The morning bell of the entrance ceremony pierced through the Shin'o Academy's morning mist.
Yamamoto stood upon the high platform, his figure appearing majestic and solitary in the rays of the rising sun.
His voice was not loud, yet it suppressed all clamor, each word chiseling its way into the depths of every soul present:
"... What we call 'Shinigami' are beings who walk the narrow line between life and death. We revere the greatness of life, and we fear the finality of death. It is precisely for this reason that we drape upon ourselves all the fear, struggle, and hesitation of this world."
His gaze was as sharp as an ancient blade, sweeping slowly over the thousands of young, even bewildered, faces below the stage.
"However, those of us who live as Shinigami cannot fear the world we hold within our own hearts. Day and night, we keep company with fear, dispelling the fear that awaits us ahead, expanding the world behind us that belongs to us."
The freshmen below the stage all looked dazed, unable to comprehend the profound meaning in Yamamoto's words.
Yamamoto did not intend to explain too much either. Some words, they wouldn't understand now.
But one day, they would.
After the entrance ceremony concluded.
West Quad training ground. The spacious open area was slightly warmed by the sunlight.
A middle-aged Shinigami dressed in black Shihakusho stood in the center of the field.
His build was robust, his expression as stern as bedrock.
"I am Otsuka Masahiko, fifth seat of the 2nd Division." His voice was resonant and clear, full of strength. "I am responsible for teaching you about the four Shinigami combat arts: Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hoho, and Kido. 'Zan' is swordsmanship, 'Ken' is Hakuda, 'So' is Shunpo, 'Ki' is Kido."
"Hakuda is the most fundamental of these four, and also the most easily overlooked. But I want to tell you this: a Zanpakuto can become damaged, Kido can be restricted. Only Hakuda is a power that forever belongs to you."
"Therefore, for your first week of enrollment, I will be teaching you the way of Hakuda!"
Setsuna's expression was rather subtle, 'This was absolutely biased, right?'
'After all, most Shinigami of the 2nd Division were famous for their Hakuda.'
"Words alone are unconvincing. I imagine it's hard for everyone to truly feel the power of Hakuda. Why don't I choose a student to spar with me?" Masahiko made a show of looking through the crowd, his gaze quickly settling on Setsuna.
His eyes were quite eager. "Setsuna, would you like to personally experience the power of Hakuda? Someone like you, with such naturally powerful Reiryoku, is indeed well-suited for Zanpakuto and Kido. But precisely because of that, people like you are likely to overlook the role of Hakuda."
Setsuna sighed inwardly and calmly stepped out of the formation. "Please instruct me, Sensei."
"Haha, then you'd better be careful." Masahiko slowly raised his right hand. His fist-clenching motion was slow and heavy, as if he were gathering not just power, but a kind of weighty killing intent.
His figure abruptly vanished, leaving behind only a faint ripple of Reiatsu that hadn't yet dispersed.
The next moment, he was already behind Setsuna, his right fist like a hammer, tearing through the air with a sharp whistle, smashing fiercely toward Setsuna's spine.
The surrounding students all widened their eyes, about to cry out in alarm.
However, Setsuna didn't even turn his head.
He merely shifted his body slightly, raised his right hand, and with a single finger, casually made a light, backward touch toward a spot just behind his left shoulder.
That finger precisely intercepted Otsuka's fist.
"What?!" Masahiko's pupils abruptly contracted.
He had used Shunpo to move to his opponent's blind spot behind him, and this punch also condensed the killing intent he had honed over decades in the 2nd Division.
Even though he deliberately restrained his strength, it was definitely not something a freshman could block so effortlessly.
He jerked back, his figure disappearing once more.
The next second, he appeared from the side, his left fist like a blade, slicing toward Setsuna's side.
Setsuna still didn't turn his head, merely giving a casual slap to deflect the attack.
"How is this possible?" Masahiko's figure flickered madly across the training ground.
His attacks, each time gathering killing intent and condensing Reiatsu, were casually resolved by Setsuna with a single finger, a light deflection.
"Hakuda is indeed powerful..." A freshman muttered quietly, "But why do I feel like it's Setsuna showing us the power of Hakuda?"
"What on earth did this guy do in the Living World?" A senior student murmured to himself. Powerful Reiatsu could be explained as talent, but what about this level of Hakuda?
Setsuna hadn't taken a single step and had already defended against all the attacks of the 2nd Division's fifth seat.
Masahiko's breathing began to grow labored. Fine beads of sweat appeared on his temples, yet he hadn't even managed to touch the hem of Setsuna's clothes.
Just as he was preparing to gather strength for another charge...
"Otsuka-sensei." Setsuna's calm voice rang out. "Be careful. I'm going to return the favor now."
Masahiko froze in shock. Setsuna turned around, his right index finger flicking outward gently.
The air erupted.
Boom!
Masahiko Otsuka felt an overwhelmingly tyrannical force slam into his chest, as if a mountain had crashed into him head-on. He was sent flying like a rubber ball, only coming to a thunderous stop after crashing into the wall several hundred meters away.
The entire field fell into dead silence. A few seconds later, it erupted into deafening uproar.
"A single finger! He defeated the 2nd Division's fifth seat with a single finger!"
"Such a despairing gap!"
"Hakuda really is strong! I want to specialize in Hakuda too!"
Masahiko slowly slid down from the wall, steadying himself. His eyes held no anger, only a bit of a wry, bemused feeling.
He had indeed proven the power of Hakuda, but he had done so as the backdrop.
"As expected," He shook his head with a bitter smile. "So-called geniuses truly are existences that cannot be explained by 'reason'."
'However, a genius of this level must be reported to Captain Yoruichi immediately! We must pull him into the 2nd Division!' Masahiko's eyes burned with fervor.
Although Setsuna's talent was immense, each division had its own pride, and generally, they wouldn't be so quick to recruit someone.
But if news of this battle spread, it would mean Setsuna had already converted his potential into actual power.
Even if Setsuna had no talent whatsoever in Zanpakuto or Kido, his Hakuda prowess alone would be enough to qualify him for the Lieutenant's position in any division.
'Hakuda is indeed too simple for me,' Setsuna sighed inwardly. With the foundation from multiple worlds, his skill in physical combat could already be considered that of a grandmaster.
The trajectories of all attacks, defenses, and evasions were as clear to him as words written on paper.
'Shunpo is probably based on a similar principle, nothing more than the interaction between space and Reiatsu.'
As for swordsmanship, he didn't have much interest in it.
Although during his time in the Saint Seiya universe, he had also sought instruction from Capricorn in 'swordsmanship', Capricorn's 'swordsmanship' was hand-blades, which was essentially just another form of physical combat.
The only thing that held some interest for him was Kido.