Minato: Life After the Sealing Rewrite
Summary: There are stories of Minato winding up as a captain in the Gotei 13 after using the Shiki Fuujin (Dead Demon Consuming Seal), but what if he ascended to that position after having a few adventures with the Ryoka before hand? How would the BLEACH universe and story be different had someone who knew how to fight already had been on their side before the Seireitei Invasion? Begins just before canon.
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Naruto (Masashi Kishimoto) or BLEACH (Tite Kubo); I am merely borrowing the characters and plot elements for entertainment purposes. Also be aware that there may be some spoilers for those who have not read up to the point where Shinji has been introduced in BLEACH canon.
Chapter I- Shinigami of a Different Sort
The first thing he saw was a dimly lit white ceiling. Looking around slowly, the blonde-haired man's blue eyes took in the sparsely furnished room. The curtains were drawn over the window, letting a sliver of weak morning sunlight. To his left was an EKG machine, a respirator and an IV drip, none of which were hooked up to his body.
To his right was a small table, which had several small pouches and a cloth with a steel plate, the engraving of a leaf with a spiral on it, laid upon it. That was all the furniture aside from the bed he was laying upon and a small wardrobe. The man got out from underneath the covers and off the bed, noting that he was still in his standard garb. This consisted of a blue long-sleeve shirt with an olive drab flak jacket overtop, with blue pants that ended tucked into bandage wrappings on the lower half of his shin. On his feet were black open-toed boots(i), and his arms were covered with black detachable armored sleeves. Wrapped around the right leg just above the knee, were several bandages.
Most notable about the man's attire was the white cloak he wore. The garment was held by a cord of black nylon that held the cloak across the middle of his chest. Red flames circled the cloak at the hem, which hung near mid-shin. Embroidered vertically down the center of the cloak's back were the kanji 四代目火影.(ii)
The man walked over to the table and retrieved the cloth from the bedside table, securing it to his forehead to keep his unruly blonde hair in check. He then retrieved the pouches from the table securing all but one to his waist, just under the back of the flak jacket. The last he opened, revealing several trowel-shaped blades before closing it and securing it to his right leg, the strap encompassing the bandaged portion of his pant leg.
Finally, he retrieved a scroll from the table and slid it into a pocket on the flack jacket. Just as he finished securing his belongings, the door opened behind him, causing him to whirl around, whipping one of the trowel shaped blades from the pouch he had inspected out as he dropped into a defensive stance. Behind him was a man who appeared to be in his late forties, with black hair and a rugged-looking unshaven face.
The man was dressed in the standard doctor white coat over a yellow shirt with orange designs on it, as well as black dress pants. Upon seeing the blade in the blonde's hands, he held his hands up in a placating gesture, just before the blonde appeared behind him in a burst of speed, holding the blade to his neck.
"Alright. This is how this is going to work. I ask a question, you answer. I don't like the answer, you don't like the response. Understood?"(iii) the blonde stated. Upon receiving an imperceptible nod from his captive, he continued. "Good. First question. Who are you?"
"Kurosaki Isshin. I am the father of the kid who brought you in. You were unconscious, and as I am a doctor, I was obligated to treat you, despite you lack of severe injury." the now identified Isshin said. "May I inquire the name of my interrogator?"
"No. Second question. Where am I?"
"The Kurosaki Family Clinic in the city of Karakura." Isshin said.
"By the name of this establishment, I assume you are self-employed."
"Yes."
"Third question. How long was I out and in what condition was I brought in?"
"You were out for three days. When my son, Ichigo, brought you in, you were unconscious, but there were no signs of injury, internal or external." Isshin stated. The blonde closed his eyes, focusing on his captive's heartbeat to determine if the information he had gleaned was true. Finding no evidence to the contrary, he released Isshin.
"Minato." the blonde said.
"What?"
"My name. You asked my name earlier, it's Minato, Minato Namikaze."
"Pleasure to meet you, Minato Namikaze. Where are you from?"
"I hail from Konohagakure no Sato, the Village Hidden in the Leaves. I am supposed to be dead."
"What do you mean?"
"In order to save my village from a demon's wrath, I used a technique to seal the beast within my own son. This technique required me to give my life to the Shinigami."
"Why would Seireitei require sacrifices for a sealing ritual?" Isshin wondered aloud.
"What?"
"Ah forgive me. I assumed that since you had been in contact with a Shinigami, that you knew about Seiretei."
"A Shinigami? I thought there was only one. There are more?"
"Yes, in fact I am an ex-Shinigami. I've been living here in Karakura for 40 years now."
(i)I believe that it sandals is improper because the sole is too thick. Furthermore the heels are enclosed and the footwear has ankles that are too long to be those for shoes. Add to that the entire top of the foot, except the toes, is covered; it is more likely to be a lightweight combat boot than a sandal.
(ii)This means Yondaime Hokage.
(iii)Sorry about the cliché interrogation opening, but if you woke up in an unfamiliar place with no knowledge of what's going on, you can't afford to take risks ne?
This is the alternate version of my first story, written with the Japanese Romanization you are familiar with, meaning that it is spelt the way it sounds. Instead of 'Itigo,' which is how actual Japanese would write it, it is spelt 'Ichigo,' which is how it is pronounced.
Although I am more comfortable with standard Romanization, I have done this to placate those that find direct Romanization distracting.
