Full Power?
Kazuki rose from his seat, exchanging a quick glance with the girls and another with Kensei. Urahara, his classmate, took his position at the opposite end of the arena. Dressed in standard graduate attire, he looked almost unremarkable, but his eyes hinted at a depth of cunning.
Drawing his Zanpakuto, Kamijō Tenseiga, Kazuki felt its familiar weight in his hands. The silver blade gleamed in the sunlight as he settled into his stance. Urahara unsheathed his own sword, casting an expectant gaze across the arena.
"Begin!" Sasakibe declared.
Kazuki lunged first, cutting through the air as he aimed for Urahara. The two blades clashed, sparks flying from the point of impact. Kazuki applied more pressure, but Urahara deftly maneuvered out of the lock and counterattacked, aiming for Kazuki's abdomen.
With a swift sidestep, Kazuki dodged, retaliating with a quick thrust. Urahara blocked it, but the force pushed him back a few steps.
Up in the stands, Isane, Lisa, and Mashiro looked on, unable to hide their anticipation. Yoruichi leaned forward, her eyes tracking Kazuki's movements with acute attention. For a split second, their eyes met, and a surge of confidence flowed through him.
Kazuki advanced, his blade slicing through the air with newfound agility. Urahara was pushed on the defensive, struggling to keep up with Kazuki's accelerated pace. Each attack Kazuki delivered was precise, calculated to push Urahara into a corner both physically and mentally.
"Awaken, Benihime," Urahara whispered, his sword transforming into its unique, medium-sized form with a U-shaped guard and a crimson tassel.
Kazuki's blade clashed with Urahara's in a series of rapid exchanges. Each sword strike was an intricate dance, an eloquent argument made in the language of combat. For a brief moment, their blades locked.
"Shot to Kill, Shinso," Kazuki whispered, and Kamijō Tenseiga subtly shifted, its length extending and its glow becoming softer, like moonlight reflecting off a still lake. His blade now shone in its half Shikai form, a pale, gleaming force that hinted at its latent potency.
Urahara responded by murmuring, "Nake, Benihime." A surge of crimson energy burst from his sword, racing toward Kazuki. But it was met with Kamijō Tenseiga's own aura, and with a flick of his wrist, Kazuki dispersed the energy attack.
Smirking, Kazuki lunged, making full use of Shunpo, his advanced speed technique, to close the gap between them. Urahara attempted to counter with his own Shunpo, but Kazuki's superior speed left him playing catch-up.
Kazuki's blade came down, aiming for a clean slash, but Urahara managed to bring Benihime up just in time to block. Sparks flew as their swords met, but Kazuki was relentless, launching a series of high-speed attacks.
Frustrated, Urahara called out, "Chikasumi no Tate," and a hexagonal barrier formed around him. Kazuki didn't miss a beat. Channeling his spiritual energy into his palm, he executed a low-level Bakudo, "Sai," aimed at binding Urahara's wrists.
"Gotcha," Kazuki said, pressing his advantage. But Urahara wasn't done.
"Kamisori, Benihime," Urahara shouted, and his sword released an arc of energy toward Kazuki.
"Too slow," Kazuki retorted, sidestepping the attack effortlessly and retaliating with a roundhouse kick that sent Urahara stumbling back.
Urahara wiped a thin line of blood from his lip. "You're good, Kazuki. But—"
"Enough talk," Kazuki interrupted, raising his glowing sword. He vanished and reappeared above Urahara, his blade descending in a vertical arc.
Urahara raised his sword to block, but it was too late. Kazuki's Kamijō Tenseiga connected, leaving a clean cut across Urahara's chest. It wasn't a fatal blow, but it was enough.
The crowd erupted into applause as Chōjirō Sasakibe announced, "Kazuki Shiba wins!"
Kazuki sheathed his sword and offered Urahara a hand, helping him up. "Well fought," he said.
Urahara grinned, albeit painfully. "I could say the same for you."
In cheers and applause, Kazuki returned to his seat next to Yoruichi, Isane, Lisa, Mashiro and Kensei. His friends greeted him warmly, a blend of relief and pride in their eyes. Other recruits took their turns in the arena, clashing blades and trading blows under the watchful eyes of the captains.
When the tournament finally concluded, Kensei and Kazuki found themselves alone outside. The girls had already left for their homes, a mixture of obligations and exhaustion pulling them away.
"I was able to win without using all my abilities," Kazuki said, his voice tinged with a hint of amusement.
Kensei glanced at Kazuki who asked further, "Which of my other abilities would have been better in my fight?" he inquired.
Kensei frowned. "You already used all your abilities. Maybe a few low-level Kido spells, but they wouldn't have changed the outcome."
Kazuki shook his head, grinning. "C'mon, that wasn't even half of my power."
Kensei's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "If you've gained abilities outside of my knowledge, I wouldn't know. But from what I do know, you used everything at your disposal."
Kazuki then laughed sheepishly. "I did, haven't I?"
Kensei just smiled and nodded. They turned to leave, but before they could take another step, the atmosphere around Kensei shifted abruptly. He was back in the arena, standing opposite Aizen. Confusion and disbelief washed over him. His battle had ended long ago, and he had watched as countless other recruits took their turns. The girls had said their goodbyes, and he had been conversing with Kazuki.
But here he was, back in the arena with Aizen, who looked as winded as he felt. Kensei couldn't help but squint at Aizen, who simply raised his hand and said, "I lost."
Cheers and applause echoed as if to validate this alternate reality. As Kensei made his way back to where Kazuki was, a strange sensation pinched his wrist. It was only then that he sighed in relief.
He looked at Kazuki, who was nodding in approval, then glanced at Aizen seated far across the arena. Aizen looked unbothered, almost disengaged, leaving Kensei to churn in his own internal turmoil. Just as he was about to delve further into his thoughts, the resounding voice of Sasakibe cut through the arena.
"Mashiro Kuna versus Yoruichi Shihouin," he announced, the clarity of his voice ringing like a bell.
The arena shifted focus. Yoruichi and Mashiro stepped into the ring, the weight of their impending duel hanging in the air.
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