Disclaimer: I do not own any of the following and do not claim to. This story is for entertainment purposes only.
Naruto Rend
Chapter 9:
"Shall we begin, my future ascendant?"
Naruto slurped down a chopstick full of ramen as Ichigo ordered another bowl. Good, the fact Ichigo's appetite had increased steadily over the past week meant his energy reserves were being used and needed to be replenished. As frustratingly slow as progress had been on the control issue, at least Ichigo wasn't unknowingly holding anything back. It still took most of the day to tire the kid out, but he did tire.
"Between the two of us, Gaara-san is going to go broke." Ichigo took the new bowl from the ramen chef. "We could at least eat in the Ninth Division barracks so it didn't cost as much."
"Lee already asked if we could help out or do some odd jobs. Gaara told him to keep focusing on training."
"You two still haven't talked since we got here?"
"Been busy." Naruto pushed his empty bowl away. "I'll talk to him when I get a chance."
"Just don't use me as an excuse to avoid him."
An excuse? He hadn't really thought about it that way. Ichigo certainly took up the bulk of his time, since training started directly after breakfast, and outside of a short lunch, straight through to dinner. Dinner and after was dedicated to Hinata – and Nel if she wasn't attached to Yachiru's hip. Occasionally, Lee and Karin joined them, but never Gaara. Naruto always assumed the ex-Kazekage never slept much. The sand-user's long hours running his division cemented that belief.
It didn't change the fact one or both of them could be making a better effort. Naruto wasn't sure if he felt guilty. Of course, hurting Gaara was never something he wanted to do. It was this place though. It seemed hell bent on drawing lines in the sand and forcing them to pick a side. Gaara seemingly embraced that and couldn't understand why he couldn't do the same.
Bah, he had other stuff to worry about.
"Don't worry, you're not an excuse." Naruto leaned back and patted his belly. "Come on, hurry up so we can get back to your training."
"I'm still not convinced we can call it that."
"Training without danger is like trying to cook without fire."
"That sounds made up."
"I said the same thing to Ero-sensei once. I woke up that night in a bandit stronghold full of missing-nin searching for me."
"That's crazy." Ichigo readied his chopsticks. "Regardless of how you want to explain it, I can't argue with the results."
"You can max your reiatsu and lower it to normal. There's still a whole lot of middle before we call anything progress." Naruto grinned as Ichigo grumbled under his breath. "You're getting better at dodging fireballs though."
Ichigo slurped a retort. Naruto spun around on his stool and watched as Shinigami shopped around the assorted shops. As much as he ragged on him, the kid was starting to get an idea of how to change between the four qualities. Ichigo used the desired aspect eight out of ten times. He was steadily keeping up with every modification as well, without even knowing it. Naruto had to pat himself on the back for what he'd come up with. By getting his fuinjutsu functioning back to acceptable levels, it opened up an entirely new realm of possibilities and Ichigo was reaping the benefits.
The concept behind the training was simple. He had thirty Kage Bunshin apply themselves with two seals. The first one was a color coded identification seal requiring a specific quality from Ichigo's Getsuga Tensho. The blast was always too powerful for the clone to survive whether it was correct or not. However, if it was the wrong quality, the second seal activated and triggered a random penalty, anything from fireballs to kunai … from all the remaining clones … at the same time.
The requirements started out with accepting anything remotely close to what the color asked for. If it was kind of crescent shaped when striking blue or a wave when striking green, it passed. If it was a little faster hitting red or slower when hitting yellow, it passed. The same applied for size and strength. As the training progressed, he secretly demanded more. Crescents needed to be sharper, waves bigger, speeds more precise, whatever quality indicated by the color required more exact responses. Hopefully within another week, he could start forcing Ichigo to mix qualities. Within two, the clones could start moving and attacking, forcing Ichigo to react accurately in the middle of combat. All the while, the seals would need better attacks to be appeased.
Ichigo might catch on soon enough. The kid had a knack for picking up on things through instinct. Although, he hadn't noticed the slight changes to his own attack yet. What once started from the tip had slowly begun creeping down the blade's edge. If Naruto guessed right, the Getsuga Tensho may eventually be fired from the entire blade, or at least, the entire top cutting portion of the Zanpakuto.
The idea was almost as exciting as when he started figuring out how to add wind element into the Rasengan.
The air suddenly rumbled and the sky felt like it pressed down on top of him.
A cold sweat broke out on the back of his neck as more reiatsu joined the first and he struggled to take in a breath. The ramen chef collapsed behind the counter as other Shinigami buckled or passed out. He glanced over at Ichigo, the youth already on his feet with nervous wild eyes staring at the sky. His hands balled into white knuckled fists as his jaw tightened.
Naruto followed his gaze. The dark maw of a Garganta ripped open in the sky. Nnoitra bristled with a sneer as he stepped out into the sky, a goofy blonde kid with a huge purple sword hopping out next to him. Naruto felt his lips twitch into a grin. Ichigo's power almost matched Nnoitra. No, at its peak it might even be above it. If all hell was about to break loose, they needed to focus on the sadist. It'd be a good measurement, and if victorious, a confidence booster for the Substitute.
Three Shinigami strode out in the center. The one with the slick-backed hair and smug gaze must be Aizen. Was that his reiatsu they felt initially? Ichigo thought he'd get Orihime away from that kind of power? While it lacked the demonic taint of a tailed beast, it still ranked equally to the Kyubi's full power … maybe even closer to Madara. He'd need to be avoided for the time being. It was too soon for Ichigo to face him, and from his encounter with the crotchety Commander, the old fart would match him if he really cut loose.
Despite the fearsome power exuding from them, they didn't really bother him. It was the last two that exited the void. The one hidden in a tattered cloak barely gave off any kind of presence, but for whatever reason, the hints of energy felt very unsettling. Naruto could deal with that though. However, his throat tightened as the seventh figure bounced out and hung from an umbrella. The menacing eternal grin made his mouth run dry and a deep pit to form in his stomach.
It's him.
As if knowing right where Naruto was, the rotund gray man tilted his head down in his direction. Their glares locked for a moment, and the Earl's grin deepened.
"Good evening."
Gaara barely stopped his sand from instinctually striking out as a hand grabbed his haori and yanked him into an alley, pinning him up against the wall. His heartbeat quickened as Rangiku's sapphire eyes peered directly into his teal ones, her face unnervingly close – enough to catch the smell of persimmons on her warm breath.
"Talk."
"Rangiku, I'm-"
"No more excuses." Her fist tightened until the fabric creaked. "Don't brush me off again."
"I apologize. I've been busy."
"I know Hisagi has been sent somewhere with Hitsugaya-taicho. I get you have a lot more work to do, but I also know the difference between being busy and finding work to avoid people."
He gently grasped her wrist and attempted to tug it away. She gripped harder. This was the last thing he wanted to discuss. Protecting Nel, preparing his division, getting his friends acclimated into Seireitei, reconciling with Naruto, those things required his absolute attention. He needed focus, which was the thing her presence robbed him of. She distracted him, made him question a million things, and consumed the majority of his thoughts. Any talking or interaction could wait.
Yet, she would keep persisting until he relented. No matter how much distance he continually put between them, she still cared for him enough to keep trying. Yes, he should deal with it now. At least, they could converse enough to appease her.
"What do you want to talk about?"
She blinked in surprise.
"That was easier than I thought it would be."
"You wouldn't let me leave if I didn't."
"Oh." Her chin dipped down as her face fell. "So it's me then … you don't want to be around me."
He disliked the unwanted ache that crept into his chest at the hurt tone her voice carried.
"That came out wrong." He let go of her wrist. "I'm sorry."
This was what he didn't want to happen. He wasn't supposed to be the one to make her sad or react emotionally like he had been doing so much lately. He was the near-constantly patient one. As Kazekage, it didn't matter if he was out of his comfort zone, or if there was tragedy. He kept calm as the pillar for everyone and his steady words reached for solutions. Since joining the Shinigami, he had the option of relaxing a bit and letting his defenses down – something she actively brought to the surface.
He couldn't afford that luxury anymore, not with that weight returning to his shoulders.
"Please, Gaara." Her bangs hung down, covering her eyes. "We used to talk all the time about everything. I remember how you'd get that slight exited tone in your voice when you talked about your family and friends. After finally meeting some of them again, I don't understand why you aren't happier. I don't understand why you seem to intentionally make less time to be around me."
How did he answer her? Honestly? That would work with Naruto and the others, if they could all get in the same room for more than ten seconds at a time. Answering the other question wasn't as easy. It would mean admitting things he refused to acknowledge himself, let alone her. Three years of history he cherished with her, possibly tarnished because his honesty would put unfair pressure on her and her conflicted emotions.
"I really like you, Gaara." She closed a few more precious inches between them. "What can't you admit-?"
The reiatsu struck first, so large and oppressive for a moment he wondered if an army was invading. She stepped back, her emotions and worries pushed aside as her calculating attitude surfaced. He couldn't admit anything to her. Not because of fear or disappointment, he could handle those feelings if they arose. Honestly, it wasn't because of him or lack of interest. It was because of her, and his consideration for her feelings.
As his senses attuned and the Garganta opened, the mass of spiritual pressures became defined into seven distinct presences. His attention focused on one man with perpetually closed eyes and a narrow chin that enhanced a tiny snake-like smile. Gin Ichimaru, the ex-Captain of the Third Division. The silver haired traitor who followed Aizen and knowingly assisted in his destructive plans. The child who saved, and grew up with, Rangiku Matsumoto.
The man who held her heart.
Aizen's smirk deepened as the captains and lieutenants of the Gotei 13 appeared before him atop the peaks of Seireitei's architecture. Some notable faces were missing, such as the young Toshiro Hitsugaya. Funny, he would have thought the Tenth Division leader would have been the first to confront him. The same could be said for Hisagi-kun and Izuru-kun's absences. Tosen and Gin were their respective Captains after all, and the bond between captain and assistant did not fade easily.
Ah, and that dark red haired man must be a new captain. I wonder which division was given to him.
"My, my, he promoted quickly." Gin spoke under his breath with a hint of amusement. "Rangiku-chan must be proud."
"Sosuke Aizen." Yamamoto jabbed his gnarled cane into the roof he stood upon. "What madness has possessed you to intrude upon Seireitei?"
"I was merely feeling homesick, Genryusai-dono. Do not fret. I realize I am your guest now, and as such I bring gifts." Aizen spread his arms out as hundreds of eyes appeared within the void behind him. "I have brought friends to amuse you."
He spotted the new captain grasp the Zanpakuto tied to his back.
"Jinn of all sands, born a prince and died a sage, stir in remembrance of your sacred word." The man drew the ornate dagger completely from the gourd. "Kakolookiyam."
The sediment exploded out of the sheath and surged around in a wide arc, shielding the Shinigami as a hundred Dark Matter enhanced cero fired out of the Garganta. The electrified purple beams exploded against the massive wall, tearing off chunks and kicking up sand laden dust.
Gin let out an impressed whistle as the haze slowly cleared, revealing the barrier's remains and an unblemished city beneath them.
"My friends." Aizen pointed down to the buildings. "Please, entertain our hosts."
The air shook as the concealed Arrancar roared. They blew past him in blurry streaks of speed and fury, raining down on the city and igniting destruction to anything, or anyone, within reach. Yamamoto signaled and all the higher ranked Shinigami but a few gave chase into Seireitei.
"I must get going." The Earl began floating down as the cloaked figure followed suit. "I leave the rest to you, my future ascendant."
"I wish you success, my Earl." Aizen smoothed his hair back and grinned as Yamamoto steadily rose to their level. "Tosen, Gin, welcome the newcomers from the other world. Nnoitra, you may do as you wish."
"You will be going nowhere." Yamamoto unsheathed his katana, flames spewing down the blade's entirety. "Ryujin Jakka!"
The child Arrancar flew forward with an unintelligent groan, diving directly into the gigantic burning wall. The flames swirled and condensed around the boy until he disappeared from sight. The fire shrank to nothing and Wonderweiss emerged in his transformed state.
Undeterred, Yamamoto swung and unleashed another fiery torrent.
Aizen's muscles coiled in preparation for his next move. Yes, just a little more and he could strike. He no longer had the privilege to gloat and speak on the battlefield. Genryusai-dono, the most powerful Shinigami in history, alone possessed the power to derail everything should he be left unhindered. The aged leader was still beyond his power so defeat would be derived through underhanded means. Out of respect for the man, such tactics left a bitter taste in his mouth – but godhood would wash any lingering sensations away.
Wonderweiss grabbed the burning Zanpakuto edge, the flames extinguishing immediately. A dozen arms burst from the Arrancar's back, ensnaring the Commander's limbs. Aizen used his Shunpo to immediately close the distance and land a lethal blow.
The Arrancar gurgled crimson as Aizen's blade speared through him, the bloody tip piercing Yamamoto's chest. Tearing the blade cruelly out through the Arrancar's neck, he leapt back from the murdered child and stunned Shinigami leader.
"I would be careful, Genryusai-dono. Your flames consumed by this Arrancar are about to be released all at once."
Wonderweiss' body bulged, tongues of flame licking out of burgeoning cracks. The Commander's eyes widened and he barely managed to pull the corpse above him as it erupted. Through sheer force of will and spiritual pressure, Yamamoto repelled the explosion upward even as his own body was consumed.
Still, Aizen knew there hadn't been enough power collected to kill him. Actually, the current blast might not even be enough to slow the old Shinigami down and merely singe his beard. He couldn't take that risk.
"Seeping crest of turbidity. Arrogant vessel of lunacy. Boil forth and deny. Grow numb and flicker. Disrupt sleep. Crawling queen of iron. Eternally self-destruction doll of mud. Unite. Repulse. Fill the soil and know your own powerlessness." Aizen brought his hand down. "Hado Ninety: Kurohitsugi!"
Surrounding the First Division Captain as he exited from the dwindling flames, pure reiryoku formed an onyx coffin as pikes of energy stabbed into the box, and finally crashed down into the ground like meteor. Aizen watched detachedly as rubble from the smashed buildings buried the fading attack.
"That should buy a little time."
Karin caught Nel in a diving roll an instant before one of the strange Arrancar decapitated them both. Finding her feet, she pushed Nel behind her legs as the creature cackled. Tesra may have been the only Arrancar she had seen, but something was seriously different with this one, no, with all of them that were attacking. The little skin showing was dark gray, bordering on black. The mask fragment, covered the upper part of its face and appeared more like armor than bone, shining as bright as the sharp teeth lining its gums.
The monster aimed its palm at them as dark purple energy crackled to life.
"Cero."
Nel rushed out in front of Karin, stretching her arms wide and sucking in a deep breath. The energy morphed in the vacuum and harmlessly entered her mouth. Nel gulped it down, puffed up her cheeks, and fired the blast laced with her own energy right back at their attacker. The opposing Arrancar shrieked as the cero struck and eradicated him in a potent explosion.
"Ew, ew, ew." Nel whined with her tongue stuck out of her mouth. "Ith, tasthes nasthy."
Karin's jaw hung open as the charred remains of dead Arrancar collapsed on the battered ground. Insane, this little girl was insane. At best, she'd hoped Nel and she could both escape with a little luck. At worse, she would have managed to dodge the blast and then distract the Arrancar long enough for Nel to get away.
The child destroyed it instead, and was now licking the ground.
"Nel, stop that." Karin rubbed her forehead and squeezed her eyes shut.
There were so many signatures she couldn't pinpoint anything well enough to find safety, and she couldn't risk focusing to find one person. The enemy moved too fast and were too numerous to avoid them entirely – and a hidden knife wasn't going to do much of anything. She bit lightly on her lip. They were on the very edge of the central business district since Nel had wanted to get lunch with Ichigo and Naruto. The good thing is she could tell they were nearby. Unfortunately, the district had quickly devolved into a warzone. Any distance, no matter how short, was almost too dangerous to attempt, especially since the Shinigami were too busy protecting each other and supporting their weaker ranks.
"Karin, my throat hurts."
"You swallowed a cero, Nel."
"It never bothered me before. This one was different."
Karin whipped around as a new tainted presence landed behind them.
"So, you have allied with the Shinigami, Nelliel Tu Odelshwanck." Kaname Tosen slowly walked up the street. "I do not understand why you left us and are now a child. However, witnessing you here, in flowery garb you purchased from this city, I cannot abide letting you live."
"She's just a kid, jackass." Karin pulled Nel behind her again. "Leave her alone."
"Aizen-sama raised her up from a pitiful hollow. If she is not with him, then she has no right to her life."
He disappeared in pure speed, reappearing in front of them with his Zanpakuto ready to strike. Suddenly, Tosen ducked as a kick whipped across where his head had been a moment earlier. He blurred away again as another foot came down in a powerful stomp, fracturing the tiled street.
"Forgive me, Karin-san, Nel-chan, I let myself get carried away." Lee stood to his full height as five battered Arrancar fell down around them. "I will stay by your side from now on."
"You made me worry, Lee-kun." Karin smiled as his comforting presence filled her senses. She nodded over at Tosen. "Careful, I think that is one of the traitor captains."
"I see." Lee sunk into his fighting stance. "Please, stay back you two."
"You do not possess a Zanpakuto?" Tosen brought his sword up. "Are you one of the ninja from another world?"
"I am." The ground cracked as Lee blasted forward. The ex-captain barely got the chance to step back as Lee unleashed a flickering barrage of kicks and punches. "Konoha Daisenpu!"
Tosen hopped over the low kick, blocked the middle kick, and countered the high kick with a horizontal slash. Lee flipped over the attack and brought his heel down, only for Tosen to spin off his body and retaliate with a flurry of slashes and stabs. Dodging each move by a paper's width, Lee caught the blade between his palms, redirected the momentum, and flung Tosen onto the street.
"Go Lee!" Nel cheered as Karin struggled to quiet her. "Kick his butt!"
Tosen blurred out using Shunpo. Karin couldn't see where he went, but Lee's eyes never appeared to lose sight of him.
"The detestable creature was right. You ninja are too dangerous to take lightly."
Tosen crouched on the eve of the nearest dividing wall and brought his hand in front of his face. His reiatsu skyrocketed as a smooth white mask encased his entire head. In a single leap, he closed the distance and landed a powerful kick directly against Lee's guard. The taijutsu master grunted from strain as his feet slipped, sending him flying through the wall and four more shops.
"Nel, run for Ichigo!" Karin pointed in the last direction she had sensed him. "Go!"
The little Arrancar stumbled and quickly scurried away.
"Do you think sacrificing yourself will buy her enough time to escape?" Tosen strode purposefully up to her. "You don't have a Zanpakuto either, do you?"
Karin pulled out her hidden knife and attempted to stab at his neck, but he caught the blade between his fingertips. Snapping it with physical strength alone, Karin could only watch in horror as his fingertip aimed for between her eyes and began to glow.
Typical, I finally meet a sweet guy who actually has sex appeal and I'm about to bite it … again. It really isn't fair.
A bottle crashed into the side of Tosen's mask, the contents dripping down the smooth surface. The traitor paused. Dropping his attack, both he and Karin turned in the direction of the bottles origin.
"Hey, jackass." Lee slurred and stumbled out of the hole his body created, taking another long swig from a similar bottle to before. "This time I'm getting the beautiful girl, hic."
Gaara struggled to hide the scowl caught on his lips. This wasn't the time to be emotional. It took a great deal of concentration to keep the remains of his sand cloud suspended in the air, and he needed the dispassionate mind of a Kazekage to keep it there while fighting. His emotions also had no place in a fight. He wouldn't go back to killing someone to satiate his personal desires. It didn't matter if Gin Ichimaru purposely baited him by catching Rangiku by the waist and carrying her off. It didn't matter if the smug bastard waved at him before taking off.
It didn't matter that she hadn't really fought back.
"You're still rather slow, Gaara-kun." Gin sat lazily on a stone beneath a tall persimmon tree. "I thought you'd have been better at Shunpo, bein' a captain an' all. Congrats by the way."
"What have you done with Matsumoto-san?"
Gin rubbed at the back of his neck with a chuckle.
"Matsumoto-san? Ya mean you two haven't gotten close enough for first names? You sure are slow, Gaara-kun." The perpetual smile on Gin's lips never faltered as he glanced through his slit eyes at Gaara's Zanpakuto. "Not like your sand. Scary stuff in that gourd o' yours."
"I dislike repeating myself, Ichimaru."
Gaara efficiently scanned his surroundings. There weren't any signs he'd brought her this far, or of any struggle prior to this spot. They were alone, which ruled out any ambushes. They were alone.
"She started fightin' me so I had to let her go. I barely escaped with my head on my shoulders."
"I see." Gaara reached for his dagger's hilt. "That's all the information I required."
"Oh, don't be like that. The two of us are having a nice friendly conversation here. Let's catch up a little." Gin folded his arms in his sleeves. "So, a captain, that's quite the jump seein' how you weren't even a seated officer when I left."
Gaara drew the dagger and Gin pointed an elbow at him.
"Ikorose, Shinso."
The blade shot out from his sleeve like a beam of white light. Gaara deflected it to the side and lunged forward. The wakizashi retracted and the blades clashed in a burst of sparks. Gin pushed him away and leapt up from the rock as loose sand dripped out of the gourd. Engaging again, Gaara struck then parried, dodged then pressured. Every blow was met with an equal response.
And Gin's smile never wavered.
Yamamoto coughed up a lungful of smoke and cracked open a blurry eye. How cruel of Aizen to strike down one of his own, a child no less. The poor creature could not even understand what was happening to it. It was a masterful tactic on the traitor's part, albeit uncharacteristically efficient, given Aizen's penchant for discussion. Its effectiveness ensured he would need to take an hour or so to recover sufficiently enough to fight.
A scream pierced through the ringing in his ears. Tilting his head to the side, he peered through one of the many gaps in his makeshift tomb of rubble. The young Arrancar with green hair scrambled around the corner, a double crescent axe striking the ground right behind her feet.
He had wanted to destroy her to ensure the safety of his beloved Seireitei. While he did it not for personal gain, was it an act of cruelty in its own right?
A tall lanky Arrancar lumbered around the corner like a titan cornering its prey. His face contorted into a furiously cruel sneer, he lifted the massive weapon and flung it at the fleeing child. It sailed over her head as she dove to the ground, and missed again when he pulled it back via chain and she vaulted over it.
"Stand still you little bitch."
Yamamoto shifted in annoyance. He had no use for those who instilled fear in others merely for their own amusement. Fear, like any weapon, was a tool. It could be used to dispel a conflict without any violence, or psychologically harm an enemy. It wasn't a toy to be used on a defenseless opponent. If the girl must die, it would be done decisively and painlessly out of necessity.
Not terrified and suffering at the hands of a butcher.
He prepared to move when a mighty reiatsu shook the sky. That spiritual pressure – so potent and endless without any negative emotion clouding it. He remembered when he first felt it. A lone orange haired boy stood atop the altar, deflecting the executioner halberd Sokyoku without facing the flaming apparition, halting it while casually chatting with the captive Rukia Kuchiki.
It was a good young reiatsu, undeveloped in comparison to his, but a good energy regardless.
The youth landed next to Nel for only an instant, then rushed the taller Arrancar. Swinging the body length Khyber- shaped sword up diagonally, it sliced cleanly from hip to shoulder. He swung again, but the Arrancar leapt away into the air as confused rage marred his features.
"Coming your way, Naruto."
The blonde appeared out of his high speed technique holding a larger variation of the spinning orb Yamamoto had witnessed during their fight.
"Odama Rasengan!"
The ninja slammed the sphere into the sadist's back, sending the fool spiraling through the ground's surface.
So, this was the result of merely one week of training? The opponent they could not so much as scratch in the past was harmed by both men. Ichigo managed to accomplish the feat in Shikai no less. The growth impressed him, both impressed him. However, their combined attack still failed to eliminate the enemy.
He would need to step in.
"Naruto, I've got this." Ichigo readied his Zanpakuto and tilted his head back toward the rubble pile. "Dig out Yamamoto-san with Nel and head someplace safe."
"You achieve one shallow strike and assume victory." Yamamoto effortlessly backhanded the debris away from him and slowly sat up. "Foolish boy, has such a trifling accomplishment filled you with the arrogance to forget your previous defeat?"
"I held back so Naruto could get a shot in." Ichigo's power rose higher and a faint blue glow materialized around him for a moment. "I know I am nowhere close to where I need to be, but I can defeat him." The visual portion of his power faded, but the pressure did not decrease. "Please, I need to do this."
Naruto scooped up Nel and ran over for him.
"Come on old man. Let's get you to someone who can patch you up. You're kind of … smoky."
"Focus on the battle at hand child. I will be fine."
"Sure you don't want a nap or something?"
"Do you treat all authority with such disrespect?"
Naruto shifted Nel so she could ride comfortably on his back.
"You remind me of another wrinkly jerk who didn't believe in any form of mercy either." Naruto glanced over his shoulder as Nnoitra pulled himself up out of the crater. "I can go with you someplace and help out or I can go wild on my own. Either way, we're leaving this to Ichigo."
Yamamoto sighed and studied the Substitute carefully. He was too great an asset for him to die here. Yet, without fighting in real battle, there would be no growth. It was a gamble on both accounts. His posture though, the steady nature of his reiatsu, radiated genuine confidence rather than his normal false bravado or ignorant assuredness.
"We shall head to the First Division barracks. It is time we see if you truly can lay claim to the special Zanpakuto residing there."
The Millennium Earl reached into the spatial rip he conjured and retrieved an object. Six inches wide at the hexagonal top, the shimmering glass pillar tapered down four feet into a sharp point. He stabbed it into the ground, earning a brief orange glow from beneath the glass surface. Dusting his hands off, he spun on his toes and skipped away from the city wall.
"It seems we have succeeded in our part, my Shadow." They entered a narrow alley as the cloaked figure followed. "Do you think we should lend our future ascendant a hand?"
The shadow remained silent.
"Straight to the point as always." The Earl chuckled humorlessly. "You are right though. If the boy has crossed over, she must have as well. We must search for her in the city."
The Earl exited at the other end and paused as a weaker Shinigami was decapitated right in front of him. The head rolled out of sight as the body collapsed and sprayed out life across tiled road. Further into the city, streets burned as buildings crumbled under the force of two armies clashing; dark red splatters of both Arrancar and Shinigami occasionally staining the pristine surfaces of Seireitei. Fire and blood, the bittersweet scents of battle, they hung in the air around him like fog, evoking vivid memories and all too raw feelings.
The bliss he felt when an enemy fell. The tears in his eyes as another loved one died in his arms.
It had been too long since he'd soaked in the twin scents. It had been too long he allowed himself to lie within the void, chained down by misery and using patience as an excuse not to act. It had taken too long to assemble the right pieces and resume his mission. No, there had been others before Sosuke Aizen, hundreds of possible pawns for him to sacrifice. He had merely refused to act.
Whether through apathy or patience, hesitance or wisdom, chance or fate, waiting for someone like Aizen made the quagmire of despair worth it. Discovering the rogue Shinigami blessed him with a new plan, a better plan. Instead of sacrificial pawns, he had allied himself with an equal. There would be no sacrifices. There would be no loved ones dying in his arms this time. After thousands of years and defeats, his goals would be realized.
It will not be robbed from me again.
His shoulders slumped and he lightly rested one hand on the closest wall. The other hand came up and pressed against his chest as he tried to soothe the phantom ache emanating from the claw shaped scar hidden by his coat and suit.
"Forgive me, my Shadow. My senses are dancing, rejoicing as I return to the fight."
She appeared in a streak of midnight hair and sublime grace, her deadly strikes fluidly transitioning from one to another as she overpowered two enhanced Arrancar. They leapt back and each punched the air, releasing a short concentrated blast. Her left hand flew around the front of her body as a thin beam of energy whipped out of her palm.
"Shugohakke Sanjuni Shon."
Her beam threaded together like a tightly woven net, shielding her from the concussive attacks. They went to fire again, her other hand summoning another beam and whipping up, slicing the first Arrancar in two. The second dodged, but she leapt up and smashed her fist into its chest, the invisible energy within the technique causing a shockwave to expel from the Arrancar's back.
A scream echoed down the street and she sprinted after it, leaving the Earl and the cloaked figure alone on a desolate battlefield.
The Earl clasped his hands and brought them up to the side of his face with an exaggerated blush.
"Amazing." The Earl danced around the alley. "Did you see, my Shadow? Simply amazing."
The slumbering girl who once warranted a second glance from him made it through the void. At the time, only a suspicion tickled the back of his mind. The idea she may be special drove him to find her in the void after the light snatched her away. Seeing the boy, Naruto, in Hueco Mundo reignited his will to seek her out, because innately, he knew. Now, seeing her in motion, it confirmed everything.
"You saw it didn't you, my Shadow?" The Earl faced his companion. "That fierce power, the quality of that energy, please, tell me I wasn't seeing things."
Silence.
"Stunned by this discovery are you?"
The Earl cautiously stepped out from the shadows and peeked around at his still surroundings. He must follow her and see what else she could do. She never brought it to the surface, but he could feel it, that hidden nature buried underneath her normal reiatsu. He could sense the traces of her cursed energy. Instinctively, assuredly, he knew she was what he had been searching for – the last cog for his ultimate plan and the essential piece for the new world under the new god.
It would take time for her to learn. It would be difficult for her to understand. But perhaps, he could convince her of all that he knew. Perhaps, he could make her realize how important she was and that so much depended on her acceptance. Perhaps, there was hope.
Perhaps someday, he could gaze into a mirror and not hate the reflection who failed his family time and time again.
Ichigo shouted as he pushed against Nnoitra's double crescent scythe. Knocking the abnormally large weapon to the side, he used a Shunpo to close the distance faster than the Arrancar could retrieve the weapon with its chain. He extended the technique with a second step, slashing cleanly across the Espada's unguarded midsection and landing behind his shocked enemy.
"Getsuga." Ichigo turned and sharpened the energy gathering at the tip of his Zanpakuto. "Tensho!"
A wide blue arc sunk into Nnoitra's back, screeching against the reinforced skin as tissue scorched under the condensed reiatsu. The Espada caught his weapon and spun out of the blast. Ichigo appeared above him and severed the closest arm at the elbow. Nnoitra's eyes widened as they looked at the new stump. Scowling, he leapt back and stuck his tongue out. Yellow spiritual power crackled at the end and a golden cero shot directly for the Substitute.
Ichigo swung directly into the attack, modifying his signature technique so it acted more as a slow moving shield rather than an attack. The air shook as the energies battled against each other, blowing away the loose debris littering the environment. Ichigo landed and Nnoitra fell into a crouch.
"You piece of shit!" Nnoitra jammed his weapon into the ground and propped himself up. "I'm going to frickin' kill you. I'm going to gut you, and Nelliel, and that fat bastard. I won't stop killing until I've proven once and for all I am the strongest!"
"I won't let that happen, Nnoitra. You're done hurting people."
The Arrancar lifted the large weapon overhead.
"Inore, Santa Teresa!"
Ichigo calmly watched the yellow aura wrap around Nnoitra as his transformation took hold. He knew this would happen if he pushed the Espada far enough and couldn't finish him quickly. Like a Shinigami's Bankai, an Arrancar's Resurreccion was their trump card and how they manifested their true power. He needed to keep cool though so his reiatsu remained steady. There was no reason to be afraid or to try and convince himself he was more powerful than he felt. Through the nightmarish week of training, he had learned how high his power could climb, and it outclassed Nnoitra enough to beat him. It would still be a tough fight without the use of his mask or Bankai, but Naruto had told him not to use those powers unless absolutely necessary.
The aura dispersed, revealing a four armed Nnoitra grasping a more regular looking scythe in each hand. Horns rose up out of his head in a crescent shape as bloodlust poured off of him.
Okay, those extra blades are going to make this a lot harder.
The Espada lunged forward and began hacking furiously with all four blades in rapid succession. Ichigo quickly moved back from the wall of blades, dodging and deflecting as needed. He leapt over a low sweep and barely blocked in time as two more scythes came crashing down. The remaining two rushed from opposing sides for his exposed ribs.
Unable to break the lock and escape, Ichigo stepped up to the Arrancar, too close for the long weapons to do any damage. Nnoitra sneered and pulled his arms back, but the Substitute dropped Zangetsu behind him, catching all four scythes in another lock.
"Looks like you can't cut me at this range, Nnoitra." Ichigo grinned.
The Arrancar stuck out his tongue, the familiar crackle of a cero forming at the tip. Ichigo's breath caught his throat as the attack grew.
"Getsuga Tensho."
Energy flared to life and Ichigo swung up and over as hard as he could, breaking free from the trap and deflecting the blast with his own. He winced as smoke and dust blinded him. Leaping back to see, white hot pain stabbed into his legs as a pair of scythes pierced each thigh.
The air cleared, exposing a new pair of arms clutching the weapons holding him in place. Nnoitra grinned sadistically as he lifted his four remaining arms high.
Yelling out in pain and determination, Ichigo sprang back, tearing his legs free as the unison attack came down. His blade stopped the first two. The second pair crashed down and overcame the block. The scythes hit at his shoulders and four deep gashes cut down Ichigo's entire torso.
He stumbled back with a grimace and collapsed onto his knees as the muscles completely frayed apart. Nnoitra laughed and tilted his head to the side.
"See that, Shinigami? You can't stop me from doing shit!"
Ichigo's teeth clenched as he forced his vision to focus through the pain. Did he go into Bankai and try to obliterate the Arrancar with a single blast? No. Naruto warned him there could be a risk to his power's stability by adding more power. He just barely had an idea of how to deal with his normal power. Getting more might do more harm than good. His hollow mask would probably be a similar problem.
Don't gain. Dig into what you already have, Naruto's words echoed in his mind.
What did he already have in his move pool that he could use without being able to walk? The Getsuga Tensho wouldn't be fast enough for Nnoitra not to block it. Besides, without solid footing, he'd probably just knock himself backward. No, he needed something quick and deadly … deadly, like what his inner-hollow used.
I can still move my right arm. I can make it work!
The Espada brought all six scythes out like an asura, his glee filled sneer boring down as a bloody Ichigo stared up with a defiant glare. Nnoitra charged.
Ichigo flung Zangetsu straight for Nnoitra's exposed chest. The Zanpakuto flew like an arrow as the cloth hilt lengthened, the end wrapping around his hand. The blade pierced the stunned Arrancar and sunk deeper until the point burst through his body.
"Deddori Datsu," Ichigo mumbled as his arm fell limply to the side.
Arms going loose, Nnoitra sagged as his face contorted into a rage filled glare. The Espada stumbled as the heavy tops of his scythes struck the ground.
"You little fu-" his voice trailed off into a final gasp and his eyes rolled back into his head.
He went limp as his breathing stopped and blood trickled off of Zangetsu and onto his feet. Prideful even in death, the Arrancar remained standing.
Ichigo felt the adrenaline leave his system and fatigue replace it.
Ow.
He wanted to shout out his victory, to confirm that Naruto's hellish training was working. He couldn't though. There could be other enemies nearby, and more importantly, he really wanted a nap.
Ichigo's eyelids closed and he collapsed to his side amid the rubble – a shadow appearing over him.
Author's Notes:
I was in good shape until another project got thrown in my lap. I need more of me.
On to the story. I had wanted to get into the battles more this chapter, but with so many fights and plot threads intersecting, I decided it would be better to flush the main events out in a single chapter rather than slowing the pace to catch everyone up each time I introduced a new conflict.
I'm sure some people will be surprised how quickly Aizen took out Yamamoto, and I really tried to show how it was more of a stun/delaying tactic than outright defeat. I will admit this Aizen is shaping up a little differently than canon. He's playing for bigger stakes and is less prone to taking risks, and he's doing that by scaling back his tendency to build drama for his own amusement. Hopefully, I've been building to that.
I'm really getting excited to finally start delving in the Earl one layer at a time, and hope you enjoy the direction I am taking with him and see how I have seeded certain points (like Hinata) in earlier chapters.
See you (probably) next week.
