In the Soul Society, especially among the Seireitei nobility, Fujimiya Makoto's reputation had long been established.
His youth and strength, coupled with Genryusai's implicit endorsement as his successor, and his notorious war crimes—killing nobles, dissecting the dead, creating grotesque human-centipede hybrids, forcing nobles and Hollows into perverse acts, massacring entire clans, capturing the Shiba clan head, orchestrating rebellions, and subjugating the Shuhōin clan head—all contributed to his infamy.
After the war, some defended him, claiming he had no interest in unstimulating small animals like dogs. Ironically, this only reinforced the nobles' stereotypes, even influencing some Gotei 13 members unfamiliar with him.
Unconsciously, his name became synonymous with certain impressions, spread through gossip.
Now, hearing his pointed words, many noble students instinctively grew wary, cautiously covering themselves.
Fujimiya Makoto forced a stern expression, accustomed to such scenes. Even in Gotei 13 captain meetings, he'd faced embarrassment, making him experienced.
Noticing the attention, he coldly spoke:
"The enrollment ceremony hasn't started."
"What are you causing a ruckus for?"
This wasn't him putting on airs. As a vice-captain, addressing this minor issue personally was almost lowering his status.
However, his youthful face, almost as young as the students, created a subtle dissonance.
Appearing around 16 or 17, his beauty made him seem even younger.
Kyōraku Shun'ui, scratching his stubble, compared himself to Fujimiya Makoto, wondering if he'd aged too quickly.
Tsunayashiro Tokitada paled.
Villains often have self-awareness and imagination. Hearing of Fujimiya Makoto's methods and combining it with his own creativity, Tsunayashiro Tokitada instinctively imagined himself as a victim, his temples throbbing.
After a long silence, a short figure stepped forward, shouting:
"Vice-Captain Fujimiya, that noble student provoked everyone's anger."
"He insulted the Gotei 13 members, and we all heard it!"
Recognizing the voice, Fujimiya Makoto turned. It was Kūyashiki Ryūma, also among the advanced students.
Or rather, Ryūma shouldn't have been on the battlefield before fully maturing; he was simply returning to school.
Ryūma's words drew agreement from the advanced students:
"Exactly!"
"Vice-Captain Fujimiya, please judge fairly!"
"Such arrogance!"
Seeing their fervor and the silent nobles, Fujimiya Makoto felt assured.
It seemed the first batch of students wasn't dominated by nobles.
A good sign.
Yet, he remained stern, feigning dissatisfaction:
"So you insulted him?"
Kūyashiki Ryūma looked confused—he knew his vice-captain's nature.
Tsunayashiro Tokitada's expression relaxed, his eyes flashing with excitement.
Indeed!
Not just Genryusai, but even his disciple, feared the Tsunayashiro name.
Tsunayashiro Tokitada couldn't suppress a smile. The nobles behind him also relaxed.
So, the Gotei 13 feared their power.
Fujimiya Makoto suddenly glared at the cowering advanced students, angrily shouting:
"Fight him!"
"Are your Asashis just for show?!"
"The duel stage is right there—use it!"
"Don't expect me to back you up!"
His words reignited the advanced students' passion.
Kūyashiki Ryūma, being closest, shouted: "Vice-Captain Fujimiya! Let me challenge that bastard!"
"Vice-Captain-sama!"
"Let me handle him!"
The original Gotei 13 was consistent: poor at studying, eager to kill.
Fujimiya Makoto scanned the crowd, spotting a familiar figure rushing forward:
"Vice-Captain Fujimiya! He's Level 6, I'm Level 7!"
"Let me challenge him!"
"Can't give those noble bastards an excuse!"
Compared to the passionate roars, this man's reasoning was clear.
Fujimiya Makoto recognized him as Takasugi Konji, one of the 9th Seat officers from the 11th Division.
"Takasugi, don't go too far."
"Yes!"
Takasugi Konji stepped forward, barely containing his excitement.
The advanced students behind him were disappointed.
Turning to Tsunayashiro Tokitada, Takasugi's expression turned cold: "Hey, brat."
"If you dare boast, you should have the courage to fight, right?"
Tsunayashiro Tokitada glanced at him, then at Fujimiya Makoto, and silently walked toward the duel stage.
Turning his back, his eyes flashed with malice.
...
The duel stage was for resolving internal conflicts.
Given the Gotei 13's violent nature, in just a year, the stage had seen much blood.
Now, Takasugi Konji and Tsunayashiro Tokitada exchanged rapid strikes.
Since Tsunayashiro Tokitada hadn't learned Shikai, Takasugi, for fairness, also used a wooden sword.
Even so, their fight was awe-inspiring to the untrained Rukongai students.
Fujimiya Makoto watched silently, thinking.
Jakubee Nagamasa beside him spoke:
"Makoto, still worried about the nobles?"
"Pretty much."
Fujimiya Makoto didn't deny it, suggesting: "The nobles can form groups around the Five Great Noble Families... But Rukongai rarely produces 'geniuses' annually."
"I was thinking, before enrollment, we could test the better-backgrounded students, place them in appropriate grades, and increase their workload. Make them study lower-grade material while keeping up with higher-grade courses."
Jakubee was puzzled: "What's the point?"
Fujimiya Makoto smiled: "Why do some average-talented nobles act superior to Rukongai students?"
"Because... they've studied longer?" Jakubee guessed.
Fujimiya Makoto shook his head: "Because they have conditions others don't."
"That's why they're arrogant."
"To make them see others as equals, force isn't enough—we must put them on equal footing, letting them realize their place."
"Like now..."
He turned to the duel stage.
Jakubee followed his gaze, thoughtful.
Fujimiya Makoto calmly said: "Takasugi joined Genryusai only four years ago. Due to the war, his batch trained for just a year before deployment. He learned sword techniques and Kidō on the battlefield and during lulls."
"In terms of conditions and time, he's far behind the Tsunayashiro clan."
"His talent isn't exceptional either; his spiritual pressure rose only one level in four years."
"But—"
"Whoosh—"
The wooden sword, wrapped in spiritual energy, sliced through the air with a sharp sound.
Takasugi Konji stepped forward, his blade easily deflecting Tsunayashiro Tokitada's wooden sword. Using the collision's force, he twisted his wrist, redirecting his blade toward Tsunayashiro Tokitada's chest and abdomen.
Tsunayashiro Tokitada struggled, clearly seeing his opponent's movements and reacting, but his responses were always a beat slower. The entire fight's rhythm was controlled by Takasugi, forcing him to retreat.
Whenever the wooden sword pointed at him, Tsunayashiro Tokitada felt a chill.
In contrast, Takasugi Konji seemed to ignore the attacks, grinning like a bloodthirsty wolf, his strikes faster and faster.
A mere wooden sword meant nothing.
His sword techniques were honed on the battlefield, one kill at a time!
Fujimiya Makoto and Jakubee watched coldly.
A Shinigami's battle is essentially a battle of spiritual pressure.
True, but if one can't fully utilize their spiritual pressure, it's not a battle of spiritual pressure.
The noble students below grew increasingly alarmed.
Could a randomly chosen Genryusai Shinigami really suppress the Tsunayashiro genius to this extent?!
In that moment, they understood why their million-year-old clans had suffered such devastating defeats against these commoners.
Even someone as carefree as Kyōraku Shun'ui, seeing the Genryusai Shinigami's fierce performance, grew serious.
In terms of spiritual pressure alone, he far surpassed the man before him.
But in a life-or-death battle...
Kyōraku turned to Fukutake Jūshirō.
Almost simultaneously, Fukutake also turned to him.
They nodded silently.
Tsunayashiro Tokitada would lose.
Indeed.
Before they turned back, a gasp arose from below.
"Clang!"
Wood met wood.
At the moment of impact, Tsunayashiro Tokitada's sword was knocked upward, exposing his chest and abdomen.
His pupils constricted.
Takasugi Konji showed no mercy, his wooden sword slashing downward. The blade, though blunt, carried dense spiritual particles, slicing through Tsunayashiro Tokitada's left shoulder to his right abdomen with a sharp sound.
A shallow wound appeared.
Tsunayashiro Tokitada fell to the ground.
Takasugi Konji rested his wooden sword on his shoulder, mocking:
"Hmph."
"Thought you were someone special, but you're just this weak."
"The fight's over! Loser!"
The entire arena fell silent.
The Rukongai students couldn't believe the 'noble lord' they revered had been so easily defeated by an unremarkable-looking Gotei 13 member.
And, according to him, this man's spiritual pressure was lower than the noble's!
If... if they graduated, could they become like this Gotei 13 member?
Thoughts varied.
But unconsciously, the Rukongai students' reverence for 'nobles' diminished.
Nobles were just like this, huh?
This was one of Fujimiya Makoto's goals.
Breaking Rukongai's superstition about nobles was the first step in making them stand on their own.
Just as Takasugi Konji smirked, descending from the stage, a sharp sound came from behind.
"Bastard!"
"Hey!"
"Watch out!"
Tsunayashiro Tokitada's expression was vicious, his face twisted. Ignoring everything, he drew a short rib-difference blade from his sleeve, charging at Takasugi Konji.
"Die—"
The blade slashed through the air.
But in the next moment, everyone's pupils constricted.
Fujimiya Makoto's figure suddenly appeared behind Takasugi Konji.
He withdrew his hand from his sleeve.
Extending a finger.
"Clink."
Kyōraku Shun'ui and Fukutake Jūshirō were stunned, their expressions turning serious.
The sharp blade, with full force, struck his fingertip.
Yet, it was as if hitting a diamond pillar, unmoving.
In contrast, the rib-difference blade, from the point of impact, developed spiderweb-like cracks, spreading along the blade.
Tsunayashiro Tokitada was shocked, watching the blade shatter into metal fragments before his eyes.
"Hado #1: Shō!"
With the words, an intense, invisible shockwave blasted Tsunayashiro Tokitada off the stage.
Fujimiya Makoto tucked his hands back into his sleeves, looking down at him disapprovingly:
"Truly pathetic."
"You are."