When Sora returned to the dōjō from the Technology Development Bureau, he found Kaname Tōsen, who had been waiting for a long time.
"I will never forget Lord Katori's kindness, but as I am a flawed person with little strength, I have no way to repay you."
"I beg you to accept me as your disciple!" Tōsen knelt on the ground, bowing his head in the deepest form of respect. "I swear I will repay your kindness in the future!"
This was not the first time he and Sora had met.
He had met him in the Rukongai years ago and had even received his help.
After Kakyō became Sora's disciple, the gap between them grew wider and wider.
Not wanting to drift apart from his friend, he had asked Kakyō for an introduction to come to the Katori dōjō and ask to become a disciple.
"You want to become my disciple..."
With Tōsen coming to him directly, Sora naturally wouldn't refuse a disciple with S-rank potential.
However, Tōsen was blind, and Sora was curious about his condition.
In the future, Tōsen's sensory abilities would be outstanding, reaching a level similar to a "mind's eye."
Most Shinigami could only perceive a blob of spiritual pressure when sensing other spiritual bodies.
But the future Tōsen would clearly be able to perceive specific forms.
However, the current Tōsen still needed a wooden cane to help him with his daily movements. His perception had probably not yet been trained to the point where he could sense concrete shapes.
"You are blind. It will not be easy for you to become a Shinigami," Sora said slowly.
"I will work hard to overcome this difficulty!" Tōsen said with his head bowed. "After several years of training, my 'mind's eye' can already see the outlines of some things. I beg you to give me a chance, Lord Katori!"
"'Mind's eye'? You mean spiritual pressure perception..." Batsu'unsai rested her index finger on her chin, sizing up Tōsen. "If you can perceive outlines, that's very impressive! Many seated officers, and even some lieutenants, can't do that!"
"Words are cheap. Get up first," Sora turned to Sōya Azashiro. "Sōya, you test him."
"Alright!"
Sōya was intrigued. He immediately went to the sword rack, grabbed a wooden sword, and tossed it to Tōsen.
Sōya thought Tōsen was exaggerating and wanted to expose his lie.
He himself couldn't even perceive 'outlines' with his spiritual sense, yet this blind boy who hadn't even attended the academy claimed he could.
This blind man must be lying!
Clatter—
The wooden sword fell directly to the ground.
Tōsen had failed to catch it.
"Haha, you can't even catch this. You really are a liar!" Sōya laughed loudly. "How bold of you to dare lie in front of the Professor!"
With a simple trick, he had exposed the fraud!
Sōya had thrown the sword on purpose.
Everything in the Soul Society is made of reishi, and the wooden sword was no exception.
If Tōsen could "see" outlines with his so-called mind's eye, it would be impossible for him not to catch the sword.
Sōya hadn't thrown it hard; any normal person could have caught it.
Yet, Tōsen had not only failed to catch it, he hadn't even realized a sword was thrown at him.
"..." Tōsen lowered his head, trying to find the wooden sword.
"Sōya, he can only 'see' things with strong spiritual pressure right now," Kakyō said, feeling a bit sorry for him, and went to pick up the sword.
"My apologies, perhaps I did not explain clearly. I can currently only see a slight 'outline' of souls. I still have a long way to go on this path," Tōsen said earnestly. "But I believe I can overcome this difficulty!"
"Hmph, my mistake. But don't think you can deceive the Professor's eyes!" Sōya pouted. "Come on. I'll suppress my spiritual pressure to about the same level as yours."
"I am ready," Tōsen said, holding the sword with both hands and nodding. "I am not skilled in swordsmanship, please bear with me."
Sōya didn't respond, instead approaching Tōsen without a sound.
The next moment, a triumphant smile appeared on Sōya's face.
With a flick of his wrist, the wooden sword swung towards Tōsen's waist.
"Ugh—" Tōsen was hit instantly and let out a muffled groan.
"And you say you're not a liar, you can't even—" Sōya's smile froze. He realized Tōsen's wooden sword was also pressed against his own vital point.
"Heh, you just counter-attacked based on where you were hit!" Sōya's face darkened, unwilling to accept it. "If this were a real sword, you'd be cut in two!"
"Then let's go again. At that same speed, I will hit you before your blade lands on me," Tōsen said gravely.
Sōya hadn't used Shunpo just now, merely walking over with light steps.
"Such big words!" Sōya snorted. "Then I'll hit you with the same speed as before!"
He didn't believe someone who had never trained in swordsmanship could be faster than him.
The two created some distance.
Sōya had heard that blind people have sharper hearing than others, so he didn't want Tōsen to pinpoint his location by sound.
He tiptoed in a circle, moving behind Tōsen.
Sōya raised his wooden sword high with both hands, a triumphant smile once again on his face.
However, Tōsen had already extended his own wooden sword behind him.
"You can really see?!" Sōya exclaimed in shock.
Tōsen's sword was already aimed at his forehead, clearly having pinpointed his position.
He hadn't made any sound just now, so Tōsen had not used hearing to locate him.
This was enough to prove that Tōsen's spiritual sense was indeed very sharp.
"How would I dare to deceive Lord Katori!" Tōsen withdrew his sword.
"What part of me were you aiming for?" Sōya asked quickly.
"Probably the forehead area," Tōsen said softly.
"He really can see outlines..." Sōya was a bit shocked.
This person's spiritual perception was much sharper than his own!
Could it be that blind people not only had sharp hearing but sharp spiritual senses as well?
"Your perception is very good," Sora said with a smile. "To be able to perceive outlines without systematic training is truly rare. In that case, I will accept you as my disciple."
"Professor!" Tōsen said excitedly.
He had finally achieved his wish and become a disciple of Katori Sora.
"Spiritual perception is very important for you. You must continue to strengthen this ability in the future and strive to 'see' the outlines of things other than spiritual bodies," Sora said sternly. "Once you enter my school, you must respect your elders and never betray your master. As long as you are loyal and train diligently, I will teach you the way of the sword and help you become a Shinigami!"
"Yes! Professor!"
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