The students who had yet to enter "Zanmeditation" couldn't help but look over when they heard that sentence.
Almost all of them did.
"Zanmeditation" wasn't a simple form of training.
Most Shinigami needed years of rigorous practice before mastering it.
They had only just received their Zanpakutō; success wouldn't come easy.
"I already had high expectations for you, but the reality still surprises me," the instructor said with a smile. "What is your sword called?"
"Nine-Tails," Naruto replied.
The instructor turned to the others and said, "You guys study on your own. I'll take Naruto outside for a bit."
One bold student raised their hand, "Sensei, we want to see Naruto's release too!"
"Focus on your training!" the instructor rejected firmly. "This is not something to mess around with."
He gave them no chance to keep begging and took Naruto out.
They entered the gym.
Principal Kazue Bogan had also been summoned.
Several Shinigami responsible for assessment and evaluation stood nearby.
Judging from the setup...
This wasn't going to be a casual observation.
"Naruto, no need to be nervous," the instructor reassured. "Like I said earlier, mastering Shikai is all it takes to graduate."
"Principal Bogan and the faculty are here to confirm and record this."
"Just perform the release as usual."
Uzumaki Naruto took a deep breath, gripped the hilt, and drew the blade.
A dark crimson hue—deep, yet dazzling.
He solemnly recited the incantation embedded in his mind.
Sealed within his body, the Nine-Tails finally sensed the difference of this world as Naruto's spiritual power surged.
A force within him, completely different from chakra, had been awakened.
In fact...
It seemed his body was no longer composed of chakra at all.
Naruto's voice echoed in the Nine-Tails' ears.
"Anger, pain, fear, corruption..."
"Hear the wails and bloom!"
"Nine-Tailed Demon Fox!"
A massive, crimson, and oppressive spiritual pressure burst out from Naruto in all directions.
One of the evaluators stepped back instinctively. "This is a Shikai?"
"What kind of release command is that?"
The spiritual pressure's strength was within expectations.
After all, Naruto's "Spiritual Rank" was fifth class—stronger than many present. Shikai typically boosted one's spiritual power.
But this sword...
It gave off an extremely ominous, dangerous feeling.
Even their emotions seemed affected by the aura—becoming slightly depressed, weighed down by a creeping fatigue.
Naruto's physical appearance didn't change much.
He was now shrouded in a dark red, lava-like cloak of transparent spiritual energy. Two fox-like ears of energy rose atop his head, and a thick spiritual tail lashed behind him like a real fox's.
His once-blue eyes had turned blood red, with slit pupils like a fox's.
"Naruto, does your sword have any special abilities?" Principal Bogan asked.
Naruto flexed his wrist, the blade swaying with it. "It enhances my body and spiritual power. Other than that, not much."
Principal Bogan nodded. "A body-enhancing Zanpakutō, huh?"
That actually suited Naruto quite well.
His talent in "Kido" wasn't as strong as in "Hand-to-hand combat" and "Swordsmanship."
Naruto focused on the energy within himself.
He realized what he had shown so far was just the tip of the iceberg. "Principal Bogan, I think I can become even stronger."
"Stronger?" Bogan didn't quite understand Naruto's meaning.
In fact, he found the statement a little frightening.
Stronger than Shikai? That would mean Bankai.
Even captains required hundreds of years to attain Bankai.
To reach it immediately?
He had only just learned Shikai.
Impossible.
Naruto inhaled deeply and drew more power from the Nine-Tails.
His spiritual pressure grew even stronger.
A second tail emerged from the energy cloak.
The ribbon on his Zanpakutō's hilt split into a second fluffy strand.
"Oh—a second form?" Principal Bogan exhaled in relief. So that's what it was.
A nearby Shinigami muttered, "Nine-Tails… nine…"
"Could it be that Naruto's sword can manifest up to nine tails?"
From the name alone, that was an easy assumption to make.
Naruto nodded, "Seems like it. Should I try?"
Principal Bogan quickly stopped him. "Hold on."
"Make sure your body can handle it first."
In all his years, he had never seen a Shikai with evolving forms and increasing power—but still not a Bankai.
Then again, Zanpakutō abilities were wildly diverse. Having an odd one wasn't too surprising.
But he knew one thing:
Power always came with a price.
Since the Shikai started with just one tail, it meant that was the optimal state for Naruto. Going further would likely come with a cost.
Naruto nodded obediently.
He checked his body. After a long moment, he shook his head. "No issues."
"Just... I feel kind of excited. Like I really want to fight someone."
Excited and combative...
In battle, that wasn't really a drawback—in fact, it was often a very positive condition.
Many in the Gotei 13 were exactly those types—combat maniacs.
Constantly in a state of excitement and aggression.
Not really a cost, then.
"Alright, keep going," Bogan said gently.
Naruto nodded and gave a sharp cry.
A third tail burst forth.
The hilt of his sword sprouted a third fluffy ribbon.
The change was subtle.
The spiritual cloak over his body became denser, less transparent.
His spiritual pressure fluctuated even more violently.
The onlookers unconsciously stepped back again.
"This sword is really powerful," someone commented.
That level of pressure—they'd only felt it from seasoned Vice-Captains.
And Naruto was a mere student.
A trainee Shinigami with such overwhelming pressure?
Incredible.
"How do you feel now?" Bogan asked again.
Naruto took a moment. "Pretty much the same—just more excited."
There was a ringing in his ears.
Like chaotic, indistinct roars blending together.
Urging him to draw his sword and cut something—anything—nearby.
His body felt that impulse too.
But he could still restrain it.
"No physical problems?" Bogan asked with concern.
Naruto shook his head. "No strain."
"Then let's keep going."
The moment those words left his mouth—
The fourth tail extended.
Suddenly, a major transformation erupted over Naruto.
The once semi-transparent dark red cloak turned completely opaque and deep crimson.
It was as if the spiritual energy had come alive and swallowed him whole.
The sense of danger and foreboding intensified drastically.
Everyone felt a chill down their spine.
Under their gaze...
Naruto raised his blade and swallowed the Zanpakutō with all four ribbons.
His spiritual pressure surged.
Then he changed posture—no longer standing upright like a human, but crouched low on all fours like a beast.
His eyes no longer had pupils—just two bright, glowing circles.
Principal Bogan's heart sank.
He had a bad feeling.
"Naruto?" he called, testing.
But the response—
Was a roar from the spiritual energy creature that had swallowed Naruto.
A burst of air echoed. The creature vanished from its original spot.
"Watch out! He's lost control!" Bogan shouted.
He recalled the emotional effects from earlier...
Remembered Naruto saying he felt "excited"...
Just as he had suspected.
With each tail's release, this sword demanded a price.
But it wasn't spiritual energy or physical damage.
It was sanity.
The moment Bogan's warning ended—
Beast-form Naruto was already upon a nearby Shinigami, claws slashing through the air with a violent gust.
Boom!
That Shinigami barely had time to forgo incantation and cast "Bakudō #8: Repulse," forming a ball of energy to absorb most of the impact—but even the shockwave sent him flying and embedded into the wall.
"Was Naruto always this fast?" one Shinigami gasped. "This strong?"
They remembered Naruto's Shunpo had never been this fast.
The Shinigami in the wall was a mess—bloodied and battered.
"That sword must enhance every part of his body—not just spiritual pressure, but strength, speed, everything," Bogan frowned. "We need to restrain him."
"Be careful. Don't hurt him too badly."
(End of Chapter)