Join the Kidō Corps?
Faced with the question from Kidō Corps teacher Hideyoshi Tsuruno, Yamahiko was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected that the first invitation he received would be from the Kidō Corps.
Hideyoshi Tsuruno nodded and said, "Yamahiko, your speed in learning Kidō far exceeds that of others, and you've also mastered the essentials of abandoning incantations. Your talent in Kidō is beyond doubt. Joining the Kidō Corps would be the best way to fully utilize your talents"'
"This..."
Yamahiko knew that mastering Kidō could grant someone captain-level combat abilities. However, beyond captain-level, there were captain-commander-level and special abilities, and Kidō made up only a small part of the strength of such individuals.
It was similar to how Yamahiko knew that in the future, there would definitely be formidable adversaries, like Aizen. Aizen could even use powerful Kidō techniques, like the forbidden-level Ninety-Nine Forbidden, and the Ninety Black Coffin without incantations. He had essentially reached the pinnacle of Kidō mastery with the Ninety Black Coffin, even without incantations.
Even someone like Yamahiko had no assurance of surpassing Aizen in Kidō.
If he decided to join the Kidō Corps, almost all of his time would be dedicated to the Kidō's training. Even after obtaining a Zanpakuto, he would still need Kidō for training.
Yamahiko had planned to master Kidō thoroughly, but he only intended to use it as an auxiliary means of combat. Before acquiring a Zanpakuto, Kidō would be his primary training focus.
However, after obtaining a Zanpakuto, Kidō would take a secondary, or even tertiary, position.
Seeing Yamahiko hesitate, Hideyoshi Tsuruno asked, "If you're willing to join the Kidō Corps, I can also teach you Kidō in your free time, helping you master it faster. As long as you graduate, you can join the Kidō Corps."
This was essentially an offer tailored to Yamahiko.
Upon hearing this, Yamahiko remained resolute and said, "Teacher, I still don't plan to join the Kidō Corps after I graduate."
Hideyoshi Tsuruno was puzzled and asked, "Why is that?"
Yamahiko replied, "In the future, I still intend to primarily use my Zanpakuto as my main combat method. Furthermore, the original purpose of joining the Kidō Corps is different from mine."
The primary role of the Kidō Corps was to perform tasks like opening gateways, sustaining barriers, and sealing. In the subsequent events, only Shinigami who used Kidō, like Kisuke Urahara and Tessai Tsukabishi, or individuals like Yasochika Iemura who used Kidō, appeared. Even in times of heavy casualties in the Soul Society, they did not engage in combat.
Yamahiko hoped to fight on the front lines of the battlefield and not engage in logistical and support roles.
Hearing Yamahiko's words, Hideyoshi Tsuruno nodded in understanding of his decision.
But Hideyoshi Tsuruno also didn't want to let go of such a promising student so easily. So he suggested, "Yamahiko, whether or not you join the Kidō Corps, we can decide after you graduate. But before that, I will teach you Kidō to a greater extent, allowing you to master more aspects of it. After you graduate, you can make your decision. How does that sound?"
Yamahiko's eyes lit up with excitement. He hadn't expected that Teacher Hideyoshi Tsuruno would be willing to teach him more about Kidō, which left him feeling somewhat embarrassed.
By this time, the Kidō class had already ended. Hideyoshi Tsuruno loudly announced, "After class, everyone should train seriously. The next class will have an assessment, and those who fail will be disciplined."
Leaving these words behind, Hideyoshi Tsuruno and Yamahiko agreed to start their individual training after the second class in the afternoon, then left the training room.
Yamahiko left the classroom with the other students. After this class, it was already noon. He found Renji Abarai, Rukia, and others in the cafeteria, and they had lunch together.
Yamahiko shared the day's events with them. Upon learning that the Kidō Corps teacher wanted to have a private session with him, Renji Abarai, Rukia, and others congratulated him. However, they also felt somewhat disappointed.
Yamahiko's talent had already become widely recognized at the Spiritual Arts Academy. Many people referred to Renji Abarai, Rukia, and others as Yamahiko's childhood friends, Izuru Kira and Momo Hinamori as good friends.
Under the reputation of a genius, the radiance emitted by those who were not as talented as him was easily overshadowed, even though they were exceptional in their own right.
Therefore, this meal lacked much casual conversation and became somewhat quiet.
Yamahiko was unaware of this issue. After returning to his dormitory to rest for a while, he proceeded to attend his afternoon classes. The classes he had were combat training, and they were held in pairs.
The curriculum at the Spiritual Arts Academy consisted of six classes per day, totaling thirty classes per week.
In the first three years, students had two training classes, each with eight sessions, for a total of sixteen classes, along with fourteen cultural classes.
In the fourth year, there were four training classes: Kidō, Shunpo, Swordsmanship, and Hand-to-Hand Combat, with each having four sessions, totaling sixteen classes, and fourteen cultural classes.
The term 'Hand-to-Hand Combat' referred to the martial arts practiced without weapons, which could be divided into two forms: striking techniques and grappling techniques.
However, over time, many other styles had evolved, continuously improving hand-to-hand combat techniques.
This class was also a subject that troubled Yamahiko because of his physical disadvantages.
Even though he was now thirteen years old, he still had the appearance he had when he was eleven, standing at just 4 feet 7 inches (1.4 meters).
Furthermore, as long as his spiritual pressure continued to advance, it was estimated that he wouldn't grow any taller for decades or even centuries.
Just like Toshiro Hitsugaya, who had maintained the appearance of a ten-year-old even though he was in his sixties or seventies.
So, every time Yamahiko was paired with opponents, they were usually weaker girls. Without using spiritual powers, his chances of winning weren't particularly high.
Fortunately, the final exam for this class focused on hand-to-hand combat techniques rather than victories or losses, or else Yamahiko would have a hard time advancing.
After finishing the hand-to-hand combat class, Yamahiko, dragging his tired body, went to find Teacher Hideyoshi Tsuruno.
In the training room, Hideyoshi Tsuruno first helped him enhance one of his Hadō techniques, Hadō #1: Sho. Although he learned it very quickly, its power had not yet reached its peak.
Just like the difference between Rukia Kuchiki's Sho and Byakuya Kuchiki's Sho; the former was merely a shockwave that pushed people back, while the latter had three to four times the power and could send someone flying three to four meters away.
And when Byakuya used his Senkei technique with Sho, the power was even greater and had an unexpected effect.
Hideyoshi Tsuruno forced Yamahiko to practice Hadō #1: Sho a hundred times, pushing him to maximize its power. After that, he began teaching him the second Kidō technique, Hadō #4: Byakurai.
This technique's name reflected its meaning: transforming spiritual energy into a bundle of lightning and shooting it at the opponent.
Although it had good power, it could be countered by Sho. If Sho was used to disperse the Byakurai, the Hadō #4: Byakurai would lose all its power.
After mastering it, Yamahiko was instructed to practice diligently. When Yamahiko left the training room, it was already past 8 PM.
There were few people left on the campus, and the surroundings were empty except for the moonlight that shone brilliantly.
This was the first time Yamahiko had walked alone on the campus in the evening, and he felt a sense of loneliness.
From not being in the same class, to not having dinner together in the evening, Yamahiko realized that he was spending less and less time with his friends, and their relationships were slowly drifting apart.
But in order to protect the people he cherished from harm, Yamahiko could only choose to continue walking this lonely path.
The path Yamahiko walked was destined to be a lonely one.