“There are too many eyes watching us. Since we’re only searching for a few relics, Kakashi alone is enough.”
Without hesitation, Kushina rejected the suggestion of sending additional people.
The so-called Uzumaki relics were merely an excuse.
The real objective was to rescue survivors.
If Hiruzen learned the true purpose of the mission, he would never approve it.
No matter how weak Kusagakure had become, it was still an independent shinobi village recognized throughout the Ninja World.
Entering another village’s territory to rescue people without permission could easily trigger a diplomatic incident.
Under normal circumstances, Hiruzen might have agreed for the sake of the remaining Uzumaki clansmen.
But Konoha was currently at war with Kumogakure.
He would naturally worry that another village might use such an incident as an excuse to attack Konoha.
Rather than explaining everything in advance, it was much simpler to bring the survivors back first.
Before Kakashi departed, Kushina handed him a sealing scroll.
Inside it was a single Hadō #31: Shakkahō, personally cast using the Nine-Tails’ chakra.
Even if Kakashi encountered a Kage-level opponent, the attack would be powerful enough to create an opportunity for him to escape.
If everything went according to plan, the scroll itself would become the “Uzumaki relic” he had supposedly recovered.
As for the rescued survivors…
It would be easy enough to claim that he had happened to encounter a surviving member of the Uzumaki Clan while returning.
The idea of sealing Shakkahō into a scroll had been Sima Ming’s suggestion.
Kushina and the Nine-Tails had worked together to make it possible.
His inspiration came from the xianxia novels he had read before arriving in this world.
In those stories, gifted disciples often carried life-saving talismans containing a single attack from a powerful elder.
The Sealing Techniques of the Naruto world could preserve almost anything.
Even Amaterasu—the black flames said to burn until nothing remained—could be sealed.
Naturally, sealing a single Kidō spell posed no problem.
Of course…
Not everyone possessed the skill to accomplish such a feat.
A Shakkahō empowered by the Nine-Tails’ chakra far surpassed the power of ordinary ninjutsu.
Without Kushina’s extraordinary mastery of sealing techniques, the process would have been impossible.
Before Kakashi left, Kushina explained that the people he was rescuing were a mother and daughter.
She also carefully instructed him on what story to tell after bringing them back.
Only then did she personally see him off at Konoha’s gates.
“Don’t worry.”
“Kakashi will bring them back safely.”
Seeing Kushina silently watching Kakashi’s retreating figure, Sima Ming gently embraced her from behind.
The reason he had suggested rescuing the Uzumaki survivors from Kusagakure now served several purposes.
First…
He believed Kusagakure had completely wasted the talents of the remaining Uzumaki.
Second…
The rescued survivors could become Kushina’s trusted inner circle.
They were among the last surviving members of her clan, and after being saved by her, they would be unlikely to betray her.
Third…
Well…
He also had a slightly selfish motive.
The more Kushina’s affection for him grew, the sooner he hoped their strange connection would become automatic rather than constantly requiring effort.
Perhaps then…
He might finally uncover the secrets hidden within Naruto’s mysterious “former residence.”
The results exceeded even his expectations.
Although Kakashi had only just departed…
That very evening, Kushina shyly asked Sima Ming to help scrub her back during her bath before giving her a relaxing massage.
Had the Land of Rain not been such a dangerous place…
And had Nagato not been constantly watched by Black Zetsu…
Sima Ming might have considered rescuing another lonely Uzumaki orphan as well.
Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.
Kushina’s Uzumaki vitality had grown considerably stronger.
Although she still couldn’t withstand the Nine-Tails’ chakra for extended periods…
Remaining under its influence for around ten minutes had become manageable.
Standing before her practice target, she took a deep breath.
“O ruler…”
“Mask of flesh and bone, all creation, flutter of wings…”
“Ye who bears the name of Man…”
“Inferno and pandemonium…”
“The sea surges, moving south in reverse…”
“March forward!”
“Hadō #31…”
“Shakkahō!”
A brilliant crimson light burst from her palm.
The blast slammed into the target, erupting in a violent explosion.
“I did it!”
“Ming-kun, I finally succeeded!”
Kushina jumped excitedly, unable to hide her joy.
Watching her celebration, Sima Ming smiled with genuine satisfaction.
Even within Soul Society…
Not every Shinigami could master Kidō.
Had it not been for his system allowing him to purchase the skill directly, he wasn’t sure he would have succeeded either.
Thinking about the system…
His smile gradually faded.
To this day, there had been no sign of it awakening.
Sometimes he even wondered whether the system had completely crashed while transporting him across worlds.
After teaching Kushina several more Kidō incantations, Sima Ming quietly sat down inside the Nine-Tails’ Inner World.
Across his knees rested half of his broken Asauchi.
His expression was troubled.
An Asauchi was the unfinished foundation of every Zanpakutō.
Once a Shinigami’s soul resonated with it, the blade would evolve into a unique Zanpakutō reflecting its owner’s spirit.
Normally…
Even if a Zanpakutō was damaged or broken, it never reverted to its original Asauchi form.
Yet that was exactly what had happened to his sword.
With his system seemingly gone forever…
Repairing the broken blade had become his greatest concern.
He remembered that every Asauchi in Soul Society had originally been forged by Ōetsu Nimaiya, the “God of the Sword” and a member of the Royal Guard.
Those blades were created by compressing vast quantities of Reishi.
Following that logic, Sima Ming repeatedly attempted to nourish the broken Asauchi with his own spiritual pressure.
The results were disappointing.
Wondering whether the different laws governing this world were responsible, he even asked the Nine-Tails to infuse it with chakra.
Nothing changed.
For ordinary Shinigami…
Advancing from Shikai to Bankai required gradually deepening one’s bond with their Zanpakutō.
Sima Ming’s situation was entirely different.
His sword had been obtained through the system’s beginner rewards.
Even his Shikai had been unlocked simply by purchasing it from the system shop.
Compared to other Shinigami…
His connection with his own Zanpakutō was painfully shallow.
Originally, he would have simply earned enough system currency to unlock Bankai.
Now…
The system was gone.
His sword was broken.
Forget Bankai.
He wasn’t even sure whether he could restore Shikai ever again.
“…Could it be…”
“I’m failing because my resonance with the blade isn’t deep enough?”
There was another possibility lurking in the back of his mind.
One he desperately didn’t want to accept.
Perhaps…
The sword was simply beyond repair.
That would explain why neither spiritual pressure nor chakra had any effect.
Otherwise…
Damage sustained while in Shikai should have been completely repairable using spiritual pressure.
Having finished memorizing her new incantations, Kushina happily turned around, intending to share her success.
Instead…
She found Sima Ming staring silently at the broken blade resting across his lap.
“Ming-kun…”
“Your sword…”
Only then did she realize the weapon he always wore at his waist was missing nearly half its length.
The clean fracture made it obvious it hadn’t been forged that way.
Without saying anything, Sima Ming extended the broken blade toward her.
“It’s broken.”
“And I don’t know whether it can ever be repaired.”
Normally, a living person couldn’t directly touch a Zanpakutō.
However…
This was the Nine-Tails’ Inner World.
Neither of them possessed physical bodies here.
As Kushina accepted the blade…
Something incredible happened.
The once-transparent Asauchi suddenly became completely solid.
Even the Nine-Tails lifted its head in surprise.
This wasn’t the outside world.
How could a physical object suddenly materialize here?
Then…
Just as suddenly…
The blade vanished from Kushina’s hands.
She gasped in panic.
“M-Ming-kun…”
“I…”
“What just happened?”
Her frightened expression contrasted sharply with Sima Ming’s excitement.
After a brief moment of shock…
Joy filled his face.
When he had first awakened his Shikai, the same phenomenon had occurred.
His Zanpakutō had disappeared for a brief instant before transforming.
An ordinary Asauchi—whether complete or broken—would never display such a reaction.
Without hesitation, Sima Ming spoke the familiar release command.
“Split the chest…”
“Reflect that resolve…”
“Bloom…”
“Kyōen!”