Chapter 20: Fox, Sakura, and Snowdrop

Naruto returned to the 4th Division.

He explained his decision to Unohana Retsu.

She was not surprised and even supportive, acknowledging that what Captain-Commander Yamamoto had said was correct; she wasn't quite suited to be Naruto's teacher.

However, despite not having a teacher-student relationship, Unohana Retsu still welcomed Naruto to the 4th Division to learn Kaidō from her.

This left Naruto a bit puzzled.

What difference does this make from having a teacher?

Sosuke Aizen was the first to visit him, but after a few words, he was chased away by Shinji Hirako.

The second visitor was unexpectedly Shihoin Yoruichi.

But the "gift" she brought...

She was holding a young man with a high ponytail, bound with "Bakudō #4. Hainawa (這縄, Crawling Rope)," who was struggling violently, "Let go of me, you demon cat!"

"I can walk by myself!"

"You, how dare you bring disgrace to the Kuchiki Clan."

Yoruichi grinned mischievously, "Don't get excited, this is the 4th Division."

"Be quiet, patients need peace."

The black-haired young man clenched his fists, gritting his teeth.

Before he could think of a way to deal with this, he was suddenly thrown into the air.

The rope was retracted.

The young man barely landed on his feet.

"Naruto, I brought an interesting fellow to see you." Yoruichi cheerfully greeted, "He's not as good as you, but he's also a genius."

Upon hearing the sound "Naruto," the black-haired young man swallowed back the words he was about to hurl at Yoruichi.

He turned to look at the blond boy lying on the bed, matching him with the image of Uzumaki Naruto in his mind.

Immediately, he restrained his turbulent aura, placed his hands in front of him, and bowed politely and impeccably.

"Greetings, I apologize for my earlier rudeness, and for making a spectacle of myself. I am Byakuya Kuchiki from the Kuchiki family."

"I apologize for the interruption and look forward to your guidance."

Naruto, nervously clutching the bedsheet, leaned forward and nodded, "Hello, I am Uzumaki Naruto."

"Nice to meet you, I look forward to your guidance."

It was the first time he had encountered such a formal and elaborate greeting.

Yoruichi, with a carefree attitude, kicked Naruto's legs aside and sat on the bed, "No need to be so formal, Byakuya."

"You... brought me here to meet Uzumaki-san." Byakuya Kuchiki restrained himself from calling her a "demon cat."

Yoruichi nodded, righteously, "Yes."

"You always call me 'demon cat'... "

Byakuya Kuchiki, unable to hide his temper in front of her, immediately retorted, "Because you don't act like the head of the Shihōin Clan at all!"

"That's because you're too rigid." Yoruichi put her hands on her hips, "So I brought you to meet Naruto."

"He's even more of a genius than you."

"And just like me, he's also an animal."

Byakuya Kuchiki was stunned.

"I'm a cat, and he's a fox." Yoruichi raised her hand, making a fox gesture with her fingers—middle and ring fingers pinching the thumb, index and pinky fingers standing up like ears.

"So you can't beat us."

Byakuya Kuchiki gritted his teeth, "Demon cat, what kind of logic is that!"

He admitted that Naruto was a great genius.

But he's not inferior either.

Yoruichi, catching his emotion, smirked and lowered her voice, "Two Menos Grandes."

Byakuya Kuchiki paused, looking at her in confusion.

What was she talking about...

Then he realized something, his gaze fell on Naruto.

"Not long ago, Naruto killed two Menos Grandes by himself." Yoruichi jumped up, vigorously ruffling Byakuya's hair, "And he wasn't even injured."

"Foxes are very strong."

"But black cats can overpower foxes."

Byakuya Kuchiki's pupils dilated, his expression one of disbelief.

Two Menos Grandes!

So powerful?

He had heard that Uzumaki Naruto was only at "5th rank spiritual pressure," comparable to his own level.

"Byakuya will join the Gotei 13 in a few years, you two should get to know each other well." Yoruichi stretched, heading towards the door.

Naruto asked, "Captain Yoruichi, are you leaving now?"

Yoruichi turned back, chuckling, "I still have to investigate the Senkaimon, I sneaked out to come here, if I don't return soon, Ōmaeda will start complaining."

With that, she disappeared in a flash step.

Without Yoruichi present, Byakuya Kuchiki gradually calmed down.

He had a somewhat cold personality.

Perhaps it was the status brought by being one of the "Five Noble Clans," or maybe because Byakuya Kuchiki didn't have the experience of studying at the Shin'ō Academy, he wasn't very good at conversing with outsiders—being a high-ranking noble, he didn't need the graduation certificate from the Shin'ō Academy, nor the entrance exams, to directly join the Gotei 13.

However, the person was very nice. After the initial awkward greetings, he started to have a friendly conversation with Naruto about Shunpo and Kido.

During the month Naruto was in the hospital, he was the one who visited Naruto the most.

Time smoothed over the unrest.

The impact caused by the "Senkaimon" gradually dissipated.

The 3rd Division did not obtain any investigation results, and the Central 46 Chambers issued an order to no longer waste manpower on this matter.

The graduation ceremony of the "Shin'o Academy of Spiritual Arts" took place at this time.

On the day when cherry blossoms were fluttering, the joy of graduation and the beginning of a new school year overshadowed past events.

The barracks of the 13th Division.

Naruto, now dressed in the black Shinigami uniform, met for the first time the man frequently mentioned by Kyōraku Shunsui, "Ukitake Jūshirō."

He was a man with long white hair reaching his waist.

He did not appear "sickly" at all; his features were gentle, and his eyes were bright and lively.

"Naruto, let me address you this way," Ukitake Jūshirō began, "I never expected you to choose our division."

"I thought you would go to Shunsui."

Naruto replied honestly, "The Captain-Commander recommended that I follow you. He thinks Uncle Shunsui might be a bit... lax at times."

Jūshirō was taken aback and then laughed heartily, "Shunsui indeed is a bit lazy."

As he spoke, he pointed to the black-haired man beside him, "Let me introduce, this is our 13th Division's Vice-captain, Shiba Kaien."

"He's an excellent and very capable man."

Shiba Kaien nodded in greeting. He had a gentle demeanor similar to Ukitake Jūshirō, but perhaps because of his good health, he seemed more energetic.

"The captain is unwell," he said, "so I will be teaching you how to handle division affairs."

Ukitake Jūshirō smiled, "If you have any questions about using dual swords, feel free to ask me anytime."

"My health is not so poor that I can't do anything."

"Although you will be a captain in another division in the future, even if it's brief, Naruto, you are now a member of our 13th Division."

"So, I want to introduce you to..."

Shiba Kaien cooperatively turned around and showed Naruto the armband on his left arm, which signified his position as Vice-captain, and the characters and patterns engraved on it — the Kanji character "十三 (13)" like stems and leaves, holding a small lantern-like flower.

Ukitake Jūshirō explained.

"Every division has a flower as their emblem."

"Our 13th Division flower is the Daisetsu."

He paused and asked, "Naruto, do you know anything about flower arranging?"

Naruto shook his head.

Jūshirō smiled, "You can learn a bit; Captain Unohana loves flower arranging."

"And the flower language of the Daisetsu is... hope."

Hope.

Naruto stared blankly at Shiba Kaien's armband.

He suddenly thought that maybe the Captain-Commander was not worried about him being led astray by Uncle Shunsui, but rather believed that... Captain Ukitake would be better at teaching him how to grasp his own "Daisetsu."

Not long after the introduction, Ukitake Jūshirō couldn't help but start coughing, far weaker than he appeared.

He excused himself and left.

The remaining tasks were handed over to Kaien.

Shiba Kaien was a very enthusiastic and gentle person.

He patiently and earnestly taught Naruto how to become a qualified captain.

Five years passed.

Naruto grew from a stumbling apprentice Shinigami to a somewhat competent "3rd Seat."

During this period, everything was peaceful.

The Seireitei seemed to have forgotten about the "Senkaimon Incident."

Only occasionally in conversations with Urahara Kisuke did he hear complaints about the investigation not going smoothly.

The Nine-Tails was also very quiet, not causing any trouble.

While learning to handle division affairs, Naruto did not neglect improving his own strength.

However... he still had not heard the voice of the other sword.

One day.

After finishing Zanpakutō training.

When Naruto opened his eyes again, he was no longer in the 13th Division's barracks but in the clean little house in Konoha that he had tidied up.

He had returned to Konoha once again.

He was not as confused as the first time he came back.

Sitting on the bed, deep in thought.

The first time it was "three years," this time it was "six years"...

He had stayed in the "Soul Society" for nearly twice as long.