Episode Eight: A Challenge Beyond One's Abilities

"Ugh!" With just a subtle twist of his wrist, Shigenori Yamamoto sent Nagajiro flying back, and the force transmitted through his blade nearly made it impossible for Nagajiro to hold on.

"It seems you won't give up until you've learned a painful lesson, boy." Yamamoto raised his hand, forming a fist. The muscles along his arm tensed instantly, veins bulging beneath his skin.

Nagajiro had never seen Yamamoto so stern and serious before.

"Pierce, Strict Spirit!"

A white Western rapier materialized in Nagajiro's hand, carrying a hint of noble elegance—though, centuries ago, the concept of a 'gentleman' likely didn't even exist.

Truth be told, Nagajiro was genuinely afraid of angering Yamamoto. He was well aware how terrifying the old man could be when he lost his temper, so he dared not provoke him further. He chose to test the waters with only his shikai.

Who was he kidding? If he used his bankai, who knew if the old man would retaliate in kind and obliterate him in an instant?

"Single Bone!"

Yamamoto didn't waste any words. This time, he was clearly determined to teach Nagajiro a lasting lesson.

"Smack!"

It was obvious that Nagajiro had grossly underestimated Yamamoto's strength, or perhaps overestimated his own.

He tried to catch Yamamoto's tensed, bare-handed strike with a single hand!

"Ahh!"

Nagajiro's hand was sent flying, and despite the training he'd received from Yamamoto, he was nowhere near strong enough to stop him single-handedly.

"Guh... ugh..."

Burning pain spread through his entire arm, which now felt completely numb, as if it had been broken.

"You actually tried to catch my bare-handed strike with one hand? It seems you've gotten a bit too confident lately, Nagajiro."

Yamamoto looked at Nagajiro, whose face was slick with cold sweat from the pain. Despite his disapproval of Nagajiro's surprise attack, there was a deep-seated recognition and fondness for the boy within him.

At the same time, Yamamoto felt a profound disappointment and sorrow over Nagajiro's actions.

He didn't want the boy to become someone who would pursue power at any cost. While Nagajiro was still young, there was time to set him on the right path.

He must not go down this road...

Yamamoto clenched his fist once more and aimed directly at Nagajiro's chest.

But in Nagajiro's eyes, this was something else entirely...

No way. Is he really going all out this time? Did I take things too far?

Nagajiro was still upset about Yamamoto's strike, but now he saw the old man clench his fist again.

Oh no! Not again? It's not over after just one punch?

Wait, wait, wait!! I held back my bankai this time precisely because I was afraid of really enraging the old man! I didn't do anything wrong! Why is he still so furious??

!!

No way! He really is putting his full strength into it this time!

"Smack!"

With no other choice, Nagajiro used Strict Spirit to block Yamamoto's fist.

"Buzz!" The flexible blade of Strict Spirit bent under the force, and despite the electric charge running along it, it seemed to have no effect on Yamamoto at all—not even the slightest.

Crackling...

Just as the blade bent to the point where Nagajiro feared it would snap, Yamamoto finally stopped applying pressure.

"Are you afraid now, boy?" Yamamoto's gaze softened as he looked at Nagajiro. He hoped the boy would admit his mistake of his own accord.

"I'm a little scared..." Nagajiro admitted honestly. Who wouldn't be, facing Yamamoto's overwhelming bare-handed strike?

"But... that's still not enough to make me back down, Master Ichiji."

His smile was clearly forced; though he wanted to appear more cheerful, not bursting into tears was already the best he could do.

"...Is that so?" Yamamoto stepped forward, not withdrawing his hand. "That's truly disappointing."

Boom!

"Damn it!!"

This time he didn't even throw a punch—he simply stepped forward and, with another burst of strength from his hand, sent Nagajiro flying!

Before he hit the ground, Nagajiro—somewhat rudely—let out a curse.

Is this some kind of cheat? This defies all logic! Stacking power like that—is that even possible??

Thud! As expected, Nagajiro was blasted out of the wooden hut and crashed heavily to the ground.

"You've strayed onto a dangerous path. It's up to me to set your mind straight now."

That's not how it is, Master Ichiji...

Tears welled up in Nagajiro's heart.

But he couldn't bring himself to say it. This was a rare chance to have Yamamoto as his sparring partner—how could he give up so easily? He'd grit his teeth and hold out to the bitter end!

So Strict Spirit's paralysis has no effect on him at all?

Leaning on his knee for support, Nagajiro slowly stood up. Though Yamamoto's punch hadn't landed directly, all its force had been transmitted through Strict Spirit into his body. Every muscle ached, half his body was numb. He couldn't imagine what would have happened if that punch had actually hit him.

Would he have ended up in pieces like Wonderweiss?

Then again, at least Wonderweiss managed to wound Yamamoto before dying. If he died here... well, he'd just be dead.

But there was no point in worrying about that now. What Nagajiro needed to consider was how to fight Yamamoto.

Lightning—he'd thought long and hard about its uses in battle, and there were two: paralysis and impact.

If he could master both, as long as he wasn't facing some godlike enemy, he'd have a decent chance of winning.

However...

Strict Spirit's power still wasn't enough. Against ordinary Hollows, it was fine, but if he faced anything on the level of a Gillian or above, he'd have no chance without his bankai.

So, he needed to strengthen Strict Spirit. He didn't need to be able to defeat a captain with just his shikai, but at least he shouldn't be crushed by one without using his bankai.

"Clench your teeth and bear it!!"

Another punch! It seemed Yamamoto was determined to give Nagajiro a thorough beating this time.

"Ugh!"

The punch came at him like a raging storm, and after the last two lessons, Nagajiro didn't dare try to take it head-on. He narrowly dodged with his still-unrefined flash step.

"Do you really think you can dodge this so easily?"

!!!

Yamamoto Shigenori paid Nagajiro's flash step no heed. To him, Nagajiro was little more than a baby; no technique or strength met his standards yet. The boy's power had yet to be shaped—he would have to carve it out himself.

Boom!

Without mercy, he slammed Nagajiro straight into the ground.

"Ugh..." Struggling, Nagajiro reached out and gripped the earth, leaving furrows in the soft soil as his fingers dug in.

"If you seek power, then you must be prepared for this."

Yamamoto reached out and easily pulled Nagajiro up from the ground.

"Are you ready for that? Nagajiro?"

Bang!

Another punch landed in Nagajiro's stomach, sending him flying once more.

"...Ready to beg for mercy?"

"Heh... heh... heh..." Lying motionless on the ground, Nagajiro suddenly began to laugh.

"Beg for mercy?"

Slowly, slowly, fighting through the pain wracking his body, he sat up.

"You're still a long way off, Master Ichiji!!!"