Yoriichi Tsugikuni reborn in the soul society

"Third… Third Grade!"

"Quickly, report to Lieutenant Aizen!"

Snapping out of his stupor, the Shinigami rubbed his eyes vigorously, and only after confirming repeatedly that the readings were accurate did he shout to his colleague beside him.

"No, that's not right. We must inform Captain-Commander Yamamoto as well."

Third Grade… What did this signify?

A natural-born captain.

With proper nurturing.

Who knew? He might even ascend to the position of Captain-Commander.

It was known that the current Captain-Commander was the strongest Shinigami of the past thousand years, and even his disciples had only achieved Fourth Grade on their entrance exams.

Now they exhibited first-grade spiritual power.

They served as captains of the 8th and 13th Divisions, respectively.

His status was unparalleled.

He was an existence that most Shinigami would never encounter in their entire lives.

By the same logic.

This wandering soul named Tsugikuni Yoriichi might follow a similar path.

No wonder they were losing their composure.

______________

Aizen, with his brown hair, Lieutenant's armband on his sleeve, wearing a black Shihakusho, and a gentle smile on his face, quickly approached and escorted Yoriichi Tsugikuni away from the training grounds.

(TN: A vice captain is still a lieutenant.)

Observing this, the other Shinigami present couldn't help but express their envy.

However…

Aizen's inner thoughts were vastly different from theirs.

He felt a sense of unease.

'Third Grade Spiritual Power…'

'This is problematic…'

He adjusted his glasses, a strange glint flickering in his otherwise calm and composed eyes. Standing before Yoriichi, his mind raced.

Aizen had initially intended to cultivate a loyal subordinate, and with this goal in mind, he had set his sights on Ichimaru Gin, who was also participating in the entrance exam.

He had observed the child named Gin Ichimaru.

His forbearance.

His silence.

His cleverness.

His understanding of when to speak and when to remain silent made him an ideal candidate for an adjutant.

However, he had been caught off guard by the sudden appearance of Yoriichi Tsugikuni.

After a brief interaction, Aizen realized that Yoriichi's personality was remarkably similar to Gin Ichimaru's.

Thus, Aizen found himself in a dilemma.

Comparing them side by side.

Tsugikuni Yoriichi was undoubtedly the more suitable candidate, but unfortunately, his exceptional talent made him too conspicuous, and Captain-Commander Yamamoto would certainly not let him slip through his fingers.

If he had exhibited fourth-grade spiritual power, it would have been acceptable.

The potential upper limit would likely be first or even second grade. Even if Captain-Commander Yamamoto noticed him, he wouldn't pay much attention.

But…

Why Third Grade?

A slight miscalculation had cost him a promising subordinate.

This left Aizen with a sense of regret.

With these thoughts lingering in his mind, he escorted Tsugikuni Yoriichi to a pristine white structure resembling a palace, both magnificent and imposing.

Within the center of the structure sat an elderly man, his upper torso bare.

His body was covered in numerous, prominent scars, some of which stretched across his entire chest.

Yoriichi glanced at him and was immediately filled with awe.

'This is an elder of immense power.'

As this thought crossed his mind, the old man spoke slowly:

"You have arrived."

"Aizen. You may withdraw."

"Allow me to speak with him."

"Yes." Aizen bowed his head and turned to depart.

Once they were alone, Captain Commander Yamamoto fixed Yoriichi with a penetrating gaze, his voice as resonant as a lion's roar: "I have reviewed your records."

"Impressive."

"However…"

"You possess skill with a blade?"

"According to the reports, you defeated a Gillian-class Hollow with a wooden sword shortly after your arrival in the Soul Society."

"While a Gillian is the weakest of the Hollow classifications, they are still formidable opponents for most Shinigami."

"You likely had not yet mastered the manipulation of Reiryoku at that time."

"Were you a master swordsman in your previous life?"

"…."

Yoriichi nodded slightly.

However…

"I would not call myself a master."

"I simply wielded the sword instinctively."

"That Hollow possessed many weaknesses. It was far inferior to the adversaries I faced in my lifetime."

"Is that so?" Yamamoto frowned, sensing a discrepancy in the boy's words, though he could not pinpoint its exact nature.

He could not decipher the truth.

After a moment of contemplation, he decided to set aside further inquiry, stretched his limbs, and declared, "In that case, let us engage in a spar."

"Allow me to witness your true swordsmanship."

"For one with third-grade Reiryoku to simply enroll would be a disservice. The instructors at the academy could teach you nothing."

"It would only hinder your development."

Yamamoto Shigekuni was a man of stern demeanor, his physique as solid as granite, each muscle clearly defined.

He looked at Yoriichi Tsugikuni and tossed a katana before him.

"Come!"

A sharp glint of steel entered Yoriichi's vision, and he caught the blade.

The atmosphere grew heavy as Tsugikuni Yoriichi accepted the challenge.

In an instant, the spar began.

Yamamoto Shigekuni vanished from his position, and a powerful sense of danger surged through Yoriichi.

Reflected within the Transparent World was the image of Yamamoto Shigekuni drawing his zanpakuto and unleashing a strike.

The force behind the blow was immense, the blade tracing a path like a soaring dragon.

Yoriichi instinctively raised his own blade.

Clang!

He drew his Zanpakuto and swung it upwards, narrowly avoiding Yoriichi's body.

The wind pressure generated by the blade's passage ruffled the stray hairs on Yoriichi's forehead. 

Yoriichi focused his gaze and, seizing the moment Yamamoto Shigekuni adjusted his stance, thrust his blade with full force towards his opponent's waist!

A ring of illusory, ripple-like flames erupted from the tip of the katana.

This was an application of kinetic energy, channeled through his unique breathing technique.

—"Sun Breathing, Seventh Form: Sunflower Thrust!"

The thrust was as swift as lightning, and in the instant the flames bloomed, Yamamoto had already regained his balance.

Facing the incoming attack, he pressed the hilt of his Zanpakuto downward with his backhand.

Though the wooden hilt splintered upon contact with Yoriichi's blade, the sudden impact diverted the trajectory of the thrust.

At the crucial moment, it grazed past Yamamoto's side. Seeing this opening, Yoriichi executed a horizontal slash, and a circular arc of flames once again appeared before Yamamoto Shigekuni's eyes.

'Such peculiar swordsmanship.'

Yamamoto considered himself knowledgeable in all forms of combat, yet he had never witnessed swordsmanship like Yoriichi's, imbued with such unique effects.

Fire should be an ability derived from a Zanpakuto's Shikai.

He raised his zanpakuto and delivered a powerful counter-strike to deflect Yoriichi's "Sunflower Thrust," and the exchange continued.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Instantly, a series of deafening clashes, like metal grinding against stone, echoed through the empty training hall, the resulting sparks resembling streaks of orange-red lightning.

The reverberations in the air vibrated in their ears, as if they were in the heart of a raging storm.

Simply hearing the sounds was enough to convey the intensity of the battle.

As this was a test of pure swordsmanship, Yamamoto refrained from utilizing his zanpakuto's shikai.

Therefore, due to Yoriichi's exceptional dynamic vision and honed instincts, the two were relatively evenly matched.

However...

During the course of the spar, Yoriichi realized he could not breach Yamamoto Shigekuni's defenses.

Each time his blade came within a hair's breadth of making contact, it would be abruptly halted just centimeters away, unable to penetrate further.

Witnessing this, Yoriichi immediately understood he had no chance of victory.

But he was not discouraged. Instead, he focused intently on the present confrontation, immersing himself fully in the exchange.

Until, after a prolonged period.

The katana in Yamamoto's hand was completely fractured, forcing him to channel his Reiryoku and intercept Yoriichi's final strike with his bare hand, bringing the spar to a close.

Upon closer inspection, the katana was riddled with cracks, resembling a honeycomb.

Yamamoto crushed the remnants casually in his hand, puffed out his chest, and declared, "Excellent! You are indeed a master swordsman."

"I acknowledge your skill."

"While your control of Reiryoku is still nascent, it can be honed through training."

"As for Zanjutsu, I will consider you a graduate in that discipline. As for Hakuda, that would be a waste of your time. You'll have to wait."

"Regarding Hoho and Kidō..."

"You will receive instruction in those two disciplines from the Second Division Lieutenant, Ōmaeda Marechiyo, and the Vice-Captain of the Kidō Corps, Arishoda Hachigen."

"They are both experts in their respective fields."

"I eagerly anticipate the day you shine in the Soul Society."

He paused briefly, as if considering whether he had omitted anything. Then he gestured forward with his hand:

"If you have no further inquiries, you may depart."

"After the academy begins, remember to retrieve your Asauchi. For a Shinigami, their Zanpakuto and Reiryoku are paramount."

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