[It is detected that the host has stayed in Soul Society (Rokungai) for one hour. Sign-in successful. Reward: Shinigami-level Reiatsu!]
'Shinigami-level Reiatsu?'
Naruto didn't expect to receive such a reward.
Although he already possessed a Zanpakuto, his soul was still at a level of ordinary human. Gaining Shinigami-level Reiatsu meant that his spiritual density had significantly increased.
This made him a true Shinigami in every sense.
With this, even if the Soul King's Mark on him were exposed, his strength would be enough to counter any Shinigami opposition.
What's more, if he could gain Shinigami-level Reiatsu just by staying in Rokungai, wouldn't visiting Seireitei potentially reward him with Captain-level Reiatsu?
If he could truly attain Captain-level Reiatsu, he would then have the qualifications to fully unleash the power of Bankai.
The ability of his Shikai is to double the power of the system's sign-in reward. Naruto is looking forward to the improvement that Bankai will bring.
However, for now, it was still a pipe dream. After all, he wasn't a legitimate Shinigami nor is he appreciated by the Soul King. The chances of him entering the Seireitei were slim.
Calming his thoughts, Naruto began accepting the system's reward.
Thump-thump! Thump-thump!
Naruto felt a sense of enlightenment, as though a tide of clarity washed over him. His previously faint and tenuous soul suddenly solidified, and along with it came an unprecedented sharpness of mind.
It made him feel light and buoyant, not like the drunken kind of floating, but rather the real sensation of leaping effortlessly into the air, ascending dozens of feet in a single bound.
"What a marvelous feeling."
Naruto nodded in satisfaction, but immediately restrained his Reiatsu.
This is the Rukongai, and it is populated by ordinary souls who cannot withstand the Reiatsu from Shinigami, so not restraining his Reiatsu will likely cause mass panic or even harm to the residents.
After suppressing his Reiatsu, Naruto reopened the system panel.
Aside from the sign-in reward from his stay in Rokungai, he had received another sign-in reward.
[It is detected that the host has stayed in 'your home' for one hour. Sign-in is successful. Reward: Adamantine Sealing Chains!]
[Adamantine Sealing Chains: A unique ability of the Uzumaki Clan. When used, multiple Chakra chains extend from the back. It can not only be used as a powerful attack weapon, but also can be used to create barriers and seal Biju.]
A surge of knowledge flowed into Naruto's mind, akin to a form of inheritance.
'My home? How interesting.'
Naruto had previously failed to sign-in at his small, run-down house, thinking the system might have glitched. Little did he expect that his real 'home' would be in the Soul Society.
By rights, the system prioritized granting the most powerful abilities, such as the Flying Thunder God Technique. However, since Naruto already possessed it, he received the Adamantine Sealing Chains instead.
Naruto had witnessed firsthand how terrifyingly effective this ability could be.
He remembered vividly when watching the anime, when Kushina, just after giving birth to him and in a weakened state, had used these chains to restrain the berserk Kyubi, rendering it unable to move.
The rampaging Kyubi was an unimaginable force of destruction, which underscored the overwhelming power of the Adamantine Sealing Chains.
However, these chains, formed entirely of chakra, placed enormous demands on the user. Kushina could fully utilize the ability because of her immense Chakra Reserve, while Karin could only summon a fraction of its power.
The key difference was that the user needed an extraordinarily large Chakra Reserve. Fortunately, as Kushina's son, Naruto inherited a naturally vast Chakra Reserve chakra, bolstered further by the Kyubi within him. His Chakra was nearly inexhaustible.
Thus, even though the Adamantine Sealing Chains were classified as an A-Rank Technique, in Naruto's hands, they could rival S-Rank Forbidden Techniques in power.
"Great one, that spiritual pressure just now… what was it?"
Just then, the Shinigami appeared in front of Naruto.
Naruto regained his composure and waved his hand dismissively. "I got a bit emotional seeing my parents just now, and I accidentally leaked a little of my Reiatsu."
"As expected of you, great one. Even a little of your Reiatsu is stronger than my full strength."
The Shinigami complimented.
Hearing this, Naruto was not surprised. After all, the Shinigami-level Reiatsu was given by the system, so it must be well above the average level. And the figure in front of him, who resorted to petty rituals and sacrifices in the Naruto World, was obviously incompetent. After all, if he was truly talented, he wouldn't have needed to turn to such dubious methods.
"By the way, where's Sasori?"
Naruto inquired.
The Shinigami replied, "He's waiting where you arrived.'
"Let's head back then."
In a flash, Naruto disappeared. With the speed granted by his Reiatsu, he reached Sasori in just a few swift movements.
Seeing Sasori's complicated expression, Naruto couldn't resist teasing him, "What's this? Finally met your parents, and now you don't want to stay longer?"
Sasori said in a complicated way, "They are living well. I feel like I'm just unnecessary."
Naruto chuckled at this, understanding the sentiment all too well.
Who would've thought that the parents they longed for so desperately were living youthful, fulfilling lives in another world?
Of course, Naruto didn't mean anything negative by it. Seeing his parents so happy made him, as their son, genuinely glad. What he couldn't stand, however, was the public display of affection between them… It was just too much for him to handle.
'Being single is tough…'
"Alright, I kept my promise. I won't rush you to pledge allegiance to me, but you should start thinking about your punishment. Remember, we agreed to reflect on the situation properly, and you cried so intensely back there."
Naruto said with a sly grin. Though he cried too, it wasn't as dramatic as Sasori's outburst. Overall, Naruto figured he had the upper hand.
Sasori took a deep breath and declared seriously, "I have decided my punishment. My punishment is to submit to you and follow your orders from now on!"
"What?"
Naruto was stunned. He hadn't expected Sasori to say something like this. But it indeed saved him a lot of effort.
Scorpion then explained, "You allowed me to meet my parents. Seeing them live happily, the weight on my heart has finally been lifted I'll spend my life repaying this kindness. So, I've chosen to submit to you voluntarily. Doesn't that mean I can avoid any punishment?"
"Of course! Punishment's off the table!"
Naruto said happily. Gaining Sasori's loyalty was far better than enforcing any punishment.
"Thank you, Naruto-kun."
Sasori said, bowing slightly. But as he lowered his head, a smirk crept across his lips.
During his talk with his parents, Sasori learned about the terrifying nature of the Shinigami. Since the Shinigami listened to Naruto's commands, following Naruto was undoubtedly the right choice. This would also ensure that the Shinigami treated his parents well.
Sasori had always intended to submit, and it was only a matter of finding the right moment to declare it. And now, avoiding punishment on top of everything else? It was a perfect win for him.
"We've been delayed long enough. Staying out of our physical bodies for too long could cause issues. Let's continue this conversation back home." Naruto said, gesturing for the Shinigami to lead them back.
After re-entering the Dangai and traveling for about an hour, they finally returned to the Shinobi World.
In the Dangai, time flows at 2,000 times the normal rate. Spending an hour there equated to less than two seconds in the real world, which is practically negligible.
Meanwhile, they only spent an hour or so in the Soul Society, which accounted for actual time passing.
Kisame and Itachi waited calmly, having experienced Naruto's journey with the Shinigami once before. However, Deidara was anything but calm.
Upon learning the Shinigami had taken Naruto, he became frantic. Having finally found the most amazing artist, he couldn't bear the thought of losing Naruto before learning anything significant.
So, as soon as Naruto's soul returned to his body, Deidara's wails filled the air, "Naruto-kun, please don't die! Without you, how am I supposed to live?"
Hearing this, Naruto was completely baffled.
'Why did Deidara start crying when I had only been gone for a while?'
'And the way Deidara's words sounded… like a distressed young wife… What on earth was happening here?'