A piercing gust of wind blew, lifting Gang Myuda Jitan's face skyward, twisting it into a mass of wrinkles, contorted and ugly.
Nevertheless, he spoke, "Even after learning the truth, this is still your attitude?"
"How naive, and laughable."
"You people, always the same."
"Trying to make me into a new pawn."
"I've always thought highly of myself, but even so, Captain Uzumaki seems to overestimate me."
Naruto did not reply.
He raised another hand, drawing from within himself a portion of spiritual energy, a blue liquid-like essence that shimmered as it fell.
It surged upward, covering Gang Myuda Jitan's face.
It split into tendrils, writhing like worms, moving along his features, prying open eyelids, widening nostrils, forcing open his mouth, burrowing into his body.
The prepared seal imprinted upon his chest.
"The Four Symbols Seal!"
The intricate spell formation took shape.
Gang Myuda Jitan lowered his gaze, observing the mark, as if trying to memorize it.
Yet in the next moment, Naruto tapped his hand, and layers of seals unfolded, concealing the "Four Symbols Seal."
"What is this?" Gang Myuda Jitan's voice was low.
Naruto's tone was calm, "A brand."
"A hunter always leaves a mark on its prey."
"To prevent sudden disappearances, or impure intentions."
Gang Myuda Jitan made no response.
The seal complete, the chains withdrew.
The man with dark green hair fell awkwardly to the ground.
Naruto approached, taking the hand of the young girl.
"Captain Uzumaki, she promised to come with me." Gang Myuda Jitan lifted his head, smirking.
In reply, came a flash of lightning.
The chantless "White Lightning."
A burning smell pierced the air as something grazed past his ear.
"Even if the Spirit King was cut into pieces, he can still be the wedge of this world," Naruto glanced back coldly, "so missing an ear shouldn't affect you much."
Gang Myuda Jitan gritted his teeth, a ferocious look crossing his face.
"Don't forget," Naruto's voice was soft.
"You are the wedge for the substitute."
"A prey."
With that, he quickly left with An Hetianjing.
Gang Myuda Jitan stood up, picked up the ear that had been pierced and torn away, lost in thought but surprisingly laughing even in his disheveled state tonight.
In Narumaki City, within the organization's base.
"You truly are a scumbag," the short-haired girl said with disgust as she looked at An Hetianjing, "imprisoning your own daughter, denying her freedom."
"It's for her safety," An Hetianjing retorted angrily.
"And yet she's still being targeted by others," the short-haired girl rolled her eyes while twirling a hairclip, "is this your protection?"
An Hetianjing shook his head, "Just speculation."
"If it wasn't Yincheng's request,"
"And the fact that person is so strong,"
"I wouldn't have revealed it so early."
His words were cut short by another voice, "Then you should be grateful you told me so soon."
Every face in the room turned towards the source of the voice.
Naruto was back, holding the hand of a little girl.
"Aura!" An Hetianjing instantly got up in a rush.
A golden chain shot out, wrapping around him and restraining his movements.
"What are you doing?" He struggled fiercely, shouting, "I'm her father."
Naruto ignored him, speaking calmly, "Someone had indeed set their sights on her."
"But it's been dealt with."
"That environment isn't suitable for a child to live alone. I've brought her here."
An Hetianjing's struggles weakened.
"However," Naruto looked up at the man bound by the golden chain, "you truly are an unqualified father."
"So, I won't be handing this child back to you."
"Let's have—"
He scanned the crowd with his eyes, finally settling on someone. "I'll leave it to you to take care of things."
A short-haired girl pointed incredulously at herself, surprised. "Me?"
"Once Kongwu returns, please do this with him," Naruto smiled.
The short-haired girl hesitated. "I mean, it's not that I can't, but why is it always these troublesome tasks that fall on me? I really hate interacting with people."
"Then I'll pick someone else," Naruto suggested.
"No need!" The short-haired girl quickly dismissed the idea. "You've already entrusted it to me. If you hand it over to someone else, would that mean you look down on me?"
"It's just taking care of the kid."
"Kongwu is quite good at it," she admitted reluctantly.
A disembodied head on the table bobbed and laughed heartily. "I am his father. I should be the one to take care of my child," An Hetianjing protested loudly, waving his hand fervently.
"But you're not qualified at all," Naruto said calmly. "A father like you might as well have never existed. It could be a better thing for your child."
An Hetianjing was furious.
In the corner, a man dressed in an English style closed his book and spoke calmly, "I recall a study done overseas."
"A child's crying and yearning for a hug are ways to seek interaction and a sense of security from the outside world."
"If deprived of this for too long, it can cause a child to lose their perception of the outside world."
"Just like your daughter."
Everyone turned their gaze towards An Hetianjing's daughter, Ana Aura.
Unlike the other child in the room, even with so many eyes on her, she showed no sign of fear on her face.
You could say», she was numb, devoid of any expression.
An Hetianjing was stunned, mumbling softly, "I just wanted to protect her."
"Overprotective and untimely protection can actually harm a child," Naruto moved Ana Aura next to the short-haired girl. "She's still young enough to make up for her lost childhood."
An Hetianjing lowered his head.
"Is the problem resolved?" inquired the severed head on the table as Naruto was about to leave.
Naruto turned back, offering a smile. "Your problem, at least for now, should be resolved."
As for his own, he was still perplexed.
Gang Myuda Jitan sensed an unusual presence around him, detecting faint traces of Aizen's existence.
However, he didn't care.
With a mindset he could not comprehend, he divulged a secret concerning the existence of the three realms and the sins of the Tsunayashiro family.
What does he want to do?
What kind of goal does Aizen hope to achieve through this?
It seemed to pose no threat to himself or any other captains.
Naruto left the base, stepping onto the street and preparing to open the interdimensional gate.
"Long time no see, Naruto," a playful greeting came from behind.
Startled, Naruto turned around, looking towards the source of the voice.
It was a black cat perched on the wall, wearing a slightly oversized cloak.
That was the thing obstructing his perception of its spiritual pressure.
He quickly realized something.
Just restraining himself, he didn't cry out.
"That's right, it's me, Yoruichi Shihōin," the black cat spoke softly, lifting a paw to push back its hood. "Don't worry, the invisible enemy should still be in the Soul Society. Something even more alluring to him is happening there."
"Something more alluring to him?" Naruto questioned.
Yoruichi shook her head: "You'll find out when you return."
"It should be good news for you, right?"
"As for now," she continued, "Naruto, come with me. We haven't met in a long time; we should catch up."
"And discuss some important matters," she added.
Naruto sheathed his sword and followed her away.
In the Soul Society, within the Tsunayashiro family estate.
Flames raged, burning several houses to ashes.
Gang Myuda Jitan approached a room.
The head of the family sat in the main seat, lifeless and dead.
As for the other family head candidates, without exception, their bodies were also here, seated in order, as if in a regular council gathering.
Gang Myuda Jitan also returned to his own spot, sitting down.
"No one wants to speak?" After a long silence, he chuckled softly. "You all usually make so much noise, but now you can't say a single word?"
"Oh dear—"
"This is such an important occasion, after all."
"In that case, I'll be the one to break the silence."
"I propose that after the current head's death, we appoint Gang Myuda Jitan as the new head."
"Is there anyone who disagrees?"
"Then it's settled."
He mumbled to himself, stood up, walked over to the current head's body, casually moved him aside, and sat down in his place. Even with blood soaking his clothes, he didn't budge.
"So it seems."
"The feeling of being the head of Gang Myuda." He grinned widely, a more sinister expression forming on his face, his eyes showing no hint of joy.
Gang Myuda Jitan reveled in the moment, and suddenly something came to his mind. His gaze roamed freely around the room.
"That person manipulating the Gang Myuda family into doing these things, you should be here, right?"
"Why not come out and meet me face to face?"
"I thank you for giving me the reason and the opportunity to destroy the Gang Myuda family. When facing Captain Uzumaki, I've always been eager to repay the 'kindness' you've shown me."
"But he really is a very upright person."
"Even when provoked, all he did was cut off one of my ears."
"Unfortunately, at that time I wasn't the head of Gang Myuda. Otherwise, he might have been stripped of his powers for offending a noble."
"So let's have a good talk on how we can give Naruto Uzumaki the ending he deserves."
"Alright?"
No one responded to him. Yet, there was indeed another presence in the room that he couldn't see.
Gin Ichimaru whispered, "I think his proposal sounds good."
"He's quite sharp, noticing Aizen-sama's influence."
"The Gang Myuda family also seems to be a formidable force."
Aizen adjusted his glasses, "Gin, haven't you noticed?"
"That guy has already become Naruto's prey."
He let go, walking out.
"And we've also obtained the prey we wanted."
"Let's go."
"Naruto should be back any moment now."
"I can't wait to meet him."
(End of Chapter)