Chapter 20: Cannot Teach Anymore

The training field was alive with action as two figures clashed, their movements almost too fast to follow. Fists and feet collided in a symphony of power and precision.

One of the combatants was lithe and agile, her movements fluid and graceful. The other was explosive and overwhelming, each of his strikes accompanied by bursts of wind and clouds of dirt.

The petite Yoruichi's steps barely left a trace on the muddy field, while the Ren's every advance left deep impressions in the ground.

The other students wisely kept their distance, unwilling to risk getting caught in the crossfire between these two powerhouses.

To them, this duel was far beyond the realm of a first-year sparring match. In fact, even senior students on the verge of graduation would struggle to match this level of hakuda.

Most sparring sessions in hakuda class focused on skill refinement, with limitations like avoiding advanced techniques such as shunpo due to the confined dojo space. But today was different—outdoor practice meant no such restrictions. And so, the 'Demon Princess of the Shihōin Clan' and the 'Monstrous Newbie' faced off.

As the students watched, emotions ranged from fear to envy, with some intensely studying the match to absorb even a fraction of the techniques on display. Among the spectators, however, there were two notable observers—positioned on a nearby rooftop, watching intently.

One was a dignified elder with an air of solemnity mixed with warmth. His long eyebrows and the purple band securing his waist-length white beard gave him an aura of wisdom. The intersecting scars on his forehead added a hint of ferocity. Leaning on a staff, he turned to the silver-haired man beside him and asked, "Chōjirō, that girl is from the Shihōin clan, isn't she? And the boy?"

Lieutenant Chōjirō Sasakibe of the First Division replied respectfully, "Yes, Captain-Commander. The boy is a new student who joined two months ago, Ren Hoshino. He was brought here by Captain Unohana from the Rukongai. His talent is extraordinary."

"Oh?" The Captain-Commander, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, showed genuine interest. "You consider his talent extraordinary?"

Sasakibe nodded. "I've been observing him for a while. In zanjutsu, hakuda, shunpo, and kidō, he shows no weaknesses. Though he hails from the Rukongai, his abilities are so remarkable that frankly…"

"Frankly what?" Yamamoto prompted.

Sasakibe hesitated before continuing, "Frankly… it's almost frightening. Several instructors have already expressed concerns that they can't teach him effectively."

The Captain-Commander remained silent, prompting Sasakibe to elaborate. "On his first day, despite being new to swordsmanship, Ren defeated Instructor Fujimoto—an expert of his tier in reiatsu. In hakuda, he bested Shihōin Yoruichi, the heir of the Shihōin family. He successfully cast a Shakkahō spell on his first try in kidō class."

Sasakibe continued to recount Ren's feats. "In shunpo, he's not as fast as Yoruichi yet, but he's closing the gap quickly despite only two months of practice."

"Can't teach him, huh? An Interesting lad." Yamamoto chuckled, his eyes returning to the duel below. "Hasn't the academy had division captains substitute for hakuda and swordsmanship classes recently?"

Sasakibe shook his head. "The Seireitei and the World of the Living have both been turbulent lately. The Gotei 13's tasks are overwhelming, and no captain has had the time to take over teaching duties."

Yamamoto nodded in understanding. As both the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13 and the headmaster of the Shin'ō Academy, he hadn't visited the academy in the past two months due to his responsibilities. Yet today, during a rare visit, he had encountered a student who piqued his interest, stirring memories of his first class of pupils.

"What of his reiatsu and Zanpakutō development?" Yamamoto asked thoughtfully.

"His Zanpakutō hasn't awakened yet, but that's expected—he was a Rukongai commoner with no exposure to related knowledge. Upon enrollment, his reiatsu was rated at seventeen, which is decent."

If other students overheard this exchange, they might have been shocked. A reiatsu of seventeen was an aspirational target for many, yet Sasakibe regarded it as unremarkable. His experience with the academy's history afforded him a broader perspective.

Nobility-born students, for instance, often entered with reiatsu ratings of ten or higher, with some even achieving a level of six before admission.

Yoruichi herself had little interest in reiatsu refinement, but her eventual rise to captain-level reiatsu was likely inevitable.

"Seventeen with no resources… Decent, but not outstanding," Yamamoto remarked, unimpressed.

For someone who had witnessed countless prodigies, initial reiatsu levels rarely made lasting impressions. However, Ren's remarkable prowess in all four core disciplines had undeniably captured his attention. If his reiatsu were to develop further, he could very well become a cornerstone of the Gotei 13.

"Indeed, among the truly gifted, seventeen is not particularly high," Sasakibe conceded. "But his progress is notable. In just two months, his reiatsu has risen to sixteen. Furthermore, I've heard that Ren has devoted most of his time to mastering the four core disciplines rather than directly cultivating his reiatsu."

Yamamoto nodded, his tone thoughtful. "So it's not a lack of talent for reiatsu, but a strategic focus elsewhere."

Sasakibe agreed. "It's a wise decision. The academy offers a rare environment for mastering techniques. Once he graduates, opportunities to learn like this will be scarce. And reiatsu is something he can train at any time."

"Hahaha…" Yamamoto laughed heartily. "Chōjirō, it seems you're rather fond of this boy. You've even gone out of your way to justify his choices."

Sasakibe shook his head humbly. "I appreciate his talent, but I can't say I'm fond of his personality."

"Oh?" Yamamoto raised a brow. "Why not?"

"Because Ren Hoshino wants to graduate early. Young people can be too arrogant—he's only been here for two months," Sasakibe said with a resigned shake of his head. This sentiment echoed what he had heard from the academy's other instructors.

Aside from Captain Unohana's Kaidō class, no other teacher seemed capable of instructing Ren anymore. The Hadō course was a slight exception. While the Grand Kidō Chief no longer had the spare time to take classes, the new teacher was still skilled enough to cast high-level spells in the 80s, making their teaching competence unquestionable.

However, Ren's disinterest in Hadō posed a challenge. Despite his exceptional talent in Kidō, he appeared to focus entirely on Kaido during these sessions. By the academy's standards, his ability to cast the Shakkahō spell had already satisfied the graduation requirements, leaving his instructors little reason to intervene—especially since Kaido technically fell under the broader umbrella of Kidō.

"An early graduation, is it?"

The Captain-Commander stroked his long beard, amusement flickering in his eyes. "A truly arrogant boy, thinking no one can teach him in Zan, Ken, Sō, or Kidō anymore."

He struck the ground with his staff, sending ripples of dust outward in a perfect circle. His ancient yet sharp gaze fixed on Ren, who continued his intense sparring session on the training field below.

"Well then," Yamamoto said with a smile, "let this old man give him a lesson." [T/N - R.I.P Ren.]