The very first thing Nobu did after assuming the post of Fourth Division Third Seat was to convert all those surplus medical rooms in the barracks into training dōjōs.
But the Fourth Division's training equipment was sorely limited. Even with the space now cleared, it could only be used for the most basic drills—anything more would require new purchases.
"This sort of request might not get approved."
Kotetsu Isane glanced over the proposal Nobu had written, a trace of worry on her face. "There's never been a precedent for this before. The budget allocated to the Fourth Division is always for medical apparatus. If we send this to First Division, they might think it's completely out of place."
Of course, buying things required money—but the Fourth Division's budget wasn't exactly generous.
Nobu had gone over the annual public funds allocations from First Division, and couldn't help saying, "First Division is that stingy? The Fourth Division are working the hardest jobs, our members are sweeping floors every day—what's wrong with giving them a little pay raise?"
Isane sighed. "It's been that way since the Division was founded. Always has been. No one's ever questioned it."
"Just because it's always been that way—does that make it right?" Nobu countered.
Isane had no reply to that.
After a pause, she said, "I'll submit the request anyway. Two days from now is the vice-captains' duty report meeting—you'll have to come with me."
A Third Seat assisted the vice-captain much like a vice-captain assisted the captain; in most Divisions, the vice-captain oversaw the bulk of internal affairs.
Nobu had just stepped out of the vice-captain's office when a black butterfly fluttered in from outside, slipping through the window into the room.
Moments later, Isane came hurrying out. Spotting him, she said, "We've got an external mission—there's Hollow activity in Kusajishi, District 79 of Rukongai. Squad Eleven has already gone ahead. First Division wants us and Squad Three to follow. Nobu, I'll leave it to you—take a team out immediately."
Nobu's expression turned wry.
The relief unit really is busy.
Of course, when he said "busy," it was half complaint—Fourth Division's field missions weren't actually that frequent, and trips to Rukongai were rarer still. This one just happened to fall on him.
He didn't bring many people, just called Aoshika along, and had Isane send word to Squad Three before heading straight out.
...
Rukongai, District 79 – Kusajishi.
As one of the more remote districts, the environment here was no better than Zaraki. The only real difference was that you could still see a few people on the streets.
Nobu and Aoshika arrived on one such street. Looking at the worn-down buildings around them, Nobu suddenly said, "Haven't been here in a long time. Brings back some memories."
"You're from Zaraki District, aren't you?" Aoshika asked, puzzled.
"Zaraki and Kusajishi are right next to each other. Visiting between the two is normal."
Visiting, huh…
Aoshika didn't know what to say to that.
He glanced at the sparse residents on the street. The way they looked at the two of them was full of wariness—and fear.
That fear came mostly from the shihakushō they wore.
"This way!"
Nobu called to Aoshika, having sensed a surge of reiatsu in the distance.
Once they broke out of the town and into a patch of forest, they saw—far ahead—four figures locked in battle with two massive Hollows.
"We made it!"
Aoshika let out a breath. The best outcome was arriving before there were any casualties.
But just as they reached the area, one Squad Eleven member was swatted aside by a Hollow's giant palm, landing not far from where Nobu and Aoshika stood.
Aoshika flash-stepped over at once to check his injuries.
The man's lips were bloody, and when he tried to get up, pain wracked his body as if every bone had come apart.
"Don't move. I'll heal you now," Aoshika said.
"Fourth Division?" the man spat out a mouthful of bloody phlegm and frowned. "Why did you get here first?"
"If we'd come later, you'd be dead already," Nobu said, walking up.
Even badly injured, the man gave a cold snort. "You Fourth Division types always make us worry about protecting you in battle. You're nothing but trouble."
Nobu's brow lifted slightly. He looked the man over, then stopped Aoshika from beginning the treatment.
"You're not dying anytime soon."
Aoshika looked at him, baffled and a little urgent. "Nobu, aren't you going to help?"
Ignoring him, Nobu crouched down and smiled faintly at the Squad Eleven man. "What's your name?"
The man stiffened under that gaze. "Furukawa Shōzō. Why?"
"Your rank?"
"Thirteenth Seat, Squad Eleven. Vice-leader of Fourth Combat Unit."
"Oh, so a seated officer."
That seemed to annoy him. "Hurry up and heal me! If something happens to my comrades, I'll hold you responsible!"
Nobu clicked his tongue. "With injuries like that, you won't be fighting again anytime soon. Even if I heal you, charging a Hollow would just get you killed—and maybe drag your teammates down with you."
"What do you Fourth Division cowards know?! We're nothing like you useless lot who just hide in the back!"
Nobu sighed lightly. "That's no way to speak to someone you're asking for help. Like I said—you're not dying yet. If Squad Eleven can't handle those two Hollows, we'll at least have the strength to run away."
"You bastard!"
Aoshika rose anxiously, murmuring to Nobu, "Is this really okay? What if he files a complaint later…"
Nobu glanced at the cursing man, nodding thoughtfully. "You're right."
Then he looked toward the battlefield and, in full view of Furukawa, said to Aoshika, "Maybe we should just finish him off quietly. Later we can say the Hollows did it. If we're clean about it, no one will ever know."
Both Aoshika and Furukawa stared at him in horror.
"You… what are you going to do?"
Nobu's smile turned gentle. "Don't worry. Everyone will think you died bravely fighting a Hollow."
Just then, another four-person squad arrived.
Furukawa immediately shouted at the top of his lungs, "Help! They're trying to kill me!"
The newcomers were from Squad Three. Hearing the noise, three of them broke off for the battlefield, leaving one to flash-step over to Nobu's position.
When the man saw Nobu, he blinked in recognition. "You're… Nobu-kun?"
"Have we met?"
"Not formally. I saw you at the Academy Culture Festival. I'm Togakushi Rikū, Third Seat of Squad Three."
At present, Squad Three had neither captain nor vice-captain; all duties were handled by this Togakushi Rikū.
Furukawa seemed to know him too, and cried out, "Togakushi-san, help me! These two are trying to murder me!"
Togakushi looked baffled. "What are you talking about?"
"I'm serious! They're plotting together to kill me!"
Togakushi turned to Nobu, who answered without the slightest change in expression, "This Squad Eleven member was struck in the head by a Hollow just now. He's a bit delirious. We were about to treat him."
"Then I'll leave him to you, Nobu-kun."
With that, Togakushi flash-stepped away toward the battle.
As soon as he left, Furukawa's face turned to despair.
"Am I going to die here…?"
Nobu just clicked his tongue and, bored of the game, drew his sword and laid it against the man's neck.
Light flared—when Furukawa squeezed his eyes shut, ready to die, he suddenly realized he could move again. Not only that, but every wound was gone.
He opened his eyes, bewildered.
"Come on. Quit playing dead," Nobu said.
Furukawa scrambled up. Something seemed to occur to him, and he asked, "Are you Tachikawa Nobu?"
Aoshika explained, "This is our Fourth Division Third Seat."
"So it really is you…" Furukawa muttered.
His expression shifted through several shades before he suddenly bowed. "Thank you for healing me—and forgive my earlier rudeness."
Nobu gave a thin smile. "Oh? Not calling all of Fourth Division trash anymore?"
"You're different from the rest—" Furukawa began, then changed tack mid-sentence. "It was my fault. Please forgive me. I've heard Third Seat Madarame mention you before."
Madarame…
Nobu's mind stirred. No wonder the man's attitude had flipped.
Squad Eleven respected strength—it was natural. But their contempt toward Fourth Division still rankled.
On the battlefield, with Togakushi's group joining the fight, the tide had turned instantly. Before long, both Hollows fell to his blade.
When the fighting was done, the others came over.
Several Squad Eleven members were injured; one recognized Nobu and Aoshika as Fourth Division and called out for healing.
Furukawa quickly stepped forward and whispered something to them.
Togakushi approached Nobu with a smile. "Nobu-kun, I hear you became Third Seat not long after joining Fourth Division. Your future must be bright."
"You flatter me, Togakushi-senpai," Nobu replied with a smile.
The Squad Eleven members came over as well, saying, "Third Seat Togakushi, Third Seat Tachikawa—thank you for your help."
Togakushi, ever mild-tempered, said, "We were all just doing our jobs."
Furukawa then turned to Nobu. "Third Seat Tachikawa, could you treat my teammates?"
Nobu didn't speak—he just signaled to Aoshika.
Now thoroughly changed in demeanor, Furukawa treated Aoshika with marked respect.
Then Togakushi said to Nobu, "Do you have time?"
"Does Togakushi-senpai need something?"
The man chuckled. "It's rare we meet. I'd like to talk."
Nobu guessed he had business, so he nodded.
Togakushi handed off the duty report to a subordinate, then left with Nobu.
Instead of returning straight to Seireitei, they stopped in a lower-numbered Rukongai district and found a small izakaya.
"I've known of you for a long time, Nobu-kun," Togakushi said as soon as they sat.
"Oh?" Nobu smirked. "Was I that famous?"
"Three or four years ago, I heard about an Academy student who defeated his own kendō instructor. Later I found your name on the list of those eligible for early graduation."
He poured Nobu a drink, smiling. "But a genius like you would never look twice at our Squad Three. I also heard Vice-Captains Shiba and Matsumoto had their eyes on you—so that night I dropped the idea of inviting you."
Squad Three's situation wasn't good—they'd been without a captain for fifty years, and their last vice-captain had died recently in the line of duty.
"I don't think the Thirteen Court Guard Squads have a 'better' or 'worse,'" Nobu said. "So why talk about who's worthy of who?"
"That's how it should be," Togakushi agreed. "But in practice—you know how it is. Honestly, when that Squad Eleven guy said what he did earlier, I guessed at once you'd clashed with him. Squad Eleven's pride is high, and they look down on Fourth Division most of all."
Nobu sipped his drink in silence. Changing that was one of his current goals.
"I asked you out here," Togakushi went on, "to see if you'd ever consider transferring."
Nobu blinked. "Meaning?"
"You've probably heard something of our situation."
He nodded faintly.
"I know my own limits," Togakushi said with a wry smile. "Making Third Seat was already lucky for me. Squad Three desperately needs a leader."
"You can't mean me, Togakushi-senpai." Nobu laughed.
"You built the Student Council at the Academy. You've killed a Menos Grande single-handed. That says all I need to know about your capabilities."
"I just graduated. And my Zanpakutō is Kaidō-type."
"So what? Squad Three is a support squad—we'd make full use of your healing talent. And… your promotion path in Fourth Division has probably already hit its ceiling."
"…" Nobu didn't answer.
Togakushi studied him, then admitted, "I do have a personal reason."
"Oh?" Nobu's eyes narrowed slightly.
He downed a cup of sake before continuing. "Recently, First Division's Vice-Captain Sasakibe came to me. Said there's now a non-captain in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads who's learned Bankai. Do you know who?"
Nobu had a guess, but said aloud, "No."
"Fifth Division's Vice-Captain, Ichimaru Gin."
"…"
Togakushi chuckled quietly. "I see him at every duty meeting, but honestly, I don't like him much. Feels like he's got too many layers."
Nobu knew exactly what kind of man Ichimaru Gin was, and had no personal dislike for him.
"Vice-Captain Sasakibe asked about our squad's wishes, but it's not my decision. Once Ichimaru fully masters his Bankai, they'll probably assign him to us as captain."
While nearly all captains had Bankai, having it didn't automatically mean one had captain-class combat power.
Mastering a Zanpakutō's final release was a long, difficult process. Sasakibe had said Ichimaru had achieved Bankai, but hadn't fully mastered it yet—it would take years to hone.
That was the norm for Soul Reapers.
"So what's that got to do with me? You want me to be captain?" Nobu asked dryly. "Do I look like someone who's mastered Bankai?"
"You could be Squad Three's vice-captain first. I'm certain you could handle it. With a vice-captain, we'd be more or less complete, and First Division wouldn't rush to assign us a captain."
"And… with your talent, I doubt it would take you long to reach Bankai."
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