Chapter 11: Demon Fox Nine-Tails

The students who had not yet entered the state of "Blade Zen" could not help but look over upon hearing these words.

Almost everyone.

"Blade Zen" is not a simple practice.

Most Shinigami require years of training to master it.

They had only just received their Zanpakuto; achieving success would not be easy.

"I have already set high expectations for you, but the reality has surprised me even more," the teacher smiled. "What is the name of your sword?"

"Nine-Tails," Naruto replied.

The teacher turned and instructed the others, "You all study by yourselves. I will take Naruto out for a moment."

Someone boldly raised their hand, "Teacher, we also want to see Naruto's release."

"Focus on your practice!" the teacher sternly denied. "This is not a trivial matter."

He did not give the students a chance to continue pleading and led Naruto out.

They went to the gymnasium.

Dean Hakou was also called over.

Some Shinigami responsible for recording, verifying, and evaluating were also present.

The setup...

did not seem like a simple observation.

"Naruto, do not be nervous," the teacher reassured him. "As I said earlier, mastering the Shikai is enough for graduation."

"Dean Hakou and other staff are here to verify and record this matter."

"Just perform normally."

Naruto took a deep breath, gripped the sword hilt, and drew it.

The dark red blade was deep yet striking.

He solemnly recited the incantation from his mind.

The Nine-Tails sealed within his body only now felt the change brought by being in a different world as the spiritual power surged.

A power completely different from "chakra" was awakened within him.

Even...

the very essence of his being seemed to no longer be chakra.

Naruto's voice echoed in its ears.

"Rage, Pain, Fear, Corruption..."

"Hear The Wailing Bloom!"

"Demon Fox Nine-Tails!"

A massive, scarlet, and heavy spiritual pressure radiated from Naruto as its center.

The Shinigami in charge of verification took a step back: "Is this the Shikai?"

"What kind of release phrase is that?"

The intensity of the spiritual pressure was within their expectations.

After all, it was "Spiritual Power Fifth Rank," stronger than many present, and the Shikai further enhanced the spiritual power.

But what was with this sword?

It gave them an extremely ominous and dangerous feeling.

Even their emotions were slightly affected by the spiritual pressure, planting a seed of weariness and lethargy within them.

Naruto's outward appearance did not change much.

He was enveloped in a dark red, lava-like transparent spiritual power, with two ear-like energy projections standing on his head, and a long, thick tail swaying behind him, resembling a fox.

His bright blue eyes turned red, with vertical slit pupils, also fox-like.

"Naruto, does your sword have any special abilities?" Dean Hakou inquired.

Naruto shook his wrist, the blade moving with it: "It enhances my body and spiritual power; beyond that, it seems there is nothing else."

Dean Hakou nodded: "A Zanpakuto that enhances the body?"

That suited Naruto well.

His talent in "Kido" was far inferior to his talent in "Hakuda" and "Zanjutsu."

Naruto felt the power within him.

He discovered that what was displayed seemed to be just the tip of the iceberg: "Dean Hakou, it seems I can become even stronger."

"Become stronger?" Dean Hakou did not understand Naruto's meaning.

He even found the statement a bit frightening.

What did it mean to become stronger?

Beyond the Shikai... that would be the Bankai.

Even if one met the captain's spiritual power requirements, learning Bankai would take hundreds of years.

Instant mastery?

He had just learned Shikai.

Impossible...

Naruto took a deep breath, mobilizing the Nine-Tails' power within his body.

The spiritual pressure grew even stronger.

A second tail appeared on the spiritual power cloak.

The ribbon attached to the Zanpakuto's hilt split and extended into a fluffy second strand.

"Oh... a second form?" Dean Hakou breathed a sigh of relief, understanding now.

A Shinigami nearby muttered, "Nine-Tails... Nine..."

"Could it be, Naruto, that your sword can release up to nine tails?"

It was not hard to guess from the name.

Naruto nodded: "It seems so, shall I give it a try?"

Dean Hakou hurriedly stopped him: "Wait."

"First, confirm whether your body can handle it."

He had lived for many years and had never seen a Zanpakuto that could change forms and enhance power after the Shikai, but was not a Bankai.

Certainly, the abilities of the "Zanpakuto" are diverse and extraordinary, so it's not surprising to encounter such an anomaly.

But he understood.

Power often comes with a price.

Since the "Shikai" originally had only one tail, it proves that the current power is most suitable for Naruto. If he goes further, there may be some cost to pay.

Naruto obediently nodded.

He checked his body, and after a while, shook his head: "There's no discomfort."

"Just a bit hyper, with an impulse to fight."

Hyper... impulse...

For battle, this isn't a negative effect. In fact, it could be seen as a positive state.

Moreover, in the entire Gotei 13, there are quite a few such battle "maniacs."

They are in a state of extreme "hyperactivity" and "impulsiveness" every day.

It's not much of a price to pay.

"Then keep trying," Dean Hakou said softly, pleased.

Naruto nodded and took a light breath.

A third tail swung out.

The hilt also split out a third fluffy ribbon.

A slight change occurred.

The spiritual power cloak covering his body became more intense, no longer as transparent.

The spiritual pressure fluctuations grew more intense.

The observing Shinigami couldn't help but take another step back.

"This sword... is really powerful," someone remarked.

This sense of oppression had only been felt from a few veteran vice-captains.

A newly enrolled trainee Shinigami with such spiritual pressure.

Truly remarkable.

"How do you feel now?" Dean Hakou asked again.

Naruto felt it out: "About the same as before, just more hyper."

A buzzing sound was in his ears.

Like some chaotic, indistinct roars mixed together.

Urging him to draw his sword and slash at anything around him.

His body also had this instinctive impulse.

But he could still control it.

"No physical issues?" Dean Hakou asked with concern.

Naruto shook his head: "No burden."

"Then continue to try."

The moment these words were spoken.

The fourth tail stretched out.

The spiritual power cloak covering Naruto underwent a drastic change, from a semi-transparent dark red to a completely opaque deep red.

It was as if... the spiritual power had come to life and swallowed Naruto.

That sense of ominousness and danger grew stronger.

The crowd was horrified, as if they had a thorn in their back.

In their sight.

Naruto raised his sword and swallowed the Zanpakuto adorned with four ribbons.

The spiritual pressure became even stronger.

Then his stance changed, no longer standing like a human, but crouching, all fours on the ground, like a beast.

His eyes showed no pupils, only two bright circles of white light.

Dean Hakou felt a jolt in his heart, a bad premonition.

"Naruto?" he tentatively called.

But what greeted him...

Was a roar from the spiritual power monster that had "swallowed" Naruto.

Immediately, there was a sound of an air explosion, and it disappeared from its original spot.

"Careful, he's lost control!" Dean Hakou loudly warned.

He thought of the emotions that had affected him at the beginning.

He recalled Naruto's mention of "impulse."

Indeed, just as he initially anticipated.

This sword's liberation of its "tails" comes with a cost.

However... the cost is not spiritual power or the body, but "rationality."

As soon as the words fell.

The tailed Naruto had already pounced in front of a Shinigami, his claws swiping, stirring up a fierce wind.

Boom!

Although that Shinigami abandoned chanting at the critical moment and used "Bakudō #8. Seki (斥, Repulse)," gathering spiritual power into a cluster to withstand most of the damage, even the aftermath sent him flying, embedding him firmly into the wall.

"Naruto's speed is that fast?" a Shinigami exclaimed, "Such strength?"

He remembered Naruto's Shunpo wasn't at that level.

The Shinigami in the wall was in a sorry state, bleeding from the head.

"It seems that sword strengthens him in all aspects, not just spiritual pressure, but also strength, speed, and more," Dean Hakou frowned, "First, we need to control him."

"Be careful not to hurt him too badly."