No matter how tricky or twisted Captain Unohana's blade work became, Yuko always slipped past it by a hair's breadth.
It felt as though she were using Observation Haki.
Captain Unohana didn't know what that was, but it was the closest description she could think of.
Retsu Unohana had thought Yuko couldn't withstand her assault and had resorted to the power of those eyes. But she hadn't.
Unohana could tell.
This was something entirely different.
Unohana was a battle maniac at heart. Falling behind didn't curb her desire to attack; it only sharpened her hunger for a fight.
Her attacks came faster and faster. The sea of blood beneath her feet seemed to boil and churn as her blades wove dazzling patterns. She tried to leave a mark on Yuko, no matter how small.
But things didn't go her way. The faster Unohana attacked, the smoother Yuko's movements became, and the lighter she seemed on her feet.
Then Unohana happened to catch sight of Yuko's calm eyes.
...No. That's not it.
She hadn't chosen to pick up the pace. Yuko had drawn her into it! She'd been forced to fight faster!
It wasn't that Yuko never struck back. Her blows were light, almost as if she were teaching a child. Yet she always found an opening in Unohana's defense and slipped through to leave a cut.
The cuts weren't deep. Under the power of Bankai, they healed almost in the blink of an eye.
But being cut again and again without landing a blow of her own made Unohana realize she was losing the contest of skill completely.
Clang!
Unohana slashed, only to feel as though she had run her own blade straight into Yuko's.
"You..." Unohana's pupils contracted. It felt as if an invisible hand had seized her heart.