Just listening to Kyoya's words, Tatsuki couldn't help but fantasize about what level her strength would reach once she truly achieved that step.
"That's great, Tatsuki!"
"I knew it, Tatsuki is the strongest!"
Orihime grabbed Tatsuki's hands, saying excitedly.
Tatsuki was Orihime's only close female friend.
But after gaining her own power, Orihime didn't know how to tell Tatsuki about it. For Tatsuki's safety, Orihime didn't even dare to spend too much time with her.
After all, what Hollows liked most were the souls of people with Reiatsu.
Orihime's Reiatsu wasn't weak, so she could easily attract Hollow attacks.
If, at that time, she failed to protect Tatsuki, Orihime would also feel very guilty.
Now it was better.
Tatsuki had awakened Reiatsu and could see Hollows.
Similarly, under Kyoya's guidance, Tatsuki, while still human, had gained the power to fight Hollows.
According to Orihime's feeling, if she hadn't gone to Hueco Mundo that time to protect the Hogyoku's fusion, perhaps she wouldn't have been a match for the current Tatsuki back then.
"Not bad, Tatsuki, you've gotten stronger!"
Ichigo folded his arms, smiling as he spoke to Tatsuki.
"Don't praise me too much. I know I still have a long way to go to catch up with you guys."
Tatsuki pulled Orihime forward, clenched her right hand into a fist, and pressed it against Ichigo's chest, saying proudly, "However, I will catch up!"
"Then, let's fight side by side together!"
"Arisawa-san, you don't need 'in the future'. Right now, you already have the qualifications to fight side by side with us."
Uryu adjusted his glasses.
Since having his Quincy powers restored by his father, Ryuken, Uryu's own strength had also greatly increased.
From his current feeling, perhaps it couldn't compare to the [Quincy: Letzt Stil] he used in the Soul Society, but he could still be considered to have stepped into Captain-level combat power.
If he were to fight Mayuri again, he wouldn't need to use the Sanrei Glove to defeat him.
Although Tatsuki's current strength still had a big gap compared to theirs-
But don't forget, Tatsuki had only been training for two weeks.
If it were some other ability, Uryu might think Tatsuki would plateau here.
But when it came to karate, Tatsuki had never disappointed.
Since starting competitions, except for one time when she was sick and placed second, all other times she had been champion.
And Fish-Man Karate was an ability that could perfectly bring out Tatsuki's full karate prowess.
As Kyoya said, although Tatsuki's ability to gather moisture was still lacking, as long as she carried water with her or fought near a water source, her strength could also be comparable to Chad's.
With Uryu's experience, he could naturally see that the Fish-Man Karate Tatsuki practiced was a complete combat system.
Water Gun was the most basic and core ability, similar to him condensing Reishi arrows for shooting.
Shark Skin Sole was a movement technique similar to Hirenkyaku, Shunpo, and Sonído, useful for offense, defense, evasion, and escape.
Water Shot was the upgraded version of Water Gun, with power more than twice that of Water Gun.
Vagabond Drill was a 360-degree offense and defense technique.
Vagabond Drill was the secret art of Fish-Man Karate, and its power was no less than a Shinigami's Zanpakuto release.
One could say, as long as Tatsuki's mastery over moisture control improved a few more levels, it wouldn't be impossible for her to step into the Captain-level ranks.
Even now, Tatsuki's strength was not inferior to elite Shinigami in the Gotei 13.
Even more, if she prepared enough water or fought near a lake or river, she could even rival some Shinigami seated officers.
Although the enemies Tatsuki would face fighting alongside them would be much stronger-
But their group of several people were no weaklings either.
There's no need to mention about Ichigo, as just standing beside him, Uryu felt his soul tremble.
Uryu himself was also very confident in his own strength.
Chad was probably the weakest among the Living World's group of four, but he currently possessed strength comparable to Gotei 13's Lieutenants.
As for Orihime...
Before entering Hueco Mundo, Orihime indeed could only be considered support.
But after returning from Hueco Mundo, the Reiatsu on Orihime was no less than Uryu's.
Combined with Orihime's ability, even Uryu estimated he couldn't hurt her.
If even they couldn't protect a single Tatsuki, then leaving Tatsuki alone outside would be even more dangerous.
"Huh? I really can?"
Hearing Uryu say this, Tatsuki asked in pleasant surprise.
During this period, Tatsuki had gained quite some understanding of everyone's strength.
She felt her strength had improved greatly in these two weeks, completely surpassing the limits of a 'human'.
Think about it… no matter how strong human karate is, it's just splitting a few wooden boards.
What about her now?
A casually launched water droplet had power comparable to a bullet.
A Water Shot charged for a while could pierce through walls.
A full-powered Vagabond Drill could even destroy rocks.
This was simply not a realm humans could reach.
But at the same time, she was even more aware of the gap between herself and Ichigo and the others.
In her mind, to reach the level of fighting side by side with Ichigo and the others, she needed strength at least comparable to Chad's.
This was also why Tatsuki had consistently chosen Chad as her opponent for sparring and tempering herself over these many days.
On one hand, to increase her combat experience.
On the other hand, she also wanted to see how far she was from fighting side by side with Ichigo and the others.
She hadn't expected Uryu to agree to let her fight alongside them now.
"Don't underestimate yourself, Tatsuki."
Ichigo laughed. "You're already very strong!"
Uryu could be said to be the brains of the Living World's group of four. The other three greatly recognized his wisdom.
Rather, in the Living World's group of four, only Uryu used his brain.
When Ichigo encountered problems, he reasoned with the sword in his hand.
Chad just followed whatever Ichigo wanted to do.
As for Orihime, she didn't have many ideas… she was just support.
If anyone got injured, she healed them.
If attacked, she used Santen Kesshun to defend.
Although her only offensive method was Tsubaki, with Orihime's current Reiatsu, killing a Gillian-class Menos wasn't a problem either.
"Yeah, yeah, Tatsuki."
"In the future when the three of us go fight, you can stay by my side and protect me, okay?"
Orihime also grabbed Tatsuki's hand, acting spoiled.
Ichigo, Uryu, and Chad all nodded upon hearing Orihime's words.
Indeed, Orihime had defense to spare but lacked offense.
If Tatsuki were by her side, the two would complement each other nicely.
"Alright, alright, I get it."
Seeing this, Tatsuki helplessly pushed away Orihime's head leaning against her while agreeing.
This was what Tatsuki had always hoped for.
Before this, although everyone's feelings were still good.
It was undeniable that having or not having Reiatsu, having or not having combat ability, had already separated Tatsuki from Ichigo and Orihime.
Ichigo and Orihime, who focused most of their energy on training and fighting, inevitably had less energy to spend on interacting with Tatsuki.
It was foreseeable that if Tatsuki had no Reiatsu, their relationship would only grow further apart.
"Captain Kyoya, that girl Tatsuki indeed possesses talent that makes one feel amazed."
"But, is it really okay to casually spread such power like this?"
After Ichigo and the others left, Kisuke came to Kyoya's side and asked.
"Oh? What exactly are you referring to?"
"Fish-Man Karate?"
"Or Tatsuki?"
Kyoya tilted his head, looking at Kisuke.
"Both."
"Kyoya, haven't you ever considered, once Fish-Man Karate spreads in the Living World, how will Shinigami position themselves?"
"Also, Tatsuki's potential is limited. By involving Tatsuki with Ichigo and the others, aren't you worried Tatsuki will encounter danger?"
"Haha, Urahara, aren't you taking yourself too seriously?"
Hearing Kisuke's words, Kyoya finally understood why Kisuke had come to him.
"Weakness and ignorance are not obstacles to survival."
"Arrogance is!"
"You are too arrogant, Urahara."
Kyoya put away the smile on his face and said to Kisuke, "It is undeniable that Shinigami have made very important contributions to the stability of this world's Reishi cycle."
"However, this is not a reason for Shinigami to claim control over the three worlds."
"As a researcher, I think you should also know that many of this world's crises were created by Shinigami themselves, right?"
"This naturally includes you."
Kisuke felt helpless.
Indeed, as Kyoya said, many of this world's crises were created by the Seireitei's researchers themselves.
If it were just the crisis of Hueco Mundo, it wouldn't be much to the Shinigami.
Even going back a thousand years, before Yamamoto formed the Gotei 13, hadn't this world continued to exist like this?
And let's not say the nobles back then, like the current Shinigami, considered maintaining the balance of Reishi in the three worlds their responsibility.
Why are there so many bans in the Seireitei?
Aren't they all because accidents happened first, and then the bans were established?
The emergence of every ban represents a major crisis.
As for the Living World, without the suppression of those nobles, its development over the past thousand years has already surpassed the history of the Seireitei over millions of years.
One could say, what the nobles in the Seireitei now fear most is that if development continues like in the Living World, the existence of the Soul Society and the Seireitei might no longer be a secret.
With just a few scientists, the Seireitei could research such dangerous things.
The number of scientists in the Living World is no less than that in the Seireitei, perhaps even more.
If they learn of the Soul Society's existence, they will one day research things like the Senkaimon and Material Particle converters.
At that time, war might break out between the Living World and the Seireitei.
After all, most humans in the Living World still fear death.
If they learn about the world after death, the higher-ups in the Living World would probably want to extend their status and position into the Soul Society.
By then, the Fish-Man Karate that Kyoya taught, which could be mastered by humans, would likely become a means for the Living World to fight against the Seireitei.
"As for you saying Tatsuki will encounter danger, I don't deny that."
"But when a crisis comes, do you think Tatsuki would want to have the means to resist, or just be ignorantly killed?"
"Look at it more openly, Urahara."
"Our era is already past."
"Now, it's the next generation's era."
"What we can do is pass down the abilities, knowledge, and ideas we possess."
"The future belongs to these young people."
Patting Kisuke's shoulder, Kyoya turned and left.
His guidance for Tatsuki could be considered concluded for now.
Next, Tatsuki could follow Ichigo and the others to fight Hollows that enter the Living World to improve her strength.
Kyoya's role wouldn't be as prominent anymore.
"The future belongs to these young people?"
Kisuke looked up. His gaze seemed to pass through the sky of the underground training ground, even through the space of the three worlds, seeing the great being residing high above in the Soul King Palace.
Everyone knew the Soul King was omniscient and omnipotent.
Therefore, being betrayed by the Five Great Noble Families, made into the linchpin stabilizing the world, having his limbs severed and internal organs removed by the Tsunayashiro Clan, were all choices the Soul King made after seeing the future.
He had the power to resist, but because he saw a more distant future, he gave up resistance, allowing the nobles to do as they pleased.
'Soul King-sama, what exactly is the future you see in your eyes?'
In fact, Kisuke very much understood Aizen's ideas.
There was a time when he also shared similar thoughts with Aizen.
But later, Kisuke realized.
Indeed, the throne high in the heavens was vacant, but it was precisely because of this vacancy that this world was so wonderful.
If someone ascended that throne, dictating everything in this world, then all the people of this world would become puppets of that one person.
Just like the Seireitei.
The Seireitei is controlled by the nobles, so there are countless rules and regulations restricting everyone, sucking the resources of countless ordinary people in the Rukongai to support the Seireitei.
Perhaps, Soul King saw through this point, which is why he never interfered with the will of the people of this world with his own will.
He just watches like that. Everyone knows of his existence, but everyone also knows that no matter what they do, Soul King will not interfere with them.