Araki: Chōjirō, You Truly Disappoint Me!

"Araki! You absolutely cannot fall into depravity like this! Captain Yamamoto has such high hopes for you!"

Chōjirō Sasakibe spoke to Araki with urgency. It seemed that Chōjirō Sasakibe, who considered himself Araki's closest friend, was even more concerned about Araki's well-being than Araki himself! Sasakibe was terrified that Araki would spend his days indulging in women, never striving for improvement! He feared Araki would squander the immense talent residing within his body and ultimately fail to live up to Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's high expectations for him!

"You say I'm depraved? Sasakibe, what kind of joke is that?! Do I look like someone who lacks self-control?!"

"The reason my eyes are like this isn't because of what you're suggesting, but because of other, more important reasons…"

Araki frowned slightly upon hearing this, and after glaring at Chōjirō Sasakibe, he spoke irritably.

"Well…"

Chōjirō Sasakibe hesitated slightly. He parted his lips, looking at Araki as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.

"I actually do think you're that kind of person, someone who lacks self-control."

In the end, Sasakibe chose to follow his heart and nodded at Araki.

"Heh heh…"

"I see, so you're looking for a fight!"

Araki chuckled at this. He was amused, but also angered, by Sasakibe's words.

So, with a smile, Araki pointed coldly at Chōjirō Sasakibe's nose.

"Uh. How should I put this?!"

Chōjirō Sasakibe was momentarily stunned.

"Araki, your words aren't accurate! I didn't come to visit you to pick a fight! Actually, I came to the 11th Division to see you because I was hoping you could give me some pointers, to help me improve myself…"

"That day, after you and Captain Yamamoto finished your discussion in the meeting room, Captain Yamamoto seemed like a changed man! From that day on, no matter how busy Captain Yamamoto was, he would set aside at least two hours every day for 'swordsmanship,' 'hand-to-hand combat,' 'flash step,' 'kido,' and even Zanpakuto training!"

"Watching Captain Yamamoto constantly progressing, I knew clearly in my heart that I couldn't continue to be so lax! Otherwise, it wouldn't be long before I would no longer be worthy of appearing behind Captain Yamamoto as his right-hand man!"

"Therefore, I hope you, Araki, can help me! Make me stronger, so I can be worthy of the title of Captain Yamamoto's follower!"

Chōjirō Sasakibe explained the purpose of his visit to Araki while also correcting the inaccuracies in Araki's words.

Yes, ever since Araki had advised Old Man Yama at the Captains' meeting, Old Man Yama had seemingly, due to Araki's incessant chatter, driven Araki out of the 1st Division barracks and issued an order that Araki and Unohana were absolutely forbidden from entering the 1st Division barracks without his command! It was essentially an explicit prohibition of Araki's presence…

However, in reality, Old Man Yama had taken all of Araki's words to heart. Not only had he listened, but he had even been secretly training for several months, just waiting for the Quincy to arrive, so he could teach them a good lesson~

"Haha…"

Araki simply chuckled softly. He didn't seem surprised at all that Old Man Yama had taken all his words to heart.

"Simply put, Sasakibe, you want me to train you, to make you stronger, right?"

Araki asked, looking at Sasakibe.

"Yes!"

Sasakibe bowed slightly to Araki, showing respect.

"Heh heh, I understand! Since you've asked me so earnestly, as your 'closest friend,' it wouldn't be right not to help you~ But my training is very tough, so I hope you can endure it…"

Araki chuckled at Sasakibe's sincere attitude, then continued speaking to him.

"I know! Don't worry, no matter how painful it gets, I will persevere."

Sasakibe said to Araki seriously.

"Very good…"

"As I said before! Actually, training you and making you stronger is essentially no different from fighting you. To learn how to hit someone, you first have to learn how to take a hit! Let's go! We'll go spar right now…"

"Coincidentally, the training ground we'll use should already have been tidied up by Retsu and her squad members~"

Araki said, walking to Chōjirō Sasakibe's side, grabbing his shoulder, and leading him towards the door of the 11th Division Captain's Office.

"Eh?!"

Sasakibe was slightly taken aback. He kept feeling that there was something not quite right in Araki's words, but in the short time, he couldn't figure out what it was.

It wasn't until Araki led Sasakibe to a large open space outside the 11th Division barracks that Sasakibe finally realized the problem…

"Araki, this open space, the original 11th Division didn't have it, right?!"

Sasakibe looked at the open space and cautiously asked Araki.

"It's specially prepared for you."

Araki had no intention of deceiving Sasakibe and answered truthfully.

"Specially prepared for me?! How did you know I would come looking for you?"

Sasakibe was stunned, followed by a wave of confusion.

Sasakibe couldn't understand how Araki possibly knew he would come to visit!

"I already told you, the reason my eyes are so red is for other reasons…"

Araki merely smiled slightly at this.

As he looked back, Araki's eyes seemed to have crimson electric currents stretching into long, thin threads. To gain the upper hand in the potential invasion by Yhwach! Araki's advanced Observation Haki, which allowed him to predict the future, had never been turned off~

Compared to when his Spiritual Power was at third-class, when Araki could only foresee a mere dozen seconds into the future, now that his Spiritual Pressure had risen to second-class, Araki could even see several minutes into the future!

So, before Chōjirō Sasakibe even arrived, Araki had already foreseen his visit and arranged for Unohana Retsu to prepare the training ground and greet Sasakibe outside.

As for what Unohana Retsu had told Sasakibe earlier, about having unfinished business with the 11th Division…

It was actually because time was too short and the ground hadn't been cleared thoroughly enough. So, while Araki and Sasakibe were talking, she took the opportunity to use her Zanpakuto to clean the open area outside the Swordsmanship dojo again.

"Ugh."

However, hearing these words, beads of sweat instantly appeared on Sasakibe's forehead. He felt as if he had fallen into a giant net, controlled by Araki with invisible strings.

"Araki, you truly are as formidable as ever! Old Man Yama certainly didn't misjudge you!"

Sasakibe smiled helplessly at this. Deep down, his admiration for Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's choice of Araki as his successor grew even stronger! Could it be that Old Man Yama had long recognized Araki as someone excellent in 'mind,' 'skill,' and 'body'?!

"Alright! Sasakibe, stop dawdling and attack already~"

"Let me see what progress you've made after a hundred years, Sasakibe!"

"Of course, if your strength hasn't improved as much as I expect, you're going to get hit! Prepare yourself~"

Araki ignored Sasakibe's praise and crooked a finger at him, signaling Sasakibe to attack boldly.

Araki's goal for Sasakibe today was clear: to train his ability to withstand attacks.

After all, Araki remembered how Sasakibe was instantly defeated in the Thousand-Year Blood War after the Quincy stole his Bankai.

As for Sasakibe's 'flash step,' 'hand-to-hand combat,' 'swordsmanship,' and 'kido,' Araki wasn't even going to mention them yet!

In Araki's opinion, his biggest weakness was his ability to withstand attacks!

Although Sasakibe's Bankai was strong, in terms of his ability to withstand attacks, he couldn't compare to Hinamori Momo, the future 5th Division Lieutenant…

Cough, cough…

"Then I won't hold back!"

After hearing Araki's words, Sasakibe no longer hesitated. He immediately drew the Zanpakuto from his waist and aimed it at Araki.

"Pierce him, Suzumebachi!"

As Sasakibe softly chanted the release command, a rapier-like weapon immediately appeared in his hand.

"Watch out!"

The moment Sasakibe's Zanpakuto was released, he was already in front of Araki.

"Heh heh."

Araki simply smiled faintly at Suzumebachi, which resembled a rapier in Sasakibe's hand. Then, with a single hand, he gripped Suzumebachi's slender blade.

"What?"

Sasakibe's expression changed to one of shock at this sight.

"Thud!"

Unfortunately, before Sasakibe could react, Araki had already raised his foot and kicked towards Sasakibe's abdomen.

"Damn it!"

By the time Sasakibe reacted, it was too late. He couldn't dodge Araki's attack.

"Thud~"

With a soft thud, Sasakibe was sent flying by Araki's kick.

"If this is all you've got, Sasakibe, then I'm truly a little disappointed!"

"To deal with you now, I might not even need to use this Zanpakuto."

Araki watched Sasakibe fly backward, unfastened the Zanpakuto from his waist, and casually stuck it into the ground.

"Try your best to force me to draw my sword! Sasakibe…"

Araki looked at Sasakibe, who was lying on the ground, and said faintly.