"Kisuke, as your superior, I've secured the funding to build you an exclusive laboratory."
Naraku Sora placed his hand on Urahara Kisuke's shoulder, putting on an expression that seemed to say, *I am doing this all for your own good.*
"I've even prepared precious materials for you that not even Squad Twelve possesses."
"Most importantly, I will never interfere with your freedom."
A hint of hesitation appeared on Urahara Kisuke's face.
Although he was frequently exploited here and had to help out with paperwork from time to time, thanks to Kakyo being around, she took on the majority of the documents.
His actual workload wasn't that heavy.
And while the barracks renovation project seemed massive and complicated, he had Kurotsuchi Mayuri and Mr. Aizen to help him, so it wasn't as busy as one might imagine.
Most importantly, staying inside Shino Prison brought him far more peace of mind than being in Squad Two.
He didn't have to worry about a moment of slacking off leading to casualties among his teammates or resulting in severe punishment.
Nor did he have to fear accidentally overhearing some noble's secret intelligence and ending up committing suicide by getting stabbed in the back thirty-six times.
Even though his superior constantly wore the ugly mug of an employee-exploiting capitalist, it didn't actually make people hate him.
"Therefore, Kisuke, the time has come for you to make a contribution."
While he was still conflicted, Naraku Sora looked at him with a smile.
"You wouldn't want to return to Squad Two and resume your previous cruel life, would you?"
By the time Urahara Kisuke realized he had made a deal with the devil, it was already too late to back out.
Dragging Pal Number One along, Naraku Sora headed straight for the laboratory next door.
If Urahara Kisuke were to tackle the upcoming work alone, it would probably take an eternity.
He pried open Kurotsuchi Mayuri's door. The interior was as clean and tidy as always; even the used scrap materials were arranged in a neat and uniform manner.
As a scientist, Mayuri placed great importance on his experimental environment.
To him, any change in external parameters could potentially affect the success or failure of a research experiment.
With his meticulous mind, he absolutely refused to allow such a thing to happen.
Facing the two men and their differing expressions, Naraku Sora tapped the blackboard behind him.
He then detailed everything he had heard at Squad One, guiding their thoughts toward the concept of a Tenshintai.
Although he couldn't remember some of the specific details, he still had a very deep impression of that miraculous invention which allowed a Soul Reaper to rapidly master Bankai.
Originally, Urahara Kisuke had invented it alone.
But now, with Kurotsuchi Mayuri's help, the research time should be drastically shortened.
After listening to the explanation, Mayuri frowned.
"Is Bankai training really that difficult? After I learned Shikai, it took me less than a month to complete my Bankai training."
"I thought it was just as easy for everyone else."
Naraku Sora, Urahara Kisuke: "..."
*Listen to that. Are those words a normal human would say?*
"Although it's a bit troublesome, it's not entirely unfounded. Plus, we have ready-made materials to observe, so the difficulty of the research should be somewhat lower."
Mayuri ignored their expressions, instead giving a brief summary of his recent research on Zanpakutō.
Along with it, he displayed a massive amount of complex and tedious data on a holographic screen.
Urahara Kisuke read it with great interest; after all, a portion of the credit belonged to him.
Naraku Sora, on the other hand, grew drowsy just looking at it, completely lacking any interest.
However, the purpose of his trip had been fulfilled. As long as he delegated the task, he believed that with their combined abilities, they could easily develop the Tenshintai.
Watching his departing back, a hint of relief appeared on Urahara Kisuke's face.
To think that a guy like Naraku Sora could actually make a request within reasonable limits.
It was truly a cause for celebration.
Leaving the laboratory, Naraku Sora stood outside the door and observed for a moment.
He suddenly realized that their exclusive laboratories were quite far apart. Having to run back and forth every time they held a scientific discussion was extremely troublesome.
Wasting time was tantamount to murder and robbery.
It was time to completely bind Urahara Kisuke and Kurotsuchi Mayuri together. Since both of these hidden geniuses were under his command, he might as well establish a new scientific research institution.
He had already thought of the name: the Department of Research and Development.
To flaunt his achievements, perhaps he could add the prefix 'Naraku' to the front.
When the time came, he would reserve a laboratory for Aizen too. After all, his fatherly love was as steadfast as a mountain.
Besides, that guy had no intention of hiding his talent for scientific research anyway.
Naraku Sora shook his head, pushing these thoughts aside for now, and turned to walk toward the laboratory situated in the deepest part of the barracks.
"At least you have some conscience left, knowing to come find me."
Senjumaru feigned emotion, sighing heavily.
"I thought that after you found yourself a new lover, you had completely forgotten about me."
Naraku Sora: "..."
*Why is it that no one around me is normal?*
*What is with this attitude of a neglected concubine?*
Calming himself down, Naraku Sora explained his entire situation.
"Hmm..."
Resting a slender finger against her fair chin, Senjumaru revealed a thoughtful expression.
"If you hadn't mentioned it, I truly wouldn't have noticed. Silly Boy, your Reiatsu has actually reached the Second-Class level. It really is time for you to master Bankai."
"However, Head Captain Yamamoto makes a very valid point. Trying to master this ability in such a short amount of time is no easy feat."
"Furthermore, an overly powerful Shikai places an extremely heavy burden on a Soul Reaper's soul, which makes learning Bankai even more difficult."
"But correspondingly, the power of your Bankai will also see a significant increase."
Hearing this, Naraku Sora frowned.
Compared to the Shikai of other Soul Reapers, his Vajrayati indeed performed rather exaggeratedly.
By burning his Reiatsu, it allowed him to enter a state of comprehensive enhancement.
In the initial stages, it might not seem like much, but as his Reiatsu increased, the duration of this state would continuously extend, and the magnitude of the enhancement would rise accordingly.
It was already stronger than the Bankai of certain Soul Reapers.
"Actually, what I'm more curious about is whether the technique you used to help me complete my Shikai training can be applied to my Bankai training as well?"
Senjumaru's gaze paused slightly, and the corners of her mouth curled up.
"The essence of that illusion was a dreamscape destiny woven by [Shigarami]."
"It immerses a person completely, allowing them to comprehend the true nature of their power while on the brink of death."
"This method is only suitable for someone like you."
"If it were anyone else, they would have likely died in the dream long ago, triggering a soul collapse in the real world."
Naraku Sora looked thoughtful.
In every word she spoke, this woman seemed to be emphasizing the fact that he was a reckless brute.
He suddenly felt a bit annoyed.
Senjumaru keenly perceived his thoughts. With her smile remaining unchanged, she said softly,
"Although it cannot help you train your Bankai, it can allow you to rapidly reach the absolute limit of your Shikai."
"You must understand, there is an inherent connection between the two."
"When your Shikai reaches the limit of its current stage, breaking through to the next realm will become much easier."
"Do you want to give it a try?"
Senjumaru's tone was full of temptation, like a demon holding out candy to coax an ignorant child.
Even though Naraku Sora knew this woman was trying to torment him again, he still found it hard to resist the temptation.
After a moment of thought, he raised his head and said with a resolute expression,
"Let's do it!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Senjumaru pulled out a cup of pre-prepared milky-white liquid from who-knows-where, which emanated the rich scent of Hollow bait.
Without hesitation, Naraku Sora skillfully picked up the cup and downed it in one gulp.
Having given up all resistance, a wave of dizziness washed over him, and the scene before his eyes abruptly changed.
A crescent moon still hung high in the sky, but below was a ruin engulfed in the flames of war. Buildings had collapsed, corpses littered the ground, and blood dyed the earth a dark red, resembling the apocalypse.
There was no longer an endless Sea of Hollows, and he couldn't even detect the tyrannical Reiatsu unique to Hollows.
There was only a single familiar figure standing tall and straight ahead.
Even though he wasn't releasing any Reiatsu, he still instilled a fear akin to facing hell itself.
He wore a white haori with the character for 'One' written on it, flapping wildly in the howling gale. Underneath was a black Shihakushō, looking disheveled and messy yet exuding an overwhelming sense of sharpness.
Unlike the appearance Naraku Sora saw every day, the Yamamoto before him still had hair on his head, albeit a bit thin.
A hideous scar was visible on his forehead, adding a few degrees of ferocity to his demeanor.
"Those who invade the Soul Society shall be made to pay an agonizing price by my hands."
A resonant, deep voice rang out. Yamamoto Genryūsai spread his arms, and his white Captain's haori flew up and drifted away with the wind, seemingly symbolizing his unwavering resolve to face death without flinching.
He then stripped off his upper garments, revealing a terrifying torso knotted with muscle and covered in scars.
Just standing there, he gave off the illusion of absolute invincibility.
Naraku Sora: "..."
*Is it too late for me to surrender now?*
*Switching back to the Sea of Hollows from last time would be fine. If worse came to worst, changing them all to Adjuchas would still be better than this!*
*You never said I had to fight Yamamoto!*
There was no time to mourn, because the one stepping onto the stage next was the strongest Soul Reaper from a thousand years ago, the demon who crushed the Empire of Light, the Head Captain of the Gotei 13—
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni!
The moment the hilt of Ryūjin Jakka was grasped, a deafening boom rang out, and a pillar of fire erupted behind him, reaching into the heavens.
The ground suddenly quaked, and countless fissures spread outward with Yamamoto at the center. A terrifyingly pure Reiatsu shot straight into the clouds.
It instantly cleared away the heavy clouds at the zenith, dyeing the sky as far as the eye could see a deep red, like a sea of fire suspended overhead.
Naraku Sora took a deep breath, his gaze gradually settling. He drew all of his Reiatsu inward, letting the red and black flowing light drape over his body like a haori.
Although this wasn't the exact same person, the level of terror he exuded was no different.
Whether it was a thousand years ago or in the present.
Yamamoto's strength was not something he could casually challenge. The only thing he could do right now was to erupt with his full power in an instant. That way—
He would be able to die with a bit more dignity.
Black and red Reiatsu spiraled into the sky like a double helix. Within the scorching pillar of light, a tyrannical aura recklessly surged and expanded as a hideous Hollow mask fastened itself over his face.
Crackling arcs of electricity explosively distorted the surrounding space.
The moment Naraku Sora gripped the hilt of his blade, an explosive roar erupted around him, and the flames of his Reiatsu burned fiercely.
In the next second.
Two figures flashed across the ruins, violently colliding with each other like two erupting volcanoes.
In an instant, the world changed color!
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