Shinigami in the Ninja World

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Naruto looked at Kotsubaki Jin'emon, deep in thought.

"Hasn't forced out his Shikai yet."

Does this mean that person also possesses a Zanpakutō?

"Have you checked his background? Is he from the Shin'o Academy?" Naruto took large strides toward the door.

Kotsubaki Jin'emon followed closely behind. "It's confirmed that he never studied at the Shin'o Academy."

Naruto remained silent.

Not a graduate of the Shin'o Academy, yet he possesses a Zanpakutō.

Such people are rare, but not unheard of.

Despite the academy's repeated emphasis on "properly securing Asauchi," there are still careless students who lose their swords. While it's not an annual occurrence, it does happen every few years, much to the frustration of Dean Hakou.

After becoming a Shinigami, the possibility of losing an Asauchi increases.

During missions, dying in the field is common among regular soldiers.

Those who didn't attend the Shin'o Academy but possess Zanpakutō likely acquired their swords under such fortuitous circumstances.

There's a ready example in the 9th Division.

The one he had been watching closely, Tosen Kaname, initially did not own his Zanpakutō. He inherited it from someone else and infused it with his own inner power, thereby achieving Shikai.

The two of them used Shunpo to hurry on their way.

As they neared the Blue Stream Gate, a violent and powerful spiritual pressure spread out, oppressively blanketing the area.

Before they could see anyone, wild, unrestrained laughter reached their ears.

"Isn't there anyone stronger?"

"This level of challenge isn't enough to satisfy me."

"Come out, someone who can fight me!"

Kotsubaki Jin'emon's expression slightly changed.

This... is extremely arrogant.

Naruto used Shunpo to land on a nearby wall, looking down at the person who had spoken.

It was a man with spiky hair and a fierce scar running from his forehead to his chin across his left eye.

On his back sat a little girl with pink hair, innocent and cute.

Around this man lay a group of fallen Shinigami, mostly seated lieutenants from the 7th Division, along with a massive figure—the gatekeeper of the Blue Stream Gate. They had all been defeated.

Yet the intruder bore not a single scratch.

Between Seireitei and Rukongai, there exists an "invisible wall." When unauthorized individuals try to intrude, the wall descends from the sky, along with guards from all directions.

The guardians of the Blue Stream Gate aren't Shinigami.

They are selected heroes from the Soul Society, chosen for their strength.

Although they lack Zanpakutō and cannot release their inner powers, their natural abilities are not inferior to those of veteran lieutenants, and some are even capable of competing with lieutenants.

But even with so many high-ranking lieutenants, they couldn't inflict any harm on him.

"Hm?" The man was sharp. Almost as soon as Naruto arrived, he lifted his head and looked over.

"A white haori."

"So, you're one of those captains they talk about!"

"You look like a mere brat."

Naruto placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, his tone still calm. "Intruder, state your purpose."

His soldiers had been cut down, but their lives were not yet in danger.

The spiky-haired man raised his sword.

It was an extremely peculiar sword.

The hilt was nearly as long as a forearm, the blade chipped with jagged edges, resembling a serrated saw.

A Zanpakutō that appeared to be in a state of disrepair.

The pink-haired girl used Shunpo to move away, landing on another wall. "Go, Ken-chan! That blond little sun looks like a strong opponent!"

The 7th Division soldiers surrounded her.

But...

Though she appeared small and young, the spiritual pressure she released was at the level of a lieutenant, making it difficult for the ordinary soldiers to approach.

The man grinned, his smile twisted. "I am Kenpachi!"

"They say the strongest Shinigami is called Zaraki Kenpachi."

"So from now on, I'll be Zaraki Kenpachi."

"I came here to find stronger opponents."

"My purpose is, of course, to fight!"

His words triggered an explosive surge of spiritual pressure, shooting into the sky like a tangible force.

The pressure, the intense unease, the tremors...

Those ordinary soldiers who were too close immediately collapsed to the ground. In the face of such power, even though it wasn't aimed at them, they didn't have the strength to remain standing.

The weak can only kneel before the strong.

Naruto squinted slightly.

The fierce spiritual pressure whipped through the air, causing his hair to sway.

This spiritual pressure was already at the level of a captain.

And this man's name...

"Kenpachi," is it?

That name holds a very special significance within the Gotei 13.

It signifies "the strongest swordsman in the Soul Society."

Only the captain of the 11th Division can bear this "title."

Is he here for the 11th Division?

Naruto pondered.

Zaraki Kenpachi slightly bent his body. Without any refined Shunpo technique, he relied solely on his physical instincts, generating a burst of spiritual pressure at his feet that propelled him high into the air.

He raised his sword and slashed down with all his might.

Naruto drew his sword to counter.

The blades clashed, sending sparks flying.

After several exchanges, the two blades closed in, and a more excited expression appeared on Zaraki Kenpachi's face. "Not bad, although you look like a kid."

"But you're strong!"

"You have two swords, so why are you only using one?"

"Hurry up and draw both swords."

Naruto didn't reply, his expression serious.

This guy is really strong!

After clashing with him, Naruto could feel it more clearly—this man's spiritual pressure wasn't just of the 3rd Class, but of the 2nd Class.

His fighting style matched his wild spiritual energy.

There was no strategy in his slashes, purely wild and instinctive, but this kind of "wildness" was hard to deal with, revealing few flaws. Even if there were any, this man called Zaraki Kenpachi didn't care at all.

Even if injured, even when the "Nine-Tails" slashed his chest, he would just gleefully strike back.

This wasn't a tactic of "trading wounds for wounds."

He was enjoying the thrill of "being wounded by the enemy" and "wounding the enemy."

A man fighting like a beast.

"Jin'emon," Naruto stared at him but addressed his vice-captain, who stood not far away.

Kotsubaki Jin'emon stood upright and placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"Go ahead and apply for it; I'm going to use my Shikai," Naruto said softly.

Kotsubaki Jin'emon nodded in response and used Shunpo to leave.

Zaraki Kenpachi suddenly let go of his sword and stood aside, still brimming with fighting spirit.

"Not fighting anymore?" Naruto was puzzled by his actions. What did this mean?

"Aren't you going to apply for it?" Zaraki Kenpachi grinned, his smile even more ferocious. "You'll become stronger after you use your Shikai, right?"

"You're strong now, but it's still not enough to be interesting."

"I'm looking forward to a stronger opponent."

The feedback from his Mind's Eye of the Kagura showed nothing but pure sincerity.

Naruto shook his head, raised his left hand, gripped the hilt of "Ashura," and smiled slightly. "No, I had Jin'emon apply for it only because I didn't want to put someone I respect in a difficult position."

"There's no need to waste time waiting for an inevitable outcome."

He drew his sword and chanted the release command.

"Roar With Lamentation, Sing With Compassion, The Cycle Of Rebirth, Nine-Tailed Ashura!"

Golden light, six arms.

Fully entering the Nine-Tails form, Naruto's spiritual pressure surged like a mountain collapsing, pressing down on the man opposite him.

At this moment, his spiritual pressure also reached the "2nd Class."

With Ashura's boost, it was as strong as Zaraki Kenpachi's.

The opponent's increasing strength only made the spiky-haired man more excited.

"This is more like it!" he raised his sword and charged again.

Swinging wildly, the clash of metal resounded.

"Do you only have two swords?" Zaraki Kenpachi asked during the fight.

Naruto was puzzled.

"With six arms, shouldn't you have six swords?" Zaraki fought with even more abandon, yearning for a stronger opponent.

Naruto countered, "You have two arms, but only one sword, don't you?"

"Besides, the other four arms aren't only useful for holding swords."

"But, aren't you going to release your power?"

Zaraki Kenpachi shook his head. "Release, like you?"

"I don't mess around with fancy stuff like that. My sword is just a tool for battle. As long as it can swing down and cut down my enemies, that's enough!"

His grin became even more savage.

Naruto prepared to face him seriously.

In terms of swordsmanship, he was slightly inferior to this man.

He didn't rely on "combat instinct"; he was almost "combat itself."

Using Kidō and Bakudō (binding techniques) was what allowed Naruto to maintain an even footing with Kenpachi.

Moreover, this man called "Zaraki Kenpachi" gave Naruto a very strange feeling.

During the battle, his spiritual pressure kept rising.

It wasn't growth but rather a release.

It was as if something inside him was suppressing his power, and with each clash of their blades, a small floodgate was being opened, releasing a steady stream of power like a flowing river.

This was a man who was truly devoted to battle.

Naruto somewhat enjoyed the feeling of fighting him.

Although they were enemies, he didn't sense any "malice."

Moreover, the growth of Kenpachi's spiritual pressure resonated with Naruto's own sense of development.

It made the seed within Naruto's inner world, wrapped in Ashura's power, eager to sprout, growing more vibrant and full of life, wanting to burst forth, gathering strength more intensely.

As the battle progressed, their strikes became sharper.

Back and forth, they clashed fiercely.

Zaraki Kenpachi wasn't afraid of getting injured; seeing blood only excited him more.

Naruto wasn't afraid of getting injured either.

With his natural healing ability, he could spare two hands to use healing techniques on himself while fighting.

The two had already fought countless rounds.

The aftermath of their battle destroyed the surrounding buildings.

The other squad members had long since fled to a safer distance.

Even those who had been knocked out or fainted at the start were transferred by the 4th Division members who had been called in.

Zaraki Kenpachi was panting heavily, and except for his face, there wasn't a spot on his body without wounds.

Naruto was in better shape, with some spiritual pressure expended but without too many wounds. The few he had were slowly healing thanks to his natural healing ability and the healing techniques he used on himself.

The seed in his inner world had not yet sprouted.

But compared to before, wrapped in the power of Ashura, it had begun to emit a faint independent aura.