Muten Natsu shook his head. "You weren't even born yet."
Ririn suddenly thought of something important. "Wait, are you two friends from different generations?"
Muten Natsu: "???"
Orihime Inoue blinked her wide eyes. "If I'd been born earlier, maybe I could've helped you."
"That's not something you could decide."
"Then… was his death something you could decide?"
Muten Natsu fell silent for a moment. "…At the time, I was investigating Takuma's cause of death."
Back at the Shin'ō Academy, Takuma had already been famous for being a genuinely good person.
Whenever someone needed help, he was there.
Muten Natsu, who used to sleep in every single day, had been one of his key "support targets."
After graduating from the Shin'ō Academy and becoming a Shinigami, many people assumed Takuma would join the 4th Division to heal the wounded, or perhaps the noble-led 6th Division.
Instead, he chose the 11th Division, fighting alongside the battle-crazed members of the combat squad.
And then he died.
Not on some desolate battlefield against Hollows.
But inside Seireitei.
["Have sweet dreams..."]
Those were his final words.
His body was taken away by his family's guard squad. Muten Natsu had no authority to interfere.
But he wanted to know how Takuma had died.
So that… he could have a good dream.
As if he had foreseen Muten Natsu's actions, Takuma had secretly left behind documents in several places they used to frequent.
Through those materials, Muten Natsu finally began to understand just how many things Seireitei—where he had lived for so long—was hiding.
Disappearing Souls in Rukongai. Irregularities in the Shinigami casualty records. Secret experiments concealed within Seireitei. Abnormal Reiatsu readings in the outskirts…
He reported everything he uncovered to Central 46.
There was no reply.
Kaien Shiba noticed his trouble and decided to help him investigate.
Kaien Shiba of the Thirteenth Division looked carefree and rough around the edges, but he was surprisingly perceptive.
No matter how well someone tried to hide it, he would immediately notice when they were struggling—and step in to help.
More than a Lieutenant, most people saw him as a dependable big brother.
His wife was exceptionally beautiful—gentle, intelligent, and immensely powerful. Through her own efforts, she rose to become the 3rd Seat of the Thirteenth Division.
Then she died.
The entire squad she led was wiped out.
All they recovered was half of her body.
Kaien Shiba tracked down the Hollow's nest and went to avenge her.
When Muten Natsu received the news, he rushed after him. Facing a Hollow of unknown origins, Kaien Shiba refused to let Muten Natsu join the fight.
This was his battle.
The Hollow, its head writhing with crimson tentacles, propped itself up on six arms and let out a shrill laugh at Kaien Shiba.
"Heh heh! Starting with you, kid?"
"Before we begin," Kaien Shiba said, drawing his Zanpakutō, his voice low, "there's something I want to ask. Up to now, how many Shinigami have you eaten?"
"How many… heh heh!" The Hollow sneered. "Sorry. I don't remember anymore."
Kaien Shiba tightened his grip on his Zanpakutō. "You've never… felt any regret?"
"What a stupid question, kid. I think just like you do. In fact, I'm full of regret about last night."
The Hollow grinned viciously.
"When I ate that female Shinigami, I should've eaten her faster! Heh heh heh heh heh!"
In a single instant, Kaien Shiba severed two of the Hollow's arms. He grabbed its tentacles, forced its head into the mud, and looked down at it coldly.
"Rage Through the Seas and Heavens—Nejibana!"
Before the raised Zanpakutō could release, it shattered into countless fragments.
"A power that can only be used once per night…" The Hollow lifted its head, eyes gleaming with undisguised malice. "The first person to touch me each night… their Zanpakutō disappears!"
Muten Natsu had been watching the battle closely the entire time. The moment he saw Kaien Shiba's Zanpakutō vanish, he moved to step in.
"Don't move!" Kaien Shiba shouted, fighting the Hollow barehanded. "Muten, this is my battle!"
Even so, Muten Natsu didn't completely give up on intervening.
His Reiatsu settled quietly around him, his sword technique poised and ready.
If Kaien Shiba's life was truly in danger, he would act at once.
Even without his Zanpakutō, Kaien Shiba was far from weak, he could still fight.
But… both Kaien Shiba and Muten Natsu had gravely underestimated the Hollow's abilities.
In the midst of close combat, the tentacles on the Hollow's head unraveled into crimson threads and burrowed into Kaien Shiba's body—
Leaving behind nothing but an empty shell.
Spirit Body Fusion.
That was the Hollow's second ability.
After fusing with Kaien Shiba, the Hollow took control of his body and turned its hunger toward Muten Natsu.
"So I killed him." Muten Natsu pointed at his own chest. "One thrust. Straight through. That ended his life."
"How could a Hollow have such a twisted ability?!" Ganju Shiba seemed to realize something, his face contorting. "You… This is just your excuse!"
"I've seen it!" Ichigo Kurosaki grabbed Ganju Shiba's arm, his hands trembling. "I've seen a Hollow with a similar power…"
"You're all in this together…" Ganju Shiba violently shoved Ichigo Kurosaki aside. "I'm not buying a word of it!"
"Then what about your sister?!" Ichigo Kurosaki shouted back. "If Muten Natsu is lying, why would your sister help us?!"
Ganju Shiba's body went rigid. He stood there, breathing hard.
Ichigo Kurosaki was right. If Muten Natsu had truly betrayed his Aniki, how could Kūkaku possibly help his companions?
Kūkaku must have known there was more to the story. That was why she allowed Ganju Shiba to enter Seireitei.
"If I hadn't asked him to help me investigate, he wouldn't have died," Muten Natsu said quietly. "I'm the one who dragged him into this."
"Don't you dare insult my Aniki!"
A spinning blade nailed itself into the wall beside Muten Natsu. Ganju Shiba roared through tears streaming down his face.
"My Aniki… he would never ignore someone who needed help! He'd never regret helping anyone!"
Muten Natsu opened his mouth, but no words came out.
"He…" Ganju Shiba's voice faltered. "What… what were his last words?"
Muten Natsu's gaze trembled as Kaien Shiba's blood-stained face rose again before his eyes.
["Thank you, Muten, for letting me face him alone."]
Just like the first time they met, Kaien Shiba had ruffled Muten Natsu's hair with force.
["I'm sorry, Muten, for leaving you to face all of this by yourself."]
"Aniki…" Ganju Shiba let out a broken sob.
"Aniki…!"