Inside the brand-new dojo, Naraku Sora once again heard the sound of the sun rising.
Then, he was sent flying by an unreserved double Ikkotsu. He soared through the sky, spinning seven thousand two hundred degrees in mid-air before stumbling into a crash landing. With a wretched sound, he spat out a mouthful of thick, stagnant blood.
That was right; the old man had flown into a shameful rage after his defense was broken by Sora's Black Flash. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the Head Captain had dragged him to another dojo to begin a session of "strict teacher instruction," which was in reality a campaign of retaliation via iron fists.
What Naraku Sora found most incomprehensible was that the Ikkotsu variant he had used earlier in the battle was now being used against him in the blink of an eye. Moreover, it was even more refined and perfect. From the angle of the strike to the power-generating technique, not a single flaw could be found.
'Should I expect anything less from the founder of the Genryu style?'
Fortunately, the old man hadn't managed to learn his Black Flash, which left Sora with at least a shred of dignity. However, getting beaten wasn't without its rewards. Perhaps because Sora's development of Ikkotsu had simultaneously inspired Yamamoto, after a few attempts, Yamamoto had innovated various advanced techniques for the move.
A simple strike became infinitely varied in Yamamoto's hands. When combined with his vast combat experience, it formed a terrifying method of slaughter. From Naraku Sora's perspective, it was completely flawless.
During this time, Yamamoto also attempted to explain some of the technical applications to Naraku Sora, analyzing the deeper meaning of each movement in combat, as well as the function and significance of the details. However, he soon discovered that while the disciple before him could understand what he said, he lacked the extensive practice and tempering required to translate it into actual application.
As a result, Yamamoto simply changed his teaching method. He chose the most brutal yet effective way: actual combat beatings.
Perhaps due to his improved growth potential, or maybe because of a certain connection to his Hollowfication, Naraku Sora found that he responded very well to this approach. Based on his perfect comprehension of Ikkotsu and supplemented by Yamamoto's unreserved "mentorship bullying," he quickly integrated those newly created moves into his original combat system.
[HAKUDA: LV70!]
The hard work of transforming into a "grind-god" was perfectly reflected in the change of his numerical stats. Setting aside the buffs from his Shikai, among the four basic combat skills of a Soul Reaper, his Hakuda was now indisputably at the top, far ahead of the other three.
Adding the Black Flash—which felt like he was cheating on his stat sheet—it was hard to imagine how much stress relief a single "Black Flash Ikkotsu" would provide in a real fight.
"Did you feel it?"
"In addition to the difference in power generation compared to Ikkotsu, Sōkotsu involves the entire muscle group and dozens of different Reiatsu applications."
Yamamoto used his iron fists of "compassion" to hammer a human-shaped pit into the floor of the new dojo. He then squatted by the edge of the pit, calmly explaining the techniques of Sōkotsu.
"Those are the general contents. As for the specific details, you will need to realize them through personal experience."
In the dead silence, Naraku Sora's gaze was somewhat vacant. But fortunately, the old man knew when to hold back, and the High-Speed Regeneration had its own mechanics. With both factors working together, the injuries on Naraku Sora's body recovered at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Seeing this, Yamamoto couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. For some reason, as he looked at this rebellious disciple of his, Sora seemed more and more familiar. He felt as if he had seen this somewhere else before. He tried hard to think about it, but could not find a conclusion.
Yamamoto simply pushed the thought to the back of his mind. In the silence, a soft sigh escaped him, and a look of hesitation and difficulty appeared on the old man's face.
"Kid, what was the name of that move you used just now?"
"So, does Sensei want to learn it too?"
Naraku Sora looked up from the deep pit and grinned. "I can't guarantee you'll be able to learn it, but I won't hold anything back. If Sensei wants to learn, then I'll teach you."
Hearing this, the old man's gaze became complicated.
---
Northern Rukongai, District 72.
The Sedimentary Plains.
Violent and chaotic Reiatsu was piled up in a mess. A scorched scent constantly permeated and spread through the air, almost filling the entire plain. Deafening battle cries ruthlessly tore through the silence of the plains. The sound of flesh tearing apart like silk constantly stimulated the fragile nerves of the Soul Reapers on both sides.
Over a hundred Soul Reapers were slaughtering each other on this plain, attempting to prove their own righteousness through this method. The thick smell of blood stimulated everyone's eyes until they were bloodshot and red, as if they had lost all reason.
In addition to close-quarters combat, Kidō impacts exploded one after another on the grass. Amidst the rising dust, brilliant lightning spread through the crowd. The shrill wails seemed utterly insignificant amidst the sound of the searing explosions.
On a stone pillar at the edge of the battlefield, a red Ginreishi scarf fluttered in the wind. Kuchiki Kōga stood with his arms crossed, staring seriously at the changes on the battlefield. Right now was not the best time for him to strike.
This was a war to suppress rebel Soul Reapers. The Soul Reaper leading the rebels was also a powerful existence. If he acted prematurely, it would surely cause the upper hand to shift instantly, and might even completely bury his colleagues' lives.
These were the exact lessons his father-in-law, Kuchiki Ginrei, had taught him. Stay calm when facing trouble; only by remaining composed can one deal with all unexpected changes and ensure one always stands in an invincible position.
However, when he saw those Soul Reapers with whom he used to drink and laugh wailing in the flames of Kidō, a trace of anger couldn't help but flash in the depths of Kuchiki Kōga's eyes.
War shouldn't be like this. He clearly possessed the power to turn the situation around, yet he had to stand on high ground waiting for the right moment, allowing those familiar colleagues to die. They clearly could have survived.
"Muramasa."
A voice filled with suppressed calm suddenly rang out atop the stone pillar. The air rippled, and a figure dressed in a white robe appeared out of thin air. The eyes covered in eye shadow were still full of loyalty as they looked at Kuchiki Kōga.
"Do you need me to take action?"
"You stay here."
"?"
Without giving Muramasa a chance to ask, Kuchiki Kōga grabbed his unreleased Zanpakutō and vanished instantly. When he reappeared, he had already charged into the rebel camp. A massive pillar of Reiatsu soared into the sky, and a heavy pressure suddenly spread out.
With the addition of fresh reinforcements, the stalemated battle reversed in an instant. The morale of the Gotei 13 side surged, quickly suppressing the opposition.
But this situation did not last long. Another powerful Reiatsu charged into the battlefield almost simultaneously. The newcomer was the leader of this rebel group, a man named Akio Retsu.
His strength was extremely formidable. He had escaped several times under the joint efforts of Kuchiki Kōga and Muramasa. This was only because he was very well-informed about Kuchiki Kōga's abilities; whenever he fought him, he would immediately close his heart, giving Muramasa no chance to activate his ability.
"We meet again, Kuchiki Kōga."
Akio Retsu erupted with a Reiatsu that was not inferior at all, standing his ground against the purple pillar of light and cutting the battlefield in two once again.
"You're as impatient as ever. You don't actually think you're the side of justice, do you?"
Kuchiki Kōga remained silent, simply staring at the middle-aged man before him. Even now, he didn't understand. Akio Retsu had once been a Lieutenant-level figure in the Gotei 13; in terms of status, he was already among the highest of the Soul Reapers. Why would he still choose to rebel?
He had been curious about this question for a long time. But whether he asked Kuchiki Ginrei or Yamamoto, neither could give him a precise answer.
Akio Retsu revealed a mocking smile and said disdainfully, "Looking at your expression, I can tell that old fossil Kuchiki Ginrei didn't tell you anything. In the end, he just wants to forge a sharp, obedient blade. Your value of existence is nothing more than to maintain the ridiculous honor of the Kuchiki family!"
"Kuchiki Kōga, you guys are the real traitors!"
Hearing this, Kuchiki Kōga's brow furrowed as he subconsciously thought about the meaning of those words. However, the reason Akio Retsu said so much was to create a moment of distraction.
"Die!"
A vicious smile drew near in an instant. Akio Retsu gathered Kidō Reiatsu in his left hand and raised a gleaming Zanpakutō in his right. However, the expected panic did not appear. Kuchiki Kōga maintained his composure from start to finish.
"Bakudō #39: Enkōsen."
A searing fireball descended from the sky, slamming solidly into the circular shield. Countless fragments flew out, leaving deep gouges in the grass. Akio Retsu snorted coldly as the glint of his blade flashed through the air, slashing straight down at Kuchiki Kōga below.
"What if you blocked it? I closed my heart with a secret technique before the battle; your Zanpakutō is useless against me. In terms of Zanjutsu alone, I won't lose to any Soul Reaper!"
The air let out a shattered sound amidst its wailing. A cold light flashed by. Blades clashed, and countless sparks showered down.
Without any hesitation, Kuchiki Kōga raised his sword to block the falling blade. He pushed forward with a Flash Step, his other hand—his left—clenched into a tight fist. Heavy Reiatsu was wrapped around the fist.
A straight punch impact.
In Sora's words, this move was called "Volcano Burning Farm." Though the name was a bit strange, it was surprisingly effective.
Under Akio Retsu's incomprehensible gaze, the fist—the size of a sandbag—magnified in an instant.
Boom!
An unstoppable punch hit Akio Retsu's face, and the Reiatsu, compressed to the extreme, exploded instantly. Like a volcanic eruption, the powerful impact swallowed the man whole.
The next moment, Akio Retsu flew across the battlefield at a speed difficult for the naked eye to capture. He bypassed countless Soul Reapers locked in combat, smashed through several stone pillars in succession, plowed a trench through the ground, and finally crashed beneath the plains, kicking up dust that blotted out the sun.
Kuchiki Kōga vanished with a Flash Step and reappeared at the edge of the trench. He looked straight down at the nearby Akio Retsu, revealing a ferocious smile identical to Naraku Sora's.
"Your Zanjutsu is far inferior to Sora's."
In his intense pain, Akio Retsu vaguely heard the words. At this moment, his mind was filled with confusion—why was Kuchiki Kōga's Hakuda so strong? Also, who was this "Sora"?
The moment Akio Retsu fell, the war was declared over. No one could stand against a runaway dump truck.
Everywhere Kuchiki Kōga went, the rebel Soul Reapers either prostrated themselves and surrendered on the spot, or they put up a stubborn resistance and were then punched into a kneeling position. He discovered that the things Naraku Sora taught were indeed useful. Although he couldn't kill enemies en masse like before, the feeling of fist-to-flesh combat was truly immersive and addictive.
At the same time, this style of fighting could temper oneself. After the war, Kuchiki Kōga was pleasantly surprised to find that his connection with Muramasa was even a bit closer.
The only minor flaw was that the look in Muramasa's eyes whenever he looked at him was always filled with a strange sadness, as if something had been lost. Kuchiki Kōga asked about the doubt in his heart, but Muramasa only shook his head and said nothing.
Regarding this, he didn't think too much and turned back to the battlefield. There was still a lot of clean-up work to do. After finishing these as quickly as possible, he wanted to return to the Seireitei to share these gains with Naraku Sora.
The intelligence of the victory over the rebel Soul Reapers soon reached the Seireitei.
Squad 1 barracks, the office.
Yamamoto looked at Kuchiki Kōga standing not far away with some surprise, once again gaining a clear understanding of his capabilities. He had thought this war would end as anti-climactically as the previous ones, but he hadn't expected Kuchiki Kōga to actually annihilate the enemy forces even when his own intelligence was known by them.
'Could it be that Muramasa's Bankai can already ignore those secret techniques that close off the heart?'
At this thought, Yamamoto's expression became a bit more solemn.
Kuchiki Kōga was also looking at the old man before him with a strange expression. He remembered that it hadn't been long since he left the Seireitei, so why did the Head Captain look like he had a new hairstyle? Why was that waist-length beard of his now only half as long?
"Kōga, I have a question for you."
Yamamoto noticed the young man's gaze and instantly felt a bit of irritation, pulling his haori closer to his front. "How did you deal with Akio Retsu?"
Kuchiki Kōga grinned and recounted the process of the battle in detail. Yamamoto's face was very solemn at first, but as the story progressed, he almost couldn't maintain his composure.
What did he mean it was all thanks to Naraku Sora? What did he mean the direction of the war was decided by a move called "Volcano Burning Farm"?
"I understand the gist of it."
Looking at Kuchiki Kōga's excited expression, Yamamoto sighed faintly. He suddenly understood why Kuchiki Ginrei had been in a bad mood these past few days. A perfectly elegant son-in-law, a rising star of the Soul Society, and the future pillar of the Kuchiki family had been led astray by a certain someone until his style was completely warped.
If it were him, he would probably already be carrying a sword to go hack that bastard to pieces.
"Fine." Yamamoto waved his hand helplessly. "First, take all those prisoners to Shino Prison."
"Yes, Head Captain!"
Kuchiki Kōga left with an excited face; he couldn't wait to share the rewards of this war with his good friend.
---
Deep in the Noble District.
At the end of the road, a towering mansion lay like a sleeping giant beast. In the silent study, several figures were gathered. The atmosphere was heavy and oppressive, like the night before a storm.
Evening.
"The Moriyama family has been completely wiped out. Various chaotic Reishi remain at the scene, making it impossible to determine the identity of the combatant. Takeda Goki has disappeared without a trace, leaving no clues behind."
"Akio Retsu was defeated by Kuchiki Kōga and has now been escorted back to the Seireitei."
The old man sitting behind the desk tapped the armrest, his brow furrowed. A low voice rang out in the room: "In less than a month, our faction's strength has been greatly diminished. Do any of you have a counter-strategy?"