The battle between Azashiro Kana and Kuchiki Sōjun caused an uproar among the audience.
"This Azashiro Kana can use Shikai!"
"That's already five students in this batch who've awakened Shikai! This might be a once-in-several-centuries phenomenon!"
"Compared to them, we're just filler characters..."
"Why is Class One doing so poorly? Weren't they supposed to have the best recruits? All four semifinalists are from Class Two!"
"Yeah, and wasn't Kuchiki Sōjun supposed to be the heir raised by the Kuchiki Clan... How did he fall in the quarterfinals?"
"Shhh—Captain Kuchiki is coming down."
Kuchiki Ginrei couldn't sit still when he saw Kuchiki Sōjun lying there motionless.
Once he came down, the other guests followed.
"Captain Unohana, please take a look at my son's condition. He's acting very strangely." Kuchiki Ginrei examined him. Sōjun was still lying there, eyes open, unable to even blink.
Unohana Retsu first checked his injuries, then shone a light into his eyes. After a long while, his pupils began to slightly contract.
She looked up at Kuchiki Ginrei and said, "Please rest assured, Captain Kuchiki. Kuchiki Sōjun has no fatal injuries. He's likely just under the effect of Azashiro Kana's Zanpakutō. She's already released her Shikai, so his body's sensation is beginning to recover."
"Thank you, Captain Unohana," Ginrei nodded lightly. "My son has brought shame to us."
Kyōraku Shunsui, noticing Ginrei's dark expression, tried to console him: "Kuchiki Sōjun's strength is already impressive. It's just that Azashiro Kana was a bit stronger. There's no need to take it to heart, Captain Kuchiki."
Ginrei's face darkened further.
Kyōraku scratched his head. "Well... he still has a lot of room to grow, and plenty of time to improve..."
Ukitake Jūshirō tugged on Kyōraku's sleeve, subtly signaling him to stop talking if he didn't know how to comfort others.
Ginrei waved his hand. "No need to say more. The Kuchiki Clan doesn't shy away from defeat. Consider this a lesson for Sōjun — his progress has been too smooth until now."
He turned and walked toward the edge of the stage.
Katori Nanatsuki was still healing Azashiro Kana, and her family had arrived to watch the match. Upon seeing Kana so badly injured, they rushed to the stage.
Kuchiki Ginrei greeted them politely. "The Azashiro family truly knows how to raise a daughter. I am sincerely impressed."
The Azashiro family head responded, "Not at all. When it comes to nurturing the next generation, I should be the one learning from you, Captain Kuchiki. Kana's growth is all thanks to Teacher Katori's guidance!"
Ginrei turned to Katori Nanatsuki, speaking earnestly. "To raise disciples with little swordsmanship background to this level in such a short time — your talent is truly admirable."
"If possible, I would like to invite you to serve as the Kuchiki Clan's sword instructor."
Nanatsuki was a little surprised by Ginrei's attitude.
Kuchiki Sōjun was the clan's carefully cultivated heir, and yet he had fallen in the quarterfinals — a major blow to the clan's prestige.
Yet Ginrei didn't seem to mind the embarrassment and was even extending an invitation.
"I appreciate Captain Kuchiki's recognition. If it's a part-time position as sword instructor, I'd be happy to accept," Nanatsuki replied after a moment's thought. A part-time teaching role was acceptable to him.
Nakano, the head of the Hakuda Department, also served part-time as a Hakuda coach for the Onmitsukidō, which didn't conflict with his teaching duties at the academy.
Whether it was the Onmitsukidō or the Kuchiki Clan, they didn't rely on just one or two instructors. These part-time teachers only needed to visit occasionally — it wasn't a heavy time commitment.
"Then it's settled." Ginrei offered a gentle smile.
Unohana came over to examine Azashiro Kana's hand injury and frowned. "Katori-kun, I'm afraid she'll need a long period of recovery. Otherwise, she might suffer lasting damage."
Nanatsuki nodded. "Kana will withdraw from the next match. Let her focus on healing."
There was no way he'd let her keep fighting. No swordsmanship match was worth risking her future.
Kotetsu Ayane announced, "That means only two matches remain. The opponents will be decided by draw. Whoever draws Azashiro Kana will automatically advance to the final."
All semifinalists needed treatment, so the matches were scheduled for two days later.
Nanatsuki brought Kana back to the Katori-ryu Dojo for personal treatment.
Finally, Nanatsuki had time to check his Status Interface.
Two unclaimed rewards were displayed:
[Guided Muguruma Kensei through Shikai training – Reward Settled]
Reward received: 10,000 General Ability EXP
Reward received: Sekkiseki Vein Survey Map
[Guided Hirako Shinji through Shikai training – Reward Settled]
Reward received: 10,000 General Ability EXP
Reward received: Reishukaku Crafting Recipe
The Shikai training quests for Muguruma Kensei and Hirako Shinji had been triggered over the summer break.
"Sekkiseki Vein Survey Map? The system really gives out all kinds of things..." Nanatsuki muttered as he examined the two reward items.
[Sekkiseki Vein Survey Map: A map detailing the location of a Sekkiseki vein in Soul Society.]
Sekkiseki was a rare mineral that completely blocked Reishi and Reiatsu.
The Shakonmaku that separated Seireitei from Rukongai, and protected the Soul King Palace, was made of this material.
The survey map detailed the ore vein with precision.
When opened, the surrounding Reishi formed a three-dimensional projection of a mountain, showing the exact location of every ore deposit.
"Sekkiseki is good stuff... If I want to build a hidden lab, it'd be the best material." Nanatsuki thought to himself.
Soul Society's spirit-tech had an incredibly high ceiling. Many of Urahara Kisuke and Mayuri Kurotsuchi's future inventions would be of great value even to Captain-class Shinigami.
If he wanted to walk the path of a Transcendent, he'd definitely have to study Hollows, Quincies, and Soul King powers. A hidden lab was essential.
He then examined the second reward:
[Reishukaku: Inject Reiatsu to generate a solid protective barrier, allowing unharmed passage through Seireitei's Shakonmaku.]
Only the Shiba Clan, one of the Five Great Noble Families, had the ability to craft Reishukaku. Now Nanatsuki had the recipe.
The sky above Seireitei was protected by a Shakonmaku. Any spirit body attempting to pass through it would be broken down into Reishi — which is why they could only enter through the city gates.
But the protective shield generated by a Reishukaku could block the membrane's damage.
With it, he could even bring others along through the Shakonmaku, making entry and exit much easier.