8AM
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The morning air in Seireitei was brisk, the kind that made the white walls seem even whiter. Katsu walked toward the main testing hall of the Shin'ō Academy, the murmurs of other students buzzing around him. Some were nervous. Others overly confident. He was… somewhere in between.
The Advancement Exam was split into two days:
Day One – Written Assessments
Day Two – Practical Trials
Passing the written portion was a requirement to even reach the second day. Katsu already knew his weakest point had always been the academic side. Combat? He thrived in. Memorizing Kidō incantations word-for-word and listing the exact dates of major Gotei 13 restructurings? That was another matter entirely.
Inside, the testing hall was lined with long desks. The proctors — seated up front — wore the white armbands denoting their role. A few looked vaguely familiar, faces he'd seen in the corridors.
Katsu took his seat, sliding a charcoal pencil and ink brush from his uniform pocket. A bell rang once. Test papers were handed out.
The first section was Kidō Theory.
Identify the correct classifications for Bakudō 1–9.
Describe the spiritual particle manipulation required to execute Hadō #33 without a verbal chant.
Name the founder of the modern Kidō curriculum in the Academy.
Katsu worked slowly, mind recalling the long evenings in the library when he'd crammed. His study sessions had paid off — some answers didn't come instantly, but they came.
The second section was Zanjutsu History.
List three famous duels in the past two hundred years and the styles used.
Explain the strengths and weaknesses of the Itto-ryū and Niten-ryū approaches.
He scratched down the answers, quietly thankful that his own blade work had introduced him to more than just practical slashes — the theory came easier than he'd feared.
The last section was Tactical and Strategic Scenarios.
How would you deploy a squad of ten Shinigami to defend against an estimated force of thirty Hollows in a forested environment at night?
What are the risks of pursuing a Menos Grande into Hueco Mundo without backup?
Katsu took a moment here, weighing the right answers. His instinct was to say "hit fast and sharp," but he remembered the instructors' emphasis on teamwork, chain-of-command, and fallback routes. His answers reflected those priorities.
Hours passed until the final bell rang.
Students filed out, muttering to each other about trick questions and impossible dates. Katsu didn't say a word. He felt he'd done well enough to pass — maybe not with top marks like Daigo, but enough to get to Day Two.
The instructor who'd fought him months ago gave him a slight nod as he left the hall. No smile, no comment — just acknowledgment.
Tomorrow would be the real test. The day where strength, skill, and instincts mattered most.