Saitō Residence.
Sora was confirming Shizuku Saitō's physical condition.
Because he had been in the Dangai for the past period, he had left the check-ups to Rii Hoshino.
Rii had also made significant progress over the past few years and was capable of handling such matters.
"I have no problem releasing my Spiritual Pressure now," Shizuku's condition was very good, and her spiritual body looked no different from that of a normal Shinigami.
"Miss Shizuku's spiritual body has stabilized. The implanted spiritual core has adapted to the Spiritual Pressure generated by your Saketsu and Hakusui."
Sora was very satisfied with this result. It meant the procedure was viable. He planned to start the creation of Batsu'unsai's Reigai as soon as he returned.
"From now on, you still need to be careful not to exhaust your Spiritual Pressure. Over-consumption will put a burden on the spiritual core," Sora reminded her.
"I will be careful," Shizuku nodded.
"There's no need to prepare the medicine that suppresses the Saketsu and Hakusui anymore, but you must continue using the medicine that nourishes the spiritual core." Sora prepared some for her.
"Okay!"
The Saitō sisters wanted to have him stay for dinner, but Sora declined and left their residence.
He had to prepare for the Spiritual Arts Academy's Shinken Taiketsu recently and was quite busy.
...
A few days later, at the Katori Dojo.
Sora wanted to inspect the results of his disciples' training and was observing them spar.
During his time in the Dangai, his disciples would occasionally visit him. He would use those opportunities to give them pointers, so their training progress had not fallen behind.
In the courtyard, Isshin Shiba and Aizen Sōsuke were sparring.
Thud—
Their wooden swords clashed, locking them in a struggle for dominance.
Isshin's left hand suddenly released the hilt and rested on his right arm.
Seeing this, Aizen immediately increased the force in his hands, gradually pushing the wooden sword towards Isshin.
Isshin, however, didn't seem to mind and grinned.
"Sōsuke, have a taste of the special technique I just grasped!"
Isshin's left fingers curled, his thumb pressing down on his middle finger.
The middle finger gathered strength and flicked out forcefully.
"Oni Dekopin!"
Spiritual Pressure gathered at the tip of his middle finger and was released as a shockwave with a forehead-flicking motion.
Aizen wanted to dodge, but the distance was too short. He was hit by the shockwave instantly.
The shockwave's power wasn't strong and didn't injure Aizen, but it made him lose his balance and sent him flying.
"Follow up!" Isshin shouted and gave chase.
Isshin used Shunpo to appear behind the flying Aizen, swinging his sword horizontally at his waist.
Just then, Aizen planted his feet in the air, adjusted his position with extreme speed, and brought his backward momentum to a screeching halt.
Isshin's horizontal slash missed.
Aizen quickly flipped and executed a retreating kick, striking Isshin and knocking him to the ground.
"What an impressive move. I almost lost," Aizen said as he went over to pull Isshin up.
"If only I had been a little faster!" Isshin grumbled as he got up from the ground.
He also felt that if he had been just a bit quicker, he would have landed the blow on Aizen.
"Sōsuke, don't humor him," Sora couldn't help but laugh.
He had seen clearly that the spiritual pressure shockwave could at most push Aizen back a few steps; there was no way it could have sent him flying that far.
Aizen had calculated all of Isshin's subsequent movements.
"It was indeed quite unexpected. To produce a shockwave of that level with just a finger flick, Isshin's Hakuda has improved again."
Aizen felt a bit helpless.
According to his usual way of doing things, he wouldn't want to stand out and attract attention.
But his professor always exposed his attempts to hide his strength, making it impossible for him to continue doing so.
Besides Isshin, Lisa Yadōmaru, Isane Kotetsu, Sōya Azashiro, and Sajin Komamura also lost to Aizen.
Although sparring with wooden swords didn't represent their full strength, this record was enough to make others recognize Aizen Sōsuke's power.
"It seems this move isn't enough to defeat Sōsuke!" Isshin's confidence wasn't shaken. He said full of self-assurance, "Next time, I'll definitely come up with a move that can beat him!"
Isshin had a carefree personality and was not one to be discouraged by failure.
"I have a general understanding of your skills now," Sora chuckled. "Your progress is quite good."
"Sōsuke and Isshin have very solid fundamentals in Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Shunpo, and Kidō. You are on the right path."
"Sajin, your Shunpo and Kidō still need some polishing."
"Sōya, Lisa, and Isane, although you are younger, my expectations for you will not be lowered."
"Next..."
"I will guide you in Blade Meditation training."
"I hope you can all master Shikai before the 'Shinken Taiketsu' begins!"
"Blade Meditation training?" Isane Kotetsu was curious. "Didn't we already learn that at the Academy?"
They had learned Blade Meditation meditation at the Academy and already knew how to communicate with their Asauchi.
"My guidance is naturally different from what the Academy teaches." Sora could use 'Blade Meditation Experience' to help his disciples deepen their connection with their Zanpakutō, speeding up the communication process.
"Is the 'Shinken Taiketsu' starting this year?" Isshin's attention was on the competition, already eager to participate. "Let's all join! Let me see your full strength!"
"Can first-year students participate?" Sajin Komamura was not familiar with this.
Aizen, however, was hesitant about whether to participate in this year's competition.
Participating in such an event was far too conspicuous.
"The winner of this year's 'Shinken Taiketsu' will earn the right to challenge official Shinigami seated officers and vice-captains. If you are recognized by the judges during the challenge match, you can graduate early," Sora said. "I hope you all participate. It's a rare opportunity for training."
"The winner gets a chance to graduate directly?!" Lisa Yadōmaru was surprised. "If I win, doesn't that mean I can graduate in my first year!"
"Little Lisa is so confident? But you might be disappointed. This year's winner will definitely be me!" Isshin laughed loudly.
"If we participate, won't we have to fight against the upperclassmen?" Sōya Azashiro was a bit unconfident.
"Even if you face those upper-year students now, you have a fighting chance," Sora said with a smile. "Besides, I will be guiding you in 'Blade Meditation training.' If you can achieve Shikai, you should be able to rank among the top."
...
Back in the laboratory, Sora brought up the 'Shinken Taiketsu' with Aizen again.
"You want me to use Kyōka Suigetsu in the 'Shinken Taiketsu'?" Aizen hadn't expected his professor to make such a request.
"Only on such an occasion will the nobles gather together," Sora said.
"The nobles... Professor, are you planning to deal with the Tsunayashiro clan?" Aizen quickly understood his teacher's meaning.
The moment the Tsunayashiro clan targeted Kana Azashiro and Kakyō, an irreconcilable conflict was created with the Katori dojo.
Aizen could guess that his professor wouldn't let the matter rest, but his way of handling it was more aggressive than he had anticipated.
"This is a rare opportunity. With Kyōka Suigetsu's ability, no one will be able to blame this on us," Sora said softly. "If we don't get rid of the Tsunayashiro clan soon, they might take advantage of a moment when I'm not paying attention to harm the people of the Katori dojo."
Sora had eliminated Akito and Tokinada Tsunayashiro, leaving no possibility for reconciliation.
The Tsunayashiro clan would not let it go. They were now like a venomous snake lurking nearby, ready to strike whenever they found an opportunity.
He himself was not afraid of them, but he had many disciples in the Soul Society. The Tsunayashiro clan held considerable power and might frame them at any time.
Just like how Kakyō was given trouble in the Kidō Corps. If Sora hadn't had a good relationship with Hachigen Ushōda, and Yoruichi Shihōin hadn't helped, Kakyō would have been sent to Hueco Mundo.
For a newcomer to go to Hueco Mundo, even without others making things difficult, the casualty rate was very high.
"I understand," Aizen nodded. "I will perform well in the 'Shinken Taiketsu'."
Aizen originally didn't want to stand out too much in the competition, but the safety of the dojo was at stake, and he couldn't ignore it.
...
Two weeks later, the Shin'ō Academy's Shinken Taiketsu began.
The competition was divided into three stages.
The first stage was the selection phase, to screen out students with decent skills and grant them entry.
In the second stage, the participants would compete to determine the top eight and top four.
The third stage was the tournament watched by many Shinigami and nobles.
In this stage, a winner would be chosen from the final four and would compete against a guest instructor.
Aizen Sōsuke, Isshin Shiba, Lisa Yadōmaru, Isane Kotetsu, Sōya Azashiro, and Sajin Komamura arrived at the registration area.
"I knew you'd participate. Fill out the forms," Sōsuke Tanuki certainly recognized his superior's disciples.
After they filled out the forms, Tanuki took them for a look and was shocked. "No way, you three..."
"You've already learned Shikai so quickly!" Tanuki rubbed his eyes and looked at Aizen and the others in disbelief.
He saw that the forms for Aizen, Isshin, and Sajin indicated they had already achieved Shikai.
After the special 'Blade Meditation training,' Isshin and Sajin had mastered Shikai. Lisa, Isane, and Sōya were still a bit lacking.
"It's all thanks to the professor's guidance," Aizen said with a smile.
"I think your professor is a monster too. All the good seedlings end up with him!" Tanuki couldn't understand it.
Students who learned Shikai in their first year were rare in the Academy's history, and now three had appeared at once.
"Your skills will definitely pass, but I still have to test you according to the rules." Tanuki picked up the Zanpakutō from the table and said matter-of-factly, "I'm the referee for your later matches! You three who've learned Shikai, go easy on me. Don't embarrass me!"
With so many students watching, Tanuki couldn't gauge their strength, so he gave them a heads-up.
His straightforwardness left the group speechless for a moment.
Even Isshin, who had wanted to show off, couldn't help but scratch his head.
"Anyone who can move me from this spot passes. Who's first?" Tanuki stood on the stage, signaling for them to hurry.
"I'll go first," Sajin Komamura decided to set an example for the others.
Tanuki looked at the nearly three-meter-tall giant in front of him and felt the hand holding his sword lose some of its strength.
Sajin decided to complete the test in the simplest way.
"Hah!" Sajin drew his sword and slashed at Tanuki.
CLANG!!!
The simple, unadorned slash made Tanuki feel a lightness in his hand.
The Zanpakutō in his hand had already flown out.
"???"
Tanuki held his numb hand in shock. "How are you so strong?!"
"...Sorry... Professor Tanuki..." Sajin was also a bit surprised and said uncertainly, "Maybe my strength increased a lot after I completed my Shikai training. I didn't expect the slash to be so powerful."
"You just learned Shikai? ...You're forgiven." Tanuki forgave him. It was normal for one's strength to skyrocket after achieving Shikai and to have trouble controlling it.
"You knocked my Zanpakutō away, so you pass the test. Next." Tanuki got serious. There were still two more monsters who had learned Shikai.
The commotion had attracted many students, and he couldn't afford to be embarrassed again.
The next one up was Lisa Yadōmaru, which made Tanuki relax.
Lisa hadn't learned Shikai yet, so she wasn't overpowered.
"Come on, let me see what Professor Katori's disciple is made of!" Tanuki gestured for Lisa to attack.
"Shungeki!" Lisa took half a step forward.
Tanuki's eyes narrowed. Here it comes, the entry-level move of the Katori Style!
For an experienced teacher, the Shungeki performed by a student was actually easy to block.
Tanuki had already raised his Zanpakutō to block the attack's path.
However, Lisa's left hand, which was pressing on the blade, suddenly thrust out.
Shiken!
Tanuki's eyes widened. The Spiritual Pressure blade was aimed at his lower body, but his sword was already raised, leaving no time to defend.
He could only choose to lift his leg and step back, dodging the attack.
Tanuki's face flushed. He had been tricked by a student!
But he had already taken half a step back. According to the rules, he had to let Lisa pass.
"You pass. What bad luck. There are so many registration spots, why did you have to run into me!" Tanuki sighed. "Next!"
Tanuki felt like he shouldn't even be here.
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