Both start in hell: but their talents are multiplied a hundredfold.

Toshiro Hitsugaya, a genius boy among the commoners of Rukongai, met the graduation requirements of the Shinigami Academy in just one year and officially graduated from the academy.

Since the Fifth Division Captain Hirako Shinji and others were tricked by Aizen into Hollowfication and defected, the Captain-Commander has lifted the graduation restrictions of the Shinigami Academy.

Anyone who is a true genius and a strong individual can quickly join the Gotei 13 and contribute to the stability of Soul Society.

Toshiro Hitsugaya was a genius that the Captain-Commander had discovered in Rukongai.

Toshiro Hitsugaya, recommended by Rangiku Matsumoto, a member of the 10th Division, entered the Shinigami Academy and became a prominent figure while learning swordsmanship and demon-slaying techniques at the academy.

He is often compared to Gin Ichimaru, a genius who also graduated from the Shinigami Academy.

Hitsugaya Toshiro, who had maintained a calm demeanor, frowned slightly upon hearing about his opponent.

He had naturally heard about Shen Jue from Matsumoto Rangiku.

This is a lecherous, greedy, lazy, irresponsible, and delinquent grim reaper who travels between the red-light district and the red-light district every day.

"A Shinigami of this caliber can be my opponent?" Toshiro Hitsugaya was somewhat indignant, believing that this was the Captain-Commander's slight against him.

Toshiro Hitsugaya was a genius who could use Bankai when he graduated from the Shinigami Academy!

How could someone possibly use such an unknown nobody as a stepping stone to fame?!

Hitsugaya Toshiro hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly headed to the training grounds.

After the captains set up a barrier to suppress spiritual pressure, Shen Jue stood casually opposite Hitsugaya Toshiro.

Toshiro Hitsugaya considered asking the Captain-Commander for a different opponent.

For example, the current captain of the Sixth Division, Byakuya Kuchiki.

This aloof, handsome, and powerful Death God nobleman is the object of worship for many Death Gods in the True Spirit Arts Academy.

But when he thought of the Captain-Commander looking at the graduates with such gentleness, Toshiro Hitsugaya inexplicably dismissed the idea.

With such unrestrained desires, how could a frivolous Shinigami be worthy of being my opponent? With this thought in mind, Hitsugaya Toshiro drew his Zanpakuto, Hyōrinmaru.

"Hey! Young man, are you thinking something extremely rude?" Shen Jue straightened his haori and said exaggeratedly, without drawing his Zanpakuto, Human Game.

"These young Grim Reapers these days are really impolite."

Only a few captains and vice-captains knew that Shen Jue was also a teacher at the True Central Spiritual Arts Academy.

This part-time teacher would occasionally appear to instruct the trainee Grim Reapers.

However, in recent years, Shen Jue has rarely returned to the Shinigami Academy, so it is normal that Hitsugaya Toshiro does not recognize him.

After all, as the deputy captain of the 13th Guardian Team, Shen Jue's job was usually to kill traitors, kill rebels, and listen to music in brothels.

He occasionally works the night shift and rarely appears in public.

Therefore, very few Death Gods know or are familiar with Shen Jue.

That battle with the Captain-Commander must have been at least a hundred years ago, right? Shen Jue thought to himself, calmly waiting for Hitsugaya Toshiro to launch his attack.

Shen Jue waited for a while, but saw that Hitsugaya Toshiro was still standing in the same spot, holding his Zanpakuto, maintaining his cool pose.

Hitsugaya Toshiro waited patiently for Shen Jue to launch his attack, already considering how to save face for Shen Jue in order to prevent him from losing face completely.

As a newcomer, you can't afford to completely offend the senior colleagues.

Even a nobody like this Grim Reaper who's just taking advantage of the chaos.

Hitsugaya Toshiro was pleased with his maturity.

But why was Matsumoto Rangiku sweating profusely with a look of anxiety, and constantly mouthing words to remind herself?

Those highly respected captains of the 13th Gotei 13 were looking at him with meaningful eyes.

A hint of disappointment flashed in the eyes of the old captain.

Shen Jue and Hitsugaya Toshiro, who were inside the training ground, did not make a move for a long time.

The graduates outside the venue began to whisper among themselves.

It was only then that Hitsugaya Toshiro understood what Matsumoto Rangiku was lip-syncing to.

"Use swastika quickly, little Toshiro!"

The next moment!

Toshiro Hitsugaya was sent flying as if hit by a high-speed heavy truck! He tumbled more than ten times in the air before landing back on the ground!

A surge of spiritual pressure erupted! Hitsugaya Toshiro mobilized his spiritual pressure, using Hyōrinmaru to support himself on the ground, before he could see what had attacked him!

That was Shen Jue, who used the Instant Step to suddenly lash himself out with the blade!

"Oh dear, I thought it was a speed bump," Shen Jue said embarrassedly.

"Of the Grim Reaper's four basic skills—slashing, punching, and ghost-walking—how well have you mastered them?"

"Young man, give it your all."

"Unleash your future."

"I won't die by my blade."

As Shen Jue finished speaking, his expression turned calm. He slowly drew his Zanpakuto, suppressing his spiritual pressure for a long time before suddenly expanding and erupting!

The terrifying spiritual pressure made it difficult for the graduates present to breathe! They all collapsed to the ground, gasping for air!

Facing Shen Jue's spiritual pressure head-on, Toshiro Hitsugaya was as if bound to the spot by an invisible gravity!

Even moving and breathing are becoming increasingly difficult!

"This... level of spiritual pressure... what kind of monster are you!" Toshiro Hitsugaya said with all his might, his body swaying precariously.

"Vice-Captain Shen Jue is being far too harsh on the graduates," said Byakuya Kuchiki, the captain of the Sixth Division, as he felt Shen Jue's spiritual pressure, which far exceeded that of a captain even before it was fully released.

"The arrogance of a genius must be shattered when he is at his most triumphant." Retsu Unohana looked at Shen Jue and said with amusement, "Soul Society is not lacking in geniuses."

"The Gotei 13 recruits only the strongest."

"Sit upright in the frost-covered sky! Hyōrinmaru!" Tōshirō decisively released his Shikai to counter Shen Jue's terrifying spiritual pressure!

Hyōrinmaru's blade lengthened, and a silver iron chain with a crescent-shaped shovel appeared at the end of the blade. The increased spiritual pressure from its Shikai allowed Tōshirō to barely stand up, but he still trembled under the terrifying pressure.

How could this frail body be used for fighting? Young Toshiro Hitsugaya finally came to terms with reality: Shen Jue's terrifying spiritual pressure was something he couldn't contend with in his current state!

Shen Jue, standing opposite him, did not draw his Zanpakuto. Instead, he calmly stood in place, waiting for this famous genius to fully unleash his Zanpakuto.

"This scene," Shen Jue said with emotion, "is something to reminisce about."

In the past, the strongest Shinigami in a thousand years, Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, also stood here, as Shen Jue's opponent during his graduation exam.

Now, it is Shen Jue who stands here, facing the graduate Hitsugaya Toshiro.

"Swastika! Daiguren Hyōrinmaru!"

The strongest ice-type Zanpakuto, Hyōrinmaru, is fully unleashed!

A pair of enormous ice wings appeared on Toshiro Hitsugaya's back!

A giant dragon made of frost encircled his back!

Three enormous, twelve-petaled snowflake-shaped ice crystals hung behind his head!

The Ice Wings allowed Toshiro Hitsugaya to hover at low altitude.

At this moment, Toshiro Hitsugaya's spiritual pressure has truly reached the captain level!

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting," said Toshiro Hitsugaya, the ice dragon behind him roaring as it struggled against Shen Jue's terrifying spiritual pressure!