"Captain Unohana, does this mean I've learned it?"
Naraku Sora stared blankly at the massive gap in the dojo wall, then subconsciously glanced at the bamboo sword in his hand.
Yes, it was indeed a bamboo sword.
He clearly hadn't expended much Reiatsu, yet he had unleashed a strike comparable to his full power output in the past.
Is this the Zanjutsu Unohana Retsu spoke of?
Then what were his previous battles? Just brute force where power compensates for lack of skill?
Unohana Retsu didn't speak. She simply watched Naraku Sora quietly, a thoughtful look flashing through her eyes.
After a moment of silence, she slowly drew her bamboo sword. A faint Reiatsu wrapped around the blade, followed by a seemingly ordinary swing.
Whether looking at her stance or the angle of the swing, it was no different from the basic Zanjutsu taught at the Academy.
However, in Naraku Sora's eyes, it was an entirely different scene.
A heavy sea of blood, blotting out the sky and sun, crushed down. A slimy, viscous, cold sensation surrounded him, making him feel as though he were completely submerged.
Endless killing intent seeped into his internal organs through every pore, reaching deep into his marrow.
Her originally quiet and gentle face now seemed stained with fresh blood, resembling a ferocious demon climbing out of hell.
Just looking at that blunt bamboo sword gave one the illusion of facing death directly.
It was as if his flesh and blood were stripped away in an instant, his vitality utterly extinguished!
Only at this moment did Naraku Sora profoundly realize the gap between the two of them.
It was like the difference between heaven and the abyss.
"Very good."
Unohana Retsu suddenly spoke. In an instant, the illusion dissipated, and the Captain of Squad 4, loved and respected by countless people, returned.
As one of the oldest captains in the Gotei 13, she had seen countless geniuses, including those who mastered Bankai immediately upon graduation.
She had even seen monsters who knew nothing of Kendo or Zanjutsu but could still defeat her in a fight to the death.
But there were only two times her spirit had truly been stirred.
The boy before her was undoubtedly one of them.
Unlike monsters who were maxed out from their debut and chose to subconsciously seal themselves to enjoy the thrill of battle, Naraku Sora was more like an extreme evolutionary leap from zero to one.
If someone had told her yesterday that someone could grasp the essence of Kendo from basic Zanjutsu in a single leap, she would have scoffed.
But even witnessing it with her own eyes today, it still felt completely...
Like a fantasy!
Perfectly replicating the subtle changes in Kendo stance, perfect application and control of Reiatsu—someone actually completed all of this in such a short time.
Back when she stepped from basic Zanjutsu to true Kendo, it took her a full month. Even so, her teacher still called her a genius seen only once in a thousand years in Soul Society.
Later, on that foundation, she established the name Yachiru.
And now, she saw an existence with stronger talent in Kendo than herself, and finally understood the look in others' eyes when they looked at her.
That massive gap, like a chasm that neither time nor diligence could bridge.
"It's even better than I anticipated."
Unohana Retsu smiled and looked over. "Can you tell me about your feelings when you comprehended Kendo, or perhaps your insights?"
Naraku Sora grinned. "Of course, it's instinct!"
Upon hearing this answer, the smile on Unohana Retsu's face froze, and her eyes widened slightly.
After a long time, she took a deep breath, as if suppressing some kind of emotion.
"Naraku-kun, you remind me of some rather unpleasant memories."
"So, the following Kendo discussion might carry a bit of personal emotion. I hope you are prepared."
Naraku Sora: "?"
Without a moment to mourn for Naraku Sora's instinct, the one arriving immediately at the dojo was—
Unohana Yachiru!
...
...
Squad 5 Barracks, Entrance.
When the gatekeeper Soul Reaper saw a bruised, battered, and swollen boy appearing in front of him, he didn't dare to be negligent in the slightest and rushed over.
"Hello, do you need me to take you to the Comprehensive Aid Station? You don't look too good."
"Thanks, I just came from there," Naraku Sora thanked him politely, his speech slurred.
Gatekeeper Soul Reaper: "?"
What on earth did this kid go through?
To still look half-dead after treatment from Squad 4...
If that was after treatment, didn't that mean he only had one breath left before it?
Ignoring the wild speculation of the man before him, Naraku Sora shook his head and said seriously, "Actually, I'm here to find Sousuke. Your squad should have someone by that name, right?"
The gatekeeper Soul Reaper thought for a moment and realized, "You mean the newly promoted seated officer, Lord Aizen?"
"Please follow me. Lord Aizen is currently handling some documents in the office."
Saying this, he walked towards the barracks interior.
Naraku Sora paused for a moment, then strode to catch up.
They arrived at the office. The gatekeeper pointed to a figure buried in work in the spacious room, then departed.
Entering the room, Naraku Sora surveyed the scene before him.
Just as he expected, Aizen was being targeted and ostracized within Squad 5.
The documents piled up like a mountain; just looking at them made one's eyes dizzy and caused a bone-drilling itch in the brain. Not to mention the plaque standing on the desk, which could be called the ultimate insult—
The Dragon of Documents!
Sensing a dark shadow appear in front of him, Aizen looked up. When he saw who it was, he subconsciously tried to cover the plaque on the desk.
But he was a step too late.
"Tsk, the Dragon of Documents." Someone spoke in a tone begging for a beating. "As expected of Sousuke!"
Although this was a unanimous recognition of his achievements by everyone in the squad, from the captain down to the soldiers, for some reason, when this guy in front of him saw it, Aizen felt an inexplicable sense of shame.
If he had known, he would have rejected Hirako Shinji's suggestion.
Aizen silently pushed the plaque aside, blocking it with the mountain of documents. He glanced calmly at Naraku Sora and frowned.
"How did you get beaten up like this?"
Hearing this, Naraku Sora sighed, pulled over a nearby chair, and sat down, carefully avoiding the injuries on his buttocks.
"It's a long story."
"Keep it short."
"Beaten by a crazy woman."
Aizen understood in his heart. It must have been that broken mouth of his offending a captain-level Soul Reaper, resulting in being thrashed by a superior bullying a subordinate.
"Let's not talk about things that make you happy. Sousuke, how is the matter I asked you to investigate going?"
Naraku Sora threw up a soundproofing barrier with a backhand motion, enveloping the two of them, and grimaced in pain.
"Have you found the mastermind?"
After the disaster at the Araki house, although Squad 1 ordered a strict ban on discussing related matters, the disturbance was too great, and too many people saw it. It couldn't be contained.
Therefore, although no one talked about it on the surface, everyone knew that a huge change had occurred in the Araki family.
Hearing Naraku Sora's words, Aizen lowered his gaze slightly and whispered:
"It might be related to the Five Great Noble Families..."