Chapter 52: Punishment

Chapter 52 - 52: Punishment Katori Nanatsuki had taken Shihōin Yoruichi as his disciple. [Successfully accepted Shihōin Yoruichi as a personal disciple] [Shihōin Yoruichi's reputation level has increased. Current reputation: Friendly] "Since you've joined the Katori-ryu, you'll need to start taking your swordsmanship training seriously from now on," Nanatsuki said. "I'll be serious, I promise! But I really want to learn that sword technique you used earlier—the one that works with Shunpo!" Yoruichi gestured quickly with her hands. "That move that left afterimages!" "That sword technique is called 'Quadrant Shun Strike.' Your Shunpo is good enough to start learning it, but your swordsmanship still needs work. That move doesn't just rely on Shunpo—it demands incredibly fast and precise strikes. If you want to master it, you'll have to go through some prerequisite training first," Nanatsuki said. "No problem! I'll work hard!" Yoruichi nodded enthusiastically. [Training Quest Added: Guide Shihōin Yoruichi to complete a sword technique practice (In Progress)] Shihōin Yoruichi had solid fundamentals across the board, including her swordsmanship, so she could skip the basic training phase. "I'll teach you back at the dojo." After that, Nanatsuki evaluated the strength of the other students in the Sixth-Year class. He would be acting as their temporary field instructor, leading them on a training mission in the World of the Living. If he misjudged their capabilities, it could lead to unnecessary casualties. So it was essential to understand their strengths in advance. There were 26 students in total, and it took Nanatsuki an entire day to finish assessing them all. Including Shihōin Yoruichi, 18 students had already met the graduation standard in terms of overall combat capability. Five students were weaker, but all five had applied to the 4th Division and had begun learning Kaido, so they were still eligible to join. The remaining three hadn't reached graduation standard at all. Two of them were majoring in Kaido but hadn't yet grasped the basics, so naturally, they wouldn't be able to enter the 4th Division this year. "Yoshino, Hoshino—though the field evaluation is about to start, there are still a few months left before graduation. I hope you use this time wisely to study Kaido. Only once you've grasped the basics can you join the 4th Division. Otherwise, you'll have to delay your graduation," Nanatsuki advised. The minimum requirement for Kaido-focused recruits to enter the 4th Division was to have at least a basic mastery of Kaido. "Yes, I'll work hard." Hoshino Rie hesitated before asking, "Katori-sensei, is it okay if I ask you about Kaido?" Both students had taken Kaido as their elective and had attended Nanatsuki's lectures. They knew his Kaido proficiency was high. Technically speaking, however, Katori Nanatsuki was their swordsmanship instructor and acting homeroom teacher—not their Kaido instructor. "Of course you can. You've attended my lectures, so you're technically my Kaido students too. Feel free to ask me anything," Nanatsuki said kindly. "Thank you! Your classes are easier to understand. It's such a relief to be taught by you!" Hoshino Rie said happily. "Yeah, I think your lectures are much easier to follow too," Yoshino Kayo agreed. Nanatsuki reflected silently. The "Patient Guidance" trait, after being upgraded once, temporarily boosts a student's talent level during instruction. This effect worked just as well on students from the Spiritual Arts Academy. The clearest result was this: when teaching, his students could easily stay on the same wavelength as him, making them more receptive and better at understanding his lessons. He turned to another student who had failed to meet the graduation standard and said earnestly: "Kan no Ki, your abilities are lacking across the board. On top of that, you're often absent or late. That's irresponsible toward your own future. Being a Shinigami isn't some comfortable job. The skills you learn here might very well save your life one day." [Kan no Ki Homura] [Talent: D-] [Reiatsu: Lv3] [Reputation Level: Stranger] Nanatsuki found this student especially frustrating. His talent was downright terrible, and his attitude was even worse. He was far from reaching the standard for graduation. "My Asauchi doesn't respond at all. What's the point of learning Zanjutsu, Hakuda, or Kidō?" Kan no Ki sneered at some of his less-impressive classmates, sounding arrogant. "You don't have to worry about my future. I'm sure I'll be better off than most of them after graduation anyway." Hoshino Rie lowered her head, avoiding eye contact with him, afraid of provoking him. Kan no Ki's family was part of the nobility. Even if he chose not to become a Shinigami, he could still live a life of luxury in Seireitei's noble quarters. Hoshino, on the other hand, had made it into the academy from Rukongai. If she didn't become a Shinigami, she'd have no choice but to return there. "Zanjutsu, Hakuda, and Kidō are pointless?" Shihōin Yoruichi clenched her fist, clearly annoyed. "Kan no Ki Homura, I swear I'll knock you flat!" "You're a genius—of course it's useful for you." Seeing it was Yoruichi talking back, Kan no Ki instantly put on a fawning smile. "I meant for someone like me, a loser. Learning this stuff is useless for me!" "Kan no Ki Homura, watch your attitude!" Nanatsuki scolded. "You're staying after class every day from now on to practice Suburi. This continues until the field evaluation." He was disgusted by Kan no Ki's attitude. Everyone knew the unspoken reality, but bringing it up to insult other hard-working students was just plain obnoxious. Kan no Ki's face immediately darkened. For someone like him—lazy and undisciplined—being forced to practice was the worst punishment. "I..." He opened his mouth to argue, but seeing the increasingly unfriendly looks from both Yoruichi and Nanatsuki, he backed down. "Okay..." Nanatsuki noticed Hoshino Rie's reaction and, to protect her morale from Kan no Ki's comments, said gently: "You chose the hardest path for yourself. That means you either love Kaido deeply or have a kind heart. I believe you'll definitely make it into the 4th Division." Hoshino Rie hadn't expected the teacher to notice her emotions. Warmth instantly bloomed in her chest. "Yes, sensei! I will get into the 4th Division!" Seeing that she had regained her spirit, Nanatsuki announced the end of class. "The field evaluation is in two weeks. Use this time to review and patch any weak points. I hope you all pass the test." "Kan no Ki Homura, stay behind. Everyone else is dismissed." Kan no Ki's expression twisted. He could feel the stinging gazes of his classmates all around him. "You know how to practice Suburi, right?" Nanatsuki asked. "I'll watch while you finish your set." "I know..." Kan no Ki replied helplessly, then found a spot and began practicing Suburi. Shihōin Yoruichi also stayed behind. Since there weren't any proper tools here to teach sword techniques, Nanatsuki decided to spar with her instead, to build her combat instincts. Her private tutors had probably gone too easy on her during sparring, which led to her developing some flashy but ineffective habits. Nanatsuki had to correct those bad habits personally.