Reiatsu Awakening

Night fell, and the continuous chirping of cicadas outside signaled that most villagers had already gone to sleep.

Naruto knew the ninja monitoring him were still working overtime.

"The Will of Fire really benefits one greatly," he said with an exaggerated sigh, closing the book.

He tidied up the books, washed himself, and went to bed.

Ding dong. In his dream, a familiar dripping sound woke Naruto.

Naruto opened his eyes to the familiar cold, damp dungeon.

He quickly got up and, as if by habit, walked towards the iron gate.

"Mr. Aizen, I'm here." Arriving at the iron gate, he saw Aizen sitting cross-legged through the dim light.

With brown hair, brown eyes, black-rimmed glasses, and long bangs falling to his eyes, his gentle face was like a beautiful landscape.

"Yo, Naruto. I saw what you did earlier. You did very well. You've learned to hide your emotions now," Aizen praised him generously.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Aizen. Without your guidance, I'd still be that foolish Naruto Uzumaki," Naruto said, sitting down in front of the iron gate.

"I merely provided the push," Aizen shook his head. "You're very intelligent, Naruto. I see the potential in you to overturn Konoha."

"Me?" Naruto pointed at himself in disbelief.

This was the first time he had ever received such praise, and he felt a flicker of joy.

"Of course. Never underestimate yourself, Naruto."

Aizen's gaze was deep. He could sense a terrifying power within Naruto, one that even he dared not underestimate.

That power was likely the Nine-Tails Fox Demon, the very entity the Konoha higher-ups feared and sought to control.

He eagerly anticipated Naruto's future.

Would he become a weakling who followed the rules, or would he push those rules to their absolute limit?

Until then, he would provide Naruto with the resources to learn and develop freely.

Perhaps in the future, Naruto could become his aid in surpassing the limits of a Shinigami.

"Let's begin today's studies," Aizen said, waving his right hand.

Several books instantly appeared before Naruto.

These were high school textbooks Aizen had gathered from the living world, covering language, math, and foreign languages, as well as psychology, sociology, and other fields.

He wanted Naruto to receive the education of an advanced society and broaden his thinking.

Of course.

Naruto would be self-studying the entire time; Aizen didn't have the leisure for one-on-one teaching.

He casually picked up a book and began reading with a smile.

Though humans in the living world were weak, their wisdom was not to be ignored.

Therefore, whenever he had time, Aizen would read books in the Sealing Space.

Naruto didn't touch the textbooks on the table, his expression hesitant.

After a moment, as if having made a decision, he bowed ninety degrees to Aizen and shouted, "Mr. Aizen, please guide me on how to become stronger."

"Stronger?" Aizen put down his book, a playful expression on his face.

"Why do you want to become stronger?"

"Because I want the power to control my own destiny. I don't want to be looked at with those kinds of eyes anymore. I want the strength to shatter everything and change how everyone sees me," Naruto answered without hesitation.

"Is that all?" Aizen's eyes filled with disappointment. "Do other people's opinions truly matter that much to you?"

Hearing this, Naruto fell into deep thought.

Several scenes flashed through his mind.

The bullying from children, the curses from villagers, the Third's hypocritical smile.

Did the approval of others truly mean that much to him?

He used to be subjected to insults, yet he had believed that becoming Hokage would earn him everyone's approval.

So, he had to keep working hard, striving with all his might.

But looking back now, how ridiculous he had been then.

Konoha wanted to control him.

In their eyes, what was he exactly?

In truth, they didn't see him as one of their own at all.

Naruto couldn't help but clench his fists, his eyes blazing with anger.

He raised his head, his gaze resolute.

"I want the ability to break everything. I want to make Konoha, no, the entire ninja world, respect me, even fear me."

"Fear? While still not quite enough, it's at least somewhat interesting. If that's the case, then I'll lend you a hand," Aizen said, standing up. His slender figure exuded an immense pressure.

Naruto felt his breath catch, the terrifying pressure causing his entire body to tremble uncontrollably.

"Is that all you've got?" Aizen asked coldly, removing his glasses. His eyes sharpened, and in that moment, his gentle demeanor vanished, replaced by arrogance and self-assurance.

This was, in essence, the first time Aizen had revealed his true self in his career.

Naruto's pupils dilated, his body trembling without cease.

"The world I come from is different from the ninja world. We Shinigami are spirits, without human bodies."

"Reiatsu is a unique power system in our world. The density of a person's soul determines their Reiatsu; the denser the soul, the greater the power."

"Every soul in the Soul Society possesses Reiatsu. Individuals with exceptionally strong talent can awaken a Zanpakuto and possess their own Shikai activation phrase."

"You are human, so by rights, you shouldn't have Reiatsu."

"Therefore, if you forcefully awaken Reiatsu, there will be many unknowns."

"To gain power, you must be prepared to die." The entire Sealing Space shook, and then an unremarkable Tachi appeared before Naruto.

"If you are already prepared to die, then pick up this sword."

Aizen stated coldly, his hands clasped behind his back.

The more he understood this space, the more wary Aizen became.

Within this space, it seemed he could materialize all his abilities and items for Naruto.

He didn't know which supreme being had created this space.

From the current situation, it appeared this space wanted him to become Naruto's teacher.

With this speculation, Aizen wanted to verify if Naruto could gain equivalent power in reality and become a Shinigami.

Perhaps even fuse the powers of a Shinigami and a ninja.

If successful, Naruto might forge a new path.

Aizen's eyes suddenly burned with passion.

In his pursuit of higher realms, he had not hesitated to use his colleagues' bodies for Hollowfication experiments. In the Soul Society, such an act was akin to dancing on the tip of a blade.

While Aizen was confident and arrogant, there were indeed beings in the Soul Society he feared.

The Captain Commander of the Gotei 13, the strongest Shinigami, Captain Commander Yamamoto.

Yet, in his confidence, he viewed everything as a pawn, laying out his plans as if playing a game of Go.

A single misstep could lead to utter ruin.

And Naruto, to him, was undoubtedly a major variable.

In his sight, Naruto reached out without hesitation, firmly gripping the Zanpakuto.

There was no pain or surge of power, only a sense of refreshing clarity.

Naruto discovered a strange new power flowing within him.

Though minuscule, it was undeniably present.

He had succeeded.

Aizen's pupils quivered, his heart struck with shock.

Naruto Uzumaki's entire Spirit Veins were flowing with Reiatsu.

Spirit Veins were a network of spiritual energy, often used for detection. Only high-ranking Shinigami could see Spirit Veins; a Shinigami's Spirit Veins were red, while a human's were white.

But Naruto's Spirit Veins were...

Interspersed with red and white?!