Silver strands shimmered through Su Li's hair as the air around him roared and surged. Explosions of compressed spiritual pressure spiraled skyward. The crowd stood frozen.
Even Sui-Feng narrowed her eyes.
"What kind of state is this?"
Her voice was cold, confused, her gaze sharpening as she tried to read the phenomenon.
Among the captains watching, reactions varied. Most were puzzled. But a few—Kyoraku Shunsui included—were struck by something deeper.
"That kid... I knew he wasn't going all out," Kyoraku muttered with a glint in his eyes. "Didn't expect him to have a trump card like this."
Nanao blinked. "Captain, how can you tell he was holding back?"
Kyoraku gave a wry, lazy grin. "Intuition, Nanao. A man's intuition is sharp—"
Nanao's eyes darkened. She already knew what nonsense would follow. If he dared finish that line with "Just like I know you like me," she'd punch him—twice.
Before Shunsui could finish his flirtation, Ukitake stepped in with a light cough.
"Look at his face," Ukitake said calmly. "That composure... there's no fear, only resolve."
Shunsui chuckled, defeated. "Can't hide anything from you, Jushiro."
They exchanged a look—years of camaraderie and shared experience summing up the silent understanding between them.
Farther back in the shadows, Aizen watched silently, his lenses catching a flicker of cold light.
"This one's interesting. Stronger than Gin at that age. That's not ordinary Reiatsu. That's something else entirely." His smile was imperceptible. "And that shift... it's like he became a different person."
"There's no Reiatsu leaking from him, but the pressure... it dominates." His thoughts coiled inward. "Maybe it's time I extended him an invitation."
Meanwhile, near the outer edge of the crowd, Ikkaku slammed his communicator.
"Damn it, where's Captain Kenpachi?! I can't hold this crowd off by myself—if you're late again, don't expect backup next time!!"
He jabbed the device repeatedly, while Yumichika tried to keep it from short-circuiting under the abuse.
---
At that same moment in the First Division Command Office, Chōjirō Sasakibe finished relaying the situation to Head Captain Yamamoto.
"Nonsense," Yamamoto growled. His eyes flared beneath furrowed brows. "Turning the Academy into a battlefield? A captain releasing Shikai on a student?! They've all lost their minds."
He rose from his seat, every motion a storm behind calm.
Chōjirō stiffened. "Sir, such matters can be handled by your subordinates. There's no need for you to—"
"I'm going," Yamamoto interrupted. "I want to see that boy for myself. The one facing Sui-Feng."
Sasakibe's heart lurched. That level of attention from the Captain-Commander?
"And one more thing—look into his background. If he's clean..."
Yamamoto didn't finish the sentence. But Sasakibe, who had stood beside him for over two thousand years, knew exactly what the old man meant.
Nurture him. Personally.
---
Elsewhere, at the South Gate of Seireitei, Kenpachi Zaraki stood atop a flattened watchman, his foot pressing the poor soul into the stone.
"You said this was the South Gate," Kenpachi growled, eyes glinting. "You trying to die?"
The gatekeeper wept into the ground. "It really is the South Gate! I swear, Captain Zaraki!!"
Kenpachi sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"Yachiru…"
"Ehehe~" Yachiru poked out her tongue, her cheeks slightly pink. "Oops."
Kenpachi exhaled in irritation. "Fine, this way then. You better be right this time."
Without waiting, he turned and blasted off, leaving only shockwaves behind.
---
Back in the examination arena, Su Li's transformation left the audience whispering.
Sui-Feng stood with arms folded, unimpressed.
So what if he looked different? His aura felt bigger, but without any Reiatsu... nothing she couldn't handle.
"Hmph. Ready yet? I'm about to start hitting."
Her smile curled into a confident smirk.
"I'll be faster than before. Don't disappoint me."
Su Li's voice was quiet.
"You'll need to try much harder."
"Still acting cool? You're dead meat!"
She vanished.
A flash of movement—and Su Li appeared in front of her.
"Too slow."
Sui-Feng's eyes widened. She launched back instantly, gathering her Reiatsu to reset distance. But behind her—
"Too slow."
Su Li's voice again. She twisted, attempting a side-step.
"Still too slow."
No matter where she moved, Su Li was there. She blinked, then bolted in another direction.
"Too slow."
Again. And again. Seven times, eight—each movement, each Shunpo, intercepted before it could finish.
From the stands, no one spoke.
The captains were frozen, stunned beyond speech.
"He's moving... before she even completes the thought to move," Ukitake murmured.
Kyoraku nodded. "He's intercepting the intent itself."
"Impossible," Unohana whispered. "That's not speed. That's... prediction at the molecular level."
The truth dawned.
Su Li wasn't just fast. He wasn't just ahead of Sui-Feng. He knew where she would be—before she even got there.
Sui-Feng couldn't even lift her arm to attack. Every time she attempted to gather force, Su Li's presence interrupted her at the root.
It wasn't Shunpo.
It was a prison.
An invisible dungeon, drawn and sealed by nothing but pure freedom and control.
And in that moment, everyone finally understood—
This wasn't just a test. This was history unfolding.