Shigure Segawa raised his head and locked eyes with Shunsui Kyōraku, holding up a single finger.
"First, I would like to apply in advance for participation in the Konsō field training. Additionally, I hope to choose the location myself."
Kyōraku raised an eyebrow, his smile unchanging. "And the second?"
"Second, I would like to apply for early graduation immediately after completing the Konsō field training."
Hearing this, Kyōraku chuckled softly.
"I can help you apply for both of these requests. However... to successfully pass these applications, you can't rely solely on a captain's recommendation."
Shigure lowered his head respectfully. "I humbly ask for Captain Kyōraku's guidance."
Crossing his arms, Kyōraku explained, "Shinō Academy has its own traditions, and the Konsō field training is one of the unchanging rules."
"I can indeed help you take a shortcut, allowing you to join the sixth-year students for the training and even granting you the liberty to choose the location. However, there are certain rules that cannot be broken."
"If you want to join them in the World of the Living, you'll need to pass the tests they set to prove your strength and earn their recognition. This step cannot be skipped."
Hearing this, Shigure smiled confidently. "Rest assured, Captain. I can guarantee that I'll succeed."
After all, being proficient in all four combat techniques, dealing with a group of sixth-year students who likely only had basic mastery was no challenge for him.
Kyōraku smiled again. "Now, onto the second request—early graduation."
"This is a much larger undertaking and a bit more complicated. First, you must successfully complete the Konsō field training. Second, you must awaken your Zanpakutō. At the very least, it can't remain in its Asauchi form."
As he spoke, Kyōraku gestured towards the blade at Shigure's waist before continuing, "Once you've met these two conditions, you'll also need to demonstrate your proficiency in Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō under the observation of the Evaluation Committee, along with the Shikai release of your Zanpakutō."
"The Evaluation Committee consists of four instructors from the Shinō Academy, and typically, a captain from the Gotei 13 is invited to oversee the process."
Shigure's eyes flickered with thought. He hadn't expected that early graduation would be even more troublesome than he'd anticipated.
Seemingly reading his mind, Kyōraku shrugged and said, "These rules are indeed cumbersome, but they were personally mandated by the Central 46. Even if I wanted to help you change them, I couldn't... unless, of course, you were part of one of the Four Great Noble Families. Hahaha!"
Kyōraku burst into hearty laughter, amused by his own jest.
Having explained everything so clearly, Shigure naturally understood.
In short, to graduate early, he not only had to complete the Konsō field training but also prove to the academy that he possessed sufficient strength.
Although Shigure had yet to subdue his Zanpakutō and achieve Shikai, it was only his first day. He was confident he could accomplish it.
"Then I leave it to you to inform the academy," Shigure said with a respectful bow.
Kyōraku's gaze lingered on Shigure, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Such confidence—you truly live up to your reputation. Very well, I'll reluctantly take care of it for you."
Truth be told, Shigure could have applied for these requests himself. However, as a new student, his applications might encounter unnecessary obstacles.
With Kyōraku's support, things were different. A captain's recommendation was something the academy couldn't refuse.
Moreover, for Kyōraku, it was merely a small favor.
Just then, a wave of commotion reached their ears.
It turned out that the special advancement class instructor had arrived, leading the students heading to the Dangai. It seemed the time for the Dangai training had come. Each student carried an Asauchi at their waist. Some were visibly excited, while others appeared somewhat apprehensive.
"Ah, seems like someone's here... Well, I won't keep you from your lesson any longer. Farewell, Segawa-kun."
With a smile, Kyōraku stepped beside Shigure and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'm looking forward to your performance."
With those words, he vanished from the dojo in a flash step.
Once Kyōraku left, Shigure let out a small sigh of relief.
The reason he had suddenly made these two requests wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision.
It was because, just moments ago, during his conversation with Kyōraku, a new system task had appeared!
This time, the task's location wasn't in the Soul Society.
It was in the World of the Living!
At Urahara Shop in Karakura Town!
The moment he saw this, Shigure immediately understood.
To get there as quickly as possible, there was only one way—to participate in the Konsō field training ahead of schedule.
Konsō, also known as the soul burial, is the ritual where Soul Reapers guide the souls of the deceased to the Soul Society. This is considered the most fundamental duty of a Soul Reaper in the World of the Living.
To familiarize students with this duty, the Shinō Academy had established the Konsō field training, allowing students to experience it under the academy's supervision.
However, this training was typically reserved for senior students, once their skills were more refined, not for newly enrolled students.
Thus, Shigure had requested Kyōraku's help in joining the training early.
As for early graduation, it was because Shigure understood that staying at the Shinō Academy held little benefit for him.
With his mastery of Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō, his skills might even surpass those of the academy's instructors.
What Shigure urgently needed was to awaken and release his Zanpakutō—a process the academy couldn't teach. That, he had to achieve on his own.
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