Shinigami in the Ninja World

"You people are all the same."

"You want to make me into a new pillar…"

"Even though I've always considered myself exceptional, it seems, Captain Uzumaki, that you're overestimating me."

Naruto didn't respond to him. He raised his other hand, drawing out a portion of his spiritual power from within himself. The energy, a bright blue liquid-like substance, glowed brilliantly as it flowed upward, spreading across Tsunayashiro Tokinada's face.

The energy split into thin, wriggling strands, creeping into his body through his eyes, nostrils, and mouth. A prepared seal was etched onto his chest.

"Four Symbols Seal"!

The complex seal was formed. Tsunayashiro Tokinada glanced down at the mark on his chest, seemingly trying to memorize it. But in the next moment, Naruto reached out and added several more seals to obscure the "Four Symbols Seal."

"What is this?" Tsunayashiro Tokinada asked in a low voice.

Naruto responded calmly, "It's a mark."

"A hunter always leaves something on their prey."

"To prevent them from disappearing or having unclean thoughts."

Tsunayashiro Tokinada didn't react further. Once the seal was in place, the chains binding him were released, and he fell to the ground in a disheveled heap.

Naruto then walked over to the little girl and took her hand.

"Captain Uzumaki, she already agreed to come with me…" Tsunayashiro Tokinada called out, grinning.

In response, a bolt of lightning flashed by, narrowly missing his ear and leaving a burning smell in the air.

"If the Soul King, even after being dismembered, can still serve as the world's pillar," Naruto said coldly, turning to look at him, "then losing an ear shouldn't make much difference to you."

Tsunayashiro Tokinada gritted his teeth, his expression turning vicious.

"Don't forget," Naruto continued softly, "You're a replacement pillar."

"You're the prey."

With that, Naruto used Shunpo to leave with Aura Michibane.

Tsunayashiro Tokinada slowly got up, picking up the ear that had been blasted off, pondering over something. Despite the night's humiliation, he broke into a gleeful laugh.

Back at the "Protector" base in Naruki City, the short-haired girl eyed Tenshiyo Agata with disdain. "So you're that kind of scumbag, huh? Locking up your daughter, depriving her of freedom."

"It was to keep her safe," Tenshiyo Agata snapped back.

"And yet someone still came after her," the short-haired girl retorted, playing with her hairpin as she rolled her eyes. "So much for your 'protection'."

Tenshiyo Agata shook his head. "That was just a guess."

"If it weren't for Ginjo's insistence…"

"And the fact that man is so powerful…"

His words were interrupted by another voice, "Then you should be grateful you told me sooner."

Everyone in the room turned towards the source.

It was Naruto, who had returned with the little girl in tow.

"Aura!" Tenshiyo Agata jumped up and took long strides toward them.

A golden chain shot out, wrapping around him and restraining his movements.

"What are you doing?" He struggled and shouted, "I'm her father!"

Naruto ignored him, speaking calmly, "Someone was indeed targeting her."

"But the situation has been resolved."

"That environment is no place for a child to live alone, so I brought her here."

Tenshiyo Agata's struggle weakened.

"However…" Naruto raised his head, looking at the man bound by the golden chain, "You really are an unfit father."

"Therefore, I won't be handing her back to you."

"Instead—"

He looked around the group, and his gaze finally settled on someone. "I'll leave her in your care."

The short-haired girl pointed at herself, looking shocked. "Me?"

"When Ginjo returns, I'd appreciate it if you'd work with him," Naruto said with a smile.

The short-haired girl hesitated, "It's not that I can't do it, but why should I be stuck with this troublesome task? I hate socializing with people."

"Then I'll choose someone else," Naruto suggested.

"No need!" The short-haired girl immediately refused. "If you hand it to someone else now, are you looking down on me?"

"Taking care of a child is nothing."

"Besides, Ginjo is really good at it."

The floating, bouncing head on the map laughed heartily.

"I'm his father. My child should be taken care of by me," Tenshiyo Agata protested loudly, waving his hand with determination.

"But you're far from qualified," Naruto responded calmly. "A father like you might as well not exist at all. For the child, that's probably a good thing."

Tenshiyo Agata was furious.

The man dressed in an English-style outfit sitting in the corner closed his book and spoke calmly, "I recall some research conducted abroad."

"A child's crying and their need for affection is their way of seeking interaction and a sense of security from the outside world."

"If this is deprived for too long, the child will lose their ability to perceive the world around them."

"The manifestation of this..."

"It's exactly like your daughter."

Everyone's gaze shifted to Aura Michibane. Unlike the other child in the room, who would have been frightened by so many people staring at them, her face showed no fear at all.

Or rather, she was so numb that she had no expression at all.

Tenshiyo Agata was stunned, murmuring softly, "I just wanted to protect her."

"Misguided, untimely protection is a form of abuse," Naruto said as he led Aura over to the short-haired girl. "Fortunately, she's still young. Make up for her lost childhood."

Tenshiyo Agata hung his head in shame.

"Is the problem solved?" the head on the table asked as Naruto was about to leave.

Naruto turned back and smiled, "Your problem should be resolved for now."

As for his own problem...

He still didn't have a clear grasp of the situation.

Tsunayashiro Tokinada had sensed something strange around him and detected the faint traces of Aizen's presence.

But he didn't seem to care.

With a mindset Naruto couldn't understand, Tsunayashiro Tokinada revealed a secret involving the very existence of the Three Worlds and the crimes of the Tsunayashiro Clan.

What was his goal?

And what was Aizen trying to achieve through this?

It didn't seem to pose a direct threat to Naruto or the other captains.

Naruto left the base and walked down the street, preparing to open the gate to the Soul Society.

"It's been a while, Naruto," came a playful greeting from behind him.

Startled, Naruto turned to the source of the voice.

A black cat was perched on the wall, wearing a slightly oversized cloak that wasn't very fitting.

That cloak was what had blocked Naruto from sensing its spiritual pressure.

He immediately realized who it was but held back from shouting the name out loud.

"That's right, it's me, your neesan," the black cat said softly, lifting a paw to lower the hood. "Don't worry, the enemy who sees nothing should still be in the Soul Society, preoccupied with something far more interesting."

"Something more interesting?" Naruto asked, puzzled.

Yoruichi shook her head. "You'll find out when you return."

"It should be good news for you."

"But for now..."

"Naruto, come with me. We haven't seen each other in a while. We should catch up."

"And discuss some important matters."

Naruto sheathed his sword and followed her.

In the Soul Society, at the Tsunayashiro residence, flames raged, reducing several houses to ashes.

Tsunayashiro Tokinada stepped into a room where the family head sat in the main seat, lifeless and dead.

The other candidates for the family headship were also there, without exception. Their bodies remained seated as they had during their usual council meetings.

Tsunayashiro Tokinada returned to his usual seat and sat down.

"No one's speaking?" After a moment of silence, he chuckled softly. "You all used to be so noisy. Why can't you say a word now?"

"Oh dear—"

"This is such an important occasion."

"In that case, let me break the silence."

"I propose that, after the death of the current head, Tsunayashiro Tokinada should take over as the family head."

"Anyone opposed?"

"Then it's settled."

He spoke to himself, stood up, walked over to the body of the current head, and casually pushed it aside, sitting down in his place. Even though the bloodstains soiled his clothes, he didn't move.

"So this is..."

"What it feels like to be the head of the Tsunayashiro Clan." He grinned, his expression becoming more grotesque, his eyes devoid of any trace of joy.

Tsunayashiro Tokinada reveled in his newfound status but suddenly remembered something. His gaze roved around the room.

"The person who manipulated the Tsunayashiro Clan into doing all of this, you must be here, right?"

"Why don't you come out and meet me?"

"Thank you for giving me the reason and opportunity to execute the Tsunayashiro Clan. I tried my best to repay the favor when I faced Captain Uzumaki."

"But he really is a righteous person."

"Even when I provoked him, he only took off my ear."

"Unfortunately, I wasn't the head of the Tsunayashiro Clan then. Otherwise... he might have been stripped of his Shinigami powers for offending a noble."

"So let's have a good talk about how to give Uzumaki Naruto the ending he deserves."

"Shall we?"

No one responded to him.

However, one thing he got right—there was indeed someone else in the room, though he couldn't see them.

Ichimaru Gin spoke softly, "I think his proposal is quite good."

"He's also very sharp, able to detect Aizen-sama's traces."

"The Tsunayashiro Clan seems to be a force worth considering."

Aizen pushed his glasses up. "Gin, didn't you notice?"

"That guy has already become Naruto's prey."

He let go and started walking out.

"We've already obtained the prey we wanted."

"Let's go."

"Naruto should be returning soon."

"I can't wait to meet him."

~~~

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