The Ninth Division ( 九番隊, kyūbantai) is a division in the Gotei 10 that is responsible for research and development; this includes all technology, science, and information needed for the Gotei. The 9th was originally known as the 12th Division- this was changed when the original 9th was shut down, in order to keep the division numbering consistent. The 9th's departments work closely with other divisions based on focus: the biological department works with the 4th, technology department with the 8th, information department with the Liasion office, and spiritual department with the Kido Corps. Generally speaking, the 9th is mistrusted by Shinigami because it has such a large influence in the Gotei, and its previous captains have come under fire for unethical practices. The current captains are Cesyl Abrogar and Kelzang Dorje.  

Organization

9th Division's organization follows the typical Gotei 10 organization, with two captains and lieutenants. However, outside of the senior officers, the members of each department tend to stay away from each other, and generally only answer to the leadership within their departments. Since each department is so specialized, officers under the 3rd seat are not authorized to make decisions concerning other departments, and even the captains will defer to the department heads. The division is also unique in that outside of military and combat affairs, officers from other departments do not have authority over members of the 9th. 

Special Duties

The 9th Division's main mission is research and development, and they have a hand in any new technology in the Gotei. They also run the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, which is located on the division's grounds, and the 12th's captain is the president of the Institute. The 9th works closely with other divisions in order to develop any new techniques, equipment, or scientific or spiritual technology needed. They are also in charge of researching anything presented outside the Gotei, from new species to the technology and sciences of other beings. The 9th is also unique in that it has no Normal Ops department, similar to the 4th, and requires all members either have a human background in their chosen field of study, or they must attend the 9th's Extended Education program that teaches all the disciplines studied. Often members will travel to the World of the Living to study as well.

Departments

• Biological Sciences Department: This department is in charge of all studies of life and living organisms (which includes, somewhat ironically, the biology of soul beings), as well as technology developed for this area. This department handles all subdisciplines of biology, including biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology, physiology, evolutionary biology, and ecology and botany. The BSD works closely with the 4th Division in developing medical techniques and technology. The BSD also handles autopsies and study of unique spiritual beings, which is, unfortunately, their most widely known function - this makes other Shinigami extremely wary of them. Research into the hollowfication process is also handled by the BSD, however the project is completely classified, and even members of the 3rd Division and actual Visored are mostly unaware of it. No one knows the BSD was responsible for the Visored 2.0. BSD Shinigami wear white lab coats over their uniforms with olive green patches over the shoulders of both their kosode and lab coat (the division designator on the back of the coat is the same color). Their kosode are often modified to have tight-fitting sleeves. They also wear patches depicting a white uppercase letter delta (∆) on an olive background. Many members carry around lab tools and safety equipment as well, such as their lab goggles and gloves. Captain Cesyl Abrograr and lieutenant Kato Tsetsen are the heads of this department. 

• Physical Sciences Department: The PSD is in charge of research and development in the areas of physics and chemistry- including thermodynamics and quantum mechanics. The PSD often works closely with the 8th Division's engineers for developing materials and techniques, as well as with the Kidō Corps in helping explain the physics of what was once considered magic. Many Shinigami consider this department to be useless, as they believe soul beings exist outside the physical constraints of the physical sciences. but the PSD has proven itself in furthering those sciences to include spiritual law. They have also helped create and streamline many defenses and weapons for Shinigami combat, including the 5th Division's Dan Kinshin and artillery weapons. Members of the PSD wear the same thing as BSD members, with crimson patches instead of olive. Their sleeves are similarly modified. 3rd Seat Fionna MacAslan is the head of this department. 

• Spiritual Sciences Department: This department works closely with the Kido Corps, and is responsible for the study of, and development in, spiritual phenomena and spiritual beings, including any being made from Reiyoku. The Spiritual Sciences Department oversees development of new Kidō and artifacts designed to help or hinder spiritual constructs- for instance, the Gokon Tekkō (Soul-Body Separator) and Reiatsu inhibiting devices were created here. They are also responsible for measuring spiritual waves, and ensure that there is balance in the World of the Living. Members of the SSD don't often wear lab coats, but have the same patches depicting a white delta on a purple background. Captain Kelzang Dorje is the head of this department. 

• Weapons Research and Development: This department includes members of the three core departments, and handles all weapons research outside of asauchi creation. They not only study and develop weapons made for Shinigami, but research captured enemy weapons as well. the WRD, or Weps, as many Shinigami call it, contains 9th Division Shinigami more interested in combat, and many in this department see combat far more often than other members. Weps Shinigami wear patches depicting a white delta on a black background, and have no other special uniform items. Lieutenant Addison Karhu is the head of this department.  

Grounds

The 9th Division's grounds are located about a mile south of the West Gate, along the very edge of the Seireitei's wall. The grounds have not moved location since the division was changed from the 12th. Along with the normal division buildings- barracks, offices, training grounds and a chow hall, the 9th houses extensive lab buildings for each department, three underground warehouses for equipment, the Extended Education Academy, and the SRDI. They also have claim over a four-mile stretch of wilderness to the south of the division, as well as seven separate labs interspersed throughout Soul Society. 

Notable Members

Captain: Cesyl Abrograr

• Served from: 1950s A.D.- 1990s A.D.
• Status: Succeeded (retired)

Co-Lieutenant: Kato Tetsen

• Served From: 2035 A.D.- Current
• Status: Filled
  

Co-Lieutenant: Addison Karhu

• Served from: 2035 A.D. - Current
  
• Status: Filled
  

3rd Seat: Kano Ichiro

• Served from: ???? - 2035 A.D.
• Status: Succeeded (MIA)

6th Seat: Drina Valdez

• Served from: ???? - Current
• Status: Filled

Recruitment

Any Shinigami can join the 9th, but most are chosen, and there is a grueling amount of schooling to go through before Shinigami can become full-fledged members of the division. Shinigami with a background in science and research are obviously preferred candidates. There is also a rumor that Shinigami that can't keep a secret are barred from the division, giving the whole unit a suspicious air. 

Trivia

• There is a stigma surrounding 9th Division Shinigami, and they are not generally well-liked in the community. 
• Because of the very specific requirements for captaincy in this division, the first captain has been asked to return to active duty several times until a new successor has been chosen. 
• The Kido Corps was originally a part of this division.