Immediately after leaving the parallel world, Naruto returned to the Pure Land.
Feeling the abundant Reiatsu and the familiar scent of swirling sand, Naruto's heart calmed. He held the chakra of Ashura in his hand. It had formed a small, glowing orb of light that seemed to flash in anger.
Curiosity piqued, Naruto examined it closely. He discovered that this ball of light possessed its own consciousness. This was likely related to the nature of his soul, something that had accompanied him since birth, influencing him. Or perhaps, in a way, he was the reincarnation of this orb of light?
Naruto let out a disdainful laugh. "Just a consciousness that doesn't even have a body."
The moment he had decided to walk this path, he had made a resolution. He would not let anyone or anything influence his judgment ever again.
He manipulated his Reiatsu and directly erased the consciousness of the light orb. In the haze, he seemed to hear a pained roar. As the consciousness was wiped away, the orb of light fell silent and was completely absorbed by Naruto.
Naruto felt his mind being pulled back into that mysterious space once more.
The sky was dotted with stars.
By the throne stood the familiar figures of his Hollow and the black-robed man. But this time, a ball of light landed in the black-robed man's hand and then merged with his body.
Naruto walked forward.
"My king," the black-robed man and the Hollow said with great respect.
"What is the true ability of my Zanpakuto?" Naruto asked.
For a long time now, Naruto had had his suspicions. The true ability of his Zanpakuto was not Kyoka Suigetsu.
Faced with Naruto's question, the black-robed man bowed slightly and said respectfully, "That is something you must find for yourself."
"Now, the limit within your body has been unlocked. You will become… the true king!"
The black-robed man looked up, his eyes filled with reverence.
Click.
Naruto felt as if a lock inside him had been completely opened. His consciousness suddenly returned to reality.
VWOOM.
The Reiatsu in the Pure Land suddenly erupted, surging towards Naruto. At the center of the storm, Naruto felt the Reiatsu that had been sealed due to Kyoka Suigetsu suddenly become active again.
At the same time, in the Land of Demons, Shion's heart stirred. She could sense a terrifying aura coming from within the gate.
Inside the Pure Land, all the orbs of light stopped moving, as if they were trembling in fear. The Hollows that had finished their transformation let out terrified roars. The Adjuchas looked towards Naruto's direction from afar, its eyes flickering.
This absorption of Reiatsu was too violent, lasting for a full ten minutes.
When the Reiatsu finally calmed, a sharp light flashed in Naruto's eyes. He had grown stronger again. More importantly, it felt as if he had touched upon a fraction of his Zanpakuto's true ability.
Crunch.
Suddenly, he saw a tall figure walking towards him through the sandstorm. As it drew closer, he saw the figure's face clearly. He cried out in shock:
"Zabuza?!"
He never would have expected it.
This Adjuchas was none other than Zabuza, who had died in the Land of Waves.
He was also Haku's former… master.
This fateful encounter was truly a strange twist of fate.
"You know who I am?" Zabuza stared intently into Naruto's eyes and demanded.
After becoming a Hollow, all memories of one's past life were forgotten. Although the Zabuza of today had a face similar to the original, he was, in fact, no longer Zabuza.
"Of course, I know you," Naruto said with a faint smile, a slight curve to his lips. "Do you want to know your purpose?"
"Purpose?" Zabuza frowned, a look of confusion on his face.
"Become my subordinate, Zabuza. I will help you find the meaning of your existence," Naruto said, extending an olive branch.
"Subordinate! Hmph, that depends on whether you have the skill," Zabuza snorted, drawing his Executioner's Blade.
"It seems you're in the mood. Then I'll play with you for a bit," Naruto said with a smile. In the next instant, he vanished from Zabuza's sight.
His figure appeared like a ghost behind Zabuza, and he sent him flying with a light kick.
So fast!! Zabuza thought in shock as his body flew backward. He had fought his way out from among countless Grand Fisher by instinct alone; his own combat intuition was terrifying. The moment Naruto had attacked, his intuition had warned him of the attack from behind, but his body couldn't keep up at all. One had to know, he had already evolved into an Adjuchas. His strength should be at or very close to the Kage level.
Zabuza swung his Executioner's Blade, and the Reiatsu gathered on it formed a blade of energy.
"Hm? Is this a skill similar to a Cero? I didn't expect your talent to be so decent," Naruto said with a look of appreciation in his eyes. He drew his own sword and shattered the blade of energy.
Zabuza had once been a ninja of the Hidden Mist. During the Mist's graduation exam, the young, weak Zabuza had killed all one hundred of his classmates. This was proof enough that, in terms of both mentality and potential, Zabuza was among the elite.
Naruto admired Zabuza and naturally wanted to take him in as a subordinate. But for a proud and ruthless man like him, a simple defeat would not be enough.
Naruto's eyes turned cold. His figure appeared above Zabuza. He bent down and grabbed Zabuza by the collar, and before the latter's horrified eyes, casually threw him into the air.
Throughout the entire process, Zabuza had no time to resist. Naruto's movements were so casual, yet he was completely unable to stop them.
"It's over." Naruto's lips curled slightly. He formed a colorless Rasengan in his hand and gently tossed it into the sky. In the next moment, a light swirled within it. The seemingly calm Rasengan suddenly became violent, the energy inside churning madly. It exploded like a firework, and the scattered beams of light, as if they had a life of their own, chased after Zabuza.
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.
A continuous stream of explosions rang out, mixed with Zabuza's pained cries. When the light faded, Zabuza, covered in smoke, fell into the desert.
Naruto used Shunpo to appear in front of him and said with a smile, "Now, do you submit?"
In the Land of Demons, Shion's eyes were filled with worry. It was already nearing nightfall, but Naruto had still not returned. This trip had been far too long. She didn't know much about the Pure Land, only that it was a world where souls went. Even if Naruto's abilities were related to the Pure Land, he was still human; he was somewhat out of place there.
Suddenly, the black gate wavered, and then Naruto stepped out. Shion's face lit up, and she was about to rush forward when she saw a strange figure step out from behind him. A middle-aged man, his body wrapped in bandages.
Isn't that the Adjuchas I saw in the Pure Land before?
As if seeing Shion's confusion, Naruto introduced the two to each other.
"Shion, this is the Adjuchas from the Pure Land, Zabuza. He is our comrade now."
"Zabuza, this is the priestess of the Land of Demons, and also our comrade, Shion."
"I recognize her," Zabuza said, looking at Shion with an unfriendly gaze. She had, after all, easily defeated him before.
"Tch." Shion snorted, sheathed her Zanpakuto, and wrapped her arms around one of Naruto's, giving Zabuza a provocative look.
Naruto calmly extracted his arm and said flatly, "Zabuza and I have to leave now. If anything happens, report to me immediately."
Shion nodded obediently. Then, before her eyes, Naruto and Zabuza vanished from the palace.
The two of them traveled through the forest. Zabuza's expression was blank, and he remained silent the entire way.
"Aren't you curious where we're going?" Naruto asked.
Before Zabuza could answer, a smirk appeared on Naruto's lips, and he continued, "Soon, you will meet the most important… man in your past life."
"Man?" Zabuza looked bewildered, a strange feeling suddenly rising in his heart.