Chapter 12: Chapter 12
(Ten Days Later)
All was perceived to be a normal day for the Soul Society, while to some it looked to be a day with happiness or sadness, ones like Shinigami took more risks with their jobs.
Fate often screws around with certain people. Naruto Kuchiki-Unohana eyed the skies suspiciously with a sigh, only ten days and Aizen hadn't noticed anything with him or Soifon, had to admit, maybe the luck of the Kurosaki kid rubbed off him.
Or it was a bad sign, silence spoke volumes rather then the sound of an alarm.
Currently now, he was patrolling the Rukongai. That was one of his assigned duties when it came to the First District. Boring but the job cycle often came up for him when others couldn't.
Incursion! Signal outside west wall!
Naruto stopped on a rooftop that was about half a click in that direction. The general alarm was sounding.
Sectors three through at through eight, switch to alert status! Repeat, incursion signal, outside west wall!
Unbeknown to anyone, Naruto smiled knowing who it was. He suppressed his reiatsu to the lowest levels before Shunpoing out of view.
(Intruder View)
Ichigo Kurosaki grunted as he entered the dangai area along with his three friends, if you could consider the Quincy (Monk of Destruction) a friend.
The first was a busty girl with orange hair and had a light red t-shirt with grey pants. She stood at a height of 5'2 and had brown eyes, her name was Inoue Orihime.
Next was a tall teen who appeared to be of Mexican descent. He had a muscle shirt with wavy brown hair that concealed one of his eyes, he stood at a height of 6'5. Yasutora Sado "Chad" as he was named.
Last but not least was a teen that looked athletic and had black raven colored hair with blue eyes and wore some kind of white battle robe. His name was Uryuu Ishida.
Nothing could be said as the group began to run towards a door of light at the end of the tunnel. The purple miasma was behind and closing in to engulf the group.
"What's going on?" asked Ichigo "The wall's following us".
"The path we're running on is collapsing faster and faster" Uryuu exclaimed as the group continued to run.
"If you have time to look back, move at a faster pace!" cut in Yoruichi, slightly irritated with these rookies "If you get caught in the capturing flow, you're done for!" the cat spoke seriously.
Some of the wall cam crashing down, Uryuu's eyes widened slightly as he glanced over his shoulder and it caught unto his cape and began to pull him back.
"What!" Ichigo growled out, reaching for the meat cleaver like sword on his back known as Zangetsu (Cutting Moon). He was intent on cutting the miasma when Yoruichi stopped him "You Baka, it's those damn clothes your wearing!"
"Wait! Don't use your Zanpakuto" Yoruichi warned him, stopping as easily "the capturing flow arrests spirit entitles! You swing that zanpakuto, and you'll get ensnared as well too!"
Chad rushed forward, and ripped off the cape that Uryuu had, the miasama took the material as he spoke "Thanks-" he was cut off when he was thrown over Chad's shoulder as the running began again.
"Umm…you guys…" Uryuu started "Something's coming.." his eyes widened behind his glasses to see a glowing light, when it emerged from the wall, Uryuu uttered something not on his mind "What is that!" he questioned
"The Capturing Thrust!" Yoruichi cut in again, cursing mentally "It's a cleaner that appears once every seven days, why did it have to show up now!" the cat muttered curses under breath at the last part.
"In any case, Run!" the last part was yelled as the seemingly bullet object moved forward with no intent on stopping.
The light at the end seemed to be getting closer and closer as black cat spoke up again "Hurry! Were almost at the exit!"
As it got closer and closer, the Capturing Thrust was nearly there….
(Soul Society, First District)
Naruto sat on a roof top, leaning against a wall as he read a book to catch a quick fifteen minute break that was allowed during the patrol. His life was hectic at times, but hey, he couldn't complain about the interesting things that would happen.
He blanked up a gate of light as three figures came through like meteors. And looked rather unfazed by their arrival. He sighed inwardly `Wonderful...break is over…' he thought, snapping his book shut, it was entitled "Romance of the Three Kingdoms".
Deciding to watch the new arrivals, he looked on in faint curiosity through the dust cloud.
Orihime looked around at her friends, seeing Uryuu and Ichigo in relatively amusing positions from their landings while Chad looked unfazed.
"Are you guys okay?" she asked, looking before her eyes settled unto Ichigo "Wow Kurosaki-kun, you're landing pose is so artistic!" she claimed while he sent an unnoticed flat stare at her which she deemed unimportant.
"Be quiet…" he responded, ignoring the apparent praise.
"Geez…" Uryuu muttered, rubbing the back of his neck "What a ride, sure isn't what I signed up for" he ended in a sigh to himself.
"I didn't think I'd have to use another cape…" he trailed off, while Ichigo stared in dead pan "Bloody freak.." the orange haired teen muttered under his breath. Chad only nodded his sentiments regarding his fashion sense with capes "He brought another one…"
"It good that no one appears to be hurt!" cut in cheerfully Orihime with a happy smile on her face.
"Good my tail!" bashed in Yoruichi who head butted Orihime. She cried anime tears as she clutched her right eye "oww…."
"Didn't you listen to what I just said?" Yoruichi scolded.
Naruto all in all was amused by the antics of the group; he was surprised to see Ichigo having gained his Shinigami abilities back so quickly. Next was the Quincy, surprise for the other one as well. As for the other two, it would be interesting.
He smiled, quite a little group Ichigo assembled for himself.
Watching for a little while longer, the group was now trying to establish where they were. Naruto sighed to himself and vanished in a shunpo with no one noticing.
The cat looked up at a building and Orihime spoke "Ano, Yoruichi-san, is something wrong?" she asked, tilting her head in the cat's direction.
Yoruichi paused "It's nothing" the cat responded, sparing a curious glance but shrugged it off in favor of the situation.
(With Naruto, Five Minutes Later)
The Kuchiki-Unohana watched from a rooftop with one leg dangling. Analyzing what would happen in the future, while if the Ryoka group entered by the front gate it would be suicide to enter through the front gate of the enemy, so Aizen would have the group split up to district the Goteijuusantai. But how?
He was broken from his thoughts when the walls came crashing down. He sighed to himself as he glanced down at some Kyubantai members, mostly murmuring about Jibando, the gate Guardian who had been protecting the west gate of the Rukongai.
Coming to the conclusion Jibando would be defeated shortly, he glanced to his right to spot Gin Ichimaru making his way to the gate as the Kyubantai group left, Naruto sensed a discharge of reiatsu in the air and smiled knowingly before flickering out in a shunpo.
He had his back up against an alley wall as he glanced as Gin waited.
The gate part of the wall was pushed up by a massive man of three hundred feet with a funny red cap with a half shikkashou. He froze in fear and awe but mainly fear as he set eyes upon one of the most feared taicho's of the Goteijuusantai.
Ichigo came up next to the big guy "Oi! Something happen?"
Jibando uttered nothing as Gin Ichimaru strode forward and stopped, with Ichigo eyeing him with a look of suspicion.
"Who's that?" he asked to himself, but Jibando's ears picked it up "Sanbantai Taicho…Gin Ichimaru…" his tone had fear in it as Gin began his fox like grin at the situation.
"Now now, tha ain't right" remarked the silver haired man as he gazed up at Jibando. In an unseen flash of steel, a gash appeared on Jibando's left arm, spewing blood from it.
Naruto saw the sword movement and reserved his impression for later as he watched the ongoing confrontation.
Jibando's arm fell uselessly to his side as the gate slammed down on the base of his neck, just barely able to keep the gate up. He fell to one knee as it shook the ground.
"Jibando!" Ichigo said aloud, mostly concern. While the others looked horror stricken at what Gin just did.
Gin was in an battoujutsu position as if he had sheathed his sword, his haori fluttered from the movement not moments ago and now rested on his back "That ain't right" he repeated his earlier words.
He stood at his full height and spoke more "The gate keeper ain't there ta open the gate"
Yoruichi however, had thoughts of seriousness and concern `We got careless' the cat Gin `we never thought someone like "him" would be this far out, even if these kids have gotten stronger, a Taicho class opponent is beyond their imagination. But to fight him right now is a case that must be avoided!'
Jibando spoke, despite the strain now placed on him and his shoulder "I lost" he said loudly enough "a defeated gatekeeper opening the gate. Makes perfect sense!" he said the last part loudly so that both parties and one unknown could hear.
"What you talkin about?" questioned Gin as he turned his forward and began to walk towards Jibando "A defeated gatekeeper don't open no gate. When a gatekeeper's defeated… It means death" he turned his scary grin on as he looked up at Jibando's fearful eyes.
Ichigo rushed forward as Gin reached for Shinsho and blocked Ichigo's stubborn attack, for a moment at their connection, they stayed and jumped back, only about ten to fifteen feet away now.
The orange haired substitute Shinigami brandished his meat cleaver like sword at Gin "What the hell are you doin, you sonovabitch!" he demanded to know why Gin attacked Jibando.
Yoruichi twitched and sweat dropped at his apparent rash action "That's my line!"
Ichigo continued, ignoring Yoruichi's exclaim "Don't you come afterward and expect to give orders! You fox faced bastard!"
"GODDAMNIT I"LL TEAR THAT STRAWBERRY APART!" Kurama yelled in Naruto's mindscape in apparent anger at his indirect insult.
Naruto twitched once but sighed mentally before letting Tsukuyomi handle the situation.
"…Any man who attacks an unarmed man without a second thought. Is mine to kill"
Gin looked rather amused at his statement before replying "What a funny kid, ain't you scared o me?" he asked the last part.
"Not one bit!" remarked the strawberry.
"Quit it Ichigo!" warned the black cat as he continued "We have to retreat for the moment!"
Gin thought as said Ryoka looked back to Yoruichi `Huh, Ichigo… I see…so he's the one'.
"You're Ichigo Kurosaki?" asked Gin, cutting into the Shinigami/human's banter with Yoruichi. Ichigo turned and faced him "You know about me?" he asked rather confusedly as to the change of conversation.
"Oh, so it is really you" he remarked, ignoring his previous question. Gin turned and began to walk away from Ichigo "H-hey! Where you going?" he asked, looking rather agitated he would get away with what he did to Jibando.
"Then all the more the reason I can't let you through" Gin cut through the air, Ichigo's protests being left behind. He stopped and held out his wakizashi to his side.
"Why'd you go so far away?" he asked, it being a bit loud for the question and to himself as to why he would be attacking from long range.
"You going to throw that wakizashi?" he asked Gin next, he saw the fox like man speak "It ain't a wakizashi" he said, a wee bit iffed he didn't know a Zanpakuto.
Turning his head slightly to look over his shoulder, he spoke once more "This here is my Zanpakuto. Gin turned faster than the eye could see and drew his arm back as if he were making a thrust with the wakizashi. Wind built up and seemed to be directed at Ichigo as he spoke "Ikorese, Shinsho" he thrust forward sharply as the blade extended faster than the eye could see.
Shinsho impacted Ichigo's sword and he was sent flying back and onto Jibando, the sheer force sent the two flying from the gates and over a hundred feet back.
"Kurosaki!" muttered Uryuu in surprise, and a mix of shock. "Kurosaki-kun!" cried out Orihime as she and Chad ran to the downed Jibando and Ichigo. Uryuu noticed the blade retracting and heard a loud scheming noise as if the blade were drawn against metal.
Uryuu looked to the gate as Yoruichi said aloud "No! the gate!" it came down as Gin bent down and waved almost child like "Bye-bye!" he said in a cheerful tone as the gate crashed down sending up dust.
Naruto only sighed inwardly but saw some purpose behind forcing the group to take an alternate route into the Serietei. He vanished in a shunpo and left no trace of reiatsu behind, courtesy of Kurama.
(Next Day – Late Morning, Fourteen Days to execution)
The wind blew softly; all seemed to be silent as a cloth blinded Rukia was lead down the causeway to the Senzaikyu. She knew where she was being taken to repent, before the execution. The walls of the needle like prison were designed to sap away at a person's reiatsu.
Rukia caught a glimpse of a cross armed individual that was leaning on the railing; it was Naruto, her eyes widened briefly as she was taken in.
Renji looked at Naruto "You're a bit late" he remarked while Naruto simply smiled "I arrive precisely when I mean to, Renji-Fuku-Taicho".
"Meh" Renji responded shrugging a bit "Dispense the formalities when it comes to friends ah the family" he grinned a bit weakly as he glanced to Rukia.
"Reunion didn't end well, did it" he stated as though it were a fact.
Renji nodded solemnly as Naruto looked at the guards "Give me a few minutes to speak with her" the guards looked at each other "Kuchiki-Dono, no disrespect intended, but our orders were to deliver the criminal-"
"Two minutes" cut in Renji "I'll time his being here, don't worry" Naruto saw one of them sigh and nod as Naruto walked into the Senzaikyu, he followed Rukia's gaze to the execution grounds as one of the ceremonial guards nodded to Naruto as he passed, telling him she was informed of her sentence and method of execution.
"Naruto?" she whispered, turning as Naruto sighed aloud "I apologize" he started with a small smile of apology "The Central 46 wouldn't budge, even with my input". He saw Rukia smile sadly at that "At least you tried" she sighed, turning her gaze to the Sokoyu.
"I also wanted to inform you of something" Naruto remarked as the guard spoke "Kuchiki-Dono, one minute".
Naruto nodded over his shoulder and turned his head back to the turned Rukia "One of the intruder's that was described in the report was a teen with spiky orange hair." Her eyes widened as her body went rigid in shock.
Naruto saw this "And he had a sword as big as his body" he smiled a bit as leaned forward "Rukia, can you do me one thing?" he asked while Rukia uttered without thinking "What?"
Naruto paused "Have hope" he turned swiftly and began to leave as she took that statement confusedly. Pondering as to why he would say that.
As Naruto left, Renji sighed as the door closed up. He looked at Naruto "She's still accepting this sentence?" he asked as Naruto sighed and nodded "Yeah, seems all those years of my Otou-san's ignoring have done away" he said with a sad smile while Renji sighed aloud as Naruto walked away.
Renji groaned to himself as he looked up at the Senzaikyu, why did things have to be so troublesome? He sighed and shook his head, at this point, what could he do.
"Oh, and tell Kaien-Fuku-Taicho that there's a meeting-" he stopped seeing no one on the bridge, but a gentle breeze of wind passed by.
A tick mark grew on his forehead "Damn it, frickin Nibantai types, always disappearing without telling anyone" he muttered under his breath in annoyance, not noticing a figure with black rimmed glasses watching him from a distance.
(Outside Seki Seki walls – Ten Minutes later)
Naruto opened a door that lead to the Rukongai District One, while these entrances and exits existed, they were used to get patrols in without having the hassle of raising the walls. He closed the door and stretched out his senses, he locked onto a reiatsu source that was like a fountain.
He raised a brow; didn't the Junibantai keep tabs on peculiar reiatsu sources? He shook his head remembering Kyoka Suigetsu, another illusion unknowingly placed on the Soul Society.
As he began to shunpo, he found another reiatsu source that was quite familiar….
(Kukkaku Shiba – House Hold)
Kaien Shiba watched on as Kukaku, his baby sister agreed to helping Yoruichi though he was inwardly grinning. Naruto was sure to be in for a surprise… that is if he doesn't already know that she is here. He did give up on stopping her when it came to the beating up Ganju Shiba part, all the while, he mused over the events that had lead up to execution… That and the fact of the surprise Yoruichi's is in for when she finds out that her ex-lover is in his final stages of getting over her and that she might just cause a good deal if drama. Good or bad, drama is drama.
Naruto was unable to secure Rukia's postponement on the execution and termination on the fact. Then his confrontation with Byakuya wasn't all too violent but he rejected saying "She broke the law of the Soul Society" while he knew Byakuya was BSing him, over the whole Hisana promise, it made a difficult choice over what path to decide.
He sighed aloud, than he heard of the Ryoka intruders and was surprised to say the least over the fact that Ichigo had regained his Shinigami powers to rescue Rukia. The two had a brief fight and Ichigo, albeit reluctantly allowed him to join on the rescue.
He smiled a bit, he owed Rukia. He was her mentor and teacher. That much was explanatory.
"Alright" Kukaku started, she wore a sort of red vest with the Shiba marking on the center, she had black hair with bandages in as well as a prosthetic arm "I accept" she decided to help out Yoruichi on a favor.
"Really?" Yoruichi questioned, slightly surprised by her choice.
"Yeah" she responded with a shrug "Besides, if Urahara has his teeth into this, then I couldn't say no, even if I wanted to". Kukaku got to her feet and glanced at Kaien who smiled.
"One thing though…" she stated getting the group's attention "I trust you, but not these gaki's that you brought along" she tucked away her pipe for a moment "Among other things as insurance, I'll be sticking one of my minions with you" she heard Kaien snort in amusement, while she smirked to herself.
"Minon?" questioned Ichigo in a mutter, Kukaku nodded "Yah, I call him a minon, he's really my little brother" she shrugged as she walked next to the sliding door Kaien was next to "He's still a useless gaki though" she muttered aloud before saying loud enough "Oi! You ready?" she asked as a voice sounded out from the other side.
"Uh, uh huh, give me a moment!"
"I'm opening it, be on your best behavior" at that, Kaien raised his brows, was there a point in Ganju's life that he actually was on his best behavior? "G-gotcha!" he responded, a slight tremble to his voice.
Kukaku slid aside the door and revealed a man on his knees and green hakama with a gi and a yellow short haori. "Greetings, I am Ganju Shiba. Please think of me if you need anything" he smiled with his eyes closed as he revealed his face.
Dumbstruck looks crossed the Ryoka group and Ganju looked at the group and went pale as some sort of silence settled over the group. Ichigo's eyebrow twitched as he shot up from his sitting position and the two pointed at each other, yelling.
Kukaku looked between the two and blinked "Huh, you two know each other?" big understatement.
Kaien only looked on in amusement before the two started fighting "Hmm…shouldn't we stop them?" he questioned at Kukaku shrugged as she lit her pipe and silently thanked Kaien for teaching her Kido.
"As long as they don't damage much, fine by me".
Kaien raised a brow but said nothing as a cool toned voice cut in "I'd rather stop them"
Said Fuku-Taicho nodded but blinked before looking at the slid open door "HOLY SHIT!" he exclaimed nearly falling back and Ganju and Ichigo stopped their fight.
"What the fuck Naruto? Don't sneak up on me like that!"
Naruto smiled at his exclamation "If I didn't, my resume wouldn't be good for Nibantai now, eh?" he questioned while Kaien twitched and muttered something about Shinigami appearing out of nowhere.
Kukaku was visibly surprised as Yoruichi found golden eyes widened at not sensing her lover's reiatsu signature. The cat narrowed it's eyes at Naruto, he has clearly grown much more powerful in the past 100 years. Uryuu nearly had a heart attack while Orihime looked awed at Naruto, Chad's eyes merely widened a bit.
"Hey kiddo, what gives?" Kukaku asked, blowing out some smoke from her pipe.
Naruto shrugged a little "Found an interesting reiatsu signature" he remarked before looking at Ichigo "I see you finally regained your Shinigami abilities".
"You!" Ichigo exclaimed and in a surprising display of speed, he yanked up his meat cleaver sword by the bandage and swung it down at Naruto who was fairly surprised at the speed.
At a crucial arc of the Zanpakuto, Naruto brought up his foot to meet the pommel of the blade and then kicked up the blade so it was imbedded into the ceiling.
"Bakudo no Rokujuuichi: Rikujokoro"
Six beams of light slammed into Ichigo's mid section as Naruto sighed aloud "Kurosaki-san, if I wanted you dead now, I'd have slit your throat" that remarked made his thrashing stop and went pale while Orihime looked noticeably shaken by the statement.
"So! You tried killing me!"
Naruto cocked his brow at Ichigo "Would you prefer to be dead by my Otou-san? The only reason you survived was because I was a few small inches off your haketsu and saketsu".
Ichigo blinked a few times "Wait, that prick was your Otou-san?" he voiced incredulously at the fact that this kid's father wouldn't help his own sister.
Naruto ignored the insult before dispensing the Bakudo "His "Senka" would have more than killed you, were It not for my intervention, you'd be dead on the road right now" that made him gulp in nervousness.
Uryuu narrowed his eyes "Are you saying you spared Ichigo?" he asked coldly, his Quincy bangle coming out of his sleeve just in case.
Naruto glanced at him "Earlier, I stated I could do nothing to stop the execution, same goes for my Otou-san".
Ichigo dusted himself off and sent Naruto a distrustful look "Wait, why me? Why not you then? Then wati…" he stopped on realization "SHE"S YOUR AUNT?" he yelled incredulously while eyes bulged on the Ryoka group.
"Yeah, so?" he asked shrugging a little before Kukaku smirked and eyed a sniggering Kaien.
"While I do have enough political sway in the Serietei, I can't do anything at this point to stop the execution due to the Central 46's non-leniency" Naruto remarked completely ignoring their looks on the fact he looked older than Rukia, answering his first question "You can however get to Rukia, I won't fight you, but I will neither stop you".
Ichigo looked fairly surprised while Yoruichi stepped up "And what might be your reasoning for this?" asked the black cat while Naruto cocked a brow at her before realizing that these kids don't know the history between them.
He paused and stared at the cat for a moment "Simple. I get to catch a snake in the grass" his remarked confused everyone while the cat seemed quite surprised but pondered Naruto's statement.
"so... how long have you known about the true HIM?"
"since only a few days after i first arrived here in the Soul Society."
"So a few hundred years..."
"Yep."
"And you have not done anything to stop him?"
"we are locked in a game of chess, with the Soul Society as the board."
"That is somewhat cruel..."
"maybe so, but it needs to be done."
"CAN YOU TWO STOP ACTING LIKE THE REST OF US ARE NOT HERE!" Ichigo yelled while Naruto Ignored him again.
Naruto glanced at Kaien "By the way, Fuku-Taicho meeting in a while" he saw a shit eating grin stretch Kaien's face a moment later "Sorry, tell Taicho I won't be able to arrive due to…family matters".
Naruto stared and sighed inwardly "Your choice, I'll see you around" he made his way to the exit as he slid the door behind him, closed silently.
Silence reigned while Uryuu muttered "Hmm, quite odd."
"Odd? That guy snuck up on us and didn't kill us…" Ichigo remarked sarcastically before rolling his eyes.
No one saw that Yoruichi was deep in thought about Naruto's statements; the black cat shook its head, and decided to focus on that development later.
Kaien smirked "Heh, yeah he does tend to sneak up on people and he is very powerful and has mastered the shikai and Bankai for both of his Zanpakuto… the only reason he told me for his not being a captain is that his time will come… whatever that means. I'm telling you this as a warning that if by chance you have to fight him anytime in the future Surrender… or face a massive beating… now on to business."
(Fifteen Minutes Later)
Naruto closed the door silently behind himself; he contemplated his telling his noninterference with the Ryoka group.
The Serietei was soon to be awaken, he mused to himself.
Naruto then heard an announcement across the Serietei, and was sure this was where the trigger would happen soon
All taicho's assemble for an emergency meeting, repeat all taicho's assemble for emergency meeting!
Naruto Kuchiki-Unohana's look crossed to a calm one before flickering out with a shunpo, now, it was game on.