The Shino Academy was enormous. Its facilities were top-tier, and its systems were the most advanced in all of Soul Society.
And rightfully so. It was the cradle of Soul Society's future. Each year, it funneled a steady stream of talent into the Gotei 13. With countless noble clans watching closely, hoping to recruit loyal Soul Reapers for their own causes, it would've been strange if the academy hadn't received heavy investment and support.
Following the crowd, Nagasawa Masaru soon arrived at the grand hall where the Shino Academy's graduation and enlistment ceremony was to be held.
To be honest, it felt a lot like the graduation ceremonies from his previous life. Before the headmaster arrived, each class was kept in line by their homeroom teacher, quietly waiting for the event to begin.
However, perhaps because his outfit was just too eye-catching, the homeroom teacher of Class 7—who had been resting with her eyes closed and a benign auntie-smile on her face—suddenly turned around. She glanced at the wooden tag on his waist, then asked with gentle concern.
"Sakamoto, why are you bundled up so tightly?"
Shino instructors were usually active Soul Reapers or former officers who had retired due to injury. The fact that he had made it this far without being detected, with the teacher merely curious about his attire instead of suspicious, was proof enough that Aizen's Reiatsu-concealing techniques were truly remarkable.
Seeing the attention starting to draw interest from nearby students, Masaru raised a hand to his mouth and spoke in a deliberately weak tone.
"Cough... I think I caught a bit of a chill last night. I'm not feeling too well today... cough..."
A flicker of doubt passed through the teacher's eyes, but Masaru's explanation was convincing enough to dispel it.
Soul Society wasn't exactly peaceful, but Seireitei itself had been calm for years. Especially within the safety of the academy, this kind-looking teacher never even considered the possibility of an infiltrator. Her expression softened with concern as she continued.
"Sakamoto, I know you managed to graduate, but your results weren't great. If you don't perform well during the enlistment ceremony, you'll likely start out as a basic squad member."
Masaru blinked, then nodded in understanding.
The Shino Academy had a six-year curriculum. Except for the rare geniuses who graduated early, most students entered practical training in their final year. Those with average grades would usually be assigned to the Kidō Corps, the Onmitsukidō, or one of the Gotei 13 squads for internship.
If they didn't improve significantly during that time, they would be placed into their chosen squad after graduation as regular Soul Reapers.
However, if their performance was exceptional, they could be promoted directly into the ranks of seated officers.
Clearly, the Sakamoto Boss he was impersonating fell into the former category.
That said, there was still one chance for underperforming interns to gain a seat officer title upon graduation.
By showcasing their strength during the graduation ceremony—also known as the enlistment challenge—they could earn their place.
The teacher's worried look stemmed from concern that Sakamoto's illness might cost him this final opportunity to rise.
She was certainly a dedicated teacher, but clearly overthinking it this time.
When Masaru remained silent, she took it as despair over a bleak future. Shaking her head gently, she chose not to push the matter further.
Unfortunately, while the teacher moved on, the nearby students fully embraced their spirit of unity. Seeing "Sakamoto Boss" looking downcast, they all chimed in with words of comfort, one after another.
Masaru had no choice but to fully commit to his "I'm broken, don't talk to me" persona.
Thankfully, the captains of the Gotei 13 didn't keep them waiting long. The Shino Academy's annual graduation was a major event in Soul Society. Led by Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, all thirteen captains and their lieutenants appeared before the students.
As the twenty-six powerful figures stepped onto the stage—each one possessing spiritual power ranked Fifth-Class or higher—an invisible pressure descended upon the auditorium. They hadn't released a shred of Reiatsu, yet the sheer presence they exuded silenced the entire room of bright-eyed graduates.
"Whew..."
Finally free from all the well-meaning comfort, Masaru let out a subtle sigh of relief.
Of course, while he had slipped through for now, he wasn't naive enough to think he could fake his way into the Gotei 13 just like that.
He needed the right opportunity.
At that moment, his eyes instinctively shifted to a man standing quietly at the edge of the stage—wearing black-rimmed glasses, his face smiling innocently like a harmless scholar.
Aizen Sōsuke, one of the most iconic final bosses in anime history.
After seeing young Kuchiki Byakuya and Ichimaru Gin earlier, Masaru had already deduced the current timeline. This was around 110 years before the main storyline of Bleach, perhaps even a bit earlier.
At this point in time, Aizen had yet to complete his Hōgyoku experiment, but his wings were already growing. Even with the Peak Shinigami Experience Card activated, Masaru wouldn't dare underestimate him.
Still, his current priority was joining the Gotei 13 and repairing his shattered Shakketsu and Hakusui.
As the headmaster of Shino Academy, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni gave only a brief but motivating speech before turning the stage over to the vice-captains.
The enlistment challenge wasn't about having students duel each squad's seated officers one by one.
That would've been far too inefficient. Some might try to take advantage by only challenging the weakest 19th or 20th seat officers.
To eliminate such loopholes, the vice-captains—direct assistants to the captains—served as the official gatekeepers for the challenge.
Once Yamamoto finished speaking, a few vice-captains exchanged glances on stage. One of them, a man with slicked-back brown hair and a pompous look that screamed nouveau riche more than Soul Reaper, stepped forward.
With the Squad 2 vice-captain's badge strapped to his arm, he cracked his neck with a loud pop, then grinned boldly.
"Alright, I'll go first. Anyone who wants to challenge me for a spot and catch the captains' attention—step right up."