Just as Araki and Unohana Yachiru faced off faintly across the crowd, the Gotei 13, 11th Division members who had emerged from the dojo surrounded Araki.
"Send the injured to the Medical Division first."
At the same time, someone of high rank within the 11th Division ordered his subordinates to take the patrolmen sprawled across the ground for treatment.
"Damn it! What the hell happened here?!"
"There was only one opponent. How could he have taken down so many of our men?"
"We're the division of the Gotei 13 best at fighting! Yet one man took down so many of us?! Wouldn't we become a laughingstock if word got out?"
These men who had emerged from the Swordsmanship Dojo were all high-ranking Seated Officers of the Gotei 13, 11th Division. Their strength was worlds apart from the guards who had surrounded Araki earlier, whether they had been guarding the 11th Division's gates or protecting its barracks. Yet even so, they could not understand how Araki had defeated those guards of the "gates" and the "barracks"...
They had not even seen how Araki had made his move.
"Hey! You ordinary-looking bastard! What dirty trick did you use to cut down the members of our Gotei 13, 11th Division?"
Unable to understand Araki's methods, these Seated Officers could only surround him tightly and demand an answer.
"If you cannot even see the blade in my hand, why step forward at all? Go back."
Araki swept his gaze around, letting it pass over the faces of every Soul Reaper of the Gotei 13, 11th Division, then gently shook his head.
Araki saw the confusion and bewilderment flickering in their eyes. Clearly, these men truly did not understand what method he had used to defeat everyone around him. It made Araki feel that the Gotei 13, 11th Division was somewhat weak...
At the very least, it was far weaker than Araki had imagined. It seemed the First Generation Gotei 13, 11th Division, known as the combat division, was not competitive enough! Fortunately, Araki had arrived, so everyone would have to start competing...
As for those unable to adapt, or those who ought to be eliminated, they naturally had to get out of the 11th Division. Otherwise, even if they stayed, they certainly would not meet a good end.
"What did you say?!"
Araki's words stoked the anger in everyone around him, and they instinctively gripped the hilts of their swords.
"Heh..."
Araki merely chuckled softly, ignoring the surrounding nobodies as he looked directly at the figure standing behind them, radiating icy killing intent.
"I am Araki, Genryū: Menkyo Kaiden. I have come to seek instruction from Lady Unohana's blade."
Araki looked at the elegant figure standing not far away, introducing himself as he issued his invitation to battle.
"Oh? Genryū: Menkyo Kaiden? I see! So you are that troublesome disciple Araki Captain-Commander Yamamoto spoke of!"
The elegant figure, Unohana Yachiru, the captain of the First Generation Gotei 13, 11th Division, was briefly taken aback after hearing Araki's words. Then the smile on her face grew even deeper.
Clearly, as one of the captains under Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni in the First Generation Gotei 13, Unohana Yachiru had heard of Araki's name.
"Huh?!"
"It seems Lady Unohana has heard my name. That is truly surprising, and such an honor~"
"After all, I am merely an insignificant nobody~"
Seeing the slight surprise on Unohana Yachiru's face, Araki spoke as though he were genuinely astonished.
"Anyone who can obtain menkyo kaiden from Master Yamamoto can hardly be called a nobody!"
As Unohana Yachiru listened to Araki's modest words, her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Heh."
Araki merely smiled faintly and said nothing more.
"Genryū: Menkyo Kaiden? Could that be Captain-Commander Yamamoto's Genryu?"
"Huh? Is that for real? How come I never heard that anyone had obtained Genryu's menkyo kaiden from Captain-Commander Yamamoto?"
"Forget menkyo kaiden! There are not many people even recognized by Captain-Commander Yamamoto as qualified to call the swordsmanship style they learned Genryu!"
As Araki and Unohana Yachiru conversed as though no one else existed, the Gotei 13, 11th Division members surrounding Araki all changed expression. They were shocked by the information being discussed between Araki and Unohana Yachiru.
They had originally thought Araki was merely some nobody who had barged into the Seireitei from Rukongai. They had not expected him to have backing—and such towering backing at that!
The 11th Division members immediately pulled bitter faces. Looking at Araki, they felt indignant. If you had that kind of backing, why didn't you just say so when you entered the barracks? Do you think we would have dared stop you?
Of course, even if Araki had said it then, they definitely would not have believed him. But setting the "facts" aside, was Araki completely without fault?
Who told Araki to look so "ordinary" compared to the murderous fiends of the Gotei 13?
In Araki's view, it actually took skill to look as crooked and ugly as the murderous fiends of the Gotei 13!
As for the accuracy of what Araki and Unohana Yachiru had said, not a single person in the entire 11th Division dared question it. After all, those words had come from the mouth of Captain Unohana, whom they revered.
They might not have believed Araki, but they would never doubt the First Generation Kenpachi who had established the ideals of the Gotei 13, 11th Division—Unohana Yachiru.
"I hope that someone from Genryu can satisfy my thirst for battle~"
After confirming Araki's identity, Unohana Yachiru finally stopped suppressing the intense urge stirring within her, her craving for blood, battle, and slaughter. She gently drew her Zanpakuto and assumed an attacking stance.
"Satisfy your thirst for battle?!" Araki showed no reaction on the surface as he listened to Unohana Yachiru, but inwardly he smiled faintly. Unohana, you underestimate me too much! What I can satisfy is not merely your desire for battle!
Ahem, ahem...
Silence!
As Unohana Yachiru drew the Zanpakuto from her waist, the entire Gotei 13, 11th Division barracks fell utterly silent!
At that moment, whether they were the 11th Division members surrounding Araki or the men caught helplessly between Araki and Unohana Yachiru, all of them held their breath beneath the intense killing intent in the air.
"What terrifying killing intent!"
"Whether it is this man calling himself Genryū: Menkyo Kaiden or Captain Unohana, both are monsters! Bloodthirsty beasts! One wrong move, and we will be devoured whole!"
At that moment, every member of the Gotei 13, 11th Division—the so-called strongest fighters and most battle-hungry members of the Gotei 13, known as the combat division—panicked!
It was as though they stood between two bloodthirsty beasts. They could neither advance nor retreat, suppressed by the overwhelming killing intent radiating from the ferocious monsters before and behind them...
Whether they were Seated Officers or ordinary members, all of them were enduring tension, pain, and unbearable discomfort. To them, every second was torment!
Under that oppressive atmosphere, these division members felt as though the hearts beating inside their chests were about to stop.
"Drip~"
Just when the Gotei 13, 11th Division members had no idea how long Araki and Unohana Yachiru intended to remain locked in confrontation, a drop of dew fell from a leaf on the greenery beside the stone pond and lightly struck the ground!
The sound had not been loud, but it shattered the silence in the Gotei 13, 11th Division courtyard...
"It's starting!"
At that instant, the same thought rang out in the hearts of the 11th Division members. They knew that the calm before the Tempest had finally been broken.
Boom!!
In the next second, two terrifying Spiritual Pressures erupted from Araki and Unohana Yachiru. Their immense Spiritual Pressure condensed into pillars that shot into the sky, like a great bell tolling through the entire Seireitei and shaking the whole Gotei 13.
As those two massive Spiritual Pressures collided, they instantly swept through the entire 11th Division barracks like a gale...
Black lightning flashed from Araki's eyes, mixing into his immense Spiritual Pressure and knocking every 11th Division member in the barracks to the ground!
"Clang~"
Then came a light ring of clashing blades.
It announced that Araki and Unohana Yachiru's battle had officially begun.
Before you continue