Well guys like I promised, chapter 4 nice and early. But be warned this chapter starts of slightly more seriously. Now I'm sure your all wandering how the poll is going. Well I'm not going to reveal too much on that yet. I will say that so far sixty-seven people have voted and the top three choices so far are all very close to each other. I'll reveal more when I release chapter five but just so you know your vote could really make all the difference at the moment. There is literally a single vote's difference between the top three, so if you want a specific pairing you'd better vote for it.

Disclaimer: I won smelly socks and a gay dog. I do not own Naruto or Bleach.

His body felt heavy. It was strange how a soul could bleed. How a weightless spirit could still succumb to gravity. How it could feel cold as his blood seeped out of him, mingling with the puddles made by the rain. He felt numb. If he was in his body, and he wasn't just a soul, he would be pretty sure this meant he was dying. As it stands, he couldn't imagine this feeling meaning anything different. But even so, he couldn't die yet. He still had to save her after all. She's right there. He can still hear.

"What's wrong with going to him? He gave his life for me!"

He tried to will his body. To make it stand. But it wouldn't. If only he could move. Even just a hand. Even just a finger.

"I understand. This child, he looks very much like him."

He reached out with his hand.

"I'm Dead, I look like somebody? You'd better not keep telling the story when I'm not around."

Naruto watched how the battle play out. He watched as the orange haired shinigami was cut down trying to save that girl. She called the attacker brother. But the way he talked to her. And to kill her friend. Was that really what a brother would do? He'd never had a family so he couldn't say for sure. But that just made this hurt even more. That girl was his family. Someone precious. So why was he hurting her? With that single question in his mind he made his move.

Byakuya barely had enough time to raise his sword to block the kick that was sent his way. Even so the force was enough to send him hurtling away from Ichigo. Naruto landed, his usual cheerful face looking grim as he eyed the shinigami.

"What the… a Hollow!" came Renji's voice from the side-lines.

Naruto noticed the red head's charge him. But he wasn't in the mood for playing right now. As Renji slashing down at an angle, he tilted his body at the same angle, allowing the blade to pass by his torso. Before Renji could string together another blow Naruto struck out with two fingers, burying them into the man's throat in a way that allowed him to hook them around Renji's windpipe.

"Stay out of this," threatened Naruto, before removing his fingers, and lashing out with a kick. His heel slammed into Renji's chest and sent him crashing into a wall.

Rukia was surprised by the sudden reappearance of the hollow. Even more so by its power, as it effortlessly defeated Renji. And to think she'd told Ichigo to fight against that before. But more importantly Renji was no longer holding onto her and her brother was not nearby. So giving it no more thought she quickly hurried over to Ichigo's side.

"Ichigo!" she called out desperately. "Ichigo."

The orange haired boy groaned but none the less managed to give Rukia a weak smile.

"I'm fine," he told her, before coughing up a lump of blood.

"What are you doing Hollow," remarked Byakuya from the place he'd been kicked to, reminding the two of their would be saviour.

Naruto frowned.

"I heard you talking. She's your sister right. So why do you hurt her?"

Byakuya titled his head, as if regarding the hollow.

"She has broken the law."

"Yes, but from what I heard it was to save this boy's life."

Byakuya frowned.

"The reasons do not matter. By order of central 46 she will stand trial."

Naruto cocked his head to the side.

"Ah so your one of those types. One of those who cares more for their own pride than they do for family or friends."

Byakuya regarded the hollow with interest. It was because of this interest that he had not immediately struck the hollow down. But now his patience was beginning to wear thin.

"We are of the Kuchiki clan, a noble house who act as a moral compass for those of a lower stature. We must follow the rules, or no one will," Byakuya explained. But the hollow did not seem satisfied with this answer.

"And you believe this reason will allow your clan to keep its head held high? Funny. Where I come from, if you had spouted such a reason, you would have been considered lower than scum. No even scum would be too kind a word for you."

At this the elder kuchiki's eyes narrowed.

"Who are you to judge me? Nothing but a lowly, filthy hollow. I have had enough of speaking with you. I will kill you now."

And like that Byakuya was gone. But so was Naruto. Three observers heard a clash and then the two combatants reappeared. They'd met halfway towards each other. Naruto had blocked Byakuya's sword with his right arm, and Byakuya had grabbed Naruto's right wrist just before he'd plunged it into Byakkuya's stomach. As it was Naruto's middle finger had punctured the skin, allowing a small dribble of blood to run down the front of Byakuya's front. In a similar way a trickle of blood could be seen coming from Naruto's arm, where Byakuya's sword had managed a shallow cut.

"Is that the best you can do shinigami?" asked Naruto. His tone was light, almost cheerful.

Byakkuya glared.

"Do not be conceited Hollow. When we captain and sub Captain class shinigami come to the human world our power's are restricted to twenty per-cent of their usual maximum."

Naruto's eyes widened.

"So that's why you so weak."

This was obviously not the answer Byakuya was looking for, as he pushed Naruto away before retaking his stance.

"I will take your head hollow."

Byakuya's face was usually an emotionless mask. But to Renji, who had spent so much time with the man, Byakuya looked clearly enraged. Not that he could point that out as he was currently busy trying to stem the blood flow from his throat. Naruto had made sure to not damage anything but even so a hole in ones throat is never the nicest of wounds.

Without a word the two combatants disappeared once more, at speeds none there could follow. But neither Renji nor Rukia could believe their eyes when they saw Byakuya's face hit the tarmac. Naruto soon appeared behind him but didn't move from there. He seemed content to wait for Byakuya to get up.

After a few seconds Byakuya put both hands flat on the ground and pushed himself up. The way he did it was slow, regal even. Like having his face planted into the ground was something barely worth acknowledging.

He slowly turned to face Naruto once again.

"Leave Hollow, you have no business here."

Naruto snorted.

"What you can't beat me, so now you try reasoning? Tell me, when that girl begged you not to hurt her friends? Did you listen?"

Byakuya narrowed his eyes.

"I admit that without removing my limit, you are too much for me. However hollow, I doubt a being such as yourself can understand a concept such as reason. No I am telling you to leave for these maters do not concern you."

Naruto practically growled at the man.

"It looks like you aren't getting it. I'm not letting you take the girl. I've watched the two of them over the last few weeks. They've been a lot of fun. That's why, you leave. And until you understand what it means to have a family, and how precious that bond is, DO NOT COME BACK."

The last words Naruto spoke were in a demonic voice, and as he said them the very air around him seemed to ripple and the ground began to crack.

Byakuya's eyebrows shot up. The Hollows spiritual pressure was rising. Now it was double what it was before. Triple now and it showed no signs of stopping. His legs began to wobble under the strain of standing.

"I see now," he calmly stated, "that you cannot be allowed to live."

He raised his blade, though admittedly with some difficulty.

"Scatter, Senbon zakura."

Upon the command Byakkuya's sword separated into a thousand tiny pieces. Flashed of yellow, silver and pink could be seen under the light of the lamppost.

"It's… over," Renji managed to grunt out.

Ichigo had been watching the battle from his position on the floor. He'd watched as Naruto seemed to overpower Byakuya. He'd felt happy, and grateful to the hollow. For protecting Rukia. But at the same time, he'd felt so jealous of him for doing what he could not. And then Byakuya whispered some words and his sword fell apart. And then his eyes widened with horror as Naruto was suddenly cut to ribbons. Was this it? If Naruto fell now, what would happen to Rukia?

But then he heard a sound. One of the most annoying sounds he can ever remember hearing, and he felt his lips curl up at the end.

'Poof'

Byakuya stared in confusion as the hollow turned into a cloud of smoke. Realizing what this meant he quickly brought his arm up to defend. Only now he had no blade to defend with.

"DYNAMIC ENTRY!" came Naruto's ridiculous battle cry, and much like he did with Ichigo he landed a perfect kick to Byakuya's face. He barely had enough time to register the blow before he was crashing right into Renji, the two of them quickly falling into a pile of crumbled limbs.

Renji shifted his captain off him in order to stand before realising what he'd just done. He'd had to shift his captain himself. Did that mean that…

Yes, Byakuya Kuchiki, head of the noble Kuchiki clan and captain of the sixth division was now unconscious.

"C-Captain," sputtered Renji, temporarily forgetting about his throat and letting some blood squirt out. "Gaah"

He quickly covered the wound with one hand, and with the other brought out his sword. He stabbed it into seemingly thin air and to Naruto's surprise a door appeared.

"Oh wow, is that a door to soul society. We hollows can open a door to Hueco Mundo. It's called Gargantua."

Renji just narrowed his eyes at the hollow.

"Whatever, this isn't over. Rukia, for now you can stay here, but soon we'll come back to get you. And you'll regret siding with the human."

Renji didn't spare her a second glance as he heaved his captain over his shoulder and hobbled through the door to soul society. A moment later the door closed and disappeared.

Rukia spent a few seconds just staring into the air before remembering Ichigo was in a critical condition.

"Ichigo, are you okay," she said soflty. She knew he wasn't. Her brother had cut two very important places for a soul, the saketsu chain and the hakusui soul sleep. Without these, Ichigo would lose all of his soul reaper powers, even if he does manage to live through this.

"I', (cough) fine, Rukia," replied Ichigo weakly. He tried to grin to reassure her. But he found the effort rather painful and just ended up coughing up more blood.

"H-hollow."

Naruto perked up, hearing Ichigo call for him. Although he'd still much prefer it if Ichigo would call him by his name. He had done that absolutely awesome self-introduction whe they'd met afterall.

He made his way over, occasionally shifting his arms under the cloak which had become heavy with the rain. He bent down on his knees so that he was squatting, causing his cloak to pool in the rain and blood that was surrounding Ichigo

"What is it, Strawberry?" asked Naruto.

Ichigo frowned, which didn't take any effort since his mouth had pretty much set in that shape.

"Don't call me that," he muttered.

"Well don't call me Hollow," relied Naruto with a grin.

"You know what I was going to thank you but now I don't think I'm going to bother.

Naruto pouted.

"Look I have a name. Do you know how annoying it is that nobody uses it?"

Ichigo sighed, before coughing again.

"Fine then, Naruto. Thank you, for saving Rukia."

Naruto grinned.

"You're welcome."

Ichigo finally lost consciousness, and with that no more words were spoken, but the rain continued falling.

"Oh my, oh my."

Rukia looked up and Naruto looked behind him, to see a man wearing a green haori and green and white stripy hat with a black Umbrella held above his head.

"Do you need a hand?"


Aizen was furious. Of course this did not show on his face, which retained a smiling posture. He'd just received vice-Captain Abarai's report along with the rest of the captains. His carefully laid plans had taken a major hit. The Hogyoku was back in Urahara's possession, and now getting access to it would become difficult. Perhapes he could send some of his Espada to retrieve it. But he knew Urahara. He was a crafty man, and no doubt he'd already laid out plans in the event of an attack. There was no use in losing a pawn this early on. He would have to wait. But there was a silver lining to all of this. The hollow that Abarai had described. It took on a human appearance and defeated Captain Byakuya with his bare hands. Of course he had been limited to a fifth of his full power, but then from the report it didn't sound like the hollow was fighting at full strength either. And he wasn't the only one who seemed interested in this hollow. Yamamoto seemed rather disturbed by the news as well. And captains Kyoraku and Ukitaki seemed to share a grin. And so now he would have to plan around this set back. Because one way or another the Hogyoku would be his.


"Are you telling me that the reason I am being sentenced to such a severe punishment for what would otherwise be an understandable infranction of the rules are the machinations of one madman?"

Urahara grinned behind the fan in front of his face.

"That was a lot of big words miss Kuchiki, but yes that's basically right. I placed a treasure inside of you, and someone is going to very extreme lengths to claim it."

Rukia snarled.

"So this is your fault.

Urahara waved her off.

"Hey, hey let's not place blame here. I had to find a way to keep it safe."

"And you did this by placing it in the gigai of a low ranking shinigami who had lost her powers, and if not for the timely interference of a hollow of all things, would be easy pickings?"

Urahara stopped waving his fan.

"Alright I admit it wasn't my best plan. But I was really quit limited on my options. This was the only way to destroy it."

Rukia creased her eyebrows together in confusion.

"How would hiding it away inside me destroy it?"

Urahara started waving his fan again.

"Ah well that's the brilliant bit. You see that Gigai slowly filters away your reiatsu and bonds your soul to it. Eventually you'd become a full human. Of course at the end of your human life your soul would return to soul society, and the Hogyoku would die along with the gigai. Brilliant right?"

Urahara was suddenly yanked forward by tiny fists grabbing his haori and pulling him closer to her now furiously red looking face.

"You were going to turn me into a human? You know what, after I finish beating you to a pulp, I'm going to give your shop the worst reviews it could possibly have and make sure that everyone knows about it."

"Mah, mah calm down Miss Kuchiki. It's not all bad. It would only be a century at the very most, and besides you could have spent it with Ichigo."

Rukia suddenly let go of his haori letting him fall back to his seating position.

"Wha-what are you suggesting?" she stammered, her face going red for an entirely different reason.

But before Urahara could respond a cry was heard throughout the entire house.

"Well it looks like Ichigo's awake."


Ichigo had indeed woken up, glad he was not dead. But this happiness only lasted a moment as he opened his eyes and saw two faces way to close to his own.

"Waaaaah!"

Both faces jumped back.

"A quick response, very good," said one of the faces, that he recognized as belonging to that big guy who was always around hat and clogs.

"Morning Ichigo," said Naruto in his usual happy voice. Only there was something very different about him. His hollow aura seemed to be gone, and he seemed to be wearing an orange t-shirt and white shorts. The ring around his neck had been replaced with a black headband with a metal plate along with the stylized leaf that he'd had on. There was also a black cat perched in his hair.

Noticing where Ichigo was looking Naruto grinned. He reached up and took the cat out of his hair.

He held the cat around its middle in front of Ichigo's face.

"This is Yoyo. Say high Yoyo," said Naruto.

"Hi," said the cat blandly much to Ichigo's surprise. Apparently satisfied Naruto placed the cat back in his hair, where it quickly took up its previous position with a satisfied look on its face.

"Boss, Mr Kurosaki is awake!" called the big guy with the glasses. Ichigo didn't want to stay with the strange guy any longer, so he started trying to get out of the bed, ignoring the pain that wracked through his body with every movement.

"No no, Mr Kurosaki, your wounds have barely closed."

Ichigi looked up to see Urahara walking through a door, followed closely by, to his relief, Rukia.

"If you move around too much you'll die," said Urahara cheerfully.

"Hat and clogs," whispered Ichigo. "So this is your house?"

"Yes," answered Urahara happily, snapping his fan shut as he did so.

Ichigo looked down.

"Did you… save us?"

Urahara stretched out his face in a grin.

"You sound upset. But it was Naruto over there who saved you. I just patched you up."

Ichigo glanced at the grinning blond beside him before realising something.

"Hey what about Uryu? He was there too."

"Ah yes, he went home. His wounds weren't too bad so I could heal him on the spot. But before he left he gave me a message for you. He said you need to toughen up. Because those shinimai are going to come back, and the only one who can protect her is you."

Rukia's response to this was to smash her fist into the top of Naruto's head, causing the cat to jump of his head.

"Oww, hey what was that for? And are you related to Sakura by any chance?"

"Who?" said Rukia, whilst massaging her fist. Naruto had been placed in a special Gigai so she didn't have to worry about his hierro, but he still had quite a hard head and commented on such.

"Your head's like a rock."

Naruto stopped rubbing his head and grinned at her.

"Yep, it's been tempered by decades of an angry female hitting it whenever she gets mad for reasons that don't make sense."

Rukia frowned at him.

"Ooh, that sound's interesting Naruto. I hope you won't mind answering some questions for me later. But for now we have a bigger problem. Which is that you, Master Ichigo Kurosaki have lost your Shinigami powers. And if you're going to protect Rukia we're going to need to sort that out."

"You know," interrupted Rukia. "If you'd just let me have my shinigami powers back I could protect myself."

But Uruhara shook his head.

"For now that's not an option," replied Uruhara. "But do you know what is an option? Getting Ichigo's powers back."

Ichigo was on his feet in seconds.

"There's a way to do that? How!"

"Ohh, so you wish to protect Miss Kuchiki with your life then?" said Urahara teasingly.

Ichigo slammed his hand down on the nearest thing, which happened to be Naruto's head.

"Of course I do."

Rukia's face blushed read and Urahara's grin widened. But Naruto just made a whining noise and started rubbing his head again.

"Alrighty then. For now take these pills," said Urahara, tacking a bottle with a skull on the front of it from out of his sleeve. "Take one of these every hour and by tonight your wounds should be gone!"

He shoved the pills into Ichigo's hands.

"For now you and Rukia can head home. We'll start tomorrow. Go to school though, we don't want your family to know anything's wrong yet. Plus from what I know it's the last day of school anyway."

Ichigo nodded.

"After that you'll be training with me and Naruto every day. We'll start with a ten day long survival training. As long as you can survive that you'll be making progress in leaps and bounds. As long as you survive of course."

Well what do you think? I thought I might be taking a bit of a risk with the hoel complete abandonment of the soul society ark but Hey, if I stick Naruto in a story then he might as well have a big impact. Plus isn't this better than reading the same plt over and over again? Well If you think so then tell me and if you think not then tell me why.