This Isn't Your Shikai?

As a series of knocks sounded, Asano Kiyoshi took a deep breath. Sweat seeped from his palms and soles, and his heartbeat began to accelerate uncontrollably, like an Ansai waist drum being struck without pause.

After the knocking began, the entire world seemed to fall silent. Even the wind rustling the leaves outside the window appeared to have frozen.

A dignified, steady old voice came from within the room:

"Come in."

The moment he heard the old man's voice, Asano Kiyoshi's heart seemed to skip a beat. With slightly trembling hands, he pushed open the door. Before him stood three figures wearing Captain's Haori.

Isshin Shiba stood on the right, his face bearing his signature foolish grin. He gave a slight wave and winked, seemingly greeting Asano Kiyoshi.

Jushiro Ukitake stood on the left. Upon seeing Asano Kiyoshi, he too revealed a gentle, encouraging smile, as if telling him not to be nervous.

Seated in the central seat between them was a dignified old man with a cross-shaped scar on his head, waist-length hair bound by a purple cord, and a silver-white beard.

The old man wore a spotless Captain's Haori. His eyes were slightly closed, and the imposing air of authority around him was deeply oppressive. Yet when he saw Asano Kiyoshi, the old man unexpectedly smiled and said to him:

"You are Asano Kiyoshi, the top student of this class?"

Hearing the Captain-Commander's words, Asano Kiyoshi lowered his head slightly before respectfully answering:

"Yes, Captain-Commander."

Asano Kiyoshi had no intention of using the Scroll to observe the Captain-Commander or the other senior captains. The reason was simple: the gap in Reiatsu was far too great. Even if his own Reiatsu were completely drained, it probably would not be enough to observe their data.

Seeing Asano Kiyoshi's nervous appearance, the Captain-Commander smiled slightly and spoke in as gentle a tone as possible:

"Do not worry. I merely wish to see your Zanpakuto. This is also the first time I have seen someone achieve Shikai the moment they touched an Asauchi. There is no need to be nervous. Simply release your Reiatsu."

Hearing the Captain-Commander's words, Asano Kiyoshi nodded and replied:

"Yes, Captain-Commander!"

Then, Asano Kiyoshi silently called out to the Scroll twice in his heart. As the Scroll opened slightly, an immensely grand and mysterious Ink-Black Reiatsu slowly erupted from his body!

In order to display enough potential to be nurtured before the Captain-Commander, Asano Kiyoshi did not hesitate in the slightest and revealed the Gate of the Underworld as well!

As the Ink-Black Reiatsu erupted, a Scroll that seemed not to belong to this world slowly appeared around Asano Kiyoshi. Savage man-eating Demons, bewitching and beautiful flowers, enormous palace halls resembling divine miracles... all kinds of strange phenomena emerged from the Scroll, filling the Shinigami present with surprise and curiosity.

As the Captain-Commander looked at the phenomena upon the Scroll, a trace of astonishment flashed through his eyes. His body also unconsciously leaned toward Asano Kiyoshi. Seeing this, Jushiro Ukitake understood that this was an action the Captain-Commander only made when he held an exceptionally strong interest in someone.

Isshin Shiba, however, was not paying attention to all that. He merely stared at Asano Kiyoshi's "Shikai" and muttered:

"Damn! That's such a cool Shikai! No matter how many times I see it, I'm still so jealous! It would be great if my Engetsu were like that too."

Yet that was not all. Beneath the Ink-Black Reiatsu, a vivid crimson slowly emerged, like a ripple suddenly spreading across still water.

The entire floor seemed to turn into a water's surface beneath that black Reiatsu. A magnificent, ancient crimson structure slowly rose from the ground, carrying the desolate aura of endless ages. Above the pavilion hung a massive plaque bearing three large characters that resembled flowing blood: "Gate of the Underworld"!

The instant the structure emerged, everyone present, including the Captain-Commander, felt a faint sense of discomfort. It was as though their entire bodies were being watched by an inexplicable, strange gaze. That gaze was everywhere, yet impossible to trace. However, the feeling lasted only an instant before the vast, abyss-like Reiatsu of the captains forcibly dispersed it.

When they looked at Asano Kiyoshi again, their eyes were all filled with admiration.

The Scroll, wreathed in flowing Ink-Black Reiatsu, enveloped Asano Kiyoshi as though circling around him. Ferocious Demons, mysterious structures, crimson flames and flowers... countless strange phenomena emerged at his side. An ancient pavilion that seemed to reach heaven and earth stood silently behind him, while Asano Kiyoshi wore a black-and-red long robe, standing apart from the world like a figure who had stepped from the pages of an ancient book.

However, releasing Reiatsu to this extent was still somewhat too taxing for the current Asano Kiyoshi. In just a few minutes, the rosy color of his face had slowly begun to turn pale.

Finally, with a soft crack, every strange phenomenon around Asano Kiyoshi slowly vanished as if glass had shattered.

Looking at the slightly pale Asano Kiyoshi, the Captain-Commander revealed a gratified expression. He cleared his throat, then rose to his feet and slowly walked over to Asano Kiyoshi. He handed him a round wooden token marked with the character "One" and said:

"Good talent, a gentle temperament, and proper judgment. You are very good. Keep this wooden token safe. Every Sunday afternoon from now on, you may come to the rear courtyard of the First Division Barracks, where I will personally instruct you in swordsmanship. Oh, and what is the name of your Zanpakuto?"

Feeling the exceptional warmth of the wooden token in his hand, Asano Kiyoshi was filled with excitement. He knew what this token represented, and he knew what it meant for the Captain-Commander to teach him personally! It meant that Asano Kiyoshi had truly entered the eyes of Soul Society this time. As long as he did not die young, did not violate any matters of principle, and could continue to grow, then in the not-too-distant future, he would surely become one of Soul Society's upper ranks.

Yet although he was immensely excited inside, he did not show it too extravagantly. Neither servile nor arrogant, he accepted the wooden token with both hands. Seeing Asano Kiyoshi's conduct, the Captain-Commander nodded in even greater satisfaction. He needed subordinates who could obey orders, but he also needed subordinates who were not merely capable of obeying orders.

Then, after a brief moment of thought, Asano Kiyoshi still chose to confess to the Captain-Commander:

"Captain-Commander, I do not know the name of my Zanpakuto..."

At those words, even Head Captain Yamamoto's narrowed eyes opened a little wider. He looked at Asano Kiyoshi and asked, word by word:

"This is not your Shikai?"