Chapter 5: Passing the Impossible
"Sensei—please don't report me to the family!"
The voice echoed down the hallway as the spiky-haired student trailed behind Tobirama Shiba, hands pressed together in exaggerated pleading.
Tobirama didn't even turn around.
"That," he said calmly, "depends on your performance."
The boy froze.
"…That sounds bad."
Beside him, a girl with short dark hair sighed quietly.
"Why were we called out anyway?"
A few steps behind—
A silver-haired boy followed casually, eyes half-lidded, that perpetual smile unchanged.
But unlike the other two—
He was paying attention.
Closely.
Tobirama stopped once they reached a quieter section behind the Shin'ō Academy buildings.
His spiritual senses spread out instinctively.
No one nearby.
Good.
He turned.
"You three…"
A pause.
"Your practical ability is decent."
The spiky-haired boy brightened instantly.
"I knew it!"
"But—"
Tobirama's next word crushed that excitement immediately.
"Your theory scores are terrible."
Silence.
The boy's shoulders slumped.
The girl frowned slightly.
The silver-haired one… smiled.
"…Define terrible," the spiky-haired student muttered.
"Failing," Tobirama replied flatly.
That did it.
"I don't get it!" the boy threw his hands up. "Why do we need to memorize all that stuff? Soul Society history, reiryoku classification, Hollow behavioral patterns, the structure of the Gotei 13—what's the point?"
The girl crossed her arms.
"…It's important."
"It's boring!" he shot back.
Tobirama watched them calmly.
Then—
He spoke.
"Theory determines survival."
That got their attention.
"If you don't understand how reiryoku and reiatsu interact…"
"You'll misuse them and burn yourself out."
"If you don't understand your enemy…"
"You'll misjudge them and die."
"If you don't understand the system you serve…"
"You'll be crushed by it before you even realize it."
Silence followed.
Even the loudest of the three—
Had nothing to say for a moment.
"…Still," he muttered after a beat, "it's hard."
The girl didn't disagree.
The silver-haired boy tilted his head slightly.
"…So what do you suggest, Sensei?"
There it was.
The real question.
Tobirama smiled faintly.
"There is a method."
Three pairs of eyes locked onto him.
"…What is it?" The spiky-haired boy leaned forward eagerly.
Tobirama raised a single finger.
"Practice."
Silence.
"…That's it?" the boy blinked.
"That's it."
The girl sighed softly.
"…That's not a method. That's just effort."
"Exactly."
Tobirama's tone didn't change.
"Consistent practice. Understanding the concepts. Repetition."
He paused—
Then added—
"And proper motivation."
The boy narrowed his eyes.
"…What kind of motivation?"
Tobirama's smile deepened slightly.
"If you pass your next exam…"
"I'll personally train you."
That landed.
"…Seriously?" The spiky-haired boy's eyes widened.
The girl looked surprised, too.
The silver-haired one?
Still smiling—
But clearly interested now.
"I'll teach you techniques beyond the standard academy level."
"I'll guide your growth directly."
A beat.
"But only if you pass."
The energetic boy clenched his fists.
"…One month?"
"One month."
The girl nodded slowly.
"…That's fair."
The silver-haired boy chuckled softly.
"…Tempting."
Inside—
Tobirama remained calm.
But inwardly—
He was calculating.
The hook was set.
They thought this was a simple reward.
A golden opportunity.
And it was.
But it was also an investment.
Even if they failed—
He could still reward their effort.
Either way—
Trust would grow.
And once trust grew—
So did future returns.
The system didn't lie.
Back in class—
The spiky-haired boy walked in like a completely different person.
"Hey," he said confidently, "I'm passing this time for sure."
A nearby student blinked.
"…You?"
"Watch me."
The girl sat quietly—
Already reviewing her notes with focused calm.
The silver-haired boy leaned back—
Observing everything with that unchanging smile.
For about three minutes—
The loud student actually stayed focused.
Then—
His head slowly lowered.
…And hit the desk with a soft thud.
Soft snoring followed.
A precisely controlled Kidō spark flew cleanly across the room—
And struck him square in the forehead.
The boy shot upright.
"…I wasn't sleeping!"
The class burst into laughter.
At the front—
Tobirama lowered his hand slowly, expression unchanged.
"Then answer the question on reiryoku flow in basic Bakudō."
"…I withdraw my statement."
More laughter.
The lesson continued smoothly.
And when it ended—
[Teaching Completed]
[Evaluation: A]
[Reward: Hakuda Technique — Rising Impact Kick]
Tobirama absorbed the technique instantly.
A simple move—
On the surface.
But the execution demanded precise timing, explosive reiatsu release from the legs, and perfect balance.
"…Useful."
His mind immediately connected it to the spiky-haired student.
Close combat.
Aggression.
Momentum.
Yes—
This would fit perfectly.
After school—
Tobirama didn't return to his quarters immediately.
Instead—
He moved toward the outer training zones near the edge of the Seireitei, where the noble districts gave way to quieter woodland.
The further he went—
The quieter it became.
Eventually—
He found it.
A small clearing beside a narrow stream.
Isolated.
Undisturbed.
Perfect for discreet training.
"…This will do."
He memorized the location carefully.
Because teaching advanced techniques—
Training promising students—
Testing their limits—
None of that could safely happen at his residence.
Not with the Onmitsukidō and certain factions still keeping wary eyes on what remained of the Shiba clan.
Once one of the five great noble houses alongside the Kuchiki and Shihōin, the Shiba family's influence had waned, but old suspicions lingered.
Tobirama didn't have the spare reiryoku to maintain constant spiritual sensing around his home.
So instead—
He adapted.
Carefully.
Strategically.
By the time he returned home—
The sky had darkened.
The air felt still.
Too still.
Tobirama stepped into his courtyard—
And stopped.
Someone was already there.
Standing in silence—
Wearing a distinctive mask.
A uniform he knew well.
An agent of the Onmitsukidō.
Watching him.
Waiting.
Tobirama's expression didn't change.
But his mind—
Sharpened instantly.
"…So they are watching."
The game—
Had just become far more dangerous.
(End of Chapter 5)
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