Soi-Fong wore a cold expression, tiptoeing to peek at Naruto's desk. "Captain Uzumaki, you're quite at leisure."
"Have you started taking up duties with the Twelfth Division?"
She didn't quite understand those things; some were obscured by curses from the moment she arrived, making them indiscernible.
But the scent was unmistakable.
A hint of "Kisuke Urahara" lingered in the air.
A flash of golden light.
Naruto used Shunpo to appear behind her, grabbing her by the collar and lifting her.
He wasn't particularly tall, but Soi-Fong stood even shorter.
"If Captain Soi-Fong has no business here, don't mimic that guy, Captain Kenpachi." Naruto held her as he walked towards the window. "As for my private affairs, there's no need for Captain Soi-Fong to worry."
"This isn't part of Second Division's duties."
He opened the window, pretending he would toss her out.
Soi-Fong kicked her feet, struggling. "Wait! I have something important to discuss!"
Naruto paused but didn't put her down.
"I'm here out of goodwill, wanting to ask if Captain Uzumaki needs assistance." Soi-Fong composed herself, cold once more. "Your search for Yoruichi Shihoin and her group doesn't seem to be progressing?"
"I haven't heard you mention any results."
"If you're short on manpower, the Onmitsukido can spare a squad."
This was the second time she brought it up.
Naruto smiled gently.
Ah, she's here for Sister Yoruichi.
His warm expression eased Soi-Fong's anxious heart, and she continued, "Or perhaps, Captain Uzumaki has become apathetic, not taking this matter seriously."
Naruto flung his arm, throwing Soi-Fong to the ground.
She was about to stand up.
A wave of spiritual pressure surged.
Soi-Fong looked up, eyes flashing gold, as chains clinked and bound her tightly.
It was the signature technique of the Seventh Division Captain.
"What are you doing?" Soi-Fong was startled, struggling against the spiritual force, but a second and third chain flew at her, binding her securely, hanging her high by the window.
Naruto looked up. "If Captain Soi-Fong came to criticize my work,"
"Then I feel."
"Even though you're a bit older than me, I became a captain earlier, which makes me your senior."
"Isn't it a bit rude for a junior to criticize a senior so recklessly?"
"But what if it's not criticism?"
"Captain Soi-Fong, can you be a little more straightforward?"
He continued to speak with a smile, his eyes squinting cheerfully.
Soi-Fong gritted her teeth, her expression resolute.
"Looks like it is criticism after all." Naruto waved his hand, and a golden chain hoisted her out the window. "See you, Captain Soi-Fong."
"I have many things to handle," he added casually.
Panicking, Soi-Fong pushed off the window ledge and swung back inside. "Wait! It's not criticism!"
"Captain Uzumaki, I'm sorry! I just wanted to check on the mission's progress."
Naruto continued to smile, saying nothing, as the chain dragged Soi-Fong further outside.
"Please!" she pleaded more earnestly, formally addressing him, "Could you please tell me the current progress, Captain Uzumaki?"
With another wave of his hand, Naruto retracted the golden chain. "If only Captain Soi-Fong had said so from the start."
Soi-Fong landed awkwardly, frustration etched on her face, her features twisted in indignation.
This man was infuriating!
He clearly understood her thoughts, yet insisted she voice them.
It was so humiliating!
"Have you found any trace of Yoruichi Shihouin and the others?" Soi-Fong asked quietly and honestly.
Naruto shook his head. "Just like Captain Soi-Fong said, I've been a bit lazy recently and haven't searched for them."
Soi-Fong was stunned, baffled. "Why aren't you looking?"
"The perpetrator has long been identified as Kaname Tōsen, not Kisuke Urahara."
"They were wrongly accused."
"The only charge against Yoruichi was disrupting Central 46, which is trivial for the Shihouin clan, one of the four great noble houses!"
Naruto sat back in his seat, eyeing her. "Why did you come to me, Captain Soi-Fong, instead of going to Yoruichi-san herself?"
Soi-Fong pursed her lips.
Isn't it obvious?
If she could find Yoruichi, why would she come to Naruto?
"Because you know I'm here, everyone knows that the Captain of the Seventh Division, Naruto Uzumaki, is here." Naruto said softly.
Soi-Fong was momentarily stunned.
Another pointless remark.
What else could it be?
If the Captain of the Seventh Division wasn't in the Seventh Division barracks, where else would he be?
Naruto shook his head with a sigh, "As the closest person around Sister Yoruichi and Kisuke Urahara..."
Soi-Fong gritted her teeth and turned her head away, "I am not!"
Her voice was tinged with suppressed anger, mixed with a faint sense of grievance.
She didn't think she was.
Otherwise, Why didn't Yoruichi take her along when she escaped?
Naruto paused, glanced at her, "You should be able to guess why I don't go looking for them."
Soi-Fong was taken aback.
She should guess?
"You should be quite aware of Sister Yoruichi and Captain Kisuke's capabilities." Naruto continued.
Indeed, Yoruichi Shihouin and Kisuke Urahara are very capable. Even if they've left for the human world, they surely have ways to get news from the Soul Society.
With Tōsen Kaname dead and the Hollow incident settled, They must know this.
But why haven't they returned then?
Is it because of concern about the captains who were Hollowfied, or some other reason?
Pondering a while, her mind was a jumble, unable to find a reason.
She looked up at Naruto earnestly, "Please tell me why, Captain Uzumaki."
These conditions all interlinked, only making her more confused.
Naruto's face remained calm, shaking his head, "I can't tell you."
Soi-Fong was stunned, clenching her fists, "Why?"
"I am a servant of Lady Yoruichi,"
Naruto interrupted her, "With what I've just told you, plus your understanding of Sister Yoruichi and Captain Kisuke, you should be able to deduce something."
"But you didn't, which means you're not smart enough."
"Your strength isn't enough either."
"Moreover, you're not steady enough."
"Telling you would bring you nothing but harm, no benefits. It wouldn't be safer for you."
He was quite worried; given Soi-Fong's nature, if she knew the truth, would she attempt an assassination against Aizen with her Zanpakuto that very night?
An attack without certainty would only put her in a passive position.
Soi-Fong looked downcast: "I'm a captain now!"
"A captain is just someone who stands out from the ordinary squad members," Naruto said calmly, "That doesn't mean you're strong enough."
"Yoruichi Shihoin thinks I'm weak," Soi-Fong lowered her head, her tone more subdued.
She couldn't deny Naruto's words.
In front of this person, whether it was her vaunted Shunpo or other skills, all were completely overwhelmed.
The golden chain from before might have seemed like child's play to him.
But to her, it was truly insurmountable.
Naruto sighed: "Sister Yoruichi doesn't despise you."
"She just thinks you'll be safer in the Seireitei than by her side."
"Think about it, if it were Sister Yoruichi, what would she do now?"
Soi-Fong remained silent, wrapping her arms around her knees, resting her head on them, deep in thought.
She seemed to treat the Seventh Squad barracks as her other office.
After finishing her duties in her squad, she'd squat in Naruto's office, saying nothing, doing nothing, just brooding.
Initially, the Second Squad was a bit unaccustomed, in disarray—where was their captain?
Later, they gradually got used to it.
Vice-captain Omaeda Hisagi even sent a pile of generous gifts, filling nearly half of Naruto's office, with a gift list as thick as a hand.
With such proper etiquette, Naruto couldn't say much.
If Soi-Fong wanted to stay here, so be it.
He moved himself to another room, but Soi-Fong shadowed him, following closely.
Even if he harshly expelled her, she'd stealthily sneak back in no time.
"What do you want?" After several such cycles, Naruto felt helpless.
Soi-Fong earnestly replied: "You asked me to think about what Lady Yoruichi would do, but I can't quite figure it out, and Lady Yoruichi isn't around."
"You're smarter than me, so I decided to watch you closely," she said.
"By thinking about what you might do, maybe I can figure out the reason behind it."
As Naruto looked at her, he finally understood.
Here was someone even more stubborn than himself.
He decided to just treat her like air and continued with his research.
He had a new project at hand.
It was inspired by Ginjo Kugo.
Naruto had originally thought that the power of a Death God could only be obtained after death.
But now, it seemed that wasn't entirely true.
Ginjo Kugo, in his human form, gained the power of a Death God through its infusion.
So, could it be possible for Karin to become a Death God as well?
Mayuri Kurotsuchi also had a keen interest in this project.
They quickly joined forces to explore the possibility.
How to grant Death God powers to ordinary humans.
This wasn't difficult.
Ginjo Kugo had experienced it himself and shared his insights.
By using a Zanpakuto as a medium, it could be plunged into a human's body to infuse them with Death God powers, thus creating a "Death God."
Of course, there was a prerequisite.
That is, the person pierced by the Zanpakuto must possess spiritual power.
During their research, they discovered a surprising fact.
The essence of Death God power was not merely "spiritual power"—the power of the Hollow was also an application of spiritual power, as was the power known as "Fullbring" mastered by Ginjo Kugo.
All used spiritual power, yet displayed in three distinct forms.
Moreover, during this research, Mayuri hinted to Naruto about an ongoing modification of his own Zanpakuto.
Using reliable technical methods, Mayuri aimed to consistently alter the power form of his Zanpakuto.
Right now, he could only alter the Shikai.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi extended an invitation to Naruto, suggesting he hand over his Zanpakutō for modifications.
Naruto hadn't had a chance to decline when, inside his mind, Kurama shook his head rapidly, adamantly insisting Naruto give Mayuri a thrashing for being utterly unreliable.
(End of Chapter)