Naruto didn't reply, instead giving Kyoraku Shunsui a look.
He immediately called his drinking buddies, getting Aizen to leave.
A group of "drunkards" were making merry at the wedding banquet, the Nine-Tails among them.
Komamura Sajin was mingling, seriously out of place, yet he insisted on accompanying the Nine-Tails. Their relationship wasn't bad; the "Tōsen Incident" had hit Komamura hard, nearly crushing his little remaining faith in "humans."
The presence of the Nine-Tails brought a positive change to his life.
However, there was a strong sense of déjà vu.
The wedding banquet ended.
Byakuya Kuchiki called Naruto over.
"Congratulations on your wedding, Hisana," Naruto said with a bright smile, reaching out to slap the table.
"Thank you, Captain Uzumaki," Hisana replied cautiously.
At the wedding, she finally understood that this golden-haired youth, who worked tirelessly for her and Byakuya's wedding, wasn't just any "cute junior," but the Captain of the Seventh Division, ranked even higher than Byakuya.
She also noticed how others treated this blonde youth.
Most showed him great respect, while some seemed afraid, like the members of the Ganmiya family, who dared not approach Naruto Uzumaki at all.
"Why is Hisana addressing me like that?" Naruto shook his head. "Just like before is fine."
Hisana smiled bitterly, "I still can't shake off this feeling of unreality."
Byakuya Kuchiki stood by his wife, a smile on his face.
Naruto placed his hand on the table, summoning a scroll with a puff.
"This is a wedding gift Captain Mayuri and I prepared for you." He pushed the scroll forward.
Byakuya stood momentarily puzzled.
Captain Mayuri? Mayuri Kurotsuchi?
He had no ties with that person, though he had sent an invitation, yet the man didn't show up.
"Naruto can be…" Hisana shook her head, instinctively wanting to refuse.
Naruto gently tapped the scroll. "Byakuya, take a look first."
"Preparing this took us quite some time."
Shizune didn't quite understand the content of the "Soul Society" concept, as the scrolls were incomprehensible to her.
However, Byakuya's eyes widened in surprise, revealing intense emotional turmoil.
"The lifespan of an ordinary soul is very short," Naruto said softly.
"Although this might have gone unnoticed for a while, Captain Kurotsuchi and I have confirmed this recently. The dense Reishi environment is damaging to ordinary souls."
His voice carried a hint of delight as he spoke of this discovery, which led him to one conclusion: the separation of the Rukongai and Seireitei was likely not only due to social hierarchy. One direct cause might be the harmful effects of the Reishi-rich environment on souls.
Byakuya was momentarily stunned.
The Seireitei was the only place in the Soul Society with a dense Reishi environment.
He turned to look at Shizune.
Naruto continued, "This might further shorten Shizune's lifespan."
Panic was visibly etched on Shizune's face.
Byakuya held her hand reassuringly.
"That's why I asked Captain Kurotsuchi to make some improvements based on the 'Gigai' technology." Naruto tapped the scroll, and with a puff of smoke, a humanoid body with a blank face, devoid of any features, appeared.
"It functions similarly to Captain Urahara's Gigai prototype," Naruto explained.
"It strengthens the soul's form and can absorb Reishi to nourish the body." This brought a measure of relief to both Byakuya and Shizune.
"Thank you, Naruto," Byakuya said, bowing.
Naruto waved his hand dismissively, "We still can't be sure how much this Gigai can extend Shizune's life. It's merely a temporary stopgap measure."
"Save the thanks until Captain Kurotsuchi and I figure out how to grant Shizune spiritual power, making her akin to a Soul Reaper."
Shizune's eyes widened at the possibility.
Could an ordinary soul truly hope to become a Soul Reaper?
Byakuya blinked, pondering aloud, "What about someone like my father?"
Naruto shook his head, "That won't work."
A sense of confusion overtook Shizune. She had met Byakuya's father Ginrei, a very gentle man. What sort of trouble surrounded him?
"The power sealed within the body still remains an external source," Naruto continued, "It doesn't alter Shizune's current situation."
Byakuya nodded grimly.
"To spend the rest of my life married to Byakuya, dear elder brother, is already the luckiest thing that has ever happened to me." Hisana gently shook her head and remarked softly. "How could I possibly deserve such concern from two captains for a trivial woman like me?"
Naruto shook his head, "This is quite an intriguing research project."
"It overlaps with one Captain Mayuri is working on, but it won't have any additional impact."
"Moreover, it won't delay anything," he added, smiling.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi is indeed an eccentric man.
After mastering the 'Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu', he pushed himself to the limit. On average, the spiritual pressure of one clone was barely that of a regular squad member, just capable of entering the True Spirit Art Academy.
He merely set aside a less important project to switch to 'How to grant spiritual power to ordinary souls'.
Hisana took a deep breath, "I—"
Both men turned their attention to her.
"Though it might seem selfish to say this now," Hisana bowed her head, speaking sincerely. "I cannot continue to hide the truth."
"I," she said, "came to the Soul Society with my younger sister, Rukia."
"We were sent to the North Rukongai District together."
"So, I implore, dear elder brother Byakuya, and Naruto, please help me find my sister."
Byakuya Kuchiki hesitated for a moment.
"No problem," Naruto immediately agreed, his tone calm as he looked at Hisana.
He understood well the pain of being separated from loved ones.
Although the act of abandoning a 'sister' left him somewhat discontent.
So, this was what she had been hiding, he thought. While he didn't concern himself with past actions, after what he had learned, Naruto found it hard to offer further aid.
After exchanging a few more words, Naruto left and returned to the Seventh Division quarters.
A group of revelers was still "celebrating."
The Nine-Tails was imitating Isshin Shiba's dance moves.
Soi Fon watched them helplessly, while Omaeda was drenched in sweat.
"Uncle Shunsui," Naruto called out, gesturing towards the crowd, addressing the man slumped drunkenly over a table.
Kyōraku Shunsui lifted his head, and upon seeing the serious expression on the blond boy's face, immediately sobered up and made his way over. "What's going on? Is something wrong?"
Naruto shook his head and led him to another room, where he drew out the "Nine-Tails" and stabbed it into the tatami mat.
The oppressive spiritual pressure of the Nine-Tails filled the entire room, establishing a secure barrier.
Such an exceedingly cautious attitude turned Shunsui's expression equally grave.
"Aizen greeted me at the wedding banquet," Naruto said softly.
Shunsui nodded. He had noticed it too, as Naruto was the one who told him to take Aizen away.
"He's probably planning something," Naruto spoke quietly.
Shunsui was puzzled. "Why do you think that?"
"He only exchanged a few words with you."
Naruto furrowed his brows. "Aizen is a very proud individual. He considers those who can't see through his techniques as fools."
"But if someone can perceive him..."
"He delights in the thrill of a direct confrontation."
"A person like him wouldn't greet me without cause."
Shunsui's face showed dissatisfaction.
He didn't care about others' evaluations of him, but the main reason for his carefree attitude was that those who judged him rarely had any real impact on him.
However, Aizen was different; he had the capability to affect him.
Being considered a "fool" by such a person...
"What do you want me to do?" Even so, Kyōraku Shunsui remained calm. "But I can only do small things within my duties."
"After all, without any evidence..."
Naruto shook his head. "What he most wants to know is information related to the Nine-Tails."
"To confirm whether it's my weapon, whether it's the factor that allows me to evade his influence."
"Therefore, he will inevitably force me to make a move."
"Targeting those around me is the easiest way for him to achieve this."
Kyōraku Shunsui was thoughtful. "But he absolutely wouldn't dare to continue targeting the Shinigami."
"All the evidence points to Tōsen Kaname as the mastermind behind the Hollowfication incident."
"Continuing to attack the Shinigami would only undermine the evidence we have set up."
"That means Naruto—the ones around you who aren't Shinigami."
He paused. "Kuchiki Hime?"
"No, it's unlikely to be Lady Hime." Naruto shook his head resolutely.
Kyōraku Shunsui gave Naruto a surprised look.
Why
did his manner of addressing her become so distant all of a sudden?
"Everything I've done has been for Byakuya." Naruto continued, "Moreover, Lady Hime has closer ties to the Kuchiki family. If something happens, with the Kuchiki family involved, I might not take action."
"It has to be someone else."
"But around me, those who aren't Shinigami and could be a target."
He halted his speech, deep in thought.
After a while, he exchanged glances with Shunsui, both simultaneously blurting out the same name: "Ginjo Kugo."
The Substitute Shinigami is not in the Gotei 13's ranks.
His role is similar to the four noble guards of the Soul Society guarding the Seireitei Gates.
"Invite him to the Soul Society?" Shunsui suggested.
Naruto shook his head solemnly. "I'm afraid that's very difficult. Kugo has his own life in the living world."
"Then it's quite troublesome." Shunsui frowned. "An enemy whose whereabouts cannot be traced."
Naruto pondered, "It might not be him acting personally."
Shunsui was taken aback.
"He suspects the Nine-Tails is my weapon." Naruto continued, "But is unsure of what such a change might entail."
"This unanticipated event is beyond his control."
"That's why, he has suffered losses twice already because of me."
"So."
"I think this time he might use someone else to strike at Kugo."
"If it's someone else, any action will inevitably leave traces."
"Uncle Shunsui."
"Could you please help me find some individuals who might be interested in the power of 'fullbring'?"
(End of Chapter)