Naruto checked his personal belongings.
The items he had prepared before leaving Soul Society were still intact and by his side. Even the fragile seals on them remained.It seemed like his departure and arrival hadn't caused any noticeable energy fluctuation.And the things he had prepared in the Shinobi World hadn't been brought over either.
Traveling between two worlds…Yet, there was no detectable "space-time" fluctuation.
He stretched lazily and got out of bed.He tried to recall what he needed to do recently.It seemed the only thing worth his attention was Byakuya's romantic situation.
After freshening up, he stepped into the office.
Soi Fon was perched like a wooden statue at a small low table.Naruto paused mid-step.Oh… he almost forgot about this person.
But unlike before, when she saw Naruto enter, Soi Fon looked up and gave him a once-over."You seem… taller."
As someone a bit lacking in the height department, she was quite sensitive to such changes.Naruto smiled warmly, "Really?"
"I haven't measured myself, but I guess I did grow taller."
Soi Fon tilted her head, thinking back over Naruto's recent lifestyle and diet.She had imitated everything else.Maybe it was the izakaya (Japanese pub) that she hadn't tried.But could that kind of place help someone grow taller?
Naruto reviewed his memories and handled some trivial matters before leaving the squad barracks.Soi Fon thought for a moment but didn't follow him.
There were still some duties in Squad 7 that needed tending to—After all, she couldn't keep hogging someone else's captain office.These small tasks were something she could help with.She even "missed" this kind of role—similar to "errand duty"—which she had while serving under Yoruichi.
Just as he left the barracks—
"Back in Soul Society again?"The Sun Nine-Tails spoke with excitement, and Naruto could almost visualize it wagging its tail.
"Yeah." Naruto nodded.
Sun Nine-Tails chuckled, "Naruto, my sword!"
"I'll go ask around and get one for you," Naruto replied with a smile.
"There's one more thing."The fox took a deep breath. "I discussed it with the other me—we want to let me come out and move around."
Naruto nodded thoughtfully. "Why?"
Although Soul Society seemed peaceful…There was still a threat—Aizen Sōsuke.
"The other me and I share perception—but not entirely," Sun Nine-Tails explained. "If I get affected by a technique, it doesn't mean the other me will too."
"If it can't see it, it won't be affected?"
The fox paused for a bit, whispering with the other, then quickly added:"And we also thought this could be a kind of proactive tactic, a deterrent to Aizen—yeah, deterrent!"
Naruto smiled.He suddenly felt something was missing—Karin.
If she were here, she'd probably say,"Took two brains to come up with one word, huh," or maybe, "Didn't know you two had brains."
"This is fine too," Naruto thought and nodded in agreement.
Although—
Sun Nine-Tails mostly wanted this for the sake of its own freedom.Still, there was nothing wrong with that.
"If Aizen gets close and tries to release his Zanpakuto, remember…" Naruto continued.
Sun Nine-Tails grumbled, "I know that already."
Naruto shook his head, "Aizen can affect perception, hearing, sight. A reminder from you won't help."
"You have to remind the other you, and it has to remind me."
Sun Nine-Tails was stunned for a moment, then pieced it together.
It wasn't under hypnosis—it could see reality.
But if Naruto was under hypnosis,then what the outside Sun Nine-Tails said could be manipulated by Aizen's illusion.
Even if it gave the right message, Naruto might receive the wrong one.But the Yin Nine-Tails was still inside Naruto and unaffected.
If the outer one passed a message to the inner one, then to Naruto,the information would be reliable.
"What a hassle," the fox muttered. "Got it."
"Then I'll come out?"
Naruto smiled, "Want to meet Captain Kurotsuchi?"
Sun Nine-Tails froze—It barely peeked its head from Naruto's shoulder before immediately ducking back.
"You're going to see him?""I'll wait till you come back."
It clearly didn't like that crazy weirdo.
Twelfth Division Barracks.
"Well well, if it isn't Captain Uzumaki," Kurotsuchi Mayuri greeted him, waving with exaggerated sarcasm."Seems this is your first visit since Urahara left."
"What brings you here?"
Naruto waved his hand dismissively and only spoke once they were inside the lab:
"I want to make a trade."
"I want to know…"
"Where do Asauchi come from?"
"All your research on Zanpakuto."
Mayuri rubbed his hands together, eyes burning with interest:"I suggested this years ago. Now Captain Uzumaki finally comes around?"
"Then please offer your Zanpakuto—"
Naruto interrupted with a shake of his head, "A trade, not a collaboration."
"And definitely not as your test subject."
"Trade…" Mayuri narrowed his eyes, speaking slower now. "Then the price is different."
"These things are… practically worth the stability of the entire Soul Society."
Naruto raised one finger, "I offer a technique."
Mayuri scoffed silently—but his disdain was obvious.
"You remember that clone technique I used?" Naruto said quietly.
Mayuri frowned, "That one?"
He was curious about many of Naruto's secrets.But that clone technique was the least interesting.
Its fatal flaw was that clones split the user's spiritual pressure.And in Soul Reaper battles, spiritual pressure is everything.
A clone with half the power was only a disadvantage.
"You won't be able to refuse this one." Naruto smiled, flipping his hand and summoning a scroll.
"It may not help in combat, but each clone, when dispelled, returns its memory, knowledge, and experience back to the user."
Mayuri's pupils widened as he stared at the scroll."You mean…"
"I could simultaneously run multiple experiments—and…"
"My whole division could become geniuses like me?"
Naruto set the scroll down, "Exactly."
"But before you lay off everyone in the 12th, I suggest you ask the Head-Captain first."
Mayuri was clearly tempted.
For a scientist, nothing was more valuable than this.
Yes, Soul Reapers had long lifespans.But—
Progressing faster in research was its own reward.Achieving results in one year instead of ten felt entirely different.
"Can I take a look?" Mayuri asked.
After Naruto nodded, he reached for the scroll and unrolled it.
Multi Shadow Clone wasn't a difficult jutsu—Especially after Mayuri had studied Summoning Jutsu, and Naruto had even optimized this one to better suit spiritual pressure.
A few hours later—Mayuri made a seal with one hand, summoned two clones, toyed with them for a bit, then dispelled them.
The memory return was instant.
Delight sparkled in his eyes:"Your secrets, Naruto-kun, are truly mouthwatering."
"You want to know about Zanpakuto?"
"Let me think where to start…"
He paused for a while before speaking again:"Since you're asking, you must've already noticed."
"Every year, the Shin'o Academy gets hundreds of Asauchi."
"But there's no department in Soul Society responsible for forging them."
Naruto nodded.
"I'm not a combat expert," Mayuri continued."For people like you, mastering Bankai is simple."
He let out a dry chuckle:"Ah, but you're one of those who struggle with Bankai, right?"
"I have no talent for Bankai."
"But I solved it—used Nemuri Type 5 technology to create my own."
Naruto narrowed his eyes.
If not for the clone technique being so appealing, Mayuri probably wouldn't have told him the truth.His research into Zanpakuto clearly wasn't limited to Shikai—It had long reached Bankai territory.
Mayuri deliberately paused again.
Seeing "Nemuri Type 5" didn't interest Naruto, he clicked his tongue in frustration.
"You know, I was once imprisoned in Squad 2's jail before joining the 12th Division, deemed a danger to Soul Society."
Naruto nodded again—He knew that much.
"And the reason for that," Mayuri's face took on rare human emotion, tinged with nostalgia,"Was because I was secretly part of a research organization."
"Its leader was none other than the previous captain of the 12th Division—Kirio Hikifune."
"But…"
"She didn't retire or die. She took a different path."
"She ascended."
Those two words surprised Naruto.
"Central 46?" he guessed.
But he immediately rejected it.
The Central 46 was a corrupt place that never promoted Soul Reapers.Their members were selected from nobility—only by blood, not strength.
Then a thought hit Naruto: "Something to do with the Soul King?"
Mayuri let out a creepy giggle:"Sharp as ever, Captain Uzumaki."
"Hikifune ascended to become one of the Royal Guard."
"The reason wasn't disclosed, but I suspect it was due to her work on Artificial Souls."
"I've never seen her again."
"So, I suspect the source of Asauchi is the Royal Guard."
He said this while drawing his own blade.
"Maybe… long ago, someone developed the ability to forge Asauchi—And ascended because of it."
"Captain Uzumaki…"
"Do you know what the raw material for an Asauchi is?"
Naruto shook his head.
(End of Chapter)