(T/N: Chapter 3 out of 6!!)
Saitō Residence.
Nanatsuki was checking on Saitō Rei's physical condition.
Due to spending time in the Dangai recently, these examinations had been left to Hoshino Rie.
Hoshino Rie had made considerable progress in the past few years and could handle such matters well.
"I don't have any issues releasing my Reiatsu now," Saitō Rei said, in good spirits. Her spirit body looked no different from that of a normal Shinigami.
"Miss Rei's spirit body has stabilized. The implanted Spiritual Pressure Core has adapted to the Reiatsu generated by your Binding Chain and Soul Sleep."
Nanatsuki was pleased with the results—it meant the procedure was viable. He was now ready to begin cultivating a Reishi Shell for Batsu'unsai.
"But be cautious moving forward. Don't deplete your Reiatsu completely. Overusing it will put strain on the Spiritual Pressure Core," Nanatsuki reminded.
"I'll be careful." Saitō Rei nodded.
"There's no longer a need for the suppressant drugs for the Chain and Soul Sleep, but you should continue using the ones that nourish the Core." Nanatsuki handed her a fresh batch of tonic.
"Got it!"
The Saitō sisters tried to invite him to stay for a meal, but Nanatsuki politely declined.
He was currently busy preparing for the Shin'o Academy's Live Blade Tournament.
A few days later, at the Katori Dōjō.
Nanatsuki was overseeing the students' sparring sessions to assess their training progress.
During his time in the Dangai, some of his disciples had visited occasionally. He had taken those opportunities to guide them, so their training hadn't fallen behind.
In the courtyard, Shiba Isshin was sparring with Aizen Sōsuke.
Thud!
Their wooden swords clashed with equal force, locking in a stalemate.
Isshin suddenly released his left hand from the hilt and placed it on his right forearm.
Seeing this, Aizen immediately increased the pressure with both hands, slowly pushing Isshin back. But Isshin grinned.
"Aizen! Taste my newly developed secret move!"
He curled the fingers of his left hand, thumb pressing against the middle finger.
With a sharp flick, he snapped his finger forward.
"Oni Dekopin!"
A burst of Reiatsu surged from his fingertip, launched forward like a forehead flick.
Aizen tried to dodge, but the distance was too short. The shockwave hit him squarely.
Though the blast wasn't powerful enough to injure, it threw off his balance and sent him flying.
"Follow-up strike!" Isshin roared, flashing after him with Shunpo.
Appearing behind the airborne Aizen, he swung horizontally at his waist.
But just then, Aizen stepped on air and realigned himself with impressive speed, halting his backward motion entirely.
Isshin's slash missed.
Aizen spun midair and kicked Isshin cleanly, knocking him to the ground.
"That was impressive—I almost lost!" Aizen offered a hand to pull him up.
"If only I'd been just a little faster..." Isshin said, frustrated as he stood.
He was sure he would have hit Aizen if he'd just reacted a second quicker.
"Don't flatter him too much," Nanatsuki chuckled from the sidelines.
He had seen clearly—Isshin's blast would at most push Aizen back slightly. The dramatic knockback and follow-up had been part of Aizen's calculation all along.
"Still, it was unexpected. To generate that level of Reiatsu shockwave with a finger flick—Isshin's Hakuda has definitely improved."
Aizen felt a bit helpless.
His style was to keep a low profile, not stand out.
But his teacher kept exposing his true abilities, making it impossible to stay hidden.
Besides Isshin, Yadōmaru Lisa, Kotetsu Isane, Azashiro Sōya, and Komamura Sajin had all been defeated by Aizen.
While sparring with wooden swords didn't showcase full combat ability, this was enough to prove Aizen's strength to everyone present.
"Looks like that move isn't enough to beat Aizen!" Isshin said, still confident. "Next time I'll invent something even better!"
Isshin was cheerful and thick-skinned—failures didn't faze him.
"I've got a pretty good grasp of your abilities now," Nanatsuki said with a small smile. "Your progress is solid."
"Aizen and Isshin, your Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Kidō, and Shunpo are well-rounded—you're on the right path."
"Sajin, your Shunpo and Kidō still need polishing."
"Sōya, Lisa, and Isane—your ages are younger, but I won't go easy on you."
"Now then..."
"I'm going to guide you through Zanpakutō Meditation Training."
"I hope you can all achieve Shikai before the Live Blade Tournament begins."
"Zanpakutō Meditation?" Kotetsu Isane tilted her head. "Didn't we already learn that at the Academy?"
They had learned Zanpakutō meditation techniques there and knew how to communicate with their Asauchi.
"My guidance is different from what the Academy teaches," Nanatsuki said. With his experience in Zanpakutō meditation, he could accelerate his students' progress and deepen their connection with their swords.
"This year's Live Blade Tournament is happening soon?" Isshin's eyes lit up. "Let's all enter! I want to see everyone go all out!"
"Can first-years even participate?" Komamura Sajin asked, unsure.
Aizen hesitated. He wasn't sure he wanted to draw so much attention.
"The winner of this year's Live Blade Tournament will earn the right to challenge seated officers or vice-captains," Nanatsuki said. "If the judges approve, they can graduate early."
"I want all of you to participate. It's a rare opportunity for growth."
"You can graduate as a first-year?!" Lisa exclaimed. "Then if I win, I'll graduate right away!"
"Confident, aren't you? Too bad you'll be disappointed!" Isshin laughed. "Victory's mine!"
"We'll have to fight upperclassmen, right?" Sōya asked, uneasy.
"You all already have the strength to challenge them," Nanatsuki said with a smile. "And if you master Shikai through the meditation training, you'll be among the top contenders."
Back in the lab, Nanatsuki spoke to Aizen again about the tournament.
"You want me to use Kyōka Suigetsu in the tournament?" Aizen was surprised.
"This is the only time all the nobles will gather in one place," Nanatsuki explained.
"The nobles… You're aiming for the Tsunayashiro family, aren't you?" Aizen caught on quickly.
The moment the Tsunayashiro family targeted Azashiro Kana and Kakyō, they had become enemies of the Katori Dōjō.
Aizen knew his teacher wouldn't let that go.
But Nanatsuki's methods were even bolder than he expected.
"This is the perfect opportunity. With Kyōka Suigetsu's power, no one can trace it back to us," Nanatsuki said softly. "If we don't eliminate the Tsunayashiro family early, they might strike at us when we're not watching."
Nanatsuki had already removed Yōto and Tokinada—there was no reconciling now.
The Tsunayashiro family wouldn't back down. They were like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike.
He wasn't afraid for himself—but his disciples lived in the Soul Society too. The Tsunayashiro family still held power there and might frame them at any moment.
Just like how Kakyō was nearly sent to Hueco Mundo. If not for Nanatsuki's good relationship with Ushada Hakugen and help from Shihōin Yoruichi, she would've been shipped off.
A rookie being sent to Hueco Mundo faced high odds of death—even without sabotage.
"I understand," Aizen nodded. "I'll do my best in the Live Blade Tournament."
He hadn't planned to stand out—but since this involved the Dōjō's safety, he couldn't sit idly by.
Two weeks later, the Live Blade Tournament began at Shin'o Academy.
The tournament was divided into three stages.
The first was the selection round, to filter out promising students and give them entry.
The second involved matches to determine the top eight and then the top four.
The third was the main event—watched by many Shinigami and noble spectators.
At this final stage, the champion among the top four would face off against guest instructors.
Aizen Sōsuke, Shiba Isshin, Yadōmaru Lisa, Kotetsu Isane, Azashiro Sōya, and Komamura Sajin arrived at the registration desk.
"So you really are participating. Fill out the forms," said Danmu Zōsuke, who clearly recognized Nanatsuki's students.
After they finished, he looked over the papers and gasped. "No way… you three…"
"You've already mastered Shikai?!"
He rubbed his eyes and stared again in disbelief.
On the forms, it was marked that Aizen, Isshin, and Komamura had attained Shikai.
After intensive Zanpakutō Meditation Training, both Isshin and Komamura had unlocked Shikai. Lisa, Isane, and Sōya were close but not quite there.
"All thanks to sensei's guidance," Aizen said with a smile.
"Your teacher is a freak. All the top seedlings end up with him!" Danmu muttered.
First-years achieving Shikai was incredibly rare in the Academy's history—yet three had appeared at once.
"You're all strong enough to pass, but I still have to test you by the rules." He picked up the Zanpakutō next to him. "I'm the referee for your later matches! You three Shikai users—take it easy on me, will you? Don't blow me off the stage!"
His bluntness left them speechless.
Even Isshin, who had planned to show off a little, scratched his head awkwardly.
"If you can make me move from this spot, you pass. Who's first?"
"I'll go." Komamura stepped up.
Danmu eyed the nearly three-meter-tall hulk in front of him. His grip on his sword wavered slightly.
Komamura went for the simplest approach.
"Haaaah!" He slashed.
CLANG!!!
The straightforward strike sent Danmu's Zanpakutō flying.
"???"
Danmu looked at his numb hand in shock. "How are you this strong?!"
"...Sorry, Danmu-sensei..." Komamura said sheepishly. "I guess my strength increased a lot after mastering Shikai. I didn't expect the blow to be that powerful."
"You just learned Shikai? Alright, you're forgiven."
"You passed. Next!"
Danmu got serious—two more monsters left.
With a crowd forming, he couldn't afford another blunder.
Next was Yadōmaru Lisa. Danmu felt slightly relieved—she hadn't learned Shikai.
"Alright, let's see how strong Katori's students really are," he said, signaling her to begin.
"Shun Strike!"
Lisa stepped forward.
Danmu's eyes sharpened. It was the classic entry technique of the Katori style!
For a seasoned instructor, it should've been easy to block.
He raised his blade horizontally, ready.
But Lisa's left hand suddenly thrust forward mid-swing.
Finger Sword!
Danmu's eyes widened.
The Reiatsu Blade was aimed at his lower half, and his blade was raised—it was too late to block.
He could only step back, narrowly dodging the attack.
His face turned red. He'd just been baited—by a student!
But by rule, a backward step meant Lisa passed.
"You pass. Damn it… So many registration desks, and I had to be at this one!" Danmu sighed. "Next!"