It was three days later when Yoriichi received his asauchi.
From the Shinigami responsible for distributing asauchi, he learned that an asauchi was the prototype of a Zanpakuto, possessing no special abilities.
It required a daily infusion of one's spirit and beliefs to awaken it.
The awakened zanpakuto was called Shikai.
Once successful, the Zanpakuto would gain special powers, such as wind, fire, lightning, or ice, which could multiply one's strength.
Currently, within the Gotei 13 of the Seireitei, only those who had mastered Shikai were considered true powerhouses.
They were often the Seat Officers of their respective divisions, holding a much higher status than ordinary Shinigami.
For Yoriichi, if he wanted to find his wife through external means, the first thing he needed to do was elevate his status to that of a Captain.
And for Captains...
"The requirements to become a Captain are very strict; although there's only one, you must master Bankai, which is above Shikai."
"As the Shinigami's strongest technique, only a few dozen of the thousands of Shinigami in the entire Seireitei have mastered Bankai."
Hearing this explanation, Yoriichi couldn't help but frown.
One in a hundred?
Not bad.
It wasn't a despair-inducing probability.
At least he possessed a third-grade spiritual pressure.
The probability of achieving Bankai was still quite high.
Lightly stroking the blade of the asauchi, Yoriichi turned and walked towards the classroom.
Soon after, his formal academy life began.
It was different from what he had expected.
He had thought studying was a very tiring thing because he used to see children complaining about not wanting to attend private tutoring.
However, after experiencing it firsthand, he realised it wasn't tiring at all.
According to the teachers at the academy, his Zanjutsu and Hakuda skills were already at Captain level when he enrolled.
Although they didn't know how he possessed these abilities, they sincerely congratulated him.
After all, a student they taught was a genius, and it brought them pride to mention it.
As for the other two Shinigami abilities, Shunpo and Kido...
He quickly mastered the former due to his mastery of Thunder Breathing.
It was simply releasing spiritual pressure to instantly step on the ground, then using the impact to move instantly.
This was extremely difficult for beginners, as the amount of spiritual pressure needed precise control; too little and one couldn't move, too much and one would be propelled away.
But for him...
Even Vice-Captain Marechiyo Oomaeda of the Second Division praised him greatly upon seeing it.
After less than seven days of training, he was already on par with him in terms of speed.
One must know that he was a renowned speedster in the Seireitei, and only twenty or thirty Shinigami in the entire Seireitei could surpass him in speed.
Yet...
If he weren't such an open-minded person, he might have fallen into self-isolation facing Tsugikuni Yoriichi's seemingly effortless talent.
His hundred years of Shunpo training were not as effective as Yoriichi's seven days.
And finally, Kido.
In Yoriichi's view, it was an ability similar to Blood Demon Arts, except Blood Demon Arts used demon blood, while Kido used one's reishi.
He was personally taught by a two-and-a-half-meter-tall, pink-haired Fat Man.
Hachigen Ushōda.
That was his name.
Although he was tall and robust, he gave Yoriichi a very gentle impression.
Even when he made mistakes, he would patiently correct himself.
He wouldn't show the slightest impatience until Yoriichi had fully mastered it.
Yoriichi once thought he was the most amiable Shinigami.
Opposite to Yamamoto Genryusai.
Of course.
His study of Kido didn't last too long either.
In about two months, Yoriichi achieved a leap from beginner to master.
"You have graduated."
In a spacious and tidy room, Hachigen Ushōda, clad in a purple haori, watched Yoriichi use Kido without incantation to shatter a wall, and couldn't help but exclaim,
"You are the most talented student I have seen in two hundred years."
"I wonder if you're interested in joining the Kido Corps?
"With your talent, I believe you could take my place in less than ten years."
"Please consider it carefully."
Besides Yoriichi, the fastest student he had taught took five months to go from beginner to master.
Yoriichi's efficiency was more than double theirs; such speed could no longer be described merely as genius.
Everyone else was a genius.
Someone far beyond a genius was called a prodigy.
The Kido Corps needed prodigies.
Whoosh.
Yoriichi retracted his fingers, a wisp of white lightning dancing at his fingertips.
Hearing Hachigen Ushōda's words, he pondered for two seconds, then shook his head slightly: "I apologise, Teacher Hachigen, the Kido Corps is not my ideal destination."
"I know you value me greatly, and that's why you're specifically recruiting me, but... I have reasons why I must do this."
"Only by joining the Gotei 13 and becoming a Captain can I feel at ease searching for my wife."
"She died seventy years ago, and her whereabouts are still unknown. You should understand my actions; this is my sole obsession in becoming a Shinigami."
Hachigen Ushōda sighed: "Is that so?"
"If that's the case, then there's nothing that can be done."
"It's a pity that our Kido Corps is gradually declining..."
Although he was reluctant to see Tsugikuni Yoriichi leave, since he had said so, he couldn't stop him.
He wasn't that kind of heartless Shinigami.
Once upon a time, he also had a wife, but she died a hundred years ago.
Lowering his eyes, Hachigen Ushōda slowly said: "Come with me to see Captain-Commander Yamamoto. You have now mastered all four Shinigami abilities."
"Normally, one only needs to skillfully use two to graduate."
"Your situation..."
"I'm afraid only Captain-Commander can decide your placement."
"If you were willing to join my Kido Corps, it would be easy, but the Gotei 13... except for the Sixth Division, they should all be vying for you."
The Sixth Division was noble; the lowest-ranking members allowed to enter were either lower-class nobles or noble retainers.
And Tsugikuni Yoriichi was not of noble birth; with his Rukongai status, no matter how strong he was, the Sixth Division would never accept him.
Unless he married into a noble family.
However, Tsugikuni Yoriichi had no such intentions, so from the very beginning, he was destined to be unrelated to the Sixth Division.
Yoriichi nodded and quickly arrived outside the First Division with Hachigen Ushōda.
After announcing their presence inside, they soon saw Yamamoto Genryusai, whom they hadn't seen in many days.
The old man still had a stern expression.
"You've arrived..."
Yamamoto Genryusai nodded, his gaze sweeping over Tsugikuni Yoriichi's calm face, and he went straight to the point,
"I presume you've heard about the structure within my Seireitei. What are your thoughts?"
"Which division of the Gotei 13 do you wish to join?"
"What is the primary mission of each division?" Yoriichi asked.
Yamamoto Genryusai replied: "The First Division is the commanding division, responsible for issuing notices from Central 46 and holding regular meetings;"
"The Second Division is the Covert Ops, mainly for assassination and intelligence gathering;"
"The Third Division is..."
"Excluding the Sixth Division, and including my own First Division, you are free to choose. This is the greatest concession I can make."
"If it's difficult to decide, I can give you some time to think it over carefully."
"After all, you graduated early; you have ample time before this year's graduation season arrives..."