The Shin'o Academy of Spiritual Arts wasn't an institution every Rukongai resident with spiritual power could attend—it had an extremely rigorous admission test.
The most crucial part, without a doubt, was the test for spiritual aptitude.
Although Makoto had taken the admission test in the past, sitting in the office now and looking at the sea of Rukongai residents below evoked a completely different feeling.
It was as though he stood midway up a mountain, gazing down at those climbing from its base.
Seeing the nervous yet excited faces, filled with both hope and fear for the future, Makoto could deeply empathize with their emotions.
As for Byakuya, he maintained his usual haughty aristocratic expression, which seemed cold and aloof.
"Byakuya, you didn't attend the Shin'o Academy of Spiritual Arts, did you?" Makoto asked.
"Attending the academy offers me no benefit."
Byakuya spoke with calm indifference, as though stating the most ordinary of truths.
Of course, his reasoning wasn't incorrect. For minor or mid-tier noble families, attending the academy might have been necessary. But for one of the Four Great Noble Clans like the Kuchiki family, the resources available within the family far surpassed anything the academy could offer.
Zanjutsu(Swordmanship), Shunpo(Flash Steps), Kido(Demon Arts), Hakuda(Hand to Hand Combat)—even skills like ikebana, chess, calligraphy, and musical instruments—all could be learned under the tutelage of the best instructors at Byakuya's whim.
"Truly an enviable statement…"
Makoto adjusted his glasses, his eyes scanning the orderly queues of examinees undergoing the admission test.
"However, living confined within the bounds of nobility, experiencing only what's within those walls, is that not another kind of restraint?"
Byakuya's expression stiffened, and for a moment, he seemed lost in thought.
Had this come from Yoruichi, Byakuya would have assumed she was teasing him again. But coming from Makoto…
Over their recent interactions, Byakuya had discovered that Makoto's insights could sometimes pierce directly to the heart of the matter.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted in the crowd below. A powerful spiritual pressure burst forth, its intensity startling everyone present.
In some respects, it was already approaching the level of a vice-captain!
Byakuya turned his gaze toward the commotion's center, where a boy—a figure matching Makoto's earlier descriptions—stood at its heart.
Gin Ichimaru.
A prodigy, without question.
Feeling the oppressive spiritual pressure, even Byakuya's eyes took on a serious glint.
In an instant, Gin became the center of attention, the undisputed star of the entrance exam.
In every subsequent test, Gin secured first place in everything—except height.
As the academy's director personally handled Gin's enrollment, Makoto and Byakuya approached to offer their congratulations.
This scene did not go unnoticed by the director, who became even more amicable toward Gin, seeing him now as someone tied to the Kuchiki family and the Fourth Division.
This, after all, was one of Makoto's goals for the day.
Although in the original course of events, Gin had graduated early in just one unprecedented year, Makoto knew the academy harbored its fair share of corruption. This connection would shield Gin from unnecessary trouble.
More importantly, Makoto had already marked Gin as a key piece in his strategy against Aizen.
Now that Aizen had fully taken notice of him, maintaining a deliberate distance from Gin no longer served any purpose.
On the contrary, showing a friendly rapport with Gin might prompt Aizen to probe him further.
Later, under the guise of a senior, Makoto personally showed Gin around the academy before leading him to an isolated rooftop.
A breeze swept by as Gin, with his perpetually narrowed eyes and snake-like aura, stood silently behind Makoto, his expression unreadable.
When Makoto turned and gazed at Gin with a playful yet gentle look, Gin's carefully crafted facade faltered. Slowly, he lifted his half-closed eyelids, revealing the striking eyes Makoto had praised many times before.
It was a sensation as if someone had forcibly stripped him of his mask—deeply humiliating.
"That's better. If you want to avoid surgical intervention, you'll need to take better care of yourself," Makoto said warmly.
"Yes, Doctor Senju," Gin replied, a hint of reluctance in his tone.
Makoto paid no mind to Gin's unwillingness. To him, earning the trust of such a cunning and guarded individual was already a victory.
Adjusting his glasses, Makoto said, "Gin, I've looked into the matter you asked about."
Gin's demeanor shifted, his voice urgent. "Who is it?"
"Based on your description, it's likely the Fifth Division's vice-captain— Aizen Sosuke,"
Gin's eyes burned with raw hatred, his spiritual pressure coiling like a venomous snake ready to strike.
Feigning nervousness, Makoto asked, "Gin, what grudge do you hold against Aizen? Surely you didn't enroll just to… Don't be reckless! He's a vice-captain. If you've been wronged, take it to Central 46."
Gin quickly regained his composure, his face once more a cold, unreadable mask.
Looking at Makoto, who was sincerely concerned for him, Gin felt a rare warmth but dismissed it casually.
"Doctor Senju, it's nothing. He just has something of mine, and I plan to get it back."
Makoto nodded, as though relieved. "Well, if you tell me what it is, I could try asking for it back. I don't know Aizen personally, but I can try."
Gin was momentarily moved, but the memory of the slain Rangiku Matsumoto and Makoto's previous injuries stopped him.
This wasn't something he could involve Makoto in.
That man—Aizen Sosuke—was far too dangerous.
===================
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The previous attack by an Adjuchas was something Gin was absolutely certain had been orchestrated by none other than Aizen.
Gin had witnessed it with his own eyes: Aizen had personally taken a portion of Rangiku Matsumoto's soul. This was far from what the subsequent investigations in the Seireitei had concluded, which had pinned the blame solely on the Adjuchas.
However, Gin did not share his suspicions with any of the other Shinigami.
In the vast expanse of the Seireitei, the only person Gin truly trusted after narrowly escaping death in the Adjuchas attack was Makoto.
When Gin declined his proposal, Makoto couldn't help but show a hint of disappointment. Shaking his head slightly, he said with a trace of helplessness, "Fine, suit yourself. After all, you're a prodigy. Who knows? You might quickly rise to the rank of Seated Officer or even Vice-Captain. That's better than someone like me, just an ordinary member of Fourth Division. When that time comes, you can ask Vice-Captain Aizen yourself."
"Mm," Gin replied with a twinge of guilt, though he kept his face impassive.
Asking Makoto to investigate Aizen was already pushing the limits of what Gin was willing to request. Beyond that, Gin could not bear to drag Makoto into deeper danger.
"Oh, right. To celebrate your admission into the Shin'ō Academy, I've got a gift for you."
With that, Makoto took out a black woven bracelet and handed it to Gin.
"What's this?" Gin asked.
"A simple bracelet I wove from my hair," Makoto explained with a cheerful smile. "In my hometown, it symbolizes a wish for safety and health. I hope you'll like it."
Makoto gently fastened the bracelet around Gin's wrist.
"Th-thank you…" Gin stammered, lightly brushing the bracelet with his fingers. The simple item stirred a warmth in his heart, causing his face to flush slightly. He wasn't used to this kind of gesture.
"It's nothing valuable, so I hope you won't dislike it," Makoto said kindly, his smile soft.
"Of course not. I'll wear it always," Gin said earnestly.
"If you run into trouble at the Shin'ō Academy, you can send me a message. I'm in Fourth Division," Makoto added gently. He gave Gin's head a firm ruffle before vanishing with a swift Shunpo.
Gin stood rooted in place, staring in the direction Makoto had left. His fingers occasionally brushed the bracelet, a newfound sense of warmth and peace blooming within him.
For Gin, this was the second precious gift he had ever received in his life. The first had been a batch of dried persimmons from Rangiku.
In the past, Gin had instinctively resisted whenever Makoto ruffled his hair. But this time, Gin felt an inexplicable warmth, even a hint of disappointment and longing when Makoto's hand withdrew.
"Makoto… I'm sorry, but I must retrieve what was taken from Rangiku with my own hands…"
Gin murmured to himself, unaware that his words, through the bracelet, had been heard clearly by Makoto.
Makoto, of course, hadn't lied to Gin about the bracelet. It was indeed woven from his own hair. But it was no ordinary hair.
The hair Makoto used came from parts of his body that had undergone "Perfect Spirit Body" transformation, an intensive process that had taken him three months and all his spiritual pressure to complete.
This transformation rendered his spirit body nearly impervious to attacks, even from beings as powerful as an Adjuchas. It was akin to a lower-dimensional being being unable to affect a higher-dimensional one.
Furthermore, body parts subjected to this transformation remained fully connected to Makoto's soul and will, even when separated from his body. This peculiar trait allowed him to monitor and protect Gin from a distance while simultaneously keeping tabs on Aizen.
---
Before long, news of a once-in-a-lifetime genius passing the entrance exams for the Shin'ō Academy spread throughout the Seireitei.
This prodigy, Gin Ichimaru, who is on possession of spiritual pressure nearing the level of a Vice-Captain, had already unlocked the initial release of his Zanpakutō, and was, astonishingly, still of an age where he should have been visiting the pediatric wing for medical treatment.
The astonishment and envy among the Shinigami were palpable, with many feeling as though their own achievements had been utterly overshadowed.
Adding credibility to the buzz were accounts from Makoto and Byakuya, the latter being the heir of the prestigious Kuchiki family.
---
"Ah, what a remarkable genius," said Shinji Hirako, propping his chin on his hand in the Fifth Division captain's quarters. With a mischievous grin, he turned to his Vice-Captain, Aizen.
"Aizen, what do you think about recruiting this genius to our squad? Groom him a bit, and he is as good as a Vice-Captain someday."
Aizen's expression remained calm and polite as he replied, "Indeed, Captain. Such a talent could certainly be cultivated to fulfill many responsibilities."
He gathered a stack of documents and began heading towards the door.
"Don't tell me you're upset by my teasing, Aizen," Shinji called after him. "You wouldn't be that petty, would you?"
"Of course not," Aizen replied without breaking stride. "I'm genuinely pleased to see more geniuses emerging in the Seireitei."
As Shinji watched him leave, he missed the subtle, enigmatic smile that crossed Aizen's face. Quietly, Aizen mouthed a name to himself:
"Senju Makoto..."
====================
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