Crimes Beyond Counting!

After a full day and night of relentless assault, the 11th Division successfully seized the mountain pass between North Rukongai Districts 30 and 29, securing their advance.

By the time they crossed, evening had fallen again.

"Unohana-sensei, try this."

"It should taste pretty good."

Fujimiya offered two skewers of grilled fish.

"Hm."

Unohana sat beneath a tree, studying a map by the firelight. She accepted the meal without comment—after all, serving one's teacher was a given.

Especially for a disciple with ulterior motives.

But when she took a bite, her eyebrows rose slightly.

Fujimiya smiled and turned to organize the resting shifts.

Unohana took another bite.

Her teeth left neat marks on the glistening fish skin, which was dusted with a red spice that tingled pleasantly on the tongue.

It was... unexpectedly good.

For a being as ancient as her, few things held interest anymore. But this?

This was new.

"What seasoning is this? Poison?"

She sounded genuinely curious.

"Chili peppers, Unohana-sensei."

The firelight softened Fujimiya's features as he explained, "I asked Shutara about them. She happened to know where to get some and gave me a batch."

"Shutara, huh?" Unohana mused. "She always did collect odd things."

Then, almost offhandedly, she added:

"You've made quite a few close friends, Makoto."

"In all the years I've known her, she's never given me a gift."

Fujimiya stiffened.

That statement could be taken so many ways.

But this was Unohana-sensei. Surely she didn't mean—

He glanced over.

Unohana had tucked a strand of raven hair behind her ear, her profile serene in the firelight as she ate the roughly prepared fish with unexpected grace.

The contrast was striking—like history's most notorious killer appearing as a gentle, refined woman.

Seeing her composure, Fujimiya relaxed.

Right. Unohana-sensei getting jealous?

Impossible.

"Something wrong?"

She noticed his gaze.

He chuckled. "It's probably because you seem unapproachable, Sensei. Even now, I sometimes wonder if you're about to cut me down."

The moment the words left his mouth, he realized his mistake.

Unohana smiled.

It was warm.

"Oh? Is that so, Makoto?"

Fujimiya straightened, ready to backtrack—

But his voice overlapped with his zanpakutō's:

"N-Not that I actually think that—"

[I'm usually too busy staring at her ass.]

"Unohana-sensei's kindness is genuine—"

[Sensei's ass is so round! It bounces when she walks!]

"My worries were completely unfounded—"

[It's gotta feel amazing!]

"During training..."

[I don't dare look up front too much, she'd notice.]

[But those melons are worth the risk!]

"..."

Fujimiya's face went blank.

His explanation had been completely derailed.

He couldn't even shut the brat up—today's "Silence" quota was spent.

He dug his toes into the ground, already plotting revenge.

Next Zanzen session...

I'm turning you into a leaky yogurt dispenser!!!

Just as he braced for Unohana's reaction, she stood abruptly, her gaze sharpening toward the forest.

"Makoto."

"We have guests. Entertain them."

"Huh?!"

His eyes lit up.

Salvation!

"YES, MA'AM!"

He vanished in an instant.

Unohana sat back down, quietly nibbling her fish, her expression unreadable.

She knew about Makoto's... quirks.

But hearing his zanpakutō voice them so blatantly was awkward.

She couldn't exactly fix it for him.

"After the war..."

"...I'll correct this properly."

She smiled softly, taking another bite.

Naturally, with a blade.

"Mmm..."

"A bit spicier next time."

---

Meanwhile, Fujimiya flashed through the darkened forest.

His scouts fell in behind him instantly.

"Fujimiya-sensei! Over there!"

Ahead, their perimeter guards lay slaughtered.

"Stay alert!"

Before the warning finished, figures emerged from the shadows—masked operatives clad in heavy fabric.

But their weapons weren't zanpakutō.

They wielded living blades, pulsing with veins and tendrils that latched onto their arms. A golden, eye-like orb glowed at the hilt.

Fujimiya recognized it instantly.

Bakukōtō.

A forbidden weapon from the Kasumiōji Clan, capable of draining a Shinigami's reiatsu to amplify power.

"Be careful!"

These things could turn fodder into seated officer-level threats.

The leader of the operatives glared at him.

"Target Sixteen: Fujimiya Makoto!"

"Crimes: Murder of nobles! Desecration of corpses! Assembling living human centipedes! Defiling male and female nobles, dogs, and Hollows! Mass slaughter of entire clans! Abducting the Shiba clan head to incite rebellion! Enslaving the Tsunayashiro clan head!"

"His crimes... are beyond counting!"

His subordinates froze, exchanging glances.

You picked this target?!

Even the leader looked pained.

How the hell are you this evil?!

Finally, he gritted his teeth.

"Enemy too strong! Retreat!"

"Split up and run!"

Fujimiya: "...?"