Chapter One: Explanations

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or Naruto!

Of Soul Reapers, Sakura Blossoms, Seasons Past, and Sounding of Spells.

Sakura inhaled deeply as she stepped through the gate, allowing the sweet scent to roll over her. Beside her waited Unohana, her had retired from her command post for Sakura's sake.

"Thank you." Sakura mouthed.

Unohana smiled, she had never been one for battle and that was inappropriate for a captain. Her squad had followed after her in a show of solitude...they all agreed that they didn't like battle and therefore were ineffective as Reapers.

Sakura's mind quickly reverted to the matter at hand: If their calculations were correct, they had roughly two months before Aizen struck...and this time he wasn't playing.

But after two wars--one waged in their dimension and another fought in Konoha--they were down to half of their original ranks. Furthermore, amateur Reapers were now in positions of command. There simply wasn't time to put them through the tests and exhibitions that would have effectively rooted out those who were unprepared for such a position.

In other words, they were screwed...and not in the fun way either.

Sighing, Sakura continued towards the lab.

"We are fucked..." Sakura moaned, slamming her head down on the desktop.

"That bad?"

She looked up to see Uryu standing in the doorway.

"We just don't have the manpower or resources to match Aizen." She replied.

"Not even if we ally with the Vizard?" He asked.

"Even if..and that a pretty big if...we could pass it with the Counsel, it just wouldn't be enough. As it stands, there is one captain to every three Arrancar, fifteen Gillian, and four Foot Soldier Hollows."

"Those aren't good odds." He agreed.

"It gets worse," Sakura replied, shaking her head, "To fight so many, we would require a spatial freeze and release on scales so epic, that it would effectively tear a rift between the human realm, Hueco Mundo, and Seireitei."

"What about a fixed-variable spatial dispersal?" He asked, sitting down at a computer and typing in a series of codes.

Sakura shook her head, "If we did that, it would power down captains with no warning. We would lose hundreds."

"Not if we adjusted it to work around victories--powering down only those who had successfully defeated their opponents."

"The problem remains that these battles would be long, drawn out, and militaristic. Basically, they would all be powered down when the battle began..."

Uryu nodded...they really were fucked.

And then she said, "But I had another idea..."

Uryu's eyebrows raised in a question.

"Konoha..."

TBC