In Yuhua Town, inside the unfinished building.
"Whew~"
Little Ginjo Kugo was out of breath, supporting a Zanpakuto almost as tall as himself with both hands, large beads of sweat constantly rolling down his forehead.
"Not bad, I didn't expect that in just five days, you could last for over thirty breaths."
Ito Makoto looked at the Little Ginjo in front of him, not sparing any words of praise.
Ito Makoto indeed hadn't expected that Ginjō Kūgo, at only seven years old, who was initially afraid to draw his sword, could now last for over thirty breaths under his pursuit after just a few days!
He could only say that he truly lived up to being the first Soul Reaper Agent; he could almost be called a natural prodigy.
"If he were born in Soul Society, he would probably have the potential to be a Captain!"
Looking at the little boy in front of him, who was panting heavily while leaning on his sword, Ito Makoto couldn't help but sigh.
After about ten minutes, once Ginjō Kūgo's breathing gradually stabilized, Ito Makoto chuckled lightly:
"You've passed the first special training. Next is the second!"
Ito Makoto unhesitatingly drew the Zanpakuto from his waist, standing tall with the sword in his right hand.
Ginjō Kūgo looked at the cold glinting blade in Ito Makoto's hand, and a bad premonition immediately surged in his heart!
"Se...second?"
Little Ginjo slowly spoke, looking at Ito Makoto's sword-wielding hand and couldn't help but swallow!
"I don't think that's necessary, is it?"
"Makoto-Nii!"
The little boy's timid voice came through.
Upon hearing this, Ito Makoto scoffed:
"Not necessary? I hope you tell that to a Hollow when it's chasing you!"
"Bang!"
Ito Makoto paid no attention to this, directly swinging forward with the back of his blade.
With just this one strike, Ginjō Kūgo was directly sent flying, crashing against the wall behind him. The heavy force of the blade's back hitting his chest made his throat sweet.
Traces of blood oozed from the corner of his mouth, and only then did Ginjō Kūgo realize that his Makoto-Nii was truly not joking with him.
"Cough, cough, that hurts!"
"Ah ah ah!!!"
Ginjō Kūgo coughed up blood foam while squatting on the ground and crying loudly. He truly didn't understand why his Makoto-Nii, who had always been so gentle with him, would be so fierce.
Watching the seven-year-old Little Ginjo break down and cry, Ito Makoto's heart showed no ripple. Years of continuous slaughter and devouring in Hueco Mundo had tempered his heart to be as solid and cold as ten thousand years of ice.
Ito Makoto merely smiled coldly at the little boy's crying and fussing:
"Get up, pick up your sword and fight me. Next time, I will use the blade!"
Before Ginjō Kūgo could object, Ito Makoto directly swung his sword with one hand. Seeing the extremely fast blade light about to sever his foot in the next instant, the little boy only then retracted his foot at the crucial moment.
Facing Ito Makoto's impending attack, Ginjō Kūgo couldn't bother wiping away the tears on his face; he could only draw the Zanpakuto, which was almost as tall as he was, and desperately block.
"Clang!"
The result was predictable; after clashing with Ito Makoto once, Ginjō Kūgo was once again sent flying backwards.
However, seeing this, Ito Makoto did not scold him. Instead, a barely noticeable smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Clearly, his 'battle' with Ginjō Kūgo was a mere formality; otherwise, with his strength at the Vice-Captain level, a seven-year-old child would have no chance of blocking a single strike.
Only after Ginjō Kūgo stood up again and steadied himself did he swing his second sword.
"Hold your sword tightly, and watch carefully how I draw my sword!"
Ito Makoto taught Ginjō Kūgo how to use the sword while striking.
And Ginjō Kūgo was also very determined; although tears still flowed uncontrollably down his face, he could still firmly grip the sword as tall as himself, desperately resisting Ito Makoto's successive strikes.
Ito Makoto, meanwhile, gradually increased the intensity for Ginjō Kūgo.
Each subsequent strike was faster and stronger than the last.
And Ginjō Kūgo was also trying his best to parry. It must be said that this kind of brutal training was indeed very excessive for a seven-year-old child.
However, Ito Makoto had no choice. Once Ito Makoto returned to Soul Society, Ginjō Kūgo, without self-defense capabilities, would be a perfect tonic for any Hollow!
Fortunately, Ginjō Kūgo was also very sensible. Although he cried and fussed at first, he quickly got into the rhythm after some 'torment' from Ito Makoto.
"Clang!"
After barely fending off Ito Makoto's lenient strike, Ginjō Kūgo immediately burst into a smile through his tears:
"Makoto-Nii, I caught it!"
Seeing Little Ginjo catch the sword, Ito Makoto's lips curved slightly. He then immediately held his sword horizontally, and a powerful sword pressure directly sent him flying back again.
"Good, worthy of praise!"
At the same time, Ito Makoto also praised him.
Thus, after a period of intense special training, Ito Makoto only returned Ginjō Kūgo's soul to his body and himself to his Gigai once Ginjō Kūgo was completely exhausted.
In this way, the two left the unfinished building that served as their temporary training ground.
Ito Makoto first took Little Ginjo to eat his favorite beef burger from Okamoto's.
Then the two walked aimlessly down the bustling street.
"Hey, kid, hurry up. You have class first thing tomorrow morning!"
Looking at Ginjō Kūgo, who kept stopping and starting, Ito Makoto urged him repeatedly.
Upon closer inspection, he found Ginjō Kūgo standing in front of a jewelry store, staring intently at a exquisite silver cross displayed in the glass counter.
"I say, kid, what are you looking at…"
Ito Makoto followed Ginjō Kūgo's gaze and also saw the silver cross displayed on the counter.
The moment he saw this item, Ito Makoto remembered that this was the medium through which Ginjō Kūgo used his Fullbring in the original story.
Turning his head, he saw the longing in Ginjō Kūgo's eyes, and Ito Makoto sighed:
"I can't do anything with you. Why do I feel like I'm raising a son!"
And so, he walked straight into the jewelry store.
"Miss, how much is that cross on the counter?"
The young female shop assistant, dressed in black workwear and thin black stockings, saw that Ito Makoto intended to buy the silver cross pendant and immediately smiled faintly:
"Sir, you have excellent taste. This is a unique item in our store; this is the last one. Since you truly want it, I'll charge you…"
Finally, after some bargaining by Ito Makoto, he bought the silver cross pendant with the remaining bit of his pre-paid salary.
"I can't stand it. For the next half-month, neither of us will be able to eat beef burgers!"
Ito Makoto walked out of the jewelry store, handed the cross pendant in his hand to Ginjō Kūgo, and kept muttering.
"Thank you, Makoto-Nii!"
Ginjō Kūgo joyfully took the cross pendant, thanked Ito Makoto solemnly, and then happily put the cross pendant around his neck.
Looking at the extremely excited Ginjō Kūgo, Ito Makoto was also infected by his joy and started to laugh.
"He's still just a child after all!"
Suddenly, Ito Makoto came to his senses, and his expression abruptly changed!
"Something's not right…"
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 30 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[pat*eon*com/DaoistRoeoNQ]
Thank you so much for your support!!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"