Dangai, Kōtotsu, Kōryū

But they were sixth-year seniors who had studied at the Shin'ō Academy of Spiritual Arts for a long time, and they had been through practical combat in the World of the Living more than once.

They were among the best of the current seniors, which was why the academy had chosen the three of them to lead the group to the World of the Living.

Yet in a single instant, Tokoyo Misao, whose Rei'i Grade was only Thirteenth Class, had put two of them down, and none of them had any idea how he had done it.

As a rule, a Soul Reaper's combat ability was directly proportional to their Rei'i Grade.

The stronger a person's Rei'i, the stronger they would be in any aspect of Zankensoki compared to someone with weaker Rei'i.

Not to mention that after death, the gap between each Rei'i Grade was enormous.

If Tokoyo Misao had been only one or two grades lower, that would have been one thing, but a Thirteenth-Class Rei'i fighting a Ninth-Class Rei'i was something even a textbook wouldn't dare describe.

"As expected of Misao, he's really so strong. Just now, all I saw was a blur," Momo Hinamori exclaimed, staring intently at Tokoyo Misao.

The way he was smiling now was somewhat like the man she admired, always giving people a warm feeling.

Unfortunately, though, Tokoyo Misao sometimes still showed a childish temper and wasn't as mature as Captain Aizen.

At the thought, her cheeks grew slightly hot, and she quickly reached up and patted her face.

How could she compare Tokoyo Misao to Captain Aizen?

Honestly.

Renji Abarai gritted his teeth and stood there without speaking.

Izuru Kira said quietly beside him, "Shūhei Hisagi is the strongest student in the academy right now. Even though he repeated two years, he built up his strength and made a breakthrough, reaching Seventh-Class Rei'i in one go.

"I heard the Third Division Captain has already reserved a place for him. Once he graduates, he can become a high-ranking Seated Officer right away.

"If he decides to fight Misao, should we help?"

"Obviously. Of course we have to help," Renji said through gritted teeth.

It was true that he had unilaterally made Tokoyo Misao his rival, but he also saw him as a friend and a teacher.

If Misao really fell into danger, he would act without hesitation.

"But even if all three of us fought together, we couldn't possibly beat Shūhei Hisagi, could we?" Momo asked hesitantly.

The three immediately fell silent and looked at the two men in front of the assembly gate.

Shūhei Hisagi's gaze remained fixed on Tokoyo Misao's face.

He too had sensed that something was wrong just now and had caught a glimpse of a figure.

He just hadn't expected this junior to possess enough attacking power to break through a Ninth-Class Rei'i's body. He had underestimated him a little.

"Defeating Kanisawa and Aoga in an instant is enough to prove how strong you are.

"But that's a separate matter. Rules are rules. Students in the ordinary class have to wait until their third year before they can take part in an internship in the World of the Living."

He himself had applied to the Shin'ō Academy of Spiritual Arts for several years before finally gaining admission, then struggled his way through the ordinary class before ultimately becoming the academy's top student.

This year was also his last time leading new students to the World of the Living for an internship. Nothing could go wrong, or it would affect his evaluation.

At that thought, he reached out with his right hand, gripped the Zanpakuto at his waist, and drew it:

"I have no personal quarrel with you, but I have to uphold the academy's rules."

With a metallic ring, he drew his sword, raised his left hand to his chest, and opened his mouth to chant:

"Weave the light, a single binding. Race forth and seize the enemy, leaving no chance to escape."

Shūhei Hisagi still had the pride of a sixth-year senior and the academy's top student.

He had no intention of simply using his overwhelming power to crush Tokoyo Misao.

Instead, he meant to bind him with Kidō.

But just as the word "weave" left his mouth, his eyes flew wide.

Across from him, Tokoyo Misao had likewise raised a hand to his chest and opened his mouth to chant:

"Weave the light, a single binding. Race forth and break the enemy, scattering the incoming light."

Everyone below was stunned when they heard the two chants.

"Is Misao planning to match Kidō with Shūhei Hisagi? Why are they using the same chant?" Izuru murmured, his eyes wide.

"But something's strange. The last two lines of Misao's chant aren't right!" Momo cried.

The next moment, Tokoyo Misao and Shūhei Hisagi thrust their hands toward each other and shouted:

"Bakudō #4: Hashinawa!"

"Bakudō #4: Hainawa!"

Two golden ropes shot from their palms at the same time.

The golden rope from Shūhei Hisagi's hand curved toward Tokoyo Misao, seeking to wrap around him and bind him fast.

But the golden light from Tokoyo Misao's hand became a whip and struck the rope trying to bind him.

Bang!

The two ropes of golden light broke into specks like starlight and vanished into the air.

"You..." Shūhei Hisagi narrowed his eyes.

He hadn't expected Tokoyo Misao to use Kidō in such a strange way.

Renji clenched his fists and laughed. "That's Hanki Sōsai!"

"Misao used it at the training ground before!" Izuru cried too.

Momo, however, frowned, looking uncertain.

Shūhei Hisagi said in a clear voice, "No, what he used wasn't Hanki Sōsai. It was a Kidō he created himself."

"What?!" The people below couldn't help crying out when they heard that.

"What does it mean to create your own Kidō? We've never heard of that."

Shūhei looked at Tokoyo Misao and gripped the hilt of his Zanpakuto with both hands. "You really are exceptional. I can't hold back too much either."

Seeing this, Tokoyo Misao reached for the Zanpakuto at his waist and drew it too. He held the sword in one hand, placed his left hand behind his back, and turned sideways.

His stance now put him in a straight line with Shūhei.

Shūhei stamped his right foot down and swung his sword upward with both hands, slashing at Tokoyo Misao's Zanpakuto.

As long as this strike landed, the power of his Seventh-Class Rei'i would surely knock Misao's Asauchi flying. Then he would only have to restrain him.

But just as his blade was about to touch Tokoyo Misao's Zanpakuto, Tokoyo Misao moved after him yet struck first, thrusting his Asauchi forward.

With a wet sound, it pierced the web between Shūhei Hisagi's thumb and forefinger, sending a spray of red blood flying.

“Guh.” Shūhei Hisagi grunted. The searing pain in his hand nearly made him let go.

But as someone who had fought countless battles, he naturally wouldn't release his grip over such a minor injury.

Even so, his attack had been interrupted.

He stepped back to open the distance, held his Zanpakuto at his waist, and lowered his body, fixing Tokoyo Misao with a sharp gaze.

By now, he was genuinely angry.

As the academy's top student, failing to take Tokoyo Misao down in a single blow in front of the new students was simply too humiliating.

The next moment, Reiatsu burst from his body and swept across the area in front of the assembly gate.

Tokoyo Misao kept smiling, his left hand behind his back and his right hand gripping his Zanpakuto.

“You really are looking down on me,” Shūhei Hisagi said, his anger rising. He had to teach this guy a lesson he wouldn't forget today.

Just as his presence reached its peak, all the students held their breath, staring wide-eyed at the assembly gate, not daring to blink.

"Stop! What are you doing?!"

A shout rang out from the side.

When Shūhei Hisagi heard the voice, he slowly straightened up and returned his Zanpakuto to his waist.

Teacher Ōunabara Gengorō hurried over to the assembly gate.

He glanced at Kanisawa and Aoga, who were still dazed, then looked at Tokoyo Misao before finally settling his gaze on Shūhei's face:

"Shouldn't you have left already? What are you still doing here?"

Chapter 28: Dangai, Kōtotsu, Kōryū

Teacher Ōu's gaze settled on Tokoyo Misao's face.

From the scene, it was obvious that the problem lay with this new student, and he had roughly guessed the reason.

Tokoyo Misao walked up to Teacher Ōu with a smile and said, “I want to go to the World of the Living for the internship.”

Teacher Ōu frowned but didn't answer.

Was Tokoyo Misao strong enough? Of course he was.

Even many third- or fourth-year students hadn't reached Thirteenth-Class Rei'i.

Yet they still had to take part in internships in the World of the Living, learning the Soul Burial ritual and hunting Hollows.

But this particular operation was only open to students of the Special Training Class. Letting Tokoyo Misao join them would indeed break the rules.

As he hesitated, Tokoyo Misao pulled up his right sleeve, revealing the family crest on his forearm.

The image of an eye without eyelids entered Teacher Ōu's sight.

His body trembled slightly, and he couldn't help recalling the various rumors from the past month.

Tokoyo Misao was actually a member of the Tokoyo Clan, one of the Five Great Noble Clans.

When he had first heard the news, he hadn't believed it either.

He had even considered stepping in to help Tokoyo Misao keep the news within the school.

But when the classes were being assigned, the principal had come under pressure from the nobles.

Tokoyo Misao was not to be admitted to the Special Training Class by special approval and could only continue studying in the ordinary class.

As for who exactly had applied the pressure, the principal hadn't said.

That also provided indirect evidence that Tokoyo Misao might really be a noble.

Moreover, so much time had passed, yet the Noble Council hadn't sent a single person to inquire. That way of handling the matter was itself rather ambiguous.

But he himself was also a minor noble, so he could understand some of the complexities involved.

The Tokoyo Clan most likely did exist. The fact that the Noble Council still hadn't sent anyone over had already proved it all.

But whether Misao was truly a great noble was another matter.

And the Noble Council was probably still weighing how to deal with the matter.

But if he really belonged to one of the Five Great Noble Clans, his status would be on par with the Kuchiki Clan and the Shihoin Clan.

There were hundreds or thousands of noble families of every size in the Seireitei, but only five could be called great nobles. That alone was enough to show the difference.

If he really was...

Teacher Ōu gritted his teeth and walked over to Kanisawa and Aoga. Finding that they were slowly coming around, he patted them on the head and said:

"Hurry up and get on your feet. How embarrassing."

Only then did the two come to their senses. They immediately stood and went over to Shūhei Hisagi, glaring fiercely at Tokoyo Misao while still feeling somewhat afraid.

Having already been through several internships in the World of the Living, they understood that what had just happened was tantamount to dying once.

Only then did Teacher Ōu turn to Shūhei Hisagi and say, “We'll make an exception this time and let him go with you.”

“If you say so, Teacher, then that's what we'll do.” Shūhei Hisagi bore Tokoyo Misao no personal grudge over what had just happened.

Teacher Ōu was also an instructor of the Special Training Class, and he was the one who had selected the people assigned to lead them to the World of the Living this time.

So adding another person now was also within the rules.

Shūhei Hisagi walked straight up to the Senkaimon and placed his hand against it. The doors slid open to either side, revealing a pitch-black space.

Without looking back, he raised his foot and said as he stepped into the darkness: