"What an ugly name."
Mayuri Kurotsuchi didn't know why, but whenever he saw that messy blonde hair, a wave of inexplicable loathing rose within him.
"I've decided on you. Follow me."
Kisuke Urahara looked bewildered. He didn't even know this guy; what right did he have to boss him around?
Besides, wasn't Naraku Sora the one in charge of Shino Prison?
Where did this overbearing person suddenly spring from?
"Excuse me, but who might you be?"
Being the clever man he was, Kisuke didn't choose to start an argument. Instead, he asked with a respectful tone.
"The Warden of Shino Prison, the equivalent of a Gotei 13 Lieutenant—Mayuri Kurotsuchi."
Mayuri replied impatiently. "Judging by your look, you must be a recent transfer to Shino Prison."
"Newbies are always like this, lacking any discernment."
Kisuke scratched his head, looking troubled.
"Might I ask what Lord Mayuri requires of me?"
Mayuri sneered. "You have no right to choose. As a subordinate, your only duty is to obey your superior's orders unconditionally."
"Kisuke Urahara, I suggest you learn your place."
Hearing this, Kisuke narrowed his eyes as a bad premonition welled up inside him.
Though he had never heard of Mayuri Kurotsuchi before, this conversation felt intensely familiar.
'The man before me... is a kindred spirit!'
His sharp intuition provided the answer.
"My apologies, Lord Mayuri."
Sensing danger, Kisuke flatly refused. "I am Lord Naraku's direct subordinate. All my orders and assignments must go through him."
The implication was clear: No.
A trace of displeasure flickered across Mayuri's face.
How dare a mere rookie refuse Lord Mayuri's orders? Did he think invoking Naraku Sora's name would let him off the hook?
He was nothing more than a pretty boy relying on a woman's influence.
Even if Shutara Senjumaru were here, she wouldn't dare disrespect him like this.
"Now, immediately, this instant!"
"Soldier Urahara, by my authority as Warden, I am conscripting you to assist in an experiment. This is an order, not a discussion!"
Mayuri leaned forward, a chilling smile spreading across his face.
"If you continue to refuse, I will..."
"Understood, Lord Mayuri!"
Before the threat could even be finished, Kisuke snapped to attention with a salute and agreed.
Being cut off only intensified Mayuri's irritation.
"Tch. Idiot."
"Follow me."
Mayuri turned and walked toward the laboratory.
Kisuke hesitated for a moment but ultimately chose to follow.
In the shadows, a corner of a mouth curved upward. From the darkness, an elegant woman watched the scene in silence.
As if foreseeing what was about to happen, her gaze filled with amusement.
The laboratory was unexpectedly spacious and bright, a far cry from the images Kisuke had conjured-hanging bodies, scattered limbs, thick blood, and complex Kido arrays.
If anything, it was a state-of-the-art research facility.
Over seventy percent of the equipment was identical to the research lab in the Maggots' Nest, though the specifications were slightly lower.
After all, the family providing financial support to Squad 2 was the wealthiest in the Soul Society: the Omaeda clan.
Mayuri was merely a Lieutenant-level Soul Reaper. Despite his formidable research skills, he clearly lacked sufficient funding.
However, some of the research projects made Kisuke's eyes widen.
For instance, a cultivation device in the corner emitted a steady, growing shimmer.
Even without a close look, Kisuke's depth of scientific knowledge allowed him to see at a glance that this experiment coincided with some of his own theories.
Most striking of all was the bizarre Zanpakuto at the end of the lab, hovering in mid-air without support.
The blade took the form of a trident, and where the tsuba should have been, there was the face of an infant.
Flickers of Kido light wrapped around it, suggesting an experiment involving the taboos of the Soul Society.
Mayuri ignored Kisuke's wandering gaze and walked straight to a machine, performing a series of rapid operations.
The floor suddenly rumbled as a section recessed and a control console rose from the center.
"Soldier Urahara, your task is to place your Zanpakuto on there."
Seeing Mayuri's sinister smile, Kisuke suddenly realized what the man intended to do.
...
....
"Kid, you performed reasonably well in the Captain proficiency test."
"Even though you haven't mastered Bankai, your current strength is more than enough to serve as a Captain."
In the Squad 1 dojo, Yamamoto wiped the scorched marks from his body, a hint of satisfaction appearing on his aged face.
Although Naraku Sora's strength had little to do with him, as his teacher, Yamamoto felt an instinctive pride in having such a disciple.
Many years from now, when the title of the Soul Society's strongest Soul Reaper faded, perhaps people would still remember the name Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto because of Naraku Sora.
"What do you think? Do you want to transfer from Shino Prison to the Gotei 13?"
"Since Gosuke Kenpachi died by your hand, no one would object to you becoming the Captain of Squad 11."
Yamamoto dangled the bait, hoping he would bite.
Naraku Sora, who was pondering how to combine Lightning Style Chakra Mode with Shunko, blinked in surprise at the offer.
After a moment's thought, he shook his head decisively.
As if reading his mind, Yamamoto said bluntly, "If you're worried about Shutara Senjumaru not letting you go, don't be."
"Her leave is almost over. Her own Zero Division palace is nearing completion."
"It won't be long before she leaves the Seireitei for the Soul King Palace."
"Besides, given her attitude toward you, she wouldn't keep you tethered to one place."
Lightning flared in Naraku's palm as he forced it to merge with his Kido spiritual pressure. He clenched his fist, and a deafening explosion erupted from his hand.
The shockwave dissipated.
Watching Naraku act as if nothing had happened, Yamamoto's eye twitched.
'This kid is looking less and less like a Soul Reaper.'
"Not interested. Being the Captain of Squad 11 means following your orders. Even now, as the Third Seat of Shino Prison, I'm already bossed around enough."
"If I actually become Kenpachi, I'm afraid you'd work me like a mule, Te... Teacher."
Yamamoto: "..."
Though he hated to admit it, the kid was indeed useful.
Although he seemed a bit reckless, Naraku's style of getting things done suited Yamamoto's tastes perfectly.
The Araki, Yokota, Shihouin, and Tsunayashiro clans...
Sometimes Yamamoto even suspected that the Morita clan and Takeda Goki were also his doing.
The Moriyama estate had been virtually leveled, leaving no useful clues behind.
It was almost the exact same style.
Taking action without a second thought for the consequences-clean, sharp, and decisive.
In Naraku Sora, he saw the shadow of himself from a thousand years ago.
Yet, in some ways, the boy wasn't quite as radical.
Despite doing things that others would see as upending the heavens, he still maintained the existing order-perhaps making it even more stable than before.
He possessed quite a sense of proportion.
Seeing Yamamoto fall silent, Naraku returned to pondering the fusion of his two great techniques.
While his rising strength meant the enemies he faced usually had Sin Values over a thousand, there was no guarantee he wouldn't encounter someone with lower values later on.
He was still thinking about locking them away underground when that happened.
Besides, everyone in Shino Prison was a talent and spoke so politely; being there felt like coming home every day.
"Since you don't want it, I won't force you," Yamamoto said.
Seeing that the boy was lost in his own world, he continued.
"You are familiar with the tradition of the Kenpachi. The Soul Reaper who kills the previous Kenpachi automatically inherits the title. Yet you refuse the responsibility."
"Therefore, the task of finding a new Captain for Squad 11 falls to you."
"I have only one requirement: do not let them disgrace the name of Kenpachi."
Naraku Sora waved a hand dismissively. "If I run into anyone suitable later, I'll definitely bag them for Squad 11."
As far as he knew, that guy Zaraki was still wandering around the Rukongai.
He'd just have to find some time to make a trip.
Communicating with a simple-minded brute like that was as easy as could be.
Seeing Naraku's assurance, Yamamoto had nothing left to say.
With Shutara Senjumaru's promotion imminent, it wouldn't be long before this kid took over the entire Shino Prison and became a Captain-level Soul Reaper.
In the Seireitei, with great power comes great responsibility. There was no such thing as a moment of leisure.
Yamamoto shook his head and turned his focus back to his training.
The boy's progress lately was staggering. He had achieved in a few months what ordinary Soul Reapers took decades or even centuries to accomplish.
At this rate, it wouldn't be long before he, the teacher, was surpassed.
He might as well pick up his own training while he still had the energy.
He had basked in the title of the strongest Soul Reaper for a millennium. Although he hadn't given up his daily drills, he had undoubtedly grown complacent compared to his youth.
Coincidentally, the kid had come up with a technique called 'Black Flash' from somewhere.
It was unexpectedly compatible with his Genryu style.
'I should learn it; I can't let my disciple pull too far ahead.'
Inside the dojo, the old man and the youth devoted themselves wholeheartedly to their training with intense focus.
Outside the window, Chojiro watched the master and disciple, who were no longer acting like a demolition crew, and a look of relief appeared on his face.
'Lord Genryusai is finally done with the nonsense...'
As night fell, Naraku Sora hurried back to the Shino Prison barracks under the cover of darkness.
He had come up with a few ideas at the Squad 1 dojo today and desperately needed some data to back them up.
"Kisuke, it's time for you to shine."
Naraku walked through the barracks straight to Kisuke Urahara's room, only to find he wasn't there.
He pulled someone aside to ask and learned that in the afternoon, Mayuri Kurotsuchi had emerged from the lab, and after a brief exchange, Kisuke had been press-ganged into service.
Hearing this, Naraku's expression shifted instantly.
"Oh no! My Urahara Pal!"
Without a moment's hesitation, his figure vanished on the spot.
Meanwhile, inside the research lab.
Kisuke Urahara gripped his Zanpakuto, staring warily at Mayuri. His face practically screamed: 'Stay away from me.'
"Lord Mayuri, modifying another person's Zanpakuto without permission is a violation of regulations. I'm afraid I cannot agree."
Mayuri sneered, his expression full of disdain.
"Heh. Those idiots don't understand the first thing about science."
"Test subjects should keep their mouths shut. I am conducting an experiment; you have no right to refuse or decide. Listen-"
"Kisuke Urahara, you are Test Subject Number One."
A pale finger pointed forward as Kido spiritual pressure coalesced, crackling with arcs of electricity.
Opposite him, Kisuke looked conflicted.
He was debating whether or not to cut loose against him.
Just then, a heavy spiritual pressure flooded into the lab like a tidal wave, and a violent impact slammed against the door.
With a deafening boom, the door shattered.
A figure holding a blade stood silhouetted against the sunlight.
Kisuke's eyes widened. He stared in shock at the figure in the light, never expecting someone would go this far for him.
Things were unfolding in a way he hadn't anticipated.
An overtly cold gaze fixed upon Mayuri as Naraku Sora's voice echoed through the room:
"Mr. Mayuri... just what do you intend to do with my subordinate?"