Naruto: Just Want To Be A Death God

The Second Division was questioning students one by one, recording testimonies.

Small groups gathered together.

"Which squad are you all planning to join?" Abarai asked, frowning in concern.

This was a privilege for top students like them.

Each had received multiple offers from different squads and could choose freely—unlike average students, who had to wait for the academy to assign them based on specialty.

"I'm going to the Thirteenth," Rukia answered immediately—this had been decided long ago.

Hisagi Shūhei was just as straightforward: "My choice is the Ninth Squad."

The others looked at him, puzzled.

The Ninth Squad...

It wasn't a bad choice. The captain, Komamura Sajin, a wolf-headed man, was said to be loyal and upright—a good leader.

Still, given the option, weren't the Seventh or Fifth Squads better picks?

"I was saved by the Ninth Squad's captain when I was younger," Hisagi scratched his head, gave a shy smile, and pointed to his face, "This mark is a tribute to him."

"But that man… isn't the current Captain Komamura."

"It was someone else."

His tone dropped slightly. "Ever since I entered the Shino Academy, I haven't seen him again."

"You can ask around once you're in the Gotei 13!" Rukia said confidently, patting his shoulder. "Since it happened when you were a kid, there must still be traces of that captain."

"Just ask around then."

Hisagi looked at her earnest face and nodded, "Yeah."

"I'll probably go with the Seventh Squad," Kira said, lowering his head. "Captain Uzumaki is young and very promising."

Unlike the others in the group, he was the only one with "true blood."

Abarai scratched his head, a little troubled: "I want to join the Seventh Squad too… or the Sixth."

"But Captain Aizen…"

It was hard to refuse a captain's invitation—especially one who kindly hoped he'd become his right-hand man.

After some hesitation: "I'll probably end up choosing the Fifth Squad."

All eyes turned to the last one who hadn't spoken.

Hinamori Momo hesitated.

"Both the Seventh and Fifth Squads invited me."

"But Captain Uzumaki and Captain Aizen—it's really hard to choose."

One was young and gentle, the other elegant and equally kind.

They both struck her heart.

Seventh Squad Barracks.

Naruto received memories from his shadow clone.

He clapped his hands, summoning the scroll sealing the Menos Grande's corpse.

He thought back carefully to Aizen's behavior.

He didn't seem to care who the test subject belonged to.

Though he did try to guide Hisagi into making some comments, as if interested in the Hollow's performance… that couldn't be his true intention.

So...

What was he really hoping for?

Was it the performance of this year's graduates?

Naruto stood up with the scroll and left the office: "Haguroemon."

He called a name.

A sunglasses-wearing man appeared instantly.

"Prepare a file on the top graduates of this year's Shino Academy," Naruto said with a smile. "What's their attitude toward the Seventh Squad?"

Kotsubaki Haguroemon replied, "The intent is quite high."

Before Naruto took over, it was hard for the Seventh Squad to recruit top students. They mostly relied on academy assignments—rarely did top graduates choose them voluntarily.

The former captain, Love Aikawa, with his afro and quiet demeanor, didn't exactly radiate charisma.

Plus, the Seventh Squad's duties—guarding the inner court—weren't as appealing as other squads.

But since Naruto became captain, that changed drastically.

They no longer needed to promote themselves actively.

Like the Fifth Squad, their captain's charisma alone made them a top choice among excellent graduates.

"Then please help persuade them a bit more," Naruto said after a pause. "If anyone's still unsure, I'll speak to them personally."

Haguroemon was stunned.

This year's class was excellent.

But… wasn't their most promising recruit, Hitsugaya Tōshirō, already graduated early and joined the Tenth Squad?

No one else was quite worthy of the captain's personal attention.

Still, he nodded in agreement.

Naruto departed and headed to the Twelfth Squad.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi greeted him with reluctance: "Captain Uzumaki, what are you doing here again?"

"Found something interesting." Naruto raised the scroll and waved it before his eyes.

Mayuri looked bored and yawned. "What is it?"

"A Hollow," Naruto said calmly.

Mayuri's weak interest immediately evaporated. "A Hollow? What's so interesting about that?"

"A Menos Grande," Naruto added softly. "One that can hide its spiritual pressure."

Mayuri froze.

Hiding spiritual pressure?

That was an ability never observed in Hollows before.

"Not curious to study it?" Naruto offered the scroll.

Mayuri took it, puzzled. "That kind of change… intriguing."

"Natural cause?"

Naruto shook his head.

Mayuri nodded slowly, realization dawning—and with it, a stronger spark of interest. "Then someone tampered with it?"

"Modified the Hollow, huh."

"How interesting."

He beckoned Naruto and led him into a vast underground area.

Naruto knew this place well.

When Kisuke Urahara was still captain of the Twelfth, he trained here with Yoruichi.

"This space was left by that man," Mayuri sneered, his twisted expression full of disdain. "I was going to demolish it."

"But I figured it might still be useful. And look—it is."

He tossed the scroll.

The seal broke.

But instead of revealing the Menos Grande's body, unstable black spiritual pressure surged out.

Naruto's eyes widened.

He raised his hands and skipped the incantation.

"Bakudō #73: Tozanshō!"

A blue crystal encased them.

The black energy burst forth like an explosion, winds lashing violently.

Cracks spread through the shield.

Once the gusts subsided, Naruto lowered the barrier.

Mayuri's face was calm, hands behind his back. "It seems that man didn't want to leave us any test subjects."

"Even sealed by you, it still ended like this."

"It was pre-programmed."

Naruto looked around.

The area was in disarray—but since it was built by Kisuke, it held up well.

He shook his head. "I thought we might gain something."

Mayuri grinned. "Who says we didn't?"

"This is my turf."

He snapped his fingers.

From the ceiling, plop—a thick fleshy worm dropped.

"You see—"

Thud.

Mayuri reached to catch it, but the impact was too much for his fragile shadow clone.

Poof, he vanished in smoke.

The worm remained unharmed.

A few minutes later, a new shadow clone arrived, picked up the worm, and continued the unfinished sentence like nothing had happened:

"—not every test subject cooperates."

"So I raised this little baby."

"One that can quietly absorb a trace of spiritual pressure when a subject resists."

He stroked the worm's belly.

It opened its mouth and spat out a jet of black energy.

Mayuri didn't touch it—Naruto raised his hand.

Clink—golden chains sealed the energy.

"Even with just one sample," Mayuri took it carefully, "I should be able to analyze something."

"Captain Uzumaki, if you'll wait a moment."

He turned and entered another lab.

Soon, he returned with a report.

"I really did find something interesting." Mayuri waved the paper, smug. "Guess what I discovered?"

Naruto shook his head.

"Menos Grandes are chaotic creatures," Mayuri began. "One dominant Hollow, fused with hundreds of lesser ones—low intelligence garbage."

"So…"

"Each Menos sample yields different results."

"But this one is very special."

Naruto narrowed his eyes, growing wary.

Mayuri dropped the suspense. "I found a faint trace of Shinigami power in this Hollow's body."

"It's very weak—and not quite the same as normal Shinigami energy. If it weren't so prominent amidst the Hollow's force, I wouldn't have noticed it."

Naruto frowned.

As expected...

Aizen was experimenting with Shinigamified Hollows.

But how did the ability to hide spiritual pressure relate to Shinigami power?

"Was it this Shinigami power that let it hide its presence?" Naruto asked.

Mayuri shook his head. "Unknown."

"With just this sample, there's not enough data to be sure."

"If it hadn't self-destructed—or if Captain Uzumaki could gather more samples—I might be able to analyze further."

"No need for more samples," Naruto interrupted. "This is all we've got for now."

"But…"

"If you can build a device to detect this unique 'Shinigami energy,' we might be able to find more samples."

Mayuri raised a brow. "That's a piece of cake."

"But when you do find them, Captain Uzumaki, kindly bring them directly to me—not to that Urahara."

"That man really has some wild, whimsical ideas."

(End of Chapter)