Chapter 46: Can a Shinigami Resurrect the Dead?
As soon as Yumesaki finished speaking, a massive, spectral shadow of the Shinigami materialized behind him.
The tattered white robes were the same, and the eerie, flickering ghost-fires remained unchanged. Even its height and build were identical. The only thing that had transformed was the face.
Previously, the Shinigami summoned by Tobirama had a ferocious, demonic face resembling a Hannya mask. But the Shinigami standing there now bore the face of Yumesaki himself.
The moment it appeared, an invisible, crushing pressure descended upon the room. Everyone present felt a heavy weight on their chest. Their limbs turned cold, their breathing grew shallow, and it felt as though thousands of pounds were pressing down on them. They were on the verge of suffocation.
The shadow of death spread like a rising tide, drowning them. This wasn't Haoshoku Haki (Conqueror's Haki), but it was far more terrifying. One look into those eyes made them feel as if their end was seconds away.
Just as the pressure became unbearable, the Shinigami vanished. The stifling aura evaporated instantly. In its place, Yumesaki stood looking pale and mentally exhausted, as if he had just survived a severe illness. His overall aura had weakened considerably.
Tsunade, seeing his state, immediately rushed forward to check on him. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Yumesaki replied, shaking his head. "I've replaced the Shinigami, but the problem is that its power level is incredibly high. With my current, meager amount of Chakra, trying to manifest that power is still a massive strain."
Tsunade could see the truth in that. From the moment he summoned the power to the moment it vanished wasn't even five seconds, yet Yumesaki was already drained. There was a long way to go before he could use that power to strike down enemies at will.
"If it's that taxing, don't use it recklessly," Tsunade warned. "We're all here. We won't let you fall into danger that easily."
Yumesaki managed a small smile. "Even if I can't use it freely yet, you can."
Tsunade blinked, stunned.
"Since I've replaced the Shinigami, the old Shiki Fujin is basically obsolete," Yumesaki explained. "Even if someone learns the seals, they won't be able to call the Reaper forth. Because I am the Reaper now. Unless I agree, no one can summon it. However, I can establish a Summoning Contract with you, allowing you to cast the jutsu and borrow the Shinigami's power."
"And there's one more advantage," he added. "The Shiki Fujin was originally a suicide jutsu. Once cast, the user's soul was forfeit. But I can rewrite that contract. I can let you borrow that power to fight, and whether you succeed or fail, I won't take your soul."
Tobirama's expression shifted. This was a game-changer. He knew the sheer power of the Shiki Fujin; not even the Nine-Tails could resist it. If the lethal side effect was removed, he wouldn't even fear facing his brother, Senju Hashirama. His brother was powerful, yes, but against the God of Death? He could simply send his brother back to the afterlife with a single jutsu.
Orochimaru was equally excited. "If I used the Shiki Fujin against Nagato, could I seal him?"
Yumesaki nodded. "As long as you have enough Chakra, sealing Nagato wouldn't be a problem." Despite the Rinnegan, Nagato wasn't a true Six Paths tier combatant yet. Using the power of the Shinigami against him was well within the realm of possibility.
"What about the Otsutsuki?" Tobirama asked. If the Shinigami could take down an Otsutsuki, the ninja world would finally be safe.
This time, Yumesaki shook his head. "I wouldn't recommend it. Even the Shinigami has limits. The Otsutsuki are on a different level—basically all of them are Six Paths tier or higher. The Shinigami might not be able to handle them."
Tobirama conceded that this made sense. If the Shinigami were truly that invincible, it wouldn't have been defeated by Kaguya and turned into an empty shell for Yumesaki to swallow.
Suddenly, Kabuto spoke up. "Lord Yumesaki, I have one question. Now that you've become the Shinigami... can you resurrect the dead?"
The room went dead silent. All eyes locked onto Yumesaki. Even Tobirama's eyes sparked with hope. Why hadn't he thought of that?
"I can't."
Yumesaki looked around, seeing the fading light in their eyes, and spoke calmly. "As much as I'd like to say otherwise, the Shinigami governs death and harvests souls. It does not bring people back to life."
A wave of disappointment washed over the room. A Shinigami who couldn't even resurrect someone? Was he even a Shinigami at all?
Feeling their collective letdown, Yumesaki couldn't help but scoff. "Do you all have some fundamental misunderstanding of what a Shinigami is? He is the God of Death, not the God of Resurrection or Life. Who told you that being a Shinigami automatically means you can bring people back? That's just a massive prejudice against the job description."
Realizing he was right, the group felt a bit sheepish and began to adjust their expectations.
"I suppose that's true," Tsunade sighed. "In the end, a Shinigami is just a Shinigami."
Tobirama and Orochimaru nodded in resignation.
But then, Yumesaki added, "Of course... if you're asking if it's completely impossible, well, that's not necessarily true either."
Everyone: "???"
"Wait, that's not what you just said!" Nico Robin couldn't help but chime in with a retort.
Yumesaki remained calm. "That was then, this is now. I just thought of an interesting possibility."
"A possibility?"
"Exactly. Have you all forgotten? In the world of One Piece, there exists a very miraculous fruit: the Yomi Yomi no Mi (Revive-Revive Fruit)."
Apart from Minato, Karin, and Kanae, everyone's eyes widened in realization. Those who knew the "plot" understood exactly what that meant.
The Yomi Yomi no Mi was one of the most logic-defying fruits in the One Piece world. It allowed the user to return to life once after death and granted them soul-based abilities, such as astral projection and the ability to traverse walls. Its user, Brook, could remain "alive" even as a pile of bones.
If a regular human could do all that with the fruit, what would happen if a Shinigami ate it?
Would he master the power to truly command life and death?
Tobirama decided right then and there: regardless of whether it would work, they had to try.
"But weren't you planning on eating the Doa Doa no Mi (Door-Door Fruit)?" Robin asked. "Are you changing your plans?"
Yumesaki shook his head. "No need. The Doa Doa no Mi is essential for me to master my own 'Golden Finger.' I have to eat that one. But I don't intend to let the Yomi Yomi no Mi go either. Have you forgotten that Blackbeard can consume two Devil Fruits? As long as we figure out his secret, there's no reason I can't eat a second one."
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