Bleach: Shadows of Destiny

Note: Sorry, everyone. This is my lazy translation. I have an interview today, so I decided to translate with less effort, even though it took me about 50 minutes. Maybe if I have some free time, I will try to translate in advance so that this doesn't happen again.

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The key to Shunpo lies in the formation of spiritual particles(Reishi) throughout the body. In an instant, release spiritual energy through both legs, harnessing the power generated by the leg muscles to exert a force on the ground. This force, through reaction, enables instant movement.

The movement path of Shunpo is straightforward, and during this process, one can both attack and defend.

Hohō's instructor stood on the training ground, guiding each student through their Shunpo training.

This class was Hohō training, a unique technique among the Shinigami and a skill for rapid movement. Shunpo, as well as the Quincy's Hirenkyaku and Hollow's Sonido, are all techniques for high-speed movement. The first two rely on gathering spirit particles in the legs for propulsion, while Sonido involves moving the entire body.

Shunpo has different levels of proficiency. Powerful individuals like Yoruichi Shihouin can evade pursuers while carrying another person. Moreover, once Shunpo reaches a certain level, individuals can achieve a state of 'floating' in mid-air.

Furthermore, there are advanced applications of Shunpo, such as Utsusemi, which allows a brief afterimage to be created by shedding clothing to confuse opponents. Utsusemi is extremely fast, requiring the user to leave behind an afterimage at the moment their clothes are suspended in the air.

Aside from Shunpo's applications, there's an even more advanced technique called Shunkō, which is mentioned in the manga. Only three individuals, Sui-Feng, Yoruichi Shihōin, and Yūshirō Shihōin, are seen demonstrating it. Sui-Feng mentioned that she created a combat technique combining Kido and Hakuda but had no name for it, yet Yoruichi Shihōin referred to it as Shunkō. She even presented it using the Executive(keisen) uniform of the Onmitsukidō, although Sui-Feng, who is the commander of the Onmitsukidō, was unaware of this technique before she created it. Yoruichi Shihouin's younger brother, Yūshirō Shihōin, knew about it and developed a technique called Shunkō: Bakuen Musō.

It is likely that Shunkō is a secret technique of the Shihōin family, as the Shihōin family has traditionally served as the commanders of the Onmitsukidō, even before Sui-Feng. Thus, they created the corresponding uniform.

Yamahiko thought that if Sui-Feng could create Shunkō on her own, he might be able to attempt it once he mastered Shunpo. However, mastering Shunpo was exceedingly difficult. The first step was to unify the spirit particles throughout the body into a single entity, which was a daunting task.

Souls constantly emitted spiritual energy, which appeared as ribbon-like threads. 

Seeing another person's Reiryoku required the strength of an upper-ranked Shinigami, but feeling one's own Reiryoku was possible for most souls with a spirit energy level of fourth class or higher

.

To master Shunpo, the user needed to retract their spiritual energy into their body while using it, forming their body into a single entity without the slightest dispersion of spirit particles.

Yamahiko was not yet proficient in controlling his spiritual power, and his body was still growing, far from reaching its limit. As a result, his spiritual pressure increased almost constantly, with spiritual energy permeating the area around him.

Yamahiko could only improve his control over spirit particles through rigorous training. This was not something easily accomplished, even with natural talent.

About a month later, Yamahiko was finally able to keep his spiritual energy from leaking out. At this point, he attempted to wrap his spirit particles around his legs and achieve Shunpo.

Shunpo required an instantaneous burst of energy. It was similar to Senka, which concentrated spirit particles on the back and shoulders to achieve a secondary boost in speed.

Yamahiko gathered his spirit particles around his legs, then unleashed his spiritual energy forcefully. His legs bent, propelling him forward. However, during the leap, he rose high into the air. In mid-air, his spiritual energy dissipated, causing him to slow down and descend. Ultimately, he traveled only a little more than three meters.

Yamahiko carefully pondered the problems that had just arisen. Firstly, the release of spiritual particles was unstable, causing them to disperse in mid-air. This was due to inadequate control of spiritual particles. He needed to maintain constant control, keeping the spiritual particles enveloping his legs and feet.

Secondly, his body couldn't autonomously control the high leap during movement. Shunpo heavily relied on speed, and although it allowed vertical movement, Yamahiko's previous leap was flawed in terms of muscle and bone exertion and also in the positioning of released spiritual energy.

After analyzing these issues, Yamahiko identified his problems and began the process of change. He spent nearly half a month maintaining the constant release of spiritual particles around his legs.

He continuously adjusted the strength and direction of the spiritual energy release to optimize his technique. Through this process of expending and replenishing spiritual particles, Yamahiko's spiritual power gradually increased.

Once he achieved this, he began seeking guidance from his teacher on the leg's strength exertion and muscle control.

In response to Yamahiko's inquiries, the teacher provided detailed explanations of the movements involved and the muscle groups engaged. Yamahiko noted down this information and illustrated it through diagrams, simulating it daily.

Finally, after two months of studying Shunpo, Yamahiko mastered it.

His legs slightly bent, and with the release of spiritual energy, he vanished ten meters away in an instant.

Then, with one foot in front of the other, he pushed off the ground, released his spiritual energy, and suddenly retreated, reappearing seven meters behind his previous position.

Yamahiko continued to modify his control over spiritual pressure, increasing his speed and the distance he could traverse.

Yamahiko was the first to master Shunpo, but the other students were no longer surprised. They had grown accustomed to his genius.

Simultaneously, the notes in Yamahiko's notebook about the direction of spiritual energy release, leg muscle exertion, and coordination of muscle groups became a treasure trove that other students eagerly borrowed.

Of course, everyone's body and spiritual pressure levels were different, so they couldn't replicate Yamahiko's method entirely. However, the combination of anatomy and biomechanics, this novel analytical approach, accelerated their mastery of Shunpo.

This was unprecedented, and one night, Yamahiko's notebook mysteriously disappeared. It returned a few days later.

Yamahiko assumed a classmate had borrowed it and didn't pay it much mind.

But in a hidden room, a figure sat cross-legged on the ground, their eyes fixed on the diagrams. "This method of anatomical analysis for exerting force on the human body not only applies to Shunpo but can also greatly assist in Hakuda techniques. In the past, Hakuda was altered through experience and real combat. However, now it seems we have a new approach. This could help refine inappropriate techniques within Hakuda and create more body-suited techniques."

The figure raised their head, saying, "This kid is truly a genius. It seems I need to find a way to get him to join the Onmitsukidō."