Chapter 24: Unohana's Invitation
[[This is a translation so please don't hate me for the developments. I will try to remove shitty brainrot scenes with better ones but it is from a MTL ... so please no bashing in the comments for the plot. I am just a translator after all.]]
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As the rythm of the fight reached its peak, it could not be concealed.
With Kisaragi Akira's swordsmanship reaching a new level, his techniques became much more refined than before. Even the elite students watching couldn't track his movements.
Light and agile.
The bamboo sword strikes were like invisible hands intertwining, forcibly stitching together broken notes, bringing the entire melody to its most exciting part.
Akira abandoned the two-handed grip on the bamboo sword, switching to a right-hand grip, his body slightly leaning forward to dodge Unohana's downward strike.
His head tilted back, his gaze extremely calm.
The next moment, a roar erupted.
His somewhat weak right arm twisted, and a scene of madness began to unfold before everyone's eyes.
Akira abandoned defense, using offense as defense!
While others were still thinking about how to survive a few more moves under Unohana, he had already surpassed them all!
Sharp winds burst forth under the bamboo sword, and in an instant, his attacks poured down like a torrential rain, turning into an unending curtain of water that completely covered Unohana!
The frenzied melody exploded towards the sky!
Bamboo fibers flew, scattering across the dojo.
Unohana switched to defense, lightly blocking the incoming attacks, but her eyes instinctively showed a hint of excitement.
How long had it been?
Three hundred years, or five hundred years?
It had been a long time since such a genius like Akira appeared in the Soul Society.
A roar erupted!
Akira's full-force swing collided with Unohana's bamboo sword, creating a deafening sound.
The heavy sound waves even tore the floor apart, turning into invisible ripples that spread throughout the dojo, causing the nearby floor to tremble violently.
It was as if an invisible storm had swept through, peeling away the wooden boards layer by layer, shattering everything in its path.
When everything calmed down, the students' expressions were left with shock and a clear sense of incomprehension.
The front of the dojo was a mess.
Wood chips mixed with dust, the once clean floor was full of broken and cracked marks, with scattered bamboo fibers adding a different color to the chaos.
Akira stared at the broken bamboo sword in his hand, lost in thought.
Was it…
Over?
When he looked up, his expression showed a bit of confusion.
From the initial immense pressure Unohana gave him, making him think he might die in this swordsmanship duel, to gradually learning many sword techniques and styles from her through the extreme talent of [Adeptus Maximus].
When he tried to convert the learned knowledge into his own.
His understanding of swordsmanship began to leap forward rapidly.
Seeing this, Unohana also slowly put down her bamboo sword.
Compared to Akira, who couldn't perfectly control his power, she was much more at ease.
Although her bamboo sword had many broken marks, it was still intact and capable of fighting.
In contrast, Akira's bamboo sword was only left with the handle.
After a brief silence, Unohana sighed regretfully, "I should have used a Zanpakutō."
Hearing this, Akira instinctively looked at Unohana.
This woman, did she really want to kill him?
The bamboo sword was already so ruthless, if it were a Zanpakutō, he might have gone to meet the previous head priest of the Sakahone Shrine.
Looking at Unohana's slightly flushed cheeks, Akira sighed deeply, the word "melancholy" almost written on his face.
This woman was still too dangerous.
He had thought about learning swordsmanship through Unohana's guidance.
After all, there was nothing more to learn from Kaede.
After this improvement, he might accidentally kill him with two or three strikes.
Thinking it over.
It seemed only Unohana was suitable to be his swordsmanship teacher.
But.
Every time Akira recalled the swordsmanship duel just now, he felt a subconscious fear.
He had to take advantage of Unohana not getting too excited, otherwise, his small body might be cut down on the spot.
"Akira, you have proven what you said before."
Unohana's cheeks were slightly red from excitement, her familiar gentle smile reappearing.
"You are undoubtedly a genius in Kaidō , but your Zanjutsu is even more outstanding."
"Although it's a bit sudden, please consider joining the Fourth Division after graduation."
"With your talent, inheriting my position is not impossible."
As she finished speaking, the dojo was filled with the sound of people gasping for air.
It was as if they were trying to turn the area into a vacuum.
No one had ever heard of a student receiving such praise from a captain before graduation, let alone from the most popular Captain Unohana.
However, Akira, the troublemaker of the class, had done it.
But when Akira heard this, instead of showing the expected joy, he bristled like a frightened hedgehog.
Ha, fickle woman!
She had just said she was afraid of causing him any bad influence, so she invited him privately.
Now, she changed her tune immediately.
Great, now Akira's name would once again sweep through the Shin'ō Academy.
"Sigh, I'll think about it…"
To be honest, the Fourth Division wasn't his first choice.
But out of respect for Unohana, he didn't dare to refuse immediately.
Hearing this, Unohana wasn't disappointed, but smiled and nodded lightly.
She turned around, hands folded in front, and in the surprised eyes of the students, she bowed slightly and said softly:
"Everyone, today's Zanjutsu class ends here."
"Regarding my suggestions, please don't slack off in your daily practice."
"And if anyone is interested in Kaid'ō , the Fourth Division will be very welcoming."
As she finished speaking, Unohana's gaze lingered on Akira for a moment before she smiled gently and left the dojo.
And just as she stepped out the door.
Akira's ears once again heard a familiar voice.
[Unohana Retsu's trust level reached, sign-in condition met]
[Character sign-in: Unohana Retsu…]
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[[This is a translation so please don't hate me for the developments. I will try to remove shitty brainrot scenes with better ones but it is from a MTL ... so please no bashing in the comments for the plot. I am just a translator after all.]]