Cultivation is like this; many subtle deviations are often difficult to detect on one's own and require an experienced teacher to observe and correct from the side.
After one-on-one meticulous guidance, Suō Tsukasa mastered the key principles of the Sanzō no Kata (Three Forms of Righteousness) some time later.
Yuuki Shinnosuke stood quietly to the side. Upon seeing the marks on the post, he nodded slightly.
As Suō Tsukasa retracted his fists, Yuuki's voice immediately sounded nearby.
"Change to another post, continue. Move and deliver a left-right combination punch!"
"Yes!"
Without pause, Suō Tsukasa understood the instruction perfectly, his footsteps swift as he moved to a wooden post not far away.
In the transition from movement to stillness, his fists struck out with the unified force of the Sanzō.
Boom—Boom——
With two consecutive punches, the second dull impact followed immediately after the first.
The two fist marks were positioned relative to each other, with consistent depth and perfectly uniform edges.
Not hearing the command to stop, Suō Tsukasa continued moving swiftly throughout the room, pivoting and maneuvering, leaving a pair of clear fist marks on every wooden post.
Yuuki Shinnosuke remained standing, his gaze as sharp as a hawk's, following the boy's every movement.
"That's enough. The Sanzō no Kata is the foundation supporting the advanced Hakuda techniques of the Genryū (Original Style), and this is all I can teach you."
"Next, what you need to do is to punch me while simultaneously evading or blocking my attacks, trying to engrave this technique into your instincts."
As soon as he spoke, he slightly lowered his knees, gently raised his arms into the starting stance of basic Hakuda, and slowly stepped forward.
His gaze was like electricity, locking onto Suō Tsukasa's eyes, and his voice suddenly deepened.
"Remember! The 'Righteousness' of the Genryū does not lie in rigidly maintaining the stance, but in seeking stability within motion."
The next moment, his massive figure roared closer like a toppling mountain. The force of his punch was not as fierce as one might imagine, but it carried an overwhelming, pervasive pressure, like a deep tide, surging towards Suō Tsukasa.
Almost simultaneously with the start of the opponent's movement, Suō Tsukasa also assumed his stance, his eyes tightly locked onto Yuuki's actions.
The wind from the punch was directed toward Suō Tsukasa's left shoulder, the speed not especially fast, allowing Suō Tsukasa to clearly anticipate the point of impact.
Bang——
His left forearm folded up, firmly blocking the incoming heavy punch. Their limbs briefly collided.
Suō Tsukasa felt a heavy force transmit through his arm. He naturally sank his shoulder and twisted his hips, diverting some of the force into the ground.
His right fist shot out suddenly, like a hibernating dragon emerging from its lair.
Clap——
His fist was firmly caught by the palm of Yuuki Shinnosuke.
"Seeking stability within motion, you have done well."
Yuuki Shinnosuke did not give Suō Tsukasa much time to think. He took one step back, briefly widening the distance.
"Next, pay attention!"
As his voice fell, the formal offensive surged towards Suō Tsukasa like a tide.
This time, it was different from the probing punch just now.
Yuuki Shinnosuke's attacks became faster and fiercer, with straight punches and hooks alternating.
Inside the quiet room, the continuous sound of fists meeting flesh resonated non-stop.
There were no more verbal pointers.
If the force of Suō Tsukasa's counter-attack after an evasion or block failed to meet Yuuki Shinnosuke's satisfactory standard, the next moment awaiting him would be a faster, more ferocious punch from Yuuki Shinnosuke.
And after giving him direct physical instruction, the attack would return to its usual rhythm.
Suō Tsukasa quickly realized this point. The pressure brought by this kind of contained physical pain, which only went so far, helped him focus his mind on the training more than verbal instruction ever could.
It forced him to discard all unnecessary movements, evading or blocking with the smallest possible amplitude, and devoting more energy to his own counter-attacks.
The sparring session lasted until the end-of-class bell rang. The two put their shirts back on, each taking a white towel to wipe away the fine sweat.
Yuuki Shinnosuke was very satisfied with the results of this focused lesson, and his mood was particularly relaxed at the moment.
Even though he continuously applied pressure during the process, Suō Tsukasa was always able to maintain his stance and never once showed any signs of collapsing.
He looked at the boy beside him, whose breathing had gradually stabilized, and spoke with a concerned smile.
"Suō, how do you feel?"
"No problem."
Suō Tsukasa nodded, answering readily.
To learn how to strike, one must first learn how to take a hit.
Before attending the Hakuda class, Suō Tsukasa had been mentally prepared to endure the corresponding hardship.
Although the books in the library were somewhat vague about fighting techniques, they didn't conceal much about how to withstand blows and absorb force, so he had gained quite a bit of knowledge.
Thanks to these daily accumulations, he hadn't suffered too much.
"Good, that's good."
Yuuki Shinnosuke secretly breathed a sigh of relief, worried that he might have given his rare student a trauma. Then, he changed the subject.
"I heard from Kamiki that you've already asked him for the graduation assessment application form."
"Do you have a favorite squad?"
"If not, I can act as your introducer and help you enter Squad 1 directly after graduation."
"If you are fortunate enough to receive guidance from Captain-Commander Yamamoto after joining the squad, it will undoubtedly benefit your future path immensely!"
Yuuki Shinnosuke's tone was assertive, and his eyes grew brighter as he spoke.
He wasn't speaking idly. Although he couldn't directly arrange for an ungraduated student to enter a squad like Byakuya Kuchiki could, introducing an excellent graduate was not a problem.
Squad 1, being personally led by the Genryū founder Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, was basically the main base where Genryū students congregated. He had plenty of relevant connections.
Moreover, a top graduate like Suō Tsukasa, who could immediately secure an Upper-Seat Officer position upon joining, would not be rejected even by the elite-gathering Squad 1.
"I have already chosen Squad 13 as my goal."
Unlike his answer to Shikibu Shindou last time, Suō Tsukasa's attitude this time was firm and clear.
In fact, before enrolling, his preferred squads were Squads 8 and 10.
This was because, among the Gotei 13, excluding the squads led by the three great figures from Hueco Mundo, there weren't many squads with a normal atmosphere.
And the captains of these two squads were quite experienced and in their prime; they were capable fighters!
There was also Squad 13. These three squads had the most relaxed and free overall atmosphere, unlike the other squads, which had distinct flaws.
However, Suō Tsukasa had now not only met Kaien's family but also become good friends with them, so he naturally couldn't stand by and watch tragedy befall them.
And he couldn't give them advance warning, as he didn't know when or where the Hollow that might kill them would appear.
After meeting Renji Abarai and others, Suō Tsukasa could confirm from his interaction with Rukia that she had not yet been adopted by the Kuchiki family.
The incident occurred within a few years after Rukia was adopted and joined Squad 13. But without a specific time, it was difficult to pin down.
Thus, he could only join Squad 13 himself in advance, gather information, and prevent the tragedy from happening nearby.
Since he had already decided on his career direction after joining the Gotei 13, and to prevent any butterfly effect he might cause, choosing to graduate early this year was, in his opinion, the most prudent approach.