The Strongest in...

Author: Initially in this chapter there was a problem that my computer didn't see, so the chapter ended up as a gigantic and horrible paragraph that looked like the face of whoever made it, I had to redo it, luckily I had saved the entire chapter, so I put the chapter part by part, I hope this time it's right, sorry for anything.

___________________________________________________________________

The next morning, Cheon Jin awoke at the first sign of dawn, feeling the weight of the intense training from the past few months still embedded in his muscles. Despite the accumulated fatigue, his body was stronger than ever, and his mind sharper.

He rose slowly, stretching his arms as he felt the spiritual energy flowing naturally through his body. "Three months of seclusion and intense training... And now I'm back to the Academy's routine."

Dressing in his Shin'ō Academy uniform, Jin fastened the Reishi sword to his waist as usual—a constant reminder of the path he had walked so far. Although it wasn't a true Zanpakutō, this blade represented his determination and progress.

As he stepped out of the dormitory, he noticed that the sky was still tinged with a faint orange hue, a sign that it was still early. The Academy's corridors were relatively quiet, with only a few early-rising students already moving toward their first classes. Jin crossed the main courtyard with steady steps, observing every detail around him.

"Aizen didn't return last night..."

That realization echoed in his mind. He knew his friend well and was certain that Aizen would never waste time without a purpose. "If he didn't come back, it means he's busy planning something... And it probably involves me."

Jin knew that, despite appearances, he and Aizen were engaged in a silent competition. The manipulative genius was likely already considering ways to neutralize any advantage Jin might have gained over the past few months.

"If he wants to surpass me... great."

A slight smile formed on Jin's lips as he headed to his first theoretical class. He didn't mind being in Aizen's sights—on the contrary, it only made things even more interesting.

As he stepped into the classroom, he felt several gazes fall upon him. His prolonged absence had not gone unnoticed. Some classmates whispered among themselves, and even the instructor raised an eyebrow, surprised by his sudden return.

Jin simply settled into his seat calmly. He didn't need to say anything. His very presence was already a statement:

"I'm back. And I'm stronger than ever."

As the sun began to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and lilac, Jin let out a long sigh while walking through the Academy courtyard.

"What am I even doing here?" he thought, crossing his arms behind his head. Everything felt so monotonous after his intense training. The theoretical classes were just repetitions of what he already knew, and the practical lessons... completely limited. No real opponents, no real threats. Just exercises designed to shape and refine future Shinigami within the acceptable standards of the Soul Society.

"What a waste of time."

As always, Nano noticed his state of mind and intervened.

[Analyzing emotional patterns. Master, are you bored?]

Jin scoffed. "Very."

[That is understandable. Compared to the intense training of the past months, the Academy's level of difficulty is insignificant. I suggest seeking challenges outside the school environment.]

Jin smirked. "I was already thinking about that."

That was when something caught his attention. On the other side of the courtyard, a group of students was whispering among themselves, casting wary and tense glances. Judging by their expressions, something was going on.

"If it breaks the dull routine of this place, then it might be worth checking out."

With silent steps, Jin approached and caught snippets of their conversation.

— … was seen in the forest of the western district…

— That can't be right… if it really is a…

— We can't report this without proof, the superiors will just ignore us again.

Jin raised an eyebrow. "Interesting."

Determined to find out what was going on, he stepped closer, making sure his presence was known.

"What are you all whispering about?"

The students froze for a moment upon seeing him, exchanging nervous glances. Some hesitated, but one of them, braver than the rest, stepped forward.

— Jin… Have you heard the rumors about the forest in the western district?

— No. But you can bet I want to now.

The student swallowed hard before answering:

— They say there's a creature lurking there. Something that shouldn't even be in the Soul Society.

Jin's eyes gleamed with interest. "Finally, something interesting happening around here."

Jin slipped away from the group without drawing attention. He had already made up his mind—he would go to the western district that very night. The opportunity to find something beyond the dull lessons was too tempting to ignore. His legs moved swiftly and lightly, almost gliding across the courtyard as he made his way to one of the Academy's less-guarded exits. With his mastery of Shunpo, disappearing without a trace wouldn't be difficult.

However, at the exact moment he was about to disappear...

"Hey~ Where do you think you're going?"

The slow, slightly teasing voice made Jin halt his movement. He lifted his gaze, already knowing the owner of that voice.

At the top of the Academy wall, with a relaxed posture and a feline smile, stood a woman of wild beauty. Her long purple hair swayed gently in the night breeze, and her golden eyes gleamed with a cunning that could make even the most confident hesitate.

"Ah... it's you," Jin said, showing no surprise.

The woman tilted her head, clearly amused by his lack of enthusiasm.

"Wow, what a dull reaction. I thought you'd be happier to see me."

Jin simply sighed, already realizing that his escape attempt had ended there. He knew this woman well—Shihoin Yoruichi, the captain of the Second Division and commander of the Onmitsukidou. A living legend of the Soul Society.

Second Division, The Next Morning.

Jin was sitting in a separate room—spacious, but without unnecessary luxuries. In front of him, on the other side of a dark wooden table, Yoruichi lounged lazily, resting her chin on one hand, her golden eyes gleaming with amusement as she watched him.

"I didn't know a captain could just kidnap an Academy student for their division," Jin said, crossing his arms while maintaining an impassive expression.

Yoruichi chuckled, stretching her arms back before dropping onto the floor with the carefree ease of a cat basking in the sun.

"Kidnap? I prefer to call it 'forced recruitment.'" She tilted her head to look at him. "Every now and then, I went to the Academy to look for you, but you were never there."

Jin responded immediately, without hesitation.

"I was training."

Yoruichi raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips.

"Always so dedicated... But you know, kid, too much training can make you forget what really matters."

He frowned slightly.

"And what 'really matters'?"

Yoruichi didn't answer right away. Instead, she kept her enigmatic smile, as if she knew something he hadn't realized yet.

Jin, on the other hand, was already beginning to wonder what the real reason behind this "visit" was. After all, Yoruichi Shihoin wasn't the kind of person who did things without an interesting motive behind them.

Jin leaned back slightly, his neck cracking with a dry pop, relieving the accumulated tension. His gaze remained fixed on Yoruichi, analyzing every small movement of the captain with the calm of someone who could already sense a dangerous game unfolding.

"Then... why were you looking for me?" Her voice came out unhurried, carrying a subtle yet attentive curiosity.

Yoruichi, who had been maintaining a relaxed posture until then, curved her lips into a feline smile, something between amused disdain and calculated provocation. Her golden eyes gleamed under the soft lighting of the room.

"I'm interested in you."

The silence that followed was heavy, almost solid. Not just any silence, but the specific kind that precedes a shock, a moment when the brain scrambles to process the information just received.

Jin remained still, his face expressionless, but the subtle tension in the room spread like a sudden chill. His mind worked quickly, unraveling possible meanings behind her words. However, before Yoruichi could continue or add anything more to that unexpected statement, he finally broke the silence.

"You mean... as a Shinigami, right?" His voice brought back the lightness to the atmosphere, dissipating the momentary weight of the pause. A smile crossed his lips, sharp and confident. — After all, in that test, I almost caught you.

Yoruichi's eyes sparkled with renewed interest. The corner of her mouth lifted slightly, revealing more of her provocative side.

"Oh? 'Almost' caught me, huh?" She chuckled softly, crossing her arms and leaning forward, like a panther assessing her prey. "I want to see how far this confidence goes, Cheon Jin."

Jin kept his expression impassive, but inside, he needed all of his self-control not to look down. Yoruichi's proximity was already something that required focus, but the generous neckline of the Captain of the Second Division, positioned dangerously close to his face, made everything an even greater challenge.

He averted his gaze, directing his attention to the office balcony. With a slight mental command, he activated the Zoom and Infrared functions of Nano, enhancing his vision beyond the ordinary. Soon, a small and clearly feminine figure appeared in his field of view, hidden in the shadows of a tree and aiming at Yoruichi's office, the current place he was in.

'Soi-Fong?'

Recognizing her was instantaneous. He was well aware of the almost religious obsession the young shinigami had for Yoruichi. Fanaticism was an understatement to describe what she felt for the Captain.

Jin then smiled slightly, having a mischievous idea.

With a relaxed movement, he stood up from the cushion where he had been sitting and walked toward the balcony, casually leaning against the wooden edge. His gaze dropped to the main courtyard, a private space of Yoruichi's, reserved exclusively for her use.

Without hesitation, he called her with ease:

"Hey, come here, Yoruichi."

The carefree tone and the absence of any title or honorifics showed that he had no fear of speaking to her as an equal.

Yoruichi raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained by his audacity. With a mysterious smile, she stood up with the lightness and grace characteristic of her and walked over to him, stopping by his side on the balcony.

That's when Jin made his move.

With a swift and determined movement, he placed a firm arm around her waist and pulled her tightly toward him. The sensation of her warm body against his was instant.

If it were anyone else, they would have likely received a blow before even realizing what they'd done. But Yoruichi didn't resist. On the contrary, she chuckled softly, seeming more intrigued than surprised by the sudden approach.

Now close enough to feel each other's breath, Jin's eyes locked onto hers with intensity. His silver eyes, tinged with faint red hues, reflected in the golden gaze of the noble Shihoin.

For a moment, time seemed to slow down.

Then, Jin broke the silence with his calm, low voice:

"How about a rematch? Over there in your courtyard. The winner gets to have the other do whatever they want."

Yoruichi's lips curled into a feline smile. She loved challenges.

"I like that~" she said, leaning in a bit closer to him. "But I want to change one thing."

Jin raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to continue.

"The winner will dominate the other for an entire week..." Her voice grew even more teasing. "And they can't leave each other's side until that time is up."

He felt a gentle bite on the side of his neck, the pressure of her teeth warm against his skin.

Yoruichi then rested her arms on his broad, muscular shoulders, looking at him closely with amusement.

"Do you accept the challenge, Jin?" she murmured, her breath lightly brushing against his skin.

Jin smiled. This was going to be interesting.

"Then let's go!" Jin declared, before propelling himself forward with Yoruichi still in his arms.

The leap was sudden and fast, the winds cutting against their bodies as they plummeted toward Yoruichi's private courtyard. The initial speed was intense, as if they were an arrow shot straight ahead. The impact with the ground seemed imminent...

But then, Jin suddenly slowed in mid-air.

Instead of hitting the ground with force, the fall turned into a smooth, controlled movement, like leaves floating on the wind. Gravity seemed to no longer have control over them.

Yoruichi raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised.

Shinigami could step on air, but floating like this... That was new.

A smile formed on her lips, her arms still wrapped around Jin's neck.

"Oh~ How considerate," she teased, her voice taking on a seductive tone. "Were you worried I'd get hurt?"

Jin replied without hesitation, his silver eyes gleaming with subtle mischief:

"Of course. Is there a problem, my little kitten?"

The nickname was a direct blow.

Yoruichi felt a faint warmth rise to her face, an almost imperceptible blush. She loved teasing, but now she was on the other side of the game.

Jin's beauty was already something remarkable, but his bold and confident personality made everything even more dangerous. The perfect mix of charm and challenge.

Exactly the kind of thing that attracted her.

She laughed softly, pretending to ignore the impact of those words, but her eyes sparkled with a new interest.

Slowly, Jin guided them to the ground, landing with impressive lightness. As soon as his feet touched the floor, Yoruichi moved back with a small leap, her posture relaxed, but her golden eyes still fixed on him.

Jin, on his part, took a few steps to the right of the courtyard, stretching his arms as he began to warm up.

Unlike the other academy students, he no longer wore the standard uniform. Before heading out for his training, he decided to wear something he considered more comfortable and practical for combat.

[Insert image here]

As soon as Jin finished stretching, an intense red aura began to emanate from his body.

It started subtly at first, but quickly expanded, enveloping him like raging, violent, and uncontrollable flames. It was a dense, pulsating glow, almost tangible.

The air around him shimmered, as if the atmosphere itself was being distorted by the energy escaping from Jin. There was something raw, untamable, and above all, terrifying in that manifestation.

For a brief moment, Yoruichi felt her body instinctively react. Her heart raced, her muscles tensed, and a chill ran down her spine.

If she were someone less experienced, she might have stepped back reflexively or even given a small startled jump.

But... she was Yoruichi Shihōin.

Her pride, her experience, and, most of all, her excitement suppressed any hesitant reaction.

After all, that power...

"Interesting..." Yoruichi thought, a smile forming on her lips. Very interesting.

That presence was rare.

Jin was not just releasing Reiatsu. He was showing something beyond that, something that defied the norms.

"Oh~ So you're really taking this seriously..." she commented, her voice filled with amusement and interest.

But he wouldn't be the only one to take this seriously.

With a fluid, decisive movement, Yoruichi removed her captain's haori.

The garment slid over her shoulders with grace before being tossed aside, falling to the ground without ceremony.

Now, she wore only the modified Shihakushō of the Onmitsukidō.

It was a more fitted outfit, specially designed for stealth combat and maximum speed. The sleeves were short, and the attire exposed her shoulders and part of her back, allowing for complete freedom of movement.

She calmly stretched her arms, tilting slightly to one side, then the other, warming up her muscles like a predator about to strike.

Her golden eyes gleamed with pure excitement.

The game was about to begin.