Kenpachi Zaraki grinned viciously, thrilled and eager:"Come again!""Let me be killed by you.""Or... let me kill you!"
Naruto looked at him calmly.Kagura's Mind's Eye confirmed—he meant every word.But Naruto had no reason to continue fighting.
The power cloaked in Asura had already absorbed enough nourishment.It now needed time to settle, digest that energy, and then evolve into something stronger.
"Fighting you was quite the learning experience." Naruto smiled at him.
Kenpachi charged forward, sword raised.
Injuries and drained energy left him unable to finely control his spiritual pressure.Each step he took in the air cracked the void beneath him like spiderwebs spreading outward.
His maniacal laughter nearly drowned out the buzzing of his spiritual energy.
"But this is the end." Naruto raised both hands and clapped them together."They've been waiting long enough."
Golden chains shot out from behind him, writhing like tails.
"Whoosh whoosh"—they exploded forward at lightning speed, wrapping around Kenpachi's limbs and binding him tightly.
Kenpachi's inverted triangular eyes widened.
Not chopping anymore?
This kind of kidō ability was nowhere near as fun as sword fighting!
He struggled fiercely.
But after exchanging blows and being injured, he wasn't in peak condition.
Even so, the golden chains creaked and strained under the force.
Naruto's expression didn't change as he chanted:
"Bakudō #61: Six Rods Light Restraint!"
Six golden rods of light shot from his palms, pinning Kenpachi's arms and piercing into his waist and stomach.
"Bakudō #75: Five Iron Pillars!"
Five massive iron pillars fell from the sky like meteors, smashing into Kenpachi's head and limbs, slamming his body into the ground with a thunderous crash.
Naruto extended both hands again.
White cloth strips flew from his sleeves, wrapping the spiky-haired man from head to toe.
Kenpachi's still-exposed eyes stared at Naruto in disbelief.
Didn't even go all out before stopping the fight?
The battle was over.
Naruto sheathed his sword and withdrew his spiritual pressure.
The surrounding squad members finally moved forward to take the wounded and clean up the rubble.
Several Shinigami in black tight-fitting uniforms flash-stepped over at that moment.
They reached out to seize Kenpachi.
But just as one of them extended his hand—another hand grabbed his wrist.
The rest were swatted away by golden whip-like chains.
The one whose wrist was caught turned in surprise.
The owner of the hand was the Seventh Division Captain—the very man who had just fought the restrained target. His usually gentle face showed no hint of a smile now:
"Second Division—what's the meaning of this?"
"Captain Uzumaki." Another figure flash-stepped over.A short-haired woman wearing a sleeveless captain's haori—Soifon, the current Second Division Captain and Yoruichi's successor.
"We're here to take this criminal into custody."
Naruto turned to her.
"You want to take my spoils of war?" he said calmly.
Soifon paused, then responded seriously:
"Dangerous individuals like this must be handed over to the Onmitsukidō for containment, per Central 46's rules."
"Is that so?" Naruto tossed the bound man aside.
"Well, I don't agree."
Soifon narrowed her eyes, bent slightly at the waist, and reached for her sword.
But before she could speak, her vision blurred.
The golden figure vanished and reappeared behind her—A hand pressed against her wrist, pushing the half-drawn sword back into its sheath.
"Yoruichi's successor," Naruto whispered beside her ear, "hasn't inherited even a sliver of her charm."
Soifon turned, eyes filled with shock.
When?!
Such incredible flash step speed!He had just fought a battle of that magnitude, and still had this much speed?
"Don't bring up that irresponsible woman!" Soifon snapped, furious.She glared at Naruto with hatred.
Naruto simply smiled."This man named Kenpachi—I'll deal with him."
He stepped forward, brushing past her."As for the Second Division, you can go now."
Soifon remained silent.She stared at Naruto's back, gritting her teeth.
"Jin'emon," Naruto called out.
Yorozuya Jin'emon flash-stepped to his captain's side immediately.
"Compile a list of all injured squad members from this mission," Naruto ordered softly,"Grant them paid leave accordingly.""Reassign any of their pending tasks to uninjured members.""If we're short-handed, borrow people from the Sixth or Tenth Divisions.""And remember—don't skimp on their compensation."
Jin'emon nodded respectfully."Yes, Captain Uzumaki."
Naruto turned to the small pink-haired girl surrounded by the two divisions."Bring her as well. I'm taking them both."
Jin'emon gestured, and Seventh Division members escorted the girl over.
She showed no fear, tiptoeing as she studied Naruto."Little Sunshine, you're a good person!"
"Ken-chan hasn't had this much fun in a long time."
Naruto was still quite young—only about 160 cm tall.But the pink-haired girl was even shorter, only reaching his waist.
Naruto grabbed her by the collar and lifted her."I enjoyed this battle too."
"But you two still injured a lot of my squad members—so you'll need to accept punishment."
"What's your name?"
The pink-haired girl, hanging obediently in his grip, replied:"Yachiru—Kusajishi Yachiru. Ken-chan gave me that name."
Naruto nodded and extended his other hand.The cloth binding Kenpachi flew back into his grasp.
And just like that, he carried both of them and flash-stepped away.
Soifon clenched her fists.
This kind of person…Who refused to listen to a single word…Was so infuriating!
Fourth Division Barracks.
"Naruto, I heard you dealt with the intruders in Seireitei."
Unohana Retsu smiled warmly, looking at the two captives Naruto brought in—One was a cute pink-haired girl. The other was completely wrapped in bandages.
Naruto nodded.
"A rather interesting fellow."
"He's injured quite severely. I brought him here to be treated."
Unohana waved her hand, motioning for Naruto to place the wrapped-up man on a bed."He's not a bad person?"
"Not really," Naruto replied."He's just someone obsessed with fighting."
That made Unohana's heart skip a beat.
Naruto lifted the seals:"He held back during the fight and didn't kill anyone. Otherwise, I would've handed him over to the Punishment Squad."
"Fighting him taught me a lot."
"I hope he can stay with the Gotei 13."
As the cloth peeled away, Kenpachi Zaraki was revealed—seriously injured and unconscious due to the suppression of his spiritual pressure.
His face, without his usual exaggerated expression, was barely passable.
"It's him..." Unohana murmured softly.She had already guessed when she heard he was obsessed with combat.And now—she was certain.
Naruto turned in surprise:"Captain Unohana, you know him?"
"A very long time ago." Her voice was full of nostalgia."Back then, I wasn't the Fourth Division's captain."
"He was destined to join the Gotei 13. I just didn't expect it would be now."
Naruto nodded thoughtfully.
He glanced back and forth between Unohana and Kenpachi… and finally stopped on Yachiru.
That pink hair of hers…
"What do you plan to do with him?" Unohana asked.
Naruto thought for a moment."He didn't kill anyone. At most, for breaking into Seireitei, he'll serve a few years in the Ninth Division's prison. Once he's out, I'll recommend him for the Gotei 13."
"He says he can't release his zanpakutō, but his spiritual pressure is incredibly strong—around second-grade strength."
Unohana smiled."The Head Captain will like him. He's very capable."
"And perhaps... there are other ways."
Naruto stared at the unconscious Kenpachi.
Will the Head Captain really like him?
…Unlikely.
He had a feeling the Head Captain would definitely be troubled by this man.
Naruto left Kenpachi and Yachiru in the Fourth Division's care and returned to the Seventh Division—The inner court had been partially destroyed.There were still plenty of things waiting for him to handle.
He also needed to write a report on today's events and submit it to the Head Captain.
Three Days Later.
Naruto visited the Fourth Division again.
Kenpachi's body was surprisingly resilient.He could already get out of bed and was lively again.
"Little Sunshine!" Yachiru greeted him cheerfully."Did you come to visit Ken-chan?"
Kenpachi, as usual, was more blunt:"Hey brat, where's my sword? Did you take it?"
"You're still considered a criminal." Naruto replied sternly."I've stored your sword. We'll see once they decide how to deal with you."
"She explained things to me," Kenpachi said, sitting cross-legged."If I can join the Gotei 13, that's enough, right?"
Naruto nodded.
"The title Kenpachi belongs only to the Captain of the Eleventh Division, right?" Kenpachi continued."I heard that if I cut him down, I'll become the new Eleventh Division Captain. That would make me part of the Gotei 13, right?"
Naruto froze and turned his head.
He had a feeling…There should be a black-haired woman standing there right now.
There was no way someone unfamiliar with Seireitei would come up with that logic on his own.
"He's also a captain—just like you?" Kenpachi tilted his head, expression growing excited."If I cut him down, that should be really fun, right?"
He held out his hand boldly:"Give me back my sword."
Naruto raised a hand."Is this your decision?"
"Then I wish you luck—becoming my comrade."
He placed his palm on the table, activating a summoning seal.A scroll appeared.
He opened it and pulled out the sealed sword.
Kenpachi eagerly got up and grabbed his blade, raising it high:"Then I'll go chop that other Kenpachi down now!"
Yachiru jumped onto his shoulder, waving at Naruto."Thank you, Little Sunshine!"
(End of Chapter)
(~Thank you for the powerstone ~Itumeleng_Mpele~CJ_Schwerin~Bigbowser007~Salamander_7184~Ryan_Smith_8132~Miazen~Daoist5VTbKn~ShaggyJoestar69~Qwerty_78~