Shinigami in the Ninja World

There were many Shinigami who didn't believe these words.

One after another, they drew their swords and recited the chants for Shikai.

But...

Just like Renji Abarai, no matter what they did, they could no longer perform Shikai.

Muramasa sneered disdainfully.

With a wave of his hand, he tore open a pitch-black crack in the sky, ripping through space and forming a passageway similar to a *Garganta.*

"Now then… the war between Zanpakutō and Shinigami begins."

The Zanpakutō spirits, following his command, walked into the passageway, their figures disappearing from sight.

Until only Muramasa remained, the last of the Zanpakutō souls to enter.

"I'll be taking the Captain-Commander as my trophy," Muramasa turned his head, locking eyes with Shunsui Kyōraku. Their gazes clashed intensely, as if sparks were flying between them. "Farewell, Shinigami."

He turned and stepped into the *Garganta,* vanishing from sight.

The crescent moon seemed to catch on the crack, pulling at it, gradually sealing it shut.

The Shinigami were left in shock.

Some sighed in relief. The overwhelming sense of powerlessness and threat that this encounter had brought was simply too much.

It was unlike the feeling of facing a strong enemy.

"Losing" something was far more painful than anything else.

Especially when it was something...

That they had worked so hard for hundreds of years to obtain, and which allowed them to continue living.

"He's... just gone like that?" Tōshirō Hitsugaya was astonished, staring at the few remaining black marks in the sky, his eyes and tone filled with disbelief.

Jūshirō Ukitake softly remarked, "Perhaps he thought that with their current strength, they still aren't enough to conquer Seireitei."

"Even though both the Captain-Commander and Naruto are absent..."

"And even though we can no longer use the power of our Zanpakutō..."

"Kidō and Hakuda are still formidable."

"Not to mention, Naruto could return at any moment."

Zanpakutō capable of Shikai were in the minority, and no matter how strong Muramasa's power was, it had no effect on those Shinigami who hadn't yet awakened their Zanpakutō. How could he "whisper" to something that didn't exist?

The number of "comrades" at his side wasn't that large either.

"It might be worse than we think," Shunsui Kyōraku shook his head. "The power of the Shinigami..."

"Is not limited to just Seireitei."

Ukitake turned to look at his old friend: "The World of the Living."

"Substitute Shinigami and the Visored?"

His expression became even more serious.

Soi Fon approached and added, "And Yoruichi-sama and that man as well."

Ichigo Kurosaki, without a doubt, possessed captain-level strength, and even in battles against Kenpachi Zaraki, he was not completely outmatched.

Kūgo Ginjō had similar strength.

If you counted the Visored and the people at Urahara's shop...

There were plenty of individuals in the World of the Living with captain-level power. If their Zanpakutō "betrayed" them, the damage this force could bring to Seireitei would be incalculable.

"What should we do?" Ukitake looked at Kyōraku.

He shook his head. "Send someone to notify the people in the World of the Living."

"As for the rest, we'll wait for Naruto to return and see what he thinks."

Naruto's strength had already surpassed theirs.

At least...

It wasn't hard to see how much the Captain-Commander favored Naruto.

He had talent, a decent personality, and though young, his overall abilities were rated higher than those of Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake.

He was clearly being groomed to be the next Captain-Commander.

Otherwise, no matter what, the issue of Hueco Mundo wouldn't have fallen to the 7th Division, which was responsible for guarding the court.

Now, the Captain-Commander had been sealed.

The mantle of "acting Captain-Commander" should fall to the one meant to hold that power.

"I thought you'd feel somewhat uncomfortable," Ukitake smiled.

Shunsui Kyōraku shook his head and yawned: "Do you really think I'm that kind of person? Jūshirō, you should know my nature by now."

"Naruto being here is a great thing. Haven't you noticed how much older our teacher has gotten over the years?"

"Plus, he's much more suited for the position than I am."

As they spoke, the 7th Division was already busy assessing the damage to the inner court buildings.

The 4th Division was tending to the wounded.

Despite the commotion caused by the Zanpakutō, the damage was minimal—only some buildings had been destroyed, a few people had been caught up and injured, and the worst case was a poor soul who had broken their limbs. No one had died.

That was the best news.

No deaths—this cleared some of the shadow that Muramasa had cast over them.

Above, the wind scattered the clouds, and the crescent moon still hung low, casting its dim light over Seireitei, covering everything in a soft, downy glow.

Ukitake waved and called over Rukia and Kaien, instructing them to head to the World of the Living and deliver this message to the Shinigami there.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi toyed with his communication device, amused.

In the Forest of Menos, Ashido's eyes widened as he listened to the message coming through the device, his body trembling and his spiritual pressure fluctuating.

The emotions that surged through him were almost like the excitement he had felt when, after more than three hundred years of loneliness, emptiness, and helplessness, he had met another living person for the first time—a fellow Shinigami.

The Captain-Commander had been sealed?

The Zanpakutō had rebelled?

How had the world turned into this after he left the Soul Society?

He couldn't understand it at all.

"Can Zanpakutō really be made to rebel?" Kurama hissed, glancing at his own paws. "If this ability were used on me, what would happen?"

In a sense, Kurama was also a "Zanpakutō."

But...

As a "Zanpakutō," it also wielded a Zanpakutō.

Naruto was curious too, though having never encountered such power, he couldn't imagine what such a situation would be like. "I'm not sure, but just know this—if something goes wrong, I won't hold back. I'll seal you up."

Kurama curled its lips, half-dismissive and half-serious: "Don't underestimate me. I won't fall for such a cheap trick."

"Even among Zanpakutō, I'm the most unique."

Naruto nodded, his expression serious. "Then why did you react so strongly when we talked about the Sharingan?"

Kurama's eyes widened: "That was a long time ago!"

"Times have changed!"

It wanted to confidently shout, "Even if Madara Uchiha himself were here, I wouldn't fear him now!" But on second thought, that man was still alive... and if Madara appeared and used the Sharingan on him again...

Kurama couldn't help but shudder slightly at the thought of the power that had controlled him before.

Ashido stared at them, confused: "Seireitei is in such chaos, and you two are still so..."

The atmosphere between Naruto and Kurama was relaxed.

Muramasa's earlier words had not disturbed them in the slightest.

The only thing that radiated from them was calmness, just like the stillness of the Forest of Menos—where not even a single Hollow was present.

"Mayuri wasn't calling for help," Naruto shook his head with a smile as he explained to Ashido. "Although it sounds troublesome, those guys have already retreated. Even if we rushed back now, we wouldn't be able to catch up."

Ashido frowned. "But the Captain-Commander..."

"Yes, the Captain-Commander has been sealed," Naruto's tone remained gentle. "Because he's so strong, that's why he was targeted."

"But..."

"The Captain-Commander is already quite old. There will come a day when he grows frail or passes away."

"We can't rely on him to carry the burden of the Soul Society forever."

Ashido wanted to say more.

But Naruto stood up: "Alright, I was hoping to take things slowly, but it seems time is running out."

"Now, come with me to Las Noches..."

"You'll need to take over matters in Hueco Mundo temporarily."

Ashido nodded.

He followed Naruto, leaving the Forest of Menos for the first time in a long while. The cold night winds hit them as they emerged into the desert, a stark contrast to the damp, oppressive atmosphere of the forest.

In Las Noches.

As Naruto and Ashido arrived, Harribel appeared, dragging along a child dressed in green.

"Uzumaki-sama, you're back so soon?" Her gaze shifted to Ashido.

Naruto responded quietly, "An urgent situation arose. I need to return to Seireitei."

"As for Hueco Mundo, I'll leave it in his hands for now."

He pointed to Ashido, about to make an introduction.

The little green-clad child in Harribel's grasp looked up and pointed. "I know!"

"You're that red-haired Shinigami from the Forest of Menos!"

"You're pretty famous."

Naruto paused mid-sentence. "You know him?"

"Of course! The Hollow hunter from the Forest of Menos," the child exclaimed. "He's really strong. Some of the Adjuchas were killed by him."

"All the Hollows probably know about him."

Her gaze then shifted to the Arrancar woman holding her.

Harribel nodded slightly, giving a simple "Hmm" in agreement.

"Since you're familiar, that makes things easier," Naruto smiled. "His name is Ashido. Please cooperate with him."

Harribel gave another soft "Hmm" in response.

"Is this little one also an Arrancar?" Naruto asked, glancing at the child Harribel was holding.

The girl, who had seemed so bold earlier, suddenly shrank back, her gaze darting between Naruto and Kurama, fear flashing in her eyes. She grabbed onto Harribel's waist, trying to hide behind her.

But...

Harribel frowned and shook her off, holding the child at arm's length to prevent her from clinging to her waist. "Uzumaki-sama asked me to record the names of Arrancar with captain-level strength."

"She's one of them."

"Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck."

"Since her territory is near Las Noches, I brought her here."

Kurama opened its eyes. "Does this kind of spiritual pressure and ability really have captain-level strength?"

"Don't be fooled by her current appearance," Harribel said coldly. "She's incredibly strong. She was once one of the Espada, ranked No. 3."

"But she was ambushed by Nnoitra, and her mask was damaged, which turned her into what you see now."

Naruto nodded thoughtfully.

He noticed the little girl's gaze lingering on Kurama. "Nelliel, are you afraid of him?"

"Just call me Nel!" she replied in a small, trembling voice. "That guy is terrifying."

"With just one breath, he could destroy all of Las Noches. He almost wiped out my pets."

Ashido's eyes widened.

He looked at the nearby ruins, waves of emotion surging in his heart.

This...

This destruction was caused by that little fox?

~~~

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