Soul Society.
At the farthest reaches of the four cardinal sectors of the Rukongai, where all directions converge, lies the expansive territory known as the Seireitei, a massive, walled city that serves as both the political and military capital of the afterlife.
Within the Seireitei resides not only the majority of Soul Society's Shinigami, but also the estates of noble clans, the academy that trains future Soul Reapers, and numerous martial schools. Generations of power and culture are embedded within its very stone.
Yet for the average soul, the mention of Seireitei likely conjures up a singular image: the Gotei 13.
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Inside the First Division Barracks.
In the corridor lined with polished wood that carried an austere, timeless air, two men in white haori crossed paths.
On the back of one was the kanji for "Two."
On the other, "Eleven."
They were two of the thirteen captains who stood at the very apex of Soul Society's might and authority.
Captain of the 2nd Division, head of the Onmitsukidō, Soul Society's secret intelligence and assassination unit.
And Captain of the 11th Division, the one tasked with frontline combat.
"Oh, Captain Shihōin."
The tall man wearing the "Eleven" haori greeted the refined noble approaching from the other side.
"Captain Kuruyashiki," the 2nd Division captain returned with a pleasant nod and smile, utterly unsurprised by the encounter. "I was just thinking of seeking you out for a chat."
"Ah, let's not do that," Kuruyashiki replied with a dry smile, waving it off.
"If the Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukidō wants a chat, I'd be getting nightmares for a week. Better I come find you first."
"To be called the bearer of the 'Kenpachi' title, the strongest among Soul Reapers, and still say that… Should I take that as flattery, Captain Kuruyashiki?"
Either of these men alone was a figure no one would dare underestimate. The mere content of their conversation could send most lower-ranked Shinigami trembling in fear.
But here, walking the quiet halls of the First Division barracks, there was no one else around to overhear.
"No need for the mutual praise, really," Kuruyashiki said with a shrug. "I had planned to speak with you more formally later, but seeing you here now, I couldn't help myself."
They didn't stop to chat. Instead, they walked side by side toward the exit, but their pace had slowed, unconsciously, as their discussion deepened.
"As expected, the Head Captain called only the two of us."
"More precisely, he summoned the 2nd and 11th Divisions," Shihōin replied with a subtle narrowing of his eyes. "Troubled times indeed."
The battle-hardened 11th Division captain let out a sigh. Anyone unaware of his identity might've mistaken him for someone who despised fighting.
"Our diplomatic talks with the Quincy are effectively a failure. The Head Captain's words were 'Prepare to engage. If talks collapse, eliminate them entirely.' That's already a de facto mobilization order. But the fact that only our two Divisions were called, while the others were kept in the dark… he clearly doesn't intend to make this public knowledge."
Kuruyashiki scratched his head, visibly irked.
"Well, he called for your squad specifically, didn't he? The 11th's been itching for a real fight for ages. Shouldn't you be thrilled to finally get the green light?"
Shihōin's ever-calm smile remained, unreadable as always.
"The final warning has been issued. The final line drawn. When the Quincy cross it, their fate is sealed. When the Head Captain said those words, he was effectively declaring that there would be no second chances."
"Now, now, Captain Shihōin." Kuruyashiki raised a hand and made a half-hearted attempt to nudge the other's arm, but the lithe noble effortlessly avoided it. "Sure, we're the combat division, but it's clear the Head Captain doesn't want this leaking out. That's probably why he called in the Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukidō too."
"We'll assist where we can, naturally," Shihōin replied. "But we've other matters to attend to. In a direct battle with the Quincy, we won't be of much help."
At last, the 2nd Division Captain's expression changed ever so slightly, his tone lowering.
"Though he didn't say it aloud, I believe it's due to his position that he could only hint at it… the situation at the Execution Grounds."
Yes, Soul Society had nobles, and Seireitei was the core of their power games.
Even low-ranked Soul Reapers had heard rumors of the nobles vying for control, shady deals, betrayals, the works.
Those who lost such political battles were often branded with trumped-up charges and sent to the Execution Grounds, left to be devoured by Hollows.
It was Seireitei's darkest corner. But it had gone unchallenged for centuries.
Until a few years ago.
A once-prominent noble house, House Chijō(TL/N: Might be Azashiro Clan), renowned for its Zanjutsu and considerable wealth, was framed by rival clans and condemned to the Execution Grounds.
It should have been a typical purge.
But that day, something went horribly wrong.
Everyone present, noble hosts, guards, witnesses, even the officiating Soul Reapers, was slaughtered in a single night.
The sole surviving member of House Chijō, a young boy named Chijō Sōya(TL/N: Sōya Azashiro? Feel free to correct me guys), vanished without a trace.
This tragedy became a spark that ignited long-brewing tensions. The ruling nobility spiraled into chaos. Fear spread. Even the Central 46 and the High Noble Assembly, both notoriously political and conservative, were thrown into disarray.
Now, even the Gotei 13 had been dragged into the mess.
Some nobles, terrified the same fate might befall them, demanded harsher punishments and investigations.
Others saw an opportunity, to use this crisis as leverage to bring an end to the unchecked infighting and power grabs that had consumed noble society.
What followed wasn't politics, it was war.
Assassinations. Blood feuds. Members of prestigious clans, even branch families of the Five Great Houses, began turning up dead.
The once-unspoken rules were shattered.
The Golden Seal Assembly, meant to mediate noble affairs, and even the Central 46, long accustomed to placating the nobility, found themselves powerless in the face of the storm Chijō Sōya had unleashed.
In the end, they could only dump the problem at the feet of the Gotei 13, their ultimate military arm.
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