Chapter 279: The Shape of Admiration and Respect

Chapter 279: The Shape of Admiration and Respect

Regarding the specifics of that battle a thousand years ago, Senju Makoto had even managed to coax Unohana Retsu by acting a little spoiled. The patient Unohana-sensei then recounted every detail.

In short... from Unohana-sensei's perspective, she had thoroughly enjoyed the battle to the point of near-ecstasy.

The members of the Sternritter, led by "King of the Quincy" Yhwach, were mostly quite resilient to her attacks.

However, Unohana Retsu also harbored doubts and confusion as to why Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni hadn't completely killed Yhwach at the last moment, instead allowing some surviving Quincy to escape with him.

Of course, compared to Yhwach, who had vanished to an unknown location, Senju Makoto was currently more troubled by the dangerous man, Aizen Sōsuke.

The more normal Aizen Sōsuke appeared, the more vigilant Senju Makoto became...

Thinking about this, Senju Makoto lost his desire to sleep and unconsciously found himself walking along a familiar path to the tent of Ise Nanao, the vice-captain of the Eighth Division.

"Vice-Captain Ise, may I come in?"

Soon, Ise Nanao's response came from inside the tent.

"Is that Vice-Captain Senju? Please come in, it's alright."

Immediately, having received permission from the owner, Senju Makoto naturally entered without hesitation.

Unlike Senju Makoto's tent, which was filled with various medical devices, Ise Nanao's tent was filled with stacks upon stacks of books.

As Senju Makoto entered, Ise Nanao, who appeared somewhat expressionless, pushed up her glasses, closed the book in her hand, and pulled out a cushion, gesturing for Senju Makoto to sit down.

However, although Ise Nanao still maintained her stern, bespectacled appearance, the slightly trembling hand that pulled out the cushion undoubtedly revealed some of her inner thoughts.

Perhaps, in Kyōraku Shunsui's view, Ise Nanao, who spent most of her time by his side, had little interaction with Senju Makoto and could hardly be considered friends.

However, Kyōraku Shunsui overlooked one point: Ise Nanao had unknowingly been promoted to vice-president of the "Women's Shinigami Association" over the past fifty years.

The "Women's Shinigami Association," formerly known as the "Makoto Capture Association," was an organization managed by Unohana Retsu as its chairperson. What kind of person would Unohana Retsu allow to become vice-president?

After a brief, deeper interaction with Ise Nanao in Hueco Mundo, Senju Makoto realized that this seemingly emotionless, icy, bespectacled woman had some unusual characteristics.

On the surface, Ise Nanao had never shown any unusual behavior towards Senju Makoto, who was extremely popular in the Seireitei, maintaining her image as an emotionless, bespectacled older woman.

However, after peeling away Ise Nanao's icy exterior, Senju Makoto felt that the shape underneath was somewhat familiar...

Well... don't overthink it, it's just the shape of admiration and respect!

Therefore, when Senju Makoto deliberately tried to learn about the camp's Kidō barrier situation, Ise Nanao's response wasn't exactly complete cooperation, but rather a "reluctant acquiescence."

As Senju Makoto sat down, Ise Nanao habitually pushed up her glasses and asked with a rather cold tone, "Vice-Captain Senju, what do you need, coming to visit so late at night?"

'Nee... need?!'

Senju Makoto paused slightly, still not quite used to Ise Nanao occasionally using words that didn't quite fit the context when talking to him.

"Nothing, I was just passing by and decided to pay Vice-Captain Ise a visit," Senju Makoto replied.

Ise Nanao nodded, her tone so cold that it seemed she was about to dismiss him.

"In that case, if Vice-Captain Senju has nothing else to do, you should go back to rest. Otherwise, it might lead to misunderstandings."

Hearing this, Senju Makoto tried his best to adapt to communicating with this emotionless, calm, icy, bespectacled woman, and said truthfully, "Actually, it's not that I have nothing to do. After seeing Vice-Captain Ise, I felt that there are some things I need to do tonight."

Ise Nanao put down the book she had just picked up again and said calmly, "Please speak, Vice-Captain Senju. I'll cooperate as much as possible."

"Alright, then I'll trouble Vice-Captain Ise..."

Senju Makoto said gently and with gratitude, "I have a strange feeling of unease about the Kidō barrier around the camp tonight. I hope Vice-Captain Ise can patrol it with me again."

Ise Nanao seemed to pause for a moment, then shook her head and stated, "There's no need. I carefully patrol the camp's Kidō barrier three times a day to ensure there are no oversights."

After a pause, Ise Nanao pushed up her glasses, her seemingly calm and intellectual eyes looking up at Senju Makoto.

Just as Senju Makoto thought that Ise Nanao might be somewhat annoyed this time and wouldn't agree to his request as readily as before, Ise Nanao's tone changed, and she said coldly, "However, since it's Vice-Captain Senju's concern and care for my work, I don't mind taking a walk with you. If there are any oversights, please point them out, Vice-Captain Senju."

These words, to an ordinary person, would seem like a sarcastic counterattack, reminding Senju Makoto, who was responsible for medical assistance, not to interfere too much with the Kidō barrier.

However, after saying this, Ise Nanao stood up directly and, in front of Senju Makoto, took off her comfortable outer garment, meticulously changed into her shihakushō, and put on her vice-captain's armband.

Having changed into her shihakushō and put her hair up, Ise Nanao, compared to her just-about-to-sleep appearance, undoubtedly looked more capable and took the initiative to speak.

"Please, Vice-Captain Senju."

"Then I'll trouble Vice-Captain Ise. Senju Makoto is very grateful," Senju Makoto said sincerely.

"It's also my duty, Vice-Captain Senju needn't mind," Ise Nanao said, pushing up her glasses and walking in front of Senju Makoto.

Then, under Ise Nanao's lead, Senju Makoto and Ise Nanao began to inspect the Kidō barrier around the camp.

It must be said that Ise Nanao, as a highly skilled Kidō vice-captain, was able to secure her vice-captain position without a Zanpakutō, which was a testament to her Kidō skills.

In terms of pure Kidō mastery, Ise Nanao had surpassed most captain-level Shinigami.

However, Ise Nanao's spiritual pressure limitations made it quite difficult for her to use some high-level Kidō, but the Kidō barrier she set up was quite sophisticated.

At least, Senju Makoto was impressed, though he didn't fully understand it...

(End of this chapter)