Naruto: Copy System#731+732: The Graduation Exam, Kyōraku Shunsui's Katen Kyōkotsu

Since Retsu Unohana was heading to the 4th Division, Shin was going with her—it wasn't like he had anywhere else to stay.

He could have remained in the 11th Division, of course. No one would have objected. But Shin had no desire to stick around. Besides Unohana, the squad was full of guys—battle-crazed maniacs with a screw loose.

Shin had no interest in hanging out with them—it just wasn't his scene.

With their departure, the 11th Division would get a replacement captain immediately. While other squads could afford a vacancy for a while, 11th Division, as a combat unit, had to be ready for battle at a moment's notice—especially with the escalating friction with the Hollows.

"You're saying you plan to graduate from the Soul Reaper Academy?" Unohana asked, looking at Shin.

Indeed, Shin had just told her his plans. He was ready to graduate.

"Which squad do you plan on joining after graduation? I think the 4th Division would be a good fit for you. Your unique healing Kido is incredibly powerful. I could make you my Vice-Captain."

Unohana said seriously to Shin.

"Thanks, but no thanks. The 4th Division sounds too boring. I have no intention of joining."

Shin shook his head. The 4th Division was a medical unit, and he had no interest in spending his days healing others.

"Then which squad are you planning to join?"

Hearing Shin's refusal, Unohana didn't press the issue, though she would have liked for him to join her. She knew Shin had his own plans.

"I'm planning to join the 2nd Division," Shin said with a faint smile.

The 2nd Division was in charge of executions, assassinations, and patrols within the Seireitei. Shin had his reasons for wanting to join.

The patrols, in particular, would give him a better understanding of the Seireitei. Despite having been in the Soul Society for three years, he still wasn't very familiar with it.

Most of his time had been spent at the Academy learning the basics of being a Soul Reaper, and the rest was spent chatting and sparring with Unohana.

"The 2nd Division, huh? It's not easy to get in, but with your strength, you'll have no problem."

Unohana nodded.

"And if that doesn't work out, I can always come back and freeload in 4th Division," Shin said to Unohana with a grin.

————————

The next day, Shin submitted his graduation application, and his instructor approved it immediately.

However, an approved application didn't mean he had officially graduated. He still had to pass a final exam, much like the Ninja Academy—but this involved real combat. To graduate from the Soul Reaper Academy now, one had to prove they could take down a powerful Hollow.

There were no Hollows in the Soul Society, of course, so they had to go to the World of the Living to hunt them. Shin was also curious about the human world.

A Soul Reaper Vice-Captain was assigned to lead the graduating students to the World of the Living for their exam.

Shin wasn't the only one graduating—a few other students were as well. Some of them had already started forming teams of two or three.

"So you're the genius Captain Unohana brought back from the Rukongai?"

The Vice-Captain in charge of the exam, responsible for ensuring the students' safety, walked over to Shin.

Shin recognized him—Kyōraku Shunsui, one of Captain-Commander Yamamoto's prized students.

He appeared frivolous and lazy, but he was an incredibly sharp and meticulous man. He was still just a Vice-Captain, not yet the captain of his own squad.

It's worth noting that Kyōraku Shunsui was currently the Vice-Captain of the 5th Division.

"Vice-Captain Kyōraku, you seem quite curious about me."

Shin said, noticing the other man's inquisitive gaze.

"I'm not the only one. After all, you're the one that monster brought back," Kyōraku Shunsui couldn't help but say.

"Oh? If I told Captain Unohana you called her a 'monster,' what do you think would happen to you?"

Shin asked with a smile, and Shunsui shuddered.

"Please, I'm begging you, don't. I'd like to live a few more years."

Kyōraku Shunsui was genuinely startled and quickly pleaded. Although Unohana had changed a lot, he was still terrified of her.

"Actually, Captain Unohana is quite gentle. You don't need to be so afraid of her."

"Heh, you're the first person to say that. You probably don't know her terrifying reputation."

Kyōraku Shunsui shuddered again. He had witnessed Unohana's ferocity firsthand—it was against Hollows, but it was enough to scar him for life.

He couldn't even face that terrifying killing intent.

Though Unohana had changed a lot... the shadow of the past still lingered—and Kyōraku Shunsui remained afraid.

"Looks like we're out of time for small talk." Shin's gaze fell on an approaching Hollow. It was just a strong one, a little more powerful than a common, small Hollow.

He drew his blade, and with a single downward slash, the sheer pressure of his sword tore the Hollow to pieces.

Seeing this, Kyōraku Shunsui froze, stunned. Even he was a little surprised by the power Shin had just displayed.

Compared to the other students, Shin's strength was on another level.

The others had to struggle to defeat a strong Hollow, but Shin had killed it in one shot.

'Then again, he was brought back by Captain Unohana. How could he be weak?' After his initial surprise, Kyōraku Shunsui relaxed. It wasn't that surprising after all.

Shouldn't he be strong? Otherwise, with Captain Unohana's standards, she would have never brought him to the Seireitei.

"It seems this exam is completely meaningless for you," Kyōraku Shunsui couldn't help but say.

ROARRRRRRRRRR!!!

Just then, a roar echoed, and a massive figure lumbered towards them.

"Didn't expect to attract a big one," Kyōraku Shunsui said, still calm as he looked at the giant Hollow.

It was just a giant Hollow. It might be stronger than the Soul Reaper students, but it was no match for a regular Soul Reaper.

"Can you handle it? If not, I can step in," Kyōraku Shunsui said to Shin.

"Oh? Then you can take it." Shin sheathed his sword and stood back. He had already passed the exam—there was no need to fight again.

Kyōraku Shunsui shook his head. He could tell Shin wasn't incapable of fighting it, but simply too lazy to bother.

"He seems even lazier than I am," Kyōraku Shunsui couldn't help but say, feeling that Shin's personality was incredibly laid-back.

Oh well, no point thinking about it. He had to quickly deal with this giant Hollow that had appeared out of nowhere.

Though he didn't see it as a threat, it was still beyond the capabilities of the graduating students. Kyōraku Shunsui couldn't allow any casualties during the exam.

If there were any deaths, it would be his failure. Even as Yamamoto's student, he wouldn't get off easy.

<><><><><><><><>

"Hadō #31. Shakkahō."

Kyōraku Shunsui looked at the giant Hollow, raised his hand, and released a ball of red fire. The fireball struck the giant Hollow, severely injuring it. He then drew his sword and finished it with a single slash.

Shin glanced over, then lost interest. It was only Hadō #31—its power wasn't that great. Shin wanted to obtain powerful Kido.

To get his hands on numerous Kido, one way was to earn them through merit, but that was a slow process.

Shin wanted to find another way—by going to the Great Spirit Book Gallery. It was located under the Central 46 Chambers.

It was a massive archive that recorded all of the Soul Society's major events and secrets from ancient times to the present, and it definitely had records of Kido.

It would even have information on forbidden Kido, and from there, he could also learn some of the Soul Society's secrets.

Of course, it wouldn't have any secrets about the Soul King. Shin didn't want to know anyway—he already knew what the Soul King was.

If there was one character in Bleach who had it the worst, it was the so-called Soul King. He'd been turned into little more than a limbless trunk.

Shin didn't know all the secrets, of course. Bleach had many plot holes, especially concerning the Soul King.

But from what was shown, the Soul King's fate was absolutely tragic.

The Nominal God, in reality, was just a tool. The Zero Division probably just guarded this tool.

At this moment, Shin was considering how to get into the Great Spirit Book Gallery. It wouldn't be easy, especially since Shin wanted to sneak in without being discovered.

————————

"What is that massive spiritual pressure?"

Just as Shin was pondering this, Kyōraku Shunsui's voice snapped him back to reality. He looked up at a giant figure in the distance.

The spiritual pressure was strong, not much weaker than Kyōraku Shunsui's beside him.

"A Gillian-class Menos??"

Though it was his first time seeing one, Shin recognized it immediately. Its features were too distinct.

A massive black body, a long, clown-like nose, a white mask, and a huge hole in its body—a cannon fodder character from Hueco Mundo.

Though it was cannon fodder, it couldn't be underestimated. Even the now-Vice-Captain Shunsui looked tense—he had never fought a Gillian before.

Having just become a Vice-Captain not long ago, Kyōraku Shunsui was a little nervous seeing a Gillian.

Shin glanced at Shunsui, wondering if he could actually handle a Gillian.

Shunsui's spiritual pressure was a bit stronger than the Gillian's. With his Zanpakutō and various techniques, dealing with a Gillian shouldn't be too difficult.

“YOU GUYS, GET OUT OF HERE.”

Kyōraku Shunsui shouted to the students.

“Shin, could you help me out?”

After shouting at the students, Kyōraku Shunsui turned to Shin, making him feel a bit helpless.

“I'm just a student. Why are you asking me for help?”

"Shin, now's not the time for jokes. To be honest, this is my first time facing a Gillian. I'm not confident. I hope you can help me out. I know your strength can definitely help."

Thinking of how Shin had killed a strong Hollow with a single slash, even a giant Hollow would be no match for him.

He should be able to hold his own against a Gillian. Besides, Kyōraku Shunsui wouldn't let Shin be the main attacker—he just wanted him as support.

"Alright, I'll do my best to help," Shin nodded to Kyōraku Shunsui.

"You all leave quickly, and remember to report this," Kyōraku Shunsui shouted to the Soul Reaper students running towards the Senkaimon.

The Senkaimon was the transportation tool for Soul Reapers to travel between the World of the Living and the Soul Society. Passing through it would take them directly back to the Seireitei, very convenient.

“WE KNOW, VICE-CAPTAIN KYŌRAKU. BE CAREFUL.”

"Sigh, why am I so unlucky? To encounter something like this on my first time supervising an exam," Kyōraku Shunsui sighed.

Gillian-class Menos, though common in Hueco Mundo, were generally not seen in the World of the Living.

"It's starting to attack. You should be careful," Shin reminded Kyōraku Shunsui.

This guy seemed a bit unreliable. Was he going to have to step in?

Though to Shin, a Gillian was just trash he could kill with a wave of his hand, he didn't want to reveal too much of his strength yet.

"Flower Wind Rage and Flower God Roar, Heavenly Wind Rage and Heavenly Demon Sneer——Katen Kyōkotsu!"

Kyōraku Shunsui's Zanpakutō transformed into a pair of dual blades, one long and one short. His spiritual pressure now completely surpassed the Gillian's.

'Should I copy Katen Kyōkotsu?' Shin glanced at Kyōraku Shunsui's Zanpakutō.

Kyōraku Shunsui's Katen Kyōkotsu wasn't weak, especially when the enemy didn't know its abilities. It was quite powerful.

Katen Kyōkotsu's Shikai ability was to make children's games a reality. Anyone who stepped into its spiritual pressure range was forced to participate in the game, and all rules were set by Katen Kyōkotsu.

Win and you live, lose and you die, even the master of the Zanpakutō, Shunsui, was no exception.

But the game wasn't completely fair. Since the wielder knew the rules better than the enemy and could change the game at any time, the wielder had an advantage.

"Takaoni."

Kyōraku Shunsui looked at the Gillian and flew up.

The rule of Takaoni was that whoever was higher up wins. At this moment, Kyōraku Shunsui, treading on a path of spirit particles in the sky, was naturally higher than the Gillian.

With a single slash, his power enhanced, he clashed with the Gillian's Cero, instantly cutting through it and striking the Gillian's body.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

"So it wasn't as strong as I thought..." Kyōraku Shunsui couldn't help but say.

————————

"Not bad..." Shin evaluated Kyōraku Shunsui. His current strength was definitely greater than that of an average captain.

Just as he finished his evaluation, Kyōraku Shunsui was suddenly sent flying. A red Cero struck him, completely stunning him.

"What's going on? How can it fire two Ceros in a row?"

Kyōraku Shunsui looked a bit miserable, his eyes filled with disbelief.

A Gillian's Cero was a powerful attack, but it was slow to gather and release, making it easy to dodge.

How could it fire another Cero so soon after the first?

"This Gillian isn't simple. Is it a mutation?"

Shin also looked at the Gillian with curiosity, but he wasn't too surprised. Among so many Hollows, there were bound to be a few special ones.

Weren't there a few special Hollows in the original story?

However, the power of the second Cero was clearly not as strong as the first. Otherwise, even if Kyōraku Shunsui wasn't killed, he would have been severely injured.

"This Gillian is smarter than other Gillians. It's running away," Shin reminded Kyōraku Shunsui.

Perhaps because it felt it was no match for Kyōraku Shunsui, even after injuring him, the Gillian ran.

Kyōraku Shunsui was stunned again. This was the first time he had seen a fleeing Menos.