Bleach: Watch Closely, This Is How You Use a Zanpakutō

By the time Masatsuki Aozaki accompanied Yoruichi Shihōin to the 4th Division the following evening, his mind was still somewhat distracted.

He wasn't some naive fledgling—he was a seasoned Zanjutsu prodigy who had seen his share of battles.

Under normal circumstances, last night shouldn't have been enough to shake his focus.

Could it be that Rangiku Matsumoto had somehow unlocked the power of the "Soul King's Nail"? That would be… disastrous.

Masatsuki rubbed his temple, feeling a headache coming on. He had a hunch that Rangiku might awaken some rather "unusual" abilities.

Beside him, Yoruichi walked through the dimly lit streets, clad in a black night-suit. She made no effort to conceal herself, moving with the confidence of someone who belonged wherever she went.

Now and then, a passing Shinigami recognized her, their expressions shifting in alarm before they hurriedly got out of her way. Clearly, her reputation as a troublemaker was well established.

Even wrapped in her stealth gear, Yoruichi exuded an undeniable charm.

Masatsuki glanced at her and asked, "Once we hand the hot spring over to Kisuke, when will we actually get to use it? I'd rather not wait until I've surpassed my master, only to find it's still just an empty pool."

"It shouldn't take more than a few years," Yoruichi replied in a low voice. "Kisuke has already studied most of the Urahara family's research. All he needs now is the real hot spring as a test subject."

"So where exactly is it?"

"In the safest and most dangerous place in the entire 4th Division—the captain's quarters. That's our target," Yoruichi said.

Safe and dangerous were relative terms.

For the 4th Division, the captain's quarters were the most secure location. But for intruders? It was the riskiest place to be.

"No wonder you needed me to distract Captain Unohana," Masatsuki said. "That just leaves one more problem—Lieutenant Seinosuke Yamada."

"That guy is practically Unohana's fanatical devotee."

Masatsuki had simply recalled a name from the original timeline, but Yoruichi took it as a deliberate heads-up and nodded.

"He's not the combat type. His Reiatsu is only at a Lieutenant's level. With his strength, he shouldn't be able to detect me."

Masatsuki shook his head slightly. "I trust you. But since we're almost at the 4th Division, shouldn't we at least pretend to follow protocol and split up here?"

Yoruichi rolled her eyes at him. "I'm off, then. And you—be careful. Don't let that woman, Unohana, train you to death."

"Uh…"

Masatsuki grimaced.

Everyone in the 4th Division had a loose tongue, so it was no surprise that even Yoruichi had heard about the humbling experiences he had suffered under Unohana's tutelage.

Then again, showing up unannounced in the middle of the night, claiming he wanted to practice Zanjutsu, might be a bit too suspicious.

Thinking it over, Masatsuki decided to take a different approach and doubled back.

"Hey, where are you going?" Yoruichi Shihōin asked.

"Just out to buy a few things. Wait for me outside the 4th Division," Masatsuki Aozaki said with a faint smile. "Don't act on your own—let me find Captain Unohana first."

"Alright." Yoruichi shrugged. "I'll wait for you there."

Masatsuki glanced around, his eyes lighting up as he spotted his target deep in the street.

...

A quarter of an hour later, he arrived at the 4th Division's gate, carrying a colorful assortment of flowers. He informed the Shinigami on duty before heading inside.

"Him? Buying that many flowers?"

Hidden in the shadows, Yoruichi narrowed her eyes in confusion.

"Captain Unohana is over a thousand years old... and he's thinking about this?"

She lay on the rooftop, watching Masatsuki's retreating figure. With a slight frown, she let out an irritated "hmph," unsure of who she was even annoyed with.

...

Led by a 4th Division Shinigami, Masatsuki was quickly guided inside.

Opening the dojo doors, Retsu Unohana gave him a curious look. "You seem quite popular..."

It took Masatsuki a moment to grasp her meaning, then he shook his head. "You've got it wrong. These aren't from a girl—I bought them for you."

Unohana tilted her head, studying him with an increasingly peculiar expression. "Between us, while we may not have the formal title of teacher and student, in practice, we are. Giving me these flowers…"

Her gaze drifted over the bouquet. Amidst the various blossoms, a pale pink branch stood out, its cherry blossoms delicate and charming.

"You seriously don't think there's anything odd about this?"

Masatsuki considered it for a moment before shaking his head. "Not really."

"I don't know much about flower arranging, and I wasn't sure which flowers you liked, so I just bought a variety. If there are any you don't like, let me know, and I won't get them next time."

Unohana froze for a second, then realized he had indeed bought an assortment—far from a romantic gesture. After all, no one expressing their feelings would include chrysanthemums.

Giving flowers might seem unusual to others, but for her, it was completely normal. Everyone in the 4th Division knew about her love for flower arranging...

Maintaining her usual smile, she spoke casually, "Why the sudden interest in giving me flowers? You've been learning Zanjutsu from me for so long, and I've never seen you give me anything."

Masatsuki remained silent, unsure how to respond.

He sensed a trace of irritation in her words but couldn't pinpoint its cause. He chalked it up to a reminder to show proper respect to his mentor.

To be fair, he did feel a bit guilty. He spent more time with Unohana than anyone else, yet he was closer to old man Yamamoto.

Anyone who valued their student would feel a little hurt being treated so differently.

Then again, Unohana always seemed to let a bit of killing intent slip while teaching him Zanjutsu. How could he possibly act as shamelessly around her as he did with Yamamoto?

Looking back, he realized he had probably misunderstood her. That killing intent might have been accidental during sparring. He should probably try to be closer to her.

"I've benefited from Captain Unohana's teachings so often, and now I'm troubling you again at this hour. These flowers are just a small token of appreciation," he said with a smile.

"I heard the 4th Division holds a weekly ikebana gathering. I was wondering if an outsider like me could join."

"You are the Captain-Commander's disciple—how could you be an outsider? If you're interested, you're welcome to participate."

Unohana shook her head, as if realizing it was pointless to get upset with someone so young. She soon found herself smiling again.

When it came to Zanjutsu, she had to admit—Masatsuki was starting to look more and more agreeable.

A man so dedicated to the way of the sword… Such individuals were rare, maybe even once in a lifetime.

Even the boy she encountered centuries ago paled in comparison to the man before her.

A fighter who relied purely on instinct could never compare to someone who truly walked the path of the sword.

For someone like her—who was willing to dedicate her life to the art—discussing Zanjutsu was a kind of deep, almost spiritual enjoyment.

And Masatsuki was someone who could bring her that joy. He wasn't just learning from her; he was providing insights in return.

Even the swordsmanship she once believed had reached its peak… Lately, she had begun to glimpse the possibility of further growth.

(40 Chapters Ahead)

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