Spiritual pressure surged.
It stirred up a biting wind that whipped Konamidai Tokitana's entire face upward, twisting it into layers of wrinkles—contorted and ugly.
But this didn't stop him from speaking:"Even after learning the truth, this is still your attitude?"
"How naïve. Laughable."
"You people are all the same."
"Trying to turn me into a new wedge."
"Though I've always thought I was talented, Captain Uzumaki clearly overestimates me."
Naruto gave no reply.
He raised his other hand, pulling out a portion of his spiritual energy—glowing blue, like liquid light, dripping down in radiant patterns.
It surged upward, covering Konamidai Tokitana's face.
It split into strands—wiggling like worms—crawling into his eyes, nostrils, and mouth, invading his body.
A pre-prepared seal was etched onto his chest.
"Four Symbols Seal!"
The complex formula locked into place.
Konamidai Tokitana lowered his head, staring at the seal as if trying to memorize it.
But in the next moment—
Naruto pointed his finger again, and several additional formulae appeared, concealing the "Four Symbols Seal."
"What is this?" Konamidai Tokitana asked in a low voice.
Naruto replied calmly, "A brand."
"A hunter always leaves a mark on his prey—just in case they disappear or start thinking dirty thoughts."
Konamidai Tokitana gave no response.
With the seal complete, the chains were removed.
The man with moss-green hair collapsed to the ground in a sorry state.
Naruto walked over and took the hand of the little girl.
"Captain Uzumaki, she promised to come with me—" Konamidai Tokitana looked up and grinned.
In response—
A bolt of lightning.
A chantless "Byakurai" struck past his ear, searing flesh, filling the air with a burnt stench.
"Even the Soul King, though dismembered, can still serve as the wedge of the world," Naruto said coldly as he looked back. "So you missing an ear shouldn't be a problem."
Konamidai Tokitana gritted his teeth, his expression darkening.
"Don't forget," Naruto said softly.
"You're a substitute wedge."
"A prey."
He took Aura Anagata and vanished with shunpo.
Konamidai Tokitana stood, picking up the pierced, torn-off ear. Though he had been humiliated tonight, he laughed with unexplainable delight.
Naruki City, Inside the Organization Base.
"You really are scum," a short-haired girl said, eyeing Anagata Tenkei with disgust. "Locking up your own daughter, depriving her of freedom."
"It was to protect her," Tenkei snapped back.
"And yet someone targeted her," the girl said, playing with a hairpin and rolling her eyes. "That's your so-called protection?"
Tenkei shook his head. "It was only a guess."
"If Ginjo hadn't insisted—"
"And if that man's strength hadn't been so great—"
His words were cut off by another voice."Then you should be thankful you told me early."
Everyone turned to look.
It was Naruto, back again—holding the little girl by the hand.
"Aura!" Anagata Tenkei shot up and strode forward.
A golden chain shot out, wrapping around him tightly.
"What are you doing?!" He struggled and shouted. "I'm her father!"
Naruto remained calm. "Someone was indeed targeting her."
"But it's been dealt with."
"And that place isn't fit for a child to live alone. So I brought her here."
Tenkei's resistance weakened.
"But..." Naruto raised his eyes to the man bound in golden chains. "You truly are an unfit father."
"That's why I won't leave this child in your care."
"So—"
He scanned the room, and finally settled on someone. "I'll leave her with you."
The short-haired girl pointed at herself in shock. "Me?"
"When Kuugo returns, help him take care of her," Naruto smiled.
The girl hesitated. "I mean, I could… but why does this kind of troublesome thing fall on me? I hate socializing with people."
"Then I'll pick someone else," Naruto offered.
"No need!" she rejected instantly. "If you hand her over to someone else now, are you looking down on me?"
"It's just taking care of a kid."
"Big bro Kuugo is good at that."
On the table, the floating head bobbed and laughed.
"I'm her father! I should take care of my own child!" Tenkei shouted, raising his hands and struggling.
"But you're not fit to be a father," Naruto said plainly. "Maybe from the beginning, your absence was actually a blessing for the child."
Tenkei grew furious.
In the corner, a man in British attire closed his book and spoke calmly."I remember reading a study overseas."
"A child's crying and desire for hugs is their way of seeking interaction and security."
"Without that for too long, a child may lose their sense of the outside world."
"And the symptoms..."
"Are just like your daughter."
All eyes turned to Anagata Aura.
Unlike the other child in the room, she showed no fear at being stared at.
Or rather—
Her face was so numb, it showed no emotion at all.
Tenkei froze, whispering, "I just wanted to protect her..."
"Deluded and untimely protection is a form of abuse," Naruto said, guiding Aura to the girl's side. "Thankfully she's still young. Let's make up for the childhood she lost."
Tenkei lowered his head.
"Is the trouble resolved?" the head on the table asked as Naruto turned to leave.
Naruto looked back and smiled. "Your troubles are resolved—for now."
As for his own...
He still couldn't quite figure it out.
Konamidai Residence, Soul Society.
Flames blazed, consuming several buildings to ash.
Konamidai Tokitana entered one of them.
The head of the family sat in his seat—lifeless and dead.
All the other heir candidates were there too, their corpses seated in order, as if attending a council.
Tokitana returned to his own seat.
"No one has anything to say?" he asked after a long silence, chuckling. "Aren't you usually all so noisy? Why can't any of you speak now?"
"Oh well—"
"This is an important occasion, after all."
"In that case, allow me to break the silence."
"I propose that, following the death of the head, Konamidai Tokitana shall succeed as head of the family."
"No objections?"
"Then it's settled."
He stood up, walked to the former head's corpse, pushed it aside casually, and sat in his place. Even as blood stained his clothes, he didn't budge.
"So this..."
"Is what it feels like to be the head of Konamidai," he grinned grotesquely. No joy could be seen in his eyes.
Basking in his own madness, he suddenly recalled something and scanned the room.
"To the one who manipulated the Konamidai family into doing all this—you should be here, right?"
"Why not come out and meet me?"
"Thank you for giving me a reason and opportunity to execute the Konamidai clan. I've been working very hard to repay your kindness when facing Captain Uzumaki."
"But he really is a righteous man."
"Even when provoked, he only sliced off one of my ears."
"Too bad I wasn't head of the family at that time. Otherwise... he could've been stripped of his powers for offending a noble."
"So let's talk—about what kind of ending Captain Naruto deserves."
"Shall we?"
No one answered.
But he was right—someone else was in the room, even if he couldn't see them.
Gin Ichimaru whispered, "I think his proposal isn't bad."
"And he's sharp—able to sense Aizen-sama's presence."
"The Konamidai family might be a useful force."
Aizen adjusted his glasses. "Gin, didn't you notice?"
"That guy is already Naruto-kun's prey."
He let go of the curtain and walked outside.
"And we've already gotten the prey we wanted."
"Let's go."
"Naruto-kun should be back soon."
"I can't wait to see him again."
(End of Chapter)