Chapter 53: Captain! Dignity!

Naruto took a sip from his cup.

The alcohol content wasn't high, and it had a sweet taste.

It was a fruit wine suitable even for children.

"I am a captain, and I do have the ability," he said calmly. "It's only natural for me to do a bit more."

"That's not the point." Kyōraku Shunsui raised his hand and forcefully twisted Naruto's head around.

Naruto followed the direction of the push and locked eyes with Kobatsubaki Jūemon.

"Haven't you noticed that your subordinates have started to grow dissatisfied?" Kyōraku continued. "This little gathering today was actually arranged by Vice-Captain Kobatsubaki. He wanted to have a serious conversation with you."

Kobatsubaki's hand trembled, spilling his drink.

Even with his sunglasses, it was clear he was stunned.

Captain Kyōraku, what are you doing?

No way…

You're saying this so directly?

Are you in a rush to get yourself killed?

He racked his brain, but couldn't recall when or how he had offended Captain Kyōraku.

"Hahaha." Kyōraku burst into laughter, clearly pleased with his prank. "Vice-Captain Kobatsubaki, don't make that face."

"Naruto's a good kid."

"He doesn't have the spoiled attitude you're worried about. He's someone who listens to advice."

"And he genuinely cares about what you all think."

Kobatsubaki looked at Naruto.

The blond youth showed no anger on his face. He was serious, even solemn, as he looked at him and softly asked, "Are my actions really making all of you unhappy?"

Kobatsubaki scratched his head. "A little, yes."

"Captain Naruto takes on too much himself."

"Even if we're not as strong as you, we're still part of Squad Seven."

"We want to do what we can, too."

Kyōraku Shunsui patted Naruto's head. "You're their captain, not their parent."

"If you handle everything by yourself, what's left for them to do?"

Shiba Isshin set down his cup. "The Head Captain wants to see a perfect, seamless squad."

"But squad members need to grow, too."

"They'll make mistakes, they'll get hurt. But that's exactly how they become stronger."

"We captains…"

"What we can do, is to offer a hand when they can't walk further, to heal their wounds when they're trapped in thorns, and then watch them continue on their path."

Matsumoto Rangiku complained, "Is that your excuse for dumping all the work on us, Captain?"

Shiba Isshin laughed it off awkwardly.

"Naruto, this way of doing things is exhausting," Kyōraku swirled his drink. "You need to learn to relax."

"In a place like Seireitei, being too tense isn't a good thing."

Kobatsubaki knocked back two more drinks. His face flushed red, and his words became bolder and more direct. "That's how things look from the captains' perspective."

"But for us squad members, it's a different story."

"When everything has to be done by the captain, even the small, seemingly insignificant tasks…"

"That makes us look incompetent!"

He paused and looked Naruto in the eye. "Captain Naruto, do you know what 'Captain' means to us?"

Naruto shook his head.

"It means dignity." Kobatsubaki slammed his cup down like swinging a sword and forcefully declared the word.

"It's the dignity we would stake our lives to protect."

"It's the value we hold as squad members."

Naruto stared at him in surprise.

That was a completely unexpected answer.

Dignity.

What a strange way to put it.

"But I've only been your captain for six months," Naruto said softly. "Just because I hold the title of captain… am I really worth…"

Kobatsubaki interrupted him with hearty laughter. "Captain Naruto, that's where you're completely wrong."

"We respect you not because you're the captain of Squad Seven."

"It's because you're Uzumaki Naruto."

"And as fate would have it, Uzumaki Naruto became our captain."

Naruto clutched his cup.

They respect me… just because I'm 'Uzumaki Naruto'?

And it has little to do with being a captain?

That too, was an unexpected answer.

Matsumoto Rangiku raised her glass, glanced at Shiba Isshin, and sighed deeply. "We in Squad Ten are so envious of Squad Seven."

"Everyone says, 'If only Lord Naruto were our captain instead.'"

Shiba Isshin laughed loudly and scratched his head.

Kyōraku Shunsui nodded in agreement. "I hear similar things from my squad members all the time."

"Naruto, you really are an enviably good captain."

Kobatsubaki drank again. "Having such an outstanding captain puts a lot of pressure on us."

"But it also gives us the motivation to follow you."

"One day, if we can't keep up with our captain, then that's our own problem," he continued, growing more serious. "That just means we need more training and discipline."

"Not that you should keep coddling us and treating us like children."

At this, Kobatsubaki slapped the table and grumbled, "Speaking of age, Captain Naruto, you're younger than all of us!"

Kyōraku Shunsui sipped his drink. "There's also a practical question, Naruto."

Naruto turned to look at him.

"Can you… protect them every single moment of every day?" Kyōraku asked casually.

But the question made Naruto frown and fall silent for a while before slowly shaking his head.

"When they encounter real danger, and they don't yet have the power to protect themselves—that's fatal." Kyōraku placed his cup down, recalling something. "While you still have the ability to shield them, help them grow faster."

"So that even when real threats appear…"

"They can draw their swords."

Kobatsubaki raised his left arm with a grin. "After all, Squad Seven's squad flower is the iris!"

The iris's symbolic meaning—courage.

Naruto was deep in thought.

That night, he didn't drink much.

Shiba Isshin and Kyōraku Shunsui were particularly considerate—after all, he still had the face and body of a "minor," and forcing him to drink would have felt criminal.

When he returned to Squad Seven's barracks—

Naruto tried letting go.

He delegated tasks that, in his opinion, didn't need his direct involvement.

The squad members accepted them cheerfully—some even rushed forward to volunteer.

After that heart-to-heart at the izakaya—

Kobatsubaki learned how to talk to Naruto.

He told him bluntly, "This still isn't enough, you can pass down even more work."

Naruto listened and slowly let go, carefully observing the squad members' reactions.

They weren't resentful. On the contrary, they were full of energy.

Eventually—

Naruto sat dumbfounded in the barracks.

He realized…

There wasn't much left for him to do.

All he had to do was review reports or step in to fix occasional problems caused by inexperience.

Life became more relaxed.

Naruto now had more time to observe Squad Seven.

Kobatsubaki Jūemon was a very reliable vice-captain.

Komamura Sajin wasn't quite as unapproachable as he made himself out to be. Within Squad Seven, he was fairly well-liked. It was just that his stiff, rule-bound demeanor, his completely covered appearance, and his frosty aura made him seem hard to approach.

Naruto thought back to what Kobatsubaki said that day.

And he realized—

He might have found the way to deal with "Komamura Sajin."

After all—

Men should settle things in a man's way.

(End of Chapter)