Author's note: Sorry for using the same shinigami twice again, but at least he gets a different summoner this time. I hope you'll enjoy it. Also, thanks for over 400 reviews. I hope e can make it to 500 soon.

Disclaimer: I own neither Naruto nor Bleach.

Summoning the Shinigami

Orochimaru showed no sign of hesitation. He had already picked a mask from the ruins of the Uzumaki Mask Temple, so now was not the time to second-guess his decision. Especially when people were watching. And even more especially when one of the people was Uchiha Sasuke, the arrogant little boy who had thought he could actually kill him, the immortal White Serpent. If he showed any sign of uncertainty, who knows what the stupid little Uchiha might try (not that Orochimaru actually feared him, because he feared nothing). The fact that Sasuke had brought him back to life too was conveniently forgotten. And besides, he was Orochimaru, the greatest of the Legendary Sannin, and he just didn't hesitate. He didn't. Even if he really wasn't sure if he had the correct mask because after so long he couldn't remember much of how did the Shinigami look like.

He put on the mask and hid any outward sign of relief that it didn't kill him on the spot. So he had chosen the right one after all. Not that there had been any doubt about it, because he was the great genius Orochimaru and he didn't make mistakes. Never. No matter what his sensei and useless teammates said. The surge of power he felt was a pretty good indicator of success too, so he felt no need to turn around and look what he had summoned. He was the perfect picture of confidence. Even the fact that Sasuke and his two little minions were shooting something behind him doubtful glances couldn't shake him. Not even Suigetsu's barely suppressed snicker, because Suigetsu was an idiot and grinned at everything.

He went straight for the next part of the ritual. He made a motion as if he grabbed a dagger held between his teeth. He knew that the Shinigami would mirror his movements. He was thankful for the mask hiding his wince when he was about to plunge the spectral blade into his stomach. He was very relieved when it didn't hurt. Maybe the part about sacrificing himself for the ritual was wrong. He just stood there and waited for his arms to return to him. And waited. And really didn't like the looks Sasuke and his little posse were shooting him. Suigetsu was now snickering openly. Juugo looked confused, but that was pretty much his default expression. Sasuke looked condescending, but that too was nothing unusual. But his arms still weren't coming back. That indicated that maybe, just maybe, something had gone awry. (It couldn't be his fault, because the great Orochimaru never messed up, no matter how it looked. Remember it finally.)

Finally he couldn't take it anymore and looked around. There behind him stood the Shinigami. The fact that he wasn't a towering white specter but a short young boy dressed in black didn't faze Orochimaru a bit. So the Shinigami could change shapes. Big deal. Any Academy student could perform the Henge. But he immediately spotted the reason for the failure of the ritual.

"Where is your sword?" he asked sternly.

"Uh, I forgot it in my room," the Shinigami said sheepishly. Forgot it in his room? Orochimaru thought. What kind of deity forgets his sword in his room? The shinigami boy seemed not to notice his thoughts and continued. "I'm Yamada Hanatarou, Fourth Divi..." At this moment Orochimaru, who hadn't been listening to anything Hanatarou had said after informing him of his forgotten zanpakutou, grabbed the poor boy by his neck, cutting off his introduction.

"Give me back my arms!" he screamed and shook the boy. Hanatarou just hung in his grip, his eyes wide with fear. He had thought that being captured by the Eleventh was bad, especially when they were drunk, but this was on a whole another level.

"He can't do anything if you strangle him," Juugo, always the bleeding heart, pointed out. Somehow it got through Orochimaru's anger. He let go of his captive and Hanatarou landed on the ground with a thud. Orochimaru towered over him, looking like an angry thunder god. Or maybe angry Zaraki. He didn't even come close to angry Unohana levels.

"Give me back my arms," Orochimaru repeated his order. Hanatarou knew that he couldn't refuse anything asked in this tone if he wanted to keep all his limbs. He wanted to run, but without his zanpakutou he couldn't open the Senkaimon. Maybe he should carry Hisagomaru with him from now on, provided he'd get out of this alive. With that possibility out, he had to placate the madman in front of him somehow. He had no idea what had happened to his arms and where they might be, so he couldn't comply with his demands. And he wouldn't be happy unless he got them back. That left Hanatarou only one option.

"I'm a healer. Maybe I can heal your arms," he offered and prayed it would be enough. That wasn't what Orochimaru had hoped for, but it was better than nothing. And he wasn't going to get any better from this one. Maybe he'd try another mask later.

"Alright," he sighed. "But don't even think about trying anything funny."

Hanatarou nodded and came close, activating a diagnostic Kidou. He studied Orochimaru for a while. He had never seen anything similar, and there was never a shortage of weird stuff in Seireitei. He counted five different souls in his body, none of them complete yet they showed no sign of becoming Hollow. One of them, the oldest and strongest one, was missing its arms, being severed at the shoulders with a great power he didn't recognize. He frowned. He tried a bit general healing Kidou at the wounds, but it did absolutely nothing. He tried a few more tricks, all with the same result. And his patient/captor was getting impatient.

"I'm sorry," he admitted defeat, "this is far beyond my expertise."

"What?!" Orochimaru couldn't believe his ears. Suigetsu was now rolling on the ground laughing. Juugo seemed worried and Sasuke even more condescending and disgusted than usual. Hanatarou took a step back, trembling in fear. "You can't do anything? And you call yourself the Shinigami! I'm going to..." Orochimaru was interrupted by the familiar sensation of a Chidori piercing through his chest. He turned around to see why had Sasuke done it this time, the mask falling from his face. Hanatarou disappeared, returning back home.

"Pathetic," Sasuke scoffed. "I really shouldn't have expected anything from somebody who isn't an Uchiha. I don't need you anymore. I guess I never did."

"Perfect, Sasuke!" Suigetsu laughed. "You got him good."

"Hn," Sasuke turned to him, his Sharingan blazing. "You aren't an Uchiha either."