"This is the first time I've seen you take such an interest in a stranger, Captain."
The extremely tall young woman, who had been standing idly by the whole time, watched the retreating figure dragging away several Aberrant Souls and spoke with a look of curiosity on her face.
Unohana Retsu looked sideways and explained indifferently:
"I merely saw the shadow of an old friend's past self in Naraku-kun."
"Leaving aside his posture in battle, simply having the courage to draw his sword against a noble is already quite rare in the Soul Society."
"Although he appears somewhat frivolous on the surface, during our brief contact, I could feel the firm conviction deep within his heart."
"Perhaps in the near future, he might become a dangerous individual who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals."
The young woman stood frozen in place, a blank look flashing across her dazed face.
She had only recently become a seated officer and hadn't spent much time with Unohana Retsu, so she wasn't quite sure who the "old friend" her captain mentioned was.
But judging from these remarks, that young man with the rather strange behavior just now was likely to go astray and become a dangerous element threatening the Soul Society.
Although this judgment was baseless, the girl chose to believe in her captain.
"So, Captain, you used the opportunity of teaching Zanjutsu to help Naraku, the 9th Seat, get on the right path, didn't you?"
Unohana Retsu did not answer directly. The corners of her mouth raised slightly as she said softly:
"If someone wrapped a piece of exquisite jade in red silk, solemnly placed it in your hands, and entrusted you to leave your own mark upon it..."
"Would you refuse this unique opportunity just because of a momentary worry about personal gain or loss?"
The young woman looked blank, completely failing to understand her captain's words.
Unohana Retsu did not explain any further. Instead, she looked into the distance with a smile, a hint of imperceptible anticipation flashing in her indifferent eyes.
...
...
After the few remaining Aberrant Souls, hanging by a thread, provided Naraku Sora with a negligible amount of profit, they finally gave up the ghost, their flesh and blood crumbling away as they died.
Naraku Sora didn't even have time to mourn the now-extinct Araki family, because next up was the high-end research talent of Shino Prison, the "bad woman" who had developed multiple spiritual power technologies.
"Lord Prison Warden, will drinking this really let me master Shikai?"
Naraku Sora looked at the cup filled to the brim with a milky white liquid, his face full of hesitation.
"Of course not."
Shutara Senjumaru looked entirely self-righteous:
"Can't you have fewer thoughts about taking shortcuts in that brain of yours? Being a Soul Reaper requires being down-to-earth. Only by improving step by step can you become a truly powerful existence."
"Then why are you giving me this stuff?"
"Don't be in such a rush."
Shutara Senjumaru had put on a pair of gold-rimmed glasses at some point, adding a touch of intellectualism to her original elegant temperament.
She pushed the glasses up her exquisite nose bridge and said seriously:
"Do you know the true origin of a Zanpakutō?"
Without waiting for Naraku Sora to answer, Shutara Senjumaru continued like a teacher eager to instruct:
"The shape, state, and abilities of a Zanpakutō are built upon the prototype of the Soul Reaper's own soul."
"Therefore, the textbooks at the Academy state that Soul Reapers gain greater power by learning the name given to their Zanpakutō and engaging in a dialogue with its heart."
"But in fact, such an understanding is too superficial."
"From the source, a Zanpakutō is actually the Soul Reaper's own power, and its existence is merely a medium to make it convenient for the Soul Reaper to fully bring out the power hidden deep within their soul."
"Therefore, rather than saying Shikai is knowing the true name, it is better understood as comprehending the essence of one's own power."
Naraku Sora looked thoughtful.
Although her heart was 24k pure black, sometimes, this bad woman was actually quite useful.
"However, judging from your performance in recent days, you are already walking on the correct path."
Shutara Senjumaru explained happily:
"Whether it was winning against the strong while weak at the Paradise Shop, overcoming a superior as a subordinate in the First Squad, or polishing yourself within the Spirit Body Tempering Room..."
"Actually, all of it was you comprehending your own power."
"And what this mistress can do is give you a push. This time, we're going to go big!"
Naraku Sora: "?"
For some reason, looking at Shutara Senjumaru's delighted smile, a strong sense of crisis rose in his heart.
The last time he had this premonition was back at the Academy when he stole the tofu dish Aizen had specifically left for a midnight snack.
As for the outcome of that incident, it's better not to mention it.
True warriors never look back at the path they've traveled.
"Relax, relax, why would big sister trick you?"
Shutara Senjumaru patted Naraku Sora's shoulder gently. While comforting him, she tossed a sealed pill into the cup containing the milky white liquid.
"Come, Silly Boy, drink this first."
"Impossible. Even if I, Naraku Sora, starve to death, die outside, or jump from here, I will absolutely not drink this kind of unknown origin..."
Before he could finish speaking, a seductive aroma domineeringly drilled into his nasal cavity, forcefully shoving the second half of his sentence back down his throat.
"What exactly is this?"
Shutara Senjumaru revealed a successful smile: "Do you remember the Shikai development technology based on you as the blueprint that this mistress mentioned before?"
"As a unique, perfect Visored Soul Reaper, you possess a portion of Hollow characteristics to some extent, such as Hierro, High-Speed Regeneration, and so on."
"But correspondingly, some drawbacks will also appear."
"For example, Hollow Bait—"
"A drug used specifically by the Quincy clan to lure ordinary Hollows. After parameter adjustments by this mistress, it can also affect some Menos Grande."
"However, because you are essentially still a Soul Reaper, the effect is minimal."
"At most, it's equivalent to an ordinary person seeing their favorite food; you can completely refuse it through reason."
"Taking this opportunity, it's the perfect time for you to perfect this aspect of your issues."
After hesitating for a moment, Naraku Sora picked up the cup and drained it in one gulp. An indescribable sense of satiety filled his entire body, even spreading to the depths of his soul.
It was as if after drinking this one cup, he would never feel hunger again.
However, just as he was preparing to savor the aftertaste carefully, a strong wave of dizziness hit him. Naraku Sora closed his eyes and collapsed decisively.
He happened to fall into a pair of soft arms.
Shutara Senjumaru looked at the unconscious boy and smiled with seeming pleasure: "I hope you will be satisfied with the dreamscape this mistress has woven with her own hands."
Looking at the endless sea of Hollows before him, Naraku Sora's eyes went straight.
Although he had vaguely guessed it might be related to that bad woman Shutara Senjumaru, he couldn't help but feel a burst of intense powerlessness.
Everywhere he looked, there were hideous Hollows emitting ferocious auras. Among them, there was no lack of Menos Grande at the Gillian and Adjuchas levels.
Just the overflowing, substantive Reiatsu alone was enough to make one despair.
But since things had come to this, giving up halfway was hardly possible.
Anyway, there was a high probability it was fake, so he might as well see his true limits.
Amidst the deafening roars and howls, Naraku drew his sword and charged into the boundless sea of Hollows.
The slaughter began.