Shinigami in the Ninja World (Re-upload)

Naruto recognized his true self.

He wasn't inherently a Shinigami. It was just that, unknowingly, he had chosen to become one—just like in the ninja world, where his birthplace had destined him to be a ninja of Konoha.

But…

Upon learning certain things, he made a choice.

In Konoha, he had refused to become a ninja.

Now, at this moment, he wasn't rejecting the path of a Shinigami. He was willing to embrace it.

After receiving Naruto's confirmation, Ōetsu Nimaiya cheerfully raised his hand. "Well then..."

"Welcome to my stage, Naruto-chan."

"Now, you're about to witness the most incredible forging techniques in history."

In response to his rockstar-like gesture, there was an enthusiastic cheer.

"Here they come!"

Figures leaped in from all directions.

It was the female Zanpakutō spirits Naruto had seen earlier in the nightclub-like building.

Their role was more than just being Ōetsu's "little darlings."

They landed heavily, some tumbling over clumsily, but with Ōetsu Nimaiya's training, they boldly struck poses, clearly proud despite their lack of grace.

"The Ōetsu Bodyguard—"

"Reporting for duty."

Kurama turned his head away, unable to watch.

Naruto, on the other hand, remained calm and composed.

The women's appearances and figures were striking, and in this moment, their physical appeal was undeniable.

Yet…

That was all there was to it. No further action followed.

Ōetsu leaned forward, pointing at the Asauchi behind Naruto. "Not just them."

"You too."

He reached out again.

In an instant, the manifested Asauchi dispersed, transforming into pure spiritual energy, shooting forth like an arrow.

It was swift and sharp.

This power exceeded his expectations.

It sliced open his hand, and blood dripped down.

The beam of light flew past him, piercing the ground with a tremor, trailing residual force.

"What incredible power," Ōetsu murmured, glancing at Naruto.

The members of his royal guard reacted immediately.

The woman with the red mohawk bent low, gathering fire in her mouth, and spewed it forth—a blazing, intense flame with scorching heat.

She wielded a fire-based Zanpakutō.

Judging by the display...

It wasn't weaker than the one Isshin Shiba possessed.

The yellow-haired, twin-tailed woman raised her hand, but instead of moving her arms, her twin tails came to life, gripping the pulsating beam of light still trembling in the ground.

It was one of the key materials for forging a Zanpakutō.

Meanwhile, the gloomy woman wrapped in bandages withdrew to a corner. Without hesitation, she yanked out one of her own teeth, blood and all, and with a pull of her hands, transformed it into an oversized forging hammer.

The hammerhead was enormous, the handle long.

Ōetsu Nimaiya removed the ornaments from his body, casting off the outer shell he used to conceal himself, revealing his true form.

Behind the small, spectacled eyes was the soul of a man who had forged countless Zanpakutō.

He took the hammer.

It was an absurdly large tool for forging.

Naruto had seen blacksmiths in the Land of Iron and even in the modern world, and he knew that while there were differences between the two, blacksmiths tended to use smaller hammers for precision work. Only during the initial stages of forging would they switch to larger hammers.

But nothing to this extreme.

Ōetsu swung the massive hammer down hard, aiming at the glowing beam held by the twin-tailed woman.

It was already taking shape, hinting at the outline of a blade.

But with one powerful strike...

The hammer missed.

Not due to a lack of skill, but because the Asauchi was visible yet intangible.

At least…

To Ōetsu, it was untouchable.

Realizing this, he turned to Naruto. "It seems that this material alone won't suffice."

"Looks like..."

"We need something more."

"Naruto-chan, this was born from your call, your thoughts. Do you have any suggestions?"

Naruto gazed at the beam of light, the form of his blade.

It was a creation of his soul...

Even if it carried some of Ashura's power, it was incomplete—only a third of the whole.

So, he needed to complete it.

He reached for Kurama's sword handle.

The fox looked down, watching his movement.

"Though so much has happened over the centuries," Naruto said softly as he slowly drew the blade, his voice calm, steady, and reflective of his journey, "it's thanks to you that I've made it this far."

"You've become strong," Kurama replied, shaking his head. "But I..."

"I feel like a burden now."

He hadn't felt this way before.

But recently...

Whether it was against Madara Uchiha and Kaguya in the ninja world, or against enemies they encountered here, like Valkyrie and Haschwalth, these were foes he couldn't defeat alone.

Unless he borrowed Naruto's power to perform a fusion release.

The gap between their powers, once a subtle difference, had now grown into a vast chasm.

"How could you be a burden?" Naruto shook his head, holding the blade level to his chest. "We're partners. We're one."

"Your power is my power. My power is yours."

"And right now..."

"I need to borrow your strength again."

Kurama tilted his head, confused as to why Naruto would need his power in this situation. But he responded dutifully, "Of course, Naruto."

This was their agreement—before using Kurama's power, Naruto would always seek his consent.

Even though Naruto's strength had grown to the point where he didn't necessarily need Kurama's approval, he still followed this ritual.

The red aura of Kurama's power flared up, overpowering the flames that the red-haired Zanpakutō was emitting. Though she hadn't stopped fueling the forge, she reduced the intensity, allowing the fire to burn more steadily.

"What are you planning to do with my power?" Kurama finally asked, now that he had agreed.

Naruto answered quietly, "To complete the other half, of course."

He swung the blade.

In the void, ripples spread as the power of Yin Release activated.

Out of nothing, something began to form.

A physical vessel.

It started with the skeleton, then the nerves, then the muscles and flesh, and finally the skin and meridians.

In an instant, a fully-formed human figure appeared.

The power of Yin Release continued its work.

The heartbeat, "thump, thump," echoed from within the body.

This vessel had been given life.

Ōetsu Nimaiya watched, stunned.

Kurama's abilities...

He didn't fully understand them. After all, this wasn't a typical Zanpakutō that he had forged himself, but information from the Soul Society always found its way back to the Royal Palace. Based on what was known, this kind of power should be impossible.

Creating life...

This wasn't a puppet or a soul—it was real life.

Of course, while such abilities were rare, they weren't unheard of.

But for a Shikai to have this capability...

What would Kurama's Bankai look like?

The living body created by Naruto stirred to life, but to him, it wasn't enough. It was still just an empty shell—better crafted than most, but still incomplete.

Naruto placed his other hand over his chest.

Spiritual energy surged, drawing something from within him—

It was life force.

A radiant, golden orb of life energy, unique to the Uzumaki Clan, unique to Naruto Uzumaki.

He cast the life orb into the vessel, and like water dissolving, it merged seamlessly into the body.

Immediately, the vessel responded.

Ōetsu reached out, his expression serious, fully prepared as he grabbed hold of the glowing form, which, like the Asauchi earlier, transformed into a beam of light and shot toward him.

He let out a breath of relief.

"Phew, I thought for a moment this thing couldn't be used for forging," he laughed, looking down. Though this vessel had also turned into light, it was completely different from the rough form of the previous material.

It was crude, unrefined, and still required shaping.

Or rather...

Ōetsu turned to the other, already partially formed blade.

No...

The true forging wasn't needed for this newer material. The one formed in the shape of a Shinigami needed refining.

"Hasuka," he called out.

The twin-tailed girl holding the blade with her hair tilted her head. "Yes, Master?"

"Now it's time to give it your all," he said kindly, placing the crude material on top of the more refined blade. He slammed the hammer down hard.

With a resounding clang—

Precise, steady, and powerful.

The blade bent under the strike, beginning to fuse with the crude material.

Sparks flew, bright and dazzling.

Ōetsu Nimaiya's excitement was palpable, his emotions overflowing.

Rare and powerful materials meant that the forging process was extremely difficult.

It took over twenty strikes for the two materials to fully merge.

"Naruto-chan, this is exhilarating!" he cheered.

"This brings me back to over two thousand years ago when I forged the first Zanpakutō."

"You've truly surprised me."

"You've made me happy!"

The clanging of the hammer could not drown out his joy and enthusiasm.

Naruto stood by, observing calmly.

Kurama tilted his head, uninterested in the forging process itself. The sparks were beautiful, but even the most mesmerizing sight becomes mundane with repetition.

Bored, he jumped down from Naruto's back and went over to the other manifested Zanpakutō spirits, discussing matters related to Bankai with them.

Though...

In a way, he already possessed Bankai.

Naruto's Bankai was directly tied to Kurama.

But the fox longed for his own—something that was uniquely his. Something like "Fox Hidden in the Mirror"—his own true Bankai.

The forging continued.

The water was constantly drawn in, evaporating just as quickly.

…

In the Soul Society.

"It's been three days." In the 7th Division quarters, Yamamoto looked up at the clock on the wall, letting out a soft sigh. "Naruto has been at the Royal Palace for quite some time now."

Since the end of the war, he had relocated here. The 1st Division barracks were still under repair, and there was no time to deal with trivial, mundane matters. The 7th Division served as the Guard, so his presence here made sense.

He narrowed his eyes.

"Captain-Commander, there's no need to worry—after all, it's the Royal Palace," Soi Fon quickly chimed in. She had also been staying here, and with the Captain-Commander present, she now had a legitimate reason to remain.

"I'm not worried about him." Yamamoto smiled faintly, shaking his head. "I'm more concerned about…"

"The Wandenreich."

Shunsui Kyōraku's tone was somber as he looked down. "I've obtained the Wandenreich's coordinates from Captain Kurotsuchi."

"But…"

"Their defenses are incredibly tight. Even Captain Kurotsuchi's spirit bugs couldn't infiltrate, let alone a large target like a Shinigami."

Yamamoto inquired, "Where are they?"

He had been preoccupied lately with the matter of Unohana Retsu and Kenpachi Zaraki. Those two had the word "battle" engraved into their very souls. If left unchecked, they might very well kill each other.

Finally, today…

Their fight had reached its final stages. It seemed Zaraki had learned something.

Having entrusted them to Jūshirō Ukitake, Yamamoto now had time to focus on the preparations in the Soul Society.

In the corner of the room, one of Mayuri's clones, who had been writing and sketching constantly, stood up and pointed to the floor. "It's quite obvious."

"They're already here in the Soul Society, hiding in the shadows. Such cunning enemies…"

Yamamoto asked again, "Does Captain Kurotsuchi have a way to deal with this?"

"Of course!" Mayuri grinned, dramatically stepping out from behind the desk. "I'm not one to be easily stumped."

"Now, there are two options."

"The first is to launch a preemptive strike. Since we know their coordinates, we can simply infiltrate their shadow world and launch an attack."

Yamamoto didn't give any immediate response to this suggestion.

But…

The moment it was spoken, the idea was as good as dead. The Soul Society's forces were weaker than the Wandenreich's at the moment. With Naruto and the Royal Guard in the Royal Palace, even with Yamamoto present, they couldn't win against the Wandenreich.

A preemptive strike? That would be suicidal.

"The second option is to limit the shadows," Mayuri continued, raising his hand. "They reside in the shadows, which is why we can't catch them. It's the key to their movements."

"So, if that's the case… we simply eliminate the shadows."

Yamamoto raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

Eliminate… shadows?

How could that even be done? He wasn't aware of any Zanpakutō or Kido that could achieve such a thing.

Mayuri grinned, raising his hand higher. "I've already shown this to Captain Kyōraku."

"What can I say? He agreed with it."

Shunsui Kyōraku, visibly reluctant, tipped his hat forward and nodded slightly. "Though it's a bit extravagant, it's a solid plan."

"Extravagant?" Yamamoto smirked. "For someone like you to call something extravagant... just how far does it go?"

Mayuri snapped his fingers.

With a click, it was as though a switch had been flipped. Suddenly, a blinding light enveloped Mayuri, illuminating him and everything around him to a dazzling degree—so bright it was almost unbearable to look at. His shadow only existed far away, in the outer reaches of the room.

"The best way to eliminate shadows is with light!" Mayuri cheered, raising both hands triumphantly. "We just need to turn on the lights!"

"If we flood the Soul Society with enough light, the shadows will vanish."

"The 12th Division is ready."

"All I need is your approval, Captain-Commander, and we can light up the entire Soul Society."

"Of course... I remember Captain Shihōin once told Naruto that no matter how bright the light, there will always be shadows where light exists."

"Shadows can't be completely eliminated. So, I also suggest leaving some areas with shadows on purpose. That way, when the Wandenreich invades, they'll only have one entry point… and at least we'll be able to track their movements."

"We won't be caught off guard like last time, when they infiltrated without us even noticing."

Yamamoto smiled approvingly, nodding at Mayuri. "No wonder Kyōraku spoke so highly of you. It's a simple, yet highly effective plan."

"Light, huh? Go ahead and do it."

Mayuri snapped his fingers again, sending one of his subordinates off to relay the information.

With Yamamoto's approval, lights were hung throughout the Soul Society, in every corner and shadowed nook, even within storage boxes. The poor Hell Butterflies, which required darkness and quiet to thrive, would likely be relocated for the time being.

Two hours later...

Mayuri had completed the task with impressive speed. The only place left in shadow was the ruins of the 1st Division's barracks, where a large dark area remained intentionally untouched.

…

In the Wandenreich.

Yhwach sat on his throne, watching as the Quincy began to gather, a grin spreading across his face.

This was his kingdom.

Even with some losses in their initial probing attack, the centuries of accumulated power in his hands remained immense.

"Your Majesty," Barro approached, bowing slightly. "Something strange has occurred in the Soul Society."

Yhwach didn't respond, merely tilting his head in silent inquiry.

Barro continued, "The Shinigami have illuminated nearly every part of the Soul Society, leaving only the ruins of the 1st Division barracks in darkness. There, large shadows remain."

Yhwach's smile turned scornful. "Barro, do you see it?"

"Of course, Your Majesty," Barro replied with respect. "The Shinigami are trying to lure us in, believing we have no choice but to attack from that location."

Yhwach waved his hand dismissively.

It was one thing to recognize a trap, but what mattered was finding a way to exploit it.

Barro, as one of his trusted subordinates, understood this: "I suggest we go along with their plan."

"Let them think we're falling into their trap."

"And then strike."

He paused for a moment.

"Of course, Your Majesty does not need such petty tricks to win."

"But for those of us who rely on your brilliance for survival, these small strategies can help us achieve greater victories with fewer losses."

Yhwach chuckled. "Barro, you're much more eloquent than Haschwalth ever was."

"Everything I say is in sincere admiration of you, Your Majesty," Barro said earnestly, his expression deadly serious.

Yhwach waved his hand again, shaking his head. "Then proceed as you suggest."

"While Naruto Uzumaki remains in the Royal Palace, seize the opportunity to take them down."

Barro nodded and left to carry out the orders.

…

A short while later, outside the Wandenreich, beneath the false sun...

"So, we're the vanguard?" Bazz-B grumbled, running a hand through his purple-red mohawk. "The Shinigami are prepared to fight back against our shadow domain? That's not good news."

"They want just a few of us to take on the entire Gotei 13?"

Barro glared at him, his face blank. "Are you scared, Bazz-B?"

"Don't be ridiculous!" Bazz-B scoffed, his hair swaying wildly as he shook his head. "I'm not scared! It's just... the risk seems high."

"Was this plan suggested by that Uryū Ishida?"

He was still bitter. He vividly remembered that during the announcement of Uryū Ishida as the successor, he had been the first, and nearly the only one, to speak out against it openly. Being assigned such a dangerous task now seemed like revenge.

"Of course not. This was my suggestion to His Majesty," Barro replied. "We need to send strong enough fighters to deal a heavy blow to the Shinigami, making them believe we have no choice but to attack through the shadow domain."

"I trust in your abilities."

Bazz-B huffed.

He could believe that, at least.

In terms of raw power, he wasn't the strongest in the Sternritter, but he was certainly among the best.

"Since you've put it that way," Bazz-B raised his hand, determination gleaming in his eyes as he stared at his fingers, "I can't refuse your generous offer."

"That guy who killed Haschwalth... The 7th Division Captain, Naruto Uzumaki, right? He's strong—killing both Haschwalth and Valkyrie—but don't worry, I'll take him down and present his head as a gift to His Majesty."

Barro remained silent.

He didn't mention that Naruto was currently in the Royal Palace.

…

In the Soul Society, outside the ruins of the 1st Division's barracks.

"Are we just going to sit here and watch?" Rangiku Matsumoto sat under the light, staring at the shadows in the ruins. "This is so boring."

"We can't launch a preemptive strike," Tōshirō Hitsugaya replied, shaking his head. "This strategy is the best option we have right now. We just need to wait... our shift only lasts a day."

"Plus, the Captain-Commander said after this, you'd get a chance to visit Gin Ichimaru."

Gin Ichimaru...

That name, which she had tucked away deep in her heart, brought a heartfelt smile to her face when Tōshirō mentioned it, even after all these years.

A chance to see him again.

But just then...

The shadows in the ruins of the 1st Division began to move, twisting and rolling unnaturally.

"They've arrived." Tōshirō immediately stood, gazing into the distance. Though standing or sitting didn't seem to change much for him—he was still too short to reach Rangiku's waist.

Rangiku turned and saw it too. She drew a signal flare from her chest and fired it into the sky.

With a loud bang, a brilliant purple-red flower bloomed in the bright daylight.

The shifting shadows revealed a figure stepping out.

Purple-red hair appeared first.

"As expected..." He tilted his head, sensing the spiritual pressure, and immediately locked onto them. "The Shinigami set up an ambush here."

Tōshirō gripped his sword hilt. "We've figured out how you infiltrate through the shadows. There won't be any more surprise attacks like last time."

Bazz-B stuck out his tongue, making a face. His spiritual energy surged, a small flame sparking into existence in his hand. "Since you know we're coming, why is there so little resistance? Just you, little kid."

"I remember you well... the ice captain who got humiliated by Cang Du."

Tōshirō wasn't fazed by his words. He calmly drew his sword. "You're a rude one. Remember my name—I'm the 10th Division Captain, Tōshirō Hitsugaya."

"Address me as Captain Hitsugaya."

Bazz-B grinned widely. "I'm from the Sternritter! The burning hot Bazz-B! Seems like we're quite a match."

Tōshirō looked down. "It's not easy to find a decent fire-user in the Soul Society."

"I hope you give me a good challenge."

He took a deep breath.

"Bankai!"

"Daiguren Hyōrinmaru."

Bazz-B's eyes widened in surprise, but his body reacted immediately, pulling out a Medallion. "Are you so excited to fight me that you're using Bankai right off the bat?"

"Captain Hitsugaya. You're good!"