The Senkaimon closed behind them with a final hum, sealing off the familiar pressure of Seireitei. A cool wind swept across the rooftops of Karakura Town, carrying the faint scents of asphalt, distant fried food, and the metallic tang of human cars rushing along neon-lit streets. The city sprawled beneath the night sky, an endless sea of lights, but to Shinigami eyes, there was another layer—faint spiritual currents weaving through alleys, rooftops, and the lives of oblivious mortals.
Haruto Nakamura adjusted the strap of his sword across his back and turned to Akio. His scarred face softened slightly, just enough to show he wasn't all bark. "Okay Kurozume. Before we patrol, there are some people you need to meet."
Akio tilted his head as Haruto raised two fingers to the air. A shimmer rippled across the space, and three figures stepped from the shadows—already waiting, cloaked in the faint, restrained aura of Shinigami.
The first was a wiry young man with dark hair tied back, his uniform sleeves rolled to the elbow. His eyes had a sharp glint, mischievous but alert. He gave Akio a grin."Yo. New blood, huh? Name's Renji. Renji Saito. I'm the most good-looking one in the whole group."
Haruto gave him a flat look. "Saito, less chatter."
The second stepped forward with a polite bow. She was taller than Akio expected, her long braid falling neatly over one shoulder. Her features were calm, almost serene, but her spiritual pressure had the solidity of stone."Yumi Hanekawa," she introduced herself softly. "I handle barrier work and sensory duties. A pleasure to meet you, Kurozume-san."
Akio returned her bow with respect. "Likewise."
The third emerged last, noticeably older than the other two. His face was lined, his hair silver at the temples, and his uniform bore more repairs than fabric. His aura wasn't sharp or overwhelming, but steady—like a candle that refused to gutter out no matter the wind.He gave a chuckle as he sized Akio up. "Katsuro Jin. Call me Jin-san if you like. I've been walking patrols in the Living World longer than you've been alive. Don't let this old frame fool you—my knees might creak, but I can still swing a sword."
There was humor in his tone, but his eyes were kind, free of the sharp judgment Akio had felt from so many others. Akio gave him a small smile in return. "Kurozume Akio. I look forward to learning from you."
Haruto's gravelly voice cut through the exchange. "Good. Now you're acquainted, here's the layout." He unrolled a small parchment infused with spiritual ink, the map of Karakura overlaid with glowing marks. "Our job is simple but critical. We patrol the town, watch for spikes in Hollow activity, and keep the balance of souls steady. If you see a plus soul, you guide it with Konsō. If you see a Hollow—" his scarred lips curled faintly "—you exterminate it before it eats anyone."
Renji Saito flicked his fingers toward the glowing lines. "We usually rotate zones. Hollows don't exactly follow a schedule, but hot spots are common near hospitals, cemeteries, and schools. Big gatherings of human emotion? Perfect feeding grounds."
Yumi added, her voice calm, "We stay invisible to human eyes. Keep our presence hidden. Blend with the flow of their lives without disturbing it."
Haruto's gaze fell squarely on Akio. "Tonight, you'll shadow Katsuro Jin. He's a veteran, and though his power isn't flashy, his experience in the Living World is second to none. Watch how he moves, how he reads the city. Saito and Hanekawa will pair up. I'll take a solo route through the eastern sector."
Akio nodded. "Understood."
"Good. Keep your Denreishinki handy—alerts will come fast if something spikes." Haruto's eyes hardened. "One more thing. This isn't Seireitei. Out here, there are no practice matches, no tournament cheers. If you slip, humans die. Patrol like lives depend on it—because they do."
[A/N: The Denreishinki is basically the Shinigami's cellphone like tool used during patrol in the Human World. Can be used for Hollow Detection]
The squad gave a sharp chorus of affirmatives. With that, they dispersed across the rooftops, splitting into their assigned routes. Akio followed Jin, who moved at a steady pace, not rushing, not wasting energy.
For the first few blocks, they moved in silence, hopping from building to building under the glow of neon signs and passing car lights. Akio stole glances at his companion. Jin's movements weren't the swift, sharp bursts of a young fighter—they were measured, efficient, almost casual. Every step seemed chosen for silence, every pause aligned with the rhythms of the city.
Finally, Jin chuckled, breaking the quiet. "Relax your shoulders, boy. You're stiff as a statue. The humans can't see us, but the city can still feel us. Patrol's not just about waiting for Hollows—it's about listening. Let the city breathe, and you'll hear when it hiccups."
Akio blinked, curious despite himself. "Listening to the city?"
"That's right." Jin tapped his ear as they paused on a rooftop near a park. "A sudden hush in a crowd. Dogs barking at shadows. Streetlights flickering. The little things tell you when something's wrong. Hollows are hunters—they ripple the world even before they show their ugly masks."
Akio absorbed the words, watching the humans below—children chasing each other under streetlamps, an old couple strolling hand in hand. It was strange, seeing lives so fragile and fleeting, yet untouched by the chaos of Seireitei.
"You've been patrolling here a long time," Akio said after a moment. "Doesn't it get… tiring? Always cleaning up the same cycle of souls and Hollows?"
Jin gave a dry laugh. "Of course it does. I'm no prodigy, no noble, no captain's favorite. Just an old soldier. But this job matters. Every soul I Konsō, every Hollow I cut down—it keeps the scales balanced. It gives these people another sunrise. And that's enough for me."
Akio looked at him differently then—not as a weak veteran clinging to relevance, but as a man who'd chosen a quiet purpose and lived it fully. In a world obsessed with power and prestige, that kind of resolve was rare.
As they moved across the rooftops, Jin's hand lifted suddenly. "Stop."
Akio froze, following the older man's gaze toward a narrow alley below. The sounds of the city seemed normal, but then Akio noticed it—the way the air thinned, the faint ripple of spiritual pressure, oily and foul.
"Feel it?" Jin asked softly.
Akio nodded. "A Hollow."
"Good. Now, don't just rush in. Look around first."
Akio scanned the alley more carefully. A young boy's spirit lingered at the end of the street, his chain of fate rattling weakly. The shadows warped around him, a mask-like shape pushing through.
"They target the helpless," Jin muttered. "You save the soul before you swing your blade. That's the rule."
Without hesitation, Akio dropped down, landing lightly. The Hollow screeched and lunged, jagged claws reaching for the boy. Akio's blade flashed up, parrying the strike and forcing it back.
Jin landed behind him, steady and calm. "Watch its footing. They telegraph more with their legs than their claws."
Akio shifted, reading the movement this time. The Hollow's lunge was easy to predict—the moment its rear leg tightened, Akio pivoted, driving his sword clean through its mask. It dissolved into black dust, the air clearing instantly.
The boy looked up, wide-eyed, unable to see Akio but sensing him. Akio whispered a quiet prayer as he pressed the hilt of his Zanpakutō to the child's forehead. A soft blue glow enveloped the soul, whisking him away toward the cycle.
When he turned back, Jin was watching, arms folded. His eyes crinkled faintly. "Clean. Efficient. But you hesitated when you saw the boy."
"I didn't want to scare him," Akio admitted.
Jin shook his head. "In this job, hesitation kills. You can't worry about being gentle when a Hollow's breathing down their neck. Quick Konsō, then strike. Always remember: save the living first, fight second."
Akio nodded, absorbing the lesson.
They resumed their patrol, the city stretching ahead like an endless maze of lights. With every step, Akio found himself watching the world through Jin's eyes—every flicker, every silence, every whisper of imbalance. The old man wasn't fast, and his reiatsu wasn't overwhelming, but he moved like someone who'd survived a thousand nights in these streets.
And for the first time, Akio understood what "experience" meant in Soul Society.
"Good job until now, kid. You are learning quite fast." Jin said with appreciation.
Before Akio could reply, their conversation was cut short by a sharp buzz from their Denreishinki. The device's screen flared with crimson alerts, one after another, spreading across the Karakura map.
Akio's eyes widened. "Multiple Hollow signatures?"
Jin's face hardened. "Damn it. A cluster. They're scattered—too many for us to group up. We'll have to split and thin them out before they start feeding."
He looked Akio in the eye. "Think you can handle yourself?"
Akio's hand tightened on his Zanpakutō hilt. "Yes."
Jin nodded. "Good. Trust your instincts, but don't be reckless. Survive first, win second." He clapped Akio on the shoulder. "Go. Make me believe the academy wasn't just blowing smoke and my praise wasn't a nonsense."
Without another word, the two Shinigami split—Jin leaping north toward one signal, Akio veering west toward another. The city blurred beneath his steps, his senses sharpened by adrenaline. The hollow's pressure pulsed ahead, ugly and gnawing.
But then—
Something slammed into his back. Not a blade, not a claw—something colder, intangible, like shadow made solid. His breath hitched as the world around him twisted. The neon lights bent into spirals, buildings stretching like ink smeared across paper. His footing vanished, and he stumbled into a place that was not Karakura, not the world he'd known.
Darkness pressed close, humming with unnatural stillness.
And then—
A voice rang from behind him, smooth and deliberate.
"Welcome, Kurozume Akio…"