CLANG!!!
Katori Nanatsuki and Unohana Retsu clashed mid-air in a contest of spiritual pressure, but the explosive force of Thunderfire Wild Blaze overwhelmed everything. At this moment, Nanatsuki’s output far surpassed that of Unohana, despite both keeping their Reiatsu suppressed to the same level.
A humanoid blaze engulfed in golden fire pushed Unohana higher into the sky.
The two rapidly ascended at incredible speed.
The golden fireball suspended above Seireitei was far too conspicuous—like a second sun in the sky, drawing countless eyes.
"What now? Another mess brewing?" muttered Kyōraku Shunsui as he scratched his cheek, gazing up at the flaming spectacle.
Having just left the Shin’o Spiritual Arts Academy’s pharmacy, Kyōraku initially assumed the assassination attempt on Nobutsuna Shigyō was still unresolved and that someone was causing chaos in the capital.
"Strange... why do I only sense the spiritual pressures of Katori-kun and Captain Unohana?" His brows furrowed. He couldn’t sense anyone else in that direction.
"Don’t tell me the two of them are fighting?"
Although the battle was happening inside Seireitei, it was on the outskirts, far from the noble district. Kyōraku’s perception wasn’t completely clear from this distance, and feeling uneasy, he decided to head toward the golden fireball.
Meanwhile, Chōjirō Sasakibe of the First Division was reporting the assassination attempt on Nobutsuna Shigyō to Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.
"So all the evidence points to Asayu Tetsuya?"
"It does."
Yamamoto fell into deep thought, considering whether Asayu Tetsuya had any motive for such an act.
After a moment, a flicker crossed Yamamoto’s face. He stepped swiftly to the outer corridor and looked up at the distant blaze.
"Utter nonsense!" he growled, frowning.
His spiritual perception far surpassed Kyōraku’s. He could clearly sense that only Katori Nanatsuki and Unohana Retsu were present, and thus made no move to intervene.
"Chōjirō, go remind them not to cause too much of a scene in Seireitei!" Yamamoto ordered.
"Yes, sir!"
Above the clouds, dark rainclouds, seemingly disturbed by the golden blaze, began to churn uneasily.
They quickly unleashed a torrential downpour upon the earth, as if trying to extinguish the searing flames.
But the rain could not dim the golden light. Instead, it created swirling steam around the fireball,
Adding a touch of mystique and grandeur.
The already healing clouds were violently torn open by the blaze, creating a massive rift in the sky.
Amid the rain-soaked skies, sunlight broke through the dark clouds in that gaping hole.
Golden beams shone through the rift, piercing the earth below and intertwining with the falling rain.
Nanatsuki and Unohana pierced through the cloud layer.
Unohana stared directly into the firelight, feeling as though her very body might ignite.
She was forced to raise her Reiatsu slightly.
The monstrous spiritual pressure erupting from within her had now reached full Captain level.
She halted in mid-air and struck with her blade, knocking Nanatsuki back.
"Katori-kun, your swordsmanship has found its own path..." Unohana said slowly. "In this state, you’re formidable. Suppressing my Reiatsu won’t be enough to defeat you anymore."
Nanatsuki’s explosive power had taken her by surprise. Matching his Reiatsu wasn’t enough to make her have the upper hand even with her experience.
The firelight surrounding him began to fade, slowly dissipating—Thunderfire Wild Blaze emphasized power, not duration.
"Captain Unohana is incredible. Ordinary moves don’t even work... this technique is all burst, not endurance," Nanatsuki admitted with a sigh.
Forcing Unohana to use Captain-level Reiatsu today was enough to make him proud of his growth.
Seeing the firelight fade from his body, Unohana spoke, "Let’s end it here for today."
"I hope I see even more surprises next time..."
A deep yearning shone in Unohana’s eyes—she longed for the day when she could unleash her full power in battle without holding back.
"Thank you for the guidance, Captain Unohana." Nanatsuki nodded. This exchange had deepened his understanding of his own strength.
Unless special conditions were in play, most Vice-Captain-level opponents would no longer be able to defeat him.
He glanced at his Status Interface. His Swordsmanship had leveled up again—from Level 80 to Level 81.
Not only that, but his mastery of the Wave Break sword technique had reached Proficiency.
Kyōraku Shunsui and Chōjirō Sasakibe arrived at nearly the same time.
"Ahh... so it really was you two fighting, huh?" Kyōraku scratched his cheek again.
"We were merely sparring," Unohana said, her usual gentle demeanor returning. "Didn’t expect to alarm Captain Kyōraku and Vice-Captain Sasakibe. Apologies."
"Captain-Commander Yamamoto sent me," Sasakibe replied, seeing they’d already stopped and choosing not to say more.
"Sword sparring? You need this much noise for sparring?" Kyōraku said helplessly. "I thought the Shigyō assassination case was flaring up again. Did you find any new leads?"
"No abnormalities in the medicine storage logs. We didn’t uncover anything new. Captain Kyōraku doesn’t think Asayu Tetsuya did it either, right?" Unohana asked.
"My subordinates found Nobutsuna’s Kidō notes at Asayu Tetsuya’s house, but he denies ever taking them.
Personally, I think he’s telling the truth—but the Central 46 doesn’t believe in ’feelings.’ That note alone gives him a motive to harm Nobutsuna, and without other evidence, it’ll be hard to pursue the case further," Kyōraku sighed.
To him, the case was full of holes, but every piece of evidence they did find pointed straight to Asayu.
After chatting briefly, they all left the scene.
Kyōraku planned to return with Sasakibe to report to Captain-Commander Yamamoto, and to mention the situation at the Shin’o Academy’s pharmacy.
After all, the powerful anesthetic had leaked from the Academy. As a regulated substance, its circulation outside the Academy was a serious issue, and those involved had to bear responsibility.
But moments later, Nanatsuki returned to the battlefield.
"Reveal all creation... Kagehime."
He darted through the site, leaving behind a number of shadows.
These shadows would serve as his eyes—lying in wait like traps.
Unohana had suspected this matter might be connected to Reishi Shells, so Nanatsuki took precautions.
The spectacle caused by their fight today was enough to attract certain eyes—people would now realize his power had reached Vice-Captain level.
The one creating the Reishi Shells would hardly pass up a chance to collect Reiatsu data from someone at that level.