Proactively Becoming Kenpachi, Drunken Yoruichi!

"Not everyone in the 11th Division likes to drink; I am the exception."

"As for why someone who can't drink became the captain of the 11th Division, I can only say it was luck."

Facing Yoruichi's playful jab, Natsuki smiled and offered a brief explanation. "At first, I only wanted to be an ordinary Shinigami, but during a sparring match with a Seated Officer of the 11th Division, I accidentally defeated him, and just like that, I became a Seated Officer."

"Later, during a training session, I sparred with the Third Seat and won by half a move. He insisted on handing his position over to me. I didn't want to accept it, but I couldn't resist the pressure from the Kenpachi at the time, so I became the Third Seat."

"After becoming the Third Seat, I thought that was enough, but I didn't expect the Kenpachi of that time to do something that led to him being stripped of his captaincy. Gosu, who was the lieutenant, was appointed by the Central 46 as the ninth Kenpachi, and that is how I became the lieutenant."

"Put that way, your luck really is quite good." Yoruichi and Natsuki were no strangers; she often sparred with him and knew his strength was formidable, but this was the first time she had heard about his past.

The fact that Natsuki had become a lieutenant in such a manner was truly astonishing.

However, she also knew that the fact he could consecutively defeat a Seated Officer and the Third Seat of the 11th Division was proof of his remarkable strength. Without sufficient power, no matter how good his luck was, he could never have held those positions.

"So, what about becoming Kenpachi this time? Were you also passively forced to defeat Kiganjo Kenpachi?"

While marveling at Natsuki's past, Yoruichi asked him another question.

According to Natsuki, his previous roles—whether as 9th Seat, Third Seat, or lieutenant—were never his original intention; he had assumed them passively. Yoruichi was very curious as to why he had chosen to challenge Kiganjo Kenpachi this time.

If she remembered correctly, Kiganjo Kenpachi had only been in the position for a few months; his tenure had been incredibly short.

"Or are you saying you actively challenged Kiganjo Kenpachi to avenge Gosu Kenpachi?"

After Yoruichi asked her question, before Natsuki could answer, Urahara Kisuke, who was sitting nearby, couldn't help but look up, his eyes filled with curiosity.

Urahara Kisuke was also quite intrigued by this matter.

After all, the title of Kenpachi was far too illustrious, and the secrets surrounding it inevitably made one want to pry.

Feeling their gazes, Natsuki remained silent for a moment before answering, "Challenging Kiganjo was my own idea. This time, it wasn't passive; it was active. Of course, it wasn't to avenge Gosu. Gosu losing to Kiganjo was simply because his skills were inferior. It proved he didn't have the ability to protect the name of Kenpachi, and that can't be blamed on anyone else."

"And I chose to kill Kiganjo because letting such an idiot hold the title of Kenpachi was an insult to the 11th Division. Rather than letting him continue as Kenpachi, I might as well do it myself."

That day, when facing Kiganjo, Natsuki had said exactly those words.

Today, facing Yoruichi and Kisuke, he spoke them once again.

Both Yoruichi and Urahara Kisuke felt the firm resolve in Natsuki's words.

They couldn't help but gain a new perspective on their friend.

After chatting briefly about the matter of the Kenpachi.

Yoruichi asked Natsuki again: "So, do you drink or not?"

Natsuki replied: "Normally, I don't drink much, but since you said this is a fine wine that the Shihoin family has kept for hundreds of years, even if I'm not a drinker, I should at least have a taste."

A satisfied smile immediately appeared on Yoruichi's face.

And so, in the secret base beneath Sokyoku Hill.

Natsuki, Yoruichi, and Urahara Kisuke sat together, passing cups back and forth.

Natsuki had been in the 11th Division for many years, yet despite that environment, he still hadn't built up a tolerance for alcohol. Of course, that didn't mean he couldn't drink at all; a little bit was no problem.

This time, he was only sipping lightly.

Yoruichi, however, drank a bit too much. Even with her dark complexion, one could still see the flushed, rosy glow of drunkenness on her face. After getting drunk, her personality became even more lively. She muttered nonsense and started getting handsy, grabbing Natsuki to examine his physical structure. Natsuki pressed her down, briefly restraining her restless behavior, and looked at Urahara Kisuke across from him.

"Is she always like this?"

Urahara Kisuke had clearly drunk quite a bit himself, yet his expression remained unchanged; one could only say that Urahara Kisuke was the one with the best tolerance.

"Yoruichi must be very happy today, which is why she drank so much. She likes to drink, but she usually knows when to stop," Urahara Kisuke explained to Natsuki.

"I see. Then I should be happy too, right?"

Today's gathering was held by Yoruichi specifically to celebrate him becoming a captain. If Yoruichi was this happy and Natsuki, the person involved, wasn't, it would seem a bit unreasonable.

Urahara Kisuke was stunned, feeling that Natsuki was truly an interesting person.

Natsuki asked Urahara Kisuke again: "So, are we just going to let her continue acting like a drunkard?"

"Do you really not need to get something to sober her up?"

"I heard that after getting drunk, drinking something sour helps with sobering up. Why don't you go get some?"

Urahara Kisuke looked at Yoruichi, who was still clawing and thrashing about while Natsuki held her head down with one hand, clearly drunk and making a scene. Finally, he nodded and left.

It was unclear where Urahara Kisuke went, but he soon returned with something to sober her up.

He poured the sobering decoction down Yoruichi's throat.

The effect of the medicine seemed exceptionally good; Yoruichi quickly recovered from her drunken excitement and fell into a deep sleep.

Because this was a private gathering.

Natsuki couldn't just leave and abandon Yoruichi here, so he waited for a while longer. During this time, he had some conversation with Urahara Kisuke. Urahara Kisuke's personality during this period was truly unlikable; he was too dull, like a closed-mouthed gourd. Often, you would ask him a question, and he would give a brief answer; if you didn't ask, he rarely spoke on his own initiative.

This made Natsuki feel a bit bored.

So, it could be said that without Yoruichi as a buffer, he and Urahara Kisuke really didn't get along.

Just as Natsuki continued to chat idly with Urahara Kisuke, wasting time, Yoruichi finally woke up.

One could only say that Shinigamis are different from ordinary people; the speed at which they sober up is unimaginably fast.