When an impassioned melody reached its crescendo, there was no way to hide its sharp notes.
After Kisaragi Akira's Kendo reached a new level,
his Zanjutsu was far more refined than before.
The elite students watching couldn't even follow the trajectory of his movements.
Light and nimble.
Their bamboo swords clashed. It was as if ten invisible fingers intertwined, forcibly stitching the broken notes together and guiding the melody toward its most thrilling passage.
Kisaragi Akira abandoned his two-handed grip, clutching the bamboo sword tightly in his right hand instead. He leaned forward slightly, dodging the bamboo sword Captain Unohana brought down.
His head tilted back slightly, and his gaze was utterly calm.
The next moment, a thunderous roar erupted.
His slender right arm twisted, and a scene of sheer madness began to unfold before everyone's eyes.
Kisaragi Akira abandoned defense and used offense in its place!
While the others were still wondering how to last a few more moves against Unohana Retsu, he had already surpassed them all!
A sharp note burst from beneath the bamboo sword. In an instant, his attacks poured down like a torrential rain, forming an unbroken curtain of water that completely engulfed Unohana Retsu's pale figure!
A frenzied melody erupted toward the heavens!
Bamboo fibers flew through the air, scattering across the dojo.
Unohana Retsu shifted from offense to defense, deftly fending off the incoming attacks. Yet an instinctive spark of excitement had appeared in her eyes as she looked at the young man.
How long had it been?
Three hundred years, or five hundred?
It had been far too long since a genius like Kisaragi Akira had appeared in Soul Society.
A thunderous roar erupted!
Kisaragi Akira's full-force slash collided with the bamboo sword in Unohana Retsu's hand, ringing out with a deafening crash.
The heavy shockwave even tore through the floor, spreading across the dojo as an invisible aftershock and making the nearby boards shudder violently.
It was as if an invisible storm had rampaged through the dojo, ripping up the wooden boards and pulverizing everything in its path.
When everything finally settled, the students were left stunned, with a clear trace of bafflement on their faces.
The area before them was a mess.
Wood chips mingled with dust. The once-neat floor was riddled with cracks and splintered marks, while shards of bamboo fiber lay scattered among them, adding an unusual touch of color to the wreckage.
Kisaragi Akira stared blankly at the shattered bamboo sword in his hand.
That was... over?
When he raised his head, a dazed look crossed his face.
At first, the immense pressure Unohana Retsu had placed on him had made him think he might actually die in this Kendo match.
But as the Heart of the Divine's supreme talent came into play, Kisaragi Akira gradually learned many Zanjutsu moves and Kendo styles from Unohana Retsu that he'd never had the chance to encounter before.
Once he began turning what he'd learned into something of his own,
his understanding of Kendo started to improve by leaps and bounds.
Seeing this, Unohana Retsu slowly lowered her bamboo sword as well.
Unlike Kisaragi Akira, who still couldn't perfectly control his own strength, she remained completely at ease.
Although the bamboo sword in her hand was riddled with cracks, it was still intact overall and could still be used to fight.
By contrast, Kisaragi Akira's bamboo sword had broken apart until all that remained was the hilt.
After a brief silence, Unohana Retsu sighed with regret. "I should have used my Zanpakuto."
At that, Kisaragi Akira instinctively looked across at Unohana Retsu.
Had this woman really wanted to kill him?
She was already this brutal with a bamboo sword. If she'd used her Zanpakuto, he'd have been off to meet the previous Chief Priest of Nikkotsu Shrine in no time.
Watching Unohana Retsu's faintly flushed cheeks, Kisaragi Akira sighed deeply, looking utterly dejected.
This woman was still far too dangerous.
He'd been thinking that perhaps he could learn Kendo under Unohana Retsu's guidance.
After all, Kaede Junya had nothing left to teach him.
In fact, after this latest improvement, he might be able to kill Kaede Junya with just two or three strikes.
After weighing his options,
it seemed Unohana Retsu was the only suitable choice for a Kendo teacher.
But...
Whenever Kisaragi Akira thought back to their match, he felt a lingering, instinctive fear.
He'd only survived because Unohana Retsu hadn't gotten carried away. If she got excited, she might chop a little guy like him to pieces on the spot.
"Akira, you've proven what you said earlier."
A faint blush graced Unohana Retsu's cheeks, the result of her overwhelming excitement, and her familiar, gentle smile returned.
"You're an undeniable genius at Kaido, but your Kendo is even more impressive."
"Though I know I'm asking a lot, please consider joining the Fourth Division as soon as you graduate."
"With your talent, it wouldn't be impossible for you to take my place someday."
As soon as she finished speaking, the dojo filled with the sound of people sucking in breath.
It was as if the air in the whole place had been sucked into a vacuum.
No one had ever heard of a student receiving such praise from a captain before graduating, let alone from Captain Unohana, the most beloved Shinigami of all.
And yet Kisaragi Akira, the biggest troublemaker in the class, had done just that.
But when Kisaragi Akira heard her words, he didn't look delighted, as everyone had expected. Instead, he bristled all over like a frightened hedgehog.
Hmph. What a fickle woman!
Just earlier, she'd said she was inviting him privately because she didn't want to cause him any trouble.
And now she'd changed her tune in an instant.
Great. The name Kisaragi Akira was probably about to sweep through Shin'o Academy once again.
"Ah, I'll think about it..."
To be honest, the Fourth Division wasn't his first choice.
But out of consideration for Unohana Retsu, he hadn't dared to refuse outright.
Hearing his answer, Unohana Retsu didn't look disappointed. She simply smiled and nodded.
She turned around, folded her hands in front of her, and bowed slightly under the astonished gazes of the students before speaking gently.
"Everyone, that concludes today's Kendo class."
"Please remember my advice, and don't slack off in your training."
"And if any of you are interested in Kaido, the Fourth Division would be more than happy to welcome you."
After she finished, Unohana Retsu's gaze swept across the room. She deliberately paused on Kisaragi Akira for a moment before smiling gently and leaving the dojo.
And just as she stepped through the doorway,
a familiar voice sounded in Kisaragi Akira's ears once more.
[Unohana Retsu's trust has reached the required level. Sign-in conditions met]
[Character Sign-In: Unohana Retsu...]
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