Kaelith Yurei held his bamboo sword and slowly walked back, kneeling beside Sōjun Kuchiki.
Sōjun sighed, saying, "Captain Unohana is truly an extraordinary individual."
"Is it because she praised you?" Kaelith asked.
"How could that be..." Sōjun responded, half laughing and half exasperated.
Meanwhile, Seinosuke Yamada, who had been restless, couldn't sit still any longer. The moment Sōjun sat down, Seinosuke sprang to his feet, striding toward Unohana Retsu as if preparing for a fight.
Stopping in front of the serene and smiling Unohana, Seinosuke fixed her with a sharp gaze, slightly bowing his head. "Seinosuke Yamada, Captain Unohana, please grant me your guidance!"
Unohana nodded lightly. "Come, show me the strength of one who aspires to master swordsmanship."
Hearing this, Seinosuke took a deep breath, gripping his bamboo sword with both hands. He sprang into action like a wild beast unleashed, spinning fiercely as he swung the bamboo blade toward Unohana Retsu.
The students in the front row, witnessing this ferocity, gasped in surprise.
While they knew Seinosuke had a reputation for being ruthless, none had imagined he'd dare use such an audacious approach against a captain.
As the bamboo sword descended, Unohana, who had been smiling gently, slowly opened her eyes.
Sōjun stiffened as though struck by an icy breeze on a hot summer's day.
Even Kaelith found himself tensing involuntarily.
The warmth radiating from Unohana moments earlier abruptly transformed into a chilling, bone-piercing aura that almost compelled Kaelith to draw his blade instinctively.
The students, unaware of the nuances, only felt that Unohana's presence had changed.
But for Seinosuke, who faced her directly, the sensation was overwhelming. In his eyes, a dark, eerie energy seemed to envelop Unohana, seeping into his body through every pore and chilling him to the core.
It was as if the figure before him wasn't a captain of the Gotei 13, but a terrifying demon risen from the deepest pits of hell.
That "demon" smiled, raising a rusted blade stained with dried blood.
Then, it swung down—
Under the stunned gazes of the students, Seinosuke, who had launched himself like a beast, froze mid-air.
With a swift movement, Unohana's bamboo sword struck him, sending him flying sideways to crash heavily onto the ground. He didn't move.
"Seinosuke!" Sōjun exclaimed in alarm, quickly getting up and running over.
Kneeling beside Seinosuke, Sōjun checked on him, only to find that Seinosuke was completely unharmed.
Instead, the man lay there with a look of wild fervor on his face.
"Seinosuke?" Sōjun frowned slightly.
"Lord Kuchiki... I've found the division I want to join," Seinosuke murmured dreamily, as if talking in his sleep.
Sōjun was baffled.
Before he could say anything further, Seinosuke suddenly sat up.
"Did you see it? That demon-like figure—that's what true strength looks like!"
"Just being caught in her gaze felt like being torn apart by countless blades, dying over and over again!"
"This is the life I want to pursue!"
Sōjun: "..."
He wasn't sure what kind of life Seinosuke was after, but it was clear the man needed his head checked.
Seinosuke quickly got to his feet, running over to Unohana and bowing deeply.
"Captain Unohana! I, Seinosuke Yamada, will take the graduation exam at the end of this semester. Please, grant me the honor of serving in Squad Four under your command!"
Unohana covered her mouth, laughing softly. "Very well."
Having pledged his loyalty, Seinosuke returned, looking as light as a feather. His bizarrely contented expression made Kaelith feel as though ants were crawling all over him.
Great. The kid's lost it... (t/n But who could ever resist her.)
Looking at Unohana standing not far away with her bamboo sword, Kaelith suddenly felt a little nervous. Could she have some strange ability to brainwash people through combat?
Shaking off the thought, Kaelith stood up and walked toward the center of the dojo.
He had already decided—when the fight began, he'd deflect a few strikes and then throw the match to avoid drawing attention.
"Kaelith Yurei, at your service."
"Heh, I'm looking forward to your performance, Kaelith," Unohana said with a smile, her eyes curving into crescents.
This boy, who had even caught the attention of the Captain-Commander, intrigued her.
Initially, Unohana had accepted the invitation to lecture at the Shino Academy to provide a basic class for first-year students. However, upon hearing that the Captain-Commander had summoned Kaelith, she had adjusted her plans, specifically coming to teach Class 7 of the first year.
Unexpectedly, aside from Kaelith, she had stumbled upon another promising individual.
Satisfied with gaining Seinosuke as a potential recruit, her opinion of Kaelith had also improved.
Originally, she only intended to test Kaelith's abilities out of curiosity. But now, she felt it would be disrespectful to hold back.
As a swordswoman, the highest respect she could show was to use as much of her strength as possible, leaving both parties with an unforgettable experience!
Having made up her mind, Unohana stepped forward, suddenly launching an attack toward Kaelith.
Kaelith, who was prepared to block a few blows and gracefully lose, was stunned as Unohana charged like an ancient beast.
"What the—?!"
Faced with the terror of life and death, all his previous plans flew out the window. His body moved instinctively, swinging the bamboo sword.
*Clack! Clack! Clack! Clack! Clack!*
The relentless clash of bamboo swords echoed like a torrential downpour, shocking the ears of every student present.
The students gaped at the scene, their expressions as if they had seen a ghost.
When Sōjun had sparred with Unohana earlier, her speed and strength had already been unfathomable, with most students unable to follow her movements.
Now, the exchange between Kaelith and Unohana had created a chaotic web of intersecting bamboo strikes, forming an abstract picture.
It was impossible to discern when the swords collided or parted—their movements were beyond comprehension.
Seinosuke's jaw dropped. "Kaelith… His swordsmanship is this good on top of his Spirit Pressure?"
Sōjun was utterly stunned.
Kaelith's display completely overwhelmed him. As a noble heir, he had undergone elite training within the Kuchiki family, even receiving personal instruction from Ginrei Kuchiki, one of the strongest Shinigami in the Soul Society.
Yet compared to Kaelith, all his efforts and resources felt like a joke…
Aizen, observing from the sidelines, let a spark of interest flash in his eyes.
Fascinating…
Not only in Spirit Pressure, but even in swordsmanship, Kaelith was on par with him.
Just how many secrets was this boy hiding?
Aizen's curiosity was thoroughly piqued.
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