Shinigami in the Ninja World

Under Yoruichi's lead, they arrived in Karakura Town.

"So you've been here all along," Naruto said in surprise.

He had visited Karakura Town quite a few times.

"Well, it is a hotspot. It's one of the few places where we can live a bit more comfortably," Yoruichi yawned. "I heard your little fox can manifest now. Why didn't you bring it along this time?"

"You're well-informed as always, Yoruichi-neesan," Naruto replied with a smile, his tone softening. "It's with Uncle Shunsui and the others; they're pretty close drinking buddies."

Yoruichi swished her tail and huffed, "I also know that Soi Fon has practically made your office her home."

Naruto chuckled sheepishly.

"Take good care of her," Yoruichi said as she came to a stop, "but don't tell her I'm here. She's too single-minded."

"We're here."

In an open space stood a building that looked recently renovated. The roof bore a sign: "Urahara Shop."

"Is Captain Urahara opening a shop?" Naruto stared at the sign, somewhat puzzled. "Is he planning to fully integrate into human society?"

Yoruichi shrugged indifferently, "Who knows what he's thinking."

"Oh, it's not just an ordinary shop!" A voice called out from behind. "It'll also be selling important items to Shinigami, besides human goods!"

"Don't you think, Naruto, that..."

"The connection between humans and Shinigami has been a bit too mundane?"

The voice was familiar, but the tone and pitch had become more mature and smooth over the decades.

Naruto didn't even turn around before quipping, "Normal humans would rather not meet a Shinigami."

"After all these years, you've grown a lot, Naruto," Urahara Kisuke said in mock surprise. "You would never have said something like that before."

Naruto turned his head slightly. "And you, Captain Urahara."

"Stop calling me Captain," Urahara Kisuke waved his hand dismissively. "Just call me Kisuke. Shall we go inside and talk?"

They entered the shop, which was set up like a regular human store.

"Aren't Captain Hirako and the others here?" Naruto spread out his senses, and aside from the two people with him, he only detected Sarugaki Hiyori's spiritual pressure busying herself in another room. There was also a sealed-off area he didn't probe into.

"They don't want to stay with me," Urahara Kisuke shook his head. "They found another place to live."

"After all..."

"The way they look now, it's not exactly pleasant for Shinigami."

Naruto nodded. "At least they're safe."

"While we couldn't completely erase the effects of Hollowfication, their lives are no longer in danger," Urahara Kisuke said as he invited Naruto to sit down. "And they've gained the ability to Hollowfy at will."

"Even Kuchiki Sojun was affected by Hollowfication," Naruto added quietly. "I used a different method to seal the Hollow's power within his body."

"Made him similar to me."

Naruto reached into his pocket and pulled out a scroll.

"It seems like you've been getting along well with Captain Kurotsuchi," Urahara Kisuke remarked after just a glance, recognizing the modifications to the sealing technique. "Is this the seal you used on Kuchiki Sojun?"

"Yeah," Naruto nodded. "Take a look, Kisuke-niisan. It might be too late for Captain Hirako and the others, but it could still be useful."

Urahara Kisuke grinned as he accepted the scroll.

"I've confirmed that the enemy is Sosuke Aizen," Naruto continued in a low voice.

Urahara Kisuke looked up, surprised. "You've confirmed it?"

"How did you manage that?"

Although Hirako Shinji had always insisted it was him, and Urahara Kisuke himself had suspected as much, they had never gathered any concrete evidence. Even the forces Yoruichi had hidden in the Soul Society hadn't found anything.

"I have the ability to tell when someone is lying," Naruto explained calmly. "I captured Tosen Kaname and made him slip up."

"So, he just openly admitted it."

"But..."

"His abilities are such that without evidence or the ability to break his technique, we can't take action against him."

Urahara Kisuke nodded thoughtfully.

"But you had me come here because you've thought of something?" Naruto asked.

Urahara Kisuke nodded. "I've been thinking about why Aizen would be so eager to come after me."

Naruto narrowed his eyes.

Hmm... That was indeed a question he hadn't considered before.

Aizen was a prideful man.

Even if he was discovered, he would prefer to face Naruto in a "fair fight," not frame him like he did with Urahara.

"Now I understand," Urahara Kisuke said quietly. "He wants to get the Hōgyoku from me."

"That gem you showed us that night?" Naruto quickly recalled.

Urahara Kisuke nodded. "That's right."

"What is that thing?" Naruto asked.

Urahara Kisuke lowered his head. "Let me think about how to explain it."

"It's something I accidentally developed through research."

"Since you've been in contact with those Fullbringers, with your perceptive abilities, you should be able to sense the source of their 'Fullbring' power within them."

"You mean the Soul King's fragments?" Naruto asked softly.

Urahara Kisuke was surprised and nodded. "You know about it in such detail."

"I learned everything from Tsunayashiro Tokinada," Naruto said, glancing at Yoruichi, who was dozing off on the table. "All the ancient origins of the Soul Society."

Yoruichi immediately perked up, her ears twitching. "Did that guy tell you all that?"

Naruto nodded.

"Yoruichi, please wait a moment," Urahara Kisuke said gently. "Let me and Naruto discuss Aizen's matters first."

Naruto fell silent.

"The creation of the Hōgyoku revolves around the 'fragments of the Soul King,'" Urahara Kisuke continued slowly. "I used hundreds of Hollow souls as materials to create this thing."

"It is a treasure that can break the boundary between Shinigami and Hollows. When awakened, it unleashes an extremely terrifying spiritual pressure, so overwhelming that even captains feel insignificant under its force."

"But."

"Despite this, the Hōgyoku I created is still immature."

Naruto squinted. "Immature?"

"Yes." Urahara Kisuke tapped the table. "I suspect that the one Aizen has is also immature."

"I chose to use 'Hollow' souls as materials."

"Aizen chose to use 'Shinigami' souls."

"So…"

Urahara Kisuke raised his hands, pressing them together in a prayer-like gesture. "The one he has, combined with the one I have, would truly mature."

"He's gone to great lengths to accuse me."

"The goal is to obtain the other piece of the Hōgyoku."

Naruto glanced towards the door. "Then why are you still running a shop like this?"

"Aren't you afraid he'll find you?"

Urahara Kisuke shook his head. "There's no secret that can stay hidden forever."

"With his abilities, he will find us sooner or later."

"Since we can't hide, it's better to be proactive."

Naruto pondered. "So what should I do?"

"I've heard about what Tōsen wants," Urahara Kisuke said with a smile, giving a thumbs up. "Well done!"

"Blocking off one of Aizen's paths, preventing him from easily targeting the Shinigami."

Naruto's expression remained somber. "But he won't just give up."

"That guy won't become timid due to some external pressure."

"Have you considered that he might take a different approach?" Urahara Kisuke suggested quietly.

Naruto was taken aback.

A different approach? What did that mean?

Urahara Kisuke remained silent, only smiling. "Think it over, Naruto. You'll figure it out."

Naruto thought deeply.

Tōsen's words from that night echoed in his mind.

Breaking the boundary between 'Shinigami' and 'Hollow.'

Since it's inconvenient to act against the 'Shinigami'…

Then another direction.

"Is it to start from 'Hollow' and attempt the Hollowfication of a Shinigami?" Naruto concluded, his face grave.

"Bingo!" Urahara Kisuke raised his index finger. "Correct!"

"I understand now," Naruto sighed. "I'll make sure people keep an eye out for any special Hollow entities."

Urahara Kisuke rubbed his hands together. "Besides that, I want to verify some other ideas."

"Please help me gather more information on Aizen."

Naruto shrugged. "What he presents on the surface is all false pretense."

He paused, shook his head, and smiled wryly. "Actually, sometimes when interacting with him, I can sense that some of what he says, which doesn't seem like it would come from him, is the truth."

"It's unclear which parts of what he shows are real and which are fake?"

Urahara Kisuke smiled. "Leave the analysis of these troublesome matters to me."

"I'll break it down."

Naruto nodded. "Got it."

"It's truly hard on you," Urahara Kisuke sighed. "You've been fighting alone for so long."

"Now I'm here to help."

Naruto smiled and shook his head. Seeing that Urahara Kisuke had no more to say, he turned to Yoruichi. "Yoruichi-neesan, may I ask you a few questions now?"

Urahara Kisuke remained seated, showing no intention of leaving.

Yoruichi made no move to dismiss him.

"Are you interested in what that guy said?" Yoruichi asked cautiously, stepping on her tail and looking somewhat uneasy. "But I need to confirm how much you've learned."

Naruto spoke plainly. "The Five Great Noble Families sealed the Soul King, making him the keystone for stabilizing the three realms, and destroyed his physical body, keeping only his life."

"I see." Yoruichi stepped on her tail again. "I can only say…"

"Yes, that statement is indeed correct."

~~~

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