"In the previous lesson, we studied Kidō, one of the arts within Zan–Ken–Sō–Kidō. Before we begin today's class, I'd like someone to review it for us—
What exactly is Kidō?"
Several months later, on one particular noon, the Kidō instructor of Class 1–1, Saitō Jūshirō, asked his usual opening question before the lecture began. His two eager eyes then swept across the classroom—
Almost every boy immediately buried his head deep into his desk the moment his gaze passed over them, terrified of being called on;
By contrast, the girls all wore calm, expectant expressions, clearly having prepared in advance—
With the exception of one short girl with a black, onion-shaped hairstyle…
"Teacher, teacher!!"
Abarai Renji, who loved showing off more than anything else, raised his right hand high without hesitation and called out eagerly.
"..."
Knowing Renji's personality all too well, Saitō Jūshirō ignored him completely. His gaze shifted elsewhere in the classroom before finally settling on a black-haired boy.
"Fūjin Taichi," he said softly. "Do you know?"
"I don't,"
Fūjin Taichi replied bluntly. His mind was still filled with thoughts about Zanpakutō, and he didn't bother pretending otherwise.
"It seems you survived that night without using your brain,"
Saitō Jūshirō shook his head and addressed the entire class.
"You're here to learn how Shinigami fight."
His voice suddenly dropped, nearly to a whisper—yet every word rang clearly in everyone's ears:
"Because you can't recklessly swing your Zanpakutō inside a classroom, many of you refuse to believe that Kidō is also combat.
I don't expect you to truly appreciate the beauty of Hadō, when it pierces a Hollow's mask and black smoke rises with a faint, lingering scent—
Nor do I expect you to understand the intoxicating, mind-numbing elegance of Bakudō, when it binds a Hollow so completely that even the fluids in its veins are immobilized…
I—can teach you how to use Kaido to gain prestige, forge glory, and even prevent death…
But there is one necessary prerequisite:
That you are not the kind of idiot I encounter so often—Fūjin Taichi!!"
Saitō Jūshirō suddenly turned and called out,
"If Hadō No. 31 strikes a Hollow, what will happen?"
"The Hollow will die, I guess,"
Fūjin Taichi replied in a low voice.
"That's something only a vice-captain level Shinigami or higher could accomplish, you fool!" Saitō Jūshirō curled his lip and let out a scornful laugh. "Or are you saying you're stronger than a captain?!"
"No. I believe that if you control the output properly, even an ordinary Shinigami could kill a Hollow with Hadō,"
Fūjin Taichi said seriously.
"Very well. Another question.
If I wanted you to restrain an enemy's movements, which Bakudō would you use?"
"Teacher, teacher!"
Renji raised his hand as high as he possibly could again, waving it frantically.
But Saitō Jūshirō treated him as if he were invisible, his lifeless eyes locked directly onto Fūjin Taichi.
"I don't know,"
Fūjin Taichi answered honestly. After a moment's thought, he added tentatively,
"Maybe I'd just cut off his arms and legs?"
"Do you ever preview your lessons before class, Fūjin Taichi?!"
Saitō Jūshirō snapped coldly.
"..."
Fūjin Taichi shrugged, thinking to himself, Teacher, do you think I'm in Harry Potter or something?
"What's the difference between a Hollow and a Gillian-class Menos?"
Saitō Jūshirō asked once more.
"Teacher, teacher!!"
Renji's hand was practically about to poke into Saitō Jūshirō's nostril, yet the man still didn't even glance at him.
"The number of characters in the name is different, Teacher,"
Fūjin Taichi said quietly, casting a glance at Renji.
"But I think Renji actually knows the answer. If you don't, why not ask him?"
"Hahahaha!"
The entire classroom burst into laughter. Rukia covered her mouth as she snickered, while Tsunayashiro Tokio shot Fūjin Taichi a thumbs-up and an exaggerated wink.
"Abarai Renji—sit down!"
Saitō Jūshirō barked sharply, then swept a cold gaze across the room.
"Let me explain it to you myself, Fūjin Taichi."
"When Hadō No. 31: Shakkahō strikes a Hollow, the intensity of the flames and smoke will vary depending on the hardness of the Hollow's body. Based on that, you can decide your next move—
whether to continue attacking or to run for your life!
If your goal is merely to restrain an enemy's movements, then using Bakudō No. 1: Sai is sufficient. There's no need to be so vicious as to chop off someone's limbs!
Hollows are the collective term for beings with a hole in their chest and a mask on their face. They are formed when 'Pluses' succumb to prolonged anguish over many years, or when they are corrupted by external influences and fall into degeneration—
Menos Grande, on the other hand, are Hollows that have formed by devouring the power of at least several hundred other Hollows. At present, they are divided into three ranks:
Gillian-class Menos (Lower Menos)
Adjuchas-class Menos (Intermediate Menos)
Vasto Lorde-class Menos (Superior Menos)!!"
"Ah… thank you for the lesson, teacher,"
Fūjin Taichi said solemnly as he nodded in gratitude.
"Did you all understand?"
"Yes!!"
Everyone answered in unison.
"If you understood, then why haven't you written any of this down?!"
Saitō Jūshirō roared.
Rustle—rustle—
At once, everyone pulled out paper and pens and, under Saitō Jūshirō's watchful gaze, hastily recorded three key points:
Hadō No. 31 is called Shakkahō.
When the enemy tries to escape, decisively chop off their arms and legs.
Menos Grande—and the teacher—are not to be messed with!!
While the classroom filled with the sound of frantic scribbling, Fūjin Taichi instead drew a Tang-style sword in his notebook. Staring at the sketch, he fell into deep thought:
Because the art of Zanpakutō meditation is so profound and elusive, among the nearly five thousand Shinigami in Soul Society, very few are actually able to release their Zanpakutō—
And among those who can, some possess abilities that are flashy but impractical, lacking real combat value. As a result, across the entire Gotei 13, truly independent and reliable Shinigami are exceedingly rare!
If Fūjin Taichi could obtain his own Zanpakutō and master Shikai before graduation, then given the severe manpower shortages within the Gotei 13, he might even be promoted directly to vice-captain!
And if he were to master Bankai as well, he could formally apply to become a captain, after which—pending the Captain-Commander's approval—he would undergo the Captain Proficiency Test.
Generally speaking, there are three ways to determine whether a Shinigami qualifies for the rank of captain:
First, a "connections-based" route—passing the captain's exam under the witness of at least three captains, including the Captain-Commander.
Second, a popularity-based route—receiving recommendations from at least six captains and approval from three more.
Third, a brutal and bloody method—but the only path available to grassroots Shinigami—
to defeat the current captain in front of two hundred witnesses.
As far as Fūjin Taichi knew, this savage method of promotion was essentially a tradition unique to the Eleventh Division:
Nearly every generation of captains had inherited the title of Kenpachi only after cutting down the previous one—
with the sole exception of the First Kenpachi, Unohana Retsu…
It was also worth mentioning that the current captain of the Eleventh Division, Zaraki Kenpachi, was already hailed by Seireitei as "the strongest Kenpachi in history,"
having turned Soul Society upside down with nothing more than a chipped, battered Zanpakutō.