Chapter 201: Shunko's 'Green Version'

Kuchiki Koga?!

Hearing this name, Makoto's expression froze slightly.

During his many visits to the Kuchiki family in the past, he had occasionally heard this name. However, this was undoubtedly his first meeting with Kuchiki Koga.

As the son-in-law of Kuchiki Ginrei, Koga had once been the Third Seat of the Sixth Division before being specially recruited into the First Division to oversee a specialized unit.

But, based on the memories of his previous life and the information provided by Urozakuro, Makoto clearly understood why Captain-Commander Yamamoto had placed Koga under his own supervision.

It wasn't just to train Koga deliberately—it was also to monitor his every move closely.

This was because Koga's Zanpakutō, Muramasa, was an extreme weapon depending on the opponent it faced.

Muramasa: It renders an enemy's Zanpakutō uncontrollable by its master. Its Shikai allows Koga to command an opponent's Zanpakutō to attack designated targets, while its Bankai can directly cause a Zanpakutō to betray its master and materialize to attack them.

When facing Hollows or Quincy, Koga was almost as if he had no Zanpakutō abilities.

But when his opponent was a Shinigami with their own Zanpakutō, Koga became nearly invincible—a rogue force that could compel their Zanpakutō to rebel right before their eyes.

In essence, Koga's Zanpakutō was the epitome of a weapon effective in "internal conflicts but useless against external foes." Against Hollows, he was powerless; within the ranks of the Shinigami, he was a menace.

Fortunately, Koga was Ginrei's son-in-law. Otherwise, the potential dangers hidden in his Zanpakutō's abilities would have already prompted the Central 46 to order his elimination.

Upon meeting Koga for the first time, Makoto sensed that his personality was refreshingly warm and enthusiastic—completely different from Byakuya's outwardly cold and aloof demeanor.

Perhaps this had to do with Koga's understanding of his position. He was merely a son-in-law, albeit one married into one of the four great noble families of the Soul Society.

As a son-in-law, Koga had already reached the pinnacle of what he could achieve. Any aspirations for a higher status or for playing out a "Dragon King" storyline would be almost impossible—unless the Soul King himself resurrected and accepted Koga as a son-in-law.

Thus, Koga, while supported by the Kuchiki clan, bore none of the burdens of responsibility carried by someone like Byakuya. Naturally, he had a carefree existence.

This time, Koga was on a rare vacation at the Kuchiki estate. Upon hearing of Makoto's visit, he made a point to greet him warmly, expressing his gratitude for Makoto's kindness towards Sojun.

After exchanging pleasantries, Koga cheerfully excused himself, leaving Makoto and Byakuya to their conversation.

"Koga-senpai certainly has a warm and friendly personality," Makoto remarked, somewhat surprised.

Byakuya, however, shook his head solemnly. "While Koga-sama's character is indeed commendable, at times, his naivety and impulsiveness can be a flaw. Given the dangerous nature of his Zanpakutō and his position within a noble family, this is not ideal."

Makoto refrained from commenting on the internal affairs of the Kuchiki family. He remembered from his previous life that Koga's naivety and impulsiveness had indeed led him down a disastrous path.

---

In the following days, Makoto stayed true to his word, avoiding the potentially perilous Unohana quarters and limiting his interactions with Captain Unohana to public settings.

Still, every meeting with her left him feeling uneasy, as if walking on a tightrope.

But Makoto firmly believed that time was the best remedy for everything.

The saying "absence makes the heart grow fonder" would eventually prove true. One day, Unohana-sensei would surely miss her "runaway" disciple and choose to forgive him.

More importantly, Makoto feared that returning to Unohana's quarters too soon would result in being coerced into performing humiliating acts.

That was... absolutely unacceptable!

Thus, Makoto focused on his regular duties and spent his nights residing in the Kuchiki estate.

This arrangement also had its perks, such as making his training sessions in Shunko with Soi Fon much more convenient.

However, even for Fon, mastering Shunko fully was not something that could be achieved in a short time.

It was practically a whole new combat technique requiring not just skill but also spiritual adaptation.

Makoto chose not to reveal that Shunko was a technique pioneered by Yoruichi. Instead, he attributed it to his own research in Kaidō and his experiments with Hakuda and Kidō, brushing off any suspicions with a casual explanation.

As Fon gradually began grasping the basics of Shunko, her admiration for Makoto became increasingly evident, making him feel a twinge of guilt.

Taking advantage of Yoruichi's achievements while deceiving her loyal disciple into idolizing him…

It didn't feel like the actions of a gentleman.

But surely, Lady Yoruichi wouldn't mind such a trivial matter, would she?

Makoto's only frustration was his own lack of talent in Hakuda and Kidō. Developing a complete version of Shunko on his own seemed like an impossible dream.

Instead, Makoto experimented with using Kaidō, with its vitality-focused properties, as a substitute for the destructive nature of Kidō. To his surprise, he succeeded on the first try.

Though, Makoto could already imagine the scene once his unique Shunko was fully developed.

Yoruichi's Shunko was characterized by lightning, Fon's by wind… and his? A verdant glow so green it would make both allies and enemies uneasy.

"Well, I'll figure out a way to change the color later," Makoto resolved. "For now, practicality comes first. Otherwise, I'll never stand a chance against Unohana-sensei in close combat..."

With this, Makoto committed himself to developing his "green" version of Shunko.

Late at night, Unohana, accustomed to Makoto's presence, began to feel a strange sense of absence. Little did she know that her disciple had "turned green" and was preparing to astonish her.

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