Naruto: Just Want To Be A Death God

Hitsugaya Tōshirō graduated, but he did not break any records.

Naruto graduated at a much younger age than him.

However…

In another matter, his performance exceeded everyone's expectations.

7th Division, Underground Training Grounds

This was a location Naruto had excavated during this period, used for training alongside Kurama.

He employed the technology of the 12th Division.

But all the enchantments and barriers covering the entire arena were set by Naruto himself.

At this moment, in the training grounds—

Aside from Naruto, there was Isshin Shiba, the newly appointed 10th Division member Hitsugaya Tōshirō.

Kurama was also present. It felt like what was about to happen was more interesting than drinking with Kyoraku.

Rangiku Matsumoto burst in energetically, holding a piece of paper, the rustling echoing with her every movement: "The approval came through!"

She landed beside the group and casually stuffed the application into her captain's hand, bending over to peer at Hitsugaya. "Is it true?"

"I heard…"

"You've already mastered Bankai?"

Tōshirō raised his hand and pushed against Rangiku's forehead, standing on tiptoe: "Don't look at me like that."

"That's right."

Before even joining the Gotei 13, mastering Bankai wasn't unheard of among geniuses.

However—

To witness it with one's own eyes, only Hitsugaya had done so.

"Even though Naruto hasn't mastered it yet," Rangiku muttered, her gaze flicking between the blond and the white-haired boy.

Hitsugaya blinked, surprised: "I thought captains were required to master Bankai?"

"The rule, at its core, means only those with enough power can be captains," Isshin explained. "For most Shinigami, Bankai is a crucial step in crossing that threshold."

Hitsugaya nodded thoughtfully.

"And my sword is a bit special," Naruto smiled, shaking his head. "No rush for that."

"Shiro-chan, show us."

Hitsugaya looked helpless at the nickname but had long since resigned himself to it.

He sighed and gripped his sword hilt: "You should all step back."

"My sword is a bit dangerous."

Naruto and Isshin didn't move, smiling as they watched him.

Rangiku, understanding her own limits, knew that just because she was drinking buddies with the captains didn't mean her strength compared to theirs.

She obediently stepped back.

As she passed Naruto, she didn't forget to scoop up Kurama from his shoulder and cradle him.

"What do you think you're doing, woman?" Kurama struggled furiously.

Rangiku said solemnly, "Shiro-chan is about to use Bankai."

"Better stay back—it's safer."

Kurama scoffed disdainfully. "You think I'm afraid of some white-haired brat's Bankai?"

"I'm the one afraid," Rangiku tugged at Kurama's tail. "Those two captains lack any sense of romance—I can't count on them."

"Only the wise and mighty Lord Kurama can protect me."

Kurama's expression softened gradually, letting out two proud snorts. "Is that so?"

"Of course!" Rangiku pinched his ears gently. "Lord Kurama's power can easily handle this."

"Please, please—protect me, won't you?"

Kurama puffed up with pride. "Since you've begged so sincerely, I suppose I'll reluctantly protect you this time."

"But afterward, you owe me sake from the izakaya."

Rangiku smiled sweetly, letting her hand sneak under his chin. "Of course, Lord Kurama."

Kurama slapped her hand away with a paw. "Don't get cheeky, woman. I've already agreed to plenty."

Rangiku sighed in disappointment and pulled her hand back to rub his ears again. "Yes, Lord Kurama."

Kurama let out another haughty grunt.

Another glorious day maintaining his majestic image.

Rangiku looked utterly content as she cuddled ears and tails.

In front of them—

Hitsugaya drew his sword.

His small, youthful face was grave.

Spiritual pressure surged—just drawing the blade dropped the temperature several degrees.

"Bankai—Daiguren Hyōrinmaru."

White waves rolled out, frost petals fluttered in the air.

The blade in his hand subtly changed.

The guard transformed into a six-pointed snowflake, a tail-like chain formed at the hilt's end, terminating in a crescent-shaped blade.

Behind him, massive wings of ice unfurled, and a yet indistinct ice dragon coiled around him.

Four ice flowers, each with sixteen petals, bloomed mid-air behind him.

The temperature dropped further.

Rangiku held Kurama tighter.

As expected!

She'd had the foresight to anticipate his sword affecting the weather and secured a "warmth source" in advance.

Kurama simply assumed she was scared.

"What a scale of power," Isshin exclaimed. "But…"

"There's a time limit, right?"

His gaze fell on the ice flowers behind Hitsugaya.

One of the petals was slowly fading away into shimmering dust.

Hitsugaya smiled but didn't explain.

"A countdown for the full release, huh?" Naruto leaned in, observing the flowers, eyes gleaming.

Hitsugaya turned his head, astonished: "How did you know?"

Normally, people seeing these time-bound manifestations of power would, like Isshin, assume they were a countdown.

He hadn't planned on explaining it.

It was a valuable trump card—just revealing it could yield unexpected advantages.

But…

What was with this guy Uzumaki Naruto?

The youngest captain in Soul Society history—not only full of potential but apparently already beginning to realize it?

"Because we're similar," Naruto said with a smile.

Hitsugaya was stunned.

So accurate—it couldn't be wrong!

"It's complicated. I don't really know how to explain it, and probably shouldn't," Naruto said softly. "But this sense of vibrant, unripe potential—it's unmistakable."

Hyōrinmaru's Bankai reminded Naruto of a power within himself—still germinating.

However…

There was a slight difference.

Within Hitsugaya, there were no other "hosts," so he could only rely on his own powerful but not fully matured power.

But Naruto—within him dwelled both Kurama and Asura.

Their immense power and dazzling light obscured Naruto's own strength.

Which meant…

He could patiently choose, and wait for his power to bloom.

Since it had been exposed, Hitsugaya admitted frankly, "Yes, the ice flowers are the countdown for full release."

"My current spiritual pressure isn't enough to completely unleash Hyōrinmaru."

"I need a gradual process."

Isshin nodded thoughtfully. "No wonder. I always wondered why your sword seemed so much weaker compared to the Captain-Commander's."

He scratched his head and laughed.

Hitsugaya looked troubled and shook his head. "But Captain Isshin is also right."

"At this point, these ice flowers are indeed a countdown."

"My spiritual pressure isn't strong enough yet to last until all sixteen petals fall and I reach full release."

Isshin suddenly grew serious, waving a hand. "Even after mastering Bankai, you still have to train further."

"The power of Bankai doesn't just show itself that easily."

He paused—

Looking at Naruto, he realized he couldn't use him as a good example. The ever-reliable Captain Uzumaki wasn't usable here.

Isshin's brain spun quickly. "Just like the Captain-Commander."

"His sword, like yours, is also considered the strongest of the elemental types."

"The strongest fire-type Zanpakutō."

"In the beginning, his sword wasn't much stronger than my Engetsu."

"But after over a thousand years of training, now once he activates Bankai, he could melt the entire Soul Society."

This wasn't even classified intel.

The Captain-Commander made no effort to hide his strength.

"Yes," Hitsugaya nodded seriously. "I'll be relying on you from now on, Captain Isshin."

Isshin frowned as if in pain.

"Me?"

"I don't have experience teaching others!"

He glanced at Naruto instinctively.

"What are you looking at?" Naruto immediately backed away cautiously. "Don't you dare try and stick Shiro-chan with me."

"Don't say that," Isshin shook his head and waved a hand. "Do I look like that kind of guy?"

"Shiro-chan is my team member."

"As his captain, I'm definitely going to guide him and help him become a pillar of strength."

Hitsugaya looked slightly touched.

Naruto grew more wary.

He knew Isshin far too well. That face—

Sure enough, a shift in tone.

Isshin put hands on his hips and shouted those infamous words: "But!!"

"Shiro-chan is a genius."

"You're also a genius."

"An idiot like me giving orders to geniuses might hinder their growth."

"Only geniuses can really communicate and understand each other."

Naruto sighed: "You'd say anything just to shirk responsibility."

"Does your Shiba clan know you're an idiot?"

Isshin scratched his head, oddly proud: "They scold me far worse than I scold myself."

Suddenly he clapped. "Right!"

"Just now, Naruto, you said you and Shiro-chan are very alike, right?"

"Then you two can grow together!"

Naruto sighed again.

He knew it. Isshin went to such lengths to hold this training in the 7th Division instead of the 10th, clearly with this intent.

Still—

Hitsugaya's growth process held a lot of value for Naruto too.

"Captain Isshin," Naruto said.

Isshin immediately bowed. "If you'll agree, Naruto-kun, I'll do anything!"

Hitsugaya's eyes widened.

He wanted to kill his earlier, touched self.

Rangiku rested her chin on Kurama's head, drawling lazily: "Shiro-chan, you'll get used to it. That's the 10th Division way."

(End of Chapter)

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