Night after the Gillian incident.....
Later that night, within the Seireitei, in the dim-lit communication hall of the 13th Division.
A group of officers gathered around a scrying table, reiatsu traces flickering across its surface. The readings pulsed faintly, chaotic, as if mocking their failure.
"This makes no sense," one of the seated officers muttered. "A Gillian… inside Rukongai? That should be impossible. The barrier should have repelled it, or at the very least we should have detected its spiritual pressure the moment it crossed."
Another officer slammed his fist on the table. "And yet we didn't. We only noticed it after Lieutenant Kaien detected the Reiyatsu flairing. Thank god he was nearby and engaged with the Gillion. That's a disgrace."
Whispers rippled among them, unease sharp in the air. "Could it be… intentional? Someone masking the signature from inside?"
The word insider hung in the silence like a curse.
From the far corner, Captain Ukitake coughed softly, pale but composed. "Speculation won't serve us. We'll investigate. For now, focus on securing the districts and reassuring the citizens. Fear spreads faster than any Hollow." His voice, gentle yet commanding, soothed the tension — but the doubt lingered.
Outside that chamber, in the long corridors of the Seireitei, another figure walked silently, hands folded neatly within his sleeves. His gentle smile never wavered, his eyes hidden behind the gleam of his glasses.
The smile deepened, the picture of serenity — hiding the quiet satisfaction of a puppeteer whose strings had been tugged exactly as intended.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
[Akio's Pov]
The rest of the year for me as the 5th year student at Shino Academy went normally. After that Gillian incident the other three were traumatized and quit being Shinigami, so I had to join with other groups for the patrolling.
I still wonder about that day. That gillion attacking us, was it a coincident or was someone behind it? Was it Aizen? Was he targeting me? Is he wary of me? Well, no point thinking here. As if I could find out what Lord Aizen is thinking. Well let's focus on the pressing matter.
At the end of the year the instructor who was assigned to us, marked us according to our performances during the patrols. And that marks determined either we failed or passed. Me? Of course I passed and so did Ikkaku and Yumichika.
Now the real problem was that at the sixth year we are supposed to choose any of the 13 squad and work there as interns. We can choose multiple squads too but we have to send our application to the squad if we are accepted in any then we can join the squad as an intern for a year. And then join that squad after graduating.
If no squad accepts your application(very rare) then you are said to be unqualified and have to work on your strength to try again next year, for 3 years. If you are selected by more than one squad then you can join atmost 3 squad as an intern and spend the year being intern for all the squads evenly and choose the squad you wanna be part of after graduation among those.
After the end of the year, the squad you have worked on as an intern will decide whether they will add you on your squad or not. And that is what decides you graduated from the academy or not.
The squad can also send a recommendation letter to the students at the end of the year if they are interested in any of the students. And obviously being the winner of 'The Crimson Ascent' I got recommendation letter from all the squads except the 6th and 4th. The 6th squad is a squad with a lot nobles and after what I said infront of Captain Commander obviously I wouldn't get the letter even when Byakuya is the captain. But for 4th its a different story,
Actually, Big Sis Unohana already asked me to join her squad, during one of visit to the squad 4 after my little spar with Ikkaku. She said I had quite good Reiyarku control and if I would join her she would teach me personally. But I rejected her saying I had something in mind.
I had already made up my mind which squad to join the first day I entered the Shino Academy and I would follow it.
Yumichika and Ikkaku had already decided their squad. Ikkaku decided to be intern in Squad 11 and Yumichika decided to intern at Kido Corps and the Squad 11 as he didn't want to leave Ikkaku.
I have already sent my rejection to almost all the squads except some whom I would personally go and explain my reason for rejection. My relation with them are quite good so I don't want to upset them.
First lets go to Squad 8.
Inside the Squad 8 barrack...
"So," Shunsui began, leaning forward with a conspiratorial wink, "Since you have come hear I will assume you have made your descision." He chuckled, but his eyes were serious. "So, let's cut to the chase and let me, ask you in proper manner. You're a sixth-year now, and I'm offering you an internship here in Squad 8. Start as a seated officer-in-training, learn the ins and outs—strategy, reconnaissance, even a bit of my personal flair. Once you graduate you will be promoted directly to a seated officer. What do you say?"
He met Shunsui's gaze steadily, his voice calm and reasoned. "Uncle Shunsui, I'm honored. Truly. You've been more than a teacher to me—you've been a guide, showing me how to navigate this world without losing myself. The Ryūken techniques you taught me, the way you pushed me to think beyond brute force… I wouldn't be where I am without that. And Squad 8? It's a perfect fit for someone like me—strategic, balanced, with room for a little poetry amid the chaos."
"But," Akio continued, his tone firm yet respectful, "I have to decline."