"Talent is something you're born with," Tokikaze calmly stated, "I've never possessed it from the beginning; I just happened to be lucky."
"Haha, reaching the level of Captain in just three years," Kyoraku Shunsui laughed heartily, his black and purple lips particularly eye-catching. "How can it be just lucky? Talent is the most crucial."
Facing his mentor and friend Kyoraku Shunsui, Tokikaze chose to tell the truth.
Unfortunately, the truth was often the hardest thing to believe.
"Enough about that." Tokikaze shifted his gaze ahead, watching the Captains left the building one after another as he changed the topic. "As the Captain of the Intelligence Division, you should be aware of the losses suffered by the 9th Division three years ago."
Hearing these words, Kyoraku Shunsui's expression paused, shifting from light to somber, and his eyes lost some of their radiance.
"Former Captain, Muguruma Kensei, former Vice-Captain, Mashiro Kuna, Fourth Seat Heizo Kasaki, Sixth Seat Izaemon Todo, and Seventh Seat Shinobu Eishima, all fell victim to the assailant's hand."
He paused for a moment, as if sorting out his emotions. "Except for you, who was participating in the Noble Council at the time, and the Fifth Seat Kaname Tosen, the first Seven Seats were tragically killed."
"After that incident, the Fifth Seat Kaname Tosen also spent nearly half a year recovering before fully recovering."
Despite his lazy demeanor, Kyoraku Shunsui's professionalism in serious matters was commendable.
"Now, the Fifth Seat Kaname Tosen will be transferred to Captain Komamura's Division," Tokikaze said while glancing sideways with a slight smile. "Apart from me and Rangiku, the 9th Division doesn't have many useful members left."
Hearing this, Kyoraku Shunsui seemed to have a sudden ominous feeling.
Tokikaze paid no attention to the change in his expression and continued, "If I'm not mistaken, Nanao Ise should have graduated from Shin'o Academy by now, right?"
He had been thinking about this matter since before the inauguration ceremony.
Nanao Ise was known for her knowledge, refinement, and expertise in paperwork, seemed like a perfect fit for the 9th Division.
"Hey hey, your idea is quite dangerous," Kyoraku Shunsui raised an eyebrow, adjusting the straw hat on his head, staring deeply at Tokikaze as if trying to see through his thoughts. "Do you want to recruit Nanao Ise into the 9th Division as well?"
Tokikaze nodded and said honestly, "The 9th Division is in need of new blood, whether for the Third Seat or the Ninth Seat."
Kyoraku Shunsui pondered.
At this moment, he still had his hands full with Lisa Yadomaru's exile. In Kyoraku Shunsui's eyes, if it weren't for his the mistake on his decision making, Lisa Yadomaru wouldn't have fallen into a trap or got exiled from Soul Society.
It was a major failure that made him doubt his own judgment.
"I know that Ise Clan's Shinken Hakkyoken is temporarily in your care," Tokikaze said calmly.
Kyoraku Shunsui showed no surprise. As the head of the Tsunayashiro Clan that oversaw the Great Archive, he couldn't keep any secret from him. It wasn't surprising that Tokikaze knew everything.
"There's no limit to our duty as guardian." Tokikaze looked at Kyoraku Shunsui, and their eyes met. "The best way to avoid danger is to nip it in the bud."
"If Lisa was strong enough, she wouldn't have been Hollowfied," he added, as if addressing the unspoken meaning in his words. "As I mentioned before, talent represents the limit of a Soul Reaper."
"Nanao has talent in Kido, but she still needs time to grow," Kyoraku Shunsui continued, "And your skill in Kido, well, we both know it's not that amazing."
In Kyoraku Shunsui's memory, Tokikaze's proficiency in Kido was not even as good as beginners. Although he seemed to be using them pretty well during the fight with Tosen, in Kyoraku Shunsui's opinion, it was far from enough.
"People always change." Tokikaze raised his right hand, spreading his five fingers, flat in front of the two.
A faint spiritual pressure radiated from the palm. The blue radiance resembled the color of the sky, and a strong pressure spread with it.
An incantation-less version of Hado #73, "Soren Sokatsui!"
Perfect control allowed Tokikaze to freely change and manipulate the power of this Kidō however he wanted.
Watching this miraculous scene unfold before him, Kyoraku Shunsui was not only shocked with wide-open eyes but also fell into a sudden silence.
The release of Kidō usually fell into two categories.
The conventional method involved spelled out the entire Kidō incantations while gathering their Reiatsu for Kidō release.
The second method was an advanced Kidō technique where the user forwent the incantation to release the Kido faster.
Usually, the latter's power was about one-third less than the former.
Soul Reaper who was highly proficient in Kidō could modify and adjust their Kidō to various extents based on their understanding of the incantations.
As far as Kyoraku Shunsui remembered, only the former Captain of Kidō Corps Tessai Tsukabishi and the former Vice-Captain of Kidō Corps Hachigen Ushoda had reached such a level.
But now...
Tokikaze, who had no innate talent in Kidō, had somehow mastered this technique as well.
This completely defied his judgment so far.
Before entering the Shin'o Academy, this guy couldn't even use a simple Hado without blowing himself up.
But now...
Not only did he skillfully utilize both Bakudō and Hado in battles, he also mastered the incantation-less Kido.
What had happened to this guy during his six years at the Shin'o Academy and three years in the 9th Division?
During this time, what had happened to Tokikaze?
Was it because of that ridiculous diligent training?
Thinking of the intensity of Tokikaze's daily training—100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and a 10-kilometer run—even a Soul Reaper who had been relegated to the rear due to disability could easily do it, right?
Thinking of Tokikaze's training menu, Kyoraku Shunsui couldn't conceal his mocking expression.
"That should be convincing enough, right?" Tokikaze said confidently. "I will teach Nanao Ise about Kidō with everything I have."
"Only overwhelming strength can nip out any potential dangers," he added, self-assured. "This should be enough to convince you."
Kyoraku Shunsui regained his composure, adjusted his straw hat, and said, "In that case, I'll entrust Nanao to you."
"I hope you won't let me down..." he continued as he lowered the straw hat.