Shallow Strike and Kendo Mastery
After persuading the Aburame clan member to join Root, Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others continued their journey to the Land of Iron to participate in the Five Kage Summit.
The rest of the journey was uneventful, and they reached their destination without further incident.
As Xu Fan, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and Yamanaka Fū stepped into the territory of the Land of Iron, a familiar voice echoed in Xu Fan's ears:
"Congratulations to the host for arriving at the check-in location. Sign-in has officially begun!
Sign-in progress must reach 100%. Exiting midway will result in failure."
1%...
23%...
Xu Fan blinked and glanced down at the snowy terrain beneath his feet.
> "It seems this time the check-in requirement is simply to enter the Land of Iron's territory," he thought, inwardly curious about the reward that awaited him once the progress hit 100%.
66%...
73%...
"The Land of Iron..." Hiruzen looked around, taking in the snow-covered landscape, and sighed.
The Land of Iron, nestled deep within the mountains, was naturally fortified—easy to defend, and difficult to invade. Its remote location and harsh winters made it strategically unappealing for conquest. Due to the bitter cold, agriculture was minimal, and food production ceased entirely in winter. Even if an invading force captured it, they would struggle to survive on its limited resources, turning it into a burden rather than an asset.
Moreover, the Land of Iron bordered several nations, acting as a buffer zone. Any aggressor attempting to take it by force risked drawing the ire of neighboring countries. In essence, it was a nation protected as much by politics as by geography.
This is part of why the Land of Iron remained neutral during the Great Ninja Wars, and why the Five Kage chose it as the venue for their summit—it was one of the few places not tainted by war.
"Let's proceed," Hiruzen said after a deep breath, appreciating the fresh, untainted air of this neutral land.
Meanwhile, Xu Fan's sign-in progress quietly reached 100%.
"Congratulations to the host, sign-in complete!
Reward acquired: Shallow Strike and Kendo Mastery!"
The system's voice caught Xu Fan by surprise. He had expected something related to the Land of Iron—perhaps a samurai technique or swordsmanship boost—but the specifics still impressed him.
The reward didn't materialize in his hands but was stored in his inventory, retrievable via mental command. Xu Fan's eyes narrowed in interest as he summoned the image of Shallow Strike.
It appeared to be a simple, snow-white katana—slender and unassuming, much like the weapons used by Konoha's Anbu. But Xu Fan, a transmigrator from another world, instantly recognized its origin.
> "This isn't from Naruto... it's a Zanpakutō—Asauchi, from Bleach."
In Bleach, the Asauchi, or "shallow strike," is the nameless, unawakened form of a Zanpakutō given to every Shinigami. But this one wasn't just any Asauchi—it was crafted by Ōetsu Nimaiya, the Blade God of the Royal Guard's Phoenix Palace, and considered the most potent Zanpakutō base, capable of evolving limitlessly.
Once spiritual essence and will are poured into it, the blade takes shape and awakens—becoming the wielder's personal Zanpakutō with a unique name and ability.
> "Every Zanpakutō has its own power. It depends on the soul of the user," Xu Fan mused, excitement building.
He imagined various abilities: the all-encompassing hypnosis of Kyōka Suigetsu, the freezing power of Hyorinmaru, or a flame-based weapon akin to Ryūjin Jakka. But the true nature of his Zanpakutō would reflect his soul.
> "Aizen's deceit gave birth to Kyōka Suigetsu. Ichigo's resolve forged Zangetsu. Even monsters like Kenpachi have blades that match their madness."
> "I might not have Reiatsu," Xu Fan thought, "but chakra and spiritual pressure are conceptually similar—both stem from mind and body. If I can inject chakra into this blade... I might be able to awaken a Zanpakutō of my own."
He clenched his fists, his mind buzzing with anticipation.
"Xu Fan?" Hiruzen's voice called him back to reality.
At the border checkpoint, a group of armored samurai awaited. Their leader stepped forward respectfully.
"I am Li Jiao, retainer to Lord Mifune. He has been expecting you, Lord Hokage," the man said with a deep bow.
Though the samurai weren't shinobi, they were still formidable warriors who channeled chakra into their swordsmanship, a tradition unique to the Land of Iron.
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded. "Thank you. Lead the way."
Despite its neutral stance, Hiruzen knew the Land of Iron's impartiality came with layers. Mifune, its general, ruled with firm control, and the mountain passes were riddled with traps and hidden defense mechanisms.
"There is only one safe route to enter the Land of Iron," Li Jiao warned as he led them forward. "And it changes periodically. Please follow my steps closely."
The message was clear: don't try to memorize the path or you'll risk never making it out.
Xu Fan glanced around at the escorting samurai—each clad in heavy silver armor, twin blades at their sides. Despite lacking ninja techniques, they were well-trained in chakra-enhanced combat and capable of facing even seasoned shinobi.
> "This is the birthplace of true swordsmanship," Xu Fan thought, gripping the invisible hilt of his unrevealed Zanpakutō, heart pounding with both respect... and ambition.