Hello! New chapter is here! Enjoy the chapter.
Thank you reviewers:
Umbra8191, Impstar, ZxZ Fic Hunter, insaniac34, In The Mix, Go Naruto, Silvdra-zero, RasenShuriken92, Evil E. Evil, John JE, Taeniaea, and Cooked Sashimi.
Read on.
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The Soul Society was still in ruin after the recent attack. Hollows still walked around searching for any stragglers. Shinigami had to hide if they were alone. Not all the fires had been doused, some still raged. The 4th division had their hands full with many wounded shinigami. Retsu was calm, keeping her stress put aside. She was working as hard as ten people could. Her division and the Soul Society were counting on her. A few of the captains were leading search parties, while others stayed here to protect the injured. Retsu was glad she wasn't the only captain around. Hollows still crawled around the Soul Society, and she couldn't deal with them right now. Retsu's evening consisted of hearing agonizing cries, screams, crying, death, and lots of quick thinking. Everyone in her division was busy. "Unohana-taichou!" Retsu swung around hearing her name hoping it was not another death to be added to the list. She saw Shunsui carrying what looked like the corpse of captain Hitsugaya. She rushed over her heart racing. "He's not dead yet, but he is going to die if we don't do something."
"I'll be the judge of that." Retsu said, motioning Shunsui to bring the captain over to her medical table. Shunsui laid the boy on the table. She began to work, forcing Shunsui to leave. Two spare division members came to help with Retsu's work. "His skin is burned, and shows signs of puncture, but it is surprising that he is not missing a limb. Must have been Hyourinmaru protecting him." Retsu looked at one of the division members. "I want you to see if you can see what is inside Yukiko." The girl nodded and closed her eyes, taking out a pair of strange looking glasses. The girl put them on.
"It seems to be some type of shrapnel, most likely from an explosive, but it's unlike any other I have seen. I mean it is made of spiritual energy." Yukiko said, "It is moving, and causing more damage as it does move."
"How many pieces?" Retsu asked.
"About ten pieces." Yukiko answered. Retsu growled. Whatever Toshiro got himself into it must have been pretty bad. "If we don't move quick enough, the pieces with pierce his heart and-"
"It's not going to happen Yukiko." Retsu smiled reassuring the girl. "Now we better get to work." She nodded.
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"Anko we need to hurry." Renji said to the orange-haired vice-captain. Renji carried the injured 2nd division captain on his back. "This girl is in bad condition." They were running to the nearest medical center.
"I couldn't see that Kiba." Rangiku said sarcastically. Renji growled at the woman, "Just because you were raised with dogs doesn't mean you have to act like one." Rangiku smirked at him.
"At least I'm not a sadistic crazy lady." Renji muttered. Rangiku growled, "Oh and you told me not to act like a dog." He smiled at her. Rangiku ignored him and then stopped, grabbing Renji and flying around a corner. "Hey! What the hell was that-" Rangiku covered his mouth with her hand.
"Shh!" She whispered, and peered around the corner. There stood a large beast, white and had a mask on. "You idiot there's one of the creatures!" she yelled quietly. Looking back around the corner, she saw it scavenging for a potential meal. "I've never seen anything like these until tonight."
"What do you think they are?" Renji asked. Rangiku looked at Renji.
"If I knew then I wouldn't be so cautious!" Rangiku hissed. The area fell quiet. Renji stopped breathing, "It knows we are here." Rangiku smirked, "No point in hiding now!" She jumped out. The hollow roared, "Yeah Yeah!" Rangiku jumped up "I'll shut you up!" she laughed "Sen'ei tajashu!" she placed her hand out. Nothing happened.
"You idiot! We aren't ninjas!" Renji yelled. Rangiku eyes grew wide. The hollow roared, sending Rangiku back. She hit the ground and jumped to her feet. "This isn't Konoha!" Renji stated. Rangiku looked at the sword at her hip.
"We are shinigami…forgot…eh, how do you use this thing?" Rangiku unsheathed the sword, looking at the blade. The hollow dived after her, and she jumped out of the way almost being hit. "Why the hell am I so slow?" She growled, "Stupid jugs!" she yelled at her chest.
"Anko watch out!" Renji yelled. Rangiku slammed into the nearby building, and the hollow moved towards her. "Why is up to me?" He placed the girl he carried down on the ground carefully. Renji for some reason felt like saying something random, "Howl." Taking out his sword, it changed from a katana into a strange blade. "What is up with this blade?" he looked at the weapon with confusion.
"Don't worry about the fucking blade! Come and help me you brat!" Rangiku shouted. Renji jumped onto the hollow's back. He stabbed the creature, and it roared in response. Renji dug it further into the monsters back, and it moved away from Rangiku, trying to grab at Renji. Renji fell off and landed on his feet, but fell over.
"Man, talk about not having balance…" Renji said and saw the creature's claw swipe at him. Renji moved away from the spot just in time to see a crater where he once was. "Sheesh. Much slower than I used to be."
"Yeah, at least you don't have to deal with these jugs!" Rangiku yelled, and ran at the hollow. She sliced the hollow's leg making it roar yet again. The hollow's tail rammed into her and she fell on her back. "I hate this body!"
"I don't blame you!" Renji moved away from another one of its attacks. "As a ninja I could have creamed this thing!" he ducked from the hollow's tail. "Now I can't even barely dodge a simple attack!"
"Oh you can't dodge? Look at me!" Rangiku yelled, getting to her feet with a wince, "I can't even move properly!" she threw her arms into the air with anger. Renji moved from another attack.
"Why do they even have these stupid swords? They don't even do anything!" Renji threw the weapon away, "It can't do anything!"
"I have a katana, and it isn't much better than your weird sword!" Rangiku ran at the hollow, jumping before the tail could hit her again. She landed on the hollow's head, rather ungracefully. "Damn! What up with this? I can't even balance."
"Just try to kill it!" Renji growled, and got hit by the hollow's paw while distracted. Rangiku took the blade and shoved into the hollow's neck. She was flung off by a quick movement and hit the ground. She looked up at the hollow as it charged up an attack. "Anko! Move!" Renji shouted, Rangiku tried to move but halted by her aching limbs. Suddenly a man appeared on the hollow's head. He had a sword as well.
"Raise your head." the sword blade turned into what looked like a hook. The man drew the blade upwards slicing the creature's head off. Renji and Rangiku watched with a little surprise with how fast he killed the beast. He jumped off before the beast could collapse, landing with grace. He looked unhappy with the two. "Is there any reason two vice-captains couldn't take care of one hollow?" the man glared, "Here the Soul Society is fighting and you tell me you can't take care of one hollow?" the man looked angry.
"I-I was caught off guard!" Rangiku hissed, "I could have killed it if I wanted to!" she said. The blonde did not look amused. Renji didn't know who he was. "I was just playing."
"You are playing while everyone else is risking their lives! What the hell are you thinking!" the blonde shouted at Rangiku, "I don't know what you are doing but one thing is for sure you are wasting everyone's time."
"Well we were trying to find medical attention. We found her at the gate." Renji stated.
"Sui-Feng-taichou." The man didn't look very happy, "That idiot, she's probably going to die now." He sighed, "I'll show you where the medical unit is, since you are incapable of taking care of anything. This is very strange of you to do Renji. I thought you were more responsible Rangiku." Rangiku growled and Renji sighed. The man looked at him with a suspicion. "Are you going to get your zanpakuto?" Renji gave him a confused look, the man was staring at the sword that he discarded. "Honestly, what are you new recruits? I though you would have learned to take care of your zanpakuto. Next thing you know you won't even know how to use it."
"Yeah…" Renji picked up the blade. He didn't know how to sheath the strange blade, and simply held it. The man still stared at him. "What now?"
"Nothing." He turned around. The two vice-captains were acting very suspicious; he would have to be careful. Renji was definitely not acting his usual self. He could say the same for Matsumoto. Renji picked up the captain and asked Rangiku to hold his 'zanpakuto'. They started to run to where the medical camp was set.
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"This is the second time this has happened!" A man yelled at Yamamoto, who quietly stood listening to the man. "On your watch too! I don't know why you let me do this. Naruto should have been sealed away. This is now way over our heads. Yamamoto, the Spirit King is not going to be pleased." The man sat in the shadows, sitting on a tatami mat. Yamamoto sat across from him.
"The Spirit King has bigger things to deal with than a hollow who is…" Yamamoto was cut off by the man slamming his fist into the table. The man didn't look happy with the current situation. "I will take care of Naruto personally if I must." Yamamoto stated. The man let out an irritated growl.
"I will trust you to do that. We both know that Naruto isn't going to go down, not without a war. Naruto truly believes no one cares." The man said quietly. His feeling quickly changed from angry to sad. "It's my fault." He laid his forehead into his hand. "I wanted to, but I couldn't do anything." He shook his head.
"This is not your fault. You already did your best, and you ended up saving people." Yamamoto sighed, and closed his eyes. "The Gotei 13 will work our hardest to change the out come of this." The man shifted in the shadows.
"I won't allow this to happen, even if I must seal him away myself." Yamamoto looked at the man in front of him with a sad expression.
"I hope that never comes." Yamamoto said with a gentle voice.
"Nor do I."
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"How is Shiro-chan?" Momo asked Retsu with big tearful eyes. Retsu sighed, Hitsugaya was stable at the moment, but they had not been able to get all the pieces of crystallized energy. There was one piece left and it was dangerously close to his heart. Retsu had no idea if Toshiro would be ok. "Please tell me he is ok!" Momo sobbed, into Retsu's chest. "Please…"
"Hitsugaya is stable at the moment." Retsu told Momo. Hinamori looked up with a tear-streaked face. "Honestly I don't know if he will live." Retsu said with sad eyes. Momo started shaking.
"Unohana-taichou the odds of survival is 10%. Whatever that fragment is in his chest, it will most likely pierce his aorta, killing him." Yukiko stated. Momo turned to a state of shock. She moved away from Retsu and brought her hands to her side. Momo eyes glazed, her lower lip quivered, and she shook her head.
"You're lying." Momo said with a small voice. "You're lying!" she yelled, her eyes blank. "Toshiro isn't going to die! You're lying!" she pointed at Yukiko. Retsu knew that Momo was in a state of denial. Momo walked up to Yukiko and slapped her in the face. "Don't lie to me!" Momo was going to hit Yukiko again but Restu grabbed her arms.
"Momo." Retsu said in a soft voice. "You need to calm down." Retsu looked the young vice-captain in the eyes. Momo's eyes filling with tears, and she broke down in Retsu's arms. "You have to be strong for Toshiro." She sighed, "You also just recently recovered from your injury. You have to be careful."
"I-I just d-don't want h-him to d-die!" Momo sobbed, Yukiko stood up and rubbed her sore face, and walked over to the two. "I'm sorry! I'm just so scared!" Momo explained, and Yukiko gave her a tight hug. "I'm scared…"
"I'm sorry." Yukiko said with a soft voice. After a few seconds, they released each other from the hug. "If you like we can go visit him…in his last moments." Yukiko said with a sad smiled.
"T-Thank you." Momo rubbed her eyes, and walked into the surgical tent. Toshiro looked peaceful, his eyes closed, his mouth a tad open. His breathing was light. Momo went over to Toshiro's side, and grabbed his hand. She always saw him as a brother, and even when he looked younger than she did, she saw him as an older sibling. Toshiro always looked out for her, and protected her. Now when he was dying, Momo had done nothing to save her own brother. She felt more tears run down her face. She held back her sobs and smiled at her brother. "Toshiro. Please, please, wake up. I don't care what your reason is. I just want to see you again."
"Momo." Yukiko looked at the vice-captain with a sad look. Hinamori stood next to Toshiro, tears running down sadly. Momo never wanted this to happen. Retsu couldn't help but cry a little as well. She had witnessed over twenty people die, not mentioning the people that never made it back from the fight. Retsu wiped the tear away. She had to be strong, despite everything. Retsu noticed something, his breathing becoming irregular.
"Yukiko!" Retsu called. She ran over to Toshiro's side and checked his pulse. It was becoming slow. Yukiko grabbed Momo away, but she began fighting. "Hinamori." Retsu said in a strict voice, Momo looked at her. "If you want to save Hitsugaya, then you have to do your duty. I'll do mine." Retsu said her eyes holding a great level of seriousness. Momo let herself be taken out of the tent. Retsu closed her eyes. Yukiko came back.
"What do you want me to do?" Yukiko asked. Retsu was quiet.
"We have to make a miracle."
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Toshiro was surrounded by snow. It was dense, like a blizzard, he tried to get through it. He struggled. He tripped and fell into the snow, and got back up. The wind whipped his face, and the cold bit at him. Toshiro winced as a brisk, heavy, bitter wind blew him over.Hitsugaya stood up again, he wasn't going to give up yet. He had to help Naruto. He had a mission; he needed to bring Naruto back to the Soul Society. He trudged through, squinting trying to see where he was going. Hitsugaya kept moving forward. He felt another strong wind blew through, and he braced himself. He made it through. Toshiro felt himself getting weaker every step he took. Hitsugaya ignored this. He had to right himself, he had to save Naruto, and he had to keep moving. Toshiro felt the wind whip him in the face again. Toshiro leaned on a pine tree, huffing from the effort he put in. He looked behind himself to see darkness moving towards him. "I can't lose here." He forced his freezing limbs to move.
More wind froze his face. His nose running, his cheeks becoming a bright red. He shivered at how cold it was, wrapping his arms around his chest. Looking back, the darkness was still catching up. He charged forward. He must keep going. He had to keep going. Toshiro had to fix everything, it was his duty. He brought one of his arms up to his face trying to keep the cold air from hitting his face. He panted, growing extremely tired. Toshiro didn't let this stop him, he must keep going. Stumbling over a tree root, he caught himself. He hates you. Toshiro ignored the voice. This is your entire fault. Toshiro took in a deep breath, his lung filling up with the cold air. His mind began to fog. You did this; this is all your fault. Toshiro felt his chest heave painfully. He knew this was all his fault, but he had to right his wrong. All alone, he would save his friend.
Suddenly a frightfully powerful wind blew, sending the young captain falling backwards a couple feet. He tried to get up. His body was freezing he had to move. "I can't…I can't give up now…" He felt tears come from his eyes; they stung as they fell from his eyes. "I have to do this…it's my fault." He said to himself. "I have to do this alone…" Toshiro tears streamed down his face. He saw a light in the distance, but it was so far away. He reached out an arm, trying to touch the light. He collapsed, his body no longer responding. The darkness started to surround him. "I'm truly a failure…" he sobbed. His tears freezing and heart was slowing. "I'm sorry Naruto…I…wasn't a good friend." Toshiro smiled sadly, the snow building on his body. He felt the warmth fade away. "I'm so sorry." He closed his eyes. The snow silently grew around him, he had failed. This is all your fault.
"Hey." A voice said to him. Toshiro opened his eyes as much as he could. He saw a man standing in front of him. The man had porcelain skin and coal eyes that peered straight into his soul. He was very handsome. Toshiro felt he could recognize the person. Hitsugaya body was too heavy for him to move any further. The man had black hair that stuck up in the back. Whoever it was had a soft gaze, but Toshiro could tell he was not a pushover. "You just going to lay here?" the man asked him, squatting down looking at Toshiro. Hitsugaya was too tired to say anything. The man didn't look impressed. "I truly pity you." He added. He looked rather upset. Toshiro could only look at the man. "You know, I thought you must have been powerful, but in the end you are weak." He stood up, and looked down on Toshiro. "You truly are a child." The man said with a stoic tone. Toshiro glared up at him, and tried to move. "Weak, little boy, who gives up. Pathetic." He walked away in the wind with no effort. Toshiro burned with anger.
Hitsugaya tried to move, but his body disobeyed. Toshiro watched as the man moved farther and farther away. He shifted a little. Moving his arms, and pushed himself off the ground a little. He fell back onto the ground. Hitsugaya pressed his forehead against the snow-covered earth. He growled and pushed off the ground again. Now on his knees, he panted. His legs wouldn't move, but he crawled. Moving forward, he got to a tree and used it for support. Toshiro pushed himself to his feet, and leaned against the tree. The cold wintery wind stung his face, but he didn't care. Hitsugaya would show that man, he wasn't just a child. He wouldn't give up. Moving his foot, he moved forward. One foot after the other, he moved through the snow. He didn't care that it was cold, or the snow stung his face he kept going on. Toshiro walked to the next tree, and then began to speed through the snow. He wouldn't give up, not now, not here, not ever, he must keep moving. Toshiro finally got to a clearing, a small lake was before him. There was a dock on the lake, and the man stood there. Toshiro noticed that it was snowing lightly. Hitsugaya made his way to the dock.
"I didn't think you would make it." The man mocked, "Not with that attitude of yours." Toshiro glared at the steely man. The man merely smiled at him, which wasn't what Toshiro was expecting. "You did a good job." The man pat his head. Toshiro pushed his hand away, and glared at him with his icy turquoise eyes. The man laughed. "You were just like me as a kid." His gaze was very gentle. Hitsugaya didn't know what to think of him. "It's a good thing you didn't walk down the same path I did…" he looked into the distance with a blank expression. Toshiro stayed silent. "Times have surely changed. Though in the end I'm still the prodigy." He smiled.
"Who are you?" Toshiro asked, the man gave him a soft gaze, and a smile. The man squatted down to his height, and Toshiro felt like he was being treated like a child. "Don't treat me like a kid." Hitsugaya told him, the man just smiled at him. "Why did you patronize me? Surely, you can tell me that. Or maybe I'm dead, and you are some strange ghost after death." Toshiro raised his eyebrow. The man chuckled, and shook his head, "Then who are you?"
"I am you." The man answered. Toshiro's eyes widened, "You are a reincarnation of me." Toshiro looked a bit confused. "You kept having dreams of a boy, and his time with Naruto. That was from my memories." He explained to the captain. He stood up and looked to the lake. The snow started to melt away and snowflakes turned into cherry blossom petals. Toshiro felt the warmth of spring. Hitsugaya looked around, feeling the nice breeze of spring. "Your thoughts were similar to mine." He sat at the edge of the dock, and pat the space next to him. Toshiro hesitantly walked over and sat next to him. "When I was younger, I too thought that I had to right all the wrong. I had to keep moving forward. I was never good enough." He said peering into the blue sky. "I learned something." He looked to the 10th division captain. "You can't carry a burden all by yourself. You may think this is your fault, but it is not." He sighed. "You must not carry a burden by yourself."
"But if I had only…If I talked to Naruto he wouldn't be like this…I…" Toshiro looked down on the water. The man ruffled his hair again, Hitsugaya glared at him. "Stop it would you!"
"My name is Sasuke Uchiha." The man said, "I would prefer to be called by name, as would you, Toshiro." Hitsugaya nodded, "You are lucky. Naruto was my best friend, as well as my only close friend. Well, besides my wife." He smiled. Toshiro wondered how he could be the reincarnate of this man. He seemed to be very knowledgeable, and kind. Toshiro was standoffish, and cold. "You doubt yourself. My question is why?" Sasuke asked.
"It feels like I shouldn't be your reincarnate. I mean I can see why but…" Toshiro looked at his reflection. "You seem like a greater person than me." Sasuke looked at Hitsugaya with sad eyes. "You seem to have faith in me, but I don't understand. I have failed more than once."
"So have I." Sasuke said. Toshiro looked into his coal eyes, "Well all make mistakes. Even though others consider some perfect. I was a prodigy once. Everyone told me I was the strongest and had the most potential. In the end, Naruto succeeded greater than I." he chuckled. "I made the mistake of going to the wrong person for power. I nearly killed my best friend, and my village. In the end, everyone hated me…" he whispered. "Now Naruto is making his own mistakes. Like I once did."
"He is being manipulated." Toshiro defended Naruto. "He is being used."
"So was I." Sasuke responded. "In the end I was lucky that my real friends were there for me in the end, or I might have done something I would have truly regretted and…" Sasuke paused, and looked at the shinigami. "I would have never met you." He smiled, and Toshiro blushed out of embarrassment. "You are a good person Toshiro. Naruto really needs you."
"Do you really think I could help him?" Toshiro asked his eyes unsure. Sasuke nodded and Hitsugaya smiled. Sasuke stood up and Toshiro did the same. "I...don't if I could." Sasuke placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You will. You are his best friend." Sasuke sighed, and moved his hand back to his side. "Unlike me you will have another chance." Toshiro could understand Sasuke, they were the same person. Sasuke looked at Hitsugaya with a small smile. "You are indeed lucky. Being a friend of Naruto…but there are a few things you must know about Naruto." Toshiro nodded. "It hasn't gotten through that thick head of his that his friends have moved on. He keeps living in the past. Like you have." Toshiro glared at Sasuke.
"I killed someone close to me! Obaa-chan didn't deserve to die…if I knew how to control my power…that would have never have happened." Toshiro wanted to cry, but he couldn't. He was not a child; he was a captain. People counted on him. Sasuke closed his eyes. Hitsugaya wondered what Sasuke was doing. "What-?" he saw a tear run from the man's closed eyes. Toshiro blinked surprised.
"It is ok to cry…you must not hold everything in. Naruto told me that." Sasuke opened his eyes, with a sad smile. Toshiro shook his head. Crying showed weakness, it should people he was a child, but why was he crying then? Toshiro felt the small tears roll down his cheeks. "Toshiro, tears do not show that you are a child…emotion is not a bad thing." Hitsugaya for the first time in his life let himself cry. As humiliating as it was. For a few minutes, he cried. Toshiro cried for the death of his grandmother, Momo, the Soul Society, and everything he could think of. He cried for Naruto too, he knew how it felt not to be able to trust people and even yourself. Sasuke cried as well, his tears silent. The petals of Sakura blossoms danced around them. Toshiro dried his eyes and Sasuke did the same.
"I…I thank you." Hitsugaya bowed a little. He couldn't help but respect Sasuke. However, Toshiro was Sasuke's reincarnation. Toshiro saw Sasuke as someone to look up to. Even if he had just met the man, Toshiro trusted him. "I doubt I would have survived without you…" Hitsugaya bowed yet again. Sasuke chuckled and smiled a bit at him. "You have my word that I will help Naruto. I am not going to give up on Naruto." Toshiro told him. Sasuke looked convinced. The sun over the two of them grew brighter.
"Now you got to go back to the real world." Sasuke let out a deep breath. He placed a hand over the young captain's heart. His chest glowed a bit. "I am saving you, because I know you can help Naruto." He paused looking at his reflection. "You must show Naruto that people are here for him. That his friends didn't leave him behind, they waited for him." The world started to turn white. "Never give up on Naruto…I will be there for you…" Sasuke disappeared, and a soft white light enveloped Toshiro's world. Toshiro smiled and closed his eyes. "Tell that dobe I forgive him…and if you meet a person named Itachi, tell him I'm sorry…"
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"Retsu! He's coming back!" Yukiko announced. Retsu couldn't believe it, in all her years she had never seen this good of a recovery. For a moment he was on his deathbed, the next Toshiro completely revived. Unohana had never seen this big of a miracle. "It's strange the fragment disappeared." Yukiko looked through her glasses. Retsu let out a sigh of relief. "He's waking up!" Yukiko said surprised. Toshiro opened his eyes and felt pain come at him full blast. He groaned. Hitusgaya didn't even want to try to sit up.
"Hitsugaya-taichou. Good to see you are awake." Retsu said with a big smile. Momo entered the room and saw Toshiro was awake. She was frozen. Tears began to form in her eyes again. "I guess you will get to see more of Hitsugaya." Retsu said. Momo sobbed and ran over and pulled Toshiro into a hug. Toshiro winced when she pulled him into hug, but he was happy that Momo was happy.
"Shiro-chan! I though you were going to die!" Momo cried, and Toshiro smiled, "They said your c-chances of living were 10%, and…" she just sobbed in his arms. Hitsugaya was in pain, but it didn't matter to him. He hugged her back as she cried. Retsu watched with a smile on her face. Yukiko wiped a tear away, and smiled.
"Don't worry Momo, I'm not leaving yet." Toshiro told her, and patted her back. "I still have a lot to do. I'm not going to be leaving anytime soon." He assured her. He looked up wondering how Naruto was. He couldn't give up on his friend or Sasuke. Yukiko walked up to Retsu and looked over her shoulder.
"Retsu-taichou…the shard energies completely disappeared from his body." Yukiko whispered with a very serious expression. "It's almost as if they were never there in the first place." Retsu nodded, and looked past Yukiko to see Momo still crying against Toshiro. "That is impossible…"
"Yukiko." Retsu stopped the young shinigami. "This is very strange indeed. Toshiro wasn't going to survive." She smiled at Yukiko, "For now lets just be happy that things turned out the way they did." Yukiko sighed and smiled back at her captain. Yukiko walked over to Toshiro and Momo. Yukiko began to ask how Toshiro was feeling. Retsu began to think back. Was she the only one that noticed another energy surrounding Toshiro? Retsu also felt a huge spike of reiatsu before Toshiro woke up. It was different from Toshiro's normal reiatsu. "Something is going on that I don't quite understand." She mumbled to herself.
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Rangiku, Renji, and the blonde made it to the medical camp. "We need to get medical attention on Sui-Feng stat." the blonde stated, the 4th division members gathered around Renji and took the petite woman from him. "Renji, Rangiku, why are you two acting so strangely?" the blonde asked. Suddenly Renji's body grew weak. Renji cursed mentally. Rangiku knew what was going on. Renji couldn't stand up. He fell over onto the ground, "Renji!" The blonde yelled, "What the hell is going on?" he yelled. Rangiku grabbed his shoulder, trying to explain things quickly.
"I don't know your name, but our times run out and-" Rangiku eyes turned blank and she fell over as well. The blonde didn't know what was happening, but it wasn't good.
"Someone we need to help these two!" Izuru yelled, and looked at the unconscious vice-captains. "What is going on?"
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"Any more Injured found?" Ukitake asked some shinigami, they shook their heads. "This is very unfortunate…" he said sadly.
"Ukitake-taichou! We found Komamura-taichou!" A shinigami yelled. Ukitake ran over to see the captain lying on the ground. Iba Tetsuzaemon was sitting beside his captain with a blank look. Jushiro walked up to the vice-captain with guilty expression. Looking at Sajin, he winced. Sajin was missing an arm, probably bleeding to death. The stub was wrapped with a large amount of gauze, most likely Iba's work.
"Iba-fukutaichou." Ukitake tried to get the vice-captain's attention. He sat quietly next to his captain with an empty expression. Ukitake could tell it was shock. The Gotei 13 had never perished this much in history.
"We couldn't do anything." Iba said, "The Arrancar was too strong…" Iba looked up to Jushiro; one of the lenses of the sunglasses was broken. "I tried to help…but I got in the way." He shook his head and sighed. "Sajin saved me. I did the best I could for medical help, but it wasn't much..."
"We must seek medical attention right now." Jushiro said, and Iba nodded. The shinigami worked together to transport Sajin. Ukitake wondered if Naruto was all right. He heard the news that he had escaped, but nothing after that. "Naruto." He mumbled.
"Don't give up…not yet." Jushiro looked around trying to find where the voice came from. Ever since the time he passed out, another presence had been haunting him. He looked back to Sajin. He closed his eyes.
"We have to move through these dark times." Jushiro told himself. He looked around seeing buildings a flame. Many shinigami had suffered.
"Ukitake-taichou, we must move. Komamura-taichou is in horrible condition, and we do have the proper equipment to help him." A member of the 4th division said. Jushiro nodded, the group started to move back to the makeshift base. Jushiro was regretting not helping Naruto sooner, but most of all being useless as a captain.
"Jushiro-taichou?" Kiyone looked at him with concern, "Is there something wrong?" she asked him. Jushiro didn't want any more concern over him; there were more important things to do. Sentaro was also worried
"Let them help you."
"I'm fine." Jushiro walked faster. Kiyone looked a little upset. Ukitake's lungs set on fire. He moved his hand to his chest and winced. Kiyone noticed the sudden pain wave. She ran up to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'm fine." He said in a more stern tone. He could never yell at anyone. Ukitake started to cough, and covered his mouth with his other hand. "Stupid…illness…" he growled seeing the flakes of blood on his hand.
"Jushiro-taichou!" Sentaro supported his captain to keep him from falling. Kiyone called for someone to help them. Jushiro hated that he was so weak. It truly was a curse. Ukitake thought of all the times how he couldn't do anything. How he wasn't there for Naruto. He was named after Iruka. A father figure, and yet he was never there for the kid. Ukitake cursed himself. Letting the darkness consume him, he heard a voice.
"I'm afraid I can't let you give up just yet." A brown haired man smiled at him. A scar ran across his nose. "Jushiro Ukitake, You must keep moving forward." He told the shinigami. Jushiro was ultimately confused. He had seen this man in his dreams before. The good times, the bad times. Naruto showed up in them frequently as well.
"You…you are Iruka?" Jushiro asked. The man nodded. "So…I am a reincarnation of you." Jushiro looked sadly, "I'm sorry." Iruka sighed. "I wish I was able do more. It may have not changed anything but at least I would have been able to repay his kindness."
"You are too hard on yourself." Iruka said to him. "As was I." Ukitake didn't look very convinced. Iruka sighed, and gave him a smile. "Jushiro…you can't be hard on yourself. Naturally, we all have something that hinders us from walking our paths." He laid a hand on Jushiro's shoulder. "But, we can't let it stop us. Naruto didn't, why should anyone else?" Ukitake smiled and nodded. Naruto would have never given up. Jushiro was thinking of his old life, in the Konoha.
"No he wouldn't have." Jushiro said. Smiling to himself. "I won't be able to wake up for a while…not with the illness I have." Jushiro said.
"Well then, I will use this time for explaining a few things about Naruto." Iruka's face was serious. "There are some things you must know about Naruto, so listen closely."
XXXX
Shuhei was uncertain what was going on. He blinked rapidly the world spinning around. Everything was so unclear. A wall of pain slammed into to him. He coughed and tried to remember what had happened. He was being to panic. Something was holding him down. Shuhei struggled against the weight pushing him down. He couldn't see straight and not knowing was around him. He heard voices, but didn't understand.
"Calm down." Shuhei remembered this voice from a vision. Shuhei listened to the voice, and the pressure lifted. His rapid heart beat calmed. Things began to focus and he saw three members of the 4th division surrounded him. He was lying on a medical bed.
"What?" Shuhei blinked.
"You were found during the attack yesterday. You were one of ten that survived an attack of hollows…." One explained to Shuhei. The vice-captain felt a great amount of sadness swell in his chest. He closed his eyes and rubbed his eyes wearily. "You were lucky, if Kenpachi didn't find you in time…well you would be dead."
"I see." Hisagi started to remember the events. "Where are the other captains?" he asked.
"Hitsugaya-taichou is recovering from critical condition. Sui-Feng-taichou has just been placed in intensive medical care. Hinamori-fukutaichou, Kurotsuchi-taichou, Unohana-taichou, Kira-fukutaichou and Yamamoto-taichou are in the base. No report on Ukitake-taichou, Komamuru-taichou, Kuchiki-taichou, Zaraki-taichou, and Kyoraku-taichou." The shinigami reported. Hisagi hoped that all the unreported captains were all right.
"Any good news?" Shuhei asked. The shinigami thought for moment, it was obvious there wasn't much. "You don't have to answer if you can't think of anything." He felt a burning sensation in his side. He hissed. The 4th division shinigami moved to check on the wound that he had abstained.
"It is clear that this is the beginning to another war." Shuhei pointed out. He sighed thinking of the battles and loss to come. "All over one person…" he thought of Naruto. He met the boy ages ago, when he was a child. They often hung out around each other. In one case, Naruto helped save his life. Shuhei already knew Naruto's decision. The boy would have left the Soul Society with the Arrancar. Shuhei felt indebted to Naruto, for being there for him.
"Shuhei Hisagi." A voice called out to him, the same one from earlier. His eyes flickered around the room. The shinigami told him to stand. Hisagi slowly stood from the bed. His side burning, he saw some bandages wrapped around his abdomen. Surely, blood was seeping through the white gauze and wrap.
"We will have to check on your injury." Shuhei nodded, he sat at a stool and the medical shinigami started to unwrap the bandage. Lifting his arms so the shinigami could unwrap the bandages easier. Hisagi was not wearing a top, but was wearing his normal hakama. Once completely done, they examined the bleeding wound. "Your injury is healing well, that's good news." They took out fresh gauze and bandages, and started to wrap the injury again. Hisagi was glad he was ok, last thing he wanted to do was lay around all day. The shinigami finished, "Hisagi-fukutaichou you must rest."
"If I have to." Shuhei said. He rather go back out and help, but arguing would not get him anywhere. He kept thinking back to Naruto. Ashamed of the sudden loss of his friend. Sitting back onto the bed, he laid down. The shinigami bowed before leaving the room. Shuhei closed his eyes for a few moments feeling drowsy. Upon opening, he found himself in a forest, a man standing before him.
"I have been trying to speak to you." The man chuckled. Shuhei recognized the voice. "It's harder to contact you when you are awake." He stated. Hisagi knew the man was not here to harm him, but he didn't know who he was. "You must be wondering who I am?" Shuhei nodded, "My name is Asuma Sarutobi. Or now known as Shuhei Hisagi."
"Reincarnation?" Shuhei seemed surprised. The Soul Society didn't believe in such things, mostly because no one knew what happened after a shinigami died. "I didn't think that sort of thing existed."
"Neither did I." Asuma said truthfully. "It's nice to finally talk to you. I didn't think I would ever get this opportunity."
"Is there a reason why you have called me here?" Shuhei asked, "Not to be rude, but there is a reason why you wanted to talk?"
"Yes, yes there is." Asuma nod, "I here to give you a warning."
"A warning?"
"If you aren't careful, you're going to force me to have to take control of your body." Asuma had a serious look on his face. Shuhei's eyes narrowed, "To prevent this, you need to help Naruto."
"I was going to help him even without the threat." Shuhei told Asuma. The man smiled at him.
"I didn't think so. You are a strong, but even if you will help you had your doubts." Asuma pointed it out. "Just have to remember that. If you have troubles, I will lend a hand."
"Thank you." Shuhei bowed a little "I will remember that."
XXXX
Sui-Feng, Renji, and Rangiku were now apart of the many people being taken care of. The 4th division was at a pause, scouting parties had not yet to return and so the 4th division had a small break. It had been a couple of hours since the attack, and the miraculous revival of Hitsugaya and Renji and Rangiku returning with Sui-Feng. Luckily, Retsu was also able to rest a bit since there weren't very many people needed to be taken care of, but not for long. Mayuri was pestering Retsu about how she was doing a rather poor job. She was frustrated with the competitive nature they both had. Sometimes she found herself hating him, but for no reason. Retsu had a very strange feeling that someone was always with her. This feeling was not new. Ever since Retsu had met Naruto, she always felt another presence. Naruto was such a sweet kid. Retsu frowned; she didn't need to become nostalgic. Naruto was gone now. There were many reports that Naruto left with the Espada members, only ensuring the councils words.
People were in an outrage. The council was reminding everyone that they knew this was going to happen. The council wouldn't stop it either. Retsu found this rather bothersome. The few council members who had voted against jailing Naruto were being persecuted. Many members of the council wanted them jailed for being traitors. The captains were being questioned as well. People began to wonder if anyone in the Soul Society was completely loyal. "Maybe if you were better at being a medic, less people would have died." Mayuri snapped Retsu out of her thoughts."
"Well considering your security failed to warn any one of this attack, I say it's partly of your fault." Retsu said with an ere smile. Mayuri frowned and he glanced at her, "Besides, the fact that you haven't done anything isn't improving your case." She turned back to her medical logs.
"Ah, Retsu. I assure you that I have dealt with my subordinates. They won't be any trouble." He gave her a creepy grin back. "I have done my part in keeping the Soul Society from destruction. I created a barrier. Hollows will not be able to get through it. Ensuring the Soul Society is safe from any more of the creatures." His eyes narrowed in a playful way. "I have saved everyone."
"You may have made a barrier, but nothing else." She was losing her temper. "May I remind you, Kurotsuchi, as a medical director I have done all I can to save people. You may have made a barrier, but it does not get rid of the hollows already in the Soul Society." She kept smiling, but the room became very intense. "If you did a better job maybe you could have prevented the Espada from actually taking Naruto." She didn't know why she brought Naruto up.
"Concerned over that hollow eh?" Mayuri sounded intrigued, "The hollow was rather interesting…I met him once or twice." Mayuri thought of the hollow with a small grin. "That hollow always interested me…I wish I was able to experiment on him before he left. It is strange…his power level was beyond that of the Gotei 13. Yet, Naruto didn't try to escape after being captured." Retsu noticed this as well. If Naruto was so powerful, then why did he not just destroy the Soul Society and leave?
"You mentioned you met him once or twice?" Retsu looked away from her medical logs. "It's surprising that you, of all people, met Naruto. You are rather unsocial."
"Heh, though it is none of your business, I met him while I was under Urahara." Mayuri stated, "I was at the sight of his capture." Retsu remembered the day. It was a rather bizarre day in the history of the Soul Society. "Escorting the hollow, he glanced at me and frowned. I remember the amount of dislike he had for me, the hollow's eyes explained it all." His brow rose. "He asked me what I was doing around Kakashi."
"Who is Kakashi?" Retsu asked. Kurotsuchi grin grew in size.
"A name Naruto called Urahara." The captain answered. Retsu knew about Naruto giving people strange names, she received one herself. "The hollow told me if I did anything to hurt anyone, he would kill me." Mayuri chuckled, "I asked the hollow why. Naruto only glared at me." Retsu wondered if Naruto met Mayuri before the Soul Society, but it was unlikely. "The second time he presented himself before me, he said he was confused on who I was."
"Confused on who you were?" Retsu couldn't understand what Naruto was talking about.
"Apparently he didn't know if I was Orochimaru, or Kaubto." Mayuri mused at the thought. "It ended out being Kabuto. Naruto told me he had forgiven me for the past events since I was used by Orochimaru." Kurotsuchi looked at Retsu. The 4th division captain thought of the names that Naruto gave away. "You have been called a different name by Naruto, yes?" Retsu sighed and nodded. "What was your name?"
"Shizune was the name Naruto gave me."
"Retsu-taichou!" a member of the 4th division ran into the room, "Sajin-taichou is greatly wounded! We also have more shinigami being brought back!" She explained. Retsu nodded and placed the medical logs down.
"Duty calls." Unohana swiftly walked towards the exit.
"So it seems." Mayuri smiled.
XXXX
Yamamoto walked into the meeting. The council members became quiet. Renji, Shunsui and Rangiku were with Yamamoto. "This meeting has been called upon to ensure the safety of the Soul Society." The council members started to grumble. "As we all know, the Soul Society has greatly suffered."
"Unfortunately, Naruto has voluntarily left the Soul Society. It seems the reason the Arrancar attacked was to bring Naruto to Aizen…" Renji reported. The Council went into an uproar. Many people of the council shook their heads.
"We saw it with our own eyes." Rangiku confirmed, "Naruto stated it himself that it was his own decision."
"All because of that hollow, Naruto!" a council member stood up. "If you hadn't wasted time in the first place he would have been taken care of!"
"Ensure the safety?" another member scoffed, "The Gotei 13 tried to set Naruto free! You tried to destroy us all!"
"I want to see a new order to be called upon!"
"The Gotei 13 must not be trusted."
"Are you all insane?" one member yelled, "The Gotei 13 knew this was going to happen! If you hadn't chosen to lock him away for eternity then maybe-!"
"Naruto is a hollow! Nothing but a monster that consumes souls for his own benefit."
"You are all blinded by appearances!"
"Blind? I believe it is you who think that Naruto is human to be blind. If Naruto was locked away, the Arrancar would have never come in the first place."
"I wonder if some members of the council are not corrupt"
"Well it wouldn't be the first betrayal."
"That is true."
"Naruto is nothing but a monster."
"Like Aizen."
"What are you going to do Yamamoto? This is your problem, is it not?"
"Yes Yamamoto, were you going to release Naruto? I wonder if you and the Gotei 13 knew about Aizen all this time."
"I would watch what you say." Shunsui warned them all with a glare. Yamamoto shot up his hand, telling Shunsui to be quiet.
"Naruto is no longer an ally." Yamamoto announced. The council hushed, "Whoever comes across Naruto is to report to the Soul Society, but you must not attempt to detain him. Naruto is to be considered an S Class target." The council agreed on what Yamamoto most delightfully. "Naruto is to be sealed away for eternity if detained."
"For once Yamamoto, you do something right." Shunsui glared at the member who said that. Renji and Rangiku looked at the old man.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Renji asked.
"This is the only way I can protect the Gotei 13 from being framed." Yamamoto said. Shunsui sighed, knowing this was the best he could do.
"Someone help us." Shunsui mumbled. Closing his eyes, he placed his head in his hand. The Soul Society was digging their own grave.
XXXX
Er, sorry about the really late update. My Fanfiction account would not allow me to update because of an error...
Soul Society after the attack. Place in ruins, and hollows still linger around the area.
Also, mysterious character appears! Who could it be? A reincarnation of someone else possibly? Or maybe someone else entirely? You'll just have to wait and see.
Note: I know Coyote doesn't have any power that has to do with energy shards, but I was thinking to myself what the wolves were made of. Besides blowing up, why not add in some effects of the explosion.
Toshiro finally talks to Sasuke, and doesn't die. Ha, Sasuke is still smug about things. I couldn't help myself. Sasuke can't completely change. Ukitake takes to Iruka, and Shuhei meets Asuma.
Mayuri=Kabuto
Retsu=Shizune
Shuhei=Asuma
Any of them unexpected? Or all them obvious?
I know Momo was injured recently in the time line, but I had to add in her in.
So how was this chapter? I won't know unless you review.
R&R.
Until the next chapter comes.