Haruki approached Renji, who was chatting with Kira. When Renji noticed him, he turned and asked, "Senior Haruki, is there something else you need?"
"Ah, no, nothing in particular," Haruki replied thoughtfully before adding, "I really have high hopes for you, especially when it comes to Rukia. Chasing the stars above—that's quite the romantic endeavor, isn't it?"
"Though I'm just an ordinary Shinigami, I'd like to lend a hand in this kind of thing. How about coming to my place tonight? Perhaps I can teach you all something useful."
Renji was surprised. "Huh?! Senior Haruki, you're going to train me?"
"Not just you." Haruki glanced at Renji before turning to Kira and Hinamori, saying, "All three of you. You're a group, aren't you? Training just one of you would feel out of place."
"Us?" Hinamori asked, pointing at herself in confusion. "I can come too?"
"Of course," Haruki said warmly. "You're all protégés under Captain Aizen's care. Honestly, once you graduate, you'll likely join Squad Five. Giving my future juniors a head start seems perfectly natural."
Though they were puzzled about what Haruki could teach them, given his status as an ordinary Shinigami, Renji, Kira, and Hinamori agreed out of respect.
"Then we'd greatly appreciate it. I'll bring Kira and Hinamori over tonight," Renji said.
"See you tonight, then." Haruki waved and walked away.
...
Haruki's home was in the Seireitei, as he hailed from a minor noble family, though his parents had died in battle. The residence was near Squad Five's barracks, making it convenient for him.
After completing his patrol, Haruki returned to Squad Five to finish his workday. On his way back, he reviewed the details of his newly acquired ability, Stern Master-Apprentice Bond.
The ability lasted three days and turned him into the "ultimate teacher." During this period, he could easily identify the weaknesses of his "students," and they would gain a mysterious learning buff to enhance their progress.
With this ability, training Renji, Kira, and Hinamori would be a breeze. However, his schedule posed a challenge. He could only teach them at night, as his patrol duties the next day would take him to Rukongai.
Shinigami, Haruki mused, were essentially civil servants—but without weekends off. Although there were vacations, they were primarily for seated officers. Ordinary squad members worked tirelessly, which he found exhausting.
...
Upon returning to Squad Five, Haruki greeted his teammates before noticing Gin Ichimaru wandering outside.
Gin was the current lieutenant of Squad Five, though he would soon transfer to Squad Three. Shortly before Renji and the others graduated, Gin would become the captain of Squad Three, and Byakuya Kuchiki would take over Squad Six.
While this had little to do with Haruki, he was keen to befriend Gin.
Gin's ability was called "Venomous Snake."
"Venomous Snake: You can transform into a venomous snake. In human form, your body secretes a toxin that dissolves cells. Additionally, you can hide your true strength."
This was another combat-oriented ability, featuring transformation and concealment. Naturally, Haruki coveted such a power.
The toxic secretion likely referred to the poison Gin unleashed during his Bankai, which was potent enough to corrode even Aizen in his Hōgyoku form. It was so deadly that even the Royal Guard's Death Dealing wouldn't survive without adaptation.
Alternatively, the toxin might scale with Haruki's spiritual energy. Without acquiring the ability, Haruki couldn't verify its full details.
Unfortunately, his favorability with Gin was abysmally low, barely in the single digits. It would take a long time before he could even temporarily use Venomous Snake.
Fostering a relationship with someone like Gin—or Aizen—wasn't easy, nor was it safe. Interacting with such figures recklessly could be dangerous, especially without a means to protect himself. For now, Haruki decided to keep his distance.
Instead, he simply glanced at Gin briefly before focusing on his training.
...
As a rescue squad, Squad Five had relatively light duties during peacetime, aside from patrols. The remaining time was usually spent on training.
Haruki, eager to grow stronger, devoted himself to rigorous practice. Shinigami training emphasized the four core skills: Zanjutsu (swordsmanship), Hakuda (hand-to-hand combat), Hohō (mobility), and Kidō (demon arts).
Among these, Haruki was most eager to improve his Hohō, particularly Shunpo (flash step). After all, speed was the key to dominance.
A fast fighter could achieve anything, and Shunpo was undeniably a flashy skill. Imagine disappearing before an enemy's attack and reappearing behind them, casually remarking, "Too slow." Or intercepting a retreating foe, placing a hand on their chest, and declaring, "Distance means nothing to us. I could pierce your heart at will."
Cool, wasn't it?
Shunpo training had three stages: Prelude, Lift-Off, and Shunpo. While the final stage was the widely recognized Shunpo, the first two were equally critical.
Haruki refrained from using Star Chaser to hasten his progress. Using it now would create a situation where "virtue didn't match the position." He could rise to a seated officer's rank, but his strength would remain mediocre.
Instead, he kept Star Chaser as a passive skill, which allowed him to surpass his limits over time. As long as Renji's favorability didn't reach 80, Star Chaser's limit-breaking effect would remain active.
...
By late afternoon, after meeting various seated officers and observing their abilities, Haruki encountered the most significant figure of Squad Five—Captain Sōsuke Aizen.
Aizen's ability was simple yet profound:
"Ascension to Godhood."