Shinigami in the Ninja World (Re-upload)

In Mayuri Kurotsuchi's view, Shinigami and Hollows were always considered the most opposing forces. After all, the primary duty of the Gotei 13 was to maintain the balance of the three worlds, and their main adversaries had always been the Hollows.

But…

Unexpectedly, in a recent series of experiments, whether it was a direct clash between a Shinigami and a Quincy or a combination of Shinigami and Quincy forces against Hollow energy, the results were always the same.

The Quincy's power was the most incompatible with Hollow energy.

The Quincy's power collapsed immediately upon contact with Hollow energy. For the Quincy, Hollow energy was like a deadly poison.

Mayuri recalled that Naruto once mentioned the unique nature of the Substitute Shinigami's situation. Ichigo's Zanpakutō was fundamentally tied to his inner Hollow's power, similar to Kurama's connection with Naruto.

So...

This explained why Ichigo Kurosaki's Bankai couldn't be stolen by the Quincies.

However, achieving this was not simple under normal circumstances. Typically, Quincy powers don't merge with Hollow energy; they merely collide, but this doesn't cause an immediate collapse like "poisoning."

The idea of compressing Hollow energy into a "bomb" to attack the Quincies was also ineffective. It was a childish tactic that wouldn't work. Similarly, trying to coat a Zanpakutō with Hollow energy to prevent the Quincies from stealing a Bankai was pointless.

To solve this major issue, it would require something akin to Ichigo's approach: embedding Hollow energy into one's Bankai.

In simpler terms…

This would mean the "Hollowfication of the Zanpakutō."

It might sound like turning the captains into beings like Shinji Hirako and the Visored, but this was an entirely different matter. Hirako and the others gained Hollow powers while still remaining Shinigami, and their Zanpakutō remained pure Shinigami weapons.

What Mayuri needed to do was the opposite: infuse the Zanpakutō with Hollow energy while keeping the Shinigami themselves pure.

"This is troublesome," he muttered. "If Captain Uzumaki knew about this, he'd probably be furious."

Despite saying that, Mayuri's face showed excitement.

The boundary between Shinigami and Hollows had always been taboo. After the Aizen incident, this subject became even more forbidden—something no one dared to bring up.

But Mayuri's curiosity itched.

He was desperate to explore this kind of research. Yet, he couldn't risk offending either Naruto or the Captain-Commander.

Now…

With the Wandenreich invasion and the need to protect Seireitei and the captains, surely this reason was justifiable.

Humming to himself, he created more shadow clones and glanced at the hanging monitors on the ceiling.

Some were flickering with static, while others still provided live footage despite the battle's chaos.

"Hold on, I hope I can get something useful," he mused, then sighed, hoping he wouldn't end up with subjects like Naruto Uzumaki or Kenpachi Zaraki, who didn't even need their Bankai to fight.

Clapping his hands, he resumed his experiments.

…

Within Seireitei, nothing had changed due to Mayuri's considerations. The battles raged on.

The first to finish his fight was someone unexpected…

Kenpachi Zaraki held his blade high, skewering a Quincy on it. Of course, "skewered" might be an understatement—it looked more like he had violently impaled the Quincy.

"Boring!" he roared. "These guys are even worse than that stupid fox!"

"I thought someone interesting would invade Seireitei."

A giant insect nearby screeched, but Kenpachi looked irritated, turning his head slightly. "I thought you were some new enemy, but you're just another one of Naruto's helpers."

"Get lost and go help someone else."

He glanced around, his eyes gleaming as he spotted another enemy in the distance.

"That one looks strong—he's mine!"

Spiritual pressure surged, chaotic and wild as Kenpachi used Shunpo, the force of his steps sending shockwaves through the air as he leaped toward a man with long black hair and a distinctive mustache.

"Are you the leader of this lot?"

"Entertain me!"

Kenpachi raised his sword high, slashing down with immense force.

There was no finesse to his swordplay—just pure spiritual pressure. His raw power could break through anything.

Spiritual energy exploded, shrouding the area in dust and debris.

Yamamoto appeared nearby, using Shunpo to close the distance. He watched the clouded battlefield with an unreadable expression.

He knew well…

Even a thousand years ago, Yhwach wouldn't be harmed by such an attack.

And now, after a millennium of change, Yhwach and his Quincies had only grown more powerful.

In the sky, Naruto flicked his arm, his captain's haori still intact, though blood dripped from his wrist, sliding down to his hand before dropping from his fingertips.

His expression remained calm as he stared at the shield before him.

It was covered in cracks, but it still hadn't shattered.

"That spiritual pressure… seems Yamamoto has joined the fight," said Haschwalth, glancing toward the battlefield where the old man, wearing the 1st Division captain's haori, stood at the edge of the dust cloud.

"You still have time to worry about others?" Naruto chuckled, raising his hand. "I've already found your weakness."

Haschwalth looked up, confident and slightly disdainful. "Weakness?"

"I didn't think you were the type to spout nonsense."

He lifted his sword.

"It seems you've noticed something."

"But… what use is it?"

"All you're doing is hurting yourself."

Haschwalth remained spotless, unscathed, and his clothes were immaculate, completely unaffected by their battle.

Naruto smiled. "A troublesome opponent like you isn't easy to defeat without some sacrifice."

He glanced at the battlefield below.

The dust had already settled.

But the result made Naruto pause slightly.

Haschwalth also looked over and smiled. "Do you see?"

"This is the fate that awaits you."

"The same fate that awaits Seireitei and all the Shinigami."

The sight before them was overwhelming.

In just one exchange, the outcome was already decided.

Kenpachi Zaraki had been caught by his chin, lifted effortlessly by the man before him. His sword had done nothing, not even leaving a scratch on his opponent.

"One of the Special War Powers—Kenpachi Zaraki."

Yhwach spoke softly, his voice not loud, but the very air and spiritual particles seemed to carry it clearly to everyone nearby.

"What a disappointment. You're nowhere near as impressive as Naruto Uzumaki."

"To be so fragile—it's truly shocking."

Kenpachi's eyes had rolled back in his head; he was still alive but barely hanging on, unable to register anything around him.

"I suppose I can look forward to Haschwalth finishing Naruto Uzumaki."

"I overestimated you all."

"Sleep now."

"The Soul Society deserves to rest too."

Yhwach's fingers tightened, ready to crush Kenpachi's skull—

Flames surged.

A fiery dragon roared across the battlefield.

"Long time no see, Yhwach," Yamamoto spoke from the sidelines, his voice a greeting. "Last time, I was too lenient on you."

"This time, let me end it once and for all."

The man with black hair, the emperor of the Wandenreich, known as Yhwach, said nothing, dropping Kenpachi and turning his gaze to his old rival.

In the sky, Naruto watched intently.

For some reason, this man felt familiar.

It was as if he had seen him somewhere before…

But no matter how much Naruto thought about it, he couldn't quite place where or when he had met him.

With the urgency of the battle, Naruto couldn't fully recall, but he was certain this was a recent memory, within the past decade.

So, who was he?

Haschwalth halted his pursuit as well, speaking softly, "Watch closely, Naruto Uzumaki."

"Watch how your leader…"

"…Is defeated by His Majesty."

Naruto said nothing.

On the battlefield below, flames raged, a towering inferno consuming everything in its path, like a majestic mountain of fire.

Yamamoto gripped his now-released Ryūjin Jakka, and addressed Yhwach. "You haven't changed at all in these thousand years, Yhwach."

"You've grown old, Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto," Yhwach said softly.

"Even with your rage, you're far weaker than before."

"Are you already thinking of stepping down, giving your position to someone more suitable?"

Yamamoto scoffed. "Old?"

"Perhaps there are younger people now."

"But…"

"My appearance may have changed, but that doesn't mean my power has weakened."

He raised his sword, moving it slowly.

"This power, I haven't used in many years."

"Not because I've grown lazy or weak, but because…"

"It has become so strong that even I hesitate to use it."

"But for you—"

He paused, lowering the blade to waist height.

"Bankai."

"Zanka no Tachi."

The flames vanished in an instant. Aside from the lingering heat and dryness, there was no trace left of the fire. Even the sword in his hand had changed.

It no longer looked like metal but had become a charred wooden blade, burnt and brittle, seemingly devoid of any threat.

Haschwalth commented quietly, "It looks fragile."

"And this is supposed to be a Bankai?"

His words reached Yhwach on the ground, who shook his head. "Don't underestimate it."

"Zanka no Tachi is a Bankai that seals all the flames into that blade."

"When swung, it can incinerate anything it touches."

Yamamoto's face was stern as he held the blade before him. "You seem well-informed, Yhwach."

"I remember you saw this a thousand years ago."

"But—"

"Do you dare assume it's the same as it was back then?"

Yhwach raised his hand. "Go ahead, show me your Bankai."

"You're confident, aren't you? Aren't you afraid…"

"That I'll take it from you?"

Yamamoto closed in, stepping forward. "That empty threat won't unsettle me."

"Perhaps to the younger Shinigami, I seem like a relic, not as sharp as some of your people."

"But I'm no fool."

"Yhwach, it's not that you won't take my Bankai—it's that you *can't*."

"Am I right?"

Yhwach's eyes narrowed, and he took a cautious step back, his gaze more serious now.

"You need to fully understand a Bankai before you can steal it," Yamamoto continued.

"Just earlier, Jūshirō Ukitake shared some intel with me—you attacked the Shinigami in the human world."

"But you only targeted Ichigo Kurosaki."

"I imagine it's because you're wary of him, due to the complexity and unpredictability of his powers, and the fact that his Bankai is still evolving."

"Meanwhile, I am the opposite. For a thousand years, I have not unleashed my true strength. Even when Ryūjin Jakka faced Naruto, it didn't show anything close to the full potential of my *Bankai*."

Yhwach snarled in frustration, grinding his teeth. "Don't act like you know everything!"

"Do you really think this will stop me?"

Yamamoto paid him no mind, raising his head slightly. "Watch closely, Naruto Uzumaki."

"You are exceptional, both in skill and character."

"But…"

"You still lack something crucial to be the Captain-Commander."

"And you don't just want to be Captain-Commander; you want to take control of Central 46 as well."

"In this regard, you need to learn from me—this is the last lesson I can teach you."

"To be ruthless, merciless, and coldhearted."

"You must even be willing to manipulate innocent emotions."

With a swing of his sword:

"Zanka no Tachi, Minami: Kaka Jūmanokushi Daisōjin."

From the ground, charred, mutilated corpses began to rise, forming a massive army of skeletal remains, surging toward Yhwach.

The sight caused the man's expression to darken. As he looked at the blackened, incomplete remains, he recognized each skeleton, their features barely visible, and he muttered their names.

These were his former subordinates from a thousand years ago.

Killed by Yamamoto and now manipulated as corpses, summoned to impede Yhwach.

"This is the burden of the Captain-Commander."

"The Soul Society was built upon the darkness."

Yhwach's anger flared: "Yamamoto! Am I nothing more than a teaching tool to you?"

"A lesson for your successor?"

"Do you think these corpses can stop me?"

"Never!"

"I will kill you!"

Yhwach drew his bow, forming the Heilig Pfeil and firing it straight at Yamamoto.