He walked to the Zanpakuto that Sasuke had dropped and gently tapped it with the tip of his foot. The hilt bounced up into his grasp.
"Starting now, you will begin with the most basic sword swings. You will continue until every swing you make is free of any unnecessary emotions."
This suggestion instantly ignited Sasuke's suppressed rage.
He jerked his head up, his eyes filled with resistance and confusion, "The most basic swings? I don't have time to waste on something so pointless!"
What he needed was greater power, Bankai, techniques that could kill that man, not mind-numbing, repetitive beginner drills.
"See, you're getting impatient again." Urahara shook his head, wearing an 'I knew it' expression.
His calm demeanor left Sasuke's anger with nowhere to go.
He tossed the Zanpakuto back to Sasuke.
"I'm not dismissing your determination to pursue power. But you must understand: a tower built without a solid foundation will collapse, no matter how high it reaches."
Sasuke wanted to retort, but the memory of being effortlessly defeated moments earlier flashed in his mind, trapping his words in his throat.
He clenched his fists, ultimately yielding.
Urahara's strength had convinced him.
In the 11th Division, respecting those stronger than oneself was an unwritten rule.
Seeing Sasuke's conflicted yet resigned expression, Urahara's lips curled into a faint smile behind his fan.
"In that case, let's start with Hakuda."
He shifted the topic, walking back into the circle, "Zanjutsu requires absolute calm. It's too early for you right now."
He casually assumed a fighting stance, yet his aura subtly shifted.
"Watch closely, Sasuke-kun. The essence of Hakuda isn't just about attacking with fists and feet… it's about precisely channeling Reiatsu to every part of your body."
The moment he finished speaking, Urahara took a sudden step forward and threw a seemingly ordinary straight punch at a nearby boulder.
There was no earth-shattering roar. His fist merely landed lightly on the rock's surface.
The next instant…
Sasuke's pupils contracted sharply.
Boom!!!
The several-meter-tall boulder exploded as if detonated from within, instantly shattering into countless rubble that collapsed to the ground.
"This is the Crushing Fist."
Urahara explained with a smile, withdrawing his fist, "It involves concentrating Reiatsu to a single point and releasing it upon impact. It requires extreme control over Reiatsu."
As he spoke, he subtly glanced back at the black cat that had appeared at the edge of the training ground unnoticed, a sly smile playing on his lips.
"Of course, destructive power alone isn't enough. Footwork is also crucial, like this…"
His body swayed slightly, and his feet moved in a peculiar rhythm.
This footwork clearly shared the same origin as the technique he had used earlier to deflect Sasuke's force.
"These unique skills… I secretly learned them from a certain someone who taught me back in the day." Urahara said with a wink, joking meaningfully, "I doubt she'll mind if I borrow them now?"
At the edge of the training ground, Yoruichi merely gave him a lazy glance and let out a noncommittal murmur, tacitly agreeing.
But her golden cat-like eyes remained fixed on the young boy, flickering with an imperceptible light.
'This kid...'
Yoruichi mused silently.
That relentless spirit reminded her of another proud genius from long ago… Kuchiki Byakuya.
'Like that little brat Byakuya, this kid possessed top-tier talent and seemed to carry a heavy burden as well.'
…
Time flew by amidst monotonous and rigorous training.
Sasuke had no idea how long he had been in this underground space… perhaps a month, or maybe just two weeks. He had long lost track of time's passage. His Shihakusho was soaked with sweat, yet his eyes were more focused than ever before.
Just as he adjusted his breathing once more, preparing to face Urahara's next round of instruction, Urahara suddenly halted his movements.
"Ara ara…" He looked up at the massive surveillance screen in the training ground, an expression of keen interest on his face.
On the screen, dozens of red dots representing Hollows were emerging from all directions of Karakura Town, spreading rapidly.
Sasuke, of course, could also sense the sudden surge of Reiatsu from the outside world.
Urahara closed his fan and lightly tapped his shoulder with its spine.
"It seems your 'errand runner' has run into quite the trouble this time." He turned around, smiling as he looked at Sasuke, "This many Hollows appearing simultaneously isn't something he can handle alone."
Sasuke's brow furrowed. He didn't respond immediately, merely staring coldly at the densely packed dots on the screen.
"Why?" He asked in a low voice, "Hollow appearances may be irregular, but for so many to emerge at the same time on such a scale… this isn't normal."
Based on his experience, Hollow hunting behavior was typically chaotic and independent. This kind of coordinated, targeted collective action undoubtedly had a reason behind it.
"Hmm, Sasuke-kun has noticed, I see." Urahara pressed his fan against his chin, a flicker of approval in his eyes, "Indeed, this is no natural phenomenon. Someone is deliberately causing this."
"As for the reason… probably some stubborn individual trying to prove their 'superiority' to us Shinigami in this foolish way."
"A stubborn individual?" A trace of confusion flashed in Sasuke's eyes.
"Well, that's not the important point." Urahara clapped his hands, pulling the topic back, his meaning clear, "The key is, if we don't deal with this nuisance quickly, and if it attracts the attention of the Soul Society, prompting them to send… unwanted individuals… then our research on 'finding a way to the other world' might be forced to halt."
Sasuke snorted, his impatience evident. He certainly understood Urahara's implication, 'This guy was using the situation to manipulate me again.'
But he couldn't refute it because Urahara was stating a fact.
Sasuke rotated his sore shoulders and slowly straightened up.
"…Troublesome." He muttered the word under his breath, but his figure had already turned into a blur, shooting towards the exit leading to the surface.
Watching Sasuke's retreating back, the smile on Urahara's face finally gained a touch of genuineness.
"Such a useful kid."
"Aren't you afraid he'll make an even bigger mess of things?" Yoruichi appeared beside him, having slipped over unnoticed.
"Don't worry." Urahara waved his fan, his eyes deep, "After these days of training, I believe he's learned to control his emotions…"
…
Sasuke's figure weaved through the chaotic urban landscape. Each time his blade left its sheath, it was accompanied by the silent dissipation of a Hollow. His goal was singular: find the source of this disturbance.
When he arrived at a crossroads in a commercial district, the scene before him caused his placid heart to stutter slightly.
Boom…!
A giant billboard on the side of a building, struck by a Hollow's attack, broke loose and plummeted directly towards a family of three below.
The parents didn't run. Instead, they instinctively spread their arms, using their own bodies to shield their young child beneath them.
For Sasuke, that posture was unbearably, irritatingly glaring.
"Tch…" A frustrated grunt escaped Sasuke's throat.
In the next instant, his figure appeared beneath the falling billboard. With one hand, he effortlessly caught it and casually flung it towards an abandoned storefront nearby.
Sasuke raised his head, his gaze sharply locking onto another location.
There, a figure clad in a white uniform stood calmly, bow raised.
Perhaps reminded of something by the sight of that family, a strange, inexplicable killing intent erupted from Sasuke with overwhelming force.
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