Chapter 93: Instruction
Returning to the First Division dojo.
Several hours later, dusk descended.
The setting sun gilded the courtyard with heavy golden radiance.
Golden light passed through the dojo's doors and windows, falling upon Suoh kneeling on one knee at the dojo's center.
His Shihakusho was covered with crisscrossing blade marks. Dark blood stains spread across the fabric—some areas already congealed and darkened, others still showing moist crimson.
Each damaged area marked a teaching moment, recording today's earnest guidance from the Captain-Commander.
Inside the bright dojo, Suoh and the Captain-Commander's gazes met.
"Let's end here for today."
"Your progress is acceptable."
The Captain-Commander's Zanpakuto in hand transformed back to a cane, steadily planted before him, announcing the instruction's conclusion.
"Hah—"
Suoh took a deep breath. His expanding chest pulled at the blade wound beneath his ribs. The pain made his fingertips tremble slightly, yet he still steadily straightened his body.
Gathering what little spiritual pressure remained in his palm, his left hand pressed against his chest. Faint Kaido radiance covered his body's surface.
"Thank you for the Captain-Commander's instruction."
After simply treating his wounds, Suoh sheathed his sword and bowed.
The desire that had risen in his heart when encountering Zaraki Kenpachi days ago had finally been realized today.
The facts matched his speculation.
Under sunlight, his wound healing speed did accelerate somewhat, but the degree was quite limited.
Shallower wounds would automatically heal without treatment.
Slightly deeper wounds required him to use Kaido for auxiliary treatment.
Seeing his spine remain ramrod straight while bowing, the Captain-Commander's mouth corners lifted extremely subtly for an instant before quickly returning.
"I expect you understand—today's instruction's meaning extends beyond swordsmanship."
"Having become a Shinigami for less than several years, possessing your current level is already extremely rare."
The Captain-Commander's tone paused. His cane lightly tapped the ground as he spoke gravely.
"But this is also where the greatest problem lies. You've suffered too few injuries."
"Deep in your heart, you fear being wounded."
"In unwounded condition, with your physical qualities and combat techniques, you could endure under my hands for over ten minutes."
"However, fear of injury interferes with your judgment, disrupts your combat rhythm, causing your full strength to truly manifest at less than sixty percent when facing me."
"Complete combat posture versus combat posture maintainable after sustaining injury—these are two entirely different realms."
Regarding the strength and talent Suoh displayed, the Captain-Commander offered affirmation while also presenting his assessment.
Complete combat posture—the vast majority of Shinigami during training and regular combat remained in this state.
The second posture marked a warrior's transformation from powerful toward extraordinary—deeper-level combat instinct.
"Yes."
Suoh lowered his head listening, offering no rebuttal.
The Captain-Commander's words precisely struck the vital point.
Graduating from the Shinoreijutsuin in extremely short time, passing the lieutenant-class spiritual power threshold successfully without many setbacks.
Rapid progress speed was both good and bad.
Smooth, effortless growth made his subconscious constantly avoid injury.
Hollows encountered during daily missions—he could easily evade and defend using only shunpo and Bakudo.
But opponents like the Captain-Commander were different. The gap in combat experience between both sides was too vast.
Facing unavoidable attacks, Suoh always concentrated too much spiritual pressure on defense. While excessively consuming spiritual pressure, he also lost possibilities for counterattack.
Through today's multiple instruction sessions, this subconscious habit was slowly being broken.
And the instruction's true meaning—Suoh profoundly comprehended it physically and mentally.
He began learning to actively reduce defensive spiritual pressure without affecting immediate combat effectiveness, learning how to be injured.
Learning how to maintain combat posture stability while in wounded condition.
Now his grasp of combat rhythm had improved considerably compared to before.
"Truly astonishing growth speed."
Having witnessed this entire tempering, Ukitake Jushiro at the sidelines gazed at Suoh's resolute face, observing the satisfaction and joy on his features, sighing with admiration.
In less than a single day, his entire combat consciousness had undergone complete transformation.
From initially losing balance once injured to a certain degree, to maintaining full fighting spirit while covered in blood.
Even with the Captain-Commander's devoted guidance, this growth speed couldn't help but command his deep respect.
Even more unique—Suoh's possessed recovery ability maximized this instruction's value. While deeply moved, he moved the dining table filled with food beside Suoh.
He'd already performed this action multiple times today.
The dining table held meals the Captain-Commander had ordered arranged and prepared, aiding stamina and injury recovery.
The Captain-Commander was someone cold outside but warm inside.
Forever wearing a stern, naturally imposing expression—yet that was merely external manifestation.
Each limit, each degree of potential extraction, even the supplementation after each instructional battle concluded.
After Suoh requested eating, the Captain-Commander offered agreement and arrangements without any questions.
The entire instructional training from beginning to end remained completely under the Captain-Commander's control.
"Thank you as well, Captain."
Suoh thanked sincerely.
Books, opportunities, accompaniment—Ukitake Jushiro had provided him too much assistance.
For him, choosing to join the Thirteenth Division was truly an extremely fortunate matter.
"Eat quickly."
Ukitake Jushiro smiled slightly.
Suoh was no longer polite. Not caring about the ground's disarray, he sat down directly.
He picked up chopsticks, burying his head in the meal.
Soon.
Food on the dining table decreased at extremely rapid speed.
After finishing the meal, Suoh's complexion had already eased considerably. His face, originally somewhat pale from blood loss, gradually regained rosiness.
His body no longer felt weak and powerless. Spiritual pressure continuously generated from within his body like trickling streams converging into rivers.
Setting down the chopsticks in his hand, he'd just prepared to lift the dining table.
The Captain-Commander before him had already spoken first, his cane lightly tapping the ground.
"No need for you to handle this. I will naturally arrange for someone to process it."
"You brat just honestly return and recuperate."
His voice remained steady, just carrying several degrees less severity.
"Yes, this disciple obeys."
Hearing the changed form of address, Suoh smiled and nodded.
Suoh had originally intended to clean up the dojo's blood stains after tidying. After all, such a tragically unbearable floor—all that spilled blood was his.
Yet he only appeared outwardly miserable. After eating one full meal, he'd already recovered thirty to forty percent.
But upholding the principle that doing more was worse than doing less, he still honestly accepted this kindness.
"Genryusai-sensei, then we'll take our leave first."
Leading Suoh in bowing farewell, Ukitake Jushiro left the First Division together with him.
Outside the First Division gate.
Suoh pointed his finger toward Sōkyoku Hill's direction, inquiring.
"Captain, do you still have matters to attend to? I'm planning to take a detour to a certain place first."
"Tsukasa, where are you going?"
Ukitake Jushiro looked completely baffled.
"I'm planning to visit my secret base to recover a bit. Captain, would you also like to come see?"
Suoh replied somewhat embarrassedly.
If possible, Suoh didn't want to expose some of his secrets.
However, his body's weakness made him urgently need the healing hot spring's therapy at this moment.
He was also too lazy to find excuses, choosing to speak honestly.
"Secret base?"
"Alright."
Hearing Suoh's answer, Ukitake Jushiro froze slightly before nodding.
His face carried several degrees of curious color.