"Hey, little Kensei, get up!"
Still asleep, Kensei felt someone pushing his body. Opening his bleary eyes, he saw Yoruichi sitting on his stomach, trying to wake him up.
What is this, a classic anime wake-up call...
Kensei silently complained in his heart, then let out a yawn.
"What's up so early? If this is a night raid, please come back tonight."
"I'm here to take you to reflect on your actions! Get up now if you don't want to make Old Man Yama angry."
Yoruichi tapped Kensei's forehead with her finger, a bit exasperated.
"Besides, I'm one of the Five Great Noble Families. If I really wanted to have my way with you, I'd just have people tie you up and drag you to my bedroom, then feed you dozens of pounds of aphrodisiacs until you begged for my attention."
Holy shit?!
While he wasn't necessarily opposed to the idea of being seduced, dozens of pounds of drugs was way too much. Imagining the consequences, Kensei shuddered, his sleepiness instantly gone.
"Alright, get up already."
"Then could you please step outside first? I'm a naked-sleeping kind of guy."
Seemingly remembering the view from when she taught Kensei the transformation technique, Yoruichi, for once, blushed and was left speechless. She immediately used Shunpo to dart outside, letting Kensei get dressed on his own.
Standing outside the door, Yoruichi tried to cool down her overheated mind, still reeling from the stimulating image she'd recalled. But it was precisely at times like this that the mind wandered uncontrollably. Her thoughts racing, Yoruichi also remembered what she'd seen when she'd climbed through Kensei's window earlier—the normal morning physiological phenomenon of a lying-down Kensei. One had to admit, Kensei was exceptionally gifted in every aspect.
Unconsciously tracing her hand over her own lower abdomen, Yoruichi completely forgot her mission.
"What are you doing?"
"Eek—!"
Startled by Kensei's voice, Yoruichi let out a shriek, her hair practically standing on end like a startled cat.
"You... I..."
Kensei looked at the flustered Yoruichi, who couldn't form a complete sentence, feeling puzzled. She was fine just a moment ago. Did she catch something in this short time?
"Come on, let's go find Old Man Yama."
"What are you going to do? Don't drag me into a suicide mission!"
Suppressing her shame, Yoruichi thought Kensei was foolishly planning to confront the Captain-Commander. But Kensei gave her no chance to escape, scooping up the petite Yoruichi and tucking her under his arm as he headed for the First Division.
"It's definitely official business! Do I look like the kind of person who picks fights with Old Man Yama for no reason?"
Yoruichi really wanted to nod and say yes, but after a moment's thought, she brought up another matter.
"Little Kensei, can I teach Shunkō to the Stealth Force? Don't worry, you'll be properly compensated. Anything the Shihōin family has can be yours."
A high-level technique like this was enough to serve as a trump card for any Soul Reaper. Even though she knew the technique herself, Kensei was the one who used it first, so it was only right to seek his permission.
Kensei gave Yoruichi a strange look. Well, well. Just as Aizen predicted. The man's a prophet!
"I don't mind. But you suddenly mentioning compensation... I can't think of anything off the top of my head. Let's talk about it later."
Yoruichi thought about it and realized her mistake. She should have brought the inventory of her family's treasury for Kensei to look at. It seemed she'd have to take him to the treasury personally next time.
The two arrived at the First Division and, with practiced ease, entered Yamamoto's study as if it were their own home.
"Well, if it isn't my two senior brothers! What a coincidence!"
Seeing both Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake present, Kensei greeted his senior brothers, then turned to look at Yama with an exaggerated, syrupy smile.
"Didn't I tell you yesterday to reflect on your actions? Do you know that disobeying your teacher warrants punishment?"
"Ah! My dear, respected teacher Yama! Today, your student has come uninvited with an important matter to seek your guidance."
Hearing his disciple's sarcastic tone, even an old Soul Reaper like Yama felt goosebumps. His two senior brothers struggled to hold back their laughter. This junior brother really knows how to get under the teacher's skin. Truly impressive. As for Yoruichi, she was covering her face, wanting to disavow any connection to Kensei.
"Spit it out."
Yama treated Kensei's verbal respect as hot air. If he were truly respectful, he wouldn't have been fooling around with the Shihōin girl every day without coming to pay his respects.
"Hehe, your student was tossing and turning all night, thinking only of improving Shunkō. That's why I've come specially to seek your guidance on Ikotsu and Sōkotsu."
Walking behind Yama, Kensei began massaging his teacher's shoulders ingratiatingly. Many knew about Yama's signature Hakuda techniques, as most who had seen him draw his sword were dead.
"Hmm. Your drive for continuous improvement is commendable. Very well. As your teacher, I haven't taught you much yet. Today is as good an opportunity as any."
Yama stood up and walked towards the First Division's dedicated training ground. As he passed Shihōin Yoruichi, his footsteps paused almost imperceptibly.
"Young lady of the Shihōin family, you may come along as well."
Yama, having lived long enough to become a sage, was a lifelong bachelor, but he wasn't ignorant of young people's feelings. The Shihōin girl was constantly entangled with his disciple. He wouldn't be surprised if a wedding invitation arrived one day.
"Thank you, Captain-Commander!"
Overjoyed, Yoruichi quickly pulled Kensei along to follow the Captain-Commander. Shunsui and Ukitake, bringing up the rear, exchanged a knowing smile.
"Our junior brother is something else."
"Indeed. Much better than some who are all talk."
Stung by Ukitake's words, Shunsui could only smile wryly and head to the training ground.
"The principle behind my Ikotsu is not difficult. One simply needs to concentrate power in the fist. However, it places high demands on the speed of the punch. Mastering Ikotsu proficiently makes learning Sōkotsu merely a matter of time."
With that, Yama casually threw a punch. Fists moving so fast they were but blurs relied on sheer impact alone to shatter a distant mountaintop into pieces.
"I understand! Your teaching is most excellent, teacher! I believe I have grasped the basics!"
After watching, Kensei contemplated and visualized for a moment in his mind before bowing to Yama in thanks. Watching Yama nod in satisfaction, Kensei's two senior brothers and Yoruichi were dumbfounded.
Hold on. The old man just said a couple of sentences and demonstrated once. How did Kensei learn it already?
Kensei assumed a stance, concentrating spiritual pressure into one hand and mobilizing his muscular strength before punching towards the ground. Although his speed was noticeably slower than Yama's demonstration, judging by the destruction caused, Kensei had indeed grasped the fundamentals of Ikotsu.
"Hmm, not bad. Much better than your two disappointing senior brothers."
Shunsui and Ukitake, who had always been the 'other people's children,' finally experienced the pain of being told to "look at so-and-so's kid." Unfortunately, they couldn't refute it. Kensei's monstrous learning speed was truly unmatched.
"I originally intended to have your two senior brothers teach you the techniques for learning Ikotsu. It seems that won't be necessary now."
Stroking his long, waist-length beard, Yama was very satisfied with Kensei. If only his mind were a bit more normal, he'd be perfect. Alas, nobody's perfect.
"Alright. Shunsui, Ukitake, you two prepare to go support the Special Forces."
The two felt like crying but had no tears, thinking that the old man's favor had completely shifted to Kensei. They obediently took their leave, eager to escape this place of sorrow.
"Let me see you use Ikotsu while in your Shunkō state. We need to ensure there's no conflict between the two techniques."
Kensei quickly activated Shunkō and used Ikotsu. The power of Ikotsu, enhanced by Shunkō's bodily amplification, was even more terrifying. However, Yama shook his head after seeing it.
"While the techniques themselves don't conflict, the strain on your body is too great. You should use it sparingly."
Kensei had already dialed back the power of Ikotsu, but his arm still felt numb and sore afterwards. It seems best to listen to the old man. Having an elder in the family is like having a treasure, folks.
"Very well. Since you've learned it, you can teach the Shihōin girl. This old man is going back to rest."
So Old Man Yama slacks off too. No wonder he taught a lazy disciple like Senior Brother Shunsui. It seems it's up to me to carry the legacy of the Genryūsai school to greatness.
Lost in his fantasy, Kensei was suddenly handed a black bodysuit by Yoruichi. He didn't quite understand if she wanted him to do some kind of uniform roleplay.
"This is clothing modified for Shunkō, so you don't waste a set of clothes every time you use it."
Yoruichi looked at Kensei teasingly, then continued.
"Besides, without modifying the clothes, big sister here can't use this move. Otherwise, someone might get jealous, and that wouldn't be good."
Kensei wholeheartedly agreed. Even though he and Yoruichi were currently just friends, it was always good to be prepared.
Yoruichi didn't mind Kensei's possessiveness. What normal man would want outsiders to see the body of someone he liked? Even though little Kensei hadn't said he liked her yet, future liking was still liking.
No more words were needed between them. They began practicing Ikotsu earnestly, though the wind in the training ground seemed to carry a warmth that made their faces feel a little flushed.