"Attention!"
On the open ground in front of the 1st Division barracks, Chōjirō Sasakibe, Vice-Captain of both the 1st Division and the Gotei Headquarters, was addressing more than a hundred 1st Division Shinigami.
He wore the standard black shihakushō of Soul Society, with a short white overcoat layered on top. His once-loose sleeves were tightly bound under the arms with red cords, giving him an especially strict and solemn appearance.
Coupled with Sasakibe Chōjirō's expressionless face, he exuded an overwhelming presence beneath the dazzling sunlight.
"Everyone," Sasakibe said, his sharp gaze sweeping across the ranks before him, "that concludes the entirety of today's meeting."
Snap!
Over a hundred 1st Division members raised their right foot and struck it sharply against the left in unison, producing a crisp sound, then responded in one voice:
"Yes, sir!"
"Good." Sasakibe nodded solemnly, then glanced around and asked, "Has Vice-Captain Fūjin still not arrived?!"
"Vice-Captain Sasakibe, no," a Shinigami stepped out of formation and replied stiffly. "And 7th Seat Saitō, who was responsible for contacting Vice-Captain Fūjin, has also failed to return!"
"What?! Such a thing has happened?" Sasakibe frowned slightly, looked up at the sun overhead, then suddenly called out to an elderly-looking Shinigami beside him. "3rd Seat Okikiba!"
"Yes, Vice-Captain Sasakibe!"
Genshirō Okikiba, with slicked-back hair and thick moustaches, stepped out of formation and answered.
"Vice-Captain Fūjin Taichi is hereby given one demerit for absence from the division meeting without cause, and fined one thousand kan of his monthly stipend.
7th Seat Saitō is charged with gross dereliction of duty, given a major demerit, and has his entire monthly stipend docked."
Sasakibe announced in a low, steady voice.
"Cough, cough… Vice-Captain Sasakibe, isn't this a bit too harsh?"
Genshirō Okikiba cleared his throat and cast a discreet glance at the assembled Shinigami behind him before lowering his voice. "Vice-Captain Fūjin is new to the division—it's understandable that he may not yet be familiar with the 1st Division's rules. And as for 7th Seat Saitō—"
"3rd Seat Okikiba," Sasakibe interrupted coldly, fixing him with an unyielding stare, "the laws of the Seireitei are meant to be obeyed, not broken.
All of you here are elites transferred from other divisions. A Shinigami who does not follow division regulations is nothing but dead weight—"
"But someone who doesn't value their comrades is even worse than dead weight, Vice-Captain Sasakibe."
As the unexpected voice rang out, Fūjin Taichi slowly walked in from outside.
"Vice-Captain Fūjin," Sasakibe's expression tightened instantly. He placed his left hand forward and clasped his right behind his back, staring at Taichi through narrowed eyes like a Western-style butler.
"Do you have objections to the punishment I've assigned for your tardiness?"
"Vice-Captain Sasakibe, don't misunderstand me," Fūjin Taichi replied calmly. "I'm only responding to what you just said—not disputing the punishment itself."
He then turned to Genshirō Okikiba and said, "3rd Seat Okikiba, I'm sorry for causing trouble on my very first day. However, the reason I was late was because—"
…
Genshirō Okikiba remained silent. He could already sense the thick smell of gunpowder in the air—emanating from the two vice-captains standing before him… or perhaps not entirely.
"Because of what?" Sasakibe asked, turning his questioning gaze toward Taichi.
"Because on my way here, I happened to save a lost Shinigami," Fūjin Taichi scratched his head, then called toward the doorway.
"Come in, Keichirō!"
"Uh…"
After quite a while, a muffled groan came from outside. Then Saitō Keichirō appeared before everyone, his entire body wrapped in white bandages like a mummy.
"Whoa—what in the world is that?!"
The 1st Division members were startled by his sudden appearance and drew their Zanpakutō, surrounding him instantly.
"Wait, stop! It's me!" Saitō Keichirō waved his hands frantically.
"What?! Brother Keichirō, is that really you?!"
A Shinigami familiar with Saitō recognized his voice and stared in disbelief.