The training grounds of Shin’ō Academy in Seireitei, Soul Society.
“This morning, we’ll be practicing slashing!” The teacher with the goatee pointed toward several dozen training dummies lined up behind him, all forged from solid iron.
He raised his voice toward the students of the Prodigy Class, who were gathered together in small groups, drawing their attention.
“When practicing a slash, the main things you need to develop are strength, precision, flexibility, reaction speed, and so on.
Now, pay attention to my movements!” After demonstrating several times, the goateed teacher pointed toward the row of training dummies.
“Your assignment today is to leave twenty sword marks on one of those dummies.
Anyone who finishes early can go back and rest.
We’ll gather here again this afternoon to practice Kidō (Demon Arts)!” “What?
That’s way too easy.” “They’re seriously underestimating us!” “…” The moment he finished speaking, dismissive complaints rose from among the students.
One boy stepped forward carrying an Asauchi.
“Sensei, I could split one of those things in half with a single strike!” “Then go ahead and try,” the teacher replied without the slightest concern.
The student snorted and walked up to one of the dummies.
Gripping his Asauchi tightly, he brought it down with all his strength.
The instant the blade struck the dummy, however, it was violently repelled without even slowing down.
Not the slightest mark appeared on its surface.
Seeing that, the goateed teacher burst out laughing.
“Idiot!
Did you really think sword training would be that easy?
Every one of these dummies is reinforced with Reiatsu (Spiritual Pressure).
Without enough strength and proper technique, you won’t even scratch them.
If you want to rest, start swinging!
Nobody gets a break until they’ve completed today’s assignment!” After hearing that, everyone selected a dummy and began practicing.
Even so, plenty of students had their blades knocked away.
Clang!
Clang!
The ringing of metal echoed continuously throughout the training grounds.
“Hahaha!
Now this is something I like!” Kensei Muguruma laughed loudly and swung his Asauchi horizontally.
Screech!
The sound of metal scraping against metal rang out, and a clear cut appeared across the dummy in front of him.
“Watch this!” Unwilling to lose, Hiyori Sarugaki leaped into the air and brought her Asauchi down with all her strength.
Another mark appeared on a dummy.
Kūkaku Shiba snorted and charged forward with her Asauchi, but her strike failed to leave even a scratch.
“Oh, this is troublesome.
I need to hurry.
If I can’t finish the assignment, I won’t have any time left for my research.” Kisuke Urahara scratched his head while complaining.
“Kensei, this thing is way too hard!” Mashiro Kuna pouted unhappily.
“Boring.” Lisa Yadōmaru was even more straightforward.
She picked up her book, walked off to the side, and didn’t spare the training dummies another glance.
Yoruichi Shihōin, meanwhile, stood in front of her dummy with an Asauchi in hand, staring at it with a troubled expression.
Swordsmanship had never been her strong suit.
Now, she didn’t even know where to begin.
Although Yoruichi was usually carefree and easygoing, she still possessed her own pride.
That pride would never allow her to back down.
Even if she couldn’t succeed.
Taking a deep breath, Yoruichi gritted her teeth, ran forward several steps with her Asauchi, and slashed at the dummy.
Clang!
A sharp metallic sound rang out.
The dummy remained completely unmarked.
Yoruichi’s Asauchi, however, now had a deep chip in its blade.
One more strike.
Just one more like that, and the sword would definitely break.
The training grounds immediately fell silent.
Several students who had also failed to leave a mark turned toward Yoruichi with expressions of barely concealed amusement.
“Yoruichi!” Kūkaku understood Yoruichi better than most.
And because she understood her, she was worried.
“I’m fine, Kūkaku.” Yoruichi shook her head and prepared to try again.
“Yoruichi-sama, stop.
Your heart has been unsettled ever since your last strike.” A cold voice, seemingly carved from unmelting ice, echoed across the training grounds.
The next instant, a figure suddenly appeared in front of Yoruichi.
“Shadow!” Yoruichi froze for a moment, then gritted her teeth.
“Shadow, move.” “In your current state, Yoruichi-sama, no matter how many times you try, you won’t accomplish anything.” Shadow stared directly at her as he spoke calmly.
“What the hell are you saying, Shadow?
Don’t you know that Yoruichi…” Hot-tempered Kūkaku rushed over and grabbed Shadow by the collar.
Shadow completely ignored her.
“Then what does Yoruichi-sama believe the heart is?” “…” Yoruichi lowered her head and fell silent.
“You still don’t understand.” Shadow brushed Kūkaku’s hand away and walked up to Yoruichi.
“Then, Yoruichi-sama, raise your head.
Close your eyes and tell me what you see.” “If I close my eyes, won’t I see nothing?” Yoruichi asked in confusion.
“Is that really so?” Shadow remained silent for a moment before speaking again.
“Yoruichi-sama, open your heart.” “My heart?” Yoruichi blinked.
“Close your eyes.
Open your heart.
Cast aside every distracting thought.
Understand your heart.
Observe it.
It will tell you what you need to do.” Watching Yoruichi close her eyes, Shadow continued in his usual calm voice.
“Your eyes can deceive you, but your heart never will.
Once you truly understand it, you’ll realize that you and your heart have always been one.
You live together, and you die together.” “Never allow your emotions to disturb your heart.
In battle, the most important thing is remaining calm.
The greater the danger, the more important it becomes to maintain absolute composure at every moment.
Only then will you always have some possibility of victory, even if that possibility is nothing more than a sliver.” “A sword is a weapon meant to kill.
It can become your greatest support, but at the same time, it can also become your greatest weakness.
Everything has advantages and disadvantages.
Nothing in this world is absolute.” “But the stronger your heart becomes, the stronger your sword will become.
As long as your heart never stops, your blade will never rust.” “When it comes to slashing, both strength and technique are important.
Everyone has things they’re good at and things they’re bad at.
The important thing is learning to use your strengths while avoiding your weaknesses.” “Kensei Muguruma and Hiyori Sarugaki succeeded because their hearts and blades were already moving together, whether through strength or technique.” “But you, Yoruichi-sama?” “You possess neither overwhelming strength nor overwhelming technique, and you didn’t properly observe your target.
You simply rushed forward and swung.
You already knew swordsmanship wasn’t your strength, so you never truly believed you could succeed.” “You lied to your own heart.” “So you had already lost before you ever swung your sword.” “You lost to your own heart.” “Then what should I do, Shadow?” Yoruichi asked quietly.
“Use your Reiatsu (Spiritual Pressure) to make contact with the Reiatsu surrounding the dummy.
Memorize the way that Reiatsu flows.
Then find a single point within that flow.” Shadow paused briefly.
“That point is the key.” “True swordsmanship isn’t about memorizing countless techniques.
What matters is understanding.
The best technique is the one that doesn’t depend on a fixed technique at all.
Keep it simple.” His voice became more serious.
“Yoruichi-sama, remember this.” “Let your heart move with your blade.
Wherever your heart goes, your blade must follow.
Focus every ounce of your strength, awareness, and concentration into that single moment.
Don’t hesitate.
Don’t lose yourself.” “Trust your heart.” “Trust your sword.” “And cut.” Yoruichi didn’t answer.
A long moment passed.
Then she suddenly raised her sword.
“Found it.” Beginning from above her left shoulder, she brought the blade down in a steady diagonal slash.
The chipped Asauchi sank directly into the two-meter-tall iron dummy.
The blade passed straight through its body.
Boom!
The entire dummy split diagonally into two halves and crashed to the ground.
“…” The enormous training grounds fell utterly silent.
“S-So strong…” “No way!
She actually cut it apart?” “That’s got to be a joke!” “…” As excited whispers erupted throughout the area, the goateed teacher stared at Shadow with shining eyes.
This boy couldn’t have been very old, yet his understanding of swordsmanship was astonishingly unique and precise.
Even stranger, the teacher couldn’t sense even the slightest trace of Reiatsu from him.
But judging by the way Shadow had suddenly appeared, there was no possibility that he simply lacked Reiatsu.
There was only one other explanation.
Shadow was too strong.
So strong that the teacher himself was incapable of sensing his Reiatsu.
“Yoruichi…” Kūkaku stared in shock.
Kensei, Hiyori, and the others beside her were equally dumbfounded.
“Hey, Shadow.” Yoruichi turned around, narrowing her eyes into a delighted smile.
“I did it.” “I really did it.” But the instant those words left her mouth, Yoruichi’s face suddenly turned pale.
Her body began to sway.
The Asauchi in her hand shattered into fragments.
Even then, she continued smiling with stubborn pride.
Shadow stepped forward and caught Yoruichi before she could fall.
For once, a trace of warmth appeared within his cold black eyes, and the corner of his mouth rose ever so slightly.
“You certainly did, Yoruichi-sama.” “I’m so tired, Shadow…” Yoruichi whispered the words before finally closing her eyes.
“Then rest, Yoruichi-sama.” Shadow gently lifted Yoruichi into his arms.
This state was still too much for Yoruichi-sama.
Looking down at the sleeping girl, Shadow quietly sighed.
His figure blurred.
Then he vanished.
…
“Who is he, Kūkaku?” Hiyori asked, turning toward her.
“Are you sure it’s okay to leave Yoruichi with him?” Kisuke scratched his head.
“He seems pretty cold.” “Yeah.” Kūkaku nodded.
“It’s fine.” “He’s Yoruichi’s…” She paused briefly.
“Shadow.” “Shadow?” “The kind that’s always by her side.” Kūkaku waved them off.
“All right, enough talking.
Get back to training.
There’s no way I’m losing to Yoruichi!” “I don’t want to come in last either.” In a rare sight, Lisa finally closed her book and began practicing.
Even Mashiro joined them.
Although instead of using a sword, she attacked the dummy with her legs.