Leaf Engraved Zanpakutou

Chapter Three

Running from death

TT: Yeah, that's right, I'm back. You probably had worked out by now that my updates are probably going to be on the sporadic side. Sorry guys, but the fact is I have other things in my life that need my attention more.

…On the other hand, I've found in the past that I'm more easily inspired when people comment me with their own ideas and opinions on the story, so I get more done in the time I have. Thus, please review and tell me what you think of the story – the good and the bad – and what you'd like to see happen next.

Ellenlome – that's more or less the idea; I wanted to try taking a common plot idea, and polish it from a different angle. If things go my way, this story will be different from the rest of the Naruto/Bleach crossovers, and better for it.
Utena-Puchiko-nyu – …Sorry, but I'm afraid Haku will be moving on to Soul Society… Just not without some resistance.

The silence after Yachiru's proclamation stretched for an age, before Naruto finally spoke, disbelief heavy in his voice, "A what?"

"A shinigami, weren't you listening?"

Well, Naruto had to admit, her walking through walls trick was helping him at least consider the idea, "Why are you here, then?" He suddenly had a panicked looked, "I'm not going to die, am I? I haven't become hokage yet!"

"No, not you – you shouldn't even be able to see me." Yachiru pointed at Imaginary-Haku, "I'm here for him!"

Naruto glanced over, "What, him? He's just a figment of my imagination."

"Na-uh. He's a spirit, and I'm going to take him to Soul Society."

"Wait, you're saying he's not a figment of my imagination?"

As the realization slowly began to appear on Naruto's face, Haku couldn't help but look skywards, throwing his arms up as he cried, "Yes!"

Naruto ignored this, mulling over Yachiru's words, "What's 'soul society'?"

"Soul Society is where the spirits live – well, those who aren't bad guys, Kenpachi says they go somewhere else, which is too bad because it means he can't fight them."

"So its like heaven? Wait, you want to take Haku away? No!"

Yachiru blinked, "No?"

"No, he's my friend, and I'm not letting you take him away!"

"But it's my job."

"Well, then… you'll just have to catch us first!" Naruto abruptly brought his hands together; performing a seal he could do effortlessly, "Kage Bushin no justu!"

The room was filled with orange as clones appeared out of nowhere. Someone, who may have been Naruto or may have been one of his clones, tried to push Haku – the action proved futile, as instead his arms went straight through the other boy, "Come on, lets go."

Just before all chaos broke loose, there was the sound of Yachiru, sounding affronted as only a girl could, crying, "That's cheating!"

Hiding from Yachiru was a lot more difficult that Naruto had expected it to be. It was as if she had Iruka-sensai's psychic ability to find him, because despite all the clones running around to attract her attention, seven tries in ten she would find the real Naruto, Haku in tow, and he would have to make MORE clones to get away from her, and the cycle would continue.

Strangely enough, no one else seemed to notice the various orange-decked shapes that were dashing about the streets that night. Well, either that, or the people who did notice simply couldn't be bothered trying to give Naruto any trouble tonight. Either way, everyone left him alone. But, of course, Naruto was too busy to worry about it – actually, he probably hadn't noticed either.

He'd been at this for hours now, and Naruto was starting to get worried that he'd run out of tricks and hiding placed before the little girl got bored of chasing him. Was this what Sasuke had felt like back at the academy, with his fanclub? No wonder he was such a jerk!

In the end, however, it was Naruto had prevailed. He didn't succeed in hiding from the girl, but he prevailed. He had retreated to one of his last strongholds; one of the faces of the Hokages carved onto the side of the mountain. He and Haku had sat there, holding their breaths for a few minutes, but when Yachiru failed to appear both let out a sigh of relief.

Naruto grinned, "I think we lost her!"

…That was when Yachiru seemed to appear out of thin air, appearing on the edge of the cliff beside them, "Aha, found you!"

Naruto would later claim – many, many times – that is was an accident, and that he didn't mean it. That he only pushed her because she startled him – startled, not scared, of course – and that he would have never,never wanted to send her over the edge of the cliff, sliding down to the bottom of the mountain.

Nonetheless, that is what happened. It seemed to be instantaneous. One moment, Yachiru had appeared from nowhere, the next she was gone, and he was peering down the side of the cliff, an expression of horror on his face, unable to breath.

Then came the cry of "I'm telling!" and Naruto felt his heart lift, knowing that he hadn't just killed a little girl. (It never occurred to him for an instant to wonder if a death-god could die.)

This time it was Haku who pushed at Naruto – not that this was anymore effective than the other way around – "Lets go, before she climbs up again."

And thus the game continued.

…Well, it would have continued, if not for the fact Yachiru didn't come after them. Naruto worried over whether or not he had seriously hurt the girl as, after a full two hours of hiding without being caught, he and Haku made his way home.

Still, even if he had hurt Yachiru, at least he could take comfort in the fact that he had won, and she hadn't been able to take Haku away.

Then he opened the door to his apartment, only to find a wall of a man standing directly in front of him.

Naruto looked up. And up. And up some more, until he got past what he could see of the scarred torso, to see a strong face, with a long scar going down one eye, and dark hair sticking out at all angles. Then he saw Yachiru, peeking over the behemoth's shoulder.

Said behemoth grinned, in a maniac fashion, "So, you're the one that's giving Yachiru trouble?"