Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, Naruto or any of their affiliates. Anything that you recognise is property of its respective owners. Any relations to persons living or dead are purely coincidental.

Base/s: Bleach, Naruto

Title: Revenant

Summary: Toshiro Hitsugaya vowed he would get even. 'An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind' be damned. A classified operation to the Hidden Countries may just teach him that revenge, as always, is a dish best served cold. Ice cold. AU-ish

Music used for inspiration: None, oddly enough.


Hitsugaya stood, back straight and face impassive, as the Head Captain swept into the meeting hall.

The old man took his place at the head of the table and motioned everyone else to sit. The assembled Captains slid into their chairs.

Reports were given and information shared. Hitsugaya found his mind wandering as it often did in these meetings. This time though, he had good reason to let his thoughts stray from the topic at hand.

Momo's funeral had been two days ago.

He clenched his fist under the table. His face didn't change.

His ears caught something that sounded interesting and he dragged himself back into the present.

Yamamoto had sighed. The Head Captain was well known for being stoic, not so much as Captain Kuchiki or Hitsugaya himself, but wasn't one for letting his feelings be known.

"We've had word from the Hidden Countries."

With that one sentence, the meeting descended into noise.

Yamamoto held up a hand to quell the voices. Shinigami didn't like Shinobi. The feeling, for those privileged few Shinobi who knew of the Death Gods existence, was entirely mutual.

"Worry not, the Treaty had not been broken." He said, allaying the fears of many. "There have been sightings of Hollows on the other side of the barrier."

"Not possible!"

"It can't be!"

"How did this happen?"

Yamamoto once again held up his hand and all sound stopped.

"We do not know how this happened. However, we do know that it is not a natural occurrence. The positions of the Hollows have been marked and collected and the data shows that every one of them have been within three miles or so from the village of Konoha, in the Fire Country."

Murmurs.

"I do not have to tell you how serious this situation is. Shinobi are prime targets for Hollows, even if they use their reiatsu in a different way to us. We must uphold the Treaty." He said, his voice heavy.

He took a breath.

"I have decided to send an emissary to see if we can treat with the leaders of the Nation of Fire. I wish one of you to volunteer."

For a moment there was silence as the assembled digested the Head Captains words.

"Head Captain," Captain Soi Fong began, "Would it not be best to send someone of a lower rank? Captain class Shinigami are not overly abundant."

Yamamoto nodded.

"Yes, I had considered that." He admitted. "but as I have said, there are no words to describe how serious this situation is. Shinobi are not ready to defend themselves against Hollows. If they were to be attacked by creatures we swore to keep on our side of the barrier..." he trailed off, looking each Captain in the eye. They understood.

Shinobi, even as formidable as they were, were the perfect targets of Hollows. Soul Reaper's power was party dependant on their Zanpakuto, but Shinobi were living masses of energy. They were weapons. Should a Hollow consume a Shinobi, the increase in power would be off the charts.

Hitsugaya didn't want to think of the amount of power a Hollow who had gorged itself on Shinobi souls would have.

"I see you all understand. We must uphold the Treaty." He said, sombre.

"I shall volunteer."

Yamamoto turned his head towards the voice who had just spoken.

"Captain Kurotsuchi. Your reasons?"

Hitsugaya wanted to sneer. The other Captain's reasons were obvious.

"Shinobi are fascinating. I would very much like to study-" he was cut off by the Head Captain.

"I'm afraid, Captain Kurotsuchi, that you would be unsuited to the position of an ambassador for that very reason."

The head of the Twelfth Division looked surprised and then angry. He muttered under his breath but nodded and sank back into his chair.

"I'd volunteer," Zaraki began in his usual guttural tone, "If I thought you'd let me go. These super powered Hollows sound like they might actually give me a workout. But, if you ain't gonna let the freakshow go, I certainly ain't gonna be on your list of approved candidates."

The large man, sighed and shook his head. The movement made the bells on his hair jingle.

"I doubt, Captain Zaraki, you would enjoy being in negotiations even if I let you go." The Head Captain said shrewdly.

Zaraki grunted and conceded the point.

Yamamoto looked around at the silent hall.

"Captain Soi Fong? Would you be adverse to the position?" he asked.

The small woman raised an eyebrow.

"I understand why you would recommend me for the post Head Captain, however I must decline. My position as the leader of the Onmitsukido is not one that can be filled by just anyone."

Yamamoto nodded.

"Well?" he asked, getting slightly impatient, "is there anyone else who would like to volunteer, or do I have to assign someone?"

"I will volunteer."

The words were out of his mouth before he realised what he was saying. Hitsugaya blinked. He took a deep breath.

"You, Captain Hitsugaya?" he Head Captain questioned.

Hitsugaya looked him in the eye.

"Yes, Head Captain. I believe I fulfil the necessary requirements, do I not?"

By 'requirements', he meant tact, something that was entirely lacking in the other two volunteers.

Yamamoto was silent for a few moments were replying.

"I believe so. However, I must ask, the loss of Lieutenant Hinamori has not influenced your descision?"

Hitsugaya once again clenched his hands.

"I cannot deny that it has played a part, Head Captain. However, I can truthfully say that I am not running away or anything of the sort. While I may grieve for Hinamori, I will not let it impede my work. That sir, is something of which I can assure you."

The Head Captain studied him for a moment before nodding.

"And what do you propose to do about your division?"

Hitsugaya thought for a moment.

"If he is not adverse, I would ask Captain Ukitake to supervise my division for the duration of my mission."

He looked at the older man, who looked surprised but who nodded.

"Why not your own Lieutenant?" he asked.

Hitsugaya raised an eyebrow.

"Captain Ukitake, you have met my Lieutenant haven't you? Matsumoto couldn't lead a division if you paid her in sake."

Ukitake laughed softly. Shunsui, who had been listening, intervened.

"Oh I don't know, she might work harder if you actually paid her in sake. I know I would." He said with a small grin.

Hitsugaya snorted.

"Maybe for the first day, then she'd just drink her pay away. Literally." He said dryly.

Shunsui chuckled and turned his attention back to the Head Captain.

"Very well. If there are no objections?" he paused and looked around the room. There were none. "Captain Hitsugaya, you have a week to prepare. Information shall be delivered to you, I expect you to be at the Senkaimon gate at oh seven hundred hours. Dismissed!"

Hitsugaya nodded respectfully and stood, he followed Komamura out of the door and walked back to his own division. Now he had to tell Matusmoto. Joy.

He enjoyed the walk back to his own barracks and pulling open the door to his office, was in slightly higher spirits than normal.

Passing by his Lieutenants desk, he idly picked up a glass of water. He ambled towards his own desk and as he was passing the couch, he tipped the glass. The shriek he got in return was enough to make him wince and smirk at the same time.

Matsumoto spluttered.

"Captain!"

He sat down behind his desk.

"Yes, Lieutenant Matsumoto?"

She spluttered again, this time from indignation.

"That was cruel! You totally messed up my hair!"

Hitsugaya tossed her an uncaring look.

"You're a Lieutenant, deal with it."

She huffed and tried to tame her hair with her fingers.

"So what was so important that you had to drench me?" she asked.

"I'm going on a mission." He said and she looked up in surprise.

"Oh?"

He shifted some papers on his desk and answered without looking at her.

"It's a long one. I'm to act as an official ambassador to the Hidden Countries. Don't tell everyone though Matsumoto, it's highly classified." He gave her a look over the top of his papers.

She bit her lip.

"So... whose going to run the division if you're not here?" she asked, evidently nervous it was going to be her.

"It's not you, don't worry." He said wryly. He snorted at her sigh of relief.

"So? Who is it? Is it Captain Kyoraku?" she asked hopefully.

He raised an eyebrow at her.

"Do you think I'm stupid? Nothing would get done with you two in charge. No, I asked Captain Ukitake to supervise for me."

Matsumoto's face fell. He noticed.

"You're not happy?" he asked, knowing full well why she wasn't.

She gave him a dark look.

"You know why I'm not happy!"

He chuckled.

"It's because Captain Ukitake is far too nice for you to take advantage of. You just can't bring yourself to slack off and leave him with all the work, am I right?"

She pouted.

He smirked.

"I thought so."


Tsunade sighed.

She held the piece of paper in one hand, the other had her chin resting on it as she stared at the words on the innocuous paper.

Shinigami.

The word would have left a bitter taste in her mouth had she said it out loud.

The guardians of the dead, the ferrymen, the death gods. And a major pain in her ass.

Lifting her head of her palm, she reached for the cup of sake to her left, and took a long drink. She had the feeling she was going to need a lot more of them once this mess really got underway.

Already the death count was too high for her liking. Some of the more competent jonin could take on a Hollow but anyone less would be dead before they knew it. She almost wished the people of the Hidden Countries couldn't see Hollows. Not that they needed to, with Hollows being confined to the other side of the barrier that kept the Hidden Countries secluded from the rest of the world. Only the Kage' ever knew about the barrier, the Shinigami and the truth about the Hidden Countries. Passed down from one Kage to the next, the secret had been kept for as long as it was there.

There had been an emergency council three nights ago. A meeting of all the Kage from every land assembled on neutral ground. All conflict put aside, all grudges buried for one night only.

The meeting, surprisingly, had gone relatively well. There was the usual sniping, it couldn't be avoiding when politicians were grouped together like they had been, but productivity had been acceptable. Just.

Unsurprisingly, Suna – Under Gaara of the Sand's rule – had pledged aid to Konoha, should they need it. There had been whispers at that, but they had been quelled by the redheaded Kage's dead stare.

It had taken most of the night and well into the early hours of the morning, but the decision was made, Konoha would invoke the Shinigami/Shinobi Treaty. The treaty separated the two. The souls of dead Shinobi were none of the Death Gods concern and the barrier curtain was erected to keep Hollows out. The Hidden Countries were insular to the extreme.

And no-one, save the Kage', knew a thing.