(T/N: Hello!! This is the first Chapter of the day! If you like the novel, don’t forget dropping Power Stones!! That will be greatly appreciated!!)
Katori Nanatsuki thought he was going to have a wonderful sumr vacation.
He imagined leisurely guiding his disciples, or maybe even taking them to the back mountain for a picnic and so fun.
But that pleasant vision was shattered by the old man at the gate.
"Captain-Commander Yamamoto, visiting our humble Dojo, what an honor indeed!" Nanatsuki glanced at the figures standing behind Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto: Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō. He had a bad feeling about this.
All three of them weren’t wearing their Captain’s Haori, or even the standard Shinigami uniform, they were dressed like ordinary civilians.
Nanatsuki shot a questioning look at Kyōraku Shunsui, who returned a aningful glance that seed to say, You’ll find out soon enough.
With no other choice, Nanatsuki ushered them into the Katori-ryu Dojo.
"It’s been several hundred years since I last ca here," Yamamoto said as he stepped into the dojo, a nostalgic sigh escaping him. "The last ti must’ve been when I ca to ask Katori Batsu’unsai to serve as the first Captain of Squad Eight."
These days, there were only three original captains still active in the Soul Society.
"But this place is much livelier than the last ti I was here," Yamamoto said, standing near the courtyard wall and watching the disciples train. He nodded slightly. "Looks like you really do have a talent for teaching. These disciples are impressive."
Just then, Katori Batsu’unsai erged from the house. She was visibly surprised to see the three n standing beside Nanatsuki.
"Captain-Commander Yamamoto, Captain Kyōraku, Captain Ukitake—what brings you here?"
"I ca to discuss sothing," Yamamoto replied.
Shiba Isshin noticed the commotion. At first, he didn’t pay much attention to the unremarkable old man—but when he got a good look at his face, he realized who it was.
"Captain-Commander Yamamoto!"
"You’re a Shiba boy, aren’t you? Didn’t expect to see you practicing swordsmanship at the Katori dojo." Yamamoto thought back, vaguely rembering him from the Shiba Clan.
"Yes, sir. Katori-sensei’s swordsmanship is way more advanced than what we learn in the Shiba household!" Isshin declared.
"Katori-ryu swordsmanship is indeed extraordinary," Yamamoto said with a nod.
Nearby, Aizen Sōsuke had long since turned his attention to the three n standing beside his teacher.
He hadn’t seen them before, nor could he sense any hidden Reiatsu from them. But their presence was imposing—it was clear they were not ordinary n.
Now that he knew this old man was Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, the strongest captain in the Soul Society, he began to observe him more carefully—silently comparing him to his own teacher.
’I wonder if sensei could defeat Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.’ Aizen pondered.
"I won’t disturb their training—take us inside," Yamamoto said, turning to Nanatsuki.
"This way, please. Let’s go to the tea room," Nanatsuki nodded, leading the trio there.
Once seated, Nanatsuki poured tea for all three of them.
After taking a sip, Yamamoto began, "I wonder if you’re aware of a tradition at the ’Genryū’ dojo?"
Nanatsuki and Batsu’unsai looked at each other, clearly puzzled.
"I’m afraid not," they said.
Unbothered, Yamamoto continued, "Back when I taught at the Genryū dojo, I had a practice of taking disciples on training journeys every so often."
"Training journeys?" Nanatsuki asked. "You an visiting other dojos and exchanging sword techniques?"
Yamamoto nodded slowly. "That was part of it. But aside from dojos, there were also many renowned fighters out in the world who were worth visiting."
Batsu’unsai suddenly understood. "Ah, so it’s that. Now that you ntion it, I do rember seeing you bring Genryū disciples over for exchanges."
"Yes," Yamamoto reminisced. "Back then, your father was still around."
After a brief pause, he continued, "Even after the Genryū dojo was restructured into the Shin’o Spiritual Arts Academy, I kept up the habit of ’training journeys’—though I no longer led the academy students myself."
"These journeys give you a chance to see things that captains normally miss in the Soul Society."
Nanatsuki understood—this was basically the Soul Society’s version of traveling incognito.
As a captain, relying solely on reports from subordinates could easily create an information bubble.
With a smile, Nanatsuki asked, "So are Captain-Commander Yamamoto, Captain Kyōraku, and Captain Ukitake off on one of these undercover training journeys?"
Yamamoto nodded. "Every few decades, I go on one of these trips to observe the state of the Soul Society firsthand."
For long-lived Shinigami, ti passed differently. And for soone of Yamamoto’s age, "every so often" could an several decades.
He continued, "Now that it’s sumr break and you don’t have classes at the academy, I thought I’d invite you along for this training journey."
"You’re bound to beco a captain one day. Before that happens, it’s important you get a deeper understanding of the Soul Society."
Yamamoto felt he had sothing of a teacher-student bond with Katori Nanatsuki. Since he would certainly beco a captain in the future, it was only fitting to invite him along.
Nanatsuki was stunned—he hadn’t expected Yamamoto’s visit to be an invitation to join this journey.
The academy was on sumr break, and his dojo disciples weren’t total newbies. They didn’t need constant supervision, so he did have ti to join Yamamoto, Kyōraku, and Ukitake on the journey.
"If Captain-Commander Yamamoto is inviting , then I’d be honored."
After a mont’s thought, Nanatsuki accepted.
After all, being invited personally by Yamamoto was a sign of respect. Refusing might offend the old man.
He went to his room and began preparing. He took off his instructor’s Haori and Shinigami uniform, changing into civilian clothes. He also packed a cloth travel backpack—one that had a Reishi storage space inside, capable of holding many items.
Once packed, he went to arrange training plans for his disciples:
"Isane, Sōya, Lisa—you’ve all built solid foundations. You need to keep practicing the ’Shun Strike’ I taught you. Make it reflex-level instinct. The striking thod of Shun Strike is the very basis of Katori-ryu swordsmanship."
"Yes, sensei!" ×3
Nanatsuki continued, "Isshin, I hope I co back to find that you’ve mastered ’Shunpo Iaido’."
"Sosuke, I’m not worried about your training. Just manage yourself—but keep an eye on Isshin for . That kid’s bound to slack off while I’m away. If you have ti, help guide Isane, Sōya, and Lisa in both swordsmanship and Kidō."
"Don’t worry, sensei. I’ll keep watch over them." Aizen Sōsuke nodded lightly.
"Sensei, are you going far?" Shiba Isshin cried out. "I want to go too!"
"Get back to training! You’re the laziest one here. Even Lisa, who joined after you, is about to catch up to your progress!"
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