Gotei 13

"Dying to slay evil, know that this is the spirit of the 13 Court Protection Divisions." - Yamamoto in Aizen, Volume 45, Chapter 393

 

Gotei 13
Image	Gotei13.jpg
Kanji	護廷十三隊
Romaji	Goteijūsantai
Organization
Founder(s)	Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto
Headquarters	Seireitei, Soul Society
Chef	Captain-Commander
Senior Members	Captains of Gotei 13
Other members	First Division, Second Division, Third Division, Fourth Division, Fifth Division, Sixth Division, Seventh Division, Eighth Division, Ninth Division, Tenth Division, Eleventh Division, Twelfth Division, Thirteenth Division
Affiliation	Soul Society; Royal Guard; Necromancer Corps; Onmitsukidō
Role	Defense/Soul Society offensive force

The 13 Divisions(護廷十三隊, Goteijūsantai) constitute the principal military force of the Soul Society, alongside the military organization that the majority of Shinigami join following their departure from the Academy.

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History

While the chronicles of Gotei 13 remain largely obscure as a whole, the organization received its foundation from Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, who has remained at the helm of the group since its establishment.

The inaugural generation of Gotei 13 comprised Yamamoto, Yachiru Unohana and 11 additional captains. Shunsui Kyōraku regards this generation as the most formidable incarnation of Gotei 13.

According to Yhwach, the early Gotei 13 constituted "defenders" in designation exclusively, comprising nothing beyond a collection of brutal killers, yet it was ultimately for this very reason that they represented a force to be feared. It was additionally because Yamamoto constituted a merciless leader who regarded even his subordinates as readily replaceable components. It is noted that Gotei 13 underwent dramatic transformation following the extermination of the Quincy, becoming more relaxed with the subsequent peace and ultimately discovering a sense of justice upon recognizing new things to protect and value.

Mission

The Gotei 13 constitutes a military force operating according to four principal responsibilities:

• Defense of the Seireitei, which represents the center of the Soul Society.
• the deployment of Division members in enemy territory for combat operations.
• the deployment of Special Forces as a defensive measure in the Human World.
• the conveyance of souls to the Soul Society.

Purpose of the Organization

In general, Gotei 13 does not function as a cohesive unit. Command of the divisions is frequently delegated to the discretion of their respective captains, who administer them in any manner they prefer, permitting a diversity of assets between divisions alongside the establishment of specialized institutions connected to them. The primary duty of Gotei 13 centers on defending the Seireitei, yet they additionally receive assignment to defend districts of the Rukongai. Beyond these duties, the Shinigami must administer their designated affairs in the Human World.

The sole general authority capable of prompting combined action originates from a decree of the House of 46, or more frequently through the Captain-Commander. It proves uncommon for Captains to encounter one another as a complete group for extended periods, unless a matter involving the entire Soul Society, the sanctioning of a Captain, or conversely, the promotion of a Captain is taking place. As a general principle, Captains are distributed throughout the Soul Society administering the affairs of their divisions, regardless of their nature. They are so dispersed that assembling the Captains as a group, or even their lieutenants, can typically require up to a day.

Unless personally directed by the Captain-Commander, Captains can determine whether or not to attend assemblies (at their individual risk) or to become involved in the day-to-day crises of the Soul Society. Captains are prohibited from conducting activities beyond their jurisdiction or division without authorization. The captain of a division may not sanction the officer of another captain.

Officially, the Necromancer Corps and the Onmitsukidō do not constitute part of Gotei 13, yet since Soi Fon functions as both captain of the 2nd Division and head of the Onmitsukidō, the Onmitsukidō now operates under Gotei 13's authority. Additionally, the captain of the Kidō Corps (of Necromancers) has been known to comply with the directives and summonses of the Captain-Commander of Gotei 13.

Operation

Structure

Gotei 13 comprises thirteen divisions, certain of which are specialized.

Gotei 13 operates under the Captain-Commander's leadership, who holds the statutory authority to administer all Gotei 13 affairs while deferring to the authority of the House of 46 when addressing Soul Society matters.

As with every military force, Gotei 13 maintains ranks. There exist 20 officer ranks, yet no ranks for non-officers. The lower the number, the higher the rank. Below are the ranks and their descriptions, from highest to lowest in strength. Gotei 13 constitutes an organization with a merit-based hierarchy. It has abandoned the rank system based on seniority, and capabilities constitute the sole aspects employed to determine one's rank.

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Council of Captains

The Captains convene in the principal hall of First Division Headquarters to deliberate on significant matters concerning their specific divisions and issues affecting the Soul Society. This council maintains considerable formality, with the Captain-Commander directing the proceedings. All Captains are regarded as equivalent (with the exception of the Captain-Commander), and determine exclusively the trajectory of their division, unless the Captain-Commander has stipulated otherwise. Votes are conducted by unanimous consensus.

• the Captain-Commander (総隊長, Sōtaichō; Captain General) constitutes the supreme authority of Gotei 13. The position requires him to supervise all operations of Gotei 13, the Onmitsukidō, and the Kidō Corps when the wellbeing of the Seireitei and Soul Society is endangered. The sole authority to which the Captain-Commander answers constitutes the House of 46, which designates the Captain-Commander's successor following his passing. The former holder of the title was Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto of the 1st Division, who had maintained the position for the preceding 1000 years. The current captain-commander is Shunsui Kyōraku.
• A Captain (隊長, Taichō; lit. Unit Commander) constitutes the leader of one of the thirteen divisions.

Captains generally represent the most respected Shinigami throughout Soul Society, certainly equivalent to the leaders of the Kidō Corps and the Onmitsukidō. With one exception, all captains demonstrate capability of employing the final stage of their Zanpakutō, and prove substantially more formidable than even their lieutenants. Understanding that Bankai grants captains on average five to ten times greater strength than a Shinigami incapable of doing so. They have prepared and mastered their Bankai considerably, enabling them to employ this tremendous power effectively in combat. Most captains demonstrate proficiency in Shunpo and Kidō, and generally possess thorough knowledge of Shinigami history and military strategies. All of these factors establish a considerable gap between captains and lower-ranked officers.

They function as General Administrators and determine the direction, organization, strategies, and policy of their division. The authority a captain exercises over his division proves absolute and cannot be challenged by officers or captains from alternative divisions. A captain can determine to modify the specialty of his division (which Kisuke Urahara accomplished after becoming captain of the 12th Division). Since the captains exercise supreme authority over their respective divisions, the divisions constitute separate entities rather than a cohesive military force. As such, they exclusively possess the right to sanction the actions of their officers and not those of alternative divisions, unless the division in question lacks a captain and the officers' actions contravene the laws and regulations of the Soul Society.

It is within the captains of Gotei 13 that the genuine power of the Soul Society resides, being the leaders of this military branch. When they are prepared to deploy their full capability, the Soul Society remains secure and nearly undefeatable. If they become compromised, their strength diminishes, rendering them all considerably vulnerable.

There exist three distinct methods to become a captain of the Gotei 13:

1. The Captain's Mastery Test (隊首, taishu): an examination requiring the capability to perform Bankai. Nearly all Shinigami achieve captain status employing this method. At least three captains, including the Captain-Commander, must bear witness to the examination.
2. Personal Recommendation: Securing a personal recommendation from at least six captains and the approval of at least three of the remaining seven.
3. Trial by Combat: defeating a captain in a one-on-one confrontation with at least 200 witnesses from the captain's division. This method is regarded as the rarest and least refined of the three. The method generally receives disapproval from certain captains who consider it barbaric compared to the alternative modes of accessing the position. This method permits one to circumvent the inability to perform Bankai or other capabilities that a captain would otherwise need to master, as it enables access to the rank without assessment or skill evaluation. Certainly uncommon in alternative divisions, the 11th has been adapted to employ exclusively this access method, permitting each captain to achieve rank by defeating his predecessor.

Lieutenant

• a Lieutenant (副隊長, fukutaichō; Viz "Assistant Captain," often Vice-Captain) constitutes the 2nd headquarters officer of a division.

Lieutenants function as second-in-command throughout their division, attending to the day-to-day supervision of operations. They typically only demonstrate proficiency in the Shikai of their Zanpakutō, yet they remain the second most formidable within their division. In the event of the captain's passing, departure, or other circumstance rendering him or her incapable of performing his or her duties, the lieutenant serves as the "alternate captain" until a new one receives assignment to the position.

The authority to appoint or dismiss a Lieutenant rests exclusively with the Captain of the respective Division, a privilege granted to them by the House of 46. Captains possess the right to designate more than one lieutenant simultaneously, yet this constitutes a very rare occurrence attributable to the fact that it is regarded as an unconventional choice and receives disapproval from the House of 46. Any prospective candidate possesses the right to decline the appointment to the position.

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Officers Seats

Seated officers constitute the remaining officers of Gotei 13 ranging from the 3rd rank downward. Captains and lieutenants occupy the 1st and 2nd seat ranks respectively. Following that, there exist 18 additional seats (3rd to 20th). Throughout Gotei 13, exclusively one individual can occupy a senior officer rank (such as the 3rd or 5th seat), yet there exist multiple individuals for the lower ranks (e.g. 20th seat). This varies between divisions, as there exist for example two 3rd Seats in the 13th Division. Headquarters officers frequently administer mini units within each division (e.g., 3rd Headquarters Hanatarō Yamada serves as the leader of the 14th Division's Advanced Relief Team)

Divisions

	Captain	Lieutenant	3rd seat	Badge	Meaning of the badge	Color
1st division	Shunsui Kyōraku	Nanao Ise & Genshirô Okikiba	N/A	Chrysanthèmes	Truth & Innocence	Deep purple
2nd division	Soi Fon	Marechiyo Ōmaeda	N/A	Fleur de pasque	Don't look for anything	Dark orange
3rd division	Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi	Izuru Kira	N/A	Marigold	Desperation	Spring green
4th division	Isane Kotetsu	Kiyone Kotetsu	Yasochika Iemura & Hanatarō Yamada	Campanule	Those who cry are loved	Dark pink
5th division	Shinji Hirako	Momo Hinamori	N/A	Muguet	Sacrifice, Danger, Pure Love, Humility, Gentleness	Turquoise Pale
6th division	Byakuya Kuchiki	Renji Abarai	N/A	Camélia	Noble cause	Cobalt blue
7th division	Tetsuzaemon Iba	N/A	N/A	Iris	Courage	Dark brown
8th division	Lisa Yadōmaru	N/A	Tatsufusa Enjōji	Oiseau de paradis	Everything is obtained	Raspberry pink
9th division	Kensei Muguruma	Shūhei Hisagi & Mashiro Kuna	N/A	Coquelicot blanc	Forget	Tenné
10th division	Tōshirō Hitsugaya	Rangiku Matsumoto	N/A	Jonquille	Mystery & Selfishness	Dark green
11th division	Kenpachi Zaraki	Ikkaku Madarame	Yumichika Ayasegawa	Achillée millefeuille	Fighting	Lavender
12th division	Mayuri Kurotsuchi	Akon	N/A	Chardon	Revenge, Rigor, Independence	Olive green
13th division	Rukia Kuchiki	N/A	Sentarō Kotsubaki	Perce-neige	Hope	Brown

Transfer to another Division

Officers do not necessarily remain within their designated division throughout their tenure. It is customary to transfer to an alternative division following the accumulation of experience, an occurrence that coincides with a promotion.

Size and Recruitment

Each Division comprises approximately 200+ Shinigami, with the Gotei 13 constituting an active force of approximately 3000 enlisted troops. Shinigami are typically recruited through the Shinigami Academy, yet it should be noted that not all graduates gain entry to the Gotei 13. Academy graduates must undertake an entrance examination for Gotei 13, and exclusively those who succeed can join the Gotei. This examination can be attempted multiple times. The influence of the Noble Families can however supersede the process, as was the case with Rukia Kuchiki who graduated ahead of schedule and was placed in Gotei 13 at the request of Byakuya Kuchiki.

Badges

Each of the 13 Divisions of Gotei 13 possesses its own emblem representing the principal role of the division. When a power restriction is imposed on a lieutenant or captain, their emblem materializes on a particular part of their physique until the restriction is lifted. Each emblem carries a specific significance.

Uniformes

The majority of Gotei 13 personnel wear the standard Shinigami uniform, designated Shihakushō (死覇装, Garment of the Dead Souls) — a white shitagi (下着, undergarment), a black kosode (小袖, short sleeve), a black hakama (袴), white hakama-himo, a white tabi (足袋, foot pocket) and a waraji (草鞋). The black kosode bears the insignia of its owner's division printed on the interior. Lieutenants occasionally wear an armband, most frequently on their left arm, displaying their division symbol and number. They are requested to do this when summoned to an assembly, yet otherwise it is rarely mandated.

Captains wear a white haori (羽織) over their conventional Shinigami attire, with their division number on the reverse inscribed in the center of the Gotei 13 symbol (a diamond). Certain captains have long sleeves while others do not. The color of the inner lining proves specific to the division — or at minimum to the captain — since each captain displays a different color. The haori is intended to represent captain status, and Yamamoto was furious when Captains Kuchiki, Kyōraku and Zaraki lost theirs in combat and demonstrated complete indifference.

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Uniform Customization

Gotei 13 officers, including captains and lieutenants, frequently customize their personal presentation or that of their uniform. Certain of these modifications include:

Captain Shunsui Kyōraku of the 1st Division wears a straw hat and a vividly colored kimono over his uniform.

Captain Soi Fon of the 2nd division wears a sleeveless, backless Shinigami outfit (when engaging in combat) beneath her haori, which constitutes the standard for the head of the Onmitsukidō. She wears a yellow belt one layer above, yet slightly lower than her white belt.

Captain Retsu Unohana of the 4th division wears an obi (帯, belt) rather than a conventional belt.

Captain Byakuya Kuchiki of the 6th division wears an expensive sash designated Ginpaku Kazahana no Uzuginu (銀白風花の紗, Silk of the Silver White Wildflower) and a ceremonial white headdress designated a kenseikan (牽星箝), symbolizing his noble lineage. 17 months following the defeat of Aizen, he wears a finely crafted captain's haori.

Captain Sajin Komamura of the 7th Division wears shoulder pads on his haori and substantial gloves extending to his arms. He previously wore a helmet to conceal his appearance, yet he has removed it.

Captain Kaname Tōsen, formerly of the 9th division, wears an orange scarf with his outfit, a sleeveless kosode, and white boots.

Captain Kensei Muguruma, of the 9th Division, wears a sleeveless kosode.

Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya of the 10th division wears a green scarf featuring a star around his shoulder to secure his blade.

Captain Kenpachi Zaraki of the 11th division wears a haori with serrated edges, which was acquired from the previous captain of the 11th division.

Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi of the 12th division wears a voluminous purple tie and a hat with two horizontal points. He subsequently modifies his hat.

Lieutenant Chōjirō Sasakibe of the 1st Division wears a jinbaori over his shihakushō.

Lieutenant Marechiyo Ōmaeda of the 2nd division wears a substantial purple collar behind his cranium.

Lieutenant Shūhei Hisagi of the 9th division wears a sleeveless kosode and a black collar.

Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto of the 10th Division wears an upper garment that is deliberately loose and opens to reveal her generous chest. She wears a pink scarf (or stole), and wears her lieutenant's badge around her waist with her belt, secured in a bow.

Lieutenant Nemu Kurotsuchi, from the 12th division, does not wear a hakama, but a mini-skirt, a version of the kosode, which is secured at the waist with a belt.

Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki, of the 13th division, wears a short-sleeved version of the shihakushō kosode. She wears white fingerless tekkou, similar to Byakuya's, that protrude from her elbows.

Yumichika Ayasegawa of the 5th headquarters of the 11th division wears an orange garment over her uniform, around her neck, connected to her arm, which covers the majority of her chest that would otherwise be exposed by her uniform.

All known members of the 9th Division, with the exception of Mashiro Kuna and Toshimori Umesada, wear sleeveless kosodes, including the former captains.

The elites of the 6th division are distinguished by wearing a sleeveless white haori (shorter than the captains') with purple edges and secured at the opening by a red cord, over their standard shihakushō.

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