Welcome to Shinigami Schemer!
>What is this?
This is a quest set in the world of Bleach, currently 135 years before the first chapter takes place. Whether that canon story takes place as it did originally, goes drastically differently, or doesn’t occur at all is entirely up to you and your actions.
>Who are we?
You are Hokkyokusei Danketsu, a relatively new Shinigami in the 5th Division, under Captain Hirako Shinji. Character sheet and social links here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MPdquZcFFwmdZ7eD3QjqNNkylXc9_4CfZVpIqVAs1NA/edit?usp=sharing
>Voting?
Depends on you. If it’s busy and votes are coming in quickly, I’ll generally give 15-20 minutes for voting, aiming for hourly updates. If it’s slow, I’ll let votes run for a few hours, perhaps overnight, and update whenever a majority is reached. If players have a preference for either option over the other, I’ll see what I can do to ensure the threads are always fast paced or always slower and take place over a long period.
>Dice?
We’ll be running off a 3d10 system, best of the first three linked posts to my posts calling for rolls. Don’t worry about rolling a critfail - I’ll always take the best of the first three linked. If people want me to take them, I’ll consider it, but I think opening up that system will cause more harm than good.
>Archive/Twitter?
https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Shinigami%20Schemer%20Quest for all the previous threads, and my Twitter is @QMKWormmy for updates on run times.
>Questions?
Feel free to ask and I’ll answer best I can.

>>5552267
Never thought i’d see this quest ever again.
Welcome back Wormmy.

>>5552267
>>Play it by ear, feeling that sticking to rigid tactics and orders would only harm you when something strange occurred

Welcome back

>>5552267
>>Play it by ear, feeling that sticking to rigid tactics and orders would only harm you when something strange occurred
Woops. Forgot to vote.

>>5552269
>>5552273
Glad to be back. I would explain where I've been, but honestly I don't even have an excuse haha. Still, here now.

>>5552267
>Play it by ear, feeling that sticking to rigid tactics and orders would only harm you when something strange occurred

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>>5552267
You decide to play it by ear. Better to be adaptable and fluid than set and rigid. You shrug, pushing yourself up from the bench you were sat on. “So basically the same as always,” you mutter to yourself, before looking up to Toyohisa. “Alright then. Inamaru-san, would you mind grabbing Sakaki and Anamatsu? I’ll get Urushima, then grab Momiji. We’ll move out from there.”

“Of course. If you’ll excuse me, sir.” Toyohisa replies, inclining his head before he walked off to accomplish what you had asked him to do. You roll your shoulders, they for some reason feeling stiff from disuse, before walking aimlessly around the squad grounds, realising you know literally nothing about this Urushima, and therefore anything about where they could be found, or even what they looked like.

Still, you knew there were certain areas they would likely be, and so you head to…
>The mess hall again
>The Zanjutsu dojo
>The kido range

>>5552309
>>The Zanjutsu dojo

Aaand, we're BACK
>The Zanjutsu dojo

>>5552309
>The kido range

>>5552309
>The Zanjutsu dojo

>>5552309
>The kido range

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>>5552309
You walk into the zanjutsu dojo, watching various shinigami swinging around shinai and bokken in whatever haphazard fashion they considered “training”. As you look, you marvel at how the Gotei 13 was even slightly effective as a combat force, watching the shoddy displays in front of you. The majority of those you saw fumbling with their weapons in mismatched stances and with odd grips were unseated, sure, but every single one of them had also been in the Shin'ō Academy longer than you, and had more experience as an actual shinigami besides.

Considering sword skill was far from your strong suit and you could still tell how pathetic the level in display here was, you balked at the idea of watching what travesties were no doubt occurring at the kido range, or - heaven forbid - seeing whatever sort of tripping-over-their-own-feet these people would call a shunpo. It was so bad you had half a mind to step in and teach them better, but… no. That would bring far too much attention to you, and you didn’t have the time besides.

“Hey! I’m lookin’ for Urushima. Are they ‘ere?” You asked, loudly enough for your voice to carry through the whole dojo. Although the gathered shinigami looked at you, there wasn’t any response for a good minute, causing you to sigh, beginning to turn around before you heard shuffling feet approaching you.

“That’s, um… me. I’m Urushima… Hokkyokusei-senpai.” The meek woman muttered, looking sheepishly at anything but your face. Her hands clutched her bokken tightly, while a still basic, unimprinted zanpakuto hung by her side.

You…
>Greet her nicely, and fill her in
>Fill her in, keeping it all business
>Simply begin walking away, assuming she’d follow - not like it would be much of a loss if she didn’t, anyway

>>5552535
>Greet her nicely, and fill her in
Apologies in advanced if my phone keeps changing my Id

>>5552535
>Greet her nicely, and fill her in

>>5552535
>Greet her nicely

>>5552535
>Greet her nicely, and fill her in

>>5552535
>Greet her nicely, and fill her in

>>5552535
>Greet her nicely, and fill her in
We dont know anything about her but we are about to work with her
Best to have good working relations

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>>5552535
Your first thought is that the woman standing in front of you is completely worthless, but you push that aside. Regardless of whatever skills she has (or more than likely lacks) you’d still been ordered to bring her along, so having at least a good working relationship was important. It was also keenly aware to you that despite your similarities, you and Hirako-taicho were not the same person - far from it. Were it you giving this order, you would think Urushima’s involvement would be a statement to ‘get her to show results, or get rid of her’, but Hirako-taicho wasn’t that callous. That at least you were pretty sure wasn’t one of the hidden messages he was sending here, even though the thought did linger in your mind.

Betraying none of your thoughts however, you slip into an easy grin, raising a hand in greeting. “Hi, Yukiko-chan! Guess ya already know who I am, so that makes thing’s a little easier. Wanted ta grab ya for our patrol. Aizen-fukutaicho is sick, so Hirako-taicho’s called on me to lead the Rukongai patrol he was meant to.”

“Oh, I… see.” She chokes out, clutching onto the bokken so hard her knuckles were turning white as she stares at her feet and a blush colours her face, turning her red. “Sorry, I… L-Let me prepare, sir!” She squeaks out, before running off to return the bokken to where it was meant to be before you could even respond. You run your hand through your hair, sighing, but not really able to do much but wait as she’d asked.

In Urushima’s defence, she was quick to prepare, returning to you within two minutes. still unable to look anywhere even close to your eyes however, with the blush still on her face. “Ya ready?” You ask, only receiving a nod in response, causing you to shrug. “Alright, let’s go then.”

You…
>Go directly to grab Momiji
>Take a slightly longer route, using the extra time to find out what Urushima’s deal was

>>5552845
>Take a slightly longer route, using the extra time to find out what Urushima’s deal was
We need more info to use her effectively

>>5552845
>Take a slightly longer route, using the extra time to find out what Urushima’s deal was

>>5552845
>Take a slightly longer route, using the extra time to find out what Urushima’s deal was

>>5552845
>Take a slightly longer route, using the extra time to find out what Urushima’s deal was

>>5552845
>Take a slightly longer route, using the extra time to find out what Urushima’s deal was

>>5552845
>Take a slightly longer route, using the extra time to find out what Urushima’s deal was

could try to help her unlock her power and then get another Tsukuya, as the more people he claim as his own the further his power grows as his zanpakuto only affects him and what he views as his stuff be it objects or people

>>5553325
>could try to help her unlock her power and then get another Tsukuya
heck no

We don't wanna just be another dumb aizen with an harem flavor, Tsukuya should be our one and only girl. She's special, even if Danketsu acts all tsundere about it the fact that he actually seemed to notice his 'lack of feelings' towards her and tried to correct it, is itself an manner of feeling.

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>>5552845
You decide to take your time, taking the scenic route to the mess hall, where you assume Momiji was still shoveling down food. Not like it mattered if she wasn’t - you’d pass by the courtyard on the way over anyway, where she should be waiting if she isn’t still eating. Instead, you turn your focus to Urushima, choosing to go for a wide, friendly smile rather than a grin, thinking that would work better on someone as seemingly skittish as this woman seemed to be.

“So, Yukiko-chan! Ya know me, but I don’t really know you. Mind tellin’ me a bit ‘bout yerself? Would help me figure out how we’re gonna tackle the mission an’ all, and besides, I’d like ta get ta know ya!”

Despite the friendly, open greeting however, Urushima only seemed to look away nervously, still not daring to look anywhere close to your face. “Y-Yes. I… um… I…”

You fought the urge to frown. These nerves, anxiety, whatever it was… It would not do. You would need to deal with that. And to do that, you needed to know - was it inadvertently you causing it, or was that just the type of person she was? “Come on, Yukiko-chan. No need to be nervous - we’re in the same squad, after all! I might have a seat and ya don’t, but I’m only 20th. Nothin’ special, ya know?”

Urushima’s eyes finally flicked up, for the first time taking a peek at your face, before looking straight down to the ground. “I… Yes, sir, I understand, it’s just… Well… If I ever were to look at you, Nohara-senpai said she would…”

“Ah.” You muttered, looking over to the side and having the good grace to look sheepish yourself, running your hand through your hair. “Now it’s starting to make sense.” Lord, the girl was territorial to a fault.

You…
>Reassure Urushima that Tsukuya wouldn’t do anything to her if you asked her not to
>Tell her that you won’t tell Tsukuya if she won’t
>Convince her she didn’t actually mean it
>Decide it’s a lost cause and move on
>Write-in?

>>5553387
>Reassure Urushima that Tsukuya wouldn’t do anything to her if you asked her not to
BASED Yandere will not accept haremfaggotry

>>5553387
>Reassure Urushima that Tsukuya wouldn’t do anything to her if you asked her not to

We are going to have to work with a lot of women over time
Best to get this issue out of the way

>>5553387
>Reassure Urushima that Tsukuya wouldn’t do anything to her if you asked her not to

>>5553387
>Tell her that you won’t tell Tsukuya if she won’t

>>5553387
>Tell her that you won’t tell Tsukuya if she won’t

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>>5553387
You sighed, before giving Urushima another big smile. “Well, don’t ya worry about that, Yukiko-chan. Tsukuya-chan’s a bit… protective, shall we say, but she honestly means well. She just doesn’t want anythin’ bad ta happen ta me. She’ll understand that we’re on a mission together - not like I’ve been banned from speakin’ ta other ladies, or somethin’.” You thought that would be enough to satisfy her, but Urushima’s continued nervous fidgeting told you otherwise, causing you to stop, the woman also quickly stopping as you turned to look at her, a serious look on your face.

“Look, Urushima, seriously. I’ll make sure Tsukuya-chan doesn’t do anythin’ to ya, understand? But in return, ya gotta stop with this. I can’t lead a team if one of its members ‘s too scared ta even look me in the eye. We clear?” You ask, staring her in the face with an intensity that didn’t let her look away.

After a moment, Urushima slowly nods in affirmation. “Yes sir… I understand.”

You regard her for a second, before nodding. “Good.” You say, before slipping back into the smile. “Now then, tell me about yourself!”

After walking and talking for a while, it seemed that Urushima was meek by nature, although the over-the-top anxiety seemed mostly caused by Tsukuya. She didn’t seem to have any particular talents, nor any particular desire to improve in any area, but… Mentally, you shrugged. Always good to have cannon fodder, you supposed. At least she could hold a sword.

You walked into the courtyard, seeing Momiji already there, tapping her foot. She scowled as she saw you, stomping up to you, no doubt about to snap at you.

You…
>Wait for her taunt then snap back
>Insult her before she gets the chance (what?)
>Cut her off completely, keeping things business
>Write-in?

>>5553633
>keep things business

>>5553633
>Wait for her taunt then snap back

>>5553639
>Cut her off completely, keeping things business

>>5553633
>Wait for her taunt then snap back

>>5553633
>Cut her off completely, keeping things business

>>5553633
>Cut her off completely, keeping things business
No time for snippiness

>>5553633
>Cut her off completely, keeping things business

>>5553633
>>Wait for her taunt then snap back

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>>5553633
You cut her off before she even has a chance to open her mouth, deciding that it’s time to make it look like you’re taking things seriously. “Good, Momiji, you’re here - thought ya might still be stuffin’ yer face. Inamaru-san is gatherin’ the others - once they’re here, we’ll move.” You see Momiji bristle at the comment about her eating, but as she tries to retort, you cut her off again, raising a finger and shaking your head ever so slightly. “Uh uh uh. Before you say anythin, remember our deal? Think about that before ya say something ya might regret.”

The quick reminder stops her in her tracks, and she pauses, before grumbling under her breath. Turning on her heel, she walks over to a nearby bench, sitting on it while mumbling something inaudible. You smile, happy to see it had been so happy to put a leash on her. You follow her lead, deciding to sit cross-legged right where you had been standing, while Urushima looked between the two of you for a cue on what to do, before just deciding to stay stood.

The three of you stayed like that for a few minutes, not really talking, before Toyohisa eventually returned, with a man you recognised as Sakaki and a woman you knew was Anamatsu trailing behind him. You stood, clapping your hands together as they approached, as you…
>Decided to get moving
>Took a bit more time to understand everyone’s place in the squad {asking what?}
>Talked strategy with everyone {what?)

>>5554043
>>Decided to get moving

>>5554043
>Took a bit more time to understand everyone’s place in the squad {asking what?}
Find out what everyone is good at, specialized in, unique traits and build a squad setup accordingly

>>5554043
>Took a bit more time to understand everyone’s place in the squad {asking what?}
What >>5554048 said.

>>5554048
+1

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>>5554043
You lazily wave at the arrivals from where you’re sat on the ground, Toyohisa giving you a nod as you did. As he spots you, Sakaki scowls, while Anamatsu smiles at those gathered, before looking to you to see what you’ll do next. “Right.” You say, clapping your hands together with a smirk on your face. “Before we move out, I need ta know what ya all can do, so I can actually make some sort o’ plan. So-”

“And why the fuck should I listen to you?” Sakaki snaps, causing you to look over at him with a bemused smile. “Most of the squad have higher seats than you, and all of us have seniority. Why are you even fucking leading us?”

“Sakaki-” Toyohisa begins to reprimand, but you raise a hand, stopping him as you jump to your feet.

“Sure, the rest of them are higher seated. But ya aren’t, 22nd Seat. So get back in yer box before I shove ya in it. Or do ya want me ta show ya exactly why I’m leadin’ this squad?”

“Fuck you.” The man almost growls, spitting at you.

You…
>Put him in his place
>Be the bigger man

>>5554527
we put him in his place if we want to do this mission properly and successfully, with as few issues cropping up as we can manage. we let it slide and be the bigger man if we want to maintain our (relatively) low profile. personally im for
>Be the bigger man

>>5554527
>Be the bigger man

>>5554527
>Put him in his place
We've basically wasted an entire year, we can't exactly 'scheme' if we just fuckin' stay for all of eternity as an low rank nobody.

>>5554527
>Put him in his place

>>5554536
>>5554568
>>5554584
>>5554607
Gonna need one more vote here.

>>5554644
>Put him in his place

>>5554933
Okay, here we go. Roll me 3d10, dc 12, crit 18.

Rolled 5, 1, 3 = 9 (3d10)

>>5554954

Rolled 5, 7, 10 = 22 (3d10)

>>5554954

>>5554970
Would normally wait for a third, but things are slow, and it's a crit anyway, so...
>writing

>>5554990
but what if we rolled three 10s and got the super duper ultra crit?

>>5555002
You'd probably kill him by accident.

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>>5554527
You let the spit hit you in the face. Even as it splashes against your skin, you choose not to react, instead staring Sakaki in the face, unmoving and unblinking. A good few seconds pass without a sound from anyone in the group, and just as you can tell you’re beginning to unnerve the older man and he’s about to say something else idiotic, you smile at him, before you turn around, stepping away. “Ya know what, this is better anyways. I should get an actual feel fer what ya can do, rather than let ya lie and make yerself out ta be hot shit.”

You turn back around to face him, with the smile that he surely was finding infuriating still plastered on your face. “So come at me. If ya win, ya can lead, if it matters ta ya that much.” You knew the man would never pass the opportunity up, not when he’d made it clear how much he disliked you for getting him demoted just by existing. Honestly, he was so predictable…

“...That I don’t even need my eyes to tell what yer gonna do.” You say to Manabu, cleanly sidestepping the vertical slash you guessed he’d lead with, before clenching a fist and delivering a basic hakuda uppercut to where you knew his no-doubt unguarded chin would be. His grunt of pain and the resistance you felt told you you were right on the money, and you opened your eyes again to find him already sprawled out on the ground. zanpakuto out of his hands as he gasped for air, dizzy from the blow.

You looked at him with disdain that was for once completely visible to the world, seeing as it would be appropriate in this case as a general reprimanding his pawn. “That attack was the most basic of basic hakuda strikes, by the way. Which is also the section of the Zankensoki I’m also the worst at. If you’re going to spend all your time barking, at least try to learn how to bite… or at least when to run with your tail between your legs.”

You coughed, realising you’d let the real you out a bit too much there, having let the accent slip just a tad, but no one seemed to notice, more focused on what had just happened physically.
>”Well. Anyone else want to show me what they can do?”
>”Now, shall we talk about this like civilised people?”
>”I’m warmed up now. Let’s just go before this gets boring.”
>Write-in?

>>5555062
>”I’m warmed up now. Let’s just go before this gets boring.”

>>5555062
>”I’m warmed up now. Let’s just go before this gets boring

>>5555062
>”Now, shall we talk about this like civilised people?”

>>5555062
>”Now, shall we talk about this like civilised people?”

>>5555062
>”Now, shall we talk about this like civilised people?”
No one wants to get shown up so lets continue finding out what people are good at

>>5555171
Support

yaaaaaaaaaas

slowerald

test

>>5555062
>”Now, shall we talk about this like civilised people?”

>>5555062
>”Now, shall we talk about this like civilised people?”
Enough with the dick swinging. Introductions to the tools we're going to be using, and what their functions are.

>>5555062
>”Now, shall we talk about this like civilised people?”

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>>5555062
“Now then. The rest of ya wanna talk about this like civilized people?” You ask, smiling at the other gathered shinigami. To her credit, Momiji almost says something, but a stern look from Toyohisa stops her.

Instead, she sighs, before grunting out. “I’m a kido specialist. But you already knew that, didn’t you?”

“I did.” You confirm, your eyes instead flicking over to Toyohisa. “What about ya, Inamaru-san?”

The older man nods, before answering “I would say my skillset is rather well rounded. I wouldn’t call myself a specialist in any particular area, though I suppose like most shinigami, I find myself favouring my sword in most situations.”

“Sure, sure.” You nod, before flicking over to Urushima. “Yukiko-chan?”

“Um… I’m not really that good at anything, but… if I had to bet on myself, I’d bet on my zanjutsu.”

“About what ya said before. And finally…?” Anamatsu nodded, before answering herself.

“I’d say I lean towards kido and zanjutsu. On the kido side though, I’m better with bakudo and kaido though - my hado skills are a bit lacking.”

That was a pleasant surprise. “Well, glad we have some sort of healer with us. Good ta have ya.” You respond with a smirk. “Alright. We move as soon as Sakaki gets up. Understood?” You receive nods and words of assent from everyone but the man still laid out on the ground from your punch, and you smirk.

You…
>Devise your general plan of action (write-in)

>>5555600
>Kido users around us, zanjutsu mains on the outside, we are in the middle.
If we get jumped use bakudo and have either the zanjutsu users cut em down or blast them with hado with the rest of the kido users. Prioritize protecting the healer

If we get split, we go solo and the rest fights for their group, that way we can use more power

>>5555600
In terms of plan
>go on regular scheduled patrol route and sense for anything off.

>heal the knocked out guy and get moving

I do not know, i suck at plans. I'll just go with what other anons think.

>>5555610
>>5555615
>>5555676
I'm thinking we should stay in a T-formation with Momiji and Anamatsu in the middle; Sakaki, Inamaru and Yukiko in the front; and us as rearguard.

RIght, doesn't seem like much else is coming so
>Vote 1 for >>5555615
>Vote 2 for >>5555684

>>5556234
Vote 1 i guess? Formations are kinda meaningless in bleach style combat.

>>5555684
I like this. What they don't know is how good our hoho is. We can command from the rear and jump in quickly.
>>5556236
Only for story bullshit. The foundation was good. Soul society is the only part that actually makes any sort of sense.

>>5556234
1

>>5556234
1

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>>5555600
“Kikyo-chan.”

“Yes, Danketsu-kun?” Anamatsu responds friendily, smiling at you, causing you to give her a smirk back.

“Mind healing up Sakaki? I know he’s playin’ it up a little, but the sooner we get movin’, the sooner we’re done, y’know?”

“Of course I can! Leave it to me.” She says cheerily, laying her hands on the man and going about healing the superficial wounds your short ‘fight’ had caused.

“Right, while she’s doin’ that…” You murmur, running your hand through your hair as you look at the rest of your mismatched squad. For the supposed division of everyman and generalists, the people Hirako-taicho’s given me are pretty skewed. All of them favour kido or zanjutsu… Not a single mention of hoho or hakuda. Though I suppose that’s the case with the majority of shinigami, so…

“Our squad seems pretty skewed towards kido and zanjutsu, but that’s not an issue. I’d been hopin’ for somethin’ a bit more well rounded, but… We can make this work. Could just move as a large group, or we could split up into a couple of smaller squads, which might make movin’ easier.”

“In what way were you thinking of splitting us?” Toyohisa asked, to you seeming not like he was questioning the idea, but more out of curiosity to see how your mind worked.

“Either with a vanguard of you guys with more of a zanjutsu focus - you’d lead, Inamaru-san. with Yukiko-chan and Sakaki with you, and then Momiji, Kikyo-chan and I forming a kido battery behind you. Or we could have two more balanced squads - again, you’d lead one and I the other. Would probably be myself and Yukiko-chan and you and Sakaki, then Kikyo-chan and Momiji can slot into either one, depending on if you’d want either kaido or more raw firepower.”

Toyohisa nodded. “Both seem like excellent ways to proceed. I personally would prefer the second option - both squads should be relatively independent, so we should be able to cover more ground.”

“Yeah, true. But having a vanguard and a battery will be more effective if we run into something unexpected and need to really fight.” You counter, to which the man nods again, conceding the point.

“All done!” Anamatsu calls out, as you see Sakaki stir.

You…
>Choose to move as a six, in an unstructured manner
>Choose to move as a vanguard and a battery
>Choose to move as two independent squads
Whichever you pick, roll me d100, taking the second roll.

>>5556593
>Choose to move as a vanguard and a battery
I don't really trust these people to be independent and we have 0 intel

>>5556610
forgot to roll
roll+1d100

Rolled 82 (1d100)

>>5556610

>>5556615
This is pretty good, i agree with this

Rolled 44 (1d100)

>>5556593
>Choose to move as a vanguard and a battery
watch this 1

>>5556619
Shame, I was hoping for something over 80. Ah well.

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>>5556593
In most cases, you’d agree with Toyohisa, and move independently. However… You looked over the squad again, considering the possibilities. If you were to put Momiji with Toyohisa, you would have to trust the older man to keep a handle on them and their overinflated egos, and to listen to your overarching orders.

You didn’t necessarily trust that he could do that. Meanwhile, if you gave him Anamatsu, while he would likely have no issues then, you’d need to deal with Momiji yourself, and while you might have a leash on her, you’d prefer not to have to constantly deal with her trying to butt heads with you, not without Toyohisa there as a second word in your corner to calm her down.

“We’ll go with the first option. Inamaru-san, lead the way with Yukiko-chan and Sakaki. Momiji, Kikyo-chan, we’ll follow and support. Everyone got that?”

Inamaru and Urushima nod, while Anamatsu gives you a smile with a good “Aye aye, sir!” Momiji doesn’t say anything, while Sakaki scoffs and looks away, but doesn’t otherwise complain. The six of you set off immediately afterwards, rushing to Northern Rukongai District 44.

You keep your senses aware during the journey, but otherwise you…
>Keep quiet to ensure everyone keeps focused
>Get to know Anamatsu, considering she seems quite friendly
>Have some fun and see how much you can piss off Momiji (write-in appreciated for how)

>>5556678
>Keep quiet to ensure everyone keeps focused
I mean...this is probably not jsut a normal patrol.

>>5556678
>Get to know Anamatsu, considering she seems quite friendly

>>5556678
>Keep quiet to ensure everyone keeps focused
Try to keep a clear head and boost spirit detection

>>5556678
>Keep quiet to ensure everyone keeps focused

>>5556678
Focus

>>5556678
>Keep quiet to ensure everyone keeps focused

>>5556678
>>Keep quiet to ensure everyone keeps focused

Phoneposting here - sorry for the delay, have had to move my stuff out of my old flat in the past couple of days. Will have an update out within the next few hours.

>>5559483
Hey QM,

Just wanna say I read your work over the weekend, and I hope that your quest continues to be successful and that I've enjoyed it. Good luck going forward.

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>>5556678
You decide, despite yourself, that now probably isn’t the best time for games, even if only to keep up appearances to everyone else that you were actually taking this seriously. Which isn’t to say that you weren’t - on the contrary, you very much were, it was just that the things you were focused on encompassed more than the simple mission itself - you’d proven you could take care of a few hollows a year ago, in the Academy, so the prospect of the patrol was nothing to you.

No, what you were focused on was why you were even here in the first place - the nagging feeling that Hirako-taicho had done this for a reason, and it hadn’t just been to test your leadership skills. He had an ulterior motive, he always did - because after all, were you in his shoes, you would have one too. But for the life of you, you just couldn’t figure out what it was. Perhaps that was due to lack of information, but perhaps, you feared, perhaps it may just be that Hirako-taicho was just thinking that far beyond you you couldn’t even hope to catch him.

Despite yourself, you hope that is the case. The prospect sounded exciting.

But you, like most of the time, are getting ahead of yourself. Regardless of why, you were here now, and so as you touched down in Northern Rukongai District 44, you…
>Split the squad up to go patrol (how/who did you split up?)
>Patrolled together
>Sent someone to scout (who?)
>Scouted yourself
>Write-in?

>>5559534
Thanks for the wellwishes. I'm glad you enjoyed it, and hope you keep doing so!

>>5559638
>Patrolled together

>>5559638
>Patrolled together

>>5559638
>Patrolled together
Part babysitting, part paranoia that this follows horror movie logic and the isolated ones get picked off by unknown entity

>>5559638
>Patrolled together

>>5559638
>Patrolled together

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>>5559638
You still don’t think you can trust the rest of the squad to properly operate without direct supervision, and so before you even say anything you’re sure that you’ll have to keep the squad together. You look around, as you wait for the rest of them to catch up. Toyohisa and Momiji are right behind you, with Anamatsu also not far.

However, Sakaki and Urushima were a different story. Sakaki managed to barely keep up, though he was completely out of breath as he finished his shunpo, gasping for air as he hunched over. Urushima was even worse - she was in a similar state without even being able to keep up. You sighed, the obvious slow-down annoying you, but there wasn’t really much you could do about it at this stage.

“Kikyo-chan, would ya be able ta use your kaido ta make sure Sakaki and Yukiko-chan are in fightin’ shape?” You ask, looking at the locals that were murmuring as you appeared before them.

“Yep! Though all told, I’ll probably only have half my tank left after that.” Anamatsu chirps.

“Not a problem, as long as ya’ve got enough left in ya to heal any injuries we might get. Can ya do it while we keep movin’?”

“Aye aye, sir!” Anamatsu replies, playfully saluting as she did, causing you to smirk.

“Alright, let’s go!” You say, the squad moving again, albeit at a much slower pace than before to allow Anamatsu to heal and the stragglers to keep up.

You…
>Speak to the locals and see if there’s been anything strange happening
>Use your senses to find out if something’s off
>Other (write-in)

>>5560021
>Use your senses to find out if something’s off

>>5560021
>Use your senses to find out if something’s off
Do we know how to do the spirit rubbon thing?

>>5560021
>Use your senses to find out if something’s off

>>5560021
>Use your senses to find out if something’s off

>>5560021
>Speak to the locals and see if there’s been anything strange happening

File: Reiraku.jpg (245 KB, 713x591)

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>>5560021
You knew how to do this in theory, but had never actually attempted it. Still, it was the most effective way to do what you were looking for, so… You took a deep breath, as the rest of your squad looked around the area, and closed your eyes, the rest of the world fading from your senses as you honed your sixth to its sharpest point. Despite not having your eyes open, you could ‘see’ the reiraku appear as you did so, first seeing the five red coils representing your shinigami squad members, those flanked and surrounded by countless white ones.

Those were what you were looking for - a white reiraku that was nonetheless different from the rest. That would tell you where to look.

>Roll 3d10, dc hidden

Rolled 4, 1, 3 = 8 (3d10)

>>5560509

Rolled 8, 3, 4 = 15 (3d10)

>>5560509
alrighty then

Rolled 9, 3, 7 = 19 (3d10)

>>5560509

Rolled 7, 1, 4 = 12 (3d10)

>>5560509

File: IMG_3313.jpg (293 KB, 927x1020)

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>>5560509
“Hm.” Your eyes open slowly, and the din of the Rukongai fills your ears again as your more regular senses take back over. You’d used the reiraku so fast the others hadn’t even seemed to notice, but it wasn’t like that really mattered. “Inamaru-san.”

“Yes, Hokkyokusei-san? What is it?” The old man asks, quickly coming to your side as you called for him.

You scratch at your chin, actually genuinely asking the man a question you didn’t already know the answer to. Well, at least not the answer that was sure to be correct. “I’ve just tried ta sense for anythin’ out of tha ordinary, but I’ve come up with diddly-squat. Am I missin’ somethin’?”

“Perhaps, depending on how keen your senses are. But I suspect that one of your talent would be able to feel anything there is to feel here. It may simply be that there is nothing out of the ordinary to sense. You must remember - patrols like this are routine. Even a hollow sighting on one is rare, let alone a skirmish, or anything more major than that.”

“Hm.” You murmur again, nodding. True, he had a very good point - you were assuming that there simply must be more to this, but that wasn’t necessarily the case, was it? All the weirdness about the mission before it began had made you think that way, but there’s also very much an argument that that had been more coincidental than anything else. “I dunno.”

You…
>Decide to ask the locals anyway
>Ask the others if they’ve seen anything odd
>Take Toyohisa’s words to heart and move on
>Other (write-in)

>>5560538
>Decide to ask the locals anyway
>Ask the others if they’ve seen anything odd

Can hollows hide their presence and ambush us or pretend to be rukongai people?

>>5560538
>Decide to ask the locals anyway
>Ask the others if they’ve seen anything odd
I really doubt this is just a standard patrol.

>>5560538
>Decide to ask the locals anyway

>>5560538
>>Decide to ask the locals anyway

>>5560538
>Ask the others if they’ve seen anything odd

>>5560550
I'm actually starting to think the patrol is just an excuse to keep us busy and distracted. Think about it we're sent quite a distance away and given control over either troublemakers or mediocre shinigami

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>>5560538
You decide there isn’t anything for it. Clearly, sensing alone wasn’t enough to figure out what it was you were surely missing, so there was no other choice but to ask the locals. You fear that that will just complicate things or waste time, but you didn’t have much choice. “Alright, then… you.” You point out an older looking man from the gathering crowd, who looks around before pointing back at himself in confusion. “Yeah, I’m talkin’ ta ya.” You confirm, before he steps forward.

You look up at the man, he being a couple of heads taller than you. “We’re here on behalf of the 5th Division of the Gotei 13, performin’ a routine patrol. Was wonderin’ if ya’d or anyone’d seen anythin’ out of the ordinary recently that ya’d want us ta take a look at.”

The man seems confused, shaking his head after a moment. “No… Nothing really. ‘S far as I know, everything here’s been pretty normal. Nothing weird.”

“Hm.” You murmur again, before turning to address the rest of the Rukongai residents around. “What about the rest of ya? Anyone seen anythin’?” All you received was a collective shake of their heads, causing you to scowl a little, before behind you, Toyohisa cleared his throat.

“Hokkyo-”

“Yeah, yeah, I know, routine and all that.” You interrupted him, waving your hand to get his attention. “I know there’s probably nothin’. There’s just… a feelin’ that I have, that somethin’s off. That we’re missin’ somethin’.”

You…
>Go along with your hunch (how?)
>Decide to move on for now

>>5560985
>Go along with your hunch (how?)
Give em some cash and telk them to report anything to shinigami outposts

Gotta increase our rep to make this easier next time

>>5560985
>Go along with your hunch
>>5561004
I've got nothing better in mind, so I'll second this

>>5560985
>Go along with your hunch (how?)
What >>5561004 said. We can save the threats and intimidation for later.

>>5561004
+1 i suppose

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>>5560985
You turn to the crowd, scanning them before smiling widely. “You!” You call out, pointing to a street vendor, before walking over to him and pulling out your wallet, taking out a fistful of cash that made his eyes bulge. You handed it to him, shouting “Feed everyone here who’s hungry, on me!”

“And in return, I just want one thing from ya all,” You add, before the inevitable flurry of people rush to swarm you and the vendor. “Just make sure ya let us shinigami folk know whenever ya see anythin’ weird, alright?”

“Why did you do that?” The words came out of the blue a bit later, once you and the squad were farther away, having moved on from that section of the district. You turned, seeing Momiji looking at you, a strange expression on her face. You simply shrugged, facing forward again.

“Ya got a problem with it?”

“No, but-”

“Then mind ya business. Ya never know - there might’ve been a kid goin’ hungry in that neighbourhood, and that one little act I just did might’ve inspired him to one day become a comrade of ours. And even if that’s not the case, I ain’t gonna have ya questionin’ it anyway. Do I need a reason ta do somethin’ kind?”

Momiji squirmed, but seemed to take that, moving away from you. “Well, I personally think that was a wonderful thing to do.” Anamatsu piped up, causing you to grin back at her.

“Well thank you, Kikyo-chan! See, Momiji, she gets it? Why can’t ya be like her?” The other girl groaned, rolling her eyes as you kept moving, slower than you had initially set off so as to not ruin Sakaki and Urushima again.

You…
>Went easy, feeling like whatever hunch you had would come to you and only patrolled lightly
>Went through everything with a fine-toothed comb, being sure to check everything for anything out of order

>>5561580
>>Went easy, feeling like whatever hunch you had would come to you and only patrolled lightly

>>5561580
>>Went easy, feeling like whatever hunch you had would come to you and only patrolled lightly

>>5561580
>Went easy, feeling like whatever hunch you had would come to you and only patrolled lightly

>>5561580
>Went easy, feeling like whatever hunch you had would come to you and only patrolled lightly
Be prepared but its hard to entrust a new squad with doing anything very well so try to work on communication in the meantime
Maybe handsigns?

>>5561580
>Went easy, feeling like whatever hunch you had would come to you and only patrolled lightly

>>5561580
You think that at this stage, there’s not much point following your gut. The rest of the squad had started to pick up on it, and that would cause more trouble than it’s worth. Instead, you would just complete the mission as you were meant to. If there was anything to notice, you’d probably come across it anyway.

You patrolled the district for a few more hours, until the light started to fade from the sky. You could’ve and would’ve gone longer, but you notice Sakaki and Urushima starting to lose stamina, and even Anamatsu was beginning to flag, so you decided to call it a day there. “I can… still-” Sakaki started, but you stopped him.

“I don’t wanna hear it, because ya can’t. If ya wanna exhaust yourself and wind up dead cos ya get attacked with no energy left, that’s yer choice, but I ain’t having ya do it under my watch. Mission’s over, we’re headin’ back.” You respond, causing Sakaki to glare at you. Whether that was because you were stopping him from ‘proving himself’ or something, or just because he hated you, you didn’t know or particularly care.

Still, you couldn’t shake the feeling that was bugging you, that there must be something more here. That was when you…

>Roll 1d20, taking the lowest roll.

>>5562056

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>5562056

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>5562056
Lowest roll? Watch this 1.

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>5562056

>>5562206
fun times ahead.

>>5562056
…suddenly felt the approach of a group of hollows. From what it looked like, it was only 5 of them, less than one for each member of your squad. Nothing to worry about, although… really, only you, Momiji and Toyohisa were in fighting shape at this stage. It seemed like no one else on the squad had noticed yet, so you
>Quietly split off to deal with them yourself
>Let them come to you

Sorry for the short update and delay, I'm away from my pc until Sunday. Will see what I can get out tomorrow but can't promise too much.

>>5563947
All good, take your time

>>5552267
I hate this little nigga's face like you wouldn't believe

>>5563946
>Let them come to you
Warn the squad but try to take out most of them. They need some patrol experience and we need to see if they can actually handle hollows without casualty

>>5563946
>Let them come to you

>>5563946
>Let them come to you
And warn the rest of the squad. We, Momiji and Toyohisa can turn the ambush around on them and give the others time to recover.

>>5563946
>Let them come to you

>>5564056
I bet he gets that a lot
>>5563946
>Let them come to you
we gotta see what our tools can do

>>5564909
That is what I was going for, yes.
Sorry for delay again - update within the next hour.

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>>5563946
You decide to let them come. You’re certain you could handle all of them yourself, but… If you didn’t have to, what was the point? “Inamaru-san, Momiji, shape up. Hollows on the way, 5 of ‘em.”

While Toyohisa seems somewhat alarmed, Momiji scoffs incredulously. “Stop making shit up. I’m the most in tune with my reiatsu here, so naturally I sense the best. There’s no way you… What?” She trails off, her head flicking over to where you sensed the hollows coming from, before looking back over at you, even more shocked. “How did-“

“Trade secret. Regardless, not tha time.” You mutter, motioning for everyone to follow as you flash-step to a more open location, a rooftop where you would actually have space to fight. Were you by yourself, you’d have done the opposite, and fought in an alley or an otherwise cramped area where the lumbering hollows wouldn’t be able to move properly, but you didn’t think the others would be effective enough for that tactic to be useful, nor did you want the inevitable property damage that would cause attributes to your leadership.

“Kikyo-chan, Yukiko-chan, Sakaki. Can ya fight?” You ask, needing to know if you could just focus on yourself, or also needed to play babysitter. Anamatsu and Urushima nodded, and Sakaki let out a grunt of affirmation, and you didn’t believe any of them, except maybe Anamatsu. Urushima and Sakaki might be able to hold their swords, but they were definitely spent.

You had no time think about it now though, not at least while you weren’t fighting. You flared your reiatsu, getting the attention of the hollows who began to beeline for you, screeching like banshees.

You…
>Trusted everyone to handle themselves and fought how you usually did, using kido and shunpo to harass the enemy
>Decided to focus specifically on team tactics, in an attempt to bring out everyone’s use
>Focused on protecting someone (who?) planting yourself in front of them and choosing to rely on zanjutsu and physical strength

>>5567472
>Decided to focus specifically on team tactics, in an attempt to bring out everyone’s use

Focus on counter attacking and preventing casualties
Will also allow us to actually see how they fight under actual threat

>>5567472
>>Decided to focus specifically on team tactics, in an attempt to bring out everyone’s use

>>5567472
>Decided to focus specifically on team tactics, in an attempt to bring out everyone’s use

>>5567472
>Decided to focus specifically on team tactics, in an attempt to bring out everyone’s use
Like said, my guess is that our wide-grinning buddy wants us to show our powerlevel so we start to actually put an effort in.

Obvious consensus. Update will be in the next few hours, but before that, roll me 3d10, dc 18, crit 25.

Rolled 8, 6, 3 = 17 (3d10)

>>5567793

Rolled 9, 9, 5 = 23 (3d10)

>>5567793

Rolled 7, 9, 3 = 19 (3d10)

>>5567793

>>5567798
Almost a crit, impressive. Update in 45 minutes or so.

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>>5567472
Team tactics are the way to go, you think. Fighting as you usually did would likely just end up with one of the weaklings being unsupported and dying, and that wouldn’t exactly reflect well on you for your first outing as a leader. “Yukiko-chan, with me! Inamaru-san, Kikyo-chan, you two stick together, and Sakaki and Momiji, you stay close as well! Focus on one between the two of you!”

The plan, while crude, vague and hasty, was still well-thought out. It placed each drained team member with one who was still in a state to fight, and each duo had one member who fought primarily through zanjutsu, and one with kido to support them. If nothing else, you trust Momiji and Toyohisa are strong enough to not die to enemies like these, and that they could do a decent job of protecting the others.

You didn’t have time to think about anything else, even as everyone shouts in affirmation and split into the duos you’d assigned, as you block a bite from a screeching hollow using the full length of your blade. Behind you, you can feel Urushima tremble, and you know instantly that she’ll be useless - which is exactly why you placed her under yourself, the strongest person here.

You free Ryūkihei from the monster’s teeth, leaving a gash in its mask, before pointing a finger at one of its many legs and blasting a Byakurai at it. It hits, only damaging the leg and causing the hollow to stumble, but that’s what you wanted anyway, using shunpo to hop on its back, grab the top of its mask, and plunge your zanpakuto into it, killing it instantly.

“One down,” You mutter, Urushima looking at you in sheer awe at how fast and easily you took the thing down, even as another, smaller one squealed and leaped at you. “Geki!” You shout, drawing the sigils in the air as you do, instantly freezing the hollow in place. In that instant, you look around, seeing Toyohisa blocking off the largest hollow as Anamatsu supports with bakudo, while Momiji blasts the leg off of one, and Sakaki duels one solo, looking like he’s struggling, all the while Urushima continues shaking like a leaf.

You…
>Kill the hollow you’ve restrained
>Tell Urushima to do it

And then…
>Support Toyohisa
>Support Momiji

>>5567884
>Tell Urushima to do it

>Support Momij

>>5567884
>Tell Urushima to do it
>Support Toyohisa

>>5567884
>Tell Urushima to do it
>Support Toyohisa

>>5567884
>Tell Urushima to do it
>Support Toyohisa

>>5567884
>Tell Urushima to do it
>Support Toyohisa

Taking out the big hollow will free them up to help others

Alright, let's go. Roll me 3d10, same dc as before.

Rolled 6, 2, 10 = 18 (3d10)

>>5568076

Rolled 3, 6, 6 = 15 (3d10)

>>5568076

Rolled 5, 5, 10 = 20 (3d10)

>>5568076

File: B13E93CA-5291-4ED5-A28C-1(...).jpg (1.3 MB, 3286x2184)

1.3 MB JPG

>>5567884
“Yukiko-chan, do it!” You call out, having already decided on what to do next.

“M-Me? But I-“

“Just do it!” You shout, dashing off towards Toyohisa, being able to feel your binding spell and sure that it would last long enough for either Urushima to get over her pathetic self or for you to deal with this and come back and end things yourself.

You see the massive hollow rearing back with a giant fist, about to attack Toyohisa, the man himself looking rather trepidatious about it. Anamatsu was trying to bind it using the same spell you had, Geki, but it was clear that she wouldn’t be able to finish in time. Were you to use your real speed, you would be able to end this instantly, but you were still keeping a lid on things, and so chose a different approach.

“Hainawa!” You cry out, a weak rope of kido leaping from your outstretched fingers and wrapping around the large hollow, stopping it from its big attack momentarily. It gives you just enough time to reach it with your restrained shunpo, transitioning directly from it to an attack and spinning like a buzzsaw with Ryūkihei. You slice right through the thing’s arm, and moments after, Anamatsu finishes her incantation for Geki, your two binds immobilising the creature completely. Freed from having to defend, Toyohisa lets out a roar, and finishes the hollow off with a kendo swing.

You hear a grunt of pain behind you, and swivel around, seeing Sakaki clutching his bleeding arm as Momiji finished off the one she’d been fighting. You begin to rush over, but stop in surprise as the hollow he’s fighting squeals and stumbles, its leg injured by Urushima attacking from behind. You realise that it’s the last one left, and as you do, Sakaki slashes through its mask. “Fuck you,” he grunts out through gritted teeth.

You…
>Make sure Sakaki is alright first
>Secure the area and ensure there aren’t more on the way
>Prioritise getting back to the Division, you don’t trust that this group could handle another attack

>>5568592
>Make sure Sakaki is alright first
>Secure the area and ensure there aren’t more on the way
Get the healer to heal while you try to detect enemies and secure a safe path home
Number one priority is safety over glory
These incompetents are liable to get someone killed

>>5568592
>Make sure Sakaki is alright first
>Secure the area and ensure there aren’t more on the way

>>5568592
>Make sure Sakaki is alright first

>>5568592
>Secure the area and ensure there aren’t more on the way

>>5568592
You let out a sigh of feigned relief, as most of the party begin to relax, only you and Toyohisa staying alert as the threat seems to be over. [i]Amateurs,[/i] you think to yourself, as you turn to whip the sorry sight back into shape. “Kikyo-chan, see to Sakaki and make sure he’s alright! Yukiko-chan, Momiji, stay vigilant and make sure nothin’ else comes for ‘em while Kikyo-chan is occupied! Imamaru-san, yer with me. Let’s make sure everythin’s clear!”

You didn’t let them argue, knowing Toyohisa would follow orders, and he was the important one here. You flash step away, but not before taking the briefest instant as you pass by Urushima to whisper into her ear. “Oh, and… Nice work.”

You and Toyohisa take a few minutes checking out the area to make sure there weren’t more hollows or damage you didn’t know about, ensuring all the locals were calm and uninjured as you did. Toyohisa didn’t say anything to you except when an order required an answer, yet the whole time you could feel a silent sense of approval from him as you deal with everything. It seemed your leadership had impressed someone, at least.

You return to the rooftop, to find a tired, but happy looking Anamatsu sat next to an irritated Sakaki with a bandaged arm. Behind them, Momiji stood with her arms crossed, while Urushima looked away, clutching at one arm. “All good?” You ask, receiving nods in return, causing you to follow suit. “Good. Let’s head back.”

———

You get back to the Division as soon as you can, considering the tired state most of the squad is in. By the time you return, even Toyohisa seems a little winded, though you and Momiji are still pretty much at 100%. The moment you’re through the Fifth Division gates, you…
>Head straight to Hirako-taicho for a debrief
>Congratulate the squad on a job well done
>Split off to do your own thing, you’re bored

>>5569072
>Congratulate the squad on a job well done

>>5569072
>Congratulate the squad on a job well done

>>5569072
>Head straight to Hirako-taicho for a debrief
>Congratulate the squad on a job well done
We have been kinda slacking in our professional reputation

>>5569072
>Head straight to Hirako-taicho for a debrief
>Congratulate the squad on a job well done

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>>5569072
You turn to the rest of the of squad, clapping your hands with a smirk. “An’ that’s that, ya don’ hafta look at my ugly mug anymore, or listen ta what I say. Good work, all of ya.” You say, turning back around and beginning to walk away. “I need ta go and report to the captain, so-”

“Hey, not so fast, bastard!” Momiji called out to you as you tried to slip out quickly. You sighed, having hoped to avoid this, but you supposed you had no choice.

“Mm? What is it, my sweet Momiji-chan?” You ask, swiveling around again as you do with a saccharine grin on your face. The disgust on her face from that comment alone made almost all of what had brought you to this point and the inevitable aftermath worth it.

“Never call me that again, you freak. Anyway… aren’t you forgetting something?”

“Hmm? And whatever could tha’ be?”

“Don’t play dumb, you idiot. You remember, right? The message!” She continues, exasperated, while Toyohisa looks between the two of you, seemingly amused.

“Ah, the message! From… ah, who was it again?”

“Fro- Aizen-fukutaicho, obviously!”

“Oh! That message!” You exclaim, clasping your hand to your face in seeming embarrassment. “Aizen’s message, the message from Aizen. That message.” You nod to yourself, seemingly trying to recall what it was. “Yeah, well, see-” You shunpo away faster than any of them can follow, heading straight to Hirako-taicho. Her reaction whenever she next saw you would be worth it.

—--------

“So it went well?” Hirako-taicho asks as you step into his office, to which you shrug, falling into a comfortable, plush looking fabric seat, the man having his back to you as he paints the wall behind his desk a different colour to everything else in the room.

“Naturally.” You mutter, smirking, causing the man to turn around, grinning himself.

“Well? Go on then, I’m about to die from boredom.” He quips, dropping the paint brush on the floor, no doubt for Aizen to clean later.

You smirk, and tell him…
>Every minute detail, hoping to weasel out what his true intentions were sending you on the mission
>A standard debrief, telling him everything critical
>Only tell him the highlights, the parts you and he would find interesting

>>5569629
>Only tell him the highlights, the parts you and he would find interesting

>>5569629
>Only tell him the highlights, the parts you and he would find interesting
Bro we need some reforms

>>5569629
>Only tell him the highlights, the parts you and he would find interesting
>So is there like a reason we have so many people unable to hold there own in our unit? Or am I missing something about the greater whole of the goti 13?

>>5569629
>Only tell him the highlights, the parts you and he would find interesting

>>5569629
>Only tell him the highlights, the parts you and he would find interesting

>>5569629
>Only tell him the highlights, the parts you and he would find interesting

>>5569629
>Only tell him the highlights, the parts you and he would find interesting
>So is there like a reason we have so many people unable to hold there own in our unit? Or am I missing something about the greater whole of the goti 13?

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>>5569629
“I mean, there wasn’t much interestin’ that happened. Other than bein’ disappointed with everyone’s stamina aside from Momiji, and general skills aside from her and Toyohisa, it was pretty standard. Ran into a group of hollows on the way back, but handled them fine, with only Sakaki gettin’ a minor injury, and no one in the Rukongai got hurt.”

“So pretty normal, huh?” Hirako-taicho asks, sitting down at his desk and grinning at you.

“Pretty normal, yeah.” Was that him asking if you’d figured out why he’d even sent you? Likely it was, but honestly, you still didn’t know. “While we’re on the topic, got a question - is there a reason we’ve got so many people who can’t hold their own in the Division? I mean granted, they were tired, but the squad was strugglin’ to fight a group of five hollows. I handled a group larger than that in the Academy, with less people and no injuries. Am I missin’ somethin’ here?”

Hirako-taicho’s grin grew even wider, if that were possible, as he answers you. “You are missin’ something, yeah. You are right that probably a majority of shinigami are weaker than you, but it’s not that they can’t hold their own - most shinigami are only trained and capable of taking on one hollow in single combat. When it comes to more than that, that’s when it comes ta that person being stronger than the average. The thing yer missing isn’t the difference in strength yer seeing - it’s that [i]yer[/i] the outlier, not them.”

You blink. It wasn’t like anything he had said was a revelation to you - it was obvious you were different to the average. It just seemed that you’d misjudged how different you were, even suppressed as you were. “Right, I getcha.” You say, deep in thought.

“But anyway, enough of that. Was there anyfin else ya wanna say?” A loaded question, if you’d ever heard one. He couldn’t be more direct if he’d tried

You nod. “Yeah, just…”
>Tell him the reason why he sent you on the mission (write-in)

>>5571278
>Tell him the reason why he sent you on the mission (write-in)
This is completely unacceptable
Everyone here acts like they're better than rukongai people but they are barely above them and act like they tower above them
We are nothing more than status obsessed retards with only a few members holding up the entire organization
Is there a reason why the society is the way it is now?

>>5571278
I guess he probably wanted to see how we would handle leading a team with a bunch of people who are way, way, WAY weaker than us?

Because that'd be something we'd have to do, right? We're an 'prodigy', so we have to deal with stuff like this.

>>5571278
>Tell him the reason why he sent you on the mission (write-in)
One: to show Danketsu how far ahead of the curve he is.
Two: to teach Danketsu how to manage weaker subordinates, since shinigami almost always have to work in teams.
Three: to see how Danketsu handles insubordination in a team.
Four: to quell doubts among the squad as to Danketsu's competence. Having him finish a successful mission above his station would prove that he was a good choice.

>>5571278
>>Tell him the reason why he sent you on the mission (write-in)
You must have been real bored captain, next time you can just ask to Play go or something instead

>>5571278
>>5571359 +1
That or you wanted to keep me busy somewhere far away

>>5571345
>>5571359
I support this answer.

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>>5571278
“I think I get it. Why ya sent me out in the first place. It was ta show me what you just talked about, right? And how ta deal with a squad that might not wanna listen, and might not be up to my standard of strength. Is that it? Ya wanted me to learn how ta deal with normal people, cos we always work in squads, and I’m used to… Not so normal teammates. Is that right?”

Hirako-taicho looks at you, raising an eyebrow. “Is that it?”

You sense that there must be something more he wanted, so you decide to let loose and just let your mind speak and say what you would think he wanted to hear. “Well, if that is why, then I think the whole society we got now is fuckin’ stupid. All everyone here cares about is provin’ that they’re better than someone else, and how much better than them they are. It’s all they fuckin’ talk about - the shinigami think they’re better than those in the Rukongai, the nobility think themselves above the shinigami, and anyone seated thinks anyone seated lower is beneath them. I understand tha concept of hierarchy, and its necessity, but that don’t mean we have to be a bunch of status-obsessed retards. it’s ridiculous.”

Hirako-taicho continues to stare, not saying anything for a good five seconds. You almost say something else, but he cuts you off as he begins laughing his ass off. You blink in surprise. “Uh…”

“Hahaha, I knew it! Damn, you really were goin’ fer it!” Hirako-taicho laughs, before calming down a tad, wiping a tear out of his eye, and giving you a look filled with mirth. “Well, sorry ta disappoint you kid, but… there wasn’t any reason I sent ya out.”

Silence fills the room for a moment. “...What?”

“Yeah, I didn’t have a reason. Just thought it would be funny. Made everything about it weird because I knew you’d think there was a reason for it, and spend the whole time overthinking it. Wanted to see what bullshit reason you’d come up with.”

“You..” He’d… “You bastard, you tricked me!” Despite the accusatory words, you couldn’t help but laugh along with him, in disbelief that he’d read your actions so easily, yet again reaffirming your decision to join his squad as you sank deeper into your seat.

“See? Ya still can’t keep up with me. Gotta keep ya on your toes, before ya get boring on me. …Though, not like what you said is totally wrong either. This was a good experience, and all. Question is, do ya actually believe what ya said?”

Well, do you?
>Yes
>No

>>5575879
>Yes
We need shinigami reform
This level of unprofessional military standards is just going to get people killed

>>5575879
>>No

>>5575879
>Yes
I feel like we should have something to actually work for, i'm kind of tired of the whole 'just go around acting smug and doing nothing while monologuing about how everyone sucks'

>>5575879
>Yes

>>5575879
>>Yes
Time to become the strongest just so we can fix society route

>>5575885
>>5575890
>>5575895
>>5575912
>>5576012
Yes it is. Maybe you're getting just a bit closer to Danketsu's 'want'. Update coming shortly.

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>>5575879
“Well, yeah. Why would I say it if I didn’t? Ain’t no point lying to you of all people - ya can see right through me, clearly.” The fact that you actually, truly meant that surprised you to no end, and yet at the same time wasn’t shocking whatsoever. The fact that two paradoxical and opposite feelings could exist within you at once should make no sense, and probably wouldn’t to anyone else should you try to explain it, but to you, it was a normal part of your existence.

“Really now? And are ya gonna do anyfin about it?” Hirako-taicho asks, resting his chin on his nestled hands.

You shrug. “Well, someone probably has to. If no one else does it, maybe I’ll get round to it at some point.

“That so?” Hirako-taicho’s grin grows wider still. “Maybe do it sooner rather than later. I wanna see what society would like when yer done with it.”

The two of you spoke for a while longer, before you bade your captain goodnight, and returned to the barracks to an awaiting Tsukuya. You woke the next morning, early as always, finding that by the time you had, Hirako-taicho had already promoted you to 9th Seat.

– – –

The year is 1870. You are Hokkyokusei Danketsu, and you are currently enjoying a day off. Your brothers had been bugging you to show them ‘cool shinigami tricks’, so you’d taken them off your father’s hands for the day under the pretense of showing them some of the Rukongai. All of you knew what you were really doing, of course, but your father was much too proud to ever accept you simply training them, implying you could do a better job than him.

Tsukuya had insisted on coming along, mostly due to the fact she’d only met Ichimi and Konban a couple of times. It was a fight you’d lose, and not one that you particularly cared about or that mattered either, so you relented, bringing her. It was good she was here, anyway - Konban clearly had a knack for hakuda, so she could help him in his training for that.

In the past few years, you’d actually had to take on responsibility, and so hadn’t had as much time to train as you may have liked. Still, that didn’t mean you’d spent no time training at all. You’d noticed a marked improvement in your…
>Zanjutsu
>Kido
>Hakuda
>Hoho

…and your body had grown stronger too, getting…
>Stronger
>Faster
>More durable

>>5576059
>Hoho
Gotta go fast

…and your body had grown stronger too, getting…
>More durable
Gotta get stamina at least to c

I'll leave the choice to the people who actually know about the power system, but damn if that isn't a big timeskip. Though i suppose it's not much for shinigamis relatively.

>>5576059
>hoho
let's get that Utsusemi or that senka

>>5576109
It looks big on paper, but bear in mind that canon begins in 2001, with the earliest flashback not directly addressing the history of the Soul Society and the Gotei 13 (i.e. TYBW flashbacks) taking place in 1891. There's a lot of ground to cover, so jumps like this will be relatively common until we start hitting those important dates.

>>5576059
>>Faster
>Hoho

>>5576103
>support

>>5576059
>Hoho
>Faster
Being a specialist is usually more interesting than trying to be an all-rounder.
Besides, I like the idea of a genius that can process and act on things in an instant. It's not enough to move fast, but to think fast as well.

As far as our ability to dish out the pain, well, faster things hit harder, you know how it goes. And going for durable is pretty inadvisable when there's so many abilities out there that punish you for getting hit even if you don't get damaged, or things that can outright bypass traditional defenses.

>>5576059
>Hoho
>Faster
At some point we should level up Kido as well so we can pick up higher-level lightning spells.
>>5576164
I'm thinking of a nasty trick with Utsusemi where the 'afterimage' is actually a lightning clone that blows up on the spot.

>>5576059
>Hoho
>More durable

>>5576059
>>Hoho
>>Faster

Updated Character Sheet and Social Links for the new arc here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wbLRytSQHkjLsjSimzZXU111bA6rDnBI4IjJ4C4BqIA/edit?usp=sharing

Update within the next couple of hours.

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>>5576059
You’d gotten even faster, both physically and in terms of your Hoho abilities taking another leap forward. You’d even learnt…

PICK ONE
>Senka
>Utsusemi

…in your training, giving you yet another advantage over those slower than you.

Still, now was far from the time, even as Ichimi talked your ear off about this, that, and the other, while Konban and Tsukuya chatted between the two of them as you wandered the streets, no particular destination in mind.

You were about to retort to what Ichimi had just said to you, before a spark lit in the back of your mind, your senses coming to life as beside you, Konban scratched at his black right eye, it really seeming to irritate him at the moment. You kept walking as if nothing had changed however, even as what caused your sixth sense to go off came into view - a boy and a girl, about the same age as your brothers. The boy had straight, silver hair, while the girl had short, golden locks and striking blue eyes. The spiritual energy coming off of the two of them was immense, at least compared to the rest of the Rukongai residents around, and even seemed to come close to matching your siblings own.

Still, you had no intention of making a fuss. They’d just be two to look out for when they entered the Academy.

Well, at least until your brothers caught sight of them.

Ichimi and the silver one caught eyes for the briefest instant, but that was all it took. You instantly recognised what had happened between the two, as you realised you’d gone through much the same experience five years ago, the first time you’d looked into Hirako-taicho’s eyes. The immediate grin they shared only reaffirmed that much the same was happening here.

Meanwhile, Konban and the golden one were staring at each other, each with their mouths slightly agape. For a moment, you thought it might be some kiddy love at first sight, but… Your brother wasn’t the type for that, none of you were. No, it was something different - not the same as what you and now Ichimi had experienced, but not much different from it either.

You blink, realising all of you had stopped dead in your tracks, while Tsukuya looked between all five of you, confused.

You…
>Snapped the boys out of it and hurried them along to training
>Spoke to the two Rukongai kids
>Distracted Tsukuya with something and took her away, letting the kids interact with each other without your influence
>Other (write-in)

>>5577387
>>Utsusemi
>Distracted Tsukuya with something and took her away, letting the kids interact with each other without your influence

>>5577387
>Utsusemi
As much as i like nothing personal kidding someone, this is cooler with lightning clones
>Distracted Tsukuya with something and took her away, letting the kids interact with each other without your influence
Tell her about it at a distance and observe

>>5577387
>Utsusemi
>Distracted Tsukuya with something and took her away, letting the kids interact with each other without your influence

>>5577404
>support

>>5576567
Yeah, I'm wondering if a double incantation of tsuzuri raiden and kyokko would do the trick, mixed with our hoho.
>>5576552
I agree. The other thing is that Ichigo is pretty much the plot armor Homer Simpson style fighter. There's so much too strong to this and that in bleach. Wasted potential because the system itself is cool.
>>5577387
>Utsusemi
Senka is underused, but we do have senamaioroshi for sword technique

>>5577387
>>Distracted Tsukuya with something and took her away, letting the kids interact with each other without your influence
This is going to get interesting once Gin figures out who Aizen is and what division he's in

>>5577387
>Utsusemi
>Distracted Tsukuya with something and took her away, letting the kids interact with each other without your influence

>>5577608
As a note on this, Aizen’s experiments on the Rukongai citizens in Turn Back The Pendulum can’t start till at least a handful of years before that arc takes place. Take from that what you will.

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>>5577387
You act quickly. “Wait, Tsukuya-chan! Have ya seen those? We should try some out!” You say, pointing to a random food stall in your field of view.

“What? But-“ She begins to exclaim, but you cut her off, grabbing her hand and practically dragging her away.

“I’ve heard they’re meant to be really good! Let’s get some for tha kiddos as well!”

— — —

You are Hokkyokusei Ichimi, and you barely notice your brother and future sister going off somewhere, intrigued as you are with this silver kid in front of you. He matches your foxy smirk with a snakelike grin.

“You-“

“You-“

You turn your heads, seeing that both of your companions had spoken at the same time and interrupted each other. Your brother scratched at his eye a bit more, while the girl scratched her wrist.

“Well… nice ta meetcha, but we’ve got somewhere ta be. Rangiku, let’s go.” The silver one says, the girl nodding, even while she and Konban keep staring at each other.

You…
>Stop them, wanting to find out more about them
>Ask for their names before they go
>Let them leave

>>5577971
>Ask for their names before they go

>>5577971
>Ask for their names before they go

>>5577971
>Stop them, wanting to find out more about them

>>5577971
>Ask for their names before they go

>>5577971
>Stop them, wanting to find out more about them

>>5577971
>Ask for their names before they go

>>5577971
>>Ask for their names before they go

>>5577971
“Wait a sec! You don’t have to leave that quick, hahaha! At least tell us what your names are if you’re gonna.” You say quickly, locking gazes with the silver kid in front of you again, the barest hint of blue being visible from his barely open eyes.

He takes a moment, before he grins, eyes shutting again like they seemed to normally, placing his hands behind his head as replies. “Sure, whatever. I’m Gin, and that’s Rangiku. Nice ta meetcha, like I said before.”

Your body language mirrors his as you grin back at him. “Cool. Nice to meet you, Gin. I’m Ichimi, and he’s my brother, Konban. The two that were with us before are our older brother, Danketsu and his girlfriend. They’re both shinigami.”

“Shinigami, huh? Guess that explains why I’ve never seen ya before, an’ why ya look so rich. Ya ain’t from here, huh?”

“Nope, hahaha! Just wanted to come see what it's like here.”

“Huh. I see.” Gin glances over to Rangiku, who is still staring at Konban, the two of them still not having attempted to talk since they interrupted each other before. All that was happening is that they would idly scratch every now and then - Konban his right eye, and Rangiku her left wrist.

“You okay, bro?” You ask, also looking over. The question almost seems to startle the two of them, both of them jumping a little before Konban looks over to you.

“Y-Yeah. I’m… fine.” He murmurs, before looking over at Rangiku, seeming sheepish, the girl looking embarrassed. “Nice to meet you, Rangiku.” He states quietly, causing the girl to look away.

“Y-Yeah, it’s… Pleasure meeting you, Konban.”

You and Gin glance at each other again, a silent question passing between you, before you both shrug, neither knowing what was going on with them. Not your problem anyway, you think. “Well, if you two gotta go, you gotta go hahaha! But I was wondering… You two-”

Gin interrupts you. “What, being a shinigami? Not really thought about it, but… I dunno. Might be fun. What-”

“In a few years. Probably in the next 20 or so. May-”

“Yeah, maybe. Sounds interestin’.” The two of you grin, while Konban and Rangiku look at each of you confused, unable to read your conversation as instinctively as you could. Regardless, that was that, and Gin and Rangiku chose to leave. You grinned as they went, looking forward to the time you would become a shinigami even more now.

SHINIGAMI SCHEMER #3 END

Sorry for the delay, but we'll leave this thread there. Archive is up and has been for a couple days. I've been in the process of moving for the past week or so so new thread will be up in the next couple days once that's all resolved. Thanks for playing, everyone!

>>5582707
Thanks for hosting. Have a good one Wormmy

>>5582707
Thanks for running Wormmy