Disclaimer: Naruto, Naruto Shippuden, all characters that appear in the aforementioned series, and all techniques that appear in the aforementioned series are property of Masashi Kishimoto and any company, organization, or individual he has chosen to sell the rights to. I, MathewXoX, do not claim ownership of any of the aforementioned intellectual or commercial properties.

Disclaimer: Bleach, all characters that appear in the aforementioned series, and all techniques that appear in the aforementioned series are property of Tite Kubo and any company, organization, or individual he has chosen to sell the rights to. I, MathewXoX, do not claim ownership of any of the aforementioned intellectual or commercial properties.

Chapter 1

Now some might say that spending most of my youth practising magic was... questionable.

Sure, they might be right, but, to them I say, "pish-posh, is this your card?"

And every time, of course, it was their card, I'm a magician after-all... a very successful one at that.

But then again, not that anyone knew it, my magic wasn't exactly normal but any limitation of the word. You see, most magic these days was illusions in nature, using fast hands, or misdirection, to imply magic.

However, mine was the pure essence of magic, the ability to harness the powers of the unknown and make them do as I wish.

This power, given to me at birth, was both unnatural and limitless, to warp reality to my whim was a ability no mere man could, or should, possess.

But card tricks was a mere scratch on the truth of my powers!

For I'm a true Magician!


In the pits of a darkened sewer, one young blonde sat before a large gates, his back leaning against one of the vast amount of metal poles, a small smile of acceptance on his face.

"You know, we've had a good run."

Tugging at the chain on his chest, blue eyes followed the long length as it past behind him, through the towering metal bars, into the dark pit.

"Cheeky brat," A huff escaped from the pit as a massive animal stepped from the darkness, it's dark orange furr ruffling as he leaned forwards, it's horse sized snout settled beside the teen. "To think that even in death, we'd be stuck together." His sarcastic joy made the blonde chuckle loudly, gaining the attention of the blood red iris of the beast. "Atleast I'm not stuck with Shukaku, that weakling would drive me insane."

Smiling at the mumbling fox, the teen of 17 looked at the white chains rapped around the beast's body, a reminder that even with death, the two were still near inseparable. "Say, Kurama, do you... wanna stay with me?" Pulling at the chain, the blonde could feel the stain of the wired feeling metal, he could break it with ease.

Catching what the brat was doing, Kurama widened his eyes ever so slightly, he knew the blonde was selfless, "the second coming of his father" , but he'd never think that his friend would sacrifice the last of his being to set him free. "Hmph, what's the point," Turning his giant head away from the surprised Magician, the Bijinn hid his emotions well, he wasn't going to let the brat have the satisfaction. "I'd only be found by another stupid Ningen, maybe one even more annoying than you."

Smiling gently at the jab, the blonde knew that Kurama only meant well, drawing up to his feet. "Right then," Turning towards the massive tailed beast, the blonde's smile changed from defeat to resolve, his hands tightly wrapped around two white metal rings and he began to pull.

"What are you doing, brat?" Glaring at his container, the beast found his fading power returning, almost as if Naruto's chakra was blending into his. "Naruto, stop it now!" Roaring at the young dying teen, the boy meet his gaze before yanking one last time, a loud PING echoed through-out the dark pits of the area, effectively silencing the beast.

"Finally," Coughing weakly, the teen dropped to his knees, unaware that the area around his was shifting into a white void with dusty orange buildings, all he could focused on being Kurama. "Hey... a-atleast I still have my magic."

Shocked by the gift, the now even larger Kurama could only watch as the blonde started to stabilize himself, not with Physical presence, but with Magic, a powerful blend of spiritual and nature energies. "You... brat." Looking around his new home, the beast could only sigh, his now unconscious container had altered it somehow. "I swear, if you live through this, I'm going to make you wish you hadn't." Slipping some deep purple chakra towards his host, the beast didn't hide his surprise, it would seem that the mix of his red Yang chakra and Naruto's natural Yin blue chakra had merged beyond what he thought possible.

The now purple chakra cradled around the passed out teen, a soft cocoon encompassing the last bit of white metal on the blonde, right in the chest where his heart was.

"I swear, I don't know what I'm going to do with you," Resting on his large paws, the beast sat and waited, it was only a matter of time before his inner being would wake, and when it did, he feared what it might unleash. "Brat."


It was a calm day for one Naruto Uzumaki, he had went to school, had lunch with friends, suffered at the hands of the cruel lessons of English, before being let out from the "prison" known as school, ending with him heading off to his part-time job, being a "handy-man" for a small local store about three miles away.

So yeah, it was an average day... until he left work for home.

"Oi, blondie, we're closing early tonight, why don't you head home." The manager of the store shouted at the tall teen, pointing towards the exit. "It's slow today, and I'm not going to leave the heating on for no reason." Running a pale hand through her brown hair, the short shop owner sighed in annoyance, a stain of irritation lingering in her black eyes. "I swear, if I hadn't of known better, I'd say this place was a ghost town lately."

Chuckling, "Blondie" came from the back room, pulling a hand through his coat's black sleeve. "I guess everyone is just being paranoid as of late, there was that major incident with that gas tank Monday." Tugging at his gloves, Naruto smiled as he caught the wad of money thrown his way, already knowing it was a weeks' pay. "Thanks, I'll catch you next week, try not to close whilst I'm away Aria."

"Oi, that's Sanka to you, ass!" Throwing a book at the retreating blonde, the young twenty year old sighed, why she put up the teen she didn't know. "I swear, if he wasn't such a good worker, I would've kicked his backside to the curb ages ago." Leaning down to pick up the book, the manager noticed a small speck of white hidden in the it's spine. "Oh, how funny." Despite her bland tone, Aria looked down at the joker card in her hands with a smirk, that boy was so self-aware sometimes. "Just wait until next week boy, you'll be on stocking duty all day."

Almost as-if he had super-human sensing, Naruto sighed in dread, he knew he was going to be put on stack duty for the month. "Oh well, atleast I had the next couple of days off." Pulling out a deck of cards from seemingly nowhere, the blonde smiled to himself as he silently shuffled the desk in a riffle way, occasionally flipping out a single joker card and catching it in mid-shuffle.

Creakkk

Stopping mid-catch, bright blue eyes gazed around franticly, his mind's eye trying to find the location of the odd creaking echoing through-out the street. "What the heck..." Whispering to himself with a frown, the teen snapped his head to the left, just in time to see someone dressed in a white shitagi, a black hakama, draped over by a kosode.

However, what Naruto took notice of the most was the person's glowing purple eyes... and the sword in her hands.

"Hey, what the heck are you doing?"

Almost if his voice was a unforeseen predicament, the female teen stumbled in surprise, falling from the spot on top-of the telephone pole. "Oi, watch out!" Diving towards the falling women, instead of catching her, Naruto's face was used as a literal stepping stone for the female's Waraji. "Bloody hell, what's your problem?!"

The sword-wielder gracefully landed, her eyes looking down at the teen with wide eyes, shock clearly written on her face. "Y-you can see me?" Because of her surprise, a similar fate was meet with her, a single card seemingly made of metal bounced off her forehead. "O-ouch."

"Deserves you right, crazy lady." Naruto remarked as he flipped to his feet, dusting himself down with a huff with one hand, and rubbing his sore check with the other. "Hey, you okay?" Glancing to his left, the blonde blinked in confusion with a odd look being sent his way by the mystery woman, her purple eyes lingered on him intently. "Who are you anyway?"

"You want to know?" Like a switch, the facile features switched from pained confusion to normality, her eyes scanning for any kind of deception. "Fine then, I'll tell you, I'm Rukia Kuchiki, a soul reaper."

...

...

...

"A what?" Bewildered by the blanket statement, Naruto frowned in confusion, was that some kind of joke to throw him off or something.

"A soul reaper, I've been sent by the soul society to deal with some hollows that have entered into the earth realm." The female "Shinigami" stated as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Hollow?" Tapping his chin in thought, Naruto frowned gently, the name alone sent chills down his spin, an unease, much like an omni he didn't know about, washed over him. "Say, what does these 'hollows' look like?"

"Each one is vastly different in terms of shape and size," Almost if the conversation didn't matter, Rukia began to glance around the barely light area, for some reason the hollow she had been following was no-longer in her sensing range. "However each hallow has a white mask on their face, a sign that they have past beyond readmission, and must be slain to be purified."

"Purified?"

Roarrrr

A loud booming roar, more of a scream really, interrupted the young blonde's thoughts, it's wailing sending chills down his spine, and making his danger senses heighten.

"Hey, what the hell was that!"

Searching around like a lunatic, the blonde frowned as a faint chill raced over his spine. "Oi, Rukia!" Spinning around to face the soul reaper, the Naruto was shocked to see that she had fled the scene, leaving him alone with the sense of lingering dread.

"Behind you, brat!"

"Kurama?" Spinning on his heels, the teen barely dodged a swipe to his face, an unseen limb cutting a single strand of blonde hair from his head. "I swear, if Rukia is behind this, I'm planting a fist in her pretty little face."

"Found you!"

Jumping back in sheer instinct, the blonde dodged a massive spike of a limb from piercing him, it's black colour helping it hide within the darkness of the night... However, their was one thing that stood out from the mass of darkness.

A white mask

"Shit, a hallow?!" Jumping backwards, the blonde pulled out a deck of cards, sliding one out like slinging it out in a flash, his drawing speed being far beyond what any normal person could even think of attempting, almost looking like it just appeared in his hand. "I'll only need a card to deal with the likes of you!" Fuelling Yin chakra into the card, a razor thin aura appeared over it.

"What a delicious soul!" Almost if the drawing of the card hadn't even phased it, the hollow lunged forwards, it's jaw unhinging itself as if it was trying to swallow the blonde hole. "You're mine!"

Before the hallow could reach however, a flash of silver shoot through the Hallow's head, a white streak following behind it. "Easy enough." Twirling the sharp looking card in his hand, Naruto frowned as he watched the beast slowly disperse into black-like dust, leaving him alone. "Still, I can't get this feeling of dread out my system, there must be another one." Looking around, the blonde tried to locate any 'odd' feeling auras'.

Sighing, the blonde couldn't "feel" out the presence, he just knew that there was something close, something like the hollow he had just killed. "Tsk, stupid soul reaper nonsense has got me spooked." Putting his hands into his pockets, the teen closed his eyes and relaxed. "Let's see here." Using his well hidden power, the blonde began to pulse his Yin chakra like a wave, it's reach extending beyond his vision's limit.

"There"

Almost unnoticeable, Naruto seemingly froze for a second before a wave of power expelled from his being, covering the area around him like a blanket. "Found you, Rukia!" Spinning around to where he felt the aura of death, the blonde rushed off, hopefully he ran didn't run into another hollow.

A solid ten minuets later, a panting Naruto rushed into an odd scene, instead of a massive hollow, or even the sword wielding Soul reaper, all the blonde was greeted by was a massive hole in the side of a medical clinic, and a single crutch in the middle of the street. "Was I too late?" Stepping into the street, the blonde looked around in hopes of finding some kind of evidence of life, frowning gently as he heard shuffling to his left. "Rukia?"

Startled by his words, Rukia, whom was now dressed in a white kosode, jumped to her feet, her wide eyes as she looked towards the blonde. "It's you from earlier."

"Uzumaki Naruto, just call me Naruto." Lending a hand towards the girl, the teen smiled largely as he introduced himself. "So, er, if you don't mind me asking, what happened too your get-up?"

"Oh that..." Frowning gently, the soul reaper grasped the hand given to her. "There was an incident with a hollow, and I had to lend my power to a human to survive."

...

...

"Come again?"

"I forgot you don't know much about Soul reapers," Sighing to herself, Rukia picked herself up, dusting herself off. "A soul reaper can give their powers to a human temporally, but transferral of a Shinigami's powers to a Human is forbidden by the Soul Society, so I can't return until my powers come back."

"Do you have anywhere to go?" A small part of Naruto told him that this was a bad idea, but he couldn't help it, he had to help.

"I...I don't." Looking to the side in slight embarrassment, not only had the rash choice of giving her powers away left her weak, it had left her homeless. "But don't worry, any soul-reaper worth their grain of salt can live on the streets for a week."

Guilt hit the blonde like a hammer, his hand moving before he even thought about it. "Sorry," Hefting the unprepared girl up into a hug, Naruto was stopped when a soft hand pushed against his chest, the dark haired girl made a small gap between the two. "Look, I know we don't really know each other, but I have a guest room that you can use."

Shocked by the giving nature of the teen, Rukia smiled softly and nodded, the blonde was kind enough. "O-okay... but I need to find someone first, Kisuke Urahara." Glancing around, Rukia smiled when she saw that Naruto had yet to leave, her feet starting moving without an idea as to where she needed to go.

"Do you need a ride, I only live like 4 minuets walk from here." Pointing behind him, the blonde smiled, he was close to home when Rukia had first meet him. "I own a motorbike, so we can search quicker."

Humming in thought, the black haired teen nodded and turned around, her steps fast. "Come on then, the sooner the better." The girl's stride broke as she all but collapsed, falling into the blonde's arms. "Damn it," Breathing out sharply, the girl felt exhaustion hit her all at once, her eyes fluttering lightly.

"Hey, are you okay?" Glancing down at the surprisingly light girl, the blonde couldn't help but sigh as he lifted the girl into a bridal carry, careful not to hold her too tightly. "Now to find this Urahara person."

"No need my good sir," Spinning around, the magic user caught the gaze of a tall, lean-built man with light skin and gray eyes. "It seems that young Kuchiki has pasted-out." Tipping his green and white bucket hat, a small smile hid the man's gleaming eyes, standing before him was an anomaly he'd never seen before. "Come with me, I'll fix her up." Turning around, the light blonde didn't wait for the sceptical teen to answer him as he walked away.

Sighing, the teen shifted Rukia gently, and quietly followed after the new person, his body tense just in-case the man was leading him into a trap.

A solid 5 minuets of fast pace walking later, the three arrived at a small average looking shop, with a large sign saying "Urahara Shop", with nothing out of the ordinary seemingly.

"So, here we are, my humble abode." Kisuke remarked with a large smile, a friendly aura surrounding him as he spread his arms wide, ignoring the blank look being sent his way. "Anyway... let's get Miss Kuchiki healed up." Opening the door, the man gestured for the them to follow him.

The soft claps of Naruto's shoes made the light haired blonde tilted his head back slightly, 'the boy sure is quick', his eyes lingering on the back of the anomaly before him, a 'human' with overwhelming spiritual power, one he could hardly even sense because it was locked down so tight, and the second part... it was so much like the hogyoku's power that it sent shivers down his spine.

'He's a living hogyoku'

A single thought slipped through the man's mind, his mind racing at the sheer complication of such a being in any of the realms, even one of them was more than enough to cast a dark layer over the bright teen.

'Still, he hasn't used this ability at all, atleast from what I can tell.'

"So, you going to help us or what?" A shout, one of annoyance or impatience Kisuke couldn't tell, echoed out into the night air, it's effect working to get the man's attention.

"Enter the door on the left, then go to the second to the right." Smirking, the man turned towards his store and walked in, his eyes watching the teen disappearing into the back of the house. "I wonder if I can get him to let me experiment on him?"

Naruto, whom had set Rukia down on a soft Japanese styled futon, sighed gently as he brushed a stray acouple of hairs from the girl's forehead, ignoring the odd sense of tingling in his chest. "I wonder if this has anything to do with Kurama finally speaking." Pull the hand away from the female, Naruto placed his hands against his folded knees, his mind going deep into his subconscious.

Appearing in a massive collection of massive orange buildings, each one randomly in size and shape.

"W-what the heck?" Glancing around in wonder, the teen let out a breath of shock as he down from the side of the building. "Right... time to find Kurama."

"No need," A loud booming voice echoed from all around as a Monstrous size of a beast leapt from beneath the fog bellow, it's sheer size big enough to dwarf some countries. "Don't looked so shocked, brat!"

"Kurama!?" Glancing to the huge kurama infront of him, one that easily five times the size of the God Tree. "What the hell happened to you, you're so big!" Getting a feel of Kurama's chakra through his Nature's power, the teen found that the bijuu's power was far beyond Kaguya's power, so much so that his power made his old chakra look like a dust partial compared to the universe.

"This is all thanks to you, brat." Looking himself over, the massive orange kyuubi smirked, he felt powerful... more so than his father. "All of this power... it came from me absorbing your chakra, now our chakra." As partners to the blonde, Kurama owed the teen more so then he could ever repay... not that he was going to tell the blonde that.

"Seriously?!" The blonde smiled largely as he leapt upwards, landing a building edge closer to the beast's head. "I bet we could make some sick combos'."

A nice silence filled the air as the blonde checked himself over, looking at the cracking of his soul's chest-piece. Tracing a finger against the cold marble feeling hexagone, Naruto's mind wondered on how bad the item looked.

With cracks and chinks in it's make-up, the items looked like it had better days. "Damn..." A odd sense of forbidding radiated from the object, as if it was a calling to a end that Naruto really didn't want to see.

"Listen Naruto," Kurama, in a rare sight of worry, leaned closer towards the blonde, his eyes locking with his despite the huge difference in size. "We need to talk when you're more free, but make sure you're careful with how much you push yourself, that lock on your chest keeps wearing, and more stress put on it the more it's going to break." The kyuubi remarked as he lowered himself, deep worry etched on his face. "I don't know what'll happen if it breaks, but I have a feeling that it won't be good when it does."

Nodding gently, Naruto smiled towards his long-time friend, holding his fist out towards the tailed beast, which was gently tapped by the large kitsune. "I'll make sure not to." Closing his eyes, the blonde slowly faded away, leaving the giant being of chakra alone with it's thoughts.

"Brat..."