[Sponsored] Chapter 91: A Bad Premonition

[This chapter is proudly sponsored by "Ahmad Almulla." Please join me in expressing your thanks in the comments! If you're interested in sponsoring a chapter, consider joining the Patreon.]

The current captain of the 11th Division is a black, fat man named "Kiganjō Kenpachi."

He is a very unlikeable person with a poor reputation.

Neither the members of the Gotei 13 nor those in the 11th Division have much affection for him.

Even before joining the Gotei 13, Naruto had heard about this man from Hirako Shinji.

Hirako's assessment of him was, "How could an idiot like that become a captain?"

Even Captain Ukitake and Uncle Shunsui would show signs of reluctance and struggle to come up with any commendable qualities when discussing this "Kenpachi."

After becoming a captain himself and interacting with him, Naruto found that Hirako's description was spot on.

Naruto watched as Zaraki Kenpachi left; he had great confidence in this man.

That guy named "Kiganjō" could never be his match.

Less than an hour later, the news came.

Zaraki Kenpachi had cut down Kiganjō.

He killed him in front of all the squad members.

But this wasn't considered a "crime."

The 11th Division is the most unique squad in the Seireitei.

While the captains of other divisions must go through evaluations and reviews to assume their positions, the 11th Division, being a "combat squad," has a different standard—whoever is the strongest becomes the captain and claims the title of "Kenpachi."

From that day on, the leadership of the 11th Division changed hands, with Zaraki Kenpachi taking over.

As for what he had done before—forcefully breaking into the Seireitei, injuring dozens of Shinigami, and destroying a large area of buildings.

As a "soul," these are serious crimes, but having the title of "captain" makes them trivial.

The final punishment handed down by Captain-Commander Yamamoto was for Zaraki Kenpachi to bear the medical and recuperation costs of the injured Shinigami and the expenses for repairing that area—an amount that would take at least 50 to 60 years of a captain's salary to cover.

But Zaraki Kenpachi didn't care; money meant nothing to him.

When he got hungry, he would just find someone to mooch food off, with the 4th and 7th Divisions being good places to go.

The pink-haired little girl named Kusajishi Yachiru beside him unexpectedly took on the role of vice-captain. It wasn't because Zaraki Kenpachi was showing favoritism; she earned the position by cutting her way up from the 5th Seat all the way to vice-captain.

The original vice-captain was slashed three times by her and sent to the 4th Division, and is now considering transferring to another squad.

Overall, in this incident, the 11th Division suffered the most severe losses—the former captain was killed, and six or seven seated officers were seriously injured.

The arrival of Zaraki Kenpachi and Kusajishi Yachiru brought a breath of life to the Seireitei.

Although this "life force" wasn't very pleasant.

The biggest headache for the 7th and 10th Divisions was figuring out how to keep the new 11th Division captain calmly staying in the squad barracks, instead of wandering around with a sword, constantly challenging captains and vice-captains to fights.

By comparison, the 11th Division's vice-captain, who also liked to wander around, seemed much more lovable.

She was just a prankster, and giving her some candy would pacify her.

It's a bit of a pity.

Such a cute little girl, how could she be with a man like Zaraki Kenpachi? It would be better if she followed Captain Uzumaki.

Naruto was the most troubled by this.

He didn't really want to continue fighting with Zaraki Kenpachi.

The power wrapped around him by "Ashura" had been fully satiated in their last battle and needed time to be slowly digested.

Rather than engaging in meaningless battles, he preferred to spend this "digesting" time continuing his research on the "Four Symbols Seal" and "Space-Time Ninjutsu."

But Zaraki Kenpachi didn't seem to agree.

In the 7th Division Captain's office.

With a "bang," the door was kicked open.

Zaraki Kenpachi's eager, ferocious face appeared: "Uzumaki, let's fight!"

"Let's continue the battle!"

On his shoulder was Kusajishi Yachiru, her whole body lifted off the ground, hanging on only by grabbing onto the captain's haori.

"That's the seventh door this month," Naruto looked up and sighed.

Zaraki Kenpachi waved his sword: "Don't worry about these things!"

"Just take it out of my salary."

"You still owe the Seireitei fifty-seven years," Naruto said with a blank expression.

"Then take it out of my salary," Yachiru said seriously, steadying herself on Zaraki Kenpachi's back and poking her head out.

Naruto shook his head and took out a can of konpeitō from his desk drawer.

Yachiru's eyes lit up, and she cheered as she pounced: "Sun-chan is a good person!"

"Let's fight!" Zaraki Kenpachi urged, "Leave all these trivial matters to the 3rd Seat!"

Naruto paused, his gaze shifting between the two of them.

A captain and a vice-captain, both roaming around the Seireitei as soon as they opened their eyes, hardly handling any internal squad affairs.

Their 3rd seat must be having a hard time.

"I still have things to do," Naruto shook his head. "As for the battle..."

He examined the power brewing within his inner world.

"This 'nutrient' still needs some time to digest."

Zaraki Kenpachi waited expectantly for the second half of the sentence, almost reaching out to drag the blond boy out of his desk.

"In a year," Naruto finally replied.

Zaraki Kenpachi's face fell: "A year?"

The wait had been too long, and now his fighting spirit was boiling over.

"You could look for other captains," Naruto reminded him.

Zaraki Kenpachi's face grew even more sullen. "The interesting ones won't accept my challenge, and as for the others..." He shook his head in disappointment. "Not every captain is as intriguing as you."

"Not all captains are like you either," Naruto replied.

"I thought the guy with the title of 'Kenpachi' would be stronger," Zaraki said, his tone full of disappointment.

It had been too easy to cut down Kiganjō. A few strikes, and the man was dead.

"There is one captain you haven't tried yet," Naruto suggested. "You could go find the Captain-Commander."

Zaraki Kenpachi paused, then spat out a name: "Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto?"

"The Captain-Commander is an old man who enjoys guiding people," Naruto said with a slight smile. "Go find him."

"Let's fight again in a year," Zaraki agreed cheerfully. "It's settled. Where is the 1st Division's headquarters?"

Naruto pointed in a direction.

Zaraki leaped onto the windowsill, and Yachiru, holding a jar of konpeito, jumped onto his back, waving goodbye.

However, as soon as they left the room, despite Naruto clearly indicating the correct direction, the two of them landed on the ground, looked around, and headed off in the completely wrong direction.

That evening.

At the izakaya.

Under the influence of Kyoraku Shunsui and the others, Naruto had developed the habit of coming here for a drink during his breaks—although he only drank milk or juice, never alcohol.

Gin and Byakuya were there as well.

They didn't come as frequently as Naruto.

Gin disliked interacting with anyone other than Naruto.

As for Byakuya, as the heir of the Kuchiki family, it was inappropriate for him to frequent such places.

"In a while, the 6th Division will undertake a suppression mission," Kuchiki Byakuya spoke, his tone somewhat heavy.

Ichimaru Gin grinned, asking teasingly, "The 6th Division has a mission?"

It was a normal question, but from his mouth, it sounded sarcastic.

Byakuya narrowed his eyes and coldly replied, "Of course. The 6th Division also has its own duties and responsibilities."

Naruto listened with interest.

The 6th Division was known as the "noble division," tasked with guarding the nobles and the Central 46. Their jurisdiction within the Seireitei was limited to the "noble district."

But to be honest, Naruto had never seen the 6th Division carry out a mission.

The division members almost always stayed in their barracks.

"The 6th Division isn't just a place to coddle idlers," Byakuya continued. "We don't have as many heavy tasks as other divisions, so we periodically set internal missions to exterminate hollows in the Human World as a means of combat training."

"Will you be going too, Byakuya?" Naruto asked, having finished half his glass of milk.

Byakuya shook his head. "I'm at a critical stage in my Bankai training, so I can't afford to go. My grandfather and father both advised against it."

"This time, my father will lead the team."

"His health seems to be worsening."

This was what was worrying him.

His father, Kuchiki Soujun, was the lieutenant of the 6th Division.

A very gentle person, but his health had always been poor.

Naruto raised his hand to offer reassurance. "It's just hollow hunting in the Human World. Don't worry, there won't be any issues."

When the "Human World" was mentioned, for some reason, Naruto thought back to the "Soul Burial Practice" from his graduation.

Back then, the Senkaimon had been closed, and many high-level hollows, including a Menos Grande, had appeared.

If it hadn't been for him, that batch of students would have been devoured.

But nothing like that had happened since.

The 6th Division should be fine, right?

Moreover, with the lieutenant leading the team, even if they encounter high-level hollows or a Menos Grande, there shouldn't be any major problems, right?

Perhaps influenced by Byakuya's concern, Naruto also felt a vague sense of unease.

A week later, the 6th Division set out.

There was no noticeable change within the Seireitei.

Until that evening.

A seated officer from the 2nd Division arrived at the window, speaking urgently. "Captain Uzumaki, by order of the Captain-Commander, proceed immediately to the 1st Division's headquarters."

"The Senkaimon malfunctioned, and all contact with the 6th Division has been lost."

Naruto stood up abruptly.

His bad feeling had come true!

"Has every captain been notified?" Naruto took a deep breath, calming himself, and asked.

The 2nd Division officer nodded. "Yes."

Two faces flashed through Naruto's mind.

The last time something like this happened, Nine-Tails had said there was a powerful presence nearby.

Could it be the same people this time?

"I understand." Naruto nodded and leaped out the window, heading in a certain direction.

The 2nd Division officer looked out after him, quickly calling out, "Captain Uzumaki, the 1st Division's headquarters isn't in that direction."

But Naruto ignored him, moving at lightning speed.