Chapter 156: The Blade That Does Not Kill, Ashura.
"If within Kido, with the power of the Protector, riding through the void, face your inner self, Ashura!"
As the Shikai incantation ended, a pillar of Spiritual Pressure shot into the sky, and a wave of reishisurged outward from Naruto's body as the center.
The now completely black blade showed traces of intersecting white lines. While beautiful, a powerful, tangible aura of slaughter suddenly permeated the air.
Ashura, master of slaughter!
"Although I have my own convictions, I must suppress you with force. Garaku Kairō!"
As the future seventh Kenpachi of Squad 11, although Kukuryūshiki was currently only the Fifth Seat of Squad 11 due to his growth in strength, he did not lack the courage to fight against strong opponents.
After his zanpakutō was in Shikai, his Spiritual Pressure also erupted, but compared to Naruto, it still paled in comparison. It was not to say they were in completely different leagues, but the gap was quite significant.
Kukuryūshiki's zanpakutō was of the biological type. After Shikai, it would transform into numerous white, sphere-like monsters the size of brown bears. Furthermore, a pitch-black light would cover the entire battlefield, obscuring the enemy's vision, while those white monsters would be entirely under Kukuryūshiki's control.
Biological-type zanpakutō are known for their bizarre variability. The monsters formed after Shikaicould be weak or strong, and their attack methods would no longer resemble traditional close-quarters combat.
Naruto's zanpakutō was a physical type. Even after Shikai, apart from the change in the blade's color, there were no major changes elsewhere. Therefore, Naruto's combat method after Shikai remained the same as usual: close-quarters combat combined with sword strikes.
However, to say that Naruto's zanpakutō was entirely physical type would be inaccurate, because Ashura's entire Soul and consciousness had been absorbed by the zanpakutō, along with some of his abilities.
This resulted in the zanpakutō in Naruto's hand also possessing some of the power of an elemental-type zanpakutō.
Dragon Nest Flash!
Having entered battle mode, Naruto said nothing. Striking first as if it were carved into his bones, Naruto launched an attack without a word. A series of rapid, chaotic-looking attacks, which seemed devoid of pattern but were filled with murderous intent at every turn, assaulted Kukuryūshiki.
The massive Sword Qi scattered outward like a gale. After being empowered by the zanpakutō, the Sword Qi was not only more solid but its power increased several times over!
This was one of the abilities of Naruto's zanpakutō. It could autonomously mobilize free-floating reishi. Even if Naruto swung his blade lightly, after Shikai, a powerful slash would be easily triggered.
Not only that, these slashes carried a large amount of elemental power—be it wind, water, fire, or lightning...
Even if Naruto wished, combining various mutually generating elements was effortless, thanks to the power contributed by the thousand-year Reincarnation of Ashura.
"Naruto, I didn't expect that I would end up like this."
Ashura, having lost most of his power, had his Soulimprisoned within the zanpakutō. If it were not in Shikai, his consciousness would remain in a state of Seal, but once in Shikai, Ashura's consciousness would awaken and he could communicate with Naruto.
"This is your true destination!"
The conversation between their minds was fast and efficient, barely affecting the battle. Furthermore, with Kukuryūshiki gradually falling into a disadvantage against Naruto's fierce attacks, Naruto felt even less burdened when communicating with Ashura.
"Although I don't want to accept this fact, I hope you will make good use of my power and not forget the convictions in your heart." Ashurabecame long-winded, "Even though I have become the blade in your hand, it is still..."
"Noisy!" Naruto cold-snorted, "Such is your nature. Even though you have turned into the long blade in my hand, your hypocritical manner remains unchanged!"
Although Ashura was sealed within the zanpakutō, and Naruto's Shikai incantation included the word "Awakening," there was a minor weakness that still left Naruto speechless.
It was that the zanpakutō in his hand could not kill anyone...
Even if hit in a vital spot by the zanpakutō, it only stripped the enemy of all their power and severed the malice within the enemy's Soul.
But relatively speaking, living like this was more terrifying than being dead, because without power to rely on, and not knowing if one was still their original self after surviving, it was hard to say.
Based on this reason, the zanpakutō in Naruto's hand was actually a combination of three types of zanpakutō: a physical type, an elemental type, and a Kido type.
Moreover, any one of these three types had reached its Peak, so it was no wonder that when Naruto's zanpakutō was in Shikai, more than half of the Seireitei could feel the tremor.
If it were Bankai... it is estimated that the entire Soul Society would sense it!
"So strong... and my power..."
Kukuryūshiki's zanpakutō had returned to its original form. The scratch on his neck was obvious, but there were no serious injuries. Apart from a thin, long white line that was very different in color from the surrounding skin, there was nothing unusual.
But after being defeated, Kukuryūshiki discovered that the power within his body was empty, and his connection to the reishi in the outside world had also been severed.
"Your zanpakutō..."
"It? Because of certain reasons, although it looks like it has plenty of attack power, it is truly a blade that does not kill."
Naruto was quite helpless. Although Ashura's influence no longer acted upon him, after turning into a zanpakutō, it was still changing Naruto's combat style in its own way.
I have to say, this experience was terrible!
"But my Soul..."
Kukuryūshiki had been in the Soul Society as a Soul for long enough; he knew his spiritual body all too well. Moreover, after the evil thoughts in his Soul had been shaved away, it was impossible for him not to feel it.
"This is another one of its weaknesses." Narutoadmitted it generously; in his view, this didn't count as a secret at all. "It severs the evil thoughts deep within the Soul. Although it cannot kill, it is very powerful at striking at the heart."
"Then I..."
"It's fine, I'll just give it back to you." Naruto held the blade in reverse, and with the back of the blade facing Kukuryūshiki's shoulder, he slashed down fiercely. "Although it hurts quite a bit and is somewhat insulting, you are now the same as you were before."
Kukuryūshiki, who had stood up, exchanged a glance with Ashido. Both saw horror in each other's eyes. They had truly seen a zanpakutō with such bizarre abilities for the first time.
It did not harm the Physical Body or the Soul, but it confiscated all power and the evil thoughts within the Soul. Although it sounded benevolent, it made one's hair stand on end for no reason afterward.
I fear that any person or Soul that was still alive after being attacked by Naruto would feel even worse than if they were dead...
Although power and Soul would be bestowed again by Naruto after being defeated, the feeling of being a completely different person after failure and before healing became a nightmare for Kukuryūshiki. The experience of "not being oneself" was simply too tormenting.
Moreover, the news that Naruto had defeated the Fifth Seat of Squad 11 within ten moves spread like wildfire. After it spread throughout the entire Squad 11, it continued to spread at an extremely fast speed to the entire Thirteen Court Guard Squads.
Not only did Kukuryūshiki's post-battle comments become dinner conversation for the Shinigami, but those Shinigami who were eager to try also gave up the idea of sparring with Naruto after his zanpakutō was in Shikai.
It was mainly because Naruto's zanpakutō was simply too bizarre. Shinigami who did not want to endure the dual torture of Soul and power after defeat naturally would not be stupid enough to challenge Naruto without being certain of victory.
As a result, Naruto not only sat firmly in the position of Vice-Captain of Squad 11, but his strategic priority was also raised by several levels.
Because the Hollows living in Hueco Mundo were all in a state of having empty hearts and extremely evil Souls, Naruto's zanpakutō was definitely a Sharp Weapon for purifying them and bringing balance to the world created by the Soul King.
Even the members of the Royal Palace were interested in Naruto's zanpakutō.