"Did I hear a voice?"
Ran En smiled faintly. "Yes, I did. It whispered its name to me and I remembered it."
He honestly hadn't expected such a massive commotion.
But… he should've known.
His Zanpakutō was too competitive.
The moment it saw Aizen manifest his blade, it just couldn't sit still. Not only did it show itself with a dramatic flash of golden light, it even unlocked Shikai all on its own just to prove it was superior.
It whispered its name again and again, like it thought Ran En couldn't hear it the first time. Then, just in case he still didn't get it, it began demonstrating Shikai right in front of his spiritual sense.
Whispering the name.
Demonstrating the release.
Practically throwing a tutorial in his face.
It was like a proud sword spirit saying:
"I'll handle everything. You just watch and try not to embarrass me."
"You… really did?"
Captain Jūshirō Ukitake looked visibly shaken. He'd expected Ran En to be extraordinary, but this was beyond even his expectations.
"Create your own Zanpakutō…"
"And immediately learn its name… unlocking Shikai in a single moment…"
He couldn't stop his heart from racing.
A Shinigami's connection to their Zanpakutō often took years to form. Even noble-born geniuses trained daily, chanting spells and sparring with dummies, waiting for the day they could hear their sword's name.
And yet Ran En
Created his Zanpakutō from scratch.
Mastered Shikai in an instant.
At this point, the only thing he lacked was formal training in Zan-Ken-Sō-Ki and Bankai. In raw power, he was already comparable to a captain-class Shinigami.
"A monster," someone muttered.
Even Yoruichi, Urahara, and Byakuya were stunned.
"Shikai…" Aizen repeated quietly, brows furrowing in deep thought.
He had heard something too a voice.
But no matter how hard he focused, he could only make out two syllables.
"Mirror... flower..."
The rest was fuzzy, distorted as if the blade spirit was deliberately holding back.
"Is it that I'm not worthy to hear it? Or is it choosing to test me?"
Aizen's lips curled into a tight line.
He wasn't angry at his Zanpakutō.
He was angry at himself.
He wasn't used to being behind.
And yet, here he was his brother already mastering Shikai, while he could barely grasp the name of his own blade.
But that was fine.
"Three days," Aizen swore silently. "I'll give myself and you three days."
"Either you submit and reveal your name… or I destroy you and forge a new path."
Because he was Aizen.
And Aizen never played second to anyone even his brother.
Jūshirō Ukitake, still reeling from Ran En's Shikai revelation, finally turned to Aizen.
"And what about you, Aizen?"
Aizen gave a modest nod. "I'm sorry, Jushiro-sensei. Compared to my brother, I've only heard part of my Zanpakutō's name. I believe… my Shikai is still incomplete."
He wore a humble smile.
Not arrogant. Not dismissive.
Just quietly confident.
Inwardly? He was making plans.
"Don't apologize!" Ukitake waved his hand. "At your age, I couldn't even see your level from where I was standing!"
He meant every word.
In one day just one the older brother had mastered Shikai, and the younger was already half a step away.
Two geniuses.
Two monsters.
A single class... shaken to its core.
"Don't let it discourage you," Ukitake said, eyes sweeping over the rest of the class. "The journey to Shikai is different for everyone. What matters most is understanding your Zanpakutō."
He turned to Aizen again. "If you'd like, I can share some of my Sword Zen techniques."
"Sword Zen?" Aizen asked.
"It's the art of entering your inner world and communicating directly with your Zanpakutō. With practice, you'll meet your sword spirit face-to-face."
Aizen's eyes lit up slightly.
Interesting.
"I'd be honored to learn," he said graciously.
But in his heart, he had already decided:
"Tonight, I'll enter that world."
"And I'll demand my answer one way or another."
"Alright, everyone," Ukitake called out, seeing that several students Komamura, Tōsen, and even noble heirs like Byakuya looked a little… crushed.
"I know what you're all thinking. But remember mastering Shikai fast doesn't determine a Shinigami's final height."
"Everyone has their own path. Walk yours at your own pace."
He smiled gently.
"You're all first-class students. You all have the potential to become captains. Don't forget that."
"YES, JUSHIRO-SENSEI!" the class shouted in unison, their spirits slowly recovering.
Ukitake nodded in satisfaction.
Two Sōsukes might overshadow them for now but every student in this room had strength. What mattered was how they used it.
"Let's move on," Ukitake continued.
"This morning, we start with Kidō training. After that, we'll have a theory class in the afternoon."
"Today, we'll cover using Kidō against Menos Grande."
The class followed him toward the training ground.
Normally, first-time Kidō students would be stuck memorizing long chants and reciting incantations in the classroom.
But this was the first class where every student had captain-level potential.
Even if they had never practiced before, students with strong enough Reiatsu and talent could cast basic Kidō like Hadō #1 or Bakudō #4 without incantations.
And Ukitake?
He was a seasoned captain who had been teaching for more than a hundred years.
He knew the importance of teaching to each student's strengths.