"Too… too strong!"
Shihouin Yoruichi's voice trembled slightly as she stared at Aiyan, her golden eyes gleaming with astonishnt.
As the head of the prestigious Shihouin Clan, she had always been proud—proud of her unmatched talent in Shunpo, her noble heritage, her powerful presence, and her flawless appearance. Sui-Feng once described her as: noble and radiant, yet terrifyingly strong.
Her standards were high. If soone didn't stand out, they wouldn't even enter her field of vision. Even soone like Byakuya Kuchiki, despite being her childhood companion and heir to another noble clan, only barely passed that line.
But with Aiyan—it was different.
The more ti she spent with him, the more she felt sothing strange.
He wasn't just strong. He wasn't just refined.
He felt… higher.
More noble than the nobles. More composed than the composed. His presence made her feel like the commoner in the room.
What's this feeling…?
"This is his power..." she murmured.
He's co this far already.
"Can I even catch up?" Byakuya Kuchiki clenched his fists quietly beneath his sleeves, a rare flicker of frustration flashing in his eyes.
After witnessing Aiyan cast Hadō #78: Zangerin—without a chant, and unleashing power rivaling a captain-level Shinigami, he was shaken to his core.
Years of training, of discipline and legacy—it suddenly all felt hollow.
Like he'd spent years barking up the wrong tree.
"Monster…"
"Only three days… We're still struggling with Hadō #10…"
"…and he's already casting advanced Kidō without chanting."
The murmurs from the surrounding students grew louder.
"He's from Rukongai too! Just like us!"
"Then why is the gap so huge?"
"With that level of Kidō, even most lieutenants can't compare!"
Even those from other classes—students not even in the sa division—were shaken by what they saw. If Aiyan had co from a noble house and trained since birth, maybe they could have accepted it.
But he ca from the sa place they did. And still… in just three days, he was already standing on a different level.
"Teacher Isshin, what do you think?"
Aiyan ignored the awestruck whispers as he walked calmly up to Shiba Isshin.
"The Kidō pile seems expensive. After I beco a captain, I'll treat you to dinner."
Isshin stared at him for a long second, then suddenly grinned and gave a hearty laugh.
"You'd better!"
"But hey, don't get cocky just yet."
He raised his hand with a serious expression.
"You've proven your skill in Kidō, Zanjutsu, and even Reiatsu. That's impressive. But what about Hakuda and Shunpo? You haven't touched those yet."
Before Aiyan could reply, Yoruichi stepped in, patting her chest confidently.
"Leave that to . If it's Shunpo, I'm the best there is."
"I'll teach you personally. I'll make sure even Hirako Shinji can't catch up."
She bead brightly, confidence oozing from her.
Shiba Isshin raised an eyebrow.
"Demon Cat, don't tell you plan to teach him the clan's secret techniques?" Byakuya Kuchiki stepped forward, frowning. "That's going too far."
"Why not?" Yoruichi raised a brow. "He's worthy."
Byakuya fell silent.
The Shihouin and Kuchiki families were equals among the Four Noble Houses. Normally, secrets stayed within families. But due to their long history and childhood bond, so exceptions existed. If Yoruichi taught soone their techniques today, the Kuchiki might be expected to offer sothing equal in return.
It wasn't a small deal.
"If your father finds out..." Isshin muttered.
Yoruichi waved him off, smiling without a care. "He'll thank ."
Aiyan, however, shook his head.
"No need, Yoruichi. I'll just attend the normal Shunpo classes."
"After all… the opponent is only Hirako Shinji. Basic techniques will be enough."
To anyone else, those words might've sounded arrogant.
But after witnessing his swordsmanship and Kidō power, no one could question his confidence.
"Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō…"
"In the end, it all cos down to Bankai."
Isshin's tone turned serious again.
"Bankai is the real test. It's the peak of Shinigami power."
He glanced around at the others, then back at Aiyan.
Even the most talented Shinigami from noble families take decades to achieve Bankai. Before Urahara Kisuke invented the training chamber, no one had ever done it faster.
Take Chōjirō Sasakibe. Before he challenged Head Captain Yamamoto, he had already nearly mastered it. He was considered one of the best—and even then, it took a full month of high-pressure training to achieve Bankai.
But you…
You've been here three days.
If you want to reach Bankai within a month, even Ichigo Kurosaki couldn't do that without risking his life.
Isshin spoke the truth. The jump from Shikai to Bankai wasn't linear. It was exponential.
"Bankai is a complete evolution of Zanpakutō. Once attained, Reiatsu multiplies five to ten tis over. Hirako Shinji's Bankai alone could increase his spiritual pressure three to five tis in an instant."
"And that's not counting the ability itself. Most Bankai powers are far stronger than Shikai abilities."
"So… don't get distracted. Talent is one thing. Mastery is another."
But as Isshin finished, sothing happened.
Aiyan paused.
And for the first ti, two familiar voices—his most silent powers—spoke up.
[Ten years?]
[Your Zanpakutō scoffs. "What trash." She says she'll awaken Bankai in three days, and fully master it in half a month.]
[Your Reiatsu follows up. "Level Ten Reiatsu right now. Just give ten days—no, half a month—and I'll reach level eighteen Reiatsu. Simple."]
Aiyan gave Isshin a subtle glance.
This man… He really knows how to stir trouble.
Even his Zanpakutō, usually aloof and cold, couldn't stay quiet.
And his Reiatsu—the most low-key among his powers—also ca out just to flex.
In the past three days, Kidō and Kendo had often spoken, showing off whenever they could.
But Reiatsu? It was silent. Steady. Humble.
Until now.
Now, even it was joining in the boasting.
All because of one sentence from Shiba Isshin.
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