Chapter 248: The Invitation from Shin'ō Academy
Look, something wonderful is happening in the distant Soul Society.
BOOM!!!
Crimson flames shot skyward.
Trees hundreds of meters away were instantly reduced to ashes by the scorching heatwave.
Amid the flames, Satoru, his body glowing with Reiatsu, leaped high into the air.
"Ouch! My butt's on fire!"
"Old man! If you don't stop now, I'm gonna fight back!"
"Help me!!!"
The raging flames dyed a vast expanse of the sky red.
Even in the distant Seireitei, the terrifying aftershocks from the battle could be felt.
At the Thirteenth Division barracks, Jūshirō, who had been sunbathing under the eaves, looked up in surprise toward the distant commotion.
"...Hasn't our junior been quite well-behaved this past year? Why is he suddenly fighting with Teacher Yamamoto again?"
Shunsui adjusted his straw hat and grinned.
"Our little junior isn't the type who can stay idle. His previous quiet period was probably just a tactic to lull Old Man Yama into a false sense of security."
"The esteemed Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, being toyed with by his own disciple... It really shows that one can't fight against old age!"
As he spoke, he gleefully picked up his sake cup and took a satisfied sip.
Jūshirō didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
After sensing the Reiatsu fluctuations in the air for a moment, he suddenly said:
"Shunsui, do you feel it?"
"Yeah." Shunsui nodded. "In just one year, that guy Satoru's strength has grown by leaps and bounds again."
"At this rate, it's hard to imagine where his limits might be."
"Old Man Yama really has it tough too."
Putting themselves in Yamamoto's shoes, it would indeed be a difficult position.
Their junior's progress was far too rapid, far exceeding normal standards.
Leaving him unchecked might lead to arrogance and self-destruction.
But being too strict could backfire, potentially creating someone stubborn and obsessive, like what happened with Kōga Kuchiki.
Finding the right balance is what distinguishes a truly good teacher.
Honestly, if they were in that position, they wouldn't be confident they could teach him properly.
But both of them had full confidence in Yamamoto.
If asked who the best teacher in the Soul Society was, the answer was undoubtedly Yamamoto Shigekuni!
...
...
At the Fifth Division barracks, Shinji sipped his tea while wearing a mischievous grin.
"Good, very good."
"Satoru challenging his superior, what a rebellious scoundrel."
"The Captain-Commander upholding justice, cutting down his own disciple in a flurry of blades!"
"How pleasing to the ears!"
He lifted his steaming teacup, preparing to take a satisfying sip.
But just as the cup reached his lips, a hand suddenly slapped down on his shoulder.
The slap was perfectly measured—not too hard, but just enough to jolt the teacup from his hand.
With a splash, the scalding tea spilled all over Shinji.
"Yow-ow-ow!!!"
Shinji yelped in pain, jumping up and frantically shaking off the hot liquid.
Aizen stood nearby, looking at him with feigned surprise.
"My apologies, Captain, I didn't see you drinking tea... Are you alright?"
As he spoke, he hurried over toward Shinji.
Passing by the teapot, he deliberately stepped a bit harder on the wooden floor nearby.
The teapot bounced up, splashing half its contents onto Shinji's feet.
"Ow-ow-ow!!!"
Shinji hopped on one foot, dancing around in pain.
Aizen sighed. "Captain, please compose yourself. There are still sixty documents waiting for you to process."
Shinji widened his eyes, staring at his lieutenant in disbelief.
"Traitor! Schemer!"
"Sōsuke, you backstabber! I'm stripping you of your lieutenant position!"
Hearing this, Aizen showed some surprise: "Really? That would be wonderful."
"I still have two hundred documents left to process. Since you're removing me from my position, please take over those files as well!"
"Sōsuke, what would you like to eat? My treat!!"
Shinji instantly broke into a smile, his entire demeanor turning respectful.
Looking at his captain, Aizen put away his smile, gave him a faint glance, then turned and left.
"Process those documents quickly. I'll collect them tonight."
Hearing his lieutenant's cold command, Shinji felt sorrow rising from his heart and anger rushing to his head.
If he didn't seek revenge, he wouldn't be a real man!
He knew he couldn't afford to provoke Sōsuke himself, but that Satoru guy was full of weaknesses!
With his intelligence, he would definitely make Satoru pay dearly!
Hmm... since he had some free time recently, he would go collect Satoru's dirty secrets. Once compiled, he would present them all to the Captain-Commander.
Then, the Captain-Commander would surely execute the traitorous disciple!
Shinji grinned, revealing a smile.
An evil plan began to brew.
...
...
The bruised and battered man returned to his loyal Eleventh Division.
Under the astonished gazes of his squad members, Satoru walked to his animal skin throne and plopped down.
Only then did everyone realize this was actually their captain.
The squad members bowed in unison:
"Big Bro!!"
"Mhm." Satoru nodded.
He first opened his mouth to accept grapes offered by a nearby squad member.
Spitting out the grape seeds, he declared:
"Gentlemen!"
"In a few days, I'll invite a special expert."
"He'll teach you some combat methods for dealing with special enemies."
"Everyone clear your schedules! Listen carefully and learn seriously!"
"If I find out anyone skips class, I'll personally punish them with these fists!"
Hearing Satoru's words, the squad members responded without hesitation, roaring in unison:
"Yes, Big Bro!!"
After responding, they all felt somewhat puzzled.
Though each of them looked like they'd dropped out of kindergarten, they had actually studied properly at Shin'ō Academy.
Most enemies had been covered in their classes.
Why specially invite someone?
Among the crowd, Kisuke guessed the reason.
Mr. Satoru... probably made new progress regarding the Wandenreich.
The expert he invited should specialize in dealing with Quincies.
The Soul Society truly faced turbulent times.
He shook his head slightly, feeling somewhat emotional.
Just then, a figure suddenly appeared nearby using Flash Step.
It was a member of the Onmitsukidō messenger corps.
Seeing this person, several Eleventh Division members approached.
"A messenger? What are you doing here?"
"Could you be an assassin in disguise?!"
The messenger broke out in cold sweat.
Ignoring the large men surrounding him, he bowed to Satoru and said:
"Captain Satoru! This is a letter from Shin'ō Academy!"
Shin'ō Academy?
Hearing the name of his alma mater where he had studied for less than a year, Satoru showed curious interest.
"What is it?"
The messenger replied without hesitation:
"The Shin'ō Academy Education Committee and Principal Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto extend an invitation for a teaching position to you!"
Upon hearing this, Satoru was somewhat surprised.
A teaching application... they wanted him to teach?
Good heavens, he had only graduated a few years ago, and now he could return to the academy as a teacher?
He looked at them with curious eyes: "What does the teacher want me to teach?"
"Combat strategy? Battle formations?"
"Swordsmanship? Kidō?"
"Could it be... teaching how to communicate with Zanpakutō and maintain relationships?"
These were all his areas of expertise; surely Yamamoto must want him to teach one of these!
Hearing Satoru's words, the Hell Butterfly messenger was momentarily stunned.
Then he shook his head:
"That's not it..."
"The invitation from Shin'ō Academy is for you to serve as a calligraphy teacher!"
Satoru: "..."
"Pfft."
"?"
Amidst the crowd, Kisuke couldn't help but chuckle.
Though he instantly suppressed it, Satoru still whipped his head around to glare at him.
Seeing Satoru's eyes glowing crimson with trailing red light, Kisuke immediately turned to flee.
But before he could take a step, Satoru descended from above and pinned him mercilessly to the ground.
"Mr. Satoru, I've served the Eleventh Division with merit!!"
Kisuke let out a desperate cry.
Then, the cry turned into a scream that echoed across the Eleventh Division.
...
...
Holding the appointment letter delivered from Shin'ō Academy, Satoru fell into deep thought.
He was happy about being able to legitimately return to school and engage in various interactions with junior female students.
But teaching calligraphy felt somewhat unsatisfying.
Indeed, practicing close-quarters combat techniques with junior female students seemed more suitable for a true iron-blooded man like himself.
Seeming to notice Satoru's internal conflict, a squad member approached.
"Boss! If you don't want to go, we won't go!"
"Yeah boss, what kind of place is that Shin'ō anyway? So many rules, nowhere near as free and enjoyable as our Eleventh Division!"
"Boss..."
When Aizen arrived at the Eleventh Division, he found the place bustling with activity.
He scanned through the crowd.
First, he spotted Satoru sitting on a large animal skin throne, bruised and battered.
Then he saw Kisuke sitting in a corner, equally bruised and battered.
Aizen: "..."
He walked over to Kisuke to inquire about what had just happened.
After hearing Kisuke's account, he was momentarily taken aback.
On the throne, Satoru was listening to his boisterous subordinates when he suddenly noticed Aizen approaching.
"The Prime Minister is here, make way!"
With Satoru's wave, the previously clustered, chattering Eleventh Division members quickly parted to both sides.
"Brother Aizen!"
"Hello Brother Aizen!"
Aizen pressed his lips together.
The address made him deeply uncomfortable.
Relying on his strong willpower, he ignored the greetings and approached Satoru.
"Satoru."
"Go be the calligraphy teacher."
"Huh?"
Hearing Aizen's words, Satoru was taken by surprise.
He hadn't expected Aizen to specifically come and tell him this.
Under Satoru's gaze, Aizen's eyes remained resolute as he repeated, "Go do it."
Upon hearing that Satoru had received the invitation, he had already devised a plan.
To achieve both his and Satoru's goals, manpower was essential.
The quality students of Shin'ō Academy were the best source of fresh talent.
With Satoru as an active teacher, it would be much easier for him to either screen for quality students at the school or set up recruitment schemes.
Hmm... considering Satoru's natural charisma, he might not even need elaborate plans—just having this guy interact with them a few times might be enough to recruit them.
Thinking of that prospect, Aizen couldn't help but feel somewhat expectant.
Though he didn't know what Aizen was thinking, since the strategist second only to himself had spoken, Satoru simply nodded in agreement.
...
...
Emerging from the red-white hot springs, Satoru stretched lazily.
Then, he shook his hair like a husky.
The bruises from his fight with Yamamoto had completely faded.
Throughout his relatively short Shinigami career, these red-white hot springs had been tremendously helpful.
Watching the steaming hot spring, Satoru suddenly felt like checking how Yoruichi and Suì-Fēng were progressing with their training.
A Shinigami's lifespan is very long, and so is their training period.
Even a casual training session lasts for decades.
However, both Yoruichi and Suì-Fēng are exceptional talents among Shinigami, naturally gifted, so their training cycles would likely be shorter.
Perhaps they were already nearly done with their training.
Hmm... I should find some time soon to visit the Shihōin Clan.
If they've truly made significant progress, I could spar with them.
After working up a sweat, the three of us could bathe together, then I could lie on Yoruichi's plump thighs and let Suì-Fēng walk on my back...
Just thinking about it is pure bliss.
After putting on his Shinigami Uniform, Satoru was about to return to the Eleventh Division when he suddenly heard a voice.
Opening his Reiatsu defense layer, a thread of Reiatsu slipped into his ear.
It was Kirio's voice—
"Master! Come to the Twelfth Division quickly, there's a surprise!"
Hearing this, Satoru raised an eyebrow.
The Twelfth Division... what kind of surprise?
Could it be that Kirio has developed some new dish and wants me to taste it?
If that's the case, as her nominal master, I can't afford to lose face!
After a moment's thought, Satoru first returned to the Eleventh Division and retrieved his newly prepared specialty.
Tofu dyed black using black sesame as pigment.
Along with his secret blend of various flavored seasonings.
For this culinary showdown between the Eleventh and Twelfth Divisions, he would use this "Grand Magic Panda Mapo Tofu" to truly open Hikifune's eyes!
Carrying the tofu and seasonings, Satoru eagerly headed to the Twelfth Division.
Unexpectedly, he encountered an uninvited guest.
Sitting elegantly across from Kirio was a self-animated Shinigami Uniform with no one inside it.
Seeing this garment, Satoru frowned and pondered for a few seconds.
Then, a look of realization dawned on his face.
Noticing his expression, the Shinigami Uniform complained, "Hey, what's with that look?"
"Have you forgotten who I am after not seeing me for a while?"
Satoru chuckled:
"Ridiculous! Standing before you is one of the top three intellects in the Soul Society!"
"You are... the great yōkai from the Soul King Palace, the Shinigami Uniform Spirit!"
"Absolutely not!!"
Senjumaru retorted angrily.
She turned to Kirio: "Kirio! Look at this brat, treating his benefactor who brought him a gift like this!"
"I say we just shouldn't give it to him!"
Hearing this, Satoru suddenly remembered.
Last time they met, this Robe Spirit... ahem, this Royal Special Forces member, had promised him a garment that could completely block Reiatsu!
His eyes lit up, and he was about to ask.
But he suddenly stopped.
Royal Special Forces?
Tsk!
He had actually forgotten about that.
Although there aren't many records about the Zero Division in books, right here in front of him were one active Zero Division member and another about to join!