No one knew how long had passed, but Natsuro and Starrk had already walked a great distance through the desert.
With their stamina, the distance they covered was immense.
But because of Starrk, Natsuro had slowed his pace.
Before meeting Starrk, he had been using Shunpo to travel. Starrk, however, clearly didn't know such a step technique.
Instead, he had something else, a technique called Sonído.
When he first saw Starrk use Sonído, his eyes lit up. Though its effect seemed similar to Shunpo, its principle was completely different.
Natsuro's Shunpo concentrated spiritual energy in the legs and released it explosively to achieve rapid movement, very much like Body Flicker Technique.
But with Sonído, when Starrk used it, his spiritual pressure actually vanished from Natsuro's perception for a brief instant.
Compared to Body Flicker, Sonído felt more like a short-range Hiraishin no Jutsu that didn't require a marked seal.
That piqued Natsuro's curiosity. But after further testing, he realized Sonído wasn't true teleportation.
Because even when Starrk used Sonído at full force, he still wasn't faster than his Shunpo.
If it were true spatial transfer, then within Sonído's short-range range, Starrk should have outpaced him.
But the reality was that Natsuro remained far faster.
Still, Sonído did skip over the body's in-between movements. Its speed depended on the user's mastery. In essence, it was just another form of step technique.
Its special trait, though, let it slip past others' sensory perception, appearing directly at the destination. It was similar to spatial transfer, but without the same instantaneous speed.
"What a pity," Natsuro muttered after figuring it out. If it really had been spatial transfer, a marker-less Hiraishin would've been terrifying beyond words.
But Sonído couldn't reach that level.
(Note: Sonído's speed is roughly on par with Shunpo. The gap between Starrk and Natsuro was due to differences in mastery and spiritual pressure.)
Moreover, Sonído wasn't practical for long-distance travel. Natsuro could chain Shunpo endlessly, but Starrk couldn't sustain Sonído in the same way. That was the biggest difference.
And since Natsuro was also teaching Starrk how to control his power during their journey, their progress was even slower. Slow compared to Natsuro's normal pace, that is. Objectively, the two of them were moving faster than cars or trains.
Even so, they still hadn't found many Adjuchas-class Hollows.
Starrk's training had gone fairly well, though. Gillian-class Menos could already get near him.
Unfortunately, most Gillians acted only on instinct. When they encountered Natsuro and Starrk, none had the sense to try devouring them to grow stronger.
Such creatures, even for Starrk, could never be considered companions. He could only regretfully kill them one after another.
"Natsuro, I think you should return to Soul Society. I've been searching for so many years without finding another companion besides you. They must be too rare at this level," Starrk said at last.
"Let's wait a little longer," Natsuro replied, not rejecting the suggestion outright.
"…Alright." Starrk nodded. He had other thoughts too.
Maybe Natsuro could go back first, and once Starrk learned to fully control his power, he would follow and find him in Soul Society.
Starrk understood that mastering his power would be difficult, but he had confidence he could do it.
After a long while, Natsuro calculated the time and sighed. "Starrk, I need to return to Soul Society for now."
"You should've gone back earlier," Starrk answered calmly. He had long known Natsuro couldn't stay in Hueco Mundo forever.
"Yeah. While I'm gone, keep searching for companions. But don't suppress your spiritual pressure. When I return, I'll find you through it."
"You'll come back?" Starrk blinked.
"Of course. I don't give up so easily. But I promised someone I'd return to Soul Society from time to time. Otherwise, she'd be troubled," Natsuro said.
"…You don't need to do that. I haven't really helped you much. And once I finish training, I can come to you instead."
"No. If you came to Soul Society, there's no way you'd avoid the Gotei 13's notice. Your strength isn't enough to slip past them," Natsuro replied.
"Then… what if I go to the World of the Living?" Starrk asked.
"The Living World? Who knows. Maybe." Natsuro thought of Kisuke Urahara. With his attitude, if he learned of someone like Starrk, he probably wouldn't mind too much.
Starrk exhaled in relief and nodded. At least his plan was still possible.
"Keep searching. From what I know, Hueco Mundo has no fewer than ten Hollows strong enough to withstand your pressure and become your companions," Natsuro said.
"That many? Then why didn't I meet a single one before?" Starrk asked, startled.
"Maybe your luck's just bad… or maybe Hueco Mundo is simply too vast."
"…I see." Starrk nodded, a spark of hope flickering in his eyes.
If he had been able to search so long without hope, then with this new information, he could surely persist even longer.
He didn't know how Natsuro had this knowledge, but he trusted Natsuro wouldn't lie to him.
"Well then, I'll go first. Until next time."
After parting with Starrk, Natsuro summoned Umbreon to open a spatial gate leading back to his courtyard in Soul Society, and stepped through.
Starrk stared at the black rift disappearing before him, a little stunned.
He hadn't expected him to leave in such a way. Truly impressive.
With a sigh, Starrk braced himself and moved on. Ahead of him stretched endless forests, streaked here and there with white.
…..
Back in his own courtyard, Natsuro didn't pause. He went straight to Unohana.
"You're back?" Unohana looked at him in surprise. "You were gone quite a while."
"No helping it. Hueco Mundo is always night, it's hard to tell the time there," Natsuro explained.
"How were the results this time?" she asked.
"Very good," Natsuro answered with a smile.
"I see. That's good. Will you be going again?"
"Yes. Though I don't know how many times." Natsuro hesitated, then added, "After finishing with Hueco Mundo, I'll probably head to the Living World too."
"Can't you just stay quietly in Soul Society?" Unohana asked helplessly.
"I really can't. My path to growth lies elsewhere," Natsuro said.
He thought of Aizen's Hōgyoku. But he didn't know if Aizen's incomplete version could help him.
Besides, the danger posed by Aizen wasn't comparable to Urahara's. For now, he had no intention of getting involved with Aizen.
To this day, he still didn't know Aizen's true goal.
Back when he was at the Academy, Aizen had leaked mountains of blackmail about Central 46 and the noble clans, as if planning to overthrow them…
If that really was Aizen's goal, then he felt it wasn't so bad. At least it was worth observing for now.
Natsuro's impression of the Gotei 13 within Soul Society was still decent. Unfortunately, he had little goodwill toward the organizations above them.
He had yet to encounter the Royal Guard (Zero Division), but since they had never interfered with him, and most of them had once made outstanding contributions as captains before being promoted, their existence seemed reasonable... both in terms of strength and merit.
But the Central 46, and the Noble Assembly? To this day, he couldn't understand why they needed to exist at all.
"Maybe Kisuke Urahara would know something." Natsuro mused, deciding that later he'd ask Urahara about Aizen's true intentions. The two of them had similarities, after all. Both were geniuses, both had researched the Hōgyoku…
"Is that so?" Unohana's eyes widened in surprise. She hadn't expected him to actually find a way to keep growing stronger.
At that moment, she understood: there was likely nothing that could stop him now. Even if Central 46 issued a direct order forbidding him from going to the Living World…
Natsuro wouldn't care in the slightest. He'd go anyway.
If not for the Head Captain's persuasion back then, he might already have turned against Central 46. And now that he had discovered a new path to power in the Living World…
For the first time, Unohana had met someone so utterly obsessed with growing stronger.
But Natsuro was different from both herself and Zaraki Kenpachi. Unohana and Zaraki fought for the joy of battle, for that intoxicating clash of blades. He liked battle only insofar as fights between equals helped him grow stronger.
His purpose was fundamentally different.
"So, what now? Are you going to stroll around in front of everyone to prove you're still in Soul Society?" Unohana asked.
"Simple. I'll go find Zaraki Kenpachi." Natsuro grinned.
Pointless wandering wasn't his style. It might even draw suspicion. Far better to follow his habits: go straight to Zaraki for another fight.
That way, it would match his established image while also serving his actual purpose for returning.
He hadn't come back to Soul Society just to prove he was here. He wanted to clash with Zaraki again, to experience that primal battle instinct, and cultivate such instincts for himself.
"That does sound like something you'd do," Unohana admitted with a nod.
To the other captains, both Natsuro and Zaraki were unmistakable battle maniacs. The two fighting was the most natural thing in the world.
As long as they chose a proper battleground and didn't damage Seireitei, the other captains wouldn't object.
As for Natsuro not asking Zaraki in advance?
What a joke. Who needed to ask Zaraki for a fight?
If Zaraki heard about it, he'd drop everything just for the chance to battle Natsuro!
"Captain, I'm off to Squad 11," Natsuro said, departing. He had only come to Unohana to let her know he'd returned.
"Alright," Unohana nodded, watching him leave.
Once he was gone, she sighed. A feeling weighed on her, that he might truly one day stand against Seireitei itself.
He had already shown clear disdain for Soul Society's upper hierarchy. For now, the Head Captain's words could keep him in check…
But Unohana didn't believe Central 46 would stop scheming. And if one day their schemes targeted Natsuro again…
She dared not imagine what would happen then.
Would the Head Captain's words still hold any sway? Or perhaps… was Yamamoto even Natsuro's match anymore?
She didn't know. All she knew was that great upheaval might soon shake the Gotei 13.
And when that day came… which side would she choose?
Meanwhile, Natsuro arrived at Squad 11. It was as if he were returning to his own division. Not a single member barred his path.
He easily found Zaraki.
"Natsuro! You're here again!" Zaraki's eyes lit up the instant he saw him, and his eye-patch skeleton flared violently.
Nearby, Ikkaku groaned and rubbed his head, utterly speechless.
"Little Natsuro, you're here to fight Ken-chan again, right?" Yachiru, perched on Zaraki's shoulder, asked cheerfully.
"Of course. What else would I come to Zaraki for?" Natsuro replied.
"HAHAHA! Splendid! Natsuro, that's what it means to be a man! Battle! More battles! Let's go!" Zaraki roared with laughter, striding forward with wild excitement.
Ikkaku sighed. At this point, who in their right mind would dare to stop Zaraki when he was like this?
But soon Natsuro's mouth twitched. "Zaraki, you're going the wrong way."
"Wrong way? But I remember last time you led me this way!" Zaraki scratched his head.
Natsuro stared at him for a moment, confirming he wasn't joking, before replying, "Forget it. I'll lead. Just follow me."
"…Alright then."
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