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Two blurs of motion tore across the training field, punctuated by the violent, percussive sound of clashing fists and feet.
The two combatants were locked in a blistering exchange. One moved with the ethereal, weightless grace of a phantom, while the other surged forward with the catastrophic violence of a thunderbolt.
Across the dirt field, the petite Yoruichi left practically no trace of her passing. Conversely, every single time Lu Li dashed forward, a miniature shockwave tore through the air, kicking up a massive plume of dust and leaving deep, cratered footprints in the earth.
The rest of the students had retreated to the absolute fringes of the field, terrified of being sucked into the crossfire between these two monsters.
To them, this wasn't the level of Hakuda expected of first-year students. Hell, even the graduating seniors couldn't move like this.
Normally, sparring sessions were highly controlled exercises meant to refine specific Hakuda techniques. The students rarely employed Shunpo during these bouts, especially since the indoor dojos were severely limited in space.
But today was different. The instructor had brought them to an expansive outdoor field, and the Shihouin demon and the monstrous transfer student had instantly gone to war.
The class watched the bout with a mix of awe, terror, and burning envy. A few of the more astute students focused entirely on the clash, desperately trying to glean even a fraction of their profound Hakuda and Shunpo mechanics.
Unbeknownst to the class, two figures were currently observing the battle from the roof of the main Academy building.
The man standing in front was an elderly figure radiating absolute majesty and a serene, yet terrifying, authority. A prominent, cross-shaped scar marred his right forehead, adding an aura of raw brutality to his otherwise dignified appearance. He sported a long mustache and an incredibly long, silvery-white beard bound by a purple ribbon, flowing all the way down to his waist.
Leaning heavily on his wooden cane, the old man turned to the silver-haired, middle-aged Soul Reaper standing respectfully beside him. "Chojiro. That girl is the Shihouin child, correct? And the other?"
Lieutenant Chojiro Sasakibe of the First Division bowed slightly. "He is a new transfer student who enrolled two months ago. His name is Lu Li. I am told Captain Unohana brought him in from Rukongai. He possesses extraordinary talent."
"Oh?" Captain-Commander Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto's expression shifted into genuine interest. "For you to call him extraordinarily talented, Chojiro?"
Chojiro nodded. "I have been keeping a close eye on him. Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Shunpo, Kido—he has absolutely no weaknesses. Although he comes from the slums, his raw talent is... well, to be frank, it is..."
"It is what?" the Captain-Commander pressed.
Chojiro struggled to find the appropriate words before finally settling on, "...It is terrifying. Several of the Academy instructors have already filed reports. They claim they are utterly incapable of teaching him."
Seeing the Captain-Commander remain silent, Chojiro elaborated. "On his very first day, despite never having touched a sword before, he defeated Instructor Fujimoto in a matched-Reiatsu Kendo duel. In Hakuda, he defeated Yoruichi Shihouin. Upon his first exposure to Kido, he successfully cast a level-thirty-one Shakkaho."
He listed Lu Li's staggering achievements one by one. "Regarding Shunpo, he is currently slower than the Shihouin girl. However, he only began learning the technique two months ago, and he is already closing the gap at an alarming rate."
"They cannot teach him... what a fascinating young man," Yamamoto chuckled softly, his ancient eyes locked onto Lu Li's tearing across the field. "Have any of the Captains guest-lectured the Zanjutsu or Hakuda courses recently?"
Chojiro shook his head. "Tensions between the Soul Society and the World of the Living have been escalating. The Gotei 13's workload is immense right now. None of the Captains have had the free time to take on Academy electives."
Yamamoto nodded. As the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13 and the founder and Headmaster of the Shin'o Academy, even he hadn't set foot on the campus in the last two months due to the mountain of paperwork on his desk.
He hadn't expected to stumble across such a fascinating child on a rare stroll through the Academy. It reminded him of his very first batch of disciples.
Watching Lu Li's explosive movements, Yamamoto narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. "What is his status regarding his Reiatsu and his Zanpakuto?"
"He has not yet communed with his Zanpakuto. This is entirely normal, given his vagrant background; he had zero foundational knowledge of the blade prior to his enrollment. As for his Reiatsu, he tested at Class 17 upon entry."
If the average Academy student heard Chojiro's report, they would have been astounded. A Class 17 Spiritual Pressure was a lifelong dream for many grunts. But to the Lieutenant of the First Division, it was painfully average.
Chojiro had witnessed the entire history of the Shin'o Academy. He knew perfectly well that a significant number of prodigies enrolled with a Class 10 Reiatsu or higher. The heirs to the Great Noble Families often achieved Class 6 before they even walked through the front gates.
The only reason Yoruichi's current Reiatsu wasn't absurdly high was because she despised spiritual meditation. Reaching Captain-class Reiatsu was an absolute certainty for her; it was merely a matter of time.
"Class 17 with absolutely zero prior resources. Passable," Yamamoto commented. As a living fossil of the Soul Society, he had seen more "once-in-a-century" geniuses than he could count. Purely in terms of starting Reiatsu, Lu Li didn't even make his top list.
Yamamoto was primarily impressed by the boy's flawless mastery over the four core combat arts: Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hoho (Shunpo), and Kido. If Lu Li could diligently cultivate his Reiatsu to match his technique, he would undoubtedly become a pillar of the Gotei 13.
"Indeed. Among true prodigies, it is not particularly high. However, Lu Li's Reiatsu growth is astonishingly fast. In just two months, he has already broken into Class 16," Chojiro explained. "Furthermore, I am told he spends almost all of his time refining his combat techniques rather than actively meditating to increase his Reiatsu."
Yamamoto nodded slowly. "Meaning, it is not a lack of talent in Reiatsu cultivation. He simply hasn't focused his efforts there yet."
"That is highly understandable," Chojiro reasoned. "The Academy curriculum lasts for six years. Raising one's Reiatsu is a slow, lifelong endeavor. Prioritizing the mastery of combat techniques while he has access to an academic environment is a wise decision. Once he graduates, he will never have this level of structured training again. He can always meditate on his Reiatsu on his own time."
"Hahaha..."
Yamamoto let out a booming laugh. "You seem to be quite fond of this boy, Chojiro. You went out of your way to defend his choices."
Chojiro bowed his head humbly. "I deeply admire his talent, Sir. But I cannot say I am fond of his attitude."
"Oh? Why is that?" Yamamoto asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Because Lu Li intends to graduate early. The youth is far too arrogant. He has only been enrolled for two months," Chojiro sighed, having heard the exasperated reports from the Academy staff.
Currently, with the exception of Captain Unohana's Kaido elective, every single instructor had officially thrown in the towel. They literally had nothing left to teach him.
The Destructive Arts (Hado) class was a slight exception. The Grand Kido Chief had returned to his duties, but the new instructor was a formidable master capable of casting level-eighty spells. The instruction was top-tier.
The problem was that Lu Li, despite his terrifying Kido talent, seemed entirely uninterested in Hado. He spent every single Kido period sitting in the back, silently practicing his Kaido.
And since Lu Li had already flawlessly demonstrated Shakkaho, he had technically met all the graduation requirements for the course. The instructor couldn't exactly punish him; strictly speaking, practicing Kaido was practicing Kido.
"He wants to graduate early?"
Yamamoto stroked his long white beard, a deep, rumbling chuckle escaping his chest. "What an arrogant little brat. Does he truly believe there is no one left who can teach him Zanjutsu and Hakuda?"
He lifted his wooden cane and struck the roof. A faint ring of dust expanded outward from the impact.
His ancient, piercing eyes locked onto Lu Li down on the training field.
"Then allow this old man to teach him a lesson."