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Seireitei, Squad One Barracks.
Aozaki Reiji sat in his seat, looking distressed, hissing occasionally, and pressing his hands tightly on his chest, seemingly trying to alleviate the pain.
He said apologetically to the bald old man in front of him:
"I'm sorry, Teacher, I was wrong. I shouldn't have gotten carried away."
Yamamoto nodded slightly, satisfied with his young disciple's performance.
At this moment, his upper body was bare, and there were still traces of un-dried blood on his face, but his expression was exceptionally joyful.
He casually picked up the teacup on the table, drank it all in one gulp, and then slowly said:
"To break through to First Class Reiatsu at such a young age, although I've said it many times, I still have to praise your talent."
Yamamoto cast his gaze towards Aozaki Reiji's strong physique, an undisguised look of admiration flashing in his eyes.
"Especially your physique, it's very good, which shows that you haven't neglected your Hakuda training in your daily life."
Hearing his teacher's praise, Aozaki Reiji immediately stood up and respectfully replied:
"This is all thanks to Teacher's excellent guidance. However, this is not my true level. If Teacher allows me to release my Zanpakuto, then my Reiatsu..."
Before he could finish, Yamamoto sharply interrupted him: "Silence!"
Yamamoto's expression darkened, becoming particularly serious. He earnestly warned:
"Do not overestimate your own abilities, nor underestimate the strength of your enemies. You must know that there is always someone better."
"Although a Zanpakuto is a Shinigami's most important companion, there are times when it is powerless, and you certainly cannot use it as an excuse to neglect your own training."
"Today's battle, though it ended in your defeat, was a valuable lesson for you."
"Remember not to be arrogant and always remain vigilant."
"Besides, do you know what First Class Reiatsu means?"
"That is an extremely powerful force, and its mere Reiatsu can easily suppress ordinary Squad members and weaker Vice-Captains!"
Yamamoto's voice was low and serious, as if emphasizing the gravity of the matter.
"If you were to use Bankai at this moment, I'm afraid that Shinigami below the Captain-class would not be able to survive!" Yamamoto continued, with a hint of worry in his tone.
Upon hearing this, Aozaki Reiji's face showed a look of doubt:
"If that's the case, then couldn't I just hide my Reiatsu and prevent them from noticing it?"
He scratched his head, seemingly confident in this method.
"You've said so much, could it be that you're scared?"
"Cough, cough..."
Yamamoto had just picked up his teacup to take a sip of tea when he heard this and couldn't help but cough twice, then cleared his throat and said:
"How disrespectful! As the strongest Shinigami in a thousand years, how could I be afraid of a wet-behind-the-ears brat like you?"
"I'm just worried that since you've only recently broken through to First Class Reiatsu, using Bankai might make it difficult for you to control your Reiatsu, and it would affect others."
"To maintain order in Seireitei, every Squad member of the Gotei 13 is indispensable!"
Although he said that, Yamamoto was actually a little worried deep down.
He really didn't know how this young disciple's body grew; his physical fitness was simply too astonishing.
He was hit by the "Ikkotsu" he unleashed, yet only suffered some internal injuries and coughed up some blood.
If it were Kyōraku Shunsui, daring to face his "Ikkotsu" head-on with his Spirit Body without using his Zanpakuto, he would be severely injured if not crippled!
As for Jūshirō Ukitake, there's no need to even mention him; after the fight, a Soul Burial Ritual could be held for him directly, and if he was lucky, it might even save a meal's worth of money.
If that kid really used Bankai and his Reiatsu rose to the same level as his own, and he couldn't increase his Reiatsu by releasing his Zanpakuto, he really might not be able to win a Hakuda match.
Fortunately, as his teacher, he held the right to speak, and with a few words, he prevented his young disciple from using his Zanpakuto.
Is this the taste of power? It truly is sweet!
"Oh, and don't run around too much these next few days." Yamamoto said with a mysterious expression, "An adult wants to see you, and he should be coming to the Eleventh Division or the Noble District to find you in the next two days."
"That adult has a noble status, and the responsibilities of his family involve the survival of the Three Realms, so you must show him respect."
"Noble status? Survival of the Three Realms? Someone from the Soul King Palace is here?"
"No." Yamamoto shook his head, "It's one of the Five Great Noble Houses, the Yomotsuki Family."
"Never heard of them." Aozaki Reiji pouted.
"They never participate in Seireitei affairs. I don't know exactly what they do, only that it's related to Hell."
Yamamoto said irritably, clearly aware that this young disciple wasn't fond of nobles.
"Hell, huh..." Aozaki Reiji murmured thoughtfully.
For the Three Realms, Hell was also a huge threat.
Over millions of years, countless powerful Souls from the Three Realms have entered Hell, and those Souls are immortal once they enter Hell.
If one day the Reiatsu of the Three Realms can no longer suppress the Hell Gate, then the Three Realms will inevitably fall into chaos.
"That's right, it's Hell."
Eleventh Division, an old man in a noble kimono sat opposite Aozaki Reiji.
"However, although the Yomotsuki Family claims to manage Hell, they actually only observe it, after all, Hell's Will is an existence similar to Reio-sama."
"Although it can only operate according to Hell's own rules, this also means that we Shinigami cannot interfere with that world."
Aozaki Reiji sat casually in the main seat, leaning forward, looking directly at the noble old man, "So... what exactly does Lord Yomotsuki Hoshino want to ask?"
"I want to know, is Kenpachi Kiganjo truly dead?" Yomotsuki Hoshino narrowed his eyes.
"Kenpachi Kiganjo?" Aozaki Reiji was startled.
This was a familiar name. It seemed they had discovered an anomaly.
"What does this mean?"
"Are they here to cause trouble?"
"Lord Reiji has already become Kenpachi, and they're still asking such questions."
Aozaki Reiji hadn't even moved yet, but the high-ranking seated officers of the Eleventh Division around him were already in an uproar.
Someone was about to draw their Zanpakuto, but Ichimaru Gin and Kuna Mashiro stopped them with their gazes.
Aozaki Reiji raised his hand, making a stopping gesture, and the conference room immediately fell silent.
"My apologies, my Squad members are all passionate individuals and a bit impulsive. I hope Lord Yomotsuki Hoshino won't take offense."
"No matter. As a combat Squad, for the Eleventh Division to have such an atmosphere only shows that Captain Reiji manages it very well."
Yomotsuki Hoshino shook his head, "It's just that there was indeed something strange during the Soul Burial Ritual. Kenpachi Kiganjo's Spirit Body entered Hell, but his Soul doesn't seem to be in Hell!"
"We speculate that perhaps this is why Hell's Will has become active recently, because it disrupted Hell's rules."
These words made Aozaki Reiji change his opinion of this old man and the Yomotsuki Family.
The Tsunayashiro Family should really learn from this attitude.
They are both Five Great Noble Houses, so why is there such a big difference?
Now it seems that among the Five Great Noble Houses, the only parasite is the Tsunayashiro Family!
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