"Spiritual Pressure, Level 13!"
"Name: Nishikawa Wataru Gen."
"Origin: Northern District 3."
"Approved!"
"Join this line."
In front of the White Path Gate, young individuals with innate spiritual abilities, gathered from various regions by the Gotei 13, were assembled in an open space nearby.
A Shinigami stood beside a Spirit Detection Crystal, watching as each young person placed their hand on its surface. On the other end of the crystal, their corresponding spiritual pressure level would appear.
Due to the current shortage of personnel in the Gotei 13, there were virtually no requirements for this batch of applicants. Anyone with a spiritual pressure level of 20 or above could be admitted.
However, even the number '20' was far beyond the reach of ordinary people.
This was the 'minimum limit for Zanpakutō awakening' determined by the Seireitei nobility through countless experiments over a long period.
Those with lower levels weren't devoid of spiritual abilities but were too weak to communicate with a Zanpakutō.
Among the gathered youths, nearly half were ordinary individuals who might not even reach 'Level 20'. Even if they barely passed, most hovered around Levels 19 or 18.
At this moment, hearing that someone had nearly reached the 'Seated Officer' level, a wave of astonishment rippled through the crowd.
Even the young man himself was surprised, his face lit with joy as he followed the formal Shinigami to the 'Approved' line, drawing envious glances from those behind him.
Fujimiya Makoto arrived at the White Path Gate just in time to witness this scene.
"Where were these people gathered from?"
"Is this all?"
He casually asked the nearby Jakubee.
Jakubee Nagamasa smiled, "Recently, Headmaster Genryusai initially planned to continue the Genjitsu Academy in its original form. Due to limited teaching resources, the recruitment notice was only posted in the first five districts of Rukongai."
"These young people probably came after seeing the notice."
"Posted a notice?"
Fujimiya Makoto paused, "Were there no other measures?"
Jakubee looked at him strangely, "What other measures are needed for recruitment?"
"Our manpower is limited; covering the nearby five districts of Rukongai in a short time is already challenging."
"I see."
Fujimiya Makoto looked at the queue in front of him.
The recruitment line at the White Path Gate seemed long but likely had fewer than three hundred people. More than half didn't meet the minimum standards, and probably only about a hundred apprentices would be accepted from Rukongai.
What did this indicate?
Seireitei's control over Rukongai couldn't be called deep-rooted, but it was also not entirely absent.
Upon reflection, this seemed to be the case.
After the battle with Seireitei, even with the surrendered Seireitei nobility army, Genjitsu Academy had just over a thousand people.
The current Gotei 13 had fewer than 1,300 combat personnel, with each squad averaging less than a hundred.
Fujimiya Makoto knew his own combat squad had only about eighty members.
Could this handful of people control the vast Rukongai?
"But... how many talents must be buried?"
Fujimiya Makoto wondered if a Seated Officer-level figure could emerge from these hundreds of applicants.
As he thought this, the formal Shinigami ahead suddenly seemed stunned, exclaiming loudly:
"Spiritual Pressure Level: 6, 6!"
"Name: Tsunayashiro Tokitada!"
"Origin: Seireitei."
"Approved!"
In an instant, the entire crowd fell silent.
Not just the reserve applicants behind, but even the formal Shinigami maintaining order nearby stared at him in astonishment.
Innate Level 6 spiritual pressure—this was a genuine high-ranking Seated Officer.
A future superior.
Unconsciously, their gazes became more respectful.
Tsunayashiro Tokitada, however, merely smiled calmly, striding proudly into the front row of approved applicants, straight to the very front.
Yet, no one complained; instead, they looked at him with reverence.
Some even seemed ready to kneel.
The commoners' fear of the nobility hadn't been eradicated by Genryusai's victory.
Just the words 'Origin: Seireitei' were enough to intimidate everyone.
And he wasn't the only one.
The formal Shinigami announcing names grew louder.
"Spiritual Pressure: Level 8."
"Ōmaeda Kijinshin!"
"Spiritual Pressure: Level 4!"
"Kyōraku Shun'ui!"
"Spiritual Pressure: Level 4!"
"Fukutake Jūshirō!"
One after another, names with exceptionally high spiritual pressure levels were called out, each followed by the word 'Seireitei'. The applicants' initial shock turned to numbness and acceptance.
Because 'Seireitei' meant these individuals were all high-born nobles.
Bloodline, heritage, talent, ability, status—all seemed inherently linked to their nobility, leaving the commoners too intimidated to compare themselves, shrinking back like quails.
The noble heirs, ignoring others' gazes, naturally moved to the front of the queue, as if parting the crowd like Moses parting the sea.
"Truly exceptional juniors."
Fujimiya Makoto sighed, watching their calm demeanor under everyone's gaze, as if their superiority was a given.
Jakubee, missing his implication, nodded in agreement, "Indeed, two young men reaching Level 4 spiritual pressure so early—it seems the nobles have brought out their best heirs."
"No, they were discarded."
Fujimiya Makoto shook his head in negation.
Jakubee turned to him, puzzled.