The Onmitsukidō is a special Shinigami unit with a history spanning a thousand years.
It was established within Seireitei by the late first captain of the 2nd Division, Chika Shihōin.
Beyond protecting Seireitei, its founding was also driven by the noble families—led by the Five Great Noble Clans—who sought to maintain their own armed forces. As a result, the Onmitsukidō operates independently of the Gotei 13 as a specialized force.
It consists of five divisions, one of which is the Detention Unit.
...
Inside the Detention Unit's base, located within the 2nd Division barracks, Shinigami who had just completed their shifts gathered in the large auditorium, capable of accommodating all team members.
"I believe everyone here is already aware that as of today, the former 3rd Seat of the 2nd Division and captain of the Onmitsukidō Detention Unit, Ryūun Shihōin, has officially left the team."
The newly appointed 3rd Seat of the 2nd Division and captain of the Detention Unit, who had drawn much attention, looked at the assembled members and continued,
"Our Detention Unit is the finest division of the Onmitsukidō. While I don't need to elaborate on that, it's still my duty to go over the rules we'll be following moving forward, in accordance with the management system established by our predecessors."
The members of the Detention Unit collectively swallowed.
Seated in the audience was none other than the 2nd Division Captain, Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukidō, and leader of the 1st Division Executive Militia—Yoruichi Shihōin. And from the look on her face, her displeasure couldn't have been more obvious.
"The new head is seriously bold. He's not showing the slightest deference to the Executive Militia under Commander-in-Chief Yoruichi!"
"I heard he's the Commander-in-Chief's lover. Apparently, the two of them sneak off on private meetings from time to time."
"No way… So this is the legendary 'Captain's man'?"
"It's true! My second aunt saw them with her own eyes at the 1st Division barracks. She was so smitten she even drew his portrait and hung it in her room, staring at it every day like she was in love."
"Didn't your second aunt used to have a crush on Commander-in-Chief Yoruichi?"
"Oh, that changed ages ago! She was 'turned back' six months ago. My grandma was so overjoyed when she realized my aunt was into men again that she actually cried!"
As the gossip spread, Yoruichi Shihōin's face darkened.
Masatsuki Aozaki, however, remained blissfully unaware of Yoruichi's impending eruption. Enjoying the admiration of the crowd as if he were a heroic figure, he raised a hand and announced,
"Today, I've invited my personal secretary, the 9th Seat of the 2nd Division—Gin Ichimaru! He'll be sharing some insights on the mindset required to be a member of the Detention Unit."
The moment the captain introduced him, murmurs filled the room.
Masatsuki Aozaki was already an exceptional case—Captain-Commander Yamamoto's disciple, a prodigy who had reached the 4th Rank of Reiatsu at just twenty-one years old.
But this kid? How did he get assigned as the 9th Seat the moment he joined?
"Gin, I'll leave it to you."
Gin Ichimaru stepped onto the stage, his trademark cold smile in place as he scanned the auditorium.
Damn it. Nobody told me I'd have to give a speech...
Lowering his eyelids slightly, he took a quiet breath and stopped suppressing his Reiatsu.
The moment he did, the room instantly understood why he had been granted the 9th Seat.
—8th Rank Reiatsu.
...
After the speech, Gin Ichimaru slumped onto a sofa in the office, leaning back with a deep sigh.
Delivering an impromptu speech had drained him far more than expected.
"As expected of you, Gin. No preparation, and yet you pulled off something I wouldn't have been able to do."
Sitting across from him, Masatsuki Aozaki—3rd Seat of the 2nd Division and Detention Unit Captain—grinned from ear to ear.
Gin let out another sigh. "You left out the part where you didn't tell me I'd have to give a speech, just to mess with me."
"Now, would I do something like that?" Masatsuki Aozaki crossed his arms and chuckled. "Honestly, I got so caught up reading reports this afternoon that I completely forgot about the speech!"
Gin rolled his eyes. Masatsuki just stuck out his tongue.
"If it weren't for Yoruichi getting me a speech draft from Kisuke, I probably wouldn't have done much better than you."
"Oh, how impressive. Captain-sama can even give impromptu speeches," Gin said dryly.
The guy had a script and still had the nerve to brag.
"It's just about fooling people, really." Masatsuki Aozaki patted his chest. "That's my specialty!"
For once, Gin didn't argue. Instead, he simply nodded in agreement.
This guy had a knack for saying things that riled people up, and somehow, Gin always found himself getting caught up in it.
Masatsuki Aozaki leaned forward. "You don't mind if I go through some documents here, right?"
With that, he reached under the table and pulled out the files Yoruichi had handed him earlier.
"You're actually working?" Gin Ichimaru exclaimed, eyes wide with disbelief.
Masatsuki Aozaki shot him a glare. "What kind of comment is that? Is it really that strange for me to be working?"
"Heh..." Gin let out a dismissive chuckle without answering.
"Ichimaru, you're not busy right now, are you?"
"No, why?"
"Go process the documents on the desk."
Gin Ichimaru: ?
"I thought you were determined to take your work seriously?"
"I just wanted to read the materials, not do paperwork," Masatsuki said, completely straight-faced.
"I should never have expected anything from you!"
Gin twitched at the corner of his eye, sighed in resignation, and slumped into the office chair—the seat symbolizing the highest authority in the Detention Unit—utterly unenthused.
...This chair is definitely not as comfortable as the sofa.
The ticking of the clock mixed with the sound of pages turning.
Masatsuki flipped through the files with keen interest, scanning page after page.
The Nest of Maggots was a special prison operated by the 2nd Division. No one was allowed to carry a Zanpakutō inside.
Those imprisoned there were deemed potential threats under Seireitei's regulations, though not all of them had committed actual crimes.
Even if some had never broken the law, in practice, they were no different from criminals. Their status was the same as convicts, stripped of any human rights.
To Masatsuki, this group of dangerous individuals, possessing at least some level of strength yet devoid of rights, made for ideal sparring partners.
Whether it was Ikkotsu, Sōkotsu, or simply refining his Hakuda techniques, he still had a long road ahead.
Suddenly, he seemed to find something interesting. Holding the thick document in his hands, he leaned back against the sofa, flipping through the pages more slowly, nodding to himself as he read.
"Ichimaru, I think we should check out this guy who's getting special treatment."
Masatsuki walked up behind Gin and placed the file on the desk.
"Special treatment?"
"Yeah. This guy—Mayuri Kurotsuchi."
Masatsuki pointed at the photo in the document. Gin glanced down and saw a sharp-featured man with blue hair and yellow eyes.
"Mayuri Kurotsuchi… the guy conducting unauthorized research on the Quincy?" Gin set aside the paperwork he had been reviewing and picked up the file for a closer look. "Why are you interested in him?"
"This guy is smart. A scientist willing to push boundaries. You know, technology is the ultimate combat power," Masatsuki said with genuine conviction. "Don't you think talents like him deserve recognition and proper treatment?"
Gin rolled his eyes. "Technology is the ultimate combat power...? You actually expect me to believe that nonsense?"
Masatsuki was silent for a moment, then sighed. "Alright, fine. Honestly, I just want him to use his scientific expertise… to build me a beautiful wife!"
Gin blinked, momentarily stunned. Then, his expression turned deadly serious.
"In that case, this is indeed a critical matter. But I don't know much about scientific research. You think he can really fulfill your request?"
Masatsuki: "..."
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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