Chapter 8: Chapter 8

(Four Years Later, aka 76 years before canon)

Aizen Sosuke strolled down the hall of the Ichibantai HQ; he waved with a smile to a few Shinigami. Oh how he hated smiling like an idiot, he inwardly sneered over these fools as he would leave in a number of years.

His plans, he was content with them as of recent. But one tickle in the back of his mind annoyed him.

Naruto Kuchiki-Unohana

The boy was like a puzzle to him, hidden in darkness. He remembered the report during that hollow attack he set up on Naruto's Forces during a Patrol.

Flashback – Four Years Ago

Aizen smiled to himself as he looked across the Serietei, awaiting Tousen's report. He heard a knock on his door that cut his train of thought, he saw Tousen come in to the office "Yes?" he asked coolly.

Tousen started "Aizen-Sama, me and Ichimaru have witnessed Kuchiki-Fukutaicho's Zanpakuto"

"Ah the two duel ones" he murmured taking a sip of tea that was on his desk, he set his gaze on Gin who looked rather happy, and that was not a good thing.

"Is something wrong?"

Gin's grin only widened "That's the thing though Aizen-Taicho" he replied cheerfully

Aizen cocked a brow at Gin and looked at Tousen for an answer "He released only one of his Zanpakuto is stead of a pair" the Kyubantai Taicho responded

Aizen coughed momentarily and regained himself "One? I had assumed his two Zanpakuto consisted of a duel Zanpakuto" he raised an eyebrow as he pushed his black rimmed glasses back up.

"Nope" Gin cut in cheerily "Apparently he has two Zanpakuto spirits."

Aizen's eyes widened slightly while Tousen showed no reaction, Aizen grinned inwardly as this was a rare occurrence "Truly?" he asked in a curious drawl, sitting down in his desk.

Tousen nodded "This complicates things, Aizen-Sama" he admitted softly.

Aizen frowned a little and nodded "Very well, we will keep watch until he uses the other Zanpakuto. Other then that, dismissed" he ordered drawing nods from the two.

Aizen watched as his two subordinates left, then he heard cracking and his eyebrows rose to see his teacup crack midway.

He felt a faint smirk of amusement dance on his lips, Omens? He scoffed; he had no need for such things.

End Flashback

Aizen came out of his musings as he entered the taicho's meeting hall, a warm smile greeted all.

Nibantai HQ, Noon

Naruto watched the clouds go by atop the roof, he sighed to himself. Him releasing his Zanpakuto had caused quite an excitement. To the Kuchiki Clan that is.

Of course he knew Aizen was now lenient on Naruto, but the black haired Fuku-Taicho kept his guard up and let out a long sigh.

His mind drifted to Isane, in the past 14 years the silver haired woman had become a great friend to Naruto.

His thoughts continued to deift until he felt a presence behind him, he glanced in the barest seeing a messenger, he asked "Yes?"

"Your Otou-san, Kuchiki-Sama requests your presence"

Naruto merely nodded before disappearing in a shunpo.

Kuchiki Clan Compound – Five Minutes Later

Naruto reappeared at the front gates; he entered past the courtyards and gardens. He really did like gardening since he came to the Soul Society and found an aptitude for it. Much to his Okaa-san's amusement.

"Excuse me" Naruto got a servants attention as he stopped in the hall "Can you tell me where my Otou-san is? He did not tell me what he needed to talk to me about"

The servant nodded "At the shrine Kuchiki-Sama, he's waiting for you there" Naruto nodded his thanks before walking to the shrine area.

He entered the building that had a small but exquisite garden in front of it, and saw Byakuya with his back turned to him.

"Otou-san, you asked for me?"

Byakuya nodded as he gestured Naruto to come up "Do you know of Hisana?" he asked, Naruto was taken aback by the suddenness of the question as he stood next to him, he knew Hisana was Byakuya's former wife before Unohana.

"I do" he replied coolly.

Byakuya nodded approvingly "There is something you should know" he took a deep breath "I promised her I'd adopt her sister as my sister"

Naruto recoiled mentally at that and took in a breath "As in…you want to adopt her as your sister, thus making me a nephew?" he asked for clarification, his left eyebrow twitched a bit.

Byakuya nodded as Naruto let out a quiet sigh "I'm not going to say I disagree Otou-san." Naruto started "But the Elders wouldn't like tradition ruined, I'm merely voicing a reaction to this action"

Byakuya sighed a little "I know, but."

"A promise must be fulfilled" Naruto said quietly "Very well, but is there another reason why you called me here?" he asked, slightly cautious.

Byakuya responded "She turned up as Rukia Inuzuri at the Shin'Ou Academy" he explained drawing a surprised look from Naruto "I would ask that you remain silent on their being related."

Naruto's eyes widened slightly at that "Is that….wise?" he quirked carefully.

Byakuya looked slightly reluctant on that that question "For the best" he said in a tone that left no argument, Naruto now knew he was trespassing on dangerous grounds as he was careful with his Otou-san's past.

Naruto nodded in acceptance before leaving the shrine, a small sigh exited his throat as he turned his gaze to the sky for a few moments before deciding to meet Rukia ahead of Byakuya.

In the Noble district of the Serietei, one figure moved with nervousness and attempted to calm down her senses, she tugged at her new Shinigami uniform and set it straight as she tightened her white obi and made her way to the Kuchiki Clan Compound.

The now Rukia Kuchiki was worried, not over being accepted but rather over being compared to the others. Oh she knew who Naruto Kuchiki-Unohana was; rumors were a very moving thing in the Academy. She had heard moreover he was a powerful Shinigami who had graduated in less then a year at the Shin'Ou Academy, and was considered the Strongest Fuku-taicho in the Goteijuusantai though few outside of his division had seen his strength.

He was remarkable in all areas of the Shinigami arts, a true prodigy.

She felt as if Naruto overshadowed her in ways.

Too wrapped up in her own thoughts, she bumped into someone rounding the corner "Ah I'm sorry, I-"

A chuckle broke her frantic but polite apologizing "It's alright, I can see you were deep in thought"

Rukia nodded as she looked to see who it was, and nearly gasped.

Naruto smiled a bit "So you must be Rukia-san, the new clan member, ne?"

Rukia gulped away her nervousness and nodded with a confident look breaking across her face "I am" she stated, and kept up a strong look "I am Nii-Sama's sister, Rukia Kuchiki"

Naruto nodded with a smile on his face "Naruto Kuchiki-Unohana, current Nibantai Fuku-taicho" her eyes widened as she had not met Naruto nor seen his photo.

"I was on my way to pick you up, mind if I show you the way?" he asked politely.

Too shocked for words over his polite attitude, she nodded the next second as Naruto lead her "Do you have an idea of what Division you will be placed in?" he asked with a hint of curiosity.

Rukia shook her head "No, Nii-Sama will be telling me when I arrive" she explained getting a look of understanding from Naruto. Rukia said "Since I'm Nii-Sama's sister…that makes you…"

"An adopted nephew" he responded lightly amused at the sound of that.

Rukia smiled a bit which surprised Naruto inwardly; he had heard she would have tough time adjusting to the Kuchiki Clan. The Elders were somewhat angry as the Clan traditions were ignored, Clan Elders were not arrogant or stupid, but rather just wanted to uphold their image as law users.

"Here we are" Naruto gestured briefly as he opened the gates and lead her across the courtyards, Rukia was awed by the beauty of the gardens as the sakura trees were swaying gently to the wind.

Naruto cut her from her musings "Follow me to Otou-san's study, he'll most likely be there" Rukia looked slightly sheepish as she followed, a nervous look crossed her face.

Naruto noted from the surroundings, that there were a few discontent looks among Kuchiki members, murmuring spread of how she was from the Rukongai.

Entering into a hall, Naruto gently said "Rukia-san" she looked up at Naruto as he spoke "Don't listen to what others say, what matters is what you think of yourself" he advised.

Rukia thought on that a moment and took a deep breath to relieve herself of some of the nervousness that had built up in her system. She nodded gratefully to Naruto for the advice.

Naruto smiled as he turned and lead her down the hall "This is it" he knocked on the door once.

"Come in"

The tone was cold making Rukia slightly fearful, Naruto got her attention "Remember, confidence" he reminded.

Rukia was slightly confused, why was Naruto helping her? She decided to ask later as she nodded and went through the door, it clicked shut showing that privacy was wanted.

Naruto sighed a bit, knowing something was going to be very hard in the future. He waited outside the hall for a few minutes and out came Rukia and Byakuya.

"Otou-san" Naruto greeted "I see you met Rukia-san"

Byakuya nodded and in a cold tone said "Can you show her to her room?" he asked his son, Naruto raised an eyebrow mentally, since when did he use a cold tone so much? He'd have to ask his Okaa-san later.

"Follow me please" he said politely as Rukia followed Naruto, turning a corner, Naruto noted that she now looked a little paler then usual "Rukia-san?" he asked, Rukia snapped out of her thoughts and Naruto gestured for her to follow. She nodded as she was lead to a room, Naruto asked "What division were you placed in?"

Rukia responded after the long silence "Jusanbantai, Ukitake-Taicho"

Naruto smiled at the name "That's my Kyoufou's division" he responded with a light chuckle, which shocked Rukia to see a slight laugh from a Kuchiki Clan member.

"Ukitake-Taicho is your Kyoufou?" she voiced incredulously, Naruto smiled with a nod as he stopped and slid open a door to reveal Rukia's room. "As is Shunshui-Taicho" he ended getting a now dumbfounded look from Rukia.

He laughed his ass off mentally at her reactions "This'll be your room, if you need any advice you can find me" Rukia smiled with a nod "Thank you for your help" she bowed appreciatively.

Naruto began to walk away until Rukia observed her room and murmured "Needs more Chappy" she muttered as Naruto stopped and raised a brow as he walked back to Rukia "Chappy?" he asked, being rather…cautious.

Rukia beamed with a smile as she took a notebook out of nowhere showing a crudely drawn bunny rabbit "This is Chappy!" she exclaimed.

Naruto blinked a few times, but he heard Kurama dying of laughter inside his head at this bad drawing.

"Cute.." he muttered with a small sweat drop on the back of his head, Rukia nodded happily as she entered her room and slid the door shut.

"AHAHAHAHAHAAHH! CHAPPY? OH GOOD KAMI-SAMA! FREAKING HILARIOUS!" Kurama wheezed with laugher as he thumped the ground with his fists.

Naruto for one, twitched a few times before turning heel and leaving. And grumbled about rabbits and poorly drawn pictures.

Naruto let out a small sigh as he entered the gardens. It was time for the Patrol Corps; he left in a shunpo following a gentle rush of wind.

(Six Months Later)

He struck again

Naruto shook his head, looking across the Serietei in both a serious look and yet contemplative at the same time. Aizen, he sighed inwardly as he leaned back in a tree.

The graduation had happened but a few days ago, but one other event had happened that made its way through the Shin'Ou Academy.

A Hollow Attack on a class of in training Shinigami happened several weeks back. the report itself left a bad taste in Naruto's mouth. Apparently, the hollows were able to turn invisible and hide their reiatsu. Kurotsuchi Mayuri, the Junibantai Taicho and Second Head of the SRDI (Shinigami Research and Development Center), had stated that new hollow breed must have been on the rise, residing in the sandy pits of Hueco Mundo (Hollow World).

But the attack was not what ticked Naruto off. It being orchestrated by Aizen Sosuke, that was the point here. He showed up at the "Last" moment possible to save several students who had earlier, combined their strength to cast a Hado no Sanjuuichi: Shakkaho to district a large hollow that was bearing on them and the class examiner, Shishui Hisagi. It was a classic in the shinobi hand book, be the knight in shining armor to earn the trust of naïve students.

Naruto himself overhead about how powerful Aizen was when the students were saved, from a red head named Abari Renji. He had been a classmate of Rukia's before she skipped the rest of the year.

Speaking of Rukia, he had gotten off fairly well with Rukia as a friend given she was his adopted aunt. He sighed slightly; Rukia was viewed on coldly by Byakuya. He had talked to his Okaa-san earlier about this, and found out he swore a promise on his parents grave that he would uphold the rules, no matter what.

He was being held back by on a former love of his life, Hisana Kuchiki, making it difficult for him to take sides in the matter. Naruto regularly gave advice to Rukia, but she was starting to build walls around herself. Kaien Shiba was helping Rukia as well during her time in the Jusanbantai by training with her regularly and sharing his views of strength, life and death in the Soul Society.

Shaking that off, Naruto remembered the day of the graduation….

Flashback, Graduation Day a few weeks ago

Naruto stood behind Soifon, idly watching the Shinigami hopefuls that came through with each Zanpakuto awakening. He sighed mentally, during this time frame; Fukutaicho's were allowed to display their Zanpakuto's as well as taicho's.

Shinigami took their turns displaying their Zanpakutos one after another. Arguably though, the Nibantai were the most secretive of their Zanpakuto's due to the nature of their jobs in assassination and execution.

"Quite a day, isn't it?" Soifon mused aloud to Naruto without looking behind herself.

He responded calmly "So it is…" he noticed that there were the several graduates that fended off a Large hollow that has saved Shishui Hisagi.

The first was a small girl who had black hair tied into a bun; she stood at a height of 4'11 and seemed to have a childish look.

Next was a man with red hair tied in a pineapple style and had a fierce look about him. He stood at a height of 6.2.

Last was a man who seemed to be a mediator, not being the one to fight. He had blond hair that was shortened and had blue eyes with a smile on his face. they all wore Shinigami outfits with white obis.

He then saw a very familiar figure come up to the stage, and narrowed his eyes mentally at the man.

Aizen Sosuke smiled at the graduation class, but Naruto could tell his brown eyes flickered to the graduates he had just identified. Those were the eyes of a predator finding its prey, and he was going to play with them….

"Welcome all, today to you. I present to you my Zanpakuto" there were whispers and Naruto could have sworn he heard a bunch of fan girls sigh at the sight of the intellectual Taicho.

Naruto mentally twitched at this point.

Aizen held a sword in reverse facing pointed down wards. The sword was a katana that had a hexagonal like hilt and a green handle.

"Kudekero, Kyoka Suigetsu" (Shatter, Mirror Flower, Water Moon)

Then a mist came out from the sword as it shattered into pieces getting oohs and awes from the Shinigami to be.

"Can anyone tell me what type of Zanpakuto this is?"

The red haired man looked sheepish or seemingly unsure of himself "a water type?" he guessed based on the name.

A few chuckles came at that, Aizen smiled kindly "Partially correct" he started "Kyoka Suigetsu is an illusion based that uses diffused reflections of mist and fog to confuse the enemy and make them attack one another" his Zanpakuto reformed in his right hand and he sheathed it with a click. He gave a polite smile and bowed appreciatively to the crowd for

Naruto frowned mentally as this was odd, taicho's, no scratch that, nor would any Shinigami reveal the full abilities of their Zanpakuto's.

He stopped mentally for a moment; there was a flicker of discomfort in his mind.

`Tsukuyomi…can you-'

"I have it, I'll check it out"

Naruto turned off his mental connection to Tsukuyomi, something was happening.

Naruto's Mindscape

Tsukuyomi looked around warily, her black eyes scanning the tree lines for any intruders "Guys…"

"I felt it as well" Kurama nodded in agreement "And here it comes now…" he murmured just as a figure came out of the tree line.

It was a woman who was dressed in a silver robe that was over a light tan kimono, clutching a very familiar katana in her hand. She had light blue hair that was tied into a ponytail which stopped at her mid back.

"What in…"

Tsukuyomi eyed the woman coldly "Leave, this mind is not your own." She said in the same look on her face "I am not as merciful as these two".

Susanoo scowled as the woman's eyes widened "Impossible…"

Kurama narrowed his eyes as she continued "My powers, they do not work on you?" the woman locked eyes with Tsukuyomi.

"Who are you?" Kurama questioned, he tensed his muscles, preparing for a situation gone bad.

"Kyoka...Suigetsu…" she murmured aloud moments later, answering the question, looking as a mix of shock and confusion.

"Isn't that, Aizen's…?" Kurama started "Zanpakuto!" his eyes snapped open in shock "Tsukuyomi-san, what are her abilities?" he turned his head to Tsukuyomi, as he was not overhearing the graduation ceremony.

Tsukuyomi ignored Kuramaa as a familiar blade materialized in her left hand "As I said, leave!" she stepped forward "You will not trespass again" she hissed out before the area was engulfed in light.

End Flashback.

Naruto felt a wind pass him and made his high ponytail sway slightly, he sighed running a hand through his hair. Tsukuyomi forced the Zanpakuto out of Naruto's mindscape, but however since then, Aizen had not changed his demeanor by a fracture.

Was he so sure in Kyoka Suigetsu abilities that no other Zanpakuto would oppose him?

Naruto once again sighed and felt a hell butterfly land on his left shoulder as he began to listen. A minute later, he was off to the Nibantai in a series of shunpo.

Thus, it began….the blades slow descent would come soon….