In the outskirts, at the Thirteenth Division barracks, Kiyone Kotetsu quickly ran towards Rukia Kuchiki, who was practicing in the open space behind the barracks.
"Rukia, have you heard!" Kiyone Kotetsu excitedly looked at Rukia Kuchiki.
"What is it? Why are you so excited?" Rukia Kuchiki asked, puzzled, slowly putting down her sword. Even now, Rukia Kuchiki still hadn't gotten used to Kiyone Kotetsu's loud voice, and she couldn't help but ask with a hint of helplessness.
"A new recruit! A new recruit! We have a new recruit joining the Thirteenth Division!"
"It's just a new recruit. Why do you need to tell me specifically?" Rukia was puzzled. The Gotei 13 had new recruits joining every year. Although not many joined the Thirteenth Division, the arrival of a new recruit wasn't something worth paying attention to.
"This new recruit is different, you know." Kiyone Kotetsu continued to explain excitedly with her loud voice, "This new recruit is a genius! I heard he completed the six-year curriculum of the True Spiritual Arts Academy in only four years!"
"A genius who graduated early?"
"That's right, just like Captain Ichimaru Gin and Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya now, they both graduated early. And I heard that when he entered the True Spiritual Arts Academy, he was detected to have nearly fifth-grade reishi, which is close to Vice Captain-level reishi!"
Rukia Kuchiki's thoughts began to drift. She herself did not join the Thirteenth Division through the normal graduation exam and entrance test. When she first joined, she was troubled by rumors because of this situation. It was only through the warm guidance of the former Kaien Vice-Captain and his wife, Amamiya Miyako, that she gradually overcame her troubles.
'Speaking of which, Kaien Vice-Captain was also a genius who graduated early, but...' Rukia Kuchiki's expression still darkened. She thought of the scene where Shiba Kaien died by her sword.
"Rukia..." Kiyone Kotetsu saw her expression and knew what Rukia was thinking. Her usual loud voice also began to quiet down.
"No, I'm fine. To become a Shinigami like Kaien Vice-Captain and Senior Amamiya Miyako, I can't continue to be depressed after all this time." Rukia Kuchiki forced a smile and said to Kiyone Kotetsu, "So, what's the new recruit's name?"
"I heard his name is Amamiya Miyako, and Captain Ukitake personally attended his entrance test."
'Amamiya... Miyako?' Rukia was lost in thought again. This name once belonged to the wife of Shiba Kaien, the Shinigami she respected the most, Amamiya Miyako.
"Hey, what are you two still talking about? The Captain will be back soon!" Sentaro Kotsubaki appeared beside them and shouted loudly at Rukia Kuchiki and Kiyone Kotetsu.
"I already knew that! I know more about what Captain Ukitake went to do today than you do! You don't need to remind me!" Kiyone Kotetsu immediately retorted loudly.
"What did you say? You clearly heard the news and rushed back, and now you're boasting that you already knew?" Sentaro Kotsubaki quickly walked up and looked down at Kiyone Kotetsu.
The two glared at each other, neither willing to yield. Rukia Kuchiki could only give a dry laugh from the side. Although she knew their relationship was good, their occasional arguments over Captain Ukitake were truly a bit helpless.
"Captain Ukitake is coming back soon!" A squad member in the barracks suddenly shouted, and Sentaro Kotsubaki and Kiyone Kotetsu immediately got up and ran towards the entrance.
"It must be me who greets Captain Ukitake first!"
"No, it's me! I'll definitely be the first to appear before the Captain to greet him!"
The two argued as they ran, quickly picking up speed.
Meanwhile, Amamiya Miyako was walking behind Jūshirō Ukitake, and the two were conversing.
"Captain Ukitake, the Gotei 13's duty is to go to the Human World to purify Hollows, right? So, if I want to work in the Human World, what conditions do I need?" Amamiya Miyako asked Ukitake.
"It seems you've done your homework. That's right, the Thirteenth Division's duty is to regularly send members to the Human World to purify any appearing Hollows. Everyone is stationed in different places, and it's a difficult task in the Human World without any supplies, so we don't send Shinigami who aren't seated officers to be stationed in the Human World."
Ukitake slowly smiled. He was very satisfied with this new member. After all, Amamiya Miyako had directly stated her desire to join the Thirteenth Division upon graduation, and from what he could see, this child also had a certain understanding of the Thirteenth Division. Coupled with her outstanding talent, perhaps the Thirteenth Division's long-vacant Vice Captain position might be filled in the future.
"Seated officer... I understand. I will use this as a goal to push myself," Amamiya Miyako nodded seriously.
Ukitake hadn't originally intended to recruit members personally, but he happened to have business at the True Spiritual Arts Academy and heard that a talented student who skipped grades wanted to join the Thirteenth Division, which piqued his interest.
This reminded Ukitake of the former Shiba Kaien, who was also exceptionally gifted, which is why he decided to personally oversee the entrance examination this time. The results did not disappoint Ukitake; Amamiya Miyako's performance greatly satisfied him. The Thirteenth Division finally had another talent willing to join.
Amamiya Miyako was also making arrangements internally. If she didn't want to expose her talent, she could have just waited until she graduated as a sixth-year student, but time waits for no one. Soon after graduating as a sixth-year student, the storyline would begin, and what she learned in Soul Society might not be enough to cope with the upcoming sudden changes. Therefore, Amamiya Miyako decided to expose some of her talent and choose a way to go to the Human World for a reasonable reason, to see if she could find Ishida Ryūken in the Human World to learn Quincy abilities. The Thirteenth Division became the best place.
In the Thirteenth Division, although there was Rukia Kuchiki, a crucial character in the early stages, Rukia was just an ordinary Shinigami before the storyline began and before she went to the Human World. The division also had Ukitake, a kind Captain, and not many strange people, making it an excellent choice.
'The most urgent task is to continue training my Shinigami abilities, then strive for a seated officer position, and go to the Human World.' Amamiya Miyako graduated two years early, so she needed at least one year to go to the Human World and be stationed in Karakura Town.
Amamiya Miyako had decided that in these few years, she needed to quickly realize her talent, seize every opportunity to become stronger. Even if she survived the Aizen and Soul Society's Karakura Town battle, the future Thousand-Year Blood War would not be easy to endure. Without enough strength, she wouldn't be able to survive anywhere.
"We're here. Although it's in the suburbs, the Thirteenth Division's environment is quite good," Ukitake said to Amamiya Miyako with a smile, but then immediately started coughing, several times in a row without stopping.
"Captain Ukitake, are you alright?" Amamiya Miyako hurried forward to ask. She knew this was Ukitake's old ailment. Although Ukitake's illness had been alleviated with the help of the Soul King's Right Arm, it wasn't a cure; it was merely paused by the Soul King's Right Arm.
"I'm fine. It's an old ailment. It'll be fine in a moment and won't affect my work." After a while, Ukitake finally responded to Amamiya Miyako.
During their conversation, they had already arrived at the entrance of the Thirteenth Division. Green trees lined the gate, and the Thirteenth Division's division flower, the Snowdrop, was embroidered on the gate. Amamiya Miyako had learned beforehand that the Snowdrop symbolized hope.
'I must train well in the Thirteenth Division as well,' Amamiya Miyako thought to herself.