Hollow Swarm Appears, 11th Division Attacks!

Time passed.

In the blink of an eye, another half-month went by.

On this day, Watanabe Yuji sought out Natsuki of his own accord.

"Seeing that you have completely adapted to the rhythm of the 11th Division and integrated into it, I no longer need to worry about you."

"Are you leaving?" Natsuki asked, seemingly aware of why Watanabe Yuji had come.

"Yes." Watanabe Yuji nodded. "Coming back, catching up on the recent state of the Gotei 13, and seeing that so many people I know are still alive—I am already very happy. Now, it is time to return to the Expeditionary Force."

"Although Ashido's strength is formidable, he has only just arrived in Hueco Mundo and is unfamiliar with the situation there. At a time like this, how could I, a captain of the Expeditionary Force, simply stand by and do nothing?"

Natsuki remained silent, listening quietly as Watanabe Yuji spoke.

He had known for a long time that Watanabe Yuji would return to the Expeditionary Force.

Watanabe Yuji's return this time had been for two reasons: to bring back several Shinigamis whose terms of atonement had expired, and to secure a formal status for Natsuki, a Shinigami who had come from an unconventional background. Now that these matters were settled, it was time for Watanabe Yuji to head back.

"Let me go back with you."

After pondering for a moment, Natsuki said to Watanabe Yuji.

Watanabe Yuji was stunned for a moment, then looked at Natsuki and smiled. "I appreciate your good intentions. I know you are worried about my safety; after all, the situation in Hueco Mundo is very complex right now. But rest assured, I have spent decades in Hueco Mundo—I haven't been idling away my time. If I truly encounter something I cannot defeat, do you really think I wouldn't know how to run?"

"I may not be confident in other skills, but I am quite confident in my Shunpo."

Among the four arts of Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hoho, and Kido, Watanabe Yuji's greatest strength was his Shunpo. Of course, his other abilities were not lacking either; he was that rare, well-rounded type of Shinigami who could skillfully utilize all four, otherwise, he would not have been able to mentor Natsuki.

Natsuki had learned much from following Watanabe Yuji, so he was well aware of this.

Watanabe Yuji continued, "You should just stay in the Soul Society. Within the Gotei 13, you can achieve more growth than you ever could in the Expeditionary Force. You are the most talented Shinigami I have ever seen; from knowing nothing, you have already become what one might call a powerhouse."

Seeing that Natsuki still did not speak, Watanabe Yuji added one more thing.

"I still want to see the day you become a captain, and even a Kenpachi!"

"Until that day arrives, I certainly won't be dying!"

This statement was, in truth, merely an expression of hope and a comforting remark. After all, the current Kuruyashiki Kenpachi was the strongest Kenpachi; even if Natsuki possessed extraordinary talent and might one day master Bankai and serve as a captain, becoming a Kenpachi remained a distant, lofty dream.

Natsuki naturally understood the implication behind Watanabe Yuji's words, but he did not deliberately point it out. Instead, a surge of confidence rose within him as he said to Watanabe Yuji, "Then you just wait for that day."

Watanabe Yuji eventually left.

Just as he had returned to the Soul Society quietly, his departure caused no great stir.

The situation in Hueco Mundo was currently peculiar. Before Natsuki had even arrived in the Soul Society, Menos Grande had frequently appeared on the outskirts of Hueco Mundo, which led to Ashido leading the new Expeditionary Force to provide support. Under such circumstances, as a former captain of the Expeditionary Force, how could Watanabe Yuji choose to evade his duty and remain safely in the Soul Society?

He was a man who craved battle and enjoyed it.

Of course, he also understood the fate that battle might bring.

That was why he had never taken a wife, remaining solitary.

It was so he could be without attachments; that way, even if he died, he would have few regrets.

Of course, that was in the past. Now, perhaps because he had found Natsuki in Hueco Mundo, he had poured his heart into teaching him and had come to view Natsuki as his own disciple. That was why, before leaving, he had specifically come to Natsuki's side to bid him farewell.

Natsuki was no child. Before transmigrating, he had been an adult. Perhaps the combined lifespan of his two lives was not as long as that of an average Shinigami, but he still understood the subtext in Watanabe Yuji's words.

He did not say much more.

He calmly accepted the fact that Watanabe Yuji was leaving the Soul Society to return to the Expeditionary Force.

Afterward, Natsuki continued to strive to adapt to life in the Seireitei.

Life in the 11th Division was very monotonous.

Aside from fighting, sparring with comrades, and honing one's own strength, the most frequent activity was the drinking parties.

Natsuki had initially thought Watanabe Yuji was an exception, but through subsequent interactions, he discovered that all the members here were just like him: craving battle, unafraid of death, and choosing to remain solitary so that they would have no regrets when their time came. In such a state, drinking to forget the sorrows of today became their favorite pastime. Some of them didn't even like the taste of alcohol; rather, under the influence of their long, grueling environment, only through drinking could they enjoy a brief moment of pleasure and escape their loneliness.

Even so, Natsuki still did not like to drink.

At every party, he would stay in a corner, holding a tiny cup and only taking small sips.

This was, of course, mocked by quite a few members of the 11th Division, but Natsuki did not take it to heart.

On this day.

Outside the Rukon District, a massive Garganta tore open.

The moment the Garganta appeared, the Seireitei Research Institute under the 12th Division detected it and issued a warning.

The warning was relayed several times, passing from the 1st Division down to the 11th.

"Members, a group of Hollows has appeared in the Rukon District. It is time for us to strike."

In the barracks of the 11th Division, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi shouted these words to the many members before him.

The fighting spirit of the many members erupted in an instant.

"Hundred Victories!"

"Hundred Victories!"

Before every battle against invading Menos Grande, the 11th Division would hold a corresponding departure ceremony. After all, even with Kuruyashiki Kenpachi leading the team in person, no one could predict how the situation would unfold, and it was highly possible that comrades would fall. Therefore, under the influence of Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, every member treated each battle as if it were their last, while simultaneously looking forward to yet another victory.

Natsuki mingled within the crowd.

It is worth mentioning that he had already become a seated officer.

Although he had not been in the 11th Division for long, his strength was formidable.

Back in Hueco Mundo, he had been able to easily slay a Gillian with just an Asauchi.

The 11th Division was a squad that revered the strong; when Natsuki sparred with other members during his leisure time and defeated one of the seated officers, he had inexplicably become a new seated officer himself.