Shinigami in the Ninja World (Re-upload)

Inside the Hōōden, everything was shrouded in darkness.

Kurama panted heavily, his expression growing increasingly frustrated.

Those manifested Asauchi...

They weren't strong.

But there were too many of them—an endless swarm. No matter how many were defeated, more surged forth.

Even with his seemingly boundless spiritual energy...

The mental and physical exhaustion was becoming impossible to ignore.

It accumulated, bit by bit, and even beings as strong as them couldn't help but feel fatigued.

"It must've been a day by now, right?" Kurama growled, slamming his paw on the ground in frustration. "When is this going to end?"

"It's disgusting!"

Dealing with these Asauchi felt even more revolting than swatting cockroaches.

Naruto shook his head.

When it came to Zanpakutō, his journey was completely different from that of ordinary Shinigami, or even prodigies like Byakuya Kuchiki and Tōshirō Hitsugaya.

The two releases he possessed weren't the result of cultivating a Zanpakutō using his own spiritual pressure.

Nine-Tails' power was Kurama's own.

And as for Vortex, while it seemed similar to the Zanpakutō wielded by ordinary Shinigami...

Its creation was fundamentally different.

It was born from the power of Ashura.

It grew by absorbing that force and evolving from it.

Naruto paused, thinking for a moment.

Unlike other Shinigami, he had never truly gone through the proper process of cultivating a Zanpakutō. He'd never even experienced a proper Shikai.

There had been no response.

Kurama, sensing a distinct spiritual pressure separate from the manifested Asauchi, softly asked, "Naruto? Are you alright?"

Naruto nodded and smiled. "I was just lost in thought for a moment, thinking about something."

"Kurama, tell me..."

"Do you think Ichigo Kurosaki is truly a Shinigami?"

That question...

Kurama paused, his eyes narrowing as he instinctively swatted away an incoming Asauchi, grappling with the puzzling thought.

It took a moment before he answered. "I... I guess he counts? He's an official substitute, after all. He can kill Hollows, perform soul burials..."

Naruto shook his head. "I don't mean his abilities. I'm talking about his nature."

Kurama looked confused. He wasn't stupid, but dealing with these kinds of complex questions made his head hurt.

Abilities? Nature?

Wait...

Ichigo could use a Zanpakutō, perform Shunpo, Shikai, and even Bankai.

So why wouldn't he count as a Shinigami in terms of nature?

The reason Naruto began pondering this was that Ichigo's situation was similar to his own. The blades they wielded didn't represent "Shinigami power" but rather the manifestation of other powers within them.

In Naruto's case, his powers came from external sources, while Ichigo's came from within—his Hollow, Quincy, Fullbring, and Shinigami powers all intertwined.

"So… he's not a Shinigami?" Kurama muttered, unsure of his earlier response, redirecting his confusion into slamming away more Asauchi.

Naruto chuckled. "How could he not be?"

Kurama snorted angrily. "Naruto, you're just as bad as that Kyoraku guy now! Yes or no! Why do you have to ask these weird, cryptic questions? You're driving me crazy!"

Kurama growled, frustrated, breathing heavily.

"Let me figure out how to explain it to you," Naruto said fondly, his voice soft. He grabbed hold of Kurama's mane and leapt onto his back. "Ichigo is a Shinigami, but at the same time, he isn't."

Kurama snorted louder.

"When a normal soul undergoes Konsō, they're sent to the Soul Society," Naruto began. "Those without spiritual power become ordinary souls, while those with spiritual power can attempt to harness it."

"And if they don't attend the Shin'ō Academy..."

"Then what are they?"

Kurama tilted his head.

The answer wasn't hard to find; there were obvious examples. A recent one was Kukaku Shiba, the fireworks expert of the Shiba clan. And another, closer to home, was the 11th Division Captain, Kenpachi Zaraki.

Both of them wielded spiritual power, understood how to use it, but for various reasons, weren't officially part of the Gotei 13.

"Unemployed Shinigami?" Kurama hesitated, offering this uncertain reply after some thought.

Naruto clapped his hands. "Exactly."

"They're just Shinigami who aren't part of the Gotei 13. Being a Shinigami, simply put, means being a soul that wields spiritual power."

He paused, then continued, "So, in that sense, does Ichigo really count as a Shinigami?"

Kurama remained silent, but Naruto could sense his answer.

"Yes, Ichigo isn't technically a Shinigami," Naruto agreed. "He's a human who can choose to manifest his spiritual power in his soul form."

"If he wanted..."

"He could awaken his Quincy blood and become a Quincy."

"He could harness his Hollow's power—the fact is, his Zanpakutō already represents his Hollow abilities."

"And he could also become a Fullbringer, as he has the potential for that as well."

Kurama was startled. "Wait, does he also have fragments of the Soul King inside him?"

He hadn't noticed this before.

Naruto didn't address that, instead continuing his explanation. "So Ichigo isn't inherently a Shinigami; it's a path he chose."

Kurama nodded in realization. He mused, "So Kugo Ginjo is similar?"

"Yes, but Ichigo is more unique than Kugo," Naruto replied, patting Kurama's head. "Kugo could have remained a Fullbringer, but he chose to become a Shinigami."

Kurama tilted his head. "So… why bring up Ichigo? That kid's not even here."

"Because in this way, Ichigo and I are the same," Naruto explained gently. "Ichigo chose to become a Shinigami. And I... I unknowingly chose the same."

Kurama squinted, unsure of what Naruto meant.

How could someone 'unknowingly' choose such a thing?

"I never actually died," Naruto added softly, his tone calm. "I simply appeared in soul form. And I chose to manifest my powers through a Zanpakutō."

Kurama was left in a daze.

Naruto patted his head once more, smiling. "What I mean is... I can't get these Asauchi to accept me in the same way other Shinigami would. My power as a Shinigami didn't come from the Asauchi recognizing me, but from my decision to be a Shinigami. I decided I would be a Shinigami, so I became one."

Kurama nodded in understanding.

Naruto extended his hand and pulled out Vortex from his side. He hadn't used its power since entering the Hōōden.

Because Ōetsu Nimaiya had said so.

He had been set a target from the start.

But this target, for him, was something impossible to achieve.

If his goal was unattainable...

Then it was time to follow his own will.

A wind began to blow within the Hōōden.

It swirled through the air, scattering the Asauchi and sending them drifting through the space.

"I chose to become a Shinigami."

Naruto laughed, his tone bright.

"So now, I should choose the Asauchi."

He extended his hand.

Seemingly aimless, he casually pointed a finger.

Following his innermost desire, guided by pure instinct...

Where he pointed, there was nothing.

But because Naruto had made the choice, something began to form there.

The wind seemed to carry light along with it.

Light poured in, and, like the Tyndall effect, visible beams illuminated the spot where Naruto had pointed, revealing what he had chosen.

It was a manifested Asauchi.

It looked nothing like the others. Instead, it resembled the form of Vortex's spirit from within Naruto's inner world.

And in that moment, the wind stilled.

Vortex's power faded, and its release ended, but unlike before, it didn't return to being a sword after Shikai ended.

It seemed to have vanished entirely, disappearing with the wind.

But Naruto didn't seem worried.

He smiled at the chosen Asauchi.

The rest of the Asauchi became still, no longer struggling.

They knew. Naruto knew.

They retreated, slipping back into the darkness of the hall, leaving behind only the one Asauchi that Naruto had chosen, kneeling before him and extending its hand in devotion.

Kurama's eyes widened.

He stood up, attempting to mimic Naruto by reaching out his hand toward one of the Asauchi still retreating into the shadows.

But Kurama's gesture...

Had no effect.

The Asauchi ignored him and disappeared into the darkness.

Outside the Hōōden

"What wild spiritual pressure," one of the female Zanpakutō spirits muttered, her lips curling. "Why didn't you take away their Zanpakutō before letting them into the hall?"

"Feels like the place is about to be destroyed."

Ōetsu Nimaiya shook his head. "What good would taking away his Zanpakutō do? That's Naruto's own power."

"Just as I suspected before."

"What's the point of taking it away?"

"Naruto-chan is the Captain of the 7th Division."

"This is going to get complicated."

The female Zanpakutō spirit turned to her master, confused by his sudden change in expression.

Ōetsu leaned forward, his gaze narrowing as he stared toward the distant, thatched hut with a serious look.

Before he could take another step...

The curtain was pulled back, and Kurama, now smaller, emerged from the hall, carrying Naruto and the chosen Asauchi on his back.

"I wanted to give you a proper welcome," Ōetsu greeted them, his tone full of emotion. "But I didn't expect..."

"It to turn out like this."

Though he hadn't been inside, this was his domain, and the Asauchi were all forged by his own hands.

He knew exactly what had happened inside.

And because of that, he was left in awe.

Naruto jumped down from Kurama's back and smiled.

Kurama grumbled and shrank further, curling up on Naruto's shoulder. He still couldn't understand how Naruto had casually chosen an Asauchi and even created one from nothing, while his own attempts had been completely ignored.

"The Soul King told us not to ask too many questions," Ōetsu said, circling Naruto. "Honestly, I've wondered about you and Ichigo Kurosaki before—why the two of you were so unique."

"The results here were something I had already considered."

"So I'm not surprised."

"But still…"

"I'm astonished it turned out this way."

"So, what's your choice?"

Naruto pointed at the Asauchi behind him. "Do I really need to answer that?"

"Looks like you have a lot of work ahead of you."

Ōetsu sighed, gazing at the Asauchi Naruto had chosen, which was unlike any ordinary one.

He knew then...

"Follow me." Ōetsu waved his hand toward the Hōōden, his tone growing serious, the playfulness disappearing. "Now, we'll begin reforging your blade."

A buzzing sound echoed as something rattled.

From the darkened space, a long, slide-like tube slowly extended from a portal.

"Slide down here," Ōetsu instructed solemnly. "Then, we'll officially begin the forging process."

Naruto grabbed Kurama and tossed him into the slide.

The orange fox let out a triumphant shout as he slid away.

Then Naruto followed alongside Ōetsu.

They slid for a long time, and after a steep drop, light began to appear at the end of the tunnel.

Naruto used his Flying Thunder God technique to jump ahead, landing behind Kurama.

Ōetsu arrived soon after, extending his arms. "Well? Impressed?"

Naruto followed his gesture, looking ahead.

It was water.

A vast expanse of water, suspended in mid-air like floating lakes.

"The reason the Hōōden was built on this cliff is because of what you see before you," Ōetsu said with pride. "Without these waters, we wouldn't be able to reforge your blade."

"However…"

"I should warn you."

"I'm confident in my skills at forging Zanpakutō."

"But your case is the first of its kind."

"Are you ready?"

Naruto nodded and glanced back at the chosen Asauchi behind him.

It may have looked almost identical to the other Asauchi and shared the same outward form, but its essence was entirely different.

Before now, before Naruto understood this truth, he had only used a portion of his power that could be shaped into a Shinigami's.

Just like he once told Aizen, he had unknowingly confined himself to a specific form.

But now...

He had realized his power was not limited to that of a Shinigami. It was simply the way he chose to manifest it in this world.

So...

The blade they would forge was not a typical Asauchi—it was a weapon uniquely tied to Naruto, representing his own distinct power.