Returning to the First Division Dojo.
Several hours later, dusk descended.
The setting sun had already plated the courtyard in a heavy golden hue. This golden light pierced through the doors and windows of the dojo, falling upon Suō Tsukasa, who was kneeling on one knee in the center of the hall.
His shihakusho was covered in crisscrossing blade marks. Dark bloodstains bloomed across the fabric; in some places, they had already coagulated and darkened, while in others, they still glistened with a moist, vivid crimson.
Every tear was a mark of a lesson learned, recording the Captain-Commander's earnest guidance today.
Inside the bright dojo, Suō Tsukasa and the Captain-Commander locked eyes.
"That is enough for today."
"Your progress is acceptable."
The Zanpakuto in the Captain-Commander's hand shifted back into a wooden staff. He leaned on it steadily in front of him, declaring the end of the instruction.
"Phew..."
Suō Tsukasa exhaled deeply. As he breathed, the expansion of his chest tugged at the sword wounds on his ribs. The pain made his fingertips tremble slightly, yet he still stood up steadily.
Condensing what little remained of his Reiatsu in his palm, he pressed his left hand against his chest. A faint light of Kaido covered his body.
"Thank you for your guidance, Captain-Commander."
Having performed a simple treatment on his wounds, Suō Tsukasa sheathed his sword and bowed.
The desire that had surged in his heart when he encountered Zaraki Kenpachi a few days ago was finally realized today. And reality was exactly as he had surmised.
Standing in the sunlight, the healing speed of his wounds would indeed increase slightly, but the effect was limited. Shallow cuts would heal automatically without treatment. Deeper wounds required him to use Kaido for auxiliary healing.
Seeing that his spine remained straight as a spear even as he bowed, the corner of the Captain-Commander's mouth twitched upward almost imperceptibly for an instant before quickly returning to a neutral expression.
"I believe you should understand that the significance of today's instruction extends beyond Zanjutsu."
"Having been a Shinigami for less than a few years, it is exceedingly rare for you to possess your current level of skill."
The Captain-Commander paused. He tapped his staff lightly against the floor and spoke in a deep voice.
"But therein lies the greatest problem. You have suffered too few injuries."
"In the depths of your heart, you are afraid of being hurt."
"In an uninjured state, with your physical attributes and combat techniques, you could endure for more than ten minutes against this old man."
"However, the fear of injury interferes with your judgment and disrupts your combat rhythm. It causes you to display less than sixty percent of your true strength when facing me."
"A complete combat stance and a combat stance maintained after being wounded are two entirely different realms of existence."
While affirming the strength and talent Suō Tsukasa had displayed, the Captain-Commander also offered his critique.
A complete combat stance—the vast majority of Shinigami remain in this state during training and routine battles.
The second stance, however, marked a warrior's metamorphosis from "powerful" to "extraordinary"—a deeper level of combat instinct.
"Yes."
Suō Tsukasa listened with his head bowed, offering no rebuttal.
The Captain-Commander's words hit the mark with pinpoint accuracy.
Graduating from the Shin'o Academy in an extremely short time and successfully crossing the threshold of Lieutenant-class spiritual pressure without much struggle—growing fast was a good thing, but it was also a bad thing.
Growing up smoothly along the way had caused his subconscious to constantly avoid getting hurt. Against the Hollows he encountered on daily missions, he could easily dodge or defend using only Shunpo and Bakudo.
But it was different when the opponent was the Captain-Commander; the gap in combat experience was simply too vast.
When facing an unavoidable attack, Suō Tsukasa always concentrated too much Reiatsu on defense. While it consumed too much spiritual pressure, it also robbed him of the possibility to counterattack.
Through today's repeated instruction, this subconscious habit was being slowly broken. Suō Tsukasa deeply internalized the true meaning of the guidance, both physically and mentally.
He began learning to actively reduce defensive Reiatsu—on the premise of not affecting immediate combat effectiveness—and learned how to take a hit. He learned how to maintain the stability of his combat stance even while injured.
His control over the rhythm of battle was already much higher than before.
"Truly an astounding rate of growth."
Having witnessed the entire tempering process from the sidelines, Ukitake Jushiro gazed at Suō Tsukasa's resolute face. Seeing the satisfaction and joy on the younger man's face, he sighed with emotion.
In less than a single day, his entire combat consciousness had undergone a complete transformation. From losing his balance upon being injured to a certain degree, to maintaining a full fighting spirit even while covered in blood.
Even with the Captain-Commander's dedicated guidance, this speed of growth compelled him to view the boy in a new light.
Even more unique was the recovery ability Suō Tsukasa possessed, which allowed him to maximize the value of this instruction. Feeling a heart full of emotion, Ukitake moved a dining table filled with food to Suō Tsukasa's side.
He had performed this action several times today. On the table were meals prepared at the Captain-Commander's order, designed to aid in the recovery of physical strength and wounds.
The Captain-Commander was a man cold on the outside but warm on the inside. He always wore a serious and intimidating face, but that was merely his outward appearance.
Every limit reached, every ounce of potential squeezed out, and even this replenishment after each instructional bout—after Suō Tsukasa had requested to eat, the Captain-Commander had agreed and made arrangements without asking a single question.
The entire training session, from beginning to end, was under the Captain-Commander's absolute control.
"Thank you as well, Captain."
Suō Tsukasa thanked him sincerely. Books, opportunities, and companionship—Ukitake Jushiro had given him so much help. To him, choosing to join the Thirteenth Division was truly a very fortunate thing.
"Eat quickly."
Ukitake Jushiro smiled slightly.
Suō Tsukasa dispensed with the pleasantries. He didn't care about the mess on the floor and sat down directly. He picked up his chopsticks and buried his head in the meal.
Soon, the food on the table disappeared at an extremely high speed.
After finishing the meal, Suō Tsukasa's complexion had eased considerably. His face, which had been somewhat pale due to blood loss, gradually regained its color. His body no longer felt weak or powerless; Reiatsu was being generated continuously within him, like small trickles merging into a river.
Putting down his chopsticks, he was just about to lift the dining table when the Captain-Commander spoke first, tapping his staff on the ground.
"You need not concern yourself with this. This old man will arrange for someone to handle it."
"You, brat, just go back and rest properly."
His voice was as steady as ever, though it carried a bit less severity.
"Yes. This disciple obeys."
Hearing the change in address, Suō Tsukasa nodded with a smile.
Suō Tsukasa had originally thought about cleaning up the bloodstains in the dojo; after all, his blood was splattered all over the pitiable floor. Though he looked wretched on the outside, he had already recovered thirty to forty percent of his strength in the time it took to eat a full meal. However, adhering to the principle that "less trouble is better than more," he obediently accepted the kindness.
"Genryusai-sensei, then we shall take our leave."
Leading Suō Tsukasa in a bow of farewell, Ukitake Jushiro left the First Division barracks with him.
Outside the First Division gates, Suō Tsukasa pointed in the direction of Sokyoku Hill and asked, "Captain, do you have other business to attend to? I plan to make a detour to a certain place first."
"Tsukasa, where are you going?" Ukitake Jushiro looked confused.
"I'm going to my secret base to recover. Captain, would you like to come and take a look?" Suō Tsukasa replied with some embarrassment.
If possible, Suō Tsukasa didn't want to expose some of his secrets. However, the weakness of his body made him desperately crave the healing of the medical hot spring. He didn't bother making up an excuse and chose to tell the truth.
"Secret base?"
"Alright."
Hearing Suō Tsukasa's answer, Ukitake Jushiro was slightly stunned for a moment before nodding. His face carried a hint of curiosity.
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