“Y-You’re Yoruichi!” Compared to the old steward’s shocked outburst, Tansei Shihōin was clearly much calmer, although the twitch at the corner of his mouth and his thoroughly exasperated expression told a different story.
“Who else would I be?” Yoruichi, still in her black cat form, rolled her feline eyes.
“How did you turn into a cat?” “Well, it’s just one of my Zanpakuto’s abilities!” Yoruichi casually waved a paw.
“You’ve already awakened your Zanpakuto?
Hahaha!” Tansei burst into delighted laughter.
“Wonderful!
That’s my daughter!” “Exactly!” Yoruichi thought for a moment before adding, “Oh, Father, how about an all-fish feast tonight?” “…” The smile on Tansei’s face instantly froze.
A moment later, tears streamed down his cheeks.
“My precious daughter… have you really turned into an actual cat?” Ignoring her father’s reaction, Yoruichi imagined the fish feast and happily let out two cheerful meows.
Whatever confidence Tansei had managed to recover immediately shattered again.
“Shadow, come on.
Let’s go mess with Kūkaku…” “Yes, Yoruichi!” … If there was one thing Soul Society never lacked, it was time.
The days slipped by in the blink of an eye, and another six months passed.
Just a few days earlier, Yoruichi Shihōin, Kūkaku Shiba, Kisuke Urahara, Kensei Muguruma, Lisa Yadōmaru, Hiyori Sarugaki, and Mashiro Kuna had all applied for early graduation, and every one of them passed with perfect results.
In truth, with their current strength, there was no reason for them to keep wasting time at Shin’ō Academy.
It was also worth mentioning that Yoruichi, who had always loved playing pranks, constantly transformed into a cat to mess with people.
As a result, the nickname “Cat Girl” spread throughout Soul Society.
Of course, nobody dared to say anything truly insulting about her.
At most, they complained a little.
There was nothing they could do about it.
After all, there was still someone standing behind her.
With Shadow backing her up, Yoruichi never got tired of causing trouble.
If anything, she only became bolder.
At the same time, her extraordinary Shunpo (Flash Step) and impressive Hakuda (Hand-to-Hand Combat) gradually earned her another reputation.
The name Shunshin (Flash Goddess) began spreading as well, which only encouraged Yoruichi’s increasingly outrageous behavior.
But today, the Shinigami throughout Seireitei all breathed a collective sigh of relief.
They were practically celebrating the fact that they would finally be free from Yoruichi’s torment.
There was only one reason.
Today was Shin’ō Academy’s graduation ceremony.
In other words, once today was over, Yoruichi would join the Executive Militia, and everyone else would finally be free.
Calling it a graduation ceremony was somewhat misleading.
In reality, it was the day graduating students decided the course of their futures.
Those with sufficient strength could choose a squad suited to them.
Those who were too weak to meet a squad’s requirements, or were deemed unsuitable by its captain, would have only one alternative if they still wanted to join, defeat a seated officer or someone of even higher rank from that squad.
Otherwise, they would have to find employment under a noble family as guards, servants, or something similar.
Those who excelled in a particular field also had other options, such as joining the Kidō Corps, the Executive Militia, or the Onmitsukidō.
However, their standards were extremely high, especially for the latter two.
Their requirements were even stricter than those of the Gotei 13.
And if someone was simply too mediocre in every field, there was nothing anyone could do for them.
Shin’ō Academy was even more crowded today than it had been during student enrollment.
The graduating students and their families were present, along with representatives from the great noble families, countless lesser noble houses, and captains and officers from all thirteen squads of the Gotei 13.
“Silence!” A majestic shout infused with Reiatsu (Spiritual Pressure) thundered across the plaza.
The previously noisy crowd instantly fell silent, and everyone turned toward the man standing on the main platform.
Captain of Squad 1.
Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13.
Headmaster of Shin’ō Academy.
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.
“I am Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Headmaster of Shin’ō Academy and Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13.
Throughout the long two thousand years of my life, there is one word I have always remembered and upheld.
That word is the foundation of Soul Society, and it shall also become the principle by which all of you conduct yourselves in the future!” “I hold great expectations for every single one of you, because the future of Soul Society will rest upon your shoulders!” “But no matter what paths you take in the future, no matter what you may be doing, I hope you will always keep that word engraved within your hearts!” Despite his advanced age, Yamamoto stood straight and powerful, both hands resting atop the cane that concealed his Zanpakuto.
His narrowed eyes solemnly swept across the graduating students gathered below the platform.
After a brief pause, his elderly voice still carried the fiery conviction of a young man as he forcefully declared that single word.
“JUSTICE!” Across the packed plaza, that one word alone continued to echo.
At that moment, every student seemed to feel the weight carried by such a simple word, along with the expectations placed upon them.
“Justice!” “Justice!” “Justice!” After several seconds of silence, thunderous applause and cheers erupted across the plaza like crashing waves, continuing without end.
They were voices coming straight from the heart.
A faint trace of satisfaction appeared on Yamamoto’s face.
“Today is Shin’ō Academy’s annual graduation ceremony.
Each of you will choose the squad you wish to join, but whether you possess the qualifications to enter that squad will ultimately be decided by its captain.
I am certain you are already familiar with the rules, so I will say no more.” “Now, the selection begins!” The instant the word “begins” rang out, the previously silent students erupted into conversation once more.
But now, that no longer mattered.
The thirteen squads were positioned around the perimeter of the plaza.
Each had a table in front of it displaying the squad number, its primary responsibilities, and the type of Shinigami it was looking to recruit.
Because of that, most students only needed to walk around once before identifying the squad most suitable for them.
Naturally, some had decided on their destination long before today, while others remained torn between two different squads.
Among the graduating class, Kūkaku Shiba, Kensei Muguruma, and the others who had entered the academy with exceptionally high Reiryoku (Spiritual Power), graduated early after only one year, awakened their Zanpakuto, and even learned Shikai naturally became highly sought-after recruits.
The various squad captains offered them extremely generous conditions in hopes of winning them over.
Yoruichi was the exception.
Everyone knew that as the sole heir of the Shihōin Clan, once Yoruichi mastered Bankai, she would inherit a whole series of positions from Tansei Shihōin, including Captain of Squad 2, Supreme Commander of the Executive Militia, Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukidō, and Head of the Shihōin Clan.
Setting Yoruichi aside, Kūkaku joined Squad 10, just as she had said she would before.
Kensei recognized the captain of Squad 9 as the same Shinigami who had once saved him, so he chose to join Squad 9.
Mashiro, whose relationship with Kensei was already difficult to describe, naturally followed him into the same squad.
Hiyori was very close to Squad 12 Captain Kirio Hikifune, so she rejected Shinji Hirako’s invitation and joined Squad 12 instead.
To everyone’s surprise, Lisa joined Squad 8.
Nobody knew exactly what Shunsui Kyōraku had said to convince her.
As for Kisuke Urahara, he had not even bothered showing up for the graduation ceremony.
In his own words, “I’m going to Squad 2 anyway.
Something as trivial as a graduation ceremony is just a waste of time.
I’d rather spend it researching and inventing something useful!” Yoruichi and the others could only stare in exasperated silence at that reasoning.
But regardless, after an entire day of activity, every graduating student had finally made their choice.