Ichigo, completely subdued by a wooden sword, also straightened his attitude.
But Retsu Unohana had no intention of making another move.
"No need, Kurosaki-kun, you have already initially grasped the secret to using advanced Kaido. Now you only need to steadily accumulate experience and then seek breakthroughs in actual combat."
"What?"
"It means you've learned how to run; now it's about figuring out how to run faster."
Shimiya Takeru walked over, kindly offering a helping hand.
"Congratulations, Brother Kurosaki, that beating wasn't in vain."
"Although it's a sarcastic remark, I'll take it as you being envious of me," Ichigo said, annoyed.
"Is Si Gong student envious of Kurosaki-kun's progress? There's no need for that. I also have some insights into swordsmanship, so helping you continue your unfinished swordsmanship training today should be no problem," Retsu Unohana's voice echoed softly.
Shimiya Takeru was about to decline, but then he felt his arm loosen. He looked back to find Ichigo had shrugged off his support and was limping towards Rindo Yu and Hachihara, waving his hand as he went and saying something like, "You guys continue, I won't disturb you."
"???"
Such an Ichigo made Shimiya Takeru feel unfamiliar.
"Very well, I also happen to have some questions about swordsmanship that I'd like to discuss with someone."
"To be able to realize that is the mark of a qualified swordsman," Retsu Unohana said with an appreciative tone, casually inserting her wooden sword into the ground.
Her fair, pristine hand, as if untouched by the spring sun, gripped the hilt, and the sharp blade slowly emerged, reflecting a cold gleam. There was an inexplicable beauty throughout the entire process.
"—And only a qualified swordsman has enough ability to create her own swordsmanship."
This sentence seemed to carry an ulterior meaning.
Ichigo and the others couldn't help but look at Shimiya Takeru with some confusion.
But they didn't notice Isane's body tremble, her face turning slightly pale, as if remembering some terrifying scene.
"But then again," she said, watching Shimiya Takeru shift his steps, adjusting his body, each movement exuding an indescribable charm. And as the iaido stance solidified, the charm transformed into a sharp intent.
Retsu Unohana's tone suddenly shifted, the smile on her lips receding slightly, her eyes lowered, her expression a little strange.
"Such a thing cannot be called swordsmanship, not yet."
For no reason, a chill swept through everyone present.
Shimiya Takeru felt it most directly.
But he remained unshaken, his hand gently resting on the blue hilt, exuding an incredible sense of composure.
"Such a thing… huh."
"Is Captain Unohana's guidance starting now?"
"For things that are not swordsmanship, the scope of my guidance is quite limited," Retsu Unohana's gaze shifted, locking onto Shimiya Takeru's wrist.
"There's no use denying it. Your spiritual pressure outlet is injecting spiritual pressure into the scabbard, and I'm very certain it's Kido spiritual pressure."
"If I'm not mistaken, that is a Kido spell disguised as an iaido technique. Although it can kill an enemy, what truly kills the enemy is not the blade, but the Kido constructed by the spell."
"Of course, I don't have any aversion to this approach."
"On the contrary, I greatly admire Si Gong student's creativity."
"Combining Kido and swordsmanship can undoubtedly give swordsmanship more possibilities."
"Si Gong student has now successfully taken half a step belonging to Kido, but the remaining half step belonging to swordsmanship… I'm afraid it will take a long time, as your swordsmanship foundation is still far from sufficient."
Upon hearing this, Shimiya Takeru's expression froze.
"…Combining Kido and swordsmanship… Is that what you think, Captain Unohana?"
"Could it be that I misunderstood?"
Shimiya Takeru didn't answer, but instead chose to draw his sword.
It was at this moment that Retsu Unohana realized a problem that could not be ignored.
—This was not the move she had seen before.
Click.
The sound of the tsuba and the scabbard mouth connecting proved that the sword had returned to its sheath.
However, everyone present hadn't even seen when the sword was drawn, nor had they reacted.
The attack was already over.
As an iaido technique, it should be so.
It should be so… indeed.
But can this truly be called iaido?
What kind of iaido can injure an opponent's body from more than ten meters away, causing them to bleed without sword pressure or spiritual pressure augmentation?
"…"
Retsu Unohana's gaze fell to her wrist.
Her movements now were completely different from before; Ichigo and the others also hadn't noticed when she had adopted a defensive stance, holding her sword horizontally.
It seemed that the moment Shimiya Takeru drew his sword, time was severed for a second, and within that second, both sides completed an offense and defense.
The result was this:
Shimiya Takeru safely sheathed his sword.
And a red line slowly appeared on Retsu Unohana's fair wrist, with blood spurting out.
"Captain?!"
Isane was jolted back to her senses by the blood.
As she prepared to step forward, Retsu Unohana raised her hand to stop her.
"Kurosaki-kun."
"Ah? Here!" Ichigo instinctively responded, startled.
"Watch carefully. When encountering such a situation, don't rush to mobilize spiritual pressure into the wound. Instead, first stabilize your own spiritual pressure and… your mind. Absolutely do not waver because of this. Be calm and clear-headed, like an outsider. This helps with wound regeneration. This is the only experience I can teach you at this stage."
"I… I understand."
Watching Retsu Unohana give an on-the-spot lesson without changing her expression, her wound visibly healed.
Ichigo felt an indescribable shock.
Not only because the Kaido skill was unfathomably deep, but also because he felt completely outmatched by her state of mind.
"As for Si Gong student, I must retract my previous statement. Perhaps your swordsmanship foundation is still very weak, but… that will not be an obstacle for you."
Retsu Unohana's thoughts surged, but only a helpless smile appeared on her face.
"No, Captain Unohana still has a point," Shimiya Takeru released his stance and stood upright.
There was no hint of smugness on his face; instead, he looked deeply in agreement.
"Leaving Shichisen aside, Yuisen demands a lot from the body. Mere physical strength isn't enough. Even if I forge an unbreakable sword with Kido, without superb technique, I still can't hit anyone."
That's right.
What he used just now was not Shichisen, but Yuisen.
A true iaido technique.
No longer using drawing the sword as a medium for casting a spell.
Retsu Unohana was able to react correctly precisely because she discerned the difference between the two.
Shimiya Takeru's recent progress in Kido was to master this move as quickly as possible.
"Forging an unbreakable sword with Kido… a very apt description, and it is indeed not as simple as combining Kido and swordsmanship."
Retsu Unohana was slightly lost in thought, recalling that indescribable "flash" that was completely invisible for a split second, only vaguely perceived through spiritual pressure.
"Yuisen… huh?"
If one merely attached Kido to a sword to complement swordsmanship in an attack, it would not fundamentally differ much from a Zanpakuto's Shikai. However, Shimiya Takeru's Yuisen was entirely different.
From the movement to the sword swing, every step was swordsmanship, and at the same time, it was a ritual that constituted Kido. Through a complete ritual, an unbreakable slash was unleashed.
It was both Kido and swordsmanship.
The stronger the Kido, the stronger the slash's power.
The stronger the swordsmanship, the higher the slash's precision.
It broke the boundaries between Kido and swordsmanship, possessing two different natures, a complete product integrated into one.
This was an unknown realm that no one in Soul Society had ever paid attention to, let alone set foot in, for millions of years.
Although still nascent, it was already dazzling to the extreme.
As long as the blade continued to be honed, one day it would surely cut through what pure swordsmanship could not, and overcome what pure Kido could not, making everyone turn their heads and feel a tremor in their hearts.
Retsu Unohana even had an absurd thought at this moment.
If swordsmanship had an ultimate form… it might be something similar to this stance.
"This trip has truly been full of rewards, all thanks to Si Gong student."
Of course.
Retsu Unohana didn't just say it.
After composing herself, she genuinely taught the training methods related to iaido, as she had promised.
These were secrets that would not be passed down in Human World martial arts schools.
But for Retsu Unohana, they were as if they cost nothing.
Shimiya Takeru absorbed the experiences from his predecessors like a sponge, firmly committing them to memory even if he didn't understand their full intent, planning to slowly explore them later.
Time flowed like water, and in the blink of an eye, more than two hours passed.
The sky gradually darkened.
Retsu Unohana was also preparing to return home.
Shimiya Takeru and Ichigo specifically escorted the Fourth Division's Captain and Lieutenant to the entrance of the Spirit Arts Academy.
"If you have time in the future, Si Gong student and Kurosaki-kun might consider visiting the Fourth Division. We shall take our leave now."
"Please wait a moment, Captain Unohana."
"Is there anything else, Si Gong student?" Retsu Unohana turned back, puzzled.
Ichigo and Isane also looked over.
"I owe you an apology," Shimiya Takeru said unexpectedly.
"To my knowledge, you are the most senior Captain, second only to the Captain Commander, and you are very knowledgeable. Therefore, it's impossible for you to have a shallow understanding of the Eleventh Division, as I suggested."