Standing at the starting line, Ren didn't bother trading barbs with the little girl. Instead, he kicked off his wooden clogs, exhaled deeply, and prepared himself.
Those standing close could clearly see Ren's chest swell dramatically. It wasn't a normal deep breath—it looked more like the intake of gasoline in a high-performance internal combustion engine!
Then, as he bent forward, his loose dōgi visibly bulged.
The students watching were stunned. Their gazes fixed on Ren in disbelief. Beneath the folds of his uniform, they could only imagine a body brimming with raw, violent energy. This wasn't the graceful prelude to a textbook shunpo. It was more akin to a predator preparing to pounce.
In the next moment, a dull thud echoed as dust and dirt flew up. Ren's figure vanished.
To Aizen's eyes, Ren resembled a ferocious beast lunging at its prey. This was no ordinary shunpo. The mechanics—the force generation, the way he leveraged the ground—were completely different. And above all, the sheer noise was absurd!
A sharp scraping sound accompanied by another cloud of dust marked his stop at the next checkpoint, already beyond half the course.
In stunned silence, Yoruichi, the gathered students and instructors watched as Ren straightened up, cracked his neck, and grinned at the display screen.
'2.939 seconds.'
Turning to Yoruichi, he smiled slyly. "Looks like I won, huh?"
Yoruichi's lips parted slightly in astonishment. "Y-you… this isn't even shunpo!"
"Didn't you say whoever finished faster would win? You didn't specify it had to be done using traditional shunpo," Ren replied with a shrug. Then, flashing a cheeky grin, he added, "And who's to say what I used wasn't shunpo?"
Everyone present—teachers and students alike—was left speechless.
That? A shunpo? With that much noise?
It looked more like he'd charged through the course like a bull!
But amid their amazement, a few astute observers frowned in contemplation. They realized that while Ren's performance was anything but subtle, it did utilize shunpo principles.
He had simply abandoned the ideals of silence and grace.
After class, Yoruichi approached Ren with a complex expression. "Fine. A bet's a bet. What do you want to learn?"
She should've been furious—especially since his method deviated so far from the conventional norm. Yet Yoruichi's exceptional insight, particularly in the art of flash steps, told her otherwise.
Upon closer reflection, she realized that Ren's method had merit.
This realization only compounded her shock. Ren had no prior experience with shunpo. The conclusion was almost absurd—he had developed an entirely new technique after just twenty or so attempts.
Outrageous!
Yoruichi knew that the shunpo taught at Shin'ō Academy was entry-level. It was the foundation—a rudimentary form. While it was often called 'classic', some might dismiss it as outdated.
In her family, the Shihōin clan, shunpo and hakuda were refined arts. Their secret techniques had been honed over generations. Advanced forms of shunpo required exceptional talent and years of practice to master.
Yet today, a mere drifter from Rukongai had cobbled together a unique, high-speed movement technique in under an hour—something that rivalled advanced shunpo.
Worse, it wasn't just any shunpo. It was one that perfectly suited him.
Yoruichi had been confident going into the challenge. She'd wagered on her mastery of advanced shunpo to outperform a beginner like Ren.
Even if she faced the Onmitsukidō's third seat in a Shunpo competition under equal distance, she'd win without fail.
But Ren had shattered her expectations. His speed, though rough and loud, was undeniably fast. And she could tell—he'd only just scratched the surface of this new technique. With practice, his speed might someday rival hers at her peak.
Watching Yoruichi's shifting expressions, Ren couldn't guess what thoughts were swirling in her mind. Instead, he simply said, "I've heard of an advanced shunpo technique called Utsusemi. Do you know it?"
Yoruichi's brows furrowed. "Where did you hear that name?"
Ren shrugged. "I overheard it in the cafeteria. I can't remember who mentioned it. Why? Don't tell me you don't know it?"
In truth, he wasn't sure if Yoruichi knew Utsusemi. After all, the original story hadn't specified whether it was a Shihōin family technique or something she developed later.
"That's a Shihōin technique," Yoruichi replied after a moment of hesitation. "It's not a widely known name…"
After some deliberation, she added, "I'll teach you in our next shunpo class."
Yoruichi felt conflicted. Utsusemi was a high-level shunpo technique—one she wasn't authorized to casually pass on. While it wasn't strictly forbidden to teach outsiders, sharing it with a drifter from Rukongai wasn't a simple decision.
As the heir of the Shihōin clan, she couldn't act recklessly. But reneging on a bet wasn't in her nature either. She'd have to deal with the clan elders later.
With the terms of the bet settled, Ren felt satisfied. He headed to the cafeteria with Aizen to enjoy a well-deserved meal.
"Ren-kun," Aizen asked curiously as they ate, "was that shunpo of yours something you came up with on the spot?"
Today, Ren had once again upended his expectations.
Oh, Aizen already knew Ren was a prodigy without a shred of doubt.
But to invent a personalized shunpo technique during his first exposure to the art?
Even for him, that's pushing it too far.
"Just a little adjustment based on my own situation," Ren replied with a smile after swallowing a mouthful of rice. "Why, Sōsuke, interested in learning?"
Aizen's lips twitched ever so slightly. "I think I'll stick with practising the traditional shunpo, thank you."
That thunderous, earth-shaking movement technique? No, thank you. It didn't align with his preference for a more understated and subtle approach.
As Ren continued devouring his meal, his mind wandered. He knew his own abilities better than anyone. The technique he had just 'created" wasn't anything as lofty as an advanced shunpo.
All he had done was discard the emphasis on stealth and silence—elements traditional shunpo prioritized—and focused entirely on maximizing speed. After all, in his view, sneaky assassination tactics weren't his style.
Combat, in Ren's philosophy, was about facing the enemy head-on, overpowering them with sheer force.
Silence? Low noise? What was the point?
"Oh, by the way, I won't be joining you for the first class this afternoon," Aizen said casually after finishing his meal.
_________
[T/N] - Don't forget to VOTE powerstones and bam! Extra chapter tomorrow! Deal?