A/N: My first story! After reading nothing but fanfiction for days, I suddenly felt the urge to write one myself - and here I am! So, please, leave reviews as it will help me improve for future chapters and stories.
This version of Naruto is pre-shippuden, and since he already spent quite some time in Soul Society, he would be slightly older.
I don't own Naruto or BLEACH.
When we think of death, how do we feel? Sadness? Despair? Or perhaps — happy? Yes, it's odd to feel that way when we die, but for some people, death is a mechanism to start anew. Some religions see death as a pathway to infinite bliss, where the burdens on people's shoulders are washed out and abandoned in the world of the living. Contrary to that belief, other individuals believe that the afterlife is a void of darkness where our souls sleep forever, with no thoughts of the past and no hopes for the future.
With that said, no one could truthfully reveal the afterlife, except those that have experienced it. Frankly, the dead are dead and never coming back; therefore, the truth will forever be a mystery.
Rukongai. District 80. Year:? (maybe 1900s)
The warmth of the sun basked Naruto. As he lay in a grassy field, his memories of the past — the time he was alive — were terrifyingly fresh. From the time he became a Genin, meeting Team 7, Land of the Waves, Chunin Exams, Sasuke's betrayal, and the blonde's death — he could remember them as if it was yesterday. During his thoughts, he became solemn as he realized he could no longer obtain his goal of being Hokage. He wasn't afraid of death — he was terrified of breaking promises, especially the ones he made for himself. However, his regrets are pointless, as the fact stood in front — he was dead and broke them.
Standing up, he patted the dirt on his clothes. Now that the blonde thought about it, almost everyone wore the same thing: a Yukata. The one Naruto owned was orange-colored, much to his delight, as it was his favorite color. However, it was tattered, as some punk from last week tried fighting him, and his clothes got damaged. Unable to purchase another one, he stuck with his ripped garments.
Walking along the district, Naruto took note of the depressing aura. Most of the doors in houses were closed, the road was empty, and no children were running around. All he could see were the blood trails and spots on the ground. Peering his eyes, he frowned as he saw a body in an alley lying in a pool of blood with a machete on its neck. However, he wasn't surprised or mad. Although, sometimes, he fears his desensitization to this sort of thing. Knowing this, he couldn't do anything. It was the harsh reality of his world — a violent, gruesome, and despairing world. Happiness can't be found in this district, and based on the rumors he heard from outsiders, District 80 was one of the most dangerous places to live. He sometimes wonders why fate placed him in this place.
He wandered around, contemplating how to discard his boredom. Then he remembered where to go. Grinning, he hastily ran out of the main square until he was back in the grassy fields. Walking further, he eventually found a sight that perplexed him every time he visited. In front was a house with old architecture — quite similar to the rest of the homes in every other district — between two arms statues that held a banner saying 'Shiba House.' Scratching his head, he would be lying if he said he wasn't embarrassed visiting this house. After he knocked, the door opened abruptly, and a kick sent him flying. Standing up, he groaned before complaining.
"What the hell was that for?!" He shouted while rubbing his cheek. Patting his clothes again, he glared as he saw a woman with short black hair and green eyes grinning at his pathetic state from the door. "Kukaku, what's wrong with you?!"
"Hmph. It should be, 'What's wrong with you,' you damn blondie. All those training with my brother, you still can't evade my kicks." She mocked and laughed as she saw Naruto fuming angrily before calming down. "What are you doing here? Kaien is not home." She said before she went back inside as the blonde followed.
"I just needed to clear my mind from all the violence in the main square, and here I am, getting kicked in the face instead," He sighed as they descended to a dimly-lit stair. As they got to the bottom, Kukaku slid open the door and sat on the mat. The blonde followed and sat in front of her. "Where's Ganju? That bastard owes me a beating after his loss from our bet yesterday." He remarked as he looked around.
"You're not beating up my brother, dumb-ass!" Said Kukaku while sighing. "Anyways, have you thought about joining the Academy yet? I mean, Kaien said you have a 'massive' potential," she gestured quotation marks, much to the annoyance of the blonde.
"Probably next year. The thought of going to school again sounds troublesome," the blonde said while shivering. Academics was never his most outstanding skill, as during his time in school, while he was in the world of the living was anything but fun. "I mean, I don't have plans on becoming a Shinigami anyway."
"Stupid!" commented Kukaku in disappointment. "You can't control your Reiatsu and are causing trouble for other Konpaku here in Rukongai. Why do you think people are avoiding you?"
Naruto pondered and frowned in the process. As Kukaku said, everyone in the district, except for the Shiba siblings, ostracized him — similarly to the villagers in Konoha. However, this time, he knew why this was his case: his Reiatsu, or Spiritual Pressure, is uncontrollable. All the other souls in Rukongai are average— meaning they do not need to feel hunger or fatigue. Meanwhile, individuals such as Naruto, and the Shiba siblings, are exceptional. Despite being a soul, they felt starvation and exhaustion. With this in mind, due to the pressure of the blonde's soul, most of the people he comes across would pass out or at the verge of being unconscious. Even Kaien has stated that he has the Reiatsu of a 'third-seat,' or whatever that meant, despite not being a Shinigami.
"No need to be so harsh on him, Kukaku," a voice startled the blonde and the green-eyed woman as they turned to the source and saw a man with tall stature leaning next to the door. He had a youthful appearance and wore an attire composed of a white shitagi, black kosode, black hakama, white hakama-himo, white tabi, and waraji. — Or also known as a Shihakusho, which the Shinigami wore. "Nobody wants to relieve times of isolation."
"Kaien, you're back," commented Kukaku blankly
"What?!" Kaien asked in a shocked tone. "You're not happy to see me?"
"No."
"Hmph. Whatever," the dark-haired man said while folding his arms. He then smiled when he saw Naruto. "What brings you here, Naruto?" He asked as he sat near him. "Was it too violent in the main square again?" He asked, despite knowing the answer, and saw the blonde nodding. "Sigh. The Thirteen Court Guards are too busy right now to resolve problems in District 80. I even spoke about it earlier to my Captain, but with the conflict of multiple Konpaku disappearing in Fugai, it's hard to talk with the Central 46." Then he observed the blonde's solemn expression, which irritated him as he bonked him in the head, leaving the boy to complain. "Stop acting depressed! That pisses me off. If you want to help people, then get stronger!"
"But how am I going to do that?!" The blonde retorted and was perplexed when Kaien gave him a smirk. "I don't even know where to start!"
"Really? Are you confused about that part? Go to the Academy, become a great student, graduate, apply for the Gotei 13, train to get a higher rank, and become a captain! That easy, I tell you!" He finished with a proud smirk.
Naruto placed his head down to ponder. Part of him was reluctant to become a Shinigami simply because he was afraid of failing again in things. Back in the world of the living, after his fight with Sasuke in the Final Valley, he suffered a devastating loss that cost his life. Due to that, he failed to fulfill his promise to Sakura, Iruka, Sandaime, and countless people. Furthermore, the greatest disappointment he felt was failing to achieve his commitment to himself — becoming Hokage, the most significant goal for himself since he was in the Academy. A promise that the village people would eventually acknowledge him and give him respect. It still plagues his mind that he failed.
So if he became a Shinigami, would he be able to atone for his failures, or once again end up disappointed?
A snap of a finger broke out his thoughts. He looked up and saw Kaien standing over him with a heavy gaze before it turned to annoyance. As a result, the blonde was again hit in the head as he gritted his teeth in exasperation. "Why do you keep doing that?!" Naruto flailed his arms while complaining. "It hurts, you know!"
"There you go again — thinking of the bad outcomes will weaken your resolve!" The dark-haired man shook his head. "Listen, despite not fulfilling your promise to the people you cared about back in the world of the living, the fact that you still felt regret lingering indicates that you indeed cared for them. You have a strong 'heart,' Naruto, and that is what's important to become stronger. This 'heart' of yours emerged from your relationships with people, and you should utilize this to harden your resolve. Time travel is impossible, and we can't go back to the past. Instead, focus on what's ahead of you. Become a shinigami so you can protect people — but this time, the entirety of Soul Society and even the world."
Naruto widened his eyes as he listened. That's right. He was never the type to dwell on pessimistic outcomes and constantly pushed forward, no matter what happened. So, how come he lost his resolve? How did he manage to become weak? In every predicament that occurred to him, he always found a way to fix it. The blonde fiercely gazed at Kaien while balling his fist. "I understand. I'll rise to the position in the Gotei 13 and become more powerful so that I wouldn't disappoint both myself and others. This time, I will fulfill my promises."
Upon hearing Naruto's resolve, the dark-haired man smirked. However, it was too early to feel pride, and the blonde had to prove himself first. "To enter the Shin'ō Academy, each applicant must take the entrance exam, which comprises a written test and a Reiatsu demonstration," as the blonde heard this, he slightly shivered and slapped his face to get rid of his thoughts. "The results of the exam determine which class you'll have. If, by any chance, you fail the exam, you can always take it several times. Once admitted, note that each student varies — meaning there will be those from the Rukongai and nobles. After taking the six-year curriculum, each student must apply for the Kido Corps, the Stealth Force, or the Gotei 13. Do you have any questions?"
The blonde raised his hand like a student, which Kaien pointed at him like a teacher. Kukaku's eyebrow twitched in annoyance as she witnessed the antics of the two. Both of them always acted like this, and she could only sigh. They were like two peas in a pod.
"Sensei, you mentioned before in our training that each sword, or as people call it Zanpakuto, has a name, and each individual has unique abilities — so when will I get one, and do I name the sword myself?" Naruto sheepishly asked as he rubbed the back of his head.
"No, you must harmonize with your Zanpakuto, and the spirit of your sword must deem you worthy of its name. Regarding your abilities, only you should know about them. Have you ever awoken at night to a strange sound?" Kaien asked as the blonde's answer should factor in how close he is with his inner spirit.
Strange sound? I always hear it every night that I'm starting to think if there's something wrong with my head. But now that Sensei mentioned it, could this sound indicate the spirit calling out to me?
As she watched Naruto ponder, Kukaku started to get annoyed as she bonked him on the head. "Hey! Someone asked you a question!"
"Ow! What is up with you guys' constantly hitting me in the head?!" The blonde complained in frustration. "Is it some kind of Shiba tradition?!" He remarked sarcastically.
"Then hurry up and answer if you don't want to get hit! Nobody wants to wait awkwardly."
"Sheesh. I was just musing on the fact that I occasionally hear odd noises, especially at night.' Kaien and Kukaku cocked an eyebrow in wonder. "It's not evil or anything; if anything, it's welcoming. It seems to be calling out to me, yet every time I approach, I wake up."
The dark-haired man placed a finger on his chin as he contemplated. "Hmm, I also experienced a similar occurrence back then — way before I graduated from the Academy and joined the Gotei 13," he remarked as Naruto widened his eyes in surprise. "Right now, what you're experiencing is the process of getting to know the spirit. Later, once you develop a deeper relationship with the spirit, you will gain abilities far beyond your expectations."
"So this means every Shinigami experienced this at some point?" asked Naruto.
"B-but only those proficient in their utilization of the Zanpakuto could properly communicate with the spirit!" remarked Kukaku as she listened with astonishment. "For Naruto, who doesn't even have a Zanpakuto at that — what he's feeling is surreal! It should be impossible!"
"I think you're forgetting that unique individuals exist — and it just so happened that Naruto is one of them," retorted Kaien with a smirk as he saw the blonde gaping. "Well, what use will that potential be if one doesn't train?"
"Then let's go!" suggested Naruto in excitement. He thought he lost this feeling — a feeling of excitement — to protect people again. The thought of getting stronger to protect those he cared for was all he wanted. He was ready to go when Kaien grabbed him by the collar, pulling him to the ground. "What gives?!"
"Don't be too hasty. You must be forgetting that a written test is also important and not just pure strength," said Kaien as he saw the blonde flinch. "Don't worry, Kukaku is smart. I'll have her teach you the basics." Once he finished, he grinned when he saw the green-eyed woman complaining.
"I'm not teaching hi –"
"I have a duty to do! See ya!" said Kaien before he dashed outside.
An awkward silence filled the room as Naruto observed his surroundings — trying not to look at Kukaku, who was glaring at him. He was suddenly hit in the face by a book, which sent him skidding toward the door.
"I'm not even going to complain about why you did that," Naruto muttered as he groaned in pain with his face on the floor.
Kukaku put her foot on his face and said, "Then good!" She had no idea that the blonde had just seen paradise before she understood what had occurred. "You damn pervert, you!" Before hitting him in the face, she remarked.
Naruto stood up with a flustered face and bloody nose — no, he didn't bleed because he was struck. "It's not my fault you wear such revealing clothes! Eep!" He went running as Kukaku resembled a devil, waiting to slaughter the blonde. "I'm sorry!" He comically cried.
"Really? I don't have to pay you for this?" asked Naruto as Kukaku handed him a sandal.
Since Kaien had proposed the blonde joins the Academy, a week had passed, and Naruto was now preparing to take the admission test, but there was one problem: He was like a bum, which is — not so fitting when entering a prestigious school. Since he was living in not only the most dangerous district, it was also one of the poorest; therefore, wearing a simple item, such as sandals, was a luxury. However, Kukaku helped resolve that matter by offering him Ganju's sandal — which the blonde reluctantly accepted.
"If he learned that you were giving me his possessions, wouldn't that moron have a fit?" asked the blonde once again as Kukaku slapped his head slightly.
"As I said, it's fine. If Ganju complains, he'll have to say it to me. Besides, I'd rather have you worrying about looking bad instead of that monkey," she remarked.
Naruto raised an eyebrow as he listened to her. This was new. "Did I just hear you worrying about me? You're going to miss me?" He asked jokingly, which resulted in another slap to his head as he grinned instead of complaining.
"Don't flatter yourself. I would never worry when it comes to men. They are a nuisance if anything." She said with a smirk as she folded her arms.
"Hmm, I see." He lowered his head and took time to think before turning to leave. "Well, thanks for everything, Kukaku! Make sure to also give my thanks to Ganju for his sandal," He then stopped and looked back. "Oh, and by the time I visit again, you're going to meet my future wife — or wives if I'm feeling lucky." He grinned and surprised the woman.
"You idiot! Who would want to be with you?! And 'wives?' Don't kid yourself," she scoffed and shooed him away. "By the way, how are you so confident? It's just the entrance exam, and there's a chance you could fail."
"Then I won't. I'm going to pass this on my first try!" He answered with a fierce tone. "Well, see ya!" He walked away, leaving Kukaku to gaze at his retreating back.
Be careful out there, Naruto. She sighed as she knew it would take a while before they saw each other again — not that she cared deeply for him anyway. Or is she suppressing her true feelings?
"What the hell…" Naruto remarked with his eyes widened as he stared at the astonishing size of the Academy. "Do I belong here?" It was a sprawling, multiple-story building that was like every other architecture found in the Seireitei. As he continued to observe his surroundings, the blonde was mesmerized by the countless students and their standard uniform indicating a sophisticated manner.
Entering the Seireitei for the first time was an unforgettable moment for Naruto. From the air to the buildings — the differences compared to Rukongai were clear as day. The streets were also different as countless Shinigami's walked on the clear pavement, displaying an aura of strength and dignity. Experiencing this made Naruto excited to enter the Academy and someday live inside the walls.
"Hey, you!" a feminine voice called out as Naruto turned around and saw a woman with short stature with purple eyes. Her hair was sleek and black as it rested between her eyes. "If you're here for the entrance exam, it's that gate over there." She pointed as Naruto's gaze followed and saw a man with a Shihakusho counting the attendants as he wrote in his book.
"Are you also from the Rukongai?" This time, a masculine voice asked, and Naruto, once again, turned to see a man with tall stature as his brown eyes slightly looked down on him. The height difference wasn't that significant, but regardless, the blonde was shorter. In addition, Naruto wondered if this guy in front of him had a natural hair color as it was red. "You still there, man?" the red-haired asked when he saw the blonde staring at him.
"Oh, my bad," Naruto apologized sheepishly. "Yeah, I am from Rukongai — specifically District 80. How about you guys?" The two individuals widened their eyes after hearing what district the blonde came from.
"District 80? That is not too far from Inuzuri where we came from," the woman remarked. "Regardless, it is much more dangerous than District 78."
"You must be tough then," the red-haired man grinned as he lightly slapped Naruto's shoulder, to which the latter chuckled. "So, you're here to enter the Academy?"
"Yeah… By the way, who are you guys? It's kind of awkward to talk without knowing your guys' name…" The blonde chuckled, to which the two widened their eyes as they forgot.
"Oh, that's right! My apologies. I'm Rukia, and this tall buffoon is Renji," she said as the now name Renji just scowled.
"Hey! No need to call me that! This guy might think I'm stupid," he commented.
"Because you are."
As they were about to argue, Naruto interfered as he introduced himself. "I'm Naruto. And yeah, I'm here to enter the Academy."
"That makes the three of us then," remarked Renji as the three of them walked to a nearby line. "I hope to make it to First Class."
"First Class? What is that?" the blonde inquired as Kaien never mentioned anything about classes, which he also forgot to ask.
"You don't know? It's a class where the attendants with the highest scores are placed. I doubt I'll be able to be placed there," Rukia answered. She then smirked in a teasing manner as she looked at Renji, much to the latter's annoyance. "Which is an impossible class for this idiot to get into, especially…"
"Well, let's aim for that goal then," Naruto remarked as Rukia and Renji stopped their antics. They furrowed their eyebrows upon hearing them, as they did know whether the statement was cockiness or confidence. However, they were able to tell what type of guy the blonde was from the intensity of his eyes. "Although, my writing skills are not the best," he remarked sheepishly, "I do make up for it with my physical abilities. Don't worry, we'll pass this with flying colors. "
"Get in a straight line and we'll give you a letter!" The man with a Shihakusho who took care of the attendees instructed. "You will then be separated into three lines depending on your letter! That is all!"
"Hey. What do you think of him?" Renji whispered to Rukia as he glanced at the blonde to make sure he wasn't eavesdropping.
"What do you mean?" Rukia whispered back in annoyance.
"I mean, do you think he's weird, cocky, or anything?"
"Oh, no. I don't think of any of that," she replied with Renji smirking as they both felt the same way. "I think he's okay."
"Yeah, same. I'm pretty sure he sees all of these people, and countless of them came from noble families. Despite that, he is still confident that we'll pass. You don't hear that every day from someone coming from Rukongai."
"I agree," Rukia chuckled as Naruto turned and ask what was funny. "No, nothing."
It was Naruto, Rukia, and Renji's time to receive a letter after every guest had done so. When Naruto stood up for his turn, he was handed a blank sheet of paper and puzzled until the letter "A" emerged. He stood on the side waiting for the two until they finished.
"What did you get?" He asked as he showed his paper. "I have 'C'."
"I got 'B'," replied Rukia.
"I got 'C', too," said Renji.
"Hmm, so they separated us," remarked Naruto as he put a finger on his chin to contemplate. "Why do they have to separate us, Rukia?"
Renji was shocked that Naruto would ask her instead of him as if the blonde knew he don't know anything. "Why her?!"
"Because he knows you are stupid," remarked Rukia as she stared at Renji dumbfounded. Before the red-haired could retort, she shifted her attention back to the blonde. "From what I saw, the recipients of the "A" letter were often people who look physically strong and intelligent, as well as those who descended from noble families. Meanwhile, those who received the letters 'B' and 'C' are people like us, who just looked plain and ordinary."
"That's stupid," remarked Renji in displeasure as the blonde nodded his head in agreement.
"I thought the same thing," said Naruto as the attention was on him. "They are distinguishing us based on our appearance, which I think is a big deal here in the Seiretei," he balled his fist. "Don't worry, we'll prove them wrong." He said with an assuring smile, to which the other two just nodded.
Naruto and Renji parted from Rukia and went into the Shin'o Academy by a different gate as their group was on the northwest side of the school. A female Shinigami welcomed them as they walked into the room, telling them to take seats. When they did, they found three people, who are most likely the judge, standing in the center of the room, each holding a piece of paper, surveying each visitor. Each of them caught their attention briefly as they had already begun taking notes and writing, which Naruto and Renji furrowed their eyebrows to ponder. It seems the test has already begun, and as expected, they judged each applicant based on appearance.
As Naruto observed them, one judge caught his attention in particular. She is a slender and well-endowed woman of average height. She has dark skin, golden irises, and short purple hair. He had never seen skin like hers before; most individuals in Rukongai, and even Konoha, have either pale skin or a light tan. As he continued to gaze at her, Naruto almost blushed at how beautiful she was until she glanced at him to which he averted his gaze. He didn't realize that she just smirked at him, but Renji did as he placed a hand on his blonde friend's shoulder. Yes, he considered him a friend already, as he felt they would get along.
"I see that you set sights on somebody already, you pervert," He teased the blonde in a whisper, who got increasingly agitated and shoved his arms away. Renji laughed as everyone's eyes instantly turned to the two of them, at which point they both turned aside and pretended they didn't know each other. "You got good taste, though," he remarked one more time as Naruto glared at him. "Okay, okay!"
"You two, please step in front," the female Shinigami who welcomed their group called out to Naruto and Renji.
They both looked at each other, feeling nervous as they knew they were in trouble. Once they were in the middle, standing in front of the judges, the female Shinigami was called out by the dark-skinned woman and whispered something. Naruto gulped while Renji shot glares at him that said 'This is your fault, idiot!'
Renji then received a sphere that the female Shinigami had taken out of her palm while displaying confusion. She then gave orders, clearing her throat as the dark-skinned woman grinned, making Renji and Naruto tense. Was this their punishment?! Each attendee displayed their attention fully as they were intrigued. Murmurs and whispers filled the room, and some were even chuckling, thinking the two would be punished badly. The dark-skinned woman walked up and folded her arms.
"Demonstrate a Reiatsu release," her soothing voice commanded. Her grin vanished as she watched Renji, who was visibly perspiring as he became aware that this would have an impact on his scores. "Being nervous will hinder you from exerting a powerful Reiatsu. Calm down," she then looked at everyone in the room. "If you are here today, that means all of you are interested in joining one of the three organizations!" Her voice rang throughout the room as it became silent. She displayed an air of command, and everyone knew this. "Nervousness and fear are normal instincts, but you must never let them consume you. Controlling your emotions is crucial," she shifted her attention back to Renji. "Proceed."
Renji nodded as he gulped. After hearing the woman's exclaim, he calmed down and gazed at the sphere. It was about the size of a human head, and it was transparent as Renji felt shame when he saw his reflection all worried. He came here to prove something — to enter the Academy and become a Shinigami and he should not tolerate being a wuss. Looking at Naruto, he gave him a grin before looking back at the sphere where he exerted a massive amount of Reiatsu. A gust of wind caused everyone to cover their faces in protection as some of the wood on the floor started cracking. I can do this! I can do this! Eventually, Renji became tired and dropped to the floor. Gazing at the dark-skinned woman who was standing in front of him, he widened his eyes when she just smirked and walk away. Looking at the rest of the students, they were astonished, and even Naruto was gaping before he smiled excitedly.
"You next!" The dark-skinned woman pointed at Naruto. Out of all the prospects, he was the most intriguing to her – simply because the Reiatsu he displayed upon entering was staggering. She was confused as to whether or not he did it deliberately to show off, or it was leaking unconsciously.
Nodding his head, Naruto whispered to Renji before he walked up. The explanation the red-haired gave to him was not so helpful as he could only sigh, hoping for the best outcome. He was then handed the sphere personally by the dark-skinned woman before he gazed at his reflection in the orb when he suddenly saw a man with long orange hair hanging upside down from the ceiling. He looked up but widened his eyes when no one was there. "Who was that?" he whispered to himself.
"Who's who?" the dark-skinned woman inquired as she furrowed her eyebrows. There was no one in the room but the faces she could see. She could easily read someone's Reiatsu if they were hidden elsewhere, but no one was there. Was he playing games? "Continue," she commanded.
Naruto scratched his head in confusion as he was more than sure that somebody was in the ceiling. Shaking his head to focus, he stared at the sphere and tried to exert his Reiatsu. However, nothing happened. The same thing happened when he tried it again, however this time he grabbed the ball even tighter as he could feel the veins on his forearm exploding. He looked at Renji for assistance and the red-haired gestured for him to calm down and do it again. He did what he was told but nothing happened. Naruto was starting to feel agitated as his heart thumped. All that confidence he displayed earlier that he would pass on the first try — he was being naive again!
Imagine yourself in the abyss before you see a gleam of light. Reach for that light, and you will resolve your problem.
As he heard a voice speaking to him, Naruto looked around at the chaos around him. Everyone, including Renji and the woman with dark hair, was staring at him, but they didn't appear to hear the voice and were just perplexed by his behavior. What is wrong with me?! The blonde was in deep turmoil until he hears the same voice again.
Don't be afraid. Listen to me, and I will guide you.
Naruto was about to ask who the voice was, but the clock was ticking and he couldn't waste any more of it. Listening to the 'voice's' instruction, he closed his eyes and imagined he was in a dark, deep abyss. He stayed in the dark for a few seconds until a light emerged from afar. His feet ran as fast as they could until he eventually reached it. What happened next surprised both himself and the other observers as he exerted an enormous amount of Reiatsu — much more than Renji's — that caused the stone wall to crack by the force.
Several attendees flew away, and some even fell unconscious, as the dark-skinned woman told him to stop. However, he was unable to do so, which resulted in the massive destruction of the room. To restrain him, other people entered the room dressed like ninjas and emerged from the shadows. The dark-skinned lady came at him with such speed that the blonde could hardly see her before she sent forth a bright light that took the form of an 'X' that bound him and calmed his Reiatsu.
While struggling to get out of the bind, Naruto gasped when he saw the condition of the room. The roof was completely gone as the walls collapsed. Looking at the people, they were staring at him with awe, and a strike of fear.
"That is not something a non-Shinigami should display," the dark-skinned woman remarked in shock before she grinned. "You're one special kid, I tell you." Naruto widened his eyes before gawking as he finally processed what she said. "Screw the written test. You pass, kid!" She said before she released the bind on him.
"Let's go!" Naruto cried in joy as he started jumping in excitement.
A/N: That was all for this chapter! Let me know in the reviews what you guys think.
Later on, I will explain how Naruto met the Shiba siblings and who performed Konso on him.