"Yachiru calls you Ken, so I'll call you Ken too. You're Ken from the Zaraki district, so let's call you Zaraki Ken."
Sora officially took the future Kenpachi Zaraki as his disciple.
But since he wasn't Kenpachi yet, he couldn't call him Kenpachi Zaraki.
"Whatever. I'll take the name Kenpachi eventually anyway."
Zaraki Ken twitched his lips. He didn't mind when Yachiru called him that, but when others did, it made him feel like a small fry.
However, since he wasn't Kenpachi yet, he could only accept this name.
"Master, are you going to take us to the Seireitei?"
Yachiru Kusajishi followed Zaraki Ken's lead and called Sora 'Master'.
"Ken just lost to me, and you still want me to be your guide? Practice swordsmanship with me for a few years first!"
Sora rubbed Yachiru Kusajishi's pink head.
Although Yachiru Kusajishi was the Bankai of this rough man, Zaraki Ken, her cuteness was undeniable.
"I'm taking you to the dojo now. Besides practicing swordsmanship with me, I plan to send you to the Spiritual Arts Academy for a while."
Currently, Zaraki Ken and Yachiru Kusajishi were essentially illiterate. Sora planned to arrange for them to take some general education classes at the Academy.
The main focus was for Yachiru Kusajishi to learn. She could be considered Zaraki Ken's external brain; if she learned it, it was as good as him learning it.
"Why do we have to learn other things besides swordsmanship?"
Zaraki Ken didn't really want to go. In his worldview, as long as you had a sword, you could cut people. Why make it so troublesome?
"I want to go!"
Yachiru Kusajishi raised her hand. She had a lot of curiosity about new things.
"So troublesome!"
Zaraki Ken twitched his lips. Seeing that Yachiru Kusajishi was looking forward to going to the Academy, he didn't refuse again.
Although he didn't know yet that Yachiru was his Bankai, they had wandered the Rukongai together for many years and cared deeply about each other.
...
A few days later.
Many people gathered at the Shin'ō Academy. Shinigami were even there to maintain order.
Today was the day of the Academy's entrance exam. Many people from the Rukongai had come to take the test.
"Sixth Class Spiritual Power!"
A voice as loud as thunder exploded in people's ears.
After a brief silence, the crowd erupted into noise.
"Sixth Class Spiritual Power!!!"
"Did I hear that right? Sixth Class?"
"How can there be a freshman with Sixth Class Spiritual Power!"
"Did I come to the wrong place? Isn't this the Academy entrance test?"
The crowd was buzzing with excitement.
This was just the Academy entrance test, not a seated officer assessment for the Gotei 13!
Many lower-seated officers barely reached the level of Sixth Class Spiritual Power!
Yet, such terrifying Spiritual Pressure appeared in a new student.
"I should pass, right?"
Kaien Shiba looked calm as he placed his right hand on the semi-transparent crystal ball.
This was a Spiritual Pressure testing crystal developed by the Department of Research and Development.
As long as one injected their Spiritual Pressure into it, the crystal ball would change color to show the intensity of the Spiritual Pressure.
At this moment, the crystal ball turned deep purple. This meant that Kaien Shiba's Spiritual Pressure was only one step away from Fifth Class Spiritual Power!
It was important to note that the difference between Sixth Class and Fifth Class was the difference between a seated officer and a Lieutenant!
This meant that Kaien Shiba would likely be qualified to serve as a Lieutenant as soon as he graduated.
Riko Shirai, who was sitting behind the long table, couldn't hide her shock behind her calm face. She was so excited she even stood up.
This was a genius!
"Of course. If you don't pass, then no one else can."
Riko Shirai laughed loudly.
"However, with your strength, there's no need to waste time in the lower grades. Go take the grading test later. After the test, we will decide which grade you go to based on your performance."
"Okay."
Kaien Shiba nodded and calmly withdrew his hand from the crystal ball.
"The test will be in the form of an arena defense. You are the freshman with the best Spiritual Pressure test, so do you mind being the Arena Master?
"Don't worry about fighting multiple opponents. The result of the grading test isn't determined by winning or losing. Our assessment teachers will score you based on your performance."
Riko Shirai was a patient teacher, and she had even more patience for a genius student like Kaien Shiba.
"Okay."
"Then go wait over there. Once the Spiritual Pressure testing is done, the grading test will begin."
The freshmen in the waiting area had also heard Kaien Shiba's test results and were discussing it spiritedly.
"Is that the genius of the Shiba clan?"
"That's amazing... That's Sixth Class Spiritual Power!"
"There's no way to beat him. Sigh, no hope of getting first place."
Kaien Shiba walked calmly to the waiting area, ignoring the others. He found a relatively quiet corner to close his eyes and rest.
With his strength, passing this kind of test was a piece of cake. He didn't take it to heart at all.
If Captain Katori hadn't said that he would accept him as a disciple only if he took first place in the test, he probably wouldn't have wanted to come here.
"Next."
Riko Shirai regained her composure and continued calling the students behind for the Spiritual Pressure test.
"Put your hand on the crystal ball and inject Spiritual Pressure."
Riko Shirai took a new form. When she looked up and saw the little girl on the spiky-haired youth's shoulder, she paused slightly.
"Uh... you can't bring family members to school at the Academy!"
Riko Shirai reminded them kindly.
"I'm a registered freshman too!"
Yachiru Kusajishi raised her hand.
"You're a freshman too?" Riko Shirai looked at Yachiru Kusajishi, who was shorter than her, and didn't quite believe it.
"What's your name? Let me check if it's on the registration list."
The Academy counted the number of applicants in advance to decide if an entrance test was necessary.
Not everyone had Reishi aptitude. Sometimes, they couldn't even gather enough people in a year.
So, the Academy entrance test would only be held after the number of applicants reached a certain amount.
"He is Zaraki Ken, and I am Yachiru Kusajishi!"
"Hmm... it's actually there. Then come and test. I'm not trying to make things hard for you, but these testing crystals are consumables with a usage limit.
"If people who didn't sign up came to test, we wouldn't have enough crystals."
Riko Shirai explained, "Put your hand on the testing crystal."
Yachiru Kusajishi followed the instructions and placed her hand on the testing crystal.
The testing crystal emitted a faint white light.
"Twentieth Class Spiritual Power."
Just as Riko Shirai was about to record Yachiru Kusajishi's Spiritual Pressure data, she saw the crystal turn green, and then blue.
"Huh? Is it broken? Was Kaien Shiba's Spiritual Pressure too strong?"
Riko Shirai didn't think much of it. These testing crystals were test products from the Department of Research and Development, so it wasn't strange for them to break easily.
She swapped in a new testing crystal and let Yachiru Kusajishi continue the test.
A moment later, the testing crystal emitted a faint white light.
-----------------
On Patreon—the complete version is available.
https://www.patreon.com/cw/LIZBETH1242
Also, check my profile to read the other Bleach novels I've started publishing—go give them a read!