That overwhelming spiritual pressure condensed into a red skeletal apparition behind Unohana Yachiryu.
Ichigo watched her with interest as the pressure surged forth, and even the Zanpakutō in his hand, Zangetsu, resonated with a hum under the impact of her reiatsu.
It was clear—Unohana Yachiryu wasn't holding anything back. She was laying her full power bare for Ichigo to see.
As her white captain's haori, fluttering from the pressure, came to a halt, Ichigo couldn't help but murmur, "Such powerful reiatsu… As expected of a thousand-year Shinigami!"
Now with her hair fully let down, Unohana no longer carried even a trace of her usual gentle demeanor. Her face contorted into something fierce and even terrifying.
"Scared, Ichigo?" Her voice remained gentle, but the killing intent behind her words was unmistakable.
"Not really," Ichigo shook his head. "Just admiring your strength, that's all."
He even had the leisure to circle around Unohana, examining her from every angle as though sizing her up.
"In that case," he said calmly, "I can't keep hiding anything either."
"Bankai! Tensa Zangetsu!"
Ichigo's reiatsu spiked to match Unohana's, and his Zanpakutō returned to its black form. However, the second Zangetsu from his battle with Aizen didn't appear—he wielded only the single blade.
Unohana raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You think I'm not worth bringing out the second sword?"
Ichigo lightly shook his head, the black hem of his robe fluttering from the spiritual pressure. "Don't get me wrong, Yachiryu. I just need to keep a few cards up my sleeve."
Unohana reluctantly accepted that answer, raising her Zanpakutō horizontally before her chest. "Be careful, Ichigo. Don't die."
That wasn't an exaggeration. It was a genuine warning. Right now, Unohana couldn't guarantee she'd be able to hold back at the critical moment.
"Relax, Yachiryu. Until I see your Bankai, I'm not dying that easily," Ichigo replied with a confident smirk.
Both moved at the same time.
"Duang!"
Their Zanpakutōs clashed!
Neither used their off-hand—they were wary of hidden tricks. But both knew very well that at this level of combat, sneak attacks hardly mattered.
Ichigo was slightly surprised. Despite Unohana's small stature, her strength was immense—her physical power didn't lose out to his in the slightest.
In fact, she was even trying to overpower him!
(Fun fact: Though Unohana gives off a mature lady vibe, she's actually only 159cm tall. Taller than Rukia and the girls, but just barely...)
Still fending her off with one hand, Ichigo teased, "Trying to beat me in raw power? Isn't that a bit of a stretch, Yachiryu?"
In a flash, Unohana changed tactics. Her blade shot straight toward Ichigo's chest, targeting the spiritual pressure lock at its center!
In Shinigami combat, that was a lethal move. If the lock was destroyed, one could no longer store or use reiatsu.
It was a vicious strike, no question.
But Ichigo didn't even flinch. He casually grabbed her blade with his left hand. While Unohana expected him to lose a hand, Ichigo instead yanked her forward, and with his right hand gripping Tensa Zangetsu, slashed at her chest with no hesitation.
She barely dodged, doing a clumsy roll to avoid the hit. Using the momentum and her spiritual power, she managed to yank her Zanpakutō free.
It was clear—they weren't holding back. Each intended to kill the other!
Unohana looked at Ichigo with admiration. "Yes… this is the kind of battle I've longed for. I've waited over a thousand years for this~!"
Immediately, the two of them began moving at high speed—top, bottom, left, right—the entire inner space of the Upside-Down Mountain Crystal lit up with the flashes of their battle.
Even Ichigo was surprised. After activating Bankai, his speed was vastly enhanced, yet Unohana could still keep up with him effortlessly. It barely even looked like she was trying!
She hadn't shown her full power yet.
They clashed again. Both retreated at the same time and launched ranged attacks.
"Getsuga Tenshō!"
"Hadō No. 88! Hiryū Gekizoku Shinten Raihō!"
Two torrents of spiritual energy collided, creating an explosion so fierce it lit up the entire crystal space.
"No incantation for Hiryū Gekizoku Shinten Raihō? Yachiryu, your kidō skills really rival Aizen Sōsuke," Ichigo praised.
Unohana didn't care for the compliment. She rushed forward again with her blade, but this time Ichigo inhaled deeply, gripped Tensa Zangetsu with both hands, and swept it upward from below.
Clang!
Her blade was knocked aside, leaving her chest wide open.
Ichigo didn't hesitate—he kicked her square in the face!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Unohana flew back at high speed, crashing hard into the wall of the Upside-Down Mountain Crystal.
Blood dripped from her lips, and a black footprint was clearly visible on her face.
"Pah!" She spat blood, wiped her face with her hand, and in an instant—no wound, no bruise, not even the footprint remained.
Clearly, that level of injury was nothing to her.
Ichigo grinned. "You taught me this, right? Two hands are stronger than one. It's just common sense."
Unohana's gaze grew more intense. Such learning speed. Such spiritual pressure!
Who needed Kenpachi Zaraki when Kurosaki Ichigo was right in front of her?
"You've done well, Ichigo. I'm very pleased!"
She stopped trying to match him in pure technique. She could see now—Ichigo's physical abilities far surpassed hers. No amount of swordsmanship could close that gap.
After all, this wasn't the old Ichigo full of inner turmoil. This was a focused Ichigo—far more dangerous than before.
"Come, Kurosaki Ichigo! Delight me!"
Her expression twisted into madness.
She grabbed the edge of her blade with her left hand and flung it outward—blood splattered across the crystal ground.
"Bankai… Minazuki!"
The moment she spoke, the entire space was drenched in blood.
Red liquid crawled toward Ichigo's feet, and the air grew unbearably hot.
Ichigo's senses sharpened as an inexplicable exhilaration rose within him.
"How's that? This is my Bankai—Minazuki!"
She explained its power.
"When I activate my Bankai, a pool of blood forms. Anyone within is affected by my Zanpakutō—becoming frenzied and battle-hungry. They abandon all restraint, fighting on pure instinct!"
"No death, no end—until my reiatsu is depleted or one of us falls!"
"This… is my pleasure, Ichigo!"
Her smile became disturbingly deranged.
"Come now, Ichigo. I want to feel your skin split beneath my blade! We've fought for so long, and I haven't even touched you yet!"
She would terrify any child if they saw her now.
As she finished speaking, she melted into the blood around her—vanishing entirely.
Ichigo forced himself to stay calm, relying on his instincts to locate her.
On his right, blood coalesced into Unohana's shape, and she lunged forward.
He failed to block it.
Her blade plunged straight into Ichigo's chest!
Ichigo's eyes widened in shock. He reached forward feebly, as if in disbelief—and then went limp.
But Unohana didn't look happy. She looked angry.
She yanked her Zanpakutō back, and yet Ichigo didn't fall.
"Take this seriously, dammit!!" Unohana actually cursed out loud.
Ichigo instantly opened his eyes with a smile. "Gotcha~"
The spot she stabbed? Not a single wound remained. Not even his clothes were damaged!
"How did you do that?" she demanded, shocked. Had it been a healing spell, she could understand—but she felt no spiritual fluctuation at all.
"It's the ability of my Zanpakutō," Ichigo answered confidently.
And technically, he wasn't lying. The power of Hollow Ichigo was a part of Zangetsu.
Of course, his version of Zangetsu might not be exactly… legal.
"You said you wanted to feel my skin under your blade, right? Well, how was it?" he smirked.
"Don't joke with me!!" Unohana snapped. Never in her life had anyone just stood still and taken her attack!
Not even Yamamoto or Aizen would dare do such a thing!
That was her pride as the original Kenpachi!
Aizen hadn't yet gained the Hōgyoku's power. Yamamoto had never used Bankai on her. But Ichigo? He stood still and let her stab him.
"RAAAHHH!"
She slashed wildly, but Ichigo didn't dodge.
Even as flesh tore and blood sprayed, he stood motionless—every injury healing instantly, without even leaving a scar.
Clearly, Minazuki was awakening something deeper in Ichigo's true nature.
Zanpakutō are extensions of the Shinigami's soul. Think about Hollow Ichigo's personality—arrogant, wild, untamed.
That wasn't just the Hollow. That was Ichigo—a part of him he kept suppressed.
Now? Minazuki had brought it out.
"Yachiryu… is this really the extent of your Zanpakutō?" Ichigo asked, disappointed. He had expected something far more destructive.
But this blood sea—healing and rebirth—it didn't seem offensive at all.
Maybe… maybe Unohana regretted her choice long ago. Choosing a healer's blade just for the sake of more battles, when she could have had a true warrior's sword.
And as for Kenpachi? Ha, that guy sealed his own power. Even worse.
Pretending to be weak will really turn you into a pig.
As Unohana continued her attacks, Ichigo finally lost patience. He grabbed her wrist with one hand, lifted her up effortlessly, and gathered power into Tensa Zangetsu with the other.
Black reiatsu gathered at the blade.
"Getsuga… KUN!"
Point-blank.
A massive Getsuga Tenshō exploded right into her body!
Her defenses shattered. An arm and a leg were torn clean off!
That kind of ruthless attack wasn't like the usual Ichigo at all.
But Unohana? She simply touched her Zanpakutō to the blood below—her wounds closed in an instant.
"I can fully merge with this blood sea. I've sacrificed some fighting strength, but as long as the blood sea remains—I cannot die," she said coldly.
(End of Chapter)
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