"Teacher, are we really going to fight?"
Noticing that Shunsui Kyōraku was no longer behind them, Naraku Sora asked curiously.
Yamamoto's hands hung at his sides as he walked slowly. His seemingly hunched figure straightened with every step. Though he wasn't tall, his presence was becoming increasingly suffocating. In particular, a subtle smile appeared on that aged face, one that made Sora's hair stand on end.
"Naraku."
Yamamoto took off his white Captain's haori. After folding it carefully, he placed it in a corner. "You don't think I was joking just now, do you?"
Looking at those slightly lowered eyes, Sora had an instinctive sense of dread.
"Speaking of which, as your teacher, I have been busy negotiating with Central 46 lately. At least a hundred secret orders pass through the Ritintei to my hands every day." Yamamoto's eyelids lifted slightly. Under the sunlight, his dark eyes seemed to burn with fire. "I almost neglected your education. After teaching you all the techniques of 'Ikkotsu,' I haven't tested your progress until now. It truly was a lapse in judgment. I sincerely apologize. Since someone is helping me with my work today, I might as well take this gap to give you some pointers."
It was only after arriving at the training hall that Yamamoto suddenly remembered: the reason he had been spinning like a top these past few days was all thanks to this harmless-looking boy in front of him. Stirring up the Shihōin civil war, assassinating several elders, emptying the Maggots' Nest, publicly killing nobles, and expanding the Shino Underground Prison without permission...
"But don't worry. To ensure the quality of the lesson, I will suppress my Reiatsu to a level similar to yours. You don't need to hold back. Just show me everything you've got."
As he spoke, wreaths of spiritual flames rose, transforming into armbands that fitted onto Yamamoto's muscular arms, which were as thick as a grown man's thigh. Sora, who had been worried about getting a beating, brightened up at the sight.
If he had to fight Yamamoto at full strength, he'd be worried about dying mid-way. But since the old man was being so arrogant as to suppress his Reiatsu to his level, he would show Yamamoto what "stats" really meant. There was a gap even between the same Fourth-rank Spiritual Power. After all, Naraku Sora wasn't a pure Soul Reaper.
Looking at the fierce-looking Yamamoto, Naraku Sora grinned. "Then, please guide me."
Seeing his foolish disciple looking happy even in the face of death, Yamamoto was somewhat surprised but nodded slowly. However, just as he was about to say something—
A faint, almost imperceptible heat struck him head-on!
Sora's Flash Step exploded, moving as fast as lightning. He crossed the distance of ten meters in an instant, and his fist, wrapped in blood-red Reiatsu, smashed down without hesitation! Even against a suppressed Yamamoto, he didn't dare underestimate him. He had to explode with all his power from the start. Only then could he seize the rhythm of the battle.
Looking at the fist right in front of him, Yamamoto's mouth curled into a grin. Even more intense Reiatsu burned from his body, his muscles and tendons vibrating as his fingers clenched into a fist. Infinite power erupted from his right fist!
Boom!
The moment they collided, the aftershock surged. The air in the training hall was instantly torn apart, and visible ripples spread in all directions. Feeling the terrifying power from his arm, a flash of surprise crossed Yamamoto's eyes.
Ikkotsu wasn't a secret ultimate move, but its power was still staggering, and it was difficult to master. He thought Sora would need a long time to perfect it, but he hadn't expected the boy to reach this level after only a few days of teaching. It was flawless. Even as the creator, Yamamoto couldn't find a single fault. At this rate, how much longer could he even teach this kid?
Realizing he might soon lose the chance to pummel Naraku Sora, a hint of regret appeared on Yamamoto's face. At that exact moment, Sora caught the opening in Yamamoto's emotional state. He immediately retreated a step and summoned all his Reiatsu without any warning or wind-up.
A flash of blood-red passed through his eyes. In that split-second gap, another Ikkotsu came crashing through the air. Shock flashed in Yamamoto's eyes. He never expected Sora to be able to fire two consecutive Ikkotsu strikes in such a short window. Shouldn't a normal person take a moment to reset before attacking again?
The wild power erupted, pouring into Yamamoto's raised arm. His tensed muscles actually rang with a metallic sound. The scorching Reiatsu surged, forcefully crushing the floor beneath their feet into a deep pit.
Yamamoto took a step back.
Seeing this, Sora's eyes lit up. Stats really did work! At the same level of Reiatsu, even Yamamoto couldn't easily withstand his direct punches. As long as he kept up this rhythm, it seemed possible to actually take down Yamamoto.
'Today, the student will surpass the master!'
The sudden, fierce assault actually forced Yamamoto back repeatedly, as if he had fallen completely into a disadvantage with no hope of a comeback.
Boom!
Suddenly, Sora's vision went black. His mind seemed to go blank for a moment, as if his memory had been wiped. When he regained his senses, his whole body was in agonizing pain. It felt as if he had been hit by a high-speed train. His bones felt like they were falling apart, and he couldn't even hold himself together.
"What... what happened?"
Sora's eyes widened. He couldn't snap out of it for a long time. He only remembered being in the lead, with Yamamoto retreating and victory in sight. Then, a chunk of memory seemed to be missing, and when he woke up, he was lying on the ground.
"Your mastery of Ikkotsu is acceptable, and your basic abilities are good. But you are too impulsive. You must pay attention to this in battle. You pass this test." Yamamoto sat cross-legged, looking calmly at the boy sprawled on the floor. "Now, let's talk about Takeda Itsuki."
Sora snapped back to reality and looked up at the old man in surprise. The old man spoke slowly:
"Naraku, I am well aware that you were not involved in the attack. The reason I called you here, besides testing your progress, was more to remind you of something. Once you are pulled into a whirlpool, it is very difficult to get out. The water here is deeper than you think. To this day, I still don't know how many Soul Reapers in the Gotei 13 stand on the side of the nobles. The product born from the compromise back then has now lost its original purpose. Takeda Itsuki is also a member of the nobility. The family his house serves is one of the Five Great Noble Families."
Yamamoto's low voice echoed in the empty training hall:
"Its name is Tsunayashiro..."