Shinigami in the Ninja World

Chapter 222: Ashido and Muramasa

Shinigami needed permission to use the "Senkaimon," which at least officially allowed for the control of most Shinigami movements. However, controlling the movements of Hollows in Hueco Mundo was impossible.

Hollows were once human souls, born when the "Chain of Fate" consumed their souls. They were born into the World of the Living, and only by devouring enough souls did they become powerful enough to open a Garganta to Hueco Mundo.

Even if all the available forces of the Soul Society and Hueco Mundo were mobilized, it wouldn't be enough to monitor these Hollows, which could be born and leave at any moment.

Harribel remained silent, cautiously observing the young Shinigami who had already defeated Aizen.

"Two things." Naruto raised two fingers. "First, the Seireitei will register all Arrancar with captain-level power and above."

"Spiritual pressure, abilities, age..."

He put down one finger and continued, "Without the Seireitei's permission, no captain-level Arrancar or higher is allowed to engage in conflict."

Grimmjow sneered and scoffed, "So you're going to cage us?"

"Other than that, the Soul Society won't interfere with Hueco Mundo's affairs."

"Collaboration between Shinigami and Hollows..." Harribel said softly, narrowing her eyes.

Whether it was because of their inherently opposing roles as natural enemies or because of the recent war they had lost—even under Aizen's leadership—they had been defeated by the Shinigami.

In the eyes of the Shinigami, they were the "losers."

"What do you want to do?" Grimmjow asked quietly. "Are you trying to rule Hueco Mundo like Aizen?"

Naruto shook his head, glancing at him. "That's unrealistic."

Arrancar were still capable of communication.

But most Hollows were not.

Those creatures that fed on "souls" had no common ground with Shinigami. They thrived on devouring souls, and there was no way for them to coexist with Shinigami.

The key issue...

Once they became strong enough, Hollows didn't need to be at the level of a captain or vice-captain. Even high-level Hollows, comparable to fourth or fifth seats, could open Garganta and freely travel between the World of the Living, Hueco Mundo, and even the Soul Society.

Harribel spoke in a low voice, "Hueco Mundo is not as chaotic as you think."

"Before Aizen came, we had our own order."

Naruto said nothing, just stared at her.

The wind swirled around him, lifting a few grains of yellow sand.

Kurama yawned and chased after a few Hollow creatures nearby, which were also wearing masks, resembling armored insects.

"I understand." After a moment of silence, Harribel agreed, "But I want to handle this matter myself."

Naruto didn't hesitate and agreed, "Of course."

"Are you now the ruler of Hueco Mundo?"

He remembered this Arrancar vaguely. She was "No.3." In the previous battle, "No.1" and "No.2" had perished, so she should now be the strongest remaining Arrancar.

"Yes." Harribel nodded, speaking sparingly. "Give me three days."

Naruto smiled, used Shunpo, and grabbed Kurama by the neck.

"Are we leaving already?" Kurama jolted. "We just got here."

"I really don't want to see that grumpy old man right now."

Naruto shook his head and lowered his gaze. "No, we're going to meet someone interesting."

Kurama tilted its head.

It extended its senses but, compared to Naruto, found nothing particularly interesting.

Naruto stepped forward and disappeared, leaving the two Arrancar behind.

"Why did you agree with him?" Grimmjow scoffed, rubbing his body, still aching from the painful experiments Mayuri had subjected him to. "He's just a—"

Harribel cut him off, "We are the defeated."

"We are in no position to resist the victor's demands."

"You've fought him. You should understand how terrifying he is."

Grimmjow looked down.

That sealing technique... was indeed frightening.

During his years as a test subject, he had overheard Mayuri mention that when captain-level Shinigami entered the World of the Living, their spiritual pressure was sealed by "80%." Meaning, the Naruto Uzumaki they had encountered that night had only been using "one-fifth" of his true power.

One-fifth...

And it had left him utterly helpless.

"His promise can be trusted," Harribel said softly. "Even Aizen, in his moment of assured victory, still sought to recruit him."

Grimmjow said nothing. Using Sonido, he disappeared.

He wanted no part in this.

Naruto and Kurama arrived at the entrance of a cave in the desert.

"Isn't this the Forest of Menos that Captain Unohana mentioned?" Kurama asked, looking around.

The passage was filled with Hollows, but most were low-level, with spiritual pressures comparable to fourth or fifth seats.

Naruto nodded.

Kurama asked again, "What's so interesting about this place?"

"It's interesting because of one person," Naruto replied, walking inside.

The Forest of Menos lay beneath the sands, home to Hollows that had just returned from the World of the Living or weren't yet strong enough to claim territory on the surface alongside the Adjuchas.

A red-haired man, cloaked in fur with a Shinigami uniform underneath, moved cautiously through the forest.

His expression was grim.

The Hollows were fleeing.

Of course, fleeing wasn't unusual in itself—Menos often fought for territory, and weaker Hollows could only run away.

But this time, among the fleeing Hollows were Gillian and even Adjuchas.

The fact that Menos of that level were fleeing…

Could it be a Vasto Lorde?

Why would such a high-level being come to the Forest of Menos?

"Found you." A voice suddenly spoke from behind him, startling him so much that his back prickled with tension.

He instinctively turned and slashed with his sword.

"Quite the direct attack."

The voice was gentle, and the figure had not moved.

The red-haired Shinigami stared at his blade, his eyes narrowing.

An attack strong enough to severely wound an Adjuchas had been stopped by two fingers.

Following his gaze, his expression froze.

Shihakush?…

A white haori…

With two Zanpakut? at the waist.

Was it Captain Ky?raku? Or Captain Ukitake?

He trembled, slowly lifting his head to see an unfamiliar face—young, calm, and strong. His golden hair seemed to light up this dim, desolate Forest of Menos like a beacon.

An unfamiliar captain…

But he was too young.

Still, his strength was undeniable.

He had spent years honing his skills in the Forest of Menos, and even though he had learned *bankai,* he felt overwhelming pressure from this captain.

The sheer force that had driven the Hollows to flee…

This captain was stronger than ordinary captains.

"A Shinigami in a place like this?" Kurama jumped onto Naruto's shoulder, eyeing the red-haired man in front of them. "Did you wander in here by mistake?"

The red-haired man tilted his head, focusing on the fox—especially since it too was wearing a Shihakush?.

In the centuries since he had left the Soul Society…

Foxes could become Shinigami?

Had things changed that much?

"What's your name? Which division were you from?" Naruto asked him. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki, Captain of the 7th Division."

"This is my vice-captain, Kurama."

The red-haired man stood straight. "I was once the third seat of the 13th Division, Ashido."

He paused, then added two words: "Formerly."

"How did you end up here?" Naruto asked again.

Ashido glanced at the barren forest. "My comrades and I were on a mission to eliminate Hollows in the World of the Living. When we saw them fleeing, we followed them through a Garganta."

"I've been here ever since, endlessly fighting Hollows."

"My comrades..."

"They're all gone. I'm the only one left."

Naruto looked at him. "How long has it been?"

"Three hundred? Maybe four hundred years?" Ashido shook his head. "I've lost track."

Kurama was impressed. "That long?"

"That's amazing."

It was both a compliment to his resilience and a recognition of his strength.

Even if the Vasto Lorde didn't visit this place, it was still teeming with Gillian and Adjuchas. Even without their Arrancar forms, the sheer number of them would be too much for a vice-captain, even one with *bankai,* to survive here for so long.

"Captain Uzumaki and Vice-Captain Kurama, did you wander in here as well?" Ashido asked.

The title "Vice-Captain Kurama" made the fox wag its tail and smile, looking at the rugged red-haired Shinigami with newfound appreciation.

He knew how to flatter.

Naruto smiled. "We're here on a mission."

"The Seireitei has developed technology to open Garganta, allowing us to travel between the Soul Society and Hueco Mundo."

"Would you like to return?"

Ashido opened his mouth but hesitated, lowering his head, clearly conflicted. After a long pause, he asked, "Is the 11th Division still led by Captain Kuruyashiki?"

Naruto shook his head. "The current captain is Kenpachi Zaraki, the 11th Kenpachi."

Ashido was stunned.

The 11th generation?

His dear friend had only been the 7th Kenpachi.

Five generations apart.

If the captains had changed so much, what about the regular soldiers?

"The 13th Division is still led by Ukitake," Naruto added.

Ashido shook his head. "I'll stay here."

"I've lived here longer than I ever lived in the Seireitei."

"I've gotten used to this life."

The Seireitei wasn't the same place he had known.

"Are you sure you don't want to return?" Naruto asked, pulling out a scroll and summoning a communication device, which he handed over. "This is a device developed by the 12th Division. It allows for communication across worlds. I think you might find it useful."

Ashido was surprised and accepted it.

"My mission is to oversee the management of Hueco Mundo," Naruto continued. "I've been trying to figure out how to handle it."

"Whether to leave Hueco Mundo autonomous or to work with Captain Ukitake to establish a special task force to monitor it."

"The former option feels too uncertain."

"And for the latter, it's difficult to find the right people."

Pausing, Naruto met his gaze. "Then I found you."

"If you want to stay in Hueco Mundo, why not take on this task? What do you think?"

Ashido was still in shock, staring at Naruto.

"I..." After a long pause, he shook his head. "I've been away from the Seireitei for so long."

He was torn, struggling internally.

Naruto smiled. "This is an important matter. Even those trusted must go through the 2nd Division for screening."

"But you're the most suitable."

"And right now, the Seireitei needs you."

Ashido looked up in confusion. "The Seireitei... needs me?"

"A Shinigami who has lived in Hueco Mundo, holding firm to his beliefs, fighting against Hollows and Menos for hundreds of years, alone." Naruto's voice was gentle. "Beyond the symbolic significance this would have for the morale of Shinigami everywhere…"

"A hero like you shouldn't be hidden away."

Ashido was even more confused. "I'm a hero?"

"Isn't that obvious?" Naruto smiled, his words phrased as a question but spoken with certainty.

All the confusion and hesitation in Ashido's eyes disappeared with that one sentence. He nodded. "I understand, Captain Uzumaki."

"I'll do my best."

Kurama pondered.

So this was the interesting person Naruto had mentioned?

While Naruto was busy sorting out the Arrancar in Hueco Mundo...

In the Soul Society.

At the 1st Division barracks.

Yamamoto suddenly opened his eyes. "Come out!"

"Still as sharp as ever, Captain-Commander." A brown-haired man appeared slowly, meeting his gaze, his eyes cold. "Just a slight spiritual pressure fluctuation, and you're on alert."

Yamamoto's face turned serious. "Muramasa."

"What are you doing here?"

It wasn't a distant memory.

The man before him was the spirit of a Zanpakut? called "Muramasa."

His ability was lethal to Shinigami.

This Zanpakut? could "turn" other Shinigami's Zanpakut?s against their owners.

Muramasa raised his hand. "More than a hundred years have passed, and I still haven't been able to communicate with K?ga."

"Recently, I sensed a massive, violent spiritual pressure. Did a war break out?"

"K?ga still didn't use my power."

"When I finally came out to investigate, I realized he wasn't unwilling to use it…"

"He's been sealed."

"By you."

Yamamoto responded calmly, "His abilities and thoughts were too dangerous."

"That was not just my decision but also the decision of the Kuchiki family…"

"What does that have to do with me?" Muramasa gathered spiritual pressure in his palm, forming an invisible blade aimed at Yamamoto. "Let's see what method you used."

Yamamoto sighed. "Why force this?"

With a flick of his wrist, his staff transformed into its Zanpakut? form.

But…

Muramasa's attack wasn't physical—it was a mental assault.

He aimed to read Yamamoto's memories.

"I won't let you succeed." Yamamoto expanded his spiritual pressure, forming a square barrier around him.

He sat motionless, sealing off his inner world.

Muramasa's ability was rendered ineffective.

Whether it was trying to sway the Captain-Commander's mind or affect Ry?jin Jakka, it was blocked by this barrier.

However…

This barrier had a side effect.

Yamamoto, like a stone, sat in a meditative state, unmoving.

Muramasa approached, reaching out with his spiritual pressure to pry open the barrier.

But even the slightest spiritual pressure fluctuation triggered Yamamoto's instincts, sending flames roaring toward him.

~~~

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