The students of Shin'o Academy all revere Sosuke Aizen.
But the person everyone aspires to be is Uzumaki Naruto.
Who wouldn't want to be the most brilliant genius in the Gotei 13?
However...
The threshold to being a "genius" is unimaginably high.
A year later, Ichimaru Gin graduated from the academy and joined the 5th Division. Much like Naruto back in the day, he immediately took on a high-ranking position upon joining.
But no one would compare "Ichimaru Gin" to "Uzumaki Naruto."
The person compared to "Ichimaru Gin" was Kuchiki Byakuya, who joined the 6th Division the same year and held a similar high-ranking position.
This future heir of the prestigious Kuchiki family was also a remarkably bright new star.
The two of them had equally matched talents, similar ages, and the same starting point.
As for Naruto...
In the eyes of many, he was already a figure on another level.
Everyone was eagerly awaiting when this genius would truly become a Captain.
Ten years? Twenty years?
12th Division, underground training ground.
Naruto climbed out of a deep pit, looking somewhat battered.
Yoruichi covered her injured arm and smiled at him, "Your sword is really powerful. Even at the Seven-Tails level, it has this much strength."
"But it's too easy to lose control," Naruto shook his head, walking over to use Kaido.
Over the past year,
Urahara Kisuke and the Commander of the Kido Corps, Tessai, had closely studied the "Sealing Technique."
The results were significant.
A new layer of sealing was added on top of the original one,
Allowing Naruto to leap from the Four-Tails level to the Seven-Tails level.
However...
The "Seven-Tails level" was not yet perfectly mastered and had a time limit.
Staying in this form too long would still consume his sanity.
"It's already quite impressive," Yoruichi smiled, "You even managed to injure me."
"In a few more years, I'll have to call you Captain Uzumaki."
Naruto sighed helplessly, "Yoruichi-neesan!"
Urahara Kisuke raised his arms in a cheer, "Alright, data recording complete."
"But compared to last time, it seems there's not much change."
Tessai stared at the screen, nodding heavily.
"To have made such progress in just a year, I'm already very satisfied," Naruto smiled in response, "Captain Urahara's research is truly remarkable."
"Haha, of course," Urahara Kisuke, ever confident in his field of expertise, "But recently, I'll have to put your research on hold for a while."
He scratched his head, looking troubled.
"There's some very tricky business I need to deal with."
Naruto asked, "Is it about Rukongai?"
Urahara Kisuke nodded.
Over the past month, multiple cases of residents mysteriously disappearing had occurred in Rukongai.
Nearly a whole district's worth of souls had vanished.
"Is something affecting their lifespan?" Naruto asked softly.
Like living beings, souls have lifespans.
Souls with spiritual pressure have longer lifespans.
Ordinary souls without spiritual pressure don't live as long as ordinary humans; when they can't maintain their form, they disperse into spiritual particles.
A sort of... final end.
Yoruichi continued, "It's not that simple."
"The Captain-Commander is very concerned."
"The 9th Division has been fully deployed, with even the Captain stationed there."
"I initially thought it was a lifespan issue," Urahara Kisuke shook his head, looking serious, "During this time, I developed an instrument called 'Gigai,' which can seal unstable spiritual forms within it."
"But..."
"Just before you arrived, Naruto, the 9th Division brought me something."
Naruto tilted his head.
Yoruichi also looked curious.
Urahara Kisuke walked to another table and picked up a black garment.
Naruto's pupils dilated in disbelief: "A Shihakusho?"
"This..."
"Could it be that a Shinigami's soul has disappeared?"
In the Soul Society, black uniforms have a particularly different significance.
These are garments that only "Shinigamis" are permitted to wear.
And in the "Soul Society," there is almost nothing that can threaten a "Shinigami."
Urahara Kisuke nodded, his expression extremely grave: "Yes, it's truly unbelievable."
"A Shinigami's soul disappearing..."
"Usually, it doesn't happen."
"I've already sent Hiyori to cooperate with 9th Division to investigate and gather information. We'll probably be busy with this for some time."
Sarugaki Hiyori, the lieutenant of 12th Division.
She is a female Shinigami who doesn't seem to get along with the overall atmosphere of "12th Division." She isn't much taller than Naruto, but her temper is much fiercer, and she always has a scowl on her face. When Naruto first met her, he almost thought she was a member of 5th Division.
That scowl...
Even more severe than "Shinji Hirako," the Captain of 5th Division.
"Everything prioritizes the safety of Seireitei," Naruto said softly, "If you need my help..."
He hadn't finished speaking when a surge of spiritual pressure hit.
Everyone in the training ground immediately raised their heads and looked in that direction.
The aura was familiar; it was the lieutenant of 1st Division.
The spell they used was also familiar.
"Bakudō #77. Tenteikūra (天挺空羅, Heavenly Rickshaws in Silken Air)."
It is a spell used for wide-area communication.
"Emergency assembly! Emergency assembly!"
"All Captains, please report to the 1st Division barracks immediately!"
"Captain Kensei Muguruma of 9th Division, and Lieutenant Mashiro Kuna of 9th Division, their spiritual pressures have disappeared!"
"Repeat, emergency assembly..."
Three Captain-level figures in the training ground immediately stood up.
"Naruto, return to the 13th Division barracks immediately," Yoruichi said in a serious tone, waving her hand, "Something serious has happened."
"The captain's spiritual pressure has disappeared!"
"It might be a terrifying enemy invading the Soul Society."
Naruto nodded: "Understood."
He sheathed his sword and disappeared instantly.
Shihōin Yoruichi and Tsukabishi Tessai also left.
Urahara Kisuke worriedly went upstairs, but... Sarugaki Hiyori had already set off.
1st Division barracks.
A serious situation had occurred.
But the Captain-Commander's face showed no emotion, almost unchanged from usual.
His voice was steady.
"Until yesterday, this was merely an isolated incident in Rukongai."
"But now it has become a provocation to Gotei 13."
"I will send six people to investigate."
"Captain Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi of 3rd Division, Captain Shinji Hirako of 5th Division, Captain Love Aikawa of 7th Division..."
"These three will set off immediately to the incident location."
"2nd Division, notify 13th Division's Third Seat Uzumaki Naruto to proceed to the location upon receiving the notice."
An unexpected name appeared in all the captains' ears.
"Uzumaki Naruto, that genius from the 13th Division?" Love Aikawa frowned, "But he's only a Third Seat..."
Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi showed no change in expression.
Urahara Kisuke reacted strongly: "Captain-Commander, let me replace Naruto."
"I am a Captain, and besides, my subordinate also..."
Captain-Commander Yamamoto interrupted him: "No."
Urahara Kisuke still wanted to say more.
Shihōin Yoruichi sternly said: "Don't embarrass yourself, calm down."
"You really have no backbone, Kisuke," Shinji Hirako mocked with a grin, "You're just like a mother hen who's lost her chicks."
"Not trusting the subordinates you've chosen is one thing."
"But you don't trust Naruto either?"
He bent over and tilted his head, the mockery making his scowl even worse.
"Naruto is a fine blade."
"But even the best blade must kill enemies to prove its worth."
"Isn't now the time to face the enemy?"
Captain-Commander Yamamoto picked up his cane and made the final decision: "The above individuals, depart!"