In truth, the classrooms at the Shinō Academy weren't much different from the large lecture halls at a university.
Each class held sixty to eighty students, packed tightly together. The boys wore white-and-blue academy uniforms in traditional Japanese style, while the girls wore white-and-red uniforms.
Theoretical subjects were taught in their assigned classrooms.
Practical training, however, took place in the dojo grounds numbered 1 through 40, each one dedicated to a specific discipline.
The academy also held large joint lectures.
These took place in a massive hall similar to a university auditorium in the human world. At the very front stood a platform with four enormous blackboards, and beneath it rows of student seating.
The seats were divided into three large sections, each rising gradually from front to back. Every section could hold over eighty students.
But Fūjin Taichi had never been the type who enjoyed crowds.
On the very first day of school, he had chosen a seat in the last row by the window. That way, he could study while occasionally glancing outside to enjoy the scenery.
Right next to him sat the so-called genius boy, Fujiwara Tatsuma.
His mannerisms were somewhat carefree, even a little frivolous—but with his sharp eyes and handsome features, he carried the air of someone upright and heroic.
Sitting beside Tatsuma was the girl Taichi had met on the first day of school—the onion-haired girl, Rukia.
Like Hoko, she had no family name, which likely meant she too came from an ordinary Rukongai background.
"Alright… that's enough for today's lesson." Saitō Jūshirō closed the thick textbook in his hands and addressed the class in a loud voice.
"This week's schedule and daily timetable have already been posted on the bulletin board."
"Make sure you follow academy discipline strictly. No tardiness and no skipping class."
"Anyone who violates the rules will be expelled immediately!"
"Yes, sir!"
"And for those who haven't arranged their dormitory or meal registration, report to the General Administration Office as soon as possible."
"That's all. Class dismissed."
With that, Saitō tucked the book under his arm and walked out.
The students soon began leaving as well.
Those from Rukongai headed back to the dormitories, while those from Seireitei returned to their homes.
Everyone went their separate ways.
Taichi had already completed his housing and meal registration the day before, so he wasn't in a hurry to return to the dormitory.
Instead, he followed his memory and headed toward the academy library.
When Rukia noticed, her left eyebrow lifted slightly.
"Hey, Fūjin! Want to go to the cafeteria together?"
"No… I've got something to take care of first. I'll eat later."
By the time he finished speaking, Taichi had already disappeared down the corridor.
The rest of the students gradually filtered out as well.
Before long, the classroom was completely empty.
Only Fujiwara Tatsuma and Rukia remained.
Tatsuma glanced at her with a teasing grin.
"Rukia, you seem pretty interested in Fūjin."
"Don't tell me… you've got a crush on him?"
"N-No! Of course not!"
Rukia's face instantly turned red, and she shook her head vigorously.
"This place has such a strict hierarchy… it doesn't really feel like somewhere you can make friends."
"And besides…"
She lowered her gaze slightly.
"I just want to graduate as soon as possible."
...
Meanwhile—
After leaving Class Two, Fūjin Taichi walked through a path lined with cherry blossom trees and soon arrived at the Shinō Academy Library. He stared at the towering building before him, its grand structure reaching toward the sky.
As a Shinigami, the first step was to obtain a Zanpakutō.
The second step was to communicate with the spirit within the blade, gaining the power to release it.
Everyone knew that a Zanpakutō's form, state, and ability were all shaped by the Shinigami's own soul.
Every Shinigami had to learn the name of their Zanpakutō, then communicate with it spiritually in order to unlock its power.
This process led to the two stages known as Shikai and Bankai.
Looking across the entire story of Bleach, there was only one exception—Ichigo Kurosaki.
Every other Shinigami's Zanpakutō was forged from a blank blade known as an Asauchi.
By living with the Asauchi day and night—training with it, meditating with it, pouring their spirit into it—the Shinigami gradually imprinted the essence of their soul onto the blade.
Only then would it transform into their own Zanpakutō.
Taichi was no exception.
Even though he was a transmigrator, he was still, at his core, just an ordinary Rukongai soul.
So the only path available to him was the same as everyone else's—
temper the Asauchi until it became his own blade.
Right then, Taichi recalled something important he had learned while chatting with Fujiwara Tatsuma the night before.
About fifty years ago, something shocking had happened in Seireitei.
An incident in which eight captains and vice-captains suddenly defected from Soul Society.
However, when it came to the true story behind that incident, Fujiwara Tatsuma had only spoken vaguely. It was obvious he didn't know the real reason.
Because the matter might involve schemes by the royal and noble houses, Fūjin Taichi decided he would uncover the truth himself.
And the Shinō Academy Library was said to house a thousand years' worth of historical and literary records from Soul Society.
That was why Taichi had come here without hesitation.
During the next six years, he didn't just need the power to protect himself.
He also needed the strength to take revenge.
So…
Work hard.
Of course, anyone who had watched Bleach knew the truth behind the so-called "captain and vice-captain betrayal incident."
In reality, it was nothing more than a political purge, carried out by the great noble families using Aizen as their blade—an elaborate game meant to remove the influence of Rukongai-born Shinigami.
The Gotei 13 was one of the most vital components of the Soul Society, tasked with protecting the Seireitei and parts of the Rukongai.
Originally, however, the Gotei 13 had been founded by Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto as a ruthless assassination force.
Only later were they absorbed by the Five Great Noble Clans, becoming the military power responsible for safeguarding the Royal Guard's authority and maintaining balance between Soul Society, the Human World, and Hueco Mundo.
About 110 years before the main story of Bleach, a major incident occurred.
Eight captains and vice-captains, led by Shinji Hirako, the captain of the Fifth Division, were first ambushed by Kaname Tōsen, who at the time held the seat of Fifth Officer in the Ninth Division.
Afterward, they were used as experimental material by the Fifth Division's vice-captain, Sōsuke Aizen, in his research on Hollowfication.
Although the transformation was ultimately interrupted by the Twelfth Division captain Kisuke Urahara, the victims had already been infected with Hollow poison.
With the help of the Second Division captain Yoruichi Shihōin, they fled to the Human World.
From then on, they lived in hiding in Karakura Town, like fugitives constantly on the run.
The Gotei 13 suffered an unprecedented crisis.
Because of the so-called "dereliction and betrayal incident," many leadership positions suddenly became vacant.
The situation at the time looked like this:
Second Division
Captain Yoruichi Shihōin defected.
The captain's seat remained empty, temporarily managed by vice-captain Marenoshin Ōmaeda.
Third Division
Captain Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi defected.
Vice-Captain Chikane Iba temporarily oversaw the division.
Fifth Division
Captain Shinji Hirako defected.
Vice-Captain Sōsuke Aizen served as acting captain.
Seventh Division
Captain Love Aikawa defected.
Vice-Captain Jin'emon Kotsubaki temporarily took command.
Eighth Division
Vice-Captain Lisa Yadōmaru defected.
The Vice-Captain seat remained empty.
Ninth Division
Captain Kensei Muguruma and Vice-Captain Mashiro Kuna defected.
Both positions were vacant, temporarily overseen by Eighth Division captain Shunsui Kyōraku.
Tenth Division
Captain Shiba Kazuo died in the line of duty.
Both captain and Vice-Captain seats were empty, temporarily supervised by Thirteenth Division captain Jūshirō Ukitake.
Eleventh Division
Captain Kenpachi Kiganjō died from severe injuries, and Vice-Captain Nojiri Tarō was killed in battle.
Both positions were vacant while the new captain Kenpachi Zaraki underwent leadership training.
Twelfth Division
Captain Kisuke Urahara fled Soul Society.
Vice-Captain Hiyori Sarugaki also defected.
Command was temporarily held by Mayuri Kurotsuchi, deputy director of the Research and Development Institute.
However, after more than fifty years of restructuring and recruitment, the Gotei 13 had gradually stabilized and welcomed a new generation of officers.
The current lineup was as follows:
First Division
Captain-Commander: Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, who had led the division since the founding of the Gotei 13.
Vice-Captain: Chōjirō Sasakibe.
Second Division
Captain and Commander of the Onmitsukidō: Soi Fon, formerly a personal attendant of the Shihōin noble family.
Vice-Captain: Marechiyo Ōmaeda.
Third Division
Captain seat still vacant.
Vice-Captain Chikane Iba continued acting command.
Fourth Division
Captain: Retsu Unohana, a thousand-year veteran from the same era as the Captain-Commander—and secretly the first Kenpachi.
Vice-Captain: Isane Kotetsu.
Fifth Division
Captain: Sōsuke Aizen, celebrated as the hero who exposed the truth behind the past disaster and prevented Soul Society from falling into chaos.
Vice-Captain: the prodigy Gin Ichimaru.
Sixth Division
Captain: Byakuya Kuchiki, the 28th head of the prestigious Kuchiki Clan, widely regarded as the model noble.
Vice-Captain: Ginjirō Shirogane.
Seventh Division
Captain: Sajin Komamura, a mysterious man who wore a large metal helmet over his head.
Vice-Captain: former Eleventh Division Fourth Seat Tetsuzaemon Iba.
Eighth Division
Captain: Shunsui Kyōraku, a laid-back womanizer.
The Vice-Captain position had already been reserved for Nanao Ise.
Ninth Division
Captain: Kaname Tōsen, the only survivor from the betrayal incident fifty years earlier.
It was said he had been saved by Sōsuke Aizen when he was on the brink of death.
Because the division's senior officers had been killed or defected, Tōsen soon submitted his request for promotion and assumed command.
The Vice-Captain seat remained vacant.
Tenth Division
New captain: Isshin Shiba, the elder brother of the former captain Shiba Kazuo.
After being pushed out of the noble family's political core, he returned to shoulder the responsibility of the clan following his brother's death.
Vice-Captain: the famed "big sister" Rangiku Matsumoto.
Eleventh Division
Captain: Kenpachi Zaraki, who claimed the position by defeating the previous captain.
Vice-Captain: the tiny, ever-cheerful Yachiru Kusajishi.
Twelfth Division
Captain: Mayuri Kurotsuchi, once the most deranged prisoner confined in the Maggot's Nest.
After being recognized by Kisuke Urahara, he became deputy director of the Research Institute.
Following Urahara's escape, Mayuri created the Nemuri series of artificial Shinigami, which caught the attention of Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, earning him the captaincy.
Vice-Captain: the artificial soul Nemu Kurotsuchi.
Thirteenth Division
Captain: Jūshirō Ukitake, fellow disciple of the Captain-Commander alongside Shunsui Kyōraku.
Vice-Captain: Kaien Shiba, head of the Shiba family and son of the former Tenth Division captain.
Because Shiba Kazuo had died mysteriously inside the Tenth Division barracks, his uncle Isshin Shiba had volunteered to become captain in order to protect the family's heir.
...
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