A tall young woman in a Shinigami uniform, twin pigtails bouncing, gripped her Asauchi tightly, panting as she faced the young man before her.
"Hmph~"
Tamura Yao's delicate face glistened with sweat; Ito Makoto's training had clearly pushed her to her limits.
"Yao, stop and rest for a moment. Synchronizing with a Zanpakutō isn't something that can be rushed," Ito Makoto advised calmly.
Tamura Yao bit her lower lip lightly, determination bright in her eyes.
"Makoto-kun, I can still continue! Please don't stop!"
Ito Makoto chuckled at her stubbornness.
"Alright then. I'll go a little more seriously. Be prepared."
With that, Ito Makoto held his sheath firmly and, in a blur of Shunpo, closed the distance between them. He pointed the sheath toward her midsection. Tamura Yao hastily raised her Asauchi in defense.
"Bang!"
The casual strike caused the Asauchi in Tamura Yao's hands to vibrate violently, making her lose her grip.
"So strong… the gap between me and Makoto-kun is enormous!"
Tamura Yao's frustration deepened as she stared at the bright-eyed young man in front of her. She retrieved her Asauchi, determined not to falter.
"Yah!"
She lunged again, attacking with renewed vigor.
"Yao, you're still charging in without caution?"
Ito Makoto merely tilted the sheath, striking her lower abdomen lightly.
"Ah!"
Tamura Yao cried out, dropping to her knees from the force. Sweat and saliva mixed on the ground as she struggled to rise. Ito Makoto observed impassivelyafter all, she had requested this intense training to master Shikai faster.
He didn't know any shortcut to Shikai mastery; all he could do was battle her directly, testing her reflexes, Reiatsu control, and timing.
She tried again, rising to her feet.
"Makoto-kun… let's continue!"
Ito Makoto tilted his head, a faint smile appearing.
"You're impressively stubborn, Yao. I'm starting to respect that."
As she rushed forward once more, he pinched her Asauchi lightly with two fingers.
"Such a soft blade… are you trying to polish my nails, Yao?!"
"Clang!"
The blade flew from her hand with a single flick, sending her tumbling backward across the grass. Her twin pigtails came loose, hair spilling freely around her. Despite the disheveled appearance, her determination shone clearly.
Coughing and brushing off dust, Tamura Yao tried again, gripping her Asauchi with trembling hands.
Ito Makoto remained seated, sheathing her weapon and lightly flicking her chest with a controlled strike of his finger. She was sent back once more, but her resolve remained unbroken.
"I underestimated you!"
Even from a tactical perspective, Ito Makoto recognized her persistence.
"Slender branches bearing abundant fruit, how rare," he murmured, noting her potential and resilience.
Tamura Yao, flushed from exertion and repeated impacts, refused to yield. She advanced with Shunpo, wrist trembling, struggling to maintain her grip on the Asauchi.
"It's enough for today," Ito Makoto said, finally standing. He gave a faint, knowing smile as he gestured toward the nearby stream.
"Rest a bit and recover."
With that, he pushed her gently toward the small stream.
"Plop!"
Tamura Yao fell into the clear water, completely soaked, her uniform clinging tightly, highlighting her figure naturally.
Ito Makoto shook his head with amusement.
"We'll take a different approach for your Shikai training. Fighting at full strength in the field is one thing, but we need to refine your control too."
Tamura Yao's face burned crimson at his words.
"Makoto-kun… but this is… the open area…"
"Or perhaps we can continue in a more controlled setting," he suggested.
She nodded, eager to learn, and the two began recalibrating their training session.
"Alright. Let's try controlling our Reiatsu within the Four Directions Realm," Ito Makoto instructed.
He released his Zanpakutō, Annihilation God, unleashing the Four Directions Realm. Instantly, a square, grey-black barrier enveloped the small stream. No Reiatsu or sound could escape, keeping their training private and undisturbed.
Tamura Yao looked in awe at the barrier.
"So this is Makoto-kun's Zanpakutō release… its strength… it's incredible! How can I ever catch up?"
The barrier allowed her to feel the nuances of Reiatsu distribution, speed augmentation, and suppression within the zone. She realized the gap between her current skill and Ito Makoto's mastery was immense.
Ito Makoto ignored her awe. Inside the Four Directions Realm, he focused entirely on guiding her through precise Shikai maneuvers, Shunpo timing, and Reiatsu harmonization.
For the first time since arriving in the Shinigami world, he could truly test a fellow Soul Reaper without the interference of rank or duty.
Tamura Yao steadied herself, breathing deeply, eyes locking onto Ito Makoto with newfound resolve.
"I'm ready, Makoto-kun. Let's refine my Shikai!"
Ito Makoto nodded, gripping his Zanpakutō firmly.
"Then let's begin the next stage of your training. Full focus, Yao."
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