I know it been awhile oddly enough this was just sitting around, I must of though it wasn't long enough or something...

meh, so without further ado I present to you-!

Chapter 3: Family

Naruto stepped through the open door that the boy he'd saved was just rushed through. He looked around carefully and sweat dropped when he spotted a huge picture of a pretty woman with wavy brown hair smiling outside. The picture itself was nothing unusual it was the fact that it was bigger than a life-size person that caught his attention. Figuring he could ask later, if he remembered, the blond walked towards the hall where he'd last seen Ichigo disappear.

Soon he came to a room where he had heard Ichigo complaining from down the hall. Looking in he chuckled, the kid was practically covered in white bandages even though it was only his leg that was hurt. Ichigo was glaring at his father who was still trying to wrap more bandages around him while crying waterfall fake tears and saying something about how worried he and the girls had been. Then he heard a chuckle.

"Naruto?" Ichigo said looking at the blond leaning in the doorway. Before pouting as he saw the teenager was thoroughly amused at seeing him being wrapped like a mummy. Naruto couldn't help but to grin widely at the pouting 'mummy'.

"Ah, my son's savior!" Isshin called enthusiastically rushing Naruto again, this time grabbing the boy's hand with both of his and shaking it up and down wildly.

"Uh- I- didn't- really do- anything." Naruto barely got out through the shaking.

"Nonsense!" The man chirped. "You must stay for dinner at least!" Isshin pronounced leaving no room for argument as he turned back to testing Ichigo's patients. Naruto just sweat dropped, but he wasn't going to turned down dinner, once food was mentioned he realized he was really hungry after all he hadn't eaten in like… a thousand years.

Later that night Naruto stared up at the ceiling from the couch that had been made up for him wondering how he'd ended up staying the night. He slept well though truthfully he hadn't felt very tired when he laid down, he figured it was to be expected though after being sealed in a sleep-like state for so long. As soon as the early morning sunlight peeked through the window Naruto was sitting up yawning.

The blond teen looked around seeing a TV, some tables and two lamp. Seeing the familiar items comforted him a little. At least some things were still the same. He looked around without getting up for a good ten minutes just letting everything sink in.

He was free, he was finally free. Thank Kami he'd been able to talk to Kurama in his times of more conscious thought over the years or he was sure he would have gone insane form being alone so long. Even if most the time he wasn't conscious or it felt more like he was in a dream, it was comforting to know someone was there, that he wasn't really alone.

Naruto stretched sighing, his body wasn't even stiff from being so confined for so long; and he was sure Kurama had something to do with that too. Laying back down despite his desire to jump up and run, and eat, and DO anything but lay down; he knew he had one thing to do first. With that thought he pushed himself effortlessly into his now very familiar mindscape.

When Naruto opened his eyes he was looking at an endless forest that looked like it belonged to Konoha, with large trees everywhere and the morning sun rising behind him. The large gate in front of him didn't fit the world he had created despite that fact it was wide open. Though he had discovered there was no changing that, and not for lack of trying. The seal was still there so the gate was too even if they'd both been opened.

"Kurama!" Naruto called walking through the opened gate fearlessly. He had not ever really feared the Kyuubi though he had been rightfully cautious and now he trusted the biju, even if he could be an ass. The ground of the mindscape shook and within seconds Naruto could see the large fox.

"What is it?" the Kyuubi asked stopping and sitting down in front of the blond teen that looked the size of an ant to the large fox. In spite of the kitsune's annoyed tone Naruto grinned up at him.

"Guess what." Naruto said still grinning from ear to ear. Kurama raised an eyebrow but did not comment; he had no intention of actually guessing something. Besides he knew the boy had no care for games like that, usually. There was hardly a pause in Naruto's speech before Kurama was proven right.

"WE'RE FREE!" Naruto shouted beaming. Kurama snorted rolling his eyes which deflated the boy's enthusiasm a bit, making the blond frown. The large kitsune hunch down to look at his Jinchuuriki better.

"You're free brat. If you haven't noticed I'm still here." Kurama stated his tone clearly stating he thought he was talking to an idiot. Naruto blinked feeling a little guilty… and dumb.

"Well you're a little more free than before…" he said trying to put a better spin on things. Kurama rolled his eyes again. Yes, he could be channeled through Naruto again now, but honestly from what he could sense of the world through Naruto he didn't see a reason why he would need to.

"We can figure out something later for now one of the little human spawn is trying to wake you." Kurama said thinking of the possibilities of this new world and a Jinchuuriki that would give him more freedom, as he shoved the boy back into the real world.

Naruto woke up with a slight start as he felt someone staring at him, but mostly relaxed when he saw it was a small girl. The girl stared at him surprised at being caught watching him, but still curious. She stepped back giving him some room. Just as the girl opened her mouth to ask something Naruto spoke. He hated awkward silences and was usually the one to break them.

"Hi, I'm Naruto!" He grinned sitting up. The little girl shyly bent her head but couldn't help but to return the teens infectious grin.

"Hello, I'm Yuzu." She greeted him back with a small bow. The girl seemed maybe only four years old. Her hair was blond but a much darker shade than his and her eyes reminded him of the boy he'd met the night before, she must be one of Ichigo's sisters he was told about.

"Well Yuzu-chan it's nice to meet you." Naruto replied without pause as he got up off the couch. He found it odd the girl never even questioned why he was in her house but figured it was just the girls innocence or maybe due to the times. "How about we get some breakfast?" Naruto reached his hand out for the girl his smile never wavering. The girl watched him hesitating only a moment before his smile infected her again and she grabbed his hand pulling him towards the kitchen.

About an hour later the man Naruto met the night before, Ichigo's father, Isshin came down to the kitchen to find Naruto and his daughter half covered in flour, both smiling ear to ear. Though to be fair they did manage to make some pretty good looking pancakes. Of course Isshin wasn't really the kind of person that minded a mess anyway.

Naruto turned as Isshin came into the kitchen and froze thinking he might of over stepped his place since he didn't actually live there. The black haired goofy man just laughed though as he walked over and scooped up little Yuzu before wiping flower on her nose, the one part of her that hadn't had any. Yuzu giggled wiping some on her father's nose in a happy retaliation.

A few minutes later Ichigo and a young girl that looked the same age as Yuzu came sleepily into the kitchen. When they entered Naruto, Isshin and Yuzu turned to greet them.

"Good morning!" Their father greeted with Yuzu a step behind and Naruto followed their example with the same greeting. Ichigo and Karin raised a sleepy identical eyebrow at them before they went to sit at the counter. Despite having dark black hair and different shaped eyes Naruto was even more sure that girl was Ichigo's sister than the sweet little Yuzu who carried the same eyes and lighter hair.

After breakfast everyone seemed to be in a hurry and Naruto just tried to stay out of the way as the kids ran around him grabbing things and every few minutes some said "We're going to be late!" When one of them slowed down long enough Naruto asked what they were going to be late for.

"School, of course." Was the little black haired girl, Karin's reply. By her tone Naruto was sure it was boring and a common thing. "Well, me and Yuzu go to pre-school while Dad works, and Ichigo-nii is in the fourth grade." Replied the four year old.

Naruto stared for a moment as she ran off again to grab… something. Then he got it! It was like the academy. But they didn't learn ninja stuff there… because no one he'd seen was a ninja. He could barely sense anything from them, like civilians. Though he did sense something stronger from Isshin and Ichigo, even the girls. Their family was different. It wasn't really chakra though… Shrugging it off he figured they were just taught boring stuff for whatever jobs were around here.

As everyone went for the door Naruto followed looking a bit lost. The crazy man who was Ichigo's father seemed to notice. Though Naruto wasn't sure if that was a good or a bad thing yet.

"Ah! Naruto! Is there somewhere you need to be? We can give you a ride." Isshin offered looking expectedly. Naruto didn't know what to say. He had nowhere to be and he wasn't really overly fond of the idea of getting into that death trap he'd heard Ichigo called a car.

"Uh, no, I'm fine. I'm… knew in town and just thought I'd wander a bit. See where things are." Naruto grinned rubbing the back of his head nervously. He really hoped he didn't just say the wrong thing about being new. He didn't even know if new people were aloud in this town, or if he needed paperwork or something. Isshin seemed to take no notice though.

"Ah, alright. Well feel free to stop by for dinner! As the hero who saved my wayward son you are always welcome!" the crazy man shouted jumping in the car and Naruto sweat dropped. After the family drove off Naruto looked around and went in the direction he was pretty sure the main town was in.

It wasn't long before his nose caught a familiar scent, and Naruto stopped in his tracks, his eyes wide. Could it be? Could it have survived centuries just for him? Naruto kept sniffing the air to make sure as he followed the scent. Not even bothering to notice the weird looks he was getting; this was too important.

A blond man with a green stripped hat and a black cat watched from the shadows curiously. As the source of the giant, foreign energy they sensed the night before stopped in the middle of a busy sidewalk to sniff the air. Suddenly the boy took off like a shot and they scrambled after him still keeping out of sight. After about three minutes of sprinting the boy stopped in front of a shop for a spilt second before practically diving in. Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi sweat dropped as they stared at the boy in the ramen shop.

Well… at least they knew he wasn't eating souls.

As Naruto entered the shop he remembered he didn't have any money, at least not any that would work. Though as he saw the bowl just coming out he knew he had to get some. Naruto went up to one of the workers. Half an hour later and the blond teen walked out with a full stomach and a new job as a junior chef. He'd never been anything but a ninja but on one of his missions he had helped out old man Ichiraku. Besides if he ever wanted to be anything but a ninja it would be a ramen chef.

Now that he'd gotten his lunch Naruto looked around as he walked. He tried to take in everything as he had the day before. Eventually he got bored though and headed in the direction of the park he was in the day before. He jumped up into a tree just as careless as the last time and settled in for a nap. Luckily for him midday in a park on a school day is mostly empty so no one saw him but his two stalkers.

A blond eyebrow twitched as he noticed them. He had though he'd felt someone following him but it wasn't until he got out of the crowed he was sure. And they were just staring at him… There was no way he'd get any sleep with weirdos' watching him like that. Not only was it unnerving but they could be a threat. He waited a half hour before he got fed up with being stared at.

"Alright who's there, and what do you want?" Naruto huffed as he sat upright and looked over to where he could feel the cold energy that was not chakra coming from. Kisuke and Yoruichi watched him carefully, it was practically unheard of for someone to sense them when they were concealing themselves. However no one else was coming out and the boy was obviously looking right at them.

"Ah, hello!" Kisuke stated cheerfully as he stepped out of the cover of the trees and put on his friendly charm. Naruto raised an eyebrow at the man and jumped down from his tree, landing without a sound; which both of his stalkers noted.

"Hello," Naruto greeted back. "why are you following me?" he added annoyed.

After an extremely long time talking to and trying to make sense of the man and only receiving the man's name and no other information, like why he had been following a teenage boy around town. Naruto decided he didn't really care that much. The guy was crazy. It was a little frightening that after a few minutes with the man Naruto found himself replying back in kind, like some kind of weird banter. So after making a hasty escape when the man seemed distracted Naruto made a mental note to avoid Urahara Kisuke if he ever saw him again. For the sake of his sanity if nothing else.

Yoruichi watched the strange blond boy carefully the whole time Kisuke was bantering while trying to get information out of the boy. So far all they got was: his name was Naruto Uzumaki, he was 'about sixteen', could sense them following him, jump higher than any normal person, and despite seeming very loud he could slip away very quick and quietly.

He looked young and acted like a teenager would but there was just something about him that made Yoruichi think he was, more. Seen more, done more. It wasn't just the power that practically flooded out of him either, though that was going to attract hollows.

AND CUT!