Eleventh Division Barracks.
Under the gaze of the Eleventh Division Captain, Vice-Captain, and all the Seat Officers in Seireitei, Ito Makoto completed his oath of enlistment and donned his squad badge, officially joining the squad.
Ito Makoto was surprised to find that out of the thirty-three new recruits this year, he seemed to be the only one who chose to join the Eleventh Division.
However, on second thought, it was normal. After all, for long-lived species like Shinigami, if only one person joined each year, over a thousand years, there would be nearly a thousand Squad Members.
But currently, the Eleventh Division has less than five hundred active Squad Members. In terms of casualty rates, the Eleventh Division's is definitely much higher than the other twelve squads, so it's normal for people not to want to join.
Just as the enlistment ceremony concluded, and Zaraki Kenpachi was already impatient to end the boring ritual, Ito Makoto slowly spoke:
"Kenpachi Captain, I request to challenge Fourth Seat Ohno!"
Upon hearing this, Zaraki Kenpachi, who had been uninterested, immediately grinned:
"Good, go settle it in the Training Grounds!"
Beside him, a burly, thick-limbed, bearded man in a soul reaper uniform, hearing Ito Makoto's words, first froze, then burst into a loud, unrestrained laugh.
"Hahahahaha!"
"Is this the arrogance of a genius? My favorite thing is to shatter the insignificant self-esteem of so-called geniuses. Kid, you will regret your decision!"
This bearded man was the current Fourth Seat of the Eleventh Division, Ohno Tatsuru, who clearly thought Ito Makoto was overly arrogant for challenging him as soon as he joined the squad.
And all the Seat Officers present, except for Madarame Ikkaku and Ayasegawa Yumichika, also burst into laughter, their voices full of mockery. They clearly didn't believe Ito Makoto had the strength to defeat Ohno Tatsuru, even though he had the record of defeating a bizarre Menos Grande in the Human World, but the Seat Officers hadn't witnessed it firsthand.
Ito Makoto showed no sign of anger at this. After all, managing one's emotions is a prerequisite for becoming a strong person, and he naturally wouldn't be provoked by the mockery of the Seat Officers.
...
Training Grounds.
Ito Makoto and Ohno Tatsuru stood ready in the field!
The area around the Eleventh Division Training Grounds was now crowded with people. Besides the Seat Officers who were present during Ito Makoto's enlistment ceremony, there were even more ordinary Squad Members.
After all, when they heard that a newcomer was eyeing the Fourth Seat position and directly challenging the current Fourth Seat Ohno Tatsuru, everyone gathered to watch the excitement.
At this moment, Kusajishi Yachiru jumped down from Zaraki Kenpachi's shoulder and announced in a childish voice:
"Little Ito, and Big Boar Ohno, you can start fighting!"
Hearing Yachiru's address to him, Ohno Tatsuru's forehead immediately bulged with veins:
"Vice-Captain, how many times have I told you my name is Ohno Tatsuru, not Big Boar Ohno!"
Yachiru just made a face at Ohno Tatsuru, and he could only sigh helplessly.
He then turned to look at Ito Makoto.
"Senior Ohno, please guide me!"
Ito Makoto bowed to Ohno Tatsuru first. However, at the moment of the bow, Ohno Tatsuru made the first move. With a step, he activated Shunpo, drawing his Asauchi from his waist and slashing horizontally at Ito Makoto.
"Kid, I'm going to teach you a lesson today, to show you what it means to attack by surprise!"
Seeing this, Ito Makoto did not panic. He slowly drew his Zanpakuto. Just as Ohno Tatsuru's blade was about to touch his right shoulder, Ito Makoto blocked it in a thrilling and dangerous move.
"Kid, you've got some skill."
Ohno Tatsuru's surprise slash was so easily blocked by Ito Makoto, and he did not hesitate to praise him.
Immediately after, Ohno Tatsuru attacked fiercely again. It must be said that although Ohno Tatsuru was burly and looked quite bulky, his sword speed was exceptionally swift.
He certainly lived up to his title of Fourth Seat.
"Clang, clang, clang!"
Ohno Tatsuru delivered dozens of slashes, all of which were effortlessly parried by Ito Makoto.
"Kid, why do you only defend and not attack? Are you looking down on me?"
After fighting for so long, Ohno Tatsuru had realized that Ito Makoto had only been passively defending, never actively attacking.
But each time he easily defused his attacks, his strength was certainly not below his own, so he no longer had any contempt.
"In that case, Senior Ohno, excuse me!"
Ito Makoto held his blade with one hand and delivered several direct thrusts. Although Ohno Tatsuru parried all of them, his hands were numb from the impact.
"What a strong kid!"
Ohno Tatsuru was greatly surprised in his heart. He didn't expect Ito Makoto's strength to be so formidable, but he was also unwilling to become a stepping stone for a genius. He immediately used Shunpo to retreat.
He then tossed the Asauchi in his hand into the air:
"Chop him to pieces, Saizanmaru!"
As Ohno Tatsuru's words fell, the Asauchi in mid-air instantly transformed into a long-handled great axe, with dense serrations on its blade.
Taking the giant axe, Ohno Tatsuru charged forward and fiercely swung an axe at Ito Makoto.
"Clang!"
Ito Makoto held his blade with both hands, taking the blow. Unexpectedly, the serrations on the edge of the giant axe began to spin, and they spun faster and faster, with wisps of flames appearing from the rapidly rotating teeth.
Moreover, Ito Makoto clearly felt that Ohno Tatsuru's strength had clearly doubled compared to before his Shikai.
"Bang!"
With each clash of sword and axe, sparks flew.
"Kid, this is my Zanpakuto, Saizanmaru! Every slash I deliver is like an explosion, and the longer the gears on the axe blade spin, the stronger my power becomes. How about it?"
Ohno Tatsuru proudly introduced his Zanpakuto to Ito Makoto, then raised the great axe above his head and brought it down fiercely. Yekawa used Shunpo to dodge this powerful blow.
"Bang!"
With a single blow, the bluestone floor of the Training Grounds was directly split open, leaving a charred pit.
"Kid, do you only know how to hide? I heard you mastered Shikai during your time at the Spiritual Arts Academy? Show it to me!"
"Alright, then let Senior Ohno comment on it!"
Hearing Ohno Tatsuru's words, although Ito Makoto was confident he could easily defeat Ohno Tatsuru without Shikai, since the other party said so, he still had to give him face.
Moreover, he could take this opportunity to properly break in his newly acquired Asauchi. He immediately held the blade horizontally and chanted:
"Demons and monsters, all things, gods and saints, all turn to dust, Soumetsu!"
With a flash of dark golden light, the Asauchi in his hand instantly transformed, becoming a long, slender, pure white bone blade.
"Is this your Shikai? It's quite delicate, isn't it?"
Ohno Tatsuru was unimpressed by Ito Makoto's Shikai and continued to swing his axe fiercely.
"Soumetsu First Form, Tremor!"
Just as the blade and axe clashed, Ohno Tatsuru felt as if his internal organs were being pulled by a strange force. His heart felt like it was being constantly kneaded by a large hand, and he suddenly felt his breathing stop.
At the same time, an irresistible force of vibration was transmitted from the blade to the axe handle, shaking the great axe out of his hand.
Ohno Tatsuru lay on the ground in pain, panting heavily, while Ito Makoto held his blade at his neck.
"Thank you for the match, Senior Ohno!"
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