Shin'ō Academy

The Seireitei was the political and military headquarters of the Soul Society, as well as the residence of all Bleach. The estates of noble Bleach had stood there for generations.

Countless buildings of varying sizes filled the Seireitei: Central 46, the barracks of the Gotei 13, Sōkyoku, Senzaikyū, and Shin'ō Academy, known as the Shinigami Academy.

Shin'ō Academy had been founded roughly two thousand years ago by Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, the current Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13. Its purpose was to cultivate the younger generation of Bleach, who would become the future Gotei 13, Stealth Force, and Kido Corps, protecting the Seireitei and the Soul Society.

Massive walls surrounded Shin'ō Academy, and equally massive gates separated it from the outside.

However, the gates of Shin'ō Academy stood wide open today. A sea of people had gathered at the entrance, nobles and commoners alike coming and going in a lively bustle, because today was the day Shin'ō Academy began accepting students.

Standing before the gates and looking at the vast crowd, both Yoruichi Shihōin and Kūkaku Shiba were somewhat astonished. The sight was far too spectacular!

"Kukaku, Yoruichi!"

Kaien Shiba squeezed out of the crowd, panting as he said, "I finally found you two! Didn't we agree that I'd come pick you up?"

"It's not like we can't find the way ourselves!"

Kūkaku shouted loudly. It was too noisy around them, and she was afraid Kaien would not hear her clearly.

That shout made Kaien's ears ring. He helplessly glanced at his younger sister, then looked at Yoruichi. "Yoruichi, where's Shadow?"

"Who knows?" Yoruichi spread her hands with a grin. "Maybe he's right behind you."

"Ah!" Kaien shuddered and immediately spun around to look.

"You actually believed that?" Yoruichi could not help laughing. "That guy Shadow is always appearing and disappearing without a trace. I only know he's somewhere around me. How would I know his exact location?"

"..."

Kaien was speechless, his face covered in black lines. After taking a deep breath, he led the two girls into the crowd. He did not dare say anything more. He could not afford to offend either of these young ladies.

At the registration desk, a middle-aged man in a Shihakushō was registering the souls who had come to enroll. When he saw Kaien and the two girls, he immediately handed over two registration forms.

"Once you've filled these out, go over there to have your Reiatsu tested. Only those who pass can enter Shin'ō Academy!"

After speaking, he pointed to the side and lowered his head to continue working.

Kaien was wearing Shin'ō Academy's uniform, making his identity obvious. So, of the two registration forms, one went to Yoruichi and the other to Kūkaku.

After spending some time filling out the forms, the three of them left the crowd again under Kaien's lead and began the next challenge: the Reiatsu test.

The Reiatsu test was merely Shin'ō Academy's first standard for evaluating students. As long as someone possessed Reiatsu, no matter how weak, they would be admitted.

Those with poor Reiatsu might be selected, but very few would actually become Bleach. Most would become little more than cannon fodder, with no great value.

Those with strong Reiatsu, on the other hand, would become the main strength of the Soul Society: Captains, Lieutenants, or Seated Officers.

"Spiritual Power... Fifth Grade, Third Seat!!!"

A rough voice suddenly rang out through the crowd, carrying both surprise and respect.

After a brief silence, a hum like ocean waves rose up.

"Wow! She already has Third Seat-level Spiritual Power before even entering Shin'ō Academy. I'm so jealous!"

"Exactly! She might become a Lieutenant someday, or even a Captain!"

"..."

Listening to the cries of surprise around her, Kūkaku could not help curling her lips.

"Isn't it just Third Seat? Back then, my big brother had Lieutenant-level Spiritual Power! And I won't lose to her either!"

Kaien smiled helplessly, just about to say something.

"Next, Kūkaku Shiba!" the rough voice rang out once more.

"My turn!"

Kūkaku chuckled, waved at Yoruichi and Kaien, and stepped forward.

"Spiritual Power... Fifth Grade, Third Seat!!!"

The rough voice followed, trembling slightly. This was the second person with Seated Officer-level Spiritual Power.

"Only Seated Officer-level?"

Kūkaku came back through the parted crowd, complaining under her breath, but her face was full of smiles. Clearly, she was still very satisfied with her performance.

"Next, Yoruichi Shihōin!"

"Now it's my turn. Watch me, Kukaku!" Yoruichi raised the corner of her mouth and walked forward.

"Her surname is Shihōin. She's from the Shihōin family, one of the Four Great Noble Families!"

"Why would someone from the Shihōin family come here? Aren't high-ranking nobles allowed to enroll directly?"

"..."

Amid the crowd's discussion, Yoruichi calmly walked up to the testing platform.

"Miss Shihōin!" said the testing Bleach with a respectful expression. "Please place your hand on it and channel your Spiritual Power. The tester will display your level based on its strength!"

As he spoke, he pointed at the round tester on the table.

"Understood!"

Yoruichi nodded, placed her hand on the tester, and channeled in her Spiritual Power. Immediately, the tester erupted with a blinding light, far more dazzling than the previous Third Seat-level Spiritual Power.

"Spiritual Power... Spiritual Power... Sixth Grade, Lieutenant!!!"

The testing Bleach could not help swallowing, then shouted excitedly.

How could he not be excited? That was a future Captain!

Lieutenant-level Spiritual Power. Those few words stunned everyone in an instant, and the discussions that had already died down became even louder.

If Seated Officers had a certain chance of growing into Captains, then Lieutenants would one hundred percent become Captain-class figures capable of standing on their own. Of course, that was only if they worked hard enough. Otherwise, no matter how great their talent, they still would not succeed.

"No way! Lieutenant-class? Hit me. Am I dreaming?"

"I think there was one Lieutenant in last year's admissions. Another one has actually appeared this time."

"Exactly, exactly..."

"..."

Listening to everyone's chatter, Yoruichi walked back with her hands behind her back, raised her brows, and smiled. "Well? What do you think, Kukaku?"

"What's so impressive about that?"

Kūkaku curled her lips, though she was still happy for Yoruichi in her heart. After all, they had been friends for years!

"Then let's compete!" Yoruichi said with a smile. "Whoever awakens her Zanpakutō first! Whoever learns Bankai first! Whoever becomes Captain first! What do you say? Dare to compete, Kukaku?"

"Fine! You think I, Kūkaku Shiba, would be afraid of you?"

At that moment, Yoruichi and Kūkaku both erupted with unprecedented enthusiasm. If Shihōin Shanqing had been here, he would definitely have been delighted. Was this not exactly why he had sent Yoruichi to Shin'ō Academy?

"Spiritual Power... Fifth Grade, Third Seat!!!"

"Spiritual Power... Fifth Grade, Third Seat!!!"

"Spiritual Power... Sixth Grade, Lieutenant!!!"

"Another Lieutenant-class?" Kaien said helplessly. "Seated Officers and Lieutenants are usually so rare, yet so many have appeared today. Have they become this worthless?"

Before everyone could fully process it, the rough voice of the testing Bleach rang out again, trembling.

"Spiritual Power... Sixth Grade, Lieutenant!!!"

His trembling voice gradually became numb. The testing Bleach had gone numb from shouting, and the surrounding crowd had gone numb from hearing it. Everyone simply went about their own business as if they had heard nothing.

"This is quite interesting!" Yoruichi raised the corner of her mouth and smiled confidently. "But I, Yoruichi Shihōin, won't lose to anyone!"

"Me neither!"

"Count me in too!"

Kaien and Kūkaku seemed to have been infected by that spirit as well, and their earlier gloom was swept away.

They were all geniuses at the Seated Officer or Lieutenant level, each with their own pride. Who would willingly submit to anyone else? The present did not determine the future.

I... will surpass you!!!

From a corner, Shadow shifted his gaze away from Yoruichi's face and turned toward a direction where two figures he had met only once stood.

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