The Battle Heats Up

On the battlefield between Araki and Unohana Yachiru.

Endless flashes of blades filled heaven and earth, dazzling the eyes of countless division members.

Aside from Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni and the many Gotei 13 captains under his command, who had already taken positions on the elevated rooftops of the relatively intact buildings surrounding the battlefield and silently watched Araki and Unohana fight, the Soul Reaper division members of the 13th Division had also noticed the two desperately battling figures.

However, faced with Araki and Unohana Yachiru, whose blade auras crisscrossed the air, the Gotei 13 members wore troubled expressions and could only stand there helplessly.

"Damn it! Where did this monster come from? He can actually fight Captain Unohana, the one known as 'Kenpachi,' to this extent?!"

"Damn it! Compared to those two fighting in the battlefield, we're far too insignificant! There's absolutely no room for us to interfere in this battle..."

The members of the First Generation Gotei 13 looked at the two people fighting amid the ruins before them, cold sweat covering their foreheads.

As members of the Gotei 13, they bore the responsibility of protecting the Seireitei. Logically speaking, if a battle broke out within the Seireitei, they should have stepped forward to stop it!

But the two people fighting right before their eyes had already surpassed any level they could possibly interfere with. They were monsters whose casual sword swings could instantly cut them down!

"Don't they ever get tired?!"

One division member frowned as he watched the blade flashes filling the sky.

The two continuously fighting figures seemed like tireless beasts. The Spiritual Pressure spilling out from their battle alone made their chests feel tight and left them dizzy-eyed! Because of this, the Soul Reaper division members did not dare approach the fighting pair and could only watch silently from nearby.

"Damn it! We can't retreat, but we can't advance either! What are we supposed to do?!"

One of the division members drawn over by Unohana and Araki said helplessly.

By duty, they should have stepped forward to stop them, but that Spiritual Pressure was simply too powerful, so powerful that they could not even get close. Yet if they acted as though they had seen nothing and left, that seemed to violate division regulations. The division members were at a complete loss...

"Forget it! We barely get paid anything a month, so why risk our lives?! Let's just wait here!"

"This battle is so intense that even we were alerted. There's no way the captains haven't noticed!"

"Even the captains haven't interfered in this battle. I say we just let them keep fighting."

A more clearheaded division member said this.

As long as he slacked off hard enough and never considered getting promoted, division regulations were nothing but air to him.

Meanwhile, the battle between Araki and Unohana Yachiru gradually reached a fever pitch.

"Clang~"

"Screech, screech~"

Another crisp metallic collision rang out as Araki's blade collided with Unohana Yachiru's! A spray of blinding sparks erupted!

"Off you go~"

Facing Unohana Yachiru, who had closed in once more, the veins on Araki's arm holding the blade opposite hers instantly bulged. With his absolute advantage in strength, Araki forcefully spun his blade against Unohana Yachiru's incoming slash!

He directly used the sword in his hand like a flyswatter, sending Unohana Yachiru flying...

"Smack~"

Unohana Yachiru was as light as a swallow. She drifted slightly through the air, steadied herself, and landed lightly atop ruins more than ten meters away from Araki.

"No technique at all, only strength!"

Standing on the ruins some distance away, Unohana looked at her slightly trembling hand after wrestling against Araki's strength, her beautiful brows knitting together.

This distance was not far for either Araki or Unohana Yachiru. The Sword Pressure of either of them could easily cross it, so it was not an effective safe distance!

Still, it was enough for them to catch their breath, recover some stamina, and consider their next tactics.

"Looks like Old Man Yama and the other division captains have all arrived~"

Araki gripped his Zanpakuto and glanced toward the distant rooftops...

At a glance, Araki spotted the "bald head" among the crowd. That was his most respected master, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni.

Ahem, of course, compared to the bald big shot of later generations, whose entire head did not have a single hair and who looked as though Saitama-sensei had come to life, the current Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni was still much better off...

At the very least, the current Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni was merely somewhat balding. He still had some hair at the back of his head...

"Hmm?!"

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, who had been watching Araki all along, suddenly sensed something. He seemed to realize that his troublesome disciple, whose talent was far too exceptional and whose swordsmanship aptitude was a once-in-a-thousand-years rarity, yet who never obeyed discipline, was slandering him in his heart again.

"Where are you looking?! Don't forget, I'm your opponent right now..."

The instant Araki's gaze briefly met Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's, Unohana Yachiru, who stood not far away from Araki, suddenly felt a trace of displeasure.

"While fighting me, you still have the leisure to look at someone else? What a fickle man."

Unohana Yachiru stared at Araki, seemingly intending to slice him apart with her gaze alone.

"No! I was only checking whether there were any 'outside forces' around us that could threaten our battle, so that I could focus on fighting you even more."

Hearing that, Araki withdrew his gaze from Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni and the Gotei 13 captains behind him. Facing Unohana Yachiru directly, he gave a faint smile.

"Smooth talker."

After hearing Araki's words, Unohana Yachiru's expression became even colder, and her delicate hand gripping her Zanpakuto tightened further.

"Eh?!"

Araki raised an eyebrow as he looked at the icy-faced Unohana Yachiru.

Sure enough, words were meaningless with a woman like Unohana Yachiru. Other than defeating her head-on and conquering her by force, there was no other way...

"All right, the warm-up has gone on long enough. It's time for you and me to get serious."

As Unohana Yachiru spoke, she held her sword in one hand and laid the blade of her Zanpakuto horizontally before her. Her other, empty hand gently stroked the blade. The sharp edge instantly cut open her fair palm, and blood spilled from it. As her hand slid along the blade, it coated the keen edge in a thick crimson layer.

"Eh? I wanted to play a little longer~"

Araki's words were full of frivolity as he watched the serious Unohana Yachiru, yet his eyes were filled with solemnity. That flippant exterior was merely a disguise meant to make his enemy lower her guard. If even his true heart became frivolous along with that exterior, then death would not be far away...

Boom!

Unohana Yachiru did not answer Araki.

At this moment, the surging Spiritual Pressure erupting from her body was already the best response.

"Looks like I really do have to get serious."

Araki's flippant expression vanished, and his gaze became incomparably sharp. The Spiritual Pressure within him poured forth without restraint, as if it cost nothing. Araki knew what method Unohana Yachiru was about to use, and he happened to be ready to get serious as well...

What came next would be the real battle.

Meanwhile...

"Hmm?!"

On a distant rooftop, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, who had been watching Araki and Unohana Yachiru all along, saw their movements. A sharp gleam flashed through his previously tranquil eyes.