The scale of this exchange tournament was not truly grand. Even with a month of preparation, it still looked like something hastily thrown together, a stage built overnight.
If not for the fact that all the captains were present, it might not have seemed important at all.
Among the crowd of ordinary division members, Aoshika's mood was especially tense. He would be representing Fourth Division in this match, and he kept recalling Nobu's instructions to him beforehand — yet he wasn't certain he could carry them out.
Until Kotetsu Isane, standing in the center of the field, officially declared the start of the lower-tier matches.
"Which division's member wishes to act as the first arena defender?"
At once, several of the lower-tier participants looked eager to try.
Of course, if no one volunteered to be the first to defend the stage, there was always the option of drawing lots.
Aoshika bit down hard and stood up first.
His rising immediately drew murmurs of surprise — and made the Eleventh Division contestant who had been about to stand sit right back down.
In the captains' seats, there were exchanged glances as well.
One couldn't help calling out to Unohana, "Captain Unohana, your division really is courageous today!"
Unohana only smiled without answering. Truthfully, she didn't know much about how the Fourth Division roster had been arranged for this event — she had left it entirely in Nobu's hands.
As for Aoshika, she only remembered him as a new recruit who had joined Fourth Division in the same year as Nobu's graduation, and who was on good terms with him.
The first arena defender would have to face the rest of the twelve competitors while they were still fresh — the most difficult position of all.
Aoshika could feel every eye in the place on him, the pressure mounting.
But now that he had stepped forward, there was no turning back. He walked to the center of the field.
"I'll do it!"
No sooner had he taken his place than another stood up.
An Eleventh Division member — the same who had intended to be the first defender. Seeing Aoshika steal the spot, he naturally wouldn't be pleased.
Aoshika steadied himself, hands going to the asauchi at his waist.
Nobu's earlier instructions came to mind.
You can lose — but in the first round, you must beat the one who needs to be beaten.
The problem was, if he lost before that person appeared, the defender would change — meaning the target might never get to him.
And while the lower-tier stage was only for ordinary division members, a fresh Academy graduate like him could hardly match the others.
Which was why Nobu had… made some arrangements.
The two men bowed to each other, and the crowd fell silent. All attention fixed on the stage, curious what skill this Fourth Division man, bold enough to take the first spot, actually had.
The moment the bows were done, the Eleventh Division fighter lunged with his blade. Aoshika took a defensive stance with both hands on his weapon, but from the very first clash, he was instantly on the back foot — forced entirely onto defense.
Disappointment flickered across many faces. Barely a dozen exchanges later, the Eleventh Division man knocked Aoshika's blade aside with a powerful blow and thrust for his chest. Aoshika tried to dodge, but the tip still slashed across his side beneath his arm.
In the next instant, several captains' expressions shifted.
Aoshika, startled, slipped away and instinctively reached for the spot where the strike had landed — only to find not even his uniform torn.
He blinked in confusion. He had felt the force of the blow clearly.
The Eleventh Division man didn't think much of it, rushing in again and kicking Aoshika hard in the body, sending him stumbling back a few steps. But when Aoshika steadied himself, there was no pain — not even fatigue.
So… Nobu had told the truth.
Confidence flared in Aoshika's eyes.
Gripping his asauchi tightly, he surged forward to attack. He was no match in technique, but whatever blows he took, they had no effect.
His stamina never dipped. After a few more minutes of fighting, he seized an opening, bound his opponent with a bakudō, and pressed his blade to the man's shoulder to end the match.
The result was wholly unexpected.
Aoshika's performance had been unimpressive — always on the defensive — yet he was like an unkillable cockroach, no matter the attack, always getting back up.
When Isane announced the first-round winner as Fourth Division's Aoshika, who would continue as arena defender, Kyōraku Shunsui murmured, "Well now… that's unexpected."
Many captains studied Aoshika thoughtfully.
"Is this man's body made of steel?" Twelfth Division Captain Kurotsuchi Mayuri's thin, raspy voice cut in. His appearance was as strange as his tone — white mask on his head, grotesque paint on his face.
"Interesting. Captain Unohana, perhaps you could send him to Twelfth Division sometime?"
Unohana smiled. "I'm afraid he wouldn't have the time. Fourth Division keeps busy."
Mayuri gave a chilling little laugh. "There'll be an opportunity."
In the arena, Aoshika stood taller after his win, eyes turning to the remaining contestants.
Next up was a member of Seventh Division. With his new confidence, Aoshika fought without hesitation, attacking relentlessly and ignoring incoming blows entirely.
This quickly put the Seventh Division man on the defensive.
Though Aoshika was a rookie, he was an outstanding Academy graduate — and between ordinary division members, the gap wasn't wide. Most contestants here were on par with lower-seated officers. Against someone impervious to harm, he was far from helpless.
He also noticed that casting kidō didn't drain his own reiatsu at all.
The second fight ended even faster than the first, with Aoshika's bakudō landing clean and the Seventh Division man falling injured.
"Is he really not a seated officer?" asked Tenth Division Captain Shiba Isshin.
Second Division Captain Soi Fon said, "His technique is crude — impossible for a seated officer. He must be relying on some special method."
Eyes turned toward Unohana, silently asking her to explain.
She only smiled, but her glance slid to Nobu behind her.
The captains came to the same thought: Fourth Division had prepared well for this.
Who could say who would have the last laugh?
Aoshika remained as defender.
Third match.
Up stepped a Sixth Division member — an old acquaintance: Kasumioji Kōgorō.
Only a year ahead of Aoshika in graduation, he had distinguished himself in his division and was close to becoming a seated officer.
Seeing him, Aoshika's stomach tightened.
Here he is.
"Didn't expect you to have this much strength. I suppose staying close to him has helped you grow," Kōgorō said.
Aoshika chuckled dryly. "Been a while, Vice President."
Kōgorō's gaze sharpened. "I'm curious how you keep getting knocked down and standing back up. Don't tell me you've already awakened your Zanpakutō?"
"You'll see for yourself," Aoshika replied.
Their fight erupted instantly.
And Aoshika remembered Nobu's other instruction — Don't rush to win. Just beat him half to death.
Kōgorō was stronger than the previous two, and having watched from below, he had gauged Aoshika's style. While pressing the advantage, he kept trying bakudō to immobilize him.
Cold sweat broke on Aoshika's back — if caught, he'd be forced to lose.
But Kōgorō's reiatsu couldn't sustain repeated kidō. After two failed attempts, he gave up.
Aoshika, full of energy, waited until Kōgorō began to tire, then smashed a fist into his face.
Watching him stagger to his knees, Aoshika's spirits soared.
Ever since the Academy, you've acted so high and mighty. I've been wanting to do this.
He sheathed his blade, stepped in, and unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks, pummeling Kōgorō until he was barely conscious before stopping.
The spectators were stunned.
"Do they have a personal grudge?" Kyōraku wondered aloud.
Ise Nanao, who had information on all the participants, answered, "They were both in the Student Council at the Academy. Kasumioji was once Vice President."
Kyōraku glanced sidelong at Kuchiki Byakuya, whose face was utterly cold, and had to hide a smirk.
Kōgorō was carried off for treatment, twelve matches automatically marked as losses due to his injuries.
Three wins in a row for Aoshika — the Fourth Division spectators were ecstatic.
Fourth match: Tenth Division's Hitsugaya Tōshirō.
Slender, youthful, long blade on his back — he stood out clearly among the fighters.
Many recognized him — the genius who had graduated from the Academy in just one year.
Aoshika greeted him warmly. "Hitsugaya, been a while."
Hitsugaya only nodded slightly and drew his Zanpakutō.
"Sit upon the frosted heavens — [Hyōrinmaru]!"
Aoshika's smile froze. An instant later, a torrent of icy air rushed at him, too fast to dodge. In a heartbeat, he was frozen solid, a statue of ice.
Three straight victories ended in a single instant.
The sudden change left the crowd momentarily lost, silence settling over the arena.
Lower-tier matches were usually little more than rough-and-tumble scuffles between ordinary members — and then Hitsugaya Tōshirō had arrived, stunning everyone.
In the vice-captains' seats, Matsumoto Rangiku couldn't hold back, shouting excitedly, "Nice one, Tōshirō! I'll give you a big reward later!"
"…"
Expression faintly pained, Hitsugaya turned to Isane. "It's over, right?"
Isane jolted back to herself, glanced at the ice-bound Aoshika, saw he couldn't break free, and declared Tōshirō the winner — and new arena defender.
In the vice-captains' row, Shiba Kaien clutched his head and groaned.
A genius like that could have joined Thirteenth Division!
He cast a baleful look at Nobu, thinking darkly that the boy must have been seduced away by Matsumoto.
Nobu felt the glare but, watching Aoshika carried off, felt no regret — the goal was achieved.
The cost, however, had been high.
Aoshika's invulnerability came from Nobu's Zanpakutō ability, Stagnation, applied to him — and his endless kidō came from drawing on Nobu's reiatsu.
He'd done well enough. Against someone like Hitsugaya, whose strength was in a league of its own, nothing could be done.
That such a powerhouse hadn't even become a seated officer yet meant Tenth Division had scored a windfall.
"So that's Hyōrinmaru… remarkable," murmured Aizen Sōsuke.
Shiba Isshin couldn't hide his grin.
Even Head Captain Yamamoto watched Hitsugaya with a thoughtful look.
From there, Hitsugaya crushed all comers. The last challenger was Ninth Division's Hisagi Shūhei.
They fought for many rounds, but without a released Zanpakutō, Hisagi could not overcome Hitsugaya.
Nobu sighed inwardly at Hisagi's loss.
He'd worked so hard at the Academy, yet six years of effort were eclipsed by another's single year — the blow must be crushing.
Including rematches against Eleventh and Seventh Division members, Hitsugaya totaled eleven victories. With Kōgorō's forfeit counted, twelve.
First place in the lower-tier battle went to Hitsugaya Tōshirō.
After an hour's rest, the second round began.
By then, many were no longer at peak condition.
Freed from his ice with help, and still unharmed thanks to Nobu's ability, Aoshika returned to fight — but without the ability's protection, he lost quickly.
Many wondered at the stark difference in his performance.
By the end of nearly a full day's fighting, the lower-tier results were in:
Hitsugaya Tōshirō first place.
Aoshika, with his three earlier wins, in the middle ranks.
Kasumioji Kōgorō, heavily injured, twelve losses.
In the captains' seats, Kuchiki Byakuya's face was cold enough to be frightening.