Bleach: The Hunter c3

Ray didn’t rush to the academy. No, he wasn’t impatient. He spent another year hunting Hollows, growing in power.

Over a year, he was only able to get two more powers that he made his own—a move by the name Cero and a skin-strengthening technique.

The beam technique was something he practised for a considerable amount of time.

Charging time, density of energy, and the range. All of it. 

One could say it became one of his go-to moves.

Who doesn’t like a beam technique? Regardless, the pair began their trip to the heart of Soul Society.

It took them several days to reach Seireitei where they went to look for a place where they can sign up for the academy.

Their energy levels… especially Ray’s, allowed them immediate admission without futher testing.

For Ray, it was a highway; his power was easily that of a seated officer. He had Shikai before even becoming an official Soul Reaper!

This was a big thing for the regular soul reapers who could not even achieve something like Shikai in their lifetime.

The news spread through the academy like wildfire, and soon enough, people began to speak about it.

“Kuchiki, do you think he is as good as you are?” One of the male students asked another one. 

The man in question had an aura of nobility, though he was a young teenager. But his power was unquestionable.

Such power is a symbol of nobility. 

“...We will see.” He didn’t boast; instead, he considered his actions first. He needs to see this man before he can say anything.

Sure enough, the doors opened and everyone saw the new guy walk in. He was not too tall or short, he had wild, short black hair and brown eyes. 

Though the young noble was a bit confused. He could not sense anything from him. 

‘Is he with the stealth force?’ 

For a second, he wondered if that was the case, as there is that annoying woman from the 2nd Division who is making his life difficult!

“This is Ray Kurogane. He will be joining us.” The Lecturer introduced the newcomer.

The students gawked when they heard that! Is this guy getting an accelerated course? They are mid-year! 

“Since he has achieved Shikai, he will be skipping most of the Zanjutsu classes and will be using those times to learn other essentials he has missed.

One of the students immediately asked something important.

“Sir, will he join us in duelling practice?” 

The older soul reaper slowly nodded as he replied to the curious student.

“Of course. Now, Kurogane go to the empty seat provided.”

The new guy promptly nodded as he walked up the stairs to the top levels of the lecture hall and took a seat in the empty corner.

~~~

‘This is a legit school… only with a spin.’ Ray looked around as he looked at the students. Some don’t even have zanpakutos with them.

There are no rules that prohibit carrying them. But at the same time, pulling the blade out is strictly prohibited unless one of the lecturers allows it.

‘These guys want to be Soul Reapers, but they ignore the essential. Carry your Zanpakuto with you.’

The hunter scoffed at this. Hell, he used to even sleep with his sword.

The quicker the essence engraving, the quicker one could achieve Shikai.

As Ray was exploring the academy, he noticed that girls were looking at him quite a bit.

“Is that him? Yes, look at his Zanpakuto.”

The girls were whispering as they looked at him. His custom-looking sword stands out quite a bit.

‘Regardless of the world, they are the same.’ He deadpanned at their behaviour. This was women 101. 

After exploring the place and finding the library, he went to start studying the history.

However, there was… a bit of an issue. 

He can’t read this language. Was it Japanese? It looked like Japanese.

‘For fuck sake…’

The hunter swore to himself as he went to the librarian, he asked for beginner's books. Something that the librarian understood. Since he was neither the first nor the last to know how to read.

Once he got the books with illustrations, Ray went to find a quiet corner to sit.

Sadly, his quiet time didn’t last for long.

“...Do you need help?” A voice said from the side. When he looked to the side, he saw a black haired girl with braided hair who was wearing glasses and was carrying a book under her arm.

“...How about this…I help you with reading, and you help me with my Zanpakuto?” She said that after leaning towards him.

“...And you are?” He was a bit confused, the girl was a bit outgoing.

“Lisa Yadomaru. I am a third year student. And you are the famous newcomer, they say Captains are already lining up to get you to their squads.” She said with a small smile.

“...Is that so?” He was a bit surprised to hear that.

“That’s what they say. So, what is going to be? Do you want my help? I am quite good with books and languages in general.” She said that while fixing her glasses.

“And you want me to teach you how to achieve Shikai?” He asked, curious at what she wanted in turn.

“Indeed. Since you already achieved yours, I am certain that you can give me some tips.” Lisa looked at his Zanpakuto that was on the table next to him. She can see that the sheath was made from pure wood, unlike the ones provided by the academy.

“Hmm. Fine, I suppose.” Ray shrugged. There is not much to be taught. In his honest opinion, he achieved quite easily, and he has some ideas about what he needs to do next as well.

But the next part is a bit difficult.

“Good. Then let’s start.” She swiftly sat down next to him and took his books.

~~~

Lisa was curious about this new guy. Someone who achieved Shikai before even joining the academy? That is something she has not heard before. She needed to check the history of the soul society, and the ones who achieved something like this were destined to become captains.

That’s what the books said, not her. However, she was a bit sceptical. That was until she saw him training in the dojo.

That’s where she sensed his Spiritual Pressure. 

It was so intense that the lecturer asked, nicely, to lower it as other students couldn’t breathe… including her.

At that moment, she realised this guy who can’t read is powerful enough to be a seated officer.

A week into Ray’s Academy days, the upcoming Reapers were treated to something special, in Dojo, where spars were happening between future Soul Reapers.

One of the nobles was called forth to face Ray in a pure Zanjutsu spar.

‘Not even Kuchiki can win this. Ray’s swordsmanship is a bit weird.’ Lisa critically thought as she watched two men stand up and walk to the circle, they were given dummy swords.

“Begin!”

The noble started first as he approached and tried to deliver a classic downwards swing, but this is where Ray did a sideways swing.

Upon contact, Byakuya took several steps backwards, there was shock on his face.

Lisa smirked while seeing that. Yes, this is that weird technique Ray is employing. He sends pulses of Energy into his blade and releases it upon contact. This is something he is doing instinctually… 

Just thinking about what he went through to achieve that makes her feel a cold sweat wash her back. This guy grew up in one of the most inhospitable places in Soul Society.

As she was thinking about his roots, the two soul reapers students tried to exchange hits once more.

Though Byakuya was losing as he was trying to mitigate that clash with a bit more power.

But this is where Ray began to show off more of his out-of-the-box moves he practised in the wields, something the young soul reaper noble is not accustomed to.

Making the hunter score a win, and making the rest of the soul reapers speechless. 

The next head of the Kuchiki clan lost? It was wild for them.

“That’s it! As you can see, Mr Kuchiki, there are times when your opponent employs strange techniques in battles. I suggest remembering that when you fight an unfamiliar opponent.”

The lecturer explained as he motioned for them to return to their seats.

Ray looked at the young noble. He was a bit interested in him, as this guy was the only student in the academy that has a decent spiritual pressure.

After that, there was one more session where they used their own Zanpakutos for a live practice.

~~~

As the classes ended, the hunter approached the young Kuchiki.

“Your sword. It is close to Shikai. Let me guess, you can hear your sword spirit voice, but you can’t hear the name. I am right?” Ray began the conversation as he looked at Byakuya.

“...How do you…”

The guy simply fiddled with his zanpakuto before answering.

“When you are sensitive to Reishi, you can hear other people’s sword, and feelings. Your sword spirit is a bit… annoyed that you can’t hear its voice.” Ray said with a small smile.

“...Is that so…” Byakuya looked at his sword.

“You need to trust your weapon. It’s part of you. It’s not an extra, it’s part of your hand’s extension.

Trusting your blade will remove that hurdle. It’s that simple.” Ray looked at him before turning around and walking away to his seat.

“...Why did you help me?” The Kuchiki noble asked curiously.

“Why not. You and I are here to kill Hollows and keep the balance in check. You being strong means that I will be stronger as well.” He replied with a shrug.

“...I see… that is one way to look at it.”

Byakuya thought that this guy wanted to curry favour with him so that he could get closer to his clan. That is something he expected to see. That is what his father and grandfather said from the very beginning.

But this guy… he is a bit different. He is dedicated to his craft. He wants to be a soul reaper and looks at the bigger picture.

Something that made him a bit more inspired.

[Good. You are ready. Now hear my name…]

All of a sudden, Byakuya’s sword glowed. He could feel the blade’s power surging. 

“...Heh, it would seem it was the last linchpin. You should find a quiet place, Kuchiki.”

“Yeah!”

The young noble grabbed his sword and disappeared with Flash Step.

“...What just happened?” 

Other soul reapers who were chatting looked surprised. They felt a spike in Spiritual Pressure.

“Something interesting.”

Ray used his senses to track him. He could tell that he had just achieved Shikai as the Spiritual Pressure just went up by around five times. 

This was the first release. It will get better when he stabilises that power.

“Hmm… now my sparing could get more interesting.” The Hunter commented as he fiddled with his Zanpakuto.

[That Senbonzakura is a bit annoying. But I can see that it could be a decent sparing partner.]

The world turned grey as a black tiger manifested and walked over to its wielder. 

Yuro No Kage has grown in size; it became fiercer with flaming reishi running through its spine all the way to the tail.

The Tiger manifesting like this was an indication that Ray has enough power to manifest his sword spirit to the outside world.

Though he still has no idea how that works…

“So you know the sword’s name.”

[That is given. When you clash, so do we. However, telling his name would not work. He wouldn’t be able to hear it.]

The tiger lay down as it spoke. 

“I do wonder what kind of ability that sword has.”

The sword spirit grimaced when Ray said that.

[You don’t want to know. This sword will be a pain to deal with in combat.]

“...Now you piqued my interest.” Ray rolled his eyes as he got up from his seat, and the world moved once more. Yuro No Kage disappeared.

The Hunter won’t challenge his classmate just yet. He will let Byakuya practise more before he does that.