Masatsuki Aozaki nodded and shifted his gaze away from Jūshirō Ukitake.
Looking at Shunsui Kyōraku, as if sothing had just co to mind, he asked directly,
"Master is busy. Do you have ti, Kyōraku-senpai? I rember Master ntioning that you also learned Sōkotsu."
"You an that move..." Shunsui Kyōraku chuckled but then suddenly straightened up and said with complete seriousness, "Actually, I don't know it!"
Masatsuki Aozaki and Jūshirō Ukitake froze at the sa ti.
Ukitake thought back carefully, confirming that his mory wasn't mistaken—Kyōraku had learned Sōkotsu. He turned to look at him in confusion.
"Shunsui, no need to keep secrets from our junior, is there?"
"I'm not hiding anything—I really don't know it," Kyōraku insisted.
"What do you an?" Ukitake still didn't understand.
Kyōraku had studied for years and even passed Yamamoto's tests. How could he suddenly claim he didn't know it?
"Well, to be honest, I never really put much effort into learning it," Kyōraku admitted, lazily waving his hand. "Basic Hakuda was fine, but Ikkotsu and Sōkotsu were way too much work. So I just practiced the stances, faked my way through it, and tricked the old man into thinking I'd learned it."
"...You faked it?" Masatsuki asked, skeptical.
Kyōraku instinctively glanced toward the dojo, as if checking whether Yamamoto had co out, before lowering his voice.
"The Hakuda test back then was completely different from how it is now. Back then, they used props reinforced with Kidō. So, I... modified them a little in advance, and well..."
"..."
Ukitake stared at him in stunned silence, his expression quickly darkening with frustration.
I worked so hard just to try to learn this, and you—because you were too lazy—cheated your way through it?!
Kyōraku, feeling the weight of Ukitake's glare, scratched his head awkwardly before flashing a sheepish grin.
"Well, I may not have learned it, but I still rember so of the theory. Oh, and I've got a few bottles of excellent sake stored at a bar in the First District of West Rukongai."
"How about this? We drink while we talk. It's close to the academy, so after we're done, our dear junior here can head back and rest."
"Or we could go to the 8th Division instead. I've got plenty of good sake hidden in my room, and Lisa's got so interesting things in her collection that I'm sure you'd enjoy."
"Our 8th Division is way safer than the Shin'ō Academy. If you get tired, you can just crash there—no need to worry about anything."
Ukitake imdiately waved his hand, firmly rejecting the idea.
"No way. If you practice Hakuda the wrong way, it'll definitely cause long-term damage to your body."
"The reason the academy doesn't teach the Captain-Commander's Hakuda techniques is because they're not suited for everyone. Without enough talent, training improperly will cause serious injuries. That's why it was never incorporated into the academy's curriculum."
"Don't lead our junior astray. Let him go back and rest. He can learn properly from the teacher next ti."
Kyōraku let out a long sigh.
"Well, if that's the case, then there's nothing I can do. But if Masatsuki ever wants to co to the 8th Division, he's welco anyti."
With that, the two bid farewell to Masatsuki Aozaki and walked off down the corridor.
...
"In that case, why don't you co to my house?"
Hearing the voice, Masatsuki Aozaki looked up at the ceiling.
A short-haired girl leaped down from above.
"You've been waiting for ?" Masatsuki asked thoughtfully.
"That's right," Yoruichi Shihōin admitted casually. "I didn't have anything better to do, so I wandered around the 1st Division while waiting for you to finish class."
Masatsuki frowned. "Why were you waiting for ? Do you want to spar again?"
Yoruichi sighed. "Do I always have to be looking for you just to spar? This is sothing that benefits both of us."
Seeing her serious expression, Masatsuki felt a slight pang of emotion. Maybe, for once, this wasn't just one of her usual pranks.
"To be honest, don't you think it's a hassle to rely on dicine and Kaidō every ti you get injured during training?" Yoruichi continued.
Masatsuki scratched his head. "So, do you have a better idea?"
He recalled Yoruichi's underground training ground from the original story. If it was the sa as he rembered, there should be a recovery hot spring down there.
That hot spring was a replica created by Kisuke Urahara, modeled after Tenjirō Kirinji, a Zero Division mber, designed to speed up healing.
Kirinji Tenshirō, a forr Gotei 13 Shinigami, had been promoted to the Royal Guard for his contributions to Kaidō and the invention of dical hot springs.
His two creations—White Bone Hell and Blood Pond Hell—had distinct functions: the forr drained Reiatsu and blood, while the latter replenished them.
But despite Kisuke claiming he would build a similar hot spring, it had been half a year, and Masatsuki hadn't seen a single trace of it.
"This place is too crowded, not the best spot to talk about this," Yoruichi said, enunciating each word carefully. "Let's go to the Shihōin estate. That's my turf. We'll find a quiet place where no one will disturb us, and I'll explain everything properly."
Masatsuki fell silent. He didn't need to think too hard to know this would be a troubleso matter.
"If you want to improve your training, the first thing you need to solve is your injury recovery," Yoruichi added enticingly.
...
As they left the 1st Division grounds, Yoruichi dropped her casual stroll and, without warning, wrapped an arm around Masatsuki's waist.
Masatsuki hesitated for a mont but ultimately chose not to resist.
In the blink of an eye, the two of them vanished from the barracks, leaving the guards none the wiser.
Pressed against her soft embrace, the scent of her hair lingered at his nose. His arm rested against sothing undeniably plush, and if he lowered his head just a bit, he could brush against her hair.
"We're here."
In what felt like an instant, they arrived at the Shihōin estate. Yoruichi took a deep breath before finally releasing him.
"This is the Shihōin Clan's estate. What do you think? Not bad, huh?"
As they walked through the grand entrance, a sprawling Japanese-style courtyard stretched endlessly before them.
Masatsuki couldn't help but think back to his past life in the World of the Living.
His family had been both a martial arts household and a minor noble clan, but compared to the sheer extravagance of the Shihōin estate, his upbringing seed almost humble.
Masatsuki sighed dramatically. "This is criminal. The hard work of the common people, all squandered by you aristocrats."
"What's even worse is that I don't have any of this!"
Yoruichi rolled her eyes and let out a sharp "Tch."
For a brief mont, she had thought Masatsuki resented nobles because he was from Rukongai.
But now, as she gave it a second thought, she realized sothing.
Masatsuki might not be a noble, but his lifestyle wasn't all that different from a minor aristocrat's. He was definitely not soone who enjoyed living in hardship.
He was always the one telling Yoruichi, "You have to learn to enjoy life."
Whenever he wasn't training, he indulged in food, drink, and entertainnt, never willing to let himself suffer.
Watching him shake his head at her estate's grandeur, muttering, "The old order has fallen, and the new sky shall rise," Yoruichi's eyebrows twitched as an idea struck her.
"You want to beco a noble, enjoy wealth and luxury, and live a life of excess? I might just have a way for you to do that."
Masatsuki's eyes lit up. "What way?"
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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