The Third Seat loudly orchestrated the ranks, the squad members lining up with tense expressions.
Although the exact situation was still unclear, it seemed that the Seireitei had once again been invaded by a formidable enemy.
Suddenly, his voice faltered, and he raised his head, astonished.
An immensely powerful spiritual pressure was approaching with incredible speed.
Just sensing its presence made his body involuntarily tremble.
Gripping the hilt of his sword took a tremendous effort, as even the other squad members became alert and tense.
Moments later, a golden figure descended gracefully, instantly alleviating their tension.
They shifted to a respectful stance, greeting him one by one.
"Blonde hair," a trademark unique to Captain Uzumaki of Squad Seven. Although young, he was one of the most celebrated captains within the Thirteen Court Guard Squads.
Naruto surveyed the area, unable to detect the aura of either "Komamura Zajin" or "Kaname Tōsen."
He wasn't lost.
More pressing than "immediately heading to the First Division quarters,"
was an even more crucial matter needing his confirmation.
"Have Captain Zajin and Vice-Captain Tōsen departed for the First Division quarters?" Naruto turned, pinning his gaze onto the Third Seat.
"The captain received a notification earlier and has already left," the Third Seat responded. "As for Vice-Captain Tōsen, I'm not certain, he probably went as well."
Naruto glanced at him. "Not certain?"
The Third Seat, nervous, nodded slightly, stammering his explanation, "After this morning, I haven't seen the vice-captain again."
"The captain also didn't know where the vice-captain was."
"He instructed just a moment ago that if Vice-Captain Tōsen was spotted, he should head straight to the First Division quarters."
Naruto questioned the other squad members.
Their replies were consistent, that none had seen Kaname Tōsen since that morning.
This added a grave expression to Naruto's face.
Had he disappeared since this morning?
After hearing the Second Division's notification, a conjecture that had formed in his mind was becoming more realistic.
He turned and left.
He did not head towards the Fifth Division quarters; such a meeting, as a "Rescue Squad" captain of the Fifth Division, he was expected to be present.
In the First Division's quarters, all the Vice-Captains were waiting outside the conference room.
Except for the Vice-Captains of the Third Division and Ninth Division, the other eleven were present. However, since the Third Division still lacked a Captain, the Vice-Captain temporarily filled the role and was likely inside the meeting room.
Kaname Tōsen was still absent.
Accompanying the Captain of the Sixth Division was the third seat, Byakuya Kuchiki. He stood apart from the crowd, alone and pensive, with a solemn expression.
Naruto pushed open the door and entered.
Inside the room, all the Captains were present, with not a single absentee, including Sōsuke Aizen.
"Captain Uzumaki, you're late," the Head Captain Yamamoto began.
Naruto apologized and returned to his place.
Yamamoto's face was grave, his tone heavy. "This is utterly absurd; another incident of the gateway being sealed has occurred!"
"The last time this happened was twenty years ago!"
"And it's happened again in such a short span."
"This is a provocation to the dignity of the Gotei 13."
"Moreover, this concerns the Soul Society's ability to control the mortal realm, which is a matter of utmost importance."
"Therefore, I will be selecting three Captains to proceed to the human world once the gateway is restored and investigate the matter," he paused, his gaze lingering briefly on the Sixth Division Captain, Ginrei Kuchiki, before continuing, "Captain Sōsuke Aizen of the Fifth Division, Captain Komamura Zajin of the Ninth Division, and Captain Zaraki Kenpachi of the Eleventh Division."
"These three," he concluded.
Naruto, seizing the moment before the orders were finalized, interrupted, "Head Captain, I request to be part of the action."
Yamamoto's expression grew stern, "Captain Uzumaki, this is no time for reckless behavior."
"I have ample reasons," Naruto's voice was firm, "I was directly involved during the last gateway sealing incident."
"Moreover, I suspect this event is linked to the Hollowfication incident decades ago."
"As the person responsible for and investigator of the Hollowfication case, I believe it is imperative for me to immediately provide support and conduct an investigation."
Yamamoto's eyes momentarily sharpened. Quite a few Captains looked surprised. Naruto glanced aside, showing little change in Sōsuke Aizen's expression. The infamous 'Captain Hollowfication Incident' had been officially judged by the Central 46, blaming Kisuke Urahara's research."
Despite the revelations, many captains were skeptical of this "truth."
Head Captain Yamamoto glanced up at him, a hint of a smile at the corner of his eyes. "Therefore, with such ample reasoning, let Captain Naruto Uzumaki of Squad Seven take the place of Captain Kenpachi Zaraki of Squad Eleven."
Kenpachi Zaraki's face fell. "So I don't need to go chop people up, huh?"
Head Captain Yamamoto merely gave him a brief look, completely ignoring him as he continued, "Squads Three and Eleven, prepare for support missions."
The orders were dispatched.
The captains exited the meeting room.
Byakuya Kuchiki approached, saying nothing, simply looking at his grandfather.
"The Head Captain has sent three captains for support," Ginrei Kuchiki said softly, "Captain Uzumaki is among them."
Byakuya paused for a beat, eventually turning towards the slightly shorter Naruto.
"Byakuya," Naruto consoled, "I've gone through something like this before. At that time, two Hollows appeared; it should be similar this time. With Vice-Captain Kuchiki's abilities, two Hollows shouldn't pose much of a problem for him."
Byakuya nodded but did not speak.
Naruto glanced at him, then at Ginrei Kuchiki.
"Captain Uzumaki, please proceed." The elderly head of the Kuchiki family managed a smile. "My grandson isn't someone to underestimate."
"I'll make sure to explain everything to him."
Naruto nodded and left with Jinryūemon Kotsuba.
Minutes later, at the Senkaimon...
The three teams were ready to go.
"Is Vice-Captain Tōsen still missing?" Naruto asked Komamura Zajin. With him was the Third Seat they had just encountered in the Squad Nine quarters.
Komamura frowned, even his ears drooping. "Yes, I still haven't found him."
"He left no messages about where he might have gone."
Naruto murmured, "I see."
Komamura turned, "I heard that Captain Uzumaki was at the Squad Nine quarters right after receiving the orders?"
"Were you looking for him?"
Naruto lifted his head, meeting the gaze of the giant dog. "Is Vice-Captain Tōsen a good friend of yours?"
Komamura nodded, without hesitation, "He's my best friend."
He paused, then added, "Captain Uzumaki and Head Captain Yamamoto are both people I deeply admire."
"Reverence" and "friendship" are two entirely different emotions.
Naruto remained silent.
However, Komamura Zajin seemed to have a premonition, his tone grave: "Is something going to happen?"
"I'm not sure yet." Naruto shook his head, his voice heavy.
He turned his head to glance at Aizen.
The captain of the Fifth Division had his head bowed, apparently lost in thought.
Naruto frowned.
He hadn't had a chance to greet Sōsuke Aizen today.
There was this persistent feeling that Aizen was being unusually quiet.
Gin Ichimaru sensed Naruto's gaze, turned his head, and flashed a grin at him.
Just then.
"The Senkaimon has been repaired." The Twelfth Division officer, who bore a frog-like appearance and was known as Hiyosu, spoke, "Captains, please prepare yourselves."
As he spoke.
The large, red gate began to open from both sides.
"Let's go!" Naruto whispered softly, as a black hell butterfly flitted before his eyes, leading the way into the gate.
The Human World.
Koyasan, in Wakayama Prefecture.
This is the largest cemetery in the island nation, and it already carried a heavy sense of foreboding – now it had an atmosphere akin to "chaos of demons."
In the unseen world that ordinary people couldn't perceive.
It became even more eerie.
Several shinigami clad in black shihakusho stood in a tense circle, backs against each other, warily eyeing their surroundings.
But around them was only thick mist.
It was as if they were facing off against the very air.
Yet the scattered bodies lying in the woods, and among the tombstones, left no doubt.
The enemy was indeed present.
"Vice-Captain Kuchiki, we still can't get a distress signal out." A shinigami spoke, struggling to mask the panic edging his voice despite his efforts.
"Damn it, what on earth are we dealing with?" The emotions of the others, too, were teetering on the brink of collapse.
They had thought it was just a routine mission.
Yet from the start, something felt amiss.
The mountain didn't harbor many Hollows, and those present were weak, newly born with little power.
This ran contrary to the usual rules of a "Spiritual Gateway."
Then, without warning, they were attacked by an invisible enemy.
Those injured soon felt the Hollow's power coursing through them, driving them insane, stripping them of reason, and leading them to attack their comrades.
Moreover, this condition was contagious; Death Gods struck by "Hollowfied" companions would also "Hollowfy."
In the ensuing chaos of mutual aggression and madness, they began to perish one by one.
Within minutes, their ranks of dozens dwindled to just a few survivors.
The man addressed as "Vice Captain" bore a calmer expression.
"We've had occurrences of Senkaimon blockades before." His features bore a resemblance to Byakuya Kuchiki—albeit more mature and less severe—and his voice carried a reassuring calmness, "The lockouts never last long."
"It's been almost half an hour now; the Senkaimon should reopen soon."
"We just need to—"
His words were abruptly cut off.
Suddenly, a person's body erupted with a bone-colored viscous fluid seeping from their nostrils and mouth, corroding their face.
They were Hollowfying!
"When did this happen? Wasn't it confirmed no one was injured?" Kuchiki Gangchun was taken aback, waving his hand, "Spread out the formation."
As he issued his command, the Hollowfied Death God had already lunged with a blade towards the nearest person.
Kuchiki Gangchun frowned, raising his blade to counter, but was easily knocked aside by the Hollowfied Death God.
The bone mask had completely enveloped its face.
The mindless Death God raised its sword high.
Just at that precarious moment, a golden chain flew in, binding the Hollowfied Death God and swinging it away with a powerful throw.
In the midst of turmoil and confusion, the mysterious disappearance of Kaname Tōsen has sent shockwaves throughout both the Soul Society and the ninja world.
Tōsen, an enigmatic figure known for his unwavering sense of justice and complex history, vanished without a trace, leaving his whereabouts a profound mystery.
As the scramble to uncover the truth behind his disappearance continues, old alliances are tested and new threats emerge from the shadows.*
(End of Chapter)