Kisuke Urahara turned his gaze towards the Captain of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, seeking support.
But Jūshirō Ukitake merely smiled and shook his head.
He agreed with the Captain-Commander's order.
Naruto, with his outstanding strength and commendable proficiency in healing techniques, had shown remarkable progress in demon arts recently, making him a rare well-rounded talent.
Captain Unohana's strength was superior and she could be an alternative replacement.
However, she was the Captain of the Fourth Division, burdened with heavy responsibilities, and could not leave easily.
At this moment, Seireitei had no one more fitting than Naruto for the role.
As a captain, he trusted his subordinates, he trusted Naruto.
What worried him was another matter.
In his mind, had the teacher already determined that the Ninth Division Captain had "died in battle"?
Was he that eager to push Naruto forward?
Captain-Commander Yamamoto continued his arrangements.
For the last two selections of the "Special Task Force" handling the soul disappearance incidents, he initially intended the head and deputy head of demon arts to go, but upon Kyoraku Shunsui's suggestion, Vice-Captain Lisa Yadōmaru of the Eighth Squad was chosen to replace the chief demon arts officer.
The final confirmation of the six-person frontline support was made.
Other squads were to prepare for any escalation of affairs to protect Seireitei.
Within the barracks of the Thirteen Division, Naruto had just returned, Shiba Kaien was pulling him along, ready to arrange internal affairs together, when a shadow suddenly descended.
Clad entirely in the tight-fitting Shihakushō.
This was the unique garb of the Second Division's "Stealth Force."
"Third Seat of the Thirteen Division, Naruto Uzumaki." Upon landing, the figure immediately spoke, "The Captain-Commander commands, you are to proceed at once to the site of the Ninth Division Captain's spiritual pressure disappearance to provide support."
Naruto was taken aback, "Me?"
"Understood, I'll depart immediately."
He turned his head towards Shiba Kaien.
The black-haired man looked grave, massaging his head in frustration. "Are you also getting involved? Naruto can handle things on his own now. Be careful and stay safe."
Naruto grinned widely and vanished with a flash step.
In the sixth district of Rukongai's outer area, the moon cast murky light over the sparse forest.
A chaotic, disordered spiritual pressure swept through, oppressive and silent as death.
Yoruichi's heavy breaths of escape pierced the stillness, harsh and loud. She was giving it her all, and dragging her seriously injured body to reach her current speed was already pushing her limits.
Her pursuer had arrived.
Spiritual pressure flared briefly, and a massive figure fell through, crashing down. Yoruichi twisted in desperation, dodging out of the way just in time.
The impact cratered the ground, sending waves of dust and smoke rolling outward.
Within the crater, the tall figure was obscured, its eyes glowing fiercely like lamps, radiating a menacing, violent aura. In the scattered particles, twin columns of light were distinctly outlined, penetrating through to Yoruichi.
This "hunter" had its sights set on its "prey."
Then, without a sound, it disappeared again.
Yoruichi gritted her teeth. She wanted to move but the sudden twist seemed to have strained something, and the oppressive external spiritual pressure felt like a heavy burden.
It seemed like she couldn't move.
Just in the nick of time, a flash of a blade deflected the attack away.
Yoruichi looked up to find a white-robed figure standing protectively in front of her, eliciting an immediate sense of safety.
But as the figure turned around, that stirring feeling vanished just as suddenly.
Shinji Hirako wore a sullen expression as he snapped, "Are you out of your mind? Why didn't you draw your sword?"
Lisa Yadōmaru glared ahead, "You're the crazy one."
"Look closely. How could I draw my sword?" ⁓ "Because that's..."
Shinji turned to gaze in the same direction.
The dust settled slowly, and the crescent moon's light cast a ghastly glow over the figure before them.
Its visage masked and its back lined with several bony protrusions like spears.
It resembled a Hollow.
Yet, this figure was draped in a captain's haori with the Shihakushō beneath.
Skin on the ribs and lower abdomen bore the numbers "69". ⁓ These details left no room for doubt.
Shinji found himself momentarily speechless, barely able to murmur, "Kensei?" ⁓ A reconnaissance squad had been dispatched to investigate the recent disappearance of souls in Rukongai.
Kensei Muguruma, captain of the Ninth Division, had been among them.
His former teammate, now twisted into something monstrous. ⁓ The two other captains, along with their vice-captains, landed nearby, equally stunned.
There was no time for reflection.
They engaged in combat against Kensei and the equally berserk vice-captain of the Ninth Division, Mashiro Kuna. Suddenly, as they attempted to subdue the pair, a similar white, viscous liquid began to seep over Lisa's face, the injured Shinigami unable to resist as it solidified into a Hollow mask.
With her reason overridden, she swung her blade at Shinji, infected with a viral "Bone Mask" that threatened to spread to others. Off to the side in the forest, the battle between these Shinigami raged on
Three figures stood in the open, blatantly observing the scene, unnoticed by anyone there.
"Lord Aizen, they've all Hollowfied. Isn't it time to make our move?" The silver-haired boy, who had just recently joined the Fifth Division, Gin Ichimaru, asked with eyes narrowly squinted.
He turned his head, lifting it slightly, to look at the man standing in the center.
Sōsuke Aizen smiled, his voice laced with a hint of anticipation, "They are merely the appetizers."
"The main course has yet to be served."
"We are in no rush to start the feast."
With a soft voice, Gin queried, "The main course? Is it Naruto Uzumaki?"
"Are you reluctant?" Aizen looked down, his eyes shadowed in darkness, his tone unreadable as he posed the question.
Gin immediately denied, "No."
"Just a bit surprised by Lord Aizen's apparent rapport with him."
Aizen lifted his gaze, smiling, "Sometimes proximity is not out of affection."
"Hunters often desire to be closer to their prey."
In his sight.
A powerful spiritual pressure was approaching swiftly.
It was the "main course" he's been expecting.
Naruto landed.
He stared incredulously at the scene before him.
Kensei Muguruma, the Ninth Division Captain, whom he had met a few times but wasn't exactly close with, had turned into a "monster," just like how he becomes when "Tailed Beast Transformation" overtakes him—losing all reason and attacking others.
Shinji Hirako braced himself on the ground, in a dire state, with bone-white viscous fluid leaking from his face, which he struggled to suppress.
Love Aikawa, the Seventh Division Captain, Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi of the Third, and Lisa Yadōmaru, the Lieutenant always found beside Captain Kyoraku Shunsui, were all in a similar predicament as Shinji Hirako. Their strength was waning, dangerously close to losing the battle against the consuming bone fluid.
"What's happening?" Naruto asked.
"Get out of here!" Upon recognizing the familiar voice, Shinji Hirako lifted his head, "Be careful, don't get hit by any attacks!"
"Go back and inform the Captain-Commander."
"It's Hollows."
Before he could finish his sentence...
Naruto's momentary distraction allowed the spiritual pressure to surge, growing increasingly fierce.
"Captain Shinji, I'll take you back," Naruto gritted his teeth, "Captain Urahara will surely have a solution."
Going back?
Could he really just stand by and watch these people, these friends, succumb to becoming "monsters" like Captain Kensei had?
He swiftly wove hand signs and gathered his spiritual power.
"Adamantine Sealing Chains!"
Golden chains erupted behind him, flying out to bind Kensei Muguruma, who charged at him.
His limbs, torso, waist, and abdomen were firmly pinned to the ground.
Lieutenant Ushōda warned, "Be careful! Their strength is immense."
"Even level 63 Binding cannot hold him!"
Naruto clenched his teeth, struggling to maintain control.
Kensei's turbulent spiritual pressure thrashed about, pushing the Adamantine Chains to their limit, producing a strained "creaking" sound.
Without releasing his full power, Naruto was only at "Class Four spiritual prowess," slightly weaker compared to these "Class Three" Captains.
But.
That was not the worst problem.
The chaotic spiritual pressure surged.
A mask-wearing figure with elongated horns flash-stepped close, blade raised to strike.
Judging by the height, it was Lisa Yadōmaru.
Captain Shinji's words echoed in his ears.
"You must not let yourself get injured!"
Although the words were incomplete, their meaning was clear.
If harmed, he would likely become like them.
Naruto released his grip and swiftly flash-stepped to evade.
Speed was his forte.
In the swirling chaos, neither blade nor resolve was able to cut through clearly.
Day in and out, the clash between whispers of despair and flickers of hope gave rise to a silent storm, unmoved by even the most adamant wills.
Kensei Muguruma found himself ensnared.
Rather than despair, a sudden surge in his being allowed him to break free from his chains, launching himself forward into the fray, devoid of judgment.
The lines between sanity and instinct blurred with each strike, as Kensei stumbled forward, driven by something deeper than conscious intent.
(End of Chapter)