Thank you to the kind soul who told me this Chapter didn't upload correctly! I always double check it when these upload but sometimes things happen haha. Thank you again sweetie!
After months of wielding the Shinigami Academy training katanas, our Shinigami-to-be's finally get their hands on their Asauchis. Imbued with spiritual pressure, it is up to the wielder to form a bond with their Asauchis, thus molding it into their unique Zanpakuto.
"All right everyone," Gengoro announced to the class, "I'll be calling you over one by one to grab your Asauchis. Please make sure you return your training katanas when coming up!"
As the last of the Asauchis were passed out, Hajime noticed many eyes on her as she returned to her seat.
"Ne, Kisume…" Hajime spoke as she noticed her fellow classmates whispering and looking in her direction, "Did I do something wrong? I feel like everyone's looking at me…"
"Ah, well you see…" Kisume whispered, "News has spread that Captain Kuchiki became your sponsor. Everyone was already suspicious about your friendship with Vice-Captains Abarai and Kuchiki, they think you used them to get close to the Captain."
"What?!" She whispered loudly, "I would never! I became friends with them in the world of the living and-"
"Hey," Kisume interjected, "you don't have to explain to me. I'm on your side."
Before Hajime could speak, Gengoro called for the class's attention. Today's training session was special, with the help of multiple Captains and Vice-Captains, the students are going to be fighting against Hollow. Leading the class to the training grounds they were met by Captains and Vice-Captains, Hitsugaya, Kuchiki, Komamura, Abarai, Hinamori, and Hisagi.
Separating the class into groups of six, Hajime was in Renji's group.
"Yo, Hajime!" Renji greeted.
Noticing the eyes on her once again, she simply gave a smile and turned her attention to Gengoro.
"Okay, listen up!" Gengoro called out, "With your newly acquired Asauchi, we will be exterminating Hollow today. You are in the advanced class, and I expect nothing less from you but if your leader fears for your safety, they will intervene on your behalf. Though, I trust it shouldn't come to that. While these Hollow may be low-level, be wary that we have had some Adjuchas appear before. Also, your group leaders will be grading you of their own volition, so be wary of your effort! Once containment barriers are set up, you are all welcome to begin."
Each Captain paired with a Vice-Captain (Hitsugaya-Hinamori, Kuchiki-Abarai, Komamura-Hisagi) went to their designated areas of the training grounds and placed their containment barriers. These barriers help separate each pair of leaders and their students from disturbing one another.
"Hey Captain!" Renji called out to Byakuya, "want to see whose group can clear the most Hollow?" His wager was starting to get his students pumped up.
"How foolish," Byakuya commented, "Obviously the one that begins first will have an advantage." From his pocket, Byakuya grabbed his Hollow bait and immediately crushed it between his fingers, opening a Garganta on his side of the field. The roars of Hollow reverberated throughout the field as Byakuya's group of students ran first to go exterminate them.
Flustered, Renji quickly grabbed the Hollow bait from his pocket and crushed it, opening another Garganta. While there were many low-level Hollow, a couple of Adjuchas made their way to the field.
"Looks like we were summoned for some Shinigami training," one of the Adjuchas spoke in a disgusted tone.
"Che, they think they can summon us and exterminate us as they please?" Another spoke, "we'll just have to teach them who they're messing with." As the Adjuchas scanned the room, he noticed Hajime, who was busy fighting off a low-level Hollow, "they're all weak here, let's have some fun!"
Quickly, the Adjuchas lunged at Hajime, who was just barely able to defend herself while the force of his power pushed her back, "I call this one!" he yelled out to his fellow Adjuchas.
"Renji." Byakuya spoke.
"I know." Renji answered as he observed the Adjuchas engaging with the students. All the Adjuchas that entered are strong but that one… Will you be all right, Hajime?
Picking their opponents, the other five Adjuchas lunged at their target, with Kisume also being one.
"Impressive…for a student," Hajime's opponent mocked, "I didn't think you'd be able to block on time." Though, her stance is full of openings… He gave a wide grin. "What's your name?" He asked.
Hajime didn't answer.
"Oh? Not going to talk? Well, then why don't I start? My name is Sholto, and you are?"
Hajime still didn't answer. She felt no inclination to entertain this Adjuchas further.
"My, my, my," Sholto spoke as he slowly circled around Hajime, her gaze following him, "how am I supposed to add you to the list if I don't know your name?"
"List?" Hajime finally asked.
"Ah, see, I knew you could speak."
"What are you talking about?"
"Why of course, the list of Shinigami I've killed." Disappearing from her line of sight, Sholto quickly appeared beside her and kicked her against the barrier. Giving Hajime no time to recover and get back to her feet, Sholto fired a cero.
Observing the battle, Byakuya looked over to Renji, who was holding onto his Zanpakuto, looking determined to intervene in Hajime's battle.
"Renji." Byakuya called for his attention. Looking into his Captain's eyes, he knew what Byakuya was trying to tell him: don't interfere.
Growing flustered at the cero that was heading towards her, Hajime quickly fired, "Hadou #33: Sokatsui," with no Kido incantation, allowing her enough time to dodge as the cero exploded against the barrier walls. Quickly gaining her footing, and taking advantage of the smoke from the cero, Hajime used her recently acquired flash steps to get an advantage on Sholto, though, he was already a step ahead of her. A large figure lunged at Hajime and slashed her arm, multiple times.
As the smoke cleared, Sholto no longer had his human-like appearance. Instead, he transformed into a panther, eager to end Hajime's life.
"Catch me if you can, Shinigami," he teased as he moved almost instantly toward Hajime. Barely, she blocked his fangs with her katana and was thrown against the barrier wall.
I can't keep up with him, Hajime thought to herself as she was trying to get to her feet.
Quickly, Sholto prepared another cero to fire, this was almost three times as big as the first one. With her classmates on both sides of her, Hajime's area of movement was drastically cut down. There was no time. The cero was coming!
"Ahh, Bakudou #44: Sekisho!" A wall quickly emerged in front of Hajime and shattered as it met the cero. She let out a sigh of relief. The spells are too weak without the incantation, but he attacks too quickly, I need to buy time somehow…
"Your reiatsu may be impressive," Sholto spoke as he transformed back into his human-like form, walking slowly toward Hajime, "but you're nowhere near Captain-level. Just know, when I'm finished with you, I'll be making my way to that red-headed Shinigami next."
"Don't you dare touch him," Hajime snapped, he may be too strong for the lower-level Kido but I think I can buy enough time, and hopefully…they don't backfire on me!
An energy rope forming around her hands, Hajime fired Bakudou #4: Hainawa at Sholto, entangling his arms. However, she knew that wouldn't hold him and quickly drew a symbol in front of her and chanted, "Disintegrate, black dog of Rondanini. Look upon your burning soul and sever your throat! Bakudou #9: Geki!" Engulfing Sholto in red energy, he became paralyzed, though not for long. Quickly, Hajime cast Bakudou #21: Sekienton creating a blast of red smoke, masking her from her opponent. Using her flash steps, she cast Sakienton in multiple locations surrounding Sholto to hide her presence.
As Sholto finally broke free of Hainawa and Geki, he was alert, looking for Hajime, though he no longer felt her spiritual pressure. Hiding in the smoke created by Sekienton, Hajime also cast Bakudou #26: Kyakko which allows the castor to hide their spiritual energy. As she observed him from the smoke, she pointed her finger at Sholto and quickly chanted, "You who is crowned with the name of Man, wearing a mask of blood and flesh. Flying on ten thousand fluttering wings, with Thunder's carriage and an empty spinning wheel, break the light into six pieces, carve a twin lotus on a wall of pale blue flames, and away the blazing fires to reach the distant heavens! Bakudou #61: Rikujokoro!" Six thin beams of light were summoned and slammed into Sholto's midsection holding him in place.
"A level 60s Kido spell?!" Sholto yelled out in surprise as he tried to break free from the spell.
"Remember this," Hajime spoke as she emerged from the smoke, "my name is Hajime, and I'm the Shinigami who killed you." Pointing directly at Sholto, she chanted once more, "Scattered beast bones! Spire, crimson crystal, steel wheels! The wind if it moves, the sky if it stops, the tone of the spear striking fills the lone castle! Hadou #63: Raikouhou!" A bolt of yellow lightning fired from her fingertips, exterminating Sholto.
Falling to her knees, Hajime was exhausted. The combination of using multiple Kido spells back-to-back coupled with using two level 60 Kido spells has spent all her energy. She was also starting to feel the pain in her body from Sholto's attacks earlier. Thinking the battle was over, she let her guard down, and all the remaining Hollow hastily lunged at her.
"Hajime!" Renji called out as he was busy saving a student from an Adjuchas and wouldn't make it to her in time.
Noticing she was surrounded on all fronts, she tried to reach for her Asauchi, but it wasn't there. It was flung against the wall in her previous battle. She barely has enough energy to fire any Kido spells either. As she closed her eyes and braced for impact, she heard a 'whoosh' in the air around her, only to see Byakuya exterminating all the Hollow with one swing of his Zanpakuto.
"Kuchiki-Sama…" She spoke as she looked at him in awe.
"Kisumoto Hajime," He turned around to face her, "good work."
She gave a proud smile at her accomplishments and collapsed from exhaustion.