Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom or Bleach!

A/N: Here I am with yet another extremely late chapter of The Phantom's Journey...yeah I'm so gonna have to get a better title. Sorry for this being out so late but on the bright side this is the longest chapter I've typed for any of my fics! Anyways, let's get to reviews!

GirlFish: Is Danny a Ryoka or a Quincy? Well, technically he's both since a Ryoka is basically the name the Gotei 13 has for someone who isn't part of the Soul Society.

How much do you want to bet that Clockwork is waiting for karma to bite Aizen in the rear? I'd actually bet A LOT on that one. XD

Danny might be able to handle Lieutenants, sure, but I'm not sure how well he'd be able to handle any of the captains on his own...which kinda brings us to the hollow category. Only time will tell...

Danny might be able to handle those like the Box Ghost on his own but what about Vizards or Arancars? He should be able to take Vizards but as for Arrancars...we'll see...

Both are strong hybrids and won't go down without fighting. So very true.


Chapter 6: Infiltration

Ichigo's P.O.V

"Don't any of you move or else he gets it!"

"GAH!"

Things had managed to get so bad that I had to hold...err...hostages.

Let me explain.

So, after I finished fighting Ikkaku, as well listening to his warning about his Captain, I left to go find Rukia while also trying to stay out the sight of the Shinigami. It was working well until I made one little mistake and then they were all on me. So, I grabbed the nearest guy I could find, who, unfortunately, happened to be this wuss, and held him hostage with my sword. So yeah, that's pretty much what happened.

When I was brought back to reality, I saw that one guy had taken a step forward, his sword leveled at me. "I mean it! I will kill him if you take so much as another step towards me!" I yelled, pushing my sword dangerously close to my hostage's throat for emphasis.

The guy who had taken a step forward looked at me incredulously before erupting with laughter. It was safe to say, I was pretty annoyed and confused at this point. "I mean it! I will kill him!" I repeated.

"Go ahead and do it then, he's only from Division Four anyways! Those punks are nothin' but dead weight!" jeered a Shinigami.

The guy I had hostage gulped nervously and I fought down the urge to do the same. The Shinigami around me edged closer and closer to me, attempting to attack me from all directions. Suddenly, an explosion erupted behind me, shaking the ground and sending the Shinigami into a frenzy.

"What the. . ."

"What do you think is going on over there?"

"Do you think it's the Ryoka?"

"I wonder if they're strong?"

Then, just like that, all the Shinigami had their attention away from me. Wasting no time, I slung my hostage over my shoulder and proceeded to run like hell!


"I can't believe I just did that to that guy! I basically destroyed his sense of life and happiness...okay maybe not that much, but still..."

Danny had been thinking a lot about his recent battle, and so had his zanpakuto, Karitoriki. Karitoriki was proud of Danny for being strong enough to use the technique, but still thought Danny was being too weak. Danny, on the other hand, felt terrible about using his Shikai ability on Yumichika and was still beating himself up about it. Yumichika, while a bit narcissistic and beauty obsessed, still was a bit of a cheerful and nice person. Danny still wasn't quite sure how he knew this but he did. Sure, he was supposed to not let anyone get in the way of his mission, but Danny still wondered if the end justified the means.

And if it did, Danny still wasn't seeing it.

"Come now, Danny, I've taught you better than to brood and skulk after a battle. If you're going to beat yourself up over that fight then do it after the rescue mission. Your friends cannot afford your mind anywhere besides the mission at hand!"

". . . Never thought I would get told not to brood by the guy who looks like the Grim Reaper. But I guess your right. . . Kari."

Danny could almost see the scowl on Karitoriki's face. "Shut up, you idiot!"

Danny grinned, cheekily. "Love you too, man!"

Suddenly, Danny couldn't move and he felt as if he had the weight of a mountain on his back. His eyes probably just about bugged out of their sockets. Usually, no one had been able to come close to doing that except for his father and mother, but even they couldn't practically paralyze him!

"What the heck?!"

A giant man crashed down in front of him with a small pinkette on his shoulder. The man had tanned skin as well as a large build, with a scar running down his left eye, spiky black hair, an eye patch, a shihakusho, and last but not least. . . a captain's haori. "Well, well, who do we have here," boomed the tall man. "Tell me, what's your name?"

Whether it was his impairment of better judgment or his idiocy, probably both, Danny replied, "Danny Fenton."

The man gave a large grin, promising pain. "So it is you! Well, I'm Kenpachi Zaraki, Captain of Division Eleven. The last face you'll ever see!"


Ichigo's P.O.V

"Where are you taking me?!"

Let me tell you, it is not fun carrying a guy who doesn't stop whining! This guy has been asking me where I'm taking him like a child would a parent and what I'm going to do with him for the past thirty minutes. To make matters worse, according to the Shinigami I've run into, this guy means absolutely nothing to them, which means I'm basically carrying is dead weight!

"I'm taking you with me to rescue a friend now will you please shut up!"

After that, the guy didn't dare to respond. I couldn't really blame though considering I had done nothing but ignore him this entire time and, the one time I responded, I yelled at him. Plus, there was also the fact that, to some people, I looked really intimidating.

We kept moving towards the tower in silence. Incredibly awkward silence. So, being the person I am, I decided to break the ice. "So...what's your name?"

"My name is H-Hanatarō Yamada!"

"Ah that's. . . cool. . . mine is Ichigo Kurosaki!"

"Oh, that's. . . nice. . ."

After that, the situation, unfortunately, just got even more awkward to the point where I just wished something would cut through the almost tangible tension. Fortunately, I got my wish. Unfortunately, it was just more trouble.

"KIDNAPPER, WATCH OUT!"

By instinct, I ducked let a sword sail over my head which embedded itself in the ground only to be retracted. I then looked up to meet a certain spiky, red-headed, condescending Shinigami I never wanted to see again. And judging by the gasp coming from my hostage, he knew him too.

"I-It's the Lieutenant of the Sixth Division, Renji Abarai!"

The Shinigami just gave a humorless laugh while a scowl slowly crept onto his face. Renji slowly walked down the stairs, his eyes never leaving mine.

"I'm surprised your still alive, ryoka! Oh well, now I get to fix the mistake of my Captain and avenge Rukia!"


'Kenpachi Zaraki. . .wait a sec...I think I remember Dad telling me to avoid him at all costs! Just my luck. . .'

Before Danny could think much more about who he was fighting, Kenpachi spoke again. "You know, since I'm such a nice guy, I'll let you get the first strike! If you're lucky, you might even kill me with your first strike!"

'Is this guy for real? I should take advantage of this but...I need to incapacitate him not kill him...'

His parents had given Danny very strict instructions to not kill any of the Shinigami to make it easier to convince them for their cooperation in their investigation. But then again, it wasn't like Danny was going to kill them anyway. It simply went against everything he believed in.

Danny gathered the Reishi from his surroundings, breaking down the bonds of the spiritons around him, and guided it into an arrow he'd already chosen. He then pulled back the bow and let the arrow fly, piercing Kenpachi's sword arm. The arrowhead barely embedded into his left bicep.

Kenpachi was clearly not impressed. "Is that all you ca-"

The poor guy never got to finish when the arrow exploded in Kenpachi's arm, knocking him back a considerable distance. By the time Kenpachi got back to his feet, Danny had already sent an arrow flying at Kenpachi which he cut in half causing it to explode. Danny drew his zanpakuto and charged Kenpachi, using the smoke to hide but Kenpachi sensed Danny coming and parried Danny's blade. Danny went in with a low thrust to Kenpachi's thigh which hit Kenpachi's skin. . . but didn't pierce it.

Danny started to feel something warm and wet, slowly forming in his hands. Danny looked down to see his own blood staining his hands. "What the heck?!"

Kenpachi gave an angry scowl but still gave an explanation. "You can only injure me if you have Reiatsu higher than mine! Now, if you're done using your smokescreens and tricks, let's fight like warriors!"

Kenpachi brought his sword down in a blinding arc which Danny barely dodged followed by another slash that hit Danny in the side. Kenpachi sent another round of strikes all of which Danny barely dodged, angering Kenpachi.

"Can you only dodge?! Why don't you fight back?!"

"Alright, fine! Eat this!"

Danny sprung back a considerable distance before raising an arm. "Ye lord! Mask of flesh and bone, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Truth and temperance, upon this sinless wall of dreams, unleash but slightly the wrath of your claws. Hado# 33: Sôkatsui!"

A blue wave of fire erupted from Danny's hand and blasted Kenpachi in the face, making Kenpachi stumble a bit and allowing Danny to put more distance between them.

'I can't beat him if it keeps going like this the only way I can beat him is if I use it. No, I'll I don't need to use it this early. I'll just think of something else then...'

When Kenpachi finally gained his bearings, he was disgusted by his sorry excuse for an opponent.

"To think. . . one of my own was defeated by a Kido user, and a sorry excuse for a Shinigami! If that's all you've got then I'll kill you where you stand!"

Kenpachi raised his sword, Reiatsu flowing from his body in waves, before concentrating it into his sword and striking the ground, sending a large yellow wave of Reiatsu rushing towards Danny.


Drip. Drop. Drip. Drop.

"See Ichigo, this is why needn't be so cocky! Do you think just because you beat me before you can beat me now?!" scorned Renji. "Too bad you didn't know in the Human world we have our powers reduced in order to prevent the harm of the humans. So back then, you only fought me at about 20% of my strength, so don't get all cocky!"

Renji swung Zabimaru at Ichigo, letting the blade extend, but Ichigo blocked the strike with the flat end of his sword, causing him to skid a bit. They repeated this over and over again with Renji always having the upper hand.

'Damnit, there's got to be some weakness to this guy!'


(Flashback)

"All attacks have a beginning and an end even consecutive attacks," said Urahara. "Like rockets only fire once...any combo attack has a limit."

'Normally, Zabimaru only hits once when extending. Then, while it is extending, it can attack two more times or rather a total of three times! After the three attacks, Zabimaru returns to its normal state.'

"It doesn't matter if the opponent hits less as long as you know the limit. When the battle gets rough, your opponent will always go all out!"

Ichigo ducked under Zabimaru as it extended.

'One. . .'

Renji swung Zabimaru, still extended, downwards but Ichigo side stepped.

"Once you dodge all of them, you'll find your opening. . ."

'Two...'

"When your opponent finishes his combo before he starts his new set of attacks. . ."

Renji swung Zabimaru to the right of Ichigo, planning to catch him in the side, but Ichigo parried the blade with his own.

'Three!'

"The enemy will become defenseless!"

While Zabimaru was retracting, Ichigo rushed the helpless Renji with his sword raised.

"It's over, Renji!" Ichigo brought his sword down cutting Renji down the middle. . . at least that's what would've happened if Renji didn't dodge it. Renji wore a proud and victorious smirk.

"That was very clever of you but as I've said, you needn't be so cocky!" Renji raised his sword preparing to bring it down on Ichigo.


Two Shinigami stood on a balcony waiting for the rest of their fellow Shinigami. However, these were not ordinary Shinigami. No, these were the Lieutenants of the Third and Fifth Divisions, Izuru Kira and Momo Hinamori.

Izuru had shoulder length blonde hair that was combed into three points; two in the back of his head and one that covered his left eye. He also had dull blue eyes and a zanpakuto at his hip.

Momo had long black hair that was currently tied into a bun with white cloth along with brown eyes that were filled with worry. She also had her katana-like zanpakuto at her hip as well.

"Why are you so worried, Momo?" asked Izuru.

"I found this in his office!" said Momo, showing Izuru Renji's badge.

Izuru's eyes widened in shock. "Did you tell the Captains about this?"

Momo shook her head. "I didn't want to get Renji in trouble. . ."

Izuru sighed and rubbed his temples. "I'll go and find him try and make sure no one finds out alright!"

Izuru didn't even wait for an answer when he left leaving Momo with nothing but her thoughts.

'Where are you Renji?'


The large energy wave rushed towards Danny and seemingly consumed him.

"Huh, that was a complete waste of my time. I'm going to have to up Yumichika's training. . ."

Kenpachi turned to walk away when he felt something rushing behind him, so he tilted his head, letting an arrow fly right past him. It hit a building destroying it and some the surrounding buildings in an eruption of light.

"Didn't your mother ever tell you not to shoot energy waves at people! It's pretty rude, after all!" mocked an unscathed Danny.

Kenpachi raised an eyebrow before raising his sword and charging at Danny. Danny flash stepped behind Kenpachi and impaled Kenpachi's sword arm for the third time.

Danny was mildly surprised when Kenpachi just started grinning like a madman as his blood was being spilled. "So, you finally managed to cut me, eh?!"

Kenpachi started to strike with multiple attacks at blinding speeds, but Danny managed to block them all. Kenpachi swung his sword at Danny's neck but Danny didn't block it, he just let it hit home.

A network of veins seemed to race across the area of impact and instead of Danny's head falling off his body, Danny just stumbled a bit and grinned. "You've overextended!"

Danny swung his sword upwards in an almost invisible arc and cleaved Kenpachi's arm off, causing Kenpachi's eye to widen. Danny didn't waste any more time as he quickly kicked Kenpachi in the chin, raising Kenpachi into the sky. Danny quickly notched two arrows almost filled to the limit with collected Reishi and fired them at Kenpachi, both hitting their target and lighting up the sky.

By the time Danny sheathed his sword, Kenpachi finally hit the ground. To say that Kenpachi was a mess would be an understatement. His hair was matted and covered with blood, not to mention some of it was singed, his right arm along with his right shoulder were cut off with the opening bleeding profusely along with a hole in his shoulder from one of Danny's arrows, and his top part of his shihakusho was in tatters and the bottom half was a bit damaged as well.

Kenpachi coughed up some blood before shakily standing up and walking towards his zanpakuto still in the grip of his fallen arm. He pried it out of the lifeless hand and turned towards Danny. Danny was extremely impressed by the resilience of the Division Eleven Captain. He shouldn't have been conscious, much less standing.

"And here I thought those two arrows were overkill, maybe I should have added in a Hado or two!" joked Danny, looking down at the Captain. "Are sure you still want to fight me?"

Kenpachi gave a small grin before it turned into a chuckle which then turned into a bone shivering cackle. "You actually have to ask?!"

With one swift fluid movement, Kenpachi ripped off his eye patch revealing a glowing, yellow eye. That and an explosion of Reiatsu that was so bright it almost was blinding. At the end of the light show, Kenpachi was standing tall with bloodlust filled Reiatsu rolling off him in waves.

"Now. . . how about one final strike!"


Ichigo's P.O.V

'Renji dodged it, no way!'

Renji must've noticed the shocked look on his face because he began to explain. "You're probably wondering how you didn't hit me. It's actually pretty simple, I'm just in a higher league than you, so you just have to accept that since you can't beat me. . . you can't save Rukia!"

Renji extended Zabimaru but I blocked it with Zangetsu but I still skidded back slightly.

'Come on...remember what Urahara said about that technique. . .'


"I'm going to teach you how to do that attack every time," said Urahara.

"No way, when I did it the first time it was just a-"

"Stop!"

I raised a brow confused. "Stop what?"

Urahara shook his head as if he was disappointed. "You mean you don't feel the fear rolling off your sword? Whenever your sword strikes mine you're always 'I'm afraid I won't be able to protect my friends' and when you dodge, You're afraid you're gonna get cut!' and when you attack, 'You're afraid you'll cut me! But y'know Ichigo, if you keep thinking like that...you're gonna die!"

"However, this is what you should be doing and thinking. When you dodge think 'Don't let them cut you!' When protecting your friends think 'Don't let them die, and when you attack...you kill!"


"You're finished, Ichigo!" Renji swung Zabimaru yet again, but I caught the blade, making Renji's eyes widen.

"Renji, I apologize for wasting your time. This time. . . I'll attack with all of my will!"

I flung his blade back at him, making some distance between us before I raised Zangetsu. Reiatsu leaked from my body as he surged all about me. I felt it collect into Zangetsu as I launched a crescent-shaped attack that hit Renji square in the chest and exploded on impact. The light from the blast caused me to avert my eyes. Once the light died down, it showed a disheveled and bloody Renji.

'C'mon body move, move damnit!'

"How. . . how could you defeat me in one attack?" asked Renji.

Ichigo sheathed Zangetsu and responded. "That...was my resolve!"

Renji's eyes widened in disbelief. 'How could that attack have been his resolve when it was so weak. Is it possible that he actually is motivated to save Rukia that much. . .'

Renji took in a shaky breath. "I-ichgo...please fi-fix my mistake and..rescue...Rukia..." Ichigo looked down at Renji showing no clear emotion. "How much times do I have to tell you...I don't care if someone tries to stop me or what anyone tells me, if they stand in my way I'll cut them down. So I will rescue Rukia, I didn't need you to ask me to!"

Ichigo then turned to Hanatarō. "Hanatarō, it's your choice if you want to follow me or not?"

Hanatarō didn't even hesitate. "I'll go with you! You're going to need my help if you're going to keep injuring yourself like this! Besides, Rukia is my friend, too!"

Ichigo nodded with a smile. "Well, let's go!"

As Ichigo and Hanatarō walked away, Renji was left with one last thought before he passed out.

'Yeah, he'll definitely be able to. . . save her. . .'


The blinding light of the attacks finally died down, leaving an even more battered Kenpachi, and a barely scathed Danny. Kenpachi, unable to stand collapsed, and Danny made his way over to him.

"So...are you gonna kill me now?" asked Kenpachi.

Danny immediately responded, almost blanching at the thought of it. "No way, I just came here to rescue my. . . debateable friend's friend, not to kill anyone!"

Kenpachi chuckled as a bit of blood trickled from his mouth. "You know. . . I want to be mad that I was bested by a Kido user. l want to be mad that I was defeated without you even using your Shikai. But I can't be mad. . . since I got such a great fight from you! I'll be looking forward to our rematch, Danny!"

And with that, the behemoth of the Soul Society finally passed out.

'Oh shoot! I forgot about his injuries! He could die from blood loss.'

Danny's erratic thoughts were cut short by the girl that had been riding on the shoulder of Kenpachi when he arrived. Danny's hand immediately went to his sword hilt ready to fight, but the girl just giggled.

"Don't worry, I won't hurt you. I just came to get Kenny. Thank you for giving him such a good fight considering how little of those he gets around here!" said the pinkette. "Now go!"

Sensing the hidden dark undertone, Danny walked away, heading to the tower holding Rukia Kuchiki.


"Thank you for all of you coming to this meeting," said Aizen. Dan scowled

Dan scowled. "Tch. . . it's not like we had a choice. . ."

Kaname seethed. "Shut up you unholy, monstrous, blob of ectoplasm! You are unfit to even be in Lord Aizen's presence, let alone interrupt Lord Aizen! So you'd do well to learn your place, ghost!"

Aizen rubbed his temples in frustration of his group. Dan was getting more and more impatient by the day and Aizen knew that soon he wouldn't have enough Hollows to appease him. It didn't help that Kaname and Dan also constantly bickered with each other, adding to Dan's annoyance. Kaname always acted superior towards Dan and to any chance he could get to demean him.

However, Dan and Gin didn't have any bad blood it just seemed that Dan was greatly unnerved by Gin. He even said that "he'd have to ask Gin for lessons in scaring the crap out of people later. . ."

"Kaname, thank you for that, but it's true," Aizen agreed, calmly. "All we've been doing is plotting and planning, which is why I've called you all here today! Due to a certain hybrid, our plans have to be changed."

Dan groaned while Kaname glared at him, threateningly.

"Excuse me Lord Aizen, if you don't mind me asking, but what have these plans changed to?" asked Gin.

Aizen's eyes gleamed. "Well, because of Daniel. . . the time to act appears to have drawn even closer. . ."