Chapter 72
The sun rose gently over the eastern horizon, painting Tokyo in shades of soft gold and silver.
Renji moved swiftly across the training ground, his wooden sword cutting through the air with a clean, precise rhythm. His movements were sharper now, his breathing steady, his mana flow controlled.
He was faster.
He was lighter.
And, for the first time in weeks he wasn't fighting against himself.
Takeda met each of his strikes calmly, his own practice blade moving in graceful, efficient arcs.
Every block seemed more deliberate and measured, he wasn't testing Renji's strength anymore he was testing his focus.
The clash of their swords cracked through the air, each impact sending bursts of wind across the courtyard. Dust swirled. The air shimmered faintly with mana.
On the far end of the field, Hiroto leaned against a railing, watching quietly .....
His sharp eyes tracked every movement,
Renji pivoted and came in low with a sweeping strike. Takeda sidestepped easily, his was expression unreadable
Renji's blade cut through empty air, but instead of cursing or losing his rhythm, he twisted with the momentum and came back with another strike, that was more cleaner this time.
CLANG
Takeda deflected it, but a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Good," he said quietly. "You're not overreaching anymore."
Renji didn't answer as sweat rolled down his temple, but his eyes burned with concentration.
He shifted again, slashing upward. Takeda met it, their blades locking.
For a brief moment, the two of them stood close master and student, power and potential.
Renji gritted his teeth, pushing forward with everything he had, but Takeda didn't move an inch.
Then, as if deciding to end the exchange, Takeda twisted his wrist and sent Renji's sword flying into the air.
The blade landed a few meters away with a dull clatter.
Renji stumbled back, breathing hard.
Takeda lowered his own weapon, his expression thoughtful.
"You've grown," he said simply. "Your stance no longer wavers."
Renji looked up, his chest still heaving and his face was streaked with sweat , but there was a faint smile there. "Still… I couldn't land a clean hit."
Takeda gave a small shrug. "That's not the point. You're not fighting me .. you're fighting the version of yourself that hesitates."
Renji let out a short laugh. "Sounds like something you'd say."
"Because it's true," Takeda said, his tone calm but approving. "
From the side, Hiroto crossed his arms, calling out, "He's right, you know. You're actually keeping up better than I expected."
Renji turned toward him, wiping sweat from his chin. "That's your way of saying 'good job,' isn't it?"
Hiroto smirked. "Don't get used to it."
Takeda's gaze softened slightly as he looked at Renji again. You're breathing with the fight now not against it. That's what I wanted to see."
Renji caught his breath, eyes flicking up at Takeda's calm face. "Guess I finally stopped thinking too much."
"Or maybe," Takeda said, "you finally started thinking about the right things."
Renji looked at his hands,
He tightened his grip as he picks up the training sword. "Again," he said.
Takeda's gaze flicked back to him sharp, assessing .. and then he nodded once.
Without a word, they took their stances again.
And the dance resumed.
Teacher and student ..... steel and resolve.
This time, Renji didn't fight to win.
He fought to understand.
And Takeda, for the first time in a long while, allowed himself the smallest, quietest thought a flicker of pride behind his stoic gaze.
Hiroto watched from the sidelines, hands in his pockets, the faintest grin breaking his usually reserved face. "Not bad, kid… not bad at all."
Takeda stood near the far wall, arms crossed, that sharp, watchful gaze following Renji's every movement. Hiroto was there too ... leaning lazily against a pillar, hands in his pockets, a faint smirk playing on his lips. Choji sat cross-legged at the side with Lily beside him, both watching quietly.
Renji exhaled, calming the thrum in his chest.
Takeda spoke first, voice calm but firm.
"Good. Your body's adjusting. You're finally syncing your mana with your movement."
Renji nodded. "I feel it too… It's like the weight is gone."
Takeda's lips curved slightly. "Then let's see what that means in a real fight."
He turned to Hiroto. "You're up."
Hiroto straightened with a small chuckle, brushing off his jacket.
"Guess it's my turn then," he said, walking casually toward the center of the hall. "Don't worry, I won't hold back."
Renji's expression hardened. "Good. I won't hold back either."
"Oh?" Hiroto tilted his head, smiling. "So you feel
you're stronger now?"
But before he could even finish that sentence....
Renji was suddenly in front of him a blur of motion that even Hiroto's trained eyes couldn't track. The air cracked as Renji's fist slammed into his torso with a thunderous impact. Hiroto's body lifted off the ground and crashed into the wall behind him, the wooden planks splintering from the force.
Dust filled the air.
Hiroto coughed, brushing rubble off his shoulder, eyes narrowing in disbelief.
"You're sloppy, Hiroto ," Renji said calmly, lowering his fist.
"Oh, I see…" Hiroto muttered, his grin returning, though tighter this time. "So that's how it is."
He straightened, rolling his neck until it popped. Then his mana flared golden light rippling across his body, his eyes igniting like twin suns.
"I'm sloppy, eh?" Hiroto's voice deepened, edged with challenge. "Then come at me, and I'll show you what sloppy really means."
Renji shifted his stance.
In an instant they both moved.
The sound of their clash tore through the air
A rush of energy exploded outward, rattling the room as the two figures were barely visible, darting and vanishing, their blows colliding faster than the eye could follow.
Each strike was met with another.
Each movement countered with precision.
Shockwaves rippled through the hall, cracking tiles, shaking the walls.
Choji's eyes widened, "I-I can't even see them!"
Hiroto countered each attack with practiced ease, parrying, dodging, and striking back, their fists colliding midair again and again, sparks bursting from every impact.
They were equals in strength, in speed though experience lingered on Hiroto's side.
Takeda's gaze sharpened. "He's improving with every exchange…"
Minutes passed like seconds.
Then the floor shook from a heavy impact as the two separated, skidding back to opposite ends of the hall.
Hiroto grinned, dusting off his hands. "Alright, Renji. Playtime's over."
Renji tilted his head slightly, sweat glistening down his jaw. "Playtime?"
In a blink, Hiroto vanished.
Takeda's eyes narrowed. "Afterimage."
One moment, Hiroto was in front of Renji the next, he was behind him, blade of mana forming in his hand.
"Big brother! Behind you!" Lily screamed.
Renji's instincts roared his body twisted just in time, blocking the strike with his forearm.
But before Renji could fully turn, Hiroto disappeared again reappearing right in front of him and drove his knee right into Renji's stomach, followed by a vicious kick that sent Renji crashing into the wall.
"Renji!" Choji shouted, jumping to his feet.
Takeda's expression hardened, eyes like ice.
Lily's hands trembled.
Hiroto exhaled, lowering his stance, golden aura still blazing. "Because you're SS-rank doesn't mean we're equals," he said coldly.
"You might surpass me someday maybe you're destined to. But right now…" He pointed at Renji, voice sharp. "Right now, you're weaker than me ."
Silence.
Then, from the dust ..a voice answered.
"Shut up…"
Hiroto blinked. "What?"
Yes.. I'm just getting started
Hiroto's grin widened. "You never learn."
He vanished again, moving to replicate the same maneuver circling around for a blind-side strike.
But this time!
Renji stamped his foot on the ground.
The air trembled.
Takeda's pupils widened. That feeling…
Impossible… that's my...
"Spacial Awareness," Renji said quietly, his gaze calm.
He turned just as Hiroto appeared behind him blocking the blade with perfect timing. The shockwave sent a burst of wind through the hall.
Hiroto froze mid-motion, eyes wide. "How… how can you use Mr takeda skill!?"
Renji didn't answer. With a sharp twist, he grabbed Hiroto by the arm and threw him across the floor.
Crash
Hiroto skidded back, but before he could recover, Renji charged, his movements fluid, his presence heavy with power.
His fist connected with a direct hit to Hiroto's chest, sending him flying backward again.
Hiroto coughed, landing hard. When he looked up, his eyes widened further.
Renji's aura was changing slowly his wounds closing right before their eyes.
Takeda's lips parted slightly. "He's… healing I have never seen an hunter self heal,"
Hiroto pushed to his feet, breathing hard. "How… how are you doing this!?"
Renji shifted his gaze toward him, his tone low and calm.
"You said I'm weak, didn't you, Hiroto?"
The floor beneath him cracked as he planted one foot forward. The air around him distorted, vibrating with raw energy
Takeda's breath caught. That output… it's unbelievable.
Renji vanished faster than before,
Impossible he's faster takeda musterd deeply
Hiroto blinked then stiffened.
Renji was behind him.
"Impossible… that's my...."
Renji said, his voice echoing in the stillness.
"Afterimage."
Before Hiroto could turn, Renji's kick slammed into his back with devastating force, launching him across the hall and into the far wall. The entire structure shook with the impact.
Hiroto groaned, half-buried in the cracked wall, then looked up as disbelief painted across his face.
Renji stood still, chest rising and falling steadily, aura fading.
Takeda exhaled slowly, stepping forward. His expression was unreadable, but his tone carried a rare mix of awe and pride.
"I've never seen anyone do this before," he said quietly. "To copy even my skill and Hiroto's… after seeing them only once."
Choji grinned, eyes shining. "That's Renji for you!"
Lily's lips curved in a trembling smile, her eyes glassy with relief and pride.
Takeda finally spoke again, his voice softer.
"Good work, Renji. You've taken another step forward."
Renji bowed his head slightly. "Thank you
Hiroto, still catching his breath, laughed weakly. "Tch… Guess I underestimated you again"
Renji smiled faintly. "Maybe you did."
Takeda gazed at Renji, feeling something he hasn't felt in a long while, a proud teacher
Smiling faintly.... Hmm I wonder if he sees me as a father figure he mustered deeply within himself
The tension broke with quiet laughter.
Outside, the first birds of morning began to sing.
The air in the training hall was still humming from the last clash as dust floated lazily through the sunlight that streamed across the cracked floor.
Hiroto was on one knee, his hand pressed to the ground, breathing heavily but wearing a look of disbelief more than pain.
He looked up at Renji, his golden eyes dimming back to normal. "How… how the hell did you do that?" he said finally, his voice filled with shock.
"I've never seen anyone copy another hunter's skill before. Not once."
Renji blinked, still catching his breath. "I don't know," he said honestly. "I just… thought about it. I saw the movement, felt the energy, and when I tried it and it just happened."
Hiroto stared at him for a moment longer, as if trying to figure out if he was serious. Then he looked down, running a hand through his hair. "Unbelievable…"
Takeda finally stepped forward,
"It's impressive," he said slowly, his tone carrying both admiration and gravity. "Even for me, what you did shouldn't be possible."
Renji straightened, turning toward him.
Takeda continued, "You copied a skill not only from an SS-rank hunter, but also from me a Pillar. And then, right after that, you healed from a wound in seconds. No one can do that,. Not even the other Pillars."
Renji looked at his own hands again, flexing them slightly. His knuckles were bruised but already fading back to normal. He didn't feel pain anymore just warmth,
"Its strange because I didn't think about healing," he said quietly. "I just… didn't want to lose.
Takeda's eyes softened for a moment, though his expression stayed firm. "Determination alone doesn't make miracles," he said. "But whatever that was… it's impressive
Choji stood up from the side, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Renji , you really out did yourself this time!" he said, almost bouncing where he stood. "You even shocked Mr takeda and Hiroto
Lily giggled beside him, her earlier worry completely gone. "Yeah! You totally kicked Hiroto's butt!" she said, grinning from ear to ear.
Hiroto, still sitting on the floor, froze. His face turned red instantly. "W-what? Hey, it wasn't like that!"
Lily smirked mischievously, folding her arms. "Oh, come on... You got thrown through a wall twice!"
Hiroto stood up quickly, dusting off his clothes with a scowl. "Tch. It was just a warm-up match! A minor loss! From my rival," he said, glaring at Renji with mock seriousness.
Renji chuckled, rubbing the back of his head.
"Sure, Hiroto Whatever helps you sleep at night."
Choji burst out laughing, clutching his stomach.
"Rival! That's one way to make an excuse!"
Just then, the light mood shifted as Takeda's phone began to ring. The sharp, buzzing tone cut through the laughter.
RING RING
He pulled it from his pocket, glancing at the screen. His expression darkened slightly as he answered.
"This is Takeda," he said curtly. There was a brief silence, then his eyes flicked toward Renji and Hiroto. "Understood. We'll be there immediately."
He hung up and slipped the phone back into his jacket.
"What happened?" Hiroto asked, his casual tone fading.
Takeda turned to face them, his voice firm and serious once again. "We've been summoned. The Bureau has requested our immediate presence."
Renji's posture straightened. "The Bureau?"
Takeda nodded once. "Yes only you, me, and Hiroto. ."
The laughter in the hall faded completely.
Choji and Lily exchanged a worried glance.
Renji took a deep breath and stepped forward.
"When do we leave?"
"Now," Takeda said simply, already moving toward the exit. "Whatever this is, it's important."
Renji followed, the sound of his footsteps echoing through the hall.
Hiroto stretched his neck once, then smirked faintly as he walked beside him. "Guess our fun's over for now."