The Story Begins with the Four Great Noble Clans

Seireitei and the Shin'ō Academy of Spiritual Arts remain harmonious.

The trainees walked with increasing haste, as if they were about to receive orders to be promoted to the Soul Reaper.

Dōsan Hanyū along the path leading to the staff dormitory in this snowy world, each footprint like a bond he left behind in this world.

For the Seireitei, such a major battle has been rare in the last fifteen years, no, in the entire history of the Seireitei.

Even the part where Dōsan Hanyū used the Law of Causality is being forgotten by a limited number of people who know the truth.

However, this great battle will inevitably be recorded in the history of Seireitei, and will occupy at least thirty minutes of class time in the lecture notes of the first-year students of the Shin'ō Academy of Spiritual Arts.

The Thirteenth Division, the executor of this mission, is the Second Division Captain, Soi Fon.

The Artificial Soul Corps left a significant mark on the entire history of Seireitei.

Jin'ya Tsunayashiro and Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, who were brought back to life.

And, in this great battle, the most outstanding Dōsan Hanyū.

However, it's quite interesting.

No one in the current Seireitei cares about this matter.

They were all captivated by another event, a momentous occurrence unlike anything seen in the Seireitei's millennia-long history.

The Tsunayashiro Clan, who can wield the Ancient Soul King Blade, and whose actions hint at being the leaders of Soul Society.

Their entire family was wiped out.

Apart from the missing Tsunayashiro Clan and the Tsunayashiro Clan's guards.

Ichimonji Tsunayashiro, who served as the captain of the Shin'ō Noble Guard in Central 46, was found dead in front of his own laboratory table.

The entire Tsunayashiro Clan, from top to bottom, every single member of the clan, was wiped out.

Steady and ruthless.

Who did it?

Some say it was the Five Greats, no, it was the Four Great Noble Clans joining forces. Others say that during that time, Muken, and besides the Tenzō Tenjō, there were also powerful individuals who escaped.

Some say the culprit is from the Thirteenth Division.

However, the destruction of the Tsunayashiro Clan was so quiet that the Thirteenth Division was not strongly implicated.

Therefore, the remarkable deeds of Soi Fon, Dōsan, and others in South District 78, which were worthy of being written about in great detail, were not mentioned by anyone.

Among the Four Great Noble Clans, the Shihoin Clan family, which had become estranged from the Thirteenth Division and the Central 46 after the former patriarch Yoruichi Shihōin was punished, began to frequently interact among the noble families.

A storm is brewing, and the wind is howling.

Even if, in the next moment, one of the Four Great Noble Clans were to be wiped out, no one in Seireitei would be surprised.

As the two main pillars of the Seireitei, the Gotei 13 and the Central 46 Chambers have never offered an explanation for the destruction of the Tsunayashiro Clan.

Although there are still nearly two months until the holiday, more than two-thirds of the students at the Shin'ō Academy of Spiritual Arts have taken leave for various reasons.

Most of them were of noble birth.

Although there is a sense of unease and fear everywhere, for some people, this is a great thing.

Shūhei Hisagi has just finished training using a method that is said to have been passed down from Mr. Hanyū.

Yes, the Tsunayashiro Clan was destroyed, and the Shin'ō Academy of Spiritual Arts, which also has a noble background, was not at peace either. But because of this, Shūhei Hisagi, who was originally expelled this year because he was unable to complete his studies, escaped a calamity.

Entering the Shin'ō Academy of Spiritual Arts means you're essentially Soul Reaper trainee.

Fired?

You have an aristocratic background, and you're a repeat student, so it's alright.

The fact that a commoner from Rukongai was expelled from the Shin'ō Academy of Spiritual Arts only proves that even Maggot's Nest wouldn't be able to support someone like that.

Therefore, for Shūhei, the destruction of the Tsunayashiro Clan was perfectly timed.

Shūhei wiped the sweat from his face, which was caused by exhaustion. He was able to enter the Shin'ō Academy of Spiritual Arts, which could be said to be thanks to Dōsan Hanyū.

But he was fired, and he has no one to blame but himself.

"Sigh, it seems I'm really not cut out to be the Soul Reaper."

Shūhei Hisagi's normally resolute face now appeared somewhat incongruous due to the dense number tattoos.

At first, there was only "69", but after a year at the academy, Shūhei's face had several more numbers, such as "88", "32", and "74". If there were two more, his face wouldn't be able to hold them all.

Although there were many more words on his face, his Spiritual Pressure inexplicably didn't increase much, and this was the reason he was expelled.

Because of a past encounter with Dōsan Hanyū, and because he had a good relationship with several of the academy's instructors, Shūhei also asked them to investigate the reason why his Spiritual Pressure could not increase.

Talent or age.

Talent is the most likely explanation, and Shūhei has already reached the pinnacle of his career.

The second possibility is that his soul is not old enough. Although his soul age is over 10 years old, his special constitution prevents him from reaching the period of rising Spiritual Pressure.

Shūhei Hisagi could only hope that he was in the second situation.

When will my Spiritual Pressure rise?

Are you suggesting I should hope that this year there's no Tsunayashiro Clan, next year no Shiba Clan, the year after that no Kuchiki family, and then the year after that, Shihoin?

"Sigh." Shūhei Hisagi touched his face and sighed. He was currently in a state of having tried his best but to no avail.

"Shūhei Hisagi, Shūhei?"

Dōsan Hanyū through the snow, looked at the familiar face before him with some surprise.

Shūhei's face now looked like a number had grown a face, and Dōsan was still somewhat unrecognizable.

"Hanyū... teacher?"

What is the difference between people? Despite being in the same cohort and experiencing a low point in his life, Dōsan Hanyū came to the Shin'ō Academy of Spiritual Arts to become a fourth-year student mentor.

At the peak of his life, he is now facing expulsion from the Shin'ō Academy of Spiritual Arts.

The two stood in the snow and chatted for a few minutes, during which Shūhei began to talk about his predicament.

"I also cannot increase your Spiritual Pressure."

Shūhei's eyes darkened.

"However, I can help you apply to the college; at least you won't be expelled just like that."

Kūkaku- nee still lives at the Shin'ō Academy of Spiritual Arts and still holds power within the academy.

As for Dōsan Hanyū, if it were just a simple matter of expulsion, that would be fine. But since it involves life and death, and since he and Shūhei were acquaintances, Dōsan wouldn't mind giving him a hand.

After parting ways with Shūhei, Dōsan continued along the path back to his dormitory.

A lean, old man with deep-set, somewhat sinister eyes blocked Dōsan Hanyū's path.

Waiting for my own?

Before Dōsan could ask, the old man spoke directly.

"Let me introduce myself. I am the Third Sage of the Central 46."