"Unohana-sensei…"
Makoto sat across from her on the tatami mat, his gaze cautious as it settled on Unohana's gentle, smiling face. His voice dipped low as he ventured.
"I… didn't say anything strange just now, did I?"
"And, uh, thank you for helping me with Jinzen."
In conversations with Unohana or during their occasional spars, Makoto always maintained a deep respect, never daring to let his guard slip.
Of course, this stemmed purely from reverence for her strength.
It had absolutely nothing to do with him once pricking her ample chest with a knife, or his Zanpakuto's constant lewd chatter, or his antics in the inner world just moments ago!
Unohana, for her part, regarded him with a tranquil gaze, her usual serene expression tinged with a faint hint of confusion as she replied.
"So... in Makoto-kun's eyes…"
"Am I really such a cold sensei?"
No, this isn't about coldness at all!
Haven't you seen how regular Shinigami tremble in your presence, looking like they're scared to death?
For the first time, Makoto realized Unohana might be utterly oblivious to her own fearsome reputation.
Yet his words took a different tack.
He rubbed his fingertips against the hem of his clothes, casting a sheepish glance at her thighs before mumbling awkwardly.
"It's just that my Jinzen method is a bit… odd."
"It's kind of embarrassing."
Unohana's smile returned, soft and unperturbed, "That's no trouble at all."
"By the way, Makoto-kun, during Jinzen, your body sometimes wriggles around like a headless fish, arching and twisting on the ground."
"It's rather cute, actually."
"Though halfway through, for some reason, you stopped."
"…"
Makoto's eyes widened in horror.
What?!
His actions in the inner world actually reflected on his physical body?
When Unohana's words sank in, he pinpointed the exact moment he'd been "flopping like a dead fish."
Wasn't that when he was 'disciplining' the little imp?!
"Please, Sensei, erase that memory!"
Makoto executed a full Thomas-style 380-degree forward somersault into a groveling bow.
"Is that so?"
Unohana's curiosity lingered as she studied him, "Still, this time in Jinzen, you must've gained quite a bit, hm?"
"Your Shikai, it's complete?"
"No, not quite."
Makoto answered honestly, "Once my reiatsu grows a bit more, it should be ready."
"Still some way to go?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Unohana's face, her eyes widening slightly.
Her pupils glinted with a spark of excitement.
A Shikai even with his current reiatsu couldn't unlock, how formidable must it be?
Truly, she'd chosen this disciple well.
"Yes."
Makoto recalled his swift defeat moments ago, letting out a quiet sigh, "According to Her, I'll need at least captain-class reiatsu to fully wield this release."
The intrigue in Unohana's eyes deepened, "And its ability?"
"It's rule-based."
Makoto's tone gained a thread of confidence, "I'm certain that if I can master this release, even against a monster like Yamamoto-sensei, I could at least hold my ground undefeated."
At that, Unohana's interest ignited fully, like a drunkard lured by the scent of fine sake. She leaned in, curious, "How much can you wield now, Makoto-kun?"
Catching the eager edge in her voice, Makoto jolted to his senses and cut in hastily.
"Sensei, this Shikai isn't suited for use on allies."
"B-Because…"
In mid-sentence, his eyes wandered from Unohana's piercing gaze to the generous curves her loose kimono couldn't conceal, then down to the teacup resting before her thighs.
"My Shikai carries extreme danger. One slip and it could mean death."
"Yes! That's it!"
He wasn't lying.
Be it physical death or social annihilation, both were forms of self-erasure in human society!
And the latter's toll might well outstrip the former!
"No matter."
Unohana waved it off with serene indifference, "If it's a release that perilous, all the more reason for your sensei to step in and oversee it."
Her eyes gleamed with uncontainable excitement, and Makoto felt his teeth ache.
He'd nearly forgotten!
This was a woman who'd chase the ultimate thrill of combat to the edge of death without a second thought.
Danger?
That only made it better!
As Makoto scrambled for a way to dissuade her, the gremlin zanpakuto finally recovered and burst into a raucous outburst.
[Unohana-sensei! Don't listen to his nonsense!]
[The rules us two perverts set up don't have a drop of gore!]
[It's all steamy shenanigans, pure lust vibes!]
[The loser will be fucked by the winner, sensei!]
[I just lost, so he snatched my power in one go and rape me till I got a mind break, waahhh!]
Hearing that, Makoto's eyes widened in alarm. With a swift flick, he activated his bracelet, silencing that gremlin fuck mid-rant. His hands clamped tight around the Zanpakuto at his waist.
Damn it!
This brat was absolutely picking a fight on purpose!
How could she still yap after he'd stripped her power?!
A chilling thought struck him next, and he froze.
Makoto lifted his gaze to Unohana, seated calmly before him.
Her face, typically an unreadable mask, save for the rare smiles she spared him, now betrayed a flicker of contemplation. Her eyes glinted with an odd, probing light as they met his.
Disaster! This was bad!
Snapping to his senses, Makoto scrambled to deflect.
"Unohana-sensei!"
"Don't listen to her nonsense, Sensei!"
"Actually, uh… my Shikai itself, well, in terms of its ability, it's probably, maybe, sort of normal…"
"Kind of?"
His words faltered halfway, his confidence draining as he recalled the broken blade's daily antics.
"…"
A long silence stretched between them, broken only when Unohana spoke first, her tone soft and measured, coaxing a subconscious sigh of relief from him.
"Makoto-kun."
"Do you know why I brought you here?"
Makoto blinked, then straightened, replying earnestly, "Sensei wanted to groom me into a worthy opponent for yourself."
Unohana pressed deeper, "And do you know why I'm so desperate for such an opponent?"
His expression stalled.
He shook his head.
A genuine smile curved Unohana's lips.
"The first reason is simple, it's fun."
Makoto wasn't surprised by that.
Yachiru Unohana was, after all, a woman who'd sacrifice anything for the thrill of battle.
But then…
She continued her voice a steady confession, "To me, settling life and death in combat surpasses hunger, lust, joy, and every other passion or desire. It's the entirety of my existence."
"If I had to name another hobby, it'd be facing off against those even stronger."
"That's… the second reason."
Her eyelids dipped, a rare shadow of melancholy tinging her sigh, "But my strength has hit a bottleneck."
"Makoto-kun, have you ever tasted a bottleneck?"
"Never."
Makoto answered plainly.
Unohana's smile warmed, "That's what makes you so precious."
She reined in her emotions, pressing on, "But whether it's me, Captain-Commander Yamamoto, or even nobles like Yorita and Chika, we all know roughly where our limits lie."
"If Captain-Commander Yamamoto has reached the 'pinnacle' of a Shinigami, then I fall just short."
"In terms of reiatsu scale, it's the difference between the uppermost edge of Tier-1 reiatsu and barely scraping into it."[1]
"Within the Reiatsu scale, the metric the Five Great Noble Families devised to gauge a Shinigami's power, we've both neared the ceiling. Taking another step forward is nearly impossible."
"But just as there's a gap between me and Yamamoto, "
"The divide within Tier-1 itself is staggering."
Unohana's gaze softened as it settled on him, "Which means, as a Shinigami, I still have vast room to grow."
"So I need an opponent of comparable caliber."
"To break through this bottleneck."
"And to chase an even purer fight."
"It's my selfish desire and the very meaning of my life."
"For this, I'd spare no cost."
"Do you understand?"
Unohana spoke with a tranquil calm, as if matters of life and death bore no weight on her soul. Her gaze rested gently on her young disciple, her future, fated rival.
Makoto sat rooted in place.
This was the first time he'd heard Unohana delve so deeply into the disparities among Shinigami, and the ultimate road they tread.
He understood her intent clearly now.
So long as your Zanpakutō could propel her toward a higher pinnacle, be it perverse or monstrous, it posed no obstacle to her.
For a Shinigami who'd endured over a millennium, Unohana and Yamamoto had long since made peace with far too much.
The sole constant was the pursuit etched into the core of their souls.
For Unohana, that pursuit was singular, battle!
Anything beyond that?
Be it mere life itself, or the trifling flicker of love and desire beside it,
All paled to insignificance.
"Yes."
Makoto replied.
With a faint smile, Unohana slid a teacup toward him, her voice as steady as ever.
"Don't hold back, Makoto-kun."
"Just as I once surpassed my own teacher, ending him with my blade in our final duel."
"You as my disciple must wield your sword against me with the resolve to kill or to follow whatever rules our game dictates."
As she spoke, a strand of her unbound hair slipped from her temple, brushing against her sharply sculpted shoulder.
Her graceful features retained that serene smile:
"All a strong soul does is just."
"So…"
"I look forward to the day you surpass me."
Makoto took the teacup from her hands, sipping briefly. The heat stung his lips.
A quiet sigh welled within him.
If Unohana put it that way, didn't that mean he, the rebellious disciple, had no choice but to rise against her?
What a predicament.
With a slow exhale, Makoto drained the tea in one gulp, set the cup aside, and straightened. His posture sharpened, like a blade freshly drawn from its sheath, brimming with unveiled edge.
"If sensei insists…"
"Then I won't hold back."
At the sight of his resolve, Unohana's smile deepened into something heartfelt. She inclined her head slightly.
"If Makoto-kun can manage it."
Her eyes opened fully, taking in the young man before her, a rough gem yet to be polished.
In just over two years, he'd climbed from Tier-7 to his current heights.
How much longer would it take?
Surely less than a century?
Truly…
The anticipation was almost too thrilling to contain.
---
[1] The density of Reiatsu within the Reishi of a given individual determines their spirit class, ranging from 1 to 20 starting with the densest Reishi and consequently most powerful individuals; Lieutenants of the Gotei 13 are of Tier-4 or 5, while Captains are of Tier-1, 2, or 3.
However, the Reishi comprising the bodies of those with a spirit class of Tier-3 or higher are too dense to break down and return to the soil of Soul Society after death as the bodies of Souls normally do, and since it would be too risky to leave such strong Reishi remaining indefinitely in Soul Society, the Konsō Reisai ceremony is performed to cast captains who had such spirit class at the time of their deaths into Hell.
When Kaien Shiba entered the Shin'ō Academy, his spirit class was recorded at Tier-6, which was comparable in strength to a Lieutenant. (Canon Information)
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Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
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