More time passed and one after another, the rest of the students awakened their Zanpakutō and began the same hard training as the two friends to master them.
Before they knew it, they had reached their final year at the academy and graduation was closing in.
"Can you guys believe our time here is almost over, Yamato asked"
"It's hard to believe, said Koji"
"But we still have one final assignment, said Masaru"
"You mean the Hollow training thing, Shunsui asked"
"Yes and we will do it against low level Hollows that the instructors has managed to capture, said Jūshirō"
"Seriously?"
"Didn't you listen at all to what Yamamoto-sensei said earlier today when he informed us about the assignment, said Yamato"
"The academy has picked a big area for us to practice team combat against Hollows that are weaker so we won't get harmed, Masaru explained"
"Oh, guess I forgot about it, said Shunsui"
The other four just shook their heads.
A few days later.
All 6th year students stood gathered before Yamamoto.
"Today is the day for your final exam. Get through this and the life of a Soul Reaper won't be as hard for you
-This exercis will not only test your skills in combat against Hollows but also your teamwork. That is why all of you have been divided into groups so find your teammates by finding people with the same symbol as you on the papers you were given when arriving here"
All students pciked up pieces of paper from their pockets and looked at the symbols drawn on them.
"Looks like the three of us are on the same team, said Yamato"
"Seems that way, said Shunsui"
"And it seems like Koji and Masaru are on a team with Kazuhiro, said Jūshirō"
The other two looked towards their friends and saw that he was right.
Yamamoto then cleared his throat to get their attention.
"Now when everyone has foudn their teammates, I will explain the exercise
-The area we're standing infront of has been filled with low-level Hollows. Your job is to work together in your teams and get rid of them. Is that clear?"
"Yes sir!"
"Then let's begin your final exam"
The entrance behind Yamamoto opened and all students rushed inside in their respective groups.
"Let's go you two, said Yamato"
The other two nodded and they began to Flash Step to go faster and after a while, they found a group of Hollows.
"Ready, Jūshirō asked"
"Yeah, said the others"
Jūshirō and Shunsui then drew their swords and activated their Shikai before running towards the Hollows.
One of the Hollows began to charge up a Cero as they got closer and fired it.
Jūshirō got infront of the others and used Sōgyo No Kotowari's ability to absorb it and send it back with increased speed and pressure, shattering the Hollow's mask.
Shunsui then jumped up and used a technique called Bushōgoma to send two wind blades towards another Hollow enveloping it in a strong tornado like wind.
"Takaoni!"
Shunsui appeared in the air above the Hollow, moving both swords down to cut the mask.
"Shunkō!"
A white energy surged around Yamato's back and shoulders like water and he shattered the last Hollow's mask with a powerful punch.
As he landed on the ground, the energy disappeared and he turned to the other two who put their swords back in their scabbards.
"What was that technique Yamato, Jūshirō asked"
"It's called Shunkō, a mix between Kidō and Hakuda
-Father taught me how to use it during our last break but I've still got a bit to go before I can fully control it"
"Seemed to me like you had a lot of control over it, said Shunsui
-I mean, you got rid of that Hollow quite fast"
"You guys did a good job too, your Shikai are incredible"
The two smiled before Jūshirō started to walk.
"Let's keep going. I can sense more Hollows around here"
"You got it, said Shunsui"
"Lead the way, said Yamato"
The three of them began to Flash Step in the direction they felt the Hollows and after defeating some of them, they found Masaru, Koji and Kazuhiro.
"Hey guys, said Koji"
"How is the exam going for you, Kazuhiro asked"
"We've defeated about nine Hollows so far, said Shunsui"
"Nine! You must be good at finidng them"
"Yeah, we've only found four, said Koji"
"Thank Jūshirō and how well he can sense the Hollows, said Yamato"
Suddenly, they heard a loud roar and saw two big Hollows not that far away from them.
"Those are some large Hollows, said Kazuhiro"
"What should we do, Koji asked
-Fight them?"
"Maybe if there had only been one but two of that size is too much for even the six of us, said Masaru"
"We'll have to do something, said Shunsui
-We are the strongest in our class so if we work together we can hold them back long enough for someone to notice and inform Yamamoto-sensei"
"Shunsui is right, said Jūshirō
-We can't let those Hollows walk around freely"
The others looked at each other before nodding.
"Let's go, said Yamato"
They Flash Stepped over to the Hollows were they all drew their Zanpakutō.
"All waves rise now and become my shield, lightning strike now and become my blade. Sōgyo No Kotowari!"
"Flower wind rage and flower god roar. Heavenly wind rage and heavenly demon sneer. Katen Kyōkotsu"
"Entangle Tsutaurushi"
"Rage like the waves Uzumaki"
"Hit hard Raimei"
"Freeze Mō Fubuki"
With all their Shikai activated, the surrounded the Hollows.
Masaru who's Shikai took the form of a thorny whip hit the ground with it and vines rose up, binding the legs and arms of the Hollows.
"Nice Masaru, said Yamato"
He raised his own Zanpakutō towards the sky, summoning dark clouds before lightning struck the two Hollows.
"Allright"
"Don't celebrate yet Shihōin, said Kazuhiro"
One of the Hollows got its arm free and long claws appeared on its had which it used to cut off the vines holding it down.
It then tried to attack them.
"Hyōheki!
Kazuhiro struck his Zanpakutō into the ground and a wall of ice rose up, acting as a shield.
The Hollow that was still stuck then fired a Cero at them but Jūshirō quickly got infront of the others and fired it back.
It managed to knock the Hollow back and Jūshirō got down on one knee, panting.
"You okay, Shunsui asked"
"Yes. That Cero was just stronger than I expected"
He got back up as Shunsui looked at the Hollow and as it got back up, he saw a crack in the mask.
"The mask on that one is cracked so let's get it!"
"Right!"
Everyone went towards the Hollow with the cracked mask.
Jūshirō stayed on the ground and made cuts in its legs so it lost balance as the others leaped up to reach the mask.
Masaru used his whip and wrapped it around the Hollow's neck to keep its head still.
"Aisuburēdo!"
"Sandākurappu"
"Taifū Nami"
Kazuhiro, Yamato and Koji combined their attacks and it made the crack on the Hollow's mask even bigger.
"Now Shunsui, Koji shouted"
The others quickly got onto the ground as Shunsui leaped towars the mask.
"Irooni White!"
Swinging his swords, Shunsui attacked the Hollow were the crack was, fully shattering the mask.
He then landed next to the others.
"That's one down at least, said Masaru"
"Yeah but it took a bit of our energy to do it, said Koji"
"Then let's try to take the other one down and if we can't, then at least we might be able to hold it back, said Jūshirō"
The others nodded in agreement and they attacked the other Hollow.
But it was stronger than the other and it took a lot of energy from the students to try and defeat it.
As the Hollow knocked them away, everyone were on their knees, panting.
But then, a burst of flames came out of nowhere and surrounded the Hollow in a tornado of fire.
Shunsui was the one able to look up and he saw Yamamoto stand between them and the Hollow.
"Sensei"
"At ease. You can all rest now when I'm here"
Yamamoto then turned towards the Hollow.
"Taimatsu"
With a simple swing of his sword, Yamamoto made more flames surround the Hollow, burning it until only ashes remained.
He put his Zanpakutō back in the scabbard and turned to his students who had all passed out in exhaustion.
Three days later.
Jūshirō opened his eyes and looked around, immediatly recognizing the room as a part of the healers' wing.
"What happened? How did I get back here?"
He slowly sat up and saw that in the three other beds in the room were Shunsui, Masaru and Yamato.
They soon woke up as well and were as confused as him about being back at the academy.
"How did we get back, Yamato asked"
"I don't know, said Masaru"
"The last thing I remember is Yamamoto-sensei showing up, said Shunsui"
The door then opened and Yamamoto entered the room.
"Ah I'm glad you're all awake"
"Sensei, what happened, Jūshirō asked"
"A few of your classmates saw you fight two big Hollows and quickly informed me about it.
-By the time I reached you all, you were barely conscious but only one Hollow was standing rather then two as I had been informed. I defeated it and made sure you all were brought here"
"So where is Koji and Kazuhiro, Shunsui asked"
"In another room, all of you couldn't fit together in one room so they were placed next door.
-But don't worry. I've already talked to them and they are awake"
He looked at the four of them before a slight smile crossed his face.
"You all did very well out there when facing those Hollows even though you probably knew it would be hard for you to handle.
-You all worked together and used your powers wisely. For that, all six of you will be given the higest score on your final exam"
The four friends couldn't help but smile at each other.
"Thank you sir, said Masaru"
"You all deserve it after that battle.
-I have no doubt that you all will become great Soul Reapers"
That praise from the teacher meant a lot for them and all four bowed their heads in respect and gratitude.
They stayed in the healers' wing for three more days so they could fully recover from their encounter with the big Hollows.
At their graduation ceremony, they took up the top six spots in their class.
It was now that their lives as Soul Reapers would fully begin.
Author's notes
Hyōheki = Ice wall
Aisuburēdo = Ice Blade
Sandākurappu = Thunder Clap
Taifū Nami = Typhon Wave
Tsutaurushi is the name of Masaru's Zanpakutō and translates to poison ivy.
Uzumaki is Koji's Zanpakutō and its name mean whirlpool
Raimei is Yamato's and its name translates to thunder roar
Mō Fubuki: Kazuhiro's Zanpakutō and means blizzard