Hello everybody! Animelover54321 here and back with a new chapter for the 'Leafs Shinigami.' Sorry for the wait guys, a lot of things happened and I don't want to get too caught up into ranting about my life, so I'm going to say one word that describes it.

...eh.

Anyways, reviews, reviews, some gives good advice, some compliments, suggestions on how to make it better, all in all, it's a pretty fair amount. But what can I say, I love them all, good or bad, it'll just keep me rising in the story lists.

Now, lets get this story progressing shall we?

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Coast of Wave Country

A ship docked in a poor looking harbor before passengers began getting off, two of these people were Ichigo and Mavis who stopped and took in the sight that greeted them.

Ichigo stared at the poor town ahead of them for a few seconds before he began to make his way toward it. Mavis shortly following behind him. "Just look at this place." Ichigo muttered as he took short glances around, passing numerous of homeless men, women, and children. How stray cats and dogs wandered the streets, digging through trash to find even the slightest scrap to consume.

Mavis sadly gazed at the sight that greeted her, never in her life has she knew that their was people living in this condition. "What happened for this to happen?"

"I don't know, but this is none of our concern. As much as it pains me to see people living like this, we can't do anything." Ichigo replied, trying his best to avoid staring into the eyes of a desperate person. As they continued, up ahead he heard someone that seemed to be arguing with a few people. After awhile, he caught sight of a women holding groceries as she argued with about three other men, and by the looks of them, they mean trouble.

"I'm sorry, but I can't accompany you, I have to get back home." The woman said.

"Oh come on, just for a few hours." One of the men grinned as he inched his way closer to her. "They won't notice that you're gone, trust me."

"I appreciate the offer, but I can't." The woman was about push pass the three, but the man grabbed her wrist with a tight grip.

"Well sorry sexy, but you don't have a choice for this one."

"Let me go!" The women shouted as she tugged on her arm, trying to pull herself free from the mans grasp.

"Oi."

The three men all turned around, the only thing they saw was a blur of Orange and then darkness. Ichigo wiped his hands together as he examined the three men laid knocked out when he unleashed hell upon them.

"You think I went a little rough?" He thought to his two companions

"Nah." The two replied. "You're good."

Ichigo inwardly nodded to himself before turning his gaze towards the woman whom he helped, who was recollecting all of the items she dropped on the little event that just happened awhile ago. "Are you alright?" He spoke as he approached her.

The woman nodded as she finished collecting her items, she stood up and smiled at Ichigo, expressing her gratitude for helping her in her time of need. "Thank you for helping me. If you weren't here, who knows where I would be or what they would do to me."

Ichigo nodded, smiling softly as he asked if she needed help carrying her bags, she declined the offer, but Ichigo insisted after what she almost went through. In the end the woman agreed and let him carry a portion of her belongings. They escorted her home, and the woman gave him her name in exchange for his.

"My name's Tsunami. Who are you?"

"The name's Ichigo, Tsunami-san." He replied. "If I may ask, what's wrong with this town? I know that it's poor, but there must be a reason for that, right?"

Tsunami sadly nodded as they kept on walking. "A while back, a man named Gato came and forcefully took over this country. Nobody ever stood up against him besides my...my husband, Kaiza, but when Gato executed him in front of many villagers, no one ever tried to revolt against him again, in fear of meeting the same fate Kaiza had."

Ichigo frowned, this Gato is a huge problem in this village. But it's been awhile since this happened right, so there's no doubt they've sent a C-ranked mission or higher to villages that are willing to help. It'll only be a matter of time until some Shinobi come by to free this country once more. In the end, Ichigo shrugged it off, thinking that it'll be taken care of later.

Tsunami seemed to smile a small bit. "But thankfully, my father has brought home some Shinobi to take care of this threat."

See, what'd I tell you. Ichigo mentally nodded, this village should be in fine hands now.

"They're Leaf Shinobi, and they seem exhausted and worn down. Their leader is really injured so the three children should be waiting until he recovers."

"Well that does not sound good." Ichigo spoke. "Where are they staying at right now?"

Tsunami looked around, making sure that no one was eavesdropping on their conversation. After confirming there was no one. She whispered just loud enough for Ichigo to hear. "They're staying with me." She replied.

"So we're headed over there right now?"

Tsunami nodded, confirming his thoughts.

"Good." Ichigo slightly smiled. "I want to see them."

A few minutes later

They've just reached their destination, and in no time they entered the building.

"Where do you want me to put these?" Ichigo spoke as he held up the bags.

"Just over there by the counter."

He nodded before placing the bag on the counter, but as he did so, he heard the rushing sounds of footsteps closing its distance on him followed by a battle cry. Ichigo ducked under a person that launched himself right foot first at him. A loud crash followed not a second later before the person began groaning in pain.

Ichigo chuckled when he got a good look at the person who tried to hit him, it was easy to tell who it was for the bright clothing he wore. "Nice try Naruto. But you're still way to slow to get me."

Naruto sat on his butt as he rubbed his head. "That hurt." He groaned once more.

"That's what happens when you rush into battle with someone Dobe." A new person spoke. He stood by a door with a pink haired girl standing behind him shaking her head.

"Naruto you idiot, you could've injured an innocent civilian with your careless act."

"He's not a civilian Sakura." The boy spoke. "That's Naruto's older brother, he's a Shinobi as well."

Ichigo smiled as he crossed his arms. "It's nice to see you to Sasuke. You go ahead and begin speaking about me without saying hello, what disrespect."

"Whatever." Sasuke smirked.

Ichigo turned towards Sakura before raising an eyebrow. "Never seen you before? You must be the third member of the party. I'm Kurosaki Ichigo. What's your name?"

"Sakura Haruno sir." Sakura replied, a tone full of respect when she noticed that this person was a higher rank.

Ichigo chuckled. "You don't have to be so uptight, just act as if you would to anyone you're close with."

"A-Are you sure?" She replied, a bit surprised on how his personality is. She expected someone of his rank to be more authoritative and strict.

Ichigo nodded as he turned to face Naruto who just got to his feet.

"Nii-san, what are you doing here?!" He yelled while pointing a finger at him.

"I was just passing by, but then I heard that some team from Konoha was here and in a bit of trouble, so I decided to drop by and see what the fuss is all about." He looked towards Sasuke and Sakure before speaking. "But, guessing that you and Sasuke are here, then I guess Kakashi is as well. Isn't he?"

"Yeah, he is." Sasuke nodded. "He's in the other room resting right now over the injuries he's obtained awhile back."

"Yeah?" Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "And how long ago was that?"

"Maybe close to a week."

Ichigo nodded, but then he heard a very faint perverted giggle that no one but him heard. His right eye twitched when he noticed who it belonged to. "That bastard is completely fine." He thought before marching down the hall in anger, leaving behind a three confused children.

Mavis smirked as she skipped behind Ichigo. "This is going to be entertaining." She thought.

With Kakashi

Kakashi continued to read his book before giggling again. "You're so naughty nurse-san." He spoke to no one in particular.

He flipped the page before he continued reading, a few seconds later the door that lead to his room exploded, making him fall out of his bed screaming like a girl. He peeked over the bed before seeing Ichigo emerged through the door, not looking too happy.

"Oh Ichigo." He spoke nervously. "So kind of you to drop by, you see I was currently resting until you uh...broke down my door and made me scream." His eyes widened when he noticed that his book was sitting on the bed, he immediately swiped it off, hoping Ichigo didn't see it. A sound of knuckles cracking greeted his ears.

He saw it.

"Wait, wait, wait! I can explain!" He threw his hands in front of him. "You see, this is going to be a new training for the three."

"How is that smut going to help them with their training?" He growled.

"Okay Kakashi." He thought to himself. "Choose the next words you'll say carefully." He inwardly took a deep breath before speaking.

"...Stamina?"

The entire town was filled with a loud screaming of pain and begging for mercy for awhile

A few minutes later

Kakashi sat kneeling on both his knees with bumps and bruises across his face and body.

"You've learned your lesson now?" Ichigo huffed as he glared down at the copy cat.

"...Hai." He shamely muttered.

"Good." Ichigo sighed as he rubbed his head. "You know, there's always the option of getting a girlfriend Kakashi so you could actually experience it. Why waste your time with these books that pervert Jiraiya always publishes when you can have the real thing?"

Kakashi should've felt offended for saying things about his perverted books, but instead he gave Ichigo a curious look. "Why did you ask that question anyway?"

"Just because." He replied, but no sooner than that Kakashi appeared in front of him, all healthy once more as he stared intensely at him. "W-What?" Ichigo slightly backed away, a nervous feeling filling his body.

Kakashi all of a sudden grabbed his shoulders and whispered intensely at him. "How did it feel?"

"What're you talking about?!" Ichigo began to slightly blush in embarrassment.

"You know what I'm talking about?" Kakashi almost yelled as he began to make hand motions of the female body. "How was the curves? The size of their breast? Did you smack 'em!" He got up close to him once more. "Did you!"

"Yea-N-No! What the hell?!" Ichigo smashed his palm on Kakashi's face and shoved him back.

"He hesitated when answering!" Kakashi muttered to himself. "So he has done it."

He tried to imagine the beauty that Ichigo met during his travel, going through all thoughts such as a nurse, a Kunoichi, a princess, a secretary, and countless of others. He giggled at the thought of it.

Ichigo sighed to himself at what he went through. However, he never forgot the main reason he was here in the first place. "Kakashi." He spoke. gaining his attention. "What happened to you?"

Kakashi sighed before speaking. "Well, we were suppose to be doing a C-Ranked mission right now. The job was to protect the bridge builder, Tazuna, from being attacked by bandits. However, on the way we noticed that Tazuna was not only being targeted by bandits, but a Shinobi as well, a really deadly one."

"And who is he?"

"Zabuza Momochi."

Ichigo placed a finger on his chin in thought. "Then this mission should be at most A-Ranked, something far too challenging for those three you have under your wing."

"I know." Kakashi nodded. "Not only that, but Zabuza also seems to have an apprentice with him, a very skilled one no doubt."

"We should leave then." He spoke. "I won't have Naruto and Sasuke be put in harms way, same goes for the girl, Sakura, I think her name was." He crossed his arms. "If something did happen to them, we would never see the light again when those 'two' hears of it."

Kakashi shuddered when he mention those 'two'. "For Kami's sake, I hope it doesn't come to that." He muttered, he relaxed himself before replying to Ichigo. "I have no problem leaving, however, Naruto has his mind set on saving this town already. And I think Sasuke is as well, there's no changing their minds now."

Ichigo hummed. "Well, if that's the case, then you better start training the three for what's about to come."

"Now?" Kakashi whined. "But I'm injur-"

"No you're not you big baby." Ichigo grabbed Kakashi by the arm and yanked him off his bed. "I know you, now get up and start training them."

Kakashi pouted. "You're no fun."

A few hours later, in a forest

Team 7 and Ichigo, along with Mavis who happily and childishly swung her legs from one of the branches high above them, were located in an area deep in the forest.

"Okay." Kakashi spoke, gaining the attention of the three youngsters. "We know that we will no doubt fight a very strong and dangerous opponent, so that is why we are here to continue on your training as Shinobi."

"About time!" Naruto spoke, placing two hands behind his back. "It's been so long since we got any real training done."

"What the Dobe says is true." Sasuke nodded in agreement. "I don't recall the last time we've ever trained."

Kakashi raised his hand to stop anymore comments to be given. "This is the reason why we'll be training right now." He spoke. "Today, you all will be learning how to climb a tree."

"How's that training?" Sakura questioned, a raised eyebrow as she placed her right hand on her hip. "That'll be pretty easy in my perspective."

Kakashi gave an eye smile. "You didn't let me finish. You will be climbing a tree, but without using your hands." He smirked under his mask when he saw the confused and ridiculous expressions the three made. "Here is how you will do it." He made his way up to a tree before placing his foot on the bark, he then proceeded to put his other foot on, making him stand side ways as he began walking up the tree.

"You see, in order to do this. The person must concentrate its Chakra on his or her feet, this will allow them to climb up, defying the laws of gravity." He continued to walk up the tree before reaching a very large branch, he then stood upside down before staring at the his students who continued to watch in awe. "However, there is a problem." He looked at Ichigo, waiting for him to continue what he was saying.

Ichigo caught onto this, and he couldn't help but feel annoyed by this. "What are you looking at me for? They're your students!"

"I'm too lazy." Was his only reply.

Ichigo sighed in annoyance before continuing where Kakashi left off. "You see." He began. "If you 'do' do this. Then you must know the right amount of Chakra you need to use in order to run up the tree without any problem. If you put in too little, then you slip off, if you put too much, the bark will explode, forcing you to jump off the tree. This however, will not only allow you to climb tree's swiftly, but you will be able to control the amount of Chakra you possess more easily, giving you an advantage when you perform Jutsu's and other techniques. It's just like the academy, if you pour in too much or too little Chakra into a jutsu, it will come out very poor, and no doubt a joke."

Naruto nodded as he rubbed his chin. "So all I have to do is make it up one of these trees and that's it right. Too easy."

Kakashi chuckled. "Alright then Naruto, if you say its easy, then I want you to reach one of the high branches. Okay?"

Naruto grinned as he threw a thumbs up at Kakashi. "You got it dattebayo!" Naruto made his way up to a tree before beginning. "Okay, first I need to concentrate Chakra to my feet, and then I proceed." He only took a few steps before the bark burst apart, this actions caught Naruto by surprise, and he couldn't do anything but fall on his head.

"Oww." He groaned as he rubbed his head.

Kakashi and Ichigo were chuckling at this scene, the same goes for Sasuke and much less Sakura. Naruto got up and glared at Sasuke. "Oh yeah, if it's so funny how about you try getting up there!" He pointed.

"Now, now Naruto." Kakashi eased. "Let's not do anything rash, this is the exact reason why no one shouldn't overestimate there ability's. I want all three of you to go ahead and start training, the moment you reach one of these branches. You completed your task." He swiftly threw three Kunai's in front of all three Genin. "Use those Kunai's to mark the highest point you've reached. Everytime you mark it down, try to go a bit higher than the last one. You may begin."

Naruto and Sasuke took a quick glance at each other from the corner of their eyes before dashing towards and up the tree. A few steps they made it before bursting off the bark, they marked their spot before falling.

Ichigo disappeared and appeared on the branch Kakashi was standing under. "Two questions." He spoke. "Why haven't they learned this already, for this should've been completed awhile ago. And second off, how long do you think until they finish?"

"I don't know how long until it's completed, it depends on their will and determination." Kakashi replied, completely ignoring the first question.

"Hey!" A voice called high up in the branches. "This is actually pretty easy!"

Everyone turned their heads up to see Sakura sitting on a branch swinging her legs as she admired the view.

"That's great Sakura-chan!" Naruto praised.

"Hmph." Sasuke huffed before resuming his training.

"I guess Sakura is finished for the day." Kakashi spoke. "I can't believe she finished first before all of you, looks like I underestimated her skills. I mean seriously, I guess Sakura has a better chance on becoming Hokage, and she shows better chakra control than the legendary Uchiha clan. I guess they were just all talk." He only said this to make the two who were still at it to get frustrated and work even harder, and it seems like it kind of worked. Sakura only scratched her head embarrassingly at the praise she received.

"Sakura, since you're done. How about you go help Tazuna in anyway he needs until your two teammates are finished."

"Eh?" She blinked a few times. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure. Don't worry." Kakashi replied, watching his student leave the area to go find Tazuna.

Ichigo felt a presence nearby, but it didn't seem threatening to him. From the corner of his eye, he saw a young boy, probably no older than 8 years of age spying on the team. "Who's the kid?" He muttered to Kakashi.

"That's Tsunami's son, Inari." He replied, not bothering to look at Ichigo or the boy. "He's rather cold to our presence here. So don't push him, he might have experienced something in the past that made him this way."

Ichigo hummed in understanding. He saw the boy turn around before leaving, probably going back to where he came from. "Imma go talk to him." He spoke, not bothering to wait for a reply, he vanish into thin air.

Inari huffed as he turned away from Team 7's so called, 'training'. "What a waste of time." He muttered. "They'll just die like the rest of them." As he spoke that, an image of his step-father Kaiza flashed through his head for just a second. He clenched his fist in anger as he thought about what happened.

Ichigo stepped out from behind one of the trees. "What makes you say that we'll die." He spoke, startling the young boy. He leaned on the tree with his left shoulder as he waited for a reply.

"Who are you?" He spoke. "I never seen you around until now."

"I just came recently, think of me as back up for the team."

"Hmph." Inari scoffed. "Then you'll die like the rest of them." He spoke before walking away.

Ichigo stood for a few seconds before sighing. "Wow, Kakashi wasn't kidding when he said the kids cold." He thought before regrouping back with the cyclops, watching the remaining two train until nightfall, where their legs finally gave out and couldn't train for another minute.

A few hours later

Team 7 sat in the dining room table, having their fill from their long day of training, it was a time to relax...well, not when two rivals are wolfing down mouthfuls of food a second as they glared at one another.

"Another round please!" The two spoke. A few seconds more passed until the two felt something coming up from their stomach, they turned around and vomited all over the floor.

Sakura's eye twitched at the scene she witnessed. "Don't eat like that if you're going to puke!" She yelled in annoyance and disgust.

"I wont lose." Sasuke muttered.

"I wont lose either." Naruto grinned. "It'll help me get stronger."

Kakashi nodded. "It will get you stronger, but puking won't."

Ichigo held his palm over his mouth as he looked away. "Uhh, you two are going to make me puke." He groaned, ignoring the giggles from Mavis who looked at this scene with great interest.

A few minutes later, after the disgusting competition ended. Sakura looked at a torn picture hanging from one of the walls. "It looks like someone on this picture was torn off." She spoke. "Who is this person?"

"That - was my husband." Tsunami hesitantly spoke.

Tazuna nodded as he looked down. "He was a hero in this land."

At this point, Inari took this time to leave the dining room before running out the door.

"Inari!" Tsunami called out as she chased after her son. She glanced back to glare at her father. "I told you never to say that in front of him, you know this!" She then proceeded to go after her son.

"There must be a story behind that type of behavior we witnessed." Ichigo spoke as he leaned on his chair.

Tazuna nodded before proceeding to tell the story behind this man. How he saved Inari from drowning, and how the two were very close with each other, getting along with pretty much everything they did. Up until his execution from a man named Gato who now had the entire wave country fearing him.

"He was a hero." Tazuna continued. "A hero that has perished one day, and that day changed Inari, for he stopped believing that something good will come, that we will all meet the same fate."

Naruto had his eyes closed as he heard this story be told, he opened his eyes before standing up. As he took one step to the door, he fell to the floor, his body still aching from the training they received.

"Naruto, you should rest." Kakashi spoke. "You can't move anymore."

"I'll prove him wrong." He groaned as he struggled to push himself back on his feet. He turned back, a confident smirk on his face. "I'll prove to him that there are still hero's in this world." He got back to his feet before leaving the building.

"Naruto!" Sakura called out as she made an attempt to go after him. "Wait-"

Ichigo grabbed Sakura's arm, halting her movements. "Don't." He spoke. "Let him be, I'll check on him first thing in the morning."

Sakura looked at Kakashi, hesitant about not going after her teammate, she received a nod from her sensei telling her to leave him be. She sighed before nodding. "Alright."

Next morning, 8:00 AM

Ichigo yawned as his eyes slowly opened, taking in the morning sun that has yet to expose itself in the sky. He got up on a sitting position for a few seconds, waiting for the sleepiness fade a bit more before standing on his two feet. He quietly made his way through the building, knowing that everyone was still sleeping. As he left the building, he was greeted by Mavis who sat patiently outside.

"Aren't you suppose to be asleep." Ichigo spoke, slightly surprise at her presence.

"I don't have to sleep, I'm dead remember. I mean, I could sleep if I want to, but I don't wanna." She replied.

"Fair enough." He nodded, "So, do you know where Naruto went. I need to get the brat back here before breakfast, or else he'll start the day with an empty stomach."

"I saw him a few minutes down that direction." She pointed. "He looks exhausted."

"Alright thanks." He smiled before taking off in the direction she pointed.

After a few minutes of walking, he began to here voices speak back to one another, one of them he knew was Naruto. He stopped before he could've made himself known to the two, eavesdropping on their conversation.

"I'm going become Hokage!" Naruto pronounced confidently. "The strongest Hokage their ever was!"

Ichigo inwardly chuckled to himself, wondering how many times he heard him say those words.

"Goddamn!" The hollow groaned. "I know he's a kid and all, but will he ever shut up about becoming Hokage?!"

"Let kids dream." Zangestu replied. "Let them become motivated enough to achieve their goal in life, so it wont wither out and die when they grow older."

Ichigo nodded, agreeing to his partners thoughts. Even though it can get annoying at times, it will be better if the young knew what they wanted to be when they grow up. He concentrated his attention back towards Naruto and the other person that his 'little brother' was speaking to.

"You want to get stronger huh?" The other person spoke, the person paused for a few seconds before speaking. "You know, I always believed that a person grows truly strong when they have a person they wish to protect."

"They do?" Naruto blinked a few times.

"Yes, is their anyone you want to protect? Friends or family?"

Naruto smiled brightly as he leaned back, placing his hands behind his head. "Yeah I do, a lot of people actually. I want to protect all of my friends, including Kaa-chan, Jiji, and Nii-san as well.

Ichigo smiled as he heard this. "'A person gets truly strong when they have someone they wish to protect huh?' I like that." He stepped out, making his presence known. "A great way to put it." He spoke, slightly startling the two.

"Nii-san?!" Naruto spoke. "What're you doing here?"

"I'm here to take you back for breakfast, you don't want to start the day with an empty stomach do ya?"

As if on cue, Narutos stomach growled in hunger. He blushed in embarrassment as he rubbed the back of his head.

Ichigo smirked before wrapping an arm around Naruto's neck. "So, whose the girl? A secret girlfriend or something?" He teased.

"N-No, it's nothing like that?!" He stuttered.

The girl watched the older person tease what she most likely thinks is his younger brother. She smiled as she giggled a bit, enjoying the amusing scene in front of her. She stood to her feet before speaking. "It was nice knowing you Naruto, but I have to leave now. Goodbye!" She waved before retreating back in the forest.

Naruto smiled as he waved back as well. "Bye!" He smiled.

The girl stopped before looking back, still smiling. "By the way, I'm a boy." With that, she left the area, leaving two shocked males.

"...Is she really."

"Don't trust another person with long hair unless you actually 'know', its a female." Was Ichigo's only reply.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

And Done

Now, before I continue with the closure of this chapter, I would like to apologize for my long absence, as some of you, well, perhaps all of you already know. Finals are almost upon us, others are already beginning them. And I was taking this time to prepare myself for what's coming. I could've made this chapter longer, but I am sure I will be extremely busy until testing is over which will begin in about a week or 2, so that means it would take a possible 3 or 4 weeks longer to deliver another chapter. Yeah, I know, it sucks and I hope you guys can understand this, the next chapter I make will have at least a total number of 10,000 words as a make up for the time I've left you all.

Once again, I apologize, Thank you guys so much for your continued support, and as always!

I'll see you guys, when I see you guys.

Peace!