Emotions are invisible and intangible, but discernibly felt.
Especially by those accustomed to negative evaluations.
They tend to be more sensitive.
Komamura Zajin could sense the sincerity emanating from Naruto.
"Thank you for your concern, Captain Uzumaki," he began slowly. "But I do have a reason for being unable to take the captain position."
With these words, he raised both hands to remove his helmet.
Short fur bristled.
Revealed was the head of a dog.
The upper part was a reddish-brown hue, while below the nose, stretching from the mouth to the chest, was pure white fur.
"An Akita," Naruto noted, eyes slightly wide.
Komamura Zajin took a deep breath and continued, "Captain Uzumaki, as you can see, I do not possess a human form."
"Such an appearance is not fit for public display."
"Hence, it is unsuitable for me to serve as captain."
"Why are you like this?" Naruto suddenly asked.
Komamura paused.
Gesturing, Naruto explained, "I mean no offense, it's just my first time seeing someone like you in the Soul Society."
"Is there some special reason behind this?"
Komamura nodded, "Captain Uzumaki, is your soul one that has come from the living world, having experienced death and burial?"
Naruto replied, "Sort of."
"I see, this explains it," Komamura reflected. "I was born into the human-wolf tribe within the Soul Society."
"Our kind,"
"having committed grave sins in the living world, escaped becoming Hollows, yet were cast into the beast realm after soul burial, thus bearing this beastly visage with a human body."
Naruto's heart grew heavy.
'I see.'
'I thought it was a curse or perhaps the effect of a technique.'
'It is for this very reason,' Komamura Zajin said as he picked up his helmet and slowly put it back on, his voice turning muffled again as the helmet fully covered his head, 'that Captain-Commander Yamamoto did not distance himself because of my appearance, but was willing to shelter and train me.'
'To serve the Captain-Commander,'
'I am content.'
'I dare not ask for more, for my appearance in public would only bring more trouble to the Captain-Commander and the Seireitei.'
Komamura bowed respectfully and took his leave: 'Apologies for my rudeness, Captain Uzumaki.'
Watching his figure quietly walk away,
Naruto found himself a bit lost in thought.
He hadn't expected this to be the reason.
At this moment, he could somewhat empathize with Komamura's feelings.
His own past had not been too different.
Komamura's plight was likely far worse than his own.
After all, he merely bore the stigma of infamy.
But Komamura, with the reality of being a 'dog demon,' wore it openly.
Let alone the cause of 'falling into the path of beasts.'
Naruto was deep in thought when the man at the doorway suddenly turned back: 'Oh, Captain Uzumaki.'
'There's one thing I must correct.'
Naruto uttered a surprised 'Ah.'
Komamura stated solemnly: 'I am a wolf.'
'Not an Akita Inu.'
Despite the discrimination faced due to this appearance.
The issue of race is a very serious one.
He doesn't believe that wolves and dogs are the same species.
Naruto scratched his head. Captain-Commander Yamamoto really handed him a huge problem to solve.
Life as a captain is completely different from his days as the Third Seat of Squad Thirteen.
Even though the Seventh Squad's duty is merely to 'guard the inner court,' there are still many matters to attend to daily.
Just a week after his appointment, Naruto was warmly welcomed by the Seventh Squad.
The 'Shadow Clone Technique' is incredibly useful in ninja battles.
But in a Soul Reaper battle, this technique has no application and can even have negative effects.
A Soul Reaper's fight hinges on spiritual pressure.
Whether using a sword or Kidō, you need sufficiently powerful spiritual pressure to affect your opponents.
And the Shadow Clone Technique?
It divides the spiritual pressure evenly.
However, this technique is exceptionally handy for handling internal squad affairs.
Each shadow clone acts as an independent entity.
After disappearing, memories return to the original body.
This allows Naruto to both review reports within the squad and appear elsewhere in the Seireitei.
He's almost involved in everything personally.
No matter how small the task, as long as he can lend a hand, he is more than willing to do so.
This lifestyle can be tiring,
but Naruto finds joy in it.
Occasionally, he would chat with Komamura Zajin, but this wolf-headed individual, always speaking in an old-fashioned manner, is very rigid in nature. Convincing him with mere words is quite challenging.
This continued for half a year.
Naruto had become well-adjusted to his current role.
This particular day...
"Captain Naruto." Vice Captain Kotsuba pushed open the door and entered the squad office.
His expression was serious.
"Is there something happening?" Naruto raised his hand, instinctively preparing to create a new Shadow Clone.
Kotsuba shook his head. "No, I was hoping to invite you out for a drink tonight. Do you have time, Captain?"
"Me?" Naruto blinked.
Kotsuba nodded slightly.
"Then tonight it is," Naruto agreed with a smile, "See you then."
He didn't lower his hand, instead creating two more Shadow Clones.
Since he was going out for some social time in the evening, he needed to handle all these tasks promptly.
Kotsuba gave Naruto a deep look, sighed, and closed the door as he left.
That evening.
In the Seireitei commercial street, inside an izakaya.
This wasn't Naruto's first time in a place like this.
Back when he was in Konoha, to find Jiraiya, he and Karin would often barge in.
However, the izakayas in Seireitei differed greatly from those in Konoha.
It was much quieter here
without that extravagant and indulgent atmosphere.
"Over here, Captain Uzumaki," Kotsuba stood up, calling over to him.
Naruto made his way over.
Unexpectedly, the table was surrounded by quite a number of people, including his own Vice Captain, Kotsuba.
There was also Kyoraku Shunsui, along with the captain of the Tenth Division, Shiba Isshin.
And a female Soul Reaper with orange hair, whose neckline revealed a somewhat impolite space.
"Naruto, it's been a while." Kyoraku Shunsui greeted with a cheerful demeanor.
Naruto nodded, a hint of apology in his expression. "The division's affairs have been quite busy, I haven't had the time to visit you, Captain Shunsui."
"Don't make me sound like a lonely old man," Kyoraku Shunsui joked, tapping a cup on the table. "I was quite surprised you accepted young Tsubaki's invitation."
Shiba Isshin scratched his head, laughing heartily, "Captain Naruto, learning to relax a bit, are you?"
"This way, if I come out drinking, I won't be chastised by Kaien," Naruto remarked, smiling as he took a seat, somewhat reservedly lifting a cup of sake.
"Captain Naruto, I'm the Fifth Seat of the Tenth Division, Rangiku Matsumoto. You can just call me Rangiku," said the orange-haired woman, her friendly demeanor evident. "Captain Naruto, is this your first time at an izakaya?"
Naruto shook his head, "Not my first time, but it's my first as a customer."
"On this point, you should learn well from Captain Shunsui," Rangiku Matsumoto said, pulling Naruto closer and raising her own cup. "Don't always stay cooped up in the barracks."
"Come out and relax with everyone sometimes."
"Young Tsubaki has complained more than once that the captain works too hard, leaving the other members too idle."
Kyoraku Shunsui smiled warmly, replacing Naruto's drink with a lower alcohol version. "Don't be so tense, Naruto."
"It's great to handle everything personally."
"Old Man Yamamoto surely loves a captain like you."
"But being too responsible may distance you from the team members."
With this, he looked cheerfully at young Tsubaki.
(End of Chapter)