Naruto: This Genius is Somewhat Ordinary-Chapter 423

A long time had passed since Fujimoto Tōma joined the Fourth Division.

Life turned out exactly the way he wanted it.

He collected a Gotei 13 salary, his workload was light, and no one bothered him while he trained. It wasn’t that the Fourth Division had nothing to do. Quite the opposite. It was just that once everyone understood who Tōma was, they collectively decided to handle the routine work themselves.

Which left him free.

Of course, "free" didn’t mean useless.

At this point, Tōma had quietly become the Fourth Division’s public enforcer.

Because the Fourth Division accepted almost anyone, its standing among the thirteen divisions was... low. Even though a medical corps was vital in any military structure, it still got pushed around.

That stopped the moment Tōma arrived.

Whenever someone from another division crossed the line, the first reaction was simple.

Call Vice-Third Seat Tōma.

At first, he didn’t want the job. Petty fights bored him. But then he realized something important.

His subordinates were adorable.

They handled all his duties so he could train in peace. If he refused to help them now, no one would keep covering for him later.

So he agreed.

Early on, the workload was heavy. But over time, fewer and fewer people dared to mess with the Fourth Division.

Most bullies were low-ranked shinigami. Hardly any seated officers. Vice-captains were even rarer. Anyone above that didn’t want the reputation damage.

And everyone understood one thing.

Even vice-captains probably weren’t Tōma’s match.

What really broke morale was the Fourth Division’s signature response.

Tōma beat the offender.

The Fourth Division healed them.

Then politely asked, "Do you submit?"

If they said yes, the problem ended.

If they said no...

Well. Tōma simply continued.

Before long, the Fourth Division earned a new nickname.

The Devil Division.

After that, harassment practically vanished.

Captains and vice-captains didn’t intervene. After all, their people always started it. Morally and politically, they were on the losing side.

These days, Tōma was the most relaxed person in the Fourth Division.

His reputation was sky-high. Respect even higher.

If Tōma didn’t like working, they worked for him. Simple.

Only difficult medical cases ever reached him.

Which made things worse.

Not only was he absurdly strong, his healing techniques were frighteningly refined.

Even Captain Unohana and Vice-Captain Yamada ended up busier than him.

"This Fujimoto Tōma is ruining the image of the Fourth Division," Yamada Seinosuke muttered, staring at the report in his hands.

Unohana Retsu sipped her tea calmly. "Is he? At this rate, your standing might already be lower than his."

"That’s impossible," Yamada snapped, then trailed off.

He knew the truth.

His reputation wasn’t great.

Unohana shook her head gently. Yamada wasn’t malicious. He just had a talent for saying the wrong thing in the worst way.

After a long silence, Yamada sighed.

"Honestly... I think Tōma would be a better vice-captain for you than I am."

Unohana didn’t look up. "You’ve received an offer, haven’t you?"

Yamada fell silent.

The noble houses had been courting him for a long time. He stayed because of Unohana.

But his words weren’t empty.

He knew who she really was.

Not a gentle medical captain.

But the first Kenpachi.

The original Eleventh Division captain.

A woman whose hunger for battle surpassed nearly anyone.

That was why Yamada believed Tōma, with his overwhelming combat talent, suited her better.

His strength was already beyond most vice-captains.

"Before, I didn’t plan to leave," Yamada said quietly.

"And now?" Unohana asked.

"If you want me to stay... I will."

Unohana placed her teacup down.

"I won’t ask you to stay," she said softly. "Live for yourself. This life is yours."

She stood and left.

Yamada watched her go, exhaling.

He’d already chosen.

He’d been preparing a successor. A promising girl named Kotetsu Isane.

But now?

Tōma had appeared.

A few days later, the Fourth Division was shaken.

Yamada Seinosuke transferred to the Great Pharmacy Institute.

Fujimoto Tōma was promoted directly from Third Seat to Vice-Captain.

The division celebrated.

No one missed Yamada.

More importantly, Tōma was now secure. As vice-captain, poaching him became nearly impossible unless a captaincy was involved.

Tōma himself was stunned.

"No discussion? No warning?" he muttered. "Is this division run on vibes?"

Then he remembered their recruitment standards.

...Right. This tracks.

Still, vice-captain access meant higher clearance. Restricted library sections opened up.

That alone made it worthwhile.

Soul Society’s history was long. Dark. Far darker than the ninja world he remembered.

Especially once you added Aizen’s "supplementary materials."

The Gotei 13 had once been little more than an organized killing force. Every captain soaked in blood.

His first impression of Unohana hadn’t been wrong.

Later, Tōma approached her.

"Captain Unohana," he asked casually, "being vice-captain won’t make me busier, right?"

She stared.

"...No."

"Good."

She sighed. "Even if it did, the others wouldn’t let you handle it."

"They volunteer," Tōma said, smiling. "I never force anyone."

"I didn’t say they were forced," she replied calmly, continuing her flower arrangement.

After a pause, Tōma spoke again.

"You’re not just a medical captain, are you?"

Unohana’s hands stopped.

"And why do you think that?"

"The smell of blood," Tōma said lightly. "It doesn’t come from healing."

She turned to him. Her gaze sharpened.

She could feel it now.

His pressure.

Refined. Controlled. Vast.

Tōma no longer needed to suppress himself.

"...Perhaps your senses are mistaken," she said quietly.

"I doubt it," Tōma replied, resting his hand on his sword. "So... want to fight, Captain?"

Unohana sighed.

"I haven’t drawn my blade in a long time."

"Oh?" Tōma raised an eyebrow. "So you’re not denying it."

"You’d be better suited for the Eleventh Division," she said. "I could speak to Captain Zaraki."

"I’m not interested," Tōma replied. "Low-level battles bore me."

Unohana froze.

She understood that feeling.

"And the fights you’ve taken for this division?" she asked.

"Necessary," Tōma answered. "They buy me time to train."

She fell silent.

Motives aside, he’d protected the Fourth Division.

That was enough.

Tōma lifted his sword.

"So," he said, eyes sharp, "shall we?"