Despite the month of preparation, the Gotei Thirteen Exchange Tournant didn't feel particularly grand in scale. The setup still seed makeshift — like sothing thrown together hastily.
Were it not for the full attendance of all Captains, the event might not have carried any weight at all.
Among the crowd of regular Shinigami stood Aoki, heart pounding with nerves. He had been chosen to represent the Fourth Division in the upcoming bout. Shin's earlier instructions rang in his mind, but he wasn't sure if he could live up to them.
Then, from the center of the arena, Kotetsu Isane formally announced the beginning of the lower tier bracket.
"Who among the Divisions wishes to serve as the initial defender of the ring?"
Imdiately, several contestants stirred with excitent. If no one volunteered, lots would be drawn to decide.
Aoki grit his teeth — and stood.
The mont he rose, a ripple of surprise swept through the spectators. Even a would-be participant from the Eleventh Division sat back down reluctantly.
In the Captains' viewing stand, glances were exchanged.
Soone chuckled and said, "Captain Unohana, your squad mbers are unusually brave today."
Unohana smiled without answering. Truthfully, she hadn't been involved in setting the lineup for this exchange. Shin had handled it entirely. She rembered Aoki only vaguely — a recent graduate from the Academy, known to be close to Shin.
Being the first to take the stage ant facing the full strength of every challenger that followed. It was the harshest possible position.
Aoki felt the weight of every gaze on him, almost suffocating.
But now that he had stepped forward, there was no turning back. He strode toward the ring's center.
"I'll do it!"
No sooner had he spoken than another participant stood — a mber of the Eleventh Division. He had wanted the first match himself and clearly wasn't thrilled at being beaten to it.
Aoki cald his breathing, hand resting on the hilt of his asauchi.
Shin's instructions had been clear:
"You can lose later — but the first one? You must win."
Which ant, until the designated target took the stage, he couldn't afford to step down. He had to hold the ring.
Sure, it was just the lower tier — regular Shinigami — but Aoki, fresh out of the Academy, was still at a disadvantage. His only edge was Shin's mysterious "enhancent."
The two bowed in ritual salute. The crowd fell silent, watching with heightened interest. What could this Fourth Division newcor possibly bring to the table?
The Eleventh Division fighter struck first, blade flashing. Aoki raised his sword in defense — and was imdiately pushed back. He was overwheld from the very first clash.
Disappointnt rippled through the crowd. Within a few brief exchanges, Aoki's blade was knocked aside, and his opponent thrust toward his chest. He barely dodged — but the sword grazed under his arm.
Gasps rose from the stands... until sothing strange happened.
Aoki flinched aside, breathless, and instinctively clutched his ribs — but found his clothing perfectly intact.
Confused, he looked down. That blow should have landed.
The Eleventh Division fighter, unfazed, lunged forward again and delivered a powerful kick to Aoki's chest. He staggered several steps — but didn't feel a thing.
Not even fatigue.
Shin's words echoed again in his mind.
Aoki gripped his sword tighter — and this ti, he charged.
Though still outmatched in technique, it quickly beca apparent that his opponent couldn't harm him.
Every hit landed — but had no effect.
Aoki felt as though his stamina were limitless. After minutes of sustained combat, he finally caught his opening — bound the opponent with a low-level Bakudō, and pressed his blade to their shoulder, claiming victory.
Gasps filled the air.
He hadn't dominated. He hadn't even fought well.
But he simply... could not be brought down.
Kotetsu Isane declared the victor: "Fourth Division — Aoki. He shall remain as ring defender."
Kyōraku Shunsui leaned toward Unohana, blinking in disbelief. "Now that was unexpected."
Several Captains looked toward the ring, eyes narrowing.
"Is this guy invulnerable?" Mayuri Kurotsuchi murmured, voice scratchy and theatrical. His bizarre white mask and face-paint made him look more clown than scientist.
"How curious. Captain Unohana, may I borrow this one for so... research, soti?"
Unohana smiled politely. "I doubt he has the ti. The Fourth Division is always quite busy."
Mayuri chuckled ominously. "There's always a way."
In the ring, Aoki stood tall, renewed confidence in his gaze.
Next challenger: a mber of the Seventh Division.
Now emboldened, Aoki fought more freely, even pressing the offense. He ignored every strike thrown at him — and it worked.
Yes, Aoki was new — but an elite graduate nonetheless. Among unseated mbers, the differences in power were slim. His bizarre durability let him stand toe-to-toe with anyone.
Even Kidō cost him nothing — it wasn't draining his Reiatsu.
The second bout ended swiftly. One well-placed Kidō knocked his opponent down.
"Are we sure this guy isn't a seated officer?" asked Shiba Isshin, Captain of the Tenth.
"His technique is far too crude," Soi Fon of the Second replied flatly. "He's relying on so kind of special enhancent."
Eyes turned toward Unohana again, hoping for answers.
She simply smiled, casting a brief glance toward Shin behind her.
The Captains began to suspect the truth — the Fourth Division had co prepared.
This tournant might not go as expected after all.
Aoki held the ring.
Third match: a familiar face stepped in — Kasagarō Mitsugorō of the Sixth Division.
Only a year ahead of Aoki, Kasagarō was already on the cusp of becoming a seated officer.
Seeing him made Aoki tense again.
It's him...
"Well, well," Kasagarō smirked. "Didn't think you had this much in you. I guess hanging around him did so good."
Aoki chuckled awkwardly. "Been a while, Vice President."
Kasagarō narrowed his eyes. "How are you still standing after all those hits? Have you awakened your Zanpakutō already?"
Aoki replied, "Why don't you find out for yourself?"
Their clash erupted instantly.
Shin's final advice lingered in Aoki's mind:
"Don't win too fast. Ruin him first."
This was... personal.
Kasagarō was sharper than the previous fighters — stronger, too. He had observed Aoki's earlier matches and quickly adapted his tactics. He tried binding spells to restrain him — a smart move.
Aoki broke out in cold sweat. If caught, it could all be over.
But Kasagarō lacked the stamina to spam Kidō. After two failed attempts, he gave up.
anwhile, Aoki remained tireless.
Minutes passed, and finally, Kasagarō began to falter. Aoki grinned.
He threw a heavy punch that knocked Kasagarō to his knees — then dropped his sword and went in fists-first.
Punch after punch, kick after kick — he beat the arrogant Sixth Division man senseless.
Onlookers stared, slack-jawed.
"...Do they have so kind of grudge?" Kyōraku whispered.
Nanao flipped through her dossier. "They were both on the Student Council in the Academy. Kasagarō was Vice President."
Kyōraku shot a glance toward Byakuya Kuchiki, whose frigid scowl was already lethal. The Sixth Division Captain was not pleased.
Kasagarō was carried off for treatnt.
Aoki had won three matches — and remained in the ring.
The Fourth Division crowd roared with renewed morale.
Fourth match: Tenth Division's Hitsugaya Tōshirō.
Small, youthful, blade on his back — the contrast made him instantly recognizable.
Many whispered excitedly — the prodigy who graduated in just one year.
Aoki gave a warm smile. "Tōshirō, it's been a while."
Hitsugaya gave only a nod, then drew his Zanpakutō.
"Sit upon the frosted heavens — Hyōrinmaru!"
Aoki's smile froze — literally.
A surge of biting cold burst from Hitsugaya's blade, encasing Aoki in a pillar of ice.
A one-shot freeze. The undefeated underdog reduced to a sculpture in seconds.
Stunned silence swept the stands.
This was supposed to be a fun warm-up among unseated Shinigami.
Hitsugaya's appearance changed that instantly.
In the Vice-Captain's seat, Matsumoto Rangiku cheered gleefully: "Nice one, Tōshirō! I'll give you a reward later~!"
Hitsugaya: "..."
He sighed and turned toward Isane. "That's enough, right?"
She snapped out of her daze, nodded, and declared the victor — Hitsugaya Tōshirō, Tenth Division.
Back in the Vice-Captain's section, Kaien Shiba clutched his head in frustration.
We could've had him!
He cast a bitter look at Shin. That damned woman must've lured him into the Tenth...!
Shin felt the glare — and smiled faintly.
Aoki's job was done. Mission accomplished.
Hitsugaya's power was simply beyond comparison.
That soone like him wasn't even a seated officer yet was absurd.
As Hitsugaya wiped the floor with the remaining contestants — including Hisagi Shūhei of the Ninth — his dominance beca clear.
Shin watched as Shūhei, disheartened after his defeat, trudged off.
He worked so hard... and still can't catch up. That's gotta sting.
Hitsugaya finished the first round with eleven straight wins.
Kasagarō's injury counted as a forfeit — making it twelve.
He took the top spot for the lower bracket.
After an hour's break, round two began.
By then, many were no longer at full strength.
Aoki, thawed out and restored by Shin's Zanpakutō, was unscathed.
But Shin had withdrawn his ability from him — and Aoki was quickly defeated.
More murmurs spread — what happened to the invincible man?
By day's end, the results of the lower tier were clear.
Hitsugaya Tōshirō: First place.
Aoki: respectable middle placent, thanks to three wins.
Kasagarō: bottom of the board — twelve losses from his injuries.
In the Captains' stand, Byakuya Kuchiki sat like a marble statue, his expression cold enough to chill the sun.
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