The Shin'ō Academy was founded by the Captain-Commander of the First Division of the Gotei 13, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni.
Its core curriculum mainly focuses on Hakuda, Zanjutsu, Hohō, and Kidō.
Of course, subjects such as the history of Seireitei, classification of Hollows, Konso (Soul Burial), and Hollow-slaying training are also essential knowledge that every Shinigami must master.
In theory, the Shin'ō Academy follows a six-year education system.
This means every Shinigami student must complete six years of study, pass the graduation examination and division placement test, and only then will they be assigned to a division.
However, for geniuses, such rules exist only to be broken.
For example, Kaien Shiba completed the six-year curriculum in just two years, and upon graduating immediately joined the 13th Division as its Third Seat.
Another example is Tōshirō Hitsugaya, who graduated in about a year and a half. He also entered a division as a Third Seat, yet was already addressed by his captain as a future successor.
Then there's Gin Ichimaru, who graduated from the academy in just one year. After joining the 5th Division, he even killed the Third Seat with the tacit approval of the Vice-Captain.
...
As mentioned before, Seireitei lies at the center of Rukongai, with a stretch of empty land separating it from the nearest District 1.
To the east, west, south, and north stand four massive walls made from Sekkiseki Stone, each guarded by a hero of the Soul Society.
However, under normal circumstances, these walls are invisible, and the gatekeeper hides behind a light curtain, appearing only when souls from outside approach.
Therefore, when Fūjin Taichi, Hoko, and Kibune Makoto arrived outside Seireitei, each of them showed a different reaction.
Fūjin Taichi, as a supposed "descendant of the Royal Family," already knew about Seireitei's defensive mechanisms. So after leaving Junmai, he stopped and observed the surroundings.
Meanwhile, Hoko looked at the empty plain and asked with confusion:
"Huh? Is this really the Shōryūmon of Seireitei? Why is it so empty? There's not even a single person here."
"Yeah! I heard there's supposed to be a giant called Jidanbō Ikkanzaka here… where is he?"
Kibune Makoto shaded his eyes with one hand and looked around.
"Why not just walk forward a few steps and find out?" Fūjin Taichi casually took two or three steps forward.
Suddenly—
Boom!
Massive walls descended from the sky, blocking them outside Seireitei.
Fūjin Taichi stared at the walls that had appeared out of thin air, recalling the descriptions he had heard before.
These four walls were all built from Sekkiseki Stone, which blocks spiritual energy and emits waves that break down spiritual power.
Together they form a spherical protective barrier that protects Seireitei from the sky down to the underground. Ordinary souls with weak spiritual power cannot break through it.
"Hmm?! You little brats!"
A towering, dark-skinned giant resembling a bear suddenly appeared, holding two jet-black axes.
Looking down at them from above, he shouted:
"This is not a place for the likes of you! Leave immediately! Otherwise… my axes won't be so polite!"
In the original anime story, when Ichigo Kurosaki and his group first entered Seireitei as intruders, they were stopped by Jidanbō Ikkanzaka, the gatekeeper of the Hakutōmon.
But Fūjin Taichi and the others had already registered at the new student orientation, so each of them possessed an entry permit for Seireitei.
Without hesitation, Fūjin Taichi pulled out the permit issued by the academy and shouted upward:
"Hey! We're students of the Shin'ō Academy. Please open the gate and let us pass!"
"Oh?!"
The giant Kaiwan spoke like rolling thunder. Even that single word made Fūjin Taichi feel as if thunder were exploding beside his ears.
"S-Sir Shinigami… this is our permit. Please take a look."
Kibune Makoto nervously held up his own permit, stammering as he spoke.
He was clearly intimidated by the enormous giant in front of them.
"Hmph! I… am not a Shinigami!"
Kaiwan slowly leaned forward, lowering his huge dog-like face to the ground as he carefully inspected their permits one by one.
"But I am a thousand times stronger than ordinary Shinigami!"
Hoko, both frightened and startled, held up her permit with trembling hands.
"Y-Yes… Mr. Giant… thank you for your trouble!"
"Hmm! It seems I was rude."
After confirming their identities, Kaiwan's attitude changed completely.
He turned around and slowly lifted the Shōryūmon Gate, opening a narrow gap.
From his perspective, it was just a small crack.
But for Fūjin Taichi and the others, it was more than wide enough to pass through safely.
After thanking him, they hurried toward the Shin'ō Academy.
The Shin'ō Academy, as the highest educational institution in Soul Society, is responsible for training future members of the Kidō Corps, the Onmitsukidō (Stealth Force), and the Gotei 13.
Its curriculum focuses mainly on the four disciplines: Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō—collectively known as "Zan-Ken-Sō-Ki."
Its educational philosophy is somewhat similar to the teachings of Confucius, emphasizing "education without discrimination."
In other words, it doesn't matter whether you are a noble or a wandering soul, blind or a thug—
the gates of the Shin'ō Academy are always open to you.
However, there are several prerequisites.
First, your spiritual power must at least reach Second-Class level.
Second, during the entrance assessment held in the third month after enrollment, you must at least pass.
Finally—and most importantly—you must stay alive.
Because only the living can become Shinigami.
If you die, then you are truly gone—reduced to a pile of insignificant spirit particles that disperse into the air, forgotten and unnoticed.
In fact, while studying at the academy, Seireitei provides students with free food, lodging, and necessary security protection.
However, during vacations or when visiting family, if something unfortunate happens… then it simply happens.
After all, Seireitei has no obligation to guarantee your safety at every moment.
"Shin'ō Academy... I'm finally here!"
Fūjin Taichi stood before the academy gates, gazing at the magnificent and imposing building, feeling a surge of emotion.
As a descendant of a branch family of the royal clan, he had spent more than fifty years living in anonymity in the Hanagare District.
All for one purpose:
To one day become a Shinigami, gain powerful strength—
And then avenge his family.
"The Kazama Clan of the Royal Family…"
Fūjin Taichi silently thought to himself:
I will personally wipe out your entire clan.
"Um… excuse me…"
"Hm?"
Hearing someone speak nearby, Fūjin Taichi turned his head.
Behind him stood a short-haired girl wearing the academy's white-and-red uniform, her hair styled like an onion bun.
Beside her was a red-haired boy wearing a white-and-blue academy uniform.
His face was covered with tattoos, with large blue markings around his eyebrows and above his eyes that almost covered his entire forehead.
At first glance, he clearly looked like bad news.
"Um… are you also new students of the Shin'ō Academy?"
The short-haired girl seemed nervous when Fūjin Taichi looked at her, but she still gathered the courage to ask.
"Yes. Hello."
"Um! M-my name is Rukia Kuchiki! And he… he is—"
The girl stammered nervously, as if she suffered from serious social anxiety.
The red-haired delinquent beside her couldn't stand it anymore. He pushed her slightly aside and said loudly:
"My name is Renji Abarai! I'm from District 78 of South Rukongai—Inuzuri!"
"Hmm… My name is Taichi. Fūjin Taichi. And this is Hoko."
Fūjin Taichi nodded and introduced Hoko briefly.
Then he turned his attention back to the "Enrollment Notice" posted on the left side of the academy gate.
"Hey! Fūjin, what's with the silent treatment? You want to fight?!"
Kibune Makoto raised his eyebrows angrily and pointed at Fūjin Taichi.
But Fūjin Taichi ignored the boy's anger and calmly asked the short-haired girl instead:
"Rukia, you two are also freshmen this year?"
"Yes!"
The girl calling herself Rukia tucked her hair behind her ear and said:
"Renji and I both come from Rukongai."
"Why emphasize that so much?" Fūjin Taichi found it slightly amusing and asked: "Does becoming a Shinigami really have anything to do with where you come from?"
"Well…"
Rukia glanced around before lowering her voice.
"I heard… the class hierarchy here is very strict. Conflicts between nobles and people from Rukongai happen often."
"Oh!"
Fūjin Taichi suddenly understood.
Seeing that more and more students were arriving for the entrance test, he gestured to the others and walked to the end of the line.
Hoko followed closely behind.
Rukia also dragged Renji Abarai along with her.
Only Kibune Makoto remained standing there alone, so angry that he almost jumped three feet into the air.
"Hey—!! You bunch of clueless idiots! I haven't even told you this young master's name yet!!"
"Line up first, young master!!"
Everyone answered in unison.
"Tch!!!"
...
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