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Inside the Eleventh Division's Squad Barracks, in the Captain's exclusive dojo.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
As the sounds of striking gradually faded, the Hakuda training neared its end, and Kuna Mashiro's thoughts returned from the past.
"That's amazing, Reiji," Kuna Mashiro quickly rolled up her sleeves and threw a few punches, while her adorable large eyes looked at Aozaki Reiji with admiration.
"Reiji's skill level is already good enough to be certified as a tenth dan at the Hakuda Association, isn't it? Just this force generation movement has benefited me immensely, as if every cell in my body is urging me to practice quickly."
"The certification process for ranks is too cumbersome. For me, fighting techniques need to be effective in combat. The recognition of those so-called masters is not that important."
Aozaki Reiji stroked Kuna Mashiro's small head, flexing his fingers and saying with a smile.
Yamamoto and Retsu had both evaluated him, saying that as long as he went to the relevant associations for certification, whether it was Kendo, Hakuda, or Kido, he could achieve the highest rank of tenth dan.
If it weren't for the fact that Seireitei didn't have a Shunpo Association, his Shunpo skills would probably also receive a tenth dan evaluation.
However, in his opinion, going to associations to certify these so-called ranks was a complete waste of time and would also expose his strength and information.
It wasn't that there were no benefits; certifying a rank could earn a title and association subsidies, but compared to the risks, this small gain was nothing.
"I understand, Reiji is teaching me not to covet false fame but to pursue true martial arts. I will work hard!" Kuna Mashiro excitedly said, rubbing the large hand that was touching her hair.
Aozaki Reiji waved his hand and praised, "Mm-hmm... Mashiro, with effort, you can definitely reach my level too. You must work hard!"
"I understand, but I'm still far behind Reiji. I've practiced for so many years and still haven't reached ninth dan," Kuna Mashiro smoothed her hair, saying with some disappointment.
"It's already very difficult to reach a level close to ninth dan at this age. As long as you practice diligently, with my guidance, you will reach tenth dan someday."
Aozaki Reiji led her to sit aside and comforted her.
"This is also thanks to Reiji's help. If Reiji hadn't been guiding me all this time, I wouldn't have improved so quickly."
The naturally cheerful and sunny girl immediately regained her vitality, clenching her small fists with full momentum and raising them.
"That's because you have talent, Mashiro. Your Hakuda talent is truly excellent, second only to Yoruichi among my peers," Aozaki Reiji recalled Yoruichi's bright laughter after every spar and couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
Compared to Yoruichi, Kuna Mashiro was undoubtedly a specialized girl.
Her Hakuda talent was very high, but only her Hakuda talent was high; her talent for Reiatsu, Zanjutsu, Kido, and Shunpo was actually quite ordinary.
Of course, this 'ordinary' was relative to Aozaki Reiji.
Considering Reiatsu alone, if she didn't have external help in the future, she would at most reach a standard Captain-class level.
Whether she could learn Bankai was an unknown, and she was completely incomparable to Matsumoto Rangiku.
Matsumoto Rangiku was about the same age as Aozaki Reiji and had recently reached Vice-Captain-class Reiatsu.
Aozaki Reiji estimated that in no more than ten years, she would reach Captain-class Reiatsu.
Yamamoto even evaluated her as a genius of a thousand-year rarity, someone who would definitely catch up to Aozaki Reiji's pace in the future.
This 'catching up to Aozaki Reiji's pace' referred to reaching the limits of a Shinigami.
In Yamamoto's view, Aozaki Reiji's talent was very high, but as a Shinigami, he would eventually remain at this peak, and Matsumoto Rangiku would sooner or later catch up to him.
"Yoruichi? The head of the Shihōin Family, the Captain of the Second Division, Yoruichi?"
After thinking for a while, a hint of crimson appeared on Kuna Mashiro's delicate face, and she pouted.
"That's right, her Hakuda skills have also been recognized by Old Man," Aozaki Reiji looked at the girl lowering her head and comforted her, "I used to spar with her often, which is why I improved so quickly."
"Speaking of which, Reiji never seems to have sparred with me. Every time I told Reiji to go all out against me, he refused."
Recalling Aozaki Reiji's usual distance from her, Kuna Mashiro's cheeks puffed up with a hint of annoyance.
"Actually, I also wanted to go all out against Mashiro, but I was just afraid Mashiro might not be able to handle it," Aozaki Reiji blinked, teasing her.
"I'm not scared at all! Reiji, bring it on..."
The originally soft and adorable girl, upon hearing Aozaki Reiji's teasing, instantly transformed into a fierce tomboy, standing up and demonstrating a highly aggressive set of punches to Aozaki Reiji.
"I get it, I won't say much more. Let me see how much you've really improved."
Aozaki Reiji extended his hand, looking at the girl whose face was strangely flushed.
"I won't disappoint Reiji."
As soon as she thought about sparring with Aozaki Reiji, Kuna Mashiro was instantly full of energy, walking in front of Aozaki Reiji and assuming a fighting stance.
"Ha!"
With a morale-boosting roar echoing in the dojo, Kuna Mashiro quickly charged forward.
First, a continuous strong attack with short punches, then transitioning to wide, open-handed boxing, the force suddenly increasing, and the fight immediately intensified.
Aozaki Reiji only defended and did not attack. Whether it was the rapid continuous short punches or the swift and powerful heavy punches, he caught them one by one.
Their movements were clean and graceful. Aozaki Reiji felt that the girl's body was truly soft, yet surprisingly powerful, and her fists striking his palms produced a crisp impact.
"Very good. With this Hakuda alone, you can contend with a Vice-Captain-class Shinigami."
Gently grasping the soft little hand, Aozaki Reiji gave a fair evaluation.
In the world of "Shinigami," challenging opponents beyond one's rank is extremely difficult. Reiatsu can accomplish too many things and compensate for too many deficiencies.
Under normal circumstances, among all of a Shinigami's combat techniques, Reiatsu has the greatest impact on fighting power.
Being able to contend with a Vice-Captain using Six-Tier Reiatsu combined with Hakuda also indirectly proved Kuna Mashiro's excellent Hakuda talent.
However, unfortunately, Kuna Mashiro's Hakuda, in Aozaki Reiji's eyes, was like child's play.
Aozaki Reiji gripped Kuna Mashiro's fist with one hand and pulled it back.
The anticipated counterattack did not come. Kuna Mashiro seemed to suddenly lose strength and fell into his arms.
"What's going on?"
Looking at the girl who was lowering her head, half-concealing her flushed cheeks with her green hair, Aozaki Reiji thought thoughtfully.
Although Kuna Mashiro, who had fallen into his arms, used her green hair to cover her flushed cheeks, her hair wasn't long enough, and half-concealed, Aozaki Reiji could still see the redness on her face.
His mind involuntarily flashed with Kuna Mashiro's information.
This was a girl who appeared naturally naive on the outside but was actually very intelligent and deeply cunning.
"Reiji..." Looking up at the unmoved Aozaki Reiji, Kuna Mashiro seemed somewhat indignant as she wiggled her nose.
"Don't overestimate my self-control!" Aozaki Reiji shamelessly blew gently into her ear, slowly pressing her against the spotless wooden wall for the next step of physical training.
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