Undermining Yoruichi

There are many things that only Natsuki, as a transmigrator, would know.

He did not inform Yoruichi of how powerful their future enemies would be.

At this moment, Yoruichi was not even a captain, nor had she become the head of the Shihoin clan. Even if he told her these things, she likely wouldn't believe him; only after experiencing certain events for herself would she come to trust Natsuki's words.

As for Natsuki himself, becoming stronger was his primary concern at the moment.

Slaying Kiganjo and becoming the Kenpachi had indeed propelled him to the pinnacle of the Gotei 13, making him a captain.

Yet, as a Shinigami, Natsuki had not actually reached his own limits.

He still had plenty of room for improvement.

At least, that was what he believed.

Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hoho, and Kido—these four basic abilities of a Shinigami could all be improved.

Beyond that, utilizing the passive nature of his Zanpakuto to enhance his own spiritual power was another direction for growth.

Speaking of his Zanpakuto, it seemed he could also put learning Bankai on the agenda.

Admittedly, the position of Kenpachi was unique; there was no mandatory requirement for a Kenpachi to master Bankai. As long as one could defeat the previous Kenpachi, they could become the new one. Zaraki Kenpachi from the original story hadn't even mastered Shikai, let alone Bankai, yet he still became the Kenpachi.

However, Natsuki could not abandon the pursuit of Bankai just because of Zaraki Kenpachi's example.

Zaraki Kenpachi was a special case.

Bankai was the most powerful tool for the vast majority of captains.

One might choose not to use it, but one absolutely could not be unable to use it.

After his sparring session with Yoruichi ended, Natsuki suddenly looked at Urahara Kisuke, who had been watching from the sidelines. "Kisuke, I once heard Yoruichi mention that you wanted to research a tool that could help one learn Bankai quickly? Has that thing been developed yet?"

Through Yoruichi's introduction, Natsuki had come to know Urahara Kisuke.

Seemingly to help Natsuki understand Urahara better, Yoruichi had told him quite a bit about the man, specifically highlighting many of his inventions and creations.

Urahara did not expect Natsuki to ask such a question. He blinked, stunned, before replying, "I have a rough idea, but I'm not certain if it can actually be manufactured."

"Then keep up the good work."

Natsuki offered Urahara some encouragement without asserting that he would definitely succeed. He even knew that the device Urahara would create was called the "Tenshintai." Urahara and Kurosaki Ichigo would eventually use it to learn Bankai in a very short time. Although this method of learning Bankai carried high risks, the rewards were significant, as the standard path to Bankai took a very long time.

Urahara nodded. Although he claimed he wasn't sure if he could build it, in reality, he already had the blueprint in his mind; he only needed to complete the final steps to finish the device.

Looking at Urahara before him, a new thought suddenly occurred to Natsuki.

"Kisuke, have you ever thought about transferring divisions?"

Urahara looked at Natsuki in confusion. Natsuki explained, "It's like this: my 11th Division is currently lacking a lieutenant. There isn't anyone suitable for the position within the division right now. I think you'd be a great fit, Kisuke—you have impressive strength and you're very clever. So, would you like to come to the 11th Division and assist me?"

"In the 2nd Division, you're at best a Seated Officer, but the 11th Division is different. Once you join, you can immediately serve as lieutenant. If you master Bankai in the future, I can even recommend you for the captaincy assessment. Taking it a step further and becoming a captain wouldn't be a problem."

Before Urahara could answer Natsuki's question, Yoruichi's figure flashed to Natsuki's side, her hand resting on his shoulder. "Hey, Natsuki, you're going too far. Kisuke is one of our 2nd Division members; don't even think about poaching him."

Natsuki turned his head, looking down into Yoruichi's golden eyes, and smiled. "I'm just short on help lately, which is why I thought of inviting Kisuke to the 11th Division to give me a hand."

"You don't know, the 11th Division is full of brutes. Most of them can't even read. They're fine for combat, but finding someone among them capable of helping me handle administrative duties is just too difficult."

"I could handle the paperwork myself, but if I waste all my time on such meaningless things, it will severely impact my training time." Natsuki was very blunt, stating directly that administrative duties hindered his cultivation.

He didn't express any regret about becoming Kenpachi, though.

After all, he had stated earlier that killing Kiganjo was his own choice.

"You really are obsessed with getting stronger!"

Yoruichi sighed.

She had said something similar before, and now, she said it again.

"Perhaps it's because I'm a Shinigami who returned to the Soul Society from Hueco Mundo. Having experienced that environment firsthand, I place a higher value on strength."

Natsuki also sighed.

"Hueco Mundo? I've heard the environment there is quite harsh?"

Yoruichi was no stranger to Hollows, as they often crossed over into the Soul Society, but she had never been to Hueco Mundo herself. Her current understanding was limited to what she had read in books and records.

"It is a world of eternal night. The entire world is nothing but desert and barren hills, devoid of any life. Even in the outer reaches, the probability of encountering a Hollow is far higher than in the Soul Society. Honestly, staying in such a world for a long time makes one feel very oppressed and miserable."

"And fighting Hollows is, in itself, an extremely dangerous affair."

"I didn't spend much time in the Expeditionary Force—only a few years—but in those few years, I frequently saw members of the force die in battle. The lucky ones might have parts of their bodies recovered; the unlucky ones left nothing behind, not even a corpse, just scraps of clothing to prove they had ever existed."

Yoruichi didn't hear any sorrow in Natsuki's words, but as she carefully considered the world he described, she seemed to understand why he had such a deep obsession with becoming stronger.

Only by becoming stronger could one survive in such a dangerous world.

As Yoruichi's thoughts drifted, a smile reappeared on Natsuki's face.

"So, Yoruichi, are you really not going to consider sending Kisuke to me?"

"If he stays in the 2nd Division, I don't feel like he has much room for advancement!"

Yoruichi didn't even hesitate to refute Natsuki. "Even if you sound pitiful, having to handle paperwork while trying to find time to train, I'm sorry, but I still won't let you have Kisuke."