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"Truly astonishing. Your Excellency's Kido talent surpasses even my own at that age," Tessai Tsukabishi marveled. He genuinely hadn't expected the boy to succeed, let alone with such a high degree of structural perfection.
As the Grand Kido Chief, Tessai was lauded as a once-in-a-millennium genius of the Demon Arts. Yet, even he had to sequentially practice the lower-tier spells to build up his foundation before successfully casting Shakkaho on his first actual attempt.
If Lu Li's background check was accurate, this was his very first day touching Kido, and he had successfully cast a level thirty-one spell on his second try. His raw talent was frankly absurd.
"You praise me too highly, Instructor. I still have much to learn from you," Lu Li replied with practiced humility. He shot a sidelong glance at his roommate and smiled. "And I'll be relying on Sosuke's guidance as well."
Aizen was internally shaken. Much like Yoruichi, he had assumed a pure, instinct-driven brawler wouldn't possess the hyper-delicate touch required for Kido manipulation. To see Lu Li pull it off on the first try was alarming.
It meant Lu Li was... well, nearly on par with him.
After all, Aizen had also flawlessly cast Shakkaho on his first try back in the day.
The eyes behind Aizen's black-rimmed glasses narrowed for a microscopic fraction of a second before his face broke out into the bright, refreshing smile the rest of the class knew and loved. "Let us learn and progress together, Lu Li."
While the rest of the class was still recovering from the shock, Tessai dropped a bombshell that practically unhinged their jaws. "Your Excellency, would you consider joining the Kido Corps upon graduation? It would be a tragedy to let such transcendent talent go to waste."
Lu Li was caught off guard. He hadn't expected the Grand Kido Chief to be this impatient. It was his first day, his first class, and he was already receiving a recruitment pitch.
The surrounding students stared with burning envy. The Kido Corps was an elite, independent special forces unit entirely separate from the Gotei 13. Generally, only the absolute top academic scholars were permitted to join, and the benefits and status were incredibly high. Judging by Tessai's eager demeanor, if Lu Li joined upon graduation, he would likely be fast-tracked straight into a high-ranking officer position. It was the golden ticket to the upper echelons of the Seireitei.
Lu Li also noted Tessai's distinct use of 'Your Excellency'. It seemed the quirky honorific wasn't just something he picked up later in life while working in the human world; it was a subconscious habit he used when addressing anyone who truly earned his respect.
The Kido Corps' olive branch was incredibly tempting for a normal student. Unfortunately, despite having a long time limit for his trial, Lu Li had absolutely zero intention of joining them.
In his eyes, the Kido Corps was a guild for 'mages'. He was a martial artist. He lived for the visceral thrill of flesh tearing, bones shattering, and the intimate dance of blades. Standing in the backline chanting spells completely clashed with his combat philosophy. He only wanted to learn Kido to expand his tactical toolkit.
"I deeply appreciate the offer, Instructor," Lu Li replied respectfully, giving the man a polite out. "But I've only just enrolled, and I haven't fully decided on my future path yet. Could I have some time to consider it?"
Tessai couldn't hide a flicker of disappointment, but he understood. He had heard that Captain Unohana had personally brought this boy to the Academy, and that his Zanjutsu and Hakuda were already at a grandmaster level. A perfectly rounded prodigy like him possessed limitless potential; he had every right to choose his own destiny.
Thinking it over, Tessai realized the Kido Corps was actually too limiting for someone of Lu Li's caliber. As the Grand Kido Chief, Tessai couldn't exactly offer Lu Li his own seat. But if the boy joined the Gotei 13 and put in a few years of solid effort, he absolutely had the potential to become a Captain.
"Very well. Continue your practice. If you encounter any difficulties regarding Kido, you may come to me directly," Tessai said, completely undisguising his blatant favoritism. Even after being politely rejected, he was more than happy to nurture this freak of nature.
For the rest of the period, Lu Li systematically tested every single spell listed in the first-year textbook.
Watching his classmates groan and sweat bullets just trying to spark a basic Byakurai, Lu Li couldn't help but feel bewildered. Is Kido really supposed to be this hard? Because he possessed absolute, god-like control over his own physical biology, the moment he understood how Reishi flowed, he found he could manipulate his internal spiritual energy with the exact same surgical precision. To him, casting Kido was just a matter of arranging Reishi into specific, pre-determined sequences to weaponize it.
However, a new problem arose. While Kido was easy, he quickly realized he had absolutely zero interest in Hado (Destructive Arts).
Based on Lu Li's straightforward combat logic, the sole purpose of Hado was to damage the enemy. But why waste precious seconds chanting a fireball when he could just Shunpo into their guard and decapitate them with his sword? It felt entirely redundant.
Bakudo (Binding Arts) and Kaido (Healing Arts), on the other hand, held immense tactical value. Bakudo provided vital crowd control, while Kaido offered self-sustain.
Especially Kaido. If he possessed powerful, rapid self-healing, he could completely abandon defense in specific life-or-death clashes and fight with pure, suicidal aggression.
Unfortunately, Kaido was far too complex to be included in the first-year syllabus, and the few Bakudo listed in the beginner textbook were pathetically weak. He wanted to learn the high-tier spells.
Left with no other options, Lu Li turned to his omnipotent roommate. "Sosuke, can you teach me some Bakudo that aren't in the textbook?"
"Bakudo? I do know a few," Aizen replied, raising an eyebrow in genuine curiosity. "But why the sudden interest? Most people prefer the destructive power of Hado." Just like myself, Aizen thought, considering he spent most of his free time actively deciphering the structural formula for the lethal level-ninety spell, Kurohitsugi.
"Using Hado to kill just feels too tedious. Bakudo has way more practical utility in a fight. Tying people up, locking down their movements, things like that," Lu Li explained casually.
Then, an idea struck him. Ignoring Aizen's increasingly perplexed stare, Lu Li stepped directly in front of him. "Sosuke, why don't you hit me with a Bakudo so I can get a feel for the Reishi structure?"
"Why are you looking at me like that? Do it," Lu Li urged. "Instructor Tessai only banned us from testing dangerous Hado. Bakudo won't blow anything up. Come on, hit me with the highest-level one you know."
Even a man with Aizen's terrifying composure had to mentally facepalm for a second. Readjusting his glasses, he let out a soft sigh.
"Disintegrate, you black dog of Rondanini! Look upon yourself with your own eyes and then tear out your own throat! Bakudo #9: Geki!"
Lu Li didn't even attempt to dodge. A violent red light erupted from Aizen's fingertips and completely engulfed him. Instantly, his muscles locked up, his movements growing sluggish and heavy. Simultaneously, a burning, suffocating pressure clamped down tightly around his throat.
Bakudo #9: Geki was a dual-purpose spell designed to paralyze and inflict pain. While Lu Li could technically still force his body to move, the intense asphyxiation severely handicapped his combat output.
Evaluating the sensation, Lu Li realized that if he was hit by this in a life-or-death duel, failing to break the binding immediately would result in a swift and brutal death.
Just as I thought. Bakudo is an incredible support skill.
Focusing his mind, Lu Li flared his Reiryoku to counteract the spell's spiritual lock, simultaneously flexing his monstrous physical muscles to literally tear the binding apart. With a sharp crack, the red light shattered into glowing particles.
"Against an opponent with comparable Spiritual Pressure, low-level Bakudo can only act as a temporary disruption," Aizen explained, entirely unsurprised that Lu Li had shattered the spell. "Only high-level Bakudo possess the absolute conceptual authority to completely lock down an enemy's movements. However, casting them demands an exponentially higher degree of Reiryoku control."
Lu Li nodded enthusiastically. "Then hit me with a high-level one, Sosuke. You definitely know a few, right?"
Aizen's expression remained flawlessly warm and innocent. He chuckled softly and shook his head. "You overestimate me, Lu Li. I may have a small knack for Kido, but I am just a first-year student like you. Where would I learn advanced Bakudo? If you are truly interested, you should ask Instructor Tessai. Since Bakudo isn't inherently lethal, he will likely teach you."
Staring at Aizen's perfectly harmless face, Lu Li mentally called bullshit.
He didn't know if this young version of Aizen was capable of casually dropping Kurohitsugi yet, but he was absolutely certain the man could fire off level-sixty or seventy Kido without breaking a sweat.
But there was nothing Lu Li could do. Aizen was a master of patience; he wasn't going to break character just to satisfy a roommate's curiosity. Lu Li had no choice but to seek out the Grand Kido Chief.
"Oh? Bakudo and Kaido?" Tessai stroked his chin as he listened to Lu Li's request. "I can certainly teach you several advanced Bakudo that your current Reiatsu can sustain. But as for Kaido... if you truly wish to learn the Healing Arts, you should ask Captain Unohana when she arrives as a guest lecturer."
Tessai smiled knowingly. "I am quite certain Captain Unohana would be more than happy to teach you."