Hey, LastStand here! How's it going? Don't worry, I won't keep you from the story long, I just wanted to clarify a few things before we start. First and foremost this is an AU story; therefor it will not follow the canon story-line perfectly. I will use the canon in some places just because I know it works.

Second and lastly, as it is an AU, some characters may be OOC. This is because of the divergence point in the story which takes place before the actual story. Well, with that, enjoy the story.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Bleach. As always.

The cool night air moved soothingly across the face of a beautiful young woman as she stared at the raising moon. The wind picked up and made the hem of her cloak flutter. Five years since she had last laid eyes on the Village of the Hidden Leaf, and the woman hoped that things weren't as bad as the rumors suggested. With a low sigh, she started to walk toward the massive gates that could be seen for miles around.

XxXxX

A five year old Naruto ran through the streets of Konoha as if his life depended on it. However, in this case, it did. Today was the anniversary of the Kyuubi attack on the Leaf, and also little Naruto's birthday. As always, Naruto would celebrate his birthday with the Hokage and have a good time. But he would always be chased once a few of the more unstable villagers had a few drinks. Thus, his current situation.

"Leave me alone!" Naruto cried over his shoulder. He never understood why they seemed to hate him or why they seemed to always what to kill him.

"Did yosh leave ush alone when you deshtroyed the Village!" one man in the mob shouted. Considering how he was slurring his words, it was amazing that the mob could run as straight as they were.

Naruto's eyes held tears in them as he yelled back, "I didn't destroy anything!"

"Don't lie, you demonic bastard! We'll kill ya for real this time!" At that, a collective cry went through the crowd and they seem to gain renewed strength.

Naruto tried to run faster, but he caught his foot on a rock and tripped. His eyes were over-flowing with tears now. He barely heard a soft gasp of "Naruto!" before someone stepped between him and the mob.

"What the hell are you assholes doing?" a soft but firm female voice shouted at the crowd.

"It's none of your business, ma'am." One of the ninja in the mob shouted back, "Just finishing what the Forth stared."

"What you are doing is attacking an innocent!"

"Please, miss, he's hardly innocent. He's a damn demon after all." One of the civilians spoke this time.

The woman let out a very strong killing intent. More than half the mob, the civilian part, fainted in less than two seconds. The rest, the ninja part, could barely stand. With a commanding tone and a voice literally dripping with anger, the woman spoke out. "Listen and listen well you fuckers. If you so much as go near my little cousin with that much killing intent again, I will personally ensure a very painful death for you."

One of the shinobi freaked out and ran at her, yelling, "I won't be threatened by the likes of you!"

He threw a punch and, almost immediately, found himself hit the ground back first. The woman barely moved. The rest of the shinobi looked as if they had seen a ghost. The woman smiled and said, "Boo."

All the ninja started screaming like little girls and ran off in the opposite direction. The woman spat after them, before turning and looking at Naruto. Her hair was a deep plum red and her eyes were violet-blue. Her hair was kept in a high pony-tail with a few strands framing her face. Her clothes were semi-bulky and midnight violet in color. She was wrapped in a cloak of the same color. A moderate sized sword hung from her waist.

Naruto unconsciously crawled backwards as she walked toward him. Is she going to attack me to? He wondered scaredly. When he couldn't back up anymore, she knelt down and wrapped him in a tight hug. Naruto's eyes widened as his quaking stopped. A second later she pulled away.

"Thank the gods," said she, "thank the gods that you're alive. I had thought you died that accursed night."

Naruto quietly spoke. "N-not to sound rude, miss…um, but, who are you?"

"Who am I? Hasn't Sarutobi told you anything?" Naruto shook his head.

A fire ignited in her eyes, the same fire that was in there when she had protected Naruto from the mob. However she spoke with a kind tone. "My name is Uzumaki Yuki. I'm your cousin. Your mom was my aunt."

"You knew my mom? What was she like? What was her name?" Naruto whisper-yelled.

Yuki's eyes widened and the flame in them grew bigger.

"Sarutobi Hiruzen, you are a dead man." She growled, "Come Naru, we're paying the Hokage a visit."

With that she turned and started to walk off. Naruto quickly fell in line.

XxXxX

Sarutobi Hiruzen was not an easily scared man. Even when facing the dangers of three Great Shinobi Wars, he had always kept his cool. But, for some reason, when he randomly felt a chill go down his spine, he knew he was going to have a very bad afternoon.

In five minutes, Hiruzen heard voices on the other side of the door to his office. He closed his eyes and listened.

Naru, please stay outside with the nice ANBU. Okay?

O-okay.

When I walk in set up a silence jutsu, ANBU-san.

Hai.

Sarutobi open his eyes to see someone he did not expect walk through his door. Though she was taller and her face a little less round, to confuse Uzumaki Yuki with someone else was extremely hard. His eyes met hers and the flame there told him his premonition was correct. He decided to start things off.

"Hello, it's really been a long time, hasn't it, Yuki-chan."

"Skip the pleasantries, old man. I've got a few things to say and you're going to hear them, dattebane."

Sarutobi sighed, "Of course."

"First off, WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU THINKING! YOU'RE JUST SITTING HERE, WHEN YOU SHOULD BE PROTECTING NARUTO LIKE YOU PROMISED YOU WOULD!"

Sarutobi flinched a bit at both the tone and sting of her words.

"SECONDLY, DO YOU KNOW WHAT NARUTO SAID TO ME WHEN I TOLD HIM THAT I WAS HIS MOTHER'S NIECE? NOT 'You're my cousin? Where were you when I needed you?' WHAT HE TOLD ME WAS THAT NOT ONLY DID HE NOT KNOW ME BUT HE HAD NO CLUE ABOUT HIS OWN MOTHER! HIS FATHER I CAN UNDERSTAND! AFTER ALL, MINATO-SENSEI HAD HIS SHARE OF ENIMIES, BUT KUSHI-NEE HAD NONE." She stopped there to take a breather, her chest moving rapidly up and down. As she glared at the Hokage, who had stuck his face in his hands, she noticed how his shoulders were shaking. Yuki blinked rapidly as she realized that she had made the 'Shinobi Professor' himself cry. She lowered her voice, but didn't stop there.

"Minato-sensei said that he was to be honored as a hero. But, all I see are a bunch of brainless fools that cannot escape the past. And people wonder why ninja like Tsunade and I left the village. Your precious Will of Fire has burned low. When I saved Naruto from the mob earlier, I saw three ANBU watching as he was chased and pummeled. They just watched, they didn't even make a move to help."

Sarutobi let out a shaky sigh. "I never knew…"

Yuki's eyes softened. "Why is he not with any of the clans? I know that Tsume, Fugaku, and Hiashi would have tried to adopt him."

Sarutobi once again sighed. "They've tried. But the council has repeatedly stopped them."

"Why haven't you used your authoritative powers to push past the council?"

"Huh?" Sarutobi eyes were wide and confused.

Yuki's eyes widened. "You have got to be kidding me. Konoha charter, page 34, law 68, section 3? The Hokage has the right and ability to veto a veto of the council, and implement what has been vetoed? And what about section 4? In the case of a tie the Hokage can and will act as a tiebreaker."

Sarutobi's jaw was on the floor. He had read the charter a thousand times. How could he have forgotten about those two small, but important laws?

"Not that it matters," said Yuki, "because I'm staying in the Village. I'll adopt Naruto."

Sarutobi sighed, "If only it could be that easy. With the clans, they used the excuse that having him in their ranks would overbalance the clans and show favoritism. While you're not part of the clans, you're not a member of the village; however, you can adopt him. However, trust me on this; they will say that they cannot let him be beholden to someone not of this village."

Yuki scowled. An ultimatum between two equally unappealing choices. Leave Naruto to the village. Or join the village she had made no lengths in hiding the fact that she detested it. However, she chose the lesser of the evils. Her eyes flashed with determination. "Sarutobi, I wish to become a ninja of this village. My skill set would be beneficial. My power rank is at least mid-level jonin, while my actual rank is comparable to the jonin rank."

Sarutobi smiled. "Very well, Uzumaki Yuki. I hereby instate you as a jonin rank shinobi. Welcome to Konoha."

And for the first time in a while, Yuki smiled a true smile.

XxXxX

Naruto didn't know what was going on. One minute he was sitting like his supposed aunt had told him and the next he was being picked up by the supposed aunt and being crushed by a hug. Add to that, she was crying. However, there was a smile on her face. Not one like he used to hide his pain, but a true, deep, happy smile.

"Oh, lil' Naru! I can't fix the fact that I wasn't here for you before. But, from now on I'll be here for you until you can fight and defend yourself." Naruto just looked confused.

"Huh?"

Yuki looked at him. "Oh! Sorry. What I meant was that I'm going to adopt you. You're going to live with me."

Sarutobi coughed. Both Naruto and Yuki looked at him. He smiled. "While I am happy for you, Naruto, there's still the council to convince. Yuki? What will you do?"

Yuki smiled. "Leave that to me."

Ahhhh, the afterword. Such a fun thing. A place where one can clear the misunderstandings of the people. Wellz, anyway, Yuki is an OC. This will have some relation to Bleach, but not until later. It is not a true crossover. And as a last note, there will be, at least, 1-2 chapters before we get to the part where the actual anime starts. LastStand, out!