After the Captain-Commander’s lecture, it was, as expected, Hakuda’s turn.
I had a really bad feeling about this…
In fact, I was certain this session wouldn’t go smoothly for me.
All I could do was grit my teeth and brace myself.
What other choice did I have?
Skipping class could get me demoted to a regular squad or even expelled entirely.
That would send my plans for an apprenticeship under Yamamoto, and my career in the Gotei 13 in general, straight to Hell.
I’d be left with no option but to train on my own until I mastered Bankai, then overthrow the captain and take his place.
Given that such a feat could take a couple of centuries, the prospect didn’t exactly seem appealing.
As I circled the room calmly along with the others, I kept a close watch on Kaito Kobayashi’s expression out of the corner of my eye.
He remained completely impassive, yet that was precisely what unsettled me.
That arrogant bastard was clearly up to something, I hadn’t the slightest doubt about that.
We lined up and began practicing new techniques.
That was when it all started.
Before I could even properly make a move, Kobayashi-sensei had already decided that my form was all wrong.
“Your stance is incorrect,” he snapped.
“If you spread your legs too wide, you’ll lose your balance.”
Before I could even correct myself, he swept my legs out from under me with lightning speed.
Caught off guard, I failed to brace for the fall and slammed hard onto my back, the impact knocking the wind right out of me.
“What was that?..” I wheezed, staring up at the high ceiling.
“A practical example,” Kobayashi explained indifferently.
“With footwork like that, you’d be taken down in a heartbeat in a real fight.”
And that was just the beginning.
Knees bent at the wrong angle, hands held too low, lunges lacking snap…
and a whole heap of other criticisms.
If he had simply corrected my mistakes with words, I would have quietly taken them on board and carried on.
Even if he’d beaten me up once, I could have endured it.
But no, that wasn’t enough for him.
It wasn’t even painful, mostly just humiliating and exhausting.
Of course, other students took their fair share of abuse too, so it wasn’t as if he was singling me out…
though who would dare tell him that?
Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that today I was serving as a living training dummy.
Nobles might get a dry remark, and the clanless a couple of painful jabs, but I had the “honor” of demonstrating to everyone exactly how not to do things.
It was a miracle I hadn’t unlocked some new skill with a ridiculous name like “Roly-Poly Toy”, one that let you pop right back up after every fall.
There hadn’t been a notification, but it was worth checking…
just in case.
The Hero’s Diary had a peculiar sense of humor.
By the end of the session, even a couple of aristocrats were shooting puzzled glances at Kobayashi.
One had to wonder.
What exactly had that poor student done to get on his bad side?
Still, all his corrections were genuinely valid.
My skills were improving.
Was it worth it?
I wasn’t sure.
Probably not.
It actually seemed to me that the reason for his nastiness wasn’t even the loss at dice, but rather that ridiculous attempt of mine to become his apprentice.
Now he was doing his utmost to prove that I was nowhere near ready for that role.
Well, so be it.
As the saying goes, don’t bite off more than you can chew…
or you might just get your teeth knocked out.
“Get up,” Kobayashi commanded lazily, after sending me sprawling onto the floor yet again.
Once again, I rose tirelessly, meeting his gaze.
“Surprisingly, you learn quite fast,” he unexpectedly admitted.
“But my talent still doesn’t meet your criteria, I suppose, Sensei?” I smirked.
He merely snorted dismissively, not deigning to answer me.
Perhaps I shouldn’t provoke him further?
Yet, after that, he simply forgot about me for the rest of the lesson.
Of course, he still corrected my mistakes, but without his former enthusiasm.
Then again, it doesn’t matter anymore.
Even if he hasn’t cooled off, I’ll manage to get through these six years somehow.
Will I try to show humility or remorse?
Not a chance.
From the very beginning, he treated me with more disdain than any other teacher.
Let him be angry all he wants.
I simply set things right.
When the lesson ended and we left the room, I glanced back one last time.
Kobayashi was watching us go with a look of satisfaction.
But when our eyes met, his brows furrowed slightly.
“Do you need special permission, Kaoru?
You’re dismissed.”
“No, Sensei, I’m leaving now,” I said with a smirk, shaking my head.
One way or another, I improved, and at a rapid pace, too.
Ultimately, he simply devoted more time to my development as a teacher.
That was exactly what I had been aiming for.
We’ll see who comes out on top…
Mark my words, Sensei.
You should not underestimate me.
…
During the next session, the old woman Miho suddenly decided to show her strict side, and fortunately, not just toward me.
After the usual run and warm-up, the whole group was managing, more or less successfully, to navigate narrow, elevated platforms.
At the very least, no one was falling off anymore.
Everything was going relatively smoothly until she gave a satisfied harrumph while looking us over and crossed her arms over her chest.
“All right, now let’s make the task more difficult.”
Before anyone could ask a question, she used Kido on us.
I felt my hands being firmly bound behind my back.
So, she can use Sai at that level without even chanting the incantation?
Unexpected.
“Start over,” she added serenely.
“And don’t even think about breaking free.
I’m watching you closely.”
We had no choice, so we climbed back onto the pillars.
Here they are, the First Class standards.
“What’s next?” someone muttered behind me.
“Are they going to tie our legs?”
“Just one leg, Seigen-kun, I’m not that cruel,” came the sensei’s instant reply.
Oh yes, banking on her poor hearing had been a mistake of fatal stupidity.
I didn’t even regret holding back the remark about the cruelty of the Gotei, which would order us to fight even if both our legs were amputated.
Then again, balancing with my hands tied wasn’t all that hard, it was just a matter of getting used to it.
Running across sand without leaving tracks, however, was still giving me trouble.
However, by watching the others, I gradually figured things out and improved.
By the weekend, I’d definitely be spending all my time at the Hoho training grounds.
I had a feeling a breakthrough was close at hand.
And then there was the meditation lesson, useless to me, or so I thought.
Aside from detecting presence, I also started practicing how to mask my own.
Who would have guessed that being around people so deeply lost in their own thoughts would help me hone that skill?
The guys, for instance, actually thought I hadn’t shown up at all.
Well, where would I be without the language education imposed on me?
Thankfully, at least they didn’t torment us without good reason here.
Yeah, it’s been a rough day.
There’s a limit to how much mental and physical fatigue skills can wash away.
I used to say I’d lose my appetite over something like this, but these days, hunger and I have a complicated relationship.
I’d even go so far as to call it my enemy, to quote King Arturia.
“Our young Hakuda instructor clearly took a dislike to you the moment he laid eyes on you.
But today was definitely crossing the line.
Don’t you think so, Kaoru-kun?” Kyoraku chuckled, eyeing my battered appearance.
“What exactly did you do to him?”
“Before?
Absolutely nothing,” I shook my head.
“But now?
It’s become personal.”
I gave a wry smile.
It’s unpleasant to be badgered for no reason.
So, I decided to give him a reason.
“Well?
And when did you manage it?
It’s only been a week,” the young rake pressed.
“If I told you, things would only get worse,” I sighed.
“But it was worth it.”
Given my circumstances, the winnings amounted to a tidy sum.
I could buy some decent clothes and live without denying myself anything for a while.
“I’ll find out anyway,” he said, narrowing his eyes.
“Hmm…
what could have upset him so much?
He has no wife, no daughter…
You didn’t promise to strip him of his title of Master, did you?”
“King of Souls forbid,” I automatically raised my hand to cross myself, but stopped in time.
Crosses were the symbolism of the Quincy, it was better not to take risks.
“I’ve done a lot of stupid things, but there are easier ways to commit suicide.”
“It hardly seems fair that he’s targeting you,” Ushoda interjected.
“True, but what can I do?
Complain to the Headmaster?
Life just isn’t fair, Hachigen,” I said, shrugging.
“If you want justice, you have to enforce it yourself.”
“Aren’t you afraid things might only get worse, Kaoru-san?” Ukitake asked.
“Well…
he’s not going to kill me, is he?
It’s really just a minor skirmish between us, a conflict of interest,” I exhaled, though I wasn’t entirely convinced by my own words.
“But thank you for your concern, Ukitake-san.”
That got me thinking.
If he actually acknowledged my progress, then he probably didn’t harbor any personal hatred toward me.
It was more likely just pride keeping him from backing down.
“By the way, I thought you never showed up at the mess hall on weekdays,” I said, returning Kyoraku’s jab.
“Did they start allowing alcohol in there or something?”
“If only, my friend,” he said, shaking his head with another sly grin.
“It’s just gotten a lot more interesting around here lately.”
I wondered what exactly he meant by that.
Meanwhile, my studies dragged on.
Unfortunately, there was no way to fast-forward through them with a quick training montage.
Man, it was getting boring.
Classes are classes, even at the Shinigami Academy.
My skills were improving, and my Grimoire was filling up with new Kido spells.
I hadn’t managed to master all of them to 100% during the lessons, so I updated my plans for the weekend.
Even Kaito had cooled off by the end of the week and stopped picking on me just for the sake of it.
Yet, something interesting did happen.
We finally had our introductory lesson in Kaido.
Usually, students only get this opportunity in their third year when choosing a specialization, but First Class enjoyed the privilege of learning everything at once, should they so desire.
The course was entirely optional, however.
Few Shinigami could master healing spells, and even those who succeeded weren’t always eager to devote extra time to the training.
Only a select few became experts in Kaido, so most simply opted out of studying it.
But not me.
What kind of Hero would I be if I possessed a Grimoire yet didn’t study magic?
The lesson took place during Takeda-sensei’s class, but he wasn’t the one leading it.
He merely joked that today he would be nothing more than an assistant to Ueno-dono.
Ueno-dono, referred to only by that title, turned out to be a middle-aged woman with messy dark-green hair, bags under her eyes, and slightly rumpled clothing.
She bore a certain resemblance to Kotetsu Isane, though she was shorter, thinner, and less shapely.
She gave the impression of someone who had just been dragged out of bed and kicked into work.
“Greetings, first-years.
Today, you will take your first step toward understanding Kaido,” she said, irritably adjusting her glasses, which had slid down her nose.
“Unfortunately, it isn’t a required subject…
yet this specific class is mandatory.
Those who wish to continue their training will need to sign up with me after the lesson.”
A quiet but audible sigh of relief swept through the hall.
Clearly, many did not envision a career in healing for themselves.
This was especially true of the nobles.
Resting on the instructor’s desk was a round sphere, reminiscent of the one used to measure the Reiatsu of incoming students.
Nearby, in a glass tank filled with an unknown solution, floated the snow-white leaves of a strange tree.
They appeared unnaturally symmetrical, almost artificial.
“To begin with, let’s clarify one important point,” Ueno continued, sweeping her gaze across the audience.
“If anyone thinks Kaido is merely magic, they are sorely mistaken.
It demands absolute precision in Reiatsu control.
A mistake can not only fail to help but actually cause harm.”
Paper slides displayed detailed illustrations of the grim consequences of improper Kaido usage.
Among them, ruptured blood vessels, burst eyeballs, and cardiac arrest stood out starkly…
“I don’t expect many of you to join the Fourth Division,” the teacher continued, noticing the look of dismay on some of their faces.
“But remember that in battle, Shinigami don’t just kill.
They also protect.
Imagine a comrade dying right before your eyes.
If you can’t save them, that thought will haunt you for the rest of your life.”
She glanced over the indifferent faces of most of the students and sighed.
“And if you don’t care about others,” she added wearily, “at least think of yourselves.
The ability to heal your own wounds in battle could save your life.”
Takeda-sensei handed the white leaves to the class representative, and they were distributed to everyone present.
To the touch, they were indistinguishable from real ones.
Soft, with veins and a stem, just like ordinary leaves.
“I assume you are already familiar with meditation,” Ueno continued.
“So, this shouldn’t pose any great difficulty for you.”
She placed her hand on the sphere, and it glowed with a brilliant light-green light.
“Takeda-sensei, if you please,” she said, gesturing for him to take over.
Haruki placed the sphere in the center of the room.
“Your task now is to channel your spiritual power into the leaf so that it glows with that same color.
Try to direct the energy smoothly and gently, do you understand?
Not by force.
That is the foundation of Kaido control,” Takeda explained.
“If it doesn’t work right away, don’t worry.
You’ll have plenty of time to try.
However, if anyone’s leaf withers, I will excuse them from Kaido training.
Any questions?”
“Why are you dismissing us, Sensei?” asked a young man, awkwardly twisting a dry leaf in his hand.
“Can’t I try again?”
“The reason is that students like that have a naturally overly aggressive Reiatsu,” he explained calmly.
“That doesn’t make learning Kaido impossible for them, but the patients, and in some cases, the caster themselves, can experience intense pain while wounds are being healed.”
“Even that happens,” I muttered.
I really hope that’s not the case for me.
“I have a question too, Sensei,” said a tall girl from the Kasumioji clan, raising her hand cheerfully.
“What is this orb for?”
“Just to illustrate the point,” Takeda smirked.
“You can touch it to feel what Reiatsu transformed into Kaido is like.
But don’t try to influence it with your own energy.”
He even winked at us.
That made some people visibly uneasy, given his sense of humor.
“Why?
It won’t explode, will it?” Hachigen asked nervously.
“No,” Ueno replied lazily, barely managing to prop her head up with her hands.
“It’s just that refilling it ten times a day is tedious and annoying.
So have some pity on your sensei.”
She was clearly waiting for a response from us, so the students, albeit reluctantly, murmured their agreement.
As I began the exercise, I was actually relieved that the leaf showed no noticeable reaction to my Reiatsu.
At least it hadn’t withered.
That meant this branch of magic wasn’t closed off to me.
Just as I’d suspected, the color of spiritual power in the Bleach world didn’t hold any deep, hidden significance.
Otherwise, possessing a red aura would have doomed me to failure.
Converting spiritual energy into Kaido turned out to be far more difficult than I had anticipated.
A full hour passed in fruitless attempts.
Others were struggling too.
Two more students had withered their leaves and were now idling away the time alongside that first guy.
Ukitake, Hachigen, and the class representative had all succeeded.
And Kyoraku?
That one “comrade” had fallen asleep right there in his meditation posture.
I was tired.
Exhausted, really.
So, I took a small risk.
A dozen people had already touched the sphere during the lesson, and it had only paled slightly.
That meant if I drew out just a tiny bit of energy…
nothing bad would happen, right?
I carefully touched the sphere with one finger and activated the Absorption.
Fortunately, my skill had long since allowed me to freely control the rate and flow of absorption, so I took only a metaphorical drop.
The sphere flickered but stabilized a second later.
Ueno frowned at the sphere, but seeing that it was holding up, she turned her attention back to her own tasks.
Takeda-sensei, however, was watching me closely.
It seemed he was expecting some noticeable results after my conspicuous manipulation of the instrument that stored Reiatsu.
Skill Acquired!
Spiritual Energy Conversion — F (27/100)
Wow, what a huge leap in progress.
It turned out to be much easier than I’d imagined.
Why did I waste a whole hour on this?!
Takeda grunted in satisfaction and turned his gaze to the next student, while I spent the rest of the lesson channeling energy into the leaf, leveling up my new skill.
If I understand the concept correctly, this is exactly what Kido incantations do for us, only directly.
If I can convert Reiatsu into healing energy, then…
why can’t I turn it into lightning or fire?
If there’s any merit to this theory, it feels like it might eventually allow me to learn that technique of Yoruichi’s.
Could I have really found the key to silent Kido or even Shunko?
While I was lost in thought, someone else decided to replicate my success and managed to extinguish the sphere.
A heavy sigh from Instructor Ueno made him slump his shoulders awkwardly.
Tough luck.