Early the next morning, Su Li pushed open the door and walked straight toward the Captain's office.
Today marked the day he would officially receive Yamamoto-sensei's first personal instruction. He couldn't afford to be late.
On the way, residents greeted him warmly with friendly nods and smiles. Even though it was still early, Rukongai bustled with activity. Merchants shouted, deals were being made, and the streets were alive with chatter.
Su Li grabbed a quick breakfast from a roadside vendor to fill his stomach. But when it came time to pay, the proprietress, upon noticing the vice-captain's badge on his arm, froze and refused to accept the money. Su Li insisted, and though reluctant, she finally accepted with a smile, urging him to come again.
As he continued walking, his heart stirred.
The way people now treated him had clearly shifted after his promotion. He realized he would have to slowly learn to adapt to this kind of attention.
Before long, Su Li arrived at the Captain's quarters. Yamamoto Genryūsai was already waiting.
"Teacher," Su Li greeted respectfully.
"You've come," Yamamoto nodded, then stood from his seat. "Come. I'll take you somewhere."
He stepped forward, and Su Li, though a bit puzzled, followed without question.
They soon arrived at a weathered old dojo, its wooden structure worn with age. On the plaque above the entrance, the character "Yuan" was faintly visible, its original paint faded to near nothing.
Yamamoto pushed open the wooden door, and the two walked slowly inside.
"Do you know where this is?" the old man asked as he led the way.
Su Li glanced at the interior and the plaque. "A dojo with the word 'Yuan' on it... Could this be the legendary Yuanzi School?"
Yamamoto let out a deep chuckle, stroking his long beard with satisfaction. "Correct. This is where I once trained students personally."
"In time, the number of disciples grew too large. We relocated to a newer dojo and gave it a new name. That's what you now know as the Spiritual Arts Academy."
As Yamamoto spoke, his eyes carried a rare glint of reminiscence.
Su Li was surprised.
This tattered place was the predecessor to the Spiritual Arts Academy?
More than two thousand years ago, Yamamoto Genryūsai founded the Ryūjin-based combat philosophy and established this very dojo as the beginning of his teachings. It was here that he trained the earliest generation of Shinigami.
Su Li looked around at the age-stained floors and faded equipment, awe rising in his chest.
"Yah ah ah! Junior brother, you finally made it~~ yawn"
The familiar lazy voice caught Su Li off guard. Kyoraku Shunsui was leaning against the dojo wall, still looking drowsy, his hat pulled low over his eyes.
But Shunsui wasn't alone. Inside stood Jūshirō Ukitake and Chōjirō Sasakibe as well.
Ukitake greeted him with a warm smile, while Sasakibe maintained his usual composed seriousness. Shunsui had his casual air as always, though there was genuine fondness in his eyes.
Su Li blinked, surprised. Then it hit him—of course.
Kyoraku and Ukitake were Yamamoto's direct disciples, and Sasakibe, Yamamoto's most loyal aide, was practically family.
Their presence here made perfect sense.
"Little Junior Brother, your first day being personally trained by the teacher—of course we came to cheer you on!" Ukitake said with a smile.
"Haha, mostly we're here to keep an eye on the old man," Kyoraku added with a mischievous grin. "His teaching style is... too intense. Can't let him break our newest treasure on day one."
Despite the joke, there was sincerity behind his words.
"I'll do my best," Su Li responded calmly.
"You better. The old man doesn't bring people here casually," Kyoraku said, the amusement in his eyes giving way to solemnity. "Only those he deems the very best stand on this floor."
Su Li understood.
These words weren't a joke.
They were confirmation that in Yamamoto's eyes, Su Li had already reached the level of a top-tier disciple.
With the weight of that recognition on his shoulders, Su Li nodded, posture straightening as his expression turned serious.
"Enough talk. Let's not waste time," Yamamoto said plainly as he stepped onto the dojo floor, removing his clogs.
Su Li quickly followed suit, removing his footwear and stepping inside.
The three observers moved to the side, sitting cross-legged at the edge of the dojo, silently watching.
"I've reviewed your first assessment," Yamamoto began.
"You avoid using your Zanpakutō. You show no interest in Kidō. That's fine. I won't waste time teaching you things you clearly don't need."
"What I will teach you... is what you're most naturally gifted in. And what I am best at."
As he spoke, Yamamoto removed his outer captain's haori, revealing the thick, black Shinigami uniform beneath. Despite his advanced age, his frame was powerful, his exposed muscles rippling with raw strength.
"What I will teach you," Yamamoto said slowly, "is Hakuda—White Hits."
Su Li's heart surged with excitement.
To most, Yamamoto was the embodiment of fire—wielder of Ryūjin Jakka, the oldest and strongest Zanpakutō.
But Su Li knew better.
The true terror of Yamamoto wasn't just in flames, but in raw combat. His mastery of Hakuda and Shunpo was unmatched. His fists had shattered Hollows before ever drawing his sword.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—to be taught White Hits by the strongest Shinigami in Soul Society's history.
Su Li gave a deep bow, voice firm: "Please guide me, Teacher."
Yamamoto nodded.
"There's no need to go over basic White Hits. You've mastered them."
"What I will give you... is my personal creation. The ultimate technique in the art of Hakuda."
Su Li's eyes widened.
Even Kyoraku sat up in surprise.
"No way... Old Man Yamamoto is bringing out that on the first day?!"
He hadn't been taught this early, not even as one of Yamamoto's favorite students.
After a quick stretch and rotation of his shoulders, Yamamoto's presence suddenly changed.
Reiatsu surged from his body—dense, overwhelming, suffocating.
Su Li instinctively tensed.
"The technique I will teach you..." Yamamoto's voice echoed.
His figure disappeared.
A fist the size of a boulder materialized in front of Su Li's chest.
"—One Bone!"