Sōjun Kuchiki, who had stepped in front of Masatsuki, froze, his expression stiffening.
Before his shocked eyes, a pillar of Reiatsu shot up from Masatsuki, piercing the sky.
"Boom!"
In an instant, the force of the Reiatsu pillar blasted away the dojo's ceiling, flooding the entire room with blinding light.
The sudden surge of overwhelming Reiatsu sent several students with weaker spiritual pressure flying. They crashed into the walls with a series of loud thuds.
One unfortunate student was even flung out the door—only to be caught by a man wearing black-frad glasses.
"Young man, there's such a thing as knowing your limits when practicing Zanjutsu."
"Ah... Aizen-sensei, what are you doing here?"
"I just finished my class. What's going on in there? Either way, whether it's unleashing Reiatsu or throwing students out of the dojo, this is a bit excessive..."
Aizen adjusted his glasses and turned his gaze toward the dojo.
Inside, Sōjun Kuchiki had released his own Reiatsu—captain-class spiritual pressure of Third-Class Reiatsu Rank—to forcibly suppress Masatsuki's rampaging power, preventing it from harming the other students.
Through this clash of Reiatsu, he was absolutely certain—Masatsuki's Asauchi had fully transford into a Zanpakutō. At this mont, his Reiatsu had reached the level of a Sixth-Class Rank, just a step away from breaking into the Fifth-Class.
His first thought was to be happy for his student.
But that joy was imdiately replaced by confusion.
Masatsuki Aozaki had enrolled from Rukongai. His records were clear—when he first entered Shin'ō Academy, he had only possessed a Sixteenth-Class Reiatsu Rank. Yet now, he had skyrocketed to the Sixth-Class, surpassing most Seated Officers.
Even achieving Shikai shouldn't result in such a drastic increase...
Normally, when a Shinigami awakens their Shikai, their Reiatsu rank rises by one level, or two at most if they're exceptionally gifted. But to leap ten ranks in one go? That was unheard of.
Aizen stood motionless, his fingers tightening around the fra of his glasses. His entire body seed frozen, his eyes locked onto Masatsuki Aozaki.
Unbeknownst to him, the usual gentle smile on his face had begun to distort, the corners of his mouth stretching wider and wider.
To the students watching, the ever-kind and approachable Lieutenant Aizen suddenly looked like a monstrous demon.
As a Shinigami born to commoners, Aizen had no knowledge of how to cultivate Reiryoku before entering Shin'ō Academy.
Yet, due to his unparalleled talent, he had reached the level of a top Seated Officer—Sixth-Class Reiatsu Rank—within less than half a year of beginning his training.
Even though he had concealed his true strength from others, he had always taken pride in it.
The records of the academy's most outstanding students throughout history were publicly available, and they made one fact clear—no one had ever surpassed his rate of progress.
So, while he had long acknowledged that Masatsuki was growing at an astonishing pace, his starting point had been too low.
Never, not even once, had Aizen considered the possibility that Masatsuki was a genius on his level.
At tis, Aizen had wondered if he had simply been born different from ordinary people—sothing beyond them, sothing... superior.
That thought had often left him feeling utterly alone.
For a long ti, he had subconsciously sought out soone who could stand at the sa height as him, only to be t with disappointnt, ti and ti again.
And just when he had been ready to abandon that search, fate had played a cruel joke on him.
This man... his talent is equal to mine.
Perhaps—just perhaps—he could stand beside .
Once the thought took root, it refused to leave.
For the first ti in years, Aizen found himself overwheld by a complex mix of emotions.
Even he wasn't sure what he was feeling.
This man is too dangerous. I should eliminate him as soon as possible.
No... perhaps he's just a fleeting anomaly. In a few years, he might fade into obscurity.
Why take the risk? The plan is approaching its critical stage—any potential threat must be dealt with imdiately.
A storm of conflicting thoughts raced through Aizen's mind, disrupting his normally flawless reasoning. He exhaled slowly, as if trying to steady himself.
He had always anticipated that soone like this might one day stand in his way.
Yet, strangely enough... a sense of relief washed over him.
So I'm not an anomaly. I'm not alone.
There truly is soone else who stands at my level.
And that person... is right in front of .
"Let's observe for a few more years."
Aizen took a few deep breaths, calming the excitent surging within him.
For the first ti in a long while, he felt anticipation—even though what he was looking forward to carried imnse risk.
"Aizen-sensei, are you alright?" a student asked, concern in their voice.
Aizen's eyes flickered slightly before he quickly put on his usual, practiced smile. "I'm fine, just felt a little unwell for a mont."
"Ah... I see. I was wondering why your expression looked so terrifying just now. I'm fine, but you should go check in with the Fourth Division."
"You saw everything?"
The student nodded, and Aizen smiled. "Thank you for your concern. I'll be on my way, then."
...
"Sōjun-sensei, are you alright?"
Masatsuki had finally managed to suppress his Reiatsu. He reached out, waving a hand in front of Sōjun Kuchiki's face.
"I'm fine," Sōjun replied, still staring at Masatsuki in a daze.
Learning Shikai and displaying the Reiatsu of a top Seated Officer—on his first attempt at Jinzen.
It was only the second day of his enrollnt at Shin'ō Academy, the first day of formal lessons.
This was beyond extraordinary.
Even his brother-in-law, Kōga Kuchiki—hailed as a once-in-several-centuries genius and now a Top-ranked Seated Officer the First Division's Special Forces—hadn't shown such an absurd level of talent when he first entered the academy.
For the first ti in a long while, Sōjun's eyes shone with excitent, as if he were witnessing the rise of a new star.
This child... he might one day beco a pillar of Soul Society.
His own broken body was of little use, but if he could train a Shinigami capable of protecting Soul Society, then perhaps he wouldn't have failed his father's teachings.
At that thought, Sōjun couldn't help but smile even more. But unlike his usual noble composure, this smile carried a trace of foolish delight.
Masatsuki shook his head and coughed twice, snapping Sōjun out of his thoughts.
"Sōjun-sensei, you said before that if soone infuses their soul into an Asauchi and learns its na, they will obtain their own Zanpakutō. That ans I don't have to return mine to the academy, right?"
He slid Banshō Senran into its sheath, securing it at his waist while his fingers idly traced the hilt.
As if I'd return it even if you asked.
Seeing that Masatsuki had absolutely no intention of giving the sword back, Sōjun shook his head with a helpless smile.
"Of course. It's your Zanpakutō now. But after class, you'll still need to co with to report this to the academy."
"You're the best, Sensei!" Masatsuki cheered, jumping excitedly. "Let's go now!"
Back in his previous life, when he had watched Bleach, he had always fantasized about having his own Zanpakutō.
Now that his dream had beco reality, there was no way he could stay calm about it.
"You brat... Sit down first. Class isn't over yet."
Despite his Sixth-Class Reiatsu Rank, Masatsuki was still easily pushed back into his seat by the seemingly frail Sōjun Kuchiki.
"So, a Shinigami's battle is really a battle of Reiatsu?" Masatsuki muttered, gritting his teeth. "Sensei looks weak, but he's got so serious strength."
"You sure know a lot, Aozaki-kun," Sōjun chuckled. "But don't underestimate your teacher. I may not be much of a fighter, but I'm still Third-Class in Reiatsu. You've still got plenty to learn."
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