Restricted Death

Chapter 166 Just One Sword

Retsu Unohana's incredibly direct and utterly nonsensical opening remarks instantly made the atmosphere in the room tense.

Yamamoto remained silent, but his sharp eyes were fixed on Unohana Retsu.

Seeing this, Ukitake forced a smile and said, "This is just a friendly spar. Captain Unohana and Captain Tachikawa are both good at controlling the intensity, right?"

"It's just a friendly sparring match"—who can be fooled by that kind of talk?

After all, they had clearly witnessed the outcome of their last battle. Retsu Unohana was lying on the ground, barely alive, and would have died on the spot if not for Shin's treatment.

Even now, Kyoraku, Ukitake, and Soi Fon still don't quite understand why Yamamoto allowed Shin and Unohana to engage in this battle.

Aren't you afraid something might go wrong?

No matter how much preparation they make, at their level of strength, sometimes life and death are decided in an instant.

Although Kyoraku Shunsui brought the special spiritual artifacts of the Shihōin family, he wasn't very confident that he could prevent any unexpected events from occurring during the battle.

Unohana Retsu glanced at the shield and sword bearing the Shihōin family crest that Kyōraku Shunsui had brought, and simply said, "Haven't you already made ample preparations?"

Ukitake was slightly embarrassed and was about to say something when Shin spoke first: "Let's begin then."

Those who were going to watch the battle fell silent. Yamamoto took the lead and used Shunpo to leave his original spot, leaping to the high ground outside the pit.

Now that things have come to this point, saying anything more to Unohana Retsu is useless, and as for Shin, he initially chose to believe him as well.

After the others had also left the battle area, only Shin and Unohana Retsu remained in the pit.

The two were standing not far apart, and before the battle officially began, Retsu Unohana seemed to want to say something.

"This battle was your idea too, wasn't it?"

"good."

"I'm only curious about one thing right now..."

Retsu Unohana's white haori fluttered wildly in the spiritual pressure.

"Is your purpose in doing this to bring this battle to a complete end, or... are you still clinging to your previous idea?"

In response to Retsu Unohana's question, Shin suddenly chuckled.

“Captain,” he said.

"This isn't like you. Have you lost confidence in beating me?"

"..."

Unohana Retsu said nothing more, but simply drew her Zanpakuto from her waist.

Unlike last time, she was not at peace this time.

Before her last battle with Shin, although she had many thoughts, they were all just doubts about Shin's strength. She still enjoyed the battle itself.

but now……

Unohana Retsu lowered her eyes to look at the blade in her hand. The image reflected on the blade was a pair of deep and complex eyes.

"team leader."

The letter on the other side spoke again, and he too slowly drew his simple, unadorned black sword.

"This battle might disappoint you a little."

Disappointed?

Unohana Retsu's gaze remained unchanged. Shin only said this short sentence. What could disappoint her?
Which of the two scenarios she just mentioned could it be?
For a moment, she couldn't quite understand it.

Will Shin kill her in this battle... or will he repeat the outcome of last time?

Just before the battle, the scene of her gathering with the group in the Fourth Division yesterday suddenly flashed into her mind.

The things she said to Kotetsu Isane might not have been clear to Isane at the time, but they definitely carried a sense of entrustment.

Why would this happen? Does she really have those kinds of feelings?
For hundreds of years as the captain of the Fourth Division, she was indeed a model captain in the eyes of everyone, saving countless lives and being gentle and compassionate to outsiders, but she always believed that was not the real her.

How could I possibly really care about these things?
Yesterday she did consider that she wasn't going to leave today's battle, so perhaps doing something else before today would be good for others...

It was just a passing fancy.

That's impossible for her.

boom!
The spiritual pressure emanating from Retsu Unohana's body was even more immense and turbulent than before. A huge white pillar of light, visible to the naked eye, instantly pierced through the heavens and earth. Her originally tied-up black hair became disheveled and flew wildly upwards.

The people on the high ground in the distance watched the scene unfold with extremely solemn expressions. Just from the spiritual pressure alone, they could sense just how terrifying the Fourth Division Captain's strength was.

Soi Fon, in particular, was the least senior among those present. In other words, her spiritual pressure was the weakest. Even from such a distance, the intimidating spiritual pressure had already made her body stiffen.

She couldn't understand how Tachikawa Shin, who was standing so close, could be completely unaffected.

She wasn't the only one with the same doubts.

They only witnessed the final result of the last battle. Although they could guess how fierce the battle was from the destruction of the scene, they did not see it with their own eyes, so they could not imagine how Xin won.

Unohana Retsu's spiritual pressure, which was poised to be unleashed, surged like a tsunami, but in the next instant, it suddenly vanished into nothingness.

The air inside the deep pit suddenly became still.

Her Zanpakuto emitted a low hum and moved first, without using Bankai, instead thrusting the sword straight at Shin's face.

The blade, chillingly cold, gleamed with a silvery light, causing Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, perched atop the high ground, to shrink in shock.

This is absolute murderous intent!
For hundreds of years, he had never seen Retsu Unohana make a move, and the scene before him left him somewhat dazed.

Yes, this is indeed the Unohana!

The infamous villain of Soul Society from a thousand years ago, whose mere mention of his name evoked fear.

The moment the blade flashed through the air, it seemed to slice the world into countless mirrors. Contradictory images were simultaneously reflected on everyone's retinas. That strike, which contained absolute sword intent, should have pierced through everything, but instead it stopped firmly on Xin's brow.

Xin stood still, seemingly unaffected.

boom!
As Yuu no Hana Retsu's body erupted with terrifying spiritual pressure once again, soaring into the sky, the solid rock ground beneath them was shattered into countless spiderweb-like cracks. A moment later, countless fragments of rock crumbled from the ground.

The blade trembled in Unohana Retsu's hand as she gazed intently at Shin's calm face.

She knew that the letter had once again used its ability to become immune to harm.

But she didn't care. That was the power of faith. In the midst of battle, it was normal to use any means necessary, just like the hidden sword she concealed in her sleeve!
She even felt a surge of joy at the fact that Xin was able to exert such power from the very beginning.

That's right, let's begin!

Give it your all!
This is the kind of battle that will satisfy her!

Flames ignited in Unohana's eyes as Shin's figure vanished from his spot in an instant. Unohana's expression tightened; she had caught Shin's movements in the first moment.

Aside from swordsmanship, she surpasses Xin in every other ability!

She could see clearly what was so fast that even the naked eye couldn't see it.

Unohana Retsu pressed forward, her sword tip drooping, her arm slightly raised, a chilling glint sweeping across Xin ahead, as if to sever his head.

Swah——

The sword missed its mark.

Unohana Retsu's pupils shrank suddenly. Shin's figure had vanished into thin air before her eyes without leaving any trace.

Just like that, he vanished into thin air!

Before she could react, a bone-chilling cold instantly pierced through her burning body.

puff!
The sharp blade pierced through her body; this sword, with unparalleled precision, pierced her heart from behind! Thump~ Thump~
Through the slight tremor of the sword, Retsu Unohana could clearly feel her own heart beating.

Unohana Retsu's forward momentum came to an abrupt halt. She staggered forward a few steps and looked down to see the blade protruding from her body slowly being stained by the overflowing blood.

hiss--

It was that familiar feeling again; the spiritual energy within my body was like an overflowing water tank with a hole punched in it, and it began to dissipate rapidly.

The tremors on the sword gradually weakened, and Retsu Unohana stiffly turned around to look at Shin standing behind her.

In an instant, two thoughts flashed through her mind.

How did he do it?
If you treat the wound yourself now, it's not too late.

Simply pull out the knife that pierced your body, use the healing spell to heal yourself. Although you will lose a lot of spiritual power, you will still be able to continue fighting.

Keep fighting...

His knife is so cold!

When she was pierced, Unohana did not feel any hesitation or delay from the other party.

Unohana ultimately did nothing and simply fell straight backward, perhaps realizing that even if the injury was stopped, it would affect her later battles, and defeat was inevitable.

That was probably the power of his Zanpakuto. He couldn't possibly be that fast. No one could be that fast, not even Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni.

The scattered black hair, as black as ink, spread across the ground, creating a desolate picture.

The battle began swiftly and ended abruptly.

Unohana's eyes trembled as she looked at Shin, who had approached her. Her throat bobbed, emitting only a series of "hoarse" sounds.

He'll save me again...

He probably doesn't want to die, just like last time.

Unohana Retsu felt a renewed desire for relief. The more he didn't want her to die, the more Unohana wanted it to end. Even if he healed her now, she would pick up her sword again and slash at him without mercy.

She insisted on watching Xin die, unwilling to accept her fate, after exhausting herself time and time again.

She demonstrated through her battles what kind of person she is.

With her sword, she tells her opponent that everything is illusory, and that fighting is her only meaning and value.

Several figures on the high ground had already rushed down at top speed. Seeing Unohana Retsu lying on the ground breathing heavily, everyone felt a chill run down their spines.

What they had expected to be a spectacular and brutal battle ended in an instant.
what happened?
Was Captain Korenohana deliberately holding back, determined to die?

"Tachikawa, quickly treat her!" Yamamoto commanded in a deep voice.

Everyone's attention shifted from Retsu Unohana to Shin.

To everyone's astonishment, Xin stood motionless in place.

Retsu Unohana was also looking at the letter, meeting its gaze directly. All she could see in his eyes was indifference.

There was no joy in the victory.

She didn't experience any of the emotions she could think of.

There was no grief, indignation, disappointment, pity... none of it.

That look made Retsu Unohana feel a sudden emptiness in her heart, and her pupils widened slightly.

"Tachikawa?!" Yamamoto's voice was filled with anger.

"..."

Unohana Retsu turned her eyes and looked up at the sky.

Clear blue, out of reach.

The knife that had been plunged into his body was pulled out by Kyoraku Shunsui. The bone-chilling cold disappeared, but in its place came a chill that permeated his entire soul.

I've never felt like this before.

It wasn't there when I was close to death last time either.

Last time... she still clearly remembered the stubbornness in Xin Mingming's eyes as he insisted on prolonging his life despite his spiritual power being exhausted.

"I'll do it!" Seeing that Shin didn't move at all, Kyoraku Shunsui quickly squatted down.

As a veteran captain, he naturally knows some responses, but he's not particularly proficient at them.

But after examining Retsu Unohana's injuries, his heart sank again.

The only injury is to the heart, but it is precisely an injury to the heart.

He used his backhand technique to try his best to stop the bleeding.

"Tachikawa, what do you want to do?!" The mountain itself exuded a terrifying aura as it pressed Xin for answers.

Xin finally spoke: "Why bother saving her?"

These words surprised everyone.

This is not what we agreed on!
Xin calmly said, "In her current state, does she still have any value?"

"..."

Unohana Retsu was still fully conscious. She heard the letter's words but did not utter a word. Her physical reaction, however, made her breathing more violently.

"I can't save her; only a professional medical grim reaper can!" Kyoraku said quickly.

He figured that if Shin didn't intend to help, he would have to send Unohana Retsu back to the Fourth Division as soon as possible!

Soi Fon remained silent, staring blankly at the letter, then at Captain Unohana on the ground.

Things have spiraled out of control.

Kyoraku began speaking to Unohana: "Unohana-senpai, breathe, breathe hard!"

Yamamoto's face was extremely grim.

He finally ignored the letter and instead struck the ground heavily on the side of Unohana's face with his wooden cane.

"Unohana! You still have energy left, don't you?! Do you really want to die?!" His voice was filled with fury.

"Unohana! Stand up for me! You should be able to heal yourself! Stand up!"

Retsu Unohana didn't speak; her mouth was also full of blood, which she coughed up incessantly with each breath.

Indeed, she still had some strength left. She had previously had enough to heal herself during the battle, but her spiritual energy was dissipating at an alarming rate. Now, she could only do her best to maintain her life.

If I continue to lie down, I won't even have the ability to get up.

She could hear Yamamoto's angry roar and Kyoraku's urgent calls.

She could hear everything clearly; on the verge of death, her senses had never been so sharp.

She stared intently at the letter, trying to discern some other emotion from its face and eyes.

Unfortunately, there is nothing.

Only the sentence he just said.

"Does she have any value now that she's like this?"

(End of this chapter)