Teach me!

Toji has grown up well and is still learning from Yamamoto. During the second year, Toji and his friends Jushiro and Shunsui got the job to visit the Rukongai districts and see whether there are Hollows there and if there are, they are supposed to kill them.

As Toji walked through the areas he encountered Yachiru Unohana who was in the process of killing off other weaker Shinigami. This led to an interesting encounter between the two.

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(Flashback)

Toji was walking through the 70th district of the Seireitei when he heard a commotion nearby. He could feel Reaitsu being used ... fighting. He sped there and saw that multiple men were fighting against a black-haired woman. Toji knew who she was ... the 11th Division Captain, Yachiru Unohana.

Toji watched as Unohana slashed all of them and killed them with ease. He was interested in her fighting style. The fact that she seemingly effortlessly killed them all and with such grace and cruel efficiency, fascinated Toji. He wanted to learn from her and he would make sure that she taught him. He did not know how but he would make sure. 

"Have you watched enough?", Unohana said after she was finished. 

She had noticed Toji watching but it mattered little to her. She was interested in Toji, but he was still not strong enough to fight. Whatever she fought, she killed that was what it meant to be the Kenpachi of the generation. And no matter who she faced, she would kill them. 

"Not really.", Toji answered her. He was interested in the woman. She would become the Captain of the 4th Division and he could learn a lot from her. Yamamoto was a monster at this point. But Unohana knew so many different sword techniques as well as healing techniques. And he could learn those from her. And he could also fight her to grow stronger and have fun. That was something he couldn't do with Yamamoto. The older Yamamoto got, the less he wanted to fight. 

"Oh? And what are you looking at?"

"I am looking at you. Can you teach me how to fight like that?"

"..No", she said. 

"Why not?"

"You are the student of Yamamoto. You can not have two teachers."

"Of course you can. I also have other instructors at the academy. That doesn't mean that I still learn from Yamamoto-sensei."

"At the same time?"

"Of course."

"The answer is still no."

"What would I have to do for you to teach me?"

"Why are you so interested in learning how to fight like me? Yamamoto has his own fighting style. You can learn from him. He is more powerful than me anyway."

"Haha, we both know that having an overwhelming Bankai is not everything three is. I'm sure that you are much better at Zanjutsu. Your style is very brutal and yet has an elegance to it. I wish to learn this form of fighting and become your student. So once again, what do I have to do to become your student?"

Unohana was silent this time. She had never experienced this. Normally people distanced them from her and did not want to get closer to her. She was the Kenpachi and not a teacher, so she still decided that she wouldn't do it. 

"No! And this is final."

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After that, Toji would visit Unohana once a day to ask her to teach him. She refused time and time again. But as the months went by and he didn't stop pestering her she got mad. She told him that he better not bother her again or she would kill him.

This seemed to work. Toji stopped visiting her. Again time passed and the second year was coming to a close. But as the months passed by... Unohana seemingly missed the daily visits from Toji asking her to teach him.

As strange as that sounded. So she went to look for him and found him in the 2nd Division fighting sparing against Chika Shihōin. They were fighting barehanded, exchanging blows for blows. Well, it was more that Chika was dodging everything and Toji was taking blow after blow.

The fight was very one-sided but it was impressive how much damage Toji could take and still wouldn't give up. His mental fortitude was commendable but that was to be expected after visiting me for months only to be rejected every time. 

Surprisingly Chika was not holding back his punches and kicks. He was doing full damage but Toji still had that smile on his face. No matter what he seemed to be enjoying himself. 

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It was what Toji had been doing after Unohana's rejection. He did not really think she was that scary. But if she didn't want that badly then he would just go and look for someone else to teach him something in the meantime. 

And he did. He found that in the manga, the Shihoin clan was famous for their Hakuda skills as well as their Hoho. So he went there and asked their Captain to teach him how to fight barehanded and how to get better with his Hoho.

Of course, he was rejected instantly. But he persisted and was prepared to come every day as he did with Unohana. It didn't come to that though. On the third day, Chika told Toji that he had to fight for the fifth seat of his 2nd Division. 

Toji did just that and after a hard fight, actually managed to defeat the fifth seat. That was insane for a second-year student. But he was a student of Yamamoto so it was at least somewhat understandable. However after Chika still didn't want to teach him, Toji told him that he would fight his seated officers one after the other until he reached him and then he would have to teach him.

And that is literally what he did. He fought the fourth seat but was defeated. He came back every day until he managed to defeat him a week later. His progress was astounding. 

The third seat was a lot tougher though and it took Toji a month to finally be able to hold his own and another one to tie with the third seat. After the third month, he finally got his first win and another two days later he never lost again. 

That only left the Lieutenant of the Second Division. But before he could fight with the Lieutenant, Chika Shihoin agreed to teach him. The progress he had witnessed was unbelievable for such a young Shinigami. Chika visited Yamamoto to tell him about it and Yamamoto told Chika that Toji asked him before if he could learn things from other Captains, and he was fine with it. 

Yamamoto thought that he was being insulted but when asked Toji simply asked that Yamamoto was his sensei and that he was the strongest, but to learn from someone that was weaker was no insult to him as Toji himself needed someone that was closer to his level to progress more smoothly. 

Yamamoto found this to be very flattering but also logical. He allowed his disciples to do a lot that they wished. So granting him this was a little request. He was learning after all and that was the most important thing.

So Chika started to train Toji whenever he had time and was in the mood for it. Toji never stopped him from doing his duties. So at that time, they had been going at it for about two months and the progress was already visible. 

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Unohana watched as Toji grinned and stood up time and time again despite his injuries. Chika also had a smile on his face but it was slowly disappearing as he noticed the drop in performance from Toji. It was time to stop.

Unohana got a throbbing vein when she saw the happiness and excitement on Toji's face. It seemed she was ... jealous. A very strange feeling to have for Yachiru Unohana. But it was what it was and she was displeased that he would just "replace" her... 

"You seem happy."

Toji turned around and saw Unohana standing there with her usual expressionless face. 

"Oh, Unohana taichou. I didn't see you there. Do you need something?", Toji asked. 

"So after getting rejected you just walk to another and let him teach you?"

"...What?"

"I am surprised that you chose Captain Shihoin for that though, as it is clear that he is not the best swordsman, not even close."

"And your point is?"

"Why would you first come to me and then after you are rejected go to Chika Shihoin?"

"Well, I'm not learning swordsmanship from Shihoin taichou."

"What?"

"I am not learning swordsmanship from Shihoin taichou. I am just sparing with him whenever he has time and learning Hakuda and Hoho better. I have been at it for a few months now and I am seeing the results. It's very cool."

"You aren't learning Zanjustu from him?"

"No, I'm not. But since you were so adamant on not teaching me I had to find something to train in. And I know that Shihoin taichou is one of the best in close combat."

"What about Yamamoto then? Are you no longer learning from him?"

"Of course. Yamamoto sensei is still punding things into Shunsui's, Jushiro's and my head. But I am free to do what I wish in my free time."

"So then you are no longer interested in learning Zanjustu?"

"Of course I am. I just thought I'd give you some space and bother some other Captains before I annoy you again. I do need to improve my swordsmanship."

Unohana thought about it for a moment. In her anger that he was no longer visiting her, she thought he had 'replaced' her with someone of Chika Shihoin's level. Someone who was not even known for his Zanjutsu. But it seemed like he was just looking for something to train in before he got to annoy her again.

It seemed like Yachiru Unohana was a bit of a tsundere for some reason. But it seemed to be focused on teaching Toji. Very weird. 

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"I will offer you a deal. There are certain conditions that you will have to fulfil before I will accept to teach you."

"I'm listening."

"First, you will have to become a Lieutenant in four years time."

"That is right after the academy is over then."

"Yes. So you better make sure you grow stronger. I will not teach a weakling, the training would kill you otherwise."

"Aha. And the second condition?"

"The second is that you will have to unlock your Shikai in the same amount of time. And you have to defeat my Lieutenant to take over his place. Only then will I teach you."

"So what is your answer?", Unohana asked him.

"... well if it's only that then I will of course accept.", Toji said and grinned.

"You are confident, that's good. Better make sure you achieve all of this."

(Flashback end)

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That brings us to the current day. Toji together with Shunsui and Jushiro were in the Rukongai district again. Toji was currently in his sixth year and was looking for the problem that was reported in the area. Apparently, a few have been missing or something. 

Yamamoto had sent Toji to investigate. It was currently his last year and he had to get ready to join a Division. He of course knew that he wanted to join the 11th Division to become Unohana's Lieutenant and learn from her. 

Why would he do that when he wanted to become the Lieutenant of the 4th Division? Well, he knew that sooner or later Unohana would transfer to the 4th Division anyway, so he could just follow her.

Shunsui and Jushiro already joined a squad. Shunsui joined the 8th Division ... and Toji had a suspicion as to why that was.

Jushiro joined the 13th Division. It seemed his goal was to become the 13th Division Captain from the start. 

They were coming with him to spend some time with Toji as they usually had a lot of things to do because they were the newcomers to their squad. 

{Aaaaahhhhh, look who we have heree. My new pet has come to meeee. Oh how nice of youuu...}