Naruto checked his belongings.
The items he had prepared before leaving the Soul Society were intact and still with him, with their fragile seals still in place.
It seed that his departure and arrival didn't involve any noticeable energy fluctuations.
However, the things he had prepared in the Ninja World didn't co with him.
Crossing between the two worlds...
And yet, there was no detectable space fluctuation.
He stretched and got out of bed.
He sifted through his mory for the most recent tasks.
It seed the only thing worth paying attention to was Byakuya's love life.
After washing up, he walked into his office.
Soi Fon was there, standing like a wooden statue next to a small low table.
Naruto paused.
Oh, he almost forgot about this person.
Unlike before, when Naruto entered, Soi Fon lifted her head and looked him up and down: "You seem to have grown a bit taller."
As soone who was sowhat lacking in height, she was very sensitive to such changes.
Naruto smiled warmly: "Really?"
"I haven't asured, but it seems I have grown a bit."
Soi Fon tilted her head, carefully recalling Naruto's recent lifestyle and diet.
She had tried to mimic everything.
It seed the only place she hadn't visited was the izakaya.
But could a place like that make soone grow taller?
Naruto went through his mories, handled so trivial matters, and left the barracks.
Soi Fon thought for a mont and decided not to follow him.
There were still so official duties to attend to in the 7th Division—she couldn't just occupy soone else's captain's office indefinitely. So minor tasks were worth doing, and she even felt a bit "nostalgic" for her "errand-runner" role, similar to what she did beside Yoruichi.
As soon as he left the barracks...
"Are we back in the Soul Society?" The Yang Nine-Tails asked excitedly, and Naruto could almost imagine it wagging its tail.
"Yes." Naruto nodded.
The Yang Nine-Tails chuckled: "Naruto, my sword!"
"I'll ask around and get one for you," Naruto replied with a smile.
"And one more thing." The Yang Nine-Tails took a deep breath. "After discussing it with my other self, we've decided that I should co out and be more active."
Naruto nodded: "Why?"
The Seireitei seed peaceful, but there was still an enemy—soone nad "Sōsuke Aizen."
"The other and I share senses, but it's not complete," the Yang Nine-Tails continued. "The jutsu that affects doesn't affect the other ."
"If it can't see, it won't be affected, right?"
It paused for a mont as the two foxes whispered to each other, then quickly added: "And we think this could also be a proactive move to—what's the word? 'Intimidate,' yes, to intimidate Aizen!"
Naruto smiled.
At that mont, he suddenly felt like sothing was missing.
It was Karin.
If she were here, she'd probably say, "It's impressive that two heads could co up with that word," or she might mock, "You two actually have brains," or sothing like that.
"That works too." Naruto thought for a mont and nodded.
Although...
The Nine-Tails suggested this mostly because it wanted so freedom.
But it wasn't a bad idea.
"If Aizen approaches and tries to release his Zanpakutō, rember..." Naruto began.
The Yang Nine-Tails grumbled: "I know, don't worry, I'll remind you."
Naruto shook his head: "What Aizen can do is affect perception, hearing, and sight. Your reminder won't help."
"You need to remind the other you, so it can remind ."
The Yang Nine-Tails was stunned, then thought it over and figured out the logic.
It hadn't been affected by the technique and could see the truth.
But Naruto had been affected.
So, if the Yang Nine-Tails spoke to Naruto from outside his body, Aizen's technique could manipulate what Naruto perceived.
The ssage the Yang Nine-Tails gave might be true, but Naruto could receive it as false.
However, the Yin Nine-Tails was unaffected and was inside Naruto's body.
If the Yang Nine-Tails passed the ssage to its other self, which then relayed it to Naruto, the accuracy of the ssage would be ensured.
"This is really troubleso," the Yang Nine-Tails grumbled. "But I'll rember."
"So, should I co out now?"
Naruto smiled: "Are you ready to et Captain Kurotsuchi?"
The Yang Nine-Tails hesitated. It just peeked its head out on Naruto's shoulder before quickly retreating: "Are you going to see him?"
"Then I'll wait until you're back."
It didn't like that crazy guy.
At the 12th Division barracks...
"Oh my, Captain Uzumaki, what an honor." Kurotsuchi Mayuri greeted him, waving his hand in a sarcastic tone, "It seems this is your first visit to the 12th Division since Urahara left."
"Is there sothing you need?"
Naruto waved his hand and didn't speak until they were inside Mayuri's lab: "I want to make a deal with you."
"I want to know..."
"Where does the Asauchi co from?"
"All of your research on Zanpakutō."
Kurotsuchi Mayuri rubbed his hands together, his eyes gleaming with excitent: "I suggested this years ago, and now Captain Uzumaki has finally co around?"
"Then please, if you would hand over your Zanpakutō—"
Naruto shook his head, interrupting him: "This is a transaction, not a collaboration."
"And certainly not an opportunity for you to use as a research subject."
"A transaction." Mayuri narrowed his eyes, slowing down his speech. "In that case, the terms will be different."
"The value of this information..."
"Could influence the entire Seireitei."
Naruto raised one finger: "I'm offering you a technique."
Mayuri pouted, not saying anything, but his dismissive attitude clearly revealed his thoughts.
"Do you rember the technique I used, the one that creates clones?" Naruto said softly.
Mayuri frowned: "That one?"
He was interested in many of Naruto's secrets.
But the cloning technique was not one of them.
"The problem with that technique" was its fatal flaw—the clones would dilute the spiritual pressure.
In a Shinigami's battle, "spiritual pressure" was everything.
More clones with half the spiritual pressure? That was more of a disadvantage than an advantage.
"You won't be able to resist this technique." Naruto smiled, flipping his hand to summon a scroll. "While it's not particularly useful in combat, each clone, after dispersing, returns with its mories, knowledge, and learning experiences intact."
Mayuri's eyes widened as he stared at the scroll: "You an to say—"
"I could work on multiple projects simultaneously, or even—"
"Turn the entire 12th Division from a bunch of clowns into geniuses like ?"
Naruto placed the scroll down: "Exactly."
"But before you start downsizing the entire 12th Division, I suggest you get the Captain-Commander's approval first."
Mayuri was thoroughly intrigued.
To a "scientist," nothing could be more valuable than this "technique."
Although Shinigami have long lifespans...
Advancing research progress brings imnse rewards and joy.
The sense of accomplishnt from spending a year versus ten years on sothing is completely different.
"Can I take a look first?" Mayuri asked.
After Naruto nodded, he reached out, grabbed the scroll, and unrolled it.
The "Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu" wasn't particularly difficult.
Especially since Mayuri had already dissected the "Summoning Technique," and Naruto had modified it to better suit "spiritual pressure."
A few hours later...
Mayuri ford a single hand sign, summoning two clones. After playing with them for a bit, he dispelled them.
mories flooded back.
His eyes lit up with delight: "The secrets you hold, Naruto-kun, are truly tantalizing."
"You want to know about Zanpakutō?"
"Let think about where to start."
Mayuri pondered for a while before speaking: "Since you're asking, Captain Uzumaki, you must have noticed."
"Every year, hundreds of Asauchi are distributed to the Shin'o Academy."
"But within the Seireitei, there is no departnt responsible for forging Asauchi."
Naruto nodded.
"I'm not particularly skilled in combat," Mayuri continued, "For geniuses like you, mastering Bankai is simple."
He chuckled: "Oh, I forgot, Captain Uzumaki is also soone who has trouble with Bankai."
"I have no talent for Bankai."
"But I solved this problem by using the technology of 'Nemu No. 5' to create my own Bankai."
Naruto narrowed his eyes at him.
If he hadn't offered sothing enticing this ti, it might have been difficult to get the truth out of Mayuri.
So, his research on Zanpakutō wasn't just limited to "Shikai" but had already ventured into the realm of "Bankai"?
Mayuri deliberately paused after saying this.
Seeing that the ntion of "Nemu No. 5" hadn't sparked Naruto's interest, he clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction: "You should know, Captain Uzumaki, that before I joined the 12th Division, I was judged as possessing the potential to 'disrupt the Seireitei' and was imprisoned in the 2nd Division's jail."
Naruto nodded again.
He was aware of this.
"The reason I was convicted," Mayuri continued, with a rare hint of humanity in his eyes, tinged with nostalgia, "is because I was secretly involved in a research organization."
"The leader of that organization was none other than the previous Captain of the 12th Division, Hikifune Kirio."
"However..."
"She didn't retire or die; she took a different path."
"Promotion."
These words startled Naruto.
"Central 46?" he speculated.
But he imdiately dismissed the idea.
The Central 46 Chambers were notorious, and no Shinigami had ever been promoted into it. Their selection process focused on nobility rather than strength.
Naruto thought of sothing: "Does it have to do with the so-called 'Soul King'?"
Mayuri chuckled: "You're quite sharp, Captain Uzumaki."
"Hikifune was promoted to the 'Royal Guard.'"
"The reason for her promotion was not disclosed, but I suspect it had to do with sothing like 'artificial souls.'"
"Since then, I haven't seen her and don't know where she went."
"So I suspect that the source of the Asauchi is tied to the 'Royal Guard.'"
As he spoke, he drew his sword from his waist.
"Perhaps, long ago, soone developed the technology to create Asauchi, which led to their promotion to the Royal Guard."
"Captain Uzumaki."
"Do you know what material the Asauchi is made from?"
Naruto shook his head.
~~~
Top 50 in Powerstone! Thank you guys for the support!
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
— 120 Advance Chapters!
You can read up to Chapter 256!
Reviews
All reviews (0)