Chapter 2: The Privilege of the Forgotten
[Reward Acquired — Advanced Reiryoku Sensory Technique.]
[First Teaching Session Completed — Reward Acquired: Spiritual Identification Technique.]
[First A-Rank Lesson Completed — Reward Acquired: Fire-Type Reiryoku Mastery.]
Tobirama Shiba stopped mid-step.
Three rewards.
All at once.
Even with his composure, that was… unexpected.
Then
It hit.
A flood of knowledge surged into his mind.
Not vague impressions.
Not fragmented instincts.
But complete mastery.
Fire-type reiryoku control—
Refined. Precise. Absolute.
It was as if he had spent decades studying nothing but the manipulation of flame-based spiritual energy. Every nuance, every fluctuation, every optimal output—engraved into his very being.
For a brief moment—
Tobirama felt like a veteran who had walked battlefields for centuries.
"…That's ridiculous."
He exhaled slowly, steadying himself.
If this "Teacher System" continued like this—
Then teaching wasn't just survival.
It was evolution.
Just as he was about to reopen his panel
A voice spoke behind him.
"Sensei… may I ask you something?"
Tobirama turned.
Silver hair.
Gentle smile.
Eyes that didn't quite match it.
Gin Ichimaru
Interesting.
Tobirama glanced around briefly, then motioned for him to follow.
They walked behind one of the quieter academy buildings, away from the main paths. As they stopped, Tobirama subtly activated his newly acquired sensory ability.
Reiryoku spread outward like an invisible tide.
No captains.
No seated officers.
No one is paying attention.
Safe enough.
He turned back, expression relaxed.
"What didn't you understand?"
Gin tilted his head slightly.
"Earlier… you said the Shinigami exist to protect balance."
A pause.
Then
"Then why does it feel like some souls matter more than others?"
Tobirama didn't answer immediately.
Sharp.
Far sharper than a normal student.
He studied the boy carefully.
That harmless smile…
That quiet tone…
Dangerous.
"…You've noticed something already."
Gin didn't respond.
But he didn't deny it either.
Tobirama sighed lightly.
"That kind of question…"
"…isn't something the academy officially teaches."
Gin's smile widened—just a fraction.
"I thought so."
For a moment, Tobirama considered brushing it off.
Safer.
Cleaner.
Smarter.
But then
The system existed.
And more importantly
So did opportunity.
"If you have time after classes," Tobirama said calmly, "come find me."
"I'll tell you what I can."
Gin blinked once.
That answer
Was unexpected.
"…Really?"
Tobirama nodded.
"Consider it… a personal lesson."
A pause.
Then he added
"The Shiba Clan doesn't forget its debts."
That part?
Was true.
Gin's eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
"…Debt?"
Tobirama spoke without hesitation.
"My parents were stationed in the outer districts of Rukongai."
"They were ambushed during a Hollow surge."
Not entirely a lie.
Just… rearranged.
"They survived because of a passing shinigami."
"A man who didn't have to help but did anyway."
Tobirama's gaze shifted slightly.
"He wore the uniform of the Gotei 13."
That was all.
No names.
No details.
Just enough truth to anchor the story.
Gin said nothing for a moment.
Then
He smiled again.
"I'll come by, Sensei."
And just like that
He turned and left.
The moment he stepped out of range—
Tobirama activated his new ability.
[Spiritual Identification Activated]
Name: Gin Ichimaru
Reiryoku: 620
Potential: SS
Evaluation: Extreme latent ability. Highly adaptable. Exceptional killing instinct.
Recommendation: Strongly recommended for discipleship.
Tobirama clicked his tongue softly.
"…Another monster."
SS potential.
And that evaluation…
Not just talent.
But temperament.
Trouble.
He opened his own panel.
Name: Tobirama Shiba
Apparent Age: 18
Reiryoku: 4,800
Specialization:
Fire-Type Reiryoku (Mastery)
Evaluation:
Your control over fire-aspected reiryoku has reached an advanced level.
Your greatest limitation remains total reiryoku volume.
Increase your reserves to elevate your combat rating significantly.
Tobirama's eyes flickered.
"…So it boosts quality, not quantity."
That explained it.
His control had skyrocketed
But his raw power pool remained the same.
Still—
With mastery like this?
He could likely overwhelm opponents who technically had more reiryoku but lacked refinement.
"…Not bad at all."
For a brief moment, satisfaction rose.
Then
Reality followed.
Onmitsukidō.
Surveillance.
Disposable assignments.
"…Yeah. Still a bad deal."
Strength helped.
But it didn't remove the leash around his neck.
He needed more.
Faster.
Back in the academy office
Voices drifted through the room.
Complaints.
Exhaustion.
Regret.
Tobirama entered quietly.
Three instructors sat nearby, mid-conversation.
"I swear, if they assign me another advanced class, I'm quitting," one groaned.
Another shook his head.
"You say that every week."
Tobirama glanced at them—
And activated his technique.
Name: Instructor Hayashi
Reiryoku: 2,100
Potential: C
Evaluation: Standard academy-level shinigami.
The others?
Similar.
Average.
Safe.
Replaceable.
"…Figures."
"Ah, Shiba-sensei!"
A female instructor waved at him.
"You survived your first class?"
Tobirama smiled lightly.
"Barely."
Laughter.
"If you're still joking, it must've gone well," she said.
Tobirama set his materials down.
Then—
Casually spoke.
"If anyone needs help covering classes tomorrow…"
"I'm available."
The room paused.
"…You're volunteering?" One of them asked, surprised.
"More teaching means more experience."
Simple.
Reasonable.
True
Just not the full truth.
After a moment
One instructor lit up.
"Actually… I might need that."
Tobirama nodded.
"Just let me know."
More classes meant more rewards.
And more chances
To find the right disciple.
High above the academy
Inside a quiet office
A pair of eyes observed everything.
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto sat silently, watching through a Kido-based surveillance technique.
The lecture.
The reaction.
The atmosphere.
"…Interesting."
A new instructor.
Formerly attached to covert operations.
Yet
His teaching carried weight.
Conviction.
Not empty words.
Yamamoto closed his eyes briefly.
"The academy…"
"…is not a place for wasted potential."
If Tobirama Shiba continued to prove himself
Then perhaps
He could be reassigned.
But for now
Observation was enough.
Night fell.
The outskirts of the Seireitei grew quieter.
Fewer patrols.
Longer shadows.
Tobirama's residence sat at the edge of the district.
Small.
Simple.
Almost forgotten.
Which made it perfect.
Footsteps approached.
Light.
Measured.
Then stopped.
Gin Ichimaru stood at the entrance.
And froze.
His ever-present smile
Faded.
For the first time
His eyes widened.
Inside the yard
The ground was scorched.
Not chaotically.
Not violently.
But precisely.
Lines of blackened earth formed intricate patterns
Controlled burn marks that spiraled like calligraphy.
At the center
A single training post.
Completely untouched.
Perfectly intact.
Despite being surrounded
By fire.
Gin stared.
Silent.
And for the first time
He truly understood.
This teacher
Was not normal.
Not at all.
(End of Chapter 2)
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