Fate Upon the Blade

Yato ultimately took Scarlet Eye and participated in the sword-bestowal ceremony.

"All new students must attend. We won't issue you a new Asauchi, but it's always good to experience the atmosphere."

Those were Headmaster Hasegawa's exact words.

The sword-bestowal ceremony was rather grand, but since he already had Scarlet Eye, Yato did not feel much involved. He treated it as a performance to enjoy.

After the ceremony, Hasegawa Shinya led Yato to the headmaster's office.

"Yato, make yourself comfortable."

Old Hasegawa amiably invited the boy to sit.

"What is your Soul-Cutter Sword called?"

"Scarlet Eye."

"Could you take it off and let me have a look?"

Without much hesitation, Yato gently stroked Scarlet Eye's guard and placed it on the headmaster's desk.

Hasegawa nodded kindly.

For Soul Reapers, asking someone to "remove their Soul-Cutter Sword" was truly offensive. Most Seated Officers regarded their swords as their very lives; man and blade lived and died together. That was why Headmaster Hasegawa was so tactful, afraid of provoking the boy sitting across from him.

—That was right. In Hasegawa's eyes, Yato was now someone who deserved to be treated with the courtesy due a Seated Officer, just like Byakuya Kuchiki.

Byakuya Kuchiki came from a great noble house, possessed extraordinary talent, and had immense Reiatsu. That went without saying.

Uchiha Yato had already completed Shikai. As long as he graduated smoothly, he could enter the Gotei 13 directly and claim the rank of Seated Officer.

Each class at Shin'ō Academy had around three hundred students. Fewer than five in any class could complete Shikai before graduation.

As headmaster, Hasegawa Shinya actually had teaching quotas to meet. At the end of each year, he had to report to the First Division and Central 46. Naturally, he favored outstanding students like Yato and Byakuya and took care to consider their feelings.

Not long after Yato placed Scarlet Eye on the desk, someone knocked on the door outside.

"Come in." Hasegawa Shinya smiled as he introduced the visitor to Yato. "This is Fujita Ayaka. She is specifically responsible for matters related to Asauchi distribution... Fujita, examine this Soul-Cutter Sword."

"Yes, Headmaster."

Fujita Ayaka took out a registry, undid the Kidō seal on it, then used a magnifying glass to inspect Scarlet Eye's blade in detail.

"Curvature: 0.85. Crimson silk-wrapped hilt. Chestnut-shaped pommel set slightly toward the rear. Hexagonal guard..."

She searched through the registry and quickly found the answer.

"This sword was escorted here by an envoy from the Soul King Palace eight years ago. It was one of the forty swords in that year's second batch. Its registry number at Shin'ō Academy is 'Geng Fifteen Red.' Three years ago, during the sword-bestowal ceremony for the new class, it was bestowed upon... bestowed upon..."

Fujita Ayaka's expression turned rather strange.

"The recipient was Moritora Shiba. In the second month after entering the academy, he was unfortunately killed during practical combat training."

Hasegawa Shinya's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Shiba?

Uchiha Yato was somewhat surprised. Just as he was about to ask something, Headmaster Hasegawa waved for Fujita Ayaka to leave first.

"This matter... is a little troublesome." The headmaster chose his words carefully.

"For us Soul Reapers, blade and wielder coexist. It is almost unheard of for one to remain while the other dies."

"Therefore, when a student of Shin'ō Academy dies unexpectedly, their Asauchi is collected and cremated along with their body."

"Of course, you have now spoken this blade's true name and completed Shikai. Scarlet Eye belongs to you. Not even Captain-Commander Yamamoto could take it away. That is an unshakable principle of the Soul Society."

"Cases like yours have occurred before. Usually, the wielder visits the deceased's relatives and friends, putting their minds at ease."

"But... Moritora Shiba was the second son of the Shiba Main Clan."

"The thoughts of great nobles may differ from those of ordinary people."

[Cracked Fallen-Heaven Whirlpool]—the Shiba Clan.

Even while living in Rukongai, Uchiha Yato had heard of the clan's prestige.

In this era, the Shiba Clan had not yet been expelled and remained one of the Five Great Noble Clans.

They were famous and highly esteemed, renowned throughout the three realms for their naturally powerful Reiatsu.

Kaien Shiba and Moritora Shiba of the Shiba Main Clan.

Isshin Shiba of the Shiba Branch Clan.

Though these people were young, they had drawn the attention of the Soul Society. They were considered certain to achieve Bankai within a century and become captain-class figures.

Unfortunately, a few years ago, Moritora Shiba, who had only just entered Shin'ō Academy, met with disaster. Of the three great prodigies known as the "Three Carriages of the Shiba Clan," one was gone.

Since this involved such a great noble house, Headmaster Hasegawa felt he had to proceed cautiously. After thinking carefully for a while, he returned Scarlet Eye to Yato.

"Fortunately, the Shiba Clan has good family values. Nothing messy has been heard about them over the years. They value freedom and are easy to talk to."

"Kaien Shiba graduated from here just a few years ago. I will inform him about this matter first."

"There is no helping it. If you want to graduate smoothly, your Soul-Cutter Sword must be registered and matched against the records of the Soul King Palace. Don't burden yourself over it. Go to the dormitory. Classes officially begin tomorrow."

Uchiha Yato thanked the headmaster and left the office.

He truly did not feel burdened in the slightest.

Among the Five Great Noble Clans of the Soul Society, the Kuchiki Clan saw themselves as the model Soul Reapers and valued rules above all else; the Shihōin Clan loved battle and had carefree personalities; the Tsunayashiro Clan controlled all the history and intelligence of the Soul Society, their hearts dark; and the reclusive noble clan had not appeared in the Soul Society for a thousand years, guarding the boundary of Hell.

Only the Shiba Clan, displeased with the countless restrictions of the present Soul Society and opposed to imprisoning the Soul King in the sky, had moved out of the Seireitei to live in Rukongai. They were closest to the common people and enjoyed an excellent reputation.

Yato, who knew the original story, knew that the entire Shiba family was indeed easy to deal with. They would absolutely never do something as vile as seizing someone else's Soul-Cutter Sword for the sake of a dead brother.

After meeting the Shiba family, the Soul-Cutter Sword in his hand would surely be cleared of all suspicion, leaving no future troubles.

After leaving the headmaster's office, Uchiha Yato headed straight for the dormitory area.

Before the sword-bestowal ceremony, he had been occupied with the matter of his Soul-Cutter Sword and had not yet visited the dormitories. Now that the weight in his heart had lifted, Yato was quite relaxed. He strolled along, taking in the sights of Shin'ō Academy.

"This is the one."

Yato glanced at the dormitory door marked "Jia One" and pushed it open.

It was an exceptionally spacious double room, kept spotless. Bright sunlight streamed through the window, tracing a hazy golden outline across one's face.

A boy sat cross-legged on the floor inside.

He laid his newly acquired Asauchi flat across his knees, his shoulders slightly lowered, his fingers resting against the spine of the blade. His eyes were tightly shut, and his breathing was calm.

Even the harshest old scholar could not find the slightest fault with that Sword Zen posture.

Hearing the sound, the boy slowly opened his eyes.

"Hello, I'm your roommate..." The Kenseikan on his forehead swayed gently with his movements, making a crisp sound.

"Byakuya Kuchiki."

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