Graduation Ceremony

"You... You're Yoruichi!"

Compared to the old butler's loud outcry, Shihōin Shanqing was much calmer—if one ignored the twitching corner of his mouth and the dark lines all over his face.

"Who else would I be?" Black Cat Yoruichi rolled her cat eyes.

"How did you turn into a cat?!"

"Come on! It's one of my Zanpakutō's abilities!" Black Cat Yoruichi waved her paw carelessly.

"You've already awakened your Zanpakutō?! Hahaha..." Shihōin Shanqing burst into laughter and said excitedly, "Wonderful! Just as expected of my daughter!"

"That's how it is!" Black Cat Yoruichi thought for a moment. "Oh, Father, how about an all-fish feast tonight?"

"..."

The smile on Shihōin Shanqing's face immediately froze, and then tears streamed down his face.

"My precious daughter, have you really turned into a cat?!"

Ignoring her father's reaction, Black Cat Yoruichi thought about the all-fish feast and happily let out two "Meow... meow..." cries, finally crushing the confidence Shihōin Shanqing had only just managed to recover.

"Shadow, come on. Let's go tease Kukaku..."

"Yes, Lady Yoruichi!"

In Soul Society, time was never in short supply. The years rushed by, and in the blink of an eye, another half year had passed.

A few days ago, Yoruichi Shihōin, Kūkaku Shiba, Kisuke Urahara, Kensei Muguruma, Lisa Yadomaru, Hiyori Sarugaki, and Mashiro Kuna had all applied for early graduation—and passed perfectly. In truth, with their current strength, there was no need for them to waste their days at Shin'ō Academy.

It was worth mentioning that Yoruichi Shihōin, who had always loved to play around, often transformed into a cat to tease people. As a result, the title of Catgirl resounded throughout Soul Society. Of course, no one dared say anything bad about her. At most, they complained a little.

With Shadow backing her up, Yoruichi Shihōin never grew tired of it and became increasingly bold. Her incredibly fast Shunpo, exceptional Hakuda, and the title Flash God gradually began to spread as well, further fueling Yoruichi Shihōin's arrogance.

However, today, the Bleach of Seireitei all breathed a collective sigh of relief, celebrating the fact that they would no longer suffer Yoruichi Shihōin's torment. It was all because today was Shin'ō Academy's graduation ceremony.

In other words, after today, Yoruichi Shihōin would join the Punishment Force, while they would finally be freed from her.

Though it was called a graduation ceremony, it was really the day the graduating students decided their futures. Those with strength could choose a suitable division to join. Those who were weak, failed to meet a division's standards, or were deemed unsuitable by a division could only find a noble household to serve as attendants unless they could defeat a seated officer or above from that division.

Those who excelled in a single area could also join organizations such as the Kido Corps, Stealth Force, or Stealth Force, but the requirements were extremely high—especially for the latter two, whose standards even surpassed those of the Gotei 13.

And for those who were simply too mediocre, there was nothing to be done.

Shin'ō Academy was even more grand today than during enrollment. Those present included graduating students and their parents, the great noble clans and countless lesser nobles, as well as the captains and members of the Gotei 13.

"Silence!"

Following a thunderous shout laced with Reiatsu, the previously clamorous plaza instantly fell silent. Everyone's eyes turned toward the person on the stage.

Captain of the First Division, Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, and headmaster of Shin'ō Academy—Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.

"I am Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, headmaster of Shin'ō Academy and Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13. Throughout my long two thousand years, I have always remembered and upheld two words. Those two words are the foundation of Soul Society and the principles you must follow in the future!"

"I hold deep expectations for every one of you, because the future of Soul Society rests upon your shoulders!"

"But no matter what your future may be like! No matter what you may do in the future! I hope you will keep these two words firmly in your hearts!"

Though old, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto stood strong, both hands resting on the cane that concealed his Zanpakutō. His narrowed eyes scrutinized the graduating students below the stage with solemn gravity.

After a brief pause, his aged voice still carried the passion of youth as he forcefully uttered the final two words.

"Justice!!!"

Across the crowded plaza, only those two words echoed. At that moment, the students felt the weight of those simple words, as well as the expectations behind them.

"Justice!"

"Justice!"

"Justice!"

After several seconds of silence, the plaza erupted with wave-like applause and cheers that continued without end. Those voices came from the depths of their hearts.

A trace of gratification appeared on Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's face as well.

"Today is Shin'ō Academy's annual graduation ceremony. Today, you will choose the division you wish to join. Whether you are qualified to join will be decided by each division's captain. I believe you have already understood this, so I will not say more. Now, the selection begins!"

The moment they heard the word "begin," the students in the plaza, who had been quiet moments ago, became noisy once more. However, that no longer mattered.

The thirteen divisions were arranged around the plaza. In front of each division stood a table marked with its division number, scope of duties, and the type of Bleach it required.

Thus, most students found their divisions after making a round of the plaza. Of course, some had decided on a division from the start, while others were still torn between two.

Kūkaku Shiba, Kensei Muguruma, and the other five had possessed exceptionally high spiritual power from the moment they entered the academy, graduated early after only one year, awakened their Zanpakutō, and even mastered Shikai. Naturally, they became targets of competition among the division captains, who all offered generous terms.

Yoruichi Shihōin was not among them. In fact, everyone knew that as the sole heir of the Shihōin, once Yoruichi Shihōin learned Bankai, she would inherit from Shihōin Shanqing a series of positions: Captain of the Second Division, Commander-in-Chief of the Stealth Force, Commander-in-Chief of the Stealth Force, and head of the Shihōin, among others.

Aside from Yoruichi Shihōin, Kūkaku Shiba joined the Tenth Division, just as she had previously said she would.

Kensei Muguruma recognized the captain of the Ninth Division as the Bleach who had once saved him, so he joined the Ninth Division. Mashiro Kuna, whose relationship with Kensei Muguruma was unclear, naturally joined the Ninth Division as well.

Hiyori Sarugaki had a good relationship with Kirio Hikifune, captain of the Twelfth Division, so she rejected Shinji Hirako and joined the Twelfth Division.

Lisa Yadomaru actually joined the Eighth Division, which came as a surprise to everyone. No one knew what Shunsui Kyōraku had said to her.

As for Kisuke Urahara, he had not even come to the graduation ceremony. In his words, "I'm going to the Second Division anyway! Something as trivial as a graduation ceremony is simply a waste of time. Researching and inventing things is much more practical!"

Yoruichi Shihōin and the others were speechless at that, helpless and full of exasperation. But no matter what, after a busy day, all the students had made their decisions.