>Do you want to add your arm to the Kubo collection? ;p
Yes. Quite.
>Eon's sporty-cajigs
So, I didn't know what ATA was when I read that fist sentence. I googled it and the first link was th American Trapshooting Association. Everything made sense until the "clipped in the head" part. I panced and thought "how can near murder be taken so nonchalantly?" Then I went back to google, scrolled a bit and figured out that this was probably taekwando. Not guns. Made the head clip a whole lot less terrifying.
Manga was boring. Nothing to say worth wasting a spoiler for.
Kusari is bored and in a motel room so here's a primer.
Bleach Primer: Gotei 13 Divisions
[spoil]1st Division
Captain-Commander: Koyanagi Seiichiro
Lieutenant-Commander: Isobe Miwa
Quote: “The hub of Seireitei’s decision making. From war declarations to the firing of soldiers to approval of vacation days, you can be assured that someone from Squad One has signed the paperwork.”
Role: The Gotei Thirteen’s First Division is, like their quote states, the core decision makers of the organization. The bureaucratic duties of the group grants them, what is essentially, complete control over the other Divisions. Among the many duties, the shinigami of the First Division handle the distribution and placement of Academy graduates into their new positions, keeping the process quick and efficient. While the duties may not seem that exciting, you cannot find a shinigami in all of Soul Society who does not respect the work these men and women do.
Shinigami who are recruited into the First Division are considered to be the pinnacle of bureaucratic and combat skill. Shinigami who look to join this Division straight out of the Academy are often shot down. Members of this elite group are oft taken directly from the fields of battle or transferred in from other Divisions, ensuring that only the best and brightest are added to the ranks. The officers who do join directly out of the Academy are only able to do so by receiving the best test scores possible or gaining recommendation from the instructors. Any officer who does make it into the Squad is regarded as an indispensable asset and is kept in reserve during any war-time situations. Seated officers of this Division gain the special privilege of commanding all other Shinigami who hold equal seating.
2nd Division
Captain: Mochizuki Hanzo
Lieutenant: Kiyomasa Saizo
Quote: “As long as the Onmitsukido has been allied with Squad Two, Seireitei and the Rukongai districts closest to it have been without heinous crime. This unity has existed since Soul Society began.”
Role: Since the inception of Seireitei and the Division system, the Second Division has been directly linked to the Onmitsukido by the Mochizuki Bloodline. The original event that united the two organizations has been lost within the annals of history, though the loyalty and brotherhood has not wavered since that time. The group has, for the most part, become Soul Society’s Special Operations unit. The duties that come with the Onmitsukido title include everything from the apprehension of shinigami gone rogue to running the many prisons hidden throughout Soul Society. Perhaps the most known duty of the Stealth Force, and by association Squad Two, is their role as a police force. While the Fifth Division and Sixth Division are tasked with war-time protection of the Seireitei and Rukongai, respectively, the Second Division ensures that heinous crime does not occur in times of peace.
Candidates for membership in the Second Division will, more often than not, share many of the same qualities and skills. Applicants are often the more lithe and agile Academy graduates, as well as individuals who have exceptional skills in stealth- or torture-oriented exercises (though the latter qualification is not officially endorsed as a wanted ability). On top of this, perfection is the name of the game in the Second Division. Error has no place when enforcing the laws of Soul Society. The majority of training members are subjected to falls into techniques for detainment (Bakudo, Hakuda), Shunpo, and “flash-bang” skills (Hado, other distractionary abilities). However, due to specialized fields within the organization itself, other training regiments may be instituted at will. The Second Division holds the lowest transfer rater, both in and out, of any Division.
3rd Division
Captain: Akugamine Shinju
Lieutenant: Hosokawa Namie
Quote: “The deserts of Hueco Mundo are vast, dangerous, and filled with untold horrors. The shinigami of the Third Squad know these perilous lands nearly as well as the native populous.”
Role: The shinigami of the Third Division hold what is, as public opinion states, the most dangerous jobs within any of Seireitei’s divisions. This comes from the area that the officers must patrol and regulate: the infinite desert known as Hueco Mundo. The men and women who call Squad Three home are tasked with monitoring the activity in Hueco Mundo for anomalous Arrancar activities that may possibly jeopardize the fragile balance between the world of the shinigami and the world of the Hollow. The shinigami of this Division are viewed as some of, if not, the most capable warriors in all of the Gotei Thirteen.
Of the all the Divisions, the one occupying the number three is the absolute hardest to be recruited into. The main reason being that the casualty and injury rate is far higher than any other Division. While exact numbers have never been taken, rough counts suggest a mortality rate between sixty-five and seventy percent while the injury rate is speculated to be somewhere between eighty and eighty-five percent. These factors mean that only the most experienced field operatives and the officers holding the highest amount of skill are allowed in. More often than not, new members to the Division will be transferred in from another unit, rather than being admitted directly from the Academy. Those that do make the cut face the most difficult training regiments in all of Seireitei, just to ensure that an officer can at least defend themselves before dying. The training does have quite the success rate, however, with even the rank-and-file Sixth Division shinigami being able to keep on par with the seated officers of other Divisions.
4th Division
Captain: Koyama Osamu
Lieutenant: Sugai Kenzo
Quote: “The home of the ultimate support crew. No matter the damage, a Squad Four member can be counted on to arrive with a healing hand.”
Role: The duties of the Fourth Division can be summed up in as little as three words: keep everything together. The main function of the unit is the medical upkeep of the Gotei Thirteen soldiers. Though the responsibilities do not end there. The Fourth Division literally keeps everything together. Within the walls of the medical base lurks a formidable force of architects and engineers who handle the care of the structures and utility lines throughout Seireitei. Keeping these things, as well as the fighting force, in one piece serves to make the military force function with near perfect efficiency.
Compared to some of the other Divisions, the Fourth has fairly lax standards for recruitment. Most applicants will be accepted into the walls of Squad Four as long as they have at least proficient skills in a field relating to the role of the Division in Seireitei. Doctors, engineers, chemists and the like are all desirable talents for the members of the Division. Students without these specializations who apply directly from the Academy also have great chance to be hired on the principle of, as put by the captain of the Thirteenth Division, “not having enough medics is a really ****ing bad situation to be in”.
5th Division
Captain: Inugiri Aguma
Lieutenant: Ueno Hisoka
Quote: “Hakuda is a basic skill all shinigami are required to learn. The men and women of the Fifth Division are the undisputed masters of the art and use it to crush any enemy entering Seireitei, to dust.”
Role: In the ancient infancy of Soul Society the Fifth and Six Divisions functioned as one cohesive group tasked with the wartime protection of Soul Society. As time drew on and the Rukongai districts grew the group split to protect the entire world with better efficiency. In the split, Division Five was given the job of keeping aegis of the military hub, Seireitei. Having been granted the slightly more important of the two duties, the Division was also granted access to the foremost Hakuda masters the world had to offer, a tool they still carry today. After the split, the Inugiri Clan took over as the heads of the Division, a tradition that exists to this day. The family brought with them a group of dogs used for the hunting of Ryoka.
Shinigami seeking employment in Division Five must, above all, have a passion and/or specialty in hand-to-hand style combat. Applicants should, but are not required to have, the ability to enforce their authority when needed. This comes from the Division’s bond with the dogs of the Inugiri Clan. Authority assertion, while suggested for standard members, is a rigidly enforced prerequisite for shinigami aiming for seated positions, as these men and women are in charge of their own pack of hounds. It is not odd for recently graduated students to join the Squad simply because they love the animals to find themselves overwhelmed by the actual duties they must perform. Because of this, the screening process for applicants is quite rigid.
6th Division
Captain: Tachibana Mikoto
Lieutenant: Matsui Sadao
Quote: “Squad Six is a division whose designation has been held since the beginning of Soul Society. Much like the Fifth Squad protects Seireitei from invaders, Squad Six holds aegis over the lifeblood of their world: the Rukongai.”
Role: In the ancient infancy of Soul Society the Fifth and Six Divisions functioned as one cohesive group tasked with the wartime protection of Soul Society. As time drew on and the Rukongai districts grew the group split to protect the entire world with better efficiency. Upon the separation, the Sixth Division was given the task to watch over the rapidly developing Rukongai during periods of battle. The position was, at the original time, hotly debated. The archaic version of Central 46 saw no reason to devote another Division to protection of the slums while the Onmitsukido existed. Despite this, the creation was completed, though the debate about its usefulness raged until the Sixteenth Century. From 1527 until 1548 a war against the Quincy raged. During this period the archers made it into the Rukongai and began destroying souls. It was at this time that the Sixth Division showed the utility of its duties, keeping the invaders at bay for a long enough time that the Balance of Souls could be equalized. The Squad is often referred to as the defensive counterpart to Division Five for acts like the previously stated.
Division Six has, due to at one time being viewed as useless, developed a reputation as the home of the strongest willed shinigami in all of the Gotei 13. Men and women looking for employment in the Sixth Squad are often subjected to a battery of resolve-testing drills before their acceptance. Through this habit, the Sixth has managed to keep up a fighting force that acts as Soul Society’s strongest shield. This division has the highest concentration of defensive-type and counter-type zanpakuto in the Gotei.
7th Division
Captain: Hisajima Reki
Lieutenant: Hibino Yuudai
Quote: “While things like knowledge and power may be considered the greatest treasures of Soul Society, the truest treasures are the diplomats and nobles. The Seventh Squad’s soldiers make sure these figures are eternally safe.”
Role: The Seventh is yet another Division whose duties have been outlined since the first days of creation. After the creation of Central 46 to govern the world and the First Division to act as a go-between for the diplomats and nobles to the soldiers, it was realized that the former group needed a protective force assigned only to them. This job was filled by the Seventh Division. From the everyday commute to noble marriages to wartime protection, a group of shinigami from Squad Seven can be found on guard, just out of sight, as it has been for centuries.
Due to the importance of the position, youngsters recently graduated from the Academy are less likely to be brought in than shinigami looking to be transferred from another Division. Despite this, the Seventh has one of the best records for hiring graduates. While no special prerequisites are needed for admittance, those who have at least a small specialty have a slightly better chance of joining. The only special tests required of applicants is a more in-depth psychological screening, for the purposes of weeding out anyone with a vendetta towards nobility.
8th Division
Captain: Fuyukaze Sagiri
Lieutenant: Godai Atsushi
Quote: “While the Twelfth Squad allows for the application of Soul Society’s greatest minds, the Eighth Division is tasked with preparing these minds. There is currently no graduate of the Shino Academy who has not been molded by the mentors of the Eighth’s officers.”
Role: The Eighth Division is home teachers of Shino Academy, the establishment of instruction for prospective Gotei Thirteen officers. Creation of the Eighth came out of the need to have an army of well-taught warriors instead of random criminals and brawlers found in the slums. For just over 2000 years this job has been kept up and done with the utmost skill. On top of this duty, the Eighth also take on the duties of wartime tacticians. Putting their mental skills together with the technological prowess of the Twelfth Division, the instructors craft the plans for the quickest, most efficient, and least costly victories of the Gotei Thirteen.
Prospective members of the Division numbered Eight must show skill in the two fields that allow the group to function efficiently. The first is the ability to think tactically. Testing of this skill comes in the form of battle simulation puzzles. The scores on this test are quite good for predicting how well the individual will do during any field of combat they choose. The second field is obviously the more important: the ability to teach. Above all else, the shinigami of the Eighth Division are teachers. Whether it be the instruction of students in the Academy or the explanation of a battle plan to the rank-and-file, this is the core skill of the Division.
9th Division
Captain: Maekawa Rikujo
Lieutenant: Hosui Yori
Quote: “Kido is one of the four basic arts of the shinigami of Soul Society. The Seventh Division plays host to the group specializing in this most magnificent of skills: the Onmitsukido.”
Role: The Ninth Division is, first and foremost, the home of Kido. While the ties to the Kido Corp haven’t been instilled since the beginning of the Seireitei, it is respected just the same. The shinigami of the Division treat Kido much like the scientists of the Twelfth treat technology. To them, it is a tool that is to be studied, researched, and improved until it reaches a point greater than it has ever been. New Kido, both successful and unsuccessful, are created each day by the shinigami that call the Ninth home. Past this, the more mundane Kido uses are also supervised by the Ninth Division. Activation of the Senkaimon, located on the grounds of the Tenth Squad, is perhaps the most important of the mundane duties.
Shinigami who look for employment in the Ninth Division must, obviously, have a preference and skill in the arts of Kido. Whether the skill for the art comes from the Way of Destruction, Way of Binding or even a bit of both, those proficient in Kido are pointed directly towards Squad Nine. While the expectations look quite impossible for even the most skilled shinigami, more often than not, even a recent graduate with only slightly above average skill will be accepted into the fold.
10th Division
Captain: Shimabukuro Kazutani
Lieutenant: Koyanagi Eiichiro
Quote: “The Tenth Division is a microcosm of the Gotei itself. The premier defenders of the living world find purpose here.”
Role: While the entirety of the Gotei Thirteen has the collective goal of protecting the World of the Living, the Tenth Division is the fighting force who specializes in this duty. The officers of this Squad are tasked with coordinating all teams, be they of the Tenth Division or any other, who are going to the human world. This is achieved largely through having the main Senkaimon of Seireitei located on the same land as their headquarters. From these same headquarters, Squad Five shinigami monitor the actions of all soldiers currently in the human world.
Individuals looking to become a part of this elite force must meet a set of qualifications different from nearly every other Squad. Skill in kido, zanjutsu proficiency, shunpo excellence; all are nearly irrelevant in the process to joining Division Ten. Applicants need only to prove that they hold a deep desire to protect the human race to be considered for acceptance. While those arts are important, the Tenth Division sees the protective resolve as an even greater asset.
11th Division
Captain: Ogasawara Zenjiro
Lieutenant: Sawatari Chinatsu
Quote: “There is a place within Seireitei where the greatest fighters are drawn. In this place, the morale of warriors is at its greatest. The name of this holy ground? Division 11!”
Role: While all shinigami are gifted in combat, these men and women are the pinnacle. The Eleventh Division has used its reputation as a fighter’s heaven to draw in an extremely talented group of soldier who are designated as the backbone of Seireitei’s army. Being as combat-ready as they are, the Division functions as the front line and powerhouse during times of war. A popular metaphor for the Squad’s use is to compare Soul Society to a warrior and the Eleventh Division to the sword he wields.
The Eleventh Division, as battle-oriented as it is, uses that to decide who joins and who doesn’t. Unlike the rest of the Divisions, the Eleventh takes on all applicants. Then begins a trial by fire. Every one of a prospective hire’s combat skills are tested. Kido, zanjutsu, hakuda, and shunpo are put under the microscope and scrutinized, making sure that only the best of the best make it into the ranks. Though these practices may seem like the Squad is filled entirely with barbarians, this is far from the truth. The captain, though fun loving, is quite militant, requiring all of his soldiers to best on at least semi-respectable behavior or he has no problem sending them to the Second Division for punishment.
12th Division
Captain: Nishibayashi Sayuri
Lieutenant: Enjouji Katsutoshi
Quote: “Research is never complete as long as there are mysteries in this world. The shinigami of Squad Twelve look to make research an extinct concept.”
Role: Science is the name of the game for the Twelfth Squad. The shinigami work tirelessly, making advancements in every discipline for the betterment of Soul Society. Biology, ecology, technology, astronomy, spiritology; no field is off limits to the probing fingers of the greatest minds in all of Seireitei. In addition to this, the Twelfth holds a close relationship with the Third and Eighth Divisions, all three requiring as much tact and brain power Seireitei can muster.
A crew of the most brilliant minds to grace Seireitei fill Division Twelve’s barracks to the brim. The brightest minds in all of Soul Society are brought in to serve the scientific pursuits of the Division. Specialists in all disciplines are accepted and have their abilities nurtured for the betterment of Soul Society. A preconceived notion towards the Division that they have no combat skill due to focusing relentlessly on mental pursuits. However, this is false. Shinigami from all Divisions are brought in to assist in the training of the scientists in the basic arts.
13th Division
Captain: Shimizudani Yasuo
Lieutenant: Bessho Susumu
Quote: “Upon graduation of the academy, many shinigami are left with no specialization in abilities that would normally make their joining of the Gotei easier. Squad 13 takes them in and nurtures their talents into something astounding.”
Role: The Thirteenth Division has undergone changes in its duties in recent times. For the longest time, since a time not long after the Gotei’s inception, the positions of Captain and Lieutenant were held by members of the Matsudaira Clan, one of the Four Noble Families. During this period they had almost no specialized duties, abusing their political, societal, and zanjutsu prowess to get out of working and get away with anything. [spoil]The end of this came when the current Captain, one of the few non-Matsudaira lieutenants, jokingly challenged his Captain, Sekizou Matsudaira, to a duel. At first, Yasuo had no intention of being serious in the fight. He only began to fight seriously when he began winning. Eventually the match drew a large crowd, featuring members of all Divisions, including the 312 from the Thirteenth. Eventually, after hours of fighting, Yasuo slayed his Captain, something he had never intended to do at the beginning. He had unknowingly become the Captain of the Division. The consequences of the act brought rage from the Matsudaira Clan, though, in the end, the laws of Soul Society won out and change was set about in the Division. The Matsudaira pulled their shinigami out of the Division, feeling slighted for some reason, to become a personal police force. Yasuo changed the image from one of entitled jerkishness to a nurturing environment.[/spoil] The Thirteenth Division became what can best be described as a tutoring area. Shinigami who are skilled in no particular area or cannot release their zanpakuto are, by default, placed into the Thirteenth where they improve their skills before transferring to somewhere their specializations are suited for. Those who show particular skill in nurturing others are kept within the Division and used to assist the new recruits.
Unlike the rest of the Divisions, very few Academy graduates make a conscious decision to join Squad Thirteen, besides those who are skilled at nurturing the gifts of others. However, each graduation season there are always a steady number of upstarts put into the rank-and-file positions. These range from those who had no idea where they wanted to go upon graduation to those who failed out of the screening processes for other Divisions. Because of existing members’ skill in training, the Thirteenth Division produces the most Shikai-able shinigami of any Division, proof of the usefulness of the training regiments. A common trait of Division members is an odd softspokenness or shyness, which is something that usually contributes to their inability to master a field or decide on a specialization. This Division has the highest transfer-out rate of all Divisions in the Gotei.[/spoil]
Yes. Quite.
>Eon's sporty-cajigs
So, I didn't know what ATA was when I read that fist sentence. I googled it and the first link was th American Trapshooting Association. Everything made sense until the "clipped in the head" part. I panced and thought "how can near murder be taken so nonchalantly?" Then I went back to google, scrolled a bit and figured out that this was probably taekwando. Not guns. Made the head clip a whole lot less terrifying.
Manga was boring. Nothing to say worth wasting a spoiler for.
Kusari is bored and in a motel room so here's a primer.
Bleach Primer: Gotei 13 Divisions
[spoil]1st Division
Captain-Commander: Koyanagi Seiichiro
Lieutenant-Commander: Isobe Miwa
Quote: “The hub of Seireitei’s decision making. From war declarations to the firing of soldiers to approval of vacation days, you can be assured that someone from Squad One has signed the paperwork.”
Role: The Gotei Thirteen’s First Division is, like their quote states, the core decision makers of the organization. The bureaucratic duties of the group grants them, what is essentially, complete control over the other Divisions. Among the many duties, the shinigami of the First Division handle the distribution and placement of Academy graduates into their new positions, keeping the process quick and efficient. While the duties may not seem that exciting, you cannot find a shinigami in all of Soul Society who does not respect the work these men and women do.
Shinigami who are recruited into the First Division are considered to be the pinnacle of bureaucratic and combat skill. Shinigami who look to join this Division straight out of the Academy are often shot down. Members of this elite group are oft taken directly from the fields of battle or transferred in from other Divisions, ensuring that only the best and brightest are added to the ranks. The officers who do join directly out of the Academy are only able to do so by receiving the best test scores possible or gaining recommendation from the instructors. Any officer who does make it into the Squad is regarded as an indispensable asset and is kept in reserve during any war-time situations. Seated officers of this Division gain the special privilege of commanding all other Shinigami who hold equal seating.
2nd Division
Captain: Mochizuki Hanzo
Lieutenant: Kiyomasa Saizo
Quote: “As long as the Onmitsukido has been allied with Squad Two, Seireitei and the Rukongai districts closest to it have been without heinous crime. This unity has existed since Soul Society began.”
Role: Since the inception of Seireitei and the Division system, the Second Division has been directly linked to the Onmitsukido by the Mochizuki Bloodline. The original event that united the two organizations has been lost within the annals of history, though the loyalty and brotherhood has not wavered since that time. The group has, for the most part, become Soul Society’s Special Operations unit. The duties that come with the Onmitsukido title include everything from the apprehension of shinigami gone rogue to running the many prisons hidden throughout Soul Society. Perhaps the most known duty of the Stealth Force, and by association Squad Two, is their role as a police force. While the Fifth Division and Sixth Division are tasked with war-time protection of the Seireitei and Rukongai, respectively, the Second Division ensures that heinous crime does not occur in times of peace.
Candidates for membership in the Second Division will, more often than not, share many of the same qualities and skills. Applicants are often the more lithe and agile Academy graduates, as well as individuals who have exceptional skills in stealth- or torture-oriented exercises (though the latter qualification is not officially endorsed as a wanted ability). On top of this, perfection is the name of the game in the Second Division. Error has no place when enforcing the laws of Soul Society. The majority of training members are subjected to falls into techniques for detainment (Bakudo, Hakuda), Shunpo, and “flash-bang” skills (Hado, other distractionary abilities). However, due to specialized fields within the organization itself, other training regiments may be instituted at will. The Second Division holds the lowest transfer rater, both in and out, of any Division.
3rd Division
Captain: Akugamine Shinju
Lieutenant: Hosokawa Namie
Quote: “The deserts of Hueco Mundo are vast, dangerous, and filled with untold horrors. The shinigami of the Third Squad know these perilous lands nearly as well as the native populous.”
Role: The shinigami of the Third Division hold what is, as public opinion states, the most dangerous jobs within any of Seireitei’s divisions. This comes from the area that the officers must patrol and regulate: the infinite desert known as Hueco Mundo. The men and women who call Squad Three home are tasked with monitoring the activity in Hueco Mundo for anomalous Arrancar activities that may possibly jeopardize the fragile balance between the world of the shinigami and the world of the Hollow. The shinigami of this Division are viewed as some of, if not, the most capable warriors in all of the Gotei Thirteen.
Of the all the Divisions, the one occupying the number three is the absolute hardest to be recruited into. The main reason being that the casualty and injury rate is far higher than any other Division. While exact numbers have never been taken, rough counts suggest a mortality rate between sixty-five and seventy percent while the injury rate is speculated to be somewhere between eighty and eighty-five percent. These factors mean that only the most experienced field operatives and the officers holding the highest amount of skill are allowed in. More often than not, new members to the Division will be transferred in from another unit, rather than being admitted directly from the Academy. Those that do make the cut face the most difficult training regiments in all of Seireitei, just to ensure that an officer can at least defend themselves before dying. The training does have quite the success rate, however, with even the rank-and-file Sixth Division shinigami being able to keep on par with the seated officers of other Divisions.
4th Division
Captain: Koyama Osamu
Lieutenant: Sugai Kenzo
Quote: “The home of the ultimate support crew. No matter the damage, a Squad Four member can be counted on to arrive with a healing hand.”
Role: The duties of the Fourth Division can be summed up in as little as three words: keep everything together. The main function of the unit is the medical upkeep of the Gotei Thirteen soldiers. Though the responsibilities do not end there. The Fourth Division literally keeps everything together. Within the walls of the medical base lurks a formidable force of architects and engineers who handle the care of the structures and utility lines throughout Seireitei. Keeping these things, as well as the fighting force, in one piece serves to make the military force function with near perfect efficiency.
Compared to some of the other Divisions, the Fourth has fairly lax standards for recruitment. Most applicants will be accepted into the walls of Squad Four as long as they have at least proficient skills in a field relating to the role of the Division in Seireitei. Doctors, engineers, chemists and the like are all desirable talents for the members of the Division. Students without these specializations who apply directly from the Academy also have great chance to be hired on the principle of, as put by the captain of the Thirteenth Division, “not having enough medics is a really ****ing bad situation to be in”.
5th Division
Captain: Inugiri Aguma
Lieutenant: Ueno Hisoka
Quote: “Hakuda is a basic skill all shinigami are required to learn. The men and women of the Fifth Division are the undisputed masters of the art and use it to crush any enemy entering Seireitei, to dust.”
Role: In the ancient infancy of Soul Society the Fifth and Six Divisions functioned as one cohesive group tasked with the wartime protection of Soul Society. As time drew on and the Rukongai districts grew the group split to protect the entire world with better efficiency. In the split, Division Five was given the job of keeping aegis of the military hub, Seireitei. Having been granted the slightly more important of the two duties, the Division was also granted access to the foremost Hakuda masters the world had to offer, a tool they still carry today. After the split, the Inugiri Clan took over as the heads of the Division, a tradition that exists to this day. The family brought with them a group of dogs used for the hunting of Ryoka.
Shinigami seeking employment in Division Five must, above all, have a passion and/or specialty in hand-to-hand style combat. Applicants should, but are not required to have, the ability to enforce their authority when needed. This comes from the Division’s bond with the dogs of the Inugiri Clan. Authority assertion, while suggested for standard members, is a rigidly enforced prerequisite for shinigami aiming for seated positions, as these men and women are in charge of their own pack of hounds. It is not odd for recently graduated students to join the Squad simply because they love the animals to find themselves overwhelmed by the actual duties they must perform. Because of this, the screening process for applicants is quite rigid.
6th Division
Captain: Tachibana Mikoto
Lieutenant: Matsui Sadao
Quote: “Squad Six is a division whose designation has been held since the beginning of Soul Society. Much like the Fifth Squad protects Seireitei from invaders, Squad Six holds aegis over the lifeblood of their world: the Rukongai.”
Role: In the ancient infancy of Soul Society the Fifth and Six Divisions functioned as one cohesive group tasked with the wartime protection of Soul Society. As time drew on and the Rukongai districts grew the group split to protect the entire world with better efficiency. Upon the separation, the Sixth Division was given the task to watch over the rapidly developing Rukongai during periods of battle. The position was, at the original time, hotly debated. The archaic version of Central 46 saw no reason to devote another Division to protection of the slums while the Onmitsukido existed. Despite this, the creation was completed, though the debate about its usefulness raged until the Sixteenth Century. From 1527 until 1548 a war against the Quincy raged. During this period the archers made it into the Rukongai and began destroying souls. It was at this time that the Sixth Division showed the utility of its duties, keeping the invaders at bay for a long enough time that the Balance of Souls could be equalized. The Squad is often referred to as the defensive counterpart to Division Five for acts like the previously stated.
Division Six has, due to at one time being viewed as useless, developed a reputation as the home of the strongest willed shinigami in all of the Gotei 13. Men and women looking for employment in the Sixth Squad are often subjected to a battery of resolve-testing drills before their acceptance. Through this habit, the Sixth has managed to keep up a fighting force that acts as Soul Society’s strongest shield. This division has the highest concentration of defensive-type and counter-type zanpakuto in the Gotei.
7th Division
Captain: Hisajima Reki
Lieutenant: Hibino Yuudai
Quote: “While things like knowledge and power may be considered the greatest treasures of Soul Society, the truest treasures are the diplomats and nobles. The Seventh Squad’s soldiers make sure these figures are eternally safe.”
Role: The Seventh is yet another Division whose duties have been outlined since the first days of creation. After the creation of Central 46 to govern the world and the First Division to act as a go-between for the diplomats and nobles to the soldiers, it was realized that the former group needed a protective force assigned only to them. This job was filled by the Seventh Division. From the everyday commute to noble marriages to wartime protection, a group of shinigami from Squad Seven can be found on guard, just out of sight, as it has been for centuries.
Due to the importance of the position, youngsters recently graduated from the Academy are less likely to be brought in than shinigami looking to be transferred from another Division. Despite this, the Seventh has one of the best records for hiring graduates. While no special prerequisites are needed for admittance, those who have at least a small specialty have a slightly better chance of joining. The only special tests required of applicants is a more in-depth psychological screening, for the purposes of weeding out anyone with a vendetta towards nobility.
8th Division
Captain: Fuyukaze Sagiri
Lieutenant: Godai Atsushi
Quote: “While the Twelfth Squad allows for the application of Soul Society’s greatest minds, the Eighth Division is tasked with preparing these minds. There is currently no graduate of the Shino Academy who has not been molded by the mentors of the Eighth’s officers.”
Role: The Eighth Division is home teachers of Shino Academy, the establishment of instruction for prospective Gotei Thirteen officers. Creation of the Eighth came out of the need to have an army of well-taught warriors instead of random criminals and brawlers found in the slums. For just over 2000 years this job has been kept up and done with the utmost skill. On top of this duty, the Eighth also take on the duties of wartime tacticians. Putting their mental skills together with the technological prowess of the Twelfth Division, the instructors craft the plans for the quickest, most efficient, and least costly victories of the Gotei Thirteen.
Prospective members of the Division numbered Eight must show skill in the two fields that allow the group to function efficiently. The first is the ability to think tactically. Testing of this skill comes in the form of battle simulation puzzles. The scores on this test are quite good for predicting how well the individual will do during any field of combat they choose. The second field is obviously the more important: the ability to teach. Above all else, the shinigami of the Eighth Division are teachers. Whether it be the instruction of students in the Academy or the explanation of a battle plan to the rank-and-file, this is the core skill of the Division.
9th Division
Captain: Maekawa Rikujo
Lieutenant: Hosui Yori
Quote: “Kido is one of the four basic arts of the shinigami of Soul Society. The Seventh Division plays host to the group specializing in this most magnificent of skills: the Onmitsukido.”
Role: The Ninth Division is, first and foremost, the home of Kido. While the ties to the Kido Corp haven’t been instilled since the beginning of the Seireitei, it is respected just the same. The shinigami of the Division treat Kido much like the scientists of the Twelfth treat technology. To them, it is a tool that is to be studied, researched, and improved until it reaches a point greater than it has ever been. New Kido, both successful and unsuccessful, are created each day by the shinigami that call the Ninth home. Past this, the more mundane Kido uses are also supervised by the Ninth Division. Activation of the Senkaimon, located on the grounds of the Tenth Squad, is perhaps the most important of the mundane duties.
Shinigami who look for employment in the Ninth Division must, obviously, have a preference and skill in the arts of Kido. Whether the skill for the art comes from the Way of Destruction, Way of Binding or even a bit of both, those proficient in Kido are pointed directly towards Squad Nine. While the expectations look quite impossible for even the most skilled shinigami, more often than not, even a recent graduate with only slightly above average skill will be accepted into the fold.
10th Division
Captain: Shimabukuro Kazutani
Lieutenant: Koyanagi Eiichiro
Quote: “The Tenth Division is a microcosm of the Gotei itself. The premier defenders of the living world find purpose here.”
Role: While the entirety of the Gotei Thirteen has the collective goal of protecting the World of the Living, the Tenth Division is the fighting force who specializes in this duty. The officers of this Squad are tasked with coordinating all teams, be they of the Tenth Division or any other, who are going to the human world. This is achieved largely through having the main Senkaimon of Seireitei located on the same land as their headquarters. From these same headquarters, Squad Five shinigami monitor the actions of all soldiers currently in the human world.
Individuals looking to become a part of this elite force must meet a set of qualifications different from nearly every other Squad. Skill in kido, zanjutsu proficiency, shunpo excellence; all are nearly irrelevant in the process to joining Division Ten. Applicants need only to prove that they hold a deep desire to protect the human race to be considered for acceptance. While those arts are important, the Tenth Division sees the protective resolve as an even greater asset.
11th Division
Captain: Ogasawara Zenjiro
Lieutenant: Sawatari Chinatsu
Quote: “There is a place within Seireitei where the greatest fighters are drawn. In this place, the morale of warriors is at its greatest. The name of this holy ground? Division 11!”
Role: While all shinigami are gifted in combat, these men and women are the pinnacle. The Eleventh Division has used its reputation as a fighter’s heaven to draw in an extremely talented group of soldier who are designated as the backbone of Seireitei’s army. Being as combat-ready as they are, the Division functions as the front line and powerhouse during times of war. A popular metaphor for the Squad’s use is to compare Soul Society to a warrior and the Eleventh Division to the sword he wields.
The Eleventh Division, as battle-oriented as it is, uses that to decide who joins and who doesn’t. Unlike the rest of the Divisions, the Eleventh takes on all applicants. Then begins a trial by fire. Every one of a prospective hire’s combat skills are tested. Kido, zanjutsu, hakuda, and shunpo are put under the microscope and scrutinized, making sure that only the best of the best make it into the ranks. Though these practices may seem like the Squad is filled entirely with barbarians, this is far from the truth. The captain, though fun loving, is quite militant, requiring all of his soldiers to best on at least semi-respectable behavior or he has no problem sending them to the Second Division for punishment.
12th Division
Captain: Nishibayashi Sayuri
Lieutenant: Enjouji Katsutoshi
Quote: “Research is never complete as long as there are mysteries in this world. The shinigami of Squad Twelve look to make research an extinct concept.”
Role: Science is the name of the game for the Twelfth Squad. The shinigami work tirelessly, making advancements in every discipline for the betterment of Soul Society. Biology, ecology, technology, astronomy, spiritology; no field is off limits to the probing fingers of the greatest minds in all of Seireitei. In addition to this, the Twelfth holds a close relationship with the Third and Eighth Divisions, all three requiring as much tact and brain power Seireitei can muster.
A crew of the most brilliant minds to grace Seireitei fill Division Twelve’s barracks to the brim. The brightest minds in all of Soul Society are brought in to serve the scientific pursuits of the Division. Specialists in all disciplines are accepted and have their abilities nurtured for the betterment of Soul Society. A preconceived notion towards the Division that they have no combat skill due to focusing relentlessly on mental pursuits. However, this is false. Shinigami from all Divisions are brought in to assist in the training of the scientists in the basic arts.
13th Division
Captain: Shimizudani Yasuo
Lieutenant: Bessho Susumu
Quote: “Upon graduation of the academy, many shinigami are left with no specialization in abilities that would normally make their joining of the Gotei easier. Squad 13 takes them in and nurtures their talents into something astounding.”
Role: The Thirteenth Division has undergone changes in its duties in recent times. For the longest time, since a time not long after the Gotei’s inception, the positions of Captain and Lieutenant were held by members of the Matsudaira Clan, one of the Four Noble Families. During this period they had almost no specialized duties, abusing their political, societal, and zanjutsu prowess to get out of working and get away with anything. [spoil]The end of this came when the current Captain, one of the few non-Matsudaira lieutenants, jokingly challenged his Captain, Sekizou Matsudaira, to a duel. At first, Yasuo had no intention of being serious in the fight. He only began to fight seriously when he began winning. Eventually the match drew a large crowd, featuring members of all Divisions, including the 312 from the Thirteenth. Eventually, after hours of fighting, Yasuo slayed his Captain, something he had never intended to do at the beginning. He had unknowingly become the Captain of the Division. The consequences of the act brought rage from the Matsudaira Clan, though, in the end, the laws of Soul Society won out and change was set about in the Division. The Matsudaira pulled their shinigami out of the Division, feeling slighted for some reason, to become a personal police force. Yasuo changed the image from one of entitled jerkishness to a nurturing environment.[/spoil] The Thirteenth Division became what can best be described as a tutoring area. Shinigami who are skilled in no particular area or cannot release their zanpakuto are, by default, placed into the Thirteenth where they improve their skills before transferring to somewhere their specializations are suited for. Those who show particular skill in nurturing others are kept within the Division and used to assist the new recruits.
Unlike the rest of the Divisions, very few Academy graduates make a conscious decision to join Squad Thirteen, besides those who are skilled at nurturing the gifts of others. However, each graduation season there are always a steady number of upstarts put into the rank-and-file positions. These range from those who had no idea where they wanted to go upon graduation to those who failed out of the screening processes for other Divisions. Because of existing members’ skill in training, the Thirteenth Division produces the most Shikai-able shinigami of any Division, proof of the usefulness of the training regiments. A common trait of Division members is an odd softspokenness or shyness, which is something that usually contributes to their inability to master a field or decide on a specialization. This Division has the highest transfer-out rate of all Divisions in the Gotei.[/spoil]
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