"Huh? Captain Kazuma of the Seventh Division? You mean that captain who looks completely ordinary and a little lazy?"
Hearing that name, Renji and the others all showed puzzled expressions.
They remembered Captain Kazuma.
He was a man who looked completely unremarkable and usually seemed lazy, but they had not expected him to possess such extraordinary strength.
As expected, not only the Shinigami of the Gotei 13, but even the students of Shin'ō Academy had the same first impression of Kazuma.
Seeing Hisagi and the others' surprised expressions, Rukia smiled and said, "You mustn't underestimate Captain Kazuma. Although he looks rather unreliable, his strength is truly unfathomable."
She recalled the things Uncle Kōga had told her, and her heart filled with admiration.
"Rukia, aren't you in the Thirteenth Division? Is it because Captain Kazuma came to the Academy before and you got along well with him, so he gave you some guidance in Zanjutsu?" Renji asked curiously.
Rukia shook her head and explained, "Of course not! It's because one of my elders in the Kuchiki family is Captain Kazuma's disciple. He asked Captain Kazuma to teach me Zanjutsu."
"So that's how it is…"
Everyone suddenly understood, and their curiosity about Captain Kazuma deepened even further.
Someone capable of guiding an elder of the Kuchiki family must surely possess extraordinary ability and background.
"Then, Rukia, does that mean you can be considered Captain Kazuma's disciple now?"
Momo Hinamori also asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Rukia scratched her small head, an embarrassed expression appearing on her face.
She said softly, "Captain Kazuma hasn't accepted me as his disciple."
"Huh?"
Hisagi and the others all let out sounds of disbelief, as if they had heard something utterly ridiculous.
"You're already this strong now, yet Captain Kazuma still hasn't accepted you? Isn't that too weird?"
Hisagi widened his eyes, his face filled with confusion.
Momo Hinamori also frowned, seemingly very puzzled by this answer.
"How could that be? With Rukia's current strength, she could absolutely become an excellent disciple!"
She looked at Rukia, hoping to get an explanation.
Rukia helplessly shook her head.
"I don't know why either, but Captain Kazuma said he won't take me as his disciple."
A trace of disappointment appeared in her eyes.
Clearly, she still felt some regret over not being able to become Kazuma's disciple.
"That's really strange…"
Hisagi murmured to himself, his heart filled with questions.
They now all knew how powerful Captain Kazuma's Zanjutsu was.
If one could become his disciple, their Zanjutsu would surely improve and grow tremendously.
However, Kazuma had rejected Rukia's request, making them unable to help but doubt his decision.
"I was confused at first too. Later, my uncle told me that to reach the threshold for Captain Kazuma to accept someone as a disciple, one would at least have to learn Bankai."
Hearing this, Hisagi and the others froze.
Their eyes widened, their faces filled with disbelief.
"Bankai?" Hisagi muttered, his face full of shock and disbelief.
"Rukia, are you joking?" Renji questioned her.
He felt that this requirement was simply too absurd.
"Bankai is already something far beyond our reach, yet that is only the threshold for becoming Captain Kazuma's disciple…"
Kira said in a low voice, a trace of despair in his tone.
"I'm not lying to you. It's true," Rukia said seriously. "Back then, my uncle was only accepted by Captain Kazuma after learning Bankai."
She recalled the time when Kōga Kuchiki had told her these things, and her heart had also been filled with shock.
Kōga Kuchiki had told Rukia that perhaps only through Bankai could a person truly display their potential and strength, thereby earning Captain Kazuma's recognition.
Rukia knew very well how strong Kōga Kuchiki was.
Someone capable of becoming the commander of the First Division's special force was certainly no ordinary figure.
Because of that, she believed everything Kōga Kuchiki had said.
Although she had not experienced it personally, she knew that Kōga Kuchiki would not deceive her.
Shūhei Hisagi, Renji Abarai, Izuru Kira, and Momo Hinamori were silent for a moment.
They realized that what Rukia said was probably true.
Although they felt discouraged and disappointed, it also stirred up the fighting spirit deep within their hearts.
"If that's the case, then we have to work even harder!"
Hisagi clenched his fist, his gaze firm.
"That's right. As long as we have a goal, we can definitely do it!" Renji agreed.
"We can't give up. We have to work hard and learn Bankai!" Kira also spoke with confidence.
They decided to take Captain Kazuma as their example and devote everything they had to pursuing the realm of Bankai.
"Bankai is one of the prerequisites for becoming a captain-class powerhouse. Only someone like that is qualified to be accepted by Captain Kazuma. I wonder just how strong he himself really is!"
Renji clenched his fists, his eyes filled with fighting spirit.
Previously, he had regarded Captain Aizen as his goal.
Now, that goal had changed to Kazuma.
Hisagi, standing beside him, nodded.
"That's right. I don't even ask to become Captain Kazuma's disciple someday. If I can learn Bankai one day, that alone will be enough."
His eyes also shone with longing and anticipation.
To Renji and Hisagi, Kazuma was not merely a powerful captain, but also a role model and goal in their hearts.
They were filled with respect for Kazuma and regarded him as the direction they should strive toward.
However, although the four of them possessed strong fighting spirit, reaching Kazuma's level was practically a fantasy.
Learning Bankai alone would be enough to take them a lifetime to pursue.
After all, in the original story, only Abarai and Hisagi eventually succeeded in learning Bankai.
And that achievement did not happen overnight. It was the result of countless hardships, dangers, and life-or-death trials.
Hisagi in particular only comprehended the mystery of Bankai after experiencing several fierce battles and receiving careful guidance from Kensei Muguruma and the others.
As for Renji Abarai, his path to Bankai was just as difficult.
His Bankai technique was learned from Ikkaku Madarame.
However, the Bankai he had mastered at the time was still incomplete, and he did not even know Zabimaru's true name.
It was not until later, after a reminder from Ichibē Hyōsube, that he suddenly understood and truly learned Bankai.
After the two sparring matches, Rukia's mood also became a little better.
The corners of her mouth rose slightly, and a trace of a smile flashed in her eyes.
"Everyone, let's go eat together! After the matches with you all, I'm really hungry."
Hearing Rukia's words, Hisagi and the others all smiled.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
And so, the group began walking toward the place where they would eat together, their laughter and cheerful voices continuing along the way.