Bang!
The crisp clash echoed through the spacious courtyard,
Beneath the drifting cherry blossoms, Kuchiki Rukia was sparring with Byakuya Kuchiki in swordsmanship.
Kuchiki Rukia gripped her Asauchi in both hands, her expression stern as she watched Byakuya Kuchiki's blade and attacked with all her might, wholly focused,
The Asauchi whistled through the air.
Feeling the force behind her strikes, and seeing her solid, razor-sharp fundamentals in swordsmanship, Byakuya Kuchiki gave an almost imperceptible nod,
Then, gripping the Wooden Sword, Byakuya Kuchiki abruptly picked up speed and blurred toward Rukia's neck,
Kuchiki Rukia's expression didn't change. Byakuya Kuchiki's Wooden Sword was elusive, but it reminded her of the equally weightless leaves he had struck earlier,
Rukia shifted the force of her Asauchi and intercepted Byakuya Kuchiki's attack as if she had anticipated it. The considerable cutting force behind her strike sent his Wooden Sword reeling.
"That's enough..."
Byakuya Kuchiki ended their sparring match and asked,
"Were all your sword techniques taught to you by Nara Dan?"
This was Kuchiki Rukia's first private lesson. She had left Shino Academy as soon as she joined the Kuchiki Family, and the Kuchiki Family would naturally arrange the rest of her Shinigami training.
Kuchiki Rukia paused, then nodded,
"Yes, Brother."
"Mr. Nara guided my training for a while."
Byakuya Kuchiki's expression didn't change, but inwardly, he acknowledged Nara Dan's skill as a teacher,
Judging by Rukia's changes of technique in their sparring, she clearly wasn't a naturally gifted swordswoman,
And yet she had caught Byakuya Kuchiki's changing attacks with such precision, even counterattacking. She must have undergone highly targeted swordsmanship training to strengthen her fundamentals.
That was how Rukia's swordsmanship had been brought up to the point where it had no obvious weaknesses.
"Not bad."
Byakuya Kuchiki rarely praised anyone,
"But."
"From now on,