"I heard the Captain-Commander chased you all over the Seireitei with his Zanpakutō today. What did you do to make him so furious?" Batsu'unsai asked the moment Kazuma returned to the 8th Division barracks.
"Don't ask. He made me practice my swings a thousand times. For every swing I missed, I had to run ten laps around the First Division, or he'd give me some 'loving education.' You know the rest."
"Kazuma, you're famous. Half the Seireitei knows about a young recruit being hunted down by the Captain-Commander," Batsu'unsai said, hiding a laugh behind her hand.
"Are Shinigami really this bored? It's only been half a day, and the news is everywhere." Kazuma sighed.
"I'm exhausted. If only I could have some nabe and a cold drink right now."
"Nabe? What kind of food is that? Is it good?"
Hearing the word, Batsu'unsai's eyes lit up behind her glasses.
'So the Captain is a foodie!' Kazuma realized.
"You don't know this kind of dish? It's a staple back home. The taste... man, I miss it."
Seeing Batsu'unsai's shining eyes and the faint drool at the corner of her mouth, Kazuma decided to show off.
"Captain, get me some ingredients and a clay pot. I'll demonstrate."
...
Bubble bubble bubble~
The nabe finally came to a boil.
"Kazuma, are you sure this is edible? The broth is bright red. It's nothing but chili peppers and chili oil. It looks lethal," Batsu'unsai said, eyeing the pot with distrust.
"Trust me, Captain, it's amazing! Since it's your first time, I'll mix a dipping sauce for you." He poured some raw egg and goma-dare into her bowl.
(A good sesame sauce is all you need for a spicy nabe!)
Huff huff huff~
"This is incredibly spicy, but it's amazing!" Batsu'unsai plucked meat and vegetables from the boiling broth, her chopsticks a blur.
"Captain, slow down. No one's stealing it."
Burp~
After draining the pot, the two leaned back in their chairs, rubbing their stomachs.
"It feels so good to be full," Kazuma sighed.
"Thanks for the meal. We're doing this again," Batsu'unsai declared.
"By the way, Captain, you never told me the principles of the Zanpakutō!" Kazuma remembered.
"A Zanpakutō's shape, state, and abilities are forged from the Shinigami's own soul. A Shinigami gains power by learning its name and communicating with it heart-to-heart."
"The Asauchi in your hand is a nameless Zanpakutō. Once you learn its true name, you can call it out in battle to perform a release, unleashing far greater power. When a Zanpakutō slays a Hollow, the Hollow's sins are washed away and it reverts to a Plus. Remember: every Zanpakutō has its own soul, thoughts, and personality. It is a partner, not just a tool."
"How does Shikai work?" Kazuma asked.
"Shikai is the initial awakening. It draws out the unique power within the blade, granting the wielder new abilities. Every Zanpakutō's Shikai is entirely unique," Batsu'unsai explained.
"How do I achieve it?"
"Training and meditation. You must understand your blade and forge a deep connection with it. It is a long process. It cannot be rushed."
"Understood. I'll put in the work."
"And Bankai?" Kazuma pushed.
"Don't get ahead of yourself. Master Shikai first."
"Captain, you still haven't told me how to increase my Spiritual Pressure! I might be at the sixth rank, but I'm still a rookie!"
"Are you a genius or an idiot? Spiritual Pressure grows through training with your Zanpakutō," Batsu'unsai deadpanned.
'Huh. I thought there was some secret cultivation technique,' Kazuma thought.
"Let me explain how to connect with your blade. You must undergo Jinzen—sword meditation. You place the Zanpakutō across your lap, assume a meditative posture, and center your mind. Through Jinzen, you align your inner world with the sword's spirit. It is a grueling process. A single session can last days or even weeks."
Batsu'unsai adjusted her glasses. "You must cast aside all external distractions. Only when your mind is perfectly still will the blade answer. During Jinzen, you will feel the entity within the steel. Establishing a dialogue with that soul is the mark of a true Shinigami. Persevere, and your Spiritual Pressure will naturally rise."
"How long did it take you to reach yours, Captain?" Kazuma asked.
"Me?" Batsu'unsai smirked.
"It only took me two weeks to learn my Zanpakutō's true name. Impressive, right?" She puffed out her chest proudly.
Kazuma stared in astonishment.
'Two weeks? That's incredibly fast!'
"Alright, it's late. Get out of here and rest. You have more of the old man's training tomorrow. I'll guide your Jinzen when you get back," Batsu'unsai said, waving him off.
Kazuma returned to his quarters.
Lying in bed, he reviewed his Zanjutsu training and the concept of Jinzen before drifting off to sleep.
In his dream, Kazuma stood within a grand palace.
Its architecture mirrored the imperial courts of the Heian period.
Elaborate shoji screens lined the halls, massive wooden pillars were carved with twisting dragons and soaring cranes, and the air smelled of ancient incense.
Seated at the head of the hall was a man draped in elegant purple kariginu robes.
He exuded a serene, commanding aura, but his face remained veiled in shadow. The man's lips moved, but no sound reached Kazuma's ears.
Before Kazuma could speak, the robed man lifted a shallow sake cup, raised it in a silent toast, and drained it.
...
Early the next morning, in the 8th Division captain's office...
"Captain! Captain! I saw it! I saw my Zanpakutō!" Kazuma grabbed Batsu'unsai and shook her frantically.
Batsu'unsai, still half-asleep, jolted awake.
"You bastard, how dare you touch me! Go to hell!"
With a single, devastating kick, Batsu'unsai sent Kazuma flying out of the office.
He landed on the courtyard dirt in a heap, the shattered office door clattering down beside him.
Hearing the crash, the members of the 8th Division rushed over, expecting an emergency.
They found a young recruit sprawled in the dirt next to a broken door, apparently unconscious.
"Isn't that the kid the Captain brought back?"
"Satou Kazuma, right?"
"Who attacked him?"
The squad members chattered amongst themselves.
Turning to the office, they froze.
Their Captain stood in the doorway. Her black hair was a tangled mess, her face was crimson, and her eyes shot fire.
She wore nothing but a form-fitting nightgown, the fabric thin enough that the girly pink underwear beneath was clearly visible.
'Pink. That color really matches her personality,' one squad member thought.
The nightgown perfectly accentuated her figure!
"Ah, my eyes! I'm suddenly blind! I didn't see a thing!"
"What bad luck so early in the morning!"
"Why must my ears be so sharp? If only I hadn't heard the crash!"
Witnessing the scene, the squad members activated Flash Step, burning every ounce of Reiatsu they had to flee the scene of the crime!
Their speed in that moment rivaled that of actual Captains!
"Bastard! Kazuma, I'm going to cut you down!"
As Batsu'unsai spun around to grab her Zanpakutō, Kazuma instantly scrambled to his feet.
He broke into a mad sprint toward the First Division barracks at top speed.
He hadn't been knocked out at all. Feigning unconsciousness was just a survival tactic.
'Still, the Captain has a fantastic figure,' Kazuma thought as he ran.
He arrived at the First Division compound, panting and heaving, silently congratulating himself on his speed.
Back at the 8th Division, having changed her clothes and slung her Zanpakutō over her shoulder, Batsu'unsai glared in the direction Kazuma had fled.
A faint blush dusted her cheeks. "That bastard runs fast. I think he said he saw his Zanpakutō. It's only been one night. How surprising! But to dare act so rudely... I'll teach him a lesson when he gets back."
...
"Who goes there!" the Shinigami guarding the First Division gate shouted.
"I'm looking for Captain-Commander Yamamoto!" Kazuma blurted.
The guards exchanged a look, and one went inside. A moment later, he returned and waved Kazuma through.
Kazuma stepped into the office. Yamamoto stood at the window, his back turned.
"Captain-Commander!" Kazuma bowed.
Yamamoto turned.
A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. "Why are you covered in dirt?"
Kazuma swallowed hard. "I was in a hurry and tripped."
Yamamoto glanced at the obvious boot print stamped onto Kazuma's Shihakushō but didn't press the issue.
"Kid, today I will teach you Hohō. Shunpo."
"Captain-Commander, are we not practicing Zanjutsu today?"
"You have grasped the essence of the blade. There is nothing more I can teach you of the basics. If you persevere, your swordsmanship will reach mastery."
A wave of joy washed over Kazuma. "Thank you for the praise, Captain-Commander."
"Flash Step is a technique for high-speed movement. It relies entirely on Reiatsu control and the limits of your physical body," Yamamoto explained. "Within the Gotei 13, aside from myself, the most skilled practitioner is the Captain of the Second Division, Chika Shihōin. His clan possesses unique Flash Step arts. Once I have taught you my methods, I will introduce you to him."
Yamamoto's expression turned grave. "Given your outstanding performance yesterday, I have high hopes for you. Do not disappoint me. Grow strong quickly."
"I will put in the work."
"Yesterday, I noticed your physical constitution is lacking. For today's Flash Step training, I have designed a special regimen."
"A special regimen? Is there a secret to practicing Flash Step?"
Yamamoto flashed a savage grin. "The secret is that I draw my sword and try to cut you down."
Before Kazuma could react, Yamamoto drew his Zanpakutō and slashed.
Bang! Dust exploded in the First Division training grounds. Unsurprisingly, Kazuma was sent flying by the strike.
"Hiss! That hurts! But I'm not bleeding," Kazuma groaned.
'Old man, you have no honor! A sneak attack? Against a rookie?!'
"Get up, kid. I hit you with the back of the blade. This is your tailored training. As long as you dodge or block, you will naturally grasp the footwork of Flash Step. And when you fail to block, it trains your endurance and tempers your flesh."
'What a brutal, primitive method. The most unrefined tactics are always the most effective,' Kazuma muttered.
He scrambled up and stretched.
He ached where the steel had struck, but nothing was broken. The old man had perfectly controlled his force.
Kazuma focused his mind and prepared for the next attack.
To become a true warrior, he had to endure the fire. Besides, a personal beating from Yamamoto was an honor few survived.
As he was repeatedly sent flying, Kazuma adapted. He experimented with different angles to dodge or deflect the heavy strikes.
His reaction speed and durability crept upward.
Every time he ate dirt, he forced himself back up.
Yamamoto remained cold and focused, relentlessly pressuring the boy. He knew potential was only unlocked under the threat of death.
After several hours, Kazuma's Flash Step showed visible progress. Not only did he dodge a few slashes nimbly, but he even parried a handful.
He still spent most of the session flying backward, but he was no longer a helpless target.
"Go back, kid. That's all for today. We resume tomorrow."
The session was over. After a day of getting battered, Kazuma was physically and mentally drained.
"Captain-Commander, um..." Kazuma hesitated.
"Speak."
"Can I sleep in the First Division barracks tonight?"
"Reason?"
"Well... this morning, I accidentally offended Captain Batsu'unsai. If I go back now, she might actually execute me. I was hoping to hide out here until she cools off."
"Haha! You little rascal, what did you do to make her draw her sword? Fine. You can stay. I'll have someone inform her that you were injured during training and require recuperation here."
"Thank you, Captain-Commander!"
...
As evening fell, Batsu'unsai waited.
Seeing that Kazuma hadn't returned, she was preparing to march over to the First Division and drag him back by his ear when a messenger arrived.
He reported that Kazuma had sustained injuries during training and was confined to the First Division's medical wing.
"Damn you, you brat! How dare you use the Captain-Commander as a meat shield! You can't hide forever. When you come back, if I don't beat you until you eat through a straw, my name isn't Katori Batsu'unsai!" She ground her teeth, clenching her fists.
...
"Achoo! Achoo!"
Lying in a cot in the First Division, Kazuma sneezed twice.
'Is Captain Batsu'unsai thinking about me...?'