Capítulo 13: Chapter 13: The Missing Half
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Hogei Ichiji nodded, "Of course we should go to the 4th Division, Captain Hirako. Let's go together."
"My colleagues and I have also sustained injuries."
The Gotei 13 each had their own responsibilities. And the "4th Division" was responsible for medical treatment.
While the "2nd Division" handled interrogation and imprisonment - not a desirable destination.
"Sōsuke, take this brat's sword." Hirako Shinji grabbed Naruto by the back of his collar, dragging him like a fox cub.
Showing no irritation at being commanded so unceremoniously by his own captain, Aizen Sōsuke went over and noticed something half-buried in the debris on the ground. He turned his head, "Pardon me, Captain Ōtoribashi, was any of you disarmed by this Uzumaki Naruto?"
Hogei Ichiji shook his head, "No, Lieutenant Aizen, why do you ask?"
Aizen Sōsuke bent down and picked up the two swords on the ground. "There are two swords here."
One was a dark red, the other a pale one.
He reached out with his left hand, grabbing the dark red one, "This is his sword? It's quite beautiful."
"And this one?" he raised the one in his right hand, "Isn't this one that you misplaced?"
Hogei Ichiji inclined his head.
The Shinigami with the lightest injuries immediately spoke up, "I'll go investigate right away, see if any student has misplaced a pale sword."
Hogei Ichiji nodded, walking over to take the pale sword, also taking the "Kyūbi" in hand, "Lieutenant Aizen, don't worry about the sword, since I'm going to the 4th Division as well, I'll keep it for now."
Aizen Sōsuke smiled and nodded, "Then I'll leave it to you, Headmaster Hogei."
At the 4th Division barracks, in a relatively remote and quiet location in the Seireitei.
Naruto's condition seemed to be a bit special.
It was originally 7th Seat of the 4th Division Yamada Hanatarou who was responsible, but he quickly summoned the 4th Division Captain, Unohana Retsu.
...
Outside the treatment room,
Others had arrived one by one. The Shinigami from the Shin'ō Academy came and left, reporting the results of the "pale sword" investigation.
8th Division Captain Kyōraku Shunsui, a man wearing a cherry blossom-pink haori, with a straw hat on his head, looking even more unrestrained than Hirako Shinji.
Lieutenant of the 1st Division Sasakibe Chōjirō, a white-haired man with a handlebar mustache, wearing the most formal Shinigami attire.
"Is the treatment still ongoing?" Kyōraku Shunsui spoke softly, his gaze lingering on the swords in Hogei Ichiji's hands, "Is that sword so burdensome for the wielder?"
Hirako Shinji shook his head, "It's not a treatment."
"Captain Unohana said that boy's body is a bit special, they're still investigating."
Kyōraku Shunsui puzzled, "Special?"
Hirako Shinji clicked his tongue, "How should I know? I was in a complete mess on the way back."
As they were talking, the door was pulled open.
Yamada Hanatarou stepped out, facing the Captains with a respectful attitude, "Captains, please come in."
"Captain Unohana has something to say."
They stepped in.
Just as Aizen Sōsuke was about to follow them in,
"Sōsuke, you stay outside," Hirako Shinji said, his head poking out as he entered, "To prevent any unwelcome guests from intruding where they shouldn't."
Aizen Sōsuke stopped in his tracks, not at all displeased, his gentle smile still on his face, "Yes, Captain Hirako."
He had no dissatisfaction with the other two Shinigamis being allowed to go in while he could not.
At least on the surface.
Everyone went in.
Slam!
The door was heavily shut by Hirako Shinji.
Aizen Sōsuke smiled, the glare of his plain glasses obscuring his eyes.
Inside,
Naruto was already awake.
He had his head bowed, his mood downcast, lying on the hospital bed.
"Lieutenant Sasakibe is here as well?" Unohana was surprised by the appearance of one of them.
"Captain-Commander Yamamoto is also somewhat concerned about this matter." Sasakibe Chōjirō stated directly.
Unohana nodded.
Of the group, Hogei Ichiji was the most impatient, as he was the closest to Naruto and most concerned about him, "What's the situation with Naruto's body that has required Captain Unohana to investigate for so long? The Shikai release would have..."
Unohana shook her head, her tone gentle, "Uzumaki's body is not injured, it's just a bit strange."
She paused, her gaze falling on Naruto's abdomen.
"Although Uzumaki has told me many things."
"But for the sake of easier understanding, let me explain from my own perspective first."
"His body contains an extremely powerful spiritual pressure, even larger than that of a typical Captain, at least of the level of an Espada."
An Espada-level spiritual pressure?
And she said "at least."
"Is it a Hollow?" Hirako Shinji immediately spoke up, recalling his initial impression of Naruto and the technique similar to a "Cero" he had used.
Unohana shook her head again, "No, it's not a Hollow."
"Hanatarou and I have been told about the sensations you felt, although I didn't see it myself."
"But that feeling was likely just a simple emotional influence."
As she spoke, her gaze briefly flicked to her sword.
"The power within Uzumaki is not a Hollow."
"Nor is it as evil as he described it."
"On the contrary, it is a very pure, very..." Here she paused, contemplating how to describe it more precisely, "a very life-affirming power, very suitable for the Gotei, and even without using any techniques, this spiritual energy itself has a healing effect."
"You seem to have some misunderstanding about it."
Hogei Ichiji heaved a big sigh of relief.
That's great.
The person is fine, and the power is not problematic.
Hirako Shinji raised an eyebrow, glancing back at the door.
"Is that... the same as Jūshirō's?" Kyōraku Shunsui's brow furrowed, his tone serious, "The same as him?"
Not very explicit, but those who understood could grasp his meaning.
The "Jūshirō" he mentioned was his close friend, his fellow colleague, the current 13th Division Captain, Ukitake Jūshirō.
He was the sickest among all the captains, chronically ill.
Near death in his youth, he had been saved by being "possessed by a fragment of the Ōken", which is a "key" that allows passage to the Soul King Palace.
"No, not the same," Unohana, one of the oldest Shinigami, could comprehend his meaning. She shook her head in denial, "While the nature of its existence is similar, they are not the same."
"What Uzumaki has within him is just a being purely constructed from spiritual energy."
Hogei Ichiji frowned, "Sounds like a good thing, but why did Naruto lose control of himself after releasing the Shikai."
"Because the sword hasn't fully recognized him yet," Unohana spoke softly.
Hogei Ichiji was puzzled, cradling the two swords in his arms, "But doesn't Naruto already know the name of his sword?"
"This is a rare occurrence," Unohana said gently, "There have been few cases during the Bankai release. For it to happen during the Shikai release is the first instance."
"The name... can also be false."
"When a Shinigami is able to hear the voice of their Zanpakutō, due to a lack of recognition of the person, or a lack of recognition of their true strength, the Zanpakutō may not tell the wielder its true name."
"In this case, while they can still release the Shikai, they can only use a part of the Zanpakutō's power, or the wrong power."
"Uzumaki is probably in this situation, his spiritual pressure is strong enough to wield the Zanpakutō, but for some reason, the Zanpakutō has told him an incorrect name."
"It's also possible that this sword is too powerful, even at the level of an Espada, it still may not be enough to fully utilize it."
Naruto listened attentively, many of these details were things Unohana had not told him earlier.
"Kyūbi..."
Was it an incorrect name?
"An incorrect name?" Hogei Ichiji's expression turned troubled.
Unohana continued, "I believe this is related to another strange thing about Uzumaki."
"The power within him is complete, yet also missing."
This time, even Kyōraku Shunsui looked puzzled.
What did she mean by... complete yet missing?
Such a contradictory statement?
"His power should have a matching other half," Unohana spoke softly, "Like a pair of items, missing the other side."
Matching...
Other half...
Hogei Ichiji seemed to have realized something, glancing at Kyōraku Shunsui as he raised the sword in his hand high, "Captain Unohana, the investigation just now has confirmed that no one has misplaced a pale sword."
"This sword appeared alongside the "Kyūbi" with Naruto."
"Could it be..."
"Naruto actually also possesses a pair of Zanpakutō."
"He has only awakened the "Kyūbi", while the other one has not yet been awakened."
Most Shinigami only had a "single sword," but there were exceptions.
8th Division Captain Kyōraku Shunsui and 13th Division Captain Ukitake Jūshirō, this pair of fellow Shinigamis, were the rare "dual-sword" wielders.
Unohana hesitantly nodded, "For now, this is the only way to explain it."
She looked at the dejected blond youth on the bed.
Vaguely, she felt something was off, but couldn't put her finger on it.
"Dual-wielding" was the best, and only, explanation available.
"Due to some very special reasons, Naruto has only released one of the pair of swords, while the other has been sealed, or for other reasons, has not been released yet..."
"What does Captain Kyōraku think?"
Kyōraku Shunsui shook his head, "Jūshirō and I both released our dual swords simultaneously, and there are no other examples to refer to."
"I see." Unohana smiled, "Uzumaki will stay in the 4th Division for now."
"I'll keep observing his physical condition."
Saying that, she took a sheet of paper from the bedside table, folded it neatly, and handed it to Sasakibe Chōjirō, "Please pass this on to the Captain-Commander, Vice-Captain Sasakibe."
"It records the seal on Uzumaki's body."
"It's a very peculiar technique."
"Unlike any we have seen before."
"According to Uzumaki, it seems to be a type of spiritual energy manipulation by humans from the Living World, not Quincy."
On the word "not Quincy" she put an extra emphasis.
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Estado de energía semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Piedra de
Poder