Naruto Uzumaki: Soul Reaper

by Quicksilver21

How would ninja fare if they were Shinigami living in the Soul Society? Aizen has escaped from captivity and is intent upon unleashing his wrath on the Seireitei and the Shinigami within. Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura have just graduated from Shin'o Academy. Do they stand a chance of stopping Aizen and his new Espada? And is Aizen their only problem? Rated M for gore and adult themes.

4. Preparing for competition

Thanks for the reviews, keep any queries coming, I'm happy to address them.
-Haku's rank is more of an partnership thing than something earned through power. Zabuza and Haku are a team. Sorta like Kenpachi and Yachiru, I'm sure there are more capable people than Yachiru to be Lieutenant but Kenpachi keeps her around because they're a team. Zabuza just shows his appreciation a different way, one that clearly doesn't require words or actions to show. Besides, Haku didn't real go full strength, after activating Bankai he didn't go for the finish, he took the blows with little counter attacks, only striking when necessary, if he'd gone on the offensive it would've ended very differently. He just didn't want to hurt the rookies so he attempted to show them their attacks were futile so that they'd concede. Not that Naruto would ever even consider doing that. In conclusion, short of a change in plan, Haku's rank isn't at risk with Zabuza around. There'll be chances to prove himself worthy later.
-As far as whether or not other Bleach characters are still around, in one word, yes. I'm sure some people have noticed Byakuya is still alive and kicking as a Captain (mentioned twice I believe and he shall be making an appearance soon, perhaps as soon as the next chapter). There is a raw idea for Ichigo, but that is a long ways off anyway (like a LOT of chapters) if it does go ahead. One or two others are also going to be making appearances in the not too far future, any other returning Bleach characters are undecided as of yet.

Chapter 3: Preparing for competition - Sasuke learns the truth about the Uchiha!?

Sasuke was proud. Haku was hurt, badly. Naruto was shocked. Sakura was concerned. Kakashi was in thought. Zabuza was angry, with Haku. Shisui took it worst, fearing Sasuke was the spitting image of Itachi. The rest of Squad 7 had mixed feelings, some were in awe at Sasuke's power and couldn't wait to see his power grow, the rest were scared of his temper. Kakashi was about to head inside when Shisui appeared in front of him, Sakura too, with a Shunpo.
"You both stay here, I'll deal with Sasuke." The Captain said sternly, storming into the barracks. Kakashi and Sakura nodded, but Captain Shiba was already on his way inside, and headed over to Haku and Zabuza. Naruto heard Shisui clearly, but followed him anyway. Shisui didn't argue, he hadn't the time. The two of them burst into one of the sleeping quarters, which included where Sasuke slept. Shisui said nothing and just eyed Sasuke, Naruto was about to speak before Shisui held up his hand and silenced him. If there was anybody to not use the silent treatment on, it was Sasuke, the technique had no effect on him since he didn't relish conversation on a normal basis. If there was one person who wasn't able to give the silent treatment, it was Naruto.
"What the hell was that, Sasuke!?" Naruto screamed not long after trying to be silent. Sasuke shrugged, pretending to be somewhat regretful but also pretending that he was trying to hide regretting his actions. He was confident Captain Shiba would see through only one pretence or both of them.
"I had to send a message." Sasuke replied. "I'm not taking that crap from anyone. 'I'm truly sorry' and all that bull, I don't know how you coped with it Naruto. He kept saying things like that and acting like he was above us. And that's all from the transvestite of the Seireitei."
"Sasuke!" Shisui raised his voice. "You're meant to be calmer than this. What happened to your level head?"
"My head is perfectly level" Sasuke growled in response. "I know that I don't have to suffer bastards who talk about my clan that way."

Shisui looked at Naruto.
"Go outside, Naruto." He said.
"What!?" Naruto shouted back. Captain Shiba kept his voice low, but very serious.
"Leave. Go to the barracks of the Fourth Division, find Captain Tsunade Senju and bring her to Haku." Silence. Naruto didn't move. "Now!" After the Captain's prompting Naruto left the room via Shunpo and Shisui turned his attention back to Sasuke. "You're coming with me."
"Where?" Sasuke enquired, his calmness seemingly returning.
"You'll find out." Shisui responded. "Wait outside the gate. Let nobody see you leave. I'll join you in a minute." Shisui waltzed right outside of the barracks and through the courtyard. Zabuza was standing over Haku, shaking his head, and the Captain could see Naruto jumping the gate, rushing to get Captain Tsunade's help for Haku. Shisui gave Kakashi his orders, to run things until he returned and to clear out the Captain of Squad 11 before he realised that he could use Haku's injuries as an excuse to fight anybody and to send someone to inform Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Captain Commander, of what had happened with no details left unheard. Shisui left via the front gate and met Sasuke there. The Captain hadn't noticed the Uchiha leave the barracks, he'd done good. The two of them walked in silence for a long time and Sasuke didn't realise where they were heading until they were close to it.

It was a place Sasuke one day planned to return to, but not yet. A place he had left as a child and prayed he could leave every ounce of fear, kindness and mercy in. Back then, he wanted nothing but hatred and strength. As he matured, he'd realised he needed more than just hatred in order to keep his cool, but hatred was still his weapon of choice and it was what kept him going. Shisui walked into the old Uchiha village as if it were his Squad's barracks. Sasuke hesitated, but followed. Shisui had been here just as many times as Sasuke, he may not have been from the Uchiha clan but his best friend was and so he visited often. Even after Itachi's betrayal he would come here every so often, perhaps once a month, in order to wonder where it all went wrong. Shisui didn't slow his brisk pace, even when he sensed Sasuke start to slow down as he took in the sights of the place that he once lived in. It had been so long, he hadn't remembered it all and his memory was being refreshed. Shisui stopped in front of a gate, he turned, eyed Sasuke, and then opened the gate. They both walked inside and Sasuke recognised the old meeting place of Uchiha. This was where his father would gather the clan and discuss business and such, Sasuke didn't know the details. Shisui did, and he was about to share. Shisui opened the door, making a show of knocking first before entering. He walked inside and sat in the centre of the room. Sasuke entered and closed the door, about to see a side of his Captain not many other people had. A side of his Captain that Itachi had awakened.

Shisui removed his Captain's cloak and threw it in the corner, he did the same with his Zanpakutō. He then spread his arms and span, motioning to the whole room. He then looked at a confused Sasuke, a serious look in his eyes.
"Until we leave this room, I'm not your Captain any more. Now tell me, where are all the Uchiha?" Shisui asked. Sasuke paused, even more confused.
"What are you talking about?" He replied.
"These people whose honour that you protected by nearly killing Haku. Where are they?" Sasuke had no answer. Shisui sat and motioned Sasuke to join him. He did. Shisui sighed, considering his next words carefully, thankful that his sarcasm had got his point across. "I can't beat someone within an inch of their life because they offend me, but it looks more reasonable, but still very unreasonable, if I do so because they offend my clan and my family. Understand?" Sasuke did understand, and he knew what he would be told next, so he decided to say it himself.
"I understand." He began. "And I know I'm the last Uchiha, so I only defended myself by attacking that Lieutenant." Shisui wanted to agree, he knew he should. As a Captain, he couldn't say what was on his mind...but he wasn't a Captain, not until he left this room.
"You're wrong." Shisui stated simply, attracting Sasuke's attention. "You're not the last. You defended Itachi." Sasuke no longer knew where this was going.
"What do you know of Itachi?" Sasuke growled. "You heard the stories and think you know it all?"
"I was his best friend, Sasuke. And he was mine." Shisui's voice had gotten a little quieter, he didn't enjoy reliving the memories. "Itachi was...a lot of things, Sasuke, a lot of things I won't get into. Among them all, he was your brother first, and he still is. Yet the one thing he's known as is a murderer, which he is too. He betrayed a lot of people, including me. And you're going to kill him." Sasuke was very shocked at every part of Shisui's words, not just the end. Memories flooded back to Sasuke, memories of his brother saying he'd made a friend in his Division...memories of him saying he couldn't tell Sasuke the details of his mission. But as long as he had his comrades, he said, he would come back alive, for his family. And even if he ever did get in trouble his comrade would help him out, because they trusted each out. His comrade named...Shisui Shiba.

Sasuke blinked a few times, he couldn't believe he'd forgotten such an important detail, something that could be a clue to finding Itachi. Sasuke finally let the last words of Shisui sink in and then he focused on the man in front of him.
"You want me to kill Itachi." Sasuke asked quietly.
"No..." Shisui looked down and then back to Sasuke. "I need you to kill him. If you don't the job will fall to the next closest person to him, myself." Shisui took another pause. "He may not be my friend anymore, but I'm not as heartless as him, I cannot throw away my morals and kill people I call my comrades. I'm not sure if I could do it." Sasuke was beginning to understand. "So you'll never defend your clan's honour again. Keep those opinions to yourself, because half of your clan that still lives is beyond help."
"Fine." Sasuke agreed, standing up to leave.
"We're not done." Shisui said, keeping Sasuke's focus. "We won't be done for a long time. You won't be able to fight Itachi at your current level. I shall train you...and I shall tell you the truth."
"The truth?"
"The Uchiha...were bad people." Sasuke's eyes widened and Shisui motioned him to sit down. "Before I begin, after I tell you we shall begin training, you'll need it for the competition." Shisui was referring to the annual competition held on Sōkyoku Hill in which the day was spent with the Soul Reapers watching and participating in fights. The rules: Anybody can challenge anybody, and, barring serious injury, nobody could decline a fight. The competition was used to gauge the skill levels of newer Shinigami, in order to determine whether or not they deserved a Seat in their respective Squads.
"Right...I forgot about that." Sasuke admitted, he had never been concerned with earning himself a Seat, but it would gain him a little acceptance, which wasn't a bad thing for him. Half the Seireitei knew his name anyway due to his lineage, and the rest would know after the incident today.
"That will be our cover." Shisui went on. "I couldn't care less how you do in the competition. I will train you for one purpose, so you can eliminate your brother." And with Sasuke's agreement Shisui began revealing to Sasuke his knowledge of the actions of the Uchiha before Itachi turned traitor. And Sasuke would never think of the old Uchiha the same way again.

Naruto was unhappy. Tsunade was not like a medic should be, she was scary. Regardless, Naruto led her back to Haku and helped Kakashi see away Kenpachi Zabuza. However, Tsunade nor Zabuza were the reason that Naruto was unhappy. Naruto's problem was Sasuke. Zabuza vowed that Haku would be ready for a rematch by the time the fighting competition rolled around, exactly two weeks to the day, and if he wasn't then Zabuza himself vowed he would fight on his behalf. The moment he left the gate Kakashi rolled his eyes.
"Great." The Lieutenant groaned. "I guess I know who I'm gonna be fighting." Naruto asked Kakashi what this competition was and Kakashi explained, but was surprised when Naruto wasn't enthusiastic. He thought for sure Naruto would say his usual stuff about becoming Captain Commander. Naruto replied eventually, but was disheartened.
"Oh...alright. I guess I'll start training." With that Naruto walked out of the front gate, just intending to clear his head. He walked for an hour before realising he'd been gone so long, but he didn't head back. He walked up to Sōkyoku Hill and looked around, blissfully unaware of the scene he had been involved in on this very hill, 20 years earlier. He walked to the cliff's edge and wondered to himself whether or not he'd be fighting Sasuke two weeks from now. Sasuke owed him a rematch and in front of the whole Seireitei was the exactly the way Naruto would want it. But would Sasuke be himself...or would he be the sadistic monster Naruto had seen against Haku. Naruto had learned a little about the Uchiha in the past week of training, in an attempt to understand how Sasuke felt. He hadn't heard about Itachi but he heard they had been wiped out and Sasuke was the only survivor...he couldn't imagine how that felt. Naruto's parents, or so he believed, had died the day he was born.

Naruto had just about had enough of the sight when he heard footsteps behind him. He turned around to see a man standing a fair ways behind him, looking over the edge of the cliff, he wore a Captain's coat. Naruto had gone back to how he usually was, deciding to let Captain Shiba sort Sasuke out.
"Hey there!" Naruto shouted, smiling and waving. The man, who Naruto now realised had blonde hair, blinked a few times, only now noticing Naruto.
"Hey." He replied, smiling back as Naruto walked over.
"How'd you do that? One second I was alone and then here you are!" The blonde man scratched the back of his head, laughing.
"Sorry about that, I forget that some people haven't seen me before." The man laughed again. "It can be pretty scary the first time, some people can't believe how fast I am." Naruto smiled widely.
"You must be pretty fast. I'm Naruto Uzumaki." He introduced himself.
"Minato Namikaze." The blonde man responded, not mentioning his Captaincy of Squad 3, and frowning as he thought silently. Uzumaki...that name was familiar, but how did he know it? Uzumaki...as he thought more about it he thought he only recognised it because it was very remotely similar to a name he must've heard in the past. He'd ask Kushina, maybe he'd know. She was meant to be his better half after all, he hoped her memory was better than his. Although, he did think he had a pretty good memory.
"What are you doing up here then, Minato?" Naruto asked, oblivious to who he was talking to. He'd never heard of the Yellow Flash before.
"..." Minato laughed again. "Honestly, Naruto, I don't know. Every now and then I find myself drawn to this spot, as if it's important somehow..." Another memory fault, or maybe just an ominous feeling, Minato thought he might be getting old and losing his memory a little, unless there really was something he'd forgotten.
"Oh well, I'll see ya around, Minato!" Naruto smiled and ran down the hill, suddenly eager to get training. If it was Sasuke he'd be fighting in two weeks he was sure he'd be ready for it.

Naruto rushed back towards the Squad 7 barracks, ready to start training. On the way back, he passed the Squad 8 barracks and slowed a little before coming to a stop. He opened the gate slightly and saw people Squad 8 members training. It couldn't hurt to pay Captain Jiraiya a visit, right? He walked through the courtyard slowly, paying attention to the people training and hearing faint whispers as he walked. Mainly people asking each other if he was the one who had been involved in the incident with Lieutenant Haku of Squad 11. He didn't really care about the rumours, in his opinion the more people who heard about that would be supporters for him to become a Captain in the near future. Jiraiya, appeared at the doors to the barracks as Naruto opened them, proving he was more than just an old pervert, he had skill.
"Naruto!" Jiraiya greeted him. "What are you doing here? Did you bring that gorgeous little pink haired lady with you?" Jiraiya grinned at the thought of Sakura, and Naruto was starting to wonder if he'd made a mistake.
"Hey Captain Jiraiya." Naruto began, considering his next words and ignoring the Captain's comment about Sakura. "I came to see if you'd help train me a bit, ya know, for the competition." Jiraiya thought for a second.
"Oooooh" The Captain grinned. "Sasuke's Chidori making you jealous, Naruto?"
"How do you know about that?" Naruto quizzed, shocked that Jiraiya had known.
"Word travels fast, I heard you and Sasuke gave that Lieutenant quite a beating." Naruto looked down.
"Yeah, things went too far." He replied quietly. Looking at Jiraiya with seriousness in his eyes. "Will you help me train or not?"

Jiraiya thought about it a little, like all other Captains Jiraiya knew about Naruto's inner Hollow but not about his heritage. That was a secret kept between Hiruzen, Danzō, Shisui and Kakashi. Jiraiya had trained Minato for a while and, unlike Minato and Kushina, his memories were unaltered by what the Soul Society had theorised was Sōsuke Aizen's Bankai, except for the part Aizen had edited about Kushina being pregnant. Hiruzen had figured out who Naruto's parents were despite having his memories altered, the child was found with them on Sōkyoku Hill. This lack of memory alteration meant that Jiraiya was able to experience a little déjà vu while he was talking to Naruto. He was reminded of someone...but who? He couldn't put his finger on it which left him only one option, despite all the dangers it may bring.
"Of course I will!" Captain Jiraiya grinned. "In fact, I'll show you a Kidō that will put Chidori to shame." It was at that moment Jiraiya put his finger on it...Minato Namikaze. Could it be that Naruto was his son? Jiraiya knew that Minato had fought Aizen that night, what if his mind had been altered without his knowledge, Aizen's Shikai could have fooled him into thinking Bankai was never activated. Jiraiya shook his head, the idea was absurd...so why had he just offered to teach Naruto a special Kidō that was only known by two people, Minato and himself. It was Minato's invention, so it would be only natural to help his son learn it. Jiraiya scolded himself inside, he knew this idea couldn't be right, Naruto was an orphan, not the child of a Lieutenant and a, as of a few years earlier, Captain. Naruto's face lit up, he had never had any skill at Kidō but with a Captain rank Shinigami teaching him how could he fail? As soon as the Eighth Division Captain saw Naruto's face he knew he'd have to teach Naruto the Kidō anyway. He must've subconsciously believed Naruto was Minato's son for a second and the idea of teaching Minato's invention to Naruto just popped out, too late to take it back now.
"Come on in." Jiraiya turned, and began walking, Naruto following close by, already begging to be told about this Kidō he was going to learn.

Naruto and Jiraiya trained until midnight, when Jiraiya finally let Naruto head back to his own Squad's barracks. Naruto wasn't finding it easy to learn his first Kidō. He had first been training to make his Spirit Energy spin above his palm and had to keep it spinning violently until it became visible. Although it took Naruto a few hours to get the hang of, Jiraiya was impressed, it should have taken anybody longer. Especially someone who had no talent for Kidō. After that, Naruto had to create a small barrier of Kidō to contain the spinning Spirit Energy. He'd practice creating it and then Jiraiya would start performing the Kidō within his barrier to test the strength of it. The Captain had told Naruto that when he could hold Jiraiya's Spirit Energy in there for a full minute it would be complete. Naruto had managed that a mere few minutes before he had been dismissed. He had mastered both parts, but then he learnt he would have to combine them. How could he manage that? It was like trying to look right and left at the same time. Naruto was tired, but he still took a walk in the dark of night. He smiled, enjoying the training and he was looking forward to starting it again the next day. He walked for a few minutes before deciding to make his way back to the Squad 7 barracks. He changed directions, heading home, and then he saw something that made his jaw drop and stopped his feet moving for a brief second. He couldn't believe his eyes...Naruto rushed forwards.

Sasuke breathed heavily, the cold night air not being cool enough to stop him sweating like a stuck pig. He was still in the old Uchiha village, or rather just outside the entrance to it, with Captain Shiba, who had donned his Captain's cloak once more and had his Zanpakutō at his side once more, sheathed.
"Hado number 31: Sōkatsui." Shisui said, not shouting the words, but he didn't have to in order to fire the spell. A blue beam of Reiatsu exploded from the Captain's outstretched hand and shot towards Sasuke. The Uchiha dropped to the ground and rolled, dodging the attack and getting to his feet quickly, panting once more. Captain Shiba did not look impressed.
"Would you like a rest, Sasuke?" He asked, rhetorically. "I've told what you need to do to earn sleep, so do it." Sasuke had indeed been told what to do, but that fact of the matter was that he simply couldn't find a way to do it. Shisui had told him to use nothing but lightning style elemental Kidō. The logic behind the method was to increase Sasuke's lightning abilities without his Zanpakutō to the level where they as good as his Shikai, that way his Shikai could evolve to something stronger and his abilities without a Zanpakutō would be as good as his current Shikai. Shisui was making attacks as a motivator for the Uchiha.
"You told me to break your Danku." Sasuke told a pause for breath. "But I'm no fool, I know Danku blocks Hado up to number 89, and I've already told you my best is Hado 54, which you won't even let me use." Shisui smirked.
"I guess you'll just have to make a Chidori as strong as Hado 89." Sasuke had expected him to say something like that, which meant he was being given a chance to do so. Shisui didn't make another attack he stood tall and raised his hand once more.
"Bakudo number 81: Danku." The transparent, rectangular wall of Reiatsu appeared in an instant in front of Shisui. Sasuke himself was impressed, he knew that Shisui was hailed as a Kidō master but he was being shown why, the amount of Dankus he had created to block Chidori's that probably wouldn't have even hit him if he'd tried to dodge was impressive. By Sasuke's count, it was a total of thirteen Dankus including this one. The fact that Shisui hadn't even broken a sweat in creating and maintaining them was impressive. Danku was a high level Bakudo and drained Reiatsu at a fairly quick rate if maintained too long. Some of the Dankus went down fast, but some stayed for up to a minute, without Shisui even seemed the slightest bit tired.

Sasuke stood tall too. He had managed twelve Chidoris so far, and on the same day he had used his Shikai and fought Haku, as well as using a Chidori then. In his training, when he'd first learnt the Kidō he thought that five strong Chidoris would be his limit. By his estimate of their strength, he had used nine strong Chidoris this day, including the one earlier against Haku and another four that he would classify as weak, not to the standard he would like. He knew training like this would get him somewhere, if he focused. Sasuke stopped thinking about Shisui's talent, stopped counting the number of Chidoris and their quality. He focused. This was going to be the last chance he got, the more Chidoris he racked up the less chance he had of succeeding. He had to put everything into one, last Chidori. Sasuke smirked and clenched a fist, coming up with a plan that may get him the power he needed to break Danku.
"Fine." He smirked, opening his hand but keeping his fingers tensed around his palm, the usual hand gesture he'd use for Chidori. "Chidori." Sasuke growled, using the last of his Spirit Energy to make the blue ball of violent lightning burst into life in his palm. He hadn't the energy left for a Shunpo, but any idiot would know that speed was vital to increase the striking power of the attack. Hell, Sasuke thought even Naruto would know that. He ran towards Shisui and his Kidō barrier, at an increased speed due to the lightning propelling him forward, but not half as fast as his basic Shunpo speed. Shisui had little hope for this attack breaking the barrier, but he maintained full strength nevertheless. He had no intention of weakening his defence just to make Sasuke believe he could break it, he had to break it at a Kidō master's full defensive strength or not at all. Shisui had determined a long time back that Chidori was about equal to a low 70s level Hado, at Kakashi's basic power. If Kakashi pumped it with more Reiatsu perhaps he could have got it up to the 80s but to reach the top of the 80s was a big ask, it would have to be able to almost match a 90s level Hado. Shisui knew this was probably impossible, but he believed that, if pushed with enough motivation, Kakashi would be able to do it. Sasuke had all the motivation he needed, to defeat Itachi, so all he needed was the power to do it, if it was indeed possible.

Sasuke neared the barrier, his speed increasing ever so slightly. Shisui watched the attack come with his usual calm expression, the same expression he kept when witness Sasuke's plan. The Uchiha jumped and twirled 270 degrees in the air, landing his feet on the transparent barrier. Sasuke's shoes began to disintegrate at a fast rate, but he was only on the barrier for a second so the concentrated defensive Spirit Energy didn't have the time to completely destroy his footwear. Sasuke pushed off the barrier with all his remaining physical strength, which wasn't much. Shisui had already figured Sasuke's next move, having seen what Sasuke was holding in his left hand. While spinning in the air, he had made a strand of lightning from his left hand, attaching it into the ground below the Danku barrier. Shisui couldn't be sure of course, but he predicted how low Sasuke's Reiatsu levels were after this training and that he would have put all his remaining Spirit Energy into the Chidori in his right hand, which meant that he would have had to sacrifice his own physical energy to create that strand of lightning. A lot of physical energy too since changing the form of a Kidō like Chidori was no easy task, Sasuke would have to be drained of both Spirit Energy and physical energy now. Even so, the jump was strong, launching Sasuke several metres from the barrier. At farthest point Sasuke knew he would reach he closed his hand around the strand of lightning that was connected to the palm of his left hand. He pulled at it with everything he had. The lightning held strong, despite the lack of quality it was due to his dwindling energy supply, in the ground below the Squad 7 Captain's Kidō barrier and propelled Sasuke towards Shisui. He neared the end of the line of lightning and let it dissipate into nothing. His feet reconnected with the ground and he fought to keep himself standing as he skidded towards the barrier. His skid slowed and he dug his feet into the ground, stopping all movement. The momentum from his skid travelled all the way into Sasuke's right arm as the Uchiha thrust it forward, straight into Shisui's barrier.

Had Sasuke had the energy to do so, the Chidori's clash with the barrier would have been accompanied with a earth-shaking roar of effort. Instead, the Chidori hit the barrier with the sound of lightning crackling, as well as slight vibration from the Danku. The Danku didn't shatter. Sasuke pushed harder, exhausting all the energy he had left, the energy he didn't know he had and the energy that came from a place deep within he never knew existed. After a few seconds the Chidori died out, the blue light and crackling sound it continued to make against the Danku both disappearing at the same moment. Sasuke's eyes closed and he fell forwards, falling straight to the ground. Shisui's face hadn't changed, he still looked as unimpressed as ever. He looked at the Danku in front of him. He saw a crack, in the dead centre where the Chidori connected. A small crack, but a crack nevertheless. From the Captain's estimate, that last Chidori had become, at it's strongest point, about the equivalent of a low level 80s Hado. If he was forced to pick an exact number Shisui would have said exactly 80. Such a strong Chidori would have pressed even Kakashi, he believed, and was a far improvement from Sasuke's earlier Chidoris. Shisui figured Sasuke's average Chidori to be about the low level 60s range, a good 10 levels below Kakashi, but strong nevertheless. Shisui had never really expected Sasuke would break any Danku with Chidori, let alone his, so he was rather surprised the Uchiha had made a crack in the wall. Shisui could have repaired the crack easily with a slight amount of his own Reiatsu but he had no need to. Sasuke had far from mastered the technique, but this was a big step in that direction. Shisui let the barrier shatter and picked up Sasuke's limp body. He still felt a weak presence of Sasuke's Reiatsu, so he'd live and probably be fine with a few hours sleep. That change in the form of the Kidō had also impressed Shisui, Kakashi had trained such a move himself on a casual basis and it had taken him a few days to create. Sasuke was not as good a Shinigami as Kakashi, yet, but he had known Chidori for a week maximum, probably only four or five days. Perhaps he had been training that change in private, as Kakashi surely would have mentioned it to his Captain if he had being teaching it. The only other option was that he'd come up with the idea in the heat of battle and created it himself then.

With no Reiatsu to spare and only an idea would Sasuke really pin the chances of his last attack succeeding to break Danku by using a move he'd only just thought of and wasn't even sure was possible? If so, then that would mean he had attempted it for the first time just then, and had succeeded first time, and that was a scary thought...could he have really done that? Shisui couldn't help but wonder if he had. Whether that theory was correct or not Sasuke had learned a tricky move in no more than a few days, he certainly had the potential to rival Kakashi within a year if he trained hard, maybe a year and a half. What was Sasuke's true potential and, more importantly, could it one day rival the strength of Itachi?