"Too slow!"
Accompanied by a sharp roar, the two black figures split apart. One landed gracefully, while the other crashed heavily to the ground, raising a thick cloud of dust.
The shadow that landed was Sui-Feng, her cold face showing no emotion.
The one who crashed to the ground was Kurotsuki Renya.
Cough, cough…
Renya pushed himself up, brushing dust off his uniform with a helpless expression.
Today was supposed to be a special training session under Captain Sui-Feng, focusing mainly on Hakuda (White Combat) and Shunpo. Yet after attending a few of these sessions, Renya realized that most of it consisted of him being beaten into the ground.
Sui-Feng's cold voice cut through the silence:
"Your strikes are flawed, and your use of Takongan Shunpo (Air-Stepping Flash) is sloppy. You haven't been practicing seriously."
Renya lowered his head respectfully.
"I'm sorry, Captain."
Sui-Feng snorted.
"Again."
At her command, Renya's reiryoku gathered at his legs. With a sharp bang, he launched forward, the ground beneath him cracking from the force.
In an instant, he appeared before Sui-Feng, bending the first knuckle of each finger of his right hand, palm exposed, thrusting it toward her face.
Hakuda: Sōtō Uchi (Soaring Palm).
It was a strike meant to channel the body's full strength, capable of shattering stone.
But against Sui-Feng, the technique was meaningless. She leaned slightly to the side, evading with ease, stepped diagonally, and brought the edge of her hand toward Renya's neck.
Renya quickly stepped back, narrowly avoiding the strike. As she instinctively withdrew her arm, Renya surged forward again, launching a punch toward her chest.
This was a kendo application—using a backward step not only to evade but also as a springboard for an immediate counterattack. It was precisely the kind of timing Sui-Feng had drilled into him.
Yet, she dismissed the attempt effortlessly. Her hand intercepted his wrist, redirecting the blow with a subtle slap downward, and before Renya could react, her hand-chop swept toward his throat.
Renya bent backward sharply, the knife-edge strike grazing the tip of his nose. In the same motion, he lashed out with a kick toward her abdomen.
But Sui-Feng caught his leg in midair with her left hand.
Renya tried to retract his leg, but her grip was ironclad. With a flick of her arm, she hurled him across the training ground.
Boom!
Renya smashed into a pile of rocks, scattering debris everywhere.
"Tch… hurts."
Pain shot across his back, and it took him a moment before he forced himself upright again.
Sui-Feng's voice was calm but stern.
"Do you know why I was able to throw you? Your body leaned too far back, destroying your balance. With no stability, you were easy to counter.
Secondly, your attacks are too exaggerated. Relying on your entire body for every strike may increase raw force, but it also locks your center of gravity, leaving glaring openings.
Lastly, in dodging, never sacrifice balance. Body equilibrium is the foundation of Hakuda."
Her words sank in, and Renya realized just how many mistakes he'd made.
What unsettled him further was how effortlessly she handled him—sidestepping, redirecting, striking with the edge of her hand. With only these three simple movements, she rendered him completely helpless.
"Can you still stand?" she asked coldly.
Renya quickly pushed himself up again, leaping toward her with another punch aimed at her face.
Sui-Feng sidestepped again—but this time, Renya's fist opened mid-swing, twisting into a horizontal strike aimed at her neck.
Too close to fully evade, she raised her arm to intercept. But Renya immediately withdrew, using the brief contact to push himself away, regaining balance at a safe distance.
I can't get impatient… I can't overcommit my strength. I need to leave room for adjustment.
Renya narrowed his eyes, then lunged again, thrusting his right fist forward.
This time, Sui-Feng didn't dodge. Her left hand caught his wrist, halting the strike effortlessly.
But from beneath his ribs, Renya's left fist suddenly shot forward, aimed at her abdomen.
She immediately pressed downward with her right palm, deflecting the blow.
"Remember—by applying lateral pressure against forward force, you expend less energy while neutralizing the attack."
Her explanation ended abruptly when Renya's left fist suddenly opened. His hand shot upward, clasping hers tightly.
For the first time, Sui-Feng's eyes widened slightly. A warning instinct surged within her. She began pulling back—but too late.
A crackling current surged through her body from his grasp.
Hadō #11: Tsuzuri Raiden.
Electricity coursed through her arm. Though Sui-Feng's body seized only for an instant—her speed and stamina minimizing the effect—that single heartbeat of paralysis was enough.
Renya tightened his right grip on her hand, pivoted on his foot, and pulled her across his back. His shoulders became a fulcrum as he bent low and heaved forward.
Ippon Seoi-nage (Over-the-Shoulder Throw).
With perfect Hakuda form, he sent the Captain hurtling forward.
But Sui-Feng twisted midair, regaining control with feline grace, and landed lightly in the distance.
Her expression hardened as her eyes locked onto him.
Renya felt a chill—had he gone too far by using Kidō against her? He bowed his head quickly.
"Captain Sui-Feng, I apologize. I shouldn't have used Kidō in Hakuda training."
But instead of anger, she waved her hand dismissively.
"No. The purpose of battle is victory. All techniques are permitted. If Kidō gives you an advantage, then use it."
Then her sharp gaze softened slightly.
"In the past, Kidō required incantations and seals, which made it impractical in close combat. Yet you abandoned the chant for Tsuzuri Raiden and even simplified its casting sequence to the point it flows seamlessly into Hakuda."
Renya straightened.
"Captain, if it's useful, I could teach the simplified form to other members of the Onmitsukidō."
But Sui-Feng shook her head firmly.
"No. Just because you've achieved it doesn't mean others can replicate it. The requirements for spiritual pressure, purity of reiryoku, and fine control of reishi are too demanding. Very few could execute it without losing focus mid-battle."
Renya nodded in understanding.
Then Sui-Feng's eyes sharpened again.
"But tell me—have you considered combining Kidō directly with Hakuda? A true hybrid combat form."
Renya blinked. "You mean… Shunkō?"
The word hung heavy. It was a technique Renya knew would only be completed decades later by both Sui-Feng and Yoruichi Shihōin. At this point in time, it was still theoretical.
He replied carefully.
"I have thought about it… concentrating Kidō into the body itself. Enhancing speed, destructive force. Different elemental Kidō would yield different effects—the explosive force of wind, the burning power of fire, the extreme speed of lightning."
Sui-Feng's eyes lit up. His explanation aligned perfectly with her own theories—yet his vision was even broader.
She had only mentioned it as a possibility, expecting little. But Renya already had concrete ideas.
Looking at him intently, Sui-Feng spoke with rare seriousness:
"I have an idea… and I'll need your help."