A Test In My Patience

As the remaining fights for that day took place, the three onlookers, Kyōraku Shunsui, Yamada Fujinishin and Shingetsu Azaemon began to converse amongst each other.

"It has been along time since we attended Shino together? How have you been doing?", Shunsui asked Yamada. But instead he was met with an aggressive tongue.

"Don't pretend like you care, it's already been 2000 years since we graduated."

"Yikes, when did you get so aggressive? You were much sweeter back then..."

As the two slowly began to argue, Shingetsu struggled to find a place to intervene. Eventually giving up, he sighed as he continued to Kai and Hikone battle.

"When did you start getting so serious anyway? I got my drinking habit from you, remember? Your much more sober nowadays."

"Are you stupid? I'm the grandmaster of Shino academy now. If i'm hammered in front of my students and staff, then they would get lazy. And before you know it, this generation of Soul Reapers would be much weaker then ever before. I don't have time to get drunk and flirty with women, and I suggest you should stop drinking too. Your the head of the Gotei for goodness sake. Jushiro would tell you the same thing."

Kyōraku's once jolly demeanour had turned partly serious. However he still kept his carefree attitude.

"You may be right. Sometimes I feel that he should've survived that day and not me. Honestly speaking, he would've been a much better fit to replace the old man. But the both of them died protecting Soul Society which is the job of a Shinigami. There is no better death that would've suited them more perfectly."

Yamada couldn't argue with him there as he was indeed correct.

"A Shinigami should give his life to protect his friends and humanity", was a philosophy which she had taught to many students in the past and one which she was familiar with very well. Many of those Students had went on to lose their lives during the Soul King war, and thus it was something she regretted deeply. She wanted to go help during the invasion, but she had to stay behind and protect the students that would one day replace them. Since then her goal had been to create a strong generation that wouldn't die while protecting the weak.

"First Kuruyashiki and now Jushiro. It seems everyone from back then is starting to drop dead like flies. I fear that my day is soon approaching, but I don't want to go until I see these children succeed."

2000 years ago before Jushiro and Shunsui even became Soul Reapers, they were part of the first generation of Soul Reapers to graduate from Shino Academy. Although the two of them were known as the strongest of their time, students which would soon reach their level would be Yamada Fujinishin and Kentetsu Kuruyashiki, who would later become a Kenpachi. But now 2 of them are dead, along with most, if not all the students from that generation. 

"I'm sure the Old Man felt the same way as he died. Although he didn't show it that well, he really did care for all the Soul Reapers in not just his squad, but in all of Gotei."

Yamada looked towards Shunsui who was smiling lightly. These were truly word befitting of the commander of Gotei.

"How about we change the topic now? That Kai Kureno kid is a soul from the world of the living right? Souls that come from there tend to be much weaker compared to people who are already born in Soul Society. But somehow he's defied those odds."

Watching Kai and Hikone fight, Kai finally drew his other Zanpakutō. He then used it to disarm Hikone, winning the fight.

"You and Jushiro both had two Zanpakutō's. Can you suggest why that may be the case for Kai?"

Thinking about it carefully, Shunsui replied,

"It wasn't just me and Jushiro, but Kurosaki too at some point. A dual Zanpakutō is born when the original spirit splits itself in half. This was the case for me and Jushiro but not for Kurosaki who already had two separate spirits. That's how he explained it anyway."

Yamada, realizing what Shunsui was hinting towards tried to question him further. 

"Are you saying he's a Quincy? That would explain his sudden strength gain. But I don't sense any Quincy spiritual pressure coming from him."

"It was the same for Kurosaki too. We won't know until he comes in direct confrontation with one as well. Although I could probably have Mayuri help with that, but god knows what he would do to Kureno then. He's never experimented on a Hybrid ya see."

The two continued to discuss the topic of Kai's Zanpakutō's without the intervention of Shingetsu who was listening very intently. News about Kurosaki even being a hybrid was only know to few Gotei thirteen members, and the entirety of Central 46. This made the existence of both Kai and Hikone walking out and about, very alarming.

"If the worst does come to pass, we'll just let them graduate early I suppose.", Yamada said without a care. "If he wins, then it would be even more convenient."

The teacher break room

All four of the teacher for the 1st years watched the ongoing fights through their own monitor. Some expressed happiness, some sad, and others didn't care at all.

"You look as stiff as ever Instructor Mugen.", Said Ryu cheerfully as he held two cups of black coffee in each hand.

"You can refer to me by my first name now. We're both teachers at this school, and our students aren't here."

"Despite how many years have passed, I'm still your student. Although I practice Hakuda now, I still carry your teachings."

He handed one cup to Mugen while they carried on conversing.

"We've seen interesting uses of both Hakuda and Zanjutsu. Especially from that Kai. Did you teach him that?"

"No I didn't. I heard he had been going to that bald fools Dojo which he opened up. At this rate he's going to end up stealing my Students. Perhaps I'll give him a piece of my mind after this."

Squad 11 is a squad famous for its rough and savage style of Zanjutsu. Especially when it came to Kenpachi Zaraki, that divisions captain. But even then, Mugen detested that Squad.

He put his hand on the left side of his face, covering his scar and eye.

"All the other Zanjutsu instructors were too scared, and in my arrogance, I tried to teach that bastard Zaraki Zanjutsu. But instead I ended up getting my eye gouged out as if I was being punished hubris. Squad 11, of course it was them. I detest that squad as a whole. The Kenpachi name, all of it. I would be delighted to see it burn."

The entire room went quiet due to his monologue. They were all frozen in fear, even the usually laid back Ryu was taken a back. In an attempt to break the atmosphere, Ryu tried to tell crack a joke.

"See? Very stiff."

It wasn't very effective.