The same place.
The hill where Takeru had been training.
Thud!
Ichigo lay on the ground, staring blankly at the sky.
The sky was so blue, the sun so bright. But this beautiful image brought him no comfort. He was starting to question his own existence.
Seeing him so crushed, the onlookers—Takeru, Rindo, Yayahara (who had come running), and even the "outsider" Isane—all felt a pang of pity.
But they felt zero sympathy.
Because, after the "deal" was done, the moment Ichigo heard the "Gotei 13's strongest Kaidō master" was willing to give him pointers, he had come running back.
He just hadn't expected that Unohana, a woman and the Captain of the medical division, would prefer a real, full-contact spar.
Ichigo had even kindly suggested they use bokken (wooden swords) to avoid any accidents.
After all, he was growing fast.
After mastering Shikai, his Reiatsu had been surging daily. He was already stepping into the realm of a Captain.
It was a terrifying achievement that not even Takeru had reached.
Therefore, even facing a Gotei 13 Captain, he felt no pressure. He was more worried about hurting her.
Besides...
Healing... should be gentle.
You can't just cut someone and then demonstrate how to heal them, right?
That was too extreme.
If she wanted to demonstrate how to "heal-while-fighting"... then, at his current level, the bruises and welts from a bokken would be more than enough to practice on.
That's what Ichigo thought.
And after he explained his concerns, Unohana had readily agreed.
The result... was this.
"Kurosaki-kun. How long do you plan to lie there? Your enemy will not give you time to rest and heal."
Unohana held her bokken in one hand. Her loose robes and haori made her look more regal than ready for combat.
Her calm tone and gentle smile proved she wasn't using her full strength. She didn't even look like she'd been in a fight. Her face, her clothes, her hair—all were perfectly clean.
Even her Reiatsu remained in a natural state... as calm as if she were sleeping, eating, or talking.
"...Hiss!"
His thoughts returned. Ichigo tried to get up, but almost fell flat on his face as searing pain and weakness shot through his knee.
"It seems you've reached your limit."
Unohana's gaze seemed to pierce his robes, seeing the injury on his knee.
"No! I can still... go!"
Though he realized he had severely underestimated her combat power—especially her swordsmanship—his momentary doubt was replaced by a surge of fighting spirit. He used his bokken as a cane and forced himself up.
Unohana looked slightly surprised.
"You can stand so soon?"
"Yeah. After being knocked down so many times, I've finally... gotten the hang of healing an injury right after I get it."
Ichigo forced a grin.
The onlookers, including Takeru, could see the Kaidō spiritual pressure gathered at his knee, wrapped around it like a poultice. This way, even if he forced himself to move, the wound wouldn't worsen.
To be able to do this... was already incredible.
Even Unohana was impressed.
"I must admit, Captain Aizen's judgment was correct. Kaidō truly is a good fit for you."
"To be acknowledged by you, Ms. Unohana... is an honor. So... let's continue!"
Ichigo, thoroughly humbled by a wooden sword, finally fixed his attitude.
But Unohana had no intention of continuing.
"There is no need. You have already grasped the secret to using high-level Kaidō. From here, you just need to accumulate experience and seek breakthroughs in real combat."
"What?"
"It means you've learned how to run. Now you just have to figure out how to run faster," Takeru said, walking over and offering a hand.
"Congratulations, Brother Kurosaki. That beating wasn't for nothing."
"That was a cheap shot. But... I'll just assume you're jealous," Ichigo grumbled.
"Is Shigū-kun jealous of Kurosaki-kun's progress? There's no need. I also have some small knowledge of swordsmanship. I see no problem in helping you... 'continue'... the training you were unable to finish today."
Unohana's voice drifted over.
Takeru was about to make an excuse, but he felt the arm he was supporting go limp. He turned and saw Ichigo pulling away, limping toward Rindo and Yayahara. "You guys go on," Ichigo said, waving him off. "Don't mind me."
"???"
This Ichigo... Takeru didn't recognize him.
"Very well. I happen to have some questions about swordsmanship myself that I'd like to ask."
"To be able to recognize that... is the mark of a qualified swordsman."
Unohana said, her voice full of approval. She planted her bokken in the ground. Her pristine, white hand grasped the hilt of her real sword. The blade slid from the sheath, flashing with a cold light. The entire motion had an unnatural beauty.
"—And only a qualified swordsman has the ability to create his own style of swordsmanship."
Her words seemed to have a hidden meaning.
Ichigo and the others looked at Takeru, confused.
They didn't notice Isane flinch, her face pale, as if remembering something terrible.
"But, then again..."
Unohana watched as Takeru shifted his feet, adjusting his body. Every step had that same... indescribable rhythm... until he settled into his iai stance, and that rhythm sharpened into intent.
Her tone suddenly changed. Her smile faded, her eyes lowered. Her expression was strange.
"A... 'thing'... like that... cannot yet be called swordsmanship."
For no reason, a chill ran down everyone's spine.
Takeru's feeling was the most direct.
But he was unshakable. His hand, resting on the blue hilt, was incredibly steady.
"'A thing like that'... "
"Has your 'guidance' already begun, Captain Unohana?"
"For something that is not swordsmanship, the guidance I can offer is... extremely limited."
Unohana's gaze shifted, locking onto Takeru's wrist.
"It's useless to deny it. Your spiritual pressure 'emission port' is injecting Reiatsu into your scabbard. And I am certain it is Kido spiritual pressure."
"If I'm not mistaken, that is a Kido-spell, disguised as a quick-draw technique. It may cut the enemy down, but what truly kills them is not the blade... but the Kido."
"Of course, I am not repulsed by this."
"On the contrary, I admire your creativity, Shigū-kun."
"Fusing Kido and swordsmanship... it undoubtedly gives new possibilities to the sword."
"You have successfully taken the 'half-step' for Kido. But the remaining 'half-step' for swordsmanship... I fear that will take a very long time. Your foundation in the sword is... far, far too weak."
Hearing this, Takeru's expression faltered.
"...Fusing Kido and swordsmanship... Is that... what you think this is, Captain Unohana?"
"Am I... mistaken?"
Takeru didn't answer.
Instead, he drew his sword.
And in that instant, Unohana realized something she could not ignore.
—This is not the technique I saw before.
-------
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