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Kuchiki Ginrei drew his sword.
"The Shikai is the recognition of one's inner power."
"The Bankai is the true mastery of that inner power."
He glanced at the four people before him and said calmly, "Each sword has a different character."
"But the initial steps are the same."
"That is to materialize the Zanpakutō and then subdue it."
"I already understand Byakuya's situation."
He looked at the other three. "How far have you three gotten?"
Ichimaru Gin raised his hand, smiling, and asked, "May I ask, what does 'materialize' mean? Does it refer to seeing the true form of the Zanpakutō in the inner world?"Naruto also appeared confused.
Kuchiki Ginrei shook his head. "Of course not."
"Materializing means that when conversing with the Zanpakutō spirit, we don't need to enter the inner world."
"Instead, we summon the spirit into our world."
Naruto was stunned.
Summoning the sword into the real world?
"Is that something that can actually be done?" Ichimaru Gin raised his own sword.
Kuchiki Ginrei continued softly, "Of course it can."
He glanced at Naruto and then at Ichimaru Gin.
These two prodigies both seemed to have come from "Rukongai."
As for the 9th Division's lieutenant, Tōsen Kaname, he hadn't heard much about him before, but he was probably also from Rukongai.
After thinking for a moment, he continued, "There are some things you might not have heard of."
"Do you know the difference between 'Reiatsu' and 'Reiryoku'?"
Naruto and the others shook their heads.
The terms "Reiatsu" and "Reiryoku" were not unfamiliar; the latter was more common, while the former was something they had only heard about during admission or when becoming a captain. But the exact difference between them was not clearly explained in the textbooks at Shin'o Academy.
"Reiatsu is the term most commonly used now," Kuchiki Ginrei explained to them. "It measures a person's spiritual power."
"Reiryoku, on the other hand, measures the density of spiritual particles."
"The reason why 3rd Class Reiryoku is set as the standard for captains."
"Is precisely because the density of spiritual particles in 3rd Class Reiryoku reaches a critical point, leading to a qualitative change."
Naruto appeared deep in thought.
He had learned about the "three states of matter" from Urahara Kisuke before.
Hearing Kuchiki Ginrei's explanation now, he connected the dots.
So, the reason why "Reiryoku" is tested upon admission is that one needs a spiritual particle density of "12th Rank" to become a Shinigami.
In that case, could it be understood like this:
Those whose spiritual power is outside of the 12th Rank possess it in a "gaseous" state, within the 12th Rank it is "liquid," and above 3rd Class, it is "solid"?
"So, don't doubt yourselves, you all have this potential," Kuchiki Ginrei continued gently. "But also be prepared, even though you're all geniuses, it will take a long time."
"Byakuya has been training under me for half a year and hasn't even crossed the threshold."
Kuchiki Byakuya lowered his head.
Kuchiki Ginrei continued to explain the method of "materialization."
It sounded simple—using one's "Reiryoku" to give form to the Zanpakutō in the real world. This had the feel of something Urahara Kisuke and Kurotsuchi Mayuri would come up with.
However, the more Naruto listened, the more his brow furrowed.
He had thought that the "Bankai" of the Zanpakutō was a further introspection into the inner self.
He had hoped to use this opportunity to complete the final step of the technique left by his father—overcoming the darkness within himself and Nine-Tails while training for "Bankai."
But he didn't expect that the ultimate release of the Zanpakutō would be related to the "real world."
His relationship with Nine-Tails was different from the usual relationship between a Shinigami and their Zanpakutō.
Although one of the "Four Symbols Seal" had been undone.
There was still another "Four Symbols Seal" on his body, imprisoning both Nine-Tails and himself.
"The 6th Division's quarters are available for you all to use freely," Kuchiki Ginrei smiled. "I've said enough, now let's begin."
"Blade Zen" is a skill that Shinigami must continuously train in.
This is also the first step toward "Bankai."
Naruto entered his inner world: "Nine-Tails, did you hear that?"
"Of course," Nine-Tails replied with some anticipation. "Does this mean that I can use this method to get out?"
Naruto shook his head. "I'm not sure, but we can give it a try."
Nine-Tails no longer held back. "I'll do my best to cooperate with you."
The two of them—one human and one fox—began their attempt.
But "materialization," as Kuchiki Ginrei said, was indeed very difficult. Even though Nine-Tails's power could smoothly leave Naruto's body, there was always a barrier preventing it from fully materializing in reality.
Naruto couldn't determine whether this was due to a failure in "materialization" or interference from the "Four Symbols Seal."
The progress of the others was also not going well.
There wasn't the slightest sign of "materialization."
Until nightfall.
Kuchiki Ginrei reminded them to stop and rest, saying there was no point in being "anxious" about Bankai training, as rushing it would only slow down progress.
Naruto treated them, and they found an izakaya in Seireitei.
Everyone was of a similar age, so there were no barriers in conversation.
Tōsen Kaname looked like an adult, but he was only "a hundred years" older than Naruto, and the age difference with Byakuya and Gin wasn't that significant.
After a satisfying meal, they each returned to their respective divisions.
Naruto sat on the rooftop of the squad quarters, looking up at the moon.
He was thinking about "materialization."
He was also thinking about "Tōsen Kaname."
"Tōsen Kaname joined the Gotei 13 long before I did," Naruto said to Nine-Tails.
His first impression of Tōsen Kaname wasn't bad.
Anyone who could be friends with a big dog couldn't have ill intentions, right?
During the izakaya chat, although Tōsen was even more silent than Byakuya, his occasional words sounded upright and reliable.
But he was indeed a bit peculiar.
Nine-Tails nodded. "His talent is a bit less than you three brats."
"I'm not talking about talent," Naruto shook his head. "Do you remember our initial speculation?"
Nine-Tails paused, recalling. "You mean the guess about that invisible enemy's ability? That his illusion requires both eyes to see."
Tōsen Kaname was "visually impaired"; he couldn't see.
Naruto nodded slightly. "Yes, but if that's really the case…"
"Then wouldn't Vice-captain Tosen be the perfect counter to that enemy?"
Nine-Tails grew excited. "Are you planning to bring him along to find that person?"
"He joined the Gotei 13 long before I did," Naruto repeated. "I've already noticed him."
"That invisible enemy would care even more about those who are blind than we do."
"Would he really not notice?"
That invisible enemy was an extremely bold and reckless person.
For the sake of "Hollowfication," he even dared to target several captains and vice-captains.
Naruto didn't believe that if that person knew someone could be unaffected by his ability, he would just let it slide and not try to resolve it.
Unless there were two possibilities:
Either that ability didn't actually require sight to be effective.
Or...
He had already dealt with the issue.
"He's in the 9th Division," Nine-Tails added. "Now he's the vice-captain, but he probably wasn't in a low position in the 9th Division before, either."
Nine-Tails remembered clearly.
The first incident happened to "Muguruma Kensei" and his 9th Division.
"I'll ask Jin'emon to prepare the files," Naruto said, getting up and leaping down.
In less than three hours, the files were on the desk, containing records of the 9th Division's missions from that time.
Naruto flipped through them, and as he read the mission record of that day, his pupils dilated.
Twelve years ago, Tōsen Kaname was still the 5th Seat of the 9th Division. He indeed acted alongside Muguruma Kensei, stationed at the site in Rukongai where souls had been disappearing.
And that night...
The 9th Division suffered heavy casualties, with nearly thirty members killed, including many seated officers like the 3rd Seat and 4th Seat.
Only three people survived:
The captain, "Muguruma Kensei," and the vice-captain, "Kuna Mashiro," fled.
Only "Tōsen Kaname" remained in the 9th Division.
This naturally drew the attention of Kyoraku Shunsui, who was responsible for investigating the matter.
But after interrogation, he was found to be completely innocent.
Tōsen Kaname stated that on that night, he had been sent out on patrol by the captain. When he returned, the area was already filled with the corpses of the 9th Division members, and the captain and vice-captain were nowhere to be found.
As for anything else, he hadn't encountered anything.
The 8th Division collected traces and confirmed his statement to be true.
Because of this, he was cleared of suspicion and was quickly released, later even becoming the vice-captain of the 9th Division—after all, he was the only high-ranking seated officer left.
"So many people died, and he was the only one who survived," Nine-Tails muttered. "That's very suspicious."
After going through the files, Naruto now had two theories:
One, that the "invisible enemy" is actually "Tōsen Kaname" himself. A "blind" person whose Zanpakutō ability targets those who are "sighted" seems quite plausible.
Or, as initially thought, the invisible enemy has already recruited "Tōsen Kaname," turning the "problem" into an "asset."
9th Division quarters.
Sosuke Aizen walked through with Ichimaru Gin, but without exception, even the squad members who passed by them did not notice their presence.
In the vice-captain's quarters.
The door was pushed open.
Tōsen Kaname stood up.
Sensing the slight presence of the person who entered, he immediately greeted, "Aizen-sama."
"Tōsen, I just received some news," Aizen smiled. "Naruto-kun has retrieved the mission files from that period of the 9th Division."
Tōsen was startled.
"It seems he's noticed you," Aizen walked to the wall, opened a long-closed window, and looked up at the moon.
"Even if it's only by reflection, it's still light."
"Not very powerful, but enough to glimpse some of the hidden things."
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