Another Practical Combat Exercise

In the blink of an eye, Ye Yang and the other two had been teaching at Shin'ō for half a year. During that time, they had passed on their experience and understanding to the students, bringing about a qualitative improvement in the strength of the entire class.

They taught the students one-on-one, having each of them demonstrate what they had learned, then devising a training regimen tailored to their performance. This helped everyone overcome their weaknesses and strengthen the things they were good at. For example, if a student was strong but lacked accuracy, they would have them practice control, then teach them ways to use their strength, allowing them to make full use of their abilities.

Finally, when Ye Yang judged the students strong enough, he proposed a practical combat exercise to the school, with the three of them serving as the teachers in charge. The suggestion was quickly approved. After all, a practical combat exercise was a required course for every student. It was only because of the incident during Ye Yang and the others' exercise that the year in which students participated had been raised from third to fifth, to prevent unforeseen incidents from causing casualties.

But this time, all three had jointly submitted the proposal. In addition, ten years had passed since the last incident without another mishap, and Soul Society had complete confidence in their strength. Although Ye Yang and Kisuke Urahara were Seated Officers, everyone knew that neither was in any way inferior to Yoruichi. With three Vice-Captain-level people watching over the students, they could handle any accidents that might arise.

Early that morning, everyone in the class gathered at the Senkaimon. Ye Yang and the other two had arrived early as well.

Looking at the energetic students, Ye Yang was suddenly moved. "It's good to be young."

Kisuke Urahara grinned. "Don't say that. You make it sound like we're old."

"I finally get to visit the World of the Living again. It's been ten years. I wonder how it's changed? World of the Living, here I come! Hahaha..." There was no need to look to know who had said it. No one but Yoruichi had such a hearty laugh.

Ye Yang reminded them, "We're not going there to have fun. Don't forget what happened last time. And don't think you can run off this time!"

Yoruichi understood how important this was too. "Don't worry. Even if something happens, with our strength, even a Vasto Lorde would have to leave in defeat!"

Ye Yang nodded. The three of them had indeed gained a preliminary grasp of Bankai, so even a Vasto Lorde-class Menos Grande would be no match for them if they joined forces.

Seeing that all the students had arrived, Ye Yang said to them, "Let's go!"

The group followed Ye Yang through the Dangai to the training site in the World of the Living. Ye Yang turned to the students and said, "Everyone, we've arrived at the training site. There are thirty-nine of you, so in groups of three, that makes exactly thirteen groups. Each group must kill at least three simulated Hollows. Once your group has completed the task, return here and gather. After all the groups are finished, we'll conduct Konso exercises this afternoon. Is that clear?"

"Understood!"

"Then begin!"

Almost instantly, all the students dispersed in groups of three. Ye Yang watched them leave, then turned to Yoruichi and Kisuke Urahara. "We'll split up in three directions too and protect them from the shadows. If they're in danger, intervene immediately. If anything unexpected happens, remember to contact the others."

The two nodded and left with Shunpo, while Ye Yang ran off in the opposite direction. Along the way, he watched the students from the shadows. All of them performed competently. After half a year of instruction from Ye Yang and the other two, everyone in the class had made considerable progress. Even a single student could handle a simulated Hollow like these; putting them in groups of three was simply an added safety measure.

Over the entire morning, Ye Yang only intervened once. One female student had been so frightened by her first sight of a Hollow that she couldn't move, and her two teammates had been injured protecting her. They had also encountered two Hollows at once, which was why they had been hurt. Seeing this, Ye Yang acted decisively, instantly killing both simulated Hollows. He gave their wounds some basic treatment, and with his help, they subsequently completed their task.

By the time Ye Yang brought them back, Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi were already waiting for him. Their group was the last to arrive. It was already past noon, so everyone rested there for a while.

Ye Yang stood up and said, "Everyone, up. We'll practice Konso this afternoon, so we need to go somewhere humans live. Let's go."

All the students followed Ye Yang toward a small town. Suddenly, Ye Yang's body stiffened, and he stopped. This is... Then a smile appeared on his face, and he said, "It's nothing. Let's go."

Beside him, Kisuke Urahara whispered to Yoruichi, "If I sensed that right just now, there seems to be... in this town."

"Yes, I sensed it too. But it's only one small fry. He probably wants the students to deal with it," Yoruichi said calmly.

"That's not a bad idea either."

When they reached the edge of town, Ye Yang said, "Go on, then. There should be plenty of souls in this town. I shouldn't need to tell you how to perform Konso, right?"

"Yes!"

The students scattered, and Ye Yang couldn't help smiling as he murmured to himself, "It's up to you now. You should be able to handle something like this, right?"

Just then, Yoruichi's voice came from behind him. "Little brother, has anyone ever told you how nasty you are? Is this really all right? That's a real Hollow. Aren't you afraid something will go wrong?"

"Tch, it's just one small fry. If they can't even handle that, then we've wasted all this time on them. Besides, with us following them, what could go wrong?" Ye Yang said indifferently.

The three went straight to a spot above the small-fry Hollow. It was chasing a soul, but instead of intervening, they concealed their Spiritual Pressure. He had sensed a student who had just arrived there. The moment the student saw the Hollow chasing the soul, he panicked. After all, the Hollows they had killed that morning had been simulated, while the one before him was real!

But rather than charging in recklessly, he took a signal flare from inside his clothes. With a bang, it burst in the sky. Ye Yang had given each of them one beforehand, to be used if they encountered something they couldn't handle. A flare meant that all the students were to come and help, including Ye Yang and the other two.

After firing the flare, he placed his hands together and chanted, "O ruler! Mask of flesh and blood, all things, that which bears the name of man and takes wing! Scorching heat and strife, surging waves of the sea, advance to the south! Hadō #31—Shakkahō!"

A fireball shot from his palms and struck the Hollow squarely in the back. The Hollow turned around in pain and looked at the student, then roared and charged at him. By then, several nearby students had arrived. They didn't confront the Hollow head-on, instead using Kidō to restrain it. One student took the soul it had been chasing to safety, keeping him out of harm's way.

Before long, all the students had arrived, but there was still no sign of Ye Yang and the other two.

One student said, "Why isn't Teacher Ye Yang here yet? We can't do any real damage to it."

"Yeah, what do we do?"

The students began to grow uneasy, but one student's words soon rallied them. "Even if the teachers don't come, can't we deal with this monster ourselves? We're the best class. If we can't even handle this, how can we face anyone when we get back?"

At those words, the students' blood began to boil. They started working together, doing their best not to engage the Hollow at close quarters. Some used Bakudō to restrict its movements, while others attacked it with Hadō. For a time, they actually managed to suppress it.

Watching them, Ye Yang couldn't help nodding repeatedly. Their coordination was excellent, and he felt a little pleased. After all, these were students he had taught. Who wouldn't be happy to see their students perform so well? Yoruichi and Kisuke Urahara were smiling beside him too.

By then, the Hollow was covered in wounds from their attacks. Suddenly, one student shouted, "Everyone, use Sōkatsui on the Hollow's head together!"

"O ruler! Mask of flesh and blood, all things, that which bears the name of man! Truth and temperance, stand with claws alone upon the wall of dreams that knows no sin! Hadō #33—Sōkatsui!" all the students chanted.

In an instant, more than thirty blasts of white flame struck the Hollow's head, smashing it to pieces. Its body then dissolved into the air.

"Clap, clap, clap..." Applause came from above as the three revealed themselves. Ye Yang said, "Very good. You performed very well. You should be proud, because you've destroyed a real Hollow!"

"Woo..." Cheers erupted all around, and the students cheered without restraint.

After the cheering died down, Ye Yang made sure they performed Konso on the soul. Once all the tasks were complete, he led all the students back to Soul Society. On the whole, the practical combat exercise had been a great success. Not only had they destroyed simulated Hollows, but they had also worked together to destroy a real one, something that had never happened in a previous exercise.

After they returned, Ye Yang said to the students, "All right, everyone, head back for now. This practical combat exercise was a great success. When you get back, think carefully about how you performed today, and reflect on anything you didn't do well. The practical combat exercise is over!"

Once Ye Yang had finished, everyone dispersed, leaving only the three of them. Kisuke Urahara sighed softly. "It's finally over without a hitch. I never want to do anything this troublesome again."

Yoruichi, on the other hand, said casually, "Actually, it's not so bad."

Ye Yang agreed. "Yes. Watching them reminds me of what we were like back then. There's a sense of accomplishment in watching them grow."

Just then, a member of the Punishment Force suddenly appeared before Ye Yang. Dropping to one knee, the messenger said to them, "Vice-Captain Yoruichi, Third Seat Ye Yang, Fifth Seat Urahara, something terrible has happened! The commander-in-chief is critically ill!"

"What...?"