Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Entrance Exam
8 months later.
Early in the morning, Kizuru was standing in the Shiba Clan courtyard by the front gate. His mother was not here since she had a hard time getting out of bed these days, but he had already bid her farewell.
He was waiting here for the shinigami to come and bring him to the Seireitei, where he would join the Soul Reaper Academy with dozens of other students this year.
As he was thinking of how his mother, which he had come to really care for in this life, would fare without him or his brother to keep her company, he saw a group of black-robed shinigami approaching from the distance.
With them were about ten or so students, who would be joining the academy in the same year as Kizuru. They would be his compatriots whom he would eventually enter the 13 Court Guard Squads alongside.
When the group approached the Shiba Clan courtyard, the leader of the group introduced themself.
"You are Kizuru Shiba? I am Komano Notsuyo, 7th seat of the 13th Division. I have come to guide you to the Seireitei."
"I am ready to go."
Good."
Compared to the other noble clans, the Shiba Clan was located far from the Seireitei. The group still had to pick up several students, so by the time they reached the academy, it was afternoon.
During these past 8 months, Kizuru has been training with his Shikai. Unfortunately, the power of his Shikai was not suitable to train alone, so he still did not know its true strength.
The group entered the Seireitei through the West Gate. As they were led through, Kizuru looked up at the giant man holding up the gate. He had heard about giants from stories, but this was his first time actually seeing one.
The Soul Reaper Academy was located on the south side of the Seireitei. On their way, Kizuru looked at all the shinigami walking around. Since unlocking his Shikai, he had become much more sensitive to detecting spiritual pressure. He could sense various levels of spiritual pressure from the surrounding shinigami, but they were all incomparable to the normal souls in the Rukongai.
In the distance, he could sense an extremely powerful spiritual pressure. This spiritual pressure was so strong that it was almost like a beacon in the sky, blocking out the surrounding spiritual pressures. Kizuru could only guess that this spiritual pressure belonged to a Captain of the Gotei 13.
"Kizuru!"
'Huh?"
Hearing his name being called, he looked over to see his brother Isshin running toward him.
"I knew today was the day of your entrance exam, so I waited here for you!"
Isshin looked slightly different than he did two years ago. His black hair now stood up in spikes and his muscles were more developed.
Kizuru also looked different. He also now had spiky black hair, but his hair aimed backward rather than upward. His ears still stuck out, though, causing him to look like a monkey even now.
"How are you doing, Isshin?"
Kizuru was rather happy to see Isshin. He was the only sparring partner who Kizuru could have satisfying battles with. He was excited to see if Isshin had also unlocked Shikai.
Kizuru had not told his mother or grandfather about his Shikai. He had heard of geniuses manifesting Shikai at young ages, but he thought it would be too odd for a 6-year-old to unlock Shikai out of nowhere. The Shiba Clan had seen Isshin as such a genius, but Kizuru had yet to even cast a Kido spell.
"I'm doing good. I completed the academy curriculum in 2 years and graduated successfully. I have been assigned to the 10th Division, under Captain Yushima!"
"Graduating in two years, you really are a genius. So you are an official shinigami now?"
"Yep! Good luck with the entrance exam, I know you can do it!"
"Thank you… Do you have a Shikai?"
"Huh! Oh, yes I have a Shikai. Why?"
Isshin was puzzled as to why Kizuru would ask this.
"Do you want to spar after the exam?"
"What? You don't mean-"
"Yes. I also have a Shikai!"
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When Kizuru and the rest of the students arrived at the Soul Reaper Academy, they lined up in a training yard. They were about to take the entrance test.
Standing before the group was a man with long white hair and a white shihakusho.
"Hello, students! My name is Ukitake Jushiro, Captain of the 13th Division! I will be administering your exam!"
The man had a kind expression on his face, but then his smile turned into a frown.
"I'm sorry, but students #1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 14, 16, 17, 21, 23, and 25 have failed the first test!"
"Huh?"
The students whose numbers were just called gasped in disbelief and looked around. Even Kizuru was stunned.
"Unfortunately you have inadequate spiritual pressure. Please come back next year."
The disqualified students were led away by black-robes shinigami.
The white-robed, nice-looking man continued to speak.
"I'm surprised, we have a very good batch this year! I'm impressed by your reiatsu!"
The man's smile caused his eyes to narrow, but Kizuru could feel the Captain's gaze on him. Kizuru felt an intense spiritual pressure when the man looked at him, but it was much gentler than the Wolfman Clan member, whose name he now knows is Hoshoku, was when they first met.
Looking at the Captain, he saw the Captain's gaze shift from him to another student at the end of the line.
Kizuru leaned forward to see what student the Captain was looking at, and he was absolutely stunned.
The student at the end of the line was the child he encountered several years ago when he first got his Zanpakuto. The child had narrow eyes, and silver hair, and was smiling while looking at the Captain.
The Captain then laughed,
"Hahaha, very good!' Now onto the next test!"
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Daoist_Red_Lotus
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