In Quincy are unlike both the Shinigami and the Hollows.They did not arise from the most common foundation of reishi manipulation, gradually evolving into a new form of existence.The Quincy were bound entirely by bloodline, a clan devoted solely to the eradication of spirits.
In other words, becoming a Quincy was not something just anyone could achieve.It was not a profession.It was a race.
And now, within the Soul Society, the Shinigami of the Gotei 13 had finally begun to move against that race.
Hueco Mundo—an endless desert where Hollows evolved and, at the same time, the hunting grounds of the Quincy.
On this day, in the barracks of the 1st Division, Head Captain Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto issued his command.He dispatched the 3rd Division support squad, the 4th Division medical unit, the 5th Division rescue team, and the 11th Division combat unit—four divisions, four captains—into Hueco Mundo.
But their mission was not to eradicate Hollows.Their true target was the Quincy stationed within Hueco Mundo.
That day… the pure white desert sands of Hueco Mundo were dyed crimson with blood.
And yet, none of this had much to do with Yūshirō Shihōin.
Two more years passed in the blink of an eye.Six years of academy life had come and gone, and Yūshirō and his fellow students were now at the age of graduation.They were about to leave Shin'ō Spiritual Arts Academy and step into the ranks of the Gotei 13—to serve as Shinigami, sworn to protect the Soul Society and to purify Hollows.
The hall was the same as the one from the opening ceremony, back when Yūshirō had first entered the academy.The same teachers of Shin'ō Academy stood at the front.
Even the speaker for the ceremony was unchanged: Head Captain Yamamoto.Since the founding of the Academy, he had always delivered both the entrance and graduation addresses.
"You must remember your mission. You must understand your duties. From the moment you step out of these academy gates, I expect each of you to serve the Gotei 13 as worthy Shinigami. Do not waste the six years of cultivation you have received here. Do not waste the sweat and blood you have shed…"
It was the same speech he had given for centuries, repeated word for word.
"Yaaawn~"
As always, Yūshirō Shihōin stood closest to Yamamoto, stifling a yawn.He wasn't interested in a single thing the old man was saying.All he wanted was to grab his diploma, go home, and take a nap.As for passing the division examinations—please. That wasn't even a concern. His elder sister was the captain of the 2nd Division. If he wanted, he could just take a laid-back post and collect a salary. Easy.
"Now, I shall announce this year's graduates! When your name is called, come to the stage to receive your certificate."
At last, after more than an hour of droning, Yamamoto reached the only part Yūshirō cared about—the diplomas.
"Maruyama Makoto! Kuroki Nobuya! Saeki Yumiko! Watanabe…"
Name after name was read aloud, and Yūshirō's brows furrowed. A bad feeling flashed through his mind.
The old man was going to mess with him again.
"And the final graduate… Hōshō Aya! "
Just as Yūshirō suspected, Yamamoto never once called his name.
"Here!"
Aya stood beside him, answering promptly as she stepped forward.
"You are an exceptional child," Yamamoto said warmly after gauging her spiritual pressure, already at vice-captain level. "With time, you will surely achieve great things within the Gotei 13."
"Thank you, Head Captain, for your kind words. But… may I ask you one question? "
Her bow was polite, her tone respectful.
"Speak."
"Why has Yūshirō Shihōin not been allowed to graduate? "
The hall fell silent.
The smile vanished from Yamamoto's face. His half-closed eyes opened just slightly, pressure radiating from his presence.
Aya trembled instinctively.
"If you have no further concerns, you may step down," Yamamoto ordered.
"But—"
She wasn't ready to let the matter drop.
"Do you defy me? Leave."
A pulse of spiritual pressure erupted from him, and Aya felt as though she were a tiny boat tossed upon a boundless sea—one breath away from being swallowed whole.
"What the hell, old man? "
A new voice cut through the tension.
"Picking on my Aya? Don't give me my diploma if you want, fine—but bullying my people? You think I'll let that slide? "
"Damn fossil! "
Yūshirō had appeared at her side, calmly taking her hand to reassure her. Then, without hesitation, he reached out—
—and tugged on Yamamoto's long white beard.
The hall froze.Teachers, students, and everyone stared wide-eyed.No one had ever dared touch the Head Captain's beard.
"Impudent brat! "
Yamamoto's fury surged. Even he had not imagined anyone would dare lay hands on the beard he had tended so carefully for centuries.
"Why am I the only one not graduating, huh? You owe me a reason. Otherwise, I'll camp out in your division barracks and make sure you never hold a captain's meeting again."
Yūshirō clung to the beard stubbornly, eyes locked in defiance.
"Outrageous! You have no Zanpakutō! Even members of the Kidō Corps receive one before official appointment. You—without even a blade to call your own—how could I ever give you a diploma? "
Yamamoto slammed his staff against the ground.
"My Zanpakutō, huh? "
"Yeah… I don't have one."
And with that, he tugged Yamamoto's beard again.
"Let go, brat! Do you plan to never graduate? "
"So all I need is a Zanpakutō, and then I can graduate? Is that it? "
Still gripping the beard, Yūshirō stared him down.
"…"
"…Of course."
Yamamoto's sternness softened back into that infuriating grandfatherly smile.
"Good. Then just wait—I'll awaken mine soon enough."
With that, Yūshirō finally released his beard and strode boldly out of the hall.
Aya bowed hurriedly. "Please forgive him, Head Captain! " Then she hurried after Yūshirō.
"Damn brat…" Yamamoto muttered, stroking his precious beard, now disheveled. With no hair left on his head, it was his pride and joy.
—
Yūshirō returned straight to the Shihōin estate.
"Master Yūshirō! " The guards at the gate bowed as he passed.
"No need for all that. Just hurry and bring me some asauchi. Fresh ones. Urgently."
The attendants blinked.
"Asauchi?"
"That's right. The brand-new kind."
"U-Understood! " They rushed to the armory.
Sitting cross-legged on the wooden floor, Yūshirō scowled.
"So… I need to awaken my Zanpakutō. Easier said than done."
Normally, bonding with an asauchi was simple—meditate, pour in your spirit, and it would evolve into your own blade.But Yūshirō had a problem. Whenever he tried to infuse an asauchi with his spiritual pressure, the weapon shattered instantly.
"Here, Master Yūshirō—the asauchi you requested! "
Servants arrived with several blades.
"Thanks, this will help a lot."
He accepted them and began the process.
Moments later—crack, crack, crack—every blade in his hands split apart, leaving piles of fragments at his feet.
"…Impossible. Can't even connect."
He sighed. "Guess I'll have to go to Ōetsu Nimaiya after all."
Aya stepped into the room, her eyes full of worry. "Yūshirō…"
He gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Wait here for me, Aya. I'll be gone for a while."
And with a flash step, he vanished.
—
Below the Soul King's Palace, Ōetsu Nimaiya—the "God of the Sword"—was already waiting atop the Tenchūren.
"Yo~" Ōetsu waved casually.
"You waiting for me? " Yūshirō asked, brow raised.
"Yamamoto told me you'd show up soon. Looks like he was right."
"Tch. That old fossil calculated even this, huh? "
Ōetsu chuckled. "What, still sulking with the Head Captain? "
"Me? Sulking? Hah. I'm not mad… even if he's always targeting me."
Yūshirō's glare said otherwise.
Ōetsu laughed aloud. "Take it as love, kid. A tough kind of cultivation."
"Love? Please. Spare me."
Their banter carried as the Tenchūren rose, bearing them toward the Soul King's Palace.
"Ku—!"
When the palace returned to its place in the sky, Yūshirō didn't hesitate. He went straight to the Phoenix Hall, where Ōetsu forged every Zanpakutō in existence.
Looking up, he noticed a new palace floating above. "So Senjumaru's got her own hall now, huh? "
He smirked. "Alright, Ōetsu. Time to see what you've got for me."
Inside the Phoenix Hall, Ōetsu Nimaiya toyed idly with a blade, muttering to himself.
"Wonder if that brat can actually use this one. If he can… things will get interesting."
"Yo! Long time no see, Ōetsu! "
Yūshirō strolled into the hall, grinning as he came face-to-face with the Sword God himself.