"Kidō Shinigami's high-level spellcraft is divided into three major schools: Hadō, Bakudō, and Kaidō," Jūshirō Ukitake explained calmly, his voice echoing through the wide training ground.
"Hadō focuses on destruction and offense.
Bakudō specializes in binding and sealing.
Kaidō, of course, is used for healing and recovery."
Standing before the most elite class in the Spiritual Arts Academy, Ukitake didn't need to repeat himself. These students weren't ordinary.
They were monsters.
Even among them were future legends: Urahara Kisuke, Shihouin Yoruichi, and Tessai Tsukabishi each a walking textbook of brilliance.
Ukitake raised a hand.
"Let's start with something simple. Hadō #1: Shō."
A soft glow lit up at his fingertip. A shockwave burst forth and blasted clean through a wooden target ten meters away.
Even the lowest-tier Kidō could pack a punch in the hands of a captain.
"Those with enough spiritual power and control can skip the incantation completely and cast spells directly."
"The same applies to Bakudō and Kaidō."
He smiled gently. "Alright, that's enough instruction. You're free to practice on your own."
As the students scattered across the field, Ran En casually closed the book in his hand.
It was a detailed manual of Hadō and Bakudō spells, numbered 1 through 60.
He had just finished reading it.
He stood, ready to find a wooden stake and begin his practice, when a very familiar voice popped into his mind.
[Your Kidō is too powerful to allow you to participate in your own cultivation.]
[Your Kidō refuses to let Zanpakutō and Swordsmanship next door look down on it, so it has just practiced every Hadō and Bakudō from #1 to #60 all at once.]
Ran En froze.
"…Huh?"
So that's why the pages had started glowing earlier.
He sighed, sitting back down under the shade of a nearby tree.
He wanted to train. Truly.
But his Kidō had other plans.
Apparently, it had too much pride. Worried that Zanpakutō and Kendo would mock it if Ran En's practice looked clumsy, Kidō had gone ahead and trained everything behind the scenes.
All sixty foundational spells.
And that wasn't even its limit. That was just the end of what the book listed.
"Hadō #4: Byakurai!"
"Hadō #11: Tsuzuri Raiden!"
"Hadō #12: Fushibi!"
Explosions and flashes of energy filled the field as students tested their spells.
Ukitake strolled through the training ground, quietly evaluating his students.
Tessai Tsukabishi, a Rukongai-born student who had only just been introduced to Kidō today, was already casting Hadō #15 and skipping the chant with ease.
A raw talent.
He'd surely catch up to nobles like Byakuya and Yoruichi soon enough.
But then Ukitake's eyes landed on someone sitting under a tree calm, idle, and not practicing at all.
" Ran En?"
He blinked, a bit surprised.
The strongest genius of the last 2,000 years, and he wasn't even trying?
He approached slowly.
" Ran En, is something wrong?"
"Do you have any questions about Hadō or Kidō theory? I'd be happy to explain."
Ukitake's voice was gentle, not the least bit scolding. He genuinely wanted to help.
The other students, sensing the conversation, glanced over.
Even Aizen paused his practice, quietly listening.
Urahara, Byakuya, and others kept their expressions neutral but their ears were definitely tuned in.
Ran En smiled politely. "Thank you, Jushiro-sensei. But no, there's nothing I don't understand."
"Then… why aren't you practicing?" Ukitake asked, still puzzled. "Even Aizen is training. As the older brother, shouldn't you set a good example?"
Ran En sighed.
[Your Kidō says training is its responsibility. If you try to interfere, it will be humiliated in front of Zanpakutō and Kendo and will refuse to function.]
"…To be honest, Jushiro-sensei," Ran En said slowly, "I want to practice. I really do."
"But…"
He raised his hands helplessly. "My strength won't let me."
The crowd around him paused.
Even Ukitake blinked, unsure if he'd heard correctly.
Ran En continued calmly. "You see, my Kidō… It's a little prideful."
"It doesn't want to be embarrassed. So it trained everything on its own, from Hadō #1 to #60 before I could even try."
"I figured it's better if you focus your guidance on students who actually need it like Tōsen or Komamura."
Ukitake stared at him in stunned silence.
Even someone as composed as he was didn't know how to respond.
Meanwhile, Byakuya Kuchiki, who had been diligently practicing nearby, visibly twitched.
"What an arrogant thing to say…"
Byakuya turned, his tone cold.
"The noble families train from childhood, learning Zanjutsu, Kidō, and etiquette. Even with your talent, I'd advise humility."
Ran En glanced at him and smiled.
"Thank you for your advice."
"But things like Kidō…" he said slowly, "don't always come from effort."
"There's something in this world called talent. It's stronger than time, harder than hard work, and even higher than your noble lineage."
That struck a nerve.
Byakuya's eyes narrowed as a faint fury flashed across his face.
But he didn't answer.
He couldn't.
Jushiro Ukitake chuckled to himself.
These students were really something else.
Two brothers shaking the Soul Society.
Noble heirs being left in the dust.
Even Kidō itself seemed to be... alive.
He cleared his throat.
"Alright, everyone. Don't get discouraged. Not mastering Kidō quickly doesn't mean you won't become great Shinigami."
He glanced at the quieter students like Komamura and Tōsen, who were beginning to feel small.
"You all have what it takes. This class exists because you're all potential captain-class."
"Everyone grows differently. Keep your focus."
"YES, JUSHIRO-SENSEI!" the class responded in unison.
"Now, let's head to the Kidō training ground."
"Today, we'll begin learning how to use Hadō and Bakudō against real enemies starting with Menos Grande."
Ordinary classes would be stuck reciting spell chants all day.
But in the First Class, even rookies from Rukongai had talent and spirit pressure far beyond normal limits.
They didn't need theory anymore.
It was time for application.
And time for Ran En to keep pretending he was cultivating while his Kidō secretly handled everything on autopilot.