Rumble!!
Crushed rocks tumbled down one after another, kicking up a massive cloud of dust.
Masatsuki Aozaki, lightning crackling around his feet, lightly pushed off the ground, dodging a lightning-coated hand strike. He chuckled,
"So, these are the 'stronger moves' you were talking about?"
Yoruichi Shihōin, standing before him, suddenly lowered her head.
Seeing her shoulders tremble slightly, Masatsuki Aozaki thought, Uh… don't tell me she's actually mad?
Just as he was about to offer some half-hearted words of comfort, Yoruichi abruptly lifted her head, a wicked grin spreading across her face.
"You've improved fast, kid—but I'm not giving up. Today, I'm going to make sure you understand just how strong your captain really is!"
Guess I was overthinking it… Masatsuki Aozaki sighed inwardly before saying, "I already picked up that hand strike of yours. Got anything else?"
Yoruichi immediately clenched her fists.
"Don't get cocky. Palm Thunder is just a little trick I use for trimming hedges. I haven't even shown you my real trump card yet."
She developed a technique just for gardening? What happened to all the Shihōin servants?
Masatsuki Aozaki clearly didn't believe her.
Even stubbornness should have its limits.
Shaking his head, he smirked. "A trump card, huh? Then hurry up and show me. I'd love to learn it."
Yoruichi hesitated for a moment before shaking her head.
Masatsuki Aozaki exaggerated a dramatic sigh. "Holding back on me? That hurts, you know." He grinned shamelessly.
He knew Yoruichi wouldn't hesitate during a fight.
He was certain she had no hidden techniques—just a lot of pride.
Crossing her arms, Yoruichi huffed, "I haven't fully mastered it yet. I don't want to accidentally hurt you. You should be grateful. If I were you, I'd just surrender."
Her serious expression made Masatsuki Aozaki pause.
For a moment, he wasn't sure if she was bluffing.
"You really have a trump card? Then hurry up and show me." He narrowed his eyes.
"Or… do you not believe in my strength?"
"Relax. As long as you don't cheat and unleash your full Reiatsu, I can block anything you throw at me."
He sounded absolutely confident.
If Yoruichi truly had a powerful technique, he wanted to see it for himself.
...And that's when he realized he had walked straight into a trap.
Yoruichi's gaze flickered mischievously, a sly smile creeping onto her lips. She hesitated—just a little—before saying,
"But… but this move is really powerful. I haven't completely mastered it yet."
Masatsuki Aozaki stepped forward, full of momentum. "I've beaten a captain already. What's there to be afraid of?"
Yoruichi's eyes lit up. "Then let's make a bet."
Masatsuki was mid-boast about his future dominance over Soul Society when her words caught him off guard.
"What kind of bet?"
"The wager is simple—our sparring sessions will last until the end of the holiday."
"Hm… ten days. That's my limit."
Masatsuki Aozaki hesitated, but after thinking it through, he realized he wasn't exactly at a disadvantage.
"Also, if I win, I get to make two requests."
"Deal," Yoruichi agreed without a second thought.
Masatsuki Aozaki froze.
Wait… did I just get played?
Yoruichi Shihōin continued, "Just so we're clear—once you agree, there's no backing out."
"Of course," Masatsuki Aozaki nodded. "A man's word is final."
Though he hardly considered himself a man of honor, he had no intention of going back on the deal.
Yoruichi flashed a smug grin. "Before we start, a little warning—when I go all out with this move, I can level a small hill."
Masatsuki Aozaki was stunned.
In an instant, he sensed the shift in Yoruichi's aura.
She wasn't joking—she fully intended to take him down.
Licking his lips, he thought, She's been leading me into this step by step… so this is what she was waiting for. Maybe I should just surrender? It's not like I'd be losing anything.
"…Forget it. If she's got something that strong, I might as well watch."
Just as that thought crossed his mind, Yoruichi's aura surged dramatically.
"Get ready to take this head-on!"
Thunder raged around her.
"Shunkō: Raijin Kenbu!"
The crackling electricity intensified, stray bolts shattering the ground.
With a slight clench of her fist, Yoruichi gathered the surging lightning into her palm. It condensed, taking shape—forming a long sword of pure white lightning, piercing toward the sky.
Her Reiatsu poured out in waves, so dense it seemed almost tangible.
On the opposite side, Masatsuki Aozaki still looked relaxed, but inwardly, he was alarmed.
Damn, Yoruichi… With a display like this, are you trying to kill me?
Not that she could hear his thoughts—and even if she could, she probably wouldn't care.
She had already mastered this technique.
Even if Masatsuki couldn't block it, she was confident she wouldn't cause him serious harm.
With that assurance, the lightning sword in her grasp shone even brighter, illuminating the entire training ground.
The sheer density of her Reiatsu made the air thick and heavy, waves of heat rolling through the space.
"Accept your defeat, Masatsuki Aozaki."
Yoruichi let out a wild laugh and swung the blade downward.
The massive pillar of lightning rapidly expanded in Masatsuki's vision.
His pupils contracted.
It was clear—there was no way he could learn this technique right now.
But that didn't mean he was just going to sit and take it.
He hadn't mastered much of Shunkō yet, but he was still a disciple of Genryūsai.
Planting his feet firmly, he took a balanced stance—one hand forming a palm in front, the other clenched at his waist.
The lightning surrounding him vanished in an instant, replaced by rising heat, the air itself turning scorching.
"Ikkotsu: Entei!" (Ikkotsu: Flame Emperor!)
With a low shout, Masatsuki Aozaki threw his punch.
The name was something he had just made up—but in reality, it was Ikkotsu, combined with fire-based Shunkō.
White flames erupted from his right arm, while twin jets of fire blasted from his shoulders like rocket propulsion.
Boom!
Flame met lightning.
The impact created a deafening shockwave, shaking the entire training hall as the ground itself groaned in protest.
"This…"
Yoruichi's eyes widened at the sight of his flame-like Reiatsu. She immediately sensed something was off and instinctively reacted.
In an instant, her lightning sword grew denser, its size and power surging.
"What the hell?!"
Masatsuki Aozaki exclaimed as he felt the sword's strength increase—but he didn't back down.
Boom!
As expected, he was blasted away like a cannonball, crashing into a distant rock formation and shattering several boulders on impact.
When the dust finally settled, Yoruichi reappeared before him.
Lying on the ground, Masatsuki sighed and asked, "You lifted your Reiatsu limit just now, didn't you?"
It wasn't that he couldn't accept losing, but in that brief moment, he had definitely sensed Yoruichi's Reiatsu spike to a level far beyond what a Lieutenant should be capable of.
Yoruichi remained silent for a beat before awkwardly sticking out her tongue.
Seeing her reaction, Masatsuki Aozaki knew he was right.
"This doesn't count. You broke the rules."
"What?! No way!" Yoruichi protested, but after a brief pause, she quickly offered, "Alright, how about we call it a draw? The wager still stands."
Masatsuki gave her a long look… then nodded slightly.
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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