Naruto didn't respond. Instead, he shot a glance at Shunsui Kyōraku.
He immediately called over his drinking buddies and led Aizen away.
A group of "drunks" were making a merry mess at the wedding banquet.
Kurama was one of them.
Komamura Sajin, who was mixing in with the group, looked completely out of place with his serious demeanor, but he insisted on staying by Kurama's side. The two of them had a decent relationship. The "Tōsen Kaname" incident had dealt a huge blow to Komamura, nearly shattering his faith in "humans." Kurama's presence brought a bit of light back into his life.
It just—
—had a strong sense of déjà vu.
The wedding banquet ended.
Byakuya Kuchiki called Naruto over.
"Lady Hisana, congratulations on your marriage," Naruto said with a bright smile, reaching out to slap the table.
"Thank you, Captain Uzumaki," Hisana replied cautiously.
During the wedding, she had come to understand that the blond-haired youth who had been running around, helping tirelessly with her and Byakuya's wedding arrangements, wasn't just a "cute junior." He was the captain of the Seventh Division—his status even higher than Byakuya's.
She had also noticed how others treated him.
Most were respectful. Some were afraid of him—like the Kōga family, who didn't even dare to approach Naruto Uzumaki.
"Lady Hisana, why are you speaking to me like that?" Naruto shook his head. "Just talk to me like before."
Hisana gave a wry smile. "It still feels unreal to me."
Byakuya stood beside his wife, his face showing a rare smile.
Naruto slapped the table, summoning a scroll.
"This is a wedding gift from me and Captain Mayuri," he said, pushing the scroll over.
Byakuya blinked in surprise.
Captain Mayuri? Kurotsuchi Mayuri?
They had no real connection—though he had sent an invitation, Mayuri hadn't attended.
"Naruto, I—" Hisana instinctively wanted to refuse.
Naruto tapped the scroll lightly. "Just take a look first, Byakuya."
"It took us quite a bit of time to prepare this."
Hisana didn't understand "Shinigami" technology, so the contents of the scroll were lost on her.
But Byakuya's eyes widened in shock, his emotions visibly shaken.
"Ordinary souls have very short lifespans," Naruto said gently. "It might not have been noticed before, but during this period, Captain Mayuri and I confirmed that the high-reiatsu environment of Seireitei damages normal souls."
His tone carried a hint of satisfaction.
This discovery confirmed something important to him—that the separation between Rukongai and Seireitei wasn't just due to "status," but that the spiritual pressure environment of Seireitei was itself harmful to souls. That might be the real cause of this division.
Byakuya was stunned.
Seireitei was the only high-reiatsu zone in Soul Society.
He turned to look at Hisana.
Naruto continued, "This might further shorten Lady Hisana's lifespan."
Hisana's face visibly paled.
Byakuya held her hand tightly.
"So I asked Captain Mayuri to improve upon the 'Gigai' technology," Naruto said, pointing at the scroll again. A puff of white smoke appeared, and a humanoid body with a blank, featureless face emerged.
"Just like the Gigai that Captain Urahara developed," he added.
"It stabilizes the spirit body and can absorb reishi, nurturing the soul."
Byakuya and Hisana both visibly relaxed.
"Thank you, Naruto," Byakuya said, bowing.
Naruto waved his hand. "We still can't confirm how much this Gigai can extend Lady Hisana's life. It's just a temporary solution to a pressing problem."
"Wait to thank us when we figure out how to give her spiritual power—so she can become a Shinigami."
Hisana widened her eyes.
Could ordinary souls really become Shinigami?
Byakuya froze, thinking of something. "Like my father?"
Naruto shook his head. "No."
Hisana was confused.
She had met Sōjun Kuchiki—a gentle man. What was the issue?
"A sealed power within one's body is still external," Naruto explained. "It doesn't change Lady Hisana's current state."
Byakuya nodded gravely.
"To be able to marry Byakuya in my remaining lifetime is already the luckiest thing to ever happen to me," Hisana said softly, shaking her head. "What virtue or capability do I have to trouble two captains over someone like me—"
Naruto interrupted her. "It's actually a very interesting research topic."
"And it overlaps with another of Captain Mayuri's current projects, so it doesn't interfere with anything else."
"Besides—"
"It won't delay anything."
He smiled.
Mayuri was indeed a madman.
Ever since he learned the "Multi Shadow Clone" technique, he had pushed himself to the limit—his average clone's spiritual pressure barely equaling that of a standard academy student.
All Naruto did was redirect one of his less important research projects toward "how to give spiritual power to ordinary souls."
Hisana took a deep breath. "I…"
Both men turned to her.
"I know it's selfish to say this now," Hisana bowed her head, voice sincere, "but I can't hide this mistake any longer."
"I…"
"I came to Soul Society with my younger sister, Rukia."
"We were both sent to Inuzuri District."
"But in that place, I couldn't survive while protecting her as a baby—so I abandoned her and escaped alone."
"So I beg you, Byakuya, and Naruto—please help me find my sister."
Byakuya hesitated briefly.
"No problem," Naruto agreed instantly.
He looked at Hisana calmly.
He understood the pain of being separated from family.
Though her act of abandoning her sister left a sour taste in his mouth.
So that's what she was hiding…
Naruto felt that, going forward, he would have difficulty doing anything more for Lady Hisana.
After chatting a bit more, Naruto left and returned to the Seventh Division quarters.
The drunken crowd was still "partying."
Kurama was dancing like Isshin Shiba.
Sui-Feng watched helplessly. Ōmaeda was sweating nervously.
"Uncle Shunsui," Naruto called into the crowd, addressing the drunk man slumped over a table.
Shunsui Kyōraku looked up and, upon seeing Naruto's serious expression, immediately sobered up and walked over. "What is it? Did something happen?"
Naruto shook his head, leading him into another room. He drew Kurama and stabbed it into the tatami floor.
A wave of yin spiritual pressure flooded out, enveloping the room, sealing it in a barrier.
This level of caution made Shunsui's expression turn serious as well.
"Aizen spoke to me at the wedding," Naruto said quietly.
Shunsui nodded—he'd noticed. Naruto had even asked him to lead Aizen away.
"He's up to something," Naruto said softly.
Shunsui was puzzled. "Why do you think that?"
"He just said a few words to you."
Naruto frowned. "Aizen is a prideful man. He sees those who can't see through his tricks as fools."
"But if someone can…"
"He enjoys the thrill of direct confrontation."
"That kind of man wouldn't approach me for no reason."
Shunsui looked unhappy.
He didn't care how others viewed him. That attitude came from the fact that few could actually affect him.
But Aizen was different. He had the power to make an impact.
To be considered a "fool" by such a man…
"What do you need me to do?" Despite his annoyance, Shunsui remained calm. "But I can only do small things within my role."
"Since we have no evidence."
Naruto shook his head. "What he really wants is information about Kurama."
"To confirm whether it's truly my zanpakutō—whether it's the factor that allows me to escape his influence."
"So he will definitely try to force me to act."
"The easiest way to do that is to go after people close to me."
Shunsui thought aloud, "But he absolutely wouldn't dare touch Shinigami again."
"All the evidence now points to Tōsen Kaname as the mastermind of the Hollowfication incident."
"Touching another Shinigami would undo his previous groundwork."
"So the targets are those around you who aren't Shinigami."
He paused. "Kuchiki Hisana?"
"No, it won't be Lady Hisana," Naruto said firmly, shaking his head.
Shunsui gave him a surprised look.
Why…
Why did his tone suddenly become so distant when referring to her?
"I did all that for Byakuya," Naruto continued. "Besides, Lady Hisana is more closely tied to the Kuchiki family. If something happened to her, with the Kuchiki family involved, I might not take action."
"It can only be someone else."
"Among those around me, those who aren't Shinigami and could be targeted…"
He paused and thought deeply.
After a while, he and Shunsui looked at each other and simultaneously spoke the same name:
"Ginjō Kūgo."
The Substitute Shinigami wasn't under the Gotei 13's jurisdiction.
His status was similar to the four powerful individuals who guarded the gates of Soul Society.
"Should we call him to Soul Society?" Shunsui suggested.
Naruto shook his head, his face serious. "It'd be hard. Kūgo has his own life in the living world."
"That's troublesome," Shunsui frowned. "An enemy we can't even track."
Naruto mused, "It might not be Aizen himself who acts."
Shunsui blinked.
"He suspects Kurama is my zanpakutō," Naruto continued. "But he's unsure what kind of change that implies."
"Unpredictability is something he can't control."
"And because of that, he's already suffered two losses at my hands."
"So…"
"I think this time, he'll use someone else to go after Kūgo."
"If it's someone else acting, then as long as they make a move, they'll leave a trace."
"Uncle Shunsui."
"Please help me look into anyone who might be interested in 'Fullbring' abilities."
(End of Chapter)