NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 95: How long can you hold on?
The Seireitei is in chaos.
Once again, a situation eerily similar to the "Captain Hollowfication" incident from over a decade ago has occurred.
The good news is that this time, only one squad was lost, and only some senior officers and regular soldiers died. There were no casualties among the "Captains" or "Vice-Captains."
The bad news is that the squad involved is the "6th Division."
Fortunately, although there was some trouble with a member of the Kuchiki Clan, there is no immediate danger to his life.
The only casualties were lower-ranking nobles and soldiers from the Rukongai.
As long as there is no issue with the "Kuchiki Clan," the leader of the Four Great Noble Families, it’s not considered a major incident for some people who merely occupy positions without truly contributing. It's just a bit troublesome to appease the lower-ranking nobles.
Moreover, there’s even better news.
The mastermind behind this incident was exposed by Captain Uzumaki Naruto of the 7th Division, and he died in his own experiment.
This fact has been jointly testified to by the 5th Division, the 9th Division, and the remaining members of the 6th Division.
However, after killing the culprit and avenging the previous captains, Captain Uzumaki doesn’t seem particularly elated.
After all the testimonies were recorded, the Vice-Captain of the 2nd Division, Ōmaeda Marechiyo, respectfully greeted Naruto, "Thank you, Captain Uzumaki, for your cooperation. Sorry for the trouble."
"If there’s anything further, I will visit the 7th Division barracks to see you."
Naruto hurriedly stood up; he wanted to see someone.
"Captain Uzumaki." The 2nd Division Captain, Soi Fon, who had been waiting nearby, called out to him, "Please wait a moment."
Naruto turned back to look at her.
"The task of searching for Urahara Kisuke and others falls under Captain Uzumaki’s responsibility, correct?" she asked in a slightly casual tone.
Naruto nodded, "That's right."
"So, is there any clue now?" Soi Fon tilted her head, sounding a bit displeased. "If you need any help, feel free to give orders to the 2nd Division."
"The real culprit is already dead."
"Urahara Kisuke, surprisingly, is innocent in this matter."
"They won’t face too severe a punishment when they return to the Seireitei."
Naruto smiled faintly.
He seemed as straightforward as the Nine-Tails.
"If there's an opportunity, I'll bring them back," he said softly.
Soi Fon was taken aback.
What did he mean by "if there's an opportunity"? She felt there was some hidden meaning in his words.
But before she could ask any more questions, a flash of golden light appeared, and the person in front of her disappeared with a Shunpo.
Dawn was breaking, and a golden light was emerging on the horizon.
But the towering buildings of the 5th Division blocked this light.
The entire barracks were still shrouded in darkness and silence.
In the Captain’s residence, Sōsuke Aizen stood by the pond, occasionally pinching a small amount of fish food and scattering it, causing the koi in the pond to scramble for it.
He turned his head slightly, "Good evening, Naruto-kun."
Silently, a blonde figure appeared in the corner of the courtyard, but he was immediately detected.
"It’s already morning," Naruto corrected.
Aizen turned his body as well, "But the sun hasn’t risen yet."
Naruto took a deep breath, "The one who caused Captain Shinji and the others to Hollowfy and framed Captain Urahara is you, isn’t it?"
"I thought you would chat with me for a bit longer before asking that question," Aizen responded calmly. "Are you that impatient?"
Naruto gritted his teeth, "It really is you, Aizen."
"Didn’t you already confirm that when we were fighting?" Aizen poured all the fish food into the pond, causing the koi to frenzy. He walked towards Naruto, still speaking softly, "Now that you know the truth..."
"But what will you do?"
He smiled, with the same gentle demeanor as when he had instructed Naruto in Kido.
Naruto did not answer that question. Something occurred to him: "Tosen Kaname’s actions were not meant to mislead me, were they?"
"But to deceive the people of the Seireitei?"
Aizen's calm demeanor made Naruto suddenly realize this.
During the recording of the testimonies, almost everyone had naturally assumed that "Tosen Kaname" was the mastermind.
After all, the facts they had experienced pointed to him.
The hidden enemy was him, he was the one responsible for the Hollowfication of the Shinigami, and he was the one who ultimately chose to Hollowfy himself.
The "evidence" was conclusive.
Aizen spoke softly, "Clever people are hard to deal with."
"But fools are easy to handle."
"As long as you give them a fabricated fact, they will believe it without question."
Naruto clenched his fists, "Did you kill Tosen Kaname?"
"Of course not," Aizen shook his head. "He didn't die; he sacrificed himself."
"He became the first volunteer on the path of justice."
"He was very brave, wasn’t he?"
"Do you know, Naruto-kun, we had an agreement."
"He asked me that if one day, he could no longer uphold justice and chose to side with the Shinigami, I should kill him with my own hands."
"But fortunately, that day never came."
"Even in his final moments, he remained true to his sense of justice."
Naruto didn't speak, simply observing Aizen.
Mind's Eye of the Kagura confirmed that these were all "truths."
"Naruto-kun, while you can see through others, you yourself are also quite easy to understand," Aizen remarked with a faint smile, his tone akin to an adult speaking to a child. "Shall I guess what you plan to do?"
"Do you intend to report me to the Captain-Commander or the Central 46 Chambers? But will they choose to believe you, or will they choose to believe the facts?"
Naruto shook his head, raising his hand. "Those are facts you fabricated."
"But to them, those facts are real," Aizen replied, his tone relaxed as his gaze drifted to Naruto's waist. "Or..."
"Do you intend to attack me? To kill me here and end all the evil you believe I've committed?"
He paused, a playful smile appearing on his lips. "But Naruto-kun."
"Are you certain that the person you're about to kill will be me?"
Naruto remained silent, unable to fathom Aizen's true strength.
"Admiration and adoration are the farthest distance one can feel," Aizen spoke again.
Naruto looked up at him, recalling that he had once said something similar to Karin, though at that time, it was about "himself" and "Hinata."
But what was Aizen trying to convey now?
Aizen lifted his head, gazing into the distance. As they spoke, the sun had risen from behind the division quarters, its light pouring over them.
Naruto stood bathed in sunlight, while Aizen remained in the shadows.
A distance of less than ten steps was divided by the shadow of the tall building.
"Your impression of Seireitei is far too idealistic," Aizen continued. "But this world was born from sin."
"You were a child before; everyone protected you well."
"But now, Naruto-kun, welcome to the adult world."
"Use your eyes to truly see how filthy this world is."
Naruto took a deep breath, calming himself. "That's not a reason for what you're doing."
"Just because filth exists doesn't justify harming the innocent."
"I can't agree with your methods."
"Captain Sosuke!" He changed his address, no longer as familiar as before, his tone firm. "I've caught you now, and I'll expose you, revealing your ugly and evil deeds to everyone!"
"Is that so?" Aizen smiled, looking at Naruto with a sigh. "I must admit, you're far more difficult to deal with than others."
"Every time I think I'm beginning to understand you, you suddenly display incomprehensible, unprecedented power."
"Naruto-kun, there's an even greater secret hidden within you than within me."
"Let's see who unmasks the other first."
Naruto said nothing more, turning to leave.
Aizen watched his retreating figure, smiling slightly.
He spoke, as if to himself or perhaps in farewell to the departing Naruto.
"The purer one's ideals, the harder it is to coexist with filth."
"How long can you hold on?"
"Naruto-kun."
He too turned back towards the division quarters.
At the entrance of the 7th Division's quarters, Naruto encountered an unexpected person upon his return.
"Byakuya?" Naruto greeted him. "What brings you here?"
Kuchiki Byakuya bowed respectfully to Naruto. "Naruto-kun, I am deeply grateful. After my father woke up, he told me everything. Without your intervention, he might have died in the living world."
"The Kuchiki Clan will never forget this life-saving favor."
Naruto shook his head, helping him stand up straight. "How is your father's health?"
"I've been busy with other matters since returning and haven't had the chance to visit him."
Byakuya shook his head. "Father's health is stable, and with your seal in place, that power won't erode his body."
"But he likely won't be able to serve as a Shinigami anymore."
"My grandfather intends for me to take over his position."
Naruto nodded. "Resting and recovering isn't a bad option."
"I came here not only to express my thanks but also to warn you, Naruto-kun." Byakuya's expression turned serious.
Naruto looked at him in confusion.
Was it about the Four Symbols Seal?
Or something else?
Byakuya continued, "Is Tōsen Kaname's body still in your possession?"
Naruto nodded.
The 2nd Division had not requested it from him, and he intended to keep it to study the nature of this "Hollowfication."
"Be wary of the Tsunayashiro Clan," Byakuya warned.
Naruto frowned.
The family that had caused the death of Tōsen's friend?
"They control the Daireishokairō (大霊書回廊, Great Spirit Book Gallery) and have a great desire for undocumented techniques. Back then, they even asked for the hollowfied captains and Vice-Captains. Now..." He trailed off, lifting his head.
In the distance.
A man with dark green hair, flanked by several other Shinigami dressed in noble attire, was walking towards them.
He bore some resemblance to Ichimaru Gin.
But...
He didn't have Gin's sinister air; instead, he seemed even more ruthless.
"They've arrived," Byakuya whispered, "Couldn't wait, could they?"
