Bleach: Watch Closely, This Is How You Use a Zanpakutō

Midnight.

The protective barrier around the training ground flickered at steady intervals, a sign that it was functioning normally.

The air was still, the silence broken only by the occasional clash of blades.

Masatsuki Aozaki stood atop a massive boulder, gripping Banshō Senran in one hand, his breath ragged.

Opposite him, Yoruichi Shihōin wielded a short sword, her stance relaxed and effortless.

Kisuke Urahara lay sprawled out in a spot with a good view, lazily watching the fight unfold.

The rhythmic clashes of swords rang out like a fast-paced melody, growing more rapid as the battle intensified. Shadows blurred together, flickering in and out of sight—until one of them landed a direct hit.

A palm strike to the abdomen sent Masatsuki flying several meters before he crashed onto the ground. The surge of Reiatsu from the impact ruffled Kisuke's short blond hair.

"…I lost."

As shadows veiled his face, Masatsuki found himself staring up at Yoruichi. The vibrant, short-haired woman stood over him, flashing a triumphant, energetic grin.

Seeing the look of satisfaction on her face, he didn't feel discouraged in the slightest.

After all, this was expected.

She might look young, but in reality, she was over a hundred years old—a true captain-level combatant. Meanwhile, he was just a Shin'ō Academy student ranked at Fifth-Class Reiatsu Power. There was no comparison.

"Masatsuki, you've got a long way to go."

Yoruichi reached out and pulled him to his feet, leading him toward Kisuke.

The two of them strolled through the rocky terrain, undisturbed by the wind, dust settling softly around them.

"You hit way too hard. For a second there, I thought I was gonna die." Masatsuki winced, clutching his stomach. "Damn… that hurts. Go easy next time."

"I was going easy. Otherwise, you wouldn't just be lying on the ground for a few minutes."

Yoruichi grinned, casually draping Masatsuki's arm over her shoulder.

"You're too fragile. That barely counts as an injury."

"See that guy over there slacking off? He sparred with me once and ended up bedridden for three days. But look at him now—good as new."

"No wonder he refuses to fight you," Masatsuki muttered, sighing. "I'm starting to regret this."

"You can't regret it, Masatsuki-kun. I worked hard to get out of it, you know."

Kisuke, having somehow acquired a folding fan, fanned himself leisurely as he watched the scene unfold, completely at ease.

Masatsuki shot him an unimpressed look, while Yoruichi clicked her tongue in annoyance before smacking Kisuke over the head. A faint wisp of smoke curled up from the impact.

"Enough nonsense. Hand over those pills you made."

"Alright, alright, no need to get violent…" Kisuke muttered, pulling a small pill bottle from inside his robes and tossing it to Masatsuki.

"Take one every hour. It'll help speed up your recovery."

Masatsuki took one pill and swallowed it, feeling the pain gradually fade.

Kisuke, meanwhile, rubbed his chin, deep in thought.

From the moment he learned of Masatsuki's background, one question had been nagging at him.

A student from Shin'ō Academy… but before that, he had been surviving in Rukongai's sixtieth district—a place most never climbed out of. Yet, somehow, he not only established himself there but thrived.

Then, on his first day at the academy, he shot to fame, quickly becoming its greatest prodigy in history.

He had already built strong ties with two captains and was now getting close to Yoruichi as well.

Someone like that… how could he be so naïve?

Kisuke's expression darkened slightly.

No matter how he looked at it, this guy was full of mysteries. And anyone who got too involved with him was bound to be dragged into something troublesome.

His gaze drifted to Masatsuki, who was now chatting and laughing with Yoruichi, seemingly carefree.

…Forget it.

Yoruichi had brought him here, after all. He'd keep watching for now, but if things got dangerous, he'd make sure to stay far, far away.

With that decision made, Kisuke let out a quiet chuckle, feeling oddly relieved.

But just then, an unsettling feeling crept up his spine.

Masatsuki suddenly turned to look at him, holding out the pill bottle.

At that moment, a realization struck him.

Masatsuki had just remembered something—Kisuke's talents.

The man wasn't just the creator of the Hōgyoku.

He was capable of far more than that.

Wasting his skills solely on making the Hōgyoku? That would be a terrible waste. He could be put to much better use.

A chill ran through Kisuke's body.

Masatsuki's gaze held something indescribable—an intent that sent an unsettling emptiness through him.

…Like he had just lost something precious.

And he didn't even realize yet that he was slowly being pulled further and further away from his beloved lazy, carefree life.

"Alright, Masatsuki, let's go."

Yoruichi clapped him on the shoulder, pulling him along.

"Don't forget why we came here in the first place."

…

In the Zanjutsu Dojo, Masatsuki Aozaki repeated, word for word, the key points that Captain-Commander Yamamoto had explained to him two days ago.

Hearing Yamamoto's explanation of sword pressure, Yoruichi Shihōin's expression turned thoughtful.

After a moment, she nodded. "As expected of Captain-Commander Yamamoto. His teaching of sword pressure is incredibly detailed—there were even some nuances I had overlooked."

"This technique is crucial for Shinigami who haven't awakened their Zanpakutō, those whose Zanpakutō specialize in direct attacks, or those who lack offensive capabilities."

"Before I developed Shunkō, this was my go-to combat technique as well."

Masatsuki feigned curiosity. "Shunkō? What kind of ability is that?"

Yoruichi hesitated, debating whether to reveal the truth. But after a moment of consideration, she saw the sincerity in Masatsuki's expression and finally answered.

"It's a combat technique I created. My Zanpakutō isn't suited for battle, so I combined Hakuda and Kidō to develop this secret art."

"To train in this technique, you need to master both Kidō and Hakuda. If you ever get the chance in the future, I'll teach you."

"But for now, you're not ready. Don't get ahead of yourself—focus on refining your sword pressure first. The Captain-Commander's fists are not something you want to experience firsthand."

Masatsuki nodded, saying nothing more.

"Not ready yet," huh…

Hearing those words, he let out a quiet sigh. There was a tinge of disappointment, but also a sense of relief.

He hadn't been training in these arts for long. He had made steady progress, excelling in many areas, but compared to the true masters of these disciplines, he still had a long way to go.

"…Did I come down too hard on him?"

Yoruichi glanced at him, catching the hint of disappointment on his face.

She watched him for a moment, her gaze slowly losing focus, her thoughts drifting.

If Masatsuki had looked up just then, he would have seen that Yoruichi's attention was completely fixed on him.

But he didn't dwell on the thought of being "inadequate" for long. He didn't want his emotions affecting those around him. So, instead, he smiled.

"The Captain-Commander did say I need more time to develop. I'll keep working at it. Let's continue training sword pressure."

Yoruichi blinked, momentarily caught off guard.

"…You really had me worried for a second. I thought a single sentence had completely crushed you. If the Captain-Commander found out that I broke his prized student with just a few words, he'd probably come after me."

For a brief moment, an unfamiliar emotion flickered within her—a faint sense of pity. But it quickly shattered.

She shook her head, her smile turning into something between exasperation and amusement. After taking a moment to regain her composure, she chuckled.

"But you are a natural when it comes to training. Even without all that raw talent, I doubt you'd ever fall behind."

(40 Chapters Ahead)

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