Bab 46: Firm Blade
Nanao backed off, while declaring the start of the battle as she prompted the two students to engage in combat.
Yuki immediately thrusted her Katana into Shinten's face at a speed too fast for him to comprehend. But by sheer coincidence, Shinten just happened to step back and duck under the blade, as it passed over his face.
Yuki then used her other hand to grasp her Zanpakutō's handle as she then turned the thrust into a vertical slash. Surprisingly, Shinten parried the strike as he then back kicked Yuki, who blocked it with her wrist.
Shinten then backed away from Yuki so he could quickly catch his breath as well as regain his footing.
The crowd cheered at that quick clash between the two.
"No way? Shinten was able to last more than 5 seconds? But he will defiantly lose in the next confrontation.", Shido commented.
"You're wrong", Kai added. "These last two months, Shinten has grown a lot. When he ducked earlier, it was no accident."
Shinten took a more defensive stance, this time pointing to tip of his sword towards Yuki. He breathed in and out heavily, before locking eyes with her. Suddenly the air around him grew cold as everything around him seemed to fade into black.
"Erase it. Erase everything, except for the air and the opponent in front of me. Everything else is useless right now. The only things that exist in this world, are me, my Zanpakutō, and Yuki."
Yuki was sure that from this distance, she could finish this fight with Kidō. But for some reason she didn't want to.
As she trained with the other two boy's, she felt as if she was getting stronger much faster compared to training by herself with master Madarame. She wanted to see how much stronger she had gotten in comparison to Shinten who had also trained along side her. And too see if she was ready to fight Senjuro again on equal terms.
She quickly advanced towards Shinten who was still focused on her. As she drew closer she felt something incredibly off. She had never once felt this around Shinten while they trained. Or was it because this wasn't directed at her? The only why she would know is by attacking him directly.
She swung her Zanpakutō at him, only for it to be bounced back instantly. When it happened, she defiantly felt the weight of a sword clash against it, yet she didn't see Shinten move. Refusing to believe that Shinten had gotten that much faster, she swung her sword at him again, only for it to be bounced back once more.
Yuki, grinding her teeth in frustration, launched a numerous amount of sword slashes, which many captains and Lieutenants found impressive since she was still in school. Yet somehow, each and every single one them were either parried or completely deflected.
The final clash even pushed her back.
Yuki looked at him in disbelief, only to see that he wasn't even looking back at her. He was looking at something else, something very close to her.
Unknown to Yuki, Shinten had created a technique after clashing with Ikkaku many times. It was a technique which would allow him to swing his sword to protect not just him but others behind him. It was a kind of instinct which guided his sword towards his enemies, rendering most weapons against him useless. As a result of the short time he had to make it, the style was very immature and unnamed, but it's defence was enough to hold it's own against Yuki.
A sword stance made to protect, that is the strength Shinten has gained for himself.
"I can see it! The paths that are like strings, the path needed to push away your sword!"
At some point in the confrontation, Yuki's sword would be repelled even without it approaching Shinten.
Kai got up as he roared, "YOU CAN DO IT SHINTEN! BEAT HER ASS FOR ME!"
But then suddenly, Shido noticed a change in Yuki's mood. She had gotten less frustrated and was back to her original calm self. Sensing the danger in this, he said,
"If Shinten doesn't fight back now, then he's going to lose!"
Sadly, this was true. Shinten didn't have enough time to learn how to counter attack. Entering this fight he was hoping he could stalemate it. But this thought was very naive before the monster that is Yuki Tsubokoniri.
Yuki performed an ordinary horizontal slash at Shinten, which was also deflected. But then suddenly, Yuki let go of her sword which shocked the entire crowd.
She grabbed onto Shinten's sword wielding arm before he could even notice, and started to pummel him with Hakuda. The glaring weakness of this immature sword style, was that the absolute concentration of its wieldier made them suspectable to fighters with multiple options.
But in doing so, Yuki had thrown away her pride as a Zanjutsu practitioner. Although she may be winning the current battle, she had willingly accepted her defeat when it came sword play.
She landed a devastating punch in Shinten's gut which caused him to cough up some saliva. He was then sent flying back as he crashed in to the arenas walls, even creating a small crater at the point of impact.
Nanao Ise came to check on the condition of Shinten, only to see him struggle to get back up.
"It's... It's not over yet... I still have.. I still need to rebuild my families pride!"
Yuki watched as Shinten struggled to rise to his feet, only for him to collapse a couple moments later. Nanao seeing this, declared Yuki the winner of the first bout.
The crowd screamed and cheered at the conclusion of the first fight, with it even impressing some soul reapers. Shinten slowly started to slowly pass out, as he heard some Squad 4 medics quickly rush to help him.
He thought, "I can't lose now! I trained so hard, but it wasn't enough! When will it be enough??"
As he drowned in his frustration, he heard the shouts of his father from the crowd. He appeared to be crying, not tears of sadness, but happiness.
"Stand proud Shinten! You are strong!"
Before blacking out, he smiled. He felt as if a heavy burdened had just been lifted from his chest. He no longer needed the validation of others to rebuild his family for now, but he was satisfied at this small win.
As this took place, Senjuro was smiling as he watched the battle from the other side of a holographic monitor.
"ISN'T THIS EXCITING? THE 1ST YEARS ARE SO MUCH STRONGER COMPARED TO WHEN WE WERE THERE! I WAN'T TO FIGHT YUKI AGAIN RIGHT NOW!"
The fist of Yoko smashed into his skull, instantly sending him to the ground in pain.
"What did I say about getting excited like a toddler? Grow up already."
"Isn't punching people for no reason a childish thing to do?"
She punched Senjuro again for talking back against her, all the while Kitagawa looked at the too with shame. 'They're fighting again..' He thought.
Eventually he would be dragged into the conflict too.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
Redist_King
Redist_King Was hospitalized for a week lol
but I'm back now
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone