Marrying Unohana Retsu from Bleach

On the battlefield where Araki and Unohana Yachiru clashed, endless arcs of blade light filled the heavens and earth, dazzling the eyes of countless division members.

Apart from Yamamoto, who had taken his place on a high platform, silently observing the battle from the relatively intact rooftops nearby, the captains under his command and the Shinigami of the Thirteen Court Guard Divisions also bore witness to the fierce duel.

The scene left many in awe.

"Damn it! Where did this monster come from? To think someone could fight Captain Unohana, the 'Kenpachi,' on even footing and to this degree?"

"It's maddening! Compared to those two, our strength is laughably insignificant. There's no place for us in a battle like this!"

The first-generation members of the Gotei 13 stared at the combatants tearing through the ruins before them, cold sweat lining their foreheads. As Shinigami swore to protect the Seireitei, it was their duty to intervene in battles breaking out within its boundaries.

But now, standing on the fringes of this fray, they were keenly aware that any attempt to interfere would be suicide. The sheer pressure from the combatants' reiatsu alone was suffocating—a stark reminder of their own inadequacy.

"Aren't they ever going to tire?!"

One squad member frowned, squinting at the endless flashes of blade light that blurred the combatants' movements. The clash resembled a duel between two untiring beasts, their ceaseless reiatsu suffusing the battlefield and inducing dizziness in those too close to the epicenter. None of the division members dared approach, content instead to observe from a distance.

"This is ridiculous! Neither retreat nor intervention seems like an option. What are we supposed to do?" one frustrated Shinigami grumbled.

Their duty mandated action, yet the power gap rendered them utterly helpless. Falling back might breach protocol, but stepping in was tantamount to signing their own death warrant. The indecision gnawed at their sense of purpose.

"Forget it! It's not like we're paid enough to risk our necks for this. Let's just wait it out."

"Exactly. This level of combat has clearly caught the captains' attention already. If they aren't intervening, we have no business stepping in either."

Some among the more cynical of the group rationalized their inaction with pragmatic indifference. For them, ambition had never outweighed survival, and the division's rules were little more than an abstract notion.

Meanwhile, the fight between Araki and Unohana Yachiru was reaching a critical point.

"Clang!"

"Shhhhhhkkk!"

Another metallic crash rang out as their blades collided, sparks flying in all directions.

"Take this!"

Araki's arms bulged with veins as he brought his overwhelming strength to bear. Meeting Unohana's blade head-on, he swung his weapon with brute force, treating his sword like a flyswatter and sending her flying through the air.

"Thwack!"

Yet Unohana, light as a feather, corrected herself midair with a graceful twist, landing softly on the ruins a dozen meters away.

"No finesse. All power," Unohana muttered, gazing at her trembling hand, still recovering from their clash. Her brows knit in mild annoyance.

The gap between them was too narrow for safety; their reiatsu alone could annihilate anything within this radius. Yet it was enough distance to allow a moment's reprieve—a brief chance to catch their breath and plan their next move.

"It seems Yamamoto and the other captains have already arrived."

Araki's hand tightened around his Zanpakutō as he cast a sidelong glance toward the rooftops. Even in the heat of battle, he noticed his master among the onlookers: Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni, his most respected mentor.

Of course, the current Yamamoto was a far cry from the future legend—his head only partially bald, unlike the entirely smooth dome he would later be known for. Still, that imposing presence was unmistakable.

"Hmph," Yamamoto's sharp eyes narrowed as he seemed to sense Araki's gaze. Somehow, he knew his unruly but prodigiously gifted disciple was internally mocking him again.

"What are you looking at?! Don't forget, your opponent is me."

Unohana's icy voice cut through the tension, her displeasure evident. She had caught Araki's momentary distraction, her piercing gaze aiming to cut him down more effectively than any blade.

"You have the nerve to look away in the middle of our fight? Truly, you're an infuriatingly inattentive man."

"Not at all," Araki replied, snapping his focus back to Unohana. "I was merely ensuring there were no outside forces interfering with our duel. You have my undivided attention."

A faint smile played on his lips, but his tone carried a subtle gravity.

"Such a silver tongue," Unohana remarked coldly, her grip on her Zanpakutō tightening.

"Hmm?" Araki arched a brow, realizing that words held no sway over Unohana. The only way to earn her acknowledgment was through sheer, unrelenting force.

"Enough warm-up. It's time to get serious," Unohana declared.

She shifted her stance, holding her Zanpakutō horizontally before her. With her free hand, she traced the blade's edge, letting its razor-sharp surface slice open her palm. Blood dripped freely, staining the sword's length in vivid crimson.

"Oh? I was just starting to enjoy myself," Araki quipped, his tone playful even as his gaze hardened. The lighthearted façade belied the intense focus simmering within. He knew full well that Unohana was about to unleash her full might.

"Boom!"

Unohana's reiatsu erupted in an almost tangible wave, her silent reply to Araki's provocation. It was a clear signal: the battle was about to enter its true, decisive phase.

"Looks like I can't afford to hold back either," Araki murmured, his earlier flippancy vanishing as his reiatsu flared to life. The air around him warped under the overwhelming pressure as he prepared to meet Unohana's next move head-on.

From the rooftop, Yamamoto watched the scene intently. For the first time in years, a faint glimmer of emotion flickered across his stern visage.

The fight had only just begun.

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