A.N: Happy new year, everyone. Holy smokes, 2020. So first of all, super big announcement for anyone who missed it. Age of Heroes: The Hero and the Disciple, is now available on Amazon's Kindle Store, under my pen name, Nicholas Drew. for $7.99, the book is yours. Once you read, please remember to leave positive reviews to help me gain traction on the site. Anything on where I can improve can be sent via PM as always, as I'm always looking to improve.

Also, I want to make a personal offer to any artists out there. If anyone wants to perhaps draw cover pages for the works I have on this site, or even just fanart of scenes and characters, just PM me and we will discuss the details. I'll of course do my best to advertise the images on my profile and in my chapters when they are done.It's the New Year folks, so I want to do a few things differently, rather than just stay stagnant.

Anyway, enough plugging and making offers, enjoy the One Piece Campaign Chapter.

Chapter 23: Reversal

The tide was slowly beginning to turn in various areas for the Allied Forces. However, they still had to fight for practically every inch across the mainland of Fishman Island. However, a particular power trio was tearing their way through a line of soldiers right up the middle. "Meteor!" Jellal Fernandes led the way, sending them flying into the air.

"Circle Sword!" Erza Scarlet managed to send others flying into the air.

"Nice one!" Naruto Uzumaki let out a cheer like he was at a sporting event.

Naruto then froze in place before he could continue moving any further. A rush of memories suddenly came back to him. A speeding silhouette. His own head flying off his body. And then, darkness, nothing else. "Umm...what?" He muttered flatly, pale with terror from the particularly horrifying death he had just witnessed.

"Oh calm down," Kurama said to him from within his mind, "this is literally the millionth time you've gotten the memories of a Shadow Clone dying. Don't act like it's suddenly a new concept."

"Oh shut up, that was brutal and you know it! So forgive me if I'm a little disturbed by it!" Naruto indignantly responded to his Tailed Beast.

"Naruto, your Shadow Clones have been disintegrated by bones that turn you to ash. They've been blasted away by Rinnegan and Sharingan powers. And you want to complain about decapitation?"

"YES!" Naruto yelled. "Yes, I do want to complain about that!"

Kurama gazed at Naruto in disbelief before heaving a tired sigh. "I give up." He groaned. "You are my best friend-and only friend, honestly, I seriously doubt my brothers and sisters actually consider me a friend. More like that annoying sibling nobody likes having at family gatherings-but my God, you are exhausting sometimes."

"If you are my friend you can at least offer me words that are the exact opposite of what you're saying to me right now!" Naruto shot back before freezing in place once more.

Kurama raised an eyebrow. "Whoa, and now a hand right through the heart. Huh, and whoever did that moved just like the decapitator did. I wonder if they are the same person. If they are, it's pretty impressive how fast they are."

"Kurama, this is insane." Naruto was now a bit calmer. "Because of our connection, I can sense negative emotions. But how is this guy getting the drop on me?"

Kurama hummed thoughtfully at that. "I'm not sure," he admitted, "I mean, I can detect negative emotions too. That's my deal. But...I couldn't detect anything either."

"It's like, whoever attacked your clones is almost entirely devoid of negative emotions. Maybe he's even devoid of emotions all together."

"That is...disturbing and sad at the same time." Naruto admitted. "It shouldn't be possible either. How could someone be entirely devoid of emotion? I mean, they have to have some sort of emotion, right? Whether it's positive or negative, it has to exist somewhere. I mean, there's no such thing as a perfectly emotionless person, right?"

"Naruto!" Naruto was cut from his thoughts by the sound of Erza's voice.

Naruto turned to Jellal and Erza. "Er...sorry, spacing out." Naruto rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Kurama and I had some stuff to talk about."

Jellal heaved a sigh. "Seriously?" He groaned. "Naruto, come on, we're finally making progress in this battle and you're chatting with Kurama?"

"Sorry, sorry, it's just that there's some guy who's apparently coming after my Shadow Clones." Naruto explained. "And I mean coming after. Like, whoever it is, is absolutely tearing ass through my Shadow Clones…"

Naruto trailed off as more memories came back. A speeding silhouette and then the Shadow Clone was practically folded in half backwards as something was driven right into his back. "Oh man, I actually felt that one." Naruto rubbed his back, trying to alleviate the phantom soreness he was currently feeling.

"Another Shadow Clone was destroyed?" Jellal was surprised to hear this.

"Yeah, I know right?" Naruto sighed. "Man, I've never really gotten freaked out by my Shadow Clones getting killed. Must be because of how sudden it is."

Jellal hummed at that. He knew that this was not something he could simply ignore. Even if they were Shadow Clones that were significantly weaker than the real thing, there was one thing he could not ignore: those clones were still Naruto Uzumaki. As in, they were still fragments of one of the most powerful, most destructive forces in the entire Alliance. If there was someone out there strong enough to basically turn killing Shadow Clones of Naruto Uzumaki into a sport, they needed to be worried about this.

However, they also could not pause in their march to the palace. From what they could gather from Stealth Division soldiers who had gone on ahead recently, a lot of Coalition direction seemed to come from Ryugu Palace. That meant if they took the palace, they took the 'brain' behind this stronghold. That meant they won.

However, Jellal also had to consider something else: the state of his soldiers. There was no way that those Shadow Clones were alone. There were most likely soldiers near all of them. No, not most likely. There were definitely soldiers near them. Naruto would never let his Shadow Clones away from groups of people he needed to protect. And if there was someone hunting Naruto's Shadow Clones, that meant that the soldiers near those clones were in danger as well.

Jellal wanted to win, desperately. He wanted this war to end for both unselfish and selfish reasons. The unselfish part was simply because he wanted to fight for a just cause. The selfish part was his desire for atonement for everything he had done to Erza and the rest of Fairy Tail.

But, no matter how badly Jellal wanted to win, one thing was certain. There was no way in hell he was going to senselessly sacrifice his own men to do it. He took a deep breath, knowing what he had to do. "Naruto," he said, "consider this an order from your commanding officer."

Naruto's eyes widened. Jellal was a pretty serious guy, but hanging around Fairy Tail had given way for some well-hidden goofy moments he had come to expect from the guild members. "Jellal...I understand, what do you need from me?"

Jellal turned around. "Can you broadcast your location to this mystery assassin of yours?" He asked. "Can you tell...whoever this is, where you really are?"

Naruto immediately realized what Jellal wanted of him. He took a deep breath and nodded. "I can," he responded, "I can do that."

"...Then best of luck, soldier." Jellal told him.

Erza, at that moment, realized what Jellal and Naruto intended to do and immediately voiced her objections. "No way!" She yelled. "Jellal, we do not leave our friends behind!"

"This is not abandoning anyone, Erza." Jellal claimed. "This is faith. This is faith that our friend...can win no matter who he is put up against. I believe in Naruto. Can you believe in him? The way you do for Natsu and myself?"

This silenced Erza. The scarlet-haired woman was surprisingly stubborn in this. Perhaps it was because the last time they had all left Naruto alone, he and Ichigo had almost fought to the death thanks to Nirvana's influence.

Naruto then gave her a big smile and a thumbs up. "I ain't gonna die, Erza." He promised. "Not yet. I still haven't become Hokage yet."

"And more importantly," he continued, "I don't want to make my friends sad by just leaving them like that."

"You know," Kurama spoke up, "considering that I'm your tenant, higher on that list of priorities should be avoiding getting me killed. I'm kinda tethered to you, idiot."

Naruto ignored Kurama's biting sarcasm and took a seat in a meditative position. He clapped his hands together, closed his eyes, and allowed his Chakra to become visible. Jellal and Erza instinctively took a step back at the sight, both shocked by the size and density of the Jinchuriki's Chakra.

"So even after all the Shadow Clones he created, Naruto still has this much power." Jellal mused. "Sheesh, you really are strong."

A Shadow Clone suddenly appeared at the meditating Naruto's side. This clone walked up to Erza and Jellal. "Just think of me as his eyes to stay up to date with whatever is happening with you." The clone explained.

Erza smiled instinctively at Naruto's candor. No matter what the situation is, you're always looking out for others first and foremost. She noted. Considering how you grew up...that shouldn't be the case. You had every right to become selfish, because of how the universe had treated you. No sane person would have blamed you for it, either. No sane person should have blamed you for it.

But...look how you turned out. Erza chuckled inwardly. Seriously, Naruto Uzumaki, you are something else...simply amazing.

"Commander!" Jellal was drawn to the sound of one of his troops calling out to him. "We need to keep moving, before the enemy has a chance to regroup."

Jellal nodded in understanding. "Do your best, Naruto." Jellal told him before running forward with the Shadow Clone, leaving Erza alone with the real one.

"Naruto, I…" Erza began before trailing off. After a moment, she continued with a confident smile. "No, I won't tell you good luck. You don't need it. Because you...well, I just can't help but feel like telling you good luck at this point is an insult to you, and all the strength you've worked so hard to obtain."

"Heh, listen to me," Erza chuckled, "here I am, talking like I've known you forever...when saying stuff like that is more suited for someone who's been there for you from the start. And yet...perhaps it's because we're friends now that I feel qualified to say it."

"I won't say good luck, Naruto." Erza told him. "Instead...win. Just win. Show whoever's doing this...that the biggest mistake they made was picking a fight with Naruto Uzumaki."

At that moment, a small smile curled on Naruto's face. "Erza!" Erza heard Jellal call out to her. "Come on, we have to get moving!"

Erza nodded in understanding and ran after Jellal and the rest of the troops marching with them. "That woman," Kurama shook his head, "she's got Kushina's fiery personality, but the 4th Hokage's unwavering faith in others. I really should hate her, considering how things went between me and your folks. But at the same time...I can't help but respect her. She's something else."

Naruto remained silent, making Kurama realized that the hyperactive ninja was actually laser-focused at the moment. His eyes widened, seeing just why that was. More memories of dead Shadow Clones were being given to the real Naruto. He was remaining calm and focused so as not to frighten Erza and Jellal.

Whoever's killing those Shadow Clones so quickly and efficiently is unsettling. Kurama admitted to himself. And we're broadcasting our location to 'em. Well, I guess when you're one of the strongest, most threatening members in an entire army, you've got to learn to expect this kind of stuff.

I've got faith in you too though, Naruto. Kurama continued. So when this guy decides to come and fight the real deal...let's kick his ass into the next century.

Elsewhere, Ulquiorra Cifer stood over a vanishing Shadow Clone with his usual dispassionate expression. "I still cannot find the real one...how vexing." He mused, surprisingly nonchalant considering how he was currently surrounded by several angry and determined Alliance soldiers.

Then, his attention was drawn to a suddens pike of orange chakra that fired off into the air, like a pillar of light. At that moment, Ulquiorra completely forgot the existence of all the soldiers surrounding him, and turned his attention entirely to that pillar. "That appears to be an invitation...I see he has no intention of coming to me like Ichigo Kurosaki." Ulquiorra noted. "Very well, for now, I'll play along."

With that, Ulquiorra Sonido'd right past the Alliance soldiers who had been trying to challenge him in spite of the sheer difference in power. "Wh-what the hell?" One exclaimed. "Why the hell did he just leave us?"

"I...I don't know." Another responded. "Do you think it has anything to do with that Chakra signature that just shot up like a freaking rocket?"

"That Chakra signature...it's Naruto's!" A third pointed out. "That Arrancar only took out the Shadow Clone that was left with us."

"Wait, so then he's going after the real Naruto?" The second soldier gasped in realization.

"He must have a few screws loose if he thinks going after the real Naruto is a safe bet." The first soldier regained his composure. "That bastard's going down as soon as he runs into him!"

"Idiot! The fact that he knows who he's attacking and is still going after him should tell you all you need to know about how strong he is. If he really thinks he can fight the real Naruto Uzumaki and win is a problem." The third soldier pointed out sagely.

"So what then, you think we need to go to where the real Naruto is?" The second soldier asked. "I mean, I don't mind. He's a friend. We should be helping our allies if they are in trouble, yeah? I mean, we won't be able to do much, but still..."

"We can't do anything." The first soldier sighed. "If there's someone out there strong enough to challenge Naruto, all we'd be doing is getting in his way if we try to help him."

"Damn it," the second soldier groaned in frustration, "this is so messed up! How are we an alliance when we can't even help when it matters the most?"

"They do what we can't do, and we do what they can't...or rather, we do what they just don't have the time to do." The first pointed out. "The reality is, as strong as the heavy hitters of the Alliance are, it's our responsibility to clean up the rank and file so that they can focus on the Coalition's heavy hitters. We all have our role to play. That's just how it is."

"Never feel like you aren't making a difference, because you are." The first continued. "Because we all have our roles to play in winning this war. Just as Naruto has his role right now: kicking that guy's ass."

"Right...you're right." The second soldier nodded in understanding. "Okay then, let's do our part. Let's go kick some more ass."

"Damn straight," the first soldier grinned as the rest of the soldiers all nodded eagerly, morale restored, "now let's get moving."

With morale restored and their energy back, the soldiers began moving back towards Ryugu Palace. They were going to do their part, so that their much stronger comrades could fight the battles they could not.

Meanwhile, Sajin Komamura was down for the count. He had finally collapsed and passed out from the pain. Danzo Shimura stood over his body, flanked by Fu Yamanaka and Torune Aburame. "Fu, Torune, tell me," Danzo spoke up, "how long did our beastly friend here last while being bombarded by the Amaterasu?"

"Surprisingly long, Lord Danzo." Torune responded. "As weak as he is compared to you, it would be unwise to underestimate someone with inhuman levels of durability that this one has. Of course, I hope I'm not speaking out of turn when I say such, Lord Danzo."

Danzo hummed thoughtfully at this. "I asked for your opinion this time. I would've been angrier if you had ignored my query."

Fu nodded. "If you desire our opinion, Lord Danzo, then I will say this: wasting a man with such a powerful body would be unwise for our cause. We should take him back to our current headquarters."

"Agreed," Danzo nodded, "Fu, rouse him enough that you are able to use your Ninjutsu to fully pacify him. If he awakens in the middle of the sealing process, we will have quite the issue on our hands. Torune, prepare a sealing scroll."

"Understood, Lord Danzo," both men responded in unison as they set to their respective tasks.

However, both men were rudely interrupted by a gruff voice. "Repel."

A sudden wave of metallic weapons were launched towards both Fu and Torune. Both men instinctively dodged, but their efforts left Danzo open to attack. "Lord Danzo!" Both men yelled in concern.

"Teleportation Jutsu." Danzo calmly vanished and avoided the metallic storm.

Danzo quickly appeared at both Fu and Torune's side. "You fools," he said in a calm but angered tone, "have you forgotten that I am the Hidden Leaf Village? Any harm that comes to me harms the village. Do not disgrace the Foundation with such carelessness again or it will be your heads."

"Forgive us, Lord Danzo." Fu and Torune bowed submissively.

However, in their moments of submission, both men failed to notice the speeding threat that threatened to take them both out from behind. Danzo saw it and refused to warn his two subordinates. This would teach them both a lesson in being careless.

"Massacre Rush!" 'Massacre Soldier' Killer slashed Fu and Torune repeatedly from behind, sending both men airborne. The two landed behind Danzo, wincing and writhing in pain.

Danzo stared impassively at the masked man as he struck down his two strongest subordinates with ease. "Now that's just messed up." Eustass Kid stepped into view as well. "You didn't even bother warning them Killer was coming. You're not as subtle as you think, old man."

"Doing that to your own subordinates...you're a special kind of scum, aren't ya?"

"I don't want to hear that from the likes of you, Eustass Kid." Danzo frowned.

Kid laughed at this. "So you've heard of me. Should be obvious. My name does reach far and wide considering my deeds." He mused. "But seriously though, you're right, I've got no room to criticize you. I'm the man infamous for causing the deaths of civilians everywhere. There's definitely a nice little spot reserved in hell for me when the reaper comes to collect my soul."

"Who knows, maybe we'll be neighbors." Kid joked. "You probably don't have long left in your life either. So I'll be seeing you real soon."

Danzo glared at Kid for that jab. "But you know what the thing is, geezer?" Kid continued, now glaring back at Danzo with the most serious expression Killer had ever seen from his captain. "I'm a monster, I'm a complete bastard, but I ain't scum like you."

"The difference between us is that I'm willing to admit to what I am. I'm honest about who I am. I know I'm going to burn for everything I've done. But you...sheesh, just look at you. Just standing there, you've got that holier than thou look I've seen on every Navy Officer I've killed over the years. You stand there, looking down on people thinking you can't do any wrong."

"To be honest, just looking at you pisses me off." Kid admitted. "I don't want to hear why you deserve to look down on people with that stupid look on your face. Right now, I just want to crush you."

With that, Kid quickly pulled the blades he had repelled back to himself. Danzo frowned slightly when he felt his kunai and shuriken leave him as well. Inwardly, however, he was a little concerned about this sudden development. I cannot use my best Ninjutsu without my blades as conduits! I'll have to rely more on the Sharingan and the Senju genes in order to fight these ones effectively.

"Killer, move!" Kid yelled out a warning to his right hand man

Killer quickly vanished. "Here we go!" Kid yelled, "first comes Attract! And now we will Repel! Repulsive Storm!"

Danzo grit his teeth at the far more powerful and concentrated version of Repel. A tornado of metallic weaponry that would rip into him. "Teleportation Jutsu!" Danzo avoided the attack easily.

Kid grinned. "Good, we got him away from the wolfman. That means I can do this! Attract!"

And with that, the weapons Kid had repelled at first now returned to him. They then surrounded his body, creating a makeshift suit of armor with pointy weapons. "Here we go!" Kid yelled. "Metal Urchin!"

One of Captain Kid's new moves. Killer noted, having taken the opportunity to move Komamura while Kid prepped it. The creation of a suit of armor to protect himself from powerful attacks but also strike with powerful blows of his own. The attack still hasn't been perfected yet. I'm surprised he actually used it. He's still trying to figure out how to add Haki to this new attack of his. Once he does, an attack like this would be the ultimate offense and the ultimate defense.

Danzo reappeared and took notice of Kid's new state. "Well, that's a rather comical state you've left yourself in." He mused.

"Oh bite me," Kid growled, "I can't afford to take any unnecessary hits when I know nothing about your true power. All I know is that you are strong, since you took down the wolfman here. I'm going to take you seriously from the get-go!"

"Let's go, Killer!" Kid yelled.

Danzo looked over his shoulder as both Killer and Kid rushed him. "Very well, it is time to rely on the time-honored strategy of ninja. Attack from the darkness." He said, speeding through several Hand Signs. "I have grown stronger for this very moment!"

"Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence!"

Killer and Kid both gasped as a forest emerged from the ground around them, concealing Danzo from their view. It was Hashirama's signature technique, but used on a much smaller scale. Otherwise, Danzo could never hope to use it properly. Just another reason to despise Hashirama Senju and the Senjus as far as he was concerned.

All that power and they never once considered spreading their genes across the ninja world. The Leaf would be unstoppable had hundreds been carrying Senju children early in its history. Damn Hashirama and Tobirama-Sensei and their constant preaching about morality.

Hashirama was nothing but a naive fool, and Tobirama was a hypocrite who had first sewed distrust between the Uchiha and the village.

And so, Killer and Kid began cutting through the trees of Danzo's makeshift forest. Danzo, meanwhile, vanished into the earth with the Hiding Like a Mole technique. I'll take out his right-hand man first. Danzo decided. He's not as well defended as Captain Kid is.

Killer froze in place. He saw the trees fall and Kid then appeared. "Captain, this is getting us nowhere." Killer pointed out to him.

"Che, you think so, huh? Now I really hate this stupid old geezer." Kid growled.

Killer hummed in acknowledgement. "Captain," he said, "if you would allow it, I'll make him show himself, right here and now."

Kid grinned. "Oh? You think you can pull something like that off?"

"If it's me, Captain, I can definitely do it." Killer responded, readying his scythe-like blades for a powerful attack. "I advise you to dodge this as best you can. I still haven't gotten the control down, and I'd hate for you to be caught in the blast."

"Can you at least make sure the wolfman doesn't get caught?" Kid asked.

"Captain, I wouldn't use this if I didn't take the time to move him out of the way." Killer pointed out to him.

That's my number one soldier. Kid nodded. Show me the power of a 200 million beri bounty, Massacre Soldier!

"Deathscythe Tempest!" Killer yelled, swinging the scythes around repeatedly, creating powerful blades of air that ripped across the ground, creating small canyons, literal scars in the earth. The trees were ripped from their stumps in a flash as well. Kid, meanwhile, dodged all of the swings with ease.

This was how they trained their respective techniques. Kid would either take the blows if he was not fast enough, and Killer would train the force and speed of his blows. The two prepared for the New World together, and now it was going to pay off in a way neither of them expected.

At least, it would have, had Danzo not vanished underground with the Hiding Like a Mole Technique. Of course, Danzo did not have the easiest time. Killer's Deathscythe Tempest had torn across the ground as well. Those scars in the earth had almost struck him on multiple occasions. It had taken Danzo's instincts and sensory abilities to catch onto where Killer's attacks were going to land. Danzo did not have decades of battle experience for nothing. No matter how fast these attacks are, avoiding them is child's play for someone like him.

And so, Danzo weaved through Killer's Deathscythe Tempest with the greatest of ease. He then suddenly emerged from the ground right in front of Killer. "An attack at point blank? I didn't think he'd try something like that!" Killer exclaimed.

Most of my Ninjutsu uses my blades as conduits, but not all of them.

"Wind Style: Tempest Palm!" A more powerful version of the Gale Palm, only usable by those with incredibly large Chakra, be it naturally or artificially. Danzo fell into the category of the latter.

Killer yelled in pain as he was suddenly blasted by an insane amount of wind-powered Chakra straight to the chest. Kid grit his teeth as he was pushed away by the force of the blow. He watched as Killer was sent flying by the blast. "Killer!" He yelled out in concern.

"I despise getting up close like this." Danzo admitted. "Such barbaric acts are meant for the rank and file, not the one who must live in order to make his version of the world a reality."

"Bastard!" Kid dug his feet into the ground and rushed Danzo throwing several hooks at the man.

"Does that offend you?" Danzo asked as he avoided Kid's punches. "Considering the way you fight, I suppose that makes you one of those barbarians."

"I'm a pirate, not a barbarian. We don't fight with mere brutality alone. We just fight to win!" Kid yelled, opening up his entire body. "Urchin Bomber!"

Danzo's eyes then widened as the blades adorning Kid's body suddenly exploded outwards. He raised his hand to perform a Teleportation Jutsu to escape, only to discover that the blades were faster than he was. Kid had repelled them at a much quicker, more explosive rate than ever before.

The blades impaled Danzo's body all around. "Damn...damn it…" Danzo cursed as his body suddenly faded into the shadows.

Kid narrowed his eyes at the oddness of the way Danzo's body simply...vanished. "That...did not look natural at all." He noted. "Hell, I know for a fact that definitely wasn't the Kako move that's been giving us fits from the start of this war. That was something else."

"Gah, I don't have time to think about that. If the old man is alive, I need to be ready. I can't fight my best if Killer and the wolfman are in the way constantly. Killer was able to get the wolfman out of range for his attacks. But once I start going all out, they need to be moved further away."

"Wood Style: Cutting Sprigs Jutsu." That familiar voice suddenly spoke up.

Kid spun around just as several sharp sprigs came out of nowhere. He was forced to dodge the attack because of his lack of protection. "Freaking knew it." Kid growled in frustration. "You some sort of immortal, old man?"

Danzo suddenly stepped back into view. "I can only hope to one day achieve such status." Danzo acknowledged. "But this is enough for now. For now...you are no match for someone like me, Eustass Kid."

"Blow it out your ass, old man!" Kid yelled. "I ain't done just yet!"

Danzo scowled. "Vulgar brat." He growled, moving through a few quick Hand Signs. He then slammed his palm onto the ground. "Wood Style: Bamboo Forest!"

Kid's eyes widened as an entire wave of sharpened bamboo shoots fired from the ground towards him. "Oh damn!" Kid yelled, leaping into the air to avoid Danzo's Bamboo Forest attack.

"Attract!" Kid yelled, drawing back the blades he had been forced to fire in his Urchin Bomber attack.

"Not this time, Captain." Danzo quickly moved through more Hand Signs. "Wood Style: Sea of Trees!"

More trees suddenly sprouted around them. It seemed like such a wasteful technique, until Kid came to a horrific realization as he heard the sound of the blades embedding themselves into the trees with loud thuds. Danzo had created this forest to stop him from attracting metallic objects at once. In one fell swoop, Danzo had taken away his strongest weapon, his Devil Fruit.

"Oh crap!" Kid yelled in frustration.

Danzo smirked triumphantly, knowing what that frustrated yell meant. He knew that Kid had caught onto his plan, but was too late to do anything to stop it. That means, the fight had now moved into his favor. Danzo had to take full advantage of this opportunity now.

First, I'll take away his footing, piece by piece. Danzo decided. I'll leave him defenseless.

"Wood Style: Bamboo Forest." Danzo created another row of sharp bamboo shoots.

Kid's eyes widened as the wave of shoots came closer to him. He leapt to the side, barely avoiding Danzo's attack. Gotta figure out a way to use my powers and fast! I can't lose to an old geezer like this!

"Teleportation Jutsu!" Danzo suddenly teleported into clear view, fifty feet in front of Kid.

"Wait...what?" Kid looked at Danzo in surprise.

Instinctively, Kid dropped into a fighting stance. When confronted by an enemy, this was always his first response: prepare for battle. What Kid did not realize was that this was exactly what Danzo had been counting on.

"Wood Style: Forest of Correction!" Suddenly, several massive vines and roots came up from the ground and wrapped around Kid, restraining him.

"In preparing to attack, you let your guard down. You are a barbarian." Danzo taunted. "Nothing more than a worthless berserker who only knows how to attack. You cannot protect anything, including yourself."

"Bastard!" Kid yelled, struggling to free himself.

"Don't bother, the Forest of Correction is an inescapable of restraint." Danzo told him. "And with that, Captain Kid, I ask that you now rest. I'd offer you a position in the Foundation, but frankly, someone with a Devil Fruit like yours, that is so easy to work around...you are worthless to me."

"Wood Style: Cutting Sprigs Jutsu." And with that, Kid was impaled in the stomach by several sharp sprigs, fired from Danzo.

Meanwhile, Captain Buggy stood triumphantly over the defeated Kurotsuchi. "And that's how it's done, folks!" Buggy declared. "The only one who could've won was yours truly, Buggy the Clown Star!"

"All hail Captain Buggy!" The Buggy Pirates cheered in agreement.

Buggy chuckled confidently on the outside. On the inside, however, it was a different story. Oh man, she caught me by surprise with how tough she actually was. If it wasn't for my Chop Chop Fruit, I would've been a dead man for sure. I have got to make up some excuse to flashily exit this battlefield before I lose face with these saps that seem to think I'm a god.

I could say I'm hungry and that I want to feast on something, but I don't know how well that will work. He admitted. After all, wouldn't I be so tough that I don't need to eat? That bastard, Blackbeard, is so powerful that he's never slept a day in his life for crying out loud.

"Captain Buggy!" A soldier suddenly yelled out. "You've beaten her, now finish her off! Show us your flashy killing techniques!"

"Eh? Oh, my flashy killing techniques?" Buggy laughed nervously. "Well, I'd much rather give one of you the kill. Consider it a gift from your benevolent captain."

I can't waste any more time here. I need to come up with an excuse to exit stage left, flashily! Buggy frantically thought to himself.

"Nonsense!" The soldier cheered. "Captain Buggy, you beat her! Therefore, the kill belongs to you and you alone! It'd be disrespectful of us to take such a thing from you, after all."

"Kill her, Captain Buggy! Kill her!" The rest of Buggy's idiotically faithful crew cheered while Alvida, Mohji, Cabaji and Richie all facepalmed at this turn of events.

Oh great, no avoiding it at this point. Just running away is going to make me lose face now. Buggy lamented. Damn it, becoming a Warlord was supposed to give me the easy life. But all it's given me are a bunch of idiotic subordinates who expect me to do everything just because they think I'm a god.

A situation Buggy completely brought on himself, might I remind you all…

Buggy then looked down at Kurotsuchi. The girl was still completely motionless. The clown gave a sigh of relief before coming to a decision. Well, I suppose a minute to show them my flashy killing moves won't hurt. What's the worst that could happen at this point? Buggy wondered to himself.

"Okay then!" Buggy yelled. "Ask and you shall receive, my loyal minions!"

"YAY!" The soldiers all cheered.

Buggy's two hands then detached, brandishing two daggers that were aimed right at Kurotsuchi. "My flashy killing technique! An execution reserved only for those who have the honor of falling before the great Buggy!" Buggy could not resist hamming it up a little, unfortunately. "Chop Chop Feast!"

Buggy's two daggers then stabbed downwards toward Kurotsuchi like a dinner plate. Then, in a flash, she was gone. As though her body had never been there in the first place. She was just gone.

Buggy was utterly perplexed by this. "Umm...what?" He said flatly.

"Hey, Buggy," he heard Alvida call out to him, "if you're looking for the girl's body, it's all the way over there."

Buggy looked off to where Alvida was pointing. His eyes bulged out of their sockets. Kurotsuchi was still lying on the floor, unconscious. And yet somehow, she had moved a great distance. "WHAT THE HELL?!" He screamed.

Alvida chuckled at Buggy's perplexed nature. She then gazed at Kurotsuchi's unconscious form. Admittedly, she should have been concerned on the matter. However, she could not pick up anyone's presence. Perhaps they dropped Kurotsuchi when trying to escape from Buggy and ran off, concerned they would not be able to escape from them a second time?

Alvida's eyes then registered something and they went wide in disbelief and fear. "Umm...Buggy...we may have a problem."

"Ugh, what now?!" Buggy screamed before looking where Alvida was looking. He then saw exactly what she was seeing and his eyes went wide as well.

Standing before them was a tall man, dressed in a dark brown cloak that completely concealed his identity from everyone. Buggy did not know who this person was, where he came from, none of it. Everything about him was a mystery, except for one thing.

This guy absolutely radiated power. Just looking at him told Buggy that he was bad news. "Okay...um...you maybe want to just take the girl and leave?" Buggy suggested nervously.

"A-after all," Buggy continued, regaining his composure and returning to his role as the confident, immovable, godlike pirate, "the great Captain Buggy is feeling very generous today. I've gotten my fill in tearing her apart. You can take her and leave if you wish, I won't pursue you."

"Aww, but Captain Buggy, you can so take this guy!" One soldier yelled.

"He's right, Captain Buggy, you're the greatest, now show this weak weirdo what for!" Another added.

Those morons are going to be the death of me! Buggy paled inwardly. Seriously, I'm screwed if they keep talking crap like that!

"Now, now," Buggy tried to placate both sides, "that may be true, but I'm also a very generous man, am I not? I should show mercy when necessary, yes?"

"So what do you say, friend?" Buggy asked. "Why don't you just take the girl and leave. We'll call it even then, yeah?"

Still no response from the cloaked man. At this point, Buggy's irrational side was beginning to take over. One thing that could be said about the clown pirate, was that he absolutely hated to be ignored.

"Oi! Respond to me when I'm talking to you! You do realize who you're dealing with here, right? I'm Buggy! Clown Star Buggy! One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea! That means, you can't just disrespect me like that! Especially after I made such a generous offer to you!"

"Respond to Captain Buggy, you bastard!" Soldiers began to jeer in fury at the man.

The man stayed silent. Buggy growled in frustration. "Fine, be that way!" He snapped. "If you're not going to take my generous offer then I'll just kill you where you stand!"

Buggy's entire body split apart. It began spinning around. The cloaked man could vaguely see blades being brandished inside of this twister of body parts. "GYA HA HA!" Buggy laughed. "Chop Chop Tornado! Let's see you get away from this!"

"Cut him to pieces, Captain Buggy!" Buggy's fan club cheered.

The cloaked man remained surprisingly calm as Buggy and the Chop Chop Tornado neared him. He noticed how Buggy's head was remaining behind the tornado and how his feet were walking behind them as well. Picking up quickly, the cloaked man finally decided to make his move.

There was movement underneath his cloak. Buggy blinked, and then the man was gone. "Eh?" He muttered in disbelief before he saw all his body parts fall to the ground.

Silence. You could hear a pin drop in the area. The entire Pirate Dispatch Society, Buggy's closest subordinates, Buggy himself, they were all in utter disbelief at what they had just witnessed.

"Why...why did my parts all fall to the floor?" Buggy wondered. "Wait…"

Buggy then noticed how far his head was from the rest of his parts. "Why is my head so far from my body...WHY IS MY HEAD SO DAMN FAR FROM MY BODY?!"

Buggy then felt something grip his forehead. He looked to see The cloaked man holding his head. "What?!" Buggy shrieked in disbelief. "WHAT?!"

The cloaked man then playfully dangled Buggy's feet. Buggy started sputtering in disbelief. No way. No way. No way. No way! He figured out the weakness of his Chop Chop Fruit just like that? Just who the hell was this guy? "Who are you?!" Buggy demanded.

The cloaked man did not respond. Buggy could not see his face, but he could tell that he was giving him the biggest grin behind that cloak. "Alvida, Mohji, Cabaji, Richie, HELP ME!" Buggy demanded, completely helpless now.

Everyone snapped out of their stupor and realized just how badly their captain was in trouble. "Hang on!" Alvida and Cabaji yelled, running towards him.

"Richie, sic him!" Mohji added as the overweight lion charged the cloaked man. Mohji ran after him.

The cloaked man relaxed slightly, as though he were in disbelief at how the fat lion was trying to fight him. He then tossed Buggy's head into the air, as though he were trying to gauge the weight of his head...like he was a ball to be thrown. "Hey, gentle!" Buggy yelled.

The cloaked man remained silent. He then gripped Buggy's head hard and brought his arm back. Buggy let out a scream of terror when he realized what was about to happen to him. "Mother of crap!" Buggy yelled horrified at what was about to happen to him.

The cloaked man tossed the head of Buggy the Clown at Richie. The lion dug its paws into the ground and stopped when he saw Buggy's head sailing towards him. Buggy's head then nailed Richie right in the stomach, sweeping the lion off his feet.

"GYAH!" Mohji yelled in terror as Richie's massive body sailed into him. The momentum swept him off his feet as well, towards Alvida and Cabaji.

Alvida stopped in place and braced herself while Cabaji yelled in terror. Richie and Mohji smashed into Cabaji, and then into Alvida, only for all of them to slide harmlessly off her body. Thanks to her Smooth Smooth Fruit, attacks like this meant nothing to Alvida. She heaved a sigh of relief as the four individuals behind her sailed into a nearby wall before resting on the ground. Her eyes widened when she then saw that all four had been knocked unconscious by the blow.

Whoever this guy was, he took out four individuals at once by throwing one of those people's heads like a ball. It makes a lot more sense in context, yeah, but still!

Alvida then turned her attention back to the man responsible for all of this. Then, much to her horror, she felt the shadow of death looming over her. She could not see his face, but she could tell that he was glaring at her with a face that promised death for what she and her allies had done to Fishman Island, to Kurotsuchi.

Good God, she could not see his face and she still saw death in his eyes. It was like staring a demon in the face as it reached out to grab you and devour you whole. And she was not confident her Devil Fruit could save her from this man. She just knew that he would find a weakness she had and exploit the hell out of it until she was dead.

At that moment, Alvida made a snap decision. She had to get the hell out of dodge before this guy found a way to hurt her and then kill her. So, she quickly vanished into the shadows with Kako before the guy went after her.

Wordlessly, the cloaked man urned his attention to the stunned members of the Pirate Dispatch Society. "What...what is he?" One soldier wondered.

Ten seconds, that was all it took. In ten seconds, the cloaked man made his move once more...and defeated the entire Pirate Dispatch Society that had been present. And not a single one of them had seen their defeat coming, literally.

Which begged the question that was on everyone's minds as they drifted into unconsciousness. Who was this guy?

Meanwhile, Danzo watched as the forests he had created crumbled all around him. While he had improved in his use of Wood Style, and could use it without resorting to it as a dangerous trump card, he still lacked the power and control Hashirama had. He still could not hope to compare to that fool of a First Hokage.

"But, it's enough." Danzo noted as he then turned his attention to the downed Eustass Kid, who was lying in a pool of his own blood. "To defeat you...this is enough."

"Screw you…" Kid growled. "Seriously, screw you…"

Danzo rolled his eyes. He then walked over and picked up a kunai. He quickly imbued wind Chakra into the blade. "Spew all the hate for me that you wish, Captain Kid. It won't change that at the end of this day, I will be the one left standing, and you will simply be a dead man."

"Well that won't do at all." A smooth-talking voice spoke up as a new arrival sauntered in. "Letting comrades die...well, that just kinda leaves a bad taste in my mouth, if you get what I'm saying."

Danzo frowned and looked over his shoulder. "You people just keep coming out of the damn woodworks." He growled.

Shinji Hirako grinned at Danzo. "Well, what can I say? We're a pretty persistent bunch. It's just who we are."

Shinji then gave Kid a small smile. "You did good, Kid. You managed to hold back the old geezer. When I sensed Komamura's Spiritual Pressure dropping, I wanted to go help him. I owed him a thanks after he helped me back then...but I was worried I wouldn't get there in time. But you and Killer gave it your all, and even if it wasn't enough...you still managed to make a difference in the end."

"Thanks for the sappy-ass speech, Hirako." Kid groaned.

Shinji chuckled as Killer appeared by his side. "How you doing, Killer?" Shinji asked him now. "Do you think you can get both Kid to the distance I told you? I've got soldiers moving Komamura there as well."

"Of course." Killer said.

"As if I'd let you lot leave." Danzo growled. "Wind Style: Vacuum Blade!"

"Ooh, so it's a sword fight, huh?" Shinji grinned. "Now it's a party."

Danzo turned his blade on Kid. "If you care about your friends so much then let's see you respond to this!"

Shinji was immediately in front of Danzo, much to the old man's surprise. He's faster than the last Soul Reaper!

"Do you just get off on pissing people off?" Shinji wondered, stabbing forward at Danzo.

Danzo gasped as he was impaled right through the chest by Shinji. His body faded away before reappearing a few feet away from him. Shinji frowned at the sight. "Sheesh, another illusion user? I really, really hate you guys?"

"He's dangerous, Captain Hirako, be careful." Killer appeared at Shinji's side.

"Standing up to dangerous guys has kinda been my MO for a long time. And I don't mind that not changing any time soon." Shinji grinned. "Now get going, Killer."

Killer picked up Kid. "Are you alright, Captain?" He asked.

"No, my pride's kinda shattered right now. It's probably wounded as badly as I am at this point." Kid groaned. "But...thanks for coming back for me, Killer."

Killer then sped off with Kid in tow. Shinji's attention was now entirely on Danzo. "So, just you and me now, Geezer." Shinji said with that big grin of his. "Don't think I won't hold back on you just because you're old. Then again, I'm probably older than you."

Danzo scowled. "Don't be so arrogant, Soul Reaper." He told him. "I am the man who will lead the Ninja World into a new era. Danzo Shimura. Underestimate me at your own peril."

Shinji raised an eyebrow. "Danzo Shimura? Well I'll be damned. You I have heard of. Aren't you that old geezer that kept trying to ruin what everyone in the Leaf Village worked extremely hard to build?"

Danzo frowned. "I will no longer attempt to justify myself to someone like you. You who follows the will of bleeding heart fools like Chitsujo."

"Well now, I actually happen to like Lord Chitsujo, so don't think you can call him a fool and get it away with it." Shinji frowned. "And while we're on the subject, I happen to have a lot of friends in the Leaf Village that you seem hellbent on ruining."

"So let's review here, Danzo," Shinji continued, "not only did you attack a friend of mine, but you also insulted a leader I actually really like, and plan to ruin the home of people I'm also friends with."

"Your point?"

"My point is that I hate people who like to ruin things for selfish reasons, especially other people's lives." Shinji told him. "I don't give a damn who it is and why they're doing it, it happened to me, and I won't let it happen to anyone else."

"I'm going to give it all I've got from the start." Shinji promised. "Now collapse, Sakanade!"

Danzo watched as Shinji's Zanpakuto transformed into its Shikai state. "Well, now that's a surprise. I expected something more flashy, like Komamura's Tenken." Danzo admitted. "There doesn't seem to be much of a change in yours."

Shinji grinned. "I would think an old man who for some reason is still on the battlefield would know better than to judge a book by its cover."

"Anyway," Shinji continued, "I'm afraid it's already too late for you, Danzo Shimura."

Danzo frowned, and just what do you mean by that?" He inquired.

"Well, take a look around you." Shinji chuckled. "If you look around, you'll notice a mist that has surrounded you in a near instant."

Danzo gasped when he saw that he was indeed surrounded by a mist. Shinji started twirling Sakanade. "Oh dear, dear, dear," he taunted, "I wonder what will happen to you...when you enter my world."

Suddenly, Shinji suddenly turned upside down in Danzo's eyes. "What...what in the world?" Danzo gasped in surprise.

Shinji grinned. "Welcome to the Inverted World, Danzo Shimura." Shinji introduced. This is the power of my Sakanade. You're in my world now."

"Up, down, left, right, back, front, the directions the damage is comin' from... do you really think you can wrap your head around fighting with them all flipped around? Not a chance. Ain't no-one can do that. The stronger a guy is, the more used to battle he gets... the more naturally his body reacts to exactly what it sees!"

"Damn you, for someone who claims to hate illusions, you have no issue using them yourself." Danzo noted.

Shinji laughed. "Well, to be fair, the Soul Society has done a lot of things over the years that have gotten us rightfully labeled as hypocrites.

Shinji then Flash Stepped towards Danzo. Danzo frantically blocked Shinji's first strike, only for the world to suddenly be turned around once more. "Over here!" Shinji slashed Danzo across the back, even though he thought he was coming from the front once more.

"You may think your Shikai is powerful," Danzo growled, "but I can still strike you! Wind Style: Vacuum Blast Barrage!"

Danzo rotated his head about, expelling multiple blades of wind from his mouth. Shinji quickly inverted the area in a frantic manner, turning the world around Danzo repeatedly, leaving the old man extremely disoriented.

Danzo was then cut across the chest by Shinji. "Like I told you, what you see is what you react to. You can't hope to respond properly if what you're seeing is turning you into a queasy mess." Shinji reminded him. "This is what it means to have your best sense turned against you."

"Wind Style: Vacuum Bullets!" Danzo yelled, firing several small blasts of wind chakra that scattered into different directions.

"I gotta give ya credit though, Danzo." Shinji admitted. "You're using your attacks to attack in multiple areas. I'll be the first to admit that Sakanade's big weakness is omnidirectional attacks. Unfortunately for you, I've found a couple workarounds. And compared to the last one to exploit that weakness, well, you're lacking in destructive power."

Danzo was then stabbed in the shoulder, even though he thought Shinji was coming from behind. "I'll admit, this is a truly powerful illusion." Danzo acknowledged.

"However, it is still an illusion." Danzo continued. "And unfortunately for you, Shinji Hirako, I have workarounds for your illusions, just like any other illusion!"

And with that, Danzo blocked Shinji's next attack, much to the Squad 5 Captain's surprise. "Oh?" Shinji's eyes widened.

Danzo's Sharingan eyes were going crazy. "The Sharingan sees through illusion and deception. I'll admit, because I'm not an Uchiha by birth, seeing through your illusions was quite difficult. And my age caused it to take longer than usual. However, now that my eyes have had time to adjust, I can see through your illusions now!"

Shinji was now scowling. "Oh, you've gotta be kidding me? The Sharingan can even pull that off? Those eyes are stupidly unfair. Makes me glad that Commander Hatake and that Sasuke kid are on our side."

"You can try to manipulate the world around us all you wish, Captain Hirako, but I will see through all your attempts." Danzo promised. "I'm a step ahead of you now."

"Wind Style: Vacuum Bomb!" Danzo exhaled a compressed ball of wind chakra that exploded in front of Shinji, pushing him away from Danzo.

"And now, I'll follow with another Wind Style: Vacuum Blast Barrage!" Danzo began expelling more blades of wind, moving his head around to follow Shinji's attempts at avoiding the attacks.

The winds that lacerated Shinji's body repeatedly. "Gah!" Shinji yelled in pain. "Ah damn it, that actually hurt. How can wind possibly hurt that badly? It's wind!"

"You shouldn't have taunted me so, Captain Hirako." Danzo glared at him. "You have no right to confront someone like me with such arrogance."

"Oh hi kettle, the name's pot, have we met?" Shinji taunted in spite of the pain he was in. "Seriously, how are you able to say crap like that with no sense of irony whatsoever, huh?"

Danzo responded by holding his Sharingan Arm out in front of him. "Now then, you can burn, just like your friend, Komamura. Amaterasu!"

Shinji Flash Stepped away just in time for the spot he had been before to catch fire. Danzo, however, was ready for this. He continued to aim the eyes on his arm at Shinji. Eventually, Shinji found himself slowing down due to Danzo's earlier attack hitting him harder than he had expected. And with that, Shinji was blasted by the black flames of Amaterasu.

"GAH!" Shinji yelled in pain.

"It's over." Danzo told him.

Shinji rolled on the ground. "Don't worry. You I definitely will not kill. You're far too important. After all, you're a Visored, are you not? It really is a shame you chose not to use your Hollow Mask against me? Perhaps you were concerned about overtaxing yourself? Or perhaps you were arrogant enough to believe you could best me?"

"Either way, you've failed, and now you will be inducted into the Foundation."

"Lord Danzo," Danzo looked over his shoulder to see that Fu and Torune and gotten up after Killer's previous sneak attack.

"I see you two fools have recovered." He noted. "You two...I hope you both learned a valuable lesson. Your foolishness could've cost me."

"Yes, we're very sorry, Lord Danzo." Fu nodded.

Suddenly several Coalition soldiers charged into view. "Ah, it appears we're gaining back some ground." Danzo noted.

"Indeed, Lord Danzo." The soldier responded. "The Alliance suddenly retreated from this area, so we're going to try and take back the ground we were losing."

"Very good." Danzo noted.

Danzo then turned his attention back to Shinji. His eyes all closed. The flames of Amaterasu vanished on Shinji. "It seems your comrades have abandoned you, Shinji Hirako." Danzo told him. "All your talk about camaraderie clearly meant nothing in the end."

Shinji remained silent. "Indeed, I can no longer sense your comrades." Danzo continued. "You are all alone."

"All alone...just you guys, right?" Shinji weakly asked.

"That is correct." Danzo nodded. "You are all that is left in this area."

Shinji then gave Danzo a weak smile. "Thanks for telling me," he said, "now I can use this without any concern. You just lost your one chance at winning."

Danzo's eyes widened. His smug demeanor was wiped away in an instant. "Bankai." Shinji said calmly, rising to his feet.

Suddenly, a nadeshiko-flower shaped pedestal appeared beneath Shinji's feet. Shinji's expression darkened as he stared down Danzo and the soldiers. "Sakashima Yokoshima Happōfusagari." Shinji introduced. "Allow me to introduce...one of the only Bankai in the entire Soul Society to be outright banned. You've all lost."

"A Bankai that has been banned?" Danzo muttered in disbelief. "How is that possible? How can such power exist? Is that why we have no data on Shinji Hirako beyond his Shikai and his Hollowfication?"

"I won't bother trying to explain what my Bankai does." Shinji told him. "All I'm going to say is...enjoy what happens next. A bastard like you, who has no sense of camaraderie...you'll love it."

Danzo then heard the sound of steel meeting flesh and soldiers crying out. "What is this?" He demanded before gasping.

Allies were now cutting down enemies. No wait, were enemies cutting down enemies? Danzo did not know, but he did know that some of the people who were winning this fight were enemies.

"Yes," Danzo muttered, "I can't leave a single one of my enemies alive. I will kill them all, and become the Hokage I was always meant to be!"

Then, much to Danzo's horror, his skin started to turn purple. "An assassination?" Danzo gasped in surprise.

"I must kill Lord Danzo's enemies." Torune said from behind. "You...are my enemy…"

"Bastard!" Danzo yelled. "I will not die to the likes of you!"

Shinji heaved a sigh at the sight of the chaos he had just created. Sakashima Yokoshima Happōfusagari was indeed a banned Bankai, and for very good reason. He believed that Shunsui Kyoraku had the best description of it. It was truly a Bankai that did not differentiate between friend and foe. Simply because friends and foes just did not exist in this totally topsy-turvy reality it had created. In this reality, allies were enemies, enemies were allies. Everything was completely distorted and he had no control over it. Sakashima Yokoshima Happōfusagari did not alter senses. It altered perception itself.

And so, Shinji calmly watched the carnage, thinking about how rare it was for him to use his Bankai. In fact, he could not even remember the last time he was able to use it. I can only use it when I'm outnumbered and when I have no allies in the vicinity. Shinji noted. It was a damn good thing I had the foresight to have the soldiers in the area retreat so that I could test this in the field, just in case I end up being a trump card in the final battle with the Coalition.

The only question now is, can Danzo snap out of this state? My Bankai is good, but it's still an illusion. That means, theoretically, his Sharingan can see through it. That being said, Sakashima Yokoshima Happōfusagari alters the victim's very perception. As far as Danzo is concerned, he has no need to see through any illusions. His perception is as clear as day. He's fighting an army of enemies right now. The same goes for literally everyone else.

Shinji took a seat on the pedestal. I suppose the only left now is to simply watch the carnage ensue...hoo boy, that definitely did not sound very heroic. But hey, like I said, Soul Society's filled with a bunch of hypocrites. I've got no right to play hero. All I can do is what I believe is right.

Meanwhile, Naruto Uzumaki's eyes suddenly shot open. Slowly, the orange Chakra that had been surrounding him began to die down. His plan had been a success. The one who had been attacking his Shadow Clones had taken the bait and had come to him for a true duel. He narrowed his eyes slightly. This was someone he had not been expecting.

"It's been a long time, hasn't it, Naruto Uzumaki?" Ulquiorra Cifer inquired curiously. "I believe the last time we met was in Lord Chitsujo's palace."

"It has...er, Ulquiorra was it?"

"Indeed, I am Ulquiorra Cifer. I'm sure Ichigo Kurosaki has told you of me, yes? I would think that someone like him would have the decency to remember and remain wary of the man who took his life not once but twice."

Naruto nodded. "Yeah, Ichigo told me everything about you. How strong you really are. How you're still, to this day, one of the toughest fights he's ever had. And how much he regrets that the two of you could not settle things properly."

"He's still regretful of that? How curious. The heart is truly an interesting thing." Ulquiorra mused before getting back on track. "I am not interested in Ichigo Kurosaki at the moment. My interest lies in you, the supposed Child of Prophecy in your world. Naruto Uzumaki, you are the subject of my interest right now."

"Yep, this is what happens when you're famous." Naruto sighed. "Everyone wants a piece of you."

"Yeah, Ulquiorra, Ichigo did tell me everything about you." Naruto reminded him as he rose to his feet. "It's kinda weird, actually. Besides Yhwach and this Aizen guy, he was scared of you the most. Guess that means you are really strong."

"But to that I say, so what?!" Naruto yelled. "I'm not backing down against anyone, and I'm certainly not backing down against you. Bring it on, Ulquiorra Cifer!"

Ulquiorra let out a small smirk. "Then let us begin."

A.N: So we have a Racer X-like figure coming in to help the Alliance. Super old anime reference right there, holy crap. Shinji Hirako busts out his Bankai. By the way, major hole in canon that he never even once busted out his "allegiance-reversal" Bankai on anyone. Then again, it must be tough to get all the bad guys alone to use it, so I'll offer a little bit of grace there. Besides, he kinda needed it with how insanely powerful I made Danzo in this. Seriously, I think Danzo's actually put up the best fight in the Coalition in this battle, so far.

And now, we have the long-awaited rematch between Naruto and Ulquiorra. Hope everyone enjoyed this chapter, I'll see you all next time! Happy 2020.