"Ginjo went out," the middle-aged man replied. "If you have any instructions, you can tell me first."
"When Ginjo is not around, I can act as the interim leader of the organization."
He grinned, revealing a sincere smile.
"My name is Amagata Tenkei."
"I'm the oldest member of this organization."
Naruto nodded and smiled in response. "Is everyone in your organization here? Has anyone left?"
"Where did Kūgo go?"
Amagata Tenkei glanced at the short-haired girl still hanging, thought for a moment, then replied, "We received news that a Fullbringer appeared in Aomori. This morning, Ginjo led a team there."
"As for the other members of the organization, there are two groups out on missions."
"Four people?" Naruto asked.
Tenkei paused, then nodded.
"This morning, to Aomori?" Naruto frowned.
"Aomori" was in the northeastern part of the country, relatively far away. Even at his speed, it would take him several hours to get there.
If the Kugo clan's target was Ginjo Kūgo, and he went now, he'd likely be too late.
But...
He had never returned the "Substitute Soul Reaper Badge" to Ginjo Kūgo. Without that, the Kugo clan had no means of surveillance—so how could they respond so quickly, mobilizing right after Ginjo left?
"Captain Uzumaki, are you looking for Ginjo for something?" Tenkei asked. "We can get in touch with him."
"Right now?" Naruto was surprised.
Tenkei nodded and waved his hand.
A timid-looking boy holding a map approached.
He looked about ten years old, short—barely 120 cm, even shorter than Naruto had been at that age—with a bowl cut that covered his eyes and an eerie, decaying aura despite his young age.
"His name is Wakamatsu Tomoya," Tenkei introduced. "His Fullbring is very unique—it's a map-based ability."
"Whoever he marks will appear on the map, showing their exact location."
"And he can communicate with them anytime, anywhere."
Naruto looked at him. Even his gentle gaze made the boy hide behind Tenkei in fear. "Even if Kūgo is already in Aomori?"
Tenkei nodded. "Yes. We've tested it."
"As long as the target is within the area covered by Tomoya's map, he can mark and communicate without interference."
"He's the most precious treasure of our organization."
Such an ability—
Not just unique. It was astonishing.
It was similar to "Bakudō #77: Tenteikūra," but that spell's range was tied to the caster's spiritual pressure.
The stronger the spiritual pressure, the wider the range.
Even with Naruto's current perception ability, his effective range was just over 50 kilometers.
But from Naruki City to Aomori was nearly 800 kilometers.
"Then I'll trouble you to contact Kūgo," Naruto said to Wakamatsu.
The boy nodded timidly and opened the map in his hands.
It was an old national map, with the publication date dating back to when Ginjo Kūgo was still young.
He pointed at the map, which began to glow.
The spiritual pressure used wasn't strong—in fact, very weak, even less than what Mayuri Kurotsuchi could output.
But then, something incredible happened.
Little cartoon heads began to pop up across the map—adorable and distinctive sketches.
Over a dozen heads clustered in the map's center—Tenkei and his group.
Three other heads appeared in the northeast corner.
Ginjo's head stood out clearly.
A square face with sharp, sword-like eyebrows—despite the lack of detailed features, it was unmistakably him.
Wakamatsu pointed at Ginjo's cartoon head.
Instantly, the face twisted, spiritual pressure surged, and Ginjo Kūgo's head materialized, floating above the map.
"Ah, Tomoya, it's a bit inconvenient here. I'll chat briefly with you. Then maybe find Uncle Tenkei or—"
Wakamatsu interrupted, "Kūgo-nii, it's not that I missed you."
"Someone wants to talk to you."
Naruto spoke up, "Kūgo, it's me."
Ginjo turned his head with some difficulty—he seemed to be in a cramped space. "Captain Uzumaki? What brings you here?"
"Are you really the Ginjo Kūgo I know?" Naruto asked.
"Of course," Ginjo nodded, puzzled.
Just as he was about to ask why—
He froze, recalling what Naruto said the first time they met: "No one can lie in front of me."
So...
He's verifying if I am really me.
"Something happened?" Ginjo's expression turned serious.
Naruto was thoughtful.
Even though only a "head" appeared before him, his Kagura Shingan could still function.
How did this technique work?
The spiritual pressure was weak—yet the effect was extraordinary.
Was this the power of the "Soul King"?
What exactly is that kind of power?
"If nothing has happened to you, then that's fine." Naruto shook his head.
Ginjo breathed a sigh of relief. "All good here. No enemies."
"You seem a little uncomfortable," Naruto noted his expression.
That grouchy face didn't look like "all good."
Ginjo frowned. "The car I bought is a bit cramped. A few people squeezed together. Not very comfy."
"Can you initiate contact with Wakamatsu?" Naruto asked.
Ginjo shook his head.
"I can't," Wakamatsu answered softly. "Only I can decide who to contact."
"How long can you maintain this?" Naruto asked gently.
Wakamatsu lowered his head, avoiding eye contact. "As long as Kūgo-nii doesn't mind, I can hold it forever."
Naruto sensed the boy's spiritual pressure—barely any drain.
Kagura Shingan confirmed he was telling the truth.
So, he really could maintain this for as long as needed.
An incredible ability.
He realized he had underestimated Fullbring abilities simply because Ginjo rarely used his.
So this was the might of the "Soul King's power"?
"Then please keep it going," Naruto said, reaching out his hand.
Wakamatsu flinched, eyes closed in fear. "But this will trouble Kūgo-nii."
"No, it won't," Ginjo quickly replied. "This is serious. Tomoya, hang in there."
Wakamatsu looked up, lifting his head.
Naruto patted him on the head gently.
But his thoughts wandered.
This organization was safe.
Ginjo Kūgo was unharmed.
So... what was the Kugo Clan's real objective in mobilizing?
Could it really be what they claimed—hunting Hollows in the Human World?
That didn't seem likely.
"Has anyone near you encountered a Fullbringer who hasn't joined the organization yet?" Naruto asked.
Ginjo chuckled, "Captain Uzumaki, I've worked hard over the past six months."
"I've convinced every last one."
"Except the one I'm about to meet—everyone else has already agreed."
But—
The expression on Amagata Tenkei's face changed ever so slightly.
Naruto noticed immediately and turned to him. "Mr. Amagata, are you hiding something?"
Tenkei remained silent.
"This is serious," Naruto frowned. "It concerns the safety of the one you're hiding."
"No one will find her," Tenkei said, shaking his head. "I've protected her very well."
"Don't overestimate yourself," Naruto said firmly, unlocking the chains and lowering the short-haired girl. "Your protection is nothing before a strong enemy."
"Tell the truth."
Tenkei raised his head and looked Naruto in the eye.
In a city near Naruki.
The Amagata household.
In a dark basement, an eight-year-old girl was chained at the ankle, lying in a corner on a bed, emotionlessly and calmly fiddling with an invisible wooden doll.
Suddenly—
A beam of light flashed.
"Papa!" she turned and called out.
But—
The face beyond the light wasn't the one she recognized. It was a young man with dark green hair, dressed in elegant clothing.
"Who are you?" she dropped the wooden doll and leaned forward, not scared at all. "I've never seen you before."
"How pitiful, locked up since you were little," the man leaned in and examined her. "Have you ever seen the outside world?"
She shook her head. "Papa said the outside is dangerous."
"So I'm not allowed to go."
"But Papa went to find a very powerful man. He said that powerful man might bring us safety."
"Then I can go outside."
She spoke a long line, but even "freedom" didn't stir much emotion in her voice.
She didn't seem to yearn for it.
The man extended his hand, voice laced with danger: "Do you want to come with me?"
"To see the outside world?"
"I have more power than your father. I can protect you."
The girl tilted her head and reached out her hand to his. "What's your name?"
He smiled. "Kugō Tsukishima."
"The man who will soon become the most noble—and most sinful—man in the world."
The girl couldn't understand.
Her vocabulary didn't yet support concepts like "noble" or "sinful."
Soul Society, Seireitei.
Aizen and Gin Ichimaru stood atop a tall tower, watching the fire and chaos in the distance.
"I thought Lord Aizen's grand scheme was to deal with Captain Uzumaki," Gin said softly, grinning brightly. "I didn't expect this to be your goal."
"Seireitei is about to get lively."
Aizen smiled slightly. "The purifying flames of sin... are truly beautiful."
"So thrilling."
(End of Chapter)