One week had passed since the orientation at Shin’ō Academy, and today marked a long-awaited moment for Class A-1—each student would finally receive their own Asauchi from the swordsmanship instructor.

The Asauchi—a nameless, unawakened Zanpakutō—was a masterpiece forged by none other than Ōetsu Nimaiya, one of the Five Special War Powers and a member of the Royal Guard known as the God of the Sword.

These blades were hailed as “Zanpakutō with limitless potential for growth.”

In simpler terms, an Asauchi was the foundation. Only by pouring one’s soul and conviction into the blade would it evolve into a true Zanpakutō—one unique to its wielder.

— — —

The moment the Asauchi touched Kyūjō’s palm, his consciousness was yanked into a world that was both unfamiliar… and eerily familiar.

Vehicles zoomed past on paved roads, towering skyscrapers lined the skyline, and high above, a massive commercial airliner soared through the clouds.

In the distance, a rocket on a launch pad began to ignite—counting down under the supervision of a powerful supercomputer. Flames burst beneath it, lifting the rocket steadily into the sky.

It tore through the atmosphere and vanished into the void of space.

Kyūjō’s awareness slowly drifted back to the real world.

— — —

After each student had received their Asauchi, the sword instructor—clad in a pitch-black shihakushō—spoke in a calm, almost indifferent tone.

“Don’t rush. Achieving Shikai doesn’t happen overnight.”

“If all goes well, the Asauchi in your hand will stay with you for life—until your final breath on the battlefield. Now, we’ll begin today’s sword training.”

“You’re all elite students from Class A-1. I won’t waste time reviewing the basics. Pair up. If you haven’t found a partner within one minute, I’ll assign one for you.”

As his classmates started scanning the room and pairing off, Tachibana Kyūjō simply shrugged and stood silently, making no effort to move.

Coincidentally, not far from him, Byakuya Kuchiki did the exact same thing.

But unlike Kyūjō, Byakuya had done it deliberately. He wanted to see for himself the strength of the boy who, like him, possessed a Level Four Spiritual Pressure—Tachibana Kyūjō.

A minute passed.

Glancing around, the instructor saw that most students had already partnered up, except for two figures standing like statues amidst the crowd.

The instructor let out a small chuckle and said with an amused tone, “Looks like you two know your own worth. Both Spiritual Pressure Level Four, yes? Then you’ll be the first pair to spar today. Let’s head to the training grounds.”

Without another word, he led Class A-1 toward the academy’s official sword arena.

— — —

Inside the spacious training ground, the students gathered along the perimeter, leaving the center clear for two figures—Tachibana Kyūjō and Byakuya Kuchiki.

Looking at Byakuya’s composed expression and youthful features, Kyūjō felt slightly reluctant to start the fight.

If I make that noble little face swell up like a pig… would he cry?

But before he could decide how gently to “teach” him a lesson, the young noble had already lunged forward, drawing his Asauchi.

“Bakudō #1: Sai!”

Kyūjō, reacting faster than a heartbeat, instantly cast a binding spell, locking Byakuya’s arms in place.

Then without hesitation—

“Hadō #4: Byakurai!”

Lightning-like beams of pure energy shot from Kyūjō’s fingertips, blasting toward Byakuya like piercing arrows of light.

Byakuya’s eyes narrowed.

To cast two Kidō techniques without incantation, just days after being introduced to them? That was unheard of.

Gasps erupted from the crowd, even the instructor’s expression stiffened.

Tachibana Kyūjō’s talent in Kidō… was monstrous.

To not only master low-numbered Kidō in a few days, but also cast them silently? Even among advanced students, such a feat was rare.

— — —

As the four beams of Byakurai closed in, Byakuya’s face tightened. No more holding back.

“Melt into the wind—Scatter, Senbonzakura!”

The Asauchi in his hand shimmered and dissolved into a cloud of glimmering pink petals—his Zanpakutō had reached Shikai.

At that moment, a wave of Spiritual Pressure surged from his body, rivaling that of a Lieutenant. The earlier binding spell shattered instantly.

Without pause, Byakuya blurred forward with Shunpo, his now-released blade slashing straight toward Kyūjō’s neck.

Got him, he thought.

But before the petals could touch flesh, a cold sting blossomed in his side.

A blade—Kyūjō’s Asauchi—had pierced him from an impossible angle.

Byakuya’s eyes flew open in disbelief.

When—?!

He read all of my movements…!

Before he could think of a counter, Kyūjō gently twisted the blade, stopping just before any lethal damage.

“The match is over, Byakuya Kuchiki,” Kyūjō said softly, shifting to the side.

“Is it… really?”

From the petals of Senbonzakura, hundreds of razor-sharp fragments burst out, surrounding Kyūjō in a dome of swirling death.

Yet Kyūjō only smiled as he withdrew his blade.

He whispered—

“Domain: Infinity… activate.”

In Byakuya’s eyes, Kyūjō’s form suddenly shifted—his movements became unpredictable, fluid, like a fish swimming freely in water.

The petals flew past him without touching a strand of hair.

In one blink, Kyūjō was behind Byakuya again. His sword sliced forward, aiming once more for the throat.

Startled, Byakuya leapt back, commanding his petals to attack.

But again—Kyūjō was already gone.

Appearing in front of him, already mid-swing.

— — —

They exchanged several more blows, and despite his Shikai, Byakuya could not land a single hit.

Eventually, he felt the cold press of a blade—coated in Busoshoku Haki—resting gently against his neck.

With quiet acceptance, Byakuya closed his eyes and said, “I concede.”

Clink.

Kyūjō sheathed his sword in one fluid motion.

Only then did the rest of the class and the black-robed instructor finally snap out of their daze.

Had they… really just witnessed two students achieving Shikai?

Even the instructor—Teramoto Ryūichi—was at a loss. This wasn’t just talent. This was historic.

And truthfully, with the Spiritual Pressure both students radiated, he wasn’t confident he could defeat either of them.

…How am I supposed to teach this class now?

As Teramoto stood frozen in disbelief, Kyūjō gently patted Byakuya on the shoulder, then turned and stepped down from the center of the arena.

He hadn’t expected it either—his Zanpakutō’s Shikai was called Infinity.

Even more surprising, its ability closely resembled the Perception Infinity he once wielded in another world. When activated, it massively boosted his sensory awareness.

No matter how subtly Byakuya moved or how well he hid his killing intent, Kyūjō could anticipate his every action.

But the true absurdity of Infinity lay elsewhere—

While holding the blade, Kyūjō could perceive the true name and nature of his opponent’s Zanpakutō.

With that ability alone, in a battle between Zanpakutō users of similar level, Kyūjō stood virtually invincible.

As he exited the arena, his fingers lightly brushing the hilt of his blade, a quiet thought echoed in his mind—

What kind of power will my Bankai hold, I wonder…?

His steps were calm, but his thoughts were racing.

— — —

On the very same day the swordsmanship class was held, a shocking piece of news spread like wildfire across all of Seireitei—

“A boy from Rukongai, named Tachibana Kyūjō, has awakened his Shikai and defeated Byakuya Kuchiki in a duel.”

The rumor reached even the First Division Headquarters, echoing through the meditation chamber of the Captain Commander himself—Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.

His eyes narrowed as he listened to the report, a flicker of surprise flashing across his usually stern expression.

He had just heard about the boy a few days ago. And yet, here he was again, stirring another storm.

To awaken Shikai immediately after receiving an Asauchi? That kind of phenomenon was practically unheard of in the history of the Soul Society.

And not just anyone—his opponent had been Byakuya Kuchiki, heir to the prestigious Kuchiki Clan, one of the Four Great Noble Families of Seireitei.

For nobles like the Kuchiki, Asauchi were far from rare. Yamamoto was certain Byakuya had wielded one long before this match.

But Kyūjō? A child from Rukongai?

It was highly unlikely he had ever laid hands on an Asauchi before entering the academy.

“Keep a close eye on this student—Tachibana Kyūjō of Shin’ō Academy,” Yamamoto said quietly, his hand resting on the hilt of his Zanpakutō.

“If his strength proves worthy six years from now, ask if he’d be willing to join the First Division.”

As his voice faded into the silence, a soft whisper echoed from nowhere—

“Understood, Captain.”

— — —

But it wasn’t just the Captain Commander who had taken interest in the mysterious boy from Rukongai.

One by one, captains of the Gotei 13 and even the nobles of Seireitei turned their attention to the name Tachibana Kyūjō.

Among them, two figures stood out in particular:

Captain of the Fourth Division—Retsu Unohana, and Lieutenant of the Fifth Division—Sōsuke Aizen.

Unohana, calm and ever-curious, simply wondered if this boy would one day grow strong enough to be her equal.

Aizen, on the other hand…

He was intrigued by the blade.

The Zanpakutō called “Infinity.”

What kind of ability did a sword with such a name possess?

— — —

Elsewhere, in the barracks of the Second Division, a lithe, dark-skinned woman moved with the grace of a feline. Yoruichi Shihōin walked casually beside her long-time friend, Urahara Kisuke.

“Kisuke, have you heard?” she asked, arms folded casually behind her head.

“This year’s academy batch includes a monster from Rukongai. First time touching an Asauchi, and he not only awakened Shikai—he beat Byakuya Kuchiki.”

“Hoh?” Urahara raised a brow, a small smile forming at his lips. “That does sound interesting. Do you know his Shikai’s name?”

“If I’m not mistaken… it’s called ‘Infinity,'” Yoruichi answered with an unusually serious tone.

Even just the name was enough to send shivers down the spine of anyone familiar with Zanpakutō lore.

“Infinity, huh…” Urahara repeated quietly, eyes sharpening with growing curiosity.

— — —

Six Years Later

Standing quietly in the academy courtyard he’d come to know so well, Tachibana Kyūjō gazed around with nostalgic eyes.

There was a part of him reluctant to leave.

A quiet thought crossed his mind: should he stay and become an instructor? Or finally accept the many offers extended to him by the Gotei 13?

Over the past six years, countless captains and lieutenants had tried to recruit him into their divisions. But Kyūjō had refused them all.

He hadn’t even submitted a graduation request—until today.

Why?

Simple.

The Fourth Division—home of medical care and Kaidō—had never approached him.

Also, he still hadn’t mastered the full extent of Kidō studies at the academy.

And to be honest, life here was peaceful. Much more relaxing than the chaos of running missions for the Gotei 13.

But time waits for no one.

Six years had passed in the blink of an eye. He couldn’t avoid graduation forever.

Even Captain Commander Yamamoto had begun asking when he would finally leave the academy.

Byakuya Kuchiki, the only other student with comparable Spiritual Pressure, had long since graduated and joined the Sixth Division.

But even during his years at the academy, there was one thing Byakuya never managed to accomplish—

He never once defeated Kyūjō.

In every aspect of the Shinigami’s four core arts—Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō—Kyūjō had always stood above him.

Perhaps that was why Byakuya rushed his graduation after just two years.

Who could endure such daily humiliation?

But today, Kyūjō did not expect this.

Just as he prepared to leave the academy behind—

Byakuya returned.

— — —

Dressed in his full Shinigami uniform, black and white like the calm before a storm, Byakuya Kuchiki stood directly in Kyūjō’s path.

“Join the Sixth Division,” he said, cutting straight to the point. “With your strength, I can speak to my grandfather and have you appointed as Vice-Captain immediately.”

“I know the other divisions are after you too—but none of them will offer you a Vice-Captain seat from the start.”

Byakuya paused, then added, “Unless, of course, you’re considering joining the Eleventh Division and their band of muscle-heads. You wouldn’t want that… would you?”

His eyes softened, laced with a rare flicker of hope.

Kyūjō scratched his head awkwardly. “Uhh… Byakuya, first off, thanks. And don’t worry, I’m definitely not joining Division Eleven.”

“But I’m not interested in Division Six either, let alone becoming a Vice-Captain. It just doesn’t suit me.”

“I’m more of a pacifist, you know? I don’t like violence. What I truly love… is Kaidō and Kidō.”

His voice was calm but firm, his gaze unwavering as he looked beyond Byakuya—toward the shadowed corner of the courtyard.

There, hidden in silence, stood Retsu Unohana.

Watching him.

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

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