Shinigami in the Ninja World (Re-upload)

Seven-year-old Sasuke was startled awake by a cold wind in the open wilderness.

He shivered uncontrollably, his body wracked by tremors.

Though he saw only a desolate, barren field and sparse, thin trees in the distance under a dim, warm glow, his vision remained filled with a haunting crimson.

"Itachi Uchiha…"

He forced the name out through trembling lips.

Tears welled up in his eyes, unable to hold them back. His sorrow was for the family and friends he had lost, but there was also anger at himself—at his own weakness the night before.

He had hidden, shaking in a closet, without resistance.

He'd already begun learning to be a ninja and constantly said he would become a strong ninja like his father or like Itachi, but when faced with true terror, he hadn't done anything.

How pathetic.

Sasuke scolded himself and looked around. Despite what he'd just experienced, the chilling wind helped him shake off his foggy thoughts, allowing him to assess his surroundings more calmly.

If Itachi had decided to kill him, he wouldn't have bothered using that Mangekyō Sharingan technique.

Then he should still be in Konoha Village… but here…

This was definitely not Konoha Village.

In fact, this didn't even seem to be within the Land of Fire.

The Land of Fire's terrain was known for its dense forests, not sparse trees like the balding patches of middle-aged men. This couldn't be the Land of Fire.

Had Itachi taken him somewhere far away?

Or could it be… someone from another village had foreseen the internal strife within the Uchiha clan and taken him, the last of the Uchiha?

Cautiously, Sasuke turned, trying to move his cold, heavy limbs.

He hadn't been restrained. No signs of a ninja's presence or of Itachi leaving anything behind. But there were traces of human activity here, clearly left by regular people—without any chakra, skills, or special powers.

So it didn't seem he'd been taken by Itachi or captured by another village.

Anyone who captured him would have likely restrained him in some way, bound him, or ensured he wouldn't wake up so easily.

Sasuke stood, scanning the area for traps.

Seeing none, he carefully started moving forward, then broke into a run.

Minutes later, a village appeared through the trees. Sasuke slowed, catching his breath against a wall.

Safe, at least for now.

The houses were densely packed and looked like typical residential buildings, with even a few small shops visible. This was a regular civilian village. Despite his young age, Sasuke was still a ninja and could defend himself if need be.

But…

He was puzzled. How had he escaped so easily? Had Itachi knocked him out, then abandoned him in the wilderness after Konoha Village discovered his actions?

As he pondered, he heard footsteps from a nearby house.

Sasuke didn't hide.

He could tell from the steps it was a regular person, without chakra, and probably alone. There was little risk here.

A middle-aged man appeared and looked at Sasuke with a tired expression, "What are you doing, kid?"

"I don't have any food here. If you want to steal, go to the Yamamotos'."

Did he think he was a food thief?

At least that meant the man was kind-hearted.

"I'm not a thief," Sasuke replied, blinking. "I'm lost. What is this place?"

The man raised an eyebrow, "Did you come from another district?"

"This is Rukongai," he replied. "The nearest place to Seireitei. You'll be much safer here than wherever you came from."

Sasuke's confusion was genuine, not an act to garner pity.

Rukongai? Seireitei?

He'd never heard of these places. Even the clan books that described the five great nations and minor lands mentioned nothing like them.

"Which country is this in?" he asked, holding back frustration.

The man chuckled, amused. "There aren't countries here in the Soul Society."

"We're all under the Seireitei and the protection of the Gotei 13…"

Sasuke's confusion only deepened.

The man paused, noticing Sasuke's lost expression, and tilted his head, "Did the Shinigami who performed your Soul Burial not explain things? You know, those guys in black robes with swords who tap your forehead."

He mimicked the motion, pretending to hold a sword and tapping down.

Sasuke was at a loss. A black-robed… Shinigami?

He'd never heard of such a thing.

"Such negligence," the man muttered. "No wonder you look so lost."

Drawing out his words, he looked Sasuke over. "You're still just a kid, so I'll be blunt: you've already died. This is the land of the dead, ruled by Shinigamis—the Soul Society."

The man's tone was calm and his expression sympathetic, but Sasuke had stopped listening after those two words: "already dead."

He was dead?

So Itachi had killed him after all?

He clenched his fists. That meant no one would avenge the Uchiha Clan now…

"If you have nowhere to go, I could take you in," the man offered, placing a hand on Sasuke's head. "Death must be a difficult concept for someone your age."

Sasuke remained silent, looking down.

…

Three Years Later

Sasuke sat on a rooftop, gazing into the distance at the Seireitei—a place open and prominently visible to everyone, yet separated by just a single line from the impoverished, desolate Rukongai. It was almost like heaven compared to the hardship of Rukongai.

He wasn't particularly dissatisfied with his life here. Even as the son of the Uchiha clan leader, his upbringing hadn't been as luxurious as that of the Fire Nation's nobility.

But…

It seemed that the "Soul Society" and the corresponding living world he was now in might not actually be the same world he originally came from.

In three years, he'd carefully gathered information, questioning many people and piecing things together. There were no countries like the Land of Fire or Land of Water—instead, this world was ruled by something called the Tokugawa Shogunate, led by an Emperor instead of a Daimyo.

There were ninjas here, but they held lowly status, much like in his own world. However, samurai were highly respected. Also, the ninjas here didn't seem to have jutsu or chakra like those he was familiar with—their "ninjutsu" was something entirely different.

Most importantly, there was no mention of the Uchiha name here in the Soul Society.

Neither the notorious thugs of Rukongai nor the famed Seireitei officers and captains carried the Uchiha name. Even among the aristocratic families that were known to him, there was no mention of the Uchiha.

Could it be that the world's most powerful clan, renowned for their Kekkei Genkai and exceptional ninja lineage, would simply become ordinary people in the afterlife?

An Uchiha should stand among the strongest, no matter where they were.

"Sasuke." A voice interrupted his thoughts—a middle-aged man calling from below. "Someone's looking for you."

"Coming." Sasuke answered, jumping down from the roof. "Who is it this time?"

Unlike most spirits, he had spiritual energy and therefore needed food.

As a former ninja, his first instinct was to seek missions to earn it. He'd been hired for all sorts of small jobs: clearing out firewood piles for elderly neighbors, fetching water for the local shopkeeper, catching runaway pets… and occasionally handling thugs or settling disputes.

He only knew a few jutsu—like the Transformation Jutsu and the Fireball Jutsu. Spiritual energy differed from chakra, but he could still manage a few techniques. While not overwhelmingly powerful, it was more than enough to handle the riff-raff of Rukongai.

In the house, the man smiled. "This time it's not a mission request—it's a Shinigami looking for you."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he stopped in the courtyard, not stepping inside.

A Shinigami? From Seireitei? Why were they here?

"Relax, kid," a Shinigami in the house said with a casual wave. "We're not here to do anything to you."

"If you'd been under suspicion, it wouldn't be just the two of us; it'd be the guys from the Onmitsukidō."

Another Shinigami spoke up, "According to the records of the 12th Division, there was a surge of spiritual pressure here in Rukongai three days ago, along with traces of fire-based kidō."

"Was that you?"

Sasuke nodded calmly, "Yes, it was me. But the people I took down were all criminals."

"They were extorting…"

The Shinigami cut him off. "We're not here for some petty investigation like that."

"Could you show us that fire-based kidō?"

Sasuke thought for a moment before nodding. "Of course."

They moved to the lakeside, and Sasuke formed seals with practiced speed.

"Fire Release: Fireball Jutsu!"

His chest expanded like a toad's belly as flames surged from his mouth, forming a massive fireball that shot across the lake. The lake water steamed and evaporated, sending clouds of mist skyward.

The heat was intense, and the Shinigamis standing nearby could feel the sting on their faces. For regular people, it would have been unbearable.

"Incredible power. Can a kid who isn't even a Shinigami do that?" one Shinigami remarked in astonishment. "It's nearly as strong as a mid-level kidō."

The other Shinigami shook his head. "I'm hopeless with kidō…"

Sasuke turned to look at them.

"With talent like yours, it'd be a waste for you to stay here in Rukongai." One Shinigami grinned. "Kid, do you want to become a Shinigami?"

"With your abilities, you could easily become an officer. Maybe even a captain one day."

Just as he suspected.

Sasuke had figured they would want to recruit him, seeing his potential.

There was no reason to refuse.

Only by becoming a Shinigami could he learn more about this world and discover how he ended up here—how he'd crossed into this world of the dead.

"How can I become a Shinigami?" he asked.

The Shinigami pointed toward Seireitei. "In a few days, the Shin'o Academy will start its term. Go there."

"You'll learn how to become a Shinigami there."

Sasuke followed his gaze. An academy? Like the Ninja Academy?

Every year, during the cherry blossom season, the Shin'o Academy held its entrance ceremony. Among the ranks of the Gotei 13, it was rarely noticed; generally, the quality of new students was stable. Those with noble lineage would become seated officers, while Rukongai recruits might fill the ranks, with a few able to achieve seated positions.

But this year was different.

One "genius" from Rukongai had entered as a "Fifth-level Spirit Class."

His strengths weren't limited to his powerful spiritual pressure. He had a knack for picking up new skills instantly, be it kidō, swordsmanship, or hand-to-hand combat. Within a month, the instructors agreed: this genius could likely defeat lower-ranked officers.

As he walked through the academy, Sasuke could hear the bustling discussions around him.

"So that's the Uchiha genius?"

"He's so good-looking."

"But he's just a kid."

"Once he grows up, he's going to be a real heartthrob."

"I heard he's getting his Asauchi today. If he has a natural gift for Zanpakutō too, he could graduate in just a year."

"Graduate in a year? I heard even Captain Kazehashi didn't graduate that fast."

Some students admired his talent, others his looks. But Sasuke cared for none of it. His thoughts were solely on the Zanpakutō.

The Shinigamis' power system differed entirely from the ninja's, with strength centered not on techniques, but on this thing called a Zanpakutō. According to his instructors, the Zanpakutō was an extension of a Shinigami's spirit—a partner that embodied a Shinigami's power. Most Shinigamis drew their strength from this.

This was true power.

If he could understand why he'd crossed into this world, and if he managed to return home, he could use this power to kill that man and avenge the Uchiha clan.

...

In the Classroom

The teacher handed out the basic Asauchi swords. Sasuke accepted his, following the instructions to begin connecting with the blade's spirit.

Almost immediately, he heard a voice.

"Call my name—"

The voice seemed to emanate from within the sword, his body, and the deepest parts of his bloodline.

Sasuke Uchiha opened his eyes—

Crimson red, blood-like.

A calm, cold female voice spoke near his ear, "This Uchiha is lucky, opening his eyes at such a time."

"He's that man's younger brother, so his talent is likely similar," another voice, male and equally cold, replied. "What's his status?"

"Surprisingly healthy," the woman answered. "That man still held back."

"Killed the entire clan, yet couldn't go through with it for his own brother?"

The man's tone sharpened. "I meant his eyes."

"No," the woman answered flatly.

"Did you check the sword?" he asked.

The woman scoffed. "Yes, just a normal sword. This little brat still had it in his hand when he passed out; maybe he thought it'd help him fight back."

"It's well-made. Should we confiscate it?"

After a pause, the man shook his head. "Leave it."

Neither seemed to care that Sasuke was now awake. They continued speaking freely, discussing him, his Kekkei Genkai, and the assets of the Uchiha clan.

Sasuke's mind was racing.

Even though he hadn't seen any decisive details, just listening to their conversation confirmed something: he was no longer in the Soul Society. He was back in Konoha, at the very time Itachi had left and he himself had fainted.

But…

He had been away from Konoha for over three years.

Yet, time here hadn't moved at all.

So, was everything he experienced in the Soul Society real?

Could it have just been a hallucination created under Itachi's genjutsu?

Wait, the sword.

Sasuke turned his head slightly to the side, looking toward the wall where a katana leaned.

Neither of these people seemed to see anything unusual about it.

But that deep, resonant connection...

There was no mistaking it—this was his Zanpakutō.

It wasn't a dream.

A sudden surge of strength welled up within him, and he struggled to sit up. "Do you know… where he went?"

Though three years had passed, the mention of that night rekindled the flames of anger, which seared painfully through him.

"We don't know." The man was direct, without a hint of hesitation. "By the time we were informed of the massacre, Itachi Uchiha had already fled."

"Did no one try to stop him?" Sasuke's voice was thick with rage.

"Itachi was Anbu," the man responded. "He knew the village's defenses well and slipped away undetected. We had no idea until we received orders from Hokage-sama to investigate."

Sasuke clenched his fists, saying nothing further.

The man and woman made no attempt to console him; only the woman offered what sounded like words of sympathy. But it was too cool and mechanical to be genuine. "Sasuke Uchiha, rest well in the hospital. No matter what you need, the village will be here to support you. Don't worry about medical bills or future expenses—after such an event, the village will take care of you until you officially graduate as a ninja."

Sasuke gripped the bed sheets.

As if his primary concern was medical bills or living expenses?

The massacre of the Uchiha clan shook the entire village of Konoha. And Itachi Uchiha, who had perpetrated such a crime, was declared an S-rank rogue ninja without question.

But to Sasuke, this meant nothing.

Aside from knowing Itachi's rogue status, he received no further information on his brother.

Konoha's words of comfort felt hollow.

He could sense that no one truly cared about his well-being; the villagers' sympathy was only because of his Uchiha blood and the potential they saw in a seven-year-old who had already awakened the Sharingan.

The village even suggested he move out of the Uchiha compound.

But Sasuke refused.

He was no longer a naive child shielded by his family.

He'd spent three years as a ninja.

He'd glimpsed a few of the darker sides of life.

Someone was coveting the Uchiha clan's assets, and they'd already started taking action, though he didn't know who yet.

In his own secret investigation, Sasuke found that most of the clan's important scrolls had vanished, and only a few less significant ones were left behind.

And the bodies of Uchihas who had awakened their Sharingan? Their eyes had all been gouged out, leaving empty sockets.

Konoha claimed Itachi had taken everything valuable when he defected.

In short…

Anything that raised Sasuke's suspicions was attributed to Itachi.

Not that Sasuke cared about these relics.

In the Soul Society, he had learned several powerful techniques. He had mastered Hadō spells up to number thirty-five.

So the clan's ninjutsu was no great loss to him.

But it was still the Uchiha's legacy, and the idea that outsiders had taken advantage of the clan's fall to steal from them was intolerable.

He might have lost the clan's knowledge, but he wouldn't allow the remaining assets to be taken.

Once he grew strong enough, he would reclaim every item that had been stolen from his family.

…

One Month Later

During this time, Sasuke had kept a low profile. He attended his classes diligently and returned home to practice traditional ninja training. He didn't reveal anything about the Soul Society and focused only on honing his basic skills, even when training in swordsmanship.

The Sharingan alone was enough to arouse envy.

But the concept of a Soul Society, or another world, sounded far more enticing than the Sharingan.

In his room, Sasuke sat at his desk, his Sharingan active as he reviewed everything he had observed in this past month.

There were Konoha ninjas watching him, likely Anbu. Their strength wasn't anything special, around the level of chunin.

It made sense; to everyone else, he was merely an academy student, still a novice. Despite having awakened his Sharingan, he wasn't expected to be stronger than a genin. A team of chunin should be more than enough to keep an eye on him.

These Anbu were cautious, though, like something was holding them back. They didn't do anything overt, keeping their distance and only observing from the shadows, never coming too close.

It was unusual.

After all, he was just an orphaned child with limited power. Even if Konoha took extra measures with him, there wouldn't be any significant repercussions. But was Konoha really this compassionate?

Unlikely…

The stolen scrolls, the missing Sharingan—it was clear Konoha wasn't that benevolent.

And yet, they were behaving as if they were. Was there something about the Uchiha clan that still made them wary?

Sasuke shook his head, pushing these thoughts aside. Without evidence, assumptions could easily lead him astray.

Regardless of the reasons, the situation still worked in his favor, and the Uchiha bloodline itself could be a valuable bargaining chip. As long as he showed enough talent, the village would likely support him in his quest for revenge.

But…

He couldn't reveal anything about the Soul Society.

Following his usual nightly routine, Sasuke bathed, turned off the lights, and closed the windows. After the Anbu completed their regular check and confirmed he was asleep, he waited another hour before quietly getting up from his futon and grabbing his sword.

Now that he knew the extent of Konoha's surveillance, it was time to test the power of his Shikai.

Sasuke drew his sword, currently in its standard Asauchi form. He took a deep breath and softly called out the name he'd kept hidden in his heart for a month.

"Open Your Eyes, Indra."

The blade in his hand began to transform, shortening into a ninja-style blade with faint, swirling blue patterns along the back, emitting a dim, pulsing glow.

So, this was his Zanpakutō.

Zanpakutō abilities could be classified as Elemental, Kidō-based, Physical, or Creature-based.

It seemed his sword fit within the Kidō category, amplifying both his chakra and his Sharingan.

Standing by the window, Sasuke peered at his reflection in the faint light of the Zanpakutō. His eyes glowed crimson.

Though he only had the single-tomoe Sharingan, with the amplification from his Zanpakutō, he'd reached the double-tomoe level. Sasuke could feel that this was only the beginning; his current power and fragile body simply couldn't handle more.

Otherwise…

"Indra" could likely boost him even further.

Sasuke clenched his fists, excitement making his Sharingan spin.

Perfect. Just like this.

Once he could reach the three-tomoe Sharingan without relying on Indra, his Zanpakutō's boost might even awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan, like Itachi Uchiha's.

With those eyes, he would be able to kill that man.

The Soul Society was indeed a treasure trove.

He looked forward to his next visit.

However…

The three years he'd spent in the Soul Society seemed to be nothing more than an unintended fluke.

For the next five years, the Soul Society remained like a distant dream, never appearing again.

Sasuke felt a bit of regret.

All those powerful Kidō techniques he hadn't yet had a chance to learn…