"Everyone, please line up here and proceed in order for the assessment of Sword, Fist, Step, and Kidō! "
A bespectacled man, looking every bit the scholarly professor and wearing a haori, led a group of Shin'ō Academy instructors in administering the tests one by one.
"Phew~"
Yūshirō Shihōin sat sulking on a bench, messy curls bouncing as he scowled while watching the other students being tested. After taking a weakened Shakkahō from the Old Man Head-Captain head-on—with his face no less—Yūshirō's hair had been blown into a stylish look that seemed better suited for some sleazy adult film lead.
"Please don't be upset, Lord Yūshirō."
Suzushiro Aya, sitting beside him, tried to soothe him with a soft voice.
"I'm not upset! "
Yūshirō snapped back with his same sulky face.
"Head-Captain Yamamoto only means well for you! "
Aya struggled to find the right words. She could only recall what her mother once told her when she used to cry from her father's harsh training.
"That old fossil doing something for my sake? Yeah, right."
"If it weren't for him being Head-Captain—and with so many people around—I'd have already smacked him around! "
Yūshirō waved his arm around with an air of bravado.
"Yes, yes, I know! Lord Yūshirō, you're unbeatable, the strongest under heaven! "
Aya sighed inwardly. The boy beside her was less like a noble heir and more like a stubborn child—and she had the misfortune of being assigned as the babysitter by Yoruichi herself.
"The next student to be tested… Shihōin Yūshirō."
"Student Shihōin Yūshirō, please come forward for your placement exam! "
A teacher in shihakushō looked around, calling loudly.
"Lord Yūshirō, it's your turn now."
Aya quickly reminded him.
"Not going."
Yūshirō answered without hesitation.
"But Lord Yūshirō, since you're already here, why not give it a try? No matter the result, there's nothing to lose, right? "
Aya leaned in, whispering persuasively into his ear.
"…You've got a point. Fine then! I'll show off a bit; let everyone here know what true invincibility looks like! "
With her words sinking in, Yūshirō stood tall and declared boldly.
"That guy's pretty full of himself, huh? "
His loud voice drew frowns from the gathered students.
"Wasn't he the one the Head-Captain dragged in this morning…? "
"Must be some noble's spoiled brat."
"Wait, the examiner said his name was Shihōin Yūshirō… Shihōin, as in one of the Five Great Noble Houses? "
The waiting students folded their arms, eyes fixed on him as he swaggered toward the examiners. They were curious to see the strength of the boy who'd already made a name for himself on day one—the only student in history personally escorted by the Head-Captain.
"Sword, Fist, Step, Kidō. 'Sword' is kenjutsu, 'Fist' is hakuda, 'Step' is shunpo, and 'Kidō' is demon arts. These four are the Shinigami's essential skills, the foundation of our craft. I wonder, young master of the Shihōin house—are you prepared for our test? "
Although the examiner was just a Shin'ō Academy teacher, the customs of Soul Society demanded utmost respect toward members of the noble families.
"I'm perfectly fine."
Yūshirō nodded lightly, showing he was ready.
"Excellent. First test, Sword! Please draw your asauchi."
The teacher's eyes lit with expectation.
"It's time."
"The true strength of a noble heir! "
"Let's see how much these pampered brats are really worth! "
Students from Rukongai watched keenly, eager to compare themselves to noble blood.
"A child of the Shihōin clan, huh…"
"The last Shihōin to graduate here was a genius among geniuses! "
The acting headmaster of Shin'ō Academy leaned forward with interest. He still remembered the brilliance of Shihōin Yoruichi, who had graduated a century earlier. Surely this boy, also of the Shihōin line, wouldn't fall short. After all, he'd seen Yūshirō take Yamamoto Genryūsai's Shakkahō to the face without a scratch. As far as spiritual bodies went, Ninomaru Gorō was willing to call him the strongest.
"…" Under the weight of everyone's gaze, Yūshirō frowned and muttered to the examiner:
"Uh… I don't have an asauchi."
"…What?"
"…Come again? "
The students froze, completely caught off guard.
"Is he joking? "
Gorō nearly slipped off the viewing platform. How could a Shihōin say something like that? Forgot to bring it? Or…?
"Bring a new asauchi! "
The examiner quickly ordered.
"Yes, sir! "
Soon, a pristine asauchi was handed over.
"Here you are."
The examiner personally passed it to Yūshirō.
"Ah—not what I meant. I mean, I can't use one. It'll just break."
The moment he gripped it, his overflowing spiritual pressure surged uncontrollably into the blade. Before it could even resonate with him, the asauchi gave a loud crack and snapped in two.
"Ah…"
"That's… a first."
"Well then, let's move on to Hakuda! If you can last ten rounds against our instructor, you'll qualify for an A-rank."
The examiner pointed to the ring, where a Hakuda teacher was already waiting.
"No good. He'll die. I might not be able to hold back and scatter his soul with one punch. If you want to test my Hakuda, better bring a captain."
Yūshirō squinted at the teacher in the ring and shook his head. He had no intention of killing anyone.
"…Very well, let's try Kidō instead! "
Wiping cold sweat from his forehead, the examiner forced a smile and led Yūshirō to the training range, where students were busy firing spells at targets.
"Hadō #4 Byakurai! "
"Hadō #12 Fushibi! "
The air crackled with chants.
"Your strongest Kidō, if you please," the examiner said.
"…You sure about that? "
Yūshirō frowned. If he used his strongest Kidō, this entire place would be blown apart.
"Absolutely. Don't worry, this facility is perfectly designed—no matter how strong, it won't take a scratch! "
The examiner sealed off any excuse in advance.
"My full power, huh? Have you ever even seen it? "
Yūshirō narrowed his eyes, his words leaving the examiner stiff and speechless.
"Fine then. Since you're so insistent, I'll give you a little taste. You did say "strongest," right? "
"Please, show us everything! "
The teacher nodded firmly.
"Alright."
"Hands countless, unreachable darkness, bow of heaven unseen, path of radiant light, winds that kindle the flame—gather, without doubt, by my command! Light Bombs: Eight Bodies, Nine Strands, Heavenly Sutra, Swift Treasure, Great Wheel! O gray turrets, draw your bows to the distance and scatter to purity…"
As Yūshirō's incantation rose, so too did his crushing spiritual pressure, freezing the examiner's smile in place.
"Hadō #91: Senju Kōten Taihō! "
But instead of aiming at the targets, Yūshirō fired straight into the ceiling.
BOOM!
The entire roof exploded, revealing Soul Society's bright blue sky overhead.
"Told you your 'perfect' training grounds weren't sturdy. Good thing I didn't use Goryū Tenmetsu."
Yūshirō looked up at the open sky with a dazzling smile.
"Ah…"
The examiner stared, dumbstruck, at the one-hectare-wide ceiling that had just vanished into nothing.