Chapter 87: Yamabuki Haruto vs. Unohana Yachiru

Yamabuki Haruto was dozing in the administrative office of the Gotei 13 when a deafening explosion from the Central 46 Chambers jolted him awake. His heart raced as he scrambled to his feet, eyes wide with alarm.

“What in the Soul King’s name? A Quincy invasion?” Haruto muttered, shaking off his grogginess. He glanced toward the Central 46 Chambers, where a tricolor surge of Reiatsu tore through the sky, collapsing half the structure in a cascade of rubble. “That’s… intense. No time for gawking, Haruto—move!”

With a burst of Shunpo, he sped toward the chaos, his haori—emblazoned with the kanji for “strategy” rather than a squad number—flapping behind him. Known for his sharp mind and recent success in Seireitei’s commercial ventures, Haruto was no ordinary Shinigami, but even he felt a chill at the scale of this disturbance.

The Central 46 Chambers were a scene of carnage. The once-mighty sages, paragons of Soul Society’s authority, were reduced to a pathetic spectacle. Half lay dead, their blood staining the stone floor, while the survivors wailed, their dignity shattered. Yanagi Junrei lay crumpled, his Reiatsu faint, his combat ability spent. Saitō Furofushi, battered and panting, glared defiantly at Retsu Unohana, the first Kenpachi, whose serene demeanor masked a terrifying bloodlust.

Unohana stood unscathed, her Zanpakutō, Minazuki, gleaming despite her clash with two captain-level opponents. Her reputation as the “Sword of Death” preceded her, a legend forged in the blood-soaked fields of the Zaraki District. “Call forth your strongest,” she said, her gentle tone laced with menace. “Or you will all perish.”

Saitō gritted her teeth, her Shikai, Kagero, flickering weakly in her grip. “If the Captain-Commander were here, you wouldn’t be so smug,” she spat, her strength waning.

Unohana raised Minazuki, its blade glinting with lethal intent, aimed at Saitō’s chest. Saitō braced for the end, her body too broken to resist. But as the sword descended, a blur intervened, and Saitō vanished from Unohana’s reach.

“Made it just in time,” a young voice declared.

Unohana’s eyes narrowed as she faced the newcomer: Yamabuki Haruto, cradling Saitō in one arm, his Zanpakutō drawn in the other. He surveyed the carnage with a grin. “Who did this? Honestly, it’s about time someone knocked these Central 46 snobs down a peg.” His tone was gleeful, though his eyes remained sharp, assessing the chaos.

“Yamabuki Haruto!” a sage cried, clinging to hope. “Kill this madwoman!”

Haruto’s grin faded as he recognized Unohana. A chill ran through him. “Unohana Yachiru… the first Kenpachi.” Memories of the corpse-strewn Zaraki District flashed through his mind—her handiwork, no doubt.

“Can you move?” Haruto asked Saitō, his tone steady despite the gravity of the situation.

Saitō smirked through her pain. “No problem—ow!” She winced, her body riddled with wounds.

Haruto’s hands glowed faintly as he channeled Kaido, the healing Kidō, to mend Saitō’s injuries just enough to stabilize her. “Didn’t expect you to be the one saving me,” she muttered, a faint blush on her cheeks.

“You owe me twenty-nine days of paperwork,” Haruto quipped. “Can’t let you die yet. Take Yanagi and get out of here. I’ll handle this.”

Saitō’s eyes widened. “Are you insane? Even together, we couldn’t touch her. You’re no match!”

“Don’t underestimate me,” Haruto replied, his confidence unshaken. He turned to the cowering sages. “You lot, clear out now. Seal off the area—fifteen kilometers, no less. No one enters until this is over. If anyone gets caught in the crossfire, it’s on you.”

The sages, desperate for survival, scrambled out, barking orders to nearby Shinigami to erect a massive barrier around the Central 46 Chambers. Unohana watched silently, her expression unreadable, as the area emptied until only she and Haruto remained.

“Are you the Gotei 13’s strongest?” Unohana asked, her voice calm but piercing.

Haruto shook his head, gripping his Zanpakutō, Silver Angel. “Just a strategist, Chief of Staff for the Gotei 13. There are plenty stronger than me, but they’re not here. So, you get me.” His haori, marked with the kanji “Mou” for strategy, fluttered as he squared his shoulders.

Unohana’s eyes flickered with disappointment. His Reiatsu was formidable, on par with Saitō and Yanagi, but far from her own. “One strike should suffice,” she murmured, vanishing in a burst of Shunpo.

Her blade descended toward Haruto, but he vanished, reappearing at her side. “Reversal, Silver Angel!” he called, and his Zanpakutō flared with a blinding, silvery light, its Shikai enhancing his speed and precision with radiant bursts of energy. The blade grazed Unohana’s cheek, leaving a faint red line. Unohana’s eyes widened as she dodged, the blade missing her by inches.

“Almost had you!” Haruto grinned, but his expression turned feral. His Shikai surged, its radiant glow amplifying his Shunpo to near-untraceable speeds, each slash shimmering with angelic brilliance.

Unohana matched him effortlessly, her own Shunpo faster, her swordsmanship deadlier. Their blades clashed in a flurry, each strike a blur of motion. They swapped positions in an instant, sparks flying as their Reiatsu collided.

Haruto grimaced, blood seeping from a deep gash on his shoulder. “Fast sword,” he muttered, clutching the wound.

Unohana, however, was surprised. A shallow cut marred the back of her hand—minor, but the first injury she’d sustained in years. Haruto’s speed and skill were unexpected.

Then, to her astonishment, Haruto’s wound began to close. His hands glowed with Kaido, healing the gash in seconds. “What kind of ability is this?” Unohana asked, intrigued.

“Just Kaido, standard Shinigami healing Kidō,” Haruto said with a smirk. “Want to learn? I could teach you.”

His confidence was unshaken, his Reiatsu steady. Unohana’s lips curved into a rare smile. This young strategist was more than he seemed. The battle was far from over, and for the first time in ages, she felt the thrill of a worthy opponent.