Bleach: The Template System Chose Me, The Forgotten Kuchiki

For a long moment after Shihouin Sifeng conceded defeat, silence gripped the dojo like a suffocating mist. No one moved. No one spoke.

The sight of the esteemed Kendo instructor kneeling, clothes torn and blade trembling, had stunned the entire class into stillness. One after another, the students began to process what they had just witnessed—Shihouin Sifeng had been effortlessly defeated by Kuchiki Shiraha, not merely outmaneuvered but completely overwhelmed.

There was no room left for doubt. It had, indeed, been Shiraha who had carved the deep scar into the dojo floor and split the iron puppets in half with a single swing. Only a swordsman of his level could have achieved such devastation with nothing but a training blade.

"Did you see that? He took down Teacher Sifeng!"

"I can't believe it… Shiraha's Kendo is on another level!"

"To think he's the heir of the Kuchiki Clan—spiritual power, combat instinct, and now this level of swordsmanship. It's unreal."

One by one, voices rose in hushed disbelief, spiraling into an eruption of admiration and awe. The murmurs filled the dojo, growing louder with every passing second.

Kendo, though a core Shinigami discipline, was known to be deceptively simple—easy to pick up, incredibly hard to master. Mastering it beyond even seasoned instructors was virtually unheard of.

And yet, Shiraha had just proven it possible.

After returning his wooden sword to the rack, Shiraha offered a respectful nod to the man he had just bested. "Thank you for your mercy, Teacher Sifeng."

Though the words were humble, they carried the calm composure of a man who knew exactly how much strength he had held back.

Shiraha's calm was natural. His strength didn't come from chance or luck. It came from the system, and specifically from the template currently in progress—Fujitora's Smile template. At fifty percent progress, he had already reached perfect-level swordsmanship mastery. Among the Gotei 13 captains, perhaps only a few could still claim superiority in raw sword technique—Yamamoto Genryūsai, Kenpachi Zaraki, and possibly Unohana Retsu in her true battle form.

Aside from them, most captains would fall before his blade in a pure Kendo duel.

"Don't be so modest," Sifeng responded with a faint smile as he wiped the blood from the corner of his lips and sheathed his Zanpakutō. "I used everything I had. Shiraha, your Kendo already surpasses mine by more than just a margin."

He wasn't exaggerating. Had he not drawn his Zanpakutō at the last moment to block Shiraha's purple arc of spiritual pressure, he would've likely been crushed, not merely wounded. That attack hadn't been just a spar—it had been a demonstration of terrifying suppression.

His gaze swept across the ruined dojo.

"The puppets—the ones sliced clean in half—and that trench cutting across the entire floor… that was you as well, wasn't it?"

Sifeng's voice held no accusation, only acknowledgment. It was no longer a mystery to him. Initially, he'd assumed another instructor had used the room before class. But after witnessing Shiraha's strike firsthand, he was nearly certain.

Shiraha offered a modest smile. "I was waiting for the others earlier and may have… overestimated my control."

There was a moment of silence before Sifeng laughed lightly, his respect for the student deepening.

"In that case, Shiraha, you no longer need to continue with these beginner-level Kendo lectures."

Shiraha bowed slightly in acknowledgment, then raised his voice calmly. "Teacher, I'd like to ask—what is the procedure for applying for early graduation?"

The question silenced the rising murmurs around the dojo. Several students gaped. Even Sifeng's expression flickered with shock.

"You want to graduate early?" the teacher repeated, his brows furrowing. "You've only just enrolled."

In the long history of the Spiritual Arts Academy, only a handful had ever attempted such a thing. Even prodigies like Ichimaru Gin had studied for an entire year before receiving approval for early graduation. For Shiraha to propose it on his first day defied both tradition and common sense.

"Wait—did he just say graduation?"

"On the first day?! That's insane!"

"Graduating early means mastering Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō—all of them—and then defeating an official Shinigami."

Murmurs turned into gasps, the disbelief thick in the air. Many of these students were part of the special class, chosen from the most gifted among the new generation, yet none of them had even considered the possibility of early graduation.

Shiraha didn't flinch beneath their stares. He kept his expression neutral, his tone steady. "Yes, teacher. I wish to apply for early graduation."

His reasoning was grounded in necessity. The system's latest task required him to perform a soul burial in the Human World—specifically in Karakura Town—within six months. But the Academy's standard soul burial internship took place only once a year and was open only to third-year students and above.

The only alternative was early graduation, which granted the legal right to operate as a Shinigami in the field.

Sifeng remained silent for a few seconds, as if weighing the implications. "Shiraha, you should know—early graduation requires you to prove mastery in all four Shinigami disciplines. That means qualifying through evaluations from the instructors responsible for Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō within one month. Then, you must participate in the soul burial internship and pass its qualification exam. Lastly, you are required to defeat an active, ranked Shinigami in combat."

The terms were daunting. Most students needed at least three years to qualify in one or two categories, let alone all four. The requirements had been set deliberately high to preserve the standard of official Shinigami and prevent reckless advancement.

Around them, the students whispered again, voices filled with disbelief.

"Qualified by all four instructors… in a single month?"

"Defeat an actual Shinigami? That's basically suicide for a first-year."

"That's not something anyone in our year could manage…"

Despite the collective doubt, Sifeng turned to face Shiraha again, this time with a faint smile tugging at his lips.

"But at the very least, Shiraha, you've already passed my requirement. As far as Kendo is concerned, I've personally witnessed your capability. Your mastery exceeds my own."

He patted his chest lightly and added with a hearty laugh, "To be honest, I'd like to see if you can break the record for the fastest graduate in the history of the Academy."

"Thank you, Teacher Sifeng. I won't disappoint you," Shiraha responded politely.

But another teacher nearby still wore a skeptical expression. "Even so, I urge you to reconsider. There's value in experiencing the full year of Academy life. You'd gain more than just skill—you'd form important connections and insights."

Shiraha's expression didn't change. "I understand, sir. But I've already made my decision. I'm committed to the path of early graduation."

The instructor sighed, shaking his head slightly, but offered no further resistance. "Very well. I'll report your application to the Dean today. You'll need to begin your qualifying evaluations with the other instructors immediately. Use this month wisely."

Perhaps, he thought, the best lesson Shiraha could receive was one gained through effort rather than caution. If he failed, he would at least gain clarity. If he succeeded…

Then the history books of the Spiritual Arts Academy would be rewritten.

"Thank you, Teacher," Shiraha said with a small bow. His words carried quiet gratitude, not arrogance.

Without another word, he turned and strode out of the dojo with confident steps.

He had no intention of wasting the time given to him.

Kidō was next.

The one art in which he remained weakest.

And now, he was ready to fix that.