Pogang Kazuyoshi nodded, "Of course, we'll be heading to the Fourth Division. Captain Hirako, let's go together."
"The rest of us have sustained injuries," he added.
In the Gotei 13, the divisions each have specific duties. The Fourth Division is responsible for medical care, while the Second Division handles punishment and interrogation—definitely not a place anyone wanted to end up.
"Hirako, grab this kid's sword," Hirako Shinji instructed, dragging Naruto along by the back of his shirt as if he were a misbehaving fox cub. Despite the informal order, Aizen Sousuke didn't seem irritated. He simply walked over to the rubble, where he noticed something that made him pause. He turned his head and asked, "Excuse me, Headmaster Pogang, did any of you lose your Zanpakutō to this Uzumaki Naruto?"
Pogang Kazuyoshi shook his head. "No, why do you ask, Vice-Captain Aizen?"
Aizen bent down and picked up two swords buried beneath the debris. One was dark red, and the other was a standard Asauchi.
"There are two swords here," he said. Holding the dark red one in his left hand, he remarked, "This must be his Zanpakutō, right? It's quite beautiful. But what about this one?" He held up the Asauchi in his right hand, asking, "Did someone drop this?"
Pogang Kazuyoshi looked puzzled, then nodded toward a nearby Shinigami who was still relatively unscathed. "I'll investigate right away to see if any students have reported a missing Asauchi."
The Shinigami nodded and hurried off to check.
Pogang Kazuyoshi then took both the Asauchi and the dark red sword, saying, "No need to trouble you further, Vice-Captain Aizen. Since we're headed to the Fourth Division anyway, I'll keep these with me."
Aizen smiled warmly. "Thank you, Headmaster. I appreciate it."
The Fourth Division's headquarters was located in a quiet and remote part of Seireitei. Naruto's condition seemed to be more complex than initially thought. While Vice-Captain Yamada Kiyone initially took charge, he quickly called in the Fourth Division Captain, Unohana Retsu.
Outside the examination room, more people began to gather.
The Shinigami from Shin'o Academy came and went, reporting back on the Asauchi investigation.
Also present were Kyoraku Shunsui, the laid-back Eighth Division Captain, who wore a pink kimono over his uniform, and Sasakibe Chojiro, the proper and dignified Vice-Captain of the First Division.
"Is the treatment still ongoing?" Kyoraku Shunsui asked softly, his gaze resting on the sword in Pogang Kazuyoshi's hands. "Does that sword place such a heavy burden on its wielder?"
Hirako Shinji shook his head. "It's not the treatment. Captain Unohana said the boy's body is… unusual, and she's still investigating."
Kyoraku Shunsui raised an eyebrow. "Unusual?"
Hirako shrugged. "I have no idea. You know I'm useless with Kaidō."
As they spoke, the door slid open, and Yamada Kiyone emerged, respectfully addressing the gathered Captains. "Captains, please come in. Captain Unohana has something to discuss."
They all moved to enter the room. As Aizen made to follow, Hirako stopped him.
"Sousuke, you stay outside," Hirako instructed, poking his head back out the door. "Just in case someone or something tries to barge in where it shouldn't."
Aizen paused but didn't seem upset. With his usual gentle smile, he replied, "Of course, Captain Hirako."
He showed no outward displeasure about being left out, at least on the surface.
Inside the room, Naruto was already awake, though he sat with his head down, looking despondent on the examination bed.
"Vice-Captain Sasakibe is here as well?" Unohana Retsu noted in surprise.
"Captain-Commander Yamamoto is also concerned about this situation," Sasakibe Chojiro replied directly.
Unohana nodded, and Pogang Kazuyoshi, who was particularly concerned given his connection to Naruto, quickly asked, "Captain Unohana, what's wrong with Naruto's body? Is the release of his Zanpakutō causing harm?"
Unohana shook her head gently. "Uzumaki's body isn't harmed, but it is peculiar."
She paused, her gaze drifting to Naruto's midsection.
"Although Uzumaki has told me many things, it's easiest to explain using my understanding first."
"The boy's body contains an extraordinarily powerful spiritual pressure, far exceeding that of a typical Captain—at least of 'Second Rank' level."
"Second Rank Spiritual Power?" Kyoraku Shunsui echoed, shocked.
"Is it a Hollow?" Hirako Shinji speculated, recalling the energy he sensed when he first encountered Naruto and the techniques that resembled a Hollow's Cero.
Unohana shook her head again. "No, it's not a Hollow."
"Vice-Captain Yamada mentioned the reactions of Captain Hirako and Headmaster Pogang. Although I didn't witness the events myself, it seems the unsettling aura you felt was simply due to an overwhelming surge of emotion."
As she spoke, her gaze briefly flicked over her Zanpakutō.
"The energy within Uzumaki's body isn't from a Hollow, nor is it as malevolent as he described. On the contrary, it's a pure, vibrant force—almost brimming with life. It seems well-suited for healing arts; even without casting a spell, its mere presence has a regenerative effect."
"I believe there's been a misunderstanding about its nature."
Pogang Kazuyoshi sighed in relief. "Thank goodness. If there's no harm to the body or soul…"
Hirako Shinji raised an eyebrow, glancing back at the door. "So, it's not like Jushiro, then?"
Kyoraku Shunsui frowned at the mention. "You mean like Ukitake?"
Ukitake Jushiro, the Thirteenth Division Captain, was one of the few Shinigami with a "Dual Zanpakutō," but he also bore a fragment of the Soul King, which had made his body frail.
Unohana shook her head. "No, it's not the same. Although there are similarities in the nature of these entities, Uzumaki's situation is different."
She paused before continuing. "The energy within Uzumaki's body is intact, yet it's also… incomplete."
Even Kyoraku Shunsui was confused. "Intact yet incomplete?"
"How does that even make sense?" Pogang Kazuyoshi asked, perplexed.
Unohana explained, "It seems that the energy within his body is part of a pair—a complete entity missing its counterpart. Like one half of a whole."
"A counterpart?" Pogang Kazuyoshi suddenly thought of something and exchanged a glance with Kyoraku Shunsui before raising the two swords in his hands. "Captain Unohana, we've confirmed that no one in the academy has reported a missing Asauchi. This sword appeared alongside Naruto's 'Nine-Tails.' Could it be that Naruto actually possesses a dual Zanpakutō?"
"A third pair in the Soul Society?"
Unohana considered this theory, though it didn't sit quite right with her. "It's possible. We have few examples of dual Zanpakutō, but it's the most plausible explanation."
Naruto, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up. "So, 'Nine-Tails' might not be its real name?"
"It's rare, but yes, a Zanpakutō might give a false name if it doesn't fully recognize its wielder or their power," Unohana explained gently. "In such cases, the Shinigami can only use part of the sword's true strength, or perhaps even an entirely different power."
"It's likely that your spiritual power was strong enough to awaken the Zanpakutō, but for some reason, it revealed an incorrect name to you. Perhaps your spiritual pressure, though significant, isn't enough to fully control its power."
Naruto listened carefully. This was new information—stuff even Captain Unohana hadn't told him directly before.
"A false name…"
"But what about the missing half?" Pogang Kazuyoshi wondered aloud, still staring at the two swords.
Unohana hesitated, then nodded. "For now, we can only assume that Naruto's spiritual pressure is divided between these two swords. One half has awakened as 'Nine-Tails,' while the other remains dormant, waiting for the right time or circumstances to be released."
Kyoraku Shunsui shook his head. "I've never heard of dual Zanpakutō awakening separately. Jushiro and I both released ours simultaneously."
"This is a very unusual case," Unohana acknowledged, smiling softly. "For now, we'll keep Naruto in the Fourth Division for observation. I need to monitor his condition closely."
She picked up a folded piece of paper from the bedside table and handed it to Sasakibe Chojiro. "Please deliver this to the Captain-Commander. It contains information on the seal I found in Naruto's body—a seal unlike any we've seen before. According to Uzumaki, this is a technique from the World of the Living, not connected to the Quincy or any known spiritual practice."
She emphasized the word "any," ensuring the gravity of the situation was clear.
(End of Chapter)