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Over the next few days, whether eating, sleeping, or even using the restroom, Ishikawa Katori and Ganju never left the Shiba Kūkaku training ground, constantly being drilled by Shiba Kūkaku.
For a few hours in the morning, the two trained separately. Ganju practiced the Shiba secret techniques and the Shiba's unique fireworks, while Ishikawa Katori, under Kukaku's tutelage, learned methods to increase his Reiatsu.
There are many ways to increase Reiatsu. The most common is Ishikawa Katori's casual approach, which is simply to gradually grow one's Reiatsu by practicing techniques like Hakuda, Shunpo, and Kido, or by continuously fighting others.
While this method of increasing Reiatsu isn't entirely useless, it's merely a drop in the bucket.
For a Shinigami, the most common method is to communicate with their Zanpakuto, using a meditation-like technique to form a cycle of Reishi between themselves and their Asauchi, thereby increasing their own Reiatsu. Although this method progresses slowly, it is much faster than Ishikawa Katori's approach.
Most importantly… it can also be combined with Ishikawa Katori's casual method.
However, it wasn't the 'Blade Meditation' that Ishikawa Katori remembered Kurosaki Ichigo using, but a method called 'Sword Meditation' by Kukaku.
Without a Zanpakuto, this method was clearly not suitable for Ishikawa Katori.
The Reiatsu training Kukaku arranged for Ishikawa Katori involved using external force.
Or rather…
Pressure!!
The training platform he used was covered with the Shiba's unique Spiritual Crests. According to Kukaku, these Spiritual Crests were simplified from the 'Kaka Hō' and released pressure inwards in a manner similar to launching fireworks, thereby increasing the density of Ishikawa Katori's Reishi.
While on the platform, Ishikawa Katori's movements were unaffected, but the flow of his internal Reiatsu felt solidified. In this state, Ishikawa Katori also had to practice various Kido under Kukaku's guidance.
After lunch, both of them followed Kukaku to learn theoretical knowledge about 'Reishi application'.
This knowledge was extremely dry. Although Ganju and Ishikawa Katori studied together, only Ishikawa Katori generally listened attentively. Ganju often became drowsy shortly after listening and would then be awakened by Kukaku's 'Iron Fist of Love'.
After a few days, he hadn't retained much theoretical knowledge, but his head's defensive capabilities had clearly improved…
"While Reishi can be strengthened through training, everyone's starting point is different. For example, my and Ganju's elder brother, before entering the Shin'ō Academy, already had six-level spiritual power, equivalent to a Vice-Captain of the Gotei 13."
Kukaku's tone carried pride for her elder brother. Hearing the words 'elder brother,' the previously drowsy Ganju also opened his eyes wide.
"Of course, I'm not telling you this to discourage you, but to let you know that the strength of Reishi does not necessarily mean the strength of Reiatsu. Even with six-level spiritual power, our elder brother still took two years to graduate from the Shin'ō Academy, and then another five years to truly reach Vice-Captain-level."
"During those seven years, what he did was increase the density of his internal Reishi, thereby enhancing his own Reiatsu strength."
"Only when the density of internal Reishi is high enough can the Reishi inside the body be called Reiatsu. If the density is insufficient, no matter how strong the internal Reishi is, it cannot unleash its proper power."
"For example, the current Tenth Division Captain is one such case. When he was in the Rukongai, his internal Reishi strength had already reached Captain-level, possessing top-tier talent; but not to mention unleashing its proper power, I once heard an elder mention in passing that he couldn't even control it, ultimately affecting his loved ones around him."
"For a Shinigami, how to Exploit internal Reishi is undoubtedly the most important, which is why the four techniques of 'Zankensoki' exist."
"Zanpakuto are no exception; they are also an external extension of Reishi application. If internal Reishi is compared to water, then a Zanpakuto is like a high-pressure faucet with a special release method. If the right release method is found, the density can surge even with the same total amount of internal Reishi, increasing one's combat ability exponentially."
"Similarly, Kido is the same. When two people have comparable Reiatsu strength and cast the same Kido, the person with a stronger mastery of Kido will definitely win, because they have a more suitable release method, and their power will naturally far exceed their opponent's."
Kukaku paused here and looked at Ishikawa Katori, who was sitting cross-legged below: "Ishikawa Katori does very well in this regard. His mastery of Byakurai is something many Gotei 13 members, and even Low Level Seated Officers, cannot compare to."
Ganju glanced sideways at Ishikawa Katori, finding that the guy still wore his gentle smile, showing no sign of being praised.
Previously, when he saw that gentle smile, he only felt that Ishikawa Katori was a good-natured person who didn't inspire much excitement.
But after the battle a few days ago, looking at that expression again…
Ganju always felt that this guy had some kind of mental illness.
Bang!!
"Listen to me seriously, do you want to die!!"
"…"
Ishikawa Katori looked at Ganju, who had fallen to the ground with smoke rising from his head, then at the table that had shattered upon contact with Ganju's head. His smile grew even gentler, and the fawning expression within the gentleness became even more apparent…
Ah~~~ I really want to drink alcohol.
He hadn't touched alcohol for a week. While he didn't deny his love for drinking, for him, the best way to release stress was indeed to have a few drinks and then lock himself away for a good night's sleep.
Unfortunately…
His state after drinking was clearly not suitable to be displayed here, as it was about releasing stress…
During these days of training, without an outlet, his stress seemed to be growing.
And not working for so many days made Ishikawa Katori, who was accustomed to alleviating stress through various jobs, feel uncomfortable all over.
I'm such a diligent worker, a capitalist's dream, right?
However, I should be self-exploiting, after all, I can't say I work for a butler like a certain vigilante, although Uzuki's position is becoming more and more like that butler, and Ishikawa Katori is becoming more and more like a handyman running errands everywhere…
Bang~~
"What are you spacing out for!!"
With a heavy thud, Ishikawa Katori lay on the cold ground. He could clearly feel a large bump rapidly forming on his head.
With his face pressed against the cold ground, Ishikawa Katori and Ganju's eyes met, both silent.
"Don't dawdle, both of you get up."
Amidst Kukaku's roar, Ishikawa Katori and Ganju both sat up with bumps on their heads, one kneeling rigidly, the other sitting cross-legged like an old monk in meditation.
Indeed, I still really want to drink…
The pressure from this person is increasing day by day.
Ishikawa Katori's smile grew even more intense. If his previous smile was more gentle with a subtle hint of fawning, now the fawning in his smile was extremely obvious.
"Are you a pervert who gets excited when hit?" Kukaku said with a look of disgust.
"…"
Ishikawa Katori's smile froze.
"If you have any complaints, feel free to voice them. I'm not an unreasonable person." Shiba Kukaku returned a smile, looking incredibly radiant.
Ishikawa Katori and Ganju, however, showed no reaction, maintaining an 'attentive listening' posture.
Not a single punctuation mark of what Kukaku said in that state could be trusted.
Ganju had once naively believed her, only to face an incredibly tragic outcome, where his dissatisfaction was 'eliminated' in a 'physical' manner.
"Hmm."
Kukaku nodded in satisfaction: "Where was I? Oh, right, although Byakurai is practical, there's one thing I must remind you: never treat one Kido as your trump card; in the absence of a Zanpakuto, a Kido master fighting a Shinigami with a Zanpakuto has only one advantage, and that is 'versatility' applicable to various situations. Treating one Kido as a trump card, on the contrary, will cause you to lose this versatility."
"Bakudo and Hado, combined, can be called Kido."
Kukaku paused here, as if remembering something, and looked at Ishikawa Katori, saying: "You possess strong Kido and Hakuda talent. For you, the most suitable training method is actually to find a way to combine Hakuda and Kido, but I'm not particularly skilled in Hakuda, so I can't offer you much help in that regard."
"I have an old friend I haven't seen in decades who took this path."
"Of course, it's not to say that only training in Kido is impossible. There are people in the Gotei 13 who have been promoted to Vice-Captain based on their 'Kido' mastery, which many Captain-level Shinigami cannot even hope to rival."
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