Shinigami in the Ninja World (Naruto x Bleach)

[This chapter is proudly sponsored by “Benjamin Mével.” Please join me in expressing your thanks in the comments! If you're interested in sponsoring a chapter, consider joining the Patreon.]

Amidst the crowd, a little boy broke free from his mother’s hand and ran out.

He imitated the man who performed a "dogeza" and knelt before Naruto, speaking loudly and earnestly: "Hero-sama, can you stay in our village?"

Naruto looked at him, "You want me to stay?"

"Pirates..." The boy seemed to have exhausted all his strength just to make this request, and now his voice was weak and small. "There are more pirates than just those people."

"Our village gets raided by pirates every few days."

"Even if we move somewhere else, they will find us."

"My father was killed by other pirates."

"Hero-sama! Please stay in the village and protect us!"

Naruto shook his head without hesitation: "Why should I stay?"

The boy raised his head, somewhat puzzled. He had clearly just explained the reason: "Because there will be more pirates! They will come to raid our village and kill the other villagers..."

Naruto met his gaze and nodded slightly: "Yes, there will be more pirates."

"I killed this group today, but in a few days, another group will appear."

"Even if I kill all the pirates now, new people will become pirates in a few years."

The boy was confused and didn’t quite understand these words.

"If I stay to protect you, how long should I stay?" Naruto asked him, "Pirates will always exist, so should I stay forever?"

The boy opened his mouth.

He wanted to say, "Why not?"

But...

Such words were hard to utter.

"I have my own things to do as well," Naruto said softly, his tone gentle. "Things that are very important to me."

"Things that are just as important as your desire to protect the village."

The boy’s eyes reddened, and he clenched his fists anxiously.

"Why do you ask others to protect you?" Naruto squatted down, raised his hand, and patted the boy’s head. "If you want results, why not do it yourself?"

"If you want to protect yourself and the people you care about."

"Use your own hands."

The boy bit his lip hard, "But... I don't have that kind of power."

Naruto said nothing more and performed a hand sign to cast a jutsu.

"Ninja Art, Summoning Technique."

He summoned two blank scrolls.

After writing something on them, he placed them in front of the boy.

The boy looked at the scrolls, then looked up at Naruto with confusion in his eyes.

"Can you read?" Naruto asked him.

The boy shook his head: "I can’t yet, but the village chief can."

Naruto patted his head: "Then first learn to read."

"And then study the content on the scrolls."

"They contain Chakra Refinement techniques, and some skills in Taijutsu and Kenjutsu."

"Work hard to become strong."

After saying that, he stood up and left with Karin.

The boy stood up, clutching the scrolls, and bowed deeply to him, shouting loudly, "Thank you, Hero-sama!"

In his eyes, that head of golden hair gleamed brilliantly, like the sun.

Naruto did not look back, only waved at him.

The two left the village.

Karin tilted her head and stared at Naruto: "Are we not going to be ninjas anymore?"

"Why be a ninja?" Naruto asked in return.

Karin looked ahead: "I thought you wanted to rebuild the Land of Whirlpools and restore Whirlpool Village."

Naruto softly repeated the phrase: "Restore Whirlpool Village, huh."

"Maybe someday, maybe not."

"But before I make that decision, I need to understand one thing first."

Karin kicked a stone on the roadside: "What do you need to understand?"

"What is the meaning of a ninja's existence?" Naruto took a big step forward.

This is a question that is often overlooked but is very meaningful.

In the Soul Society, the question "What is the meaning of a Shinigami's existence?" has a clear answer.

It is to maintain the stability of the "Three Worlds."

The Human World, the Soul Society, and Hueco Mundo…

This is the "three realms" that construct an entire "world."

But what is the purpose of a ninja’s existence?

In the education of Konoha...

The meaning of "ninja" is to complete missions.

The education Karin received in Grass Village was not much different.

However...

This is only the meaning of a "ninja" as a "tool," not the meaning of a ninja itself.

Karin lowered her head and looked at her clothes.

She thought, actually, there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with not being a ninja. It’s just that since her mother was a ninja, she instinctively thought she was born to be one too.

In the few days since leaving Konoha with Naruto, she hasn’t been living like a ninja at all.

Her attire also doesn’t have the flavor of a ninja.

But these past few days have been the happiest and most carefree of her life.

So, maybe I shouldn’t be a ninja.

She quickened her pace, following behind Naruto.

On their journey to find the "Ninja Village Ruins," they came to realize one fact: this land is full of bandits.

There is hardly any room for good people here.

Whenever they encountered others, those people were always in conflict.

Naruto and Karin would observe from the side.

If both sides were evil, Naruto would pass by and ignore them.

But if one side was bullying the other, Naruto would step in to stop it.

Konoha Coast.

“To think even he could find Zetsu,” Kisame opened a scroll, reading the intelligence, “Is his sensory ability really that strong?”

“They’re heading for the Land of Whirlpools...”

Uchiha Itachi didn’t respond, gazing out at the distant, barely visible island.

“Let’s go, Itachi. It seems your previous judgment was a bit off.” Kisame put away the scroll, “The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki’s departure wasn’t some fake news put out by Konoha to mislead people.”

“However... Zetsu said he’s very strong.”

“The news about him killing Orochimaru is probably not false either.”

“To have strength comparable to the Sannin at such a young age, he’s really not to be underestimated.”

Itachi’s tone was calm: “There’s nothing that can’t be underestimated.”

“Our mission isn’t necessarily to capture the Nine-Tails right now.”

“The organization isn’t ready yet.”

“If we can’t take him now, then let’s gather as much information on the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki as possible.”

“Our understanding of him is currently a blank slate.”

Kisame shook his head: “You’re really rational, Itachi.”

They boarded a boat, heading towards the Land of Whirlpools.

At that moment, Naruto and Karin also arrived at the ruins of "Whirlpool Village."

This place was even more dilapidated than all the other towns and villages they had passed through.

Buildings had collapsed, and totems had crumbled.

Only a few moss-covered stone pillars still had remnants of the Uzumaki clan's totem visible.

“There’s nothing of value left here.” Karin sifted through parts of the ruins, only uncovering some skeletal remains.

These remains were just severed hands, fingers, and other incomplete parts.

There were no intact corpses.

“Ninja corpses” are very valuable, and when those who attacked the Uzumaki clan left, they took the bodies with them.

As for the records stored in the village... there's no need to even mention them.

Naruto didn’t speak. He crouched in front of a stone tablet, brushing off the moss: “It’s not completely without value.”

“Look at this.”

Karin leaned in closer.

The stone tablet was inscribed with text, roughly recording the history of "Whirlpool Village."

Led by the clan leader “Uzumaki Ashina,” the Uzumaki clan took root here and established "Whirlpool Village."

“This information isn’t of any use to you.” Karin muttered, her tone disappointed.

Naruto shook his head: “Maybe there are other stone tablets that record what I need.”

“Let’s keep looking.”