Geniuses Gathered

"What a spirited bunch of kids!"

Long golden hair, a zipper-like grin, and a pure white captain's haori fluttering without wind, emblazoned with a large "Five."

Captain of the Gotei 13's Fifth Division, Shinji Hirako.

"This class actually has three with Lieutenant-level Spiritual Power, plus four with Third Seat-level Spiritual Power. Old Man Yama will be so happy he won't be able to sleep! They're all promising seedlings!"

Wearing a straw hat and a gaudy coat over his captain's haori, he could make even serious words sound unserious.

Captain of the Gotei 13's Eighth Division, Shunsui Kyōraku.

"Ah! Baldy Hirako!"

Suddenly, a shrill yet stubborn voice rang out from the crowd. A girl with the same golden hair, two little braids, and a few freckles on her face stepped forward.

"Oh? Stupid Hiyori, so you were here! Being short really does make you hard to spot!"

Shinji Hirako flashed a wide grin, the kind of smile that was irritating no matter how one looked at it.

"You damned baldy!"

Sure enough, Hiyori Sarugaki immediately flew into a rage and launched a kick straight into Shinji Hirako's face.

"Hiyori... you brat!"

Shinji Hirako clutched his bleeding nose and shouted angrily.

"What? I'm not apologizing!" Hiyori Sarugaki lifted her chin disdainfully.

"I haven't even said anything yet!" Shinji Hirako said helplessly.

"Then I have even less reason to apologize!" Hiyori Sarugaki continued to snap back.

"..." Shinji Hirako instantly burst into tears.

"Hey, hey! Is that really a captain?" Kūkaku Shiba asked Kaien Shiba, twitching at the corners of her mouth.

"Probably?" Kaien Shiba answered uncertainly.

"No matter how you look at him, he doesn't compare to Father or Shadow at all!" Yoruichi Shihōin crossed her arms and complained. "He's so unreliable!"

Shunsui Kyōraku adjusted his straw hat and chuckled softly, while Shinji Hirako covered his face, black lines practically hanging over his head.

Soul Society, Seireitei, Shin'ō Academy.

Two days had passed since the entrance examination. During that time, the newly enrolled students had mainly undergone some surveys and arranged their accommodations.

Shin'ō Academy's rules stated that once someone entered, they were not allowed to leave except on Sundays and during collective holidays, even if they were nobles.

This year's new students included three at Lieutenant level, four at Third Seat level, and several others with relatively impressive Spiritual Power. Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto was ecstatic.

Thus, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto broke with convention and decided to add another class alongside the existing ones for these geniuses, calling it the Genius Class.

He also required the captains and Lieutenants of the Gotei 13, including himself, to set aside one day every month to teach at Shin'ō Academy. This showed just how high Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's expectations were for them.

At that moment, inside the so-called Genius Class, a sturdy man with a goatee stood at the podium and conducted the opening class meeting.

"First, congratulations to all of you for passing the entrance examination with outstanding results. In this class, you will receive the best learning environment and the finest teachers in the academy. Occasionally, Captain-Commander Yamamoto and the captains of the Gotei 13 will come teach you as well. As long as you remain in the academy for a full year and achieve excellent results, you may apply to graduate. Your division assignment after graduation will be decided by..."

Listening to the teacher's impassioned speech from the podium, Kūkaku Shiba yawned and rolled her eyes. "So long-winded! Right, Yoruichi? My ears are practically growing calluses from hearing all this!"

Yet no one answered Kūkaku Shiba's question for quite some time. She turned her head to look.

Yoruichi Shihōin, seated by the window beside her, rested her chin on one hand with her eyes open, but it was obvious that her mind had already drifted far away.

Kūkaku Shiba curled her lips and planned to lie down for a while and take a nap.

Just then, the teacher at the podium finally finished his long-winded speech.

"To help everyone get along better in the future, let's have some brief introductions! We'll start from the first row on the right!"

"Hello, everyone! My name is Tsukichi Sakura. I'm from the Third District of Rukongai. Please take care of me!"

"Senji Hayasuke, from the Sixteenth District of Rukongai. My hobby is training, and my dream is to become a Bleach as powerful as the Captain-Commander!"

"..."

"Hiyori Sarugaki, from Rukongai. There's nothing I particularly like, and what I hate most is baldies!" Hiyori Sarugaki tilted her head, looking arrogant and defiant.

"Kisuke Urahara. I like inventing little gadgets! Please take care of me in the future, haha..."

He had messy light blond hair, scratched his head, and smiled foolishly.

"Lisa Yadomaru." A girl with a braided ponytail and glasses spoke calmly. "I like reading and research. That's all. Please take care of me!"

"My name is Kensei Muguruma!"

A boy with short white hair quickly jumped onto the podium and shouted passionately, "I like fighting and training! If anyone's feeling itchy, come have a match with me!"

As he spoke, he clenched his right hand into a fist and struck his left palm, grinning and revealing gleaming white teeth.

"Mashiro Kuna. You can call me Mashiro!" The innocent and adorable green-haired girl skipped onto the podium, blinking her large eyes. "What I love most is kick training!"

As she spoke, she symbolically kicked her leg a few times.

"..."

"..."

"Finally, it's my turn!" Kūkaku Shiba stretched and walked up to the podium with a smile. "My name is Kūkaku Shiba. I'm from Rukongai. What I love most are tobacco and fireworks, and my dream is to become Soul Society's number one fireworks master!"

"But for now, I'm going to awaken my Zanpakutō, learn Bankai, and become a captain before someone else does!" Kūkaku Shiba said, flashing Yoruichi Shihōin a provocative smile.

"That Kūkaku..." Yoruichi Shihōin was instantly covered in black lines.

"Hey, hey! It's your turn, Yoruichi!"

After returning to her seat, Kūkaku Shiba patted Yoruichi Shihōin beside her.

Yoruichi Shihōin shook her head, walked up to the podium, and said, "Yoruichi Shihōin. There are many things I like, and many things I dislike. But I will definitely awaken my Zanpakutō, learn Bankai, and become a captain before that person from earlier!"

"..." Kūkaku Shiba.

"..."

"..."

A Bleach's combat methods were generally divided into four categories: Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Shunpo, and Kido.

They were also known as the four great combat arts of the Bleach: slash, fist, movement, and demon arts.

The Zanpakutō was a Bleach's standard equipment. Every Zanpakutō had its own name. By learning that name and releasing the Zanpakutō, one could gain powerful strength. First came Shikai, followed by Bankai.

Hakuda was unarmed combat.

Zanjutsu corresponded to Swordsmanship techniques.

Shunpo was an advanced movement technique, an advanced method of moving in a straight line.

Kido was divided into Hadō and Bakudō. Hadō was Kido intended for attack and destruction, while Bakudō was Kido intended for binding and restraint.

Both were spell-based techniques that were released by chanting incantations. After training, one could use Kido without chanting the spiritual words, but while that saved time, it also weakened the Kido's power.

Moreover, the strength and power of Kido were inseparable from the user's Reiatsu.

Several days had passed since Shin'ō Academy began, and everyone had grown accustomed to this kind of life.

However, Yoruichi Shihōin and Kūkaku Shiba's competition had gained two more participants: Kensei Muguruma and Hiyori Sarugaki. As for Kisuke Urahara, Lisa Yadomaru, and Mashiro Kuna, their ambitions lay elsewhere.

Kūkaku Shiba and Hiyori Sarugaki were particularly worth mentioning. Both had explosive tempers and domineering personalities, making them rare natural rivals. Every time they met, one would say something and the other would retort, leaving Yoruichi Shihōin and the others quite helpless. Yet strangely enough, the more they argued, the better their relationship became.

This led Yoruichi Shihōin and Lisa Yadomaru to let their imaginations run wild, spreading rumors everywhere about the two having a relationship beyond friendship. The pair were enraged and, for the first time, joined forces to "hunt down" Yoruichi Shihōin and Lisa Yadomaru.

Of course, it was only playful teasing between friends.

Shadow remained hidden in the corners, quietly watching Yoruichi Shihōin. He rarely showed himself, so aside from Yoruichi Shihōin herself and Kūkaku Shiba, who had met him before, no one had ever seen him or knew that such a shadow existed at Yoruichi Shihōin's side.