"Let me be killed by you."
"Or, let me kill you!"
Naruto looked at him calmly.
The insight from his Sensory Perception confirmed that these words were indeed sincere.
But now, Naruto no longer had a reason to continue the fight.
The power enveloping him, the legacy of Asura, had already absorbed enough energy. It needed time to settle, to digest these nutrients, and then to nurture even stronger power.
"Fighting you has been quite rewarding," Naruto smiled at him.
Zaraki Kenpachi raised his sword and charged forth.
The wounds on his body and his depleted energy made it difficult for him to finely control his spiritual pressure. Each step he took in the air caused the void to crack, spreading like a spider's web.
His boisterous laughter masked the hum of his spiritual pressure.
"However, let's end this here." Naruto raised both hands, clenching them into a prayer-like pose. "They've been waiting long enough."
Golden chains shot forth from behind him, twisting like tails as they surged toward Zaraki Kenpachi with alarming speed, wrapping around his limbs tightly.
Zaraki's sharp, triangular eyes widened.
No more slashing?
This kind of spiritual binding wasn't nearly as fun as cutting things down!
He struggled violently.
The exchange of spiritual pressure through sword clashes and the physical strain of the fight had sapped his strength, leaving him far from his initial state.
Yet, even so, the sound of the golden chains "creaking" under the strain was audible.
Naruto's expression remained unchanged as he began to chant.
"Bakudō #61, Six Rods Prison of Light."
Six beams of golden light shot from his palms, binding Zaraki Kenpachi's hands, pinning him at his waist and abdomen.
"Bakudō #75, Quintet of Iron Pillars."
Five massive iron pillars manifested from above, descending rapidly like meteors, striking Zaraki Kenpachi squarely on the head and limbs, crashing his body to the ground with a thunderous sound.
Naruto extended his hands once more.
White cloth unfurled from his sleeves, binding the spiky-haired man from head to toe, securing him completely.
Kenpachi Zaraki, his one visible eye wide with disbelief, stared at Naruto.
"Not exhausted yet, and already stopping the fight?"
The battle had ended.
Naruto sheathed his sword and withdrew his spiritual pressure.
The observing squad members finally stepped forward, removing the injured and beginning to clear the remnants of the destroyed buildings.
It was at this moment that several Shinigami in black, tight-fitting uniforms, dashed forward with Shunpo.
They reached out, about to seize Kenpachi Zaraki.
But just as one reached out his hand, another hand clasped onto his wrist.
A golden whip-like force flung the rest away.
The one caught turned back, seeing that the hand belonged to the captain of Squad Seven who had just fought; his usually gentle face was devoid of a smile, "Squad Two, what is the meaning of this?"
"Captain Uzumaki."
A female Shinigami with short hair and a sleeveless captain's haori arrived with Shunpo, "We're here to apprehend this criminal."
Naruto turned to look at her.
It was Soi-Fong, Yoruichi's successor and the current captain of Squad Two.
"You want to take away my prize?" he inquired, his tone calm.
Soi-Fong hesitated for a moment before responding firmly, "Such a dangerous criminal must be handed over to the Secret Mobile to be detained, as per the Central 46's regulations."
"Is that so?" Naruto released the captive Shinigami, "But I do not agree."
Soi-Fong squinted, her posture crouching as her hand reached for her sword's hilt.
But before she could speak, her vision blinked.
The golden figure vanished, and behind her, a hand extended, pressing down on her own and reseating her partially drawn blade.
"Yoruichi's successor hasn't inherited even a bit of her charm."
The whisper was right by her ear.
Soi-Fong turned, eyes wide with astonishment.
When had this happened?
Such swift Shunpo!
Despite just battling on such a scale, he still retained this speed.
"Don't mention that irresponsible woman to me!" Compared to Shunpo, the name and affectionate title cut even deeper into her heart. She spoke with resentment, glaring fiercely at Naruto.
Naruto gave a faint smile, "I'll take care of this Kenpachi man."
He walked forward, brushing past Soi-Fong.
"As for Squad Two, you can head back."
Soi-Fong remained silent.
She stared at Naruto's retreating figure, gritting her teeth.
"Jinryūemon." Naruto called out a name.
Kotsuba Jinryūemon instantly appeared at his captain's side with a Shunpo.
"Compile a list of all injured squad members from this mission, and grant them the appropriate paid leave." Naruto instructed softly. "Reassign their tasks to those who are uninjured."
"If we're short-handed, borrow from Squad Six and Squad Ten."
"Make sure not to cut their corresponding compensations."
Kotsuba Jinryūemon nodded, acknowledging respectfully, "Yes, Captain Uzumaki."
Naruto turned his head, gazing at the pink-haired girl surrounded by members of Squad Seven and Squad Two, "Bring her over too. I'll take her away with me."
Kotsuba Jinryūemon turned to look.
He raised a hand, signaling.
Members of Squad Seven brought the pink-haired girl over.
She wasn't afraid at all and stood on tiptoe to look at Naruto, "Blonde Little Sunshine, you're a good person!"
"Little Sword hasn't been this happy in a while."
Naruto reached out, grabbing the back of her collar, lifting her up, "This battle made me quite happy too."
"But since you've injured so many of my squad members, you'll still have to face some punishment."
"What's your name?"
The pink-haired girl obediently replied in Naruto's grasp, "Yachiru Kusajishi. Little Sword gave me that name."
Naruto nodded, extending his other hand to summon back the cloth binding Kenpachi Zaraki.
With two people in tow, he vanished with Shunpo.
Soi-Fong clenched her fists tightly.
"People who don't listen to anything you say are so annoying!"
Fourth Division Barracks.
"Naruto, I heard you went to deal with the ones who barged into the Seireitei," Unohana Retsu asked with a gentle smile, curiously eyeing the two individuals Naruto held in his hands. "Are these them?"
One was a cute little pink-haired girl.
The other was a person wrapped tightly in bandages, their appearance indiscernible.
Naruto nodded. "Quite an interesting guy."
"He suffered some pretty serious injuries, so I brought him over to the Fourth Division for treatment."
Unohana Retsu waved her hand, motioning Naruto to lay the bandaged individual on the bed. "Not a bad person?"
"Not really a bad person, just someone who lives for battle," Naruto replied.
This made Unohana Retsu's heart skip a beat.
Naruto reached out, removing the seal. "He was quite restrained in his actions, didn't kill anyone. Otherwise, I would have had him handed over to the Executive Militia."
"Fighting with him was quite rewarding for me."
"I don't know how he will ultimately be dealt with. I hope he can stay with the Thirteen Court Guard Squads."
The bandages unraveled, revealing the person within.
Zaraki Kenpachi, gravely injured and weakened by the seal, had fallen unconscious.
His face, when not wearing those exaggerated expressions, was somewhat tolerable.
"It is him," Unohana Retsu murmured lightly. When she first heard "a person who lives for battle," she had a hunch, and sure enough, it was him.
Naruto turned around, somewhat surprised, "Captain Unohana, you know him?"
"Someone I knew a long time ago," Unohana Retsu's voice was filled with nostalgia. "Back then, I wasn't the captain of the Fourth Division."
"He was destined to join the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, just didn't expect it would be now."
Naruto nodded thoughtfully.
His gaze shifted back and forth between Unohana Retsu and Zaraki Kenpachi, finally resting on Yachiru Kusajishi.
This little girl's hair was pink indeed.
"Naruto, how do you plan to handle him?" Unohana Retsu inquired.
Naruto pondered for a moment. "He didn't hurt anyone. He forcefully broke into the Seireitei, at most he'll serve some years in the Ninth Division prison. When he's released, I'll recommend he becomes a member of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads."
"He said he can't perform Shikai, yet his spiritual pressure is surprisingly strong."
"He's at second-rate level."
Unohana Retsu smiled, "I believe the Head Captain will appreciate him; he's quite capable."
"And there might be other ways."
Naruto gazed at the bedridden Zaraki Kenpachi.
Will the Head Captain really like him?
Perhaps not.
It seemed more likely that the Head Captain would find him quite a headache.
Leaving Zaraki Kenpachi and Yachiru Kusajishi at the Fourth Division's barracks, Naruto returned to the Seventh Division's quarters, where the inner court had been partially destroyed. There were many tasks awaiting his return.
He also needed to write a report on the day's events to submit to the Head Captain.
Three days later.
Naruto made his way to the Fourth Division's barracks.
Kenpachi, possessing quite the resilient body, was already up and about, full of energy.
"Little Sun!" Yachiru Kusajishi cheerfully greeted, "Are you here to visit Little Ken?"
Kenpachi's greeting was more direct: "Hey kid, where's my sword? Did you take it?"
"In your current status, you're considered a criminal," Naruto replied seriously. "I've kept your sword. We'll discuss its return once your situation is resolved."
"She's explained the situation to me," Kenpachi said, sitting cross-legged on the bed, leaning forward. "So, if I can join the Gotei 13, all will be well?"
Naruto nodded.
"The name Kenpachi is exclusive to the captain of the Eleventh Division, right?" Kenpachi continued, "I heard once I cut him down, I can become the new captain of the Eleventh Division. Does that mean I've joined the Gotei 13?"
Naruto was taken aback, turning around.
This notion definitely wasn't something less familiar with the Seireitei, like Kenpachi, could come up with independently.
"Is he as strong as you, being a captain?" Kenpachi tilted his head, his tone growing menacing. "Cutting him down sounds quite fun."
He extended his hand confidently, "Return my sword."
Naruto raised his hand, "Is that your decision?"
"Then I wish you well in becoming my colleague."
His palm landed on the desk, a seal activated, and a scroll was summoned forth.
Unfolding the cloth, they took out the sealed sword.
Kenpachi Zaraki jumped up eagerly, taking the sword in hand and raising it high. "Then I'll go cut down that other Kenpachi right now!"
Yachiru Kusajishi leaped onto Kenpachi Zaraki's shoulder, waving back at Naruto. "Thank you, Little Sun."
(End of Chapter)