Rukia had nearly been driven to despair by Byakuya's harsh training. Knowing this, she couldn't help but worry about Byakuya's own state of mind after being so thoroughly and humiliatingly defeated by Ailin.

"Don't you worry, Rukia," Ailin said, gently ruffling her hair. "Byakuya is much stronger than you think. This might even help him finally move on from Hisana's death."

Ailin let out a small sigh. "Otherwise, he'll just keep walking around with that grim expression, like everyone owes him a fortune, while wasting time and neglecting his training. If he doesn't wake up soon, no one will be able to help him when he regrets it later."

Rukia couldn't grasp the meaning behind Ailin's words, but she understood that her teacher had more faith in Byakuya than she did.

"Compared to Byakuya, you have a bigger problem, Rukia."

"I'm sorry, Teacher Ailin, I..." Rukia instinctively started to apologize, but Ailin stopped her.

"You misunderstand, Rukia. I'm not saying your problem is that you don't work hard. Quite the opposite, it's your hard work that's making the problem worse."

"Huh?" Rukia was bewildered. Ailin's words seemed completely illogical.

"Rukia, you need to understand that to become strong quickly, the 'correct' training method is essential. With the right method, you can rapidly improve your strength. But if you're heading in the wrong direction, all the time and effort you invest will only lead you to a dead end."

"Rukia, your talent for swordsmanship is, in my opinion, no less than your talent for Kidō." Ailin paused, shaking his head. "Actually, to be more precise, your unique trait gives you an advantage in both Kidō and swordsmanship that most people can only dream of. Although I can't call it 'talent' in the traditional sense, I believe this 'advantage' of yours is far more valuable than most people's natural abilities."

"My… advantage?"

"Yes Rukia, your advantage lies in your way of thinking about training. Just like when you practice Kidō, you analyze everything – the arrangement of reishi, the chanting of incantations, the fluctuations of reiatsu. You strive to understand it all before tailoring your training accordingly. You apply this same meticulous approach to swordsmanship, both in practice and during combat. However, unlike Kidō, which gives you time to think, swordsmanship demands split-second reactions. Your mind simply can't keep up with the speed of your opponent's attacks. This is why your progress in swordsmanship has been minimal. This is the consequence of incorrect training, of not receiving proper guidance."

Ailin sighed. "I had hoped that Byakuya would recognize this unique trait of yours and help you develop it. I even thought it might indirectly improve his understanding of swordsmanship. But I overlooked the fact that he has barely trained in the past twelve years. It's impressive that he's even managed to maintain his current level. How could he possibly discern your strengths?"

Ailin shook his head, not missing the opportunity to take another jab at Byakuya. "So, for the past year, you've been training incorrectly, moving further and further down the wrong path. If you don't unlearn these bad habits, they will hinder your future progress."

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Rukia was horrified. She never imagined that her dedication to training could actually become an obstacle.

Seeing her distress, Ailin smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, Rukia. Now that I've identified the problem, it's quite simple to fix. This time, I'm going to teach you something perfectly suited to you—'Kendo.'"

"Kendo?"

"Yes, Kendo. The basic sword techniques you've been practicing are called 'Zanjutsu.' Zanjutsu allows you to utilize your strength effectively. But Kendo is something on a higher level. It's like the release of a Zanpakutō."

"A Shinigami who masters ' Kendo' experiences a power boost comparable to releasing their Zanpakutō. The difference in strength between the two is undeniable."

"Ordinary Swordsmanship can make a regular Shinigami as strong as a seated officer who has mastered Shikai. And those who master powerful Swordsmanship can even rival the strength of Bankai."

Rukia's eyes lit up with excitement. The " Kendo" Teacher Ailin was about to teach her could rival the power of releasing a Zanpakutō?

Since becoming Ailin's disciple, Rukia's horizons had expanded considerably. While other students at the academy were still learning the basics, she had received specialized training in both Kidō from Ailin and Zanjutsu from Byakuya.

However, her excitement was short-lived. Doubt crept in, as it always did. Could she truly master something as advanced as " Kendo?"

"Rukia, if I've chosen to teach you ‘Kendo,' it's because I believe you have the potential to master it."

As if reading her mind, Ailin said softly, "Remember, the foundation of any Kendo is your own Zanjutsu. Once you truly master the Kendo I'm about to teach you, you'll realize it's not as extraordinary as it seems."

"Yes, Teacher, I'll do my best."

"Then let's begin..."

...

"Rukia, the ' Kendo' I'm going to teach you is called 'Data Kendo.'"

"Data Kendo?" Rukia was puzzled but listened attentively.

"The essence of 'Data Kendo' is to quantify every aspect of your opponent into data. Once you grasp this data, you can use your superior analytical skills to target their weaknesses with your own stronger attributes."

"Rukia, let me demonstrate the power of 'Data Kendo.' Attack me."

"Yes, sir!"

Rukia drew her Asauchi, gripping it firmly with both hands. She shifted her feet, positioning herself just outside of Ailin's direct line of sight. Then, she charged.

As she lunged, Ailin's voice echoed in her ears.

"Rukia, your initial attack has a 98% chance of targeting my left side at a 30-degree angle with a thrust. There's a 3% chance you'll attack from my blind spot, 45 degrees behind me, with a diagonal slash."

"What?"

In a battle between powerful Shinigami, hundreds of clashes could occur in an instant. They could communicate during these high-speed exchanges through "Reikaku," their spiritual sense.

In such intense battles, their eyes struggled to keep up with their opponents' movements. They relied on "Reikaku" to perceive the fluctuations of their opponents' reiatsu and direct their attacks accordingly.

Similarly, their thoughts and intentions were conveyed through "Reikaku."

Ailin subtly shifted his body, effortlessly evading Rukia's thrust. Her Asauchi harmlessly passed by. Before she could launch her next attack, Ailin spoke again.

"Rukia, your next attack has a 99% chance of being a horizontal slash. If it misses, you'll immediately jump back to avoid my counterattack."

Swish!

Rukia's horizontal slash was easily dodged. Panic surged through her, and she instinctively leaped backward. But even as she retreated, she felt as if Ailin had already anticipated her every move.

Although Ailin hadn't attacked, merely dodging Rukia's strikes, the impact of this experience was far greater than a year's worth of training with Byakuya.

By the end, Rukia's hand trembled as she gripped her sword. Ailin had predicted her every attack, often describing her entire sequence of moves before she even began. As the spar continued, the fear in Rukia's eyes intensified. She felt like Ailin's puppet, her attacks dictated by his words.

If she didn't follow his guidance, she would be left standing there, utterly lost and unsure of what to do.

But she couldn't bring herself to stop until Ailin called an end to the session. She found it easier to suppress her fear and simply follow his instructions.

"That's enough, Rukia."