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After making a splash in Zanjutsu class, Aozaki Reiji's life didn't change much; he continued to attend classes at the Shin'ō Academy and Squad One Barracks as usual…
Except for Zanjutsu class.
According to Keito Sato,
The instructor believed he had nothing more to teach Aozaki Reiji in Zanjutsu.
Therefore, the Shin'o Academy specially invited Retsu Unohana, the Fourth Division Captain of the Gotei 13, to be Aozaki Reiji's private tutor for one-on-one instruction.
In response, Aozaki Reiji sincerely stated that as long as Captain Retsu didn't get carried away during class and accidentally cut off his head, everything else was fine.
In his free time when he wasn't in class, Aozaki Reiji either sparred with Matsumoto Rangiku and Ichimaru Gin, or sought out teachers and noble ladies to spar with.
In any case, his training would not fall behind.
Days passed like this.
Soon, the Shin'o Academy became lively; it was time for the annual Soul Burial Internship.
Sixth-year students would go to the Human World for their internship on this day, and those who passed would become the coveted Shinigami.
Whether he did the internship or not wasn't important; Aozaki Reiji was concerned about something else.
This day was also the day Vice-Captain Aizen Sōsuke of the Fifth Division would demonstrate his Shikai to the academy students.
It was also the day Aozaki Reiji decided to unseal the true power of Shinra Bansho.
"Speaking of which, isn't Vice-Captain Aizen a bit too approachable? He actually demonstrates his Zanpakuto's power at the Shin'o Academy every year."
Ichimaru Gin hesitated for a few seconds before expressing his confusion in a questioning tone.
In the center of the training ground, Aizen Sōsuke stood there, a gentle smile on his face as always, slowly raising the Zanpakuto in his hand.
"Perhaps he simply wants to help more students understand Zanpakuto…"
Aozaki Reiji was expressionless, but his gaze never left the Zanpakuto in Aizen's hand.
Aizen did this purely because he thought a hundred steps ahead.
By letting the academy students who would become Shinigami see his Shikai, he could perform hypnosis at any time, avoiding unexpected situations that might arise later and be beyond his control.
Reiji's senses were very keen; he noticed as soon as he entered the training ground that Aizen's gaze would occasionally dart towards him.
He knew his own limitations; his strength wasn't enough, and his mind wasn't as clever as the other party's, so he wasn't qualified to play petty tricks in front of him.
Aozaki Reiji had done some analysis on how to get along with this expert.
Aizen was too smart; small moves would not escape his eyes.
At such times, the more you did, the more mistakes you made.
What he thought was a flawless plan might be full of holes in Aizen's eyes.
Recognizing himself, being obedient, and not thinking about any schemes or tricks before gaining strength, was the only way to survive.
What's more, with Shinra Bansho, the other party's Shikai might not actually be useful against him.
Reiji stroked the hilt of his beloved sword, and Shinra Bansho vibrated in response, as if encouraging him.
"Kyōka Suigetsu!"
Aizen pointed his sword downwards, and the Zanpakuto, like a fish entering a deep pool, sank into the ground as ripples spread across the surface.
In an instant, the training ground was filled with mist, and water currents surged; the academy students felt their vision blur, and the positions of their surrounding classmates shifted.
"Shatter, Kyōka Suigetsu!"
With a low shout, the academy students rubbed their eyes, and the illusion disappeared.
Aizen smiled and explained his Zanpakuto's ability to the academy students.
By refracting light through mist and water currents, he made enemies fight among themselves.
—Undoubtedly, it was a deceptive statement.
Having done all this, Aizen walked further and further away under everyone's gaze.
......
That evening.
Shin'ō Academy dormitory.
Having completed his training, Reiji simply rinsed off and emerged from the steamy bathroom.
He looked at Shinra Bansho placed beside his clothes, lost in thought for a moment.
He drew his Zanpakuto and murmured:
"Reflect, Shinra Bansho!"
This was the first time he was going to use Shinra Bansho's true power!
Shinra Bansho hung in mid-air, its tip pointing downwards.
"Kyōka Suigetsu!"
Reiji looked at the unchanging Shinra Bansho and raised the corner of his mouth.
No change was normal; Kyōka Suigetsu's Shikai only had this ceremonial action.
The moment he shouted Kyōka Suigetsu, he already knew that Shinra Bansho's power had changed.
She could use Kyōka Suigetsu's ability!
This was Shinra Bansho's true power.
It could imitate the Shikai of other Zanpakuto.
When used, the Shikai could be switched but not stacked, and the Shikai's strength was determined by one's own spiritual pressure.
The condition for imitating Shikai was that one had to witness the Shikai with their own eyes.
"Academy student Aozaki Reiji, remember to come to the Squad One Barracks for class this week."
Just as Reiji was about to begin Blade Meditation, a black butterfly flew in.
Reiji was startled, then quickly recovered.
It was Yamamoto's Hell Butterfly, delivering a message to him.
Hell Butterfly is a creature in the Soul Society, responsible for guiding Shinigami between the Human World and the Soul Society, and for transmitting information.
"This Old Man is really something, insisting on sending messages at this time. Doesn't he know young people are very fragile at this hour?"
Reiji sat cross-legged, placing Shinra Bansho on his lap, and frowned.
As he entered the Shin'ō Academy to study, and with the best teachers guiding him, he was moving further and further along the path of becoming a well-rounded fighter.
Retsu Unohana taught him Zanjutsu and Kido, and Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto helped him consolidate Zanjutsu and Kido, and taught him Hakuda.
Among the four basic abilities, "Zan" (swordsmanship), "Ken" (hand-to-hand combat), and "Kido" (spirit arts) all had the best teachers; what remained was "Ho" (movement).
The study of Shunpo was not neglected; Retsu Unohana and Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto were both excellent teachers.
But proficiency was one thing; Reiji was very clear that the best at Shunpo was Yoruichi Shihouin, who would be known as the "Goddess of Flash" in the future.
His interactions with Yoruichi Shihouin were not deep, and Yoruichi had not yet become the Captain of the 2nd Division at this time, so her strength was unknown.
What Reiji needed to do now was to make full use of the current "resources," learn everything he could before becoming a Shinigami, and enhance his strength as much as possible.
Having two good teachers helping him meant he could avoid many detours.
On this basis, he would improve his personal strength as much as possible.
Before obtaining the Hōgyoku, increasing spiritual pressure and the four basic Shinigami abilities was the best way to improve strength.
Reiji considered himself neither a monster with extraordinary talent like Aizen Sōsuke nor a naturally powerful cheat like Kurosaki ichigo, so he cultivated more desperately than anyone else.
And according to Reiji's judgment, no seated officer of the Gotei 13 should be his opponent.
Of course, this did not include those who deliberately hid their strength.
And when his spiritual pressure reached five-class spiritual power, even without using Shinra Bansho's special ability, his strength would be invincible at the same level of spiritual pressure.
He was getting closer and closer to this goal.
That's right, Reiji was on a path of extremism.
Absolute strength within his peer group! Strength without any weaknesses!! Despairing strength!!!
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