Chapter 115

The Jin'emon Kotsubaki before me is definitely not a vice-captain who grew up during peacetime; his hands are probably already filled with rivers of blood and seas of bones.

"But I've heard you're more skilled in the Kidō?"

Jin'emon Kotsubaki then asked.

Haruto never expected that his little bit of fame would even reach the vice-captain, whom he had never met.

"I quite like combining the Zanka no Tachi with slashing attacks."

"Zanka no Tachi..."

The other person muttered the name of this Kidō.

"I see."

Jin'emon Kotsubaki took off the cool sunglasses from his nose.

Haruto then realized that the scar running across half his cheek had also cost the swordsman an eye.

"Whether it's Zanjutsu, swordsmanship, or Jinzen, teaching you these things is no problem."

Jin'emon Kotsubaki said very generously.

But here I am...

"I'm afraid you'll find it difficult to get the answer you're looking for."

"... The answer I'm looking for?"

"Right."

Jin'emon Kotsubaki took a piece of cotton cloth from the low table beside him and began to wipe his already shiny sunglasses.

"Zanjutsu."

"That's a skill that only those without the talent for the art of Kidō would strive to acquire."

Jin'emon Kotsubaki carefully examined the sunglasses inside and out with his only intact eye, making sure there was no dirt or dust before putting them back on.

"I didn't enter the Gotei 13 through formal training, but before becoming a vice-captain, I also taught at the Shin'ō Academy."

"The student handbook should clearly state that you should not approach any unknown target with a knife... whether the opponent is a Hollow or the Soul Reaper."

Jin'emon Kotsubaki was quite satisfied with his skill in cleaning the lenses.

"Yes."

Haruto nodded in reply.

These are the most basic contents in the textbook.

"I pursued the ultimate in Zanjutsu precisely because I could not Kidō."

Jin'emon Kotsubaki stated it very directly.

"Let alone a high-level Kidō like the Zanka no Tachi, I'm not even very good at using the most basic Shakkahō."

"When you first acquire the Reiatsu of Vice-Captain-level, to achieve the same destructive power as Zanka no Tachi, you'd probably need to slash the target dozens of times."

"If my Zanpakuto weren't a physical-type sword..."

Jin'emon Kotsubaki patted the Zanpakuto that was placed on the same table as the drinks.

"I can't even guarantee that I could have persevered until I achieved this small success."

Haruto smiled and refuted Jin'emon Kotsubaki's excuse:

"Zanpakuto is essentially a reflection of the soul. If someone of your renown were to say such a thing, it would make many people feel utterly ashamed."

It's obvious.

That was just Jin'emon Kotsubaki modest.

"... Let's just pretend you can talk."

Jin'emon Kotsubaki, however, did not insist.

But my opinion will not change.

"Aside from a very few individuals like myself, Shikai and Kidō are the skills that Soul Reaper most need to hone and master."

"You know that too..."

"Many Zanpakuto don't even retain their original form after they've been released."

"Moreover, the Zanjutsu used in conjunction with Shunpo consume a significant amount of physical strength and Reiatsu; relying on Zanjutsu to fight when one can't even maintain Shikai... that scene is utterly despairing."

Jin'emon Kotsubaki remarked with a sigh.

"I'll say it again."

"If you need it, I'm willing to share everything I know."

"But as a personal suggestion, I still hope you won't waste your talent and can continue to shine on the path of the Kidō."

The fact that he could say such things proves that Jin'emon Kotsubaki's love for Zanjutsu is beyond doubt; otherwise, given his reputation, he wouldn't be so eager to try it out—indeed, most of the mainstream Soul Reaper look down on Zanjutsu.

"..."

I still want to learn.

Haruto did not change his mind.

"... What are your reasons for insisting on this?"

"I don't know what kind of abilities my Zanpakuto will awaken, but before Shikai, I desperately need enough close-combat skills."

Haruto didn't tell Jin'emon Kotsubaki the truth.

He explained that he was nearing the limit of his current level in Kidō), which was why he wanted to improve his combat power by training in Zanjutsu —but the other person had just said that he had no talent for Kidō, so saying that was incredibly tactless.

"Close combat skills?"

This answer was both unexpected and perfectly reasonable.

Whether it's Hadō or Bakudō, ranged methods are more common than close-range methods. Take the Kidō Corps as an example: while they excel at ranged firepower suppression, they do indeed have few reliable close-range defensive methods.

Conversely, the Stealth Force can be used as an example.

Haruto's goal wasn't to further enhance his advantages, but rather to address his weaknesses... This is indeed the training philosophy of many Soul Reaper.

That is...

For Haruto's stature, this is a bit too simple.

"Haruto."

Please speak.

"If you just want to improve your melee skills..."

"Besides the Zanjutsu, I actually have a better suggestion. I wonder if you would be willing to give it a try?"

Jin'emon Kotsubaki said meaningfully.

Volume 1: Chapter 72, Chivalry? Mermaid!

Haruto was standing at the entrance of the Third Division.

It wasn't that he was passed Jin'emon Kotsubaki; rather, his previous statement was Haruto's next target:

Hakuda.

"Zanpakuto is an extension of the arm. Since you need close-combat Zanjutsu, you should also be interested in Hakuda, right?"

That's all.

After obtaining two scrolls of secret techniques from Jin'emon Kotsubaki —experiences and insights on the draw-slash technique written on bamboo slips with a carving knife— Haruto arrived at the entrance of the Third Division with a brand-new "letter of introduction."

"Third Division."

Haruto pulled out the letter of introduction from his pocket and tossed it around a couple of times.

"The 'eldest sister' at the gate of Jin'emon Kotsubaki..."

"We didn't achieve our main objective today, but we did see quite a few vice-captains."

When Haruto first went out, he was actually heading to the Kyōshiba Family with a gift—he got the address from Byakuya... After all, Haruto really didn't dare go to the Fifth Division, for fear of running into a certain blue-skinned man.

The Menos Grande who helped destroy the evidence is suspected to be the one who orchestrated it; walking into a trap like this probably doesn't feel good.

Unfortunately, Haruto's trip ended in failure again.

According to neighbors, the Shusuha siblings, who had just returned to Seireitei, were ordered to go to the World of the Living to carry out a mission.

It's most likely because of what happened with the 11th and Twelfth Divisions.

There was no other choice.

Haruto could only wait for the next opportunity.

"Two elder brothers?"

Haruto greeted the two Soul Reapers guarding the door.

"..."

The two of them stared straight ahead, as if they hadn't seen Haruto at all.

--If I didn't know about the Third Division, I probably would have already started looking down on them.

That's the kind of drama we're used to.

"I've been asked by Lieutenant Kotsubaki of the Seventh Division to visit Lieutenant-Captain Iba. Could you please inform him?"

Third Division Vice-Captain, Chikane Iba.

She is the eldest sister and a master of Hakuda at the Jin'emon Kotsubaki, and also the person Haruto is about to visit.

"Seventh Division?"

"Aren't you a student at the Shin'ō Academy?"

The guards, who had been silent just moments before, spoke in unison.

Once they opened their mouths, Haruto roughly understood the situation: the two of them knew him, but they were afraid to speak to him because of discipline.

It's important to know that among the current Gotei 13, the Third Division is second only to the First Division in terms of strictness regarding rules.

"Can't students temporarily fill in for the Gotei 13?"

"..."

The two team members at the door exchanged a glance.

"Alright, he'll go and say it for you right away..."

Before the Soul Reaper on the left could finish speaking, his partner interrupted him:

"If you reply, then you can go."

"Why didn't you go? I've already exhausted myself talking to you, running errands..."

"Hey, I don't want to--"

"Cough!"

Haruto coughed heavily.

"If you two gentlemen don't mind, I can go in by myself."

"..."

Their eyes locked again, seemingly playing rock-paper-scissors with their gazes:

"You stay here and don't move. I'll be right back."

The one who had probably lost spoke solemnly, with an expression as if facing certain death.

If Haruto hadn't known he meant no harm, he probably would have grabbed a knife by now.

As for the other guard who remained here, he showed no interest in talking to Haruto, continuing to maintain a vacant expression with his eyes fixed on the sky.