"Hahaha..."
Being addressed so directly by Ichigo made Kyoya pause for a moment.
Then, Kyoya laughed heartily.
"Not bad."
Kyoya patted Ichigo's shoulder approvingly. "Ichigo, I can feel your determination."
Although Kyoya indeed wanted to teach Ichigo something, the feeling was different when he took the initiative versus when someone requested it.
If nothing else, just based on Ichigo's drive, Kyoya would feel embarrassed to hold back while instructing him.
Well, not that Kyoya had such intentions anyway.
But it must be said, Ichigo's attitude also determined how Kyoya would interact with him afterward.
It was like with the 12th Division's Lieutenant, Kurotsuchi Nemu.
Kyoya liked Nemu's voice because it could bring back many beautiful memories from his past.
But Kyoya didn't want to change Nemu's personality just because of her voice, turning her from a seemingly emotionless, obedient girl into a tsundere who said one thing but meant another.
"Before I teach you, let me tell you my identity first, so you don't feel uneasy."
Removing his hand from Ichigo's shoulder, Kyoya said, "Like Urahara Kisuke, I was once a Captain in the Gotei 13."
"The difference is, Urahara was the Captain of the 12th Division, while I was the Captain of the 11th Division."
"Currently, I am the leader of the Revolutionary Army, Kyoya."
"And yes, those who invaded the Seireitei with you are all my subordinates."
"What?"
Hearing this, Ichigo's expression changed.
Indeed, after entering the Seireitei, Ichigo had naturally sensed something was off.
The Seireitei, which should have only had their group breaking in, had powerful Reiatsu conflicts erupting one after another after they entered.
From Ichigo's perception, the battles happening elsewhere were no less intense than his fight with Komamura.
He came to save someone, not to destabilize the Seireitei.
'Would the Seireitei side now consider me and the so-called Revolutionary Army as being together?'
'If so, even if I managed to save Miyako-nee, could she still live in the Seireitei?'
"Hey, don't overthink it, Ichigo."
Seeing Ichigo's changing expression, Kyoya naturally guessed what he was thinking.
"Don't misunderstand, Ichigo."
"I have no intention of dragging you into the conflict between our Revolutionary Army and the Seireitei's Gotei 13."
"Actually, our purpose for entering the Seireitei is the same as yours."
"Shiba Kukaku, who sent you into the Seireitei, is the Army Commander of our Revolutionary Army's 4th Division."
"And the Shiba Miyako you want to save is Shiba Kukaku's sister-in-law."
"Our Revolutionary Army entered the Seireitei to provide cover for you, to draw more of the Gotei 13's attention, giving you a better chance to rescue Shiba Miyako."
"In this situation, your strength is crucial to the success of our rescue plan."
"So, there's no need for you to overthink."
"Besides, even if I had some ulterior motive, there's nothing you could do about it right now."
"Instead, you should focus on improving your strength under my guidance, so you'll have the ability to draw your sword against me in the future."
"Otherwise, the future you will only hate your own powerlessness, just like the current you."
"I understand."
Kyoya's words were very straightforward. Even though Ichigo was just a sixteen-year-old boy, he understood.
This gave Kyoya a sense of accomplishment.
'See, Ichigo was quite obedient.'
'He didn't say that line 'What are you talking about?' to me.'
"Kyoya-senpai, from now on, I ask for your guidance!"
…
"Kyoya-senpai, when do we start?"
Since he decided to learn from Kyoya, Ichigo naturally didn't want to waste time.
"Well, we can start anytime."
Kyoya understood Ichigo's desire to quickly improve his strength and didn't bother with unnecessary chatter.
"However, before that, you need to understand what we'll be training next, so you can practice more targeted."
"You've fought several Shinigami before and should know their Zanpakuto all have their own names."
"When they call their Zanpakuto's name, they can make their Zanpakuto change form, thus using its power."
"This is the Zanpakuto's Shikai."
"Ichigo, do you know your Zanpakuto's name?"
"Yes."
Ichigo nodded, "My Zanpakuto is called 'Zangetsu'!"
"Then, what is your Zanpakuto's ability?"
Ichigo's mind recalled the enemies he encountered who could release their Zanpakuto.
The earliest was in the human world, that Shinigami who looked very similar to him. His Zanpakuto could transform into a trident and manipulate his Reiatsu into water.
Next was the 3rd Division's Captain, Gin, encountered after entering the Soul Society.
His Zanpakuto could extend dozens of meters instantly, knocking both him and Jidanbo out of the Seireitei and into the Rukongai.
Then, the 7th Division's Lieutenant, Tetsuzaemon...
Their Zanpakuto, after calling their true names and releasing, all changed form and gained new abilities.
Glancing at Zangetsu in his hand, Ichigo said, "Zangetsu's ability is to transform my Reiatsu into a slash, called-"
"Getsuga Tensho!"
"Correct."
Kyoya nodded, "Your Zanpakuto has a name and an ability, which means you've completed the training for your Zanpakuto's Shikai."
"However, unlike other Shinigami, who need to call their Zanpakuto's name to use its ability,"
"Your Zanpakuto's appearance, and the fact that you can use Zangetsu's ability anytime, indicate that, unlike others, your Zanpakuto is the type that remains in its Shikai state normally."
"Or rather, the Shikai state is your Zanpakuto's first form."
For other Shinigami, the first form of their Zanpakuto is the [Asauchi], and Shikai is considered their Zanpakuto's second form.
"Then, what you need to train next is the deeper level of the Zanpakuto, its final form… Bankai!"
"Bankai?"
Ichigo's expression turned serious.
He had heard this term before.
From that 7th Division's Captain.
"Yes, Bankai."
"Compared to the Shikai state, after Bankai, a Shinigami's Reiatsu can increase by five to ten times."
"Additionally, in this state, the Shinigami can fully unleash their Zanpakuto's ability."
"In the Gotei 13, except for the 11th Division, all Captains are powerhouses who have completed their Zanpakuto's Bankai Training."
"Rather, only those who have completed their Zanpakuto's Bankai Training are qualified to be nominated as Captains."
"Your Reiryoku has already reached 3rd-class, meeting the conditions for Bankai Training."
"These three days, what I want you to train is your Zanpakuto's Bankai!"
"Please teach me how to train for Bankai, Kyoya-senpai!"
After hearing Kyoya's introduction, Ichigo bowed to Kyoya.
He didn't understand what 3rd-class Reiryoku meant, but just knowing that strength could increase five to ten times after Bankai told him that as long as he completed his Zanpakuto's Bankai Training, his chances of saving Miyako would be greater.
"Ichigo, do you know that in the recorded history of the Seireitei, the shortest time for Bankai training is ten years."
"Ten years?"
Ichigo's brows furrowed tightly.
"Kyoya-senpai, I appreciate your good intentions."
"But I don't have that much time..."
Forget ten years, even ten days wouldn't work.
After all, Miyako was scheduled for execution in three days. He simply didn't have that much time to train.
"Don't worry."
Kyoya slightly raised his hand. "As I said earlier, ten years is according to the Seireitei's recorded history."
"But from what I know, someone completed their Zanpakuto's Bankai training in just three days."
"Ichigo, what did you just say?"
"Huh? I said please teach me, Kyoya-senpai!"
"Do you have the confidence to complete Bankai Training within three days?"
"No, it's not about whether I have confidence, but that I must complete Bankai training within three days!"
…
"Emergency notice, emergency notice!"
"5th Division's Captain Aizen has been attacked by Ryoka and has been killed. The perpetrator is a white-haired youth using an ice-type Zanpakuto."
"Everyone, when encountering Ryoka, be sure to be careful. Send distress messages immediately and wait for the Captains' rescue."
"Emergency notice, emergency notice..."
"What? Captain Aizen was killed?"
After the 7th Division's Lieutenant and 7th Division Captain were severely injured, the 'death' of the 5th Division Captain Aizen filled the Gotei 13's Shinigami with shock and added a measure of indignation.
Aizen was universally acknowledged as the most popular Captain among the Gotei 13's Shinigami.
It could be said that any Shinigami who graduated from the Shin'o Academy within the last one hundred years had received guidance from Aizen.
If you said Aizen's strength wasn't among the top among the Captains, people would at most laugh it off.
But if you said Aizen had poor character, at least half of the Gotei 13 Shinigami would come to have a 'chat' with you.
And now, such a respected Captain Aizen was actually killed by Ryoka?
Instantly, many Shinigami of the Gotei 13 had a fierce glint in their eyes.
Even knowing their own strength was far inferior to the invading Ryoka, they were willing to sacrifice their lives to delay the enemy, waiting for other Captains to arrive.
'That direction... it was Army Commander Hitsugaya's Reiatsu earlier, no doubt about it.'
Ashido's figure continuously dodged as streams of pink cherry blossom petals assaulted his previous positions, blasting large craters into the ground.
'What's going on?'
While dodging, doubts arose in Ashido's heart.
He heard Kyoya clearly said this was a simulated war. Losing even one Captain from either the Gotei 13 or the Revolutionary Army's Army Commanders would be a huge loss for both the Seireitei and the Revolutionary Army.
Therefore, both sides would inevitably try to avoid deaths among Captain-level powerhouses.
He knew Kyoya and Yamamoto should also be monitoring the battles of the various Captains within the Seireitei.
Whether Yamamoto could perceive the specifics of everyone's battles, Ashido wasn't sure.
But Kyoya definitely could see everyone's battles within the entire Seireitei.
Since Kyoya didn't intervene, Ashido knew there must be a reason why a Captain like Aizen died at Hitsugaya's hands.
What he needed to do now wasn't to consider what would happen to this simulated war because of Aizen's death, but to fight Byakuya with all his might and see if he could grow through the battle.
Whoosh-
Looking at the incoming stream of cherry blossoms, Ashido casually waved his hand, unleashing a white slash that dispersed the attacking cherry blossom stream.
'As expected of Kyoya-sama's disciple, Captain Kuchiki's strength is truly formidable!'
Ashido steadied his breathing and looked at the elegant Byakuya ahead, admiring inwardly.
Although he was the Captain of the Gotei 13's 6th Division, Byakuya wasn't entirely opposed to the Revolutionary Army.
After all, he was a disciple recognized by the Revolutionary Army's Supreme Commander, Kyoya.
He was also the nephew of the Revolutionary Army's Chief of Staff, Kuchiki Koga.
His wife, Kuchiki Hisana, was the elder sister of the Revolutionary Army's Deputy Chief of Staff, Kuchiki Rukia...
It could be said that the relationship between Byakuya and the Revolutionary Army was closer than anyone imagined.
Similarly, as a Army Commander of the Revolutionary Army, regarded by Kyoya as being on the same level as the Gotei 13's Captains, every time Byakuya visited Baltigo, a Army Commander would spar with him.
Therefore, Byakuya's strength and abilities weren't exactly secrets within the Revolutionary Army.
In his battle with Ashido, Byakuya wasn't serious.
If nothing else, just the fact that he didn't use both hands to control Senbonzakura showed that.
After Senbonzakura's release, if Byakuya used both hands to control it, Senbonzakura's speed would increase by another two times.
Additionally, Byakuya was also a Great Swordsman, and a peak Great Swordsman at that, only a step away from the Swordmaster-level.
The countless cherry blossom blades formed by Senbonzakura were all 'swords' under Byakuya's control.
If Byakuya wished, he could attach his own flying slashes to the cherry blossom blades, greatly enhancing their lethality.
Combined with the hundreds of millions number of blades...
That scenario would be terrifying even for Ashido.
'Would fighting Captain Kuchiki really allow me to make progress, as Kyoya-sama intended?'
For a moment, not a few doubts also arose in Ashido's heart.
Hundreds of years ago when the 11th Division's Captain was still Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, Ashido was already the 11th Division's 4th Seat.
During one mission, the squad led by Ashido, to eliminate all the Hollows, followed the Garganta opened by a Menos into Hueco Mundo.