Chapter 161: Test

Makoto walked alongside Isane, conducting a brief inspection of the Fourth Division's tent area and evaluating the condition of various patients.

"Do not concern yourself with what lies beyond your role."

Now that he had officially assumed the position of Vice-Captain of the Fourth Division—and with Unohana currently absent—Makoto naturally could not remain indifferent to the division's affairs.

Despite the rigid and often outdated rules of the Gotei 13, the organization maintained a foundational level of competence and discipline among its members.

After a tour around the camp, Makoto noted that, aside from unavoidable issues like limited resources, harsh environments, and insufficient space, the Fourth Division, though understaffed, had managed to avoid any major oversights.

His presence as the newly appointed Vice-Captain seemed to uplift the spirits of the division's members, offering a much-needed morale boost.

However, Makoto also observed a pressing issue: with over half of the seated officers lost in recent battles, a significant portion of the division's members lacked proper guidance.

While this situation could be managed in the short term, leaving it unresolved for too long would undoubtedly lead to larger problems.

Back in his tent, Makoto meticulously recorded the urgent issues that required immediate attention. Glancing at Isane, who stood nearby, he said:

"Isane, while Vice-captain Yamada and Lady Yamada have spoken highly of your abilities, I'd like to assess your skills personally to better understand your capabilities. Would you mind?"

"Of course, Vice-Captain Senju! I will do my utmost and not let you down!"

Isane straightened up, her voice trembling slightly. Though clearly nervous, she summoned her courage to respond. Yet, her entire demeanor appeared stiff with tension.

"There's no need to be so anxious," Makoto reassured her gently. "These are just a few simple questions."

He began by asking Isane a series of questions Unohana had once posed to him—starting with basic concepts and gradually delving into more complex and detailed scenarios.

To his surprise, Makoto found Isane's theoretical knowledge impressive. Her grasp of concepts far exceeded the level expected of someone at her current rank. In fact, her knowledge even surpassed some of the lower-ranked seated officers in the Fourth Division.

"Vice-captain Yamada and Lady Yamada occasionally taught me in their spare time," Isane explained modestly.

"Isane, you're far more capable than I had anticipated. Excellent work," Makoto praised without hesitation.

Blushing, Isane lowered her head, a mix of pride and shyness on her face.

Makoto had already formed a preliminary evaluation of her abilities. While Isane excelled in theoretical knowledge, she lacked hands-on experience.

With proper guidance and training, she could quickly become a reliable asset to the Fourth Division. However, for now, her role was better suited to administrative tasks, akin to that of a secretary, assisting Makoto with the division's daily affairs.

This wasn't Makoto shirking his responsibilities but rather giving Isane an opportunity to hone her skills through practical experience.

As Isane sat before a mountain of division documents, her expression was a mix of gratitude and panic.

"Vice-Captain Senju... I don't know much about this yet. What if I make a mistake?"

Makoto smiled warmly, his tone both encouraging and patient.

"Don't worry about making mistakes. Everyone grows through trial and error. Even if something goes wrong, I'll review everything afterward to ensure nothing critical is overlooked."

Hearing this, Isane felt a surge of determination well up within her. Being entrusted with important tasks and knowing that someone had her back gave her an overwhelming sense of purpose.

It was akin to being a temporary security guard at a massive corporation one day, only to be noticed by the CEO and suddenly promoted to a secretary—entrusted with handling major affairs and assured that any mistakes would be covered.

For someone like Isane, who had spent the past year working alongside fallen comrades in the division, this moment felt almost surreal, like a dream she didn't dare to have.

Blushing furiously, Isane responded with conviction: "Vice-Captain Senju, I will give it my all!"

"Good luck!" Makoto gave her an encouraging fist pump, inspiring Isane even further.

With renewed vigor, Isane dove into the backlog of administrative tasks, tackling issues such as:

Request for 1,000 medical gloves due to shortages in a particular department.

A complex patient case requiring seated officer consultation for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Approval for temporary additional beds due to a lack of space in another department.

Though these matters were tedious, they were essential to the division's functioning.

Makoto reviewed the tasks briefly, noting they were minor but necessary to keep operations running smoothly. With many seated officers gone, tasks that once fell under their jurisdiction now landed squarely on his desk.

By delegating these responsibilities to Isane, Makoto ensured she gained valuable experience while lightening his workload. Once she completed her reviews, he planned to double-check her decisions, which would make his job much easier while keeping him fully informed of the division's status.

After offering Isane further guidance and easing her nerves, Makoto left her to focus on her tasks. He then headed towards the tent of Ōmaeda Marenoshin, who had pledged to oversee the reconstruction of the Fourth Division barracks.

To reciprocate the Ōmaeda family's support, Makoto decided to personally handle Marenoshin's upcoming minor surgery. Whatever special requests Marenoshin might have, Makoto was ready to fulfill them—as long as it doesn't involved something... Strange.

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