(T/N: Fiinally, this is the last Chapter of today! Hope you guys enjoyed the novel so far! and Thanks for the support!!
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Nanatsuki's first batch of academy students had already graduated, and now he was about to take on the second batch. He planned to arrange for several of his disciples to enroll together.
Over the past three years, he would occasionally visit Hikifune Kirio under the pretext of exchanging culinary techniques.
Recently, he had heard rumors that Hikifune Kirio's Gikon technique had gained the Royal Guard's approval. Within a few years, she was expected to be promoted to the Royal Guard.
He intended to finish training this class of students before taking over Hikifune Kirio's position. If he kept stalling, Urahara might very well reach captain-level strength first.
For a genius like Urahara, his training speed was not much slower than that of Aizen.
Nanatsuki glanced at Aizen, who was currently sparring with Hirako Shinji in the courtyard. His Status Interface had changed drastically from just a few years ago:
[Aizen Sōsuke][Talent: SS][Reiatsu: Lv85]
In just a few years, Aizen's Reiatsu had grown to the fourth rank!
His Reiatsu now far surpassed Hirako Shinji's and the others'.
At this point, Aizen already possessed the strength required to serve as a Vice-Captain.
However, he had never shown his full Reiatsu in front of others. Even during sparring sessions with Hirako Shinji, he only released enough pressure comparable to a seated officer.
Hirako Shinji seized an opening, striking Aizen down with a single slash.
"Right, Aizen, you're not holding back on me, are you?" Shinji teased.
Aizen shook his head helplessly. "How could I be? I used everything I had. It's just that you're too strong, Shinji."
Nanatsuki clapped his hands to get everyone's attention and said, "Since everyone's gathered today, let's stay and have a meal together."
Kana instantly raised her fist in celebration. "Yay!"
Since graduating, they had all joined different Gotei 13 squads. Because the squads' leave schedules didn't line up, it was rare for them to gather like this.
Nanatsuki smiled. "Besides, we should celebrate Yoruichi's promotion."
Kensei wiped away his sweat and asked curiously, "Yoruichi got promoted?"
Nanatsuki nodded. "Yeah, she's now the Vice-Captain of the Second Division. She just told me she'd be coming over later. She should be here soon."
With plenty of combat experience under her belt, Shihoin Yoruichi had progressed at an astonishing pace, already reaching Vice-Captain level strength.
Just then, a shadow leapt gracefully onto the courtyard wall.
Everyone turned their heads. Perched on the wall was Shihoin Yoruichi, dressed in a sleeveless Shinigami uniform.
Yoruichi grinned widely. "I could hear you guys talking about me from a mile away. Missed me that much, huh?"
Nanatsuki smiled. "I was just telling them about your promotion."
Yoruichi proudly pointed to the badge hanging from her shoulder. "That's right. I'm Vice-Captain now!"
With a sharp swoosh, she flipped off the wall, landing behind Nanatsuki and throwing her arms around his neck.
"It's been three years since we last saw each other, sensei! I've missed you so much!"
After Nanatsuki returned from the Forest of Menos, the Soul Society had decided to send a team of Shinigami alongside technicians to support the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Forces and upgrade the Reishi shields.
Upon hearing this, Yoruichi had applied to join the group, tasked with protecting the technicians.
She had stayed in Hueco Mundo ever since.
In the Forest of Menos, battles were never scarce.
Three years of such training had caused her growth to skyrocket.
"Yoruichi, you've grown out your hair!" Kana reached up and played with Yoruichi's long ponytail.
"Teacher prefers girls with long hair, you know," Yoruichi said bluntly.
"Then I'll grow mine even longer!" Azashiro Kana stroked her silky locks proudly.
Yoruichi's remark made Isane's cheeks flush slightly. She glanced at Nanatsuki, then quickly surveyed Kana, Yoruichi, Rie, Lisa, and Batsu'unsai.
To her surprise, she realized she was the only girl here with short hair.
Ever since she started practicing swordsmanship, she had cut her hair short because longer strands blocked her vision during training.
But now, Isane secretly decided she'd start growing it out again. With better spiritual awareness and Reiatsu control, her hair wouldn't hinder her performance.
Lisa adjusted her glasses and hid her gaze behind the reflection of the lenses, quietly observing everyone's expressions.
Her eyes darted back and forth between her senior sisters, the teacher, and Batsu'unsai, their grandmaster.
After a few seconds, her face lit up with sudden understanding.
Nanatsuki decided to change the topic. "Yoruichi, now that you're back, you'll be staying in the Soul Society for a while, right?"
Yoruichi nodded. "Yeah. After three years of fighting Hollows in the Forest of Menos, I'm a bit drained. If I stayed any longer, I'd hit a plateau anyway. I need to rest and digest what I've gained."
Nanatsuki smiled. "Rest is important. Stay for dinner tonight."
Yoruichi's face lit up with excitement. "I've missed your cooking so much, sensei!"
Everyone worked together to prepare ingredients under Nanatsuki's instructions.
With their level of swordsmanship, slicing ingredients thinner than paper was child's play. Prepping food was nothing to them.
All Nanatsuki had to do was cook.
For a skilled chef, creating a delicious meal was a joy. The tedious part was gathering ingredients and cleaning up afterward.
Thankfully, with his disciples taking care of all the preparations, Nanatsuki could simply enjoy the cooking process.
As they worked, the group crowded around Yoruichi, curious about her three years in the Forest of Menos.
"Yoruichi, did you ever run into Adjuchas-class Menos there?" Muguruma Kensei asked.
"Of course," Yoruichi replied proudly. "I can't take one down on my own yet, but whenever we encounter an Adjuchas-class Menos, we team up to deal with it. I've been in several successful hunts."
"Are there really that many Hollows in the Forest of Menos? Three years, and it's still not cleared?" Hirako Shinji asked.
Yoruichi shook her head. "No one knows how many Hollows are in there."
"Still, the area we've been stationed in has thinned out a lot."
"But the forest is huge. Clearing one zone just means moving to another."
"Even the expeditionary forces don't go too deep into the Forest of Menos. It's too dangerous. We only operate around the outskirts."
"Oh, right," Yoruichi added suddenly. "Sensei, you've always been curious about things from the Forest of Menos, haven't you? I brought back something unusual."
She pulled out a backpack, which contained a Reishi-space large enough to store many items.
"A gift, huh?" Nanatsuki blinked and took the bag.
He rummaged inside and found something shimmering.
"What's this?" Nanatsuki pulled it out. It was a few glowing thorned vines.