"Genryū is a school I founded two thousand years ago," Yamamoto Genryūsai solemnly explained. "It encompasses, but is not limited to, combat techniques such as Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō. It also includes my philosophical insights on life."
"After creating Genryū, I established the Shin'ō Academy from the original Genji School a thousand years ago. Strictly speaking, all graduates of the academy can be considered my disciples."
"Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake are among them."
As he spoke, Yamamoto's piercing gaze fixed on Tokikaze, who was nervously gulping tea, appearing calm on the surface but quite unsettled inside.
Though unsure why the old man brought up this topic suddenly, Tokikaze felt a looming sense of danger.
At this point, he could only remain silent.
As for Genryū, the allure was undeniable.
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, known as the strongest Shinigami, was formidable not only for his immense spiritual pressure and Zanpakutō but also for his unmatched combat techniques.
Even Unohana Yachiru, the original Kenpachi who mastered all sword styles, was defeated by Yamamoto and became one of the founding Captains of the Gotei 13.
The strength of Genryū had been proven over two millennia.
A thousand years ago, a certain Quincy ancestor probably experienced this firsthand.
Becoming Yamamoto's disciple might not bring a qualitative leap in power, but learning from him could significantly enhance one's abilities, providing countless insights for future development.
It seemed like a no-brainer, a deal too good to pass up.
Yet Tokikaze couldn't shake the feeling that something was off as if something unpleasant was awaiting him.
Seeing through his thoughts, Yamamoto spoke plainly:
"Rest assured, I won't impose my ideas on you."
"The truth is, the incident with Byakuya Kuchiki served as a wake-up call for me. A Shinigami who can't control their immense power risks becoming a puppet of that power."
"Conveniently, Genryū includes techniques to address this."
Tokikaze nodded thoughtfully. The reasoning was sound, leaving him no grounds for refusal.
The tea room fell silent as Yamamoto awaited Tokikaze's answer.
After a while, Tokikaze smiled and said, "If Yamamoto-sensei is so graciously inviting me, it would be impolite to refuse."
"Disciple Tokikaze Kaname greets Genryūsai-sensei."
Tokikaze maintained proper etiquette, bowed respectfully, and his demeanour was sincere.
Seeing Tokikaze's earnestness, Yamamoto was reminded of how Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake had once paid their respects when they became his disciples.
The time we seemed to have flown by in the blink of an eye.
"That's enough. There aren't many formalities in Genryū."
Yamamoto indicated, "From now on, you can come to the First Division headquarters on your days off. I will teach you the essence of Genryū without reservation."
Though it was a sudden idea, Yamamoto prided himself on being a responsible teacher, treating every disciple fairly, regardless of their status.
"Tokikaze, I will tailor my teachings to your current level."
Yamamoto's voice was low and resonant, "Given that you haven't yet mastered Bankai, it's most appropriate to deepen your understanding of your Zanpakutō."
"If I recall correctly, the Golden Seal Society holds a collection of all the sword meditation methods since the founding of the Soul Society."
"Have you studied them in depth?"
Tokikaze's expression froze, and he forgot to lower his teacup.
What the hell?!
Does the Golden Seal Society have other sword meditation techniques?
Isn't the method taught at the Shin'ō Academy the only one for communing with a Zanpakutō?
Leaving the Golden Seal Society's noble classes early, Tokikaze knew little of these matters.
Additionally, due to the factionalism and mutual distrust within the Kaname family, no one informed Tokikaze of these key points.
As for Shunsui Kyōraku, he likely assumed Tokikaze already knew, so he never mentioned it.
From academy admission to joining a division, Tokikaze had been diligently training in addition to the special lessons given by Kyōraku.
Without his lucky breakthroughs, Tokikaze might still be at an ordinary seated officer level.
Seeing Tokikaze's reaction, Yamamoto wasn't too surprised. He nodded slightly and said:
"There are many methods of sword meditation."
"Genryū sword meditation might suit you well."
With that, he detailed the techniques word by word, frequently checking if Tokikaze understood.
Tokikaze attentively memorised everything, doing justice to Yamamoto's teachings.
As he grasped the sword meditation techniques, he understood Yamamoto's earlier words.
Ryūjin Jakka, the oldest and most powerful fire-type Zanpakutō, essentially belonged to the Kidō-type.
Based on this, Yamamoto developed the Genryū sword meditation.
Given the nature of Aranami, Tokikaze was well-suited for Genryū sword meditation.
By analysing the properties of spiritual particles in the atmosphere and adjusting his spiritual pressure, he could find the point of resonance with his Zanpakutō and enter a meditative state.
This deepened the bond between Shinigami and Zanpakutō.
Yamamoto Genryūsai, deserving of his title as the strongest Shinigami, had casually imparted knowledge that could greatly benefit any Shinigami.
Even a Captain-level Shinigami like Tokikaze could learn much from it.
Yamamoto nodded in satisfaction. Regardless of Tokikaze's talent, his attitude was commendable.
Compared to a certain lazy disciple, Tokikaze was far superior.
"That will be all for now." Yamamoto reminded, "Practice the Genryū sword meditation daily. Don't slack off."
"Only through persistence can you grasp the true essence of your Zanpakutō and understand your own nature."
"When you return next time, I will teach you more."
Tokikaze nodded, finished his warm tea, and bid farewell to Yamamoto.
After leaving the First Division, he didn't immediately return to the Ninth Division but headed straight to the Fourth Division headquarters.
Having spent many days in the human world, relying heavily on Kidō and Hakuda, his Zanjutsu had grown rusty.
For a Shinigami striving for all-around perfection, this was a critical flaw.
The solution was a thorough Zanjutsu sparring session.
As it happened, he was missing the delicate fragrance of the sword practice uniform...