Bleach: Getting Stronger Starting from Teaching at the Spiritual Arts Academy

Although Kotsubaki Jin'emon's talent was only B+, his hard work and love for swordsmanship made Nanatsuki willing to give him a disciple spot.

“Little Chun, I’ve seen all your hard work,” July said with a smile. “And your swordsmanship talent is quite good. Your progress has already surpassed the teaching pace of the Spirit Arts Academy. If you want to continue to specialize in swordsmanship training, besides entering the swordsmanship advanced training class, there is actually another path.”

Kimiemon Kotsubou's eyes widened, and he quickly understood. He bowed deeply in a dogeza (a traditional Japanese kneeling posture) and said, "Master Shikatori, I wish to learn swordsmanship from you. Please accept me as your disciple!"

[Kotsubaki Jin'emon requests to become an apprentice; will you accept him as a personal disciple?]

In July, a prompt to become an apprentice appeared before his eyes, and he immediately confirmed it, accepting Kotsubaki Jin'emon as his disciple.

"Alright, from now on you will be my disciple. You must be loyal to your sect and diligently cultivate. Then I will teach you the way of the sword," July said.

[Successfully recruited Kotsubaki Jin'emon as his personal disciple]

[Kotsubaki Jin'emon's reputation level has increased; his current reputation level is Friendly.]

[First time possessing a B-rank talent disciple, additional rewards received...]

Chapter 44: Entries that can be improved

[Having acquired a B-rank talent disciple for the first time, you will receive an additional reward: the trait "Patience and Guidance"].

The system's prompt confused July. He had already obtained the "patient and persuasive" keyword before, so why did he get the "patient and persuasive" keyword again as his first reward?

In July, when I checked my panel, I found that the original "patient guidance" entry had been changed.

【Guided and persuasive (can be further improved): You are skilled at guiding and are more likely to convince others. When you guide students, their talents (in terms of comprehension, understanding, and learning ability only) will temporarily increase by one level. Disciples who are currently undertaking cultivation tasks will continue to receive this effect.】

In July, I was surprised to find that the term "patiently guiding" was actually an term that could be improved!

Moreover, if those disciples with S-level talents could also obtain this effect, then such an improvement would be quite terrifying.

In July, he checked the disciples' panels and found that the talents of the disciples with cultivation tasks had all increased by a small level.

【Hirako Mako】

[Talent: S (S+)]

[Spiritual Pressure: lv31]

Like Shinji Hirako, the two disciples with training missions, Kensei Muguruma and Isane Kotetsu both had their talents upgraded to S+.

As for Kana Momoshiro, she has already completed the training mission for the "Instant Strike" sword technique, but still needs to consolidate it for a period of time. She currently has no new training missions, so her talent remains the original S-rank talent.

The newly accepted disciple, Kotsubaki Jin'emon, also possesses a B+ level talent.

July thought to herself that since the first reward for accepting S-level and B-level disciples was the "patient and persuasive" attribute, then accepting disciples of other talent levels should also have the same reward.

However, he doesn't have many disciple slots yet, and there are still two S-rank potential targets—Yoruichi Shihouin and Lisa Yadomaru—so it's better to wait until he has more slots before continuing to accept disciples with lower talent.

Of course, he could also take in A-level disciples if he could find them. According to his observation, B-level talents on the system panel correspond to the potential of a seat officer, A-level talents correspond to the potential of a vice captain, and S-level talents correspond to the potential of a captain.

C and D grade talents are all at the level of a low-level squad member, and July really didn't want to take on people with too little talent as disciples when there weren't enough spots available.

The only known way to obtain a discipleship is through a reward for the first lecture in a refresher course.

"I hope Minister Yamada can arrange a lecture for me at the advanced training course as soon as possible." July thought of Minister Yamada's previous words about inviting him to give a lecture, and she couldn't help but feel a little excited.

July snapped out of her daze and turned to look at her newly accepted disciple, Kotsubaki Jin'emon: "Kotsubaki, let's have dinner together at the dojo tonight to celebrate."

Kimiemon thought his teacher was treating him to a meal to celebrate him joining the Shikatori-ryu school, and he was so moved that tears streamed down his face: "Thank you, teacher!"

...

In the evening, July and her four disciples returned to the Shikato Dojo carrying a pile of ingredients.

As soon as I entered the inner courtyard, I heard voices coming from the backyard.

"Kotetsu's daughter is very energetic. Does she practice for this long every day?"

The speaker was a man, and his voice was lazy, making July feel that it sounded somewhat familiar.

“Yongyin is a diligent child, even so diligent that it’s heartbreaking,” Baiyunzhai sighed.

The two continued their conversation.

"He's practicing quite well. It seems that Shikatori-kun is also very good at teaching. Indeed, sending him to the Spirit Arts Academy was the right decision!"

"I was also quite surprised. The disciples I took in in July were all very good."

"Seeing Captain Shikatori looking so energetic, I feel relieved."

"Don't worry about my health. July took good care of me, and I should be able to hold on for another year or two."

"Well, don't say such discouraging things. I heard that the Zero Division is also investigating Captain Shikatori's injuries. Captain Shikatori will get better."

"Then I accept your good advice."

July recognized the voice as that of Kyoraku Shunsui, the current captain of the Eighth Division.

He had met Kyoraku Shunsui a few times and was fairly familiar with him.

"It's getting late, I have to take my leave." Kyoraku Shunsui glanced at the door and prepared to get up and say goodbye.

"Stay for dinner! I heard from July this morning that she's going to cook a big meal tonight!" Bayunzhai invited Jingle Chunshui to stay for dinner.

When July walked into the backyard, he saw Shikato Hakunsai and Kyoraku Shunsui sitting on the side of the eaves of the courtyard, drinking tea.

Kyoraku Shunsui's appearance at this moment was very close to the image he had seen in July's previous life—his hair was tied back in a ponytail, he wore a pink haori jacket embroidered with patterns, and he had a few whiskers on his chin, but he wasn't wearing that straw raincoat.

"Shikatori-kun is back! I'm here to check on your 'work'," Kyoraku Shunsui joked. "I was worried that I wouldn't be able to take care of you after you went to the Spirit Arts Academy, but seeing Captain Shikatori looking so energetic, I'm relieved!"

"Thanks to the band leader Jing, I'm so grateful for your kindness." July said with a smile. "Band leader Jing, please stay for dinner tonight. I haven't had a chance to properly thank you for your help yet."

After Ba Yunzhai stepped down and took a break, Kyoraku Shunsui, who took over as captain, assigned July a long-term task—to take good care of the seriously ill former captain.

Apart from that, no other tasks were assigned to him, and his salary was still paid as usual, which made July, who was short of money, very grateful.

Later, when he was going to transfer to the Spirit Arts Academy to become a teacher, Kyoraku Shunsui didn't cause any trouble and readily signed the transfer agreement for him.

Kyoraku Shunsui originally intended to casually find an izakaya (Japanese pub) to have a few drinks.

Hearing that he could stay and freeload a meal, he was somewhat tempted, after all, Captain Shikato had a century-old vintage wine!

However, after glancing at the four people following behind July, and seeing that Kotetsu Isane, Kotetsu Seione, and Shikatori Hakunsai were also in the courtyard, he felt a little embarrassed to stay.

"This isn't a good idea, it's too much trouble for Shikato-kun." Kyoraku Shunsui said, though he had already stood up, his feet showed no sign of moving.

"Don't worry, my apprentices will help with washing and chopping the vegetables, it won't be a big deal." July could tell that he didn't intend to leave.

“You’re just craving my deer antler wine. Sit down, I’ll open two jars later,” Ba Yunzhai exposed him.

"I can't refuse your kind offer, thank you so much!" Kyoraku Shunsui sat back down.

"You still crave alcohol so much. You've caused trouble many times before because of it!" Ba Yunzhai shook his head.

When Bayunzhai was in office, Kyoraku Shunsui served as her vice-captain for two years in order to hand over the work and become familiar with the affairs of the Eighth Division, so she knew Kyoraku Shunsui's personality very well.

“I drink much less now. Being the captain keeps me incredibly busy. I really regret agreeing to what that old man Yama said. I should have stayed in the First Division!” Kyoraku Shunsui said something surprising.

In fact, he delegated most of the captain's duties to his vice-captain.

Chapter 45 Kyoraku Shunsui's Reminder

"Shikatori-kun, I never expected your cooking skills to be so good! This is even better than the sukiyaki I get at restaurants!" Kyoraku Shunsui exclaimed in surprise.

"This isn't sukiyaki, it's called 'hot pot.' Sukiyaki dishes are mostly stewed, while 'hot pot' dishes are cooked on the spot," July said, pouring a plate of beef rolls into the pot.

There were a lot of people dining today, and I got home quite late from get off work, so I prepared hot pot and barbecue, which are easier to make.

However, even a relatively simple dish like hot pot, after being seasoned in July, is enough to make people enjoy it immensely.

"So it's called 'hot pot' after all. No wonder the cooking method is different. I never thought that tomato flavor could taste so good," Kyoraku Shunsui exclaimed.

"Delicious!" Cilantro from Zhicheng had bulging cheeks, looking a bit like a hamster hiding food.

"Is today's swordsmanship assessment over? How did you all perform?" Ba Yunzhai picked up his wine bowl and took a sip.

The deer antler wine that Baiyunzhai drinks is made from the antlers of a type of deer that possesses spiritual pressure, and it has a slight benefit in restoring spiritual pressure.

Kana Mochi held up two fingers: "I made it to the finals, and I came in second! Mako also made it to the semifinals. Kensei is in trouble though; he ran into Sojun Kuchiki in the first round. Sojun Kuchiki is too strong; he took first place."

"Oh?" Baiyunzhai was somewhat surprised. "I heard from Lingyin that many of this year's freshmen have a very good foundation. It's not easy for you to achieve this result."

“Because those strong opponents didn’t actually focus all their energy on swordsmanship…” Hirako Shinji sighed. “If you take in abilities like Shunpo, Hakuda, and Kido, then there will definitely be a huge difference.”

Putting aside everything else, Kana Mochi's Shunpo and Hakuda skills are much better than Shinji Hirako and Kensei Mukkari's, because she had trained with her tutor for a period of time before.

However, because the Mochi City family did not value the cultivation of martial arts, they did not continue with advanced training after the basic training was completed.

“That’s pretty good too. I’ve heard that many of the students at Tsunayoshiro Tokinada come from families with a strong martial spirit.” Kyoraku Shunsui refilled the empty sake bowl.

"Does the Peking Opera band leader know Teacher Tsunayo?" July's heart skipped a beat.

He had little recollection of this Tsunayoshi Tokina from his past life, but he had a vague feeling that this person was not a good person.

“Tsunayoshi Tokina…” Kyoraku Shunsui picked up his sake bowl, a look of reminiscence on his face. “He was my classmate.”

"Teacher Tsunayo is actually a classmate of the Kyoto Band Captain?" July was a little surprised. How come someone with such qualifications is only an ordinary teacher now? "But he is a new teacher who just joined this year, just like me."

"Ha, this is really good wine." Kyoraku Shunsui finished the wine in his bowl, his cheeks slightly flushed. "This Tsunayoshi Tokinada... was imprisoned by his family for a while because he harmed civilians in Rukongai without cause."

"Don't the higher-ranking nobles have the right to 'slay' the souls of the Rukongai?" Hirako Shinji suddenly asked.

Last time at Grandma Jiang's Izakaya, I almost got into a fight with a man dressed in expensive clothes.

The incident started when Lisa grabbed the hem of the nobleman's robe, and his servant tried to cut off Lisa's hand.

After returning to the Academy of Spiritual Arts, he checked the relevant regulations and discovered that the nobleman's actions were actually legal!

The higher-ranking nobles have the right to kill any spirits in the Rukongai who offend them. If a spirit in the Rukongai offends a higher-ranking noble, the Seireitei will not hold them accountable even if they are killed directly.

"That right to 'execute without cause' can only be exercised if one is offended without cause." Kyoraku Shunsui shook his head. "Well, there's no need to think of the Seireitei's rules as so bad."

"In reality, the souls in Rukongai are just ordinary spirits. Why would they intentionally and without cause offend nobles who are Shinigami?"

"As for Tsunayoshi Tokinada... this guy claimed that all the spirits on the street had offended him, saying that even an offensive look was offensive, so he chopped them all down!"

"This personality is really awful..." July had little contact with Tsunayoshi Tokinada, since he rarely came to the office and she didn't know him very well, but she never expected him to be such a crazy person.

“He’s just that kind of awful person.” Kyoraku Shunsui poured another bowl of sake. “So, Shikatori-kun, you’d better watch out from now on.”

"You mean, he might still try to attack me?" July was slightly taken aback.

“This guy is extremely petty and vindictive. I heard he’s vying for the position of head of the swordsmanship club. Shikatori-kun’s disciples are performing so well in the competition, it’s very likely that it will affect his selection of head of the swordsmanship club…” Kyoraku Shunsui’s voice was somewhat cold. “At that time, you and your disciples might encounter some ‘accidents’.”

"How dare he do such a thing in the Spirit Arts Academy? Doesn't the Seireitei care?" Kensei Muguruma said indignantly.

"We can't just arrest him now, can we?" Kyoraku Shunsui shook his head. "So you guys need to be more vigilant yourselves!"

"Thank you for the reminder, Captain Jing, we'll be careful!" July said earnestly.

"I thought the Spirit Arts Academy was a safe place, but I never expected you to get caught up in such a vortex." Ba Yunzhai frowned slightly, wondering if he should take advantage of the fact that his injuries were temporarily suppressed and go and kill that Tsunayoshi Tokina.

However, this will inevitably provoke a counterattack from the Tsunayo family.

If she's gone, Shikamori Nanatsuki alone definitely wouldn't be able to withstand the Tsunayo family.

“Uh—” Kyoraku Shunsui downed another bowl of sake and burped. “Don’t worry too much. I’ve been keeping an eye on Tsunayoshiro Tokinada too. I have a feeling he might do something bad again.”

...

The next few days will be the assessment of Kido, Hakuda, and Shunpo.

As Hirako Shinji had predicted, the students in Class 1 were all quite well-rounded and had a solid foundation even before entering the school, while the students in Class 2 hadn't been studying for very long and failed to achieve good results in these assessments.

After the assessment, there was a two-day holiday.

"Teacher, the assessment is over. Please teach me the new sword technique!" Even during the holiday, Kana Mochi didn't sleep in and got up early.

In July, some of his students would sometimes practice at the dojo until very late, so he let them each choose a room so they could sleep there if they didn't want to go home.

“Learning ‘Instant Strike’ is the process of gaining initial control over spiritual pressure,” July said with a smile. “Now that you’ve mastered the basics of ‘Instant Strike’ swordsmanship, it’s time to learn new sword techniques.”

"However, the sword technique I'm about to teach you requires a higher level of spiritual pressure control to master."

"Therefore, it also has a unique way of exercising."

Chapter 46 Dojo Uniform

Cilantro went back to her room and changed her clothes.

She was wearing clothes similar to those of the students at the Spirit Arts Academy, white robes and crimson trousers, but with a small bell tied to the end of each long sleeve with a red string.