Staring at the blade pinched between the opponent's fingertips, Togami Yoshitane, lying on the ground as if paralyzed, his entire facial expression seemed to freeze in place, his pupils tightly constricted.
Even the pain of his injuries was forgotten.
Not just him, but all the students present who witnessed that scene, whether nobles or commoners from Rukongai, instinctively held their breath.
Even Minister Jirō unconsciously raised an eyebrow.
Truly worthy of Fujimiya Makoto.
After several breaths of silence, everyone present seemed to suddenly regain their ability to speak, and the crowd below erupted into a buzz of chaos.
"Hey! That... did you see that just now?"
"He actually pinched the blade with his fingers!"
"It must be a real sword, right? That's a forbidden item!"
"Idiot, he's from the Togami family, of course it's a real sword!"
All the students stared wide-eyed at Fujimiya Makoto on the stage.
Even the most talented Kyoraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō couldn't help but gasp in astonishment.
A person's reputation precedes them.
Although Fujimiya Makoto was notorious throughout the Soul Society, his most famous trait was still his various unverified misdeeds.
As for his own strength, everyone had only speculation.
But at this moment, his strength was presented before them in the most direct form.
"That guy from the Togami family, he must be at least a sixth-seat, right?"
Kyoraku Shunsui lowered his voice and whispered to Ukitake beside him, "Is it some special Kidō?"
Ukitake shook his head, also lowering his voice, "I didn't sense any Reishi fluctuations."
Kyoraku Shunsui fell silent.
Compared to his own expertise in swordsmanship, Ukitake's talent in Kidō was far superior, whether in manipulating or sensing Reishi, he was a step ahead.
If even Jūshirō didn't detect any Reishi fluctuations, it could only mean that this was pure, overwhelming strength.
For a moment, Kyoraku Shunsui's gaze towards Fujimiya Makoto became somewhat complex.
Truly terrifying, this guy.
It wasn't until then that Takasugi, standing on the stage, finally reacted and quickly thanked Fujimiya Makoto, "Thank you, Vice-Captain Fujimiya!"
"Thud."
Fujimiya Makoto, still pinching the blade, tapped the hilt against Takasugi's head, producing a dull sound, his tone disapproving:
"Idiot!"
"I told you to hold back, not to let your guard down."
"When you face a Hollow in the future, are you going to strike once and then turn your back?"
Takasugi's forehead broke out in sweat, repeatedly saying, "Yes, I'll remember this lesson!"
"Dismissed."
"Yes."
With this slight display of strength and issuance of orders, the awkward atmosphere from his initial appearance finally dissipated somewhat, giving him a modicum of the dignity befitting a 'teacher' and 'officer'.
Fujimiya Makoto silently breathed a sigh of relief.
Nice ambush, Yoshitane!
Thinking this, he turned his head towards Togami Yoshitane and coldly said,
"You too, dismissed."
"Huh?!"
Togami Yoshitane looked up in astonishment.
Many noble students familiar with the laws also looked up at him in surprise.
Kyoraku Shunsui's eyes widened in astonishment.
Not because of anything else, but because 'ambush' and 'unauthorized use of a real sword' were both taboo under the original Seireitei noble laws.
Ambush could be set aside for now.
The reason for prohibiting the use of 'real swords' was twofold: to prevent anyone from privately researching or crafting 'Zanpakutō', thus disrupting the order of the Soul Society, and because 'Zanpakutō' were unique—if one were to use inferior weapons and perform 'Shikai', it would often lead to many unpredictable consequences when using shallow strikes for 'Shikai'.
This rule was not only followed by the Seireitei nobles but also by the Gotei 13, who, upon entering Seireitei, would immediately seal off the channels for shallow strikes.
This was a serious offense!
Fujimiya Makoto was naturally aware of these rules.
However, he still stood on the combat stage, turned to face everyone present, and calmly said,
"Some of you here may know me, but most probably don't."
"Let me introduce myself first."
"My name is Fujimiya Makoto, currently serving as the Vice-Captain of the 11th Division, specializing in swordsmanship and Shunpo."
"For the next period, I will be your part-time instructor for some classes at the Central Spiritual Arts Academy, responsible for teaching you the necessary skills and rules to become Shinigami."
Fujimiya Makoto's voice was calm, almost without fluctuation, yet it clearly reached the ears of all the students present.
Ukitake Jūshirō sensed this pinnacle control over Reishi and couldn't help but feel a chill.
For a moment, the noisy students below fell silent.
Fujimiya Makoto's gaze swept over everyone, and seeing no one had questions, he continued,
"Next, I will announce the first rule."
"Central Spiritual Arts Academy Rule Number One."
"As long as you're on this combat stage, and both parties have agreed on the rules of the challenge, everything is governed by those rules."
"The rules of combat are that there are no rules."
"Poisoning, deception, ambush... all are allowed!"
"The battles between Shinigami and Hollows are brutal."
"However, you are ultimately comrades who will fight side by side in the near future—so, once one side surrenders, faints, or any outcome is reached, do not continue to kill."
Fujimiya Makoto's gaze, sharp as a blade, swept over everyone, finally landing on Togami Yoshitane, making him instinctively shudder.
"Don't make me look down on you."
As his words fell, the crowd below fell into silence.
Everyone quietly looked at him.
The commoners from Rukongai mostly stared blankly.
Many of these commoners had heard of the reputation of the Genryūsai Academy and came to join after hearing that they had defeated the Seireitei nobles.
But they hadn't expected that the Gotei 13 would take such an interest in them.
If he's a Vice-Captain...
Then he must be one of the twenty-six strongest individuals in the entire Gotei 13, right?!
As for the noble students, upon hearing this rule, they couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding.
This rule was like forcing them to fight without restraint, wasn't it?
"However, aside from that,"
"My requirements are actually quite lenient."
Fujimiya Makoto looked at them, and his previously stern face slowly broke into a smile:
"After all, I'm not a devil, am I?"
"..."
"Gulp."
Seeing his gentle smile, everyone unconsciously swallowed.
Don't believe his act!!
...
In the evening, at the Kuchiki residence.
Kuchiki Ginrei, busy all day, returned home.
He stepped through the gate, his pace steady, his demeanor proper.
Young as he was, his actions were already meticulous to the point of being old-fashioned.
But in reality, it was unavoidable.
Anyone who, at just over two hundred years old, suddenly faced such a great change, with their family declining, their father and relatives from branch families all perishing at the hands of enemies, while they had to endure grief, face reality, and bow to the enemy, would undoubtedly undergo significant changes.
Father, Captain Shijō, Captain Togami...
Kuchiki Ginrei now had no one left to rely on.
Or rather, those he hoped to rely on were now all struggling to protect themselves—he had only borrowed the name of the Five Great Noble Houses to maintain a shred of dignity.
However...
Kuchiki Ginrei looked at the familiar and unfamiliar faces in his family's courtyard.
Figures, some stern, some dignified, of varying ages, walked back and forth in the originally serene and spacious courtyard, occasionally arguing or sitting aside for a game of Go, while others leaned against the pillars drinking in silence. From time to time, one could hear someone in the backyard wailing without regard for appearance, seemingly cursing that bastard Genryūsai.
"Sigh..."
Kuchiki Ginrei couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
As the 'noble' representative, facing those nobles whose titles and family names had been forcibly stripped by Genryūsai, he naturally couldn't remain completely indifferent.
Moreover, in many people's eyes, the Kuchiki family's noble status was preserved at the cost of sacrificing these numerous small and medium nobles, so there was naturally unspoken resentment.
Additionally, many small and medium nobles whose family names had been abolished looked down on the shabby residences 'allocated' by the Gotei 13.
Many of those unwilling to work hadn't eaten for days, lying on the ground unable to get up, still spouting nonsense about bloodlines and million-year traditions.