The sound of fists and feet striking the Kidō training stakes echoed through the room. Mashiro Kuna, dressed in a white Hakuda training uniform, sat in the corner, resting her chin on her hands. Her eyes sparkled as she watched Masatsuki Aozaki standing in the center.
Looking at the man—elegant like a noble yet exuding an untamed, reckless air—Mashiro couldn't help but drift into memories.
Like Zanjutsu, Hakuda is divided into ten ranks, with the tenth being the highest.
Mashiro had reached the eighth rank. In the past, whenever the Ninth Division organized training sessions, she always served as the Hakuda instructor, teaching with effortless grace while being admired by countless subordinates.
Because of this, her Hakuda skills were highly regarded within the squad.
But everything changed after she joined the Eleventh Division.
After becoming the Third Seat, she had been waiting for her work assignments, expecting Yamazaki Ittora to appoint her as the Hakuda instructor.
Instead, what she received was a regretful notice from him.
"Third Seat Mashiro Kuna, the squad members have unanimously requested that the Captain handle Hakuda training. If you want to teach, I'm afraid you'll need to switch to a different combat style."
Even with Mashiro's usual carefree attitude, she couldn't help but feel irritated by Yamazaki Ittora's rejection.
She never considered herself a teacher and had little interest in instructing, but having a role she had long held suddenly taken away left her with a sense of frustration.
Hakuda was her specialty—her favorite combat style, the one she was most passionate about. Even her Zanpakutō's Shikai form was tailored to complement Hakuda, taking the shape of a protective gauntlet.
She wasn't interested in teaching, but being a Hakuda instructor came with an exclusive training hall, so she never minded the role.
During her time in the Ninth Division, even as the Fourth Seat, her Hakuda rank was equal to that of Captain Kensei Muguruma. In pure technique, she could even slightly outmatch him.
Now, after being transferred to a new squad by the Captain-Commander, her role had been taken by someone without even an official Hakuda rank.
It was impossible for her not to care.
Yamazaki Ittora's message was clear: The squad members didn't acknowledge her Hakuda skills. Despite her eighth-rank title, they placed more trust in an unranked captain.
That was why Yamazaki Ittora had sounded regretful, suggesting she shift her focus to another teaching area.
After all, she was still a high-ranking officer, and even if she couldn't teach Hakuda, there were other skills worth learning from her.
The problem was, she wasn't particularly skilled in other areas.
Her Zanjutsu was no match for Yamazaki Ittora, her Kidō was weaker than Gin Ichimaru's, and her Shunpo fell short of Ryuuseki and Izumo, who were from the Second Division.
Simply put, there was no need for her to teach at all.
"Then, Lieutenant Yamazaki, may I ask when the Captain's classes are scheduled?" Mashiro frowned, feeling an unspoken pressure as she asked seriously.
"This weekend. Kenpachi Aozaki will be holding a Hakuda class at the main dojo. Any squad member interested is free to attend."
Yamazaki Ittora smiled, clearly looking forward to the class himself.
"This weekend? Fine. I'll attend and see for myself just how incredible the Captain's Hakuda is—to the point that the entire squad demanded he teach them." Mashiro huffed at the time, her frustration evident.
She might appear naive and carefree, but she was perceptive. She immediately understood the underlying message in Yamazaki Ittora's words.
Just from her expression, it was clear she wasn't convinced.
But since she had never witnessed Masatsuki Aozaki using Hakuda to demolish the entire squad, her skepticism was understandable...
Yamazaki Ittora let out a helpless smile.
The Eleventh Division was, without a doubt, the most combat-driven squad in the Gotei 13. Every year, countless battle-hungry Shinigami fought fiercely for a chance to join its ranks.
And in this division, strength determined everything—status, promotions, authority.
In other words, if you didn't have overwhelming strength, you couldn't hold onto the Captain's seat.
The fact that the squad members begged Masatsuki Aozaki to teach them Hakuda, showering him with endless praise, said all there was to say about his power.
Third Seat Mashiro Kuna was still too young!
Ignoring Ittora Yamazaki's sympathetic gaze, Mashiro Kuna secretly thought to herself, I hope he humiliates himself in front of everyone during class this weekend.
That was the worst kind of malice she could muster.
...
When the weekend arrived, Masatsuki Aozaki showed up at the Dojo as promised for the Hakuda class.
Over two hundred squad members filled the Dojo, listening intently as he demonstrated Hakuda techniques. Aside from his voice and the sharp sound of strikes cutting through the air, the place was utterly silent.
As she listened to his warm yet powerful voice and watched the flawless coordination of his muscles and movements, Mashiro Kuna felt as if she were drifting through an endless sea of knowledge and technique.
Every punch, every kick, every motion flowed with strength like the crashing waves of an ocean.
Enthralled by his deep, commanding voice, Mashiro Kuna found herself completely captivated by the man on stage.
As Masatsuki Aozaki finished his demonstration, he slowly withdrew his fist, then stood at the center of the Dojo and bowed to everyone.
This was a basic gesture of respect, unrelated to rank or strength.
"Amazing!"
Boom!
The moment someone voiced their admiration, the Dojo erupted into thunderous applause.
"I never realized just how much force was behind the punch that sent me flying back then."
"The captain slowed down his movements, and I still couldn't catch everything!"
"This is insane—his strikes are as powerful as a Reiatsu attack!"
"So the captain was holding back before… If he hadn't, I'd have ended up just like that Kidō puppet—completely shattered!"
Squad members jumped to their feet, their gazes locked onto the strikingly handsome man bowing before them, eyes blazing with admiration.
"Ten-dan? He's definitely at a ten-dan level! No—he surpasses every martial artist in Seireitei! And he's even younger than me?!"
Mashiro Kuna's wide eyes remained fixed on the man being showered with praise.
As an 8th-dan in Hakuda, she knew all too well what 9th-dan masters thought of her level—amateur.
Their Reiatsu might not have been much compared to hers, but their technique demanded painstaking dedication. She had spent decades honing her skills and still hadn't reached their level.
At that moment, watching the bright and confident man step down from the stage, she carved his name into her memory—never to forget it.
"Captain Aozaki…" As he approached, Mashiro Kuna hesitated slightly before greeting him shyly.
Masatsuki Aozaki smiled. "Mashiro, no need to be so formal. Just call me Masatsuki."
That single sentence made Mashiro Kuna immediately wary of him.
But his next words changed her mind.
"Mashiro, are you interested in Hakuda? Do you want to learn Captain-Commander Yamamoto's combat techniques? If you do, I can teach you."
Masatsuki Aozaki said this without the slightest hesitation, as if passing down his master's teachings meant nothing to him. After all, Yamamoto had never explicitly forbidden the transmission of Hakuda.
To Mashiro Kuna, however, it felt like sheer generosity—this Kenpachi's selflessness laid bare.
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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