A/N: Hey guys :D This is an update for the first chapter although for those following already, there are no changes, I just combined the first and second chapter :) This is my very first fanfic so please be gentle hahaha But I really hope you enjoy it! Also, I couldn't think of a title so until I do 'Dreams' might just be temporary o.O Also, this is based during the Naruto Shippuden era :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, Bleach or the picture used for the cover photo :)


Chapter one

Hueco Mundo

"Where are we this time Ulquiorra?" echoed a loud voice, slightly annoyed. "Lord Aizen wants us to investigate these spiritual pressures, especially one in particular" replied Ulquiorra as they stepped out of the Garganta.

"What business does he have with simple humans? We have better things to do than waste our time here, I still wanna settle the score with carrot top. The only thing decent about the human world is the fact that there's far more things to do here than in that dump, Hueco Mundo" Yammy spat through his locked jaw.

"Humans are trash. I don't know what Lord Aizen wants to do with them but it must have significant value" replied the Espada nonchalantly. He swiftly lifted his hand and caught a kunai between his index and middle finger, "Absolute trash" he uttered under his breath to himself as he flicked the small weapon back to the bush from where it came just before they were completely surrounded by Konaha's ninjas.

"Heh" scoffed Yammy "Ichigo kurosaki can wait, this might be interesting after all Ulquiorra."


Naruto leaned against a tree, annoyed at Kakashi for making him wait for him as he's done many times before but the young blonde found this especially annoying seeing as it was his day off. Although he couldn't deny that Kakashi's sudden summoning had piqued his interest. "Maybe he wants to train me? Maybe he even wants to nominate me as a jounin, I mean I am gonna be hokage one day, it's about time everyone recognises my skill as Konaha's number one ninja!"

"What's with that grin, Naruto?" Kakash's voice broke his innovative thoughts as his head snapped up to see his former teacher studying his face. "I never thought you of all people could look so... Pensive" mused Kakashi.

Naruto folded his arms and quickly swerved his head to the side, not even realising his lips had subconsciously curled into a wide grin while he was lost in thought. "Hey! Kakashi sensei, what's that supposed to mean!? And you're late! Again! Not to mention it's my day o-" Naruto's rant came to a halt after he turned his gaze back to see Kakashi's sudden jaded expression, even with his mask the young blonde could tell he hadn't gotten much sleep through the night.

"Kakashi sensei.. Why have you called me here?" Naruto asked solemnly. "Naruto" Kakashi started "I personally want you on my squad for an S rank mission beginning tomorrow although the Hokage wouldn't agree with my request. So, I want you to talk to her."

"What?!" Naruto exclaimed in complete exasperation with a tad tone of disappointment that it had nothing to do with his initial thoughts. "Why's the old lady so bent on making me stay in the village this time?" Naruto pouted while he tightly crossed his arms across his chest.

"There was a strange incident where several of our ninjas were injured and some that had died while in battle with nothing we've really seen before. A ninja from the Hyuga clan reported that the enemy didn't have any chakra points but they were incredibly strong. The enemy wants you, Naruto. We have reasons to believe that they want to posses the kyuubi but this is unlike any situation we've ever really been in. To be frank, I'm still trying to make sense out of it myself and I can't give you all the information you want to know unless you're a part of this mission" Kakashi stated in a rather calm manner considering the circumstances.

Naruto's arms fell to his side, clenching his fists with his brows furrowing, his crystallised blue orbs staring through Kakashi, he parted his lips slightly. "I'll speak to granny Tsunade now" Naruto whispered, almost inaudible. With that, Kakashi watched as Naruto was already far off into the distance with only a few leaves settling on the ground to mark he was ever there.


Tsunade sat at her desk hidden by a hoard of uncompleted documents and reports dating back to her early days as hokage and a new unopened bottle of sake. "What a way to end the day" she sighed to herself as she covered the lid with her hand, almost savouring the rare moment of relaxation that was all of a sudden fleeting right when she recognised a familiar chakra signature outside her door. Before she could react, Naruto was already stalking through her office and stopped at her desk while he propped himself up with his two hands on her desk.

Tsunade inhaled deeply through her nose as if she were trying to calm herself while she lifted her gaze from the bottle to the panting boy who stood before her. "So I assume you found out about Konaha's new threat?" she asked slightly irritated.

"Were you going to try hide this from me granny Tsunade?" Naruto asked seriously. "If there is something happening because of me-" Naruto paused as Tsunade's chair slid back and she was leaning over her desk, intimidatingly close to him before he could catch up with her movements.

"It's not you Naruto, it's what's inside of you that this is about! We have no idea what the enemy is capable of and I don't want you to be a part of anything until we have information about what we're up against." Tsunade retorted impatiently. "We have to make sure you are kept safe right now."

"Don't underestimate me!" Naruto spat back. "People have always treated me differently for something I didn't choose… But my dream is to become hokage and that means protecting Konaha including all of those people if they're in some sort of danger. So don't tell me this isn't about me when I'm the key to getting what they want."

Tsunade stood up straight letting her hands retreat off the table as her stare softened and her posture relaxed. She scoffed with a small smile "You're still just a snot nosed little genin to me but I know betting on you to be hokage is one bet I'd actually win." She sat down in her chair and signalled Naruto to sit in the chair on the other side of her desk. He silently obliged.

"I can't let you be a part of this mission when we are unaware of the enemies abilities and from where exactly they're from. You're strong, Naruto. But I can't have you blindly strolling into enemy territory when we're still at a large disadvantage" Tsunade explained.

"Then you'll have to forgive me eventually Granny Tsunade cos I'm going on this mission with Kakashi sensei regardless. No one is dying on my account." Naruto's resolute eyes held firmly on Tsunade's hazel orbs. The older woman always put her utmost faith in the blonde haired boy who was now growing into a man she suspected could possibly surpass the fourth hokage. She knew she couldn't keep Naruto out of this and despite her better judgement she believed in the little brat she met all those years ago.

Tsunade sighed and placed her elbows on the table with her chin resting against the back of her hands. "You will be under Kakashi's care at all times, don't make me regret this Naruto" she said firmly.

Naruto's eyes lit up while he gave Tsunade a confident smile, "You got it granny Tsunade. What're the details?"

"Tomorrow morning you will be infiltrating enemy territory" the older woman began "We believe it's called 'Hueco Mundo'."


Ulquiorra stepped out of the Garganta and made his way to Aizen's headquarters. Behind him, Yammy had followed with a loud groan "I'll let you report back to Aizen with that creepy eye of yours, I've had enough for today" with that, Yammy turned his back to Ulquiorra and disappeared through the whirling sands of Las Noches.

The green eyed Espada stared after him before he turned to go to Aizen to report his findings, which he couldn't deny were quite interesting. When he arrived at Aizen's door, he found that he was already engaged in deep conversation with the human prisoner, 'Orihime, is it?' he thought to himself.

"Your power is very exceptional Orihime, you will help me restore the hogyoku won't you?" Aizen asked.

"Yes, lord Aizen" replied Orihime sounding very despondent. The door opened and Ulquiorra watched as the orange haired girl walked out, sparing a second glance at the pale Espada while she was escorted back to her chamber by Loly and Menoly. Once Orihime had turned the corner, Aizen stepped into the doorway and spotted the grim looking frame.

"Welcome back, Ulquiorra. Now, show me all you've learnt about those humans" the former shinigami requested while he turned back around to walk into the room he and his prisoner were just in.

As expected, the green eyed Espada followed him into the large room containing the hogyoku and stood at a respectable distance as he waited for Aizen to sit back down on his throne. "Lord Aizen" Ulquiorra began "those humans in the world of the living could not only sense but could also physically see us during our investigation. They have high levels of chakra which I believe is harnessed as a weapon for the ultimate defence, they contain large amounts of spirit energy which can be converted to formidable amounts of spiritual pressure in the afterlife. They engaged with us during our visit to the world of the living, I will show you what we have learnt about their physical abilities."

Aizen slightly leaned forward in his seat slightly as Ulquiorra proceeded to unbind his eye and abolish it with his right hand. The former shinigami closed his eyes and could see trees, bushes, blue sky and a faraway stone carving of what he presumed were historical figures, some sort of homage maybe? Looking through the Espada's perspective, he saw a short but sharp knife suddenly wedged between two pale fingers before it was flung back to the owner amidst a bush.

Aizen sat back in his chair when he found that the humans had efficiently and very quickly surrounded them but it didn't bother him in the least feeling confident in knowing the full capabilities of the Espada, the strongest of all arrancars in Hueco Mundo that he had created. There was not a doubt in his mind of their strength until he saw a roaring fire quickly encircling the espada as a wall of mud had engulfed Yammy just before it had turned into a hard layer of impenetrable rock.

Ulquiorra engaged in hand to hand combat, effectively dodging every weapon and jutsu that was thrown at him while he skilfully eliminated the enemy using a small cero to burn a hole in their chest, just where his was. The ones that decided to run, he didn't chase and the ones that were overcome with paralysing fear were spared as they posed no threat, they weren't worth the effort.

He had just about taken care of most of the ninjas when a human with satiny white hair had casually stood before the green eyed Espada, blocking his path. This human seemed calm and collected but the way he watched his comrades fall said otherwise. Ulquiorra couldn't help but reflect on how insignificant and unwarranted emotions were. Did they not know everyone they know would die eventually, especially if they are in battle? This was something he couldn't comprehend. Now this man was staring at him intensely with one lidded eye as the other was shadowed with a headband, this was only something that interested him further.

The white haired man didn't speak but instead lifted his headband on the part that fell over his right eye. Ulquiorra was now staring into a red iris with what looked like four singular pupils within it. He instantly broke the eye contact, sensing something had changed. He looked over towards Yammy who was now free from the bit of earth that trapped him and was sprinting towards him aggressively.

Ulquiorra's eyes widened slightly "What are you doing?" he asked somewhat irritated. Yammy didn't stop or answer him but instead viciously swung his fists toward him, Ulquiorra went to grab Yammy by the arm to put an end to his idiocy but when he came into contact with him, he saw he was only holding the large lump of dry mud his comrade was encased in.

His green orbs narrowed slightly as he was trying to make sense of what had just happened when suddenly his instincts had picked up an incoming presence behind him. He turned quickly just in time to dodge the white haired ninja's fist which ended up colliding with the mud, causing cracks to form in the lump of earth as hard as stone.

"What you've just experienced was a minor form of genjutsu" the white haired man begun "Who and what are you and your friend over there? Why have you come here?" he questioned.

"Genjutsu?" Ulquiorra echoed curiously to himself.

The Espada lunged toward the man using a sonido but to his surprise, his opponent could only just follow his movements as he sprung back with what almost looked like some sort of flash step those pesky Shinigami use. 'Interesting' thought Ulquiorra "One of you contains an incredible amount of spiritual energy. Tell me, who is it?" Ulquiorra demanded.

"And why would I tell you what you want to know exactly?" the white haired man said, almost in a mocking tone.

"So there is someone strong in this village" Ulquiorra established. "I will spare this place if you give the individual up to me. I can see you know who I'm talking about" he spoke with confidence, psychologically trying to coax his opponent into giving him the information he needed.

"No one here will give up one of our own" The white haired man replied truthfully.

"You humans are stubborn. You'll tell me or I'll kill you right now and everyone else in this village."

"You're ignorant if you think you can destroy Konoha, populated with some of the best ninjas the world has seen" the white haired man said huskily as he ran towards Ulquiorra, a chittering ball of blue light forming in his hands. "Enough talk."

Ulquiorra stood his ground, readying for hand to hand combat but while he was assessing his opponents fast movements and the increasingly loud bolts of light radiating out of his hand, Ulquiorra realised this attack was too strong to come into physical contact with, he lifted his hand, aiming his fingers straight towards his enemies chest and fired a cero, a straight ray of green light shot straight through the white haired ninja, and the light in his hand diminished while he fell to the ground.

Ulquiorra walked towards the still body on the ground, observing his features, his red lifeless eye that still stared straight at him. 'Interesting' he thought to himself again until a loud chittering noise disrupted his thought process. The body in front of him vanished, leaving only smoke behind and the Espada spun around only to see outstretched fingers penetrating the left side of his chest, right next to the hole in the middle.

The green eyed espada looked up from his chest and stared into that one peculiar red eye once again. His insides burned, this pain was unlike anything a mere human could inflict on a being like himself, he knew he had to get away from the chittering light before it came out the other side of him, leaving him disadvantaged until he could regenerate the unnatural hole that was burning its way to his back.

He began to lift his arm to grab the wrist the hand belonged to, breaking it if he had to but to Ulquiorras surprise, it was almost as if the shinobi knew his intentions and used that flash step-like technique to leap away at a safe distance. At this, the Espada suspected this man was very skilled and experienced in battle.

"So his intention isn't to kill me" Ulquiorra determained, almost amused at the thought of a human believing they had the power to do so. The sound of cracks and rubble coming from where Yammy had been held captive in a solid slab of mud had caused the green eyed Espada to turn his attention towards the monstrous looking Arrancar breaking out of the rock and escaping the small bits of mud that refused to let him go.

"These humans are idiotic to think they can hold me down with something so mundane like mud, that's nothing. But what gets me is why that human is still alive, Ulquiorra? I thought you were better than that." Yammy roared, aggravated. "Let me give it a crack."

Ulquiorra disregarded his comrades remarks as he just watched the enraged Espada lunge towards the white haired man, viciously slamming both of his large fists into the ground where he stood, causing the earth around him to plummet upwards from the physical pressure. The dirt had settled into the air, creating a thick cloud of grime which hindered their sight. Yammy stood up straight and brought his fists back to his side.

"Damn, that guy is fast for a small human" Yammy said while staring only at the ground he destroyed with his own hands. "Come out and be a man, fight me." Yammy howled.

The dust was clearing and there were multiple silhouettes surrounding the two Espada once again. Ulquiorras eyes had settled on one in particular that resembled the man he had just fought, he could feel the hard stare of that blood red orb on his deep green globes. Once the dirt in the air had subsided, they found they were encompassed with more humans, bearing themselves with hand signs and sharp weapons. "Their reinforcements are efficient" the green eyed Espada observed.

"You're not going to trap me again with those cheap tricks of yours" Yammy stated.

"Your orders, Kakashi?" one of the humans shouted urgently toward the white haired man, although he never took his eyes off of the Espada.

"We don't want to fight you" spoke Kakashi, still staring at Ulquiorra with his lidded eyes "But we will do everything in our power if you intend to put our home in harms way."

Yammy let a bellowing cackle escape his mouth, it made the ninjas flinch and only hold their guards up higher. Yammy opened his mouth to speak at how weak and insignificant he sees the humans surrounding him but before he could get a sound out, Ulquiorra had lifted his arm, signalling Yammy to stop.

"We will leave" the pale Espada replied in his usual nonchalant tone "But I won't tell you that we that we will not return. I want the one who contains the spiritual energy of one hundred Shinigami. Even standing this distance from the village, I know it's here. We will get that even if it means crushing this trivial place you call home." With that, Ulquiorra opened the garganta and stepped inside with Yammy who seemed agitated at his comrade for not letting him have his way. The humans watched in distress as the garganta closed, making no attempt to stop them.


Aizen opened his eyes, letting what he had just saw through Ulquiorras eyes resonate through his mind in silence for a few moments. "Come to think of it, where has Yammy gone? Should he not be here reporting back to me with you?" he interrogated.

"He came back feeling indignant at the fact that he didn't eliminate anyone in the world of the living" replied the obedient Espada.

"And why did you stop him?" asked Aizen.

"Because it would have served as a handicap to our true objectives, Lord Aizen. How these humans utilise their energy and what they are capable of. We also managed to single out the idea that an individual has enough strength equivalent to one hundred or perhaps even more Shinigami." Ulquiorra explained.

Aizen had smirked at the idea that someone can hold that much power and he wanted it. He couldn't deny that Orihime has a unique power but he had his doubts about her ability being able to restore the hogyoku to its original form. She is simply a means to entrap Ichigo and other bothersome Shinigami in Hueco Mundo. If he could somehow use that power in the world of the living and integrate it into the hogyoku, he could create something even greater than the original stone Urahara crafted all those years ago.

"Is there anything more you'd like to inform me of?" Aizen asked.

"Even though they're humans, I admit they are strong. They are also very strategic, it's not enough to interpret as threatening but it is enough to be weary of. I believe that is all Lord Aizen." the Espada responded.

"Thank you Ulquiorra, you're free to leave now." Aizen said still smirking. The Espada dipped his head forward respectably then looked back up towards the former Shinigami before turning around and making his way to the door.

Once the door had shut, Aizen stood up and made his way over to where he keeps the Hogyoku. "Let's see how strategic you people really are." Aizen thought to himself as he sent a garganta to open in the world of the living where the two Espada had last been. "This should be activated once it senses any spiritual energy, the one thing that binds the living and us together."


"Tomorrow morning? We haven't got the time to waste! Why don't we just go now and save some time?" Naruto barked at Tsunade.

"You brat, I just said you could go despite my better judgement, don't push it!" Tsunade spat back. "We need to summon Kakashi anyway seeing as he's in charge of this mission and more importantly, he's dealt with this enemy first hand."

"But-" Naruto started until he was cut off by a strange sensation that came over him. It was as though a large shockwave of spiritual pressure just washed over the village. "Naruto?" Tsunade queried "You felt that too? It's foreign…"


A/N: Well, that's it for the first chapter :) I hope you enjoyed and lemme know what you think! :D Also, Naruto is 16 in this story so it's sorta based mid-way shippuden era :D Thanks for reading!