Zaraki Kenpachi Template Progress: 10%
Mastered Abilities: Sword Pressure, Basic Slash
Hollow White Template Progress: 0%
Mastered Ability: Combat Instinct
King of Normal Attacks Trait 1: Chakra Blade
Hollow White Template at 5% Progress — Second Trait Unlock Imminent.
Feeling the restless power surging inside him, Hakken drew in a long, steady breath.
This power was different from a Shinigami's—far more violent, raw, and untamed.
Its essence came from the Hollow that had once devoured Ichigo Kurosaki's mother—the second Zangetsu.
He swung the Zanpakutō lightly, raising it before him. His gaze held a trace of fascination.
This was his sword.
Evolved alongside the shift in his spiritual pressure, reshaped by the awakening of his second template.
The strange, twisting markings along the blade, the black chains tightly wrapped around his arm—it all radiated the same wild energy that defined Hakken himself.
Unlike the Zangetsu wielded by Ichigo Kurosaki, this blade carried a heavier, more grounded presence.
And the moment his hand gripped the hilt, a strange sense of unity flowed through him—as if his blood and the blade were one.
It made his every swing feel smoother, more natural.
At that moment, Hakken was certain of one thing: if his strength continued to grow, he might one day unlock a Zanpakutō ability entirely his own.
He exhaled, slinging the sword over his shoulder as his fierce battle intent slowly settled.
The power of instinct was mysterious—something that could only truly be understood through combat.
Beyond the excitement of unlocking his second template, Hakken was equally satisfied with the immense boost gained from reaching 10% progress on the first one.
Each 10% unlock represented a clear turning point—a leap in strength.
His fighting style might still look like simple sword swings, but the destruction he could unleash was now on an entirely different level.
"Ken-san, I don't think I'll ever catch up to you in this lifetime."
Now calm, Itachi landed beside him, smiling bitterly.
The pressure Hakken gave off was suffocating.
He had once thought that awakening his Sharingan would allow him to at least shorten the gap between them.
But reality had proved him wrong.
Just one glance at Ken-san's sword—so heavy with power it seemed to crush the air around it—was enough to show how much stronger he had become.
Ken-san's strength had always been defined by his blade. When the blade changed, it meant he himself had evolved. That much, Itachi understood completely.
Still, he had never asked where Ken-san's sword came from, nor how he had learned to deliver such devastating strikes.
Everyone carried their own secrets.
He could bare his heart completely to Ken-san, but he would never demand the same in return.
Because Itachi understood: if Hakken wanted to tell him, he would. There was no need to ask.
Just like that day when they'd returned from a mission outside the village—when he'd wanted to follow Hakken into the ANBU, only to be put to sleep instead.
At first, he had been angry, thinking he'd been cast aside.
But later, he understood.
Ken-san had done it for his sake.
He wasn't just Ken-san's friend—he was also the son of the Uchiha Clan's head.
Even if he had joined the fight out of friendship, people with ulterior motives could have twisted it into evidence that the Uchiha Clan held resentment toward the village.
And that—that was one of the many reasons Itachi's respect and admiration for Hakken only continued to grow.
"Don't doubt yourself—and stop overthinking it. This power isn't mine alone."
"Honestly, I'm grateful you've been my sparring partner all this time."
Hakken reached out and gently ruffled Itachi's hair, a soft, genuine smile tugging at his lips—the kind of smile he only showed to friends.
Yeah.
Through countless rainy days, the tired young boy had always stayed by his side, turning endless sword swings into something more than just lonely training.
Itachi's face suddenly flushed, though he wasn't sure why. Desperate to change the subject, he blurted, "Sensei's wife made dinner. Want some?"
Kushina's cooking, huh?
Hakken sighed, pulling Itachi off the balcony and back inside.
On the sofa, Kakashi sat frowning deeply, staring at the mysterious dish before him as if it were a puzzle from hell.
The fearless Hakken stepped forward, grabbed a chicken wing, and took a bite.
Crunch. Crisp—but utterly devoid of chicken flavor.
Something like this… could probably rival Anko's dark cuisine.
A spark of intrigue flashed in Hakken's eyes.
After years of enduring Anko's culinary "experiments," he'd forged not only a sharp blade but an indestructible stomach. A few dark chicken wings weren't going to take him down.
"Mmm."
Seeing Hakken actually eat it, Kushina's eyes lit up with delight, like a scientist who'd just found a new test subject.
She was about to encourage him to finish the rest when her expression suddenly twisted in pain.
Her slightly swollen belly carried new life within—but at the same time, the evil force sealed inside her began to stir.
For a Jinchūriki, pregnancy and childbirth were a perilous ordeal.
That was the fate of those who carried tailed beasts.
The weakening of the seal had given the creature trapped within the Eight Trigrams Seal a chance to stir.
This was one of the very reasons Minato had assigned guards to protect Kushina—to prevent something like this from happening.
Kakashi's brow furrowed sharply. He stood up, ready to rush to the Hokage's office for backup.
But before he could move, a figure stepped in front of Kushina.
Not tall, but at that moment, radiating complete confidence and reliability.
With a flick of his fingers aimed toward Kushina's abdomen, Hakken's pupils narrowed to razor-thin slits—bestial and fierce.
"Behave."
"Nine-Tails."
The low growl that followed made the entire room tremble.
And then, just like that—Kushina's pained expression vanished.
The boy…
Her eyes widened, maternal warmth mixing with disbelief.
In that single word, the Nine-Tails itself had shuddered.
"Let 's eat."
Ignoring everyone's stunned looks, Hakken picked up another burnt chicken wing and took a calm bite.
As if nothing had happened.
So this… was the new power Ken-san had gained?
Itachi drew in a deep breath, finally relaxing his clenched fists.
Ken-san had said that power wasn't his alone.
Well, in that case… I guess I deserve some credit too.
...
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