Naruto: Just Want To Be A Death God

"Can I choose not to become a Shinigami, but still learn how to control this power?" Hitsugaya Tōshirō asked, lowering his head to look at his still-sleeping grandmother.

Naruto shook his head.

Rangiku explained, "The Gotei 13 isn't a loose organization."

"Once you join, there's no leaving."

Hitsugaya frowned.

Naruto elaborated, "The Gotei 13, at its core, is a violent organization created to rule the Soul Society."

Hitsugaya kept his head down.

"But..." Naruto spoke gently.

"The Seireitei won't overly restrict your personal freedom."

"You can visit this elder anytime you wish."

"But living with her again... that's no longer possible."

Hitsugaya raised his hand, eyes fixed on his palm. "If I don't begin training to control this power... will I..."

He didn't dare finish the sentence.

What had happened earlier was already a warning. And even such a small "warning" was something he didn't want to face.

Naruto simply nodded.

"Then I'll accept," Hitsugaya said, nodding firmly.

Naruto smiled. "Then make some preparations and say goodbye to those you need to. I'll come get you tomorrow."

Hitsugaya responded with a nod.

"Sure enough, that woman's appearance doesn't inspire any confidence," Naruto tilted his head toward the person behind him, grinning.

Rangiku rolled her eyes. "It's you guys who don't get it!"

"Even if Captain Naruto is all grown up, his sense of aesthetics hasn't changed from that brat."

"You guys know nothing!"

Hitsugaya clenched his fists. "You annoying woman!"

"I've had enough of you."

"I'm not some kid—I'm almost a hundred years old!"

"And there's nothing to be proud of with those two lumps on your chest!"

His words surprised both Naruto and Rangiku.

"You're almost a hundred?" Naruto leaned in curiously.

Hitsugaya put his hands on his hips and nodded.

"I thought you were still a minor spirit," Rangiku said in disbelief, stunned.

Hitsugaya looked annoyed. "I'm old enough to call myself 'this old man' now."

"But why are you still so short?" Rangiku gestured with her hand—Hitsugaya's height only reached her chest.

Hitsugaya froze. He clenched his fists even tighter, teeth grinding. "I just haven't finished growing yet."

"Captain Naruto is around your age, maybe even younger," Rangiku exaggeratedly tilted her head. "But the height difference between you two—"

Hitsugaya looked up instinctively.

Naruto was now taller than Rangiku.

Even with his white hair spiking upwards, it barely reached Naruto's ribs.

"You're really about my age?" he asked, looking up in disbelief.

Naruto nodded.

Hitsugaya tiptoed, but even then, it was hard to close the gap. He let out a resentful sigh.

Rangiku laughed mercilessly.

The atmosphere rippled with teasing energy.

"Don't be discouraged. This won't be your final height," Naruto said gently, not joining in the laughter. He nodded, clearly empathizing with Hitsugaya's feelings.

"Of course!" Hitsugaya stubbornly lifted his head. "I'm definitely still going to grow taller!"

"It might be related to your spiritual pressure," Naruto said after a moment's thought.

Hitsugaya blinked.

"Everything in Soul Society is composed of spirit particles," Naruto raised his hands, one up and one down. "Your body is no exception."

"But your spiritual pressure is too immense."

He then brought his hands together, mimicking compression.

"Your external spiritual pressure is compressing your space for growth."

"That's why your height is still like this."

Hitsugaya's eyes widened.

Now he had even more reason to attend the Shin'ō Spiritual Arts Academy!

But Rangiku only laughed louder.

"As for that woman, don't take her words to heart," Naruto continued, comforting him. "Don't be fooled by her current smugness."

Rangiku was about to snap back.

But Naruto went on calmly, "This woman went crazy tagging you as part of the 10th Division—so now, you're one of us."

"Don't be fooled by her being a vice-captain."

"But—"

"With your talent, once you're in the 10th Division, you could probably replace her."

"Then she'll have to listen to you."

Rangiku froze.

Hitsugaya's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Really. She'll have to take your orders then," Naruto nodded.

Rangiku scratched her head, realizing maybe she had laughed a bit too loudly earlier.

The next day, Naruto came to pick up Hitsugaya.

Though the school year had already started, even without Naruto speaking up, Rangiku managed the arrangements herself. She didn't openly break any rules—instead, she added a "preparatory" class to the new student roster. Hitsugaya would enter as a "prep student" alongside the first-years.

At the end of the year, he'd take an evaluation.

If he passed, he'd move on to "Second Year."

Of course—

If he performed exceptionally, he might directly graduate as a first-year, which was the most likely and most accepted outcome.

"Another genius," Shino Academy Headmaster Shiba Oneki smiled broadly. "Naruto really brought me a wonderful surprise."

Naruto shook his head, smiling. "All credit goes to Rangiku."

Shiba Oneki waved it off, face crinkling with joy. "Not just that."

"Ever since you graduated, our incoming student quality has improved."

"This year alone, we had several students enter with sixth- and seventh-class spiritual pressure."

"Even Captain Aizen said one of them might become captain-class in the future."

Naruto murmured, "Aizen has such high praise for them?"

Shiba Oneki nodded excitedly.

He may not remember which year had the worst students—

But in terms of overall quality, this year was absolutely the best he'd ever taught.

Even Naruto's class, which had produced the exceptional "Uzumaki Naruto," had no one else who truly succeeded. The highest-ranking student from that year was merely a low-seated officer in the 9th Division.

Compared to this year's class—at least two future vice-captains, several senior officers, and a potential future captain—

Naruto's class average had clearly been dragged down.

At the Academy Training Field

"Shiro, you enrolled in the Spiritual Arts Academy too?" a black-haired girl noticed the short white-haired boy following Naruto and waved enthusiastically. "Didn't you say you wanted to stay home and look after your grandma?"

"Don't call me Shiro! Bedwetter Momo!" Hitsugaya growled.

The black-haired girl blushed furiously. "What are you talking about!"

Only then did she notice that the two people in front of Hitsugaya were the Headmaster and the famous "Seventh Division Captain Uzumaki Naruto."

She nervously greeted them.

"Shiro, is this your friend?" Naruto playfully took up the nickname.

Hitsugaya instinctively nodded. "Yes, this is Hinamori Momo. We grew up together in the Rukon District—"

Halfway through his sentence, he realized something and turned to Naruto. "Don't call me Shiro! That nickname's not proper at all."

Naruto smiled. "It's so cute though."

Hinamori eagerly nodded, eyes bright with excitement as she looked at Naruto—clearly feeling they were kindred spirits.

"Perfect. Hinamori, go call the other students from Class One. Let Captain Uzumaki meet them," said Shiba Oneki, waving. "You all might become his future right-hand men someday."

Hinamori happily ran off, soon returning with a group.

Including her, the two leading males stood out.

One had slightly gloomy blonde hair, with similar spiritual pressure to Hinamori.

The other had arrogant red hair, and his face reminded Naruto of "Kugo Ginjo"—a natural "troublemaker" look.

"This is Kira Izuru, entered with sixth-class spiritual pressure," Shiba Oneki introduced.

Then pointed at the redhead.

"This is Abarai Renji, also sixth-class. The most hardworking among them."

They all greeted Naruto nervously.

To current students, a captain was a figure beyond reach.

As Shiba Oneki introduced the others, Naruto's gaze wandered through the group, finally resting on a short-haired girl beside Renji.

Renji noticed the gaze and instinctively stepped in front of her.

"And who is this?" When the introductions were done and the girl still hadn't been mentioned, Naruto asked.

Renji spoke loudly, anxious. "This is Rukia!"

"My friend. She's just hanging out with us."

"She's not from Class One."

Shiba Oneki looked puzzled at first. Then upon hearing the name, he snapped his fingers. "Oh—"

"Rukia. I remember her."

"Also a very talented girl. Entered with eighth-class spiritual pressure."

"But she lacks a bit in Zanjutsu, so she was placed in Class Two."

Rukia stepped forward shyly and politely greeted Naruto.

"What's wrong with Rukia?" Renji asked nervously.

Naruto shook his head with a soft smile. "She reminds me of someone I once knew."

At first glance, he had mistaken her for "Lady Fushin." But her unique spiritual pressure made him dismiss that thought.

Rukia blinked.

Renji did too—then suddenly realized something, and his anxiety doubled.

Was she... an old lover?

That affectionate, reminiscent gaze?

He hadn't even confessed yet, and his love rival was already a captain?

Shiba Oneki also seemed to realize something. "You mean the one from the Kuchiki family?"

Naruto nodded, smiling at Rukia. "Get ready."

"The Kuchiki family will be coming for you soon."

"But don't worry. It's a good thing."

Rukia nodded in confused acceptance.

Naruto left with a smile.

Only then did the crowd start whispering excitedly.

"She got noticed by a captain!" someone said in envy.

"So lucky! Even if it's just because she looks like..." another began, but stopped as Renji shot him a glare.

Rukia asked in confusion, "What's the Kuchiki family?"

A student from a lower noble family answered, "They're the head of the Five Great Noble Houses. The most prestigious family in all of Soul Society."

(End of Chapter)

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