"Captain Unohana, we're nearly out of the last batch of medicine. I came to pick up more," Katori Nanatsuki said as he entered the courtyard.
"How is Batsu'unsai doing? Can she get up now?" Unohana didn't turn around, continuing to prune the tea tree.
"She's doing better. She's been able to move around and eat normally these past two days," Nanatsuki reported her condition.
Unohana paused, inspecting the result of her trimming. Apparently dissatisfied, she soon resumed with her scissors.
"That's not the worst-case scenario then. I was just thinking that if Batsu'unsai still couldn't get up today, I'd have to go see her," Unohana said softly.
The last time Nanatsuki came for medicine, Unohana had made it clear: if Batsu'unsai didn't improve after finishing that batch, then nothing could be done. The damage to her spiritual pressure core would fully erupt.
"It's all thanks to your exceptional medical skill, Captain Unohana," Nanatsuki said with gratitude.
"Ah, well... it looked the nicest the first time I trimmed it. But there's no way to get that back," Unohana murmured, pausing again with her scissors.
"I've done all I can. If her injuries flare up again next time, there's no telling what might happen," she said, giving up on pruning and turning to face Nanatsuki. "Katori-kun, I hear a new swordsmanship instructor joined the Spiritual Arts Academy recently—who just so happens to share your family name."
"I'm fortunate that Principal Isane saw potential in me and gave me the chance," Nanatsuki replied with a modest smile.
"Katori-kun has grown enough to teach students now… You must've inherited Batsu'unsai's swordsmanship. Looks like the reopening of the Katori-ryu Dojo is just around the corner," Unohana said with a faint, ambiguous smile.
"I've only scratched the surface. Compared to Batsu'unsai, my swordsmanship is still far behind," Nanatsuki replied humbly.
"No need to be so modest, Katori-kun. If your swordsmanship were unworthy, Batsu'unsai wouldn't have let you walk out the door with her name attached, bringing shame to Katori-ryu," Unohana chuckled, then said something unexpected. "Why don't you show me? Let me see how much of Katori-ryu's essence you've mastered."
Nanatsuki looked hesitant. The woman before him might appear calm and gentle, but before she joined the Gotei 13, Captain Unohana was known as the most dangerous criminal Soul Society had ever seen.
She was obsessed with swordsmanship, claiming mastery over all known styles, calling herself "Yachiru of the Eight Thousand Styles."
She eventually became the first Kenpachi—the original Captain of Squad 11—only learning healing Kido later to prolong her battles and better enjoy the thrill of combat.
Nanatsuki didn't mind sparring with others, but sparring with Unohana was… extremely risky. If she got too excited, she might accidentally kill him.
"Katori-kun, you didn't bring any money again today, did you?" Unohana asked with a smile that sent chills down his spine. "If you show me your swordsmanship, I'll waive the cost of the medicine."
Nanatsuki hesitated. She hit the mark—neither he nor Batsu'unsai had received their pay yet, and this trip was another attempt to delay the bill.
"I'll also cancel all your previous debt," Unohana added sweetly, her voice seductive as a devil's whisper.
Nanatsuki's heart stirred. The medicine for Batsu'unsai was incredibly expensive—enough to bankrupt noble families over centuries. Being able to erase even part of that debt was an unbelievable opportunity.
"Please guide me well, Captain Unohana," he said, steeling his resolve.
"Your eyes are determined. Good," Unohana's smile deepened. "Come, show me your swordsmanship. Don't worry—I'll suppress my spiritual pressure. If you don't die, I'll heal you for free~"
As she spoke these terrifying words, she casually drew her Zanpakutō.
Nanatsuki said nothing. He reached for his waist, gripped the scabbard with his left hand, and positioned his thumb on the guard.
A breeze blew, lifting the leaves Unohana had just pruned.
One green leaf danced in the air, floating between the two of them.
At that moment, a flash of sword light erupted in the courtyard.
The leaf split in two midair and flew off in opposite directions.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
A flurry of metallic clashes rang out—dozens of strikes in an instant.
Nanatsuki had unsheathed and struck dozens of times with astonishing speed!
But all of it—every last strike—was blocked by Unohana.
"Senmai Otoshi isn't bad. But still lacking refinement. If that's all, I'm afraid we'll have to wrap this up, Katori-kun~" Unohana said as she stepped forward slowly.
Unlike her graceful pace, Nanatsuki's back was already drenched in sweat. He felt a terrifying aura swell from her body.
It rolled over him like a mountain—crushing and absolute.
This was the aura of a true swordmaster!
For a moment, Nanatsuki imagined her feet trampling through rivers of blood and piles of corpses.
A lesser Shinigami would've been frozen in place under her pressure.
But Nanatsuki had trained under Batsu'unsai, who had subjected him to similar pressure. He had built resistance.
He took a deep breath, shifted into a bow stance, raised his sword with his left hand pressed against the back of the blade, and poured Spiritual Pressure into the weapon.
Then, with his body coiled like a spring, he launched forward and stabbed in a blur of speed—
Katori-ryu: Shun'geki!
Clang!
Unohana blocked it effortlessly with her Zanpakutō, her face half-hidden by the blade, a gleam of excitement in her eyes.
"Nicely done—your Shun'geki is sharp," she murmured.
But then, Nanatsuki felt a massive impact ripple through his blade. The tip recoiled, knocked aside by a surge of power.
Suddenly, Unohana was on his left.
They were so close, Nanatsuki could feel her breath.
He quickly leapt back, raising his sword to block—
Clang! Clang!
Slice—
Blood sprayed from Nanatsuki's left arm and shoulder.
A quick glance confirmed it—four neat cuts on his arm, one hole through the shoulder. He had been struck five times in a split second.
Despite the searing pain, his fighting spirit surged.
What he didn't realize was that a new, faint trait had appeared in his status panel—
[Born Battle Maniac]
[Born Battle Maniac: Glory belongs to those who live to fight. Reduces the effects of injuries on your movements. The more you fight, the stronger you become—until death.]
He had to act fast—any longer and his condition would deteriorate.
Nanatsuki vanished from sight with a Shunpo, reappearing ten meters away.
He resheathed his sword, lowering his stance, eyes locked on Unohana.
"Katori-ryu specializes in Iai, it seems Katori-kun has learned that as well?" Unohana licked the blood from her lips, her smile even more gleeful.