Don't Learn from Idiots!

"Roar, Zabimaru!"

After half a year of training, Abarai Renji had finally mastered his Shikai.

Under the command of his incantation, his Asauchi instantly transformed into a segmented blade resembling a snake's spine.

The segments could extend, functioning like a whip with flexible, retractable reach.

It was both rigid and supple; if mastered, it would offer an incredibly diverse range of attack patterns.

Abarai Renji looked at his Zanpakuto with great satisfaction.

However, his opponent was not without a Shikai of his own, and a rather troublesome one at that.

"Raise your head, Wabisuke!"

After half a year of training, Kira Izuru had also successfully mastered his Shikai.

The shape of Wabisuke was quite peculiar, resembling a right-angled fishhook with a curved blade.

Yet, compared to a direct-combat Zanpakuto like Zabimaru, Wabisuke belonged to the Kido type.

Furthermore, among Kido-type blades, the ability of Wabisuke was among the most unique of the supernatural variety.

Abarai Renji swung Zabimaru in an attack, hoping to end the fight in one fell swoop.

After all, the ability of Wabisuke made Abarai Renji feel truly disgusted.

He extended the snake-like blade to its maximum length, circled Kira Izuru twice, and then retracted it rapidly.

But over the past six months, Kira Izuru's training in swift swordplay had been highly effective; before the multiple blades of Zabimaru could strike, he had already used Wabisuke to land seven or eight hits on the segments.

The special effect of Wabisuke was to double the weight of whatever it struck for a period of time.

Hit it twice, and it doubled again; three times, and it doubled once more...

The result of being struck seven or eight times by Wabisuke was that Zabimaru had become so heavy that Abarai Renji could no longer lift it.

It crashed directly onto the training platform, gouging several deep pits into the surface.

Abarai Renji couldn't help but feel that since the heavens had made him this strong, why give Kira a Zanpakuto that countered him so perfectly?

Originally, Abarai Renji's combat prowess had always been above Kira's, but ever since they both learned their Shikai, he hadn't won a single time against Kira Izuru.

He now understood even better why members of the 11th Division detested Kido-type Zanpakuto.

Aoto stood to the side, feeling somewhat dissatisfied.

This dissatisfaction was directed at Abarai, as he clearly hadn't given it his all.

What about Hakuda? What about Kido?

This guy had only been in the 11th Division for half a year; how had he been so thoroughly assimilated by them?

He had heard that he'd been getting close to that guy Ikkaku lately! Could he have been infected by that single-minded idiot?

Kaien was getting married next week, and Aoto had originally planned to bring him along, but it seemed that wouldn't be necessary.

However, despite his dissatisfaction, Aoto walked over once they finished their spar.

"4th Seat Hyakume!"

"4th Seat Hyakume!"

The two greeted him in unison upon seeing Aoto approach.

They were quite polite, at least.

"Finished?" Aoto looked at the two stiffly standing men. "As opponents, why don't you critique each other?"

The two looked at one another, then began to offer stumbling, hesitant praise for their friend.

They were certainly trying to save face for each other.

Aoto didn't call them out, but instead asked again, "You've mentioned plenty of strengths, so what are the weaknesses?"

Abarai Renji and Kira Izuru stared at each other... He's looking at me, how am I supposed to criticize him?

Aoto shook his head helplessly. "Your pursuit of victory is far too low! I can't even tell if you're sparring; are you sure you aren't just feeding each other moves?"

"Especially you, Abarai. Why did you intentionally present your blade to Kira? And you gave up after a single failed attack? Don't you realize that for your type of Zanpakuto, the moment it is fully extended is when its versatility is weakest and its power is at its lowest?"

Abarai Renji pointed at himself in surprise... he couldn't quite accept this criticism.

He had tried his best to attack Kira, but what was he supposed to do when his Zanpakuto was countered?

Aoto saw the look on his face and knew what he was thinking, his expression darkening further. "Setting aside the fact that you could have used Hakuda or Kido, since you knew the ability of Kira's Zanpakuto, why did you use horizontal slashes? Why not a vertical strike?"

If the attack came from above, and Kira dared to use Wabisuke to increase the weight, he would only be crushing himself.

"Ah! So that's it!"

Abarai Renji's brain truly hadn't considered that possibility.

Kira felt like rolling his eyes. He had thought of that long ago, but he hadn't pointed it out to Renji, waiting to see when he would figure it out for himself.

"Additionally," Aoto pointed at the Zanpakuto that Abarai Renji had already retracted, "if your Shikai becomes too heavy to wield, just deactivate it and re-invoke it immediately! Don't you know that changing the state of your Zanpakuto resets the effects applied to it?"

Uh... he really didn't know that.

Abarai Renji looked at the Zanpakuto currently tucked into his waist, as if he had only just realized that the weight of the blade had returned to normal after he deactivated his Shikai.

He suddenly felt as though he really was an idiot.

"You don't have to wonder, you are an idiot!"

Aoto was certain of what he was thinking, and felt utterly helpless.

This wouldn't do; if he didn't give this idiot a push to make him work harder, he might not even be able to call out the full name of his Bankai in the future.

"Ganjuro!" Aoto called out.

Ganjuro rushed over immediately. "Present, Fourth Seat Hyakume!"

"Vice-Captain Shiba Kaien is getting married next week. I want you to take three seated officers and accompany me to the wedding!"

Ganjuro bowed his head to show he understood.

Then, Aoto and Ganjuro both walked away.

Seeing Fourth Seat Hyakume leave, Abarai Renji drew his blade again and faced Kira Izuru. "Let's fight again! Izuru, I won't lose this time!"

Seeing the look of absolute confidence on Renji's face, Kira waved his hand helplessly. "There's no rush to fight. Renji, did you even understand what Fourth Seat Hyakume just said?"

Huh?

Abarai Renji tilted his head, looking confused.

Kira Izuru felt that he was going to die young from all the sighing he had to do.

"Vice-Captain Shiba Kaien is the Vice-Captain of the 13th Division, and he is Kuchiki's direct superior in the 13th Division! Do you understand now?"

Hearing this, even as dense as Abarai Renji was, he finally understood.

"So, I'll be able to see Rukia?"

Over the past six months, the friendship between Abarai Renji and Kira Izuru had become much deeper than it had been back at the Shino Academy.

Abarai Renji was even able to talk to Kira Izuru about Rukia.

"Unfortunately, you won't!" Kira Izuru looked at Abarai Renji. "Fourth Seat Hyakume just said he was having Eighth Seat Ganjuro take three other seated officers!"

"Are you a seated officer right now, Renji? Or are you still just a regular soldier?"

"And even if you were a seated officer, why would Eighth Seat Ganjuro choose you?"

Kira's words began to sink deep into Abarai's mind.

"So, if you want to attend, Renji, besides becoming a seated officer, your rank needs to be high enough to be close to Eighth Seat Ganjuro!"

Abarai Renji's eyes began to glow with fervor!

"Then keep training with me, Izuru!" Abarai Renji's Reiatsu surged, his desire to fight becoming astonishing!

Uh...

Kira Izuru felt like he had just brought this suffering upon himself!

He was starting to regret it!