"Captain Unohana, the last batch of medicine is almost gone. I'm here to pick up more."
Nanatsuki walked into the courtyard.
"How's Batsu'unsai doing? Is she able to get up yet?" Unohana didn't turn around, continuing to trim the tea tree.
"She's improved a little. She's been able to walk around these past two days and can eat normally again," Nanatsuki reported her condition.
Unohana paused her movements, carefully examining the trimmed branches, but seemed dissatisfied. After a short pause, she picked up the shears again.
"Then it's not the worst-case scenario. I was thinking—if she couldn't get up again today, I'd have to go check on her myself," Unohana said softly.
Last time Nanatsuki came for medicine, Unohana had already concluded—if Batsu'unsai didn't recover after finishing this cycle of medicine, she'd be beyond saving. The wound to her Spiritual Pressure Core would fully collapse.
"All thanks to your brilliant medical skills, Captain Unohana," Nanatsuki said gratefully.
"Ara ara~ it looked best after the first trim, but that can never be brought back now," Unohana murmured as her hand froze mid-snip.
"I've already done all I can. If her injuries relapse again, there's no telling what might happen." She gave up on trimming and turned to face Nanatsuki.
"Nanatsuki-kun, I heard the Shin'o Spiritual Arts Academy recently hired a new swordsmanship instructor. That new teacher also happens to be named Katori."
"I'm grateful to Director Kotetsu for giving me the chance to teach swordsmanship at the Academy," Nanatsuki replied with a smile.
"So you've grown to the point where you can guide students. I assume you've already inherited Batsu'unsai's sword techniques. Looks like the reopening of the Katori-ryu Dojo is just around the corner," Unohana said, a faint, unreadable smile tugging at her lips.
"I've only scratched the surface. Compared to Batsu'unsai, I still have a long way to go," Nanatsuki answered modestly.
"No need to be so humble, Nanatsuki-kun. If your swordsmanship weren't up to par, Batsu'unsai wouldn't have let you go out and embarrass yourself, tarnishing the Katori-ryu name," Unohana chuckled, then suddenly added,
"Why don't you show me here and now—how much of the Katori-ryu essence have you really mastered?"
Nanatsuki's expression stiffened. The captain of the Fourth Division standing before him might appear calm and gentle, but before joining the Gotei 13, she was once known as the most fearsome villain in the history of the Soul Society.
What's more, Unohana was obsessed with swordsmanship. She prided herself on having mastered every sword style in the world and even dubbed herself "Yachiru of the Eight Thousand Styles."
Later, as the first Kenpachi of the Eleventh Division, she had learned Kaido only so she could prolong her joy of slaughtering in battle.
Nanatsuki didn't mind sparring with others—but sparring with Unohana was a dangerously different story. If she got too excited, there was no telling if she'd stop before killing him.
"You didn't bring any money today either, did you, Nanatsuki-kun?" Unohana said with a sweet smile.
"If you let me take a look at your swordsmanship, I'll waive the cost of this batch."
Nanatsuki hesitated. She hit the mark. Neither he nor Batsu'unsai had received their salaries yet. He'd planned to ask for credit this time.
"I'll even erase what you owed from last time," Unohana's voice came like a devil's whisper.
Temptation took hold. The medicine Batsu'unsai required was costly—over the centuries, the resources spent would be enough to bankrupt some noble families. Saving even a little was a huge blessing.
"I ask for your guidance, Captain Unohana." Nanatsuki braced himself.
"Such determined eyes." Unohana's smile deepened.
"Come, show me your sword. Don't worry—I'll keep my spiritual pressure to a minimum. And if you manage to not die, I'll heal your wounds for free~"
Even as she said something terrifying, Unohana slowly drew her Zanpakutō from her waist.
Nanatsuki said nothing. His right hand moved to his waist, left gripping the scabbard, thumb resting on the guard.
A gentle breeze stirred, lifting the clippings Unohana had just trimmed.
A single green leaf was swept up, drifting between the two of them.
Just then, a flash of sword light erupted in the courtyard.
The green leaf split cleanly in two, the halves floating away in opposite directions.
Clang clang clang clang—
Dozens of sharp, rapid metallic clashes rang out all at once.
Nanatsuki had unleashed dozens of slashes in a single instant!
But every one of his continuous attacks was blocked by Unohana.
"Your Senmai-Oroshi isn't bad—but still a bit unrefined. If that's all you've got, then I'm afraid this ends here, Nanatsuki-kun~"
Unohana advanced slowly, closing the distance.
Unlike her unhurried pace, sweat had already begun to bead on the back of Nanatsuki's neck. He could feel the terrifying pressure erupting from Unohana.
It pressed down on him like a mountain.
This was the aura of a true master of swordsmanship!
For a brief moment, Nanatsuki saw a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood beneath her feet.
An ordinary Shinigami would be frozen stiff under such overwhelming pressure.
But Nanatsuki had been trained under Batsu'unsai, who had subjected him to exactly this kind of aura in special training.
He took a deep breath, bent his knees into a stance, left hand pressing down on the spine of his blade, channeling spiritual pressure into the blade.
Then, all the muscles in his body tensed. He lunged forward—thrusting with tremendous speed!
Katori-ryu: Shun Strike!
Clang!
Unohana pressed the flat of her Zanpakutō against the incoming blade and blocked the strike.
Her blade covered half her face, and in her eyes, a flicker of excitement sparked.
"Not bad. Your Shun Strike is sharp."
In that instant, Nanatsuki felt an immense shock through his blade. The tip, locked against Unohana's, was suddenly flung away by a massive force.
Unohana appeared at his left flank in a blink.
They were so close, Nanatsuki could feel her breath.
He quickly retreated and raised his blade in defense.
Clang clang—
Splurt—
Blood sprayed from Nanatsuki's left arm and shoulder.
A quick glance confirmed it—four clean slashes marked his arm, and a hole had opened in his shoulder. He had taken five strikes in an instant.
Despite the searing pain, Nanatsuki's fighting spirit surged.
What he didn't know was that a new trait had appeared faintly on his Status Interface—Battleborn Berserker!
[Battleborn Berserker]: Glory belongs to those born for battle! Reduces the impact of injuries on movement. The more you fight, the stronger you become—until death!
He had to act fast, or his condition would decline rapidly.
With a flicker of movement, Nanatsuki vanished from in front of Unohana, Shunpo-stepping ten meters away.
He sheathed his sword, crouching low into a draw stance, eyes fixed intently on Unohana.
"The Katori-ryu specializes in Iaido... So Nanatsuki-kun, you've even learned that move too?"
Unohana licked the blood at the corner of her lips, her excitement only rising further.