join the Church of MissRaven and become a Sequence 9: Reader p atreon.com/KeyofStars for more chapters
Aozaki Reiji and Yoruichi Shihouin walked halfway across the Seireitei, arriving at the base of Sōkyoku Hill.
They didn't know it until they saw it, and when they did, they were shocked.
The underground of Sōkyoku Hill had actually been hollowed out by two audacious individuals, filled with various training equipment, presumably intended for use as a training ground.
"Darn Yoruichi, she was the one who suggested building a training ground, so why am I the only one doing the work?"
Yoruichi Shihouin was excitedly showing her little fanboy around when she heard the lazy man's complaint.
The man had short, slightly upturned light yellow hair and military green eyes, looking perpetually listless.
"That guy is my accomplice, Kisuke Urahara."
Yoruichi pointed at the disheveled, yellow-haired man, then raised her voice:
"Oh, how come I hear someone talking bad about me? Is Kisuke slacking off?"
"How could I be? Can't you see how happily I'm working?"
Kisuke Urahara waved the shovel in his hand, digging and laughing.
Reiji leaned in and asked, "What is Mr. Urahara digging for?"
"I want to dig a big pool to make a hot spring," Kisuke Urahara replied.
"Why aren't you using Kido? Isn't there a barrier set up outside?" Reiji asked, somewhat puzzled.
Kisuke Urahara explained with a smile, "Oh, that's because large-scale Kido makes too much noise, and the barrier outside would easily give us away."
"I see, Mr. Urahara is really cautious," Reiji nodded.
Kisuke Urahara seemed to sense that something was off, and his movements paused.
"By the way... who are you?"
"You don't know me?"
Only then did Reiji realize that Kisuke Urahara hadn't known he was coming. He turned to look at Yoruichi Shihouin.
"Didn't you tell him?"
Yoruichi Shihouin scratched her head and laughed, "I forgot to mention it, but it's fine, aren't you two having a pleasant chat anyway?"
Looking at Yoruichi's playful act of feigned ignorance, Reiji couldn't help but laugh, "Then I'll introduce myself."
"Hello, Mr. Kisuke Urahara, my name is Aozaki Reiji."
Kisuke Urahara was stunned for a moment, exchanging glances with Yoruichi Shihouin, who had a proud smile on her face.
Kisuke cautiously asked, "The Captain-Commander's disciple, Aozaki Reiji?"
"I suppose I am that Aozaki Reiji, but I am not the Captain-Commander's disciple."
Reiji laughed:
"This underground training ground was built by Mr. Urahara? That's really impressive, all sorts of training tools are readily available. The key is that the area is very large, so there won't be any restrictions during combat."
Just like Shunpo, a large enough training ground allows for better practice; many subtle issues can be overlooked when confined to a small room...
Kisuke Urahara also somewhat understood: "So Yoruichi just shared my hard work like that..."
"Yes..." Yoruichi said directly, without the slightest hint of guilt for appropriating his labor.
Are you kidding? She provided the idea; Kisuke Urahara was only responsible for the physical labor. Doesn't he know what intellectual property is?
Yoruichi continued, "Reiji, don't be polite with me. You can use this training ground as you please. If it gets damaged, Kisuke will be responsible for repairing it. However, it's best not to use Kido above number seventy until Kisuke develops a better protective barrier."
"I understand." Aozaki Reiji's gaze towards Yoruichi Shihouin changed once more.
He was already starting to think about how to schedule his training here, as this training ground was very complete and could be used for more than just Shunpo.
He sincerely asked, "Then can you train with me?"
"You rascal, you're clearly interested in me," Yoruichi said with a proud laugh, "You're so direct, I'm almost tempted!"
"No, I want to secretly learn your Shunpo and spiritual pressure concealment techniques. Ideally, I'd like to spar with you once a week. The Captain-Commander said my talent is quite good, so I won't trouble you for long."
Yoruichi Shihouin was extremely impressed; Reiji's psychological fortitude was the best she had ever seen, completely unaffected by her teasing.
One must know that many female Squad members of the Second Division couldn't resist her advances.
There was a rumor that the Captain-Commander liked him very much, even wanting to take him as his third disciple, and it wasn't without reason.
"Although I don't like the term 'secretly learn'," Yoruichi Shihouin waved her hand, "but since you're so honest, I'll reluctantly agree."
"Are you two forgetting that I built this training ground?" Kisuke Urahara raised his hand and said slowly.
"Thank you, Mr. Urahara, we can train together."
Reiji naturally had ulterior motives, but some things could be slowly worked on, while the opportunity to learn Shunpo from the 'Shunpo Master' could not be missed.
However, Yoruichi Shihouin was moved, and Kisuke Urahara's eyes lit up. After a long while, he happily said, "Aozaki Reiji, you don't need to thank me. As for training, let's forget about it. You're still young and need more exercise than I do."
With this child around, Yoruichi wouldn't bother him, and he could slack off. Yoruichi would have a playmate, Reiji would have a sparring partner, and he could slack off—it was a win-win-win.
I'm a genius, to come up with such a brilliant idea.
"Alright..." Reiji picked up his Zanpakuto, pondered for a moment, and then asked, "Can I start training now?"
"Starting so soon?" Kisuke Urahara asked curiously, "Aren't you going to look around more?"
"Captain-Commander ordered me to learn Sword Pressure within a week." Reiji shook his head, "Yesterday was already wasted because of a certain young lady. If I don't learn it this week, the Captain-Commander will treat me to Ikkotsu."
"Ikkotsu? Is there such food in Soul Society?" Yoruichi Shihouin was amused by him. She shot him a sidelong glance and said sweetly, "Oh~ I understand. You're into that? I wouldn't have guessed."
Reiji expressionlessly looked at her petite figure, saying nothing.
She looked very youthful, and though petite, she was unexpectedly strong, with no shortage of curves where they should be.
Yoruichi Shihouin crossed her arms and laughed heartily, "Disappointed, aren't you? Hakuda is also my strong suit!"
Unable to stand Yoruichi's smug expression, Reiji's gaze instinctively fell upon Kisuke Urahara.
"At least there's someone not as good as me. Mr. Urahara is too thin and weak."
Kisuke Urahara accepted the criticism without a care, even deliberately showing off his thin arms and legs, as if to say:
"I'm a lazy person, not a suitable sparring partner. You should go find Lady Yoruichi."
A hint of triumph appeared in his eyes as he turned and left.
"That Kisuke, he only knows how to slack off."
Yoruichi shook her head, looking utterly disappointed.
"Come on, let's go over there and spar. It's a good chance for me to see just how amazing the Shin'o Academy's first genius in history really is."
Gazing at the departing Kisuke Urahara, Reiji remained silent, lost in thought.
Yoruichi said impatiently, "You brat, don't tell me you swing both ways?"
"How is that possible?!" Reiji snapped back to reality and quickly denied it.
"You don't look like it either. So, are you looking down on me?"
Yoruichi Shihouin huffed twice.
"It's just Sword Pressure, a basic application of Reiatsu with Zanpakuto. Big sister learned it long ago. After we spar, I'll teach you hand-in-hand. That should be fine, right?"
join the Church of MissRaven and become a Sequence 9: Reader p atreon.com/KeyofStars for more chapters