In the underground lab of Squad 12.
Mayuri turned around, scrutinizing Naruto. "The Projection Hall?"
"Squad 12 indeed has such a facility, why do you ask?"
Naruto reached out and lightly tapped the table, summoning a scroll that remained rolled up. "I went to see Ginjo Kugo."
"Surprisingly, no one is keeping an eye on him."
Mayuri squinted and clicked his tongue, dragging out his words, "Captain Uzumaki—"
"I am neither clueless nor foolish," Naruto smiled, gently tapping the scroll.
The seal unraveled, revealing the "Substitute Shinigami Badge" floating up.
"This little trinket malfunctioned," he said softly, "so I brought it to Captain Mayuri for repairs."
Realizing the situation, Mayuri reached out and grabbed it, his tone dismissive, "Useless items should just be destroyed. Instead of fixing it, why not make a new one?"
But
Despite applying force, the badge didn't budge.
This device, meant to be carried around, was naturally imbued with spells for "enhancement" and "durability," to prevent it from being destroyed in minor battles.
Mayuri's numerous clones weakened his main body's spiritual pressure, making it impossible to destroy even this.
"How many clones do you actually have?" Naruto's eye twitched as he lightly tapped, summoning a surge of white lightning to obliterate it.
Mayuri remained expressionless, discarding the remnants without a word.
Such queries were wildly intrusive.
Compared to research, strength was but a futile pursuit.
"I want to know the connection between the Tsunayashiro family and the Projection Hall," Naruto inquired.
The "Projection Hall" is an entity governing the three realms.
Among the myriad institutions within the Gotei 13, its enigma is supreme.
"The Projection Hall," Mayuri clicked his tongue, his tone frosty, "Though officially under Squad 12, the Central 46 wields equivalent, if not greater, authority."
He paused, speaking with intent, "The Tsunayashiro family holds the greatest influence there."
"They're always meddling and prove infuriating."
As expected, There's a profound link between the "Tsunayashiro family" and the "Projection Hall."
Naruto bowed his head, recalling Byakuya's previous warning.
The Tsunayashiro family oversees the 'Great Spirit Book Corridor,' where the history of the Soul Society is recorded and stored from ancient times to the present.
"They are responsible for documenting history," Naruto said gravely, "and at the same time, for preserving it?"
"Are they the only ones?"
Mayuri chuckled, "Nope, that's how it is—only the Tsunayashiro family."
Naruto frowned.
This means that once those ancient Shinigami pass away, won't history be defined solely by the Tsunayashiro family? No wonder that family is so brazen and tyrannical; they're holding the reins of 'history.'
At this moment, he could somewhat understand Tōsen's feelings.
"Anything else to discuss?" Mayuri seemed indifferent, waving his hand with a hint of impatience, "If not, I have other matters to attend to."
Naruto glanced at the discarded 'proxy certificate': "How long will it take to make a new one?"
"How long do you need it?" Mayuri countered.
Without waiting for Naruto's response, he pushed him along, urging, "Come and pick it up whenever you like. I'll just say it's ready then."
"Captain Uzumaki, please leave now."
"I have critical experiments to conduct."
Naruto squinted at Mayuri, studying him: "You're keen to chase me off, yet you haven't resorted to violence."
"Captain Mayuri, you've changed your style today."
Mayuri murmured, easing his grip, "Have I?"
"It's simply research, reaching its most crucial phase."
"Even I don't wish for any disruptions at such a time."
Naruto analyzed him.
Mayuri remained candid: "It's something quite intriguing. When I have results, I'll make a deal with Captain Uzumaki."
"I think."
"It will deeply intrigue you."
Naruto narrowed his eyes.
With his senses, he confirmed that Mayuri was truthful.
But what could possibly pique Mayuri's interest like this?
After sending Naruto off, Mayuri scoffed and murmured to himself, "That Captain Uzumaki really is a bother; he picks up on the slightest differences."
"Oh dear, let's hope that man can keep Captain Uzumaki busy for a while."
He walked to the wall and pressed his hand against it.
The wall turned transparent, leaving nothing but a thin curtain in moments. Mayuri drew it aside and slipped through.
Behind the curtain lay another space, mirroring the external laboratory symmetrically, as if reflected by a mirror.
On the lab table, a young man lay bound and unconscious, sedated.
"The troublesome guy is gone," Mayuri said in the gentlest of tones, gazing at the young body, "Now let us continue."
Naruto returned to the Seventh Division barracks.
The usual group of drunkards wasn't in their office. After Byakuya's grand wedding, they had vanished to the izakaya to celebrate once again, the Nine-Tails always tagging along with them.
Only Soi Fon remained, as if she had developed a habit of only being able to work from here.
Naruto smiled at her and continued handling his duties.
Soi Fon looked at him, wanting to speak but hesitating.
She could see that both Captain Uzumaki and Captain Kyoraku were preparing something, seemingly related to the Tsunayashiro family.
She was a captain too.
Yet neither he nor Captain Kyoraku had mentioned anything to her.
She wanted to ask, but the words just wouldn't come.
The one thing that comforted Soi Fon was that she wasn't the only one "left out." Captain Shihōin seemed equally in the dark, spending his days in carefree laughter.
Naruto's actions appeared to have a deterrent effect on the Tsunayashiro family.
They had become much more subdued.
Even though Naruto had destroyed the "Substitute Shinigami Certificate" and hadn't returned any new documentation to Ginjo Kugo for quite some time, the Tsunayashiro family made no comments, acting as if they knew nothing about it.
Time seemed to calm the slight "ripples" that had appeared.
Naruto continued his observations, but noticed no activity resembling Aizen's schemes.
Until half a year later.
Kyoraku Shunsui pushed open the office door, glanced at Soi Fon, and requested her to step outside.
Soi Fon grumbled, but seeing Naruto remain silent, she could only stamp her foot and leave with the Nine-Tails in tow.
The Nine-Tails was stunned, looking up at her in surprise.
"Why drag me along just because you're going outside?"
"They've made their move," said Kyoraku Shunsui, his tone serious, "and they don't seem to be hiding it at all."
Naruto stood up. "Who are they?"
"It's Congyu Sakutan leading the team, five people in total, all high-ranking officers," Kyoraku Shunsui spread his hands, helplessness in his voice. "But there's nothing I can do to stop them."
"They have the proper documents approved by the Forty-Six Chambers."
Naruto said in a calm tone, "Getting permission from the Forty-Six Chambers isn't a big challenge for the Tsunayashiro family, is it?"
"What do you plan to do?" Kyoraku Shunsui asked him.
Naruto took out a permit and placed it on the table. "I've always been prepared."
Even though the Tsunayashiro family hadn't acted yet,
Naruto hadn't let his guard down, thinking they would abandon their plans.
Throughout this time, he had been continuously preparing transit permits, applying for the next one right before the previous one expired.
Present World, Namikaze City.
Half a year's time is fleeting for the Reapers but a notable period for humans.
The "Protector" organization is thriving.
Currently, counting even the younger members, their numbers have exceeded twenty.
Yet, they remain cautious, always moving in pairs at a minimum.
"What's out there that could threaten us?" In the organization's base, a short-haired girl idly fiddled with a bunny-shaped hair clip. "There might be some powerful Hollows in Karakura Town that we can't handle alone."
"But Namikaze City,"
"It's not a spiritual power hotspot!"
The girl spoke with gritted teeth.
"Brother Kūgo must have a reason for arranging things this way," said another member, a man dressed in a British fashion, holding a delicate teacup. "Besides, dealing with Hollows in pairs is quite convenient, isn't it?"
"It's so annoying, so annoying!" The short-haired girl kicked her legs and shouted, "Working with people is such a bother."
Her cries suddenly stopped.
An unfamiliar spiritual pressure entered the room.
Heavy and vast, it made the "Fullbringers" feel a weight on their hearts.
It was a strong one!
How did you get into this room?
They looked over, seeing a blond teenager dressed in a black soul reaper uniform with a white haori draped over it.
"Intruder!" The short-haired girl reacted the most intensely.
She jumped off the table, the hairpin in her hand emanating a strange glow.
"Let's play a little—"
The rabbit on the hairpin started to stir, seemingly coming to life, its eyes flashing blood-red in sync with her voice.
But the spell remained unfinished.
Golden chains lashed out, binding her waist and silencing her voice.
"Don't be so rash," Naruto said with a cheerful smile, "You see only yourself."
"Unable to discern the opponent's strength."
"This can get you killed."
A momentary killing intent spread through the air.
The short-haired girl instinctively shivered, the chains lashing against the back of her hand, causing her hairpin to drop with a "clatter."
Inside the room, everyone else grew even more wary.
"You are..." A middle-aged man stood up, his features calm and gentle, "The Uzumaki Captain that Ginjo mentioned?"
Dealing with Hollows often leads to encounters with soul reapers.
Though partially concealed by the "white haori,"
the "soul reaper uniform" remained strikingly noticeable.
"That's me," Naruto nodded, "Where's Kugo?"
He spread out his sensory ability.
Within this house, inside and out, there were over ten Fullbringers' presences, but Ginjo Kugo was notably absent.
As for the surrounding fifty kilometers, there were four unfamiliar Fullbringers and some weak Hollows.
Regarding Karakura Town, Naruto's entry point from the Soul Society was in that city.
Yet, he sensed no trace of Kugo's spiritual pressure there either.
(End of Chapter)