Yo everybody! I was so caught off guard by the response my note and preview, that I felt compelled to finish the first chapter tonight and post it. Also it was motivated me to shift my main focus to at least A New Life, A New World. Once it's done, I'll probably take a stance of doing a couple chapters for one story, then do a couple for another and then back to this.
Disclaimers: I don't own Bleach or Naruto, just my OCs.
Chapter One: A New World
Squad One Barracks
"Hello! This is Squad Five Captain, Shinji Hirako! Can anybody hear me?" Shinji called out as he and his Lieutenant waited outside the entrance to the Squad One barracks. "Man… Coming to the Squad One barracks is always such a pain… This is makin' me tense," he grumbled, annoyed that the doors had yet to open. "I never like comin' here."
"Is that really the face of a tense person?" his Lieutenant, Sosuke Aizen asked. "This all part of the ceremony, so please be reasonable Captain."
"Shut it Sosuke," Shinji snapped, looking back at his subordinate, not realizing that the doors had begun to open. "You can't even see my face from back there."
"It opened Captain. We can enter know," Sosuke replied.
Shinji turned his head back, only to have a foot hit his face, throwing him back head over heels.
"Hey Dickhead!" Hiyori Sarugaki, the Lieutenant of Squad Twelve, taunted. "Your face is just too ugly! I had to step on it!"
Shinji, nursing a bleeding nose, glared at the girl. "Hiyori! You little-"
"I ain't gonna apologize!" she shouted, cutting him off.
"I haven't even said anything to ya yet!"
Suddenly, fist hit Hiyori on the head. "Say you're sorry, you little brat," Captain Love Aikawa of Squad Seven said.
"Was that really necessary, Captain?" Keigo Asano, co-Lieutenant of Squad Seven asked.
"Of course it was," Keigo's older sister, co-Lieutenant of Squad Seven, Mizuho Asano replied. "Hiyori has always been a brat, and the only way to discipline a brat is with your fist. Like so."
Mizuho's fist hit Keigo's head. "Ow!" he screamed, clutching his head. "What was that for?"
"That's for slacking off and hitting on the girls of the Squad!" Mizuho yelled back.
"Hey! I wasn't slacking off! I was helping them refine their abilities!"
"In the Squad pool?"
"Er…Yes! It's very useful for…Ah…Endurance training!"
"Endurance training? Do you really think that anyone one would believe that bull-"
"Enough! Knock it off, both of you!" Love shouted, ending their argument, a vein twitching on his forehead. "Or I'll kick you back down to the unseated ranks!" Then he quietly muttered to himself, "Sometimes I wonder why I even bother putting up with the two of you."
Both Lieutenants quickly bowed their heads in apology. "Yes, Captain," they said in unison.
Hiyori on the other hand, wasn't going to back down from a Captain. "What the hell, Love?" she shouted, rubbing her head. "You think it's okay to smack a Lieutenant that ain't yours on the head?"
"Your Captain isn't around, so somebody's gotta keep you in line," Love replied.
"Don't talk to me like I'm a kid!"
"Then don't act like one and apologize."
Needless to say, the idea of apologizing to Shinji only enraged her more. "No way!" she shouted as Shinji started to make faces at her behind Love's back. "Look at that prick! I'm not gonna apologize! Just look at his face! He's showing his true colors!"
"Alright, alright," Love muttered, giving on the pair and heading towards the Captain's Meeting Hall.
"Captain, please stop that," Sosuke said, as always, trying to curb his Captain's inappropriate behavior. "Please don't make face in front of the other captains."
"Yeah, yeah…" Shinji grumbled, heading into the Squad One barracks. "Is everybody assembled already?"
"Pretty much," Love replied, placing the Squad Seven Captain's Seal in rack alongside the others.
The Squad One, Two, Four, Six, Nine, and Twelve seals were already there. After Love placed his in its spot, Shinji added his and paused. "So Squad Eleven's Captain ain't coming?" he asked.
"He's lazy. As always, he doesn't do what he's told." Love answered, less than impressed with his fellow captain.
"I dunno know much about the 10th 'Kenpachi', but he sure looks like a piece o' work." Shinji commented. "Why'd they even make a pig like that into a captain?"
"It's tradition. The Squad Eleven Captain has always taken the title of Kenpachi from the previous one," Love explained. "If anybody's fault, it's the previous Kenpachi for losing to him."
"Well now, it's not nice to talk about others behind their backs," a voice called out behind the group.
The officers glanced back. It was Captain Shunsui Kyoraku of Squad Eight, along with his Lieutenant Lisa Yadomaru and Squad Thirteen Captain, Jushiro Ukitake. "You're pretty early today, Captain Kyoraku," Love greeted his lazy comrade.
"Whatever do you mean? I'm always the first to arrive," Shunsui cheerfully replied.
"I had to kick his ass to get him out of bed," Lisa added, causing Shunsui to wince.
"Don't say stuff like that in front of the other captains…" he grumbled.
"I don't see Hikifune. Is she not coming today?" Jushiro asked, ignoring the pair.
Shinji shook his head in response. "Nah. She's probably already met up with the others."
"I'm nervous," the sickly Captain admitted. "This isn't exactly sudden, but if they had taken things a bit slower…"
Shunsui nodded his head. "True, true."
"Man… They're flippin' captains around left and right," Shinji complained. "They just made Rose the Squad Three Captain about a year ago and now Squad Twelve is getting a new captain. Are we really gonna be okay going on like this?"
A short distance away, Rojouro 'Rose' Otoribashi, Captain of Squad Three, sneezed. "Someone must be talking about you, Captain," his Lieutenant, Mizuro Kojima, commented.
"Now now, changes need to happen from time to time. And right now that's just what's happening to the 13 Court Guard Squads. Come to think of it, the only captains around from a hundred years ago are me, Ukitake and Old Man Yama," Kyoraku said, counting them with his fingers before glancing at Ukitake. "Right?"
"You're forgetting Captain Unohana," his old friend replied in a deadpan tone.
The normally laidback captain became nervous, realizing his mistake. "Oh! That's right! I totally forgot about her. I'm gonna get yelled at for sure…" He paused for a moment before seeking to change the subject. "But now… The Squad Three Captain retires; the Squad Twelve Captain gets promoted. They didn't die like the 10th or 11th Captains. This is a peaceful change."
Aizen perked up, his interest in Shunsui's words evident to everyone. "Promoted?"
"Hey! Sosuke!" Shinji snapped, visibly annoyed at his Lieutenant's interruption.
Sosuke bowed his head. "Forgive me, I did not mean to interrupt a captain."
Shunsui just shrugged, unfazed by the outburst. "It's fine. Don't worry about it, Sosuke. What did you want to ask?"
"I haven't heard anything about it. I thought that Captain Hikifune was retiring, not being promoted. In fact, I was unaware a captain could be promoted above their rank, save of course someone replacing Captain-General Yamamoto."
"Yup."
"Then there is a rank above captain…" Sosuke paused, pondering what that rank could be.
So she's joining the Central 46?"
Shunsui shook his head. "Nope. It's not the central 46. She's being promoted to Squad Zero, the Royal Guard."
Sosuke's eyes widened as they entered the Meeting Hall. Captains Yoruichi Shihoin of Squad Two, Retsu Unohana of Squad Four, Ginrei Kuchiki of Squad Six, and Kensei Muguruma of Squad Nine, and their lieutenants were already waiting there. "The Royal Guard?" Aizen asked, interested in this new information.
"Hey, is the new guy with you?" Kensei asked.
Shinji shook his head. "Nah. Come to think of it, I haven't even met the guy."
"Figures," the gray-haired captain grunted. "The only one late to this thing is the guy this whole ceremony is about."
"Indeed. I cannot help but wonder how worthy your man could be, Yoruichi, of becoming a captain if he can't even be on time for his own inauguration ceremony," Ginrei commented.
"You were there Yamamoto tested him, Ginrei. You accepted his abilities as that of Captain-level," Yoruichi replied to her fellow captain and nobleman, clearly annoyed by his comment.
"Having the abilities of a captain is not the same as being worthy of the rank of captain. The last five Squad Eleven Captains and as current one, have proven that."
"Well, don't worry about Kisuke," the dark-skinned captain said. "He's more than worthy of being a captain."
Ginrei was about to reply, when Kenshi spoke up, "Hey look! The new guy's coming."
"Well then, like Old Man Yama would say, let's get into position," Shunsui said to his fellows.
The Captains took their positions, their Lieutenants lining up behind them. Seconds later, the newly appointed Squad Twelve Captain, Kisuke Urahara, ran into the room, gasping for air. After regaining her breath, Urahara nervously glanced around. "Ah… I am the last one to here?"
"Eh? What a carefree lookin' guy," Shinji commented.
No one noticed Aizen's eyes narrowing as he stared at Kisuke. "Indeed…"
"You're one to talk," Rose said to his fellow captain.
The most of the remaining captains and lieutenants stared at Urahara, studying him. Most appeared unimpressed by the young and nervous captain, particularly Urahara's new lieutenant, Hiyori.
"Umm… Can I come in?" Kisuke asked.
"Quit cowering!" Yoruichi shouted at her former subordinate. "You're a Captain now, Kisuke. Walk with some pride and confidence!"
Urahara was about respond when something hit him from behind, knocking him into the room. "She's right, Kisuke Urahara. Go on in," Captain-General Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryusai said as he and his lieutenant, Chojiro Sasakibe, entered the chamber.
"It seems that everyone is present," Yamamoto continued, moving past the captains and lieutenants. "Let us begin the inauguration ceremony." Yamamoto reached the end of the hall, sitting down on his chair. "I assume you are already aware that seven days ago, the order was handed down for the Squad Twelve Captain, Kirio Hikifune, to abdicate her position so that she may be promoted. And on that same day, notifications were sent to each Squad Captain that election would commence to determine a new captain. The next day, at the recommendation of Squad Two Captain Yoruichi Shihoin, the Third Seat Officer of her Squad was called upon. And yesterday, I as well as three other captains, judged him on the requirements of a captain through the rules of the Captain Examination. His ability and character made me draw my conclusion without any criticisms. The former 3rd seat of Squad Two, Kisuke Urahara, has been appointed as new captain of the 12th division." Captain-General Yamamoto said to the assembled captains and lieutenants.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the Meeting Hall doors. "Please, forgive the intrusion, Captain-General Yamamoto, Captains and Lieutenants," a voice said through the doors. "But you told us to inform you immediately once they had woken up."
"Then all four of them are awake?" Yamamoto asked.
"Yes sir."
"Keep them there. I will be there shortly," he ordered.
"Yes sir."
"So… what was that all about?" Shunsui asked what just about everyone was thinking.
"A Squad One matter," Yamamoto answered. "Nothing to concern yourself with." The commanding officer of the 13 Court Guard Squads cleared his throat, turning his attention to Urahara. "Now, back to the ceremony. Kisuke Urahara, do you vow to fulfill the duties and obligations of a Captain of the 13 Court Guard Squads?"
Urahara nodded. "I do."
"Do you vow, as a Captain of the 13 Court Guard Squads, to uphold the laws and rulings of the Central 46?"
"I do."
"And do you, as a Captain of the 13 Court Guard Squads, to defend and protect the souls of both the Soul Society and the World of the Living?"
"I do."
"Then I, with the power and the authority of the office of Captain-General of the 13 Court Guard Squads, officially declare you, Kisuke Urahara, a Captain of the 13 Court Guard Squads," Yamamoto said, finishing the vows. "Congratulations, Captain Kisuke Urahara."
The gathered officers began to clap, applauding the newly promoted officer, though Hiyori only gave a half-hearted applause.
A short while later, Yamamoto was walking through the corridors of the Squad One barracks, heading for the Squad member quarters. A pair of Squad One members were standing guard in front of a door to one of the rooms. "You are dismissed," he said to them.
"Sir," the two said, bowing their heads.
The two left as Yamamoto entered the room. Inside, there were four beds, each with a person lying on them. Unbeknownst to his subordinates, a grave threat to their universe had risen up during the previous night. Fortunately, the members of the Royal Guard were trained to deal with such a matter and before the night was done, they ended the danger. However, before they finished, four unconscious people crossed over into their world. Once the danger was neutralized, they had brought the four here.
The first of the four, and the only girl of the group, had green eyes and short pink hair, an unusual sight for some, but considering the hair of some of his subordinates, it wasn't that unusual to him. Like the others, they had put her in a simple sleeping kimono, the clothes they had found her in lying folded next to her bed, along with a number of small bags and pouches containing a variety of equipment, weapons and oddly enough, scrolls. All and all, aside from her hair color, she appeared to be the most ordinary of the group.
In the bed next to hers, was a pale, black eyed, black haired, noble-looking boy that reminded the ancient soul reaper of Ginrei's grandson save for one thing. While the young and hot-headed Byakuya tried to appear calm and collected at all times, this boy was calm and collected. The boy staring out the window of the room with a bored expression on his face, but Yamamoto could see his eyes and what they held. His eyes were that of a cold and focused killer, like the eyes of many of those in Squad Two. The eyes of someone who had seem much horror and had become steeled to it.
Across from him, lay a gray eyed teen. His short brown hair was styled into messy spikes. There were a number of tattoos on his arms, consisting of random symbols and drawings. Resting on his shoulder was a raven, which was strange as other than the hell butterflies, animals avoided the Seireitei and the window was closed, so it shouldn't have gotten into the room.
The last was a blond haired youth with bright, blue eyes.
"Hey grandpa!" the blond called out. "When is someone going to tell us what's going on? Where are we? And how did we get here?"
"Naruto!" the girl yelled at the blond haired male. "Can't you be at least a little respectful? We don't know where we are and you're not helping matters by being disrespectful to everyone that approaches us and could have answers for us."
"Well these guys could be the ones who took us," the boy, Naruto apparently, replied.
"He does bring up a good point though," the brown haired one added.
"I can assure you, we were not the ones to take you from your world," Yamamoto said. "Nor do we mean you any harm."
All four teens immediate froze upon hearing his words. "What do you mean? Our world?" the girl nervously asked.
"Allow me to introduce myself first. I am Captain-General Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryusai of the 13 Court Guard Squads," the ancient man said, causing even more confusion.
"13 Court Guard Squads… I've never heard of it," the brown haired teen said. "Which village are you with? Is this one of the samurai villages?"
"As I said, you are no longer in the world you knew. This is an entirely different world. It's extremely unlikely that any of the locations and organizations that you knew, exist here."
"But…but how did we get here?" the girl quietly asked.
Yamamoto paused for moment, studying the four. "You see, there are countless universes in existence. Normally, these universes are separate, but from time to time, two universes begin to come into contact with other. Most of the time they just briefly touch before pushing apart, creating some brief, minor anomalies in both universes. But sometimes they don't pull apart rather they begin to bleed into each other, causing dangerous effects to both universes," Yamamoto explained. "Time and space begins warp as the two universes start to merge forcibly together. The longer it goes on, the more violent and dangerous the merge becomes. If the universes are not pushed away from each, both will be torn apart. Fortunately, there are those in our universe that are capable pushing both universes apart and repairing any damage to our world. However, during their efforts, you four came through into our world."
"So why didn't you just send us back?"
"There was no guarantee that you would survive the trip back or even that you would end up back when and where you came from," he answered. "The best choice for all involved was to keep here, in this world."
"Plus we died," the black haired youth said, his tone cold and plain.
"You mean you three died as well?" his brown haired comrade asked. Though his face and voice were calm, Yamamoto could see the shock and pain in his eyes. "I remember Kisame impaling me…"
"Yeah… But you got him too," the girl replied, her tone grim. "I didn't last much longer either. That blue haired woman killed me. But I didn't know about…"
"We died shortly after you did Sakura," black hair added, the look on his and his remaining comrade's faces indicating that neither wanted to talk about it.
Yamamoto cleared his throat, drawing their attention. "It is impossible for you to return to your world, however, I have an offer for you. As I mentioned before, I am the Captain-General of the 13 Court Guard Squads, an organization dedicated to protecting the souls of this world. I can sense that you all have a great deal of potential. I would like for you to join the 13 Court Guard Squads and realize your potential in this world."
"Well, guess if we can't return our home, then I guess we'll make a life here," brown hair said. "I'll join."
"I have to agree with Kenshi. If we're stuck here, we might as well make the most of it. I'm in too," pink added.
Blond energetically nodded his head. "Well, if you are in, then count me in too."
"Hn," was all black said.
"That's teme for 'me too'," blond answered. "Oh, and I'm Naruto Uzumaki."
"My name is Sakura Haruno."
"I'm Kenshi Mitsurugi." The raven squawked. "And this is Karasu."
"Sasuke Uchiha."
Yamamoto nodded his head. "Excellent. I'll make arrangements for you to join the Academy, so you can all learn to be a soul reaper. Normally, it takes four years for a student to reach the level to graduate. But something tells me that you four will achieve that level in less time," Yamamoto said.
"Soul reapers?" Naruto asked, confused by the term.
"Soul reapers are those that fill the ranks of the 13 Court Guard Squads. We regulate the follow of souls from the World of the Living to the Soul Society and back to the World of the Living. Specifically, we send souls of the deceased to the afterlife while purifying the souls that have been corrupted by anger and despair."
"Then you're dead too?" Sakura asked, confused by his words.
"That depends on your definition of life and death," Yamamoto answered. "To a living human, I am a spirit. But to living souls here in the Soul Society, I'm as alive any human. I understand your confusion. Many recently deceased souls feel the same way during their first few weeks. Don't worry, you'll adjust in time. Also, it would not be wise to mention that you are from an alternate universe. Such matters are preferred to be kept secret in this world."
Shinou Academy
A Week Later
"So this is Shinou Academy," Kenshi commented as they stood before the gates to the school. All around them were students, heading for their classes. "It's bigger than I thought it would be."
"Who cares how big it is? It's these uniforms that are terrible," Naruto complained as he ruffled the blue and white uniform. "Why do we have to wear these stupid robes?"
"Because it's the uniform that all students wear," Sakura replied. "We have to wear them if we want to attend this academy."
"Come on," Sasuke said. "If we wait any longer, we're going to be late."
The four joined the hustling crowds, heading into the Academy. However, they quickly found themselves getting lost amid the long hallways filled with classrooms and crowded with students. "I think we're lost," Sakura said, studying the room numbers over the doors.
"Yeah. We better split up or we'll be here forever. Sasuke and me will go that way," Kenshi said, pointing down the hall. "You and Naruto go the other way."
Naruto and Sakura nodded, heading one way as Kenshi and Sasuke headed in the opposite direction. "Man, this place is a maze," Naruto said to Sakura as they rounded a corner. "I don't know how anyone can-ah!"
As they turned, Naruto collided with another student. The male student was pale skinned, had long, loosely tied back, black hair and gray eyes. He looked about their age physically, but as they had learned, how old someone appeared, rarely was how old they actually were. There was a group of other students with him. The teen and his group all glared at Naruto, looking ready to beat the crap out of him.
"Hey! Watch where you're going jerk!" Naruto shouted, but the teen he bumped into didn't respond. "Hey! I'm talking to you! What? You got a hearing problem or something?"
"Do you have any idea who this is, peasant?" spat one of the teen's entourage. "This is Byakuya Kuchiki, grandson of Squad Six Captain Ginrei Kuchiki and future Head of the Kuchiki Family, one of the Five Noble Houses of the Soul Society. Nobles such as he do not have to apologize to commoners like you. You should be apologizing to him."
"Oh… Well forgive me, oh great Byakuya of the noble Kuchiki Family," Naruto said, his tone anything but respectful. "Clearly a woman of your status is destined to be a great and noble lady of her house."
Byakuya's face turned red with anger as a vein twitched on his forehead. "What did you just call me?" he demanded.
"You heard me, Lady Byakuya of the nobly inbred Kuchiki Family."
Sakura and the other students stared, wide-eyed in shock, at the two. Byakuya looked ready to kill Naruto right then and there. "Take that back peasant, before I make you take it back!"
"I'd like to see you make me-"
"Naruto! This is our first day here, so can you not piss off everyone here!" Saukura hissed, pulling the teen back. She turned to Byakuya. "I'm terribly sorry about him. Naruto has always been pigheaded, stubborn and very, very rude."
"He better learn his place before someone puts him in his place. Permanently," Byakuya replied, scowling at the pair. With that, he and the students with him left the pair, continuing on their path.
"Jackass," Naruto muttered.
Sakura sighed. "Naruto, why did you do that?"
"Cause he's one of those kinds of people that just get under my skin and drives me nuts. Like Sasuke when we were in the Academy. One of those arrogant types born into a powerful family and because of that thinks they better because of their linage."
"Hey guys!" Kenshi called out from down the hall, waving an arm in the air. "We found the room! This way!"
The two teens, forgetting about what just happened, took off after their friend. For better or worse, this was their world now and they would make the most of it.