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In the open space of the Shihouin family's training grounds, Yoruichi sat on the ground, recounting what she knew about Bankai.
"Zanpakutō is a weapon Shinigami shares with their soul, bound to them through life and death. Every Zanpakutō is deeply connected to the Shinigami's soul. Only after thoroughly mastering Shikai and having sufficient Reiatsu can a Shinigami materialize it into reality."
Yoruichi continued, "To practice Bankai, once these three conditions are met, the Shinigami must surrender their Zanpakutō, allowing it to completely yield to them. Only then can they learn Bankai."
Yoruichi's insights revealed the extent of her knowledge. As a member of the prestigious Shihouin family, even though she was just a first-year student at the Spiritual Arts Academy, she knew many secrets not commonly known to even the senior students.
For most students in the academy, Bankai felt like an unreachable goal. The program was only six years long, and while some students with great potential might master Shikai in that time, others struggled to even unlock it.
However, mastering Shikai wasn't required to graduate or join Gotei 13. As long as students could resonate with their sealed Zanpakutō within those six years, they would eventually unlock Shikai.
On the other hand, some students, like Ise Nanao in the original timeline, struggled to resonate with their sealed Zanpakutō despite having the talent. This prevented them from entering Gotei 13. Thankfully, Ise Nanao excelled in Kidō, which led to her eventual position in the Eighth Division, where she later became the vice-captain.
After Kyoraku Shunsui became the captain, Ise Nanao's promotion to vice-captain of the First Division followed. This highlights how, in the Shinigami world, relationships often played a bigger role than strength in advancing positions.
Yoruichi went on, "Then, once a Shinigami's Reiatsu meets the requirements, is it possible to materialize their Zanpakutō earlier than usual? If we could find a way to defeat the Zanpakutō in this materialized state, could we learn Bankai ahead of time?"
This idea had come from Urahara Kisuke.
After mastering Shikai, though it wasn't fully developed, Urahara Kisuke's Reiatsu was naturally very powerful. If Bankai was the standard, he was almost at that level. This led Urahara Kisuke to wonder if it was possible to learn Bankai in a short time.
Normally, learning Bankai was a slow, methodical process. But if one could create a shortcut, could Bankai be learned in a fraction of the time? Even though Bankai wasn't omnipotent, mastering it would significantly increase a Shinigami's strength—enough to reach a captain's combat level.
After all, mastering Bankai was one of the requirements for becoming a captain in Gotei 13.
Arima listened quietly, allowing Yoruichi to finish. Once she had spoken, he rubbed his chin and said, "That's certainly an interesting idea. It seems unbelievable, but it should be possible."
"Really?" Yoruichi asked, surprised by Arima's confidence. At first, when she had heard Urahara Kisuke's theory, she thought he was crazy. If Bankai could be learned this way, it would be too easy.
Arima confirmed, "According to theoretical speculation, it's feasible."
Yoruichi remained skeptical. "But..."
Arima continued, "However, this is not the orthodox way of learning Bankai. The traditional method is more gradual."
He paused before explaining further, "Forcibly materializing the Zanpakutō and defeating it to learn Bankai comes with major risks. If a Shinigami attempts to learn Bankai before they're ready, they might suffer a backlash from their Zanpakutō and even die by their own sword."
He added, "That's why the first condition for learning Bankai is mastering Shikai completely. Zanpakutō is a reflection of the Shinigami's soul, mirroring their heart to some degree. Mastering Shikai isn't just about learning to wield the sword; it's a process of understanding your own soul."
Arima's tone grew serious, "Only by seeing your heart clearly can you unlock the hidden power within—this power is Bankai. Without that clarity, attempting to access this hidden power forcefully can lead to confusion, and ultimately, harm or death at the hands of a Zanpakutō that no longer feels like a true companion."
Yoruichi listened carefully, understanding the gravity of Arima's words. "So, even if we find a way to materialize Zanpakutō early, we shouldn't skip the process of mastering Shikai and Reiatsu first. Rushing to Bankai is dangerous."
Arima nodded. "Exactly. However, in an urgent situation where rapid power is needed, this method might be tried. The probability of success is extremely low, but if it succeeds, the rewards are immense."
Arima paused. If it had been anyone else, he might not have given this advice. But because Yoruichi had asked, and because Urahara Kisuke was behind the theory, he chose to share it.
In the original timeline, Urahara Kisuke had created miracles. He had learned Bankai in just three days, setting a record in Soul Society. Before him, the fastest person to achieve Bankai was Chōjirō Sasakibe, the deputy captain of the First Division, who did so in one month.
Arima didn't dismiss the possibility outright. "But understand that such feats are incredibly rare and unlikely. Still, for someone like Urahara Kisuke, miracles are possible."
Yoruichi took in the information. She realized that Kisuke might indeed be able to achieve this feat, but it wasn't something she should attempt lightly. After Arima's warning, she decided to advise Kisuke carefully, ensuring he didn't take unnecessary risks.
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