The massive, enclosed training chamber fell into a heavy silence. Every gaze instinctively locked onto Shiba Kuroba.
It was hard to ignore the sheer chaos he had brought with him—on the very first day of enrollment at the Shin'ō Academy, no less.
To have single-handedly "invited" the presence of multiple captains, including Aizen Sōsuke and Zaraki Kenpachi, due to his reckless behavior… such notoriety was unprecedented.
Most present had only one thought: Stay far away from him.
If he went on another rampage, being cut down on a whim would be a nightmare none wanted to live through.
And yet, curiosity burned in everyone's eyes.
Why had Shiba Kuroba—descendant of a once-noble family—gotten drunk and caused a disturbance so violent it nearly tore apart the training hall?
Would he be expelled from the Shin'ō Academy?
Or worse—summoned before the Central 46 Chambers for trial?
Amid the tense silence, Aoi Dai, face bloodied and clothes torn, staggered to his feet and howled pitifully:
"Captains, please—you must help me! Shiba Kuroba not only got drunk and rampaged inside the narrow room, he also deliberately tried to kill me! He even admitted to causing these injuries!"
"If I hadn't been quick on my feet, I'd be dead!"
The moment he claimed agility saved his life, a few of the surrounding students couldn't suppress mocking snorts.
Everyone had seen it—if Zaraki Kenpachi hadn't casually yanked Aoi's head down at the last moment, the man would've been neatly split in half.
But now, Aoi spun the story in his favor with an astonishing lack of shame.
"Captain Aizen," Boa Akagao added quickly, "Aoi Dai speaks the truth. We all witnessed Shiba Kuroba use underhanded tactics during the competition for Zanpakutōs. His drunken rampage is an embarrassment to the Shin'ō Academy. If word of this gets out, the Academy's reputation—and yours, Captain Aizen—will be tarnished!"
Despite her disgust at Aoi Dai's shameless exaggeration, Boa knew they were now on the same sinking ship.
If they didn't push back against Kuroba's dominance, they'd be buried by it.
"Captain Aizen," she pressed, feigning righteousness, "as the chief examiner, we beg you to uphold justice!"
"Please, do justice for us!" Aoi Dai echoed, emboldened by her words.
A handful of students who had failed to claim a Zanpakutō chimed in supportively, latching onto the opportunity to shift blame and avoid accountability.
The atmosphere turned increasingly oppressive.
Yet those who had already acquired their Zanpakutōs remained silent. They had no desire to provoke Kuroba again—especially not after witnessing how effortlessly he had incapacitated a dozen candidates in mere moments.
Then—
"What, you want me to cut you down again?"
Kuroba's drawl cut through the tension like a blade.
Slurred slightly, soaked with alcohol, and yet… menacingly clear.
He raised a hand and casually reached for the Zanpakutō at his waist.
The pressure in the room shifted instantly.
It was as if the air turned to lead.
The aura he exuded—dense, predatory, violent—seeped into the bones of everyone present. It was unmistakably killing intent.
Hitsugaya Tōshirō, standing nearby, narrowed his eyes.
He hadn't forgotten how Kuroba's earlier strike had nearly humiliated him in front of the other captains.
And now… here it was again: that same pressure, coiling around Kuroba like a beast.
"No, no—please, don't kill me!" Aoi Dai suddenly screamed.
Everyone turned as Aoi dropped to his knees with a thud, crawling backward and wailing:
"I was wrong! It's all my fault! Please don't kill me, big brother—I mean, father! Kuroba-dono! Kuroba-sama! Please spare me!"
The pathetic groveling shattered the tension in the room.
Many students blinked in stunned disbelief.
How soft was this guy's spine?
Yet one person's expression didn't change: Zaraki Kenpachi.
He stared at Kuroba, licking his cracked lips like a wolf scenting prey. The glint in his eyes was pure battle-lust.
So that's what you've got inside you, brat… interesting.
In that moment, Kenpachi silently acknowledged Kuroba as a warrior.
One worthy of a future fight.
"I'll cut," Kuroba muttered darkly.
The entire room froze.
Then—
"AAAAHHH!!!"
A warm liquid trickled down Aoi's leg, and a foul stench began to spread with the breeze, causing the nearby students to instinctively recoil.
At the same time, Shiba Kuroba let out a groggy snort and collapsed backward onto the floor.
This wasn't because Hitsugaya Toushirou had struck him down out of anger or self-defense. No—Kuroba hadn't even unsheathed his Zanpakutō. He simply drank too much and passed out where he stood.
The room fell into stunned silence, broken only by the steady, obnoxious sound of snoring.
"Ugh… no way—did Aoi-sama seriously pee himself?"
"You went too far, Kuroba. Just muttering the word 'slash' made everyone lose it!"
"Seriously! My knees gave out. If Aoi hadn't screamed, I might've embarrassed myself too!"
The wave of shocked murmurs quickly turned into chaotic chatter. Everyone turned to stare at Kuroba's unconscious body sprawled across the ground, completely unbothered by the mess he'd caused.
The captains gathered looked visibly displeased.
Having so many high-ranking officers present should have been enough to prevent any kind of disturbance. But here it was: a full-blown incident. A noble heir had suffered public disgrace. Another had passed out drunk in front of captains. And one student—was possibly traumatized for life.
If they hadn't witnessed it firsthand, none of them would have believed it.
"...This guy reeks," Kusaka Hachigen muttered, leaning away and pinching his nose as he addressed Zaraki Kenpachi. "Let's move. But honestly, that spiritual pressure Kuroba flared up with just now… I thought I saw a Shura. Pure bloodlust."
He paused, thoughtful. "So, what happens now? The guy scared a noble half to death. What punishment does that even carry?"
All eyes turned to Aizen Sōsuke.
As the proctor overseeing this year's Shin'ō Academy entrance exam, it was his responsibility to issue disciplinary action.
Hinamori Momo stepped forward, speaking crisply and by the book.
"According to Shin'ō Academy regulations, any student who incites large-scale disorder, causes harm to others, or threatens the safety of those in the Academy is subject to expulsion and referral to the Central 46. In severe cases, the individual may be sentenced to indefinite confinement in the Muken."
She paused, casting a cold glance at Kuroba's sleeping form.
"Given the number of captain-level witnesses and the disturbance caused, Shiba Kuroba's actions may fall under those criteria."
Though Hinamori was normally seen as loyal and gentle, her tone today held a rare edge—one sharpened by her lingering resentment.
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