Kapitel 24: Chapter 24
Upon hearing Kaelith Yurei's words, Jūshirō Ukitake and Shunsui Kyoraku exchanged astonished glances.
"In a week… mastering the basics of Old Man Yamamoto's Hakuda?"
Their young junior was bold, wasn't he?
To boast such a claim?
Both had been through their student days and quickly pieced together the situation. This talented junior had likely always picked things up quickly, building a strong confidence. Now, having just learned the basics of Yamamoto's Hakuda, he was eager to jump to advanced techniques. Yamamoto, however, seemed ready to teach him a lesson about rushing ahead.
Understanding this, they shared a knowing smile.
They'd been through the same trials once.
Yamamoto let out a low chuckle.
"What's wrong? Having second thoughts?"
"It's too late to back out now!"
"I warned you, didn't I? If you can't master the basics within a week, I'll have you training beneath the waterfall."
"In South Rukongai District 16, there's a good one."
"For this week, don't bother going back to the academy. Reflect under that waterfall instead!"
"Guards!"
At his command, several members of the Onmitsukidō appeared, kneeling and awaiting orders.
Yamamoto was about to order them to escort Kaelith to the waterfall when Kaelith quickly spoke up.
"Wait, Captain-Commander!"
"Anything else to say?"
Yamamoto shot him a sidelong glance.
Kaelith raised his hand, resolute. "I've already mastered it."
"Hmm?"
Yamamoto's eyes narrowed in doubt.
He'd already mastered it?
He didn't believe it.
The Hakuda basics he'd developed were far more intense than those taught at the Shinō Academy. Yamamoto had considered promoting his training method but quickly found that students lacking in talent risked injuring themselves. Even Kaelith's natural aptitude made mastering it within a week seem unrealistic.
Besides, Yamamoto knew Kaelith's personality. If he had truly mastered it, he would have come bragging, asking for the advanced techniques. How could this little brat pass up such an opportunity?
"What exactly have you mastered?"
"I've mastered the upper-level techniques with one hand."
Kaelith raised a clenched fist to Yamamoto.
Yamamoto: "?"
Before he could process this, Kaelith continued, "So, Captain-Commander, why not skip the first step and teach me the two-handed techniques already?"
Yamamoto: "???"
Seeing Kaelith's serious expression, Yamamoto looked as if he were questioning his own sanity.
Nearby, Shunsui couldn't help but glance at Ukitake.
"Wait, did I hear that right…?"
"Our junior here went from zero to mastering Ikkotsu of Old Man Yama's Hakuda in a week?"
Ukitake blinked, equally astonished.
Yamamoto frowned, staring at Kaelith.
After a few seconds, he gestured for Kaelith to attack.
After days of practice, Kaelith had thoroughly mastered Ikkotsu.
He took a deep breath, lunged forward, and punched at Yamamoto!
Bam!
Yamamoto raised an arm to block, and a shockwave of energy burst out!
Feeling the explosive force against his arm, Yamamoto couldn't help but think, What in the world… this kid actually learned it!
He had only provided Kaelith with the basics, without teaching any specific techniques. This kid had figured out the technique for Ikkotsu's force generation all on his own! He had always thought his two students, Shunsui and Ukitake, were prodigies.
But compared to Kaelith, they were mere amateurs!
For a moment, Yamamoto was stunned, then thrilled, then serious.
Kaelith stared at his fist.
From that punch, he seemed to sense something—a potential synergy between his fist and his Spirit Pressure. If the two could synchronize completely, his power might double again…
While he pondered, Yamamoto's voice broke through his thoughts.
"Kaelith Yurei."
"Hm?"
Kaelith looked up at Yamamoto.
"Captain-Commander, I just had an idea. If we could synchronize Spirit Pressure—"
"Kaelith, would you consider becoming my disciple?"
"…?"
Kaelith froze, his expression stunned.
Shunsui's eyes lit up from where he stood behind Yamamoto, motioning urgently for Kaelith to accept.
Kaelith quickly recovered and stood at attention under Yamamoto's gaze.
"Student Kaelith Yurei greets his teacher!"
Having witnessed Yamamoto's remarkable abilities, he was no longer reluctant about becoming his disciple. This old man was a boundless well of knowledge.
Yamamoto nodded in satisfaction.
Initially, he had Kaelith study with him mainly to shield him from the nobles' interference. But now, he was genuinely impressed.
If properly guided, this young man had unlimited potential.
Letting him grow unchecked would be a waste.
Now, officially accepting him as a disciple fulfilled one of Yamamoto's long-standing wishes.
Watching this, Ukitake smiled, then hurried out of the dojo toward Yamamoto's quarters. Shortly after, he returned with a scroll and some ink.
"Sensei Yamamoto, I brought the roster. Let's officially add Kaelith to our school today!"
Yamamoto nodded.
After a brief initiation, he took up a brush and inscribed Kaelith's name with a powerful hand.
With this, Kaelith Yurei became an official disciple of Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.
Kaelith wanted to take the opportunity to ask Yamamoto about his new technique. But Yamamoto closed the scroll, saying he had other matters to attend to and would answer his questions next time. Then he dismissed all three of them.
Walking down the First Division corridor, Kaelith clicked his tongue.
"Why does it feel like being an official disciple is worse than before?"
Shunsui chuckled.
"Don't worry, Kaelith. Old Man Yama's unreliability is something you'll experience plenty of in the future."
Ukitake shot him a disapproving look.
"Don't listen to Shunsui, Kaelith."
Looking around to ensure no one was nearby, Ukitake lowered his voice.
"A few days ago, there was a skirmish in the South Rukongai."
"A group of rebels attacked a Gotei 13 patrol squad."
"Initially, the patrol was overwhelmed, but an unknown Shinigami intervened."
"One of the rebels even tried to resist with a Shikai but was swiftly defeated."
"Afterward, Sensei Yamamoto sent people to investigate. That's what we were reporting earlier."
"Yamamoto didn't mean to ignore you; he's just concerned that a new, unknown faction might be involved."
Hearing this, Kaelith's eyes widened slightly.
That… sounds exactly like Aizen's incident.
Did that troublemaker already catch Yamamoto's attention?
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