Bleach : I Need To Rizz To Become Stronger ?!

Unohana Retsu's abrupt, no-nonsense opening shattered the calm in the pit, tightening the atmosphere like a drawn bowstring.

Yamamoto stood silently, his piercing eyes fixed on her.

Ukitake forced a strained smile and said, "It's just a sparring match, right? I'm sure both Captain Unohana and Captain Tachikawa can keep it under control."

Just a sparring match—who could that possibly fool?

They had all seen what happened last time. Unohana lying on the ground, barely clinging to life. Had Shin not intervened, she would've died then and there.

Even now, Kyōraku, Ukitake, and Soifon couldn't understand why Yamamoto was allowing this fight to happen.

Was he not afraid something might go wrong?

No matter how many precautions they took, at their level of power, life and death could hinge on a single breath.

Kyōraku had brought artifacts from the Shihōin clan—shield and dagger—but even he wasn't confident they'd be able to stop anything in time.

Unohana glanced briefly at the Shihōin-made shield and blade and said coldly, "Haven't you already prepared for everything?"

Ukitake looked a bit awkward, opening his mouth to speak—only for Shin to cut in first.

"Let's begin."

Everyone fell silent.

Yamamoto vanished in a flash step, appearing on the ledge above the pit.

Words would mean nothing to Unohana now. As for Shin, Yamamoto had chosen to believe in him.

The others followed suit, vacating the arena and leaving only Shin and Unohana in the pit below.

They stood a short distance apart. Just before it began, Unohana spoke again.

"This match… It was your idea, wasn't it?"

"It was."

"I have only one question…"

The white haori on her back billowed in the reiatsu currents.

"Did you propose this battle to end things completely—or… because you still haven't given up on that idea of yours?"

Shin let out a soft chuckle.

"Captain," he said, "that doesn't sound like you. Have you lost confidence in beating me?"

"…"

Unohana said nothing more. She simply unsheathed her Zanpakutō.

But unlike last time, her heart wasn't calm.

Before, she had many thoughts, yes—but they had been questions about Shin's strength. She'd enjoyed that battle for what it was.

Now…

Unohana lowered her gaze to the blade, staring into the reflection of a pair of deep, unreadable eyes.

"Captain."

Shin also drew his plain, black asauchi.

"This fight may… disappoint you."

Disappoint?

Her expression didn't change, but that word echoed.

Which of the two possibilities would disappoint her?

Would he kill her this time… or simply repeat the last result?

As the moment neared, fragments of yesterday's gathering in the Fourth flashed through her mind.

The words she'd exchanged with Isane—perhaps Isane hadn't noticed, but she had been entrusting something to her.

Why? Did she truly feel that way?

For centuries, she had played the part of a model captain—healing countless souls, exuding warmth and gentleness. But that wasn't her true self.

Could she really care about any of that?

Yesterday… she had thought of dying today. So she'd done a few extra things, as a final kindness to others.

Just a fleeting whim.

A whim that shouldn't exist.

BOOM.

Unohana's reiatsu erupted, even more massive than before. A column of blinding white light shot skyward. Her neatly tied hair came undone, whipping upward like black flame.

The observers above all wore heavy expressions. From her spiritual pressure alone, they could feel the monstrous depth of her power.

Especially Soifon. Among them, she had the least seniority—and the weakest spiritual pressure. Even from this distance, her body stiffened under the weight of Unohana's presence.

How was Shin, standing so close, not affected at all?

She wasn't the only one wondering.

They'd only seen the result of the last fight. They couldn't fathom how Shin had won.

Unohana's reiatsu rolled like a tsunami—but then, in the next moment, it vanished completely.

The air in the pit froze.

Her Zanpakutō rang out in a low hum. She moved first.

No Bankai. Just a single, direct strike aimed straight for Shin's face.

The silver edge shimmered coldly. Yamamoto's pupils contracted the instant the blade flashed.

This was pure killing intent.

For the first time in centuries, he saw Unohana truly strike. The sight left him briefly dazed.

Yes—this was the Unohana of old.

The Unohana who had once been the most feared criminal in all of Soul Society.

The sword light tore through the air, cleaving the world into mirrored shards. It should've pierced everything.

But it stopped, unmoving, at Shin's brow.

He hadn't moved. He stood there, unshaken.

BOOM!

Unohana's spiritual pressure surged again, blasting skyward. The rocky floor beneath them cracked like glass, stones erupting as the ground split apart.

Her blade trembled in her hand. She stared at Shin's impassive face.

She knew—he had used that same ability. The one that nullified damage.

But she didn't care. That was his power. In battle, anything was fair—just as she kept hidden blades in her sleeves.

She enjoyed the fact that he'd used his powers from the very start.

Yes, yes—let it begin!

Let them fight at full strength!

Only then could she feel alive!

Flames ignited in Unohana's eyes.

Shin vanished with a flash step. Unohana's body tensed—she caught his movement instantly.

In everything but swordsmanship, she far surpassed him.

To ordinary eyes, his flash step was a blur—but she saw it clearly.

She chased after him, blade lowered. With a single sweep, she slashed at his neck.

Whoosh—

Missed.

Her pupils shrank.

Shin vanished again—completely.

No trace. No trajectory.

Just—gone.

Before she could react, a chill cut through her burning chest.

Spurt!

A blade pierced her back—straight through the heart.

Thump... Thump...

She felt her heartbeat through the vibrating steel, deep and rhythmic.

Her forward momentum faltered. She stumbled, blood soaking the steel that jutted from her chest.

Hsss—

That familiar feeling returned. Her reishi poured from her like a smashed cistern.

The sword's vibration slowed. Unohana turned with rigid movement to face Shin behind her.

Two thoughts flashed through her mind:

How did he do it?

I can still heal this.

If she pulled the blade out now and used Kaidō, she could still fight.

She'd lose a lot of energy—but she could keep going.

Keep going…

His blade was so cold.

There had been no hesitation. No reluctance in that stab.

In the end, Unohana did nothing.

She collapsed backward.

Maybe she'd realized—this wound would affect the rest of the fight. Losing was only a matter of time.

It had to be his Zanpakutō's power. No one—no one—could move that fast. Not even Yamamoto.

Her black hair spread across the floor like spilled ink—a portrait of finality.

The battle began fast.

And ended faster.

Unohana's pupils trembled as Shin stepped toward her.

She tried to speak. Only hoarse, rasping breaths escaped.

He'll save me again, won't he?

He doesn't want me dead. Just like last time.

Hope kindled.

If he healed her, she would fight again—draw her sword again, strike again, endlessly.

She wanted him to break.

To watch her die, again and again, unable to stop it.

That was who she was.

That was what her sword said.

The figures atop the cliff raced down at full speed. Seeing Unohana lying in a pool of blood, gasping for air, they all felt a shiver crawl up their spines.

What was supposed to be a grand, brutal spectacle had ended in a blink?

What had happened?

Did Captain Unohana throw the fight? Did she want to die?

"Captain Tachikawa, heal her!" Yamamoto barked.

All eyes turned to Shin.

But he didn't move.

Unohana met his eyes.

What she saw there was…

Nothing.

No joy.

No sorrow.

No victory.

No pity.

Just… nothing.

It emptied something deep in her chest. Her pupils widened.

"Tachikawa?!" Yamamoto's voice rose with fury.

"…"

Unohana turned her eyes to the sky.

So blue. So distant.

Kyōraku knelt beside her and pulled the blade from her chest. The icy sting faded—but something colder seeped into her soul.

She had never felt anything like it.

Not even when she nearly died the last time.

Last time… she remembered it clearly. Shin, drained of power, still forcing himself to keep her alive. That stubborn look in his eyes.

"I'll do it," Kyōraku said quickly. "I can stop the bleeding!"

As an experienced captain, he knew some Kaidō—but he wasn't skilled.

When he saw the wound—his heart sank.

Just the heart. One stab.

But the heart.

He tried his best to stop the bleeding.

"Tachikawa, what the hell are you doing?!" Yamamoto's reiatsu surged like a storm.

Finally, Shin spoke.

"Why bother saving her?"

Everyone froze.

That wasn't part of the plan!

"She's like this. What value does she have anymore?"

"…"

Unohana heard him clearly. She said nothing.

But her breathing quickened.

"I can't heal her. We need a proper medic," Kyōraku said quickly.

If Shin refused, they had to rush her back to the Fourth.

Soifon remained silent. She stared at Shin—then at Unohana.

Things were spiraling beyond control.

Kyōraku leaned close. "Unohana… breathe. Deep breaths!"

Yamamoto's expression was thunderous.

He slammed his cane against the stone beside her head.

"Unohana! You still have strength! You want to die that badly?!"

"Get up! Heal yourself! You can do it!"

Unohana said nothing. Her mouth filled with blood, coughed out with every breath.

Yes. She still had strength.

She could've healed herself.

But her reishi was vanishing too quickly now. At best, she could only hang on.

Any longer… and she'd lose even that.

She could hear them—Yamamoto's angry cries, Kyōraku's desperate pleas.

Everything was clear. Strangely clear.

Her eyes locked onto Shin again.

She searched his face—his eyes—for anything.

But there was nothing.

Only the words he'd spoken moments ago:

"She's like this. What value does she have anymore?"