Tentacles

On his third day after joining the First Division, Shuichi was sent to collect his equipment.

Sakaki told him that every full-fledged Soul Reaper received a standard set of clothing, protective gear, a Reishi Communicator for communication, and sword maintenance tools. These things were not handled by the First Division, but forged and distributed by the higher noble Kasumioji Clan.

"Kasumioji?" Shuichi had never heard the name.

"A higher noble family."

Sakaki handed him a collection slip. "They specialize in forging standard equipment. Soul Reaper scabbards, hand guards, and the fabric for standard uniforms all come from their workshops. Just go collect them."

Shuichi took the slip and glanced at the address: East District of the Seireitei, Kasumioji Estate.

As he headed out, Chongya called after him.

"Shuichi, it's your first time going to the Kasumioji Clan. I'll go with you."

Shuichi was somewhat surprised. "No need. I can go by myself."

"It's not because I'm worried you'll get lost."

Chongya picked up his coat. "The Kasumioji Clan is a vassal of the Kuchiki Clan. If you're going to collect equipment, they definitely already know who you are. In a place like that, going alone makes it easy for them to drag you into conversation endlessly."

Shuichi glanced at Chongya. Chongya's expression was calm, as though he were stating the most ordinary thing in the world.

But Shuichi understood what he meant. The Kasumioji Clan was an arm of the Kuchiki Clan, and the Kuchiki Clan had come looking for him only a few days ago. There was no way the Kasumioji Clan would not know.

"Then I'll trouble you, Mr. Chongya."

"Let's go."

The two left the division barracks and headed toward the East District. The Seireitei's East District was where noble estates were concentrated. Its streets were broad and clean, its courtyard walls tall on both sides. Occasionally, neatly pruned branches could be seen extending over the walls. It was Shuichi's first time in this area, and he could not help looking around.

Chongya walked beside him at an unhurried pace.

"The Kasumioji Clan has been responsible for forging equipment for several hundred years."

He said, "From the wood for scabbards to the fabric for Shihakushō, everything comes from their workshops. The quality is good, but the price is not cheap."

"Price? Doesn't the government pay for it?"

"The government pays, but where does the money come from?" Chongya smiled.

"Of every three coins in the Gotei 13's payroll, one comes from the Ōmaeda Clan."

Shuichi froze. "Ōmaeda?"

"A commercial magnate of the Soul Society." Chongya spoke as though it were common knowledge.

"Food, supplies, equipment procurement, barracks repairs—wherever money needs to be spent, the Ōmaeda Clan has its hand in it. They do not make equipment, but more than half the money used to buy it comes from them."

Shuichi was silent for a while. "Then the Kasumioji Clan and the Kuchiki Clan..."

Chongya looked at him.

"The Kuchiki Clan is the head of the Four Great Noble Clans. The Kasumioji Clan can maintain its footing in the Seireitei because the Kuchiki Clan supports it. The lucrative business of equipment forging was also given to them by the Kuchiki Clan."

He paused.

"So the Kasumioji Clan is especially attentive to the Kuchiki Clan's affairs. The Kuchiki Clan came looking for you a few days ago, so the Kasumioji Clan definitely knows. Since you're collecting equipment today, they will probably be especially welcoming."

Shuichi understood. It was not "welcoming." It was "probing." Where the Kuchiki Clan's tentacles could not reach, the tentacles of its tentacles could.

The two stopped before the Kasumioji Estate. Its frontage was not large, but it was imposing: a black-lacquered gate, gleaming bronze studs, and a plaque bearing the three characters "Kasumioji" hanging above. Two servants stood at the entrance, and the moment they saw Shuichi and Chongya, they hurried over.

"First Division?" one of the servants asked.

Shuichi handed over the collection slip. The servant glanced at it.

"Please come in. The master has already given instructions."

Shuichi and Chongya exchanged a glance, then followed the servant inside.

The interior of the Kasumioji Estate was far larger than its entrance suggested. They passed through the front courtyard and around a screen wall, arriving at a spacious courtyard. Workshops stood on either side, with the clang of metalwork ringing out from within. In the hall directly across the courtyard, a middle-aged man was already waiting at the door.

The man wore an elegant black kimono. His features were gentle, and a perfectly measured smile rested on his lips. When he saw Shuichi, he inclined his head slightly.

"Kasumioji Clan head, Kasumioji Genmei. Shuichi-kun, I have heard much about you."

Shuichi returned the bow. "Lord Kasumioji, forgive the intrusion."

"Not at all, not at all." Kasumioji Genmei smiled warmly.

"It is an honor for the Kasumioji Clan that a student personally taught by the Captain-Commander has come to collect equipment. Please, come in."

He stepped aside to let Shuichi and Chongya enter, then instructed a servant to bring tea. Shuichi sat down and looked around. The hall was not large, but its furnishings were exquisite. Every piece of furniture had been polished to a shine, and even the tea bowls were fine porcelain.

He clapped his hands, and a servant entered carrying a tray. On it was a brand-new set of black uniforms, with protective gear, a Reishi Communicator, and a small box of maintenance tools beside it.

"This is the standard issue."

Kasumioji Genmei said, "The uniform fabric is specially made by the Kasumioji Clan and is more resistant to spiritual-pressure erosion than ordinary cloth. The protective gear is lightweight and will not affect Shunpo. The Reishi Communicator's range covers the entire Seireitei."

Chongya examined the samples and nodded. "Same as always."

Shuichi imitated Chongya and examined the samples.

Shuichi nodded but did not answer.

The two were then led to the warehouse.

Chongya randomly inspected some of the goods. Their quality was more or less the same as the samples.

Shuichi learned as he examined and identified the items, while Chongya patiently instructed him.

When the two returned to the First Division barracks, Sakaki was waiting at the entrance.

"Shuichi, your pay statement."

He handed over a sheet of paper. "This month's."

Shuichi looked at the pay statement and fell silent for a while.

"The Ōmaeda Clan... what kind of background do they have?"

"A commercial magnate," Sakaki said.

"They are not nobles, but they are wealthier than most nobles. The Seireitei's supply procurement, food reserves, and commercial taxes all pass through them. Without the Ōmaeda Clan, the Gotei 13 could not even pay its salaries."

"Then what status do they hold in the Seireitei?"

Sakaki thought for a moment. "It's very subtle. They are not nobles, but they are rich enough that even the Four Great Noble Clans have to show them some respect. They never take part in disputes between nobles, only do business, but no one dares offend them. Offend the Ōmaeda Clan, and the Seireitei's commercial circulation will run into problems."

Shuichi folded the pay statement and tucked it into his robes.

"Would the Ōmaeda Clan also try to win people over?"

Sakaki and Chongya exchanged a look. Chongya shook his head.

"The Ōmaeda Clan doesn't do that."

He said, "They only do business. They take no sides and form no factions. Whoever is in power, they cooperate with; whoever falls from power, they do not trample. That is how a family can survive in the Soul Society for centuries without collapsing."

Shuichi nodded thoughtfully.

When he returned to the hall, Shimura was organizing documents. Seeing Shuichi enter, he adjusted his glasses.

"Shuichi-kun, there is something for you."

He handed over a sheet of paper. Shuichi took it and saw that it was an application.

"Ōmaeda Xiquanzhi, applying to join the Second Division as vice-captain."

Shuichi was taken aback. "Why am I being shown this?"

Shimura's expression was somewhat subtle. "Because the applicant is from the Ōmaeda Clan. Captain Shihōin has already approved it, but the application must be filed with the First Division. You are responsible for sorting today's documents, so this falls under your responsibility."

Shuichi looked at the name on the paper: Ōmaeda Xiquanzhi.

A member of the Ōmaeda Clan was applying to join Shihōin Qianri's Second Division, and Shihōin Qianri had come looking for him only days ago, asking him to join the Second Division.

He looked at Shimura. There was no extra expression on Shimura's face as he simply handed over the document.

Shuichi placed the application in the stack marked "Pending Filing."

"I put it here," he said.

Shimura nodded and continued organizing his documents.

First Division barracks, main hall.

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto sat behind a low desk, the tea in his cup already cold. Chōjirō Sasakibe stood at his side, with a document spread out before them. There were only the two of them in the main hall until footsteps sounded outside.

"Captain-Commander, Captain Shihōin has arrived."

Yamamoto set down his teacup. "Enter."

The door slid open, and Shihōin Qianri walked in. His dark complexion looked even darker beneath the main hall's lights, while his silver-white short hair lay neatly against his temples. He stopped before Yamamoto and bowed slightly.

"Captain-Commander."

Yamamoto pointed to the seat across from him. "Sit."

Shihōin Qianri sat down with his back straight. His bearing suited his status as captain of the Second Division: capable, direct, and without wasted motion.

"You said there was something you wished to discuss."

Yamamoto looked at him. "What is it?"

Shihōin Qianri did not answer at once. He drew a scroll from his sleeve, unrolled it, and spread it across the low desk. A diagram was drawn on it—a structural chart.

Lines extended downward from the words "Second Division" at the top, branching into several sections, each followed by densely packed annotations.

Yamamoto lowered his eyes and looked at it without speaking.

"Captain-Commander."

Shihōin Qianri began, "The Eleventh Division's duties have already been established: combat only. That madwoman Unohana leads her Eleventh Division, and every day they do nothing but cut people down and train to cut people down better. That is right. The Gotei 13 needs a blade."

He paused, tapping the diagram with one finger.

"But a blade needs eyes and ears. It needs people to gather intelligence, infiltrate behind enemy lines, assassinate threats, and protect important figures. The Eleventh Division cannot do those things. They only know how to charge forward and cut. No other division has those functions either."

He looked at Yamamoto.

"The Second Division wants to do them."

Yamamoto lifted the cold teacup and took a sip. "Go on."

"Onmitsukidō." When Shihōin Qianri spoke those four words, there was a restrained excitement in his voice. It was not open exhilaration, but the satisfaction of finally voicing something he had been brewing for a long time.

"I want to turn the Second Division into a specialized covert unit responsible for reconnaissance, espionage, assassination, and protection. We will not take part in frontal combat. We will only do what a blade cannot."

He pointed to the branches on the diagram.

"The reconnaissance unit will penetrate behind enemy lines to gather intelligence. The intelligence unit will handle infiltration and counter-infiltration. The assassination unit will eliminate threat targets. The protection unit will protect important figures in the Seireitei. And the interrogation unit will question prisoners and obtain intelligence."

The main hall fell quiet for a while.

Yamamoto set down his teacup. "An interrogation unit. Do you think that is necessary?"

Shihōin Qianri did not avoid the question. "If there are prisoners, someone must make them talk. The Eleventh Division does not know how to interrogate people, and no other division has that function. The Second Division can do it."

Yamamoto looked at him, his gaze calm. "Have you considered how the other captains will react?"

"I have."

Shihōin Qianri's expression did not change. "The Eleventh Division will think we are taking their work. Those noble captains from the Third Division and Fifth Division will think the Onmitsukidō is not dignified enough. But the Seireitei needs this."

He paused.

"The Captain-Commander should understand better than I do that this is what the Gotei 13's current structure lacks."

Yamamoto was silent for a moment. "What can the Shihōin Clan provide?"

Shihōin Qianri's eyes lit up, only for an instant.

"The Shihōin Clan has always controlled the Soul Society's heaven-bestowed divine weapons. From Zanpakutō components and special materials for Shihakushō to Kidō Cannons, reishi bombs, and all kinds of concealed weapons, the Shihōin Clan's workshops have a hand in everything military-related."

He pointed to the words "Assassination Unit" on the diagram.

"The assassination unit's equipment can be supplied by the Shihōin Clan. Silent Blades, reishi-concealment cloth, infiltration tools—they are all ready-made. The Shihōin Clan's workshops are already trial-producing reishi detection devices for the reconnaissance unit."

Yamamoto glanced at him. "You began preparing long ago."

Shihōin Qianri did not deny it. "I have been considering this since the day I became captain of the Second Division."

Yamamoto picked up the diagram and read through it again. Every branch and every annotation had been written neatly. This was not some rough concept, but a mature plan refined through repeated consideration.

"Do the other captains know?" he asked.

"They do not."

Shihōin Qianri said, "This is an internal matter of the Second Division. They do not need to know. Once the Onmitsukidō has been established, they will naturally see the results."

Yamamoto placed the diagram back on the low desk.

"Go back and write a formal report. Clearly state the organization, personnel, training plan, and equipment requirements. After I review it, I will decide."

Shihōin Qianri stood and bowed. "Yes."

He pushed open the door and left.

Only Yamamoto and Chōjirō remained in the main hall.

"What do you think?"

Chōjirō was silent for a while. "Captain Shihōin's plan is very complete. The Onmitsukidō is indeed something the Seireitei lacks."

"But the current members of the Second Division may not be capable of it. Captain Shihōin's Hakuda and Shunpo are first-rate, but his subordinates... most were transferred from headquarters guard duty and other divisions. They have not received specialized espionage or assassination training. To establish the Onmitsukidō, they first need people. To get people, they first need training. Training takes time."

Yamamoto nodded. "Anything else?"

Chōjirō thought for a moment. "There is also the reaction of the other captains. Captain Unohana will not like someone taking her work. Those nobles have always been sensitive to the word 'covert.' They will not openly oppose it, but in private..."

He did not continue.

Yamamoto rose and walked to the window. Outside lay the Seireitei at night, with scattered lights shining from distant division barracks. That immense white wall floated in midair, glowing faintly in the darkness.

"The Shihōin Clan is the Soul Society's military-industrial core."

He turned and looked at Chōjirō.

"But he has forgotten one thing. The Shihōin Clan is a family of arms manufacturers, not a military family. Those who forge weapons do not necessarily know how to wage war. Qianri wants to establish the Onmitsukidō because he believes the Second Division needs that function. But has he considered whether the Second Division's current members are capable of fulfilling it?"

He returned to the low desk, picked up the diagram, and looked at it one last time.

"Have him write the report."

He set the diagram down. "After he writes it, then we will discuss it."