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"Creature Talking"
"Character Talking"
'Character Thoughts'
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Chapter 7: Academy Days Continued
Previously on the 'The Ultimate Soul Reaper'...
Naruto and the others shuffled toward the testing room, eager to begin.
In his haste, Naruto bumped into someone, and sent him tumbling to the ground.
He looked down to see that he had knocked over a boy slightly older than himself. The boy had blood red hair, and pale skin with listless green eyes that carried signs of heavy fatigue. Kanji for "love" was on his forehead, and a large gourd was on his back.
"Sorry, I didn't see you there," Naruto said apologetically, extending a hand. The redhead's eyes stared directly into his own, glimmering with madness barely being kept at bay. "My name's Naruto, what's yours?"
The other boy didn't reply, but suddenly said, "Mother acknowledges you, younger brother of Byakuya Kuchiki-"
Naruto's eyes widened. 'What the hell. I didn't even tell him that part.'
'-so I will indulge you. I have no name, but others call me Gaara, Gaara of the Desert."
At the Testing Area...
"Hisana..."
Naruto watched as Hisana entered the testing room, a slightly nervous look on her face. His eye narrowed at the redhead standing in front of him.
'Sabaku no Gaara,' he mused, placing a his on his chin. 'What kind of person are you? One would think, that by your personality, you would have a Hollow Issue like me, but I can't sense any Hollow reitei from you. However, something tells me that I'm right to be wary of you. After all, I can tell that you are truly... insane.'
"Byakuya Kuchiki..."
Whispers flew around the courtyard as Byakuya made his way to the testing area, calmly and gracefully. Hisana reappeared from the testing room nearly a minute later, looking slightly more relaxed. Naruto shifted his gaze over to her, while keeping an eye on the one called Gaara.
"So, how did it go? Wait, let me guess. You got into the advanced class, didn't you," he said, smiling.
"Yes," she said softly, giving a sigh of relief. "I was so nervous, but once the test started, I was alright."
"So, what did they test you on?" Naruto asked, wiggling his eyebrows. "Think I can cheat off you?"
"You don't even need to cheat off me, Naruto," she said laughing.
Naruto grinned back at her as she glanced at him worriedly.
"Naruto, what's wrong?" she asked.
"Huh?"
"You've been staring at that boy for the past five minutes. What happened?"
Naruto pursed his lips as he looked at Gaara curiously. 'Why is this guy bugging me so much,' he wondered. 'Maybe it's the bloody aura surrounding him, or maybe it's... something else. I can't put my finger on it, but I feel like I'm missing something important. Sabaku no Gaara... who are you?'
"Naruto?" Hisana interjected. "Are you alright?"
"Something about that guy bugs me," Naruto muttered as his eyes burned holes in Gaara's head. Hisana followed his gaze to Gaara. She fought an urge to shudder. The amount of bloodlust surfacing off him was suffocating. She had no idea how Naruto was treating this whole thing so nonchalantly. Even for a young soul, she could automatically tell why Gaara was an enigma.
"He knew my full name before I even told it to him," Naruto murmured as he placed his hand on his chin. Suddenly, a voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Naruto Kuchiki..."
Whispered again spread about as Naruto made his way to the front where the testing room was located. He stepped inside.
"Welcome, Naruto Kuchiki." a deep voice boomed. "I am Chikao Daisuke, headmaster of the Shinigami Academy."
Naruto bowed slightly as he kept his eyes on the several figures seated on the high desk. He could understand why Hisana had en so nervous. This gave him the feel of a criminal about to be convicted. However, his face remained a mask of calm as he stared down the testers unflinchingly.
"Prepare yourself," Chikao said. "To begun, we will evaluate your spiritual energy, then test your knowledge of the Soul Society. Once this is completed, you will participate in a mock duel against one of our Soul Reapers to determine your current combat ability. Are you ready to begin?"
"Yes," Naruto said calmly. Chikao nodded before waving his hand, motioning. A Soul Reaper materialized out of the shadows gently carrying a clear white orb the size of a basketball.
"Let's begin," Chikao ordered. "First, you will channel as much spirit energy as you can into the orb. Once this is completed, the orb will tell us how much you are channelling and set it in a number. Every Soul that carries spirit energy can channel it, but the real purpose of this test is for us to discover your ability to release spirit energy. Furthermore, this will also give us a vague idea of the potential you carry. Also, this will detect any amount of spirit energy that you are not channelling. Now, you may begin."
Naruto nodded as he brushed a few stray strands of blonde hair out of his face as his eyes fluttered closed in pure concentration His face adopted a serene look as his body began to glow. The examiners averted their eyes from the sheer brightness as Naruto's spiritual pressure filled the room like an enormous cloak, weighing down the entire room. Cracks appeared on the ground near his feet as his body glowed red with an ominous black hue.
The examiners eyes widened as the heavy force pressed on their back's limiting their ability to breath. Naruto's hair blew back as the force grew stronger and stronger, making the ground shake and tremble.
'I... I can't believe it!' Chikao gasped as he threw an arm over his eyes. 'His brother's spiritual pressure was impressive, but this... is on a totally different level! Even the insane one... Sabaku no Gaara didn't carry such strength and raw power!'
Outside in the Courtyard...
Byakuya stared at the testing room his brother had entered just moments ago. He himself had gotten in the advanced class rather easily. The orb they placed in hands deduced that the amount of spiritual pressure he was emitting was on the level of a Seated Officer. It was only a rumor, but he had heard that the redheaded boy Gaara had emitted so much spirit energy that he had shattered the orb.
'I wonder... what's the real reason Naruto is so wary of Gaara,' Byakuya mused as he observed the others who had been placed in the advanced class. There was a boy with black hair who apparently had failed the entrance exam the first time. However, this time, he had impressed the examiners with his high zanjutsu skill, so he was placed in the advanced class. Although Byakuya didn't know his name, it was Hisagi Shuuhei, who managed to pass the second time.
Hisana had told him that they seemed to be very impressed with her knowledge of the Seireitei despite being born in the 78th District, which was the reason for her choosing as well. Byakuya and Gaara's high spiritual pressure made them worthy candidates for the advanced class. Byakuya was so deep in thought that he didn't notice that someone was standing right in front of him.
"Oh, pardon me," an oily voice said apologetically. "I'm terribly sorry, but have you seen a girl with orange light brown hair?"
"What?" Byakuya asked as he finally looked up. Standing before him was a small boy with pale white hair, standing nearly a head shorter than Byakuya himself. The boy's eyes were drawn into slits, and his smile seemed dangerously fake.
"I'm Gin," the boy said, introducing himself. "Gin Ichimaru."
"Byakuya Kuchiki," Byakuya answered hesitantly. "Now, who exactly are who looking for again?"
"Found her!" he heard Hisana's voice yell. She pushed through the crowds towards Byakuya, with a certain girl in her grasp. Gin smiled a true smile at Hisana, silently thanking her as the girl's eyes strayed shyly to the ground. It seemed she was nervous around other people.
"My name is Hisana. What's yours?" Hisana asked the girl warmly.
"I-I'm Rangiku Matsumoto," the girl answered shyly as she strayed closer to Gin.
"I guess we're all in the advanced class then," Hisana said brightly. Byakuya turned away snootily. He knew he was being rather rude, but he wasn't really sure how to interact with these people. He knew Naruto could've easily done so, and it irked him to no end. Naruto always seemed to get along with everyone he met.
"I wonder how he's doing in there," Byakuya whispered as he stared at the testing room up ahead.
"So ya worried 'bout your little brother," Gin said his creepy smile ever present. Byakuya didn't answer as he stared at the testing room passively. Suddenly, a chill rose up his neck. He looked behind him to see Gaara staring at the same place he was with a bloodthirsty grin on his face. His eyes gleamed with madness as his bloodlust rose, making the people around him back away slowly.
Rangiku looked at them in turn, completely lost as to what was going on. Byakuya gritted his teeth. 'What's the crazy phyco thinking,' he thought furiously.
Suddenly, the ground shook, and spiritual pressure blasted outwards in a massive wave from the testing area, crushing most of the students to the ground. Byakuya struggled to stand as powerful spirit energy slammed on his back. Gin's eyes opened in sock as Rangiku and Hisana yelped. Gaara's psychotic grin widened as his teeth began to jut out of his mouth.
"What's going on," Rangiku gasped as she was forced to her knees. Byakuya gritted his teeth as he fought to shake off the overwhelming power flowing off the testing room.
Many students began to shake and quiver in fear, trying to imagine what kind of monster would posses such strength. Gin's grin didn't falter as sweat dripped down his brow. And Gaara, was looking even more joyful than before.
"Naruto!" Byakuya gasped, completely baffled. When did the younger brother he knew and loved... become so powerful.
Suddenly, the power began to fade, seemingly whisked away by the wind. Trainees began to lift themselves off the floor, taking ragged breaths as they looked at each other in astonishment, wondering exactly who was the cause.
"What was that!" Rangiku panted as she stooped over.
"That spirit energy... I've never felt anything like it," Gin murmured as he eyed the testing area with renowned interest. "Kuchiki-san, didn't you say that your brother had just entered the room?"
Byakuya nodded wordlessly as he breathed deeply.
"Amazing!" Hisana marveled, her eyes wide. "I never knew that he was so strong."
"Neither did I," Byakuya muttered as he stared at Gaara out of the corner of his eye. 'Naruto, what else could you be hiding?'
In the very back of the crowd, a white haired man smirked as he casually read a book while giggling every couple of seconds. 'Finally...'
In the Examining Area...
Naruto stood calmly in the center of the room, passively ignoring the examiner's shocked expression as he casually flicked the remains of the orb off his sleeves. "I apologize," he said finally as the examiner's pick their jaws off the floor. "It wasn't my intention to cause such a ruckus."
The headmaster regained his composure as he righted himself in his seat. 'That orb had the capability to withstand the spiritual pressure of a lieutenant!' he thought. 'And yet, Naruto Kuchiki was the second to shatter it today. If that is the level of their spiritual pressure now, I can't imagine what they could become once they graduate! Not only that. There are many other promising students that have come here this year... and so many will no doubt achieve great things, just like 'he' did... until he was banished that is...'
"Well Naruto Kuchiki, it truly is rare to see such strength in one so young."
"Thank you," Naruto said as he bowed again. A man hurriedly swept the pieces of the orb off the ground outside as the headmaster eyed Naruto with renewed interest.
The other examiners shuffled back in their seats as they composed themselves, placing their hands on the table.
"Let's continue," Chikao ordered as they began the second part of the exam...
It had been fifteen minutes, and Chikao wasn't disappointed. Naruto was of the Kuchiki Clan, so it was expected that he possessed extensive knowledge of the Soul Society. He was even able to name the all the current Captains of the Thirteen Court Guards. If Chikao was honest with himself, he would've passed Naruto after the Spiritual Energy test, but he had only one reason for continuing. He was curious... as to what this boy was capable of.
He admitted to himself that he had expectations for the infamous Kuchiki brothers, who were rumored to be able to enter the 2nd Division undetected. However, he wasn't expecting Naruto to surpass that expectation so easily. He wanted to witness for himself... the capability of the younger Kuchiki.
"Very well," he said finally, stroking his chin with interest. He nodded towards the corner as a Soul Reaper appeared in a blur. His white coat showed he was a Seated Officer. "May I introduce, the 3rd Seat of Squad 5..."
Naruto's eyes widened slightly. He was surprised. He had no idea that mere hopefuls would have to face against a Soul Reaper of that caliber. He picked up a steel practice sword from the rack on the side as shifted into a battle position. The 3rd Seat gave him a confident smirk as he relaxed his stance, as if expecting an easy win. Suddenly, Naruto took another sword from the rack, pointing one at the Soul Reaper like a spear, and the other in reverse grip behind his left arm.
Chikao's eyes widened slightly. ''He's dual wielding! Interesting. I would've never expected that from him. Contrary to popular belief dual wielding is more difficult than single handed wielding. It restricts movement, and it severely weakens maneuverability However... in the hands of a true master of dual wielding, it becomes an arc of mass destruction, a form of relentless attack. I wonder...'
Naruto narrowed his eyes at the arrogant Soul Reaper before him, however his expression remained calm. He knew he was being underestimated, but he also knew that the only way to be acknowledged was to prove his capability. He knew... the sword he kept hidden wasn't going to be the only sword he would receive The Spirit within his mindscape informed him of this.
The man cracked his neck as he grinned ferally, exposing his teeth. The two stared each other down as Chikao's gaze flitted back and forth between the two combatants. "This bout will be first-blood. The first to draw the other's blood is the victor. Now... begin!"
Both shot forward, and clashed in the center, showering the ground with sparks as their blades grinded together. Naruto gritted his teeth as he wrenched to the side, tapping the man's sword aside. Without missing a beat, he lunged with his left sword to the man's heart. The man leaped back, and blurred shooting forwards. Naruto narrowed his eyes as he ducked beneath the man's blade, and slid his feet along the ground, trying to sweep the man off his feet. The man jumped upwards above the strike.
He grinned cockily, but Naruto smirked. Naruto flipped backwards, and landed on the wall behind him. The wall shattered beneath his feet as he shot off like a rocket, his sword aimed at the man's face. The man moved his sword in front of his face, and watched as it slid past his blade sparking like a flint. Naruto continued to slide his blade against the Soul Reaper's, moving past him. The blades ceased contact as Naruto continued to slide past the man. The man's eyes flitted towards Naruto's other hand, and his eyes widened in horror.
Naruto's other blade headed straight towards his eyes, the wood glinting dully. The man jerked his head to the side, allowing the second blade to slide harmlessly past his cheek. The both dropped to the ground, their backs facing each other as Naruto flicked something off his blade. The man's eyes widened in utter shock as he felt something wet run down his face. Trembling, he moved his hand to his cheek, wiped, and lifted his hand before his eyes. He gasped in horror. Ugly red shined on his fingers catching the light.
Naruto grinned as he stabbed the bloodied sword into the ground. It was already over.
By now, a vast majority of the examiner's had fainted.
Chikao's jaw hing to the floor as he thought wildly. 'But... he didn't actually make contact with his face! That can only mean... the force from Kuchiki's blow was strong enough to tear through the wind itself and land a small hit. I can't believe it! It may not have been a real bout, and the Soul Reaper was severely underestimating him, but the fact remains... Kuchiki won. the only other to defeat their separate opponents were three others... but their opponents weren't even seated officers!'
Naruto grinned triumphantly as the examiner's unanimously voted for his placement in the advanced class.
In Hueco Mundo...
The shadows flitted across the darkened skies of Hueco Mundo as a certain spectacled Soul Reaper walked across the plains. His robes billowed around him as he stopped and slammed his blazing palm on the sands, creating a massive explosion. Wind burst forth as the dust began to settle to reveal... another massive cross. The man narrowed his eyes from behind his glasses. This cross was very unlike the others. The air around it seemed hazy, as if the dimensions around it were shifting.
This one didn't seem as powerful as the other, but he also knew that looks could be deceiving After all... this one carried the same symbol as the first. Sosuke Aizen smiled serenely at the cross. He had two of the five seals in his possession and once he discovered the other three, the Soul Society would be doomed to fall. He wasn't taking any chances. This was a war... that he alone would emerge victorious...
Sorry for the short fight guys, but don't worry. The ones to come will be much more longer and action filled. So, Aizen has discovered the second seal. Who could this Vasto Lorde be? Will Gaara and Naruto regain their memories? What will become of Naruto at the Academy? Find Out... Next Time!
Next Up: Naruto begins his training as the plot of the Visoreds begins...
