Bleach: Watch Closely, This Is How You Use a Zanpakutō novel Chapter 13

Chapter 13 - 13: You Can't Fool Me

Nenryu, Ittoryu, Shindoryu, Inryu...

From the World of the Living to Soul Society, she had mastered every sword style across history, wielding them effortlessly. This was the woman known as Retsu Unohana... No—Yachiru Unohana.

Her relentless bamboo sword strikes turned into a storm of countless afterimages, completely engulfing Masatsuki Aozaki.

Blows powerful enough to shatter stone rained down on him, yet Masatsuki intercepted every strike, his own bamboo sword absorbing the impact without forcing him to retreat a single step.

None of her sword techniques worked.

Not only were they ineffective—he was deciphering her techniques in real time, adapting, countering, and even using her own swordplay against her.

Masatsuki Aozaki stood firm, unshaken.

Unohana's mindset shifted.

She was no longer a teacher.

Now, she was the challenger.

And Masatsuki—he was the stronger opponent accepting the challenge.

How... is this possible?

Unohana stared at him, at his calm, composed expression. His gaze was as deep and unfathomable as an abyss, and an unbelievable thought suddenly struck her.

Could it be that... with equal strength and speed, I am actually weaker than him?

Zanjutsu was a killing art, designed to draw out every ounce of a wielder's power.

Yet despite suppressing her strength and speed to match his, not only had he learned her techniques—he had completely overpowered her.

What a monster.

And yet...

This is... exhilarating.

Masatsuki felt a thrill rising within him as well.

Unohana wasn't just fighting him—she was deliberately using her attacks to correct hidden flaws in his technique.

This was more than a duel. It was guidance.

And under Unohana's half-instructive sparring, his swordsmanship was improving by leaps and bounds.

Masatsuki realized this, and a newfound fire lit up in his gaze as he looked at her.

If I can spar with her more... I'll become even stronger.

At that moment, Unohana saw Masatsuki suddenly smile at her.

"Aren't you going to attack? Then I guess it's my turn."

Unohana blinked.

Then—pure, unfiltered joy surged through her, flooding her entire being.

Her body trembled with excitement.

What a good child.

Not only did he refuse to back down—he was thrilled by the fight.

A rare talent. A rare find.

I can't wait to see how much stronger he will become.

What kind of joy will he bring me then?

I can't wait.

"Careful now, Unohana-sensei!"

The moment Masatsuki spoke, the corners of his lips curled upward into a strange smile.

Cold.

Fierce.

A hint of delight, yet beneath it—an unmistakable trace of madness.

As his excitement surged, so did the ferocity of his attacks.

Sword techniques from countless styles flowed seamlessly from his hands, identical to the ones Unohana had used moments before.

Their clash intensified.

They continued exchanging blows, attack and defense, for another half-minute.

Then—

"Whoosh!"

A rough bamboo sword shot upward from below, so fast it blurred in Unohana's vision, growing larger and larger in her pupils...

A simple technique.

Yet in Masatsuki's hands, it had been pushed to its absolute peak—his speed, his power, everything refined to perfection through pure skill.

The angle—impossible to block.

All around the dojo, students stared in disbelief.

Raito Tsunayashiro stood frozen, stunned.

Rangiku and Gin watched, their eyes gleaming with excitement.

And Unohana—she just smiled, wider and wilder than before.

The tip of the bamboo sword stopped—less than half an inch from her face.

No one here would have walked away unscathed.

Even the academy headmaster—who was standing in the doorway grinning like an idiot, his bald head practically glowing—wouldn't have had a chance to escape.

...

Unohana slowly came back to her senses, licked her lips, and smiled—soft, warm, yet unmistakably intrigued.

Her gaze met Masatsuki's, filled with unmistakable admiration.

"I'm fine. Masatsuki, keep working hard. I look forward to the day when we can fight... without holding back."

"But I don't even like fighting."

"You don't have to pretend in front of me. I know what you are. You can't fool me. Your sword exists to kill. I can feel it..."

This woman doesn't listen to anyone...

Masatsuki sighed helplessly.

Yes, he had killed a lot of people. His swordsmanship had been forged in battlefields drenched in blood.

But that didn't mean he enjoyed it.

It was a means of survival—not something he would ever take pleasure in.

"Masatsuki, you really are something..."

Unohana blinked, then slightly raised her voice.

"—Please take care of me from now on."

"Wait... did Captain Unohana just invite Aozaki to her squad?"

"But he hasn't even learned Kaidō yet!"

"This must be what it's like to be a genius... I'm so jealous."

The students, who had finally snapped out of their shock, turned their gazes to Masatsuki, eyes filled with envy.

This wasn't just an invitation to join her squad.

It was an invitation to fight.

Hearing Unohana's words, Masatsuki immediately understood what she meant.

A wry smile crept onto his face.

"Compared to you... I don't think I'm all that impressive."

He chuckled, then glanced down at the bamboo sword in his hands—split from the force of their battle.

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