Bleach: Reborn — Chapter 127 - Slash Gleam

"First, relax your body. Then circulate your Reiatsu. Let your Reiryoku converge toward your palm and condense into a sphere of spiritual light — but don't release it." Wayne started from the absolute basics, refining Kira's foundation.

Kira immediately channeled his Reiryoku into his right palm as instructed.

"Don't grip the sword too tight. Try to find the feeling — let the blade connect with your hand so it moves like a natural extension of your body. Then slowly flow your Reiatsu into the blade and gather it along the edge."

"Yes." Kira followed Wayne's guidance, gradually infusing the katana with Reiatsu. His first attempt failed. The Reiatsu vibrating along the blade made Izuru Kira lose his grip, the sword flew straight out of his hand.

Wayne wasn't angry. He simply told Kira to start again, slower.

This technique was an extension of the Shattering Slash Wayne had once used. The principle was simple: gather Reiatsu along the blade or claw edge and unleash a rapid chain of attacks with thunderous force.

After Wayne's refinement, his Shattering Slash could already produce blade gleams with ease, and the continuous strikes had evolved into a single finishing blow. Unlike the advanced Space-Rending Slash, which had lost its spatial properties, Wayne could only maintain an attack form similar to the original. But its power was still considerable, more than practical enough for this stage.

"When infusing Reiatsu, maintain control over it — just like circulating Reiryoku within your body. The katana is an extension of your arm. It can sustain that pressure. If you can't control it, infuse it bit by bit. Let the Reiatsu gather at the tip first, then gradually spread along the edge."

Wayne taught patiently, step by step. He even placed his hand over Kira's sword hilt to let him feel the flow of Reiatsu. Over the course of the night, Kira gradually mastered channeling Reiatsu into the blade. As the energy flickered faintly along the edge, Kira could feel it clearly, the blade in his hand had grown far sharper.

"Let's end today's lesson here." Wayne exhaled and nodded. "You've done well. In just one day you've grasped the basics. What comes next is refinement. Once you can skillfully pour Reiatsu into the blade, you'll be able to cut through far harder objects." He walked over to a massive boulder and swung his katana.

A soft shink. The boulder split clean in two. The cut surface was smooth as a mirror, no rough fractures, no jagged edges.

Kira's eyes went wide. Could he really master something like this? At his current level, he was still practicing Zanjutsu against wooden posts, he couldn't even split one, only chip away at it blow by blow. And Wayne had just sliced a boulder in half with a single stroke. Wasn't this already beyond what a full-fledged Soul Reaper squad member could do?

But Wayne wanted to show him far more.

"Once you've mastered the cutting force to cleave rock, you can begin storing Reiatsu within the blade. Then, through your own will, release it as a Slash Gleam."

Wayne's Reiatsu surged sharply. A blue glow flashed along the katana's edge. He swung horizontally toward the distant forest. A pale blue Slash Gleam shot forward, and along its path, every tree was severed clean through, all the way to where the gleam finally faded into nothing.

"This... this..." Kira could barely speak. Was this something he could learn? Something he could master within three months?

"Hah..." Wayne let out a long breath. To show Kira the best possible result, he had squeezed out nearly all his Reiatsu. Recovery would take another full day and night of sleep. "This is the final form of the skill I'm teaching you — releasing Reiatsu as a Slash Gleam to strike enemies at range. It consumes enormous Reiatsu. Before yours reaches the required level, focus on mastering the preliminary form: increasing the force and sharpness of your strikes."

"Y-yes!" Kira was shaken. That last attack, not even all the seated officers among the Soul Reapers could pull that off. And his teacher wasn't even a Soul Reaper yet, hadn't even awakened a Zanpakuto, and could already do this. Once he became a Soul Reaper, once he awakened his Zanpakuto...

Captain-class?! His own teacher had captain-class potential?

"To master this skill, you need more than just channeling Reiatsu into the blade. You must also master the correct cutting form. Every strike must land with the blade perfectly perpendicular to the target, no sideways deviation. Otherwise the Slash Gleam won't fly out at all, and you might end up cutting yourself instead." Wayne hadn't noticed Kira's astonishment. Or perhaps because of the blindfold, he simply kept his eyes shut. In this pitch-black environment, perception materialized far more clearly than sight.

"R-right." Kira reined in his shock and began re-evaluating the skill with fresh eyes.

"From here, go home and practice on your own." Wayne returned to the base of the tree and picked up the equipment Kira had brought today. "For now, I have nothing more to teach you. The rest is your own work. Think it over, whether you still want to come to the forest tomorrow."

"I..." Kira hesitated. "I do have some other matters to handle these next few days. Big Brother Tsukishiro, I'll send someone to deliver your bento tomorrow."

"Don't bother. If you're not coming, there's no need to send anyone. I may not return to this forest for a while anyway. I need to hunt elsewhere. There are still people at home I need to feed." Wayne smiled.

"In that case, please accept this." Kira pulled a string of iron rings from his pack, Soul Society currency. Paper money existed too, but these rings circulated far more widely in the Rukongai.

"Too much." Wayne shook his head. The number of rings Kira offered was enough to buy Shiro-chan's entire melon field outright. "What I've taught you isn't worth nearly this."

"Please, take it." Kira smiled and pushed the coins toward him. "The skill you've taught me is far more valuable than money."

"In that case, I won't refuse." Wayne accepted the coins, then said, "One month. In one month, I'll return here. I hope to see your progress by then."

"Understood, Big Brother Tsukishiro." Kira gave a slight bow. "I won't disappoint you."

They parted ways, each heading home.

Kira was a good seedling. If properly cultivated, as the future lieutenant of the 3rd Division, he might open many convenient paths for Wayne down the road.

Wayne returned home with no catches today, most of his time had gone to teaching Kira. He carefully stowed away the currency Kira had given him rather than handing it to Momo to supplement the household. If anyone pressed about where the money had come from, Wayne would have a hard time explaining, even to his own little sister. Once the questions started, Momo would turn into a fussy housekeeper. As for the standard-issue equipment, he could say he'd traded game meat with a passing merchant. That would also explain today's empty hands.

Momo naturally wouldn't question it. Wayne was the hunter, not her. He had every right to handle the spoils as he saw fit. Truth be told, if not for Wayne, she and Shiro-chan would probably still be sitting at home eating nothing but watermelon.

After a quick wash, Wayne returned to the bedroom. Momo had just woken up.

"Morning~ Big Brother Tsukishiro." She rubbed her eyes. "Did you just get back?"

"Ah. Ran into a few things on the road. Traded today's catch for this." He shook the standard-issue katana, and Momo's eyes lit up. As someone who dreamed of becoming a Soul Reaper, a blade like this was exactly what she longed for.

"Here. Play with it, just don't hurt yourself." He handed her the sword. "I also traded for a bolt of fabric. Today, make a set of clothes for Shiro-chan and Granny. If there's any left, make something for yourself too."

The fabric was white and soft, woven from high-grade silk produced within the Seireitei. Momo could dye it herself before sewing, or stitch it directly into close-fitting garments. The best use for this material was as an inner lining worn as sleepwear, that was Wayne's true intention. It would shield Granny from the Reiatsu Shiro-chan constantly leaked, while also helping Shiro-chan contain his Reiatsu close to his body so he could reabsorb it after it dispersed.

Double-layered protection. Granny should no longer suffer from Shiro-chan's Reiatsu. Of course, it was possible that Shiro-chan's Reiatsu would one day grow so strong it exceeded the fabric's tolerance. But when that time came, Wayne would probably be escorting him to the Seireitei to sit the Shin'ō Academy entrance exam.

Momo took the fabric, face brimming with joy, and hugged the bolt as she headed out the door.

Wayne stretched lazily and sank into his futon. The Reiatsu he had drained dry during last night's teaching, he would replenish it all with sleep.

Time passed. The sun that had risen in the morning arced across the sky and became the evening sun. Wayne was still asleep, showing no sign of waking.

Then a burst of urgent shouting shattered his slumber.

"Big Brother Tsukishiro! Big Brother Tsukishiro!"

The sudden cries jolted him awake. His nerves tensed on reflex, his eyes snapping sharp, he nearly forgot he was supposed to be blind.

He recognized the voice. Shiro-chan. The boy was sprinting toward him, face twisted with panic.

"Shiro-chan? What's wrong?" Wayne pretended to listen intently.

"Momo — someone grabbed Momo at the market!"

"What?!" Wayne shot up, grabbed his clothes, threw them on, and rushed out the door after Shiro-chan.

"What happened?" He walked fast, firing questions.

"That shady boss you told me about." Shiro-chan kept pace. "Afterward, whenever I went out I made sure to watch for him. Memorized his face. Today, Momo and I were buying sweet natto on the front street when that bastard walked right past. Momo didn't dodge in time, bumped straight into him. So he grabbed her."

"That bastard!" Wayne's brows furrowed. The lesson he'd given that man last time clearly hadn't been enough. "What's the situation now?"

"After she bumped into him, we tried to leave, but he blocked us. There was a huge man with him, nearly two meters tall, wearing a black kimono with a katana at his waist. A Soul Reaper, right? Damn it! That Soul Reaper and that shady boss cornered Momo together! She told me to run, and faced them alone. I knew I couldn't beat them, so I came to find you."

"So the shady boss has a relative in the Gotei 13. That's his backing." Wayne's expression darkened. Even the Gotei 13 wasn't all honest men. Corrupt officials existed in every era, under every system. Never mind which squad this Soul Reaper belonged to, setting the squad aside, he was probably affiliated with some minor noble house in the Seireitei. Otherwise he couldn't let his family run rampant through the Rukongai like this.

Thinking of Momo's safety, Wayne's footsteps quickened further.

He reached the marketplace and spotted them at the end of the street. A burly man in a Shihakushō, hair parted down the middle and worn long, with a handlebar mustache. His face was seventy percent identical to the shady boss trailing behind him. The sight alone was enough to turn the stomach. He had Momo's hands pinned behind her back, forcing her forward. Behind him, the thin-faced shady boss clutched Wayne's standard-issue katana like a man who had just unearthed buried treasure.

Wayne's expression went cold. He strode forward and blocked their path.

"Stop." His voice was ice.

"Who's the blind fool blocking my way?" The Soul Reaper up front was dripping with arrogance. "Get the hell out of my sight if you know what's good for you!"

"Big Brother... Tsukishiro?" Momo's tear-streaked face, her eyes clouded and dull with pain, found a sliver of clarity at the sight of him. Then the tears came flooding. "Big Brother Tsukishiro! Run!"

"Oh?" The Soul Reaper stopped. The girl he was marching along knew this man.

"Third Uncle! It's him! This is the guy!" The shady boss recognized Wayne instantly, shock and fury twisting his face as he launched into his complaint. "Third Uncle, you have to get justice for me! He beat me black and blue! Teach him a real lesson!"

"Hmph!" The grotesque giant of a Soul Reaper snorted coldly and shoved Momo back toward his nephew. Then he stepped forward to face Wayne directly.

"So you're the brat who beat up my nephew?" He released his Reiatsu as he spoke, pressing down on Wayne with oppressive force. "You little punk, who gave you the guts to lay a hand on someone from the Jin'an family?"

"Heh..." Faced with the Soul Reaper's Reiatsu, Wayne only sneered, completely unaffected. A single word left his lips, quiet and cold.

"Leave."

➤ Next: Battle Against a Soul Reaper