Naruto: Just Want To Be A Death God

"Captain Naruto."A female Soul Reaper looked up and called out in surprise.

"Miss Do."Naruto looked down and, upon seeing her face, was slightly surprised.

It was someone he knew.

But her spiritual pressure was so faint—so weak that it had been completely suppressed by the Hollow—so feeble that it blended in with the air, the breeze, the grass… making her easy to overlook subconsciously.

She was the wife of Kaien Shiba.

A gentle and strong Soul Reaper, currently the 3rd seat of the 13th Division.

"Thank goodness you're here."She let out a breath of relief. The strength she had been forcing herself to hold on to collapsed with it, and she sat on the ground with her legs folded under her like a duck.

Naruto walked toward the Hollow and stretched out his hand, forming a sealing incantation.

The Hollow trembled, but its eyes darted back and forth, as if unwilling to accept its fate.

The seal unfurled.

At that instant, the tentacle-like appendages on the Hollow's head suddenly shrank into its body and turned into threads that shot down and through the ground.

Along with its spiritual pressure.

It didn't disappear—it was transferring.

Heading straight for Naruto at high speed.

But its spiritual pressure was only around the level of a lieutenant.

Naruto flash-stepped backward and raised his hand. The seal, like a net, caught and blocked all the threads.

They struggled violently, stretching taut in an attempt to pierce through the seal.

"So… this body is your 'shell'?"Naruto observed it, curiosity flickering in his eyes.

A Hollow like a hermit crab.

It had crawled out of its original "shell," trying to invade him and make his body the new one?

Confident enough to parasitize even a captain?

This was a first.

The creature squirmed and twisted but said nothing. In this form, it seemed incapable of speech.

Take it to the 12th Division.

"A Hollow that can make a Soul Reaper's Zanpakutō disappear and parasitize others?"Mayuri Kurotsuchi's eyes widened in surprise.

Naruto nodded, face slightly grim.

Parasitism wasn't the real concern.

But making a Zanpakutō disappear…

That ability was far more troubling.

And if it could threaten a 3rd seat, then what about lieutenants or even captains?

If someone were caught off guard, unaware of the Hollow's abilities—what could happen then?

"Let me research it."Mayuri narrowed his eyes and reached for the scroll Naruto was holding.

But Naruto raised his hand higher.

"Captain Uzumaki, what's the meaning of this?"Mayuri clicked his tongue."This isn't what we agreed upon."

Naruto's expression turned cold, his tone carrying a hint of threat:"I just don't trust you."

"Without additional material, it's hard to analyze this Hollow's abilities properly.""And considering your patience—and your moral compass—"

"I believe you'd probably end up experimenting on souls."

Mayuri lowered his hand and responded casually:"Isn't using the best material to achieve results faster just common sense?"

Naruto said nothing, only stared at him.

"You and the Head Captain…"Mayuri sighed."Fine."

"I promise, I will absolutely not use Soul Reapers in the experiments."

Naruto still didn't lower his hand.

"Nor human souls… or Mod Souls," Mayuri added.

Naruto still didn't budge.

Mayuri pouted:"Even those who were stripped of their Zanpakutō and forcibly removed from their squads—I won't use them either. Satisfied?"

Naruto narrowed his eyes, observing him with suspicion.

Kagura's Mind Eye confirmed it: he was telling the truth.

Still… the man gave in too easily. With his personality, he'd usually need a beating and some harsh reality before reluctantly agreeing.

Had he already been broken?

Couldn't be…

"Captain Uzumaki, what are you still hesitating about?"Mayuri reached out again, but refrained from saying more.This guy could detect lies—saying too much might be risky.

Naruto thought it over. There weren't many other soul types he needed to worry about.

He handed over the scroll:"Captain Mayuri, please prioritize the research on the ability to 'make Zanpakutō disappear.'"

"It's very important."

Mayuri nodded with a grin.

—

Leaving the 12th Division, Naruto headed to the 13th Division.

To the vice-captain's office.

Inside were not only the captain and vice-captain of the 13th Division, but also Rukia.

Captain Unohana from the 4th Division was present as well.

Kaien Shiba's already tense face was now furrowed in worry.

When he saw Naruto arrive, he finally relaxed a little:"Naruto, we owe you a lot this time."

"Do told me what happened."

"Thank you for saving her."

Naruto shook his head:"Kaien-nii, no need for thanks. What's important now is Miss Do's condition. Her Zanpakutō…?"

Unohana looked up, frowning slightly:"Miss Shiba's Zanpakutō hasn't been sealed."

"It has truly disappeared."

"Her soul has suffered damage and will need restoration."

"There is a chance it can be recovered."

Which meant…

There was also a chance it couldn't.

Do Shiba forced a smile:"Don't worry about me. My body's fine."

"It's just… losing my Zanpakutō."

She looked up at Ukitake Jūshirō:"Captain, please reassign me to another post. I'm no longer suited to be the 3rd seat."

Rukia objected, speaking quickly and nervously:"Miss Do, that's not true! You can still—"

"Rukia."Do smiled gently at her."Don't say that."

"We are Soul Reapers. We must be mindful of our duties."

"And it's not like I'm leaving the 13th Division. I'm just stepping down from the 3rd seat."

Rukia was stunned for a moment, then lowered her head:"Yes, Miss Do. I was being selfish."

Kaien patted her on the head:"Nothing is more important than survival."

He sighed deeply, voice heavy.

He wasn't only worried about his wife—but about the 13th Division as a whole:"Have Hollows evolved to this extent now?"

Naruto shook his head:"It's not evolution."

Everyone in the room turned to him.

"It's modification."Naruto's voice was soft, but resolute."Modification."

"Even though I'm saying this in front of Miss Do…"

"This is good news."

"The culprit's flaw has been exposed."

"Though we can't prove it's that person yet, we can now confirm that such an individual exists."

The others were confused.

But Ukitake and Unohana—those in the know—immediately understood.

In every version, nothing was off.

"I'll inform my teacher," Ukitake responded.

Unohana nodded and stood:"I'll prepare. See you soon."

—

An hour later.

First Division Headquarters.

"Captain Ukitake said you had something urgent,"The Head Captain's gaze fixed on Naruto."Urgent enough to convene all captains."

"You've alarmed the entire Gotei 13..."

"What is it that you want to say?"

Naruto looked toward Mayuri.

The man with a face painted pitch-black pouted:"Such a hassle."

He pulled out a device from his robes and tossed it to the ground:"Take a look."

"Detailed information on that Hollow."

A light screen expanded, displaying countless data points.

Aizen let out a soft "oh?"

Some seemed to understand; others looked lost.

"Some of you may be total idiots when it comes to research,"Mayuri clicked his tongue, sweeping a mocking gaze over the other captains.

Kenpachi Zaraki reached for his sword.

Naruto flash-stepped and caught his hand:"Captain Mayuri is quite fragile right now. He can't withstand your spiritual pressure."

The Mayuri present was only a shadow clone.

Kenpachi clicked his tongue and looked away in annoyance.

He wasn't the only one confused—just the least patient.

Seeing he nearly got his real body smashed, Mayuri chuckled smugly:"This Hollow's abilities are quite strange."

"It can make a Soul Reaper's Zanpakutō disappear."

"And it has a fusion ability."

"Even those with Level 4 spiritual power can't resist it. Once parasitized, it gains all of that person's memories and thoughts."

Naruto blinked and looked at him in surprise.

That fast?

And he'd already uncovered this much?

"This isn't something a normal Hollow could possess."Mayuri continued,"I swear on my… well—"

He paused, realizing his own character was worthless, and changed course:"I swear on Captain Uzumaki's character: this is definitely a genetically modified creature."

"Also, within its body, we found traces of Soul Reaper energy. Though different from conventional types, its essence is the same."

"In other words—"

"Someone is secretly researching Hollowification of Soul Reapers."

"Sound familiar?"

"A few decades ago, the very same research got Tōsen Kaname killed by Captain Uzumaki."

The Head Captain's brows furrowed slightly:"And now someone is again engaging in this treacherous practice."

"Captain Mayuri, can you identify who's behind this?"

Mayuri shook his head:"I'm just a humble scientist."

"Ask Captain Uzumaki. He told me only to report the facts."

The Head Captain turned to Naruto.

Naruto stepped back into place:"I can't identify the culprit—not without direct evidence."

"But—"

"He thinks he covered his tracks perfectly, but everything leaves a trace."

"This evidence is enough to confirm such a person exists."

"And whether it's Hollowifying Soul Reapers or Soul Reaper-ifying Hollows—"

"These two studies are, in essence, the same."

"Allow me a bold speculation."

Naruto's face was expressionless as he locked eyes with the Head Captain—never glancing at Aizen:"Perhaps Tōsen Kaname wasn't the mastermind back then."

"Just the scapegoat, pushed forward by the real culprit."

"There is someone far more dangerous among us."

The Head Captain responded quietly:"Is that so?"

He understood what Naruto was implying.

Tōsen had been a lieutenant—and the only ones with the authority to order a lieutenant…

There were fewer than ten people in all of Soul Society with that power.

—

The meeting concluded.

Naruto walked alongside Aizen, while the other captains kept their distance.

"Congratulations, Naruto-kun,"

Aizen said softly,"You turned the tables and found a flaw."

Naruto looked up at him.

That face showed not even the slightest sign of panic.

Kagura's Mind Eye reflected the truth.

He was sincerely congratulating him.

(End of Chapter)