"It's fine if you want to, but those practice Hollows are very weak. They wouldn't be much training for you." Rikiya said.
"It's okay. I mainly want to see the Living World. I've never been there before… I'm a bit curious." Toshiro explained.
This wasn't entirely untrue. Since arriving in the Soul Society, Toshiro indeed hadn't been to the Living World and didn't know how it differed from his previous world.
"In that case, you can go. Every student would have had a chance to go anyway… you just missed yours by skipping grades so fast. This will make up for it." Rikiya agreed.
"Oh, and since you're going, you might as well take on the role of leader for this trip. Even though it's just training, real Hollows might appear. Having a Lieutenant-level expert like you there now ensures the students' safety completely." Rikiya added.
"Alright, I will definitely ensure the students' safety." Toshiro agreed.
Thinking about those students who died because of Aizen's scheme, Toshiro felt a pang of sympathy.
'I'll save them if I can, and try not to let them die.' Toshiro decided internally.
"Thank you, Sensei. I'll take my leave now." Toshiro said.
"Then go ahead. Don't forget the assembly this afternoon." Rikiya reminded him.
Toshiro turned and walked out, closing the door behind him.
"Now, I should head back to my place to pack." Toshiro walked towards his residence.
'Heh, Momo and the others will be surprised.' Toshiro thought to himself.
On the Shin'o Academy's training ground.
A group of students had gathered, forming a square formation. At the front were three sixth-years: two male and one female.
Momo and the others were also standing in the formation.
"First, let me introduce myself. I am Hisagi Shuhei, a sixth-year. These are Kazuka and Aoga." The sixth-year with the numbers '69' tattooed on his face said.
Hearing this, the first-year students immediately started murmuring.
"Hey, Kira, are those senpai famous or something?" Renji, hearing the surrounding chatter, asked Kira.
"What? You don't know? It's not all of them, it's the one in the middle, Hisagi Shuhei. Years ago, it was confirmed he would join the Gotei 13, and he might even hold a high position. He's super promising."
"Though, he failed the entrance exam twice. I'm better than him in that regard." Kira said, stroking his chin somewhat proudly.
"Alright, quiet down. I am only the deputy leader for this trip. The leader hasn't arrived yet. Please wait a moment." Hisagi said.
"Sorry I'm late. Everyone, I am Hitsugaya Toshiro, the leader for this trip." Just then, Toshiro's voice rang out.
"I decided to join at the last minute, so packing made me late. Please forgive me." Toshiro said, walking to the front of the group.
"Toshiro is coming too? He didn't say anything before." Momo complained, though pleasantly surprised.
"That guy Toshiro, not telling us earlier… he definitely wanted to surprise us." Renji said discontentedly.
"The roster was already set. I didn't expect Toshiro to join suddenly." Kira was also surprised.
And the others were also whispering among themselves.
"I didn't expect the leader to be Toshiro. Haven't seen him in half a year." One student said.
These students had all been in the same class as Toshiro at some point and basically knew him. Back when school started, they had even treated him like a panda to observe because of his talent and age.
"Idiot, he's a sixth-year now. You should call him senpai. And a teacher said his strength has already reached Lieutenant-level." The student next to him said.
"Really? That's great! The stronger he is, the safer we are. Going to the Living World this time will be just like a trip." Another student said.
"Alright, from here, you will act in groups of three. Look at the slips of paper distributed to you and find people with the same mark to form a team." Kazuka, the girl among the sixth-years, said.
Toshiro glanced at Kazuka beside him. This young lady was quite pretty.
But he remembered that in the original work, among the sixth-years, only Hisagi, who would later become a Lieutenant, survived.
The only female among the sixth-years was pierced through the heart by a Hollow's claw and died a tragic death.
'Hmm, she is quite pretty. It would be a shame if she died. I'll save her life.' Toshiro thought to himself.
Now, the first-year students began finding people with the same mark to form teams.
"Hmm, this is indeed for forming teams." Renji said, looking at the slip of paper in his hand.
"But isn't it groups of three? Where's the other person?" Kira said.
"Yo, Abarai, Kira. Let's work well together this time." Momo walked over.
"What? It's Hinamori?" Renji said, surprised.
"What a coincidence, Hinamori. Let's do our best." Kira smiled.
"Alright, has everyone formed their teams? Now, Kazuka will explain the details of this training exercise." Toshiro said.
Since Toshiro had joined last minute, he wasn't too familiar with the specifics.
"Sixth-years have already gone ahead to the Living World and set up a barrier within a certain area. Your job is to fight and eliminate practice Hollows inside it." Kazuka explained.
"Although we've provided an environment convenient for fighting, we cannot guarantee your safety. There have been casualties in past training exercises, so you must be careful." Toshiro reminded them.
When the Hollows appeared, the situation would be chaotic. Toshiro couldn't guarantee everyone's life. Being more vigilant would mean a bit more safety.
"Alright, let's depart now. Open the gate." Toshiro decided.
As the Senkaimon opened behind him, Toshiro was the first to step through.