Disclaimer: I do not own any of the following and do not claim to. This story is for entertainment purposes only.

Naruto Rend

Chapter 8:

"This should be out of the way enough."

Naruto's mouth opened slightly as Ichigo led him into an expansive cavern. Settled beneath a mountainous hill towering from the center of Seireitei, rocky outcroppings marred barren brown ground, then shot straight up to an artificial blue sky that illuminated the cavern in fake-natural light. He could catch the scent of a hot spring somewhere further in. It wasn't forest or a grassy training ground, but it would work for what they needed.

"I'm surprised no one is here using this space. It's a lot bigger than Gaara's training grounds at least."

"It's a secret area Urahara-san built. Only a few people know about it."

"So most of these Shinigami don't have the destructive powers of you or that angry old fart?"

"I think the higher seated members from each division have their own favorite spots outside of the city. Besides, the barrack training grounds aren't that small for practice purposes."

Naruto shrugged. Compared to the open fields dotted all over Konoha, the scattered dojo, courtyards, and outdoor training yards were all pretty tiny. Sure, they probably worked alright for basic combat, but anything big would go beyond the boundaries pretty quickly.

"I guess ninja just move around more."

"I guess." Ichigo grabbed the pale cloth wrapped hilt of his blade. "Alright, how do you want to do this, Naruto?"

"What?" Naruto folded his arms over his chest with a grin. "You're not going to call me sensei?"

Ichigo glanced over his shoulder with a disbelieving look.

"Seriously?"

"Nah, I'm messing with you." Naruto reached down a picked up a rock. "Get that technique of yours ready. I want you to use your weakest possible blast on this when I toss it up in the air."

Ichigo jut out his chin like he wondered if Naruto was kidding. Pulling the blade away from his back, the bandages acting as a sheath unraveled and exposed the body length blade. Styled like a glorified kitchen knife, the simple design only served to highlight the razor sharp edge coursing down its entire front side. The blonde flung the stone high up and Ichigo swung in lazy arc, bright blue reiatsu condensing at the sword tip then exploding out in a wave.

The rock completely disintegrated.

"Okay, now throw the biggest blast you can manage on this next one."

Ichigo gripped with both hands as Naruto threw a similar sized stone up. A larger crescent shaped blast enveloped it into nothing and sailed by undeterred

"I don't mind playing baseball, but this doesn't seem to have a point."

"I have no idea what that is." Naruto stretched out his arm. "As for the point. You don't get it."

"That's what I just said."

"No, the point is you don't understand why I had you do this. Can you tell me anything different between the two blasts?"

"Their shape, maybe the speed a little bit."

"Did you feel different throwing them?"

"Not really. I told you when we met I have a lot of reiryoku. As long as I don't get hurt, I could probably throw full powered Getsuga Tensho for several hours without getting tired."

"You're missing what I'm getting at."

"Look Naruto, I know you are trying to help. I really do."

"But."

"How is any of this going to fix my control, or are you going to teach me more than that?"

Naruto stuck out his bottom lip. This was karma wasn't it? Ero-sensei had put up with all of his denseness so now it was his turn. Or maybe if some crappy grand plan existed, this was why he found himself here instead of peacefully resting in the afterlife. He could sympathize with being hardheaded and not understanding concepts simple to other people

Sighing, he pushed a small amount of energy into his big toe and picked up a pebble with the digit.

"Control starts with being aware of how much chakra- energy you are using. With a little bit, I can grip objects without physically grabbing them." Naruto let his energy flow out unrestrained. "If I don't pay attention and force it with no direction –"

The pebble cracked and shot off his foot, pegging Ichigo square in the forehead.

"Ow!" Ichigo clutched his head. "What the hell was that for?"

"I had no idea what that pebble would do. You get the idea?"

Ichigo wiped the smudge with the back of his hand and gave a sharp nod.

"You're saying since I can't tell how much I'm putting in, I have no way of knowing what my Getsuga Tensho will be like." Ichigo brought his Zanpakuto up and rested it on his shoulder. "I'm guessing the same thing happens to my reiatsu, which is tied directly to my fighting ability."

He at least picks things up faster than I do.

"Exactly. From what I gathered, when you rescued that Rukia girl, your power was initially so high you defeated three lieutenants with your bare hands, shattering one of their Zanpakuto with a single punch. You even completely outpaced a very talented Captain from what I heard."

"Byakuya, yeah, in the beginning I overpowered him. It didn't last though. My body couldn't keep up with my Bankai back then."

"You'll have to tell me about what that is later." Naruto rolled his neck around, earning a few pops. "The idea I'm putting together though is your power hasn't reached that height since then."

"That's impossible. I have control over my hollow mask now. That enhances my powers a lot more than they were."

How did Ichigo still not get the point he had no idea where his power stood? No, patience, he had the perfect example to enforce what he was trying to get across. In a small way, it was reassuring some of that dumb luck from his past still popped up every now and then.

"Nel made a friend yesterday, some Yachiru girl. While they were running around causing trouble, they bumped into the girl's captain."

"Kenpachi Zaraki."

"Yeah, that's the guy. Nel told me how insane his presence was. She said his reiatsu was so high he would have been able to cut through Nnoitra's Hierro." Naruto jabbed a finger toward Ichigo. "All the gossip claims you beat him. I believe that was before your mask or even that Bankai thing. Now, there're only two possibilities for why he could beat the creep that thrashed us. He's gotten way stronger much faster than you, or you aren't accessing your real power."

"He's stronger than when I fought him, but not a lot." A tight grin tugged at his lips as his head sunk. "You can't be in the Ninth Division barracks and not sense him over in the Eleventh. So, even with two major boosts, I can only manage to be a little stronger than a few months ago."

"Yeah."

Ichigo's eyes glimmered as sadness crept within their serious gaze. Naruto felt his admiration for the kid grow a little. Finding out you slid backward sucked. It almost made Lee give up back when they were kids. Sure, Ichigo seemed incapable of not picking himself back up. Naruto got that in the short time he knew him. The difference now is he wasn't brushing it off, ready to charge in and hope for the best. He was learning through the disappointment.

"I don't want to sound pathetic, but I really can't see what you could teach me when something like Bankai is barely helping."

Naruto scratched his chin as his face shifted to a contemplative expression.

"You're thinking about it wrong."

"How so?"

"You've had teachers Ichigo, and probably, almost anyone in this city would be better for teaching you how to use your Shinigami powers better. I don't know if it is even possible for you to learn any jutsu or the control techniques I know."

"Kind of killing your credibility here."

Naruto laughed.

"I want you to think of this as training, not learning. Not to sound arrogant, but nobody tops me when it comes to that. Ero-sensei took me from the dead last to the best. He taught me everything he knew about identifying and fixing my weaknesses."

"How?" Ichigo stabbed his blade into the ground. "I'm not giving up, Naruto. I believe you aren't the kind of guy to make promises you can't back up. But I need to know how so I can focus on a goal."

"Shape, size, speed, and strength." Naruto held up a finger for each corresponding word. "If you can control all four of these qualities at will when you fire your Getsuga Tensho, you will have full access to your power."

"Okay." Ichigo pulled his sword out of the ground and held it out in front of him. "Let's do this. Get the next rock."

"That was just a test to see if you were aware of the gap between your intent and the actual result." Naruto scratched the back of his head. "I think we've solidified it's pretty sad."

Ichigo bit back any retort.

"What am I going to do then?"

"Show me how high you can raise your reiatsu. No techniques, no mask, I want you to unleash everything you've got."


Aizen traced his thumb along his brow, wiping away a bead of sweat. How many centuries had it been since he needed to exert enough effort to perspire?

Another higher class hollow knelt down at his feet and he activated the Hogyoku again. Blinding light encased the beast for an instant as the air rumbled. Quickly, the newly born Arrancar stood and was escorted down the hall to his left where the Earl waited to begin the dark matter transfusion.

This new plan could not be more different than his original one. He had sought only the strongest hollow, placing his Espada as the backbone of his forces. Allocating time to finding and crafting powerful warriors over disposable foot soldiers was a more efficient method. However, after witnessing the boon a successful transfusion provided a normal hollow, the term disposable no longer applied. The infused Arrancar were still no match for his Espada, but it would neutralize all but the upper leagues of the Gotei 13.

They came in droves now. Any sentient hollow who heard the message being carried by his heralds traveled to his Las Noches palace. Led by the promise of power, his army grew by the hour. Yes, this force would assure Seireitei fell. They could not defend the city, the human world, and mount a counterattack against him. The Shinigami counted in the thousands. His forces would limit that number to dozens. Genryusai-dono would only send a Shinigami to their death if they could take down the enemy with them. These new creations would not be taken down by any but the strongest.

He looked down at Orihime in the courtyard beyond the balcony. Ulquiorra stood to the side as a silent sentinel. The girl feared him enough to obey, but found him comforting enough to function unhindered. Given she'd already been assaulted prior to Ichigo Kurosaki's pitiful rescue attempt, and Nnoitra's increasingly erratic outbursts, having an extremely loyal Espada guarding her provided a much needed element of security for the girl.

Nnoitra, his prideful number five would likely need to be culled soon. It would unfortunately leave three openings within the Espada, openings unlikely to be filled with the rabble filing in. In the grand scheme, the first four numbers were more than enough. Having a full ten only provided the flair of the dramatic.

His attention returned to Orihime as her knees buckled. Kisuke Urahara made a poor miscalculation attempting to keep her off of the battlefield. They underestimated how much strength she truly had. Three hours without break and she still continued. Yes, her fear of losing protection drove her, but the effort remained the same. However, progress still eluded her.

It was a simple task in theory. They placed a small hollow shaped statue on a pedestal. If it were damaged, she no doubt would have already rejected it back to a complete state. What she was asked to do though was quite the opposite. She needed to reject the statue's very existence. Granted, her sole offensive technique already did this on a basic level, but it acted as more of spear that pierced. What he required was no less than complete dissolution of anything within her shield.

"It is like switching the ends of a magnet." The Earl walked up beside him and peered down. "Her pacifistic nature fully materializes in her passive powers."

"It is there within her. Can you not see how we are only getting wisps of her true ability, my friend?"

The Earl chuckled humorlessly.

"I see hesitation in every breath and apprehension on every contour of her pretty face. Wisps or waves, it does not matter. Merely attuning her energy to our needs will be enough for the true power source to activate."

"You are building a device to magnify her Shun Shun Rikka." Aizen nodded as Orihime's orange shield surrounded the statue again. "And where will this gift need to be placed to assist our Shinigami friends?"

"Within the walls of Seireitei itself." The gray man grin stretched impossibly wide. "I leave that part of the plan to you, my future ascendant."

"How much time will you need?"

"We will need a great distraction."

"I see." Aizen watched as the shield faded and the statue remained unchanged. "Entering should not be too difficult with access to a Garganta. The question is the force."

"I will be going, and I have one weapon to assist as well."

Aizen's gaze flicked over to a gangly shadow sulking in the courtyard archway.

"I believe Nnoitra would appreciate the chance to work out his frustrations." Orihime's shield shimmered to life again. "Perhaps, a chance to get out of this desert and get some fresh air would benefit me as well."

Orihime's fingers clenched as her body shook – a sharp crack echoing throughout the palace walls as the statue gave in.


Gaara sunk into the chair in front of Yamamoto's desk. While expected, he had hoped for any meeting or reprimand to have waited. His own thoughts were jumbled more than he cared to admit, and as a captain leading others, he refused to let anyone see mental duress. The refusal pertained to Yamamoto especially. The aged Shinigami had no tolerance for indecision.

I need to be resolute in my words and actions.

"I will get straight to the point, Gaara no Suna." Yamamoto rested his elbows on the desk and clasped his fingers over the bridge of his nose. "Can these travelers you brought in be depended on to fight alongside us?"

"Yes."

"Hoh, have you forgotten the one who forced me to release my Ryujin Jakka?"

"Naruto Uzumaki is someone you can trust."

"Yet, he defends an Arrancar."

"He protected a friend." Gaara's stare didn't waver as Yamamoto cracked an eye. "Yamamoto-dono, you have lived longer than I can comprehend. I will not pretend or assume what experiences have shaped you into who you are outside of knowing that you do what you have found is best for Soul Society. However, I do know what motivates Naruto. He was always alone, always ignored. So he will fiercely protect his friends as a result."

"I do not dispute that is an admiral quality. I dispute his choice of whom he deems a friend."

"When we first met, you requested I explain who I was and where I was from. You know my history. You know how the Suna villagers originally feared me for what I carried. Naruto was no different. More importantly, Nel is no different. You judge her based on what, not who, she is. I agree we should be cautious and prepared for a trap, but I don't believe we should automatically label her an enemy."

"I allowed her to be placed under your authority. That is all I am willing to do for the time being." Yamamoto opened both eyes fully beneath his bushy white brows. "We are getting off topic. How do we know this group will join our ranks?"

Gaara tilted his chin down in thought. There was no guarantee. Lee seemed the most eager. Hinata would likely join out of indifference, but his fellow Jinchuriki made it very clear he had no interest. They hadn't put a good foot forward threatening Nel, and Naruto wasn't likely to forget that anytime soon.

"I don't know if they will all join. I do know we're on the same side."

"For now. Loyalties change, Gaara. His efforts to counter you during our tussle fail to demonstrate this trust you spoke of. He was your friend at one time correct?"

"I'd like to think he still is, Yamamoto-dono."

Yamamoto let out a contemplative grumble and leaned back. They sat in silence for a moment, Gaara shoving the unwelcome gnawing in his gut back down. He needed a chance to sit down with the blonde and talk, or even shout it out. They were friends. He knew from watching his villagers, friends fought at times.

"Being a leader once yourself, I would like you to take a look at this." Yamamoto pushed a thin folder over the polished wooden surface. "Then, with all of this information, construct a battle plan."

"Wouldn't the more senior captains be more eligible for such a privilege?"

"Few of them have engaged in war, and none of them have the same knowledge of these newcomers. Now, read and then explain a plausible plan."

Gaara picked up the folder and lightly flipped it open. His eyes widened as they studied the files. So, this is why Hisagi was removed from his division. Protocol 00 – it was a bold plan, and given the uncertainty in the war ahead, probably necessary. Most of the Shinigami were lower seats that showed some potential. However, his own lieutenant stood at the top of the list alongside the third division lieutenant Izuru Kira and above them Captain Hitsugaya. Which meant … the Tenth Division was now going to have to be led by their lieutenant Rangiku until a replacement was found.

"Did you just shudder, Gaara?"

"No, sir." The sand-user closed the file and slid it back. "The Third and Fifth Divisions already lacked captains. Removing Lieutenant Kira and another captain seems like a heavy cost, and risky."

"Mayuri has calculated those three alone will nearly match the entirety of the current Gotei 13 when they are done with this process. The potential their Zanpakuto carry may be beyond any other in Soul Society. Disregarding that, the added years will still intensify their reiatsu and make them far more powerful."

"If there is anything left to protect of course."

"Yes, that is the dilemma. Do we ensure a strong Gotei13 in a bleak future, or do we keep them here as deterrents who may die in a battle we may not be able to win?" Yamamoto stood and trudged over to the balcony overlooking the city. "I have already promoted my lieutenant to temporary Captain of the Fifth Division. He is more than qualified. Ukitake will be sending one of his lieutenants to handle day to day operations for the Third Division. Now, what say you, Gaara?"

"I believe Naruto has begun training Ichigo Kurosaki. Given Naruto's lineage of teachers and rapid growth in our world, I would let them continue. The same goes for Rock Lee and Hinata. All of them are experienced ninja and know what they have to do to recover their strengths. I would utilize them as a special detachment apart from the Gotei 13 as much as possible."

"And if they resonate with the artificial Zanpakuto?"

"I trained in your Academy and under Rangiku Matsumoto because I felt it best to fully embrace being a Shinigami and blend it into my ninja skill set. They will more than likely remain ninja only, and their companion spirits should acclimate to that." Gaara climbed out of the chair and moved up next to the Captain-Commander. "I would keep Kurosaki's friends here and have them train with us. The fact they survived Hueco Mundo means those three could become potent variables in a short period of time."

"I had considered that as well, particularly in regards to the Quincy."

"The real question is whether we strike first and invade Hueco Mundo in force or wait and engage Aizen when he arrives in the human world to feed the Hogyoku. As for Protocol 00, is there a way to speed up the process?"

"No, any faster and the risk increases drastically. Besides, they would still be recovering when the war began."

"You could place them in the Dangai."

Yamamoto paused. Gaara knew bringing that up was stepping on fragile ground. It wasn't forbidden by law, but then no one had ever been granted permission.

"Doing so carries significant risk to all involved and is taboo."

"Yes, I am aware of that." Gaara nodded. "It still needed to be mentioned."

"I will take your words into consideration, Gaara no Suna. You are dismissed."

Gaara bowed respectfully and headed for the door. There was another factor at play, and one he could not bring up without more evidence. That feeling, the creature Naruto mentioned when they were travelling to Seireitei, still lurked out in the darkness. It could strike when they were weak from battling Aizen, and they knew nothing of its power other than it unsettled them.

They all agreed it was up to them to fight it.


Minato exited the colorless world of the Hiraishin, pulling Kiba, Akamaru, and Shino from it as well. The dog whined and rubbed at his nose as the other two discreetly tried to regain their footing. The jutsu always took some getting used to, something exacerbated by being a guest. For them, they were at the base of the ruined tower only a second ago. Now, they stood in front of the village gates.

"I'll go talk to the Rokudaime." Minato walked into the village. "Good work on the mission."

Akamaru gave a short bark.

"I know, Akamaru. I don't feel like we did much either."

"It does not detract from its importance, Kiba." Shino shoved his hands in his pockets and headed down an opposite road. "You know this."

Minato leapt up to the nearest rooftop and made a B-line for the Hokage tower standing proudly above the rest of the village. Their discussion with Nagato carried on well into morning, and it made all of them eager to get home. The big question would be how Shikamaru took the news. He had, admittedly, overstepped his authority by not having the Amegakure leader talk directly with the acting Hokage. The shadow user wouldn't be concerned with that though. It was the aspect their primary hope likely rested in the hands of the man who once attacked the village. Madara betrayed him, but many still felt Pain shared some level of responsibility for the Kyubi's rabid onslaught.

Landing at the balcony leading directly to the office, Minato saw the edge of an ANBU's mask dip back under the eaves.

"I'm glad you decided to warp back here instead of walk, Yondaime." Shikamaru called out as Minato stepped inside. "What have you found out?"

"The creatures are pure spiritual beings, from the other side of the veil separating life and death." Minato pulled up a chair and nearly collapsed into it as the post-mission fatigue set in. "The largest tear is above Madara's tower, and it is forcing smaller ones to open."

Shikamaru cursed and rubbed his face. The younger Kage had bags under his eyes, and the disheveled papers littering his desk and floor had innumerable scribbles and scratches. Had the attacks on the children increased or was there something else?

"Is this tear visible or was it your team's specialties that discovered it?"

"Neither, Nagato arrived after dark last night. His Rinnegan has picked everything up. He also filled us in on what's going on in Kumo and Iwa."

"What's he have to say?"

"These entities can only be harmed by spiritual energy. Our chakra is capable of this to a small degree, but the physical component dulls our attacks and makes the damage negligible. He can side step this with his Rinnegan. However, he claims it is inefficient and won't work against the bigger ones trying to come through."

Shikamaru grumbled and tossed a scroll at Minato.

"It is the last thing written by the Great Toad Sage." Minato unrolled it and quickly scanned the dark letters, nausea increasing with each line. "Yondaime, with this prophecy and your information, I can say without exaggeration that we are facing extinction."

Minato resealed the scroll and handed it back. He couldn't argue. The biju, and even a near omnipotent Madara, were still chained to the physical world and could succumb to jutsu. This enemy defied the natural laws of their world … of life itself. They could attempt to find the two men and kill them, but that wouldn't close the tear.

"Nagato did discover two traits that may give us chance."

"I'm listening,"

"The first is that only the strongest of the creatures he's encountered have any impact on the physical world. The children he saw in Kumo woke up after a week in all but one case. That child actually had her entire soul removed, and suffered physical wounds from where the creature struck. When he hunted it down, it damaged trees and left tracks during their fight. The others struggled pushing past leaves."

"So most of the children will be okay?"

"Yes." A tired smile flashed over Minato's lips. "These things don't want spiritual energy. They want souls. What we've seen are failed attempts to feed on them. The children will be okay."

"It also means they have to kill us before they can get to our souls." Shikamaru's eyes lit up. "Our physical bodies insulate us from their attacks the same way it dulls jutsu."

"No, what Nagato discovered is that a body masks a soul. The creatures barely paid any attention to normal civilians. Which brings me to the next trait, the child who died was the strongest in her class and all of the children attacked were enrolled in the academy. By making chakra, we gain greater spiritual power, which attracts them."

"And they go after what they sense out of instinct." Shikamaru rubbed his chin. "No, the stronger one that killed that girl would be able to sense the other children. If she was the strongest … they go after the strongest soul they can!"

"Yes, that conclusion makes the most sense." Minato leaned forward and rested his forearms on his knees. "Shikamaru, the weaker ones can't permanently harm anyone. The only ones capable of causing physical damage will seek chakra users."

"You read the prophesy though. Everything with a soul will be consumed." Shikamaru cupped his fingers in their signature pose. "If you think about it though, he wrote all things would be prey, but not all things would fall. That leaves a strong possibility they won't go after civilians and other life until they have consumed ninja forces and have no choice but to feed on weaker souls."

"Exactly."

"You and Nagato want to bait them."

"He wants all the ninja villages to rally in Amegakure. He is confident he can create a barrier that will repel the creatures until we find a solution." Minato watched as Shikamaru closed his eyes as his brow furrowed. "The working theory is that having all of us in one spot will draw our enemy away from everything else. Civilians can be sheltered in safe houses and bunkers warded by special sealing tags I crafted using Nagato's spiritual energy. They're not strong, but should be enough of a deterrent to keep the weak ones at bay."

Shikamaru remained silent, lost in thought. Minato knew how quickly the Rokudaime was shuffling through and altering plans. Scarily intelligent, deceptively powerful, and unnaturally patient, this was the young man Naruto placed his faith in, and the young man who proved he deserved the title of Hokage. A lesser leader would have been consumed by title and ability, but Shikamaru remained humble and laid back. After the nightmare brought about from the last council, it would have been easy to solidify himself as the sole authority. Instead, he increased the council's size and made permanent the temporary group Minato had set up. Instead of merely using the eldest ninja, he chose from area of expertise.

Minato remained onboard as his top advisor. His father, Shikaku, sat as the secondary advisor. Sai led and represented the ANBU, while Kakashi kept track of the Academy and anything inside village walls. Honestly, every year they became less needed, and soon would be unnecessary. However, Shikamaru continued to turn to them. He didn't do it out of insecurity or patronizing respect. He did it because he recognized the value of other opinions and to eliminate the risk of missing something.

"I have already shared the scroll with all of our ninja chunin and higher. I will think on what the Amekage has come up with. Go home and rest, Yondaime. Whatever plan we decide on needs to be put into action immediately. The end of this lunar cycle is in three weeks."


"I know you can still raise it higher, Ichigo." Naruto shifted his weight to one foot. "That's not as high as when you fought that guy Nnoitra axed."

"I keep telling you. Bankai raises my power five to ten times what it normally is."

"And I keep telling you, you should be able to match Nnoitra's energy without it."

Ichigo clenched his teeth and pushed his reiryoku through his system again. A light blue aura flared to life around him and he gripped his Zanpakuto tighter. Naruto was right. It felt different against Grimmjow and Zaraki and those other moments. The energy poured out of him then like it would have been impossible to reign it in. His reiatsu was always leaking out uncontrolled, but those times, it was like a waterfall.

Come on damn it!

The energy flickered and steadily dropped. He stopped and let his shoulders sag. His body felt like jelly. Why was this so difficult for him to get a handle on? Sure, he normally learned best through combat, but that was kind of what led him to this wall right now. The fact he always assumed the power would manifest instead of making it manifest cost him his chance to save Orihime.

"I can see how frustrated you're getting. Don't."

"Easier said than done." Ichigo inhaled sharply through his nose an prepared for another attempt. "I will get this."

The energy surged again, whipping up a breeze that pushed Naruto's hair back.

More, come on, go higher!

His reiatsu leveled off lower than last time.

"Higher, Ichigo."

"I'm pushing as hard as I can. I don't get why it's not increasing!"

"Figure it out then."

"I'm trying."

Naruto moved up close and stood inches outside of the blue bubble.

"Trying? You mean like you tried against Nnoitra and Tesra? Seemed to me like you were only lashing out in desperation."

Ichigo's eyes narrowed as his aura flickered.

"I never once thought about losing or giving up. I never stopped looking for a way to beat them. I didn't run away."

"You were passed out and broken. You didn't do anything."

"Quit trying to piss me off, Naruto. Using anger to raise my reiatsu doesn't work."

"I'm not trying to piss you off. I'm getting you out of your own head." Ichigo's power lowered as confusion washed over his face. "You're so convinced you can't manage your energy you don't even realize it's become an excuse. You know you have the power, but think it will just come flying out of your ass when you need it. You tell yourself you aren't angry or scared because the power will show up. Unlike the rest of us, who spent years honing our energy, learning to use our emotions or push them aside, you just jump into an enemy stronghold waving your sword around like some damned idiot."

"That's-"

"You're not unable to summon your power because it can't be controlled. You're limited because you arrogantly believed you were too powerful, and some teacher always had some new power upgrade available to cover up that weakness."

"I …" The power almost dissipated completely. "That's not why-"

Naruto grabbed him by the color of his Shihakusho and pulled him up onto his toes.

"No! Don't you dare lower it again. You have the guts and the strength. Stop telling yourself it isn't possible or you don't know how, and start making your power do what you want it to do." Naruto's grip tightened as his face scrunched up in a mix of anger and sorrow. "You don't want your friends to die? Then you have to be able to summon your full power at will. Now, quit being a little bitch and let's get on to the real training."

Naruto let him go and moved back to his original spot.

Ichigo swallowed the lump in his throat and squeezed his eyes closed. His chest ached and it felt like his nerves were trembling under his skin. The words stung, every truthful syllable stung. For a moment, all his strength left him. He was the little boy crying in the rain again, not knowing why his mother's blood pooled round his knees. The child who waited out in the hall as his father explained to his younger sisters that mom wasn't coming home again; their sniffles giving way to full sobs. The sad boy who walked through the halls filled with pitying stares and hushed whispers.

He was the teen staring at his unconscious family lying at the feet of a hollow moments before Rukia gave her powers to him so he could save them. He was the inexperienced Substitute Shinigami, kneeling battered in a lonely field as the hollow who bragged about killing his mother escaped. He was the defeated hero who watched helplessly from the ground as the Shinigami took Rukia back to Soul Society to be punished for treason. He was the powerless soul, terrified his spirit would be consumed and hollowfied before awakening his true Shinigami powers.

He was the weakling who couldn't stop the Espada from hurting his friends.

Ichigo brought his sword up as light flicks of his blue aura appeared and disappeared.

He was the man who charged into Soul Society. He was the warrior as the scent of battle filled his nostrils and he clashed with Kenpachi Zaraki. He was the friend who achieved Bankai in three days to save the one who risked everything so he could protect his family. He was the Visored standing in the middle of Hueco Mundo with Grimmjow beaten at his feet.

Ichigo shouted like the sound originated from within his very spirit, the cavern shaking as his voice became louder and raw power erupted around him.


Naruto's eyes widened as he watched Ichigo's reiatsu take on its visible manifestation, constantly climbing higher. The aura swelled, stretching out several times Ichigo's body length, swirling furiously as stray arcs snapped in the air and tore chunks our of the ground.

Naruto gripped the ground with his reiryoku as the expelling force almost toppled him over.

This is what I'm talking about!

He shielded his eyes as the vortex intensified and any rock formation near it crumbled and dispersed. If dirt wouldn't get caught in his teeth, he would have been grinning ear to ear. He knew it, as much as he hated yelling at the kid, he knew it. And Bankai would multiply this higher? How much would the mask push him?

The cave quaked continually, threatening to collapse, as the power reached a plateau and held in place.

"Alright Ichigo, memorize what that feels like and slowly bring it back down. Do your best to control how fast you bring it in."

After a moment of hesitation, the energy lessened. It was choppy at best, but Naruto could tell Ichigo had already gotten the idea. Should they do this until he could do it smoothly or jump into the next phase? The second stage might be easier with more practice. No, Ichigo would still have a difficult time with it.

The energy settled at Ichigo's normal output. The orange haired youth's chest heaved as sweat dripped off his chin.

"Why?" Ichigo tried to get his breath under control. "Why are you taking the time to train me? I know you're really strong, or at least, you will be once you get used to being a soul."

"You don't want me to?"

"No, I do. I just need to understand why."

"This isn't my fight." Naruto released his hold on the ground. "I won't risk losing my friends for you."

"You aren't going to help?"

"I'm going to keep my friends safe. Sacrificing ourselves once was enough." Naruto waved his hand dismissively and forced a smile to his face. "Don't worry about that though. You did awesome!"

"Thanks. Your inspirational speeches suck."

"Hey, it worked didn't it? It's been almost seven hours. Let's go get something to eat."

Ichigo unsteadily began to follow Naruto out.

"Do you have any teaching experience or are you making this up as you go?"

"I've taught someone before."

"What'd you teach them?"

Naruto jabbed his pointer fingers together.

"Oiroke no Jutsu."

"Sexy technique?" Ichigo's eye twitched. "What are you some kind of pervert?"

"That technique got Ero-sensei to train me."

"So he was a pervert?"

"He was their king."

"Why do you sound proud of that?"


Uryu remained stoic on the surface and kept his posture rigid as his nerves caused the hair on the back of his neck to stand on end. He left the tea cup untouched on Yamamoto's desk. It was difficult to see the distinction between invitation and command with Shinigami. The messenger had said it was a request. The two escorts from the First Division arrived to escort him before he answered.

"Do you hate us, Uryu Ishida?" Yamamoto sipped at his cup. "There will be no repercussions for your honesty."

"If you are referring to your genocide of the Quincy two hundred years ago, no, I understand your reasoning. While they are my kin, you spent hundreds of years warning them their powers completely eradicated hollow and would risk upending the balance between this world and the human world. They chose not to listen."

"You have still not answered my question."

"My grandfather sought peace and wanted Quincy and Shinigami to work together in harmony." Uryu readjusted his glasses. "For many years, I thought you Shinigami purposely let those hollows kill him because of that. It wasn't until my battle with Mayuri Kurotsuchi I learned the Shinigami who watched him die were under his orders. I'm left feeling … conflicted."

"An understandable reaction. Although, your tone strikes me as quite calculated rather than emotionally driven."

Uryu shifted slightly as the man set his cup down on the desk.

"I am trying to be reasonable. Mayuri is a psychopath, but I understand how valuable he is." Feeling calmer, he reached out and picked up the cup. "I don't know if I will ever share my grandfather's desire to be allies. However, we both want to stop Aizen. Working together would be a more efficient method of dealing with him."

"And after?"

"What can one Quincy do against the entirety of Seireitei?"

Okay, that was a little bold on my part.

"One Quincy can do immeasurable damage. The progenitor of your people, Yhwach, was a monster that required me to found the Gotei 13 in order to oppose him."

"I am not as powerful as the sealed king, and I now owe my life to one of yours. As long as you do not attack me, I will remain on peaceful terms."

"That is not a viable solution anymore."

Uryu felt his nervousness return. If they didn't want peaceful terms, why the meeting and the tea? Was it poisoned? Wait, he had to calm down and think.

Get more information.

"I beg your pardon?"

"I have seen how potent your combination with Ichigo Kurosaki has become. It reminds me of a time when I called Yhwach friend and we fought hollow side by side. I wish to see your grandfather's dream realized." Yamamoto cut off Uryu's protest by lifting his hand. "I will not apologize for the past, but we must look forward to the future."

"What?" Uryu hesitated as caution struggled against curiosity. "Would you propose?"

"Just as we took the first steps that solidified our two peoples as enemies, so to must we take the first steps to making amends." Yamamoto climbed to his feet, the stooped shoulders doing little to disguise his imposing presence. "Through the millennia, we have collected and catalogued many things lost to your history. It is yours. Examine it all, learn how to improve your strength, and train alongside us as our true ally, Uryu Ishida."


"Man, I can't believe you couldn't feel it outside. There must be some type of seal or barrier to hide it away." Naruto fell into the chair at their kitchen table as Hinata shut the door behind her. "It was incredible."

"I'm sure I will get to see it soon."

"You're going to be impressed. I can't wait to start his real training and see what he can really do."

The sun barely glowed over the bottom edge of the windows as night settled in above it. The blonde stretched back in the chair and folded his hands behind his head. Did she bring it up? He was so happy right now, and dinner had been great. She didn't want to ruin it. No, this needed to be put out in the open.

"Naruto-kun, today when I was practicing with my eyes. I saw you and Ichigo talking."

"Huh, you can still see through things?"

"Yes." She moved closer and looked down at him with concern. "Why did you say this wasn't your fight?"

He froze for a moment then his blue eyes drifted to the floor and his face fell. Bringing his arms down to his lap, she felt the happy atmosphere completely plummet.

"You read my lips?"

"Yeah." She stepped closer and almost reached out for him. Instead, her hand fisted at her side. "Why would you say that? Why would you say you wouldn't put us at risk?"

"Hinata, I …" He trailed off.

She had known something had been off about him, not specifically but a feeling of him not being right. It wasn't the extra attention and tenderness he'd showered her with or the shock of being alive in a foreign world. His spark wasn't as bright as it had been. She'd thought she was imagining it. That she placed too much importance on his off handed comment about opening a ramen bar and didn't really see the subtle differences. Naruto wasn't the kind to bring it up himself. It fell to her to help him open up.

"Naruto, it's okay." Her tone was firm yet gentle. "You don't have to hold it in."

"I guess I feel like this is a Shinigami problem so the Shinigami should deal with it. This Earl guy is our problem."

"That doesn't sound like you at all."

"When I'm done with him, Ichigo should be able to handle it."

"I understand he needs to fight his own battles, but the Gotei 13 don't have the forces they need." She cracked a smile. "Naruto, it's too early for me to become a nagging wife. You don't need to keep things from me."

"I don't think you could nag if you tried." He reached out and grasped her hand with a shuddering sigh. "I know the chances of being in a Madara situation again are slim. I'm still not willing to risk it.."

"Naruto, we-"

"When I'm in Sage Mode, in a way I am connected to every living thing." His hand trembled as it held hers. "It's all kind of a sixth sense, and I could see you and Lee in a strange kind of way."

Her heart sank.

"You saw us die."

"It's deeper than that because I focused on you both." She had to use her other hand to steady his in spite a small brief smile. "Sensing you, how kind and loving your presence is, it's like being completely connected to this warmth. I knew you were hurt, you were suffering, and then you were gone. That warmth disappeared, and it left a cold absence."

Tears trickled down her cheeks as she knelt down and rested her head on his.

"I felt the same thing happen to Lee. I saw Madara crush Kakashi-sensei's spine." His voice cracked and he paused to lick his lips. "My final attack ripped me apart one cell at a time. I woke up in the void and watched that fat gray bastard separate us. I was alone again."

He angrily wiped away his own tears.

"We died. It should have been it. We gave up our future. I never got to know if one day you would marry me and build a family. We never got to see our dreams so Konoha and everyone could be safe. I was okay with that. I am proud of that." He was nearly shouting between sniffs. "And then, we get a second chance. By some miracle we show up with the opportunity at having a future again. Lee finds a girl he likes, Gaara has never been happier. We're finally together again and actually have the chance to spend time together like a real couple. Less than a day here and we're told we have to fight in a war we have nothing to do with? These Shinigami, some maybe even as powerful as freaking Madara, are scared of this Aizen and his army. I mean are you kidding me! That's what we get after everything we've been through? More people who want to kill us, more time putting our lives on the backburner, more sacrifices we need to provide. I'm not willing to do that for strangers anymore. I'm … I can't handle you dying again."

Hinata's breath caught in her throat. Soft tears silently fell as the warm droplets pelted her feet. She understood his fears. She'd felt a similar apprehension when they entered Madara's tower. How much worse would it have been if she'd seen him die? For him to be afraid – was being close all she could do?

"I'm sorry. I've been so focused on my eyes, and enjoying being with you and everyone again, I didn't notice how you were feeling."

"No, no, I'm sorry, Hinata." He pulled away and looked up at her in a panic. "I haven't asked what you're thinking or feeling about all of this. Instead of being a good partner, I'm sitting here whining and being selfish."

"You shouldered my feelings during both my exile from the clan and the aftermath of Danzo's experiments. And isn't that what we're supposed to do? Support each other when things get too much to handle alone?"

Realization played out over his face and a soft chuckle escaped his lips.

"There you go saying the right thing again." Standing up, he rested his forehead against hers. "Thank you for putting up with me. I feel better."

I know he is saying that so I don't worry.

"I'm glad." She tilted her head back and smiled up at him. It was her turn to take his mind off his problems, like he had for her so many times. "So, you want to marry me?"

He hopped back and waved his hands furiously with an equally intense blush.

"I- I- I was blurting out everything faster than I could think about it." He paused and his eyes widened. "Not that I don't want to marry you. What I mean is um, I."

She giggled as he sighed and hung his head in defeat. There, that was the Naruto she loved. The infectious energy that could light up any room. The goofy man with a big heart who would always look after his loved ones. He would work things out when it really came down to it. Despite claiming it wasn't his fight, he wouldn't be able to help himself. Naruto wasn't capable of ignoring someone in need.

"I think we should take things one day at a time, Naruto-kun." She clasped her hands in front of her. "Let's focus on regaining our strength. Any decisions can wait."

"Okay, you're right, Hinata."

Her smile became more teasing.

"So, how big a family did you want?"


Author's Notes:

This chapter was a little more dialogue heavy than I preferred. Although, I am largely happy with how it turned out after some tweaking to the more dramatic sections. I am interested to see your responses in regards to Naruto's mind frame and hope I seeded the previous chapters well enough it didn't seem to come out of the blue. Don't worry, I won't be making him super angst ridden. However, a big draw for me was the idea of how the characters could grow further. How they would deal with a second chance burdened by similar (or greater) threats. I'm hoping the progression is realistic while staying true to the characters themselves.

Had some repairs to do at the dojo so I lost my writing time Saturday. I should be able to still get the next chapter up Saturday, but March is a crazy month event-wise so I ask for you patience if I am a day or so late.