Bankai released.
Spiritual pressure surged in an instant, distorting the very air.
A colossal, awe-inspiring giant rose from the ground with a thunderous roar.
It shattered the Vajra Seals, chains splintering and scattering in all directions.
Naruto halted and looked up.
So this is... the ultimate form of a Zanpakutō—Bankai?
His first time seeing it.
It was truly overwhelming!
The "Great King" was clad in brown-tiled armor, wearing a steel helmet, with two horns like those of a bull.
Eyes void of pupils, mouth without a tongue—like a being returning from hell.
Its sheer size brought an immense pressure, but when the spiritual pressure matched that size, the oppressive force multiplied exponentially.
Its shadow blanketed the area, as if the heavens were collapsing.
"Captain Naruto, be careful!" Komamura Sajin called out.
He leapt into the air and landed on the chest of the giant.
He raised his sword.
The giant mirrored him.
Then slashed downward—
Fierce winds howled, deafening and overwhelming, the shockwave alone seemingly capable of shredding one's ears.
But the speed wasn't all that fast.
It was simply stronger in power and broader in range.
Naruto used shunpo (flash step) and easily evaded, crossing his arms to draw his swords.
One long, one short—one red, one gold.
"Howl in madness, weep in sorrow, sing in compassion, spin in wrath—Nine-Tailed Ashura!"
His Zanpakutō released, spiritual energy surging from the two blades and enveloping his body.
Golden armor formed over him, six arms extending outward.
Still retaining some "fox-like" traits.
Unohana Retsu narrowed her eyes.
His Shikai had changed.
Completely different from before.
Its aura had also calmed—no longer violent and savage.
The spiritual pressure now contained a powerful life force.
"Naruto's Shikai is quite something," Shiba Isshin said, now more focused. "The third dual-blade user in Soul Society."
"Truly beautiful and fascinating."
"But unlike Captain Kyōraku or Captain Ukitake's dual swords."
Kyōraku Shunsui nodded.
Indeed, it was different.
Their dual swords were consistent in form and power, complementary and symmetrical—even if Katen Kyōkotsu and Sōgyo no Kotowari, due to their unique origins, weren't exactly the same in size, they were still "in the same bloodline," so to speak.
But Naruto's two swords—
In both appearance and inner power, they had almost nothing in common.
"Komamura Third Seat's sword is good. His Bankai is powerful too," Unohana Retsu said softly. "But it seems... he's already lost."
The other two captains agreed.
Though the battle was ongoing, the outcome was already clear in their eyes.
The giant continued swinging its sword.
Grand and majestic.
Its strengths were obvious—but so were its weaknesses.
Naruto dodged a few times.
And picked up on the key information.
The movements of this "Great King" giant mirrored those of Komamura Sajin. When he swung his sword, the giant did too.
This meant—
To defeat Komamura, one must deal with the synchronized giant.
But this also meant—
Komamura's weaknesses were the giant's weaknesses.
His speed wasn't great to begin with.
And once this sluggishness was transferred to a giant dozens of times larger, it became even more slow and clumsy.
The increase in size did widen the attack range.
Effectively compensating for the lack of speed.
But Naruto's shunpo was at a level capable of keeping up with Yoruichi—the former Captain of the Second Division, known as the "Flash Goddess."
And Komamura's spiritual pressure, even in Bankai, wasn't overwhelming enough to slow Naruto down or pin him in place.
With just a moment's notice, Naruto could shunpo out of the attack range.
No matter how wide or powerful the strike—
If it missed, it was meaningless.
More importantly—
Naruto initially thought the armored giant was meant to protect Komamura.
But he quickly realized—
The giant's life force was directly connected to Komamura.
Any injury the giant sustained would be mirrored on its master's body.
In a life-and-death battle—
There'd be no need to attack Komamura directly.
Destroying the armored giant would be equivalent to killing him.
Naruto brought his hands together.
"Vajra Seal!"
Thicker golden chains than before danced out, dozens of them overlapping, binding the giant's arms.
This time, it struggled fiercely.
The chains groaned and creaked under pressure.
But thanks to the "Ashura's Power," they held strong, barely avoiding snapping.
Komamura himself wasn't restrained—he raised his sword to cut through.
But more golden chains surged toward him, binding him as well.
The giant struggled once again, breaking several chains.
In that very instant—
A flash of white lightning.
"Hadō #4: Byakurai!"
Naruto's final set of hands released an unchanted Hadō spell.
It darted between chains and giant limbs, striking Komamura in the head.
A low-level Hadō spell, even with Ashura's boost, wouldn't do much damage to a captain.
Especially since Komamura wore a helmet.
However—
He wasn't harmed.
But his wooden helmet was shattered cleanly in half.
Revealing his furry face beneath.
"A member of the Beast Clan, huh," Shiba Isshin paused mid-sip, staring intently at Komamura. "No wonder."
The Beast Clan didn't have the best reputation among ordinary Shinigami.
Their "inhuman appearance" brought discrimination.
This gave him a fully justified reason to resist becoming a captain.
"Naruto's methods are quite blunt," Kyōraku Shunsui glanced at the watching officers, then smiled and sipped his drink. "But very effective."
Unohana Retsu said softly, "We just gained another reliable colleague."
The origins of the Beast Clan may be "sinful."
But—
Compared to true evil, it was insignificant.
As a captain, how many can claim their hands are clean?
Unohana lowered her gaze to her sword.
The giant "Great King" shattered the Vajra Seal.
But Komamura didn't attack again.
He stood in midair, holding half of his broken helmet.
"Komamura, be bold and look around," Naruto turned to the seated officers. "See how they react."
Komamura took a deep breath and turned his head.
The seated officers of the Seventh Division were cheering for him.
"Well done, Komamura Third Seat!"
"That Bankai was so powerful and impressive!"
"Who knew you were this strong!"
The officers of other squads were more reserved.
Those from the Third and Ninth Divisions had eyes filled with admiration and awe.
Of course—
There were some frowning in thought, or openly hostile.
But they were the minority.
Far fewer than Komamura had feared.
"Am I not as hated as I thought?" Komamura swung his sword, retracting his Bankai.
Naruto also sheathed his blades and asked, "Why would they hate you?"
"You're a good man."
"You'll make a great captain too."
Komamura said softly, "Is that what you wanted to tell me, Captain Naruto?"
There would always be those who hated him for his appearance.
But there were even more who respected him for who he was and for his strength.
"Captain Naruto," Komamura landed and bowed deeply, "I am willing to accept the position of captain."
He was ready to follow through.
Even though he and Naruto had made no such agreement.
But it was a good way to convince himself.
And it was thanks to Captain Naruto that he had seen something different.
Naruto grinned brightly.
Komamura smiled with him.
Captain Naruto was not someone who was bad with words—just the opposite.
(End of Chapter)