After Sasakibe Chojiro left, having delivered the answers that the Captain-Commander sought, the mood in the room shifted slightly. Pogang Kazuyoshi walked over to Naruto's bedside, placing the two swords down gently.
"Don't blame yourself," he said softly, attempting to comfort the young Shinigami. "And don't fear this power, even though it was a surprise, and you did give us quite the beating."
Naruto lifted his head, meeting Pogang's gaze. The older Shinigami was taken aback. The blue eyes staring back at him were not filled with fear, hesitation, or regret. Instead, they were steady and determined. Naruto was stronger than he had imagined.
"I'm not resisting it," Naruto replied, clenching his fists. "I just wish… I were a little stronger."
Pogang laughed, ruffling Naruto's hair roughly. "You cheeky brat!"
Even Unohana Retsu and Kyoraku Shunsui were surprised by Naruto's response. It wasn't the kind of answer they expected from someone so young—both in life and afterlife. His words showed maturity, strength, and reliability beyond his years. They were prepared to help a talented but inexperienced boy grow, but seeing this resolve made their task even more promising.
"That's the spirit!" Hirako Shinji chimed in, though his usual tone gave the encouragement a slightly sarcastic edge. "I thought you'd be crying into the headmaster's arms by now."
Naruto shot him a look of mild disdain before turning to Unohana. "Captain Unohana, how can I control the power of the Nine-Tails without losing control?"
"You need to continue practicing Jinzen and make contact with your Zanpakutō spirit," Unohana replied with a gentle smile. "There's no rush; you're still young, and we have plenty of time to figure this out."
"I've already done it," Naruto said calmly, surprising the room.
Unohana looked puzzled. "You've already done it?"
Naruto nodded, pointing to his chest. "I saw it during my first Jinzen."
"How many spirits did you see?" Kyoraku asked, his tone serious.
"Just one," Naruto replied, confused by the question.
Kyoraku hummed thoughtfully. "For those of us with dual blades, we have two spirits, not just one."
"The names of our Zanpakutō reflect that," he continued. "Like my *Katen Kyokotsu* and Ukitake's *Sōgyo no Kotowari.*"
"Nine-Tails might not be a false name, but an incomplete one—like Captain Unohana mentioned, missing its other half."
"Two spirits?" Naruto tilted his head in confusion. In the vast inner world he had explored, he had only encountered the Nine-Tails.
"I suspect the reason you can only release one of your Zanpakutō is because the one you've released is simply too powerful," Kyoraku explained. He held up his hands, forming two identical spheres of energy. "Ukitake and I share our power equally, allowing both our swords to shine."
Then, his left hand's sphere grew brighter, outshining the right. The right sphere became barely visible, its light overwhelmed by the left's intensity. "See what I mean?"
Naruto quickly caught on. "The light from the Nine-Tails is so overwhelming that it overshadows the other Zanpakutō's light, making it hard for me to notice?"
"Exactly," Kyoraku said as he dispersed the energy. "So your task now is to continue practicing Jinzen, to find that other spirit. That may allow you to balance the power of the Nine-Tails and uncover its full name."
Naruto nodded, absorbing the explanation. He would need to find the other half of his inner power.
"We'll also continue investigating that strange seal on your body," Unohana added with a reassuring smile. "But don't feel rushed."
Naruto looked at the gathered Captains, then back at Pogang Kazuyoshi. He let out a long breath, releasing the frustration that had been building up inside him.
It was clear to him now that the Soul Society was a much more comforting place than Konoha had ever been.
Naruto spent half a month under Unohana's care. Once she confirmed that his emotional state was stable and wouldn't lead to further outbursts, he was allowed to return to Shin'o Academy.
The process for early graduation had already begun, and Naruto now faced the challenge of completing six years' worth of coursework in less than a year. In addition to the core studies of Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō, he also had to master the specialized subjects necessary for a Shinigami—covert operations, medical rescue, intelligence gathering, and combat purification.
Though daunting, the curriculum wasn't as difficult for Naruto as one might expect. Many of the subjects were similar to what he had studied at the Ninja Academy in Konoha. However, there was one significant difference: Unohana had insisted that Naruto take an additional course in healing techniques, something typically reserved for Fourth Division members.
Naruto had tried to decline, but every time he thought about refusing, an ominous feeling crept up his spine. Despite her gentle demeanor, there was something about Captain Unohana that he didn't want to cross.
Naruto also mastered the Shadow Clone Jutsu, a skill he had learned back in Konoha. Although his feelings towards the Third Hokage had soured, he couldn't deny that the old man had good instincts—this technique suited him perfectly.
As his studies progressed, everything seemed to be going well, except for one nagging issue: he still hadn't located his second Zanpakutō. Each time he attempted Jinzen, only the Nine-Tails responded. When he asked the fox spirit if it was withholding its true name, it would only growl in frustration and kick him out of the inner world.
However, over time, the Nine-Tails seemed to calm down, allowing for more conversations with Naruto. The fox admitted that "Nine-Tails" wasn't its real name, but it stubbornly refused to reveal the true one.
Six months passed, and Naruto saw the Fifth Division Vice-Captain, Aizen Sousuke, more than anyone else. Aizen was kind and patient, visiting Naruto nearly every week to help him improve his Kidō skills. But no matter how much Naruto appreciated Aizen's guidance, he found himself strangely drawn to Hirako Shinji, whose blunt and unfiltered attitude felt oddly reassuring.
Another frequent visitor was Unohana Retsu, who continued to check on Naruto's condition.
One day, while Naruto was training alone in the gym, Pogang Kazuyoshi approached him.
"Naruto, a Captain is here to see you. Follow me."
Naruto stopped his training, curious. "A Captain?"
Pogang rarely used such a formal title unless it was someone unfamiliar to Naruto.
"It's the newly appointed Captain of the Twelfth Division, Urahara Kisuke," Pogang explained. "He seems to have figured something out."
They made their way to the office. As soon as they knocked and entered, Naruto was greeted by an unfamiliar voice.
"Hey there, Uzumaki! I've heard so much about you, but this is the first time we're meeting."
Naruto turned to see a man with short, pale yellow hair wearing a Captain's haori. Unlike the other Captains Naruto had met, this one lacked the imposing aura. In fact, he looked rather…weak. There was a sense of vulnerability about him, almost as if he were an easy target.
The office wasn't empty; a dark-skinned woman with a laid-back posture sat on the desk, her legs crossed, yawning.
The pale-haired man approached Naruto. "Let me introduce myself. I'm Urahara Kisuke, Captain of the Twelfth Division and head of the Department of Research and Development."
He gestured dismissively toward the woman. "And this… well, just ignore her."
"Watch it, Urahara!" the woman growled, leaping up to punch him square in the head. "Introduce me properly!"
Urahara rubbed his head sheepishly. "This is Captain Shihōin Yoruichi of the Second Division. She's very interested in your little fox spirit."
"And we might need her help for what comes next."
With that, Urahara's demeanor shifted, becoming more serious. "I've got some ideas about your seal and what's been troubling you, but this isn't the best place to discuss it."
"If you're up for it, why don't you come with us?"
(End of Chapter)