Chapter 10: Chapter 10
(3 Hours Later – Main Senkaimon Gate)
A soft sigh did nothing to quell the feeling of dread in Naruto Kuchiki-Unohana's stomach. He glanced at Renji who was polishing his Zanpakuto clean. A small part of him practically screamed that this was Aizen's doing, sending three Fuku-Taicho's and a Taicho to pick up a simple unseated Shinigami despite it being a noble clan member.
And the third member?
Kaien Shiba, apparently he had caught wind of what had happened with Rukia and was quite, suffice to say pissed if lack for a better word. He recalled his Otou-san working it out with the Sotaicho, and quite frankly he believed that Yamamoto would allow it. Given the fact that he had a quite a relationship with Rukia, it would be easier to bring her in and make the punishment a bit more lenient.
Naruto sensed two reiatsu sources moving toward the area and Byakuya along with Kaien flickered into view.
"Kaien-Fuku-Taicho?" Renji perked up in surprise that the Jusantai second in command was coming "The Sotaicho allowed you to come?"
Said Fuku-Taicho merely shrugged in response "Said it would be easier in bringing back Kuchiki-san" he replied, getting an understanding nod from the red haired man.
He looked at Naruto "And I suppose since you've helped her a bit, Sotaicho probably went along with the same reason"
Naruto didn't show any reaction but raised a brow in a curious fashion "Someone suggested it?" he queried.
Kaien looked at him confusingly "Yeah, Aizen-Taicho suggested it" his turned expectant while Naruto didn't react, but nodded understandingly.
Naruto grimaced mentally as this would allow Aizen to perform counter measures with his plans. The Kuchiki-Unohana sighed mentally before he heard Renji speak "Taicho, what are our orders on this retrieval?"
Byakuya spoke up in his usual manner "Retrieval of Rukia" Naruto noted no suffix in the name "And disabling of whoever has taken her power" that got some looks while Naruto didn't even react to the that ending statement, reading the reports, he coincided that Aizen had manipulated the reports using Kyoka Suigetsu to misrepresent what they really said.
Naruto sighed mentally; working for almost 300 years in keeping up a façade was really wearing him out. Shaking that thought off, he returned his senses to the now opened up Senkaimon.
As Naruto stepped in along with Byakuya, Kaien and Renji, knowing from this moment on….the game was on…
(Karakura Cho – Real World, Several hours Later)
Rukia Kuchiki set down the letter that Ichigo Kurosaki would soon look at. Everything went so wrong in one night, she thought to herself as she made her ways past the rooms of Isshin Kurosaki, the overenthusiastic Otou-san of the family she had been staying with and silently thanked the man before passing the rooms of Yuzu and Karen Kurosaki. These were Ichigo's younger siblings, thanking them as well to herself, she made her way out of the clinic and ran, beginning to muse it had all gone wrong in a single night.
After dispatching several hollows, she and come across one that was avoiding her senses. While tracking it, her senses were blocked by an unknown source of reiatsu, surprisingly it was Ichigo.
Thinking that she didn't have to rely on Naruto's training, she had underestimated the hollow's capabilities. Injured during the fight, she had no choice but to transfer her powers to the orange haired boy, as a result he had only survived by the devil's luck in facing hollows.
Shaking that off as she closed the door behind herself, she began to run down the street side
.
Unbeknown to her, some were watching.
Renji scanned the area with his newly bought glasses from the Gin Tanabo (Silver Dragonfly). It was designed to track specific reiatsu signatures and as a result was very useful in tracking targets. He pushed them up after sighting Rukia.
"Taicho, I found her. But she's in a….."
"Gigiai?" Kaien stated confusedly, he looked at Renji "According to the report, she lost her powers. Shouldn't they be back by now?" he asked, perplexed about a development like this.
Renji only sighed aloud as Byakuya spoke up "Corner her, we'll find out on a later analysis" he said to Kaien who nodded and vanished in a shunpo to go confront Rukia first.
"Contact Naruto, he can stop the search" the Taicho of the Rokubantai informed him.
Renji got up from his crouch and pressed the communicator on his neck, doing it twice he got static and cursed to himself "Sorry Taicho, something's interfering with the communicator" he replied, making him frown slightly at that, most likely reiatsu discharges in the area were interfering.
"He will arrive, once he senses reiatsu from the area" Byakuya decided finally before he vanished in a shunpo as did Renji in conjunction.
(With Naruto – Two Clicks Away)
Naruto pushed aside a bush that was covering a tree parting; he had been scanning the area for reiatsu signatures and had discovered one, though his Otou-san did not seem to detect it.
Shaking that off, he found his way to a moon illuminated clearing. The grass swayed gently in the slighted breeze. Expanding his senses, he zeroed them in on an expertly hidden individual.
He looked towards a darkened area of the forest as if he were expecting someone there.
"Ma ma, so troublesome" the jovial tone cut in through the night as Naruto's left eyebrow twitched at the comment. Observing the newcomer, he wore a bucket hat with green stripes and white as well. Next he had and green jacket with a similar colored haori and gi. Next he had geta's and a cane; he could see bangs of pale blond hair and grey eyes that were hidden under the hat.
Naruto smiled pleasantly "Kisuke?" he asked coolly, he remained calm at the appearance of this old friend and decided to bait out some information.
"my, my, you certainly feel more powerful than ever." he remarked in a murmur, his grey eyes steeled for a moment and looked to Naruto to find him gone.
"What-" before he could figure out what was going on, Naruto reappeared in front of the man, Tsukuyomi drawn in the blink of an eye.
"Capture those under your gaze, Tsukuyomi" Naruto intoned softly as all the bucket hat wearing man saw was darkness.
(About Two-Three Clicks away (Kilometers)
Kaien perked up when he thought he sensed Naruto's Zanpakuto being released but shrugged it of in favor of focusing on the situation. Sensing Renji's rising reiatsu, he quickly placed a hand on his shoulder "I'll confront Rukia-san, she'd be more likely to come along with us rather then get violent" he remarked while Renji lowered Zabimaru's sealed form and nodded his understanding, if Rukia came in more easily then she would get a lowered sentence.
Kaien looked at Byakuya who nodded his agreement, the Fuku-Taicho grinned and gave a mock salute before flickering out in a shunpo. Byakuya sighed internally, he had to admit, he was grateful that Naruto didn't wind up like his sensei: Kyuubi. He twitched his left eyebrow, the eccentric attitude of the fox was a bit….odd to say the least.
Kaien appeared behind Rukia as she ran "Oi! Rukia-san!" he bellowed, making her jump 10+ feet in the air and stammered out "K-Kaien-Fuku-Taicho what are you-"
Kaien rubbed the back of his head with a sigh "we've been sent to retrieve you" he cut in, his tone being more professional which surprised Rukia.
"We've?" she questioned, slightly worried as she sensed someone behind her, turning heel, she found Renji Abarai looking at her, slightly bored.
"Yo" he greeted simply, then looked away since it had been over forty years since he last talked to Rukia whose eyes widened.
"I believe that is enough" cut in a slightly annoyed toned voice, it sent shivers up her spine as she turned slowly in shock.
Byakuya Kuchiki.
Her Nii-Sama.
"N-Nii-Sama" she said above a whisper. Kaien looked around and coughed, a few moments later he cursed "Damnit, where is Naruto-san? He makes damn good entrances" he muttered while Renji groaned under his breath, Naruto had the audacious timing known to the Goteijuusantai, he showed up at the right moment.
"Naruto is here?" she asked, shocked that two Fuku-Taicho's and one third seat along with a Taicho would be sent to retrieve her.
Renji just nodded mutely while Kaien sighed aloud and looked at Byakuya who frowned for a moment until a thunderous crash rung through the area and they looked to see something they'd never expect.
A teen with orange spiky hair much like Kaien's hairstyle. Renji blinked a few times seeing his massive Zanpakuto "Is that your brother?" he asked bluntly while Kaien twitched, Rukia giggled to herself despite the situation.
Byakuya merely raised one of his brows and looked between the two; he silently admitted that they looked similar….
The orange haired boy mere ignored the looks while Kaien started "I'll take this one, Kuchiki-Taicho" he unsheathed Nejibana and Rukia looked shocked.
"And who the hell are you?" interrupted Renji, rudely as to who this kid was and what was up with his massive spiritual pressure.
"Ichigo Kurosaki" he proclaimed "And I'm…."
"Going to kick your ass!" said in unison, Ichigo and Kaien. The two glared at each other while some sort of tension took over.
"Stop copying me!" the two yelled again in unison, growling.
Rukia clamped a hand over her mouth while Renji slapped his forehead mumbling about "There are two of them".
Byakuya twitched a little at their similarities and was pretty sure he did not want two Kaien Shiba's to exist.
"You're dead!" they yelled while Kaien proceeded to clash blades against Ichigo, reiatsu rising slow, unaware of what would happen in the future.
(With Naruto)
The man looked around to find himself in a world with blood red sky and black clouds, then he saw he was standing on a circle area that was entirely black.
"Welcome"
His head snapped to the voice, grey eyes widened slightly he had not even sensed this individual. Naruto sat with one leg crossed over the other in a chair with two cups of tea and a seat for him.
He narrowed his eyes in the slightest as Naruto sipped his tea "Don't give me that look, Urahara Kisuke" he stated casually, not intimidated in the slightest.
Urahara stiffened his spine as Naruto continued "Don't be alarmed, I merely wish to speak with you" the self proclaimed shop keeper stared at Naruto, clearly wondering why a noble clan member was wanting to talk with him, besides Naruto being his friend, he spoke "And what would that be?" he asked, whipping out his fan, slightly surprised that Naruto had actually materialized it for him to use and planned on thanking him later.
The Kuchiki-Unohana merely smiled "One thing, I want to know what you know" he remarked vaguely, being in a cryptic manner.
Urahara looked startled and recomposed, if he didn't go along with this, the situation would end pretty ugly.
(With Kaien)
Kaien panted slightly, this kid was better than he expected; he had already survived several slashes that would have downed a seated Shinigami.
"Are you done yet?" droned Renji in an annoyed fashion.
"Baka!" Kaien yelled, turning at the red haired man with a slightly annoyed look on his face "So? You'd toy with him, and this kid has- whoa!" he dodged to the side at the last second from Ichigo's Zanpakuto
"Don't ignore me!" Ichigo cut in while Kaien grinned "Man kid, you've got the luck of the devil to last this far" he saw the look in Byakuya's eye "But I should end this" he said in a too quick tone, Renji caught this and shook his head amusedly, how Kuchiki and Shiba understood each other, he'd never know.
"Heh, your stick doesn't look like much though" commented Ichigo.
"That would be his sealed state" eyes looked to see Naruto, sitting on the railing next to the road, he had a kunai out and picked casually under his fingernails "You really over estimate your skills and underestimate others, Kaien, your slacking at this rate". Byakuya raised his brows, kunai were rarely ever used by the Nibantai, they were never used after about five to six hundred years ago. An amused thought crossed his mind that Naruto was an old fashioned user of the Nibantai.
"Feh" countered Kaien to Naruto "I was about to release Nejibana (Twisted Flower) anyway"
"Huh?" Ichigo stated confusedly, wondering as to the name "You name your swords?"
Naruto smiled in amusement "Kid" he got his attention "Rukia-san obviously heeded to tell you that we Shinigami have Shikai" he smiled lightly in a reassuring fashion at Rukia, she felt relieved by his presence and he continued "Shikai is a second state of the Zanpakuto, and currently" he twirled the kunai "our power is limited when we come to the human world…" he stopped twirling it as it made a ringing sound that echoed through the area.
"….Our power…is increased by five to ten times alone" he stated softly making Ichigo's eyes wide.
"You lost this battle before it began kid" remarked Renji "Naruto-Fuku-Taicho is one of the three strongest fukutaicho's along with Kaien there" he jutted his chin out with a smug smirk.
Byakuya for once, nodded his agreement; it was stupid to go into a situation that you know nothing of.
"Suiten sakemake, Nejibana" (Rankle the seas and the skies, Twisted Flower).
Ichigo watched, eyes widened as his counterpart held the katana in reverse position and slowly twirled it as a yellowish glow took it over and slowly, it grew into a trident-ji hybrid that had concave shaped blades with a bluish horse tassel and a screw ending to it.
With every movement of the blade, it constantly sounded like waves crashing. Ichigo had no time to react as he shot forward, just barely keeping up as the blade of the halberd sliced into his left arm, Naruto moved his head to watch as he skidded back from the Shinigami group.
"Huh, so why are you not fighting then?" Ichigo made it sound like a taunt, to his slight anger, Naruto didn't even react
"A pointless gesture" Naruto remarked calmly "You are an amateur as far as I'm concerned, you have no concept of reiatsu control or battle tactics, Sun Tzu once quoted "Know thyself and know thy enemy, and you need not fear the results of a hundred battles".
Byakuya agreed with that quote, Naruto had actually told him quite a bit about Sun Tzu, and to his reluctance, he admitted that he was indeed a wise man in the ways of war and commanding an army. Yes people, Naruto rubbed off Byakuya.
Before Ichigo responded to that, Kaien swung the halberd and a jet of high pressured water sped towards Ichigo, who in a futile gesture, lifted his massive Zanpakuto to block the water, and it slammed into him with the force of a truck, he was pushed off his feet and sent him rushing back before slamming into a telephone pole.
Kaien sighed `If only there was another way…'he thought grimly, brushing off those thoughts, he began to walk away from the scene.
"I-Ichigo" said worriedly, Rukia, her eyes marred with concern while Byakuya looked on in his apathetic manner.
Naruto sighed inwardly before he sensed a build up of reiatsu, a burst came from the downed Ryoka boy, the string attached to the pommel of the Zanpakuto was torn away as Naruto cocked a brow, interested as he turned his head.
Kaien turned, his eyes widened slightly as Ichigo stood at full height, his head hung.
"I don't know what this power is…" Ichigo shot up his head with a grin. In less than a flash, Kaien was slashed at the shoulder, blood spurted as his eyes widened in shock, this kid had flat out moved at a third seat speed that caught him off guard.
Naruto didn't look surprised as did Byakuya, while Naruto's inward reaction was curious, Kaien staggered back a foot or two.
Ichigo landed behind Kaien, the grin still in place, he pointed the blade at Naruto who looked rather unperturbed by Ichigo's new power.
"You're next"
Naruto snorted inwardly but rose an eyebrow "Let me say something…"
Ichigo charged, preparing to swing his Zanpakuto at Naruto, planning to take off his head.
"Power needs elegance and a storm…"
A mere foot away
"Scalpel and a hammer"
Inches away
"Unrefined"
*CLANG!*
Naruto had unsheathed Susanoo and blocked the massive blade with no apparent effort. Renji's eyes widened in shock, `Amazing! I didn't even see him draw it' he glanced at Byakuya `Mere inches away and he's blocked that massive Zanpakuto? Man, he's a monster….'
Naruto stared into the shocked eyes of Ichigo Kurosaki, before spinning off the railing, he slammed the pommel of Susanoo against the side of his head before a solid kick to the chest sent him flying ten feet back.
Naruto stood calmly, when Kurama trained Naruto in ignoring others reiatsu, he really pushed it. Kyuubi actually focused his own killing intent on Naruto; the KI of Kyuubi was past Sotaicho, so at this point, reiatsu flaring rarely ever perturbed Naruto.
"…Honestly, there's a gap between our power and you're obviously not comprehending that"
"Shut up!" Ichigo stated stubbornly "I don't care who you are, a Fuku-Taicho, whatever, I will take Rukia back!"
Naruto sighed softly "commendable determination" he remarked as he knocked away an uppercut of a slash "But only when used wisely" Naruto redirected his sword strike to the ground, using a palm strike with a precise amount of reiatsu, he shattered the Zanpakuto that Ichigo wielded.
"H-how-"
"Simple" Naruto stated "That was just a lump of metal with unrefined power", he pointed at Ichigo's chest "Hado no Yon: Byakuri"
At that, a spear of pale white lightning tore through Ichigo's chest, severing his soul sleep and soul chain. Blood gushed from the wound as he fell to the floor, unmoving as a pool of blood came from under him.
Naruto sighed inwardly but knew he would survive, he was intentionally a few inches off from any vital points, he only wanted to sever the soul sleep and soul chain, which he would survive if he didn't move too much.
"Ichigo!"
Byakuya ignored his sister's cry and observed Ichigo's downed form "You didn't kill him" he stated, a slight frown on his face.
Naruto glanced at his Otou-san "Or orders were Quote Disable the one with Shinigami powers unquote" he added "Whether he lives or dies, is up to him." He sheathed Susanoo the next moment.
Renji had an awed look on his face while Kaien looked impressed, he checked himself over and found several gashes that his look-alike had made, he whistled to himself, Kukkaku was gonna drag on about this one.
Naruto felt a hand grabbing his ankle and raised one brow in surprise, surviving a wound like that would kill any Shinigami, a Taicho surviving but a newly minted gaki? Surprise surprise.
"Heh…don't talk like I'm not here…" he said, weakly gripping Naruto's ankle.
Renji gaped while Kaien's jaw dropped at how Ichigo was clearly alive and breathing, though it looked like he would die soon with the amount of blood that he had pooling under him.
"My my…no wonder…" Naruto murmured to himself, carefully making sure no one heard him, he spoke louder "With the way you're contracting your muscles, you'll be dead of that wound in the next hour to forty five minutes….."
"Shut…up…"
Rushing of feet was heard as a very familiar shoe kicked off his hand and Naruto was inwardly surprised to see Rukia as the one who did so.
"Stay where you are…Ryoka."
She ignored his protests and looked at Byakuya "Let's go, Nii-Sama" Byakuya said nothing as she continued "There's no need to finish of the boy, he'll die eventually".
Naruto sighed to himself mentally before she continued "My eyes have been opened to his actions, let us return to the Soul Society." She continued "I will humbly atone for my crimes…"
"Oi! Hey Rukia! Rukia, look at me!" he yelled, only to feel his wound open more.
"Fool" Naruto piped up, glancing at Ichigo "You're only digging her grave, as far as I'm concerned" his comment made shock spread his features.
"Don't move!" Rukia yelled, not looking at Ichigo, who fell silent as she was never loud nor angry at him.
"You try moving a single step…you try coming after me." Rukia turned at last, tears forming at the pores of her eyes "I will NOT forgive you, live as long as you will, dying on the ground."
Ichigo stared at her, shocked as it began to rain, almost as if the gods were crying.
"Renji" Byakuya held his fukutaicho's attention "Open a Senkaimon, we are returning to the Soul Society" he saw Renji nod and unsheathed Zabimaru.
Naruto stood for a few moments as the Senkaimon formed after Renji stabbed his sword and twisted it like a key and a lock, shogi doors appeared from mid air, opening revealing a white light.
Kaien looked concerned for Rukia, flashing a reassuring smile, he lead her through side by side. Rukia didn't even give a sympathetic glance as Ichigo passed out from his wounds.
Naruto stood in the rain and turned, looking down upon Ichigo "I cannot do anything to save Rukia" he started "My influence may be much in the Soul Society, even more so, I cannot save even a single life with either my Zanpakuto's or my sword style" he bent down a little "But you have that power alone, get stronger and do what I couldn't" he stiffened his spine before turning heel and began to walk to the Senkaimon.
He rummaged through his shikkashou for something and tossed an object over his left shoulder without looking. As he stepped through, a hand shot out and caught the object which contained a healing salve.
The Senkaimon closed up and disappeared as though it weren't there anymore. The figure stepped out, revealing Urahara Kisuke in a rain coat and had an umbrella. He looked at the salve and shook his head; the kid certainly was Unohana's son.
Stuffing it in his gi, he turned his attention to Ichigo, pondering when he had been reunited with his Kuchiki friend.
(Flashback - Naruto's Illusion)
Naruto stared at Urahara, for a few moments no one spoke "You mean to tell me…" he saw Urahara nod slowly as he nervously shifted his feet. Any moment now, Urahara was expecting to die.
"You're a Baka of a genius" he muttered under his breath, rubbing his temple while Urahara simply looked sheepish behind that paper fan of his.
"I know, not one of the best ideas but not much of a choice either" pointed out Urahara while Naruto reluctantly agreed as he looked at the shopkeeper "True. This could have ended a hundred years ago with you doing the procedure and I wouldn't be dealing with this situation as it is now".
Urahara nodded, truth be told, even he was scared by Naruto's intuitive abilities and perception. He could see the power that Naruto kept back, and the intelligence he has was beyond wondering.
"What happens now?" the self proclaimed shopkeeper asked, eyeing Naruto curiously as he drummed his fingers on the table in thought.
"If I told you my agenda, it wouldn't be secret now, would it?" he asked in a rhetorical manner. Urahara laughed a bit, despite the situation. He saw Naruto take out a scroll and slide it across the table "Something for your eyes only, now I'm afraid I must take down that Kurosaki kid though".
"Must you injury him that badly?" asked Urahara, pointedly.
Naruto scoffed, surprising Urahara "He's using Rukia-san's power, yes?" he asked while the man nodded slowly "Then it is her power alone, he's not using his own" Naruto rose from his seat and crossed his arms "If you truly expect that much of him, have him learn to rely on his power, not that of others".
Urahara saw the wisdom in this and nodded but frowned a bit at the thought of telling Isshin, shaking that off, as the illusion broke, he found a scroll in his hands and nothing but the wind of the area.
He stashed it in the sleeve of his haori and walked down to the street that the Shinigami group was clashing with Ichigo.
(End Flashback)
Urahara sighed aloud, eyeing the spot where the Senkaimon was. He smirked all the while, things were going to go topside soon enough.