A bloody, life-and-death struggle did not negatively affect the relationship between Komamura Sajin and Tōsen Kaname; instead, it only made their bond even more deep-rooted.
This was especially true since, following their fierce battle, they were treated to a long-awaited private tutoring session with Naraku.
"The fighting is done, and the praising is over."
"Time for class."
Naraku Sora found a new training arena and began explaining some exclusive knowledge to the two of them, such as Genryū Zanjutsu and Unohana's Zanjutsu.
Initially, Tōsen Kaname hesitated upon hearing the origins of this knowledge, but Komamura Sajin beside him suddenly declared that he absolutely had to learn it.
If he didn't learn, he would fall behind, and falling behind meant getting beaten. Lord Naraku's attention would not linger on the weak; only the strong were worthy of becoming Lord Naraku's right-hand men.
To live up to this cultivation, he had to become even stronger.
"Let's discuss Kaname's issue first." Naraku Sora raised an eyebrow. "If I remember correctly, although Kaname is blind, his perception of the outside world is no worse than an ordinary Soul Reaper's. In fact, it's even slightly stronger, isn't it?"
Tōsen Kaname nodded. "Because I have been blind since childhood, I am much more sensitive to the changes of Reishi in the environment."
"Kakyo said that if I am good at exploring and utilizing this, I will sooner or later become a true powerhouse relying on this talent."
"Besides, after all these years, I have long since grown accust—"
Naraku Sora raised a hand, interrupting him. "Actually, I just wanted to ask: if the option to restore your eyesight was placed in front of you, what would you choose?"
"..." Tōsen Kaname froze.
For a moment, he couldn't process this explosive piece of information, his expression completely stiffening.
Komamura Sajin couldn't help but speak up. "Lord Naraku, I once accompanied Kaname to Squad Four. Even Captain Unohana said that Kaname's eyes could not be cured..."
Naraku Sora's lips curled upward, his face brimming with absolute confidence.
"Hmph, that incompetent old woman's lack of skill can hardly be compared to my brilliance, can it?"
Back when he was in the Soul King Palace, he had specifically asked Tenjirō Kirinji about this exact condition.
In the words of that Hot Spring Demon, the effects of the Hell hot springs were astonishing. As the ultimate culmination of Kaidō, a mere case of blindness was nothing at all.
Of course, if there were truly other underlying issues that couldn't be cured, they could simply remove the eyeballs first, prepare a pair of artificial eyes, and install them.
With the assistance of the Hell hot springs, the nerves could easily be reconnected, allowing him to regain his sight.
Tōsen Kaname took a deep breath, his mind subconsciously conjuring up the images he might see once his eyes were restored.
The face of his good friend Komamura Sajin, Kakyo's appearance, Lord Naraku's smile...
These were all things he desperately yearned to see.
"Lord Naraku, please help me!"
"Easy enough." Naraku Sora grinned, readily agreeing to the request.
Although the Hell hot springs and artificial eyes were nowhere to be seen yet, he wasn't panicked in the slightest.
*Are you kidding me?*
With two great Pals in his grasp, he feared no difficulties whatsoever.
"As for Sajin..."
Naraku Sora suddenly remembered that when he killed the White Wolf—Komamura Sajin's grandfather—he had obtained a secret technique of the werewolf clan.
The Humanification Technique.
Back when Komamura Sajin first joined the Seireitei, he was unfamiliar with everything related to Soul Reapers, making learning incredibly difficult.
Now that he was a powerhouse who had mastered his Shikai, it was time to pass the Humanification Technique on to him.
The principle of the secret technique wasn't complicated. The only issue was that it required the user to maintain their original intentions, remaining forever unchanged.
However, in Naraku Sora's eyes, the secret technique still had its flaws.
For example, the inability to freely switch between the two forms at will.
As for an optimization plan...
Relying on his own mastery of Kidō, combined with the authority of Kidō master Aizen in this field, it would only take a few days to complete.
After explaining the important matters, he pointed out a few flaws in their combat styles.
As their senior, Naraku Sora had experienced more battles than they had eaten hot meals. Although he had brute-forced his way through most of them, he occasionally used his brain, making it very easy for him to offer a few pointers.
"That concludes today's lesson."
Naraku Sora clapped his hands, suddenly remembering something. "By the way, how is that kid Marechiyo doing?"
As soon as those words were spoken, Komamura Sajin and Tōsen Kaname's expressions instantly turned rather strange. After hesitating for a few seconds, they managed to squeeze out a forced smile.
"Well, it's better if Lord Naraku sees for himself."
Komamura Sajin immediately rushed out of the dojo, running in the direction of the underground prison.
Watching him disappear into the distance, Naraku Sora stroked his chin.
If he remembered correctly, he had originally handed the Great God Omaeda over to Urahara Kisuke. How did he end up free-ranging in the underground prison?
By doing this, wasn't Urahara afraid that the Ōmaeda family would dock his experimental funding?
Not long after, two figures rushed over using Flash Step.
"Lord Naraku!"
Fierce.
As soon as they appeared, Naraku Sora's attention was drawn to the young man beside Komamura Sajin.
He had a tall, burly physique, with shoulders and a back as broad as a siege hammer. The stubbornness and laziness that used to plague his face had faded, replaced by an undisguised ferocity.
A hideous scar ran across his cheek, adding a few degrees of intimidation to his presence.
"You're Ōmaeda Marechiyo?" Naraku Sora revealed a surprised expression.
Ōmaeda Marechiyo nodded vigorously. Looking at the man standing before him, a flash of gratitude crossed his eyes.
If Lord Naraku hadn't given him the opportunity to stay in the Shino Prison, he would have gone his whole life without knowing that there were things far more wonderful than tasting fine food.
When he first arrived at the Shino Prison, Marechiyo was extremely rebellious.
This was because he recognized the person responsible for teaching him as a former lower-seated officer of Squad Two—someone who only knew how to slack off and had absolutely no achievements to speak of.
But when Urahara Kisuke took him for a stroll through the underground prison and explained that if he didn't obey, he would be subjected to all sorts of tortures, Marechiyo immediately changed his mind—
He had to escape from this hellish nightmare.
However, after several attempts, he found himself being played like a fiddle by Urahara Kisuke. Their intellects simply weren't on the same level.
In despair, he had no choice but to comply with the training regimen arranged for him.
The content was both simple and fulfilling: executing the "Hope Therapy" formulated by the Prison Warden.
At first, he was mercilessly beaten over and over again. But once his bloodlust was ignited, Marechiyo displayed a combat talent far surpassing that of ordinary people.
Now, he could easily handle multiple seated-level Soul Reapers without losing ground.
Relying on his mastery of Flash Step, he could even pull off counter-kills.
"I owe everything I am today to Lord Naraku's Hope Therapy."
Ōmaeda Marechiyo took a deep breath, his face completely serious. "If it weren't for Lord Naraku, I might still be that treacherous, lazy, and gluttonous young master of the Ōmaeda family."
Seeing that the other party's gratitude didn't seem fake, Naraku Sora stroked his chin thoughtfully.
*Even free-ranging him turned out like this. Could it be that I'm the true Pokémon Master?*
As for that damn Hope Therapy, he had abolished it a long time ago.
The sinners in the underground prison were too weak to provide any real improvement. The only useful place was the eighth level, the Muken, but he didn't even have the key.
It had always been hidden away by Yamamoto.
As a result, Naraku Sora had no way to go and preach about what 'hope' truly was, even if he wanted to.
"Let's cut the chatter. Since I made a promise to my good brother Marechinmoshin, I have to see it through to the end. I happen to have some time right now, so let me test the results of your training."
Naraku Sora waved his hand. Komamura Sajin and Tōsen Kaname tactfully flashed to the edge of the arena, leaving the space for the two of them.
Seeing this, Ōmaeda Marechiyo was stunned for a moment before his lips curled into an expectant grin. He reached back, grabbed the hilt of the sword at his waist, and drew it forcefully.
"Ōmaeda Marechiyo, please instruct me!"
The moment his words fell, an afterimage dashed straight forward. He raised his hand and delivered a heavy overhead strike. The force was fiercely unparalleled, causing the air to shriek like tearing silk.
The silver-gleaming blade flashed as Marechiyo abruptly slashed toward Naraku Sora's shoulder.
With a light shift of his feet, the tip of the blade brushed past Sora's haori, narrowly avoiding the strike.
Missing his first strike, Marechiyo's gaze sharpened. He twisted his wrist and unleashed another fierce horizontal slash. The movement was concise and effective, completely devoid of any flashy tricks.
Feeling the speed of the Flash Step and the power behind the slash, Naraku Sora nodded in satisfaction.
Ōmaeda Marechiyo definitely had talent, and it was quite strong.
In the original story, relying on his three-hundred-pound frame, he was able to kite Baraggan, the Emperor of Hueco Mundo, proving just how formidable his Flash Step was.
Now, after undergoing hellish training, his body full of fat had transformed into lean, muscular sinew. One could only say his future was promising.
If Soifon didn't start working harder, she might actually be surpassed by him.
Marechiyo unleashed an incredibly berserk Zanjutsu offensive. Like a violent storm, it surged forward, enveloping the space ahead in countless chaotic flashes of blade light.
With a resounding boom, the figure before him was instantly shattered.
Seeing this scene, Marechiyo's eyes abruptly widened, a look of disbelief washing over his face.
Just as he was wondering if he had mastered some divine skill and accidentally killed Lord Naraku, a familiar voice rang out from behind him.
"You performed very well, Marechiyo. You pass."
Naraku Sora patted his broad shoulder, praising him.
"The promise I made to my good brother Marechinmoshin can be considered perfectly fulfilled. If you want to—"
However, before he could finish his sentence, Marechiyo spoke with a resolute expression.
"Lord Naraku, please let me stay here!"
"Whether it's to repay your kindness or to continue doubling my efforts in training, I have reasons that compel me to stay!"
After thinking for a few seconds, Naraku Sora gladly agreed.
Ōmaeda Marechinmoshin was currently in the prime of his life and had no thoughts of retiring anytime soon. Furthermore, Yoruichi still needed his assistance.
There didn't seem to be anything wrong with Marechiyo wanting to stay here. Could the grand Shino Prison really lack a bite of food for a kid?
If worst came to worst, he could just tag along with him to Squad One for free meals.
After agreeing on a time for their next sparring session, Naraku Sora clasped his hands behind his back and walked toward the Department of Research and Development.
During his trip to the Soul King Palace, his mind had been full of Urahara Kisuke, and he had even brought back a special gift just for him.
It had been delayed earlier due to Ukitake Jūshirō's organ transplant surgery, but now that he had the time, it was time to deliver the gift.
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