Here it is people the second chapter of my new epic The Forsaken Fox. Now just to let you know this will be a time skip chapter to the week before Ichigo gets his powers, and will lead up to that night. It has been two months since Naruto came to Karakura and he is good friends with everyone in the group.
I really enjoyed all of your reviews and I hope you keep them coming, but I will have to remind you that Rise From the Eternal Ashes will be my first priority, but don't worry there are only like two or three more chapters left in that story. I have a feeling that this might be my greatest ever though.
Friendships and Trusts
Naruto couldn't help but smile when he thought about the two months he had spent in the human world. There hadn't been a single hollow sighting in the town since he arrived, but he didn't think this would last as Ichigo began to leak reiatsu.
Ichigo was one of his best friends now and Naruto couldn't help but admire his loyalty to his friends. Ichigo fiercely fought for anyone of his friends and often got in fist fights with Chad when bullies would pick on others. The two got along quite well despite Naruto getting on Ichigo's nerves with a few harmless pranks. Despite all of that Ichigo still usually had a scowl on his face.
Then there was Chad who struck Naruto as being a gentle giant. The guy was seriously one of the most intimidating guys in the world and was massive, but the guy literally had a heart of gold. When Naruto heard the story of how Ichigo and Chad became friends and Naruto's respect for Chad literally jumped.
Orihime was different from all of the rest as Naruto lived right beside her. The two quickly grew close and pretty soon Naruto saw Orihime as a little sister, and she saw him as a big brother. Naruto could also tell that she had a crush on Ichigo, but Naruto could tell that Ichigo would probably never feel the same way about her.
Then there was Keigo and Muzuiro, and what a pair they were. Keigo was obnoxious and loved to get on Ichigo's nerves even more than what Naruto did. Although Naruto did like the guy as the two of them often teamed up to annoy Ichigo…why a 6000 year old being as strong as Naruto liked to prank people is yet to be known. Muzuiro was much quieter than Keigo and also was quite sarcastic, and usually made Keigo mad.
Last was Naruto's first and probably best friend since he came to the human world was Tatsuki. After their spar, Tatsuki asked him if he could help her train after school at the dojo and Naruto agreed. She was quite surprised to learn that he had mastered about five different fighting styles, but preferred the one he created himself.
Over the past two months they had grown quite close even though Naruto didn't want to get close to her as he felt that she was likely to get hurt when war finally came to him. However, he couldn't stop the way he felt about her…he hadn't felt these types of feelings in over 6000 freaking years! If anything did happen between them he already made up his mind that she would be told everything there was about him.
The only bad thing about coming to the school would have to be the sheer receptiveness of going to classes every day of the weak. He would wake up, eat ramen, meet Tatsuki and Orihime, go to school, not pay attention but still do amazing, eat lunch and talk, more not paying attention, spar with Tatsuki, hang out with all of his friends, go Urahara's and train, and finally go to sleep.
Now he was dodging and blocking blows from Tatsuki and at the same time giving her helpful hints. "Come on Tatsuki remember to stay balanced at all times! Don't aim to hit me…aim to strike me down with absolute resolution!" Yelled Naruto as Tatsuki's speed and technique improved.
After awhile the spar ended with a thoroughly exhausted Tatsuki leaning on Naruto for support. "How the heck can you still dodge all of my attacks and not even look slightly winded? Have I even gotten a little better in the two months that we have known each other?" Asked Tatsuki as she looked pretty depressed.
"Don't talk like that Tatsuki! You have gotten much better in the past two months that we have known each other. I have been learning since I was able to walk and if I didn't learn quickly then it meant a lot of pain so don't act like you aren't a good fighter!" exclaimed Naruto.
"Yeah…but still I wish I could at least land a hit on you." She tried to reason.
"What you dislike me so much that you ruff me up a bit?" asked Naruto teasingly to which Tatsuki punched him on the shoulder playfully.
"No…but it would make me feel better about myself. So what are you doing later tonight?" asked Tatsuki.
"So far I have nothing planned…why?" asked Naruto.
"Well my parents wanted to get to know you since we've been training together for the past two months. So I wanted to know if you could come over later tonight for dinner?" asked Tatsuki.
"Wait! Is Tatsuki the strongest females in all of Japan asking insignificant Naruto Uzumaki out for a date?" asked Naruto with sarcasm before he was hit over the head. "I mean I would love to Tatsuki."
"Good, but just to worn you my father is a bit loopy if you know what I mean." She said.
"Can't be any worse than Ichigo's dad." Naruto responded.
"Haha well that is true, but my dad is pretty protective of me…so I would be careful if I were you." Said Tatsuki.
"Okay I will, what time should I meet you at your place?" asked Naruto.
"Just come by around six. I will see you then Naruto." She said as she walked out the doors of the dojo while giving Naruto a wave.
"Yep seeya later tonight Tatsuki!" yelled Naruto as he started to make his way home. On the way he was met with the sight of Ichigo yelling at three skater punks that had just knocked over a flower vase and behind him was a young girl, that was obviously a plus.
Naruto walked up to Ichigo when the punks ran away with their tails between their legs. "Hey Ichigo! That was a nice thing you did for that girl there, not many people treat spirits with respect." Said Naruto surprising Ichigo.
"Naruto! What they heck are you doing here…and did you just say that you can see her and other spirits?" yelled Ichigo.
"Well hello to you too. But to answer your question I am going home to get cleaned and dressed to meat Tatsuki tonight and yes I did say that I see the spirit of that young girl." Answered Naruto.
"Meeting Tatsuki later?" asked Ichigo clearly confused.
"Well her parents wanted to meet me since I've been training her lately."
"Oh…well I would be careful about her dad. Anyways how long have you been able to see ghosts?" asked Ichigo.
"For a really long time now. You should be careful though Ichigo…I learned a while back that there are monsters that go after people who can see ghosts and there are these people who wear black kimonos that kill the monsters." Said Naruto seriously.
"Are you serious?" asked Ichigo.
"A hundred percent serious, one tried to eat me a few years back and a guy wearing a black kimono saved me." Said Naruto.
"Wow…that is pretty weird." Said Ichigo.
"Tell me about it…well I have to go get ready tonight, seeya!" said Naruto as he started walking to his house again.
An hour later after talking to Naruto, about what he suspected Ichigo would soon encounter Naruto found himself outside Tatsuki's house. 'Man I hope her dad isn't as crazy as everyone else says…I don't think I could handle any more crazy adults. Why am I thinking like a teenager! I am about 6000 years old!' thought Naruto as he knocked on the door at the top of a small flight of stairs.
Thump, thump, thump! Naruto heard 'Is someone charging the door or something?' "Dad Stop!" came Tatsuki's voice. 'What is going on?' he thought in confusion. "Dynamic Entrance!" 'NO WAY!' thought Naruto as the door was suddenly smashed open by a kick coming from a massive man.
Naruto flipped back at the last second and landed in a fighting stance at the bottom of the stairs. "OH SO THIS ONE KNOWS HOW TO FIGHT!" yelled the man in a green karate gi. He was in all honesty a clone of Maito Gai, with the hair and eyebrows."IF YOU WANT TO EAT WITH MY FAMILY THEN YOU MUST BEAT ME IN A CHALLENGE!"
"Umm…okay by any chance are you related to the Gai clan?" asked Naruto curiously.
"THAT IS CORRECT BOY! I AM ROCK GAI!" yelled the man. "HOW DID YOU KNOW?"
"Well I can feel the youthfulness rolling off of you sir." Answered Naruto as Rock Gai started balling and yelling about the spirit of youth.
'6000 years and his decedents still yell about that and why isn't Tatsuki's last name Gai?' thought Naruto as he looked at the man on the ground then glanced at the door to see Tatsuki looking very confused.
"WELL SINCE YOU KNOW ABOUT MY CLAN THEN YOU ALSO MUST KNOW ABOUT OUR ETERNAL CHALLENGE!" he yelled as he suddenly stuck his fist out. Naruto did the same and Tatsuki looked alarmed thinking that the two were about to fight. Most were usually to creeped out to do anything, and by most she meant her other guy friends.
"Rock-Paper-Scissors…SHOOT!" they yelled and there stood Naruto with paper and Rock Gai with rock.
"NOO I HAVE BEEN DEFEATED…I MUST NOW RUN AROUND KARAKURA FIVE TIMES TO MAKE UP FOR MY LOSS!" he yelled before he was kicked through his own door by a furious yet confused Tatsuki.
"I told you not to do that again!" yelled Tatsuki "How did you know that he was a Gai and that their challenge is also that game?" asked Tatsuki to a snickering Naruto, who stopped when he saw the glare she was giving him.
"Well you see…I use to have a mentor that was a Gai. So why isn't your last name Gai?" he asked.
"He isn't actually my biological father. He was my mothers friend, and after my real dad died when I was two he helped my mom and they married soon after that. He has always acted like my real father so I treat him as one. Well now that he doesn't have any problems with you, we can go in and eat." She said as she walked through the door.
Overall Naruto had to admit the night was nice. Tatsuki's mom instantly fell in love with Naruto as he treated Tatsuki and them with respect as if they were nobles. Being 6000 years old does tend to teach someone a lot of things.
When he was leaving Tatsuki surprised him greatly with another kiss on the cheek which once again left him speechless. She hadn't done anything similar to the time he brought her home from their first spar. After he regained his thoughts he left for his home, but felt something was off as if something big was about to happen soon.
"Ehh whatever."
The next day was a Saturday, which meant he spent it either with his friends or training at Urahara's. Jinta got annoyed at Naruto for mooching as they called it so he decided to start writing some books on his free time about his life as a shinobi.
It was during one of his hours working in the shop that he spied a small black haired Shinigami walk in and start talking to Urahara about some things. He made sure to stay out of sight as he didn't want Soul Society to know about him yet.
He learned that despite how well he did control his Reiatsu some still leaked out and Soul Society could just detect a very weak hollow in Karakura constantly so she was sent to investigate. 'They think that I am just some weak low level hollow! I'm not even a hollow anymore, I can't till they find out what I really am!' thought Naruto.
"I would be careful about this hollow that you are tracking. It may seem weak, but I haven't been able to track it and it seems that most hollows are afraid of it. Not to mention it hasn't gone after a single soul in the past two months." Said Urahara.
"It is a hollow, I shouldn't have any problems taking it out. 'We'll see about that Shinigami.' Well I better get going a…" she stopped when she felt her phone ring signaling that a hollow had just appeared. "It is a different hollow, but I better stop it. I will see you later for a gigai." She said as she ran out of the building.
"Looks like the hollows are getting bolder. There must be a fairly powerful hollow sending them if they have the balls to come here." Said Naruto as he walked up.
"True it must be sensing the large amounts of spiritual energy coming from Ichigo. Not to mention his friends, despite your experience you simply have to much reiatsu to control perfectly. Ichigo, the tall one, the orange haired girl, and that girl Tatsuki was it? Well they are all developing spiritual powers slowly, but surly. I bet they can all see spirits now." Said Urahara.
"Yeah I have noticed them staring strangely at spirits trying to figure out what they are. Looks like that shinigami just killed the hollow and in front of dear Ichigo. That will raise a few questions tomorrow at lunch. Well I worked enough for today, I'm going to go home and listen to some music. I just love the music the world has come up with…everything but rap and pop." Said Naruto as he walked out the door and pulled out an ipod and started to listen to music. (In my stories all languages are english, no offence but I wish that the entire world had an universal language. It doesn't even have to be english!)
Ichigo was seriously freaked out today he talked to his newest friend Naruto about seeing spirits…something he thought that only his family and him could do. Then Naruto told him about monsters and people wearing black kimonos that only people who could see spirits could see. Then he ran into one of those monsters and sure enough a petite girl looking around his age killed the monster with out any effort.
"Damn Naruto he just couldn't have been joking for once!" yelled Ichigo. "Whatever it's not like I will ever see something like that again." He sighed out, but he talked to soon as he felt a breeze hit him in his room and he turned to see the same person in a black Kimono standing on his window.
"What the hell are you doing here!" he yelled as he jumped up off his bed, but the girl either didn't hear him or was ignoring him.
"Strange…I can't seem to sense any hollow presence. I was sure that it was close b…" she started, but was interrupted as she was kicked to the ground by an angry Ichigo.
"Who the hell do you think you are barging into my room!" yelled Ichigo as the black haired Shinigami looked at him in surprise.
"How did you kick me and how can you see me? It shouldn't be possible for a human to see me." She muttered.
"Hello are you even listening to me?" asked Ichigo.
"Of course I am listening to you, but it shouldn't be possible for you to be able to see me. Just how can you see me?" asked the girl.
"How should I know, and maybe you could explain why you are in my room?" asked Ichigo. Thus started a very lengthy and artful explanation by Rukia about hollows and Shinigami.
"Okay Shinigami let's say that I believe you, but why are you in my house?" asked Ichigo.
"I sensed a hollow close to your house and was pursuing it, but when I got here I lost it." She said, but suddenly the door opened up and Yuzu was there barely standing.
"I-ich-Ichigo Kar-Karins in t-tr-trouble." She said weakly and collapsed right on the floor.
"Damnit Karin!" yelled Ichigo as he made for the door, but was suddenly restrained by an invisible force.
"Stay here you stand no chance against a hollow. I will go save your sister." Said the Shinigami as she ran out the door and down the stairs. But Ichigo got to his feet and followed her down the stairs.
"Karin!" yelled Ichigo as he landed by the Shinigami. Said Shinigami could see Ichigo's body tensing up and it was clear he was trying to break from the spell.
"Stop trying to get out of that spell! It could damage your soul if you try to break out!" shouted the Shinigami, but Ichigo didn't listen. Suddenly she started to feel reiatsu start to leak from the human. A small blue wispy cloud formed around him and suddenly he shattered the yellow colored spell to her amazement.
This amazement soon turned to horror as the human charged the hollow and was smacked to the side hard. Forgetting about the girl in its arms the large hollow charged Ichigo with its mouth wide open.
Just before the hollow reached him Ichigo closed his eyes, but soon found the shinigami standing in front of him with some of her blood splattered on him. "Why?" asked Ichigo to the struggling Shinigami.
"It is the duty of every Shinigami to protect the souls of others." She said as she flung the hollow back with the last of her energy.
"I don't have the energy to beat it now." She said as she leaned against the wall.
"What are we going to do then?" asked Ichigo quickly as the hollow stood up.
"Take my sword…I am going to give you some of my power." She said as Ichigo grabbed her sword.
"What do I do with it?" he asked confused.
"You have to stab yourself in the heart to gain some of my power." She said.
"WHAT!" yelled Ichigo as the hollow began to charge.
"Hurry you don't have much time!" she shouted.
"Fine then Shinigami." He said as he positioned the sword at his heart.
"My name isn't Shinigami…it's Rukia Kuchiki." She said.
"Ichigo…Ichigo Kurosaki." Said Ichigo as he stabbed himself just before the hollow reached him. An explosion of white energy came from where Ichigo used to stand. Suddenly the hollow howled in pain as it's arm flew off and blood flew everywhere.
Ichigo was behind the hollow wearing a black kimono with a massive sword held in a two-handed grip. 'I didn't mean to give him that much power!' thought Rukia as she watched Ichigo in awe. Meanwhile some background music was playing, making the scene seem pretty epic.
"Where is that music coming from?" asked Ichigo in wonder, but then his eyes popped out of his head as he saw a teen walk across the street without even looking. He was carrying a massive jukebox, and had blonde spiky hair.
"I love this epic music!" yelled Naruto in triumph as he turned the corner and disappeared from view. Meanwhile everyone else including the hollow had huge sweat drops forming on their faces. Forgetting that issue Ichigo turned around and cut straight through the hollows mask ending the fight.
"So you gave this boy your powers so that he could save his family Ms. Kuchiki?" asked Urahara as he waved his fan in his face.
"I had to do something…I'm going to need a gigai so that I can regain my powers, before Soul Society finds out." Said Rukia.
"Don't worry I have your gigai ready now." Said Urahara as he walked back and grabbed Rukia's gigai. Rukia quickly left for what would become her new home, in the Kurosaki house.
"So it begins." Muttered Urahara as he went back to bed for the night.
The next morning Ichigo was extremely confused, none of his family remembered the even that happened last night and they believed that a truck drove through their home. He couldn't even remember anything after he killed the hollow.
So he shrugged it off and went to school hoping that last nights event was a one time thing. He quickly ran into Naruto, who was once again walking to school with Tatsuki and Orihime. "Hey Ichigo sorry about what happened at your house last night. If I would've known then I would've checked up on you guys." Said Naruto.
"What happened at Ichigo's house last night?" asked Tatsuki.
"Newspaper said that a truck drove through the wall and left. Someone could've gotten hurt pretty badly." Said Naruto.
"Or maybe it was some type of battle between a monster and an ancient satelite?" exclaimed Orihime, as Ichigo looked at her in surprise and Naruto looked at her questioningly.
'There she goes again predicting the same thing that actually happened.' Thought Naruto.
'Did she just guess that or does she know?' thought Ichigo, but he quickly dismissed it and chalked it up as nothing more than a guess.
They all proceeded into home room and took their seats, with Naruto being behind Ichigo and between Tatsuki on his left and Orihime on his right. "Class today we are having a new student join us today…I would like to introduce you to Rukia Kuchiki."
As the new girl walked in Naruto smirked, Ichigo's mouth dropped, and Keigo got hearts in his eyes. "Hi…my name is Rukia and I can't wait to get to know you." She said in a pleasant voice that Naruto and Ichigo could tell was fake.
"I have to go to the office for a few minutes don't destroy the room while I'm gone. Rukia you can go over and sit by Ichigo, he is the one with orange hair and a scowl permanently on his face." She said as she left.
She slowly walked over to Icigo, while he looked at her in horror. "Hello you must be Ichigo. It sure is a pleasure to meet you." She said as she shook his hands. Unnoticed by everyone, but Naruto she gave him a note which caused Ichigo to pale slightly.
Class was quite normal besides Ichigo looking awkwardly at Rukia, while Naruto snickered behind him. Soon it was time for lunch and Naruto disappeared before anyone knew what happened.
Rukia dragged Ichigo to the school roof to explain what she was doing here in the first place. When they got there Ichigo proceeded to ask Rukia what she was doing and Rukia was about to answer before they were interrupted.
"So that is why you kept looking at her Ichigo." Came a voice from the other side of the roof. They looked over and saw Naruto leaning against one of the walls with a sly smile.
"What are you doing up here Naruto?" shouted Ichigo.
"I could ask you the same thing…gonna make out with they new student Ichigo?" asked Naruto with a fox like smile. This comment caused both Rukia and Ichigo to blush.
"Shut up Naurto…Rukia just wanted to talk to me about a few things!" shouted Ichigo as tried to will the blush away.
"Sure that's what she wanted, well I'll let the two of you get back to whatever you were going to do. I'll go eat lunch with Tatsuki, and Ichigo don't forget to be safe." Said Naruto as he walked through the door on the roof.
"Who is that and why does he seem so…strange?" asked Rukia.
"That's Naruto…he moved here two months ago. He is a nice guy, but likes to prank a lot of people, and he is mostly mystery…he just pops up at random times." Said Ichigo.
So with that the next few weeks went by in a blur. Ichigo's powers grew quickly with Rukia's guidance, while Naruto watched from the sidelines. He would only help if the other was in mortal danger. The only time he broke his own rule of helping from the sidelines was when Orihime's real brother became a hollow and tried to kill Orihime and Tatsuki.
Man he was pissed when the thing was about to swallow Tatsuki. He jumped from the doorway in his human form and sent it flying out the wall, right in front of Ichigo, who had just arrived. Rukia felt the presence of a second hollow that night, but never found it.
After that night Naruto became much more protective of his friends, and his friendship with Tatsuki grew even more as he spent most of his free time with her, and most of their friends joked about them being lovers. This usually resulted in a few broken noses and some unfortunate pranks being preformed.
Deny it all he wanted Naruto knew that he was attracted to Tatsuki, and this scared him as he had never felt feelings like this in over 6000 years. If he wanted to continue being friends with her then he would have to tell her everything about himself. She was even starting to be able to sense reiatsu, and would often comment on feeling warm energy surrounding her when she was in Naruto's presence.
It wouldn't take to much for her to develop spiritual powers, a life and death situation would definitely do that to her. Naruto even promised himself that if that ever happened he would explain everything to her and train her to defend herself in the future. Especially since he knew his reiatsu spiked when it was around her most of the time, Soul Society would send some more people to investigate. Probably when they came to retrieve Rukia.
Naruto quickly became Rukia's friends despite his jabs at Ichigo and her's relationship. He could tell that they were perfect for each other, no one else could motivate Ichigo like she did and no one was stubborn enough to provoke Rukia like Ichigo was.
Whenever commented on how they would make a cute couple they immediately blushed and tried to deny it. Too bad they were both just too stubborn for their own good, otherwise he was sure that the two would be the perfect couple.
It had been a month and a half since Rukia arrived in Karakura and Ichigo became a Shinigami, when Naruto was approached by Tatsuki with a request right after school. "Naruto could I ask you something?" asked Tatsuki, who looked extremely nervous.
"Sure Tatsuki, what do you want to know?" he asked with concern as he wasn't used to her being Nervous.
"Well since we finished our final this year and the last week of school isn't important. I wanted to know if you would come with my family and I to the National Women's Mixed Martial Arts Tournament as my coach?" she asked hopefully.
Naruto was floored…he hadn't expected something like that to be asked, but it did sound fun. "Sure, as long as your parents don't have any problems with me coming along. When will we be leaving then?" Responded Naruto with a smile.
"Great, we will be leaving in two days for the tournament, it is in Northern Japan." She said.
"Well It's a good thing that I've earned some money lately so we can go sightseeing when you don't have to fight." Said Naruto, which confused Tatsuki.
"How did you earn that money Naruto?" asked Tatsuki.
"Oh well you see the guy who bought my apartment gave me a job at his shop. I only work there a little, but the pay is good. Well I have to go actually Tatsuki, thanks for inviting me." Said Naruto as he walked away after she gave him a hug in thanks.
The day they left finally came and Naruto couldn't help but mostly hate the ride up. The entire ride Rock Gai was yelling about youth and how Naruto was such a nice guy by coming up with them. Tatsuki's mom was practically an older version of Tatsuki, but wasn't as tomboyish. She was extremely nice and warmed up to Naruto immediately. Most of the drive was passed by the two discussing Tatsuki's techniques and some minor things like Ichigo and Rukia's relationship, which got laughs out of both.
They were about two hours away from the place when all, but Gai and Naruto were sleeping. It was during this time that Naruto believed would be good to write a few notes for his story about his life before he died. He was almost done with the first story, which led up to his failed retrieval of his best friend.
Tatsuki woke up to see Naruto writing some things on an empty piece of parchment and wondered what it was for. "Naruto…what are you doing?" she asked as Naruto looked at her in surprise.
"Oh…well when I moved here I decided to try and write a fantasy story and well I'm almost done with it. I only have one chapter left before I am done." Replied Naruto
"You're writing a fantasy novel?" asked Tatsuki.
"Yeah I am, if you want you can read the first three chapters. I have them with me at the moment." He said as he pulled out a bunch of papers from one of his bags.
"Sure…I hope you're as good at writing as you are at fighting." She said jokingly.
"If I'm only half as good at writing as I am at fighting then that will be a best seller." He joked back, as Tatsuki began to read the first chapter as Naruto continued to write. An hour later Tatsuki was thoroughly impressed by the book.
"How did you come up with the character and the idea for the book?" she asked in awe as Naruto looked sheepish.
"Well remember when Orihime asked me about my birthmarks, well the boy getting sealed with a demon really struck me as a good idea. Then the rest came from people I've met and legends that were told to me." He said.
"I like how you added my dad as a character in the book." She whispered.
"Well the Gai's are an extremely old family and I thought that it would be appropriate to put someone like him in it." Naruto said quickly, hoping she didn't realize that he wrote the chapter before he met her dad.
"So when will you publish it Mr. Author?" she asked teasingly.
"Well the guy who bought my apartment said he would try to publish the book. So sometime over the summer it will be published." He responded.
They soon arrived at the busy town and found their rooms at one of the hotels. Naruto got his own while Tatsuki and her family got one to themselves. That night was spent relaxing as the next morning would be the start of the three day tournament.
The first round of the tournament for Tatsuki was just too easy for her. Wearing a white and azure gi with the kanji for fox on her back, to show that she was trained by Naruto. She knocked her opponent out in just two weak punches.
Coming off the mat she was hugged by Naruto, while he whispered into her ear. "Told you that your punches hurt."
The next round proceeded in the same fashion as she quickly knocked the other girl out using the style she invented while practicing with Naruto. It utilized fast powerful strikes and flexibility to decimate your opponent's defenses.
That night was again a night of relaxation as the next day was the matches that led up to the finals. She destroyed her first opponent again, while becoming frustrated that no one could give her a good fight. In the Semis her opponent was much tougher, but no where near Naruto's level.
They both were in a dance of fists and kicks trying to break through the other's guard. Each blow was powerful and would leave most on the ground with broken bones. Tatsuki pivoted right and sent a kick towards her opponents head, but it was caught at the last second. Quickly spinning in air she brought her other foot around and nailed the other girl in the ribs, breaking a few in the process.
Seeing she had the advantage she jumped up and started pushing the other girl back to the edge of the mat. With a ferocious yell she launched a haymaker at the other girl and knocked her right out of the ring.
Tatsuki jumped off the ring and immediately hugged Naruto in giant hug while screaming that she was in the finals. Naruto hugged her back and felt great considering that his pupil and best friend…maybe even more than that was in the finals of the National Tournament. In that moment he decided that no matter what happened tomorrow he would tell her all of his secrets.
The finals in the tournament came quickly and soon Tatsuki and Naruto found themselves in a massive arena with a ring in the center for the fight. On the other side was a massive girl that had tan skin and looked quite mannish, she had a tribal tattoo on her faces. (Scary Movie 4, when they have the boxing scene. Least favorite Scary Movie, but it fits the bill.)
"Is she on beaver tranqs or something?" asked Naruto in bewilderment as he eyed the girl causing Tatsuki to snort in laughter.
"Probably not Naruto, but got any tips on how to fight her?" she asked hopefully.
"Never give up and remember everything I've taught you and there is no way she will be able to beat you. Remember though win or loss I'm proud of you Tatsuki." He said which caused her to smile and blush at him.
"Thanks Naruto." She said shyly.
"Don't thank me yet, go in there and kick her in the balls." He said causing her to giggle and get in the ring with the other girl.
Soon the fight started and both girls were pounding on each other. Tatsuki was dodging all of her opponent's attacks, and countering with her own when she was open. Seeing the size of her opponent she knew that she had slow, but powerful attacks that would be able to devastate her small frame.
During the fight Naruto sensed hundreds of hollows appear in Karakura. Ichigo and another presence he recognized as Uryuu were killing hollows left and right. 'I knew that kid had spiritual energy.'
Then he felt the presence of the Menos Grande Gillian class, which caused him to frown. Ichigo would have trouble fighting one of those at his current level, but he would have to trust him enough.
The problem was that Tatsuki saw Naruto frown in the corner of her eye, and misread it as something she was doing wrong. With that all of her fighting will was sucked out of her, resulting in her getting hit hard a couple of times and getting sent to the edge of the ring.
Naruto saw her lose the will to fight and became worried about the girl he cared deeply for. This wasn't the Tatsuki he knew…what happened to her will. "Come on Tatsuki don't give up! I believe in you and I know you can be her!" he yelled.
Hearing Naruto's words spurned her into action, just before the other girl kicked her out of the ring. Rolling to the side she tripped the other and planted both of her arms on the ground and launched her feet up catching the girl in mule kick to her jaw. 'Thank you Naruto, I knew you believed in me.' She thought as she charged the recovering girl.
Tatsuki triumphed in the end and launched herself at Naruto and hugged him for all it was worth as he laughed happily. Breaking apart for one second Tatsuki did the most bold thing he could ever think of, and kissed him right on the lips.
Naruto stood there shocked for a second, but soon that shock was replaced by pleasure as he kissed her back. 'Yes, tonight I will tell her everything about myself. If she still accepts me then I will tell her my feelings.' He thought as she pulled away.
"We have to talk tonight Tatsuki…I have to tell you some things that you need to know about me." Said Naruto seriously.
"Okay…I hope it isn't too bad." She responded with a smile.
"It all depends on your opinion Tatsuki." He said as he finally noticed everyone in the stadium staring at him. "Maybe we should go find somewhere more quiet?" he asked as Tatsuki nodded as she realized their predicament.
A few hours later as it started to turn dark over the village they were at Naruto and Tatsuki took a walk through one of the towns old fields. Boulders and ruins covered the fields giving off a romantic backdrop as the setting sun hit the field.
"So Naruto what is it that you have to tell me?" she asked in annoyance as Naruto would simply not do anything until he told her.
"Tatsuki what I'm about to tell you cannot ever leave this area. It will affect the way you look at me for the rest of your life. Whether it is a good thing or a bad thing completely rests upon you." Said Naruto seriously, as Tatsuki looked at him confused.
"What is it Naruto?" she asked kindly.
"Do you know that book I'm writing?" he asked which got him a confused nod from Tatsuki. "That book isn't a fictional story…it is based off the life of me, Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze ninja of the village hidden in the leaves." He said as Tatsuki looked at him in disbelief.
"What! How can that even be possible?" she asked in surprise.
"It's possible because I have been dead for over 6000 years now." He said which caused Tatsuki to gasp. "6000 years ago my village and everyone in it was destroyed including me. When I died I didn't go to heaven, but to a place known as Heuco Mundo and there I became the first ever Vasto Lorde." He said.
For the next hour Naruto told her everything he knew about Hollows, Shinigami, Vizords, and Arrancars. During that time he felt three powerful beings enter the world of the living and with them was a fourth weaker power. Two of the powerful reiatsu's started to rapidly approach there position as he finished his story.
"So now that you know what I am, what I have done. What do you truly think about me Tatsuki?" asked Naruto in the most serious voice he could muster.
Tasuki was confused about a number of things. She wasn't confused on what Naruto had just told her as he explained everything perfectly, but she was confused about the part that Naruto was half hollow and half Shinigami and that he was about 6000 years old. Finally it clicked in her head and she turned in his direction and met his azure colored eyes.
"I don't care what you are Naruto…you are you and that is what I love." She said admitting that she loved him in the process.
Naruto smiled at her warmly and replied. "And I love you too…Tatsuki." They both leaned in a met in a passionate kiss that sent electricity throughout both of their bodies. It was during this embrace that the two Captain Class Shinigami landed in the field and looked around as if looking for something.
"Who are they?" Tatsuki asked as she broke the kiss.
"We have a problem Tatsuki…they are Shinigami and are most likely here to kill me. Don't look at them…after we start fighting I want you to run and hide. They are very powerful, but I should be able to defeat them…can't kill them since I will need their help." He said. Tatsuki looked like she was about to protest before she nodded and looked away as Naruto stood up and looked at the strange men.
One was a massive man standing around six foot nine and the other was much shorter. The taller man had an eye patch and bells hanging from the tips of his black spiky hair. The shorter one looked extremely serious and had white colored hair.
"So what do you fine gentlemen want this evening?" Naruto asked kindly surprising the two Shinigami.
"How can you see us?" asked the shorter one.
"Well I can see you because I believe that you are here to kill me Shinigami." Said Naruto as he took out a pill and swallowed it, ejecting his soul from his body. His body picked itself up ran to cover quickly.
Naruto still had his blonde hair, but was now wearing a white hakama with azure trimming and at his side was a katana. He looked up and stared at the Shinigami causing them to gasp in surprise, for his once azure eyes were gone and replaced with the eyes of a hollow.
"You're the hollow we were sent to kill? What are you…you are not like any hollow we have ever seen before?" asked the shorter Shinigami.
"Yes I am… my name is Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze and I am the first Vasto Lorde and the Forsaken God of Heuco Mundo! You do not stand a chance against me Shinigami!" yelled Naruto as he pulled his sword from his sheath.
There you have it the second chapter of The Forsaken Fox. Sorry if you didn't like all of the fluff and lack of combat, but at least next chapter will have Naruto's first true fight with Shinigami and it will also have a small variant of Ichigo's fight with Byakuya. Also Tatsuki will manifest her powers next chapter. Don't forget to review and give me your input and ideas. Also check out Rise From the Eternal Ashes as that story is finally nearing it's end.
