Shinigami in the Ninja World

Tōsen knelt on one knee, sincerely admitting his mistake: "It was my carelessness that aroused Captain Uzumaki's suspicion."

He carefully reflected on his actions.

It seemed that he hadn't said anything in front of the captain that could have raised doubts.

"No, this is not your fault," Aizen shook his head. "Naruto-kun is a very interesting person."

"He harbors many secrets."

"And always manages to produce strange and peculiar things."

For example, the "golden chains" that subdued several Hollowfied captains.

And then, the almost imperceptible power that tested him today.

Aizen turned back, speaking softly, "He seems to possess the ability to peer into one's heart."

He looked at Tōsen.

Naruto-kun was still investigating this person, which meant that this power was not "mind-reading."

The man wearing the blindfold raised his head, his expression shocked.

Peer into one's heart?

There had been some thoughts running through his mind tonight.

Did that mean he knew many things now?

"Do not show such an expression," Aizen's voice was deep. "It makes you look weak."

"Naruto-kun is not yet powerful to that extent."

"But..."

"This is my first time encountering such an ability, and I haven't figured out what it is."

Ichimaru Gin remarked, his voice excited, "There are still things that even Aizen-sama can't figure out."

"I haven't reached the realm of omniscience and omnipotence," Aizen's tone remained calm, unaffected by the "unknown." "Exploring the unknown is, after all, one of the greatest joys of mortals, isn't it?"

"Tōsen, you should limit your contact with Naruto-kun for now."

"If he seeks you out..."

Aizen raised a hand, his index finger held to his lips: "Do not respond."

"If you must speak..."

"Then do not lie."

Tōsen responded, "Yes, I understand."

"Gin," Aizen called out a name.

The white-haired young man responded with a mischievous smile, "Aizen-sama, I will cover for Tōsen."

"And you want me to understand Captain Uzumaki's abilities, right?"

"I will also do my best to gather information for you, Aizen-sama."

Aizen smiled. "Gin, your cleverness never ceases to amaze me."

"But why not bring Captain Uzumaki over to our side?" Gin asked. "His abilities are exactly what we need."

"He seems like he would make a great ally."

Aizen tilted his head, once again gazing at the moon. "Two suns cannot coexist under the same sky."

"He is destined not to walk the same path as us."

Gin didn't speak. Instead, he silently grinned behind Aizen, stretching his smile to an exaggerated extent.

Moonlight shone into the room.

But all three of them remained in the shadows, the faint light from the window not reaching them.

Later, when Naruto resumed his training, he found it troubling.

Tōsen seemed to sense something and resisted interacting with him.

No matter what Naruto said to him or how he tried to engage, Tōsen would not speak, as if he had lost the ability to speak altogether.

As soon as the training in the 6th Division ended, Tōsen would quickly leave, avoiding any interaction with the three.

But... this very attitude made Naruto even more certain that Tōsen was indeed connected to that "invisible" enemy.

Meanwhile, in another matter...

A year had passed since he began training for "Bankai," but he wasn't making much progress. While the others had started to make some headway, though they hadn't fully manifested their sword spirits, they had made small strides. Naruto, however, still couldn't materialize the Nine-Tails even a little.

In the 7th Division's quarters, Naruto sat cross-legged, resting the red sword on his lap.

"Is it the Four Symbols Seal that's obstructing us?" The Nine-Tails frowned in thought, mirroring Naruto's expression.

Naruto shook his head. "I've compared the training progress of Byakuya and Gin over the past year."

"I don't think it's a problem with the Four Symbols Seal."

The Nine-Tails was puzzled.

If it wasn't the seal, then why had there been no progress at all?

Naruto's talent was not inferior to those two brats.

If they could do it, how could Naruto not be able to?

"They have been communicating with their swords," Naruto said softly.

The Nine-Tails was even more confused. "Naruto, what are you talking about? We've been communicating too!"

"And besides..."

It paused for a moment, lowering its voice and speaking more quickly, "Our relationship isn't any worse than theirs with their swords, is it?"

"It's unrelated to that," Naruto smiled. "I've been thinking about this issue for some time."

"And now I have an answer."

"Why can't I materialize the sword?"

"Because... I am a Jinchūriki."

The Nine-Tails froze.

It recalled the definition of "jinchūriki."

Naruto spoke his thoughts aloud. "Sealing a tailed beast within the body and using its power in battle—that is what a jinchūriki is."

"I had been stuck in the mindset that the Zanpakutō represents inner power."

"From the start, I naturally regarded you as my inner power."

"But Nine-Tails, you are an independent entity."

He paused, gripping the "Nine-Tails" sword, and then, with a firm voice, continued, "So, this sword is not my power, but power borrowed from you."

"This sword doesn't belong to Naruto."

"It belongs to you, Nine-Tails."

"The reason I can't materialize it, the reason I can't communicate with the sword..."

"It's simple—I am not the master of this sword."

The Nine-Tails swished its tail and, through Naruto's senses, observed the scarlet blade. "So, this is my power?"

"If I want to achieve Bankai, do I also need to undergo that Shinigami training called 'Blade Zen'?" it asked, more concerned about the latter.

Training was a word that had almost never existed in its life.

"You can give it a try," Naruto said with a slight nod and a smile. "But for now, don't get your hopes up too high."

The Nine-Tails squinted, its tone turning dangerous. "Brat, are you looking down on me? Do you think I can't do it?"

"You're only half right," Naruto responded, raising his hand. "Half of your soul is still sealed inside that demon's belly. Besides," he added, "you're in my consciousness right now; manifestation needs to happen in the real world."

The Nine-Tails let out an "Oh" and smoothed down its bristling fur. "But trying wouldn't hurt."

It paused, then casually asked, "How's your research on the Four Symbols Seal coming along?"

"No groundbreaking progress yet," Naruto admitted, shaking his head. "Some things can't be applied to us."

He had an idea. Could the "Four Symbols Seal" be used on the Captains who had undergone Hollowfication? The power that caused their Hollowfication, like the "power of the Tailed Beasts," was also an external interference. This idea had a high possibility of success, but the biggest problem was that he couldn't find where they were now.

The Nine-Tails asked no further questions. "Results" were not something that could be forced. Whether Naruto had taken that promise to heart was something visible to the naked eye. He was serious. He was trying.

The Nine-Tails closed its eyes and began to attempt the "Blade Zen" training. Since Naruto was trying so hard, it would give it a try as well.

Naruto took out the second blade. This blade was called "Ashura." Since its release, it had remained silent. He placed it on his lap. During the "Blade Zen" training, he tried to communicate with the blade. But the result was the same as before. Ashura had no consciousness and would not respond. Yet that "weak power" was tightly wrapped by Ashura's strong and warm energy.

Oh. That "weak power" was no longer so weak; it had grown much stronger than before, but it was still dormant, still brewing. Like a sprout within a seed. It was accumulating strength, preparing to break through its shell, waiting to germinate.

Naruto carefully nurtured it as he left the world of consciousness. He thought, "Ashura" might not be his own power either. Although this power was strong and warm, it gave him a feeling similar to that of a "consciousness-less Nine-Tails"—it did not belong to him.

His true power was probably that "seed." It had not yet grown. It was overshadowed by the brilliance of the "Nine-Tails" and "Ashura." But... "Nine-Tails" appeared in his body because of his father's seal. Then what about this power called "Ashura"? Why did it exist?

The Nine-Tails had said that Ashura was the ancestor of the Uzumaki clan. So was this the power of the ancestors protecting the children of the Uzumaki clan? Or was there another reason?

After gaining some insight into the essence of the two blades in his hands, Naruto slowed down his "Bankai" training. The "Nine-Tails" blade needed to wait for the Nine-Tails to recover its full soul, and perhaps for the seal to be broken. The "Ashura" blade, without a consciousness to respond, needed to wait for that "seed" to sprout.

He began to focus on studying the "Four Symbols Seal" and the "Reaper Death Seal."

One day, Mayuri came to find him.

"It took you a whole year just to research the Summoning Jutsu?" Naruto asked, looking at him.

"It wasn't my choice to take so long," Mayuri replied with a grin, shaking his head. "The Gigai technology is very useful for those Shinigami who went to the living world. The Captain-Commander had me focus on it and promote it to the Gotei 13; it was quite a troublesome task. I've only recently had time."

"The technique you gave me is really interesting," Mayuri continued. "It's actually related to 'space' technology."

He reached out his hand and covered the table. Reiatsu surged. There was no chanting, no hand signs. Under his palm, a small incantation array quickly formed. With a small "puff," white smoke appeared, and several books materialized out of thin air.

Mayuri squinted his eyes. "Just like that."

"Kido related to space has been classified as forbidden by Central 46. But the technique you provided, Captain Uzumaki, is surprisingly safe. These are the results of my research."

Naruto sensed them, confirmed that there was nothing strange about the books, and reached out, intending to pick one up.

With a snap, Mayuri raised his hand, slapping it down on the book, pressing Naruto's hand down. "That's not going to work," he said.

"Next," Mayuri continued, "Captain Uzumaki."