"Well now, you're really something! To get blasted out of the Seireitei and still be alive."
Tobi hopped out, clapping his hands. The spiral-patterned mask immediately put Sasuke on high alert.
The persona of Tobi was originally supposed to be played by Uchiha Obito. But after Obito had lost his value, White Zetsu had taken over the role. After all, Tobi was still a member of the Akatsuki, and it would be a waste to simply discard the identity. White Zetsu's abilities were also quite unique, allowing him to merge with other ninja and acquire some of their skills. The body he currently possessed was only at the level of a Jonin, so in terms of raw power, he was no match for Sasuke.
Hearing Tobi's words, which sounded like praise but were dripping with sarcasm, Sasuke frowned, his tone turning hostile. "What is your relationship with the Seireitei?"
He sized Tobi up but felt no Reiatsu from him. It was clear Tobi was just an ordinary ninja.
"Are you interested in joining the Akatsuki?" Tobi got straight to the point, asking with a cheerful grin. "The Akatsuki shares your ideals. We also want to change this filthy world, and all our members are Kage-level shinobi~~"
"The Akatsuki? You mean those guys who got chased out of Sunagakure?" Sasuke said with contempt. "I have no interest in teaming up with the weak."
As he spoke, the Reiatsu within him erupted, sending Tobi stumbling back several steps.
"Whoa, what a terrifying killing intent! The Akatsuki is actually very strong, you know," Tobi yelped, backing away with a strange smile. "But it's understandable that a young man would want to see more of the world. Since you also despise this filthy world, then go ahead and look around. The doors of the Akatsuki will always be open for you." Tobi sank into the ground and vanished.
Whether Sasuke joined the Akatsuki or not wasn't important. What mattered was that Sasuke was now an enemy of the Seireitei. Tobi was confident that the shinobi world would soon descend into chaos, and the Akatsuki would begin to bare its fangs.
Naruto was strong, but in Tobi's eyes, could he really be stronger than Uchiha Madara?
In the Seireitei of the Shinigami World.
Following the death of the Fifth Division Captain, Sosuke Aizen, the entire Seireitei was in a state of turmoil. All divisions were on high alert. To be able to assassinate a Shinigami of captain-level, the intruder's strength was clearly no small matter.
At the same time, a group of Ryoka led by Kurosaki Ichigo had broken into the Soul Society. Many felt as if a large, unseen hand was manipulating everything from behind the scenes.
And at this complicated moment, a figure passed through the gate and arrived on the outskirts of the Rukongai.
The street was desolate. Dilapidated wooden houses stood scattered about, and a few patrolling Shinigami could be seen from time to time. The ordinary Wandering Souls hid in their homes, their doors shut tight. The ground was muddy and pitted. It looked like a slum in every sense of the word.
Naruto's eyes flickered.
So this is the Shinigami World? This is the world that Mr. Aizen wanted to change?
Naruto quietly observed the area. It was raining, and the scattered drops splattered in the mud. He walked with an elegant calm, skillfully avoiding all the Shinigami patrols.
"Young man, do you not have a home? They're keeping a close watch outside. Would you like to come in and sit for a while?" He saw a door creak open, revealing an elderly Wandering Soul.
"Pardon the intrusion," Naruto said, stepping inside.
The small hut contained only a bed, a table, and a dim lamp.
"Old man, why are there no other souls outside?" Naruto asked gently.
"There are intruders, so no one is going out." Only after Naruto was inside did the old man get a clear look at his face. He was dressed in a pristine white robe, with a handsome face—clearly the attire of a Shinigami captain. That noble bearing was definitely not something a resident of this place would have.
Could he be one of the intruders?
The old man's face instantly turned pale. Harboring a criminal was a serious crime, one that could cost him his life. To those nobles, a worthless soul like him was utterly expendable.
Seeing the old man's fear, Naruto comforted him in a soft voice. "Don't worry, I mean you no harm, and they won't find me. I just want to ask you a few questions."
Naruto's gentle and refined smile made the old man relax his guard and nod. A Shinigami with such an air about him would have no reason to deceive him.
"Sir, I'd like to understand the structure of the Soul Society," Naruto said, sitting on the tatami mat and beginning to ask detailed questions.
The old man was very confused. The questions Naruto asked suggested he had almost no knowledge of the Soul Society. He asked about the social system and paid particular attention to the nobility.
After nearly half an hour of conversation, Naruto had a preliminary understanding of the Soul Society.
The nobles and Shinigami lived in the central Seireitei. The other Wandering Souls lived on the outskirts. The Seireitei was, in effect, a highly unequal feudal society. The status of nobles and Shinigami was far above that of the Wandering Souls. They could even kill a soul without facing any punishment.
The Rukongai was divided into 80 districts in each cardinal direction. District 1 had the best public order, while District 80 was the worst of the worst. In the more lawless areas, murder and arson were commonplace. The area Naruto was in now was one of the more dangerous, outlying districts.
In the Rukongai, souls without spiritual power didn't go hungry; they could live on water alone. The only legal way to leave the Rukongai and live in the affluent Seireitei was to possess spiritual power, enter the Shino Academy, graduate, and become a Shinigami. It could be said that every Wandering Soul yearned to become a Shinigami, as it meant a change in their social class. With a bit of luck, they could even join the nobility, and their descendants would inherit that status.
The rules of the Soul Society were cruel, and very few souls could achieve such a transformation. All resources and knowledge were held firmly in the hands of the nobility.
After learning all this, Naruto's heart felt a little heavy. The Soul Society was similar to Konoha, but even more extreme. At least the villagers in Konoha could live and work in peace.
Based on his memories, Naruto could roughly guess Aizen's goal. He likely wanted to overthrow this system and establish new rules, just like him. That was why he had left the sealed space and hadn't reappeared for so long. His plan was now in motion! To confront the entire Soul Society... Aizen's goal was truly astonishing.
From the old man, Naruto also learned of the immense power of the Captain-Commander. He was likely no match for him at his current level. But Naruto had no intention of backing down. This was the perfect opportunity to learn more about the abilities of Zanpakuto.
After bidding the old man farewell, Naruto walked the streets of the Rukongai once more. Kyoka Suigetsu sent out a ripple, completely hypnotizing the nearby Shinigami.
Soon, Naruto arrived at the connection point between the Seireitei and the Rukongai: the gate. A towering wall separated the two areas, dividing poverty from wealth, commoners from nobles. Those outside yearned to get in, while those inside looked down on the outsiders.
The Ryoka, Kurosaki Ichigo and his group, were already confronting the gate's guardian, Jidanbo. It was said that under Jidanbo's watch, the gate had not been breached in 400 years. Since he wasn't a Shinigami, he didn't have a Zanpakuto, wielding two giant, seven-shaped axes instead. Jidanbo's strength was immense; the force of his twin axes alone could shatter the ground.
Kurosaki Ichigo was engaged in a fierce battle with him. Having just completed his training with the Shopkeeper, his fighting skills were still in need of refinement. For him, Jidanbo was a decent whetstone. Ichigo used his superior mobility to weave around Jidanbo, and for a time, the battle was a stalemate.
"His progress is quite fast," Gin, who was observing from the shadows, nodded to himself. "Just as Lord Aizen predicted, Kurosaki Ichigo's potential is far beyond imagination. Perhaps he would be an excellent candidate for awakening a Kekkei Genkai." Gin's eyes glinted.
Several years ago, Aizen had suddenly begun a mysterious research project called "Kekkei Genkai." According to the experimental data, if they could successfully create chakra and inject it into a human body, it could cause varying degrees of evolution, possibly resulting in superpowers, which Aizen termed Kekkei Genkai. Such humans were similar to the Reiatsu-wielding Quincy, but also different. Once a human who had mastered a Kekkei Genkai died and became a Hollow or a Shinigami, their abilities and Reiatsu often surpassed that of an ordinary Shinigami.
This research was ongoing, but progress was slow. Kurosaki Ichigo was a key experimental subject. According to Aizen's research, a Kekkei Genkai could be an energy source that existed alongside Hollowfication and Reiatsu, allowing a soul to improve its quality of life. If they could find a balance, they might be able to break free from the limitations of the soul and transcend the rules of this world.
As a professional undercover agent, Gin was naturally keeping a close eye on Ichigo. But from his current perspective, Ichigo's fighting was still very childish. His crude techniques and application of his abilities had him on the back foot even against Jidanbo, who wasn't even a Shinigami. At the same time, however, Ichigo's skills were constantly improving. Although his performance was somewhat lacking, the potential was there.
After a while longer, Ichigo seized an opportunity and defeated Jidanbo. Jidanbo then declared that he would let them pass. He respected those who could defeat him.
Although everything was going according to Gin's predictions, he didn't want Ichigo and his friends to enter the Seireitei so quickly. He stood up, drew his Zanpakuto, and flashed a sly, fox-like smile.
"Shoot to kill, Shinso." The next moment, the blade in his hand extended a thousand meters, piercing Jidanbo and pushing both him and Ichigo out of the gate.
As everyone watched in anger, the massive gate slowly began to close.
"An extending Zanpakuto, difficult to defend against. A fine ability," a gentle, magnetic voice suddenly sounded in the air.
To Gin's shock, a figure in a white robe appeared inside the gate, a warm smile on his face.
Gin: Who is this person? I didn't sense his approach at all!
Ichigo and the others: Is he a Shinigami too?
The gate continued to close. Gin looked at Naruto warily, his hand tightening on the hilt of his sword, the muscles in his legs tense, ready to retreat at a moment's notice. As an undercover agent hiding in the shadows, he wouldn't be like those reckless fools who charged in to challenge an unknown opponent. If things looked bad, he would retreat immediately. His own life and that woman were always more important than anything else.
Naruto calmly studied Gin. Gin possessed Reiatsu on par with a captain, but he concealed it well, only showing the level of a lieutenant. His face had a rather sinister look to it.
"Relax, I mean no harm," Naruto said with a smile.
Gin took another step back, his eyes even more wary. He sensed an extremely dangerous aura from Naruto, a feeling that was very similar to... Aizen.
"You don't seem to be a Shinigami from the Soul Society. Your face is unfamiliar. To possess such powerful Reiatsu but not be from here... I'm very curious about your identity," Gin said, his voice soft and lilting.
"I have no ill will towards your Soul Society. I just want to know, do you know Aizen?" Naruto smiled.
"You know Captain Aizen?" Hearing this, Gin became even more vigilant, but then he put on an indifferent expression. "I wonder what business you have with the captain of our Fifth Division?"
Fifth Division Captain? It seems Mr. Aizen hasn't defected from the Soul Society yet.
Naruto made his judgment and smiled at Gin. "In that case, I'll have to go inside to find the truth. I'm sorry, but I don't want to attract any attention for the time being, so I'll have to ask you to take a little nap."
Before the horrified Gin could react, he suddenly felt the world twist and blur. The next moment, a sharp pain struck his neck, and his eyes rolled back as he fainted. Before he lost consciousness, a terrifying thought flashed through his mind.
"Was all of that... Kyoka Suigetsu? Who is this person? Why does he also have Kyoka Suigetsu? What is his relationship with Aizen?"
"And when did I fall under its spell?"
As Gin collapsed, Naruto wiped his hands, dragged him into a dark corner, and then calmly walked deeper into the Seireitei. He wanted to witness the Shikai of more captain-level Shinigami; perhaps it would give him some inspiration.
Hum. The Zanpakuto at his waist suddenly vibrated, and a jolt went through Naruto's mind. He felt as if he had grasped something.
"Shinso..." he murmured, and the Zanpakuto at his waist gradually turned silver, reflecting a beautiful light in the warm sun.
Naruto frowned, feeling as if he had understood something, but he was quickly pulled out of that mysterious state. He looked at his Zanpakuto with a sense of loss, then continued on his way.
Meanwhile, Kurosaki Ichigo and his group were in a heated debate because of Naruto.
"Was that man a captain? How did he suddenly appear inside the gate?"
Yoruichi's face was grave. "That man is definitely not a captain from the Seireitei, but he has a terrifyingly powerful Reiatsu."
"Could it be that he's like Ichigo?" asked Chad, one of Ichigo's human companions.
"A Substitute Shinigami?" Yoruichi fell into deep thought. "It's not impossible. We can't use the gate now, so we'll have to enter from the sky. Everyone, be prepared and stay alert. We might run into that mysterious man again."