Shinigami in the Ninja World (Naruto x Bleach)

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Zaraki Kenpachi grinned wickedly, filled with excitement and intense desire. "Come again!"

"Either let me be killed by you..."

"Or... let me kill you!"

Naruto calmly looked at him.

Mind's Eye of the Kagura feedback confirmed that this statement was sincere.

However, he no longer had any reason to continue fighting.

The power wrapped in Ashura had absorbed enough nourishment. It needed time to settle, digest these nutrients, and then foster even greater strength.

"I gained a lot from fighting you," Naruto smiled at him.

Zaraki Kenpachi charged forward with his sword.

His physical injuries and depleted energy made it difficult for him to control his spiritual pressure with precision. Every step he took in the air caused the void to crack, spreading like a spider's web.

His maniacal laughter drowned out the buzzing of his spiritual pressure.

"But this is the end." Naruto raised both hands, pressing his palms together. "They're already impatiently waiting."

Golden chains shot out from behind him, snaking through the air like tails.

With a rapid burst, they flew toward Zaraki Kenpachi, twisting around him and binding his limbs tightly.

Kenpachi's eyes widened in disbelief.

No more cutting? This kind of binding spell wasn't nearly as fun as hacking people apart!

He struggled with all his might.

The spiritual pressure consumed by their blade clash, along with his physical wounds, left him far from his original state.

Yet, even so, the golden chains creaked under the strain, barely holding.

Naruto's expression remained unchanged as he began to chant.

"Bakudō #61. Rikujōkōrō (六杖光牢, Six Rods Prison of Light)."

Six rods of light shot out from his palms, further restraining Zaraki Kenpachi’s hands and embedding themselves into his waist and abdomen.

"Bakudō #75. Gochūtekkan (五柱鉄貫, Five-Pillared Iron Weights)."

Five massive iron pillars appeared from the sky, descending rapidly like meteors, striking his head and limbs, slamming his body into the ground with tremendous impact.

Naruto extended his hands again.

White strips of cloth flew out from his sleeves, wrapping the spiky-haired man from foot to head, binding him tightly.

Kenpachi's eyes, still uncovered, stared at Naruto in disbelief.

Not exhausted yet, but no more cutting? The battle was over.

Naruto sheathed his sword and withdrew his spiritual pressure.

The onlookers, now free to move, finally approached to carry away the wounded and clean up the debris.

Several Shinigami dressed in black Shihakushō swiftly appeared using Shunpo at that moment.

They reached out, intending to seize Zaraki Kenpachi.

But just as one of them extended a hand, another hand grabbed the wrist.

The rest were swept away by something resembling a golden whip.

The one whose wrist was caught turned back.

The owner of the hand was the captain of the 7th Division who had just fought the sealed man. His usually gentle face was devoid of any smile at this moment. "2nd Division, what does this mean?"

"Captain Uzumaki." Another figure approached swiftly—a female Shinigami with short hair, wearing a sleeveless captain's haori. "We need to take this criminal away."

Naruto turned to look at her.

It was the successor of Yoruichi, the current captain of the 2nd Division, Suì-Fēng (or …).

"You want to take away my spoils of war?" he spoke, his tone calm.

Suì-Fēng paused, her tone serious. "According to the orders of Central 46, such a dangerous criminal must be handed over to the Onmitsukidō for imprisonment."

"Is that so?" Naruto released his grip on the man. "But I disagree."

Suì-Fēng narrowed her eyes, bending her waist and placing her hand on her sword hilt.

But before she could speak, her vision suddenly blurred.

The golden figure disappeared, and behind her, a hand reached out, pressing down on her own, forcing the barely drawn blade back into its sheath.

"The successor of Yoruichi hasn’t inherited even a fraction of her charm, it seems," the voice was nearly in her ear.

Suì-Fēng turned her head, eyes wide with shock.

When did this happen? Such speed in Shunpo!

Even after experiencing a battle of that magnitude, he could still move this fast.

"Don't mention that woman who neglected her duties to me!" But more than the speed, what pierced her heart was the mention of that name and the affectionate tone. She growled in anger, glaring fiercely at Naruto.

Naruto smiled slightly. "I'll deal with this man named Zaraki Kenpachi."

He walked forward, brushing past Suì-Fēng.

"As for the 2nd Division, return to your duties."

Suì-Fēng remained silent.

She glared at Naruto's back, teeth clenched.

"Jin'emon," Naruto called out a name.

Kotsubaki Jin'emon immediately appeared by his captain's side using Shunpo.

"Make a list of all the wounded in this mission and grant them appropriate paid leave," Naruto instructed softly. "If they have any unfinished tasks, assign them to others who are uninjured."

"If manpower is insufficient, borrow from the 6th and 10th Divisions."

"Make sure their respective compensation is not reduced."

Kotsubaki Jin'emon nodded, respectfully responding, "Yes, Captain Uzumaki."

Naruto turned his head slightly, looking at the small pink-haired girl surrounded by members of the 7th and 2nd Divisions. "Bring her over too. I'll take her with me."

Kotsubaki Jin'emon looked in the same direction.

He raised a hand and gestured.

The members of the 7th Division immediately brought the pink-haired girl over.

She wasn't frightened at all, standing on tiptoe as she sized up Naruto. "Golden-Haired Little Sunshine, you're a good person!"

"Ken-chan hasn't been this happy in a long time."

Naruto hadn't fully grown yet; his height was just over 160 cm, but the pink-haired little girl beside him was even shorter, barely reaching his waist.

Naruto reached out, grabbed the back of her collar, and lifted her up. "This fight was really fun for me too."

"But you did injure quite a few of my squad members, so you still need to face punishment."

"What's your name?"

The pink-haired little girl obediently answered while being held by Naruto, "Yachiru. Kusajishi Yachiru, that's the name Ken-chan gave me."

Naruto nodded, and with a stretch of his other hand, the bandaged sword of Zaraki Kenpachi flew back into his grasp.

Dragging the two of them, he used Shunpo to leave.

Soi Fon (... this?) clenched her fists.

People like him, who don’t listen at all, are really annoying!

At the 4th Division's quarters:

"Naruto, I heard you went to deal with the intruders in the Seireitei," Unohana Retsu said with a smile, curiously examining the two people Naruto had captured. "Are these the ones?"

A cute pink-haired little girl.

And a person wrapped in bandages, whose appearance was unrecognizable.

Naruto nodded. "One is a rather interesting guy."

"He’s badly injured, so I brought him here for the 4th Division to treat."

Unohana Retsu waved her hand, signaling Naruto to place the bandaged person on the bed. "Not a bad person?"

"Not exactly a bad person, just someone entirely focused on fighting," Naruto replied.

This made Unohana Retsu's heart skip a beat.

Naruto reached out and removed the seal, saying, "He was also very restrained in his attacks and didn’t kill anyone. Otherwise, I would have handed him over to the Onmitsukidō."

"Fighting him was a rewarding experience for me."

"I don't know what the final decision will be for him. I hope he can stay in Gotei 13."

The bandages slowly unwrapped, revealing the person inside.

Zaraki Kenpachi was gravely injured, and the seal had weakened his spiritual pressure, leaving him unconscious.

That face, without the exaggerated expressions, was just barely passable.

"It’s him," Unohana Retsu said softly. As soon as she heard "entirely focused on fighting," she had a hunch, and it turned out to be true—it was indeed him.

Naruto turned around, somewhat surprised. "Captain Unohana, you know him?"

"A person I knew long ago," Unohana Retsu said, her voice filled with nostalgia. "Back then, I wasn’t yet the captain of the 4th Division."

"He was destined to join the Gotei 13, but I didn’t expect it to happen at this time."

Naruto nodded thoughtfully.

He glanced back and forth between Unohana Retsu and Zaraki Kenpachi, finally stopping at Kusajishi Yachiru.

This little girl’s hair color is pink, huh? 

"What do you plan to do with him?" Unohana Retsu asked.

Naruto thought for a moment. "He didn't harm anyone, so for forcibly entering the Seireitei, at most, he’ll serve a few years in the 9th Division’s prison. After he’s released, I’ll recommend him to become a member of the Gotei 13."

"He said he doesn't know how to use Shikai, but his spiritual pressure is surprisingly strong."

"At the level of a 2nd Class."

Unohana Retsu smiled. "The Captain-Commander will like him. He’s a very capable person."

"And there might be other possibilities."

Naruto stared at the unconscious Zaraki Kenpachi lying on the bed.

Will the Captain-Commander really like him?

That... I’m not so sure.

I have a feeling the Captain-Commander will find this guy a real headache.

He left Zaraki Kenpachi and Kusajishi Yachiru in the 4th Division’s quarters and returned to the 7th Division's quarters. Part of the inner courtyard had been destroyed, and there were still many matters awaiting his attention.

He also needed to write a report on today’s events and submit it to the Captain-Commander.

Three days later:

Naruto went to the 4th Division’s quarters.

Zaraki Kenpachi's physique wasn’t too bad; he was already able to get out of bed, full of energy.

"Sun-chan!" Kusajishi Yachiru greeted him cheerfully. "Are you here to visit Ken-chan?"

Zaraki Kenpachi’s greeting was more direct: "Hey kid, my sword—did you take it?"

"Your current status is that of a criminal," Naruto said sternly. "I confiscated your sword. We’ll discuss it again after your situation is settled."

"She told me about the situation," Zaraki Kenpachi said, sitting cross-legged on the bed, leaning forward. "As long as I can join the Gotei 13, right?"

Naruto nodded.

"The name Kenpachi is only for the captain of the 11th Division, right?" Zaraki Kenpachi continued. "I heard that if I cut him down, I can become the new captain of the 11th Division. That way, I’ll be part of the Gotei 13, right?"

Naruto was stunned and turned around.

He felt that there should be a black-haired woman standing there at this moment.

This idea definitely wasn’t something Zaraki Kenpachi, who didn’t know much about the Seireitei, could come up with.

"Is he also a captain, as strong as you?" Zaraki Kenpachi tilted his head, his tone becoming more sinister. "Cutting him down should be fun, right?"

He boldly extended his hand. "Give me my sword."

Naruto raised his hand. "Is that your decision?"

"Then I wish you success in becoming my comrade."

He placed his palm on the table, a sealing technique unfolded, and a scroll was summoned.

Unrolling it, he took out the sword sealed within.

Zaraki Kenpachi eagerly got up, grabbed the sword, and lifted it high. "Now I’m going to cut down that Kenpachi!"

Kusajishi Yachiru jumped onto Zaraki Kenpachi’s shoulder, turning back to wave at Naruto. "Thank you, Sun-chan."