Chapter 20: The Fox, the Cherry Blossoms, and the Snowdrop (Please keep reading~ Please vote~)
Naruto returned to Squad Four.
He told Retsu Unohana about his decision.
She wasn't surprised and was actually very supportive. She acknowledged that what Head Captain Yamamoto said was right—she might not be the best teacher for Naruto.
Still, even though they wouldn't have a formal teacher-student relationship, Unohana warmly welcomed Naruto to continue learning healing arts (Kaido) in Squad Four.
This left Naruto a bit confused.
Wasn't that basically the same thing as being her student?
Aizen Sosuke was the first to visit him, but he only said a few words before being chased off by Shinji Hirako.
The second visitor, unexpectedly, was Yoruichi Shihouin.
But the "gift" she brought...
She was dragging along a young man with a high ponytail, who was bound by Bakudo ropes and angrily struggling.
"Let go of me, you demon cat!"
"I can walk on my own!"
"You're disgracing the honor of the Kuchiki clan!"
Yoruichi grinned, unbothered. "Don't get so worked up, this is Squad Four."
"Quiet down, the patient needs peace and quiet."
The black-haired youth clenched his fists, seething.
He hadn't even come up with a counterattack yet—
And then she suddenly threw him forward.
The rope vanished.
The boy barely managed to land on his feet.
"Naruto, I brought you someone interesting to meet." Yoruichi greeted cheerfully. "He's a bit less impressive than you, but he's a genius too!"
Hearing the name "Naruto," the black-haired youth stopped the angry words that were about to burst out of his mouth.
He turned to look at the blond boy lying on the hospital bed, matching the name "Uzumaki Naruto" in his mind.
He immediately composed himself, clasped his hands respectfully, and gave a formal bow.
"Good day, sir. I apologize for my earlier rudeness. I am Byakuya Kuchiki of the Kuchiki family."
"Forgive me for disturbing your rest. I look forward to your guidance."
Naruto nervously clenched his bedsheet and leaned forward to nod.
"Hello, I'm Uzumaki Naruto."
"Nice to meet you."
It was the first time he'd ever been greeted so politely and formally.
Yoruichi, as laid-back as ever, kicked Naruto's legs aside and sat on the bed.
"No need to be so stiff, little Byakuya."
"You brought me here just to meet Naruto?" Byakuya clenched his teeth but refrained from calling her a "demon cat" again.
Yoruichi nodded confidently.
"Yup."
"You're always calling me 'demon cat' this and 'demon cat' that—"
Byakuya snapped, "That's because you never act like the head of the Shihouin clan!"
"That's because you're too uptight," Yoruichi shot back, hands on hips.
"That's why I brought you to meet Naruto."
"He's even more of a genius than you."
"And he's like me—also an animal!"
Byakuya blinked, confused.
"I'm a cat, he's a fox." Yoruichi raised her hand and made a fox gesture—thumb and middle fingers pinched, index and pinky raised like ears.
"So, you can't beat us."
Byakuya clenched his teeth. "Demon cat, what kind of logic is that?!"
He admitted Naruto was a genius.
But he wasn't bad either.
Yoruichi caught the shift in his mood, grinned slyly, and lowered her voice:
"Two Menos Grande."
Byakuya paused, confused by the sudden remark.
Then realization struck him—he looked at Naruto again.
"Naruto killed two Menos Grande by himself not long ago," Yoruichi said as she ruffled Byakuya's hair.
"And he didn't even get seriously hurt."
"Foxes are pretty amazing."
"But black cats still beat foxes."
Byakuya's eyes widened in shock.
Two Menos Grande?!
That strong?!
He'd heard Naruto was only at "Level 5 Spiritual Pressure," about the same level as himself.
"Byakuya will be joining a squad in a few years," Yoruichi stretched and walked toward the door.
"You two should get to know each other."
Naruto asked, "Captain Yoruichi, are you leaving already?"
Yoruichi turned around with a cheeky smile.
"I have to go investigate the Dangai Gate. I just snuck out for a bit. If I don't head back now, Omaeda will start whining."
With that, she vanished in a flash step.
Without Yoruichi present, Byakuya calmed down.
He was a quiet person by nature.
Maybe it was due to the responsibilities that came with being from one of the "Five Great Noble Clans," the Kuchiki family—or maybe because he hadn't studied at the Shino Academy, he wasn't very good at conversing with others.
As a noble, he didn't need to graduate from the academy or take an entrance exam to join the Gotei 13.
But he was a good person. After their initial awkward conversation, he and Naruto started discussing flash step and Kido techniques comfortably.
Over the course of Naruto's month in the hospital, Byakuya visited the most.
Time smoothed over the chaos.
The effects of the Dangai Gate incident gradually faded.
The three investigating squads found nothing, and Central 46 issued a directive to stop wasting manpower on the matter.
The graduation ceremony for the Shino Academy was held around this time.
With cherry blossoms fluttering in the air, the joy of graduation and the start of a new term overshadowed past events.
Squad 13 Barracks.
Now in his black Shinigami uniform, Naruto finally met the man Kyoraku Shunsui often spoke of—Ukitake Jushiro.
A man with long white hair down to his waist.
Nothing like the "sickly" image one might expect—his features were gentle and his eyes bright and sharp.
"Naruto, let me call you that," Ukitake said.
"I never expected you to choose our squad."
"I thought you'd go with Shunsui."
Naruto answered honestly,
"The Head Captain recommended I learn under you. He thought Uncle Shunsui might be a bit too laid-back."
Ukitake paused, then laughed heartily.
"Shunsui is a little lazy, yeah."
He gestured toward the dark-haired man next to him.
"Let me introduce you—this is our squad's lieutenant, Kaien Shiba."
"A very capable and reliable man."
Kaien nodded in greeting. He shared Ukitake's gentle aura, though his energy was a bit more vibrant—probably due to better health.
"The Captain is unwell," he said.
"So I'll be teaching you how to handle squad duties."
Ukitake smiled,
"If you have any questions about dual-wielding swords, feel free to ask me."
"My body's not so weak that I can't do anything."
"Even if your time with us will be brief, Naruto, you're now part of Squad 13."
"So let me introduce this—"
Kaien turned and showed Naruto the badge tied to his left arm—emblazoned with the kanji for "13" and a lantern-like flower.
Ukitake explained:
"Each squad uses a specific flower as their emblem."
"Ours is called the Snowdrop."
Then he paused and asked,
"Naruto, do you know anything about flower arranging?"
Naruto shook his head.
Ukitake smiled,
"You could learn a bit. Captain Unohana enjoys flower arrangement."
"And the snowdrop's meaning is hope."
Hope.
Naruto stared at Kaien's badge, deep in thought.
He suddenly realized—maybe the Head Captain hadn't sent him to avoid Shunsui's bad influence, but because Ukitake could better help him grasp his own "snowdrop."
Ukitake didn't speak for long before coughing overtook him, showing that he was far weaker than he looked.
He excused himself and left the rest to Kaien.
Kaien Shiba was warm and enthusiastic.
He patiently and thoroughly taught Naruto how to become a competent squad leader.
Over five years, Naruto grew from a clumsy trainee to a respectable Third Seat officer.
Those years were peaceful.
Seireitei seemed to have forgotten the "Dangai Gate Incident."
Only through the occasional grumbling of Kisuke Urahara did Naruto hear that the investigation wasn't going well.
The Nine-Tails also remained quiet and caused no trouble.
While learning how to handle squad duties, Naruto didn't neglect improving his own strength.
But he still hadn't grasped the voice of his second sword.
Until one day—
After finishing a session of Zanpakuto training,
Naruto opened his eyes...
And found himself back in the small, tidy house in Konoha he'd once cleaned up.
He had returned to Konoha.
This time, he wasn't as lost as he had been the first time.
He sat on the bed, deep in thought.
Last time it had been three years. This time, six.
He had spent almost twice as long in the Soul Society.
(End of Chapter)