He found himself in utter darkness.
A flicker of fire in the distance startled Naruto awake, only for him to discover he was in a magnificent, opulent palace. A single, exquisite throne sat forlornly on a high dais at the far end of the hall, the atmosphere thick with loneliness and desolation.
Where is this place? Naruto was completely bewildered. Usually, when he fell asleep, he would arrive in the sealed space. Why was this scene so unfamiliar? Why do these strange things always happen to me? Naruto couldn't help but grumble internally.
"You've finally come. I have waited a long time for you." Just then, an ethereal, deep voice echoed through the space. Subsequently, a humanoid figure shrouded in black shadow appeared beside the throne. The man wore a black robe and a hood, his face obscured by shadows, making his features completely indiscernible. He stood ramrod straight beside the throne, yet there was a peculiar sense of… deference about him?
Could this be a ninja's genjutsu? Naruto's heart tightened. Perhaps because he had started training, the Third Hokage was uneasy and had sent a subordinate to test him with genjutsu? It was highly possible. He couldn't afford to reveal any weaknesses.
Ever cautious, Naruto spoke first. "Hello, may I ask where this place is?"
"This is your kingdom." As the words fell, the previously lifeless palace burst with vibrant energy. The entire space began to seethe, and specks of starlight spread out, painting a breathtaking celestial panorama.
While Naruto was still marveling at this, his vision blurred. The next moment, he saw the shadowy figure appear by his side, elegant and respectful. Naruto warily took a step back, his gaze fixed on the figure's face. Strangely, even at such close proximity, the figure's features remained veiled in shadow, their true appearance hidden.
"Who are you?" Naruto felt a sense of familiarity emanating from the shadowy figure. This wasn't genjutsu, nor was it a test from the Third Hokage. For some reason, a deep conviction arose within him.
Hearing Naruto's question, the shadowy figure bowed respectfully to him. "I am the deepest power within your heart, the power you crave. I am your most loyal and reliable aid on your path to the heavens."
"Power? Power as strong as Aizen-sensei's?" Naruto asked.
As soon as he spoke, Naruto saw the shadowy figure tremble, its tone laced with disappointment. "Aizen? So, to you, his power is what you consider strong."
"It seems the time is not yet right," the figure's murmurings echoed through the space, rustling like whispers. "Please remember, I am the only one you can truly trust. I will become the sharpest blade in your hand, to cut down all obstacles before you."
"You may call me…"
Listening to the murmuring voice, Naruto's consciousness gradually blurred. The man in his vision grew more distant, his voice becoming indistinct. Just as his mind sank into darkness, one phrase echoed clearly in his ears:
"Kyoka Suigetsu."
When Naruto regained consciousness, he was back in his room. The flickering candlelight illuminated his uncertain expression.
"What… what just happened? Kyoka Suigetsu?" He clutched his head in confusion. The Asauchi slipped from his side and clattered to the floor. Its blade was now a deep, dark green, smooth and sharp.
This was not the original Asauchi!
Naruto stared in astonishment as he picked up the transformed Zanpakuto. An unprecedented sensation surged through him. A mystical release command surfaced in his mind: "Shatter, Kyoka Suigetsu."
The next morning, Naruto woke from his slumber. In a daze, he felt the Zanpakuto, Kyoka Suigetsu, beside his pillow. The cold hilt sent a jolt through him, instantly chasing away all drowsiness. He sat up.
"Kyoka Suigetsu…" he murmured the Zanpakuto's name, rubbing his temples with a headache. After the Zanpakuto had awakened yesterday, he had felt utterly exhausted and had quickly fallen asleep. This time, he hadn't gone to the sealed space; when he awoke again, it was already morning.
"Aizen-sensei, yesterday my consciousness entered an unknown space, and I was told the name of my Zanpakuto," Naruto said, holding up the dark green Zanpakuto, trying to communicate with Aizen.
"You've already mastered the Shikai release command?" Aizen's voice was filled with disbelief. Shikai was the first stage of a Zanpakuto's release. A Zanpakuto in Shikai would possess unique abilities. An ordinary Shinigami would need at least ten years to master Shikai, and as for the second stage, Bankai, it was a realm most ordinary Shinigami could never even touch.
"It seems so," Naruto said uncertainly. "I think it's called… Kyoka Suigetsu?"
"Kyoka Suigetsu?!" Aizen's pupils contracted sharply. He then fell into a profound silence. No matter how many times Naruto called out, there was no response.
Within the sealed space, Aizen covered his face with his right hand, a bizarre curve suddenly appearing on his lips. "It's just as I thought. Naruto can use my power. I didn't even notice a thing – my Reiatsu is the same, and there's nothing abnormal about my body. Could this be… a replication?"
Low, deep laughter echoed within the sealed space. "This has suddenly become very interesting."
After a quick wash, Naruto prepared himself a hearty breakfast: two fried eggs and a piece of dry bread. Given his training regimen, he urgently needed to replenish his nutrients. After finishing his meal, Naruto headed out towards Konoha's weapon shop. He needed to have a sword forged and acquire some training weights.
"Hello, Uncle. I need a dark green sword forged, and also some weights," Naruto said gently upon arriving at the bustling weapon shop, where apprentices were hard at work.
The blacksmith, bare-chested, wiped sweat from his brow with a soot-stained hand. He looked up and frowned as he took the sketch Naruto offered.
"Oh, right, this is the weapon purchase permit Grandpa Hokage gave me," Naruto added, pulling out a permit from his clothes. Civilians in Konoha couldn't purchase weapons freely; a permit was required.
"These items…" The blacksmith studied the sketch silently, pondering for a moment. The weapons of Konoha ninja were largely similar – shuriken, kunai, paper bombs, and the like. Very few ninja commissioned custom swords; those weren't particularly technical jobs. But why would a child so young want these things? The blacksmith gave Naruto a searching look but didn't press the issue, simply nodding. Not prying into a customer's secrets was basic professional courtesy.
"No problem. Come back in three days to pick them up. You can pay the deposit now." Open for business, he had no reason to refuse Naruto's rather generous commission.
"Thank you for your trouble."
Leaving the weapon shop, Naruto headed towards the training grounds.
The blacksmith stared blankly at the sketch, muttering to himself, "This sword is quite long… Strange, why would he order 20kg weights? Can a child his age really handle that?" A moment later, he smacked his forehead with a look of realization. "What am I thinking? He's the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox. Of course, he's different from ordinary people."
Arriving at the training grounds, Naruto began his slow jog around the perimeter. Each surge of adrenaline, each moment of pushing past his limits, was an incredibly addictive sensation.
From early morning until the sun was high at midday, an exhausted Naruto sat under a tree, drenched in sweat, panting heavily.
Rustle, rustle, rustle. Suddenly, a sound came from the nearby bushes.
"Who's there?" Naruto called out sharply. A youth with impressively thick eyebrows emerged.