Seireitei was in complete chaos.
It was an incident almost identical to the "Captain Hollowfication" incident from over a decade ago.
The good news was that this time, only one division was lost, and only some high-seated officers and ordinary squad members died. There were no casualties among the captains or vice-captains.
The bad news was—that division happened to be the Sixth Division.
Fortunately, though there was an issue with the member of the Kuchiki clan, his life wasn't in immediate danger.
Those who died were merely lower-ranking nobles or soul reapers from the Rukongai.
As long as the Kuchiki Clan, the head of the Four Great Noble Houses, remained intact, some of the more complacent higher-ups didn't consider it a major incident. At most, they found it troublesome to placate the lesser noble families.
What's more—there was even better news.
The "mastermind" behind this incident was uncovered by Seventh Division Captain Uzumaki Naruto, and the man had died by his own experiment.
This was corroborated by the Fifth, Ninth, and remaining members of the Sixth Division.
And yet—
Even after avenging the captains who previously died by killing the true culprit, Captain Uzumaki didn't seem pleased.
After all the testimonies had been recorded—
Vice-captain of the Second Division, Ōmaeda Marechiyo, respectfully thanked Naruto."Thank you, Captain Uzumaki, for your cooperation. If there's any follow-up, I'll visit the Seventh Division barracks."
Naruto stood up without hesitation—he wanted to go see someone.
"Captain Uzumaki," a voice called to him.
It was Captain Soi Fon of the Second Division, who had been quietly observing from the side.
Naruto turned to look at her.
"You're the one in charge of tracking down Urahara Kisuke and the others, correct?" she asked casually.
Naruto nodded. "That's right."
"Any leads?" Soi Fon tilted her head slightly, her tone unfriendly. "If you need any help, the Second Division is at your disposal."
"The real culprit is already dead."
"That guy, Urahara Kisuke, surprisingly... was innocent in this matter."
"So if they return to Seireitei, they won't be held too harshly accountable."
Naruto smiled slightly.
She's as easy to read as the Nine-Tails.
"If there's a chance, I'll bring them back," he said softly.
Soi Fon was stunned.
What did he mean—if there's a chance?
She had the feeling that those words carried some other hidden meaning.
But before she could ask anything more, golden light flashed—and the man before her vanished in a flash step.
Dawn was breaking. A golden hue crept over the horizon.
But the towering structure of the Fifth Division blocked the light.
The entire division was still cloaked in darkness and silence.
Inside the captain's quarters—
Aizen Sōsuke stood by a koi pond, occasionally sprinkling feed and watching the colorful carp scramble for food.
He turned his head."Good evening, Naruto-kun."
A golden-haired figure appeared silently in the corner of the courtyard.
But Aizen had noticed him the moment he arrived.
"It's morning now," Naruto corrected him.
Aizen turned fully. "But the sun hasn't risen yet."
Naruto took a deep breath. "You're the one behind turning Captain Shinji and the others into Hollows, and the one who framed Captain Urahara, aren't you?"
"I thought you'd talk a bit more before asking that," Aizen replied gently. "So impatient?"
Naruto's teeth clenched. "So it really was you, Sōsuke."
"When we fought, didn't you already confirm that?"
Aizen dumped the rest of the feed into the pond, causing the koi to swirl in a frenzy. He walked toward Naruto, still speaking softly."Now that you know the truth... what will you do?"
He smiled kindly—just like when he used to teach Naruto kidō.
Naruto didn't answer that question. Something clicked in his mind."Those things Tōsen Kaname did—weren't meant to mislead me."
"They were for Seireitei to see?"
Aizen's composed demeanor made Naruto realize this.
During the testimony recordings, almost everyone naturally believed Tōsen was the mastermind.
After all, the "facts" pointed to him: he had the invisible enemy, he caused the Hollowfication, and he ultimately demonstrated the Hollow power himself.
The "evidence" was damning.
Aizen said quietly,"Smart people are hard to deal with."
"But fools are easy."
"Just give them a fabricated version of reality, and they'll believe it without question."
Naruto clenched his fists. "Did you kill Tōsen?"
"Of course not," Aizen shook his head. "He didn't die, he sacrificed himself."
"He was the first martyr on the path of justice."
"He was brave... don't you think?"
"Did you know? Naruto-kun... Tōsen and I made a promise."
"He asked me—if one day he could no longer uphold justice and strayed to the side of the Shinigami, then I should be the one to end him."
"Thankfully, that day never came."
"Even in death, he remained true to his ideals."
Naruto didn't speak but watched Aizen carefully.
His Kagura Shingan confirmed it—everything Aizen said was the truth.
"Naruto-kun, for someone who can read others' hearts, you're very easy to understand," Aizen said, half-smiling like a teacher to a child."Let me guess what you plan to do."
"Report me to the Head-Captain? Or the Central 46?"
"Do you think they'll believe you—or believe what they've already seen?"
Naruto shook his head. "That's a fabricated truth you constructed."
"But to them, it's real," Aizen replied calmly, his gaze shifting to Naruto's waist."Or perhaps..."
"You intend to kill me right here, end everything you consider evil with your own hands."
He paused, smiling playfully."But Naruto-kun."
"Are you sure I'll be the one to die if you try that?"
Naruto remained silent.
He couldn't gauge Aizen's strength.
"Love and admiration... are the most distant things in the world," Aizen continued.
Naruto looked up at him.
He'd once said something similar to Karin—about himself and Hinata.
But what was Aizen trying to express now?
Aizen looked into the distance. As they spoke, the sun had climbed above the barracks, casting its light upon them.
Naruto stood in the sunlight.
Aizen stood in the shadow.
Less than ten steps apart, but the high walls of the barracks split the space into two.
"Your impression of Seireitei is far too idealized," Aizen continued."But this world was born from sin."
"You were once a child—everyone protected you well."
"But now, Naruto-kun, welcome... to the adult world."
"Use your own eyes, and see how filthy this world truly is."
Naruto took a deep breath, calming himself."That doesn't justify your actions."
"Just because evil exists doesn't mean you should hurt the innocent."
"I don't accept your methods."
"Captain Aizen!" He corrected his tone, firm and distant."I've caught you now. I will expose you—show the world your ugly truth!"
"Is that so," Aizen smiled, examining Naruto."I must admit, you're far more troublesome than the others."
"Every time I think I understand you—suddenly, you reveal a power that defies all logic, never recorded before."
"Naruto-kun, the secret you hold surpasses even mine."
"So let's see—who unmasks whom first."
Naruto said nothing more, turning to leave.
Aizen watched his back, smiling faintly.
He spoke—perhaps to himself, perhaps as a farewell.
"The purer one's ideals, the harder it is to coexist with corruption."
"How long can you hold on?"
"...Naruto-kun."
Then he, too, returned to his quarters.
At the entrance to the Seventh Division—
Naruto had just returned when he bumped into someone unexpected.
"Byakuya?" Naruto greeted him, surprised. "What brings you here?"
Kuchiki Byakuya bowed respectfully."Naruto-kun, I am deeply grateful. After my father woke up, he told me everything. Had you not intervened, he would have died in the World of the Living."
"The Kuchiki family will never forget this debt."
Naruto shook his head, helping him up."How is Vice-Captain Kuchiki's health?"
"I've been so busy I haven't had the chance to visit."
Byakuya shook his head."His condition is stable. With your seal in place, that power won't erode his body."
"But he can no longer serve as a Shinigami."
"Grandfather intends for me to take over his position."
Naruto nodded."Focusing on recovery isn't a bad choice."
"I came not only to express thanks," Byakuya's expression turned serious."There's something I must warn you about."
Naruto looked at him curiously.
Was it... about the Four-Symbols Seal?
Or something else?
Byakuya continued:"Is Tōsen Kaname's body still in your possession?"
Naruto nodded.
The Second Division hadn't asked for it, and he had intended to study it—to learn more about Hollowfication.
"Be careful of the Tsunayashiro Clan," Byakuya warned.
Naruto frowned.
The clan responsible for the death of Tōsen's friend?
"They control the Great Spirit Book Gallery. They have a tremendous thirst for unrecorded techniques. Back when the incident happened, they tried to obtain the Hollowfied captains and vice-captains."
"And now..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but looked up.
In the distance—
A man with dark green hair, surrounded by other nobles, walked toward them.
He bore some resemblance to Ichimaru Gin—
But lacked Gin's soft, feminine air, and instead looked far more cruel.
"They're here," Byakuya whispered."Truly impatient."
(End of Chapter)