Katori Nanatsuki crouched low, muscles taut, Spiritual Pressure Core gathering in his right arm, waist, and legs.
His eyes sharpened—and in the next instant, he vanished from sight.
Katori-ryu: Shunpo Iaido!
The very next mont, Nanatsuki appeared behind Unohana.
He raised his right arm, sword held high.
A few drops of blood trailed down the blade.
Splurt—
Nanatsuki's expression twisted. Suddenly, he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Looking down, he saw a massive slash across his abdon, nearly cutting him in half.
His vision went black. He collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Unohana remained standing. Her expression shifted ever so slightly—no longer the gentle, soft gaze from before. Her eyelids drooped slightly, and in those cold pupils flickered a chilling killing intent that could pierce the soul.
There was a bloody line across her abdon as well.
Unohana seed to savor the sensation of the blade's kiss on her skin. A spine-tingling smile slowly spread across her face.
"You actually made lose control of my sword, Katori-kun... You've truly made happy."
...
"You're awake?"
Nanatsuki's head felt foggy. He had just dread sothing strange—golden hands dissecting his body.
"Katori-kun?"
His eyes snapped open—to Unohana's gentle smile.
Gentle, my ass!
He'd almost been turned into sashimi!
He recalled, in a mont of lard-induced foolishness, agreeing to spar with Unohana.
Just before losing consciousness, he rembered unleashing his Mastered Shunpo Iaido.
Maybe his sword skill had caught Unohana off guard. She didn't have ti to defend and chose to counterattack instead.
That counter slash nearly cleaved him in two.
Nanatsuki quickly checked himself.
His upper clothes had been stripped, and his abdon was tightly wrapped in bandages.
Unohana had treated him, so the wound should be mostly healed. He did feel... surprisingly okay.
"Don't worry," Unohana said with a warm smile. "I've already treated the wound. There shouldn't be any lingering issues."
"Thank you, Captain Unohana," Nanatsuki exhaled in relief. At least he wouldn't end up as three-piece sushi.
Only now did he realize—they weren't in the 4th Division dical ward. This was... a bedroom?
"This isn't the dical room, is it?" he asked curiously.
The bedroom was sparsely decorated. A painting hung on the wall. A vase by the window held seasonal flowers, their scent subtly refreshing the air.
The scent... was familiar...
Wait. This bed was nowhere near the window. How could he sll the flowers from here?
Nanatsuki sniffed deeply.
He realized he'd slled it before—during close combat with Unohana. It was her scent.
"The dical room's a bit far from the courtyard," Unohana said sweetly, though her words sent chills down Nanatsuki's spine. "I didn't think you'd make it in ti. My bedroom is just nearby, so I brought you here for treatnt."
So the scent he slled... was from the bed.
Which ant—he was lying on Sister Unohana's bed!
"Ah... This is your room, Captain Unohana?" Nanatsuki mumbled awkwardly, cheeks flushed. He hadn't expected to end up on her bed.
No wonder it slled so nice!
"Katori-kun, your body is awfully tense. Relax a bit, or it'll affect your healing. Don't worry—I've more or less figured out your sword style."
She paused, then added, "But really... For soone so terrible at Shunpo, your mastery of Shunpo Iaido is truly impressive. If your Shunpo were better, that slash might've seriously injured ."
Of course, she ant that only because she had been suppressing her spiritual pressure.
Had she not, his sword likely wouldn't have even scratched her. Their spiritual pressure gap was simply too vast.
"My Shunpo really is lacking. I've spent most of my ti practicing Zanjutsu," Nanatsuki admitted with a sigh.
He knew it too—his Shunpo wasn't on par with his swordsmanship. After all, his Mastery-level Shunpo Iaido was enhanced by a Sword Skill Enhancent Scroll (Mastery).
Still, the scroll's effect was phenonal. It had actually wounded Unohana, even with her spiritual pressure suppressed.
Nanatsuki instinctively opened Unohana's Status Interface.
[Unohana Retsu]
[Talent: S ]
[Spiritual Pressure: Lv98]
[Reputation Level: Friendly]
[Status: ntally Joyful]
Unohana's Spiritual Pressure was the most terrifying he had ever seen among the Shinigami. There probably weren't many in all of Soul Society who could match it.
"Can I get up?" he asked.
He didn't feel anything wrong in his abdon, but part of him feared that if he moved, half his body might fall off.
"You can walk now. My slash didn't reach your spine. The wound's mostly healed. Still, you'll need a few days of rest. No strenuous activity for now." She picked up a bag of dicine. "Take this when you're ho. Don't mix it with Batsu'unsai's herbs. Rember to take it."
Nanatsuki stood up and tested his body—no issues.
He quickly got dressed, took the dicine, and made his exit. He didn't want to stay a second longer. Knowing Unohana, she might suddenly wave a Zanpakutō in one hand, draw a Kaido sigil in the other, and suggest they spar again for fun.
Unohana watched his hasty retreat with a gentle smile.
"I'm really looking forward to your growth, Katori-kun."
...
Back ho, Nanatsuki stared deeply at his Status Interface.
At so point, a faint new trait had appeared in the special attributes section.
[Battleborn Berserker (Active): Glory belongs to the Battleborn! Reduces the impact of injuries on movent. The more you fight, the stronger you beco—until death itself!]
This Battleborn Berserker trait was unlike Culinary Sage or Patient Guidance.
It flickered faintly and had a label: Active.
When Nanatsuki focused on it, more info surfaced.
Battleborn Berserker was a hidden trait he innately possessed.
It activated gradually as he beca more imrsed in battle and sustained more injuries.
Even now, in a semi-activated state, it helped him focus more easily despite his wounds.
'To think... sparring with Unohana gave a surprise bonus too.'
Nanatsuki returned ho.
"What?! Unohana dared hurt you?!" Katori Batsu'unsai exploded in rage, sleeves rolled up, ready to grab a blade.
Nanatsuki quickly pressed down on her shoulders, pinning her to the stool.
"It was just sparring. Drink your dicine first," he said helplessly.
Batsu'unsai's condition had improved a bit, but today's new formula from Unohana tasted terribly bitter. She sipped and grimaced.
"Can't we add more sugar? It's too bitter!"
"I already did..."
"Then add more!"
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