Hi All, next chapter is up.
I am not intimately familiar with Bleach beyond the anime. I think I may have mentioned previously, I am taking certain liberties with timeframes and canon. I have pitched this story around 50 years or so before Bleach starts.
As you can obviously see, Yamada Hanatarō for one reason or another is in the same graduation 'timeframe' as Renji, Kira and Hinamori – I view it as he is being 'accelerated' due to his instructors. Rukia is around, but she is undergoing the whole Kuchiki clan thing – it has minimum impact with the story.
As part of this timeframe, some but not all of the captains are in their proper order (e.g. 10th Division – Hitsugaya is still 3rd seat). The vice-captains are obviously in development.
I hope you enjoy.
Chapter 8
Kira pointed towards the main entrance. "Look, there they are!"
The official representatives of the Gotei 13 had arrived. It was a small delegation, but a very important one.
Many were high-level seated officials, Renji pointed out people like Shūhei Hisagi.
There was of course Matsumoto Rangiku, who needed no introduction, and drew many eyes her way. Trailing beside her was a rather annoyed Hitsugaya 'Shiro-chan' Tōshirō, whose features made Hinamori giggle. Tōshirō was the latest 'prodigal student' out of the Academy, his 'rising star' status accelerated his training well ahead of Hinamori's resulting in him graduating very early. But his fame has already slated him for Captain in the not too distant future.
"Wow, there are so many captains!" Renji grinned in excitement. "That's nearly half of them!"
The white coats were easy enough to spot.
The Captain-Commander was always present, and tradition always saw the participation of Captains Unohana Retsu, Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō (even if he was infamously unwell). The burden on the younger Yamada's shoulders lessened when he saw the 4th Division captain. Her keen eyes spotted him out of the crowd and gave a reassuring smile.
But they were not the only ones.
"Wow," Kira nodded, "Captain Aizen is here. Hey Hinamori, try and do your best not to swoon." Kira quickly lost his smirk when the diminutive graduate stamped on his foot…hard.
And to the surprise of everyone….
"Oh no," Yamada Hanatarō whispered.
"Why is Captain Kurotsuchi here?" Renji's brow furrowed. "He has never attended one of these events, well…ever." Hinamori dug her elbow into his ribs. "Why do you think, idiot?"
"Oh," Renji remembered, "sorry Hanatarō."
"It's okay." The Yamada frowned. Gotei 13 representatives usually have carte blanche authority to request graduates to their Division, some have special privileges to offer specific seated positions. But Captains are a law unto themselves, their requests overrule other non-captain representatives and can freely offer positions of any rank. In some cases, those 'requests' are orders. The 12th Division Captain must want him bad. But I'll be damned if I join his Division, I'll take my chances in the Rukongai.
Unsurprisingly, behind the Gotei 13 representatives were representatives of the Four Great Noble Families. The air smelt of pretentiousness, gold, silk and precious elements. Each Family owned the equivalent of a city. In the off chance a graduate cannot find a place in the Gotei 13, one of the Noble Houses might snatch them up as a bodyguard or someone else for their household.
Kira noticed something within the delegation that just oozed status and wealth. "Wait a minute, isn't that…?"
"Yeah," Renji frowned, "Rukia."
"Wait a minute," Hanatarō blinked, "wasn't she-?"
"I don't want to talk about it." Renji's tone said much, and the younger Yamada displayed wisdom by not asking further. Flanked next to her was Kuchiki Byakuya, a snobbish man who was simultaneously a leader of a great house and a member of the 6th Division. While his grandfather is the current Captain of the famed 6th Division, his retirement is due soon enough. When that happens, Byakuya will practically slide in as if he already held the title. There was a reason why the Division was nicknamed the Kuchiki 6th.
The Central 46 did not attend. The governing body's sitting periods were all year around, and they barely left the Compound. Their security was provided directly by the Gotei 13. Their only involvement in the Final Grading was when something went terribly wrong.
But that did not mean the Gotei 13 and the Noble Families were the only interested parties. But the Onmitsukidō and Kidō Corps have their own application process. That does not mean they are uninterested in poaching new recruits, they were just a lot more private. They probably had representatives hiding in the crowd scoping for new talent.
The representatives of the Gotei 13 and the Noble Families took their places on the opposite end of chamber, giving them a clear view of the main ring, the graduates and the audience presiding.
Only one did not take his seat. Instead he moved to the very centre of the ring.
"Good morning everyone." The voice of the 5th Division's captain carried across the hall. "My name is Captain Aizen Souske, and it is my distinct pleasure to welcome you all the Final Grading."
There was a large round of applause and cheers across the chamber.
"A thousand years of tradition are in the halls and these grounds, and there are events all across the Academy for all ages. But the reason we are all here, is in front of us." Aizen gestured at the graduates.
Aizen waited for the applause to die down before continuing.
"The Soul King is responsible for everything that was, is, and will be. But today is your day." Aizen smiled warmly. "I look at each of you and I see many bright eyes, filled with wonder and ambition. This is your opportunity to show all of Soul Society who you are, and what you are capable of."
Many students puffed out their chest in pride.
"Today's program has been broken into your preferred streams. Everything you have learned is going to be tested." Aizen continued. "But regardless of how and what order your tests are conducted, but at the close of today's events you will all reconvene for the duelling." Aizen tapped a foot on the ground.
"The duel is a sacred part of the Final Grading. Up until now, you have all been training. But by the end of today, you will experience your first true taste of combat." Aizen's chiselled features became serous. "It is not for the faint hearted, and your examiners and instructors will pay close attention to ensure your survival. But no combat is free of risk. It is up to you to take everything you have been taught, and everything you have learned, to become the Shinigami you were always meant to be."
"Yeah," Renji whispered, "I plan on becoming a Vice-Captain in the first twenty years."
"Shh!" Hinamori held a finger to her lips.
"Do not give up, and persevere no matter the odds. I wish each and every one of you all the best." Aizen gazed across the graduates, who were about to experience one of the greatest trials of being a Shinigami. "I hereby declare this year's Final Grading; open."
The applause and cheers were so loud, you could hear them across Soul Society.
0o0o0o
I hate you all. The younger Yamada cursed his instructors. He saw the sun reach the precipice between dusk and night. But the Academy lights flickered on nearly an hour ago, the complex remained as bright as day.
Captain Aizen was not kidding when he said everything would be tested. Medical kido, combat kido, physical endurance, sword forms, academic theory. Everything.
Yamada Hanatarō felt tired, heavy, and mentally fried.
But that was the point; to push up-and-coming Shinigami to their limits and only then will everyone see who they really are.
That did not mean it hurt. But Hanatarō was too strung up to relax. The duelling is not exactly organised, participants are called when they are called. As the day dragged on, the dreaded appointment with Jisanbō got closer. And closer. And closer.
Untill…
0o0o0o
"Winner," the examiner declared, "Abarai Renji."
"Wow, Renji." Hinamori offered the red headed Shinigami a bottle for water. "You didn't have to go that hard."
"Are you kidding, Hinamori?!" Renji fell to his knees, gulping the water like it was going to evaporate in his hands. "This was the last hurrah, I had to go out with a bang! I'm sure to be recognised now!"
"You know that over commitment can be interpreted negatively." Kira raised a brow. "Picking your battles and delivering the appropriate amount of force are essential skills for a Shinigami."
"Bold words coming from someone who lost." Renji glared.
"I just demonstrated what I learned as effectively and as efficiently as possible." Kira shrugged nonchalantly. "If I went all in as you did, there was no guarantee I would have won. If anything I probably would have died."
"Oh please…" Renji rolled his eyes. "What do you kn…wait a minute…what's going on over there?"
The group's eyes wandered over to one of the chamber entrances.
"Oh shit…" Kira's eyes widened. "Captain Isshin and Soifon?!" Two more Captains, over half of the Gotei 13's leadership was present, and the leader of the Onmitsukidō to boot! While they were quick and efficient in moving to the seating for the other Gotei 13, they still drew a lot of eyes.
"Why are two more captains here?" Hinamori gossiped.
"I have a sneaking suspicion…" the younger Yamada grimaced, "that my moment is now."
And sure enough…
"Yamada Hanatarō." One of the examiners called out. "Step forward."
The trio turned to the sickly Shinigami, their faces etched with a combination of excitement and worry. Yamada Hanatarō couldn't blame them; they had not seen his Zanpakutō in action – practically no one had. They all wished him luck as he slowly approached the main ring.
Well, here I am. Hanatarō felt thousands of eyes zero in on him, his Zanpakutō on his hip was buzzing with energy.
The examiner faced the opposite end of the ring. "Ikkanzaka Jisanbō. Step forward."
And there he is. The Yamada's heart raced as he saw that gigantic hulk of a man move into the ring, every step seemed to shake the ground beneath. He may not be as big as his elder brothers, but has not fully grown yet – and he already towered the rest of the graduation class.
The youngest Ikkanzaka locked eyes, and smirked. "Well, well, well nerd. It seems I get to hand you a beat down as a graduation present."
Hanatarō's nerves were too frayed to speak.
A kido barrier raised up around the ring. This allowed the combatants to fight without jeers and jibes to impact their performance, and also to protect the audience from collateral damage.
The examiner stayed at the centre of the ring. "This is your final test," he droned, bored from saying the exact same thing for the past two hours "you will duel each other in a live combat scenario. There are few rules. You must stay within the ring at all times. You will fight until either one of you gives up, or the examiners intervene. While we shall endeavour to prevent grievous injury or death, nothing is guaranteed. As in a Shinigami's life, so too is this duel. Any questions?"
Both participants placed a hand on the hilts of their Zanpakutō, but neither said anything.
"Very well." The examiner stepped back. "Begin."
0o0o0o
Hanatarō only just realised as he stood there staring at the Shinigami that was at least three times his size, how much he knew about Jisanbō. That was the benefit of being forced to do the arrogant ass' academic studies.
Ikkanzaka Jisanbō was a far cry from his two older, more accomplished brothers. Nonetheless, he was a decent fighter, moderately powerful, incredibly strong, and surprisingly fast. But he was also blatantly and incredibly stupid. And most important of all; predictable.
Case in point, the exact moment the examiner started the match Hanatarō knew that Jisanbō was going to say…
"HA! This'll be easy pickings." The large man drew his sword. "Entomb, Tetsu Yoroi-nezumi!"
His Zanpakutō glowed a light orange, the light climbing up his hands, encompassing everything head to toe. Within seconds the light dissipated to reveal Jisanbō's prized release state.
The incredibly large and bulky graduate became larger and bulkier with an ornate suit of armour. It was sleek, with intricate orange swirl designs running across the length of the armour. It was forged from what looked like heavy steel, making him look less like a samurai and more like a European knight.
Hanatarō was not surprised; he had seen it before. Jisanbō was never one to ignore an opportunity to show off. Even though the Yamada could not see the face of his opponent due to the helmet covering his face; he knew he was grinning ear to ear.
Well, I guess it was my turn. Hanatarō felt the black tar texture ooze out of his hilt covering his hand and slowly drew his sword. He was unconcerned about an immediate attack. Jisanbō was surprisingly quick, when his Zanpakutō was sealed. With all that armour weighing him down, the youngest Ikkanzaka was limited to steady walks. He would not be able to run much less -
"Heads up nerd!" Hanatarō's neck bristled; Jisanbō's taunt came from behind him!
Shunpo?! Hanatarō training kicked in and he instantly dropped to his knees. He could feel the air pressure of Jisanbō sword slice above him; clearly the bully was aiming for his neck.
No time! The Yamada shoved his shoulders to the ground, allowing momentum him to carry him forward allowing him to gain space. He drew his sword like he practiced a thousand times, and quickly cut through the air, allowing velocity to carry acid droplets to their intended target. But Jisanbō vanished yet again appearing to Hanatarō's right; his sword hand.
With his free hand, Jisanbō grabbed Hanatarō's arm pinning him. "Hadō #11. Tsuzuri Raiden!"
Incantation skipped?! Unfortunately, Hanatarō had no time to appreciate Jisanbō's clearly new skills. The bully's metal armour absorbed the kido and channelled the electrical current.
Hanatarō cried out in pain.
0o0o0o
Ōnabara Gengorō could not believe his eyes. How could Jisanbō have learn incantation skipped?!
But the answer was obvious. "You are a little shit aren't you Seiichiro."
"I have no idea what you mean." The instructor looked so very smug. "But for a prodigal student, poor Yamada Hanatarō seems to be suffering quite a bit. Clearly you have been deficient in his training. Don't worry, I'll be sure to remedy that when he is assigned to me."
"You arrogant bastard, you taught Jisanbō the shortcuts didn't you?" Gengorō rounded on the diminutive man. "You know teaching the students the official way is to protect them. Teaching shortcuts before they have mastered incantations can lead to a kido backfiring!"
Takaro Seiichiro remained impassive. "I don't know about you, but he executed that kido perfectly."
Ōnabara Gengorō rolled his eyes in disgust. "Come on Hanatarō, you've trained for this. Get out of there!"
0o0o0o
Pain.
That is what Yamada Hanatarō felt.
Pain and paralysis.
Paralysis of body, and paralysis of mind.
Ikkanzaka Jisanbō had been busy, or perhaps he was holding an ace up his sleeve all these years. Hanatarō would have been impressed if he wasn't in blinding pain.
But then he felt her slither back into his mind. FOCUS! Satsujin Dorobō hissed.
…I…can't… Hanatarō struggled.
You must! Her hiss turned into a threatening screech. GET OUT OF THERE!
He's….strong…
MOVE! Satsujin commanded. NOW!
"HA!" Jisanbō chuckled. "You were so hot shit a minute ago! I guess you just didn't live up to hype."
Whether it be will or Jisanbō's grating voice, the younger Yamada felt a renewed surge of energy course through his veins. He could feel a strange twitching in his left hand. "G…G"
"What's a matter, nerd?" Jisanbō continued the electrical surge. "Giving up already?"
"G….G…" Hanatarō used all of his will to move "G…GET….OFF ME!" He turned and delivered a slap to Jisanbō's helmet. The Yamada did not know what to expect but he did not expect the kido to stop, and he definitely did not expect Jisanbō to let go.
As they gained distance, Hanatarō's body still jerked and twitched. Every step he took, the Yamada feared he was going to fall face-first into the ground.
"You little shit…" Jisanbō whispered, but it was not the cocky bullish tone Hanatarō was used to. There was a hidden agony in that voice.
Hanatarō's eyes finally adjusted, and got a good look at Jisanbō. What the hell?
The famed Testsu Yoroi-nezumi helmet was shredded, practically gone. The only remnants of it were dented pieces to the side and the rear. But Jisanbō's face was even worse; there were five very large, and very deep gashes across his face. One wound traced a line through his left eye and settled around his upper lip. Hanatarō blanched (not that you could notice) as he could make out tendon and bone beneath the skin. What the hell happened? The Yamada stared agape. Testsu Yoroi-nezumi is as hard as its name implies. How could it be shredded? All I did was slap him? But then he looked at his left hand, only it wasn't a hand.
It was a clawed…thing.
Instead of the regular slightly pale-green skin, it was black and bony chitin.
Where there were supposed to be finger tips, there were serrated claws.
Is this… is this you…? Hanatarō felt a wave of nausea in his stomach as his hand transformed back to normal.
I told you he knows nothing about me. Satsujin Dorobō laughed. How can he know anything about me, when not even you know what we are capable of?
This is surreal… Hanatarō dared not look at the crowd, and he definitely did not want to look at 12th Division Captain Kurotsuchi Mayuri, who was undoubtedly salivating at this new skill.
"You are so friggin dead!" Jisanbō held his sword up in a standard guard.
"Your vision is impaired and you are bleeding heavily." Hanatarō dared to respond, his heart racing. "You know my abilities, Jisanbō. You attack me, you risk the destruction of your own Zanpakutō. Your future as a Shinigami is over."
"HA!" Jisanbō spat, blood spluttering out of his wounded face. "You think you have me one the ropes?! You think you know my power you arrogant shit?! Try this!" The hulking man raised his sword well above his head into a high guard. "Renkūdan!"
And he brought his sword down, bringing a thunderstorm with it.
Hanatarō's vision was obscured by the gale force wind. Are you kidding me?!
0o0o0o
The explosion was so powerful that is made the entire chamber shake. The crowd released a tirade of murmurs, curses and and cries of shock.
"Hanatarō!" Hinamori cried out.
"What the hell?!" Renji could not believe it. "How the hell did Jisanbō do that?! Where is Hanatarō?! Can you see him?"
"There's too much debris." Kira peered into the fog. "Wait a minute…..oh no."
The dust parted and there was Hanatarō, and the audience recoiled in horror.
Yamada Hanatarō stood there in shock, his sickly features turned deathly white, and for good reason.
His entire right arm was gone from his upper collarbone. His flesh was scarred exposing his throat and the upper part of his ribcage.
Renji's reaction summarised it perfectly. "Oh fuck."
0o0o0o
Since...when…could he do that? Hanatarō dared not look down, he knew he was going into shock. The sound of his blood melting the ring at his feet did not help things in the slightest.
I'm dead, Hanatarō concluded, I doubt even Captain Unohana can save me in this state.
You are dramatic, you tiny little thing. I'll give you that. Satsujin dorobō seemed unconcerned, a very unusual response considering their predicament. It's not over. Face him.
"You're…insane…" Hanatarō could feel his consciousness slipping away. "I can barely…."
The Yamada's mind went dark, and his knees began to buckle.
Hmph. His Zanpakutō growled. I guess I have to do everything around here.
0o0o0o
Jisanbō always love the attention. He turned to face the crowd and allowed himself to be adored. He could not hear their cheers, but he could see their expressions. Heck he could even see his brother, Jirōbō with the 7th Division delegation. He was only a 12th seat but he clearly must have pulled some strings.
Jirōbō was clapping proudly, a breach of protocol (representatives are not meant to show favouritism) but Jisanbō had a feeling it would be overlooked just this once.
But something was wrong; the kido barrier was not coming down. And his audience stopped cheering and looked on in surprise. To be more precise, they were looking behind him.
Jisanbō turned around and he could not contain his own amazement.
The nerd was still standing. Missing an arm and half his body shredded but standing nonetheless.
More surprisingly he was alert, he was looking directly at the youngest Ikkanzaka. But something was off…
Jisanbō was surprisingly not as much of a moron as many of his peers think. Sure he definitely lacked brains in a lot of fields; notably academia and theory. He was also pretty mediocre with kido but Instructor Takaro gave him a few helpful pointers. But in terms of combat, he was a natural.
For that reason he knew to always keep an ace up your sleeve; such as Renkūdan. But more than that, Jisanbō noticed the little things.
For instance, Hanatarō's eyes were not blue anymore. They were black.
And it was not that his pupils were super-dilated. The colour of his iris changed.
Pitch. Black.
"You're tough nerd. I'll give you that at least." Jisanbō smirked. "But if you think I'm going to get in close to you, you are crazier than I thought." He always thought the 'acid for blood' thing was bullshit. But now that he saw the Yamada's blood melting the ground, he was glad he missed that initial decapitating strike.
"You want another one?" The youngest Ikkanzaka raised his sword again. "I can do this all day. In fact I can-"
"Enough." Hanatarō spoke, but that was most definitely not his voice.
Jisanbō felt a burning in his torso. More than burning –twisting and writhing. Like something is trying to burst out of his chest. Jisanbō screamed as he fell to his knees, the pain damaging his focus. "What….the….hell?"
0o0o0o
"Woah, woah. What is he doing?" Takaro Seiichiro leaned forward. "It's like he's pain. What is happening to him?"
Ōnabara Gengorō was more concerned about Hanatarō. He was standing rigid, his posture was off and more disturbingly he was twitching – like he was having a stroke.
Enough of this, Gengorō was signalling the examiners, the delegation has more than enough to make a decision. But one of the examiners shook her head, she signalled back – it wasn't over yet.
And then it happened.
Hanatarō twitched as his wounds began to spasm. Flesh began to manifest and contort and wounds began to close. Marrow and cartilage began to build off his exposed collar bone tracing downwards.
Then bone.
Then tendon.
Then veins.
Then flesh.
Then skin.
And in less than three seconds, Yamada Hanatarō's wounds had completely healed, and he regained his lost arm. Steam emanated off him as if he forged from dry ice.
He took this newly formed arm and reached into his empty scabbard. And then he pulled out a new sword – black sleek and dripping acid with renewed fervour.
What. The. Fuck? Seiichiro and Gengorō had the same thought, and spoke the same words. "Is that…?"
0o0o0o
"High speed regeneration." For the first time in a very long time Captain Commander Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni opened his eyes and leant forward, and carefully scrutinised the duel before him.
The examiners were about to call the match when Jisanbō unleashed his Renkūdan,but it has gone completely off the rails. But as a consequence, he had seen something he had never seen before. Even the nobles who use Final Grading Day as an excuse to drink and sleep were bolted upright.
Everyone was shocked, even Captain Kurotsuchi was taken aback. But the elder Shinigami could barely make out the outline of drool on the mad scientist's chin.
Acid for blood.
Acid sword.
Liquid armour.
And now high speed regeneration.
He glanced at the Gotei 13 delegation. None of them took their eyes of Yamada Hanatarō. In fact one or two the divisions whose delegation did not have their captain sent a messenger to bring them here ASAP.
Something tells me, the old man grunted to himself, this year's roster requests are going to be very interesting.
0o0o0o
Yamada Hanatarō lurched forward, as if he could not bend his knees.
He limply held his Zanpakutō in his hand. The tip of the blade scraped the ground melting everything in its wake.
Jisanbō was still clutching his chest in pain. "What the hell have you done to me?!"
The younger Yamada said nothing he just got closer and closer. Jisanbō knew close combat was not the best idea when it came to an enemy that bled acid, but he was out of moves.
He lurched his sword forward but in his pain, he misjudge the distance. The sword did not impact with his opponent, it fell short by only a few centimetres.
The Ikkanzaka looked up into the face of the Yamada. It was funny, Hanatarō was always so tiny, so diminutive, so easy to push around.
But as Jisanbō looked up at his opponent, he could not help but remark how tall he looked.
Hanatarō stared back, with black expressionless eyes.
But then that neutral mouth curved into a very ominous smirk.
Hanatarō then walked right into Jisanbō's blade; impaling himself.
The youngest Ikkanzaka was too horrified to resist. Hanatarō walked closer and closer, until he reached the very hilt of the Zanpakutō, the blade piercing his body and coming out of his back.
And his acidic blood coating every square centimetre of Testsu Yoroi-nezumi.
"Dissolve." Hanatarō commanded. Jisanbō screamed as his Zanpakutō melted away down to a sub-molecular level. The blood continued to trickle forward reaching towards Testsu Yoroi-nezumi's hilt, and its owner's fingers.
Jisanbō tried to let go, but Hanatarō's sword-free hand grabbed him and pulled him closer.
The acid spread to his fingers, then his hand, wrist, forearm.
It was then and only then did the examiners step in.
"ENOUGH!" One of them commanded.
Hanatarō froze and blinked several times.
The examiners did not notice, the delegation did not notice, and the audience did not notice. But as Jisanbō was undergoing shock, he looked directly into Hanatarō's eyes as they shifted from black to blue once more.
The Yamada let go of what was left of Jisanbō's crippled and mutilated limb, and the large hulking man fell back to the floor and into unconsciousness.
The ring was flooded by examiners and specialised staff to repair the catastrophic damage. The examiners knelt over the injured Ikkanzaka, checking his vitals. Whatever they concluded it was not good and began to signal to nearby medics.
Several medics cautiously approached Yamada Hanatarō to check his chest wound.
But as what happened before, the medics were horrified as they saw his wound seal up in less than a second.
The silence was deafening.
The crowd said nothing.
The delegation said nothing.
Only the main examiner said something.
"Winner, Yamada Hanatarō."
0o0o0o
Well there you go folks. I hope you enjoy it.
I know the fight is not ridiculously long, but I always thought
Review as always.
Satsujin dorobō (殺人泥棒) - 'Murderous Thief'
Testsu Yoroi-nezumi (鉄ヨロイネズミ) - Iron Armadillo.
Renkūdan (練空弾 ) – Drilling Air Bullet.