With the combined efforts of the Kasumioji family, the Shinō Spiritual Academy, and Seireitei, the kendo tournament was becoming increasingly popular, and the number of applicants was growing.
According to incomplete statistics, there were a total of 793 students at the Shinō Spiritual Academy, of which 288 had signed up for the tournament, nearly a third of the total number.
Of those 288 participants, 256 were first to fifth-year students, thus grouped into the school division.
The remaining 32 were sixth-year students and were placed in the official division to fight against official shinigami from the Soul Society, Kizokugai, and Rukongai.
Speaking of which, we must mention the effort Yamamoto Genryūsai put into modifying the rules.
Not only did he allow the top three from the school group to advance into the official division, but he also added a new rule, broadening the scope of participants.
Originally, only sixth-year students and members of the Gotei 13 were allowed to apply for the official division.
After a series of "friendly" negotiations between old Yamamoto and the Kasumioji family, it became possible for nobles, retired, and civilian shinigami outside of the formations to participate.
As a result, the number and list of participants in the official division was now exceptionally rich.
A total of 327 people registered for the tournament, including elite sixth-years such as Tsunayashiro Kugyō and Date Masanaka, who had already shone during public training sessions.
Then there were captains and vice-captains of the Gotei 13, such as the 6th Division's vice-captain Byakuya Kuchiki, and the 11th Division's captain Kenpachi Zaraki.
There were also several followers of major noble families, which we won't list in full.
To ensure the smooth running of the tournament, both the Shinō Academy and Seireitei were busy preparing various tasks.
As for security, Yamamoto ordered two to three times the usual number of personnel from each division to be dispatched for patrol and security.
Not to mention the medical department, nearly all members of the 4th Division were mobilized for the event.
In addition, all ongoing experiments in the 12th Division and the Technological Development Bureau were temporarily suspended.
Yamamoto personally visited Kurotsuchi Mayuri and appointed him responsible for the tournament's safety.
All usable technological equipment would be transferred to the academy.
As for the venue, it remained set at the academy's central arena, where public training sessions were usually held.
However, to ensure that their eldest son, Omaeda Marechiyo, could best demonstrate the family's strength at the tournament, the Omaeda family approved a budget of several hundred million.
The training ground was directly expanded to double its original size.
The seating area was massively increased. Previously accommodating only 800–900 people, it could now host 3,000.
Furthermore, several VIP boxes with gilded decorations were specially added for noble gentlemen. Arata felt a bit embarrassed when he saw them.
Inside were massage chairs, a machine with constant 24-hour temperature control, a huge bed, and a bathroom.
Arata thought that when the time came, he would also bring Rangiku in to test the quality of the VIP service.
Not for anything bad.
Simply, his Saito family was also a high noble house, so it was perfectly reasonable that he experience a VIP box as well.
Besides the audience seating, four rectangular fighting rings measuring 100 m x 100 m were newly built in the hall. Theoretically, this size was sufficient even for captain-level battles.
Arata stood on the high platform of the expanded central arena, his fingertips lightly brushing over the intricate wisteria patterns on the gilded railing.
Although the Omaeda family was responsible for the expansion, the wisteria crest, symbolizing the Kasumioji family, had also been added.
Sunlight streamed through the specially designed glass dome, casting a hazy golden glow throughout the space.
"What luxury…" he muttered to himself, his gaze sweeping across the four large fighting rings below.
Spiriton detection devices were installed at the edge of each ring, and 12th Division soldiers were making final adjustments.
Familiar waves of spiritual pressure sounded behind him, accompanied by Rangiku's cheerful voice: "Arata! The preliminaries are about to start~ Shall we go watch together?"
When he turned around, a flash of gold entered his vision.
Rangiku's long hair was tied in a high ponytail today, which was rare, and her gray eyes sparkled in the sunlight.
She waved the match schedule she had just received, the papers rustling.
"Tōshirō and the others are already in the contestant area." She leaned in closer, lowering her voice. "The nobles are arguing with the common students again. Fortunately, Captain Kuchiki is there…"
Arata slightly furrowed his brows. Those nobles in the Soul Society really were disgusting at heart.
Aside from a very small number of decent families, the rest were just arrogant upstarts. Unfortunately, Arata didn't yet have the power to get rid of them all at once.
Not dwelling on it, he took the schedule and quickly scanned through it.
According to the tournament plan, the school group's qualifiers would be held first, from which the top 64 students would be selected before moving on to the elimination round.
The qualifiers were played in a league system. Two hundred fifty-six students were divided into 4 groups, each with 64 competitors. The top 16 from each group would enter the Top 64.
Then, through elimination matches, the 64 would be reduced to 32, then 16, 8, semi-finals, and finally the top three.
The official division's tournament would not begin until the school division's competition was fully completed.
Arata quickly checked the schedule and group tables and found that Hitsugaya Tōshirō was in Group 1, and Kusaka Sōjirō in Group 2.
As for the four second-years, Renji and the others, they were also distributed into different groups.
Brothers-in-arms Renji and Kira were in Group 3, and Rukia was in Group 4.
As for Hinamori Momo, it was unclear whether it was luck or misfortune that she was placed in the same group as Tōshirō, in Group 1.
"Let's go." He put away the schedule, and his fingertips accidentally brushed against Rangiku's hand.
"Let's go see how the kids are doing."
The lottery waiting area was bustling with people.
Tōshirō sat with his eyes closed, palms laid flat across his knees, showing no sign of nervousness.
Kusaka Sōjirō, standing next to him, nervously ran his palm over the hilt of his sword, squeezing so hard his fingers turned white.
A little further away, Abarai Renji, with his blazing red hair, was vigorously practicing slashes at empty air, confident he would become the champion.
"Arata-sempai! Miss Rangiku!" Hinamori Momo was the first to notice their arrival and ran over carrying two cups of hot tea.
"Ah, Momoko is so thoughtful~" Rangiku smiled as she took the tea and looked at Hinamori with a soft expression of satisfaction.
Just as expected of the student she personally taught, she had truly inherited a lovely trait of caring for others.
"Does everyone understand the tournament rules?" Arata glanced around at everyone present and slowly spoke. "Each preliminary match is limited to three minutes. Victory is determined in one of three ways: knocking the opponent unconscious, forcing a surrender, or throwing the opponent out of the ring."
"Arata-sempai, don't worry!"
"I'll definitely win first place in the school group, then move into the official group!" Renji shouted excitedly, his booming voice almost shaking the entire contestant zone.
"Oh? Really? Since you put it that way, I'll just have to wait and see." Arata looked at Renji with interest and said with a smile.
"I won't disappoint you!"
Rukia and Kira were about to comment on how boastful Renji was when a deep voice suddenly rang out from the speakers, it was Sasakibe Chōjirō.
"Will the first group of competitors please proceed to Arena One. I repeat, the first group of competitors, please report to Arena One—"
Tōshirō quickly stood up, his white hair lightly ruffled by the breeze.
As he passed by Arata, he quietly said, "Saito-sensei, I will become the champion."
Arata responded with spiritual pressure.
"I believe in you, Tōshirō."
Earlier, when Renji said he wanted to be champion, Arata had expressed doubt.
Now that Tōshirō said he wanted to be champion, Arata didn't hesitate for a second.
At least in terms of visible strength, there was no problem with Tōshirō surpassing Renji.
Although Renji had been at the academy a year longer, Tōshirō's talent was not something an opponent could easily match.
Moreover, during this period, Arata had personally given Tōshirō extra lessons and special training.
If he still failed to win the title, then it would mean he was still lacking a bit of luck.
The blue stone of Arena One shimmered coldly in the sun. The moment Tōshirō stepped onto it, the entire contestant zone fell silent.
"First group, Match One, Hitsugaya Tōshirō versus Satō Taiyō!" From the referee's podium, Sasakibe Chōjirō's voice echoed from the speakers.
Since these were preliminary school group battles, the previously agreed-upon rule that at least three captains must be referees did not fully apply.
For a competition of this level, the title of First Division vice-captain was more than sufficient.
Moreover, Sasakibe's level had already reached captain standard.
Additionally, Yamamoto knew that Arata would personally be present to observe, so he didn't send more people to officiate.
Whether others would come as spectators was no longer Yamamoto's concern.
His opponent, Satō Taiyō, was a burly fifth-year student with golden hair that stood out. As he swung his sword, the blade formed sharp petals in his hands.
"Freshman, it's not too late to surrender now. "
However, before he could finish the sentence, Tōshirō's figure had already turned into a shadow.
Clang!
At the same moment the sound of metal clashing was heard, Satō Taiyō's sword flew out of his hand, arcing through the air and embedding itself in a crack between the stone slabs ten meters away.
"Surrender." The cold, yet still slightly childish voice echoed, piercing Satō Taiyō's heart like a sharp blade.
His confidence and dignity were shattered by that single strike.
The tip of Tōshirō's sword stopped calmly three inches from his throat, ice crystals spreading along the blade, forming frost flowers.
"The winner has been decided!" Sasakibe Chōjirō's whistle sounded at the same time as the hourglass. "1.27 seconds!"
The stands erupted in cheers, and Byakuya Kuchiki in the VIP box gave a barely perceptible nod.
That speed even surpassed the level of many soldiers in the 6th Division.
"Tōshirō really is Arata's favorite student." Rangiku laughed, leaning on the railing, unconsciously curling the ends of her hair with her fingertips.
"But it looks like that redhead Renji…" Her gaze followed the sounds of battle to Arena Three.
At Arena Three, a dramatic scene was unfolding.
Renji's red hair was like a blazing fire. He wanted to gain an advantage through a fast attack, but his opponent's Kidō forced him to retreat step by step.
His opponent was Uzumaki Sasuke, the top student of the fifth-year generation, a civilian student very skilled in Kidō and Hakuda.
When Uzumaki Sasuke's binding technique covered the entire ring, Kira Izuru suddenly stood up and said, "Renji will win."
"Hadō No. 31: Shakkahō!"
At the moment the scorching fireball pierced the sand screen, Renji's figure appeared out of nowhere behind his opponent.
"Your Kidō is too slow and full of openings!"
The dull thud of the sword's flat side striking the back of the opponent's head left the audience momentarily speechless, this was the first contestant to be knocked unconscious in the preliminaries.
"Abarai Renji wins!" Sasakibe announced, wiping sweat from his forehead. "58 seconds!"
Although not as shocking as Hitsugaya Tōshirō's battle earlier, this one was no less exciting.
The quality of students in these two generations of the Shinō Spiritual Academy was quite good, Sasakibe thought to himself.
Arata raised an eyebrow and looked at the scoreboard.
That kid Renji had still managed to find a gap in the opponent's Kidō and turn the situation around at the last moment. Looks like Rangiku's special training had paid off.
When the sunset painted the training field orange, the qualifiers were over.
The list of those who qualified slowly rotated on the big screen, and the names of Tōshirō, Kusaka Sōjirō, Renji, Kira, Rukia, and Hinamori Momo were clearly displayed.
All of them made it into the Top 16 of their groups and successfully advanced to the next elimination round.
"Elimination matches for the Top 64 will begin tomorrow." Sasakibe Chōjirō's deep voice echoed throughout the venue via the speakers.
"According to the rules, all qualified participants must go to the infirmary for a routine check-up by the 4th and 12th Divisions."
——
Moonlight cast colorful shadows on the floor through the tulle curtains of the infirmary.
Kotetsu Isane was recording the spiritual pressure data of each Asauchi when she suddenly exclaimed softly.
"Captain, Kusaka-san's Asauchi…" She turned the detector toward Unohana Retsu. "Its spiritual activity is three times higher than that of an average student."
Unohana Retsu ran her fingertips along the blade, her gentle smile tinged with thought. "Yes, I feel it too. Like a butterfly about to emerge from its cocoon."
"Moreover, a butterfly that loves the cold."
——
On the first day of eliminations, the arena was packed to the last seat.
"First match of the Top 64, Hitsugaya Tōshirō versus Kujō Shunrō!" As the referee announced, fifth-year students in the audience collectively stood up.
The shame of yesterday, when Satō Taiyō, ranked eighth among fifth-years, was immediately cut down by that younger student, had already gnawed at their pride.
Today it was Shunrō's turn, second-ranked in the fifth-year, to take the stage. He would surely manage to defeat the first-year student.
When Kujō Shunrō stepped into the ring, the noble crest on his uniform stood out prominently. "Hitsugaya Tōshirō, best of his generation, praised as an unrivaled genius after Saito-sensei…"
"But even so, I won't hold back at all!"
"That suits me just fine." Tōshirō pointed a finger toward the ground, and ice crystals spread from his fingertip down to his feet.
When Sasakibe's "Begin!" echoed through the hall, Shunrō's figure suddenly blurred, and his sword slashed straight at Tōshirō's left shoulder.
Clang!
With the sound of metal clashing, Tōshirō was pushed back three steps, and ripples appeared on the barrier at the ring's edge.
Shunrō went in to take advantage, the light of his sword weaving an impenetrable net.
Kusaka Sōjirō clenched his fists nervously in the audience. "Damn it, Tōshirō's being completely overwhelmed…"
"No." Arata suddenly smiled. "He's observing and learning."
As if to confirm those words, Tōshirō's defensive posture suddenly changed.
When Shunrō stabbed again, the boy perfectly copied his crouching and sliding movement.
When Asauchi slashed upward from below, the sword Shunrō hastily raised to block began to tremble and hum ominously.
"The mimicry genius…"
In the VIP box, Kyōraku Shunsui lowered his hat slightly over his eyes.
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