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"Hello, Aozaki. I am Jūshirō Ukitake, also Master Yamamoto's disciple. Please take care of me!" Jūshirō smiled.
Aozaki Reiji laughed, "Hello, Senior Brother Ukitake. Please take care of me from now on."
The address "Senior Brother" instantly made Jūshirō feel comfortable, his face beaming with a rosy complexion. He was about to nod when...
Unexpectedly, Yamamoto suddenly stood up, his aged face stern, and he said in a deep voice,
"Aozaki Reiji, today is your examination, you haven't forgotten, have you?"
Seeing his serious expression, Aozaki Reiji sighed inwardly.
Didn't he say it was fine when he checked the homework last week? He couldn't have been tricking me, could he? Then why did you bring these two Senior Brothers here today?
Are you deliberately trying to make me look bad? You wouldn't be that bored, would you…?
He recalled the scene of Yamamoto roasting sweet potatoes with Ryujin Jakka, and suddenly felt that it wasn't impossible.
However, no matter how much the difficulty increased, he was 100% confident he could pass the examination.
"Captain-Commander, Hakuda basics are uninteresting. Today, I want to demonstrate something different."
What new trick is this brat pulling now?
Yamamoto showed a kind and benevolent smile, radiating a slight spiritual pressure.
He made a decision in his heart: if Aozaki Reiji couldn't give a reasonable explanation, he would have to personally experience the long-desired Ikkotsu.
Feeling the aura emanating from Yamamoto, Kyōraku Shunsui and Jūshirō Ukitake subconsciously tensed up.
Like two quails, they drank water silently, shrinking their bodies without saying a word.
This junior brother is too bold. He hasn't even officially entered yet, and he's already learned how to anger the Old Man.
Yamamoto slightly opened his narrowed eyes, "Aozaki Reiji, I hope you don't disappoint this Old Man."
"Captain-Commander, just watch. I guarantee you'll be satisfied with what I demonstrate."
As he spoke, Aozaki Reiji had already taken his stance, hands clenched into fists, legs spread apart and planted on the ground, a sudden gust of wind rising around him.
Yamamoto frowned, staring at Aozaki Reiji, seeing his serious expression, completely unlike a joke.
"Could it be that this kid has truly comprehended something?"
Thinking this, he beckoned to Aozaki Reiji, signaling him to attack.
Aozaki Reiji took a deep breath, stepped forward abruptly, and punched towards Yamamoto!
"Bang!"
Yamamoto raised one arm to block; the fist collided with his arm, and a wave of air spread out, blowing Kyōraku's and Jūshirō's hair.
"Whoa, whoa, that move, no way…"
Kyōraku Shunsui and Jūshirō Ukitake instantly widened their eyes.
They were too familiar with this move; wasn't it the Old Man's signature Hakuda…?
Feeling the force transmitted through his arm, Yamamoto couldn't help but show an expression of disbelief.
This kid… he really learned it…
He learned Ikkotsu just from some basic techniques he taught him!
He had always thought that Kyōraku Shunsui and Jūshirō Ukitake were geniuses that ordinary people looked up to.
Now, compared to Aozaki Reiji, those two were simply mediocre.
In just a few months, with no guidance, relying on basic techniques and self-exploration, he learned Ikkotsu!
How long did Kyōraku Shunsui take to learn Ikkotsu from him back then?
Five years, a full five years!
Yamamoto was first shocked, then couldn't help but feel ecstatic, and finally fell into contemplation.
He sat behind the tea table and, after a long while, slowly spoke:
"Aozaki Reiji, are you willing to become this Old Man's disciple?"
"…" Aozaki Reiji looked at Old Man Yamamoto in astonishment, somewhat at a loss.
Wasn't the apprenticeship ceremony rehearsed last week very complicated? How did it go straight to the last step?
Kyōraku Shunsui's eyes lit up, and he quickly winked at Jūshirō Ukitake.
Jūshirō Ukitake immediately understood his meaning and walked to Aozaki Reiji's side with a cup of tea.
"Aozaki, accept!"
"…Oh."
Aozaki Reiji came back to his senses, took the tea, bowed slightly, and respectfully presented the tea to Yamamoto.
"Teacher."
He called out "Teacher" willingly.
He knew he had talent, but talent didn't mean strength; a prematurely deceased genius was nothing.
With Yamamoto as his teacher, he would have a powerful backer in Soul Society. How many people would dare to touch him in the future?
Moreover, having studied with Yamamoto for nearly a year, he had truly learned a lot and improved rapidly. He wouldn't think Yamamoto was unqualified to be his teacher.
On the contrary, it would probably be difficult to find a better teacher than him in Soul Society.
Yamamoto smiled as he took the tea, nodding slightly in satisfaction.
Initially, Yamamoto had Aozaki Reiji study with him mainly to protect him and fend off harassment and assassination attempts from the nobles.
But now, Yamamoto genuinely wanted to take him as a disciple.
This kid's talent was hard not to be moved by.
He was an unpolished gem; once refined, he could achieve great things in the future.
Having spent nearly a year together, Yamamoto had also observed Reiji for nearly a year before confirming that his character had no major issues.
Officially taking him as a disciple today could be considered a wish fulfilled.
Yamamoto drank the tea, nodded solemnly, and acknowledged Aozaki Reiji's status.
After this cup of tea, Aozaki Reiji officially became Yamamoto's disciple.
Reiji wanted to seize the time, taking advantage of the harmonious atmosphere, to ask Yamamoto about learning Sokotsu.
However, after Yamamoto finished his tea, he said he was giving him a day off today.
He also said that Reiji no longer needed to come to the First Division Barracks at a fixed time and could come to him anytime if he had cultivation problems.
Then, he kicked him and his two Senior Brothers out of the training hall.
Thinking that the days of learning "Sokotsu" were still far off, Aozaki Reiji couldn't help but sigh:
"Why does it feel like being a disciple is worse than being a student in a cram school? I'm starting to regret it a little."
"The Old Man has many unreliable quirks; this is just the beginning." Kyōraku Shunsui looked at the clearing sky, his frivolous demeanor becoming even more pronounced.
"Indeed." Aozaki Reiji nodded.
After all, Old Man Yamamoto was someone who could use Ryujin Jakka for cooking, heating, and roasting sweet potatoes, so it was normal for him to have unreliable aspects.
Jūshirō shook his head helplessly, and after some thought, felt he should still say a few words for his teacher to maintain his image.
He turned to look around, and after confirming no one was present, Jūshirō lowered his voice:
"Actually, Teacher also has difficulties. The rebel forces are getting stronger and stronger. Recently, the squads fighting the rebels have had no survivors in several battles, and the Gotei 13 has suffered heavy casualties."
"Our visit this time, besides witnessing your apprenticeship ceremony, was also to report the recent situation to Teacher."
"Teacher is worried that the forces behind the rebels might have used some trump cards that could threaten the safety of Soul Society."
Hearing Jūshirō's words, Aozaki Reiji was slightly stunned.
The first thing he thought of was not the Tsunayashiro Family, but Aizen, whom he had seen on the battlefield.
In the Gotei 13's battles to suppress the rebels, many high-ranking seated officers were dispatched.
Some of these seated officers actually had Vice-Captain-class spiritual pressure, but due to the limited number of Vice-Captain positions, they served as seated officers in various Squads.
He had a general understanding of the rebels' strength; it was almost impossible for them to defeat the Gotei 13 without letting anyone escape.
Unless the nobles sent Captain-class Shinigami, but that possibility was very small.
No survivors, combined with Aizen's actions in the last battle, made it hard for him not to suspect Aizen.
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