"However, you aren't suited to learning my Zanjutsu, which is why I didn't take you on as my disciple as well."
"But there's someone in the Eleventh Division whose fighting style is very similar to yours. If you choose to join the Eleventh Division after graduation, I can introduce you to him."
"Besides, you don't want Rukia to leave you behind, do you?"
"Have some confidence. Under that guy's training, perhaps you might even master Bankai before Rukia does."
"What? Bankai?"
Renji Abarai would have been lying if he said he wasn't disappointed at not being accepted as Captain Ailin's disciple.
But upon hearing Captain Ailin's final words, he suddenly snapped his head up.
Bankai—the powerful ability said to be mastered only by captains.
Captain Ailin actually believed someone like him could master Bankai?
"Captain Ailin, can I... can I really master Bankai?"
"Renji Abarai, whether you can master Bankai isn't something you should ask me. It depends on your own resolve."
Ailin lowered his right hand from Rukia's head and patted Renji Abarai on the shoulder. "You must have absolute confidence in yourself. Tell yourself that you will definitely complete Bankai training."
"If even you have no confidence in yourself, how could the Zanpakuto born from your own soul possibly reach the level of Bankai?"
"Yes, Captain Ailin. I'll definitely have absolute confidence in myself."
Ailin's words immediately set Renji Abarai's blood boiling.
Then Renji Abarai fixed Rukia with a blazing stare and grinned. "Hey, Rukia. When you train under Captain Ailin from now on, don't slack off too much."
"Otherwise, if I accidentally surpass you, you won't just be embarrassing yourself. You'll embarrass Captain Ailin too."
"Hmph, as if that could happen. If you want to surpass me, you'd better dream about it. That way, you might have