Urahara: Is it too late to go back to the First Division now?

Gotei 1st Division barracks, Swordsmanship dojo...

Considered the most luxurious dojo among the Gotei 13, its facilities, from the wooden floor to the displays within, far surpassed anything in the 11th Division barracks' Swordsmanship dojo...

However, this spacious Swordsmanship dojo wasn't bustling with 1st Division members training. Looking around, the vast dojo held only one person standing on its wooden floor, tirelessly swinging a wooden sword like an unceasing machine, drenched in sweat...

This person was none other than Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, the Captain of the Gotei 1st Division and also the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13! Ever since Araki warned Yamamoto about the danger and threat of the Quincy several months ago, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, as the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, hadn't left this dojo. He had been continuously training and improving himself, keeping his body in the optimal state for battle...

However, a chilling Spiritual Pressure permeated the dojo through its open windows, carried by the breeze! Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, who seemed to tirelessly swing his wooden sword, appeared to sense something and abruptly stopped his continuous movements...

"This Spiritual Pressure, is it Chōjirō and Araki's?!"

Genryusai set down his wooden sword, picked up the towel draped around his neck, and gently wiped the sweat from his forehead. He walked to the edge of the dojo and looked into the distance through a ventilating window.

"Has Chōjirō activated his Bankai? But most likely, Chōjirō will still lose to that brat Araki!"

"I just hope Chōjirō can gain something with that brat Araki's help!"

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's gaze was sharp. He looked at the overwhelming dark clouds that enveloped the 11th Division barracks in the distance, instantly understanding most of what was happening outside.

Although Genryusai usually kept his emotions hidden and was extremely strict with everyone, he privately thought highly of Chōjirō Sasakibe. He also hoped that Chōjirō Sasakibe could find his own path to becoming stronger...

Meanwhile, outside the Swordsmanship dojo at the 11th Division barracks, in the open space.

As Araki disarmed Chōjirō Sasakibe and took his Zanpakuto, the dark clouds summoned by Chōjirō Sasakibe's Zanpakuto Bankai over the 11th Division barracks gradually dissipated...

"Do you want to continue?!"

Araki held the Zanpakuto he had taken from Chōjirō Sasakibe and asked the fallen Chōjirō Sasakibe.

"No, I'm done, I'm done..."

Chōjirō Sasakibe shook his head repeatedly after hearing Araki's words.

Of course, Araki had taken his Zanpakuto. Without his Bankai, what could he fight Araki with? By being stubborn?

"You're no good, Sasakibe..."

"After hundreds of years, you're still so pathetic..."

Araki was slightly disappointed when Sasakibe conceded.

Then, Araki casually tossed the Zanpakuto he had taken from Sasakibe back to Sasakibe, who was still lying on the ground.

"Poof!"

The Zanpakuto thrown by Araki spun in the air, tracing an incredibly graceful arc, and then plunged into the soil less than five centimeters from Sasakibe's most important 'little brother'!

"Araki, be careful! My 'brother' almost died!"

Sasakibe's face turned pale with fright as he looked at the cold, gleaming Zanpakuto buried half a foot deep in the soil.

"Does it matter?"

"You don't use that thing anyway, so why not just get rid of it?"

"That way, you can focus more on improving yourself..."

Araki said, turning and walking towards the 11th Division barracks.

"Hey! You guys, you've watched enough. Get back to training!"

Before leaving, Araki didn't forget to remind the 11th Division members who had been secretly watching his fight with Sasakibe to immediately return to the dojo for training.

"Yes, Captain Araki! Please take your time..."

All the 11th Division members, who had been silent since Araki and Sasakibe began fighting, trying their best to minimize their presence and pretend they weren't there, immediately got up from the ground when they heard Araki's words. They straightened their backs and bowed 90 degrees to Araki.

The 11th Division members bent at such an angle, they looked like perfect right angles...

"Hmm..."

Araki nodded lightly, no longer looking at the 11th Division members, and walked towards the 11th Division Captain's Office, where he usually took his naps.

"Araki..."

"Our training isn't over yet, is it?!"

Sasakibe grew anxious as he watched Araki about to leave; he still wanted Araki to continue training him.

"Sasakibe, you're too weak. Even if I train you, you won't grow much..."

"Besides, my fighting style isn't suitable for you! If you fight my way, you might even die faster on the battlefield!"

Araki finally stopped when he heard this. He turned to look at the dirt-covered Sasakibe and said helplessly.

"Is that so?!"

Sasakibe's expression flickered after hearing Araki's words. He opened his mouth to say something, but in the end, all the words in his heart amounted to just two.

Yes, Sasakibe had originally wanted to refute Araki! He didn't believe he couldn't learn Araki's fighting techniques. Even if he lacked talent, he would put in a thousand, ten thousand times the effort to learn it and show Araki...

However, when Sasakibe recalled how, just moments ago during their fight, he had clearly pierced Araki's body with his Zanpakuto, yet Araki was completely unharmed, he swallowed the words that had been on the tip of his tongue. He realized he probably couldn't learn that technique.

No, it couldn't even be called a technique anymore; it was like some kind of inconceivable divine ability...

"Sasakibe, I think instead of choosing to fight enemies head-on like us, you should maximize your Zanpakuto's advantages! Use your Zanpakuto's speed for assassination work from behind!"

"Anyway, once enemies are truly powerful enough to require the 1st Division's involvement in battle, the front lines are Old Man Yama's personal stage! If Old Man Yama can handle the enemy, you 1st Division members would only get in the way. And if Old Man Yama can't handle the enemy, even the combined strength of all 1st Division members wouldn't be enough to defeat them!"

"So, I think you should, while Old Man Yama draws their attention like the sun, move like a shadow around to the enemy's rear. Then, using the lightning-fast speed your Zanpakuto grants, instantly pierce their heart! Give the enemy a surprise and a blessing~"

Araki analyzed, based on the characteristics of Chōjirō's Zanpakuto.

Like a shadow, around to the enemy's rear, and attack?!

I get it! I finally get it!

After hearing Araki's words, Chōjirō's eyes immediately lit up with a brilliant gleam, as if he had grasped some fundamental truth.

Perhaps even Araki himself hadn't expected that merely by offering a few pointers to Chōjirō, based on memories from his past life, he would inadvertently bring about the birth of Soul Society's premier backstabbing king.

"Good that you understand."

Araki nodded slightly, seeing Chōjirō's wild confidence.

"However, Chōjirō, your Shunpo, Hakuda, Kidō, and Swordsmanship can't fall behind in training just because your Zanpakuto's Bankai is exceptionally good! I think Old Man Yama must have told you that a Soul Reaper's most fundamental abilities aren't in their Zanpakuto, but in the cultivation of their four basic skills…"

Following that, Araki seemed to remember something else and reminded Chōjirō.

"I understand!"

Upon hearing this, Chōjirō recalled his own helpless, 'ugly' appearance after Araki disarmed his Zanpakuto. He immediately nodded earnestly, deciding that he absolutely must not neglect his basic Soul Reaper training from now on. The next time his Zanpakuto was disarmed, he would certainly not be so pathetic.

"Araki, regarding the training in 'Swordsmanship,' 'Hand-to-Hand Combat,' 'Movement,' and 'Kidō,' could you be my coach? I think if I could get your help, my basic abilities would definitely improve by leaps and bounds…"

After resolving to train diligently in 'Swordsmanship,' 'Hand-to-Hand Combat,' 'Movement,' and 'Kidō,' Chōjirō Sasakibe extended an invitation to Araki, hoping Araki could become his coach for the four basic Soul Reaper skills.

"My help won't be necessary~"

"But I found you an even better teacher than me~"

"After all, we're good brothers! No need to thank me…"

When Araki mentioned "an even better teacher than me," he couldn't help but give Chōjirō a slightly playful, yet somewhat pitying look…

After Araki finished speaking, he turned and left without looking back. Araki was a kind-hearted person and couldn't bear to see others suffer greatly! So, he simply chose not to watch…

A better coach than Araki?!

Chōjirō Sasakibe froze in place after hearing Araki's words. He simply couldn't imagine which squad member in the 11th Division could have teaching abilities superior to Araki's…

"Oh my~"

"Isn't this Lieutenant Chōjirō? I didn't expect us to meet again~"

Just as Chōjirō was slightly stunned, a wave of suspicion rising in his heart, a gentle female voice slowly emerged from his front right.

"You are… Lieutenant Unohana?!"

Chōjirō instinctively greeted the person approaching.

Immediately after, Chōjirō suddenly felt a sense of unease. Alarm bells rang in his mind, and an ominous premonition slowly rose within him.

"Um, Captain Unohana, please allow me to ask you a question! I wonder when the even better coach Captain Araki just mentioned will arrive?"

In truth, Chōjirō already had a strong suspicion of what awaited him.

But deep within Chōjirō Sasakibe's heart, that intense craving for life! That incredibly powerful will to survive, made him unable to believe that what he was thinking was actually true.

"Oh my~"

"Lieutenant Chōjirō, you're joking~"

"Isn't the person responsible for training you in Swordsmanship, Hand-to-Hand Combat, Movement, and Kidō standing right in front of you?"

Upon hearing this, Unohana Retsu revealed a slightly eerie smile to Chōjirō…

Unohana Retsu gently unbound her long hair, and instantly, a cascade of ink-black hair cascaded down her snow-white neck…

It was at the very moment Unohana Retsu unpinned her long hair that her entire demeanor abruptly shifted. The originally gentle Unohana Retsu seemed to transform into a blood-soaked Rakshasa!

Yes, the one responsible for teaching Chōjirō the four basic Soul Reaper skills was none other than the former Kenpachi, Unohana Retsu.

"Is it still too late to go back?!"

Chōjirō Sasakibe's eye twitched slightly as he looked at the first Kenpachi, who radiated a blood-ink-like killing intent.

Suddenly, Chōjirō Sasakibe somewhat regretted coming to the 11th Division to find Araki for training.

"Hang in there! Don't you dare die, Chōjirō Sasakibe!"

Meanwhile, after Araki returned to his own Captain's Office, he didn't immediately lie down on the sofa for a nap. Instead, he observed a full three seconds of silent mourning for his dear friend, Chōjirō Sasakibe!

"Thank you so much, Araki!"

On the other side, Chōjirō Sasakibe revealed an incredibly grim smile as he looked at the sea of blood covering the ground before him.

And also~