Uchiha Puppet Master, Starting from One Piece

Just a moment ago, the Sharingan clearly captured the trajectory of her sword strike, but the body's reaction was a beat too slow.

Or rather, it wasn't that his reaction wasn't fast enough, but rather that Retsu Unohana's swordplay, though seemingly gentle, actually timed every movement precisely to coincide with the gaps in his power, as if she had anticipated all his responses. It was an instinct honed through years of swordsmanship, a combat intuition etched into the very bones of Soul Society's premier swordsmanship.

Unohana Retsu took a step forward, her steps as light as if she were walking on clouds, but her aura suddenly changed.

The gentle aura dissipated, replaced by a deep, oppressive killing intent, a demonic aura that clung to one's bones, making it hard to breathe.

Her Zanpakuto was slightly raised, the blade reflecting the sunlight, giving Bai Yu the illusion that he was being targeted by a hunter. It wasn't that he was hunting her, but that he had been in her hunting circle from beginning to end.

Bai Yu gritted his teeth, never expecting that the Grim Reaper could also use his aura to achieve an illusion-like effect.

Then, he gripped the sword with one hand, layers of Armament Haki enveloping the blade, turning it a deep black. This time, he no longer probed; his figure shot out like an arrow, the Kusanagi sword dancing with an impenetrable array of sword shadows. Hidden within these shadows were three deadly thrusts—the Swallow Return technique. The speed was so fast that it left behind afterimages, even cutting through the surrounding air with a whistling sound.

"Not bad, but it looks too complicated."

A hint of approval flashed in Retsu Unohana's eyes, but she remained calm.

Her figure weaved through the shadows of swords, her steps light yet precise to the millimeter. Every sword strike from Bai Yu grazed her clothes, seemingly so close yet never able to touch her.

The Sharingan spun wildly, analyzing her footwork. The footwork seemed to have no rules, but it was full of the philosophy of battle, like flowing water avoiding stones and a gentle breeze circling a tree. No matter how fierce Bai Yu's sword strikes were, they could be easily dodged.

Suddenly, Unohana Retsu stopped in her tracks.

Just as Bai Yu thought he had found her weakness and was about to pierce her heart with his sword, her wrist suddenly sank down, and the blade of her Zanpakuto slashed along the ground. A pale white energy burst from the blade and rushed along the ground toward Bai Yu's ankle.

When Bai Yu realized what was happening, it was too late to stop. He could only gather his energy and lightly tap his toes in mid-air to avoid the force of the energy. But this pause completely exposed his weakness.

Retsu Unohana's figure followed closely, closing in on him. The hilt of her Zanpakuto lightly struck Shiraha's wrist, without using any brute force, yet precisely hitting his nerve endings.

"Bang……"

With a soft thud, a dull thud from the wrist bone, Bai Yu felt a sudden numbness and weakness in his right wrist, and the Kusanagi sword almost slipped from his hand. He instinctively tried to catch it with his left hand, but a flash of cold light appeared before his eyes, and the tip of the Zanpakuto's blade was already pressed against his throat. The icy touch against his skin carried a chilling sharpness; if it had moved forward even half an inch, it would have pierced his carotid artery.

All the movements froze at this moment.

Bai Yu's body froze on the spot, the crimson of his Sharingan gradually faded, and the tomoe slowly stopped spinning. He looked at Unohana Retsu in front of him. Her breathing was still steady, and there was even a faint smile on her face. Her hand holding the sword was as steady as Mount Tai, without the slightest tremor.

Looking at myself, my forehead was covered in cold sweat, my back was soaked with sweat, my arms were sore and numb, my hands were still throbbing, and even my breathing was rapid and labored.

The difference is like heaven and earth.

That's outrageous! Retsu Unohana's swordsmanship is ridiculously strong. If she didn't use Haki, Retsu Unohana's swordsmanship would far surpass Mihawk's.

Indeed, the longer you live, the more you learn...

Even though Retsu Unohana's body has not yet returned to its peak, even though she only used swordsmanship from beginning to end and did not use Kido, did not release the Shikai of her Zanpakuto, and did not even use her real killing move, he still lost without any chance to fight back in terms of swordsmanship.

Retsu Unohana slowly sheathed her Zanpakuto, the blade returning to its original position, emitting that soft, cicada-wing-like ringing sound.

She looked at Bai Yu's hands hanging by his sides, her tone still gentle: "Bai Yu-jun's swordsmanship is already excellent enough, but your abilities aren't entirely in swordsmanship, are they? I must see it for myself sometime."

Bai Yu looked down at her wrist, the tingling and numbness gradually subsiding.

"I lost."

He raised his head, the fighting spirit in his eyes had not dissipated, but instead had become more intense, the excitement of becoming stronger when facing a stronger opponent: "Okay, Sister Hua, but we have quite a few people here who need your guidance on swordsmanship."

Upon hearing this, Retsu Unohana chuckled softly, her eyes crinkling into a smile, a stark contrast to the fierce and powerful swordsman she had just been: "I'm really looking forward to instructing you all."

Meanwhile, on the Dawn Ship outside the deserted island, Rangiku's hand, holding a sake jar, froze in mid-air, the excitement in her eyes stiffening. She then smacked her lips, gulped down a mouthful of sake, and mumbled, "They lost already? This is the first time Shiraha has lost so decisively."

Robin gently patted Connor's head, his gaze falling on the two figures on the deserted island, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes: "It's not that Bai Yu isn't strong enough, it's that Unohana-senpai's swordsmanship has reached the realm of returning to simplicity. Bai Yu couldn't possibly be a match for Captain Unohana based solely on swordsmanship."

"Robin!"

"Hmm? What's wrong, Rangiku?"

Hearing the chaos calling her name, Nico Robin was a little confused. Why was Rangiku so serious?

"I want to learn kendo from Captain Unohana! Come with me!"

For the first time, Robin saw a gleam of energy in Rangiku's eyes.

With the end of the battle—no, it should be said that the lesson ended.

At this moment, the deck of the Dawn was refreshed by the sea breeze, and the daylight shone on the wooden deck, making Unohana's plain white haori appear even more gentle, a stark contrast to the deep and murderous aura she had just exuded on the deserted island.

She stood in the center of the deck, with Shiraha, Robin, and Rangiku in front of her. Asauchi leaned casually to her side, her gaze sweeping over the three of them: "Are you serious? You really want to learn my swordsmanship? Once you start learning, there's no turning back!"

"Yes, I'm sure!"

"it is good."

"The way of the Grim Reaper's sword, as you can see from my fight with Shiraha, is not simply about slashing and thrusting, nor is it about pursuing the ultimate speed and power, but speed and power are still indispensable."

Retsu Unohana's voice was soft yet clear enough to reach everyone's ears: "The swordsmanship you see is merely a form; some are for killing more quickly, while others are for greater power."

Seeing the three of them staring intently at her, Retsu Unohana smiled and continued, "In Bleach, true swordsmanship is the harmony between the heart and the sword, the synchronization between the asauchi and the soul. This is different from the black power that envelops your sword, Shiraha-kun. Your power is like an outer armor, making the sword harder and more indestructible. But the swordsmanship of Bleach is about letting the power of the soul emerge from the depths of the sword. Only by learning Shikai and Bankai can you unleash the true power of the sword. This is the difference between Bleach and this sea."