Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Bleach or anything that is not originally from me.

Chapter 2: On to Soul Society

Previously on The Best of Both Worlds

"Yes, Ichigo, my time of laying low is over. It is time for the Hiraishin (Flying Thunder God) to rise up in ranks once more."

Ichigo grinned as well.

Namikaze-Uzumaki Naruto has shown himself.

Next day

Ichigo stood in front of Urahara while in the middle of some random wasteland. "So, Geta-boshi, how are we going to get my powers back?"

Urahara smiled behind his fan before it snapped shut. "Before that, I have a question, Kurosaki-san."

"Sure, shoot."

"It was about that outburst two nights ago." He watched Ichigo for any reaction, none whatsoever. "Now, I know that outbursts are common around these parts to those sensitive to it. However, this kind of outburst seemed demonic, completely outside of Hollow's, Shinigami's, and a human's reach."

Ichigo blinked. "How is it completely outside of their reach?" He had been told beforehand by Naruto that Urahara might ask something like this, so he decided to feign lack of knowledge on the matter.

Urahara replied, "Shinigamis and Hollows are natural enemies, just as humans and inhumane creatures are enemies. For a demon, a god is his enemy."

Ichigo nodded. "So, what's your question?"

"Do you have any connection to this?"

"What the hell are you talking about, man? I would remember if I had any connection to a demonic apocalypse, wouldn't I? Besides, if I did have any connection to any demonic guy, then, why in the nine circle of hell am I using Shinigami powers?"

Urahara nodded his head. "It sounds logical. Anyway, we're moving on to getting your powers back."

Skipping the canon hollowfication and initial fight between Ichigo and Urahara

Ichigo entered the Hisui Uzu Ryu after making sure that he wasn't followed.

Upon entrance, he was prepared for Naruko's tackling.

Ichigo sighed. "Naruko, will you ever stop that?"

Naruko shook her head. "Nope, I won't." She let go and pointed to the back door. "Naruto-kun is expecting you."

Ichigo nodded before entering the back room to find Naruto in a jinzen position.

Ichigo sat a few feet in front of him and sat in the same position as him.

Naruto slowly opened his eyes and said, "Good, you're here, Ichigo. Now, remind me again, what forms did you master?"

Ichigo sighed. "I mastered the Ataru form and the Juyo form. Seriously, you should remember what form your apprentice mastered."

Naruto scratched the back of his head. "Could I help it? I had lots of things on my mind." He lowered his hand as he said, "Ataru is quite taxing when used for a long duration of time since the form uses acrobatics and all that. Moreover, it could prove to be at a disadvantage when you're within a closed area. Juyo, on the other hand, uses your emotions to back the strikes. When you're angry, your strikes are aggressive. When you're distressed, your strikes are quick. Because of that, it makes you more prone to emotional breaking. However, I cannot think of any better forms for you."

"Shii-Cho uses the basic fighting style which, in the hands of a master, could be described as like watching water flow over the falls. If I'm correct, this is fourth favorite and fourth proficient style?" Ichigo nodded.

"Makashi uses finesse as its main fighting style. However, it could make you at a disadvantage against long-range or multiple attackers. If practiced long enough, one could hold himself against long-range attacks or multiple enemies."

"Soresu focuses on the defensive, blocking and defending against long-range and short-range attacks, while looking for an opening in the opponent's stance. In the hands of a master, one could enter through a multitude of enemies and emerge unscathed. However, if the fight stretches too long, the opponent could change tactic and be at a slight advantage. Moreover, you tend to lean more on the offensive." Ichigo shrugged.

"Shien makes it easier to block against attacks, like Soresu, but it has more offensive capabilities. More to the point, it uses the user's capability to counterattack after his opponent has struck. Its counterpart, Djem So, focuses on empowering strikes with physical power and, if available, other energies available to the user. This is your third favorite style and your third proficient style. On the matter itself, have you mastered it yet?"

Ichigo shook his head. "I haven't mastered it yet. I focused on Ataru and Juyo."

Naruto nodded before continuing, "And finally, the Niman form is the most practical of all forms. It focuses on balance. It is the form that is, how would you say, 'jack-of-all-trades but master of none.' It doesn't use overpowered strikes nor use overstressed defenses."

Ichigo chuckled. "Yeah, I read it all, Naruto. I still have your scroll stuffed in my personal locker. I still can't believe you made your own saber forms."

"When my friends back home hear about it, they won't, too. Moving on," he raised his hand and prodded Ichigo's forehead with his index and middle finger, "it's time to start your training."

Ichigo spent his morning time with Urahara while spending his afternoon time with Naruto.

After training with Naruto, he masters the Shien/Djem So form and Shii-Cho form while becomes proficient with the other forms, also, he learns how to fight with two blades, or, as Naruto calls it, the Jar'Kai style of fighting, the three modes of combat, Fast, Medium, and Strong, and how to change from one style to another, the basics and advanced of unarmed combat, how to use Kido, Hoho, Hakuda, and Zanjutsu, and how to control his reiatsu. He was already at intermediate level in reiatsu control. At this level, he could already keep his zanpakuto in a sealed state. However, to avoid suspicions, he asked Naruto to put on a genjutsu on his zanpakuto to hide its sealed state. This means that Ichigo fights Urahara at sealed state.

His last session with Naruto was the one that got his blood going.

Flashback

Ichigo stood in front of Naruto. "Channel your reiatsu on your subconscious seal. We'll finalize our training there."

Ichigo nodded and did as told.

Naruto's subconscious

Ichigo found himself in front of a large, open cage.

He turned around to look at Naruto. "So, what am I doing for now?"

Naruto said, "I sense that Urahara is already finished with his makeshift Senkaimon. So, for now, I have taught you all you need to know. If you'd like, I'll continue to train you for upcoming battles."

Ichigo nodded.. "I'd like that."

Naruto nodded. "Good, now, the only thing you need to do today is to land a hit on me."

Ichigo's eyes widened.

"And use what you have learned to complete this task."

Ichigo grinned as he removed an overly-large katana from his back and assumed his Juyo stance. "Well, I better start now." He raised his zanpakuto to the sky and said, "Bunkatsu no eien sora, Zangetsu (Split the eternal sky, Slaying Moon)!" His zanpakuto shifted to a large cleaver that has no cross guard or a hilt. The handle of the blade was covered by a cloth.

Ichigo charged towards Naruto, jumped, and did a downward slash.

Naruto strafed to the side to avoid it and put his foot down on the dull side of the blade. His other foot followed and he was balanced on the dull side of Zangetsu. Naruto asked, "Whoever said that it would be easy, Ichigo?"

Ichigo fixed his hold on his zanpakuto so that he can lift it easily. Naruto noticed and he jumped away as Zangetsu was lifted from the ground.

Ichigo replied, "That would be my line, Naruto!"

Naruto smirked. "Well, then, come on."

Ichigo charged again and did a horizontal slash from left to right. Naruto ducked under the slash as Ichigo quickly put down Zangetsu and went for an uppercut.

Naruto raised his closest leg and put his foot on Zangetsu. Naruto pushed himself up as Zangetsu was hefted upward.

Naruto did a back flip after he pushed himself up and landed at the same distance he was before Ichigo charged.

Ichigo raised Zangetsu high and slammed it down on the ground and shouted, "Getsuga Tenshou!" A compressed wave of reiatsu emerged from Zangetsu and went towards Naruto.

Naruto made some handseals and took in a large amount of air. He expelled it and said, "Futon: Renkudan." A compressed ball of wind escaped from his mouth and zoomed towards Ichigo.

Both attacks met head-on and a large explosion rocked the sewers.

When the dust cleared, it showed a large amount of water converging in on a large hole on the ground.

Naruto smirked. "That was quite a powerful attack."

Ichigo smirked too. "Zangetsu taught me well."

Naruto put up his hand and did a 'come here' gesture.

Ichigo complied as he charged towards Naruto.

Ichigo jumped and spun horizontally before slamming down his blade to where Naruto is. Naruto jumped back. After he dodged, he ran towards him.

Naruto did a punch towards Ichigo's face. Ichigo did a Matrix move and bent his back as Naruto's fist reached him. After he bent his back, he put a hand on the watery ground and did a back flip with additional chin-aimed kick towards Naruto.

Naruto put his open palm to catch the kick as Ichigo's feet carried him all the way back.

Ichigo recovered and grabbed Zangetsu. He whipped Zangetsu from left to right and shouted, "Getsuga Tenshou!"

A wave of reiatsu horizontally zoomed towards Naruto.

Naruto jumped high to avoid the attack as he grabbed shuriken from his holster and he threw it towards Ichigo as he shouted, "Shuriken Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"

Copies of the thrown shuriken showed up and were aimed towards Ichigo.

Ichigo held his zanpakuto towards the sky and did a clock-wise directional circle in front of him and said, "Getsuga Tentate (Moon Fang Heaven-Shield)."

Reiatsu began gathering around the ring that Ichigo made and it formed into a solid shield.

The numerous shuriken hit the shield and they fell to the watery ground. When the barrage stopped, Ichigo pulled back his zanpakuto and stabbed it into the center of the shield as he said, "Getsuga Tenyari (Moon Fang Heaven-Spear)."

The reiatsu gathered from Zangetsu along with the reiatsu from the shield extended towards Naruto.

Naruto tilted his head to the side as the spear went past his head. Naruto grabbed the elongated spear and put his feet on it as he slid down it.

Ichigo stopped channeling reiatsu into Zangetsu and the spear cut off from the zanpakuto.

Naruto jumped off of the cut spear as he took out a kunai tied with an explosive tag on it and threw it towards Ichigo.

Ichigo raised his hand, pointed a finger to the kunai, and said, "Hado no Ichi: Sho."

The Kido hit the kunai and it exploded in mid-air.

Naruto smirked. "You seem to be progressing well in Kido. What level are you now?"

Ichigo replied, "In Bakudo, I'm up to level 21: Sekienton. In Hado, I'm up to level 33: Sokatsui. However, I haven't mastered yet the Eishohaki thing with Bakudo's 15 above and Kido's 20 above."

Naruto said, "You're potential in learning is astounding. It's almost the same as mine. With that, you will learn them in no time."

Ichigo smirked and raised his hand towards Naruto as he said, "Thanks. Ye lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Inferno and pandemonium, the sea barrier surges, march on to the south! Hado no San-juu-ichi: Shakkaho!"

Red energy emerged from his palm as the energy ball increased in size and power. Ichigo, then, fired it towards Naruto.

Naruto took out a tri-pronged kunai, made handseals and said, "Jikukan Kekkai."

The Hado disappeared. Naruto pointed his hand towards Ichigo and released it.

Ichigo's eyes widened as it dawned on him what he's planning. He used Shunpo to get away from the blast range. He reappeared behind Naruto.

Ichigo aimed a finger at Naruto's back and said, "Oni Dekopin!"

He flicked his finger and Naruto was sent crashing down on the surface.

Ichigo used Shunpo to intercept Naruto's crash site, saying 'Ye lord! Mask of flesh and bone, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Truth and temperance, upon this sinless wall of dreams unleash but slightly the wrath of your claws' along the way,and pointed his hand towards Naruto when he arrived and said, "Hado no San-ju-san: Sokatsui!"

Naruto was again sent back to the nearby wall after a large explosion.

Ichigo finished it with a Getsuga Tensho.

Another large explosion rocked the place.

When the smoke cleared, it showed Naruto who was sitting on a rock, with a smile on his face, completely unscathed.

Naruto said, "Good job, Ichigo. You managed to land three hits on me."

Ichigo panted. "Yeah, well, you held back almost all of your power against me, and by all, I mean almost 95% of your power. Seriously, against an all-out, you could have just used your Hiraishin to get in front of me and stab in the gut with that blade of yours. Defeating you's no big feat."

Naruto waved him off. "Whatever, you still hit me, and that's what counts. With your training, it could put you to a level at…what…3rd, 4th seat? However, we need to make you more accustomed to speed. Your focus is power, thus, speed can be your downfall. I'll help you with it when we get to Soul Society."

Flashback End

Next day at Urahara Shoten

Ichigo, Orihime, Uryu, Chad, and a cat-form Yoruichi walked in front of Urahara who was hiding his smile behind the fan.

"Ah, good, the group's here. Now, we have lots to discuss." He told them about the makeshift Senkaimon that he made. "Does anyone have questions?" Nobody answered. "Okay…now, then, Kurosaki-san." Urahara raised his cane and prodded Ichigo's forehead with it. Ichigo's body dropped to the floor as his Shinigami form remained standing.

Orihime kneeled beside Ichigo's body and she pointed at it. "Is this what happens when you go to your Shinigami mode, Kurosaki-kun?"

Ichigo nodded. "Yeah, it's kind of weird, isn't it, seeing yourself on the floor with no signs of life."

Urahara interjected, "While I might want to keep your conversation going, the more time you waste, the closer Rukia's sentence gets."

That got them serious.

Urahara turned to his makeshift Senkaimon. "Now, let's open us some Senkaimon."

Hisui Usu Ryu – a few minutes before Urahara opened a Senkaimon and Ichigo and Co. went in

Naruto went to his bed, knelt down, and pulled a case from under it.

He opened the box and saw a bunch of forehead protectors. There were only two spaces on the top compartment and only one was filled. The only forehead protector on the top compartment has a black cloth on it and has the insignia of a whirlpool.

The forehead protectors on the bottom compartment were numerous. One had the kanji for 'oil' on it. The second has the figure of an hourglass on it. A third has a dragon figure on it. There are more but he doesn't want to waste his time reminiscing old memories.

He took out the whirlpool forehead protector and wrapped it around his forehead.

After that, he closed the case and put it back in his bed as he took out another one. This one was long and thinner than the first one. He opened it to show a cylindrical object. He took it out and fastened it into his belt. He closed it and returned it under his bed.

Afterwards, he went to his closet and opened it. Within it were various clothing: pajamas, outside clothes (after all, too much orange while going for a walk is bad for your health.), spare clothes, etc. Instead of looking at the folded clothes, he was looking at the one clothing that was hung: a cloak and hood with a red design with black flames which seemed to cover his whole body (like the full-body cloak Naruto wore when hunting Itachi).

He removed it from the closet and put it on and pulled up his hood, thus, covering most of his face.

Finally, he went to his desk drawer and opened it. In it was a white mask with wide eyeholes which had wide, red vertical lines going from each eyehole. It also has some sort of metallic bar that reached from the tip of the nose space to the very head of the mask, which had a hook to fasten a hood to it. It was wide enough to hide his whisker marks. (Go search for Darth Nihilus' mask in Star Wars Wiki.)

He removed it from his drawer and put it on as he fastened his hood to the tip of the mask.

He looked at himself in the mirror. His whole body was covered neck to toe by his red cloak as his hood shadowed the upper half of his face which was completely covered by a mask which somehow managed to make his eyes go dark blue, covering most of the blue color.

Naruto smirked. I suppose this is why they call me Kurai Kishi (Dark Knight). At night, I'm invisible.

Naruto sensed Ichigo trying to contact him. What is it, Ichigo?

We're entering the Senkaimon.

Good, I'll be going now.

Naruto felt Ichigo cut off as Naruto shouted, "Oi, Naruko-chan, I'll be going now!"

Naruko's head poked out from behind the door frame and she said, "Alright, but be careful. I don't want to become an only child." She giggled.

Naruto chuckled. "Don't worry. I won't be dying any time soon. I don't want to leave the shop barren of life. After all, when the user dies, the clone follows."

Naruko pouted. "Moh, don't remind me. I already feel that we're related."

Naruto laughed a bit. "Yeah, me too…I'll be going now."

Naruko nodded before her head vanished from the frame.

Naruto took a deep breath and gathered Kyuubi's chakra into his fingertips. With it, he plunged a hand into air and twisting it.

The sound of a Rasengan forming was heard as the air where Naruto plunged swirled until it opened a pathway.

Naruto entered it.

In Soul Society

Naruto stepped out of the portal and took a good sniff of the air. He shirked. This is no 'heaven.' I smell the stench of violence, blood, and sickness. This is more like the purgatory to heaven.

He made Kage Bunshins and had them secretly gather information about the area.

After the clones dispelled but before Ichigo appeared in Soul Society

Naruto held onto a tree trunk for support as all of his clones somehow managed to dispel all at the same time despite being some of the districts far away from his location.

The clones really know how to vex me! However, the knowledge they provide is acceptable, so they're on my good side, for now.

Naruto slowly stood up and took a deep breath. "Alright, it's time for me to mingle."

He put up his hands in a handseal and said, "Henge."

His form fizzled and shifted to a middle-aged man with sable black, tame hair with titian brown eyes. He was wearing a cerise-colored, plain t-shirt with a dark ultramarine-colored pair of pants.

He walked his way towards his nearest district, District 64.

District 64

Naruto looked at the state of this district. Well, at least here, the smell of poverty is less.

He entered the local pub and sat down at the counter.

The bartender said, "I haven't seen you around these parts. Are you new?"

Naruto nodded. "Yeah, the name's Kyousuke Sugita. The last thing I remember before I got here was a light that came from a truck. For all intents and purposes, I'm dead."

The bartender said, "Tough luck, bro. Here," he took out a glass and filled it with ale and laid it in front of Naruto, "I always have the policy to give one freebie to new souls such as yourselves. If you're an adult, I'll give you ale. If you're a kid, well, I better give the kid some water."

Naruto nodded. "Amen to that." He grabbed the glass and drank from it. After a gulp, he lowered it and said, "You know, I find myself quite intrigued by this place. Tell me, where am I?"

The bartender replied, "You're in Soul Society, man. That big city that you saw when you came in, the one with fancy buildings and skyscrapers is Seireitei. That is where Shinigamis reside."

Naruto raised both eyebrows, feigning surprising. "From what I believe, there is only one Shinigami."

The bartender laughed. "I don't know what you believe in, Sugita, but, in Seireitei, there are a lot of Shinigami. Now, where you are is a part of Rukongai. This is district 64. All in all, there are 320 districts, 80 districts on every part of Rukongai. 80 are in the North Rukongai, 80 are in East Rukongai, etc. Rukongai is where souls go after a Shinigami perform some sort of ritual on them."

With that, the bartender explained to Naruto about Rukongai, not that he didn't know that. He was particularly interested about Seireitei, specifically, Shinigami, as Kyuubi didn't tell him much about them.

Afterwards, Naruto finished listening to the bartender's tale and his swig of ale. "Well, that is certainly interesting." He stood up. "Thanks for the ale and the info."

The bartender nodded. "Anytime, Sugita, just come anytime and I'm all ears."

Naruto left the bar and looked around for any tailers or onlookers before going behind the bar's alley.

Once he was sure that no one was there, he dispelled the Henge.

Naruto disappeared into the woods.

Ichigo and friends appeared in Soul Society

Naruto stood, amused, as the Quincy, Uryu, somehow had a spare cape that he kept just in case his first one was damaged, which was damaged.

Ichigo shouted, "You keep a spare?"

Uryu shouted back, "What's the matter if I keep a spare? It's not your cape I'm using!"

Ichigo raised his hands. "You know what? Forget it! We've got Rukia to save!"

He was about to set fifteen feet from the streets of Seireitei when large metal-like protrusions appeared in the sky and lodged itself in a circle around Seireitei.

Naruto raised an eyebrow. Well, that must be the gate that the bartender told me about.

A large man appeared in front of the gate where Ichigo was supposed to enter.

The large man said, "Who are you, Shinigami? I know every Shinigami that enter here for their Rukongai rounds and you're not one of them."

Ichigo replied, "I believe that it is proper manners for one to introduce oneself before asking the other's name."

Uryu gawked. "What the hell, Kurosaki? Since when did you pay attention to manners?"

Ichigo ignored him.

The large man replied, "I am Jidanbo. I am one of the four guardians of this gate. Now, tell me your name."

Ichigo jabbed a thumb at his chest. "I'm Kurosaki Ichigo. I'm a Substitute Shinigami! And I want to get in!"

Jidanbo stared at him. "Since you are a Substitute, you must not have been in Soul Society for long. You must pass my test."

Ichigo said, "Then, give me this test and I will pass it!"

Jidanbo pulled out an axe from his clothes before slamming it down on Ichigo.

Smoke covered the area as the earth surrounding Ichigo rose and created a large barrier that separated Ichigo from his friends.

Uryu shouted, "Kurosaki!"

Orihime yelled, "Kurosaki-kun!"

Chad called, "Ichigo!"

Ichigo smirked as he shouted back, "Don't worry, guys! I got this easy!"

Jidanbo's eyes widened. "How did you…?"

The smoke cleared and it showed Ichigo holding the axe in one hand…not that any of his friends could see it. Only Jidanbo and Naruto saw it.

Ichigo grinned as he removed his zanpakuto from his back. From Jidanbo's POV, it was a hilt-less cleaver with a cloth wrapped around the handle. From Naruto's POV, it was a large cleaver-like katana with a normal hilt and cross guard.

Ichigo channeled more of his reiatsu into his hand and pushed.

Jidanbo's axe flew back to him.

Ichigo went into his Ataru stance. "Come on, Jidanbo, don't tell me that that's all you got!"

Ichigo jumped high and landed on Jidanbo's free arm.

Ichigo ran on the arm and went for a horizontal strike from left to right and shouted, "Getsuga Tensho!"

A large arc of reiatsu emerged from Zangetsu and went towards Jidanbo's face.

Ichigo didn't want to hurt the guy badly so, he made his attack explode five feet away from his face.

Jidanbo fell to the floor with a loud thud as Ichigo landed on the ground.

Jidanbo grouchily stood up. "That was a lucky shot." He raised his axe and slammed it down on Ichigo.

Ichigo suddenly went past the axe as it was a centimeter from him, destroying it in the process, and did a reiatsu-enhanced elbow to the gut.

Jidanbo fell to the gate with another loud thud. When Jidanbo struggled to stand, he found Ichigo's zanpakuto a little tooclose to his neck for comfort.

Ichigo grinned. "So, do I pass the test or do I have to draw blood, 'cause God knows, I can do it." He pressed slightly on the neck, drawing a little blood.

Naruto grinned, from behind the bush he was hiding in. That was quite a quickie show.

Jidanbo said, "You beat me, you pass test. You pass my test." He stood up as Ichigo removed Zangetsu from Jidanbo's neck.

Ichigo returned Zangetsu to his back as he saw, from the corner of his eye, Uryu, Orihime, Chad, and Yoruichi (still, in cat form) walk towards them. He asked, "What took you guys so long?"

Uryu glared at him. "Oh, just shut up, Kurosaki."

Ichigo smirked. "In your dreams, Ishida…"

They watched in fascination as Jidanbo lifted the heavy gate high.

Ichigo was about to enter when he saw someone walking towards them. Looking up at Jidanbo, he saw that he was frozen in fear.

Ichigo asked, "Jidanbo-san, what's going on here? Who is he?"

Jidanbo slowly said, "I-Ichimaru-taicho!"

Ichimaru Gin, Third Squad Captain, was standing in between Ichigo and his quest: saving Rukia.

Gin grinned wide. "Yare, yare, what d'ya think ya're doin', Jidanbo?"

Well, there's the next chapter.

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