Bleach: The Template System Chose Me, The Forgotten Kuchiki

Upon returning to the barracks of the 10th Division, Matsumoto Rangiku—assigned as instructor for the recent soul burial internship in the Human World—immediately compiled a comprehensive mission report. It detailed the unforeseen hollow activity in the Dangai, the emergence of Adjuchas-class Menos Grande within the World of the Living, and the participation of Spiritual Arts Academy trainee Kuchiki Shiraha, whose direct confrontation with the Adjuchas had proven decisive.

With due diligence, she submitted the incident to her captain, Hitsugaya Tōshirō, who reviewed the contents with his usual sharp focus. Realizing the severity of both events—the anomaly within the Dangai and the presence of high-level Menos Grande on Earth—Hitsugaya promptly passed the matter on to the Head Captain, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni.

The moment the old commander read the report, his expression turned grave. The anomaly posed not only a threat to the balance between realms but suggested interference beyond the threshold of normal hollow migration. He immediately commissioned the 12th Division to conduct a thorough investigation. The assignment fell to Kurotsuchi Mayuri, the division's captain, whose curiosity sharpened the instant he read Shiraha's name—particularly the line that stated the young man had slain an Adjuchas-class hollow in a single attack.

Kurotsuchi, already aware that Shiraha had broken the academy's spiritual power evaluation records just a month prior, now found himself increasingly intrigued. He directed his squad to trace the reiryoku residue left behind by the hollow attack and investigate any abnormalities in the Dangai flow. Under normal circumstances, the hollows that breach into the Human World are low-grade Gillians at best, often lured by unstable spiritual activity or improperly buried souls. But an Adjuchas—intelligent, strategic, and capable of evolving into a Vasto Lorde—should never have crossed the boundary unaided, especially not with a reiatsu capable of rivaling a seated officer.

As word of Shiraha's return spread, the Spiritual Arts Academy buzzed with excitement and disbelief.

"Did you hear?" one student whispered near the dorms, eyes wide with awe. "Kuchiki Shiraha—he finished the soul burial internship today."

"I heard he's already begun the graduation assessment," another added breathlessly. "If he passes, he'll break the record for the fastest graduation in Academy history."

"Only Ichimaru Gin and Hitsugaya Tōshirō managed early graduation," a third pointed out, "and even they weren't this fast."

"They say Shiraha killed a Menos Grande. Not just any Menos—a real Adjuchas," someone else muttered, almost reverently.

In a single month, Shiraha had accomplished feats most couldn't dream of in six years. He was no longer simply a prodigy—he was something else entirely.

…

Escorted by a silent member of the Stealth Force, Shiraha arrived at the central training field of the Academy. This particular field, recently constructed during his internship period, was built specifically for his graduation assessment. Its size dwarfed the average practice dojo by several magnitudes, spanning a space large enough to accommodate three or four simultaneous combat drills with ample room for movement and surveillance.

For a typical Academy student, graduation required only approval in Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō, along with a completed Konsō internship. But Shiraha was not a standard case. Applying for early graduation meant he was held to stricter standards—one last tailored examination, crafted by the Academy elders and Gotei 13 observers, to determine whether his abilities warranted bypassing the usual curriculum.

Upon stepping into the arena, Shiraha extended his spiritual senses, blending Observation Haki with traditional reiatsu perception. The field was enormous, easily three times the size of the standard Shihakushō combat rings, and on the elevated platform at the far end, five seats had been arranged. Four were already occupied—three by elder instructors from the Academy, and the fourth by Chōjirō Sasakibe, Vice-Captain of the 1st Division, Yamamoto Genryūsai's direct subordinate and personal aide for over two thousand years.

Given how few had ever applied for early graduation—only Ichimaru Gin and Hitsugaya Tōshirō in the last few centuries—Seireitei had taken the matter seriously. For this reason, Sasakibe himself had been dispatched as the primary Gotei representative, reflecting the significance of Shiraha's evaluation.

The seat at the center, conspicuously empty, hinted that the final examiner had not yet arrived.

"Please wait a moment, Kuchiki Shiraha," Sasakibe said formally from his seat. "The final examiner has not yet arrived."

Shiraha nodded without a word, showing neither impatience nor curiosity, his composure as calm as the still air. He could guess what was coming next. Given the weight behind the assembled audience, the test would likely center on actual combat—the truest gauge of a Shinigami's worth—and probably involve advanced-level Hakuda and Hohō, followed by situational evaluations of his tactical discipline.

A moment later, reiryoku stirred at the center platform, and with a flicker of silver light, the last seat was filled.

"Apologies for the wait," Ichimaru Gin said with a grin, folding his hands neatly as he settled in. "I didn't mean to keep everyone in suspense."

As the Captain of the 3rd Division, and one of the only two men to have graduated early in recent memory, Ichimaru Gin's presence solidified just how unprecedented this assessment truly was. A student graduating early was expected to become an officer the moment they donned their division's haori. Only a captain could properly weigh such potential.

"Captain Ichimaru," the Academy elders greeted with polite bows.

Sasakibe nodded formally as well. "Captain."

Ichimaru's fox-like smile widened. He leaned forward slightly, his slitted eyes fixed on the young man below. "Well now, Shiraha-kun. Long time no see. I wasn't expecting to see you on the graduation floor so soon. You're quite the frightening child, aren't you?"

He remembered sparring with Shiraha not long ago. At the time, the boy had barely reached vice-captain level. Ichimaru had wondered if he'd follow in his footsteps, perhaps graduate early within a year. But now, after killing an Adjuchas and shaking up half the Academy's records, even Gin admitted he had underestimated the boy's ceiling.

"Pleasure to see you again, Captain Ichimaru," Shiraha responded with a respectful nod, offering only what was required.

Sasakibe turned slightly toward Gin, his voice crisp. "Captain Ichimaru, shall we begin the evaluation?"

Gin tilted his head, gaze unreadable as ever. "Shiraha-kun, are you prepared? This trial won't be easy."

"I'm ready," Shiraha said, his tone unshaken.

"Well then," Gin chuckled, fingers folding together beneath his chin. "Let's begin. I'm looking forward to what you'll show us."

One of the elders clapped his hands, and his voice boomed across the field. "Let the assessment commence!"

Instantly, twenty figures emerged from hidden compartments around the arena, appearing simultaneously in a burst of Shunpo. They wore dark, tightly-fitted black uniforms with faces covered save for their eyes. Unlike the standard Shinigami Shihakushō, their attire was reinforced for stealth and speed, clearly modeled after ninja tactics. There was no mistaking it—they were members of the 2nd Division's Special Forces.

Specifically, they belonged to the first sub-unit of the Stealth Corps: the Xing Jun—the Punishment Force.

Observation Haki painted them in clarity even before they moved. Their steps were feather-light, their spiritual pressure expertly suppressed, and their coordination flawless. They surrounded Shiraha from six angles, forming a tight pincer formation with no visible openings. It was an advanced tactic—Shunpo net encirclement—designed to isolate, overwhelm, and incapacitate even lieutenant-level opponents within seconds.

Yet Shiraha simply adjusted his footing and smiled faintly, entirely undaunted by their sudden appearance.

"The first part of the test," Sasakibe declared from above, "will evaluate Hakuda and Hohō—hand-to-hand and movement techniques. You are strictly forbidden from drawing your Zanpakutō or using Kidō. The objective is simple: disable or neutralize all operatives within five minutes."

He gestured toward a tent not far from the edge of the arena, where white-robed Fourth Division medics stood ready. "Do not concern yourself with injuries. The Fourth Division's medical squad is on standby."

Shiraha's gaze flicked toward the waiting medics, then returned to the masked Xing Jun operatives. His smile widened almost imperceptibly. "Using Xing Jun operatives to evaluate Hakuda and Shunpo? That's… interesting."

Sasakibe raised one hand sharply and spoke a single word. "Begin!"

The instant the word left his lips, all twenty operatives moved as one, vanishing into synchronized bursts of Shunpo, their silhouettes blurring into smoke as they closed in from six directions with lethal intent.