click."
A black piece lands on the Go board with a crisp sound.
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni sits quietly across the board, a cup of tea beside him.
Opposite him sits Jakūhō Ransō.
After the debriefing of the first encounter with the Wandenreich, Yamamoto, feeling restless or perhaps distracted, invited Jakūhō for a game of Go.
Thinking and meditation.
Victory and survival.
These were the things that always calmed Yamamoto's mind.
And they all converged on the Go board.
As for the post-battle paperwork, that would have to fall to Shūhei Hisagi for now.
"Jakūhō."
Yamamoto looked at the large dragon forming on the board, placing a white piece thoughtfully: "What do you think... why did Makoto make such a request at this critical moment?"
"Approaching First Class spiritual power... and a military pledge."
Yamamoto's words trailed off, his unease evident.
Was this even possible?!
Someone like Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni was always seen as an 'all-powerful pillar' by others.
Only when facing his closest comrades, disciples, and subordinates did he allow himself to show such uncertainty, hinting at his doubts.
Because those he could fully trust were few, even in the entire Soul Society.
Hearing the question, Jakūhō paused before responding.
He, too, couldn't understand Fujimiya Makoto's actions.
It was common knowledge that a Shinigami's spiritual power training was continuous, long, and arduous.
In the vast Soul Society, reaching Third Class spiritual power through constant training was already an incredibly difficult feat.
Thus, whether in the past Genryūsai Style or now in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, 'Third Class spiritual power' was the standard.
Because they all knew that every step beyond this threshold was like climbing to the heavens.
"Click."
Jakūhō placed a black piece, closing in on the white dragon's throat.
He sighed: "Though you may not feel it clearly, Teacher."
"From the time he entered the Genryūsai Style until now, it's only been a few years."
"Whether in the reality of the Soul Society or in actual time—Makoto is still just a young man."
Hearing this, Yamamoto's white pieces struggled to defend, trying to patch the gap in the white dragon's throat, his brow furrowed.
He seemed to connect Jakūhō's words to something.
"You mean...?"
Jakūhō looked at his teacher's puzzled expression, sighing helplessly:
"I mean, Makoto is young, with little experience, and still naive in matters of the heart."
"So, when emotions override reason... it's only natural."
Yamamoto seemed stunned, finally grasping the key point from Jakūhō's words, confused:
"Emotions?"
Jakūhō was also taken aback, his black piece pausing mid-air, puzzled:
"Teacher... you haven't noticed at all?"
"Cough cough!"
Yamamoto adjusted his expression: "...What do you mean?"
Jakūhō finally realized the issue.
Teacher, a thousands-year-old virgin!
He's just as clueless about emotions!
Realizing this, Jakūhō lightly tapped his forehead—he'd completely overlooked this crucial factor.
After understanding, Jakūhō placed his black piece on the board, tearing open gaps, and whispered: "Makoto and Captain Saito are so close..."
"At a time like this, if Captain Saito goes to the front lines, Makoto wouldn't just stand by, would he?"
Yamamoto's eyes widened in shock:
"—There's that too?!"
Jakūhō covered his face, struggling to control his facial muscles.
It had to be said, people indeed had many sides.
In all these years, he'd never seen Teacher make such an expression.
Teacher doesn't understand love.
Jakūhō tried hard to suppress his laughter, finally summarizing: "In short, he's probably just asking for your approval to fight alongside Captain Saito."
"As for raising his spiritual power in a few days..."
"Unless Makoto's abilities are truly extraordinary,"
"Even if he forces it up, it's likely only a temporary boost."
By the end, even Jakūhō couldn't keep a straight face.
For Makoto, this must have been an incredibly difficult decision.
Just thinking about it, Jakūhō's expression turned somber.
But this was a Shinigami's fate, wasn't it?
Those who live by the sword die by the sword.
"So it was because of Saito?"
Yamamoto sighed: "I thought he wanted to fight Yhwach..."
"It seems Makoto is different from Unohana after all."
Jakūhō nodded deeply.
He'd realized it long ago.
Makoto wasn't the 'pure genius' many imagined.
On the contrary,
he had significant flaws in many areas.
But perhaps that was why such a strong person was so precious.
However...
How would he reach 'near First Class spiritual power' in just a few days?
Jakūhō, who had been stuck at Third Class for nearly a millennium, was deeply curious.
"Click."
Jakūhō's black piece trapped the white dragon in a desperate situation.
Yamamoto's brow furrowed.
As he pondered, a familiar, massive spiritual pressure suddenly arose.
Sensing something, the two at the board looked up simultaneously.
"Thud—"
Yamamoto stood slowly, 'accidentally' knocking over the board under the pressure.
Black and white pieces scattered on the ground.
Jakūhō froze.
Yamamoto's expression turned grave as he looked toward the courtyard, fully focused:
"This is... Makoto?"
...
Not just Yamamoto and Jakūhō.
The moment the spiritual pressure arose, the entire Seireitei trembled faintly.
Everyone stopped, turning toward the source.
A vertical pillar of light pierced the sky, visible to all.
Those familiar with Fujimiya Makoto froze, eyes wide, sensing the sudden, rapidly rising spiritual pressure.
...
"Splash!"
Saito had just entered the hot spring, her long hair not yet fully wet, when she suddenly stood up, stunned, looking toward the pillar of light.
Without even drying off, she hastily dressed and ran toward the spiritual pressure.
"Captain Saito! Captain Saito!"
Her attendant chased after her, holding a towel.
But before she could call out twice, Saito had vanished.
...
Unohana Retsuzō, polishing her shallow sword in her quiet room, paused.
The blade she'd just wiped with silk caught a speck of dust.
But as she sensed the speed of the spiritual pressure's rise, her expression turned excited.
She stood, disappearing from the room in a flash.
When she reappeared, she was heading toward the spiritual pressure.
...
After the Wandenreich's invasion, most in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads were on edge.
Any anomaly immediately drew attention.
Naturally, the strange spiritual pressure in Seireitei grabbed everyone's focus.
More striking was that the pillar of light lasted for hours.
By the time most had gathered at the edge of the underground crater, waiting for the pressure to subside, Fujimiya Makoto's 'evolution' ended.
Unfortunately, the only one unaware was Fujimiya Makoto himself.
Thus, he missed something crucial.
From the moment his 'golden rod' was exposed to Saito and Kyoraku, to his spar with Kumoi,
a crowd had been live-streaming and spectating from above the crater.
The 'immobilized' Kumoi, in Fujimiya Makoto's arms, tried to subtly remind him.
But before she could speak, her ear was bitten.
So, Kumoi decided to stay silent.
However, if she didn't speak, others would.
"Fujimiya Makoto—!!!"
Just as an unnamed Mr. Fujimiya bit down, a familiar voice suddenly echoed in his ear.
Rage 100%↑
The next moment, a meteor-like burst of wind tore through the air, covering an unimaginable distance.
Saito's petite figure, glowing with dense reishi, punched down with a furious roar.
Fujimiya Makoto's hand shook, nearly dropping Kumoi.
At the last moment, he used an invincible roll to dodge.
Her seemingly delicate fist struck the ground, the dense reishi exploding, sending rocks and dust flying, carving a massive crater.
Fujimiya Makoto struggled to swallow.
If he'd taken that punch head-on, he'd be dead, right?
"Saito? What are you doing here?!"
He stood up from the ground.
Kumoi, freed, leaped from his arms, landing in the VIP spectator spot, smiling at the confrontation.
Saito glared at her, then turned to Fujimiya Makoto, her killing intent palpable:
"What am I doing here?!"
"If I weren't here, would you have done something shameless with that woman?!"
Struggling to describe their intimate actions, Saito's words stumbled, nearly biting her tongue.
In just a moment, he'd held a woman with such a figure!
If she hadn't been there today...
Just imagining the possibilities, Saito's mind filled with terrible outcomes.
She absolutely wouldn't allow it!
For a moment, her single eye seemed to emit a killing aura.
Sensing the romance heading toward a Bad End, Fujimiya Makoto intervened:
"Wait, Saito!"
"Let me explain!"
"Kumoi and I are innocent!"
Unfortunately, the little sword always made things worse.
"No explanations!"
"Saito! Kumoi! Unohana-sensei!"
"I'll stack you all into a three-layer hamburger and take you down—!!!"
"None of you can escape!"
Fujimiya Makoto silenced the little sword.
But when he looked up, he saw only Saito's furious, mocking smile.
Above the crater, Yamamoto looked at Jakūhō, his expression questioning.
—Is this the 'deeply in love,' 'sacrificing for love' Fujimiya Makoto you described?
Jakūhō's face was as black as coal.
Silent.
Only Unohana Retsuzō, who'd seen Fujimiya Makoto's 'greater moments,' remained calm.
However, her gaze at him flickered with excitement.
If other factors were ignored,
Makoto, after fighting Kumoi, had reached the peak of Second Class spiritual power, right?
If he could maintain this level...
Thump, thump.
Unohana pressed her chest, her expression barely containing her battle intent.
"Unohana."
Sensing her heightened emotions, Yamamoto calmly reminded her.
She paused, then reluctantly suppressed her feelings.
Not yet...?
The mad beauty looked disappointed.
But she still stepped forward, crossing hundreds of meters.
When she appeared, she was beside Fujimiya Makoto and Saito.
"Unohana-sensei?!"
Noticing another familiar figure, Fujimiya Makoto realized something was wrong—this underground space blocked spiritual pressure!
So, when he was exposed earlier...
The moment he realized, Fujimiya Makoto looked up, his expression grave.
The stern Yamamoto, coal-faced Jakūhō, and dozens of onlookers were overlooking the scene.
All smiling.
In an instant, Fujimiya Makoto froze.
His innocence was gone.