Yamabuki's expression was as if he had seen a ghost. Old Man, are you serious?
Yamamoto sat upright, showing no sign of jest. Saitō looked at Yamabuki with interest.
"Can this bean sprout really do it?"
"Hmph, how would you know if you don't try it?" Yamabuki retorted, displeased. That's an insult! What man wants to be called a bean sprout?
Saitō didn't grasp his meaning, while Shihōin Chika and Yamamoto's expressions turned subtle. This kid actually dares to make such a risqué comment here!
Yamamoto lightly coughed and produced an incense stick from his robes. "Since you believe you are far stronger than this young man, let's set a time limit—the duration of this incense stick. If you cannot defeat him within that time, you will obediently join our Gotei 13."
Saitō loved such thrilling wagers. "And if I defeat him before the incense burns out?"
"Then I will give this young man to you as a slave!"
"Huh???" Yamabuki looked at Yamamoto with terrified incredulity. Did you get my consent?!
"Deal!" Saitō Furōfushi was immediately excited by the wager. She stepped directly onto the dining table, gripping her Zanpakuto. "Why would I need a full incense stick to deal with this kid? I'll finish him in three seconds!"
As her words fell, Saitō instantly drew her sword. The flash of her blade tore through the dining table and the main door. Fortunately, Yamabuki was prepared; he drew his own sword the moment she moved. Their blades clashed, and Yamabuki clearly felt his inferior strength. He was sent flying out of the hall by the force, landing lightly after spinning several times in the air.
Shihōin Chika waved his hand, dusting off debris, and walked out into the courtyard with Yamamoto, grinning.
"Saitō, you better hurry! The incense has already been lit!" Shihōin Chika laughed.
Yamabuki's face was grim as he slowly retreated. The gap between Vice-Captain and Captain level was like heaven and earth!
When Kurosaki Ichigo rescued Kuchiki Rukia, even having just reached Captain-level, he instantly defeated three Vice-Captains at the execution ground.
Even after Abarai Renji learned Bankai, he was still no match for Kuchiki Byakuya.
It could be said an insurmountable chasm of power lay between Captains and Vice-Captains.
How could he possibly hold out for the time it took an incense stick to burn?
The Old Man is setting me up!
I regret it now. I don't want to aim for retirement anymore. Is it too late to quit the Gotei 13?
Saitō gave him no chance, charging forward with another sword strike!
Her speed and strength far surpassed the current Yamabuki's.
Yamabuki used Shunpo to retreat. Saitō's strike hit the ground like a high-explosive bomb; the entire area erupted, a massive shockwave sending debris flying in all directions!
"Is this even human?" Yamabuki's face contorted. Aside from his Vice-Captain level reiryoku, he only possessed Swordsmanship Mastery and Shunpo.
But as everyone knew, a Shinigami's Four Basic Skills all relied on reiryoku. If Zaraki Kenpachi didn't have monstrous spiritual pressure, how could he become a Captain with just an Asauchi?
And his bastard system, after dumping the Newbie Gift Pack, had vanished. What a brilliant job. How am I supposed to fight this madwoman?
Saitō charged again with a wild laugh. Yamabuki hastily used Shunpo to leap onto a wall, then shouted at Yamamoto and Shihōin Chika, "Does anyone here know Kido? Can you teach me on the spot?"
Shihōin Chika almost laughed aloud. They say it's never too late to learn, but isn't sharpening your spear during the battle a bit too late?
Yamamoto, however, asked calmly, "What do you wish to learn? I am quite proficient in Kido."
Yamabuki quickly ran through all the Kido he could recall. Before he could answer, Saitō closed in with Shunpo. This time, he couldn't dodge. Yamabuki met her blade head-on. Their swords clashed, and Yamabuki was sent flying back by Saitō's monstrous strength, though he landed steadily, unharmed.
Before he could find his footing, Saitō charged again.
"You're hopping around like a monkey! Can't you fight me head-on like a man?!" Saitō roared irritably.
Yamabuki could only retreat rapidly, avoiding her direct assaults.
"Does anyone know Sekienton (Crimson Smoke Escape)?" Yamabuki ignored Saitō's provocation, shouting to Yamamoto.
Saitō strode forward, her face full of disdain. "Do you think learning a low-level Kido will let you defeat me?"
"Or you could wait until I've learned it?"
"I won't fall for that! Die!"
Yamamoto stretched slightly. "I will demonstrate it only once. Watch closely."
Hey, hey, hey! How can I possibly focus right now? If I get distracted, this madwoman will cut me in half! Can't you teach me properly?!
"Bakudō Number Twenty-One: Sekienton!" Yamamoto chanted.
Red smoke instantly billowed from his feet. This was primarily a low-level Bakudō used to obscure the enemy's vision, with no offensive power.
Yamabuki didn't have the luxury to study it carefully, only managing to glance from the corner of his eye while simultaneously evading Saitō's attacks.
But at that moment, he realized that just from that inadvertent glance, he had already understood the principle of Sekienton deep within.
At first, he didn't understand why, but then he remembered the title the system had given him: Child of Destiny.
What is a Child of Destiny?
Infinite talent, infinite growth, infinite potential!
This was the true golden finger the system had given him from the start.
"Bakudō Number Twenty-One: Sekienton!"
Yamabuki placed a hand on the ground, and a large amount of crimson smoke suddenly erupted, obscuring Saitō's vision.
Yamamoto and Shihōin Chika, watching from a distance, were both stunned.
"Has this kid had contact with Kido before?" Shihōin Chika asked.
"Probably not. Otherwise, he would have used it earlier," Yamamoto replied.
Someone who had never touched Kido, able to replicate it after seeing it just once? Even if it was only a low-level Kido, wasn't this talent a bit terrifying?
"Sekienton! Sekienton! Sekienton!!!"
With Vice-Captain level reiryoku, continuously releasing this low-level Kido was no strain. Soon, the entire area was filled with thick crimson smoke, and everyone lost their vision.
Saitō hated these tricks; she preferred direct confrontation!
"Are you just going to keep hiding? How long can you hide, you coward!"
"Hide? You misunderstand. I'm merely looking for an opening!"
Yamabuki's voice sounded like a ghost behind Saitō. Startled, she turned her head to find a flash of sword light already piercing towards her face at extreme speed!
....
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