Chapter 150: Rukia

"Can I avoid becoming a Shinigami but still learn to control this power?" Hitsugaya Tōshirō asked, lowering his head to look at his still-sleeping grandmother.

Naruto shook his head.

Rangiku explained, "The Shinigami aren't a loose organization. Once you join, there's no leaving."

Tōshirō frowned.

"The Gotei 13, at its core, is a military organization created to rule the Soul Society," Naruto elaborated.

Tōshirō continued to look down.

"But…" Naruto added softly, "The Seireitei doesn't overly restrict your personal freedom. If you want to visit your grandmother, you can do so anytime. But living together with her… that's impossible."

Tōshirō raised his hand, staring at his palm. "If I don't train to control this power… will I…"

He didn't dare finish the sentence.

What had just happened was already a sign, and even such a small "sign" was something he didn't want to face.

Naruto just nodded.

"Then I agree," Tōshirō said, nodding.

Naruto smiled. "In that case, make your preparations and say your goodbyes to those you need to. I'll come to pick you up tomorrow."

Tōshirō agreed.

"So it seems that certain women don't have a very convincing appearance," Naruto said with a playful smile, glancing at the person behind him.

Rangiku glared at him. "You just don't understand! Even though Captain Naruto is all grown up, his sense of aesthetics is no different from that kid's. You just don't get it!"

Tōshirō clenched his fists. "You annoying woman! I'm so sick of you. I'm not a child; I'm almost a hundred years old now. And what's there to be proud of about those two lumps of yours!"

His words left both of them a bit surprised.

"You're almost a hundred?" Naruto leaned forward, curious.

Tōshirō put his hands on his hips and nodded.

"I thought you were still a minor soul," Rangiku said in disbelief, her expression dazed.

Tōshirō looked at her with disgust. "I'm at an age where I can refer to myself as 'old.'"

"But why are you so short then?" Rangiku gestured with her hand, indicating that Tōshirō's height only reached her chest.

Tōshirō's expression stiffened. He clenched his fists even tighter, gritting his teeth. "I just haven't hit a growth spurt yet."

"Captain Naruto is about your age, maybe even a bit younger," Rangiku teased, shaking her head exaggeratedly. "But look at the height difference between the two of you—"

Tōshirō instinctively stepped closer.

Naruto was indeed taller than Tōshirō.

Even with his white hair spiking up, Tōshirō's head barely reached Naruto's ribs.

"Are you really about my age?" he asked, looking up at Naruto in disbelief.

Naruto nodded.

Unconvinced, Tōshirō stood on his tiptoes, only to find that even then, he couldn't make up the difference. He sighed in frustration.

Rangiku didn't hesitate to laugh at him, her chest heaving with mirth.

"Don't worry, this won't be your final height," Naruto said without joining in the laughter. He nodded sympathetically, understanding Tōshirō's feelings, and offered some comfort.

"Of course!" Tōshirō tilted his head defiantly. "I'm definitely going to grow taller."

"This might be related to your spiritual pressure," Naruto mused.

Tōshirō blinked.

"Everything in the Soul Society is made up of reishi," Naruto explained, raising one hand while lowering the other. "Your body is no exception. But your spiritual pressure is too overwhelming."

"So…" Naruto brought his hands together, squeezing them toward each other.

"The external spiritual pressure is compressing your growth."

Tōshirō's eyes widened.

The reasons to attend the Shin'o Academy were becoming more compelling by the moment! But Rangiku's laughter only grew louder.

"And as for that woman, don't mind her," Naruto continued to comfort him. "She may seem smug now, but..."

Rangiku, already upset, was about to retort when Naruto casually went on, "This woman has gone out of her way to brand you as a member of the 10th Division. So in the future, you'll also be part of the 10th Division."

"She might be a lieutenant now, but…"

"With your abilities, once you're in the 10th Division, you'll probably be able to replace her."

"Then she'll have to listen to you."

Rangiku's expression froze.

Tōshirō's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Really. She'll have to listen to you," Naruto nodded.

Rangiku scratched her head, admitting to herself that maybe she had laughed a bit too loudly earlier.

The next day, when Naruto came to pick up Tōshirō again, though it was past the usual "start of the school year," even without Naruto having to say anything, Rangiku had already taken care of the arrangements herself. They didn't overtly break any rules, but simply created an additional "preparatory class" for new students, with Tōshirō joining as a "preparatory student," alongside the first-year students.

Next year, he would undergo an assessment.

If he passed, he would move up to "second-year."

Of course...

Given his talent, it was quite likely that he might graduate as a "first-year," which was the most recognized possibility.

"Another genius," Dean Hakou said, grinning widely. "Naruto, you've brought me quite a pleasant surprise."

Naruto shook his head, smiling. "It's all thanks to Rangiku."

Hakou waved a hand, his face creasing into a broad smile. "It's not just that."

"Ever since you graduated, Naruto, the quality of new students has improved."

"Even this year, we have several students entering with a spiritual pressure ranking of 7th or 6th."

"Even Captain Sosuke said that there might be future captains among them."

Naruto asked softly, "Did Captain Sosuke really rate them that highly?"

Hakou nodded happily.

He might not remember which was the worst batch he had ever taught.

But in terms of overall quality, this current class was undoubtedly the best he had ever instructed.

Even though Naruto's class produced "Uzumaki Naruto," the other students didn't achieve much. The highest-ranking one was only a low-level officer in the 9th Division.

Compared to this class, which was guaranteed to produce at least two vice-captains, several high-ranking officers, and a strong possibility of a "captain-level" officer...

Naruto's class was dragged down by the others in terms of average quality.

On the academy's training grounds.

"Shirō-chan, you've come to the Shin'o Academy too," a black-haired girl noticed the small white-haired boy following behind Naruto and the others and waved at him. "I thought you were going to stay home and take care of your grandma?"

"Don't call me Shirō-chan!" Tōshirō gritted his teeth. "Bed-wetter Momo!"

The black-haired girl blushed deeply. "What are you talking about!"

It was only then that she noticed the two people in front of Tōshirō—the academy's Dean, and the famous "Captain of the 7th Division, Uzumaki Naruto."

She greeted them nervously.

"Shirō-chan, is this your friend?" Naruto effortlessly adopted the nickname.

Tōshirō nodded instinctively. "Yes, her name is Hinamori Momo. We grew up together in Rukongai…"

Halfway through his sentence, he realized something and turned to Naruto. "Don't call me Shirō-chan!"

"That nickname isn't serious at all."

Naruto chuckled. "But it's so cute."

Momo nodded enthusiastically, her eyes bright as she looked at Naruto, clearly feeling a sense of camaraderie.

"Perfect timing, Hinamori. Why don't you gather the rest of Class 1 so Captain Uzumaki can meet them," the Dean suggested, waving his hand. "You might just become his right-hand men in the future."

Momo happily agreed and ran off, soon returning with a group of students.

Including Hinamori, there were two male students leading the group.

One had somewhat somber-looking blond hair, and his spiritual pressure was similar to Hinamori's.

The other was a red-haired boy with a defiant look that reminded Naruto of Kūgo Ginjō—he had that kind of face that seemed born to look "troublesome."

"This is Izuru Kira. When he joined, his spiritual pressure was ranked sixth," the headmaster introduced, pointing to the blond boy.

He then pointed to the redhead.

"This is Renji Abarai. He also had a sixth-ranked spiritual pressure when he joined and is the most hardworking among them."

They greeted him respectfully.

To them, as mere students, a captain was a figure beyond reach.

As the headmaster made the introductions, Naruto's gaze wandered through the group, eventually resting on the short-haired girl standing beside Renji Abarai.

Renji noticed this and instinctively stepped in front of the girl.

"And who is this?" After all the introductions were made, Naruto noticed the headmaster hadn't mentioned the girl, so he pointed to her and asked.

Renji, nervous, replied loudly, "This is Rukia! She's my friend and hangs out with us."

"She's not in Class 1."

The Dean looked a bit confused but then remembered, "Oh, Rukia, I do recall. She's a very talented girl. Her spiritual pressure was ranked eighth when she joined. But she's not as skilled in swordsmanship, so she was placed in Class 2."

Rukia stepped out cautiously, greeting them politely.

"Is something wrong with Rukia?" Renji asked, more anxious than she was.

Naruto shook his head and smiled slightly. "She reminds me of someone I knew."

When he first saw her, Naruto had almost mistaken her for "Hisana," but her distinct spiritual pressure quickly dispelled that thought.

Rukia was puzzled.

Renji was also confused, but then he quickly realized something, and his anxiety increased.

Was it... a lover?

Was that why he looked at her with such nostalgic expression?

Had he found himself competing with a captain for a romantic interest even before confessing his feelings?

The Dean also seemed to catch on and said with understanding, "Is it the one from the Kuchiki Clan?"

Naruto nodded and smiled at Rukia. "Be prepared."

"The Kuchiki Clan will come to take you in soon."

"But don't worry, it's a good thing."

Rukia, bewildered, nodded slowly.

Naruto left with a smile.

Only then did the students start to whisper among themselves.

"A captain has noticed her!" Some were envious.

"Such good luck, just because she looks like—" someone muttered jealously, but stopped when Renji glared at them.

Rukia, confused, asked, "What's the Kuchiki Clan?"

A student from a lesser noble house spoke up, "They're one of the Five Great Noble Houses, the most prestigious family in the Soul Society."

~~~

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