Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Bleach

Chapter Three: How to Become a Soul Reaper in One Day

Renji led the ninja through the academy. Many people turned to look at the oddly-dressed newcomers as they walked down the hallway. Some glanced questioningly at Renji. "We'll be training here." Renji flung open the doors and took them into a small field. At the other end stood targets lined up side by side.

"So what are we going to be doing here?" asked Shikamaru, glancing at the targets. "A target practice or something?"

"Yeah, you got that right," said Renji. "I'll show you what kido is. I'm going to show you a destructive spell called 'Blue Fire, Crash Down'." Renji walked closer to the target. What did I get myself into? he thought, sweat pouring down his face. My weak point is kido. Oh well, they probably won't be able to tell the difference. Taking a deep breath, Renji chanted, "O Lord, mask of flesh and bone, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man, truth and temperance…"

"What the heck is he saying?" Naruto muttered, loudly enough for everyone to hear. "If this is some kind of jutsu, it's pointless to use if it's so long."

"…upon this sinless wall of dreams, unleash but slightly the wrath of your claws! Blue Fire—" Renji paused dramatically before shouting, "Crash Down!"

There was a big boom and a large cloud of smoke appeared. The ninja coughed and swatted the smoke away. When the smoke cleared, Renji stood in the middle of the training field, burnt like a roasted marshmallow left in the fire for too long.

"Does that spell make you explode yourself?" Neji said sarcastically. "Performing seals is much more efficient." A vein throbbed on Renji's forehead.

"How ridiculous," Gaara commented.

All of a sudden, a voice said, "Looks like you're having trouble with kido, Renji. Let me show them how to do it!" A girl with glossy raven black hair stepped delicately onto the field.

"Yeah, you show them, Rukia," Renji muttered, stepping aside.

Sasuke's heart stopped before beating triple speed as he watched Rukia. She floated across the field, leaving ripples on the grass. Standing a few feet from the burnt Renji, she chanted, "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! Shot of Red Fire!"

This time, a ball of red fire shot out of her slender hands and hit the center of the target. Everyone cheered but Sasuke, whose head still echoed with Rukia's voice, as clear as a bell.

"Hey Sasuke, are you all right?" Naruto looked a bit worried.

Startled, Sasuke automatically replied, "Fine."

Farther down the field, Renji said, "Thanks, Rukia."

"No problem." Rukia walked daintily out the door, Sasuke's eyes following her all the way.

"Who was she?" asked Chouji, munching on a bag of chips.

"Oh. She's just a friend," replied Renji. Clapping to get everyone's attention, he said, "Now we'll move onto zanpakuto training."

"If you can actually use one," muttered Shino.

"This is the battleground," said Renji, walking to the center of a different field. The ninja looked dubious after what had happened with kido practice.

"So what are you going to teach us?" Kankuro said cynically. "How to cut off our own heads and hack off our own limbs?"

"Shut up!" barked Renji. He took slow deep breaths before saying, "I'm going to teach you the basics. Then you can figure out the initial releases and what not." Unsheathing his sword, Renji said, "This is a thrust." Everyone copied his movements except for Sasuke, who was off to the side of the group battling an imaginary person. After Renji had taught them all he knew about sword play, he walked over to Sasuke.

"You're pretty good. Do you want to duel?" Renji asked.

Sasuke smirked. "I will show you the power of Uchiha…bring it on." Suddenly, a thought struck him. "Wait, I don't know my initial release!"

"Oh. I'll teach you. First, you must find the name of your zanpakuto…"

Sasuke observed his blade. After a few moments, he said, puzzled, "Housenka?"

"That must be the name of your zanpakuto," explained Renji.

"Okay then. Let's start!" said Sasuke. "Burn, Housen—"

"Um, do you guys have to fight?" asked a timid voice. Renji and Sasuke whirled around.

"Why, Hinata?" asked Sasuke.

"Well, Because everyone is waiting. They are all bored. They sent me to tell you," Hinata answered in a shy voice.

"Well, we might as well move on to the last part of Soul Reaper fighting." Renji walked over to the ninja and said, "Now, I will teach you hand to hand combat."

"Wahooooooooooooooooooooooo!" Rock Lee shouted.

"Yeah! Bring it on!" shouted Kiba.

Renji was starting to get a very bad migraine.

"So, we'll still be training here," said Renji, feeling thankful that this was the last thing he had to teach them. "Who doesn't want to participate?"

"Count me out," said Kankuro, heading to the edge of the field to play with his puppets.

"I'll be leaving too," said Gaara, who followed Kankuro. He wanted to play with his sand.

"Anyone else?" asked Renji.

"I don't think I'll participate," said Shino. He walked to the opposite side of the field and started practicing with his bugs.

"Okay. The only way of learning hand to hand combat is by practicing a lot," said Renji, unaware of how good the ninja were at hand to hand combat. "So first, I'll teach you the basics. There are punches and kicks, and if we have a lot of time, we'll work on flash steps." Curling his fist and holding it straight in front of him, he said, "This is a—"

All of a sudden, Rock Lee appeared in back of him and kicked him hard in the back. Renji went flying through the air and landed heavily on the ground.

"What was that for?!" he shouted angrily.

"We all already know taijutsu," said Lee. "Actually, we're quite good at it."

"What's tai…jutsu?" asked Renji.

"It's fighting or hand to hand combat or whatever you call it," said Lee.

"Can we get on with it?" asked Kiba, poking Renji to make him get up.

"Yeah. It's getting a bit boring," said Chouji. "Now where's my other bag of chips?"

"Fine. We can skip hand to hand combat. You guys seem to know a lot about it," said Renji, getting up. "I have an idea."

"What is it?" asked Shino, who was walking back to the group. "Is it dealing with explosives?"

"No!" shouted Renji. He had had enough of the ninja. "Okay, I'll change my mind. You lot don't deserve it," said Renji.

"What?" asked Chouji.

"Oh, nothing," said Renji.

"With his skills, I wonder how he even became a lieutenant," Neji muttered, shaking his head.

"Shut up!"