"Tsugikuni Yoriichi, do you have something on your mind?"
The next day, First Division.
Yamamoto Genryusai looked at his new student, his thick white brows slightly furrowed.
His weathered eyes reflected Yoriichi's somewhat distracted and indifferent expression.
If he didn't know Tsugikuni Yoriichi's personality,
Yamamoto would have thought this kid was as unreliable as Kyōraku Shunsui.
To dare to be distracted in front of this old man…
His thoughts had just begun to wander.
Here, hearing Yamamoto Genryusai's words, Yoriichi slowly raised his eyes.
There was a hint of hesitation in his gaze, and after a moment, he said softly:
"My apologies, Captain-Commander, please continue."
"It's just a small matter."
Since Hisana could recover, there was no need to keep it in mind all day.
The priority now was the current situation.
Yamamoto Genryusai watched everything before him, gently stroking his beard, and nodded:
"A small matter… very well, I'll take it as such."
"Now, focus your attention. You need to listen carefully to what I'm about to say. This old man will only say it once."
"First, hundreds of disciples have studied under this old man."
"However, only Kyōraku and Ukitake have entered and become my direct disciples."
Yamamoto Genryusai narrowed his eyes slightly, as if recalling past years,
"The reason for this, ultimately, is that they mastered the techniques I taught them; this is the threshold of Genryu."
"Although this old man has accepted you as a disciple, for now, you are only a nominal one."
"Next, if you can master one of the two abilities I will teach you…"
"Then you can become this old man's direct disciple."
"Second, I have already informed those nobles about your apprenticeship."
"They should not bother you again for a short period."
"This time is specifically for your growth."
"You are still young; although your combat skills are exquisite, you lack a certain ruthlessness, and this old man's fighting style consists mostly of killing techniques."
"Without a certain level of psychological fortitude, even with outstanding talent, you might not be able to learn them."
"These are things you need to know beforehand."
"Do you understand?"
Yamamoto Genryusai stared intently at Yoriichi, his voice deepening, as if questioning Tsugikuni Yoriichi's unwavering resolve.
Yoriichi nodded: "I understand."
From the moment he became a disciple, he knew that his future days would be vastly different.
Because Yamamoto Genryusai had lived for over a thousand years, his mindset would certainly differ from that of younger Shinigami.
It was just something he hadn't expected.
Throughout history.
Were there really so many Shinigami who became disciples of Yamamoto Genryusai? Of course, most were nominal, probably the kind of relationship where only their names were remembered…
If Yoriichi remembered correctly, some Captains of the Gotei 13 had also studied with Yamamoto Genryusai.
"Good that you understand." Yamamoto Genryusai slowly rose from the cushion.
He held his cane and tapped it lightly.
Thud.
The wood wrapping the cane peeled away, revealing the black Zanpakuto inside.
The blade exuded an ancient and majestic aura. He gripped the hilt, his voice steady:
"This old man's Ryujin Jakka, the first technique is called Fuzan, a quick draw that can kill enemies without releasing the Zanpakuto."
"Its speed is like a gentle breeze passing over the body, aiming for a single decisive strike."
"Ordinary Shinigami can learn it, yet even my direct disciples have not mastered it to this day."
"You are different; your strength, reaction speed, and even the attributes of your Zanpakuto are far superior to theirs."
"This old man believes you can learn it."
"This will be the first trial you must face."
"Watch closely."
He turned and faced a rock not far away, placing his hand on the hilt of his Zanpakuto.
In Yoriichi's sight, Yamamoto Genryusai's reishi gathered in his palm like a surging tide, then burst forth in an instant.
Countless reishi condensed along his palm onto the blade, forming an invisible edge.
He had just seen Yamamoto Genryusai draw his sword, and the distant rock immediately split into two.
Crack!
It was as if some process in between was omitted, incredibly abrupt. Like extending a finger and slicing a skyscraper, causing it to collapse and fall.
After observing for a moment,
Yoriichi realised.
This was a similar yet distinctly different ability from [Sword Pressure]—using a Zanpakuto to unleash one's reishi to attack enemies.
[Fuzan], in comparison, involved more delicate manipulation.
Yoriichi thought for a moment.
It was probably the difference between a water blade as thin as a strand of hair and an iron blade like a giant axe for splitting mountains.
He told this discovery to Yamamoto Genryusai, who was momentarily stunned and looked at Tsugikuni Yoriichi with some surprise.
This child…
He couldn't help but stroke his beard, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
—As expected of the genius he valued.
One must know that even the talented Jūshirō Ukitake had to observe his Fuzan five times before discerning a few clues.
Kyōraku Shunsui was less observant due to his attention.
But now, Tsugikuni Yoriichi could see it at a glance.
So, how many times would he succeed?
Yamamoto Genryusai was very much looking forward to it.
Of course, now was not the time for practice. After two light coughs, Yamamoto Genryusai calmed himself and continued:
"This is one of my Genryu Zanjutsu techniques. To this day, it has no successor. If you can learn it, you will be a direct disciple of my Genryu."
"Next is the second type, Hakuda."
"It is still about controlling reishi."
He walked to a wall.
This wall stood very suddenly, in the centre of the room, giving Yoriichi the impression that it had just been built.
"Due to time constraints, I can only demonstrate with killing stone for now, Tsugikuni Yoriichi, you should know what killing stone is, right?"
With his back to Yoriichi, Yamamoto Genryusai asked slowly.
Yoriichi replied:
"Yes, it is a mineral that can suppress a Shinigami's reishi and reishi to zero."
"Correct." Yamamoto Genryusai nodded.
"Normally, killing stone suppresses all Shinigami abilities, including Hakuda and Zanjutsu."
"But there is one exception, and that is this old man's Hakuda—[Ikotsu]."
Yamamoto Genryusai slightly clenched his fist,
"This is a fist technique that explodes from within; even killing stone can be destroyed."
As he spoke,
He raised his fist, his haori already hanging at his waist from his movements, revealing his upper body with its scarred, muscular physique.
Still compressing reishi, under Touhou Sekigan, Yoriichi clearly saw every movement of Yamamoto Genryusai.
A large amount of reishi condensed at the peak of Yamamoto Genryusai's fist, and he violently swung it towards the wall constructed of killing stone.
Boom! A dull sound turned into a drumbeat, echoing in the air.
Like a drill, before the killing stone could fully absorb the reishi, a small portion of the reishi exploded from within. This explosion formed a rolling flood, which, once unleashed, could not be stopped.
Finally, countless explosions spread rapidly like a plague within the wall. Only 0.36 seconds passed in the outside world.
Bang!
The entire wall shattered into countless specks of stone dust. Some scattered with the wind, some fell to the ground, with the largest piece no bigger than a pinky finger.
It was completely pulverised.