CHAPTER 251: A Lamb and Wolf

Unohana stood at ease, her stance riddled with openings. Kazuya knew better than to trust his eyes when facing an opponent of her caliber. This was undoubtedly a bait to lure him into a killing strike, only to counter and lecture him on the virtue of patience.

"Did you not hear me?" She questioned, her voice cold and emotionless. "Plunge your blade through my heart like you'd do with Aizen."

Narrowing his eyes, Kazuya lunged forward, his sword aimed at her chest. There was no hesitation in his movements, as if he truly sought to end her life.

Unohana's lips curved up in a subtle smile as her hand twitched.

Clang!

Her sword intercepted his with blinding speed, and despite keeping his eyes trained on her hand, he could only perceive a blur of motion. Instinctively, he blocked, relying on reflex rather than sight. The attacks that struck his sword were lightning-fast, he managed to keep pace — the moment the thought crossed his mind, a sharp pain hit his right palm.

He looked down to see blood pouring from the back of his hand. Meanwhile, his sword arced through the air and plunged into the hill behind him.

"Wow…" He muttered, feeling speechless from witnessing a short sword in her left hand.

She walked towards his katana and tossed it at him. "Don't get too fixated on your opponent's blade that you lose sight of everything else."

"I just didn't expect you to resort to cheap tricks, given the massive disparity in our skills."

"Always expect the unexpected on the battlefield. The price of unpreparedness is your life…"

"I know. I know. Let's start again." He shook his hand, scattering droplets of blood on the white flowers. The wound began to knit itself back together. "You won't catch me off guard this easily again. I'll even let you take the first strike."

Unohana gleefully took the chance and lunged at him like a predator rushing at its harmless prey.

As their swords locked, she drew back and launched a follow-up slash at his torso, intending to carve her first mark on his body.

He emulated her defensive technique to parry her diagonal slash. Just a heartbeat later, her sword flashed once more. Against his expectations, she had retraced her attack to launch yet another slash with scarcely a pause between them.

He instinctively repeated the block, which was the right move.

Clang!

A massive impact sent him skidding backward, his feet gouging a devastating trail in the flowery field.

"You're disappointing me."

"Look, I'm not the best with a sword. I fight better with my fists."

Wearing a mildly disappointed expression, Unohana rushed forward and immediately launched more attacks. Her gaze was distant, almost bored, yet her sword movements flowed like a river, each slash carrying mind-blowing power behind it.

Sparkles erupted as their swords clashed, the ringing of steel echoing across the serene hills. Be it the rhythm of their swords, the way they moved around each other — it was as if they were two dancers engaged in a beautiful, deadly dance.

Despite holding his own against Unohana, Kazuya couldn't help but feel awe for the 4th Squad's Captain. The way she parried him with ease made it seem like every tiny motion of her body was predetermined — she had dueled so many katana wielders that her body unconsciously countered attacks based on where her opponent's sword touched hers.

Her mastery of the sword was both sublime and graceful.

What's more, she seemed barely focused on the fight, while he pushed every muscle to its limit just to keep pace.

"Put more intent in your strikes. Make every strike count, but never be too predictable with your attacks. That is, if you're fighting an equal. Against lesser opponents, you simply cut them down."

And still, she had the leisure to lecture him in between the battle.

"I will stop going easy on you."

Clang!

A shockwave rippled through him as he blocked her strike, the force of the impact reverberating in his bones. He was granted no reprieve, no opportunity to counter as a barrage of slashes assailed him. Left, right, up, down – her blade slashed him from all sides with no respite. Her attacks were faster than Yoruichi, and her slender hands exerted nearly the same power as Aizen. When combined with her unparalleled swordsmanship, she was a monstrous opponent that he simply couldn't beat without his abilities.

Under the onslaught of her attacks, he found himself overwhelmed, unable to find a moment to breathe, let alone mount an offense. It was then that Unohana's sword found a crack in his defense, leaving a deep gash across his waist. Blood sprayed forth, painting her blade a vivid crimson.

The instant her sword tasted his flesh and drew blood, Unohana's eyes widened, a crazed smile twisting her lips. Her Reiatsu fluctuated wildly, sending ripples through the sea of flowers surrounding them.

A spine-chilling bloodlust radiated from her smile. "Ahh, more! Let me cut you more! Let me slaughter you more!!!"

Kazuya winced at the burning sensation but he remained calm enough to dodge her vicious attacks. At least most of them. A couple made it past his defense and covered him in his own blood.

As predicted, the training had devolved from learning experience to an act of survival in a mere minute.

He suddenly jumped back with Hirenkyaku. "Retsu, come back to me."

The complete brunt of his charm ability put Unohana in a dazed state. Her vicious killing intent immediately disappeared, leaving behind a Unohana who just stared at his closing wounds.

She gave him a disinterested look. "I told you to attack me like you mean to kill me. Or else I will kill you."

Kazuya shook his head. "I can keep using my voice to bring my Retsu back."

"Now is not the time to develop a heart," she replied with an amused smile. "I have found major flaws in your style. You have a LOT to work on."

"Oh pray tell."

"First of all, you have to deepen your arsenal of combat. As it stands, your offense and defense are exceptionally shallow compared to other Captains. You rely too much on your observation for openings. You need a backup strategy to fall on when your eyes can't keep up. Since you are with me, I'll show you techniques to brute force an opening in a fight."

Unohana had astutely gauged his fighting style as well as his weaknesses through the exchange.

{She is saying, 'You are not using enough violence. I will teach you more VIOLENCE!}

Kazuya chuckled at Nami's unserious comment. "It's never bad to have multiple win conditions in a fight."

She lowered her sword and beckoned him with her left hand. "Come. I'll traumatize your body to an extent that you'll be confident in letting your skills dictate the battle, not your keen observation. Once we're done, you'll be outskilling your opponents."

"Hey, that wasn't what you said earlier!"