Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or it's characters. Please support the official release.

A/N: I want to get back into writing what with all the chaos going around. So might as well revisit an old thing. Now, this first part of this what-if, and the good news it's all planned out and done.

This will be a what-if format, so don't expect a long story. I am guessing three maybe four parts at least. The question that I postulate with this what-if, is what if Hanataro trained to get stronger?

And perhaps if this is well received, I will do more of these what-if scenarios.

Soul Society's Sewers

The faint echoes of the underground sewers set Hanataro on edge despite his exhausted state. He had been healing Ganju for a long time now, so long he had lost track of time. He sighed once he saw the last bruise disappear from Ganju and then leaning with his back against the cold stone wall. He reached into his pack and took out some energy pills. There were some with skulls, but there were others without them.

'Thinking back on it. I actually thought I could try to sneak Rukia out of Soul Society. I grabbed my Zanpaktou and pilfered plenty of pills besides the one I'm usually given.' He internally sighed. 'Right like I could honestly help her, even if I did somehow sneak her out. She would be a fugitive for the rest of her life, and I would be no help at all keeping her safe. But Ichigo and his friends are so much stronger than me. If anyone could keep her safe, it's probably them.' Hanataro felt somewhat upset by that, but he pressed the feeling down.

"How's he doing?" Ichigo's gruff voice startled Hanataro. He looked at the tall young man, whose most striking feature was his orange hair. And the giant sword he carried on his back. He was talking about the big Ganju whose messy black hair was sweating under his green bandana.

"His injuries should be healed up. But his spiritual pressure will need some time to recover. I can give him some pills when he wakes up, they should restore him completely." Hanataro gestured to his pack. Ichigo nodded and then his brown eyes looked at Hanataro's zanpaktou with a questioning expression.

"I don't think I've seen you use your zanpaktou once," Ichigo commented thinking back to their most recent battle. Well calling it 'their' battle was a bit generous since it came down to mostly him and Renji one on one. "Is there a reason for that?" Ichigo asked, and Hanataro fidgeted at the honest question.

"Much like me, my zanpaktou isn't very good for combat," Hanataro said putting his left hand on his zanpaktou with a wince in his facial expression. 'I haven't even been able to talk to Hisagomaru in the longest time, I wonder if it's because I don't believe in them, or if they got fed up with me as well.' Hanataro thought to himself in a self-defeated manner. This earned him a slap to the head from an irate Ichigo.

"Tch I hate it when people look down on themselves. Tell me Hanataro why the hell did you help us out?" Ichigo said crossing his arms while Hanataro rubbed the back of his head, which smarted greatly from the slap.

"I wanted to help Rukia…" Hanataro said quietly.

"And why is that?" Ichigo replied bluntly.

"I listened to her stories, and well maybe it will sound dumb. But I don't get the feeling that she is some kind of terrible person that deserves death just for saving a family." Hanataro replied no longer paying attention to the swelling pain in the back of his head.

"And you've helped us so far, I'm grateful for that. But what are you going to do, if we can't succeed? And it comes down to you?" Ichigo asked with such intensity that Hanataro flinched. "Don't get me wrong, I'm going to give it everything I got, and I will tear up this whole soul society if I have to. But if on the slightest chance that we don't succeed, and you're left standing as the last man. Will you still try your best? Or will you just think about what you can't do?" Hanataro was utterly speechless in the face of Ichigo's condemning questions.

"I…" Hanataro stammered at a loss for words. Ichigo then clasped his strong right hand on Hanataro's head.

"The answer isn't important right now. Just know that when it comes down to it. It doesn't matter who you are or what you can do. When the time comes just act and think later. Regrets and thoughts can follow after it is done." Ichigo chuckled to a confused Hanataro. "You know that's how Rukia was when she saved me and my family. She used to talk about the duty of a soul reaper and what they had to do. But I don't think she actually thought of anything when she leaped in taking that hollow attack for me, and I became much the same. Sometimes Hanataro, you gotta stop thinking and just do it." Ichigo yawned. "Well, I better get some sleep. And then whenever we wake up, we will get back to knocking some heads together." Ichigo then stood up and walked over to a relatively comfortable looking place to sleep in the sewer.

Senzaikyū

Hanataro stepped out of the room, his hands trembling over his still sheathed zanpaktou so hard. He wondered if he would end up bleeding, but he couldn't just stand by. He unsheathed his blade and took a stance.

Byakuya's cold stare pierced through Hanataro's heart, making him feel like it had stopped for a moment. "You think you can win? Foolish." Byakuya raised his right hand, a Kido spell charging in this primary fingertip. Hanataro didn't know what Kido Spell it was since at the moment he was thinking of all the ways he would die.

And then before he knew it, Ganju knocked him out of the way. Hanataro couldn't make out what Ganju was shouting since his mind was still in total lockdown. Images of all the way Rukia, Ichigo, and Ganju would die flew through his mind in a kaleidoscope of sheer agony. And then he saw blood fly across his field of vision as Ganju was cut by what looked like Cherry Blossoms.

Things slowed to a crawl as Hanataro's heartbeat accelerated. And then he saw Ichigo in his mind.

"Well? What will you do?" Ichigo's back was to him in his mind. Hanataro remembering Ichigo's philosophy of act now and think later. He cleared his mind and stood up charging to Ganju.

"FULFILL HISAGOMARU!" Ganju and Byakuya blinked shocked when the timid healer moved of his own accord. And that shock deepened as his blade went through Ganju's stomach, but to Ganju's amazement as the blood from his wounds began to turn to red mist, and his wounds healed up and what was more he didn't feel any more pain. Hanataro pulled the blade out, and Ganju could see there was a Gauge in the blade that was now filled up.

Byakuya's brief surprised reaction returned to a neutral state. "For a moment I thought you were a coward who had come to his senses. But now I see that you're just a fool with a deathwish." Byakuya stated as he used Senbonzakura once more. 'This will finish them off.' His eyes then widened again as the blades met some sand walls.

"That trick won't work on me again," Ganju said with a strained grin. "Thanks, Hanataro. Now then let's see about kicking this guy's ass." Ganju said trying to remain confident looking. He knew of course that they had no possible chance against Byakuya. But at the very least they could probably distract him long enough for help to arrive or something.

Hanataro didn't answer as he gripped his Zanpaktou. 'Ganju doesn't know that once Hisagomaru absorbs things all the way until it's gauge fills. It will then turn into a scalpel form, and the only choice will be to release all that energy and then I can't use it again for a long while.' Hanataro was beyond terrified, and he knew Rukia was begging them to stop fighting and leave her to her fate.

But Hanataro had already decided he was going to fight to try and save her. He just wished he was stronger to do it. And then an old voice in his head spoke, a voice he hadn't heard in a long time.

"Incorrect Master. The Scalpel form as you call it is an emergency release mode. If you so desire, I don't need to transform into that mode. Be warned though absorbing any more energy while it will increase power output, it will be stressful. We're currently at 100 percent and stable. Theoretically, we could go to three hundred percent."

Hanataro's eyes widened slightly, not just from the knowledge Hisagomaru had imparted to him. But it had been so long since he had last heard their voice. 'Hisa...I am so sorry I neglected you for so long. I really am the worst aren't I?'

"Master… Just do your best. I still believe in you."

Hanataro smiled even as one tear fell from his right eye. He gripped the hilt of his blade tightly, as his mind jumped back to normal time. It was do or die at this very moment, and he knew what he had to do. He kept his blade from changing into the emergency release mode and charged forward at Byakuya.

Byakuya could have easily flash stepped circles around these two. But they were of such low caliber, it felt like a waste of energy. Instead, he raised his left hand and fired off Byakurai without even muttering the incantation. Hanataro groaned as it left a gaping hole in his stomach, but he took his upper hand on the grip and gripped the blade of his sword. And red mist poured out of his stomach, as he felt the gauge glow brighter.

"One Hundred and Fifty Percent. Status Stable."

Byakuya grimaced slightly annoyed at this, but when he moved to use his Shikai again. He noticed it was covered in sand particles.

"Forgot about me didn't you?" Ganju stated as he slammed his fists together. Being coated with heavy particles of sand, making them look like rocky fists. He leaped over Hanataro, and Byakuya grunted as he used flash step to move to the side from Ganju's overhead attack. He fired Byakurai once again at Ganju's head, but to his surprise, Ganju's head still remained albeit with Red Mist coming from his face. He then looked at Hanataro, who was sweating as he was holding his Zanpaktou with the tip of the blade in Ganju's foot. He had just barely made it in the nick of time to save Ganju from instant death. And the zanpaktou's gauge was glowing even brighter now, and Hanataro seemed to be sweating as though it gave off heat.

"Two Hundred and Fifty Percent. Warning approaching critical levels."

Hanataro knew he didn't have much time until his Zanpaktou would be at its limits, glowing red cracks were already starting to seep out of the gauge.

Byakuya getting tired of this and annoyed at not being able to use his Zanpaktou decided he would take out Hanataro first so that they wouldn't have the advantage of healing on their side. But when he moved to use Flash Step, he noticed to his surprise that he was rooted to the ground by piles of sand keeping his feet from moving. Byakuya's annoyance was now full-blown fury, though none could tell this due to the neutral expression on his face.

Hanataro gripped his blade tightly as he desperately knew that he needed to charge it up as fast as possible, even as Byakuya began to release his massive spiritual pressure. Ganju crumpled to the ground on one knee, but he didn't let go of his sand on either Byakuya's sword or the feet of the irate captain.

Perhaps it was the pain or the amount of power in his Zanpaktou. But Hanataro wasn't collapsing, he knew that Byakuya would continue to lay on the massive spiritual pressure until either their bones shattered, or he could fire off a potent enough kido blast to finish them off once and for all.

"At Maximum Capacity. Three Percent, warning releasing this much power, will make it so you can't use your Shikai for the rest of the day. Master… Whatever happens after this… please keep moving."

Hanataro nodded as he took his hand off his blade, and charged forward. Byakuya attempted to raise his hands once again but to his surprise. Ganju mustered up enough strength to pull himself up and launch himself at Byakuya in a bear hug pinning down his arms.

"Whatever you're going to do Hanataro. DO IT NOW!" Ganju knew that at any moment his sand was going to lose its grip over Byakuya.

Byakuya's face wore an expression of pure fury, his neutral demeanor finally cracked. He struggled to no avail against Ganju's bear hug. Hanataro's blade flared a bright red that illuminated the entire area of the bridge they were on.

Hanataro then slashed forward releasing a crimson arc of violent energy. But when the smoke cleared, Byakuya was still standing with a slash on his left cheek that began to bleed. His eyes were wide, how could some lowly reaper from Squad Four damage him?

Hanataro wasn't quite done yet though as he wielded a broken looking scalpel, leaping to Byakuya's left side. Byakuya finally kicked Ganju off, but then he felt a stinging in his cheek. And the sound of glass shattering?

Then he felt an intense numbness, as his legs gave out. What had just happened?

Hanataro was stunned over his victory. Before he had made the full release of the built-up energy. He knew that it wouldn't have been enough to kill Byakuya even if he had aimed for vital areas. But there was Shinten, the medicine that all Squad Four members carried on them that they often used to sedate other irate members from other squads. Against a captain, it probably wouldn't have done much ordinarily. But with the cut on Byakuya's cheek, which was somewhat deep. Hanataro knew that was his chance to introduce the drug directly into Byakuya's bloodstream. So when Byakuya had been kicking Ganju aside, Hanataro had swung with all his might with Hisagomaru to shatter an entire bottle of Shinten, getting it all over Byakuya's face and the cut on his left cheek.

"You…" Byakuya, however, wasn't fully unconscious. And Hanataro knew they only had minutes at best before he would regain full sensation back into his body. Hanataro went to get Ganju up so they could get Rukia out of there. But then he felt something odd with his spiritual pressure and began to feel sleepy. He tried to stay awake, but to no avail.

"I am sorry. You did good, but this is the way things are meant to be." Hanataro recognized the voice. It was Rukia's Captain, Jushiro Ukitake. Hanataro's vision faded, as he fell to the ground. Not knowing that Ichigo would arrive moments later to briefly clash with Ukitake.

Sōkyoku Hill

Time had passed, and Hanataro had known it wasn't right for Rukia to be executed. But he wouldn't have ever imagined that one of their own captains would be responsible for orchestrating everything. It made Hanataro upset to think about how Aizen had been one of the few captains he could look up to.

He had been devastated when he heard the news about Aizen's demise. But now he just felt sick to his stomach, like everyone he had been so blinded by Aizen.

Hanataro let out a sigh as he looked over Soul Society. It wouldn't be long until he had to return to his squad's barracks and face Captain Unohana. Part of him was frightened, mostly because she could be an intimidating woman. But also because he feared she was going to be so disappointed in him siding with the Ryoka against Soul Society.

She hadn't really said anything to him since he woke up in the cell. And went along with Ichigo's friends, and if she had looked at him while he was helping Orihime tend to some wounded. He didn't know for sure, but one thing was clear.

He was already hearing rumors about how he had somehow defeated the mighty Byakuya Kuchiki. Some even stating he had secretly used Bankai and other various overblown exaggerations. Hanataro didn't much like these rumors, as now everyone just kept giving him funny looks.

Hanataro turned around to walk, and nearly had a heart attack as he saw his Captain waiting for him along with a still heavily bandaged Ganju. Unohona was smiling with her eyes closed as she often did when she was being serious.

"Captain!" Hanataro bowed his head before despite his own still-healing injuries.

"At ease Hanataro." She said letting him raise his head. "I heard from Ganju here what you did. Impressive." She said with a chuckle, and Hanataro couldn't help his embarrassed blush from the praise. "Tell me what will you do now that Rukia is safe?" Unohona asked him.

"Well, I was going to thank Ichigo," Hanataro admitted sheepishly.

"And then?" Unohona asked him again.

"I don't know, I figured I would figure out after whatever punishment you deemed appropriate for me," Hanataro admitted with a shaky tone.

"And if there is no punishment waiting for you after you thank Kurosaki?" Unohana asked opening her eyes revealing those piercing blue eyes.

"Ma'am?" Hanataro stuttered out at her question. This confused him greatly. Ganju shifted behind her somewhat, crossing his arms. Though he looked at Hanataro with a friendly smile, Hanataro hadn't expected to make a great friend in Ganju. But Hanataro couldn't help but feel Ganju had barely contained energy in him. As though he was waiting for something from Hanataro.

"I wondered if perhaps you would like to get stronger? You have the potential. I can see that now. But I won't force you to do anything you don't wish to." Unohona stated and her eyes watched Hanataro's face. Wondering what was going through the timid seventh seat's mind.

Hanataro's hand went down to his zanpaktou, Hisagomaru had been talking to him more lately ever since their battle with Byakuya.

"Whatever you decide Master. I will be there with you."

Hanataro thought about how he had wanted to save Rukia, and though he hadn't personally done it himself. He had at the very least done more than just be a simple guide, doing more than what he had needed to.

And now he had a good friend with Ganju and perhaps even Ichigo. And Rukia was kind enough to him, that maybe he could count her as a friend. But darkly his mind went back to Aizen, and how terrifying the man was. Hanataro knew he couldn't just sit around and hope that Ichigo and the others could take him out.

Hanataro wanted to help them out as much as possible, so with a resolved look in his eyes. He met Unohona's serious face with a look of his own.

"I would like to get stronger." He stated.

"Excellent." Unohona seemed very pleased, and Ganju rushed past her and lifted Hanataro up into a bear hug.

"I knew you had it in you, little buddy!" Ganju let out a heartfelt laugh.

"Tomorrow after you've said your thanks to Ichigo. We will begin the training, Ganju will be joining you. Make sure you've cleared up any other business as well, in case things don't turn out well." And with that last ominous bit, Unohana flash stepped away.

"What did she mean by that?" Ganju asked with a shiver. Hanataro gulped knowing how scary his captain truly could be.

"I think she will make Byakuya look like heaven in comparison," Hanataro was already regretting what he had just agreed to.

A/N: And that's Soul Society covered. Next Week will be Fake Karakura Town.