Shinigami in the Ninja World

Chapter 152: Genius

Hitsugaya Tōshirō graduated, but he didn't break any records.

Naruto had graduated at a much younger age.

However...

In another matter, Tōshirō's performance exceeded everyone's expectations.

At the underground training ground of the 7th Division.

This was a facility that Naruto had excavated during this period for his and Nine-Tails's training.

It employed the technology of the 12th Division.

But the spells and barriers that enveloped the entire arena were all set up by Naruto himself.

At this moment, within the training ground.

Besides Naruto, there were Shiba Isshin, the newly appointed member of the 10th Division, Hitsugaya Tōshirō, and Nine-Tails.

Nine-Tails found what was about to happen more interesting than drinking with Shunsui.

Matsumoto Rangiku came skipping in, holding a piece of paper, her steps causing it to rustle loudly. "The application has been approved."

She landed beside the others and casually handed the application to her captain, then bent over, blinking as she studied Tōshirō. "Is it true?"

"I heard..."

"You've already mastered Bankai?"

Tōshirō raised his hand, pushing against Rangiku's forehead to keep her at a distance, tiptoeing as he did so. "Don't look at me like that."

"It's true."

Before joining the Gotei 13, there had been other prodigies who had mastered Bankai.

However...

He was the only one she had personally witnessed.

"Naruto hasn't even mastered Bankai yet," Rangiku muttered, glancing back and forth between the blonde and the white-haired boy.

Tōshirō was taken aback, looking at Naruto in surprise. "I thought you had to master Bankai to become a captain?"

"The essence of that rule is that only those with sufficient power can hold the position of captain," Shiba Isshin explained. "For most Shinigami, achieving Bankai is an essential step in passing that threshold."

Tōshirō nodded thoughtfully.

"And my Zanpakutō is a bit special," Naruto smiled, shaking his head. "I'm not in a hurry for that."

"Show us, Tōshirō."

Tōshirō sighed, resigning himself to the nickname, which he had reluctantly gotten used to by now.

With a sigh, he grasped the hilt of his sword: "You'd better keep your distance."

"My Zanpakutō is a bit dangerous."

Naruto and Shiba Isshin didn't move, watching him with smiles.

Rangiku, knowing her limits, didn't let her status as a drinking buddy of the captains fool her into thinking she was on their level.

She obediently retreated.

As she passed Naruto, she didn't forget to pluck Nine-Tails off her shoulder and cradle him in her arms.

"What are you trying to do, woman?" Nine-Tails struggled.

Rangiku spoke seriously: "Tōshirō is about to release Bankai."

"It's safer to be a bit farther away."

Nine-Tails scoffed, looking disdainful, but there was a hint of concern in his voice. "Do you think I'm afraid of some little white-haired kid's Bankai?"

"I'm the one who's afraid," Rangiku said as she gently pinched Nine-Tails's tail. "Those two captains don't have a clue about protecting me."

"Only the wise and mighty Nine-Tails-sama can keep me safe."

Nine-Tails's expression softened, and he proudly hummed twice: "Is that so?"

"Of course!" Rangiku said, reaching up to scratch his ears. "With your abilities, Nine-Tails-sama, you'll have no problem keeping me safe."

"Please, I'm counting on you."

Nine-Tails's expression became even more prideful: "Since you've requested it so earnestly, I'll reluctantly protect you this once."

"But when this is over..."

"You'll owe me some sake money from the izakaya."

Rangiku smiled sweetly, reaching out to scratch his chin: "Of course, Nine-Tails-sama."

Nine-Tails batted her hand away with a paw: "Don't push your luck, woman. I've already granted you a lot."

Rangiku sighed in disappointment, pulling her hand back to scratch his ears instead: "Yes, Nine-Tails-sama."

Nine-Tails hummed proudly.

Today was another day of maintaining his mighty and wise image.

Rangiku, content, continued to pet his ears and tail.

In front of them, Tōshirō drew his sword.

His young face was solemn and serious.

As his spiritual pressure surged, the temperature dropped by several degrees as soon as the sword left its sheath.

"Bankai, Daiguren Hyōrinmaru."

White waves surged, frost and ice danced.

The shape of the sword in his hand changed slightly.

The cross-guard took on the form of a six-pointed ice flower, a chain extended from the hilt, and the end of the chain was shaped like a crescent moon.

Behind Tōshirō, enormous wings of ice extended, with an ice dragon, still not fully formed, coiled around him.

Four ice flowers, each with sixteen petals, bloomed behind him in mid-air.

The temperature plummeted further.

Rangiku hugged Nine-Tails tighter.

As expected!

She knew his Zanpakutō could affect the weather, so she had the foresight to grab a "heating pad."

Nine-Tails just assumed she was scared.

"The scale is truly impressive," Shiba Isshin marveled. "But..."

"Does it have a time limit?"

His gaze fell on the ice flowers behind Tōshirō.

One of the petals was slowly wilting, breaking apart into tiny, sparkling fragments that scattered and vanished.

Tōshirō smiled, but didn't explain.

"Is it a countdown for the release?" Naruto leaned in, observing the ice flowers with a glimmer in his eyes.

Tōshirō turned to him, astonished.

"How did you figure that out?" he exclaimed.

Most people, seeing the petals fade away with the passage of time, would naturally assume it was a countdown, like Shiba Isshin had.

He hadn't intended to explain.

This was a valuable card in his hand.

If he played it right, it could yield unexpected results.

But...

What was with Uzumaki Naruto?

This youngest captain in the Soul Society not only possessed unparalleled potential, but now even that potential was being realized?

"Because we're quite similar," Naruto smiled.

Tōshirō was taken aback.

"It's complicated. I'm not sure how to explain it, and it's not easy to describe," Naruto said softly. "But that feeling of vibrant life, not yet fully matured, is unmistakable."

Hyōrinmaru's Bankai reminded Naruto of the burgeoning power within himself.

However...

There was a slight difference between them.

Tōshirō didn't have any other "Tailed Beasts" within him, so he could only rely on his own immense, yet not fully developed, power.

But for Naruto, he had Nine-Tails and Ashura within him.

Their power was immense, and the light they emitted obscured "his own power."

So...

He could take his time to choose, and wait for his own power to fully blossom.

Having been seen through, Tōshirō nodded candidly: "These ice flowers are a countdown to the full release."

"My spiritual pressure isn't strong enough to fully unleash Hyōrinmaru's power."

"It needs a gradual transition period."

Shiba Isshin nodded thoughtfully: "No wonder. I was wondering why your Zanpakutō seemed so far behind the Captain-Commander's."

He scratched his head and laughed.

Tōshirō, somewhat troubled, shook his head: "But what you said is still correct."

"For now, these ice flowers are indeed a countdown."

"My spiritual pressure isn't enough to sustain the Bankai until all sixteen petals have withered and the full power is released."

Shiba Isshin grew serious, waving a hand: "Even after mastering Bankai, you still need to train further."

"The power of a Bankai isn't something that's fully revealed right away."

He paused.

His gaze swept over Naruto, realizing that he couldn't use him as an example. This time, the usually reliable Captain Uzumaki couldn't be brought up.

Shiba Isshin thought hard for a moment: "It's like the Captain-Commander."

"His Zanpakutō, like yours, is also considered the strongest among the elemental types."

"The strongest fire-type Zanpakutō."

"At the beginning, his sword wasn't much stronger than my Engetsu."

"But after over a thousand years of training, now when the Captain-Commander releases his Bankai, it could melt the entire Soul Society."

This wasn't exactly a secret.

The Captain-Commander didn't hide his strength.

"Yes," Tōshirō nodded, his expression serious. "I'll be counting on you, Captain Shiba."

Shiba Isshin frowned, looking somewhat pained.

"Me?"

"I don't have much experience in teaching others."

As he spoke, his head turned almost instinctively towards Naruto.

"What do you want?" Naruto immediately grew wary, stepping back. "You want to hand Tōshirō over to me?"

"Don't put it like that," Shiba Isshin waved his hand. "Am I that kind of person?"

"Tōshirō is my subordinate."

"As his captain, it's my responsibility to train him well and make him into a pillar of strength."

Tōshirō was touched, his expression showing a hint of emotion.

Naruto's wariness deepened.

After being around Shiba Isshin for so long, Naruto knew him too well. This kind of attitude...

Sure enough, the conversation took a turn.

Shiba Isshin put his hands on his hips and shouted two words: "But!"

"Tōshirō is a genius."

"You're also a genius."

"A fool like me giving advice to a genius would just hinder their growth, wouldn't it?"

"Geniuses have more to discuss with each other."

Naruto sighed: "You'd say anything to shirk 'troublesome' tasks."

"Does your family know how much of an idiot you are?"

Shiba Isshin scratched his head, seeming proud: "They scold me way worse than I scold myself."

Suddenly, he clapped his hands: "Oh!"

"Just now, Naruto, you said Tōshirō is a lot like you, right?"

"If you're so similar, then why not grow together?"

Naruto sighed again.

He had suspected that Shiba Isshin went to the trouble of setting up the meeting at the 7th Division instead of the 10th because he had this idea in mind.

However...

Tōshirō's growth could also provide valuable insight for him.

"Captain Shiba," Naruto said.

Shiba Isshin immediately bowed: "If you agree, Naruto, I'll do whatever you want."

Tōshirō widened his eyes.

He wished he could go back and smack the version of himself that had been touched earlier.

Rangiku draped herself over Nine-Tails, yawning: "Tōshirō, you'll get used to it. This is how things are in the 10th Division."

~~~

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Shinigami in the Ninja World

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