Then, his body would feel incredibly heavy, as if filled with mercury.
However, after adapting to this resistance, not only his physical abilities but also his spiritual power could be fully trained, leading to rapid growth.
"It's time to go back."
Shimiya Takeru wiped his sweat and skillfully turned into a small path to return to the Spirit Arts Academy.
His schedule was very regular.
He would wake up early for a morning run, then attend classes, and after school, he would either go to the Fifth Division to use the "Spiritual Power Restoration Chamber" or practice sword techniques.
In the evenings, he would eat and drink well, not depriving himself at all, and when it was time to sleep, he would use "sword meditation" instead, waking up to another morning run...
This strictly disciplined cycle was what prevented him, the strongest genius in the Spirit Arts Academy's history, from being completely surpassed by Ichigo, the strongest outlier in a million years.
But as Ichigo's spiritual pressure rose to Captain-level and his basic abilities steadily improved, Shimiya Takeru, though he didn't say it, felt immense pressure in his heart.
It's well known that talking smack requires strength as a foundation.
He didn't want to accidentally anger a powerful enemy trying to destroy the Soul Society one day, and then, seeing himself outmatched, shout, "Ichigo, save me!"
Doesn't the future Captain Commander need to save face?
"—That's how it is, so I hope Sensei can give me guidance and help me master Bankai as soon as possible."
Fifth Division Captain's office.
Shimiya Takeru sat formally on the sofa, making his request to Aizen opposite him.
"Hmm..."
Aizen's expression was a bit subtle.
But still relatively normal.
Hinamori Momo, the "Tiger of Paperwork" responsible for official duties nearby, was dumbfounded.
Don't misunderstand, Shimiya Takeru wasn't so arrogant as to constantly mention the future Captain Commander to everyone he met; he merely said he wanted to secretly master Bankai and then give Ichigo a surprise, encouraging him to work harder and be more ambitious.
He even specifically emphasized that this was an obligation a good friend should fulfill.
Hinamori Momo felt her brain was a bit disoriented.
It seemed like something was wrong, yet it also seemed very reasonable.
So, was it right or wrong?
Soon, she had no leisure to ponder this question.
Her attention was drawn by her Captain's next words, and she fell into deep envy.
"Bankai, huh... Si Gong student certainly has the qualifications... No, it should be said that it's time for him to master the ultimate secret of Zanpakuto combat techniques. Come with me."
Shimiya Takeru rose upon hearing this, preparing to follow Aizen out.
"Um... Captain, I think I'm also almost ready...!"
"Hinamori, stay here and handle the paperwork. It's still too early for you to get involved with this."
"..."
Hinamori Momo watched the two leave one after another, seemingly still conversing in low voices, and she couldn't shake the feeling of a strange, almost father-son-like harmony, her face filled with bewilderment.
Finally, she slumped weakly onto the desk, like a salted fish who had lost its ideals.
A student who had been enrolled for less than a year was already beginning to train for Bankai.
Yet she, a Lieutenant who had been in the division for over forty years, was only fit for paperwork.
Perhaps that previous question had some truth to it, but this question was definitely wrong in every way!
On the other side, Shimiya Takeru followed Aizen to an open, shaded lawn within the Fifth Division barracks.
"This will do... Isn't it strange that it's not a training ground?"
"No, although I don't understand how Bankai should be trained, the more powerful the ability, the more it needs to be mastered with a calm mind... This is the experience I gained from my own Shikai, and I believe it can certainly be applied to Bankai."
Shimiya Takeru gazed at the vibrant and serene green shade under the scorching sun, and his heart, which had been stirred by the prospect of learning Bankai, slowly calmed down.
"A very good realization."
Aizen crossed his arms within his wide sleeves, also gazing at the green shade and even further into the distance.
"Actually, even if you hadn't brought it up, I was planning to remind you in a few days."
"After all, the first step of Bankai training... already began several months ago."
What are you talking about?
Ichigo might have reacted this way.
But Shimiya Takeru, after a brief thought, responded, "Sensei, are you referring to the training that uses the Zanpakuto to put pressure on oneself?"
"Precisely."
Aizen's lips curved into a satisfied smile.
"Before explaining why, I want to ask one thing... Si Gong student, how much do you understand about the power of Bankai?"
"When I was reading in the Spirit Arts Academy's library, I saw a quote left by someone named Urahara Kisuke—'Shikai' must involve 'dialogue' with the Zanpakuto, and then 'resonance' to draw out its power."
Shimiya Takeru pondered.
"'Bankai,' on the other hand, is the 'materialization' of summoning the Zanpakuto from one's inner world into the real world, and then making it'submit.'"
"Urahara Kisuke, huh..."
Aizen listened quietly, then expressionlessly pushed up his glasses; the evening glow reflected in the lenses, obscuring his eyes and making his attitude somewhat inscrutable.
"His name is still widely known throughout the Soul Society, and even people from the Eleventh Division hold him in high regard."
"So, the experiences he left behind have their merits."
"But, that's all there is to it."
"He only told people what to do, but not why to do it."
"Completely devoid of personal thought, and not specific enough, it could be described as a combination of dogma and a genius's capriciousness, making it useless to Shinigami."
"After all... not everyone can be like him, capable of both following rules and achieving goals perfectly."
"Urahara Kisuke might be very smart, but his theories based on experience can only be described as 'half-baked.'"
"But that's fine too."
"Having his words as a negative reference will help you understand what I'm about to say even better."
By the end, Aizen's tone, though still as gentle as ever, revealed a hint of contention from his choice of words.
Shimiya Takeru didn't mind this and focused intently on his Sensei's profound insights.
Aizen was also quite direct.
"In my opinion, Shikai is the state where 'a Shinigami reflects their own power onto their Zanpakuto,' and Bankai is the state where 'on this foundation, the sword's self is nurtured and materialized.'"
"The reason there's a training method that uses the Zanpakuto to put pressure on oneself is based on the former... conversely, letting the sword's power reflect onto you."
"It seems like the Zanpakuto is putting pressure on you, but in reality, the Zanpakuto is actively approaching, like a mirror, containing your entire being."
"Through continuous reflection, like a brand, the spiritual power acting on you gradually takes on your form."
"Thus, you go further and faster in the Shikai stage... until you reach the limit of the current stage."
Regarding this, even if Aizen hadn't said it, Shimiya Takeru knew it well.
He could even say he felt it deeply.
"Indeed, my Shikai is too powerful, placing an extreme burden on my soul; the first time I used it, I even felt pain throughout my body."
"Normally, this would mean needing a long time to slowly adapt to the immense power brought by Shikai before being able to control it skillfully."
"But because of the Zanpakuto's daily pressure, and prolonged physical and spiritual fusion with its spiritual power, my soul was passively... gradually comprehending and understanding its essence, and my body also received substantial training."
"As a result, the double-edged sword in my hand transformed into a blade that cuts through everything, and the person wielding the blade also evolved from a novice into a strong, powerful master with exquisite swordsmanship."
Upon hearing this, Aizen nodded slightly: "From the results, that is indeed correct."
"This master has now reached the limit of the current stage, and thus urgently needs to step into the next realm, which is Bankai."
"That being said, this doesn't mean that training is useless for Bankai."
"There's a common knowledge you might not know: once a Shinigami learns Bankai, they can activate Shikai directly without a release command. This is because the Zanpakuto has completely submitted to them. The concept of'submission' is coercive, overriding 'dialogue,' and 'resonance' is replaced by the concept of 'domination.'"
"The pressure training you've been doing is actually preparing you in advance for the'submission' phase after the Zanpakuto materializes, allowing you to shorten the process in that stage, just as you have now."
"I understand."
Shimiya Takeru suddenly realized.
"Then, Sensei, how exactly should I do it?"
"Don't you already have a good idea in your own mind?"
Aizen cast a gaze full of amusement.
"Yes."
Shimiya Takeru sat down cross-legged on the spot, assuming the posture for sword meditation.
"By the way, Si Gong student."
"?"
"Your initial intention for training Bankai shouldn't just be to compete constructively with Kurosaki-kun, right?"
"As expected of Sensei, your insight is sharp..."
Facing Aizen's seemingly all-knowing attitude, Shimiya Takeru spoke candidly without concealment: "I believe that a Shinigami's battle is a battle of spiritual pressure. With my current spiritual pressure, if I want to grow to Captain-level faster, training Bankai would be a good choice."
"In other words... you don't yearn for or obsess over the power of the Zanpakuto, nor do you hope to become a Captain of the Gotei 13 with it, but simply... regard Bankai as a specialized training for spiritual pressure, to quickly break through your current bottleneck?"
Aizen's eyes were deep, his tone carrying an unclear meaning.
"That's exactly it. I feel it's more efficient than just ordinary daily training."
"...Is that so? I have no more questions, Si Gong student, you may continue."
Shimiya Takeru nodded, closed his eyes, and adjusted his breathing.