Bleach: From the moment I was invited by Squad Zero

"Well then, Yanagawa-kun," Retsu Unohana said, holding her wooden sword. Her gentle smile remained, but her eyes had subtly deepened, transforming into a calm lake that reflected every subtle movement of her opponent.

"Let me see your current level of swordsmanship. Don't be shy or hesitant; this is just a test."

Liu Chuan nodded, also holding a wooden sword in his hand.

He adjusted his breathing, lowered his center of gravity, and assumed the most standard posture.

Although he did not specialize in swordsmanship, during his time at the Shinigami Academy, as the most outstanding graduate of that year, he also scored high in the basic swordsmanship assessment, demonstrating a solid and impeccable foundation.

"Excuse me."

As soon as he finished speaking, Liu Chuan exerted force with his feet, the wooden plank made a very slight creak, and his figure shot out like an arrow, the wooden sword cutting through the air.

Speed, power, and angle are all excellent, without any unnecessary frills.

A hint of approval flashed in Unohana Retsu's eyes. Without moving, she swung her wooden sword upwards with a seemingly slow but actually swift motion.

Snapped!

The two wooden swords clashed in mid-air, producing a crisp, solid sound.

Liu Chuan felt a smooth and continuous force coming from the blade, easily neutralizing his straight slash.

He smoothly changed his move, flipping his wrist and drawing an arc with the wooden sword, the transition was fluid and natural.

Unohana Retsu calmly responded, the wooden sword in her hand seemed to have a life of its own, always appearing precisely at the weak points of Yanagawa's attacks to neutralize them one by one.

She did not launch a preemptive attack, but merely endured wave after wave of probing and assaults from Liu Chuan.

After a brief exchange of a few minutes, Retsu Unohana had already formed her judgment.

"Yanagawa-kun's swordsmanship is just as I expected."

She smiled and gently parried Liu Chuan's swift thrust. Their wooden swords clashed, and they temporarily separated.

"With a solid foundation, a steady stance, and no bad habits, it seems that his title as the 'Chief' of the True Central Spiritual Arts Academy back then was truly well-deserved."

Liu Chuan remained calm and sheathed his sword, returning to his original stance: "This is just the basics; compared to Captain Unohana, I am far inferior."

He could sense that Unohana Retsu was far inferior to him in terms of timing and distance control.

Every response she made seemed to anticipate his movements; it was a "sharp mind" honed through countless trials and tribulations.

"Hehe, no need to be so modest. The foundation is the beginning of everything."

Unohana Retsu gently twisted her wrist, and the wooden sword drew a perfect arc in the air before pointing back at Yanagawa.

The gentle aura surrounding him suddenly changed; although he didn't exude murderous intent, he gained a chilling, menacing aura.

"Well then, Yanagawa-kun, that concludes the test. Now, I'm going to speed things up."

Only through constant real combat can one accumulate the most profound and instinctive experience, which is also the fastest way to master swordsmanship.

"I couldn't ask for more." Liu Chuan's gaze sharpened, his focus completely on this; it was exactly what he wanted.

"Be careful."

Before he finished speaking, Retsu Unohana swayed slightly, as if leaving an afterimage in place.

Liuchuan's wooden sword suddenly swung to the left side of the barrier!

Snapped! !

A loud explosion, several times louder than before, rang out!

Unohana Retsu's wooden sword had appeared unnoticed in the gap under his left ribs. If it weren't for his amazing intuition, the attack would have already hit him.

However, Retsu Unohana's offensive came one after another like a storm!

Her movements weren't necessarily exaggeratedly fast, but every step she took and every swing of her sword was impressive.

They all landed precisely in the most unexpected positions, each sword strike aimed at the most difficult blind spot in his defense!

The wooden sword in her hand transformed into countless afterimages, sometimes thrusting like a venomous snake, sometimes slashing heavily like Mount Tai.

At times, it is as tender and lingering as willow catkins in the wind, with moves and artistic conceptions switching at will and without any discernible pattern!

This is the true "Kenpachi" level! Even without his Zanpakuto, his unparalleled swordsmanship and combat wisdom alone are a despair wall that most Shinigami cannot reach!

Yanagawa was instantly put on the defensive! His basic swordsmanship seemed so clumsy and slow in the face of Unohana Retsu's storm of attacks.

He could only strain his mind to the limit, frantically calculating the opponent's attack trajectory in his mind, wielding the wooden sword with impenetrable force, yet he was still frequently hit.

The dull thuds of the wooden sword striking his body continued incessantly. Although no bones or tendons were broken, it clearly demonstrated the vast gap in his swordsmanship skills.

He was like a small boat tossed about in a storm, ready to capsize at any moment.

But Yanagawa didn't panic. Just as Unohana said, he was "fighting".

Every time you get hit, it's a valuable lesson.

Each parrying mistake gave him a deeper understanding of the "traps" and "lures" in Unohana's swordplay.

He abandoned all distractions and devoted all his energy to defense and observation. Under high pressure, his body instinctively began to imitate, adjust, and evolve.

Time slipped away quietly amidst the intense clash of wooden swords. The sunlight outside the window slowly slanted westward, casting increasingly longer shadows of the two figures inside the dojo.

As the fight progressed, Unohana Retsu, who had initially appeared calm and focused on guiding the fight, gradually revealed a growing sense of surprise deep within her gentle eyes.

too fast.

Liu Chuan's adaptation and progress were so rapid that even she found it hard to believe.

Initially, Yanagawa could only withstand two or three moves from her before being struck by her sword.

But just a quarter of an hour later, the frequency of his being stabbed began to decrease significantly.

He no longer relied solely on instinct to block, but began to consciously anticipate her starting moves and block her most effective attack routes.

His footwork was no longer stiff and backward; he began to use the dojo space to create tiny gaps to catch his breath and counterattack.

The trajectory of his wooden sword swings gradually gained an indescribable "spirituality," no longer a rigid routine, but spontaneously developing more effective defensive and counter-attacking prototypes in response to her attack patterns.

What alarmed Retsu Unohana even more was Yanagawa's "learning" ability.

She had used the "Yin-Drop" technique, which incorporated the essence of an ancient school of martial arts, once before. After being hit three times, Liu Chuan was able to use a third of the same technique to defend himself on the fourth time!

When Liu Chuan encountered her a second time, his senses had already locked onto the location of her thrust attack, which utilized light and blind spots.

"Is this... a body and soul that has broken through the limits of death...?"

Unohana Retsu thought to herself, her wooden sword attacks undiminished yet becoming increasingly refined, constantly shifting rhythms and styles, like the strictest teacher continuing to squeeze out Yanagawa's potential.

"No, not only that, but also his keen perception and his 'mind' that can analyze and study everything."

That's the fundamental reason he can so quickly transform 'experience' into 'skill'. Truly... a born fighter and evolver.

The more she fought, the more she realized the abyss-like potential hidden beneath Liu Chuan's calm exterior.

This made the part of her soul that had been dormant for so long, belonging to the original Kenpachi, feel a long-lost excitement and anticipation, as if facing some unknown and powerful enemy.

As the last rays of the setting sun finally sank completely below the horizon, the light inside the dojo quickly dimmed, with only the lanterns under the eaves emitting a halo of light.

Snapped!

After the final crisp clash, Retsu Unohana sheathed her sword and retreated, the wooden blade hanging gently at her sides. Her face regained its gentle, watery smile, though her breathing was slightly more pronounced than before.

"Alright, Yanagawa-kun, let's call it a day."

Liu Chuan also stopped moving, revealing numerous marks on his exposed arms and calves from being struck by a wooden sword.

But his eyes shone brightly in the dim light, showing no signs of fatigue, but rather a kind of satisfaction and sharpness that came from having absorbed a great deal of nourishment.

"Thank you for your guidance, Captain Unohana." Yanagawa sheathed his sword. The gains from being "beaten up" this afternoon far exceeded his expectations.

He clearly felt that his understanding of the "sword," his control of the rhythm of battle, and his skills in using his own strength in close combat had all made a qualitative leap.

"I am truly amazed by Yanagawa-kun's comprehension and speed of growth."

Unohana Retsu smiled and said sincerely, "Today is just the beginning. The path of swordsmanship is long and arduous. If you are willing, Yanagawa-kun, you can come to the Fourth Division to find me at any time."

"Then I'll come again tomorrow." Yanagawa nodded in agreement. He put on his haori, said goodbye to Unohana Retsu, and turned to leave the kendo dojo.