Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Check Your Back One More Time?
Chapter 16: Check Your Back One More Time?
Cherry blossoms scattered.
The Zanpakuto in Byakuya Kuchiki’s hand abruptly vanished.
He held only the hilt; the blade itself had fragmented into tiny, microscopic blades utterly invisible to the naked eye!
The dancing blades caught the light, reflecting a brilliant hue reminiscent of cherry blossoms.
Three months ago, after entering the Shin’o Academy and receiving his Asauchi, Byakuya had achieved Shikai.
The true name of his Zanpakuto was Senbonzakura.
Thousands of tiny blades, as thin as a cow’s hair and drifting like catkins in the wind, moved with blinding speed. Most lethally, their near-invisibility made effective defense practically impossible.
—But Yato could see them.
His dark eyes bled into crimson, and within each pupil, two tomoe spun lazily, beautiful and enchanting.
Under the gaze of these eyes, the tens of thousands of microscopic blades seemed as though they had been highlighted with ink, visible down to the finest detail.
"Scatter! Senbonzakura!"
Byakuya shouted, unleashing the myriad of blades.
In an instant, cherry blossoms filled the air. A sea of pink engulfed the center of the training grounds, surging toward Yato, carrying a razor-sharp killing intent.
Yato didn’t panic. Gripping his sword with one hand, he relied on the Sharingan to perceive every nuance of the incoming attack. His Zanjutsu flowed like water, precisely swatting the cherry blossom blades away one after another.
Within seconds, the ground around Yato was torn to shreds, not a single inch left intact.
However, under Byakuya’s control, the deflected blades arced back, attacking Yato’s blind spots from behind while coordinating with the frontal assault to form a flawless, 360-degree encirclement!
Amidst the gasps of the students and instructors, Yato’s Spiritual Pressure surged to the next level.
The two tomoe instantly morphed into three.
His demonic Sharingan pierced through the gaps in the swirling cherry blossoms, locking directly onto Byakuya’s eyes.
"Ngh..."
Byakuya’s mind suddenly went blank, his body freezing.
He looked down and was horrified to find several iron spikes, thick as young trees, skewering his body. They pierced through his bones and muscles, rendering him completely paralyzed by the agonizing pain and stripping away his control over his own limbs.
Genjutsu!
Having spent six months sparring and living with Yato, Byakuya was intimately familiar with his Shikai. He instantly realized he had fallen into a trap.
He immediately commanded Senbonzakura, condensing the tiny blades and directing them to strike his own chest.
This specific spot housed a spiritual node known as the "Tanfu." It possessed no significant practical use, save for one detail: stimulating it caused an excruciatingly intense pain.
Byakuya intended to use this method to forcefully snap himself out of the genjutsu.
The cherry blossoms struck, and the sheer agony washed over him.
The iron spikes impaling his body vanished instantly.
However, when Byakuya looked up again, Yato was nowhere to be seen.
"Hey buddy, check your back."
Yato’s amused voice echoed from behind Byakuya.
He had utilized the Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes technique inherent to the three-tomoe Sharingan to paralyze Byakuya. In that split second, he slipped through the closing net of cherry blossom blades and closed the distance with Shunpo, aiming squarely for his opponent’s back!
Even the simplest application of the Sharingan remained a highly effective, lethal technique.
Swish—
Akame’s chilling blade slashed through the air. Pouncing like a tiger on a sheep, Yato slammed the spine of his sword toward Byakuya’s back.
The tremendous force shattered the air with a deafening boom.
Akame’s spine smashed violently into the ground right where Byakuya stood.
—The strike had missed entirely.
"Then how about... you check your back one more time?"
Byakuya’s voice abruptly whispered into his ear.
Even without turning around, Yato felt a dangerous presence prickling at his back like thorns.
"Senka." (Flash Blossom)
Byakuya casually spat the term, as if declaring the arrival of his victory.
Senka was a secret kendo technique that the Kuchiki clan took immense pride in. It involved utilizing a spin and specialized footwork to instantly maneuver behind the opponent, followed by a thrust to destroy their "Hakusui" (Soul Sleep), inflicting critical damage.
In the original story, Byakuya Kuchiki had effortlessly used this exact technique to strip Ichigo Kurosaki of the Soul Reaper powers he had obtained from Rukia.
Naturally, since killing or inflicting permanent injury was strictly forbidden in academy spars, Byakuya pressed his index and middle fingers together, aiming to strike Yato’s Hakusui instead.
If this strike landed solidly, the absolute best-case scenario was instant unconsciousness!
Byakuya had drilled the Senka tens of thousands of times. From the spinning advance to the two-finger strike, it was as fast as lightning. Many veteran instructors watching from the sidelines couldn’t even track his movements.
With a soft thud, like a dragonfly skimming the water, the Senka struck Yato’s completely undefended Hakusui.
In that fleeting moment, Byakuya’s handsome face contorted drastically, as if he had seen a ghost.
—The sensation on my fingertips is wrong!
This Yato is also an illusion!
"Senbonzakura!"
He shouted immediately, flaring his Reiryoku in a desperate attempt to recall the scattered cherry blossom blades to defend himself.
Unfortunately, despite his incredibly fast reaction, he still wasn’t faster than Akame’s blade.
Yato’s Zanpakuto rested firmly against Byakuya’s neck.
The three tomoe spun lazily as the illusory clone shattered into nothingness.
"A brilliant duel, my friend, but..."
"Your eyes cannot see the distant future."
The match was decided.
Following a brief moment of stunned silence, wave after wave of thunderous applause erupted in the training grounds.
This duel was a shining example of the Shin’o Academy’s educational success. Both combatants had utilized their foundational skills in Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hoho, and Kido, seamlessly integrated their Shikai, and engaged in a psychological tug-of-war filled with reversals, pushing their Spiritual Pressure to the absolute limit.
It was safe to say that a spar of this caliber might not be seen for over a decade. It not only required both students to possess Seated Officer-level combat prowess but also demanded that the gap between them remain razor-thin.
Whenever Yato and Byakuya sparred, instructors from across the Shin’o Academy would rush over to observe, using the matches to validate their teaching theories and refine their methods.
"I yield," Yato said amidst the cheering, proactively sheathing his sword.
"Byakuya, you shouldn’t look into my eyes."
"I know, but I just can’t help it." Byakuya deactivated his Shikai and sighed.
"Whether it’s the teachings of the Kuchiki clan or the lectures from the academy instructors, they always emphasize the importance of observing the opponent’s eyes during a battle to anticipate their next move by reading their emotions."
"And that’s exactly why you fell for my trick."
Byakuya scratched his head, too frustrated to reply.
He pulled the Kenseikan off his head, twirling it in his hand as he pondered how to counter Yato’s eyes.
Over the past six months, Uchiha Yato frequently showcased the Illusion-type abilities of his Shikai. Merely making eye contact with his Sharingan was enough to suddenly drag an opponent into an illusory world and paralyze their body.
Controlling an opponent’s five senses truly offered massive advantages in combat. By now, Yato completely understood Sosuke Aizen’s perspective.
—Why use Kyoka Suigetsu all the time? Because it’s just so damn convenient!
With the conclusion of Yato and Byakuya’s duel, the day’s curriculum officially came to an end.
Yato stretched lazily. He was planning to head back to the dormitory for some Jinzen training before bed, but he was intercepted by a faculty member along the way.
"Yato."
Despite being an instructor, he maintained an attitude of utmost respect when addressing the rising young genius.
"Someone from the Shiba clan is here. They’ve explicitly asked to see you."
☆☆☆
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