The outdoor arena set up by the Spiritual Arts Academy was structured somewhat like the Roman Colosseum.
In the center was the stage, surrounded by tiered seating for the audience.
Unohana sat together with Ayane Kotetsu and the others.
"Captain Unohana, I didn't expect Professor Katori to be able to invite you here. The 4th Division hospital must not be so busy now, I take it?" Head Professor Yamada said, making small talk.
"The patients have mostly been discharged, and there hasn't been much to do recently, so I came along to watch," Unohana said with a light smile.
Vice-Director Tsunayashiro watched on coldly, but Head Professor Nakano added fuel to the fire, deliberately asking:
"Vice-Director Tsunayashiro, the competition has already started. Why hasn't Professor Tokinada Tsunayashiro arrived yet?"
The Vice-Director forced a stiff smile. "Professor Tokinada was feeling unwell and went home to rest."
He was furious inwardly. Tokinada had gotten slightly offended in the morning and simply decided not to come.
The more he showed he cared, the more people would laugh at him!
Young people just can't keep their composure!
"Captain Unohana, the upcoming matches should be more exciting. That Kensei Muguruma is Professor Katori's disciple, and he even used his Shikai in a previous match. His opponent, Ichirō Madarame, is not weak either. He made it to the top eight in the last autumn assessment," Head Professor Yamada said, stroking his beard.
"Indeed. It is quite rare to see a Shikai in a student competition," Ayane Kotetsu also commented.
"To have already learned Shikai while still in the academy... it seems another genius is about to emerge," Unohana said with a smile.
...
On the stage—
"So bright!"
After stepping onto the stage, Kensei subconsciously raised his hand to shield his eyes.
Ichirō Madarame was bald.
Several veins bulged on his head. "What did you say?!"
"I meant the light..." Kensei hesitated for a moment, but decided against mocking someone's appearance. "The midday sun is very bright."
"Don't think I didn't understand you!" Madarame had a short temper and immediately drew his Zanpakutō. "Ichirō Madarame, at your service!"
Madarame's figure rapidly closed in. He didn't want to give Kensei a chance to use his Shikai. Once Kensei released his Shikai, he would have no chance of winning.
Just then, Kensei also swiftly drew his Zanpakutō, and a flash of sword light rose with it.
"Katori Style: Senmai Oroshi!"
Madarame's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly stopped his advance and swung his sword to block.
He had watched the match between Kensei and Sōjun Kuchiki. As a spectator, he had also felt that Kensei's sword strikes were fierce and swift.
But only now, after experiencing Kensei's attack firsthand, did he truly understand what Sōjun had been facing at that time!
Kensei's sword was like a drizzling rain, fine and dense, falling without end.
Clang clang—pfft—clang clang clang—pfft—
His Zanpakutō was like a worn-out, leaky umbrella. The dense raindrops poured through the gaps; it was impossible to block them all!
Clatter—
Ichirō Madarame's Zanpakutō fell to the ground.
The injury to his wrist made it impossible for him to hold his sword steady, and the wound on his leg prevented him from standing firm. His entire body pitched forward.
Thud—
Kensei sheathed his sword. Madarame collapsed to the ground.
An instant takedown!
Kensei's strength was already on a completely different level from the vast majority of the students!
"Kensei Muguruma is the winner!"
Sora announced the result of the match. Two 4th Division members came onto the stage to carry Madarame away for treatment.
After Kensei stepped down from the stage, he was greeted by the cheers of his friends.
"So strong, big brother Kensei! You beat Ichirō Madarame in one move. This must be what the professor calls an 'instant takedown'!" Jin'emon Tsubaki said excitedly.
"'Senmai Oroshi' is really amazing. It's a shame I still couldn't learn it before the assessment began," Shinji Hirako said with a look of regret.
"I feel like Kensei's sword has gotten a bit faster?" Kana Azashiro commented.
"It's been like this since I learned Shikai. My Shikai manipulates wind, which has deepened my understanding of sword speed," Kensei said, rubbing the back of his head.
"Amazing, amazing! I hope we can all meet in the semifinals!" Kana Azashiro said, rubbing her hands together in anticipation.
After a long silence, the audience began to murmur amongst themselves.
"Isn't this the failure who got knocked out in the first round of the last assessment? How did he suddenly get so strong?" said a student who didn't know the full story.
"Didn't you watch his last match? The guy has already learned Shikai!"
"What! He learned Shikai? I must have been in the medical station during his match, I didn't see it... It's incredible. How could a failure learn Shikai so quickly?"
"You're still calling him a failure? Didn't you see how amazing his swordsmanship is? He didn't even use his Shikai just now!"
"Unbelievable, that someone from Class Two could be this strong..."
Although many people had some expectation of Kensei's strength, his performance was still astonishing.
Ichirō Madarame was not weak, and it wouldn't have been surprising at all if he had made it to the top eight. Yet now, he was taken down by Kensei in a single move.
Unohana was also very surprised. "Lord Katori's disciple has learned 'Senmai Oroshi' as well... Lord Katori really has a talent for teaching."
Unohana was formerly the first Kenpachi, calling herself Yachiru. She was the Shinigami who had mastered the most sword styles and had a deep understanding of the Katori style.
She naturally knew that "Senmai Oroshi" was a very difficult technique to learn within the Katori style.
It was truly a feat for Kensei to have mastered it.
Ayane Kotetsu proposed, "For this assessment, we should make sure these two students who have learned Shikai avoid each other. It would be too much of a pity if one of them were eliminated early."
"I agree."
"If these two were to decide the winner in the finals, it would be a legendary tale."
"Then let's change the drawing rules. They should also be kept from facing opponents they've already drawn."
"Good idea."
In just a few words, they finalized the drawing rules for the subsequent matches.
"Vice-Director Tsunayashiro, do you have any objection to this proposal?" Ayane Kotetsu asked.
"None. Let's do it that way." The Vice-Director was no longer sure if Sōjun Kuchiki could win if he faced Kensei Muguruma again.
If Sōjun failed to reach the finals, Tokinada's chronic absenteeism would be magnified infinitely. The Kuchiki family would probably step in and have Tokinada expelled from the academy. It was better to just let them avoid each other.
After a series of blows, the Vice-Director couldn't help but lower his expectations.
The most urgent task now was to protect Tokinada's position.
As for the competition for the head of the Swordsmanship Department, so what if he let Katori Sora hold the position for a while?
The Vice-Director was well aware of how the previous Vice-Director had died.
"Truly useless mud that can't be plastered on a wall..." The Vice-Director felt a headache coming on as he thought about having to alter Tokinada's attendance records every day.
The lineup he had arranged for Tokinada was already luxurious.
The next head of the Kuchiki family, the next head of the Ōmaeda family, a promising rookie from the Amanokado family, and a host of descendants from other martial-focused noble families—all had been arranged for Tokinada.
To start with such a huge advantage, a handful of aces, and he still managed to play his cards this badly!
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