West District—near the outskirts.
A tall girl in a zonbaku dress, her long twin ponytails swaying, stood before the young man, her breath uneven and labored.
"Hah…hah…"
Tamura Kaoru's delicate face was covered in beads of sweat, her body trembling slightly from exhaustion. The rigorous training under Ito Makoto had pushed her to her limits.
"Take a break," Makoto said, observing the graceful yet weary girl in front of him. "Communicating with your Zanpakutō isn't something you can rush."
Tamura bit her lower lip, stubborn determination flashing across her fair features. "Makoto-sensei, I can still continue! Please, don't hold back!"
A small smirk tugged at Makoto's lips. "Is that so? Alright then—I'll take you at your word."
With that, he stepped forward in an instant, gripping the scabbard of his Zanpakutō tightly. He struck forward, the scabbard slicing through the air with precision, aiming directly at Tamura's midsection.
Startled, Tamura raised her blade instinctively to block.
"Bang!"
The impact sent a powerful shock through her arms, and before she could react, her sword was knocked clean out of her grasp.
"So strong…!" Tamura's eyes widened in disbelief as her Zanpakutō clattered onto the ground. The rhythm of Makoto's attacks was completely different from before—this time, his movements were sharper, more forceful, almost overwhelming. The sheer gap in their strength made frustration well up inside her.
"How can I possibly walk alongside Makoto-sensei if I'm this weak?" she thought bitterly.
Clenching her teeth, she quickly rolled backward, retrieved her fallen blade, and surged forward once more.
"Ahh!"
With a fierce cry, she launched herself at him.
Makoto sighed, shaking his head. "Still not giving up?"
He waited until the last moment, then coolly extended his scabbard, tapping her firmly on the lower abdomen.
"Ah—!"
Tamura gasped in pain, her knees buckling as she collapsed onto the grass, clutching her stomach. Tears welled in her eyes, and a choked sound escaped her lips. But Makoto simply stood over her, watching silently.
After all, she had been the one who insisted on this special training. It was her request—to push herself, to become stronger. Makoto didn't know the secret to unlocking a Zanpakutō's true power, but he knew how to fight. So that was what he gave her—a brutal, relentless fight.
Slowly, she struggled to her feet once more. "Makoto-sensei… let's continue."
Makoto cracked his neck, amusement glinting in his eyes. "You're really something, Tamura. I think I'm starting to like you."
She lunged again, but this time, Makoto merely reached out, catching her blade between two fingers. His grip was effortless, unshaken.
"You think you can cut me with a blade that weak?" he mocked.
A flick of his fingers sent a shockwave through the sword, and Tamura was thrown back. She tumbled across the grass, her twin ponytails unraveling, long black hair cascading wildly around her. She was disheveled, breathless—yet there was an odd beauty to her determination.
"Ack—!"
Coughing as she inhaled dust, she wiped her mouth and forced herself upright, her grip on her Zanpakutō tightening once more.
Again, she charged.
Makoto didn't even move from his spot. He simply lifted his scabbard, deflecting her attack with ease before tapping her chest with his fingers.
A soft sensation.
Tamura gasped, her face turning bright red as she was knocked off balance, once again sent flying. She barely had time to process what had happened before hitting the ground with a thud.
"Oh?" Makoto raised an eyebrow, finally taking a good look at her. "I underestimated you… I thought you were just tall and slender under that Shihakushō, but it looks like you've got some hidden assets."
Tamura's cheeks burned, mortified. "D-Don't say things like that!"
Makoto chuckled. "Then stop blushing and focus. Attack me properly."
Steeling herself, Tamura rushed forward again, but before she could land a blow, Makoto's scabbard struck her wrist with pinpoint precision, forcing her to drop her blade once more.
Her body was trembling now, exhaustion seeping into her bones. She could barely keep her stance, her hand shaking as she reached for her Zanpakutō.
Makoto smirked. "That's enough for today."
Before she could protest, he suddenly shoved her backward.
"Wha—?!"
"Splash!"
Tamura landed in the cool stream behind them, the shock of the water stealing her breath away. After a moment, she surfaced, gasping, her soaked uniform clinging to her form.
Makoto's gaze lingered, a slow grin spreading across his face. "Huh… now that's a sight."
Tamura's face turned crimson. "M-Makoto-sensei, you—!"
Ignoring her sputtering, he stretched lazily and said, "Forget about communicating with your Zanpakutō for now. We're changing the way you train."
Tamura froze, her heart pounding at his words.
Whatever that meant, she had a feeling she wasn't ready for it.
Tamura hesitated, glancing around at the wilderness surrounding them. "Makoto-sensei, but we're out in the open…"
Makoto scoffed. "What, you want to invite me back to your dorm in the Fifth Division? Should we give Aizen a live broadcast while we're at it?"
Tamura pouted, looking slightly embarrassed. "I just thought…"
Shaking his head, Makoto muttered, "Not happening. That place is a nest of scheming foxes."
Instead of further discussion, he raised his Zanpakutō, his voice steady and commanding. "The world is full of spirits and monsters, and even gods turn to dust—Sifang Realm , also known as the four realms!"
At once, a square, gray-black barrier unfolded around them, wrapping the entire stream in a shroud of isolation. No spiritual pressure could seep through, and no prying eyes could intrude.
Tamura looked around in awe. "So this is the power of Makoto-sensei's Zanpakutō… It's incredible." A sense of inferiority crept into her heart. "The gap between us… it's like an unscalable wall."
Makoto, however, paid no attention to her thoughts. He simply smirked and leaped into the stream. "Enough talking. Let's fight again!"
Tamura watched him, her expression softening before she nodded, stepping forward into the water. The training was far from over.
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