Chapter 153: One Soul, Two Lives
"You lost."
"Although I expected it, I still feel a bit disappointed."
The next day, Unohana Yachiryu arrived at the Soul Reaper Academy as promised to find Naruto.
But just like yesterday, Unohana Yachiryu had been defeated by the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū Profound Truth unique to Naruto.
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The sound of blade against scabbard rang out as both sheathed their swords simultaneously.
However, Unohana Yachiryu remained the Soul Society's recognized Great Master of the sword. Today, compared to yesterday, Naruto's victory was harder-won, and his injuries were more severe than the day before.
"This is why I learned Kaido."
Unohana Yachiryu gave a light laugh. A healing light glowed in her hand as she pressed her palm against Naruto's wound.
Naruto did not resist. His study of Kido had given him some understanding of Kaido. This Kaido, similar to medical Ninjutsu, had a unique advantage when treating Soul injuries.
The Soul, or rather, the spirit, was indeed a unique force distinct from the flesh.
The healing process was simple and swift. Naruto's Soul was quickly repaired, though the hunger in his stomach returned once more.
"Your Soul is somewhat special."
Unohana Yachiryu had a discerning eye. During their first duel, she had been immersed in the joy of combat, but this time, having calmed down, it wasn't hard to notice Naruto's abnormality.
"It seems to be one Soul with two lives. There is another force sleeping within your Soul, and it is much stronger than you."
A gentle smile played on the corners of Unohana Yachiryu's lips. The light of Kaido glowed once more as she probed Naruto's body again, seeking the source of the anomaly in his Soul.
Naruto was suddenly startled. He wanted to resist, but after a moment's thought, he decided against it; Unohana Yachiryu showed no malice.
"What an exceptionally powerful Soul. I am curious, what exactly did you experience in the living world? The independent Soul hidden within yours is likely older than me!"
Removing her hand from Naruto's shoulder, Unohana Yachiryu stepped back, looking him up and down with interest.
"Unlike the bloodthirsty demon in the depths of my own heart, this force represents the power of light!"
"But I am not a purely righteous person, and I don't think I need this power." Naruto realized this was a chance to resolve the hidden danger deep within his Soul. "Is there any way to get rid of it?"
"Why get rid of it?"
Unohana Yachiryu tilted her head, looking quite curious. "Wouldn't it be better to make that power your own and become stronger?"
"I have been extremely resistant to power that doesn't belong to me from the very beginning, whether in the past, present, or future." Narutofrowned. "Uncontrollable factors are always unsettling."
"Did Naruto encounter trouble while in the living world?" Unohana Yachiryu was even more curious. "This deeply hidden power should be of great help to you."
"It is indeed helpful. It made my body stronger and even presented an opportunity to evolve to a higher level, but I extinguished that chance with my own hands."
"It sounds like a fascinating story. Do you mind if I ask about it?"
Unohana Yachiryu found a clean spot untouched by the battle and sat down, gesturing for Naruto, who was still standing, to join her.
"It's all from before I died in the living world. Now that I have come to the Soul Society and become a Soul, it doesn't matter if I talk about it."
After only two days of contact, although Narutodidn't trust Unohana Yachiryu completely, it was easy to see from her demeanor that this woman was truly cultivating him as a disciple, a successor, and for the future.
There was no harm in speaking evasively.
"He has power, and he has his own thoughts, and both are very strong." Naruto weighed his words. "When I discovered him, I realized I had already been subtly influenced by him for a long time."
He offered a wry smile. "I always feel that my current thoughts... are products of his modification, and my judgments... often habitually lean towards his."
"So you died at the final stage of practicing the sword?" Unohana Yachiryu stated her assessment.
"I did hold back against my teacher. That strike could have gone right through him." Narutopointed to his own heart. "But in the end, it deviated by two inches."
"Is this why you are unwilling to use the power in your Soul?"
"Perhaps. He always influences my judgment, and he is far stronger than I am. I am afraid that in the end... the strange question of whether I am still myself will arise."
"That is indeed tricky." Unohana Yachiryu's voice remained gentle. She raised a hand and ruffled Naruto's hair, her eyes crinkling into slits. "But you are in the Soul Society now, and the asauchi in your hand is looking forward to you giving it a name."
"A zanpakutō, huh..." Naruto looked down at the asauchi resting quietly in his hand, his eyes unreadable.
"I really look forward to the day when you surpass me in swordsmanship, and your awakened zanpakutō can make a name for itself in the Soul Society!" Unohana Yachiryu's expression was not feigned. "As long as Naruto is strong enough, then I can be unbridled..."
"You mean..."
"Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto alone cannot stop me if I completely turn into a demon." Unohana Yachiryu's lips curved into a smile, more gentle than before, but for some reason, Naruto suddenly shuddered.
"Do you know the origin of the name Yachiryu?" Unohana Yachiryu's voice drifted, as if she were recalling the past. "Every time I killed a Soul with a unique sword style, I would claim their sword style as my own. I don't know how many years have passed, but I gave myself this name."
The calm tone revealed a terrifying slaughter of mountains of corpses and seas of blood. In Naruto's eyes, the figures of various Souls who had died under her blade in various poses appeared...
There are no wrong nicknames, only underestimated people.
Unohana Yachiryu was clearly one of them.
"You plan to..."
"Ah... of course it is to nurture you, then kill you, or die by your blade." Unohana Yachiryu did not shy away. "After all, I am a Soul who treats combat as everything to the core, and that will never change!"
Naruto nodded. Such a pure person was worthy of recognition. At the very least, before he reached his limit, this woman would not do anything detrimental to him.
Cultivating one's own opponent—this approach was a bit too arrogant.
But as for Unohana Yachiryu, she had the capital for such arrogance.
"After I give the asauchi a name and awaken my zanpakutō, can I completely solve the problem of having one Soul with two lives?"
"The zanpakutō is the power from the deepest part of your heart. Immerse your mind into your heart, and you will find the answer there."
Elegantly standing up, Unohana Yachiryu looked down at Naruto, her expression filled with expectation, and then her cherry lips parted slightly.
"I will come to find you tomorrow. By then, I will use my Shikai. If you cannot withstand it, you will die!"