Bleach: Love and Bonds Make Me Stronger!

The moment the panel lit up before Makoto's eyes, he felt a strange reaction ripple through his body, mind, nerves, and senses.

The unrestrained edge that had poured forth like an unsheathed blade gradually receded, his surging battle lust tucked deep within his heart.

But it wasn't extinguished.

Rather, like a sword hidden in its scabbard through Iai or concealment techniques, this edge was sheathed, steadily building.

Unohana seemed to sense it too, her gaze brightening unconsciously.

This was the real Makoto.

In the heat of battle, he grew with every passing second, each swing of his blade transforming him, as if no bottleneck or barrier could ever hold him back.

That was what made him so… irresistible!

Unohana's emotions surged, her smile widening.

"Makoto-kun's Shikai isn't just at this level, is it?"

"I still remember what you said before."

Unohana stepped forward slowly, her voice gentle. "'Once I cross the threshold of Tier-3 Reiatsu, even Captain-Commander could be held at bay for a moment or two…' That's what you claimed, wasn't it?"

"If it's only at the level you've shown, that's far from enough."

Makoto's expression turned odd as he looked at Unohana.

Even his tone grew hesitant, almost troubled.

He sighed, somewhat helplessly. "If I had a choice, I'd really rather not use that move."

This wasn't a life-or-death battle or a blood feud demanding a kill.

Yet he'd have to risk social suicide!

No matter how he looked at it, the cost wasn't worth it.

The only silver lining was that, with his complete Shikai, his control over his Zanpakuto's abilities had reached a new level, giving him a few more options.

"Are you sure about this, Unohana-sensei?"

Unohana, however, met his gaze with an enigmatic smile, her voice soft. "To make Makoto-kun so worried, it seems I, as your teacher, still have much to improve."

"So… how about a wager?"

At the first half of her words, Makoto's body gave an involuntary shudder.

But as the second half landed,

"A wager?"

Unohana's smile faded, her gentle features turning cold, radiating a chilling killing intent. Her eyes seemed to churn with a sea of blood forged from countless lives, her voice flat as a still pond.

"I'll bet… you can't land a hit on me, Makoto-kun."

"Then I don't have a choice, do I?"

Makoto chuckled, his hand already resting on Oharai Gougi's slender blade.

[Playlife x Free World]

The words appeared before him in a format nearly identical to the system panel.

But unlike before, the label "World of Revelry" had shifted to "Free World."

Correspondingly, the "script" once forcibly dictated by his bastard Zanpakuto spirit now offered multiple options.

[Lesson Until Dawn]

[The Tutor's Too Spicy, I Can't Study Properly]

[Hidden Dojo]

[Hypnosis Academy!]

Like pop-up windows, the options flashed and danced before Makoto's eyes.

He could clearly feel that he could now choose, through his own will, which familiar world to enter.

Unfortunately, none of them were remotely proper.

At the same time, these illusory worlds no longer existed solely in their minds but projected into the real world.

The only mercy was that these "scripts" were visible only to the two of them.

As the wielder, Makoto could keenly sense every nuance of his Zanpakuto's evolution.

From the changing number of scripts, to the shift from fixed to optional, to the transition from Joyful World to Free World.

All of it pointed to one thing, Makoto's "authority" was growing.

If the initial "scripts" could be bluntly described as personal fantasies, reshaping only an imagined, illusory world in his mind…

Then, with the emergence of Sokushinteigi and Sakuingyakuka, Makoto was gradually gaining the ability to turn these "scripts" into a form of "reality."

He could feel it clearly.

Though his current strength limited these scripts to appearing only in the eyes of those affected…

If his power continued to grow…

These seemingly absurd, imagination-fueled scripts might one day be imbued with the concept of the world itself, allowing him to bend "reality" at will.

"World invasion… huh?"

"And all of them are hidden worlds. Give me a break."

Makoto sighed under his breath, but his fingertip settled on one script.

This… was the most suitable stage for facing Unohana.

The moment his finger confirmed the choice, his bastard Zanpakuto's playful, childish voice rang in both their ears.

[Free World: Hidden Dojo]

[Theme: Openness! Freedom! Exploration!]

[Setting: The undefeated dojo master, tempered by a thousand battles, has once again drawn a female swordmaster to challenge him.]

[Rules: You can choose to win and then dominate, or dominate and then win.]

[Note: Your beloved zanpakuto worried about your stamina!]

Unohana quietly observed the shifting scene before her.

From the moment Makoto first touched the power of his Shikai, she had imagined countless times what his inner world might look like, each vision more extravagant than the last.

But seeing this abrupt manifestation, Unohana realized her imagination and creativity still needed work.

The dojo's gates swung inward, revealing Makoto standing at the center of the wooden floor, eyes half-closed, his expression serene and detached.

Yet, on either side of the dojo, figures were bound and suspended by dark red ropes in bizarre, intricate patterns.

These individuals, mostly with exaggerated expressions, rolling eyes, and disheveled hair, were fixed in outlandish poses, as if deliberately showcasing their defeat. Their bodies occasionally twitched instinctively, the floor beneath them stained with dried marks.

At their feet, plaques noted their challenge duration and number of losses.

Unohana glanced at the plaque beneath one of the women to her side.

[7th Challenger: Rika Akasaki]

[Osaka Megami-ryū: Fully Licensed Master]

[Challenge Date: September 5]

[16 Moves]

It was as if the display was deliberately crafted to flaunt the dojo master's prowess through stark contrast.

Unohana's gaze flicked over it briefly, and when she looked at Makoto, her eyes carried a subtle, almost piercing emotion.

"Truly impressive, Makoto-kun."

"In every sense."

"…"

Makoto forced his eyes open, exhaling heavily.

His stoic, detached expression nearly cracked.

That damn bastard Zanpakuto.

Why don't you just kill me and be done with it?

If Unohana hadn't insisted on seeing this, he'd never have brought her to a place like this.

But…

Shing.

Makoto slowly drew his blade from his waist.

As the blade's edge gleamed, Unohana, momentarily distracted by the surroundings, finally noticed the intense shift in Reiatsu between them.

Makoto spoke, "Truth be told, I've wanted to know for a long time."

He raised his blade, its tip aimed at Unohana.

"If Sensei were on the same Reiatsu level as me, just how wide would the gap between us be?"

Almost as his words fell, a [3] materialized above both their heads.

"I see." Unohana murmured, slightly moved, glancing at her slender fingers. "It can forcibly balance our Reiatsu?"

"But…" Her gaze lingered on the "exhibits" lining the dojo's sides. "If I lose, will I end up like that?"

For the first time, Unohana, always an unfathomable iceberg adrift on the sea, showed a flicker of wariness and menace in her eyes.

Initially, from her perspective, she was merely testing her disciple's progress as his teacher.

But faced with this Shikai, even she had to tread with utmost caution.

No matter how little she cared for propriety or decorum, Unohana absolutely refused to end up like those figures on display.

Absolutely not!

Makoto said nothing more, holding his long blade horizontally before him, crouching slightly, his gaze locked on Unohana.

A blazing fire roared in his chest.

If he could defeat Unohana…

The [Bond of Affection] would be achieved, wouldn't it?

The mere thought ignited a fierce, inexplicable passion within him, growing ever stronger.

[All progress born of this desire will accelerate tenfold, a hundredfold, within the script!]

[For this is 'Its' world.]

In that moment, light flared in Makoto's eyes.

The wooden floor beneath him splintered, splintering backward.

A violent shockwave rippled from front to back.

Makoto's crouched form vanished, his body a black streak skimming the ground, charging toward Unohana.

His heart burned with nothing but the desire for victory… and passion!

Unohana's eyes flickered, her thin lips curling into a smile. Her left-hand dagger shot out like a dragon from her sleeve, slicing toward Makoto's neck without hesitation, forcing him to defend.

Her other hand's Asauchi traced a wavering crescent arc through the air.

Oharai Gougi's blade, over four feet long, held the advantage in reach, an inch longer, an inch stronger. Before Unohana's crescent blade could fall, Makoto's blade closed the distance, slashing at her wrist.

Clang!

The dagger parried, metal screeching.

Makoto raised his wrist in the same instant, using the middle of his blade to block the falling crescent, his feet weaving Shunpo to pass within inches of her.

The dual blades and ōdachi sparked a cascade of golden light in their friction.

In that fleeting pass, Unohana spun like a waltzer, using the momentum to flick her blades free. Her long and short weapons lashed out, aiming for Makoto's waist at point-blank range.

The blade's tip was knocked aside by the hilt's gilded guard.

As they turned to face each other, both master and disciple wore near-identical grins of exhilaration, clashing once more.

Even Unohana didn't notice how radiant her expression had become.

Though her opponent was a disciple she'd picked up on a whim;

Though her initial goal was merely to witness the Shikai he was so proud of;

Though she'd planned to let him grow further, to savor his peak when he was ripest…

Despite all the "thoughs."

Unohana could no longer hold back.

Blades flashed, sparks flew.

Their close-quarters combat ascended to near-artistic heights.

Every movement, every clash, every step was calculated instinctively, chosen with precision.

There was no extraneous reason.

A single misstep meant defeat, meant death.

Yet, the tighter this dance on the edge of life and death, the more it stirred the deepest recesses of Unohana's nerves, thrilling her, shaking her, making her feel, vividly, that she was alive!

This was the battle she craved!

A gamble with death as the stake, dancing with a worthy foe on a taut, high wire.

One slip, and she'd end up like those bound, defeated figures lining the dojo, trussed up like livestock.

If she lost to Makoto, with the terrifying desires he suppressed deep within, even she, his teacher, might not escape.

She might even become something… stranger.

The thought was unimaginable.

Unohana's eyes widened unconsciously, her pupils contracting sharply.

To lose would mean becoming Makoto's exclusive… servant.

Was this a twisted danger deeper than death itself?

It was…

So terrifying it set her blood ablaze!

This sensation!

How long had it been since she'd felt so exhilarated?

Indeed!

Unohana's lips curled uncontrollably, her dark eyes reflecting Makoto's fiery silhouette.

You are my choice.

Makoto.

Compared to the mundane pain, severed limbs, and death of countless battlefields… only a "monster" like you can deliver such a unique thrill!

Under this relentless, overwhelming emotional surge, Unohana didn't realize she had fully unshackled herself, fighting at Makoto's exact Reiatsu level.

All-out!

Or perhaps she had noticed but refused to pause for even a second.

More, more, more!!!

Don't stop, Makoto.

Not until I defeat you, or you defeat me!

Unohana was wholly immersed in Makoto's world, driven to push this battle to its most intense peak!

Instinctively, she opened her mouth, propelled by the thrill of combat, unleashing her Reiatsu to its zenith.

"Bankai! Minazuki!"

***

Bonus Chapter:

100 Power Stones = 1 BC

300 Power Stones = 2 BC

500 Power Stones = 3 BC

700 Power Stones = 4 BC

1000 Power Stones = 5 BC

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