Naruto: Just Want To Be A Death God

A new desk was added in Squad 7's office.

It was placed right next to Soi Fon's.

Squad 10 valued Tōshirō highly. Just like Naruto back in the day, upon joining, he was immediately appointed as the Third Seat.

And was being nurtured as a future captain.

However…

Unlike Naruto's time in Squad 13, the current captain and vice-captain seemed quite happy to offload their responsibilities, leaving most of the squad affairs to Tōshirō.

At least they had some sense of responsibility—they didn't let Tōshirō actually exercise full captain-level authority.

Still...

For an inexperienced "cub" to suddenly take over so many tasks—even if none of them were particularly difficult, just tedious—was a real headache for Tōshirō. Especially when it came to decisions and judgments, which left him at a loss.

Soi Fon and Naruto were both very patient in teaching him.

At times like these, the Nine-Tails always wanted to sneak away, but Naruto would always catch it and drag it back.

It had to learn too.

Five years later, Rukia and her peers were about to graduate.

Naruto had been closely keeping track of this.

A few days before the "Soul Burial Ceremony"—

At Squad 7's barracks—

Accompanied by Byakuya Kuchiki, Rukia arrived at the invitation.

She was confused at first.

She thought her brother Byakuya had brought her here to help her build good relationships with the captains.

But Byakuya explained that it was Captain Uzumaki who had specifically invited her.

Once they arrived at Squad 7—

Captain Kyōraku Shunsui was also seated there.

"You're here. Have a seat," Naruto greeted them.

Kyōraku glanced at Rukia and nodded, "You really do look like Lady Hisana."

Rukia quickly greeted him.

"I heard you're one of the top graduates of this year," Kyōraku smiled and asked, "Have you thought about which squad you want to join after graduation?"

"Squad 7?"

Rukia shook her head, "I…"

"I want to become an outstanding Shinigami."

"So I want to join Squad 13."

Naruto looked at her and smiled gently, "Being protected doesn't mean you can't become outstanding."

Rukia thought for a moment, then still shook her head.

"Ukitake has earned himself a fine subordinate," Kyōraku commented, reaching to his side—only to get bitten by the Nine-Tails.

"What about you, Byakuya?" Naruto turned to the other guest. "I heard Senior Ginrei is planning to retire. Are you taking over Squad 6?"

Byakuya nodded, his expression as cold as ever, but his tone was gentle, "Yes, it'll be within the next few years."

"Seems like Gin is preparing to apply for Squad 3 captain, too," Naruto added with a smile.

Byakuya's expression turned stern at the mention of that snake-faced man.

"Then that means Squad 13 has no captain vacancy?" Kyōraku mused, rubbing his hands. "It's been almost 200 years, hasn't it?"

Previously, the Squad 10 captain position had remained vacant—

Originally waiting for Naruto to mature and fill it.

But after that incident, over half the captain positions were vacated, and replacements had to be selected quickly. Shiba Isshin was assigned to Squad 10, but the Squad 3 position became vacant again.

"Let's hope there won't be any new problems this time," Naruto sighed.

This made Byakuya uneasy. "Naruto, did you invite us here and especially Rukia for a particular reason?"

Naruto didn't answer right away.

He was communicating with the Yin Nine-Tails inside his body.

After confirming there were no strange spiritual forces around, he continued, "Rukia's class is quite remarkable. Besides her, there's also Asane, Kira, Hinamori—all very promising."

Rukia was confused.

Was this…

Was he hoping she could help persuade them to join Squad 7?

That seemed unnecessary.

Captain Uzumaki was one of the most popular captains in the Soul Society. Even though he didn't often show up at the Spiritual Arts Academy, his popularity was higher than even Captain Aizen's.

Plus, Squad 7 had the little Nine-Tails. Naturally, they were well-liked.

Many students aspired to join Squad 7.

"I tried thinking like that man," Naruto continued, "This time is a very suitable opportunity."

"Let's see if this generation's 'vessels'…"

"…can be forged into sharp blades."

"Also—"

So many years had passed; Aizen's experiments on Hollows should have borne some fruit.

This Soul Burial would be the perfect opportunity to test on Shinigami.

"The Senkaimon will malfunction again?" Kyōraku swirled his drink and chuckled lightly.

"Tōsen is already dead," Naruto shook his head. "And I'm keeping a close watch."

The commonly known culprit behind the Hollowfication incident was "Kaname Tōsen."

Naturally—

The Senkaimon incident, which was connected to the Hollowfication, was also blamed on him.

Kyōraku nodded slightly.

Byakuya frowned. "That man might target Rukia and the others?"

"It's just a possibility," Naruto replied, "I'm not completely sure."

Rukia looked around the table in confusion.

Even that fox seemed to know what Naruto was talking about.

"That man"?

Who was that?

What kind of attack?

Why were they all so serious?

This was a matter that had all three captains looking solemn.

"But what's certain is—he won't act directly." Naruto tapped the table. A formation spread out. "There might just be some Hollows, at most Menos Grande. Nothing too dangerous for Rukia and her peers."

Rukia was dumbfounded.

Menos Grande

Wasn't considered a threat?

"So take this." From within the formation, a scroll was summoned. Naruto handed it to Rukia. "If anything unexpected happens, just open it."

Rukia quickly accepted it. "Thank you, Captain Uzumaki."

Naruto shook his head. "Just stay alert and watch for anything unusual."

Rukia, still confused, nodded anyway.

The meal soon ended.

Naruto made a quick trip to the real world.

At Urahara Shop—

"You suspect Aizen might act during the 'Soul Burial Ceremony'?" Urahara Kisuke asked, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

Naruto nodded, expression blank, hands spread. "That's the issue I'm facing."

"I know what he wants to do."

"But I don't have any solid way to stop him."

"All I can do is give Rukia a shadow clone as a safeguard."

Urahara asked, "What do you think Aizen might try to do this time?"

"If he really is experimenting on Hollows," Naruto pondered, "he'll probably release his test subjects."

"Hollowfication, Senkaimon…"

"He can't tamper with those now."

Urahara clapped his hands. "Then you'll definitely be able to protect them, right?"

Naruto nodded. "The scroll I gave Rukia will open automatically if it detects significant danger—even if she doesn't channel any spiritual power into it."

"But—"

"That's not the outcome I want."

Urahara waved it off. "No need to rush. Aizen is a tough opponent."

"The intelligence you sent me…"

"It helped me read something very interesting."

Naruto tilted his head.

"What kind of person do you think Aizen is?" Urahara asked.

Naruto thought for a moment. "Arrogant, prideful, but undeniably capable."

"In my opinion, he's someone who actually hates himself," Urahara said with a shake of his head—something that took Naruto completely by surprise.

The blond boy froze. "Hates himself?"

"Him?"

Urahara nodded and flipped a hand to summon a file. "His ability to deceive the five senses comes from his Zanpakutō."

"You know this well: the Shikai of a Zanpakutō reflects the wielder's inner self."

"So…"

"What kind of person wields a Zanpakutō like Kyōka Suigetsu? Do you think he's skilled at deception?"

Naruto instinctively nodded.

But—

Halfway through the motion, he stopped.

In all of his interactions with Aizen, even the feedback from his Kagura Mind's Eye, everything Aizen said had always been… the truth.

Even his speeches to the Academy students.

"Noticing something's off now?" Urahara smiled under his hat. "He's actually someone who despises lying."

"In all the data you gave me, he's only lied twice."

"One was manipulating Central 46 to frame me."

"But that wasn't even a real lie—just concealing part of the truth."

"And I really was researching the Hōgyoku and Hollowfication."

"The other lie is something he's been maintaining all this time."

Urahara raised a finger.

He didn't explain, just gave Naruto an encouraging look.

"The Zanpakutō's ability," Naruto soon realized and said, "He's always claimed his sword is of the 'water-type'."

"Exactly." Urahara grinned and gave a thumbs-up. "Did you know, in the human world, there's a thing called psychology?"

"I've been studying it and organizing what I've learned."

"Aizen's behavior may seem self-protective, but he could have hidden his Zanpakutō's real power in other ways."

"He's not the only one who manipulates the five senses."

"Hirako Shinji's sword does too."

"But Aizen deliberately told a huge lie and completely redefined the type of his blade."

"This shows he internally rejects his Zanpakutō's ability."

Naruto frowned.

Reject his Zanpakutō?

"There are others like that. Yoruichi is one," Urahara whispered with a smile. "Their Zanpakutō's ability isn't what they truly want."

Naruto asked, "But what good does that do?"

"Even if he doesn't like it…"

"He still uses it, doesn't he?"

Urahara leaned forward, voice soft and slow: "Aizen is a man of great ambition."

"He wants to surpass the boundaries of a Shinigami, aiming for a higher evolution."

"And once he acquires even greater power…"

"I believe he'll cast aside his sword without hesitation."

(End of Chapter)

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