Your acting is so good, does your family know?

The girl on the stage was youthful and beautiful, while the boy below was lost in a trance.

In the memory of Kisaragi Akira, Shihoin Yoruichi should have been a mature woman exuding an air of sensuality.

Yet, upon hearing her self-introduction, he suddenly felt as if he were living in a different lifetime.

Judging by her behavior, her personality remained as cheerful as ever, though when it came to pranks or teasing others, she was second to none.

"Shihoin Yoruichi? Could she be one of the lords from the Shihoin Clan?"

Exclamations erupted among the students.

There were many noble members among them, so they naturally understood the weight carried by the name Shihoin.

They were the true elite of the Soul Society, one of the supreme existences that stood above countless nobles and factions.

One of the Five Great Noble Families, the Shihoin Clan.

Aizen's gaze turned inscrutable, and the gentle smile on his face faded slightly.

However, when his attention shifted to Kisaragi Akira beside him, his eyes couldn't help but falter.

The boy was sitting bolt upright, eyes fixed straight ahead, his posture impeccable to the extreme.

It should have been the image of a model student, but if one noticed where his gaze was actually directed, that image would be shattered completely.

"What are you looking at?" Aizen asked in a curious whisper.

Kisaragi Akira glanced sideways, the corner of his mouth curling up: "Heh, what a question."

"Naturally, I am admiring the most beautiful scenery in this world."

Aizen's expression stiffened, and he chose not to take the bait.

He suddenly realized that, more often than not, he and Kisaragi Akira were simply not on the same wavelength.

While everyone else was still reeling from the shock of Shihoin Yoruichi's identity, this guy had already begun to appraise her body with an appreciative gaze.

It was hard to judge such behavior.

On stage, Shihoin Yoruichi scanned the room.

As the designated heir to the Shihoin Clan, her abilities were undoubtedly exceptional.

She had naturally sensed Kisaragi Akira's aggressive gaze the moment it landed on her.

In response, the dark-skinned girl grinned, her delicate little canine tooth reflecting a dangerous glint under the sunlight.

"Let's start from my left."

Kisaragi Akira took a look and suddenly realized that, following the order, he and Aizen seemed to be the last two in line.

The assessment officially began.

Shihoin Yoruichi wore a black bodysuit that accentuated her lovely, subtle curves; still in her girlhood, she had yet to develop the captivating charm she would possess a century later.

But even so, it was enough to keep everyone's eyes glued to her.

Yet, hindered by her status, the students sparring with her in hand-to-hand combat didn't dare to look up, terrified of being caught by Omaeda Marechiyo and receiving an Omaeda Guillotine for their troubles.

"Are you ready?"

"Y-yes..."

Yoruichi chuckled, her figure lunging forward like a phantom. Her slender fingers, as if plucking a harp string, pressed against the student's defenseless chest.

A move that appeared to have no lethality erupted with astonishing impact the very next moment.

As flesh met flesh, the pure release of power resonated with a sound like a thunderclap.

The next instant.

The student's pale face turned bright red, as if all the blood in his body had pooled in his cheeks.

After a brief moment of rigidity, he was sent flying like a cannonball, slamming hard into the classroom wall and sticking to it like a painting.

Striking a man like a wall-hanging.

A one-sided slaughter without a shred of suspense!

Kisaragi Akira's eyes widened.

Good grief!

Was Shihoin Yoruichi already this violent at this stage?

"Unsteady footing, weak limbs."

Yoruichi critiqued, "You don't even have the most basic sense of vigilance. Omaeda Marechiyo, the students you teach are getting worse and worse."

Omaeda Marechiyo broke out in a cold sweat, able only to offer a sheepish smile, not daring to refute her in the slightest.

No one knew Shihoin Yoruichi's strength at this moment better than he did.

Even excluding the decisive factor of spiritual pressure, in terms of pure technique, even he was no match for her.

A gap in talent.

"Next!"

Shihoin Yoruichi was in high spirits, seemingly finding some sort of amusement in bullying the weak.

Considering her personality, it really did look like she was just playing around.

Following the example of the first bird to stick its head out, the students went up one after another to get beaten.

Most were floored in a single move, with only a tiny fraction of geniuses managing to hold out until the second.

Of course, this was purely technique, without any spiritual pressure mixed in.

Once a large swath of students lay sprawled across the classroom, Yoruichi's gaze finally landed on Aizen and Kisaragi Akira.

"Next."

Yoruichi grinned.

Aizen hesitated for a moment, then calmly walked forward.

Just like before, Yoruichi only asked if he was ready, and as soon as Aizen nodded, she launched her attack.

The unexpected happened.

Kisaragi Akira's eyes widened, a look of disbelief flashing in his pupils.

The invincible Aizen, defeated?!

Just like the weaklings before him, he was taken out in one hit without any suspense.

This undoubtedly refreshed Kisaragi Akira's understanding of this world once again.

Others might not know, but he couldn't possibly be unaware.

In terms of pure genius, you couldn't find many in the entire Soul Society stronger than Aizen.

Not even the Five Great Noble Families could compare!

That point was absolutely beyond doubt.

But looking at Aizen lying on the ground, his breath faint and his life status unknown, Kisaragi Akira felt dazed once more.

Does your family know you're such a good actor?

"Another rookie."

Yoruichi didn't spare Aizen another glance, instead fixing her gaze on Kisaragi Akira, a dangerous aura instantly coiling around her.

"You're the only one left."

Her gaze was playful, like a cat toying with its prey, and her slightly exposed canine tooth reflected a light that was extremely dangerous.

Yoruichi beckoned to Kisaragi Akira:

"Come on, boy, let me see what your Hakuda skills are made of!"

Kisaragi Akira squeezed out a very reluctant smile.

Although he boasted that his current talent was no longer inferior to anyone, there was always a transition period required to turn talent into strength.

Just as he was struggling with this, Marechiyo urged him loudly:

"Hurry up, Kisaragi Akira!"

"Don't even think about trying to dodge the assessment with those low-class tricks!"

Kisaragi Akira calmed his mind and walked forward with a resolute expression.

It's just getting hit, right?

It's not like he hadn't been beaten before!

As long as he learned from Aizen, everything would be fine.

He had already planned it out: take one hit, then just lie down.

However...

Looking at the playful gaze of the dark-skinned girl before him, Kisaragi Akira's vigilance suddenly spiked, his survival instinct letting out a sharp, piercing alarm.

Damn it!

This woman is going for real!

Kisaragi Akira's pupils shrank, his five senses pushed to their limit as he instinctively entered combat mode.

No questions, no preparation.

Yoruichi's slender fingers moved as if plucking strings before clenching into a fist, the very moment her light footsteps stepped forward.

Her thin fist carried a piercing sonic boom, a blast of air erupting as it headed straight for Kisaragi Akira's face!