Opening Day

The next few days passed without incident.

Just as Yato had expected, with the Horiuchi family wiped out to the last member, the Sixth Division, which was responsible for investigating incidents involving the nobility, ultimately came up empty-handed.

Central 46 declared that the incident had been the work of "Ryoka who hated the nobles of the Rukongai."

After all, the Horiuchi family had moved out of Seireitei and no longer belonged to the nobility's inner circle. They were only slightly better off than wealthy merchants, so no one was going to cling to the matter of their extermination.

The disappearance of Koizumi Kentaro, Seventeenth Seat of the Ninth Division, also caused little stir. The Gotei 13 was a brutal empire of gathered elites, and while a routine investigation was launched, someone quickly took his place.

Day after day passed. Thanks to his drastically increased spiritual pressure, Yato's body was stronger than before, and his recovery had improved considerably. With Gin and Rangiku tending to him so attentively, he had recovered most of the way by the time Shin'ō Academy was due to open.

That day, he said goodbye to Ichimaru Gin and Matsumoto Rangiku and set out for Junrinan.

District 62 in the Eastern Rukongai and District 1 in the Western Rukongai were far apart. He also couldn't cut straight through Seireitei, so to avoid wasting time, Yato simply ran the whole way. When he got tired, he stopped at an inn to rest, then continued on after a good meal.

On the final day of the registration period, Yato finally arrived in District 1 of the Western Rukongai, Junrinan.

Junrinan truly was different from the higher-numbered districts of the Rukongai.

The ground was level, paved with fine blue gravel. The people walking along the streets looked rosy-cheeked, clearly living comfortably. In the distance, green mountains and white clouds mingled, and the faint cries of birds could be heard.

Uchiha Yato walked along, looking around like a country bumpkin visiting the city.

It really wasn't his fault. He had spent far too long in that wretched place, Flower Withers, and had nearly forgotten what clean, tidy streets looked like.

He didn't linger. This wasn't the time for sightseeing. After a simple meal and a taste of Junrinan's signature glutinous rice dumplings, Yato headed for the White Way Gate.

As the heart of the Soul Society, Seireitei was separated from the outer Rukongai by a towering white wall.

The wall was made of Seireiseki, a material that emitted waves that broke down spiritual power and formed a spherical barrier. It protected Seireitei from the sky to the ground, leaving no blind spots, and was difficult for souls with ordinary spiritual power to penetrate.

Anyone entering or leaving had to pass through one of four gates: the White Way Gate, Blue Stream Gate, Black Ridge Gate, or Vermilion Hollow Gate.

Shin'ō Academy stood just inside the White Way Gate.

In every world, students were afforded special treatment and protection by default. Even before becoming official Soul Reapers, students could move into Seireitei ahead of time.

It was the final day for the new class of Shin'ō Academy students to enroll. Teachers, upperclassmen, and Soul Reapers temporarily assigned to the task had gathered before the White Way Gate. Quite a few Rukongai residents had also come to watch.

In the ancient, tradition-bound Soul Society, this was a small annual celebration of sorts.

Yato glanced toward Seireitei, then obediently joined the line.

The staff at the White Way Gate worked efficiently, and it wasn't long before his turn came.

"Uchiha Yato, hmm..."

The clerk found Yato's records, checked them against his portrait, and asked a few questions. Once Yato answered each one, they let him through without fuss.

Following the signs, Yato passed through the White Way Gate and entered Seireitei.

As his foot touched the road, the boy's brow lifted slightly.

Was the air in Seireitei fresher?

He took a few deep breaths, then clenched his fist and threw a few light punches, sensing how this place differed from the Rukongai.

The Reishi concentration is different... It's like oxygen intoxication in my previous life.

Yato thought nothing more of it.

With his body as it was now, he would adapt quickly.

Shin'ō Academy wasn't far from the White Way Gate. It stood almost against the Seireiseki wall, and its grounds were vast.

Seven buildings, a sprawling training field, and swordsmanship practice rooms everywhere. For hundreds of years, the academy had supplied Seireitei with a steady stream of talent, providing vital support to institutions like the Gotei 13, the Kidō Corps, and the Stealth Force.

The new students were gathering at the training field of one of the buildings.

After verifying his identity, Yato walked inside.

At first glance, he spotted that person.

He looked like a boy, handsome, with his black hair tied into a ponytail. One detail stood out: a lock of hair at his temple was tucked into a cylindrical ornament.

It was a hair ornament that only the great nobles had the right to wear: the Kenseikan!

There was no doubt about it. He was Byakuya Kuchiki, the sole heir of the Kuchiki Clan, one of the Five Great Noble Houses of the Soul Society!

He wasn't yet as cold and distant as he had been at the start of the story. Instead, he was as lively as any ordinary boy, full of youthful energy, his eyes bright and alert.

I wonder how strong he is now...

Yato stroked the guard of his Scarlet Eye and looked away.

There were about three hundred students gathered in the training field. Considering the vast population of souls in the Soul Society, these young people could all be called exceptional talents.

No one was directing them, yet the place didn't feel chaotic in the slightest. Everyone simply snuck glances at the others, comparing themselves.

Byakuya Kuchiki naturally drew the most attention.

Uchiha Yato attracted plenty of looks, too. Thanks to his striking appearance, he always stood out from the crowd.

Before long, registration at Shin'ō Academy came to an end, and the training field's gates slowly closed.

An elderly man with graying hair walked among the teachers and came before the new students.

"My name is Hasegawa Shinya. One hundred and thirty years ago, I served as Third Seat of the First Division." He paused. Though he was old, his voice remained deep and strong.

"Now, I serve as the headmaster of Shin'ō Academy."

"Shin'ō Academy began two thousand years ago as the Origin School, founded by Lord Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto. It was later renamed Genji Academy..."

Hasegawa Shinya had been headmaster for many years. He gave a speech every time a new class enrolled, and the routine had long since become second nature. After briefly discussing the academy's history and the students' study plans for the next six years, he got straight to the point:

"Your existence will surely make you pillars of Seireitei's future..."

"Now, everyone, go to your dorms, bathe, and change."

"Return here in half an hour. The academy will then distribute Asauchi to you..."

The students applauded obediently and prepared to follow the headmaster's instructions and head to their dorms.

But just then, a clear voice rang across the training field:

"Headmaster Hasegawa... I have a bit of a situation here."

Yato raised the blade in his hand and said calmly:

"I already have a Soul-Cutter Sword."

Hasegawa Shinya furrowed his brow slightly. As a workaholic, he remembered the face and name of every new student, so he asked directly:

"Uchiha Yato? Where did you get that sword?"

"I picked it up." Yato's answer was utterly straightforward.

"It might sound unbelievable, but I really did find it by the river not long ago."

Hasegawa Shinya was momentarily speechless.

In truth, the academy's students and official Soul Reapers suffered a certain number of casualties every year. When cleanup crews were sent to deal with the bodies, they often couldn't find the Asauchi, which had been lost somewhere outside.

It wasn't unusual for someone to find an Asauchi, but it was rare for anyone to admit it so honestly.

Most people sold them to nobles and wealthy merchants at high prices. There was nothing the academy could do about it, and Seireitei turned a blind eye.

"That's fine. You can hand in the Asauchi." Hasegawa Shinya waved a hand and said to Yato:

"In a little while, you can join the other students and take part in the sword distribution ceremony."

But to his surprise, the boy called Uchiha Yato only smiled faintly and said apologetically:

"Sorry, Headmaster Hasegawa. I'm afraid I can't hand this Soul-Cutter Sword over."

"Because..."

"I've already achieved Shikai."

The enormous training field fell utterly silent.