Southwest Seireitei

Nobody · Feb 8, 2026

Much had changed in the passing of the years since what Kishō could only describe as the Gotei 13's greatest failure. Even currently he couldn't help but feel anger, seething at the thought of the two mongrels who had gotten in the way of him eliminating that hollow born scum. His instinct after the departure of the enemy was to render the two to ash. It is their good fortune that he did not bend to that instinct.

With the elevation of Yūgure to the position of Captain many naturally expected Kishō to at the very least, be positioned as her Lieutenant. When that position remained vacant those in the Ninth treaded on pins and needles, walking on eggshells as they awaited a storm born of the Date's anger for such insult. It is an assumption that comes from their ignorance. Unaware that Kishō had never sought after Captaincy let alone Vice-Captaincy. As far as he was concerned he could care less who occupied that pointless position. In fact, in his eyes nothing had changed, the man continuing to move as he so desired while at the same time, supporting the new Captain and matriarch of her family. Like other Date, he thought very little of the Shihōin. To him those of that clan were laughable fools, jesters at best, yet Yūgure existed as an exception for him. Though he defied her by acting as he pleased, he also supported her just as much...in his own way of course.

Kishō approaches the Date compound, eyes shifting towards those who pass him by, busying themselves with the tasks entrusted to them. Those who spot the man, despite how busy they were make sure to greet him not as the Third Seat of the Ninth Division, but as Sekai Hokō-sha (世界歩行者, 'World Walker', 'Realm Treader'), the Fourth Finger of the Uchigawa-te (内側手, 'The Inner Hand'). He moves through the dark halls and corridors of the compound. It has been quite some time since the fingers had been gathered, and with all that has happened it seems such a meeting was a long time coming.

The Shinigami have been an utter mess, strength laughably pathetic, Divisions failing to focus on or perform their most basic duties, and with the rise of a new Commander the stupidity seemed to only continue running rampant. Kishō found that the only Divisions he could trust to be doing anything worthwhile was the Eleventh ran by the Third Finger, and his own Division that had him in it. Things needed to change, the Gotei as it was right now was less a military and more a gathering of rabble. Perhaps after today, there would be a shift in the direction of the court squads. His journey brings him into the meeting room, eyes of reverence falling on the statue of Mimihagi before he takes his designated seat at the round table. Like Taro, Kishō offers no greetings to anyone and is not greeted himself upon his arrival. Meaningless pleasantries had no place among the Date, least of all in here.

He waits in silence for the meeting to begin, a meeting meant to alter the trajectory of many lives with one hand; theirs.

Adonai · Feb 13, 2026

The Date Theme

Three hooded figures enter the meeting room, these are the remaining members of the Uchigawa-te (内側手, 'The Inner Hand'). With the First, Second and Fifth fingers now seated the meeting can begin. Naturally, it is the First Finger that begins the meeting, jumping right into his report, not bothering with pleasantries or talking about it has been a while since they all last gathered. Above all things, the Date are efficient. Their methods may be crass, cold, and harsh, but none can argue their results.

”As you can see we have ascertained the rights to the Shiba grounds. We’ve spent a long period of time ensuring no secrets were left undiscovered. It appears the Third Finger’s visit to the manor 11 years ago bore enough fruit to keep the head of the clan in line, before her untimely demise. There were no underground caverns or tunnels, as always the Shiba remained dull until the end. Going over what documents we could find allowed us to secure multiple launch sights for the Zero Division’s Tenchūren. (天てん柱ちゅう輦れん, Heavenly Pillar-Palanquin) Naturally the locals were against our take over, but with enough ‘convincing’ they settled down. A few of the locations had Spiritually powered souls guarding them, we assumed them to be Shiba so they were cut down without a second thought. Testing revealed they were not of Shiba blood, merely guard dogs loyal to them. With that said, the only member remaining of that dull clan is Densagi Shiba, who is in Muken. We will eliminate him when the moment is right.”

The First Finger has been helming the pacification of the Shiba clan, ensuring all their assets are seized by the Date and cleaning up any loose ends they have left behind. For him it has been tireless work since the Civil War ended, trying to make these moves quietly without drawing too much attention to himself or the clan. As things have progressed he has been able to do things a bit more boldly such as putting down any Shiba Clan supporters, be that in the form of money, manipulation, strong arming, or outright killing them. Regardless of the method chosen, the lesser clans that support the Shiba have all been silenced with said support ready to be lended to the Date clan when it is needed. However, dealing with the lesser clans has not been the job of the First Finger, that duty fell to the Second and Fifth Finger. Since the two have already shared their information with each other the Second finger gestures to the Fifth to report his end of things. With a nod to confirm the gesture he begins speaking.

”Pacifying the smaller clans was delicate work and required much finesse. There was a lot less bloodshed on our end than yours. Bureaucratic families were left alone as they have no true pull or control over major Clan affairs, I believe the First dealt with them since they were labeled as ‘supporters.’”

The First nods his head confirming this. The Fifth then continues his report.

”The other clans also noticed the void left by the Shiba clan and began organizing and forming factions, some pooling their camps together and becoming one new clan. Sadly, their 10 to 5 years of planning is a drop of water in the ocean compared to how long we have been plotting this take over. Those new Clans were reminded of their own past sins, some of which reaped the benefits of siding with the Tsunayashiro and Shihoin during the Great Degradation. Those who were not directly involved with those two Great Nobility were reminded of their behaviour and how they treated the Rukongai citizens during this time. I did say there was less bloodshed, that does not mean there was none. A word here, a note there and a few minor houses were destroyed by the Rukongai citizens they had wronged. This managed to bring things in order much more quickly on our end once the others took note. Clans that are closer to the Tsunayashiro and Shihoin, such as the Feng, have been left alone. They will fall in line when the Shihoin do, a trickle down effect.”

Espionage and sabotage, the Date are not only mighty with the sword but the pen as well. Information and knowledge is power and the Second and Fifth are proof of this. They know exactly what to say to the right people at the right time to enact a domino effect of destruction. Those in the Gotei 13 may be worried about Taro saying too much, they do not realize it won't be him doing the talking when the time comes. The First looks over to Taro next, still smiling with his eyes closed to slits. He nods to him to let him know it is his turn. Taro then takes a deep breath before talking.

”As instructed I have been monitoring the upper echelon of the Machine known as the Gotei 13. Needless to say we all witnessed what happened ten years ago. Allowing Central 46 to operate as the Captain Commander was something that should have been protested, they had no military experience and with no presence on the battlefield it left every single Captain and Shinigami to their own devices. It was frustrating to witness, even more so as me and Fourth made our rounds to ensure every Division was combat ready, we were met with needless push back at every turn only for the fools to see they indeed were not ready.”

Taro begins to open his eyes, a vein bulges on his face as his expression slightly warps as his annoyance grows by the second.

”The idiotic structure of this cesspool sickens me to no end, the needless coddling and softness is a disease that is softening the bones of the Gotei 13. The maggot food prances around and prattle to one another, speaking as if there was any victory to be had because the enemy retreated. We lost that war against the Arrancar 10 years ago and yet these ignorant cogs do not realize that. The stupidity of our military saw great damage done because of lack of strong leadership. The Roach Feed of a Shihoin lost the Sokyoku, something I had prepared in the event of it being needed, though it was going to be swung as a weapon, not fully ignited. Not even scraps of it remain now. The lack of proper preparation in defense led to the Kido Corps and Academy being decimated by an attack. The same place that opened fire on me for merely approaching its gates was not ready for an Arrancar despite us being on high alert for invasion?!”

”Third…”

The First can see Taro’s sanity slipping, his mask falling off and slowly revealing the monster underneath.

”Despite being on high alert we still managed to suffer heavy losses, no one knows how to move with organization as if they are all on vacation. The Leadership of the Gotei 13 is weak and lacking, the filthy shit stains I have to stand with in these meetings make me want to vomit up my bowels at their feet. And yet the sight of my own regurgitated bowels would be a more fitting sight than those that wear the Haori. Having to exist at the beck and call of a useless Commander makes me want to boil his eyes out of his sockets…”

”Third.”

”He spews orders from his mouth instead of suggestions, sat inside the academy for years and yet still behaves as if he has lessons to give to those who supposedly lead. If not for his performance in the final battle and rallying what scraps of shit were on the field at the time we would still be headless and I almost would have preferred it. Then there are those who stand before him for his ‘orders’, the ‘Captains’, one dead in the war because they couldn’t avoid a Gran Rey Cero, another dead in Hueco Mundo due to the Commander thinking that our dwindling power makes it a good idea to put a Captain in enemy territory! The meek wench the Fourth is in the same squad as has done nothing of note, her promotion makes me question the sanity of Central 46 for allowing such a thing. She shakes and trembles at everything, including her incompetent Commander brother.”

”Taro.”

”Second and Fourth Division are no better! One Captain was defeated by an Espada and yet still chooses to stand with his head held high! Nothing but septic waste rotting out Second Division floorboards with every step he takes. The sense of pride and arrogance on his face makes me want to tear the skin off that face. Then the Foul abomination that is allowed to see the light of day and given the role of Captain. He should have his head removed and pulverized for behaving the way he does while contributing NOTHING! HIS PRESENCE WAS UNFELT IN THE WAR, SENDING HIS MINIONS TO DO HIS WORK NOT BOTHERING TO AID IN A FIGHT DESPITE HAVING THE POWER TO DO SO. THE FACT HE IS STILL ABLE TO WEAR THE HAORI AND EXIST IN MY PRESENCE MAKES ME ILL!

”TARO!! Control yourself! Your mask is slipping!

Taro stops speaking mid sentence, his mouth still open, his expression warped beyond recognition.

He closes his eyes, takes a deep breath and his expression softens, looking more “normal”. He refocuses and continues his report.

”The Captain of the Tenth Division also proves to be just as useless, he has had multiple encounters with Arrancar, twice in the Human World and even twice during the war, he failed to kill them in every encounter. It feels as if Central 46 is filling in the Captain positions merely to have an established presence without thinking about what said person is bringing to the Gotei. My time in the Academy was a waste, weak parasites looking up to these equally weak Captain’s, idolizing them. Weak idolizing the weak, makes me want to collapse their rib cages. That aside and as you know, I told Gyoja Kuchiki about the true fate of his clan, he’ll be on a war path that will eventually lead the major clans having talks about everything that has come to light. I have our people watching the young Kuchiki from the shadows as he makes his moves, the moment something new develops we all will know. That is all from me.”

Despite his outburst it is what was expected of Taro, they all know he is a monster in human skin and if not for the guidance of this clan he would be nothing more than a mass murderer. Thankfully, for all souls, he was born into a clan with strict guidance. Reading between the insults the group is able to ascertain that the higher ranks of the Gotei 13 are thrown together at best. No one seems to know what they are doing, not doing their job, or are using arrogance and bravado to act as if they know what they are doing. In short, things do not look good for the Gotei 13 leadership. However, this is good for the Date, more for them to exploit, leverage against Central 46 even. Information and knowledge are power afterall. The First stares at Taro then to Kisho.

”You both have each been personally handling a young whelp, training them for a lack of whatever phrases you both would use. Why?”

”So the machine can at least have one worthy Cog in its future.”

Taro replies plainly, speaking of Sameko. Once Kisho responds to this question as well, the First continues with the next question.

”Fourth, it is your turn, make your report.”

Nobody · Feb 16, 2026

As the final three of the five fingers enter, like Taro Kishō says nothing. His elbows rest on the table with his chin resting on his hands. He shoots only passing glances towards those around him before the First finger begins the meeting. Kishō's expression speaks of disinterest, and while its true that everything being reported is what anyone would expect from one seated at this table, it would be foolish to believe him to be bored or even consider the information beneath the worth of his attention. Any and every word spoken by a finger carries weight.

"Going over what documents we could find allowed us to secure multiple launch sights for the Zero Division’s Tenchūren. (天てん柱ちゅう輦れん, Heavenly Pillar-Palanquin) Naturally the locals were against our take over, but with enough ‘convincing’ they settled down."

Both the knowledge of the Date and their reach is extensive. Like the darkness it stretches through the smallest of crevices and taints the purest of colors, yet unlike darkness they are not so easily dispelled, nor do they fear the light. Should anything regarding the Date be exposed, it is typically best to assume it is exposure by design. It is the Date who know the strange tides on which destiny ebbs and flows; know that fate more often than not needs a guiding hand; who know how to place the pieces on the board. They know what has been and what must be; they know the greater game.

"With that said, the only member remaining of that dull clan is Densagi Shiba, who is in Muken. We will eliminate him when the moment is right.”

The First finger ends his report with ominous words, words that imply that Densagi the former Vice-Captain of the Fifth Division, despite his imprisonment yet lives only by the will of the Date. The floor is given over to the Fifth Finger who tells tales of his work manipulating these other noble clans, both major and minor, keeping each of them in line before the floor is passed over to Taro, the Third Finger. He begins with the very thing that seems to be the last thing on the rest of the Gotei 13's minds; the failure during the last invasion. Prior to the disgusting hollowborn stepping onto their sacred grounds with their filthy sand trudging feet, the Shinigami were overly complacent, self assured in their untested strength and their little cliques and fan clubs. However the more Taro speaks the more the cracks begin to form. His tone shifts, his volume begins to rise.

”Third…”

The First speaks, attempting to calm Taro before he descends any further into his madness. He is unsuccessful. Taro continues on as if he hadn't heard the First. His verbal fury transitions towards his would be peers and there near unparalleled incompetence.

”Third…”

Again, the First attempts to reign Taro in and again he is unsuccessful. Like a boulder rolling downhill, the descent had already begun and could not be prematurely stopped. And so he continues, unabated venting his anger regarding the new Commander and those who follow him, one of which is Yūgure who Kishō has been overseeing.

”He spews orders from his mouth instead of suggestions, sat inside the academy for years and yet still behaves as if he has lessons to give to those who supposedly lead. If not for his performance in the final battle and rallying what scraps of shit were on the field at the time we would still be headless and I almost would have preferred it. Then there are those who stand before him for his ‘orders’, the ‘Captains’, one dead in the war because they couldn’t avoid a Gran Rey Cero, another dead in Hueco Mundo due to the Commander thinking that our dwindling power makes it a good idea to put a Captain in enemy territory! The meek wench the Fourth is in the same squad as has done nothing of note, her promotion makes me question the sanity of Central 46 for allowing such a thing. She shakes and trembles at everything, including her incompetent Commander brother.”

Kishō says nothing at this, and so its unknown if he shares the Third's sentiments regarding his young Captain. However, while Kishō remains silent, the First does not.

”Taro.”

The First shifts his manner of addressing the raging Date, transitioning from using his title to his name. Even with this change, Taro's descent does not slow in the slightest, if anything it seems to only be accelerating. His words growing crueler, his voice ever louder and Louder, and LOUDER until-

”TARO!! Control yourself! Your mask is slipping!"

Finally the voice of the First cuts through the madness, all the while as Kishō merely quietly observes. With his face grotesquely distorted Taro pauses and slowly reapplies the mask. He ends things with mention of giving a push towards the Kuchiki of the Thirteenth Division, the one deemed to be the most usable of those available for their means.

”You both have each been personally handling a young whelp, training them for a lack of whatever phrases you both would use. Why?”

Taro is the first to answer.

”So the machine can at least have one worthy Cog in its future.”

"Among the mongrels within the Shihōin she is at least aware of her own weakness and shortcomings, and thus has the most use of the bunch."

Kishō responds promptly, speaking in a matter of fact manner. With the question answered the floor now falls onto him as the Fourth Finger. His chin still resting on his hands his gaze moves from the First Finger, to the Second, Taro the third and finally the Fifth finger.

"To begin with, despite the Third's aggravation, as duly noted as it is, Yūgure of the Shihōin is Captain of the Ninth Division by my design, regardless what her brother may believe. She has also successfully become the head of that band of curs she calls family. By now she should be dealing with the Shihōin mongrel in the Eighth. In due time, she will become vital in also dealing with the imbecile of a commander. She has ambition, one of which is taking back command of the Onmitsukido, I intend to aid her in that little endeavor, or rather...I have been aiding her in it, though she is unaware."

From his tone as he speaks, it is as if he is prattling on about mundane matters on an otherwise mundane day. He continues on.

"I will of course abstain from becoming her Vice-Captain, that position will be left to a barely useless cretin, of which there are very few. This will help in maintaining the illusion of power within the role of Captaincy in the division as others will believe that despite the greatness of our clan, I was unable to secure even the role of Lieutenant in my own division. I am also planning an excursion to inspect the Reimyaku (霊脈, Spiritual Pulse; Viz "Ley Line(s)") of the three worlds. That is all."

He finally adjusts his pose, sitting back in his seat, arms folding across his chest. With all reports given he shifts his gaze towards the First to see if there are any further instructions or expectations before they conclude and return to both their faux duties and their true duties as Date.

IshikawaInuzuri · Feb 21, 2026

Seimei Ukitake (浮竹清明)

In a sudden flash, Seimei would have appeared at the courtyard of the barracks of the 10th Division—being immediately greeted by the shinigami guarding the entrance to the building. Seimei and his short companion likely spent less than an hour away from their usual base of operations as their dinner was cut rather short by the call of their commanding captain. Seimei walked forth past the guards as he gave them a slight nod as an acknowledgement of their dutiful presence. Unlike before, Seimei didn’t carry his mask of jolly and fun—his expression was stone cold, his gaze filled with intent and the air about him was still like freezing morning air after a night of bloody warfare. He was now on duty, and as such he acted accordingly. Within the recesses of his minds’ eye he had already prepared for his meeting with the captain far before they had left for the dinner festivities. Assuming his young companion was by his side, without a single turn of an eye he took time to instruct his junior in how to conduct himself in their upcoming meeting. ”Leave all the talking to me for now, kid.”

He uttered with coldness and seriousness beneath his breath, as his eyes were firmly fixed forward. He walked through the corridors of their barracks with a sense of certain command and strength, however much of it would wane as soon as they’d find themselves walking into the captains’ quarters. There, his command would turn into obedience—not out of mere respect towards the captains’ power, but because Seimei, as dutiful as he was, believed in the hierarchy and operative order that ruled through Gotei 13. However, despite himself having served in the 10th Division for quite a few years already, his interaction with the captain had been limited thus far. He hadn’t been a ranked officer for long, which perhaps explained why they hadn’t spoken as much as Seimei would’ve liked. This was not only an opportunity for a mere mission report, but as an opportunity for Seimei to both criticize and perhaps voice his concerns regarding the recent state of their particular division. Although they’d done what Captain-Commander Yūichirō Shihōin had ordered—outside of enhanced patrols, not much beyond that had been done. And the fact that ranked officers had little to do beyond patrolling was a waste of capable resources, which could be well utilized in organizational functions. Beyond his mask, which wasn’t literal like in the case of their captain, Seimei was an immensely dutiful and an organized person who personally found disdain in all things disorganized or suboptimal. And as it was, he found that things they were purposed to as of currently weren’t quite optimal. During his days in Onmitsukidō, things were beyond organized and it had to be so—failure wasn’t an option in any sense, even every backup plan had to have a backup plan. Here, it didn’t seem like such. He’d wish to see if that could be changed.

He walked inside the captains’ quarters, assuming that Yuto was by his side, and the guarding shinigami shut the door behind them. Seimei stood in the middle of the room, three meters beyond the door and three meters away from the desk behind which their captain sat—Jushiro Izanagi. A man who masked his visage with one of the most peculiar masks, and certainly an inventive and powerful shinigami. After all, he was one of the mighty captains of Gotei 13. His presence alone demanded command, and Seimei certainly felt it. He was his subordinate, after all. Seimei clasped his feet together with fine precision as his sandals would create a knock that’d resonate through the room as if a stone had been thrown at the wall. His palms clasped against his thighs simultaneously, adding to the might of the resonance. He bowed his head down and his gaze followed the cue, as he uttered in the most orderly manner. “Izanagi-sama. We’ve come with a report.” He said with precision and the most militaristic manner within his words if you may. He then took his feet apart and relaxed his hands and shoulders alike, as his gaze then focused on their captain ahead of them. He cleared his throat in silence before continuing with the actual report.

”After a 36-hour surveillance period, me and officer Togami found that currently every sector of Naruki City is stable and there has been no significant spikes in Hollow activity. The adjective to describe the situation would be calm.”

His voice was immensely calm, so calm that it seemed to filter any slightest disturbance in the room. He spoke with respect, but his words retained clarity and precision—he was certain in how he spoke and behaved. He continued with almost no pause, and his gaze and expression remained fixed and cordial. He showed that he was a finely capable officer, and certainly a dutiful one. Dutiful enough to question his superiors when need be.

”However, what disturbs me is that our current operations lack sufficient structure in my opinion. And I bear no offence or disrespect towards you, Izanagi-sama. Both me and officer Togami have no designated role in our current positions. With the lack of activity in the World of the Living, I believe us and other ranked officers would be more effective in organizational duties of the division—and even more so, there’s been little done to advance the ability of our Shinigami.”

He spoke with certainty beneath his breath, unwavering and firm in his words. He was offering insight at his own risk, knowing full well that his sudden outburst might agitate their captain. However, if it did agitate him, it’d show weakness on his behalf.

”The last invasion taught us that we currently lack the ability to respond to external threats, another invasion of such scale could be equally or even more devastating. And as much as it pains me to say, as a former member of Onmitsukidō there’s always a possibility of an internal conflict which history has proven time and again. As such, I would hope that myself, officer Togami and every ranked and unranked member of our division would be allowed extensive training. All that requires is coordination, sufficient resources and time. Under martial law, we’re not allowed to release our Zanpakutō under any circumstances. However, honing other skills would be optimal.”

He spoke with certainty and firmness to his words, and he himself stood his ground and his gaze was firmly fixed upon their captain—waiting for his reaction and how he’d take in the report.

Adonai · Feb 23, 2026

The First listens to Kisho’s report quietly, nodding his head in intervals. As expected the Fourth has been following through on his side of things with great diligence, including raising a capable Shihoin to the rank of Captaincy. The First rubs his chin, quietly contemplating something and looks over to Taro, whose expression has returned to normal. The way the Date have their shadows woven into the lives of nobility goes unnoticed by all, for now at least. The thought of using Kisho’s methods on another person of nobility and pushing them to Captaincy would surely put said person in their pocket as well. Seeing how Taro has already encountered and spoken with this person twice now it only makes sense for him to be the one to do it, to nudge him. After quietly thinking things out he looks to the other Fingers of the Uchigawa-te and gives a nod.

”Excellent, with all these reports given we can begin the next stages of our plans. Tensions will surely be building within the Great Noble houses, with the Tsunayashiro believing themselves to be untargeted and unaffected in all of this. We will address them soon. I believe if things continue down this route a Summit will be held amongst the Great houses to properly discuss matters. This Summit hinges on the progression and movements of Gyoja Kuchiki, as he uncovers more information he’ll want answers, directly from the source no doubt. When his call for answers goes out, the heads of the Kuchiki, Tsunayashiro, and Shihoin will gather together and of course we will be there as well. Either myself, Second or Fifth will represent the Date at that time as we are unknown to them.”

He pauses for a moment to let this information sink in for the others. Well over one hundred years of planning is finally coming together and not a single soul in this room is giddy with excitement. They have no reason to be excited because everything is moving as expected, having long since lost their way the Great houses are stumbling through the dark the Date have enshrouded them in. After the pause has lingered long enough he continues.

”I, the First, shall begin getting records and information sorted for the eventual Summit. As stated already myself, Second or Fifth will be representing us so once this information is sorted one of us will be called upon to read over it and refamiliarize ourselves with the facts of this world. Third, given your encounters with Gyoja I believe it would be best to have you personally oversee him, how you go about that is up to you. Much like how Fourth designed for that Shihoin to become a Captain we will need you to do the same for Gyoja. Be that clearing a path for him quietly from the shadows or directly involving yourself with his day to day life is, once again, up to you. Oh, and of course make sure he is ready for the mantle of Captain, we do not need fodder holding the rank.”

Taro nods his head, unlike being forced to teach at the Academy he has no qualms about this request. He doesn’t protest because this is serving a purpose greater than simply training someone, it is establishing a link from the Date to the Kuchiki. The foundation of said link has already been laid, seeking to help Gyoja grow stronger will build upon that link. Even if he becomes stronger than Taro doesn’t matter because this clan will remain long after he is dead and the relationships they are carving into steel now will remain. The First then looks at Kisho.

”Fourth, continue your oversight of Yugure Shihoin, ensure that the head of the Shihoin maintains at least a favorable opinion of us. It will benefit us soon and later on. While I am unsure of your exact reasoning for inspecting the Reimyaku of the Three Worlds I’m sure it is to our benefit. Also, with your position in the Ninth Division ensure that any problematic Shinigami stay out of our path. Even if it means brief detainment only until we have claimed our spot amongst the Great houses. Second and Fifth be on standby for the Summit and like Fourth’s task also be on standby for any other Clans making moves that may interfere with us. We will need them pacified until we claim the seat left by the Shiba. With this meeting coming to a close I am glad we have remained on track and on schedule with no hiccups, we must maintain this until the absolute end. Of course, it will prove difficult because we have to make bolder moves than usual, but who in the Soul Society will tell us no? Now. We give praise to Mimihagi, The Great Stagnator of the Three Worlds. May its stilling darkness continue to bless us as we move forward. You are all dismissed, Third, a moment please?”

As the others filter out of the meeting chamber Taro remains seated with the First, he already knows what conversation is about to be had. It is a talk he has had many times before in the past.

”Your emotional outburst will not be a problem outside of these chambers, will they? Understand that your life will be forfeit if one of your outbursts undoes all of our plans.”

”No, I only let myself slip since I am around family. You have to understand how aggravating it is to walk amongst the drivel of the Gotei 13, everyone thinking things are fine and okay… none of them realize that Central Forty Six still has a specially designed Hell-Butterfly that will contact Zero Division. The Commander Cog believes he has enacted Martial Law, he has no clue what horrors will be dropped upon our heads if Zero Division were to enact their brand of Martial Law.”

The First nods his head while listening. The special Hell-Butterfly was given to Central Forty-Six when they were the acting Captain Commander. It was a “gift” from on high if things became too dire and out of control for them to use to call for “aid”. This tool has not been taken from them as Zero Division may still believe they could be on the brink of crisis at any moment, even after ten years of peace. The First then moves on to his next issue with Taro.

”Still concerning your… emotions, you have a habit, greater than most other Date, of becoming emotionally attached to others. First was your Zanpakuto, easily overlooked as that bond made you stronger. However, your attachment to that Harai woman has had an effect on you, when your little relationship ended we noticed a low in your behavior, your violent streak increased and it took some time before it returned to normal. Then again when she was relieved of her Captaincy, a shame but your activity in the Academy turned more violent as well. Now, you are training this whelp, showing her kindness that is not afforded to others around you. How… Fatherly of you. This one won't become an issue if something were to happen, will it?”

Taro sits in silence, his eyes opening slightly. He does not enjoy having that layer of himself poked at and judged, no one likes having their weaknesses addressed so blatantly. Those outside of the Date who may know of his weakness dare not speak on it openly, the last thing they would want is an unhinged and unbound Taro coming after them. The First, along with the others of the Uchigawa-te are rare souls who can address this to him without consequence. Taro remains quiet, staring at nothing despite the First being across from him.

”I’ll assume your silence means you are uncertain of what will happen. Just make sure it doesn’t interfere with the Clan’s goals and all should be fine. You may go.”

Taro nods and rises from his seat, as does the First who exists through a different doorway. Taro’s walk through the compound was a silent one, the usual aggression that radiated from him was not felt. He slowly pushes the final chat he had out of his mind and focuses on the tasks given to him for the sake of the Clan. He’ll have to gather documents on those who exist within Thirteenth Division and see if they are a threat to Gyoja’s growth. Once that is established and the next time he can speak to the young Kuchiki he’ll ask him what Division he sees himself running. From there Taro can look into that Division and orchestrate a path for him to lead it in the future. The one step he is ignoring for now, as it is the hardest step and most frustrating, is making sure that Gyoja is strong enough, physically, mentally, and spiritually to lead. If not it will be wasted effort on a Cog that is only special because it has the Kuchiki stamp on it.

To Northeast: 4th Division

Yuto · Feb 24, 2026

Yuto’s eyes widened, not dramatically, but enough to express his reaction to what had occurred before the guests at the Dinner. For the briefest instant, the calm mask he wore thinned, revealing the boy to be confused by it as he still held his sake cup. His shoulders tensed instinctively, his fingers curling slightly as though preparing to correct his balance before realizing he was no longer in control of it. The shift in weight, the loss of footing, the indignity of being handled so effortlessly registered all at once.

He did flail. He did protest verbally. But the stiffness in his posture spoke volumes. His spine straightened midair as if posture alone could restore some fragment of authority. His jaw set faintly, a restraint settling over him as he allowed himself to be carried without outward resistance. There was dignity in the way he endured it, even if the situation itself bordered on indignation. A slow inhale filled his lungs. A measured exhale followed. His breathing steadied after that initial disruption, returning to its practiced rhythm as he chose composure over embarrassment. The tension in his hands eased, though not entirely. He forced stillness into his limbs, denying the instinct to struggle, denying the urge to speak.

If anything, the only true evidence of his internal objection was the faint narrowing of his eyes and the deliberate stillness that followed. It was not anger. Not quite.

And then they arrived at the Tenth Division’ barracks in no time.

As the gates shut behind them, there was silence for a time. He decided to finish the rest of the sake in the cup he had taken from the dinner party, then slipped it into the folds of his Shihakushō, hiding it deep enough that no one would notice one could see the same poster for Toru's dinner party in that location as well. “When I see Mister Toru next time… I’ll return it. Based on how those people spoke of him and the way he reacts, he’ll probably appreciate it if I bring some seasonings or perhaps prepared animal meats from the city. Maybe something rare, at the very least, as an apology.” He made a mental note for later. The sound echoed softly, final and enclosing. Then Seimei spoke of what he intended to do, choosing to take the reins for the most part. Yuto was not going to deny him that. In truth, he was relieved. The thought of reporting to a higher up, especially their Captain, weighed heavier on him than he cared to admit. Words spoken to authority carried consequence. Tone carried implication. A single misstep could stain not only his own standing, but Seimei’s as well. He understood that much.

"Works for me!"

So he accepted his place with a slight nod.

For a moment, he simply stood at Seimei’s flank, half a step behind and to the right, exactly where a rookie ought to be. His hands rested behind his back. His shoulders were relaxed, but not loose. His chin leveled. His breathing remained even, drawn low into his diaphragm the way he had trained it. Controlled breath steadied thought. Steady thought preserved composure.

Then they arrived at the office.

The air felt different there. Denser. Authority lingered in the space like pressure before a storm.

Yuto bowed as protocol demanded, respectful, holding the angle just long enough to show military discipline without excess. When he rose, his gaze remained lowered for a fraction longer than necessary before lifting, careful not to meet the Captain’s eyes too boldly.

“Eh? Did I hear him wrong?”

The reaction escaped him before he could fully suppress it. He had not expected Seimei to be so direct. So unwavering. The young Shinigami felt the weight of the report settle heavily between them. Even more than the words, it was the tone Seimei carried that unsettled him. Firm. Certain. Bordering on confrontation. It was the kind of tone that could either earn respect or provoke irritation from the Captain before them.

Yuto said nothing further.

He remained silent, attentive, watching without appearing to watch. He gauged posture. Breathing. The slightest shift in atmosphere. If tension rose, he would feel it. If displeasure sparked, he would see it. For now, his role was simple. Observe. Endure. Learn.

After all

What else could he do in this moment?

Jushiro Izanagi · Feb 24, 2026

Jushiro enjoyed the peace and quiet as he pondered upon his next move. His mask contorting in reflection of his mood. Said mood and by extension his mask shifted from a version of playful. Bright with a smile as the colours changed, tongue out and almost giddy. To a demeanour of devilish intent as the mask shifted to form a pair of horns with a grin to match. The way the day was proceeding presented some opportunity. In the eyes of the Captain, it was far too quiet, no word from the team in Hueco Mundo. As well as that, Naruki City and Karakura town were far too tamed for his liking. The Seireitei was beginning to stir, slowly heating up whether Jushiro was aware of it or not. The Captain Commander took strides to get things back on track. Imposing martial law among other things. However, a key component of the Gotei squads remained fractured. The Captains are not unified and even with a commander at the helm. There was dissatisfaction among the group. Izanagi certainly did not like the way the commander dealt with certain issues. From day one the man had built a rod for his own back. Things could easily implode and when that happens, should the Arrancar strike again, their invasion could mean the complete destruction of the Seireitei. That is why…hold that thought reader.

As if on queue, Izanagi sensed the spiritual pressures of two squad members heading his way. This was of course Seimei and Yuto and it would appear they wasted no time reporting back to their Captain as requested. The mask being worn took on a more neutral configuration. It remained blank, absent of any animations which may reveal Izanagi's thoughts. He waited for what could be another boring report. One which contained no exciting battles or sightings. There was only so much training one can do. Without a proper opponent to test your skills, you will never know what it’s like to fear death. Entered the Seimei with the blonde mop atop his head and Yuto hanging at his side like a purse. Izanagi almost nodded in advance of their report. It was predictable. Another patrol where nothing happened, no disruption, not even a beautiful she-hollow to talk about. The Captain did nod in approval of the two showing proper etiquette when greeting the man. The report was given, quick, concise and without incident. The situation was indeed calm.

However what followed certainly warranted the Captain’s attention. As the scallywag’s words flowed, Izanagi began to hum a playful tune, choosing not to interrupt the Ukitake mid-flow. Defiance isn’t something that Izanagi would ever stand for. He was a hypocrite in that regard since he himself can be openly defiant. One could argue that he earned the right to do so. Izanagi is no stranger to being carefree in nature and with his words. An eccentric maverick, ready to bend the rules as and when it suits him. As Seimei finished and after seeing the reaction of the young Togami. Izanagi’s mask formed a fox grin as he finally stood up, no words yet spoken in reply. An awkward silence hung about the room.

“Strange. I don’t remember sitting around as an unseated Shinigami waiting for others to help me advance. Whenever I wanted to grow stronger, I grabbed the proverbial bull by the horns so to speak. Guess we’re not all built alike”.

Izanagi soon stepped from behind his desk as the mask changed its expression once again. Blank again, void of any animation. The man soon made a few steps forward not to intimidate but to remind them of their duties.

“The tenth division is responsible for the affairs of the world of the living. Namely Naruki City and at times Karakura town when the thirteenth division requires our support and vice versa. What extra duties could you possibly want other than those that says do your fucking jobs? Hm? Are they pretty titles like I dunno, head of tea making? Head of training? Dean? Fancy Hoho instructor? There is already a training program in place that covers Zan-ken-so-ki!”.

The man paused for a moment and raised his left index finger. This was their cue to let silence reign for a while longer. This wasn’t a back and forth, it was not a two way conversation. Izanagi broke the silence once more, this time his gaze focused on Seimei.

“With that said, I find it's not the structure or lack thereof that is the issue. It is one’s failure to truly apply themselves, that is the real issue. Quite frankly, most Shinigami within the Gotei squads will die off like the fodder that they are. Do not hide behind things such as structure to protect you from the inevitable. You will die. Now then, follow me children”.

Izanagi moved towards the exit and into the courtyard where others normally trained and honed their skills. The truly skilful ones often did so in private. After a short walk, Izanagi arrived at the middle of the training area. Fully expecting Yuto and Seimei to be following close behind. On their arrival, Izanagi spoke once more.

“You spoke of wanting extensive training. Let us see if you’re worth your current rank. We will have a sparring session, me versus you two. Don’t hold back on my account, I wanna see just how skilful you are at Zanjutsu, Kido, Hoho and Hakuda. The incentive for this is that I need to nominate one person for the Bankai aptitude training. Said training will be overseen by the Captain Commander himself. Thus far none of you have proved yourself worthy. This is your opportunity to further disappoint me”.

Izanagi proceeded to take five steps backwards and away from the pair of scallywags who stood in his presence. They may begin whenever.

IshikawaInuzuri · Feb 26, 2026

Seimei Ukitake (浮竹清明)

The air within the captains’ quarters became thicker by the moment, the atmosphere was so dense that it could be cut finely by even the dullest of Zanpakutō. Regardless, Seimei stood still with the same firmness, certainty and confidence as he did before—but the hum of the masked man didn’t phase him while he spoke, nothing about his behavior. His emerald gaze remained fixed on their captain, firmly and filled with intent. The hum that resonated throughout the room now broke into speech. Hard words that had authority and power underneath every single letter spelled. However, Seimei wasn’t merely defiant and certainly not disobedient. He had the guts to openly point out the deficiencies of their current operations. However, Seimei was used to a far more refined and clear structure of things in his past and despite the years in between he still hadn’t quite got used to the simplicity of Gotei 13. Perhaps it simply wasn’t meant for him, or perhaps in time others would understand things of logic and matter.

While their captain spoke, he remained silent and firm—as expected. He wasn’t however sure if his younger brother could withstand the unruliness of their captain as he himself could, but in a sense this was a fine opportunity to shake off any naivety out of him and show him the reality of what could happen. Thus he didn’t worry about whatever repercussions he could face—he trusted that Yuto would be able to take it. As he listened to the ramblings and ranting of their captain, Seimei almost became irritated himself. He held his composure well, and didn’t let it show.

However, what happened within was an entirely different matter. Within the recesses’ of his mind, he processed the captains’ speech and almost allowed himself to boil internally.

”Pretty thick of him to rant about us doing our ’fucking’ jobs while he’s barely doing his. He’s not doing shit, didn’t do shit when one of his own got beat by a member of another division, and just… Well, let me not agitate myself any further.”

He thought to himself, in anger almost. While he didn’t let it show, he lacked belief in terms of operational capability of their captain—but it was a belief he held for many of the captains of Gotei 13. They were all immensely powerful, but the last invasion opened his eyes as much as it did for many others. Gotei 13 lacked proper structure and unity, which is why Seimei believes unity and structure must begin from within each division itself for it to work on a broader, more grand scale to ensure the future of Seireitei and the Soul Society itself. He further listened to their captain, still retaining his firm posture and headstrong demeanor as each word that was spawned from the mouth of their captain provoked more thought within Seimei—for better and for worse.

”And then… The ranking officer above me is doing fuck all and is barely around, as mighty as he is. I have barely met the guy. I don’t see our unranked members drilling anywhere either. Captain Izanagi should leave his quarters every now and then, maybe have less tea outside our barracks. Nobody here asked for titles, but clarity. We just do our shifts in the World of the Living, train, and do nothing else. That’s complacency at its finest. And he blames his subordinates for it? Perhaps they’ve just been following your example.”

He kept thinking to himself, making sure he wouldn’t voice a single thought. And finally, Captain Izanagi proposed something that certainly excited Seimei—sparring with him. Seimei did indeed request for extensive training, however this wasn’t exactly what he waited for. But he welcomed the opportunity. And not only for his sake, but for Yuto’s sake as well. This was a fine opportunity for him to learn and grow, a rare occasion of being able to spar a captain.

But it wasn’t a time to get overly excited, but a moment to lock in and refocus.

Seimei followed their captain to the courtyard, walking with a firm posture however a certain nervousness to the air about him despite him retaining his composed and certain expression. The challenge ahead was far greater than defeating some Hollows in Naruki City. They were fighting their own captain. Or sparring, rather.

”I don’t care about the Bankai Aptitude Program in itself, but if either of us gets a shot we’d gain more firepower. That’s at least a positive.”

He thought to himself as they found themselves in the middle of their drilling field—a yard amidst their barracks, surrounded by all so similar structures and buildings that roughly towered at a height of thirty metres above ground. The field was one-hundred and eighty meters in length, and it was a hundred and twenty meters in width. It had ample space for even larger Kidō techniques and even more importantly, it had space for maneuvering. He didn’t respond to his captain verbally, but he gave a small nod and a smirk as a sign of total agreement. He hoped Yuto would follow suit.

”Be it Hohō, Hakuda, Zanjutsu or Kidō he is well capable of overpowering or outmaneuvering us at any point in time. As much as I despise his attitude, he’s a captain for a reason—his strength in particular. Far stronger than both of us combined. The best we can do is give him as much to think about as possible and force an opening, while observing what he does. If we can’t fight him in terms of might or outright ability, we have to dictate the rhythm no matter what he throws back at us. Using Kidō blindly isn’t a good idea. Most of the more powerful techniques, especially Hadō that are at my disposal require lengthy incantations, therefore I must build the battle towards a situation where I can afford myself time. I’ll initiate the combat situation using Hakuda and Hohō since we’re at a striking distance.”

He surmised as the time for any further thought was over. Their captain departed from their position, stepping away as if inviting him and Yuto to attack from behind. Seimei would welcome the opportunity—but he wouldn’t strike from behind. By the moment their captain had taken four steps, the distance between them was roughly at four meters. The moment he was taking his fifth step and with the distance reaching five meters was the one when their captain would witness Seimei seemingly appearing before him, at a distance to strike as Seimei’s fist would appear to be but an inch away from reaching Jushiro Izanagi’s face. Or mask rather, would it shatter on contact? That was a question that begged for an answer, Seimei appeared to have a solid, bladed stance with his left side leading while his right leg and hand acted as rear limbs in this particular occasion. He appeared to be in a rather orthodox boxing stance, his right arm being tucked close to his body in a forty-five degree angle as his hands’ palm was open, shielding the right side of his face by covering his chin and a part of his cheek. His chin was tucked well behind his left shoulder as his right elbow was as if plastered to shield his body. It was his left fist that seemed to approach the face of the captain, with his arm being almost fully extended as the lead leg appeared to planted—his left foot appearing to be fully planted to the ground while it would seem that the strike was being pushed from the backfoot, as the heel of the foot was lifted off the ground. The feet appeared to be separated by a width of his shoulders, slightly less than a meter or so. His left knee seemed to be slightly bent, but the rear leg was almost straight as it was the one generating the power for the said strike.

Seimei used Hohō—namely Shunpo (瞬歩, Flash Steps) to reach the captain in a fashion of but a mere tenth of a second, showcasing both precision in terms of Reiryōku control and skill in Hohō. His footwork was immensely precise, leaving not a grain of dust floating or a single footprint on the soil of dust beneath their feet. He also seemed to go well around Jushiro Izanagi—moving past him well outside his immediate striking range. Seimei didn’t expect for the strike to land, nor did it need to. What was yet to come was what mattered. Seimei expected Yuto to follow suit as they had fought beside one another for many, many times. The opponent didn’t matter—what they’d do mattered. It was also a fine opportunity to see how their synergy truly works.

Nobody · Feb 27, 2026

With his report given Kishō resumes his silence, listening to the First who has reclaimed the floor. As expected he like the others has no input regarding the next phase of their plan. A summit held by the noble families was no place for either himself or the third.

"Third, given your encounters with Gyoja I believe it would be best to have you personally oversee him, how you go about that is up to you. Much like how Fourth designed for that Shihoin to become a Captain we will need you to do the same for Gyoja. Be that clearing a path for him quietly from the shadows or directly involving yourself with his day to day life is, once again, up to you. Oh, and of course make sure he is ready for the mantle of Captain, we do not need fodder holding the rank.”

Kishō's eyes shift towards the Third. He himself has not met the Kuchiki so he is unaware just where the man is and if he could truly become something of value, or would he wind up as just another broken thing to be tossed aside. Regardless what the First said is true, the Gotei 13 has no place for fodder holding the position of Captain, and if they are to avoid such a thing, it will require their guiding hand.

”Fourth, continue your oversight of Yugure Shihoin, ensure that the head of the Shihoin maintains at least a favorable opinion of us. It will benefit us soon and later on. While I am unsure of your exact reasoning for inspecting the Reimyaku of the Three Worlds I’m sure it is to our benefit. Also, with your position in the Ninth Division ensure that any problematic Shinigami stay out of our path. Even if it means brief detainment only until we have claimed our spot amongst the Great houses."

He nods his head in silent acknowledgement. Among the fingers, Kishō is the most in tune with the three worlds, specifically Reimyaku of each one. Gaining access to the worlds to be able to locate and study them was one of many purposes behind his specific transfers between divisions prior to finally settling in the Ninth. Like his kindred he is aware of the origins of the three worlds, his study of the veins is meant to gauge the stability of the worlds and prepare for any potential threat of collapse. As of now, as it has been for centuries all things exist in balance, but the collapse of one world could mean the collapse of the others. In his mind, there always existed the possibility of some fool seeking to upset the status quo, perhaps seeking to merge the worlds back into one, or worst a ignorant fool with power. There exists kidō that allows one to tap into the Reimyaku to empower the spell, what if they pulled recklessly, so recklessly that they damaged the vein itself beyond repair? The possibilities kept compiling on top of one another, each what if scenario worst and more dire than the last.

No, he would continue to watch, to observe and if need be, he would act. With their business concluded each finger rises and begins to move out, with the exception of the First and the Third. Kishō does not pause nor does he give a passing look towards the Third who like him and perhaps the other two, knows of the discussion to be had between the two. Kishō exits the room in understanding. While Taro is the most unhinged of them, so much so that the mere prospect of him having some genuine attachment to someone outside the family is nothing short of miracle, it rings true that because of his very nature these attachments become an inevitable time bomb. No, more like triggers to the time bomb that is Taro. Kishō does not judge the Third, does not label these sentiments he has towards those individuals as liabilities, things they very much are for he too finds himself bound by those very same chains.

While his report of Yūgure was very much true, without an ounce of deceit, the nature of the report held dual purposes. Like all Date he views the Shihōin just as he views the Kuchiki, the Tsunayashiro, the Shiba..beneath them, expendable rabble to be disposed of at a moment's notice. It is precisely because he understands how their clan operates that he strategically places value on Yūgure, thus protecting her from certain machinations of his family while also ensuring the family helps to protect her from other outside variables. Yes, just as Taro cared for the Shibuya woman, and now too this new wretch placed within his Division, so too does Kishō care for Yūgure. As he walks, the face of a rambunctious fiery blue haired girl surfaces to his mind. Perhaps there is another as well.

"She'd better be making herself more useful than that half-blind mongrel in my absence."

He remarks to none but himself as he makes his way through the dark corridors back towards the surface and courtyard. After the invasion, that foolish girl who dared to point her blade at him those years ago had apparently taken heed to what he said, for the next thing he knew she had transferred to the Ninth in the wake of the Seireitei's failure. While he would never claim something like pride at her making such a decision, he would admit to being amused. It seemed she was truly ready to leave the boundaries of her safe little cage. Then there was the cyclops, always watching, always asking questions either with his mouth or gaze alone. He could still recall their first meeting.

"Gaze at me in such a manner again, and I'll relieve you of the burden of responsibility for where and how you look. You'll never have to worry about seeing anything again."

It truly was a productive first meeting. But now was not the time for reminiscing. There was work to be done. "I believe she and those dregs wrapped in haori should be finished with their business considering the Third was here." He ponders for a moment, feet ceaseless in his travel as he begins exiting the compound. "Could she have sought out that pathetic pleb she calls a brother?" He is aware that Yūgure intended to confront her cousin, this...Hideo. Kishō recalls their last meeting and cannot help but wonder if the fool had forgotten what was last told to him. In the rebuilding Kishō, like the others was busy handling many matters, extending the grace period prior to the resuming of the investigation. As if to try and dissuade or distract the Date, Hideo turned over someone deemed to be the alleged offender in the whole conspiracy. As if that alone would be enough to satisfy the Ninth's Tyrant.

"Did I not tell him to be prepared to answer all of my questions or to die against the enemy? Seems I'll have to visit her to find him."

For Kishō, if Hideo was alive he should be waiting in one place for him to come and find him again, or at the very least the fool should have presented himself before him at his feet. So he goes to find his Captain, his young charge, fully intent on finding Hideo as a result.

[Headed to find Yugure]

Yuto · Mar 1, 2026

Yuto continued to listen as the Captain responded to Seimei’s reports and concerns. His eyes gauged every reaction, the subtle shifts in expression, the smallest change in posture, any trace of conflict that might surface. The moment the Captain mentioned the possibility of combat between the two of them and himself, disbelief flickered plainly across Yuto’s face. A silent sigh followed. No sound escaped him, yet the exhale was visible in the slight drop of his shoulders and the faint tightening at the corners of his mouth. To the Captain, it might have appeared as reluctance, a subtle unwillingness to stand out.

If the Captain had taken the time to review his own Division’s records, he might have found notes on Yuto’s behavior. Some labeled him a coward, though they acknowledged he possessed considerable potential. There were even recommendations suggesting he was better suited for divisions like the Fourth or perhaps the Eighth. Even so, it raised a question. Given his tendencies and reserved personality, why had he chosen the Tenth Division at all?

Only time will tell.

"If the Captain's fighting us.. I should take it as a lesson to learn upon.."

As they walked, Yuto maintained a steady, measured rhythm in his breathing. It almost seemed as though he were preparing to bend the environment itself to his control. There were no irregularities and no hesitation in his thoughts. Every detail, the Captain’s composure and Seimei’s movements, was observed and dissected with careful precision as Yuto followed a step behind. In truth, he was studying them. Measuring tendencies. Mapping possibilities so he could move the instant either of them committed to decisive action. He operated under a simple belief. As long as he saw it coming, he could escape. There was pride in that philosophy, in his counteractive instincts, in his speed of reaction, and in his ability to remain unnoticed. He preferred to avoid damage rather than endure it.

"As long he isn't too fast, I should be able to respond to any move he might have taken. I wonder if he's the type to lean into Zanjutsu or will he be using his Bankai?"

He was not what anyone would call a typical fighter. In his own mind, he was too much of a coward to claim such a title. But when it came to evasion, defense, and precise counters, he was at least competent, perhaps even skilled. By the time they arrived at the designated location within the Tenth Division’s barracks, the only eyes upon them belonged to members of the Division itself.

"I see. He's planning to test us on all of the basics, to see whether if we're good for it. This reminds me of the meetings with Captain Taro, though I almost gave up I was more afraid of failing because it would've make me stand out in the worst way. I could not stand that."

Perhaps this was what allowed him to maintain control of himself despite the thoughts of fighting a Captain. After all, this was something drilled into him at the Academy. It forced him to develop a cautious fighting style, one in which he would never be the first to engage in combat unless a clear opportunity presented itself. When the Captain began to speak again, his words hinting at the nature of the trials that might follow, or perhaps it was simply the tension in the air that implied it, Yuto drew in a sharp breath. He kept his pace steady, carefully regulating the circulation of his spiritual power so it remained contained and controlled.

"I'm not going to be acting first. That's just stupidity at work, especially for someone like me facing such calibar."

He had no intention of acting first.

"I haven't really mastered Shikai, to even consider about Bankai... So I should be not standing out... but rather, to work alongside with and amplify Seimei.."

That simply was not who he was.

With his focus of energy centered around his hands, it almost appeared as though he were preparing to mirror Seimei. At least, that was how it might have seemed from the outside.
In truth, Yuto was simply being cautious. He was facing a Captain, after all. Even if the encounter was not meant to be lethal, he could not bring himself to underestimate him. The Captain surpassed them in nearly every measurable regard. Strength, experience, control. The difference was obvious. There was little Yuto could do in this moment. This situation had begun with Seimei, and so he chose to position himself as support. He would allow Seimei to take the lead. To take the brunt of their Captain’s attention. The heavier blows.

Perhaps it was cowardly.

He did not care.

It simply was not in his nature to stand at the front.

As he withdrew his Zanpakutō from its sheath, just as Seimei began to make his move, Yuto settled into a stance that spoke not of aggression, but of readiness. He did not square himself to attack. He positioned himself to respond. His knees bent slightly, weight distributed evenly along the balls of his feet, spine aligned yet loose enough to shift at a moment’s notice. His shoulders remained relaxed, never tense, allowing fluid rotation if he needed to pivot or slip aside. Even his grip was measured, firm enough to strike, light enough to redirect. His eyes did not lock onto a single point but moved constantly, tracking the Captain’s center of mass, the angle of his hips, the subtle tightening of muscle that would precede motion. Everything about him resembled a practiced counterfighter, the kind seen in boxing or other combat sports, where patience and timing outweighed reckless offense. He moved in rhythm with his own breathing, aware of his pacing, in tune with the mechanics of his body. Rather than forcing action, he waited within it, prepared to intercept, deflect, or evade the instant an opening revealed itself.

The moment Seimei vanished into Shunpo, Yuto moved as well - but not forward.

He stepped into motion along the opposite vector, circling wide so that he would not crowd Seimei’s line of engagement. Where Seimei became the spear, Yuto became the net. His footwork carried him in a clean arc around their Captain’s flank, positioning himself outside of Seimei’s attacking side, ensuring the two would not overlap or obstruct one another. The distance he maintained was intentional - far enough to avoid immediate retaliation, close enough to intervene in less than a breath.

Carriage of thunder, bridge of a spinning wheel.

His left hand shifted subtly, fingers flexing as Reiryoku gathered beneath the skin. He did not chant aloud. He did not flare his presence. The Kidō is being prepared, compressed and restrained, ready to be released the instant Captain Izanagi revealed his response.

Yuto’s intention was simple: disrupt.

If Seimei’s strike forced a counter, Yuto would target the point of emergence. If the Captain evaded, he would bind the landing. If Seimei was intercepted mid-motion, Yuto would interfere - not to overpower, but to steal a fragment of time. A second. Even half of one.

Against a Captain, that was all Yuto could reasonably aim to take.

His focus sharpened, gaze flicking not to Seimei’s fist, but to the subtle fluctuations in spiritual pressure that would betray displacement. He did not intend to win this exchange outright. He intended to complicate it - to ensure that no reaction went unanswered. Whether from near or far, whether binding the limb, the ground, or the air around him, Yuto prepared to release Bakudō at the precise instant their Captain committed to motion.

If Seimei struck cleanly, Yuto would layer control.
If Seimei was countered, Yuto would interrupt.

Either way, Captain Izanagi would not be allowed a seamless response.

Southwest Seireitei

Nobody

Member

Adonai

Administrator

Nobody

Member

IshikawaInuzuri

New member

Adonai

Administrator

Yuto

New member

Jushiro Izanagi

Member

IshikawaInuzuri

New member

Nobody

Member

Yuto

New member