A savior had arrived!
Kuchiki Sōjun followed the direction from which the golden chains had come.
The remaining few Shinigami saw it too.
In the dark night and thick fog, a head of golden hair glowed brilliantly.
Such a radiant color instilled strength in their hearts, and in a flash, they felt calm and reassured.
It was the 7th Division Captain — Uzumaki Naruto!
And behind him stood two more captains.
Both were instantly recognizable.
One had the head of a dog — the 9th Division Captain.
The other wore glasses — the 5th Division Captain.
All three of them wore grim expressions, staring at the Shinigami bound by golden chains.
"So this is Hollowfication?" Komamura Sajin examined the twisted, bone-colored liquid with a grave tone. "What an evil thing this is."
Naruto frowned.
The changes in this person differed from what he had seen in Hirako Shinji.
It seemed... even more violent.
The bone liquid hadn't solidified yet. It twisted grotesquely, tearing apart the Shinigami's body and soul. Naruto had barely arrived via Shunpo and hadn't even made a move when the "Hollowfication" consumed the Shinigami's life completely — and simultaneously, the bone liquid vanished.
"He's been Hollowfied for a while?" Naruto asked, staring at the corpse.
Kuchiki Sōjun shook his head. "No, it only just started."
He paused briefly, then warned urgently, "Watch out!"
"There's an enemy here — hidden from sight and completely unobservable!"
"All of the 6th Division members were attacked by this enemy and then began transforming into Hollows."
"And he's still here!"
Naruto's eyes sharpened instantly. "Are you certain?"
"Fifth Seat Nagasawa hasn't Hollowfied at all," Sōjun replied with conviction. "The others transformed two or three minutes after being injured. He was just attacked!"
Before he finished speaking—
Naruto clapped his palms together.
"Adamantine Chains!"
Dozens of golden chains burst out from his back, sweeping in all directions — above, below, left, right.
This enemy was "invisible," not "incorporeal."
Eyes and senses couldn't detect him.
But physical attacks could.
The seemingly slender chains could easily sever tree trunks as thick as several men's arms.
A thunderous roar echoed, shaking the air.
Naruto and Kurama, one man and one fox, unleashed their full power. Their combined perception nearly enveloped the entire mountain, picking up the subtlest shifts with each collision.
Where was the enemy?
Naruto suddenly turned his head.
In front of him to the left, a golden chain curved at a strange angle. It should have passed through the air unimpeded, but now something invisible was blocking it.
That was the hidden enemy!
Naruto drew his sword and charged with Shunpo, calling out as he moved, "Sajin, take the 6th Division members back. I've found the guy!"
Spiritual pressure soared into the sky, stirring the air.
He slashed down with brutal force.
The unseen enemy parried the attack with his own blade.
Sparks scattered from the clash.
"Still refusing to show yourself, you coward? I already know who you are," Naruto growled. Without pausing, he reversed his grip and drew another sword, thrusting it upward toward the enemy's chest.
Clang!
The foe had some skill with a sword, deflecting the strike easily.
But Naruto's words had an effect.
The enemy's concealed form flickered—then appeared before everyone.
"So it really is you," Naruto narrowed his eyes.
A tall man with dark skin, wearing goggles that covered his eyes.
Komamura Sajin, who had been leading the 6th Division team away, turned around and was stunned.
How could it be this man?
The current 9th Division Lieutenant — Tōsen Kaname.
Tōsen said nothing, merely lifted his hand and waved gently.
In the sky, several black portals opened at once.
Countless Hollows poured out.
Just like during the "Soul Burial Training" back then.
Naruto clenched his jaw. The rage he'd kept buried for over a decade burst forth in that instant, and he swung his blade again.
But this time — it hit nothing but an illusion.
The figure before him wasn't real.
Naruto spun and shouted to the others, "Careful! He's heading your way!"
Komamura drew his blade instantly.
Aizen stepped forward to shield the squad members.
But then—
A sword quietly pierced through Kuchiki Sōjun's body.
Bone-colored liquid erupted from the wound, crawling up his face like countless tendrils.
Komamura struck at the figure who had suddenly appeared among them.
He was slashing at... his old friend.
"Tōsen... how could it be you?" he asked, voice filled with sorrow and restrained fury. "Why would you do something like this?"
Naruto's pupils contracted.
He was that fast?
Even Yoruichi couldn't move that silently.
He'd passed through two captains' defenses without a sound?
But now wasn't the time to ponder that.
Naruto rushed to Sōjun's side, spreading his fingers as spiritual flames danced at his fingertips, pressing against Sōjun's abdomen.
"Four Symbols Seal!"
The sealing formula spread from his fingertips, wrapping around and suppressing the Hollow energy.
His earlier theory was correct.
The Four Symbols Seal could suppress Hollowfication.
The seal stabilized, the bone-colored ooze retreated from Sōjun's face, and his breathing evened out.
Aizen watched Naruto's hand, those intricate runes shimmering. His glasses reflected the moonlight, hiding his eyes.
Naruto raised his head.
Tōsen raised his sword, clashing with Komamura's blow. His expression remained stoic, just as before. But his words were firm:"Of course it's for justice, Captain Komamura."
Kagura's Mind Eye confirmed it — this was spoken with absolute sincerity.
"Justice?" Naruto raised his voice.
This was the version he had seen—without any mistake.
Tōsen looked down at him. "Captain Uzumaki, hailed as the little sun."
"Everything I've done was for the sake of justice."
Komamura raised his sword again.
"I'll handle him," Naruto said softly, stopping Komamura. "His blade seems to carry some kind of virus. A single hit may cause Hollowfication."
"He's dangerous for you all. Go handle the other Hollows."
"I'll…"
"I'll bring him back to Seireitei alive — and uncover the truth behind this plot."
Komamura said nothing, gave his old friend one final sorrowful glance, then vanished with a flash step. The other Shinigami, including Aizen, also withdrew, giving the two space to battle.
"Will you stand on the side of injustice, Captain Uzumaki?" Tōsen asked.
Naruto handed Sōjun to a 7th Division officer.
"The Soul Society is a place of filth," Tōsen said quietly, continuing, "And Seireitei is the foulest part of it."
"You've been investigating me lately."
"Then you should know about my past, right?"
Naruto's eyes dropped to his sword. "You mean your blade's previous owner?"
"So you do know." Tōsen's tone softened with emotion. "The former owner of this blade — my friend."
"She died not long after marrying into the Kōrōdani family — killed by her husband."
"He killed a fellow Shinigami over a minor argument and murdered his wife when she confronted him."
"My friend was a good person."
"She longed for peace more than anyone — had a stronger sense of justice than anyone."
"But she still died to injustice."
"And her murderer was... released without punishment."
Tōsen's emotions flared wildly, his spiritual pressure surging like a storm.
"So I chose this path."
"If justice isn't enough — then I will become justice."
"Captain Uzumaki, you can tell truth from lies, can't you?"
"Then you know — every word I say is true."
"My heart has always walked alongside justice."
"A filthy place like this doesn't deserve someone like you."
"Become my comrade."
"Let us be justice together — and wipe out evil like dispersing clouds."
Naruto's voice remained calm. "So this is why you did all this?"
"How absurd, Tōsen Kaname."
Tōsen lowered his hand, voice low:"Even someone like you... in the end, chooses Seireitei's side?"
"Would you shield such evil?"
Naruto gripped his sword. "I don't shield darkness... but you are not justice."
"You're no different from the evil you hate."
Tōsen shouted in frustration, "Then what do you want me to do?!"
"Forgive the man who murdered my friend?"
"Sure, that's noble — it's a virtue."
"But tell me — is virtue the same as justice?"
"No, right?"
"To live peacefully while the dead go unavenged..."
"That's a sin!"
Naruto, still calm, replied:"I don't ask you to let go of your hatred. I won't stop your revenge. I understand your feelings."
"Because love can give birth to hatred."
"But even so…"
"If your enemy was her killer, then strike him!"
"If your strength isn't enough, then hone it!"
"Even if you study Hollow powers for strength, that's fine!"
"But why... why did you go after Captain Shinji? Why target Captain Love?"
"Were they your enemies too?"
"To satisfy your own desire and hurt the innocent..."
"Can you still call that justice?"
Tōsen spoke softly, "They were... necessary sacrifices in the pursuit of power."
Naruto drew his blade, his voice full of disdain:
"Such words that trample over the innocent..."
"You are truly ugly, Tōsen Kaname!"
(End of Chapter)