Bleach: Reborn as Hinamori

"Damn, you're sneaky, Renji! Only you first-years get to do practical training in the real world..."

"Hah! We're the first-year class, you know? We're gonna widen the gap between us and you upperclassmen, so just bite your nails and watch, you idiots!"

"I'm Sorry, Rukia-san. I'll teach you Onmyōdō after class later..."

With the jealousy of the quasi-protagonist playing as background music, we first-year Shinigami apprentices headed lightly toward the assembly point.

Yes, the day had finally come for one of my most crucial missions: my first practical training in the human world. This was an event from the original story.

Just to explain—since this is, as always, Yon-sama's self-insert fanfiction—the first-year students of the advanced class were conducting practical training as Shinigami in the human world when they were attacked by a group of Hollows. Yon-sama and Ichimaru saved them.

In the original story, Hinamori-chan became a devoted follower of Yon-sama largely because of this incident. For her, who would be so tragically deceived later, this practical training represented a real turning point.

But for me, it's different. As someone planning to join Yon-sama's faction, this is essentially a job interview.

My goal for this event is to demonstrate my abilities without drawing attention from the others, and to make a strong impression on Yon-sama.

My main selling points are my spiritual pressure and kidō mastery. A first-year Shinō Academy student with spiritual pressure surpassing that of a vice-captain, who also understands the necessity of concealing it—such a clever child would definitely catch his interest.

The problem is how to reveal my spiritual pressure without being noticed by the others... Plan A is to evacuate the other academy students first, and for those who won't listen—like Renji or the sixth-year students—I'll use weak techniques like binding spells to force them through the senkaimon.

Another option is to tell them I'll act as a decoy and move to a different location to fight alone.

There's also the unreliable plan where I simply hope that Yon-sama, who's probably watching, will read the situation and handle things accordingly. Advanced flexibility strategies and such are omitted for now.

Regarding combat ability, I want to showcase versatile battle techniques using Onmyōdō.

The technique I secretly learned from the Shiba family is my absolute trump card. I seem to have particular talent for fire-based techniques, and I can even cancel or double-cast spells against opponents in the thirties range of kidō.

I also trained relentlessly to secretly cast bakudō spells. This technique has various applications, so I definitely want to use it.

Unfortunately, I didn't manage to master the incantation abandonment technique, but I'm optimistic that I can handle most situations with intermediate-level bakudō and raw power, so I shouldn't die even in the worst-case scenario.

By the way, I won't mention the Zanpakutō—the "zan" in zankensoki. My spiritual pressure is too strong, so I'd probably just release it immediately and show off my power—that's a dream I've abandoned.

Well, it's only been half a year, so there might be some growth cheats available, but since I don't have protagonist privileges, I doubt I'll be able to achieve shikai in just a few days like Ichigo...

"—First, let me introduce myself."

We first-year Class 1 students gathered on the roof of the Shinō Academy and lined up before the three sixth-year students. From here on, the scene starts to resemble the anime adaptation, and I can't help but smile internally.

Everyone was excited hearing the name "Hisagi Shūhei," and there were whispers about how talented Kanisawa and Aoga, standing beside him, were. The atmosphere was cheerful and excited. Of course, I read the room and nodded along appropriately.

After confirming several explanations and precautions, Kanisawa instructed us to form groups of three according to the lottery results.

Kanisawa Hotaru, sixth-year student... you and I have similar roles, don't we? I'll take your moment of glory in exchange for sparing your fragile life. Hehe.

"The lottery results are... What, the gloomy Kira and the intense Hinamori? We're really connected by fate."

"What, Hinamori-kun and...!?"

"Asano-kun and Kira-kun? Wow, what a coincidence!"

"Hey, Kira, I'm here too..."

"...Huh? Oh, yeah, nice to meet you, Abarai-kun."

Thanks to my meddling, this trio of future lieutenants had grown closer than in the original story after just half a year. They hang out together like old friends, and it's heartwarming to watch them relax and enjoy themselves. They're truly the protagonist's best friends.

...Wabisuke is being so obviously nervous that it's almost impossible to pretend not to notice, so I wish he'd just get rejected and move on to someone new. Should I be the one to reject him?

"You have the Hell Butterfly, first-years."

"Yes, sir!"

While I was wrestling with the dilemma of being caught between a male friend's feelings and Hinamori's romantic subplot, Hisagi sent a small wave of spiritual pressure my way to snap me out of it. Everyone else flinched, so I followed suit a beat later.

That's right—the intensive screening by Yon-sama's faction is about to begin. Yon-sama will ask questions (through modified Hollows), and I'll respond (with kidō and spiritual pressure). Note that the interviewer is behind a two-way mirror. Is this organization even legitimate?

Anyway, if I pass this test, I'll be able to witness Aizen-sama's brilliance firsthand, so I'll give it my all.

It's my job to prevent Aizen-sama from being overshadowed... predatory gaze

And so, we first-year students descended into the living world. Time for the interview!

"—This is konsō... I think we can handle it."

"It's way easier than I thought."

"You made that Plus suffer twice, Abarai-kun..."

The konsō practice session was winding down. After completing our individual quotas, we mingled with the other first-years returning through the senkaimon from the living world, exchanging impressions in a relaxed atmosphere.

"...!"

"Huh? Something wrong, Hinamori?"

Only those around us seemed carefree. Like the calm before a storm, I sensed an unusual spiritual pressure in the distance. It was a subtle disturbance that I almost dismissed as imagination.

But this feeling was similar to what I'd felt when the senkaimon opened earlier—likely a spiritual pressure anomaly caused by dimensional interference.

"Ah, no, it's nothing, Abarai-kun. I just felt a chill."

"Huh!? If you're cold, I'll use my Onmyōdō to warm you up—no, never mind..."

"What's wrong, Kira-kun...?"

"Leave him alone, Hinamori. He's having one of his episodes again. Here, put this on if you're cold."

"!?"

"Eh? Oh, thank you... But won't you be cold with just your upper kimono?"

"I'm not as fragile as you. I'll wash it soon, so you can keep it."

"Oh, sure. I don't want it smelling like you anyway."

"Abarai... I'll kill you..."

The lieutenant trio looked like a love triangle at first glance, but closer inspection revealed they were just a comedy duo with no straight man, all pretending not to notice the obvious. Meanwhile, I expanded my spiritual pressure detection to maximum range.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that the spiritual particles in the direction where the dimensional tear had appeared earlier were disappearing, as if that section of space had been cut away. I counted roughly nine distinct signatures.

...It's about time.

"—Um, Kanisawa-senpai."

"...Hm? What's wrong?"

While engaging him in conversation, I secretly began weaving the Onmyōdō combination spells onto Kanisawa-san. It was a complex double incantation that I performed covertly by abandoning the vocal components. I won't let the opportunity for this dramatic scene slip away.

"Well, you see, I was just wondering..."

But before I could finish my sentence, everything started moving.

A powerful gust of wind followed by a thunderous crash echoed through the area, and immediately after, Kanisawa-san was blown away at incredible speed, disappearing from sight.

"—Gah!"

"What!?"

Kanisawa-san!

Kanisawa-san, struck by the enemy's attack, crashed somewhere far away and lost consciousness. Panic didn't set in among the others until long after she'd vanished from view. Don't worry—she's alive.

"Kanisawa!?"

"What... what was that...!?"

The panicked supervisor's gaze fixed on the original Hollow mask that had appeared. Only one was visible, while the others seemed to be waiting quietly in the shadows.

Oh right, I should scream like a proper girl, just in case.

"Ki... kyaaahhh!!"

...Yeah. It's huge and looks terrifying, but maybe due to the difference in spiritual pressure, I don't feel particularly threatened. It's like looking at one of those giant inflatable decorations you sometimes see at amusement parks. My scream sounds rather unconvincing.

"You bastard! How dare you do that to Kanisawa!"

"Stop, Aoga!"

Hisagi desperately tried to stop him, but his cries were in vain. Poor Aoga was struck down and sent flying through the air. In the original story, he survived and appeared in filler episodes as a member of the Fourth Division, so he should be fine. Meanwhile, Hisagi's face was slashed, leaving him unable to continue fighting.

Finally, our moment to shine had arrived.

"Guh... Everyone, run! Get to the senkaimon...!"

"Hii...!"

"Ugh, uwaaahhh!!"

Seeing the sixth-year students defeated so easily, the first-year students—who had grown complacent in peacetime—followed Hisagi's final orders and fled toward the senkaimon behind them.

Good, Plan A is proceeding smoothly.

"—What are you doing standing there, Hinamori?! Run!"

"The supervisor's orders are absolute, Hinamori-kun! Hurry!"

Renji and Wabisuke were furious at me for standing there in apparent shock, but in the original story, this is where Hinamori-chan rallies like a true Shinigami, showing a side of herself beyond just being cute.

This is one of Hinamori-chan's few genuinely heroic moments, so I have to give my best performance.

Most of the evacuation is complete... Time for the interview to begin.

"—I'll buy us some time...! You two carry the senpai who can't move and escape through the senkaimon!"

First impression: compassion. I need to show that I'm responsible and caring, and that I won't betray Yon-sama even if there are hostages involved. Actually, I genuinely don't want Renji and the others to die, and I have no intention of betraying Yon-sama, so there's no conflict here.

"What, Hinamori!?"

"I'm the class representative—I have to protect everyone...!"

Next: combat ability. I'll use as much kidō as possible while keeping my spiritual pressure suppressed.

First, proper greetings—this is actually important.

Yellow binding ropes flew toward the Hollow in front of me, immediately wrapping around my opponent. With my spiritual power currently suppressed to about third-year level, the binding was broken instantly, but that moment was sufficient.

"...Limit of the thousands hands, respectful hands, unable to touch the darkness..."

"Hinamori!? You... you're using a full incantation!?"

The enemy that appeared was just one of them. I'll handle this quickly. At my current spiritual pressure level, the damage would be minimal, so this time I'll only use my true spiritual power for the instant of activation.

"—Shooting at him/her until death! Bakudō #30: Shitotsu Sansen!"

Actually, this is the first time I've used this much spiritual power in actual combat. It's not as controlled as in the training grounds, but it's a serious attack.

Take this!

The triple-pronged binding broke free and charged at me, but it was too late. The complete incantation of the hadō spell, released with captain-level spiritual power, pierced through the enemy's massive body and obliterated the upper half of another Hollow that had been hiding behind it.

"—Gwooooo..."

The enemy vanished while releasing an eerie death cry. The one behind it also disappeared without fully materializing.

What terrifying power. The fact that this came from my own body is honestly frightening.

Hmph! How's that, Yon-sama? You should be able to perceive my true spiritual pressure now, right? As the final boss of a shonen manga, wouldn't you want a cute and powerful female lieutenant like me by your side? Even Yhwach has Bambietta!

Oops, back to acting.

"Ha, ha... Hah... Did I defeat them?"

There were still about ten more hiding, but I'd eliminated the visible ones, so I'll count this as a victory for now.

"That's incredible... Even Hisagi-senpai couldn't defeat such a large Hollow with a single blow...!"

"Unbelievable...! Your kidō techniques are already at seated officer level, Hinamori-kun!"

Wow, true to his Bleach character. The way he sets up death flags is so perfectly executed it makes me want to laugh.

This flow seems promising. Can I say it? I want to say it so badly, I'm practically vibrating with anticipation.

"Ha, ha, ha... No, it was just luck... When I thought about protecting everyone, some incredible power just emerged from within me—"

—At that moment.

Suddenly, the girl's words cut off mid-sentence. Renji and the others followed her gaze, wondering what had happened.

There, suspended in the sky above them, they saw them.

"—Gwooooo..."

"—Aaahhh..."

"—..."

"—..."

One, two, three... Counting each one in their minds, they gradually retreated from reality.

Seven total.

The innocent boys and girls were seeing them for the first time in their lives—true despair materialized before the small heroes who had so bravely faced their fears.

Yes, everyone! Here they come!

"What... what are those...!?"

"...Huh, there's an interesting child down there. Is that your target this time?"

In a dark room illuminated by countless blue-white monitors, two men stood at the center.

They were watching one of the screens displaying surveillance footage of a girl in a Shinō Academy uniform. The man in the superior position, relaxing in his chair, answered his subordinate's curious question.

"I first encountered her about a century ago. I discovered her while investigating an incident where a massive surge of spiritual pressure appeared and vanished like mist in Rukongai."

"Hmm... A century ago? That must have been before I enrolled in the Shinō Academy."

The young subordinate listened intently to his superior's words while scanning the documents in his hands.

In just one year, she had developed spiritual pressure equivalent to a seated officer's level, and shortly thereafter, had mastered the technique to conceal it entirely on her own. For decades following, her spiritual pressure remained barely detectable, yet her form was clearly visible in the surveillance records. Combined with her delicate appearance, she seemed like a girl who had stepped out of a fairy tale.

"It says here that she recently became a disciple of Shiba Kūkaku... Does her teacher also have reasons for hiding her spiritual pressure?"

"Ah, she's probably more naturally gifted than you, Gin."

"...Is that so?"

The young lieutenant whose name was called opened his eyes slightly wider in surprise.

He had once been hailed as the greatest prodigy in the history of the Shinō Academy—an evaluation that carried considerable weight.

And the girl under observation was performing in a manner that lived up to her reputation on the screen.

"Indeed."

"...That specialized technique was quite impressive, wasn't it?"

The technique she employed was her signature move, the intermediate-level flame spell "Sōkatsui." It was surprising enough that a first-year Shinō Academy student could instantly control the binding spell combination with a double incantation, but what was even more astonishing was the raw power behind the technique. Even among the young man's colleagues at the academy, who were considered among the elite, only a handful could unleash kidō of such devastating force.

There was no doubt her spiritual pressure rivaled that of a captain.

"Hm, it seems the other academy students are starting to take notice."

However, over half the targets remained alive. The girl, overwhelmed by their sheer numbers, repeatedly shouted at her interfering classmates to flee. Her face was twisted in apparent anguish, but her large eyes, magnified on the screen, showed not a tremor of fear.

That gaze belonged only to someone with hidden reserves of power.

"Should we eliminate the obstacles?"

The cold, calculated words flowed smoothly from his lips. The purpose of this observation was to gauge the target's true strength, and it was only natural for observers to remove hindrances to their assessment.

"That would be interesting, but they might prove useful for capturing the girl. It would be wasteful to abandon them here."

"...Then what do you propose?"

He knew all along. The young man asked with a slight smirk, understanding the thoughts of his superior, who had stood and begun manipulating the control panel. That operation code was a pre-prepared signal to activate the plan when an observation target's priority level was elevated.

"It's been quite some time since I've encountered something this intriguing."

The young man lifted the corners of his mouth in anticipation.

"That's right. She's fought this far without a single casualty among her allies. Let's show our respect—"

And then, the superior, who had been smiling coldly, seemed to feel a slight thrill at the decision he was about to make.

"—and extend her an invitation."