"Oh?"

  Daioh Naharasu Yanakurō furrowed his brows. He doubted Haruki could have truly discovered a prodigy. After all, while he knew Haruki as a hardw individual, his talent was average at best. How could someone like him uncenius?

  Haruki, unfazed, gestured for Tōshirō Hitsugaya to step forward.

  "This child?" Yanakurō asked, eyeing Hitsugaya skeptically. He didn't notiything remarkable at first gnce.

  Without a word, Haruki reached out and touched Hitsugaya's Gyokudō and Tenshu acupoints—key spiritual pressure nodes for Shinigami. Sisugaya had trouble trolling his immense power, Haruki had sealed his spiritual pressure earlier. Now, he unsealed it.

  The moment the seal was lifted, Hitsugaya's spiritual pressure burst forth.

  Yanakurō's eyes widened in shock.

  This…

  Such immense spiritual pressure, from someone who had never undergone Shinigami training? It was almost inceivable. A soul born with this level of power was truly extraordinary.

  Yanakurō became visibly excited. "Unbelievable! Have you truly rained before?"

  Hitsugaya replied quietly, "I didn't know I had spiritual power until retly."

  "That 't be," Yanakurō said. "Those with spiritual power experience hunger, unlike ordinary Rukongai souls who only require water and air to survive."

  Hitsugaya hesitated before responding, "My grandmother told me that hunger was something only childre."

  "Ah, I see," Yanakurō nodded, uanding now. He turo Haruki. "You've done well, Haruki."

  Looking back at Hitsugaya, Yanakurō said, "e with me, Hitsugaya-ku's duct your entrance evaluation."

  ...

  Watg Yanakurō treat Hitsugaya with suthusiasm, Haruki couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. He'd been "just Haruki" for years, but Hitsugaya was already "Hitsugaya-kun" after just oing.

  The perks of talent, huh? Haruki mused, shaking his head.

  Just as he was about to leave, he noticed somethiraordinary: Hitsugaya's favorability toward him had shot up to 80.

  Haruki's heart raced. This meant he could now permaly acquire Hitsugaya's Prodigy ability!

  ...

  Haruki suppressed his excitement as he left the Shin'ō Academy. Hitsugaya's favorability jump was a testament to his genuine character. Though he often appeared cold and stoic, Hitsugaya valued those he respected deeply, even if he didn't show it outwardly.

  To Hitsugaya, Haruki had bee a trusted ally.

  Watg Yanakurō take Hitsugaya for further testing, Haruki walked out of the academy, his mind buzzing with possibilities. As soon as he stepped outside, he activated Prodigy.

  To his surprise, the ability wasn't passive but an active skill. When activated, it made him a genius in whatever he focused on. Though it ed spiritual energy, the bes far outweighed the cost.

  He immediately noticed the differehe energy he had funneled into Bck Sun the previous night was already replenished. With this ability, rising through the ranks to seated officer, lieutenant, or even captai like aability.

  ...

  After his patrol duties, Haruki decided to rex. He sat at the gates of the White Way Gate, striking up a versation with Jidanbō. It eaceful, uful day.

  As evening fell, Haruki returned home, only to find Renji, Kira, Hinamori, and Hitsugaya waiting for him.

  "Little Shiro, how was it? Did you pass the entrance exam?" Haruki teased.

  Standing beside Hinamori, Hitsugaya nodded coolly. Before he could reply, Kira spoke up in awe.

  "It's incredible! Hitsugaya scored a sixth-css spiritual pressure rating during the entraest. That's unbelievable!"

  Renji added, "The st person with sixth-css spiritual pressure at admission was Lieutenant Kaien Shiba of Squad 13—and he's from one of the Five Great Noble s!"

  The room buzzed with excitement. Nobles like the Kuchiki or Shiba s often produced Shinigami with exceptional spiritual pressure due to their lineage. Hitsugaya's achievement, ing from an ordinary background, was astonishing.

  Haruki chuckled. "I told you, Hitsugaya's talent is exceptional. But remember, raw spiritual pressure isn't everything. You still o master Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō."

  He expined, "Think of spiritual pressure as inner energy. The teiques—Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō—are the foundations for using that energy effectively. A strong energy reserve is great, but without proper teique, it's like having untapped potential."

  Haruki's words left the group deep in thought. Even Hitsugaya, despite his prodigious talent, paid close attention.

  ...

  After a brief training session with the group, Haruki addressed them seriously. "This is my st lesson for now. I'll be busy in the ing days."

  "Focus on your studies at the academy and work hard to bee seated officers after graduation. Don't end up like me—still just an ordinary Shinigami."

  "Are you really just an ordinary Shinigami, Haruki-senpai?" Kira asked, uo hide his curiosity. "You seem more skilled than most of the instructors I've met."

  Haruki simply smiled. "Ordinary?" That was no lohe case. With Prodigy at his disposal, his rise was only just beginning.