This year, he was merely a teenager who had just gained the powers of a Shinigami.
Naruto smiled as he continued, "Ginjo, your case is rather unique."
"Before this, I had never heard of a human acquiring the powers of a Shinigami," Naruto remarked.
Ginjo Kugo, tense, asked, "How are you planning to deal with me?"
As he spoke, he clenched his fists, contemplating whether he could escape from this blond youth if he resisted.
The young man before him seemed incredibly strong, especially since Ginjo was still injured.
The chances of fleeing appeared slim.
"I'm not entirely sure, but you aren't accused of killing a Shinigami," Naruto said thoughtfully. "If he willingly bestowed his powers upon you, then it's not a crime."
Ginjo felt a warmth in his heart. "Do you really believe what I'm saying?"
Naruto grinned widely at him, "If you're telling the truth, why shouldn't I believe you?"
Raising his hand, Naruto unleashed a burst of spiritual power.
Like an arrow, it struck Ginjo's body.
But it didn't hurt.
Instead, it transformed into a comforting flow, healing his wounds and coursing through his soul.
Ginjo glanced down, watching as his fresh skin reappeared. Suddenly, he recalled how the Shinigami he spoke to always expressed admiration for his captain.
He had once mocked that kind of blind allegiance.
Now, witnessing Naruto's capabilities, such a fervent reverence seemed understandable.
"What exactly is that power?" Naruto gestured towards Ginjo's necklace.
Ginjo reached up and grasped it. "I call this power 'Fullbring.'"
"It was an ability I suddenly awakened when attacked by Hollows in the past."
"Without it, I fear I would've been killed by them long ago."
"As for how it came to be,"
"I still don't know."
Naruto nodded thoughtfully. "It's a pretty impressive power."
Naruto sensed a distinct aura emanating from the sword, something unmistakably different from a "Death God's."
It had the scent of a "Hollow."
There was also a hint resembling Captain Ukitake's spiritual energy.
This blend of "Shinigami and Hollow" inevitably led Naruto to entertain some other thoughts.
"Did you awaken this power on your own?" Naruto inquired.
Ginjo Kugo nodded, "Yeah, it was about three years ago."
"Have you ever met a man who wears glasses and seems very gentle?" Naruto continued probing, "Or perhaps someone who evokes a similar feeling and has offered you considerable help."
Ginjo Kugo paused, puzzled, "Why do you ask that?"
"If it's about someone who has helped me a lot, it would only be Uncle Takuya."
In Ginjo's words, "Uncle Takuya" was the Squad Thirteen officer who transferred his Shinigami powers to him before dying.
Kagura's Mind Eye confirmed that everything he said was true.
So, does this mean there were no traces of Sosuke Aizen in this matter?
Although it couldn't be ruled out completely, perhaps Ginjo Kugo was too weak to notice if Aizen had done anything directly in front of him.
"I just wanted to get some clarity." Naruto shook his head, "Do you have time now?"
"Would you come to the Soul Society with me for a while?"
"There are some issues that might be better discussed together."
Ginjo Kugo nodded, "How long will it take?"
"I have another job later. If it takes a long time, I'll need to request leave."
Naruto thought for a moment, "Then you should apply for leave. It might be safer that way."
Ginjo Kugo agreed and led the way.
Just as they stepped out of the alley, a massive spiritual pressure suddenly surged from behind.
Ginjo Kugo quickly turned around.
A giant snake-like Hollow emerged from the shadows of the alley, raising its crab-claw-like pincers, its presence malignant. It smashed fiercely toward Naruto.
"Watch out!" he exclaimed, eyes widening, pupils dilating, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of his sword.
Naruto uttered just a few syllables, but in the next moment, before his very eyes, the menacing creature—a threat so formidable that he might have needed to stake his life and suffer grave injuries to subdue it—was suddenly torn apart by an invisible force, reduced to mere fragments.
"Just some small fry. No need to be so tense," Naruto smiled, adding warmly, "Your matters are more urgent."
Ginjo Kugo found his mouth dry, his eyes dazed.
How did he do that?
He hadn't even seen him make a move. Or did he really make a move?
"I was the one talking just now," he stammered, inhaling deeply, "Forgive me, but may I ask how should I address you?"
Naruto smiled, his demeanor unchanged from before. "Captain of the Seventh Squad, Naruto Uzumaki."
Naruto Uzumaki. Ginjo etched this name deep into his mind. Truly, a powerful yet gentle person.
After he received the leave of absence, Naruto drew his Zanpakuto and opened a gateway.
To the Soul Society.
Every Soul Reaper he encountered along the way would halt and greet him with respect. Even those who were far off, not obliged to greet him, would rather take those extra steps to offer their respects to Captain Uzumaki.
At the Thirteen Court Guard Squads' barracks, Captain Ukitake listened to Naruto recount the events, frowning deeply.
"A Soul Reaper transferring power to a human," noted Kaien Shiba, echoing Ukitake's expression. "I've never heard of such a thing before."
"The Soul Society doesn't seem to have any regulations regarding this either," added Ukitake.
Ginjo sat with his head lowered, his posture disciplined. These were all individuals far superior to himself. His heart swelled with awe. This Captain Naruto, seeming so small in stature, wielded immense authority, and whatever he proposed, others accepted unconditionally, without a hint of challenge.
"If there's no rule about it, create one," Naruto said, turning to Kaien. "The problem's right in front of us; we must think about how to resolve it."
Kaien Shiba had a sudden idea, "Why not officially enlist him into the Gotei 13?"
Ginjo Kugo immediately responded, "I don't have any objections."
Naruto looked at him strangely, "Do you know what Brother Kaien means?"
Ginjo was taken aback.
Could it mean more than just becoming a formal Shinigami?
Or had he misunderstood something?
"To officially become a member of the Gotei 13," Naruto explained to him, "it means you have to stay in the Soul Society."
"And the Soul Society is a place that accommodates the souls of the deceased."
"This means you have to give up everything in the living world, including your human lifespan."
"You need to die to enter the Soul Society, and only then can you formally become a Shinigami."
"Can you accept such a price?"
Ginjo Kugo was stunned and instinctively shook his head.
Die?
Give up everything in the living world?
That's impossible!
He turned to look at Kaien Shiba.
The black-haired man scratched his head and apologized to him, "Sorry, it seems my idea might not work?"
"Of course not," Naruto shook his head, "He hasn't committed any crime, we can't just take his life."
Jushiro Ukitake, who had been silent, spoke up, "Naruto, what do you propose?"
Naruto thought for a moment before turning to Kaien Shiba, "Brother Kaien, would you mind taking Ginjo around to tour the barracks of the Thirteen Divisions?"
"The scenery here is a rare sight in the living world."
Kaien Shiba immediately stood up, grabbed the still somewhat stunned Ginjo Kugo, and took him out.
Jushiro Ukitake's expression turned serious.
Naruto expanded the area with his Kagura's Mind Eye, carefully scanning the surroundings to ensure no one else was present. "Captain Ukitake, I mentioned earlier that he possesses a power called 'Fullbring'."
Jushiro Ukitake nodded.
"I've sensed the scent of a Hollow coming from that power," Naruto spoke softly.
Jushiro Ukitake appeared pensive.
Naruto paused, observing the expression on his face, and carefully said, "Also, there's a power similar to yours, Captain Ukitake, but it doesn't belong to a Shinigami."
Jushiro Ukitake was taken aback, somewhat surprised. "Naruto, can you even sense that?"
Naruto nodded.
"A power similar to mine," Jushiro Ukitake explained, "It should be the power of the Soul King."
Naruto squinted his eyes, "The Soul King?"
This was the first time he had heard of this title. A king in the Soul Society? But in the Seireitei, there were only nobles, no 'royalty.'
"Naruto, you are still young," Jushiro Ukitake shook his head. "Some things require not only your preparation but also ours."
"When the time is right, I'll tell you, okay?"
Naruto tilted his head, recalling what Tosen and Aizen had said: "Is it related to what Aizen and Tosen mentioned about 'Soul Society being founded on sin'?"
Jushiro Ukitake did not respond, only managing a faint smile.
Naruto did not press further, choosing to skip the topic and continue, "Hollows, Shinigami, the power of the Soul King."
"These entities coming together inevitably remind me of one person."
Jushiro Ukitake lowered his voice, "You mean Captain Aizen."
"Although I have confirmed with Ginjo that he has had no contact with Aizen or any powers similar to Aizen's," Naruto nodded, frowning, "we cannot rule out this being another of his experiments."
"Only this time, the subject has shifted from souls to humans."
"Until everything is confirmed, my suggestion is to temporarily acknowledge the fact that Ginjo possesses Shinigami powers."
"We should consider dispatching an additional Shinigami to Karakura Town to interact more with Ginjo and monitor his condition in real-time."
"Hopefully, it's not one of Aizen's schemes."
"This way, we can maintain our friendship with Ginjo."
"When he eventually dies a natural death and returns to the Soul Society, he would be a valuable asset to the Seireitei, possessing Shinigami powers inherited from others. With a spiritual pressure at the sixth or seventh rank, he could potentially master Bankai and become a captain."
Jushiro Ukitake nodded, deep in thought.
After a while, he finally spoke, "Then let us implement a new rule called 'The Substitute Shinigami.'"
(End of Chapter)