Naraku had been fully prepared to deliver a "That's just how Genryū is" speech to help Kuchiki Kōga accept reality.
He hadn't expected Kōga to not only not complain, but actually thank him.
Typical Kuchiki brain wiring—truly built different.
"Hey, what are you thanking me for? As fellow sons-in-law, helping each other is only natural," Naraku waved it off with a face that said this is what I'm supposed to do.
The more casual Naraku was, the more grateful Kōga became.
What a rare kind of good person—doing good deeds without asking for anything back.
People like that were getting scarce in Soul Society.
Naraku could've pretended not to see, or even kicked him while he was down. Instead, he helped.
Compared to the harsh and demanding Lord Ginrei, it was like heaven and earth.
"I've basically figured out your situation," Naraku said bluntly. "You're strong at developing your Zanpakutō, but your own fundamentals are seriously lopsided. Your Kidō's decent, but the other areas are lacking."
"You clearly have lots of real combat experience, but in practice, the moment you're not leaning on your Zanpakutō… you fall apart."
Kōga froze and instinctively replayed the fight in his head.
Sure, Naraku had seized the initiative—but Kōga hadn't been completely unprepared. Yet he'd still been beaten into the ground without any chance to respond.
It was like Naraku could see every tiny flaw and weakness. His hits always landed exactly where they should, collapsing defenses like rotten wood.
Sometimes Kōga couldn't even form a defense before being crushed.
Without Muramasa, his performance really was embarrassing.
Kōga sighed. "I get what you mean… but I've used Muramasa for so long. I can't just stop overnight."
Naraku shook his head.
"See? You're tunneling again."
"The original point of teaching you Genryū wasn't to make you abandon your Zanpakutō."
"It's to correct the wrong habit—put your own cultivation first."
"The more you deepen your own foundation, the stronger Muramasa will become too."
Even though today's hidden goal was to recruit Kōga as extra manpower, Naraku hadn't lied once.
Against a Shinigami whose Zanpakutō could essentially "read minds," sincerity was obvious.
Lies only earned lies.
As Aizen would put it: just be yourself.
You don't have to manage anything else—he'll fill in the blanks on his own.
And Aizen was right.
Naraku didn't know what image he'd become in Kōga's head, but judging by Kōga's unwavering attitude, the trust he'd earned probably already surpassed Muramasa—now lying helplessly by the wall.
"Kōga… a Shinigami shouldn't be like this."
Muramasa's voice sounded in Kōga's inner world. "Everyone has their own path. Another person's path isn't necessarily—"
Before it could finish, Kōga frowned and shut his inner world off completely, cutting the conversation.
You're a sword. Do you really know better than a Shinigami how to be a Shinigami?
"Then next…" Kōga looked up at his only friend.
Naraku reached to a nearby rack, took down two bamboo swords, gave them a casual swing, and showed a delighted, feral grin.
"Next is what you're best at—and also where you're weakest."
"How to use a Zanpakutō properly…"
Soon the two of them were tearing into each other with bamboo swords. With Naraku deliberately pushing the pace, every exchange was vicious—like a true life-and-death duel.
Muramasa lay in the corner, staring blankly at the figure drifting further and further away from him, despair filling its eyes.
...
...
At the Central Prison gate.
Naraku waved off Kōga—battered all over, but practically glowing with excitement—and told him to come again next time.
Just as Naraku was about to go back inside and continue his unfinished training, he sensed Reiatsu approaching in the distance.
He turned and saw a familiar figure.
"Sora—how did things go with Kuchiki Kōga?"
Naraku gave a thumbs up and grinned. "When I handle it, you can relax."
"Getting him to go chop down Kuchiki Ginrei might be tough right now, but if it's Old Man Yama? Kōga wouldn't hesitate for a second."
Aizen: "..."
What exactly did this guy do to Kōga?
He'd only told Naraku to "get familiar" with him—yet somehow, as usual, things had veered into insanity.
"Anyway, we can set Kōga aside for now," Aizen said, frowning. "Today I noticed Takeda Satoru left his barracks alone and headed toward Rukongai."
Naraku blinked.
He knew Aizen had already made a move against Takeda.
But continuing to tail a captain-class Shinigami felt… dangerously bold.
If Takeda discovered it, this could backfire badly.
Naraku was about to warn him when Aizen continued:
"The place he went was South Rukongai District 1—an estate belonging to the lower noble Morita family."
As Naraku watched, Aizen raised a hand. A flicker of Reiatsu light flashed at his fingertips.
"I detected reishi in the area that doesn't belong to Soul Society."
"If nothing else is off, Takeda Satoru is preparing to continue the sacrifices."
"And Morita is his next chosen partner—"
"Or rather, subordinate."
Naraku's eyes widened with realization. He smacked his palm.
"Aizen, the situation's urgent—let's go kill the traitor Takeda Satoru!"
Aizen: "?"
His thought process was… broadly similar, but saying it that bluntly was something else.
Aizen didn't comment. He simply placed a hand on Naraku's shoulder.
A hazy Kidō glow poured out and wrapped around them both completely.
...
...
South Rukongai—two figures rushing through the streets.
With Bakudō #26, Kyokkō, covering them, no one short of a captain personally probing the area could possibly detect their presence.
Following Aizen's route, they soon spotted an old, austere estate positioned near the boundary between town and the Outer District.
Compared to the Yokota manor, it was less grand.
But it was far more discreet.
Watching the towering gates, Aizen warned quietly:
"In a moment, I'll raise a Kidō barrier to seal the entire estate. The disturbance may alert Takeda."
"You hold him from the front. Once the barrier is complete, I'll come help you."
Naraku rested a hand on his sword hilt and grinned as his sleeping Reiatsu stirred awake.
"Leave it to me."
~~~
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