Naruto: This Genius is Somewhat Ordinary-Chapter 425

Blood dripped steadily from Unohana’s blade, splashing onto the ground below.

The underground prison, a place that had never known light, was swallowed by red. In an instant, the space seemed to transform, as though the prison itself had been dragged into a boundless sea of blood. The sight was overwhelming, instinctively terrifying.

Fujimoto Tōma watched calmly.

Across from him, Unohana stood amid the crimson tide. The wounds left by his Wild Rain Slash were closing at a visible speed, flesh knitting together as if the injuries had never existed.

"So it still heals," Tōma muttered, mildly surprised. "Even though it looks like something out of a nightmare."

He sliced his own palm open with a thread of chakra and watched the cut seal itself just as quickly.

...His wounds were healing too.

Was that intentional? Or something she couldn’t fully control?

If it was the latter, then this space was effectively endless. As long as Unohana maintained her Bankai, neither of them would bleed out from ordinary injuries. Killing the other would require a single, decisive strike.

"A pretty good battlefield," Tōma said, smiling. "I get why someone like you would create this."

Unohana was smiling too. Not gently. Joyfully.

"This is my Bankai," she said. "Now then, Vice-Captain... shouldn’t you stop holding back?"

Tōma didn’t answer.

Going all out wasn’t possible. Not yet.

But there was no reason to hide anymore.

He flicked a finger against the spine of his blade. A clear, ringing sound echoed across the blood-soaked space.

"Bankai..."

Unohana’s pupils contracted.

Bankai?

He had only graduated recently. And yet... it wasn’t impossible. The Tenth Division had a prodigy who awakened Bankai almost immediately after joining the Gotei 13. Compared to that boy, Tōma’s talent was no weaker.

Her smile deepened.

Good.

At least this wouldn’t be Bankai versus Shikai.

"Bankai," Tōma said calmly.

"Sever All."

Power erupted.

The pressure exploded outward, violent and unrestrained. The blood sea churned as if struck by a storm, forced back by sheer presence alone. This was no longer suppressed, no longer restrained.

Unohana stared.

For a moment, she thought she was seeing him again.

That old man.

That overwhelming presence that no one could surpass.

Even Zaraki fell short.

And yet, from this young vice-captain, she felt the same oppressive weight.

"This level of pressure..." she murmured.

She didn’t ask how. Secrets didn’t matter.

All that mattered was the battle.

The pressure withdrew, condensing completely. Strangely, Tōma’s appearance hadn’t changed at all. His blade remained the same.

But the danger was unmistakable.

This Bankai wasn’t about transformation.

It simply was.

Tōma stood on blackened ground, the blood sea unable to approach him. His mind was clear, his perception sharp. The world felt... transparent.

They met in the center.

The clash resumed, stripped down to raw swordplay once more.

Only this time, Tōma dominated.

Unohana’s eyes widened as she realized something was wrong. His swordsmanship hadn’t just improved, it had leapt forward entirely. Every angle she attacked from was dismantled effortlessly.

And the force behind his strikes...

Too heavy.

Then she noticed it.

He was matching her.

Deliberately lowering his strength to her level.

Her breath caught.

She saw it again.

Zaraki Kenpachi, as a child.

Back then, she had drawn him in while cleansing Soul Society. They had both been searching for opponents. Both intoxicated by battle.

But she was too weak.

To fight her, Zaraki had unconsciously sealed his own strength, layer by layer, until he could finally lose.

And that loss had broken him.

The seal never lifted.

Her Bankai existed to undo that mistake.

And now—

Once again—

Someone was holding back because of her weakness.

Something inside Unohana shattered.

She abandoned defense entirely.

Her attacks became reckless. Savage. Pure offense.

Tōma was caught off guard for an instant, then adapted, carving deep wounds across her body.

They healed instantly.

This was her Bankai.

As long as she wasn’t killed outright, every injury vanished.

Tōma frowned... then smiled.

"Then I won’t worry about hurting you."

He shifted seamlessly between his First and Second Forms, evading with lightning speed and countering with pinpoint precision. Unohana endured it. Even counterattacked.

Tōma felt his entire body trembling with exhilaration.

This was it.

A battle without restraint.

Suddenly, his instincts screamed.

Danger.

He froze mid-step and twisted his body into an awkward slash.

Clang!

His blade struck a hidden weapon.

A sleeve blade.

Unohana’s sword followed immediately after—

But a black seal bloomed beneath her feet.

A massive black cuboid slammed shut around her, pierced by countless dark blades.

"Way of Destruction: Ninety – Black Coffin."

A chantless cast. Barely a third of its full power.

Enough.

Tōma retreated as Unohana shattered the prison of darkness.

"That was close," he admitted. "That blade was nasty."

Without instinct, he would’ve been skewered.

"You can’t die here," Unohana said quietly, sighing. "Vice-Captain."

Her best opening had failed. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"That was your last shot," Tōma said. "Continue?"

She shook her head.

"I’ve already lost. I couldn’t force you to go all out... and I couldn’t wound you."

She sheathed her blade.

The blood sea collapsed, dissolving back into the cold stone of the underground prison.

"I’m sorry," she said softly. "I couldn’t satisfy you."

Tōma shook his head, smiling.

"I had a great time."

She hesitated, then asked tensely, "Your power... you can still use it fully, can’t you?"

She was afraid.

Afraid of another Zaraki.

"Of course," Tōma said, confused. "I was just matching you. I didn’t throw anything away."

Relief washed over her.

"That’s good."

Tōma tilted his head. "Did someone really seal their own power in battle?"

"Not seal," she corrected quietly. "They locked it away. Unconsciously."

"...That’s impressive," Tōma muttered.

She told him everything.

"The Eleventh Division’s captain," Tōma said slowly. "Zaraki Kenpachi."

Now it made sense.

Tōma smiled faintly.

When he unlocks that... that’ll be something.

He’d keep an eye on him.

"Captain," Tōma asked, "can we spar again sometime?"

"You already surpassed me," she replied. "Why?"

"In fundamentals, I’m still worse," he said honestly. "I want to learn."

Unohana smiled gently.

"Then I’ll teach you."

She rebraided her hair, hiding the scar once more.

They left the underground prison together.

This time, she followed behind him.

Watching his back, Unohana smiled.

For the first time since Zaraki sealed himself...

She felt truly happy.

This time, she would sharpen herself again.

Not to unlock someone else.

But to someday stand before Fujimoto Tōma—

And make him fight at full strength.

...

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