After the break was over the students that had left the room filed back in, one after the other until all of the seats were filled. When they were all seated Gengorō said, "Alright, now that you are all seated, we can get started on the bulk of today's lesson. Seireitei as a whole is a place for those that have died in the World of the Living to come to to wait to be reborn as a new person...if they die of natural causes. If they don't then they dissipate into dust to become part of Seireitei...provided that the unnatural cause is not via a Hollow."
A girl with blue hair and grey eyes raised her hand. Once Gengorō had acknowledged her she asked, "I have two questions Gen-san."
"Yes...mm...Amayah wasn't it?"
"Yes. My first question is what happens if we are killed by a Hollow?"
"Ah. In that case you would become a part of the Hollow that killed you, further empowering it."
"Okayy, what if we die in the living world?"
"Ah. I was just getting to that. If you are killed in the living world you become part of the reishi in the surrounding area." Gengoro thought, 'There is a step further, but that's no longer in the curriculum.' "Okay, those were good questions. However, if you would hold most questions until the end, I will likely have answered them all by then." Gengoro looked at random students, making it seem as if he were looking at every one of them. When he saw them nod he continued. "Before the foundation of the Thirteen Protection Squads, more commonly known as the Gotei 13, the number of regular Hollow attacks numbered in the hundreds. This was relatively easily accomplised due to the limited order in the regions around Seireitei, similar to how the regions numbered seventy and above are still run. The Gotei 13, founded by ex-Sōtaichō(1) Yamamoto, rose up to defend against the many attacks by the Hollow."
A green haired male raised his hand and, getting Gengoro's permission to continue, said, "Did the Hollow have a leader?"
"A leader?"
"Well, if they were attacking the way that you claim, then it would only make sense that they were united under someone, correct?"
Gengoro thought, 'Now there's a worrying thought,' but said, "Hollows are mindless beasts that try to devour living souls to replace their own that was lost the minute that they became a Hollow. As such, they do not have the capacity for logical thought and planning. Some Hollow possess a more cunning mind than others, allowing them to successfully infiltrate Seireitei. Now, I will not be answering any more questions as pertains to Hollows and their habits. That is covered at a later point." There was a cacophony of 'yes' and 'got it'. "Good," Gengoro continued, "Now, where was I?"
Ichigo called out, "You were up to the bit where the Gotei 13 was created in order to fend off a hoard of Hollow."
"Right. Thank you Aosaki. Now, the 13 Squads didn't truly exist as it is today for about fifty years after that, there being only 13 members and five of their direct subordinates. Those seventy-eight Shinigami earned the name, due to their immense strength, matched only by their desire to win at all costs. The names of most of the Shinigami that took part in that battle are lost to time, however the current Captain-Commander, Unohana Retsu, alongside the ex-Captain Commander and his lieutenant...I can never remember his name...are all said to have been present. As are Captain Ukitake Jūshirō and ex-Captain Kyōraku Shunsui."
Gengoro took a breather, letting the information sink into his students minds before continuing, "Currently the The Gotei 13 serves as a military force with its primary responsibilities consisting of The defense of the Seireitei, which, as some of you are aware, is the centre of Soul Society; The deployment of Division members into enemy territory for combat operations; The deployment of Task Forces as defensive measures in the World of the Living and guiding the souls of the recently deceased to the Soul Society. But originally its mission was the simple eradication of all hollow, no matter what. After almost twenty years of constant fighting the founding members came to the conclusion that such a goal was untenable, so changed their methods to the simple protection of those that are deceased, earning the name 'Defenders'. It is my opinion that they didn't accept the name change due to a lesser impact in comparison to that of a 'God of Death'." Then there was a bell that sounded over the PA system, indicating that the students were to move off to their next class, Zanjutsu: Theory.
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A/N
I apologise in advance, but there is going to be a series of short chapters coming up. This is due to the first day being a bludge
(1) ex-Sōtaichō = Ex-Captain Commander
