Quincy's Talent

"Sawada Tsunayoshi, to be frank, there's no need for you to continue down the path of a Quincy. You have absolutely no talent for it!" Ryūken said directly to Tsuna.

"Father, hasn't Tsuna already formed the prototype of a Spirit Bow? As long as we shoot down one Hollow, we'll be Quincies. How can you say that?" Having spent time with Tsuna, Uryū now knew those monsters were called Hollows.

Ryūken pressed a hand to his forehead, forcibly suppressing the throbbing veins. This was the first time his expression had neared the brink of collapse since Hae was subjected to The Auswählen.

"You call that tiny thing a Spirit Bow prototype?!" Ryūken demanded, pointing at the object in Tsuna's palm.

The palm-sized Spirit Bow prototype lay quietly in Tsuna's hand. A bow of this size was no different from a toy. Forget shooting arrows; Ryūken doubted if a Spirit Arrow could even be nocked onto it.

Tsuna was also confused. His training had been smooth until now. The only problem was this. Compared to his arm-length Spirit Arrows, this palm-sized bow was like a small cart trying to pull a large carriage, offering almost no help in shooting.

"Tsuna is just condensing it for the first time. If he tries a few more times, the Spirit Bow will definitely grow larger!" Uryū argued for Tsuna. "Was your first Spirit Bow a fully formed longbow?"

Mentioning this, a hint of pride appeared on Ryūken's face. "I said I wasn't interested, and you lack talent!"

Without using a Quincy Cross, Ryūken casually manipulated Spirit Particles to form a longbow that Uryū could only dream of. The longbow dissolved into Spirit Particles, and Uryū watched with envious eyes.

"Normally, we Quincies rarely use bows and arrows condensed directly from Spirit Particles. We mostly use this Spirit Bow prototype to craft our own Spirit Bows. Such Spirit Bows condense faster and have increased power."

"When you return, Uryū, you'll need to learn to craft your own Spirit Bow. Otherwise, you'll be out of combat after firing three arrows."

"As for you, Tsuna, honestly, I don't think your Spirit Bow is worth crafting into a Spirit Bow. Even if it were made into a crossbow-like Spirit Bow, your Spirit Arrows wouldn't fit. If you shrink the arrows, it'll just become a toy."

Ryūken stared at the Spirit Bow in Tsuna's palm and summarized. He truly couldn't understand why. Tsuna's training in controlling Spirit Particles was excellent; he had even mastered Hirenkyaku. Yet, he produced such a Spirit Bow. Ryūken didn't know how to evaluate Tsuna's training—was it a success or a failure?

"Perhaps I just don't have the talent. I'll train diligently from now on."

Tsuna took it quite well. During his training, the Quincy section on his status panel had changed, but not in the way he expected.

After a long string of blacked-out content, the Quincy section on his panel gained two entries: Spirit Bow and Arrows and Hirenkyaku. However, the blacked-out content did not reveal itself like when he trained Fullbring.

Tsuna felt he hadn't truly found his Quincy abilities, which was why those blacked-out entries remained hidden.

Since the total number of Quincy abilities was limited, and the abilities learned from Ryūken were newly added, Tsuna understood what the blacked-out content represented.

The Schrift, the Perfected State!

Like Fullbring, these were unique abilities for each person. General abilities like Spirit Bow and Arrows and Hirenkyaku were not listed as panel entries.

Once he understood the panel's situation, Tsuna no longer felt dejected about the size of his Spirit Bow. For those Quincies who used the Perfected State, Spirit Bow and Arrows were just one of their combat methods. As long as their Schrift and Perfected State were strong enough, that was all that mattered.

"You've already learned Spirit Bow and Arrows and Hirenkyaku. The rest involves crafting and using various Quincy tools. Since your Spirit Bow has limited size, I don't think you need to expand it further."

"You can temporarily halt your Quincy training. Kisuke Urahara might offer a new path."

Ryūken pondered for a moment and then proposed his idea to Tsuna.

Uryū immediately became anxious. Because of Tsuna's presence, Ryūken had spoken to him more. If Tsuna left, wouldn't he and Ryūken return to their previous aloof state?

However, before Uryū could speak, everyone sensed a strange Reiatsu appearing in Karakura Town. Tsuna and Ryūken exchanged glances and immediately realized it was a Hollow's Reiatsu.

Uryū thought for a moment and understood. He looked at Ryūken excitedly, "Is it a Hollow? Can I go?"

Uryū was still thinking about obtaining the title of a true Quincy after defeating a Hollow.

"Go ahead," Ryūken said calmly. Uryū had just condensed his Spirit Bow and was currently feeling excited. It wouldn't hurt to give him a reality check by having him clash with a Hollow.

With Ryūken's permission, Uryū excitedly stepped on Hirenkyaku and flew towards the Hollow's Reiatsu. However, his Hirenkyaku was not yet proficient, and he looked unsteady, as if he might fall at any moment.

"Uncle, are you really letting Uryū go like this?" Tsuna, who had been eliminating Hollows, knew the strength of Hollows well. Although Uryū had initially mastered Quincy powers, dealing with a Hollow would still be difficult.

"Isn't there still you? I'll be watching from behind," Ryūken said. Spirit Particle light was already glowing beneath his feet. As a father, how could he truly let Uryū go face a Hollow alone?

Tsuna also used Hirenkyaku, following Ryūken far behind Uryū. As they advanced side-by-side, Tsuna responded to Ryūken's earlier question.

"Uncle, I'll pause my Quincy training for now. But don't you stop. Remember to study all the ancient texts your grandfather left behind," Tsuna said earnestly to Ryūken.

"If you want to see them, those materials are open to you," Ryūken replied.

"Forget it. When it comes to studying, I really don't have much talent," Tsuna said helplessly. He trained to fight Hollows every day and mostly slept through classes at school. His grades were indeed not good.

"I'll expedite the matter of Still Silver."

Ryūken had dissected every Mixed-blood Quincy corpse he could find during this time, extracting all the Still Silver. However, he had not yet figured out how to refine Still Silver into weapons.

"Not just Still Silver. Shopkeeper Urahara said Bleach can unleash their special abilities, right? Quincies also have this power, to unleash everyone's hidden special abilities."

"Corresponding to Bleach's Zanpakuto, Quincies call it the Schrift. Above the Schrift, there is also an ability called the Perfected State. Your grandfather was already researching the Perfected State power of Quincies in the World of the Living before he died."

"The Spirit-Scattering Gloves are byproducts of that research. Through the Spirit-Scattering Gloves, Quincies can forcibly enter a state of 'Servant of the Spirit,' gathering surrounding Spirit Particles as their slaves and forcibly concentrating them onto their bodies, achieving a temporary Perfected State, gaining power comparable to Bankai."

"However, this Perfected State is incomplete and can only be called a 'Half-Perfected State.' It's a pity your grandfather died before completing this research."

Tsuna relayed the information about the Perfected State to Ryūken. If Ryūken could research the Perfected State in advance, their power could advance further.

Ryūken stopped and looked at Tsuna. Even he, as Sōken's biological son, was unaware of this information. Yet, Tsuna shared it with him in detail. Now Ryūken understood why the Kurosaki Family trusted this child.

"Will the outcome be good?" Ryūken asked.

"I will work hard," Tsuna replied with a warm smile. Having decided to change things, he would do his best to prevent them and protect the people he loved.

Receiving his answer, Ryūken resumed chasing after Uryū. His previously indifferent attitude towards Quincies gradually changed. That person had saved Hae; he had to fully support them.

Returning to Uryū's perspective, he had already reached the scene of the Hollow. It was a long, snake-like Hollow. Uryū excitedly condensed his Spirit Bow, intending to perform a cool aerial shot to finish the Hollow.

Uryū's idea was good, but his actions were still too novice. As soon as the Spirit Bow expanded, the snake-like Hollow sensed Uryū's movements. It turned its head and roared angrily at Uryū. The unproficient Uryū was immediately roared to the ground by the Hollow.

Uryū quickly performed a tactical roll to get up, drew his bow, and nocked an arrow. The Hollow had already attacked him.

Uryū's expression was serious. With a confident shot, his Spirit Bow and Arrows struck the Hollow's body, embedding deeply within it. The Hollow recoiled in pain. Uryū drew his bow again, another arrow aimed directly at the Hollow's mask.

In Uryū's expectation, this arrow should have shattered the Hollow's mask, completely obliterating it. He would then, under Ryūken's admiring gaze, officially earn the title of Quincy.

However, to his surprise, the arrow Uryū shot with all his might struck the mask and dissolved into sparkling spiritual particles.

Insufficient talent, insufficient power!

Uryū immediately recalled Ryūken's assessment of him. If his talent were stronger, would this arrow have pierced the Hollow's mask?

There was no time for Uryū to dwell on his thoughts. The Hollow had recovered and was charging at him. Uryū panicked, trying to draw his bow again, but at this moment, his bow showed signs of collapsing.

The Spirit Bow was not yet complete; it was merely a prototype. Uryū's power was insufficient to support continuous arrow firing.

What should he do?

Uryū was stunned. In his excitement, he had never considered such a situation. Facing the Hollow's fierce assault, Uryū merely stood frozen, making no move to escape.

Just as Uryū was about to be swallowed by the Hollow's grotesque maw, a spiritual arrow with a faint red glow embedded itself in the Hollow's forehead. The mask shattered inch by inch, and the Hollow dissolved into spiritual particles before Uryū's eyes, vanishing into the air.

Uryū looked back. Tsuna was in the air not far from him, holding a long bow of red light and white bone, just as he had envisioned himself doing, and had killed the Hollow.

Ryūken raised an eyebrow. No wonder Tsuna wasn't discouraged by his palm-sized Spirit Bow. The bow Tsuna had suddenly produced could completely substitute a Quincy's Spirit Bow. Coupled with Tsuna's proficient spiritual control, his ability to freely condense spiritual arrows, and his use of Hirenkyaku, Tsuna could already be considered a formal Quincy.

In fact, Tsuna's long bow had skipped the Quincy process of creating a Spirit Bow entirely, achieving the result in one step. Ryūken adjusted his glasses. If he wasn't mistaken, Tsuna's bow also imbued the spiritual arrows with special power?

Tsuna was using his Fullbring ability to form a long bow. The spiritual arrows shot from his bow carried the decomposing ability of the Storm attribute flames on their tips. That was why the Hollow's mask hadn't been pierced directly but had shattered before being destroyed.

"Congratulations, Sawada Tsunayoshi, you are now a Quincy." Ryūken's tone was as flat as ever. He took out a long, thin piece of equipment and handed it to Tsuna. "Soul Cutter, as your graduation gift."

"Thank you, Uncle." Tsuna solemnly put away the Soul Cutter. He hadn't learned how to craft equipment, so he would have to get them from Uryū and Ryūken in the future.

"Here's some more information: Uryū was affected by The Auswählen (Holy Selection). Hae chose Uryū, transferring all of Uryū's unhealthy conditions to herself. That might be the power of the Schrift you mentioned." Ryūken revealed a world-shattering truth.

"What?"

Tsuna was dumbfounded. This didn't seem to happen in the manga. Did this mean the owner of the Schrift A wasn't Ishida Uryū, but his mother, Hae Katagiri?

During The Auswählen (Holy Selection), did Hae swap Uryū's weak physical condition with her own? Did she even possibly swap her Schrift A with Uryū?

"Uncle Ryūken, when did you find out?"

"The day after you began training your Quincy powers. Hae, as she gradually recovered, told me her decision at the time. Keep working hard, young man, there's still much you don't know."

Ryūken disappeared with Uryū, leaving Tsuna alone and bewildered in the wind.

(PS: 1. When writing this chapter, the Thousand-Year Blood War arc had not yet released episodes 13 and 14. Seeing Uryū fall due to The Auswählen (Holy Selection), I quickly patched it up. As for whose power the complete inversion originates from, it doesn't matter, as the current holder is Ishida Uryū. 2. Because I couldn't find a clear death date for Sōken, my original setting was that Sōken died a year before The Auswählen (Holy Selection). However, the scenes from the newly released episodes seem to indicate Sōken was still alive during The Auswählen (Holy Selection). I don't know what further settings will be added in later episodes, so this novel will continue with the assumption that Sōken died a year ago.)