Authors notes:So. I was asked if ichigo was more important than the others well... to a point yes. But storywise the others are equally just as important, and have a vital role to play. Also i'd like to say that it will be your point of views of who's good or bad in this story.(naruto not included; he's got the case of 'cheesy hero' but in this story no "talk no jutsu" I fuckin hate it)Things will start to get more interesting when they meet the sennin and will hopefully start to pick up, but at the moment yahiko and nagato still await their entrances. So i'd like to add alot more backstory and try to take things as slow as I possibly can. Anyway with that said. I'll try to make chapters consistent so you guys aren't waiting months for a chapter...ok. I'll shut up now.

"Speech."

"speech." (flashback)

I do not own Naruto or Bleach

Eternal Rival

People of the great nations, honestly don't get how lucky they are. wasting their time complaining about what they can and can't have...well listen atleast you have a place to call home. Since your so busy trashing ours.

~Ame log number 6~

"So about the-."

"no."Ichigo muttered tiredly for the-. He lost count at 12. Honestly konan seemed to be so obssessed with his sword, yes it's black, yes it is a bit too big for him, and yes it is weird that it's so light an eleven year old could wield it. And who also; he might add. Had no formal training in kenjustu, whatsoever.

Glancing back at her with a slight smile, as she animatedly spoke. While trodding in a few puddles. As they walked to another small village, not too far from their hideout. He seemed to think over how much they became to depend on eachother in that one week.

~Flashback 2 days ago~

" You shouldn't go."Konan pleaded desperately, hoping ichigo would listen to her. The war seemed to come to a standstill, but who knows how long that would last. Knowing first hand the cruelty some of these shinobi could inflict if caught.

Ichigo stopped midway through his packing. Seemingly thinking it over, before turning around with a sad frown."I have to. My family's not much farther, its just down the mountain path for a few more miles."He tried to sound as reasurring as possible. But he needed to get there. The more time he wastes, the more he seems to despair.

Konan noticed his eyes, it might have only been for a second, before he turned around to continue packing. But she saw it.

Fear.

She knew it all too well, she felt it bubble inside of her every time she thought of the cruel men, everytime she went out there fearing of what might happen to her. But right now she feared for Ichigo and what he planned on doing."I have to stop him!."She thought. A spark of determination taking place in her amber eyes.

As Ichigo packed the last of his supplies in his bag. Turning around to pick up his sword, seeing that it wasn't where he left it; he glanced at konan to see her grasping it, as if it was as light as a feather.

"stupid traitor." he thought bitterly. Narrowing his eyes slightly at the accursed thing, even the sword disagreed with him on this.

"konan. My family needs me, I need to get to them. This may be my only chance."He sounded so sure of himself, but even he could feel his lack of conviction; he made it this far. But could he really walk through a real battle?.

Konan's eyes seemed to narrow into a glare. Wrapping her arms around the sword more tightly, not at all bothered by the fact the blade felt suprisingly blunt all of a sudden.

Ichigo's scowl seemed to come back in full force, finding her act to be utterly ridiculous."Konan?. give me my sword?."He asked, in an even tone. Trying to bottle up his annoyance, least he lose his temper.

Konan seemed to scowl right back, which he felt...was kind of intimidating; he's never been in this type of situation before, and he cursed his father for not giving him advice on the stubbourness of the female mind.

"Your. not. going Ichigo. got it?." she said. Her voice suprising sounding more mature, than her usually childish one, she used when asking questions or teasing him about his name and hair.

Mouth set into a thin line. Ichigo tried to bottle in his anger; he knows hes being foolish, and that the battles never stay quiet for long. But he's desperate and afraid, that if he waits even a minute longer they might be...

Internally shaking his head of that thought; he turned his gaze back to her. Seeing her determination, and the small nearly unoticable pleading look in her eye's. Nearly caused him to crack if his eye's were to linger for too long.

"Konan listen to m-." he tried to say. Before he was cut off...again

"No you listen!!. I know what it's like!!. To feel afraid for someone you care about!!, but I also know, what it feels like. To lose that person." she muttered quietly at the end of her rant. close to the verge of tears; she swallowed thickly. Looking up at him with a sad desperate look."so please?. I..I don't want it to happen again...because we're family now...arent we?."

His eyes grew wide from her declaration. Looking at her hopeful eyes to her question; he couldn't deny in the short three days he had known her, he had started to get used to her constant prescence, and her ever so charming teasing of everything he did...and his hair.

"mom. dad. Nagato. Im sorry. Your gonna have to wait a bit longer, theirs another person I have to protect." he thought. The momentary guilt leaving him, as he had another person that depended on him, that relied soley on him; his name meant number one protecter after all, and he planned on living up to that name. looking up, and sucking in every ounce of his pride. with a nod and a defeated sigh he conceded.

Konan looked at him with a sad smile; she was extremely happy about the outcome. But knew this decision would likely weigh heavily on his mind. So she had decided. At this very moment; she would be there for him at his lowest moments, just as she knew he would do the same for her.

"Silly strawberry."she said with a teasing grin. Wiping her eyes slightly. Blade long forgotten, as at it lay on the ground in front of them.

'sigh'. "really?."he said in an exasperated voice. He could never catch a break from her insults, not even a little. Shaking his head slightly; he decided he kinda deserved it for his stubbourn behaviour, she caught him off guard as at some point; she had crossed the distance between the two, and wrapped her arms around his midsection.

"thank you for staying ichigo." she muttered into the fabric of his jacket, where her head was currently buried in.

Smiling warmly at her; he muttered. "It's what family's for."He chuckled slightly at her small giggle. "I should be thanking you."he thought silently. Swearing never to say that out loud. even if it killed him.

~Flashback end~

"so what do you think ichigo?."

Eyes refocusing to his surroundings; he noticed konan infront of him, both hands on her hips with an expectant look on her face.

"Sorry Konan, what were you saying?." Honestly he really needs to stop spacing out sometimes, least people think he's talking to people in his head.

Konan's face turned into a cute pout, slightly insulted Ichigo wasn't listening to her before. Crossing her arms, and huffing at his insensitive attitude."What a jerk!."she whined in thought.

Ichigo looked at her with a deadpanned stare. "Throw a dog a bone will yah."he thought. Obviously not getting the fact that said 'dog', has to work for said 'bone'. Glancing over her shoulder; he could see the small town they planned on 'borrowing' from, it wasn't much to look at one guards post, which in all likelihood housed four shinobi. Five food markets counting the few smaller businesses. 8 small houses likely fit to house small families such as his own. All in all the place would be quite difficult to 'borrow' from.

Done with his observation; he had another problem to handle. Looking at her with barely hidden fondness."she always does this. I guess I need to be more nicer. to her atleast."He thought, with a small smile tugging at his lips.

"Hey. Im sorry I wasn't listening; I was just so caught up in my head lately; i'll try to listen more okay."He said softly, trying to sound more caring, or in her words 'more in touch with your sensitive side'.

Giving him a sideways glance; konan decided why not give him this, I mean it's really uncomfortable standing in the rain, even if ichigo was kind enough to 'borrow' her a jacket. As he would put it.

With a sigh and a beaming smile."Ok I'll forgive you, this one time kay."She said. Attitude reverting back to her cheerful self, as she continued onward."now lets go. I need more paper and you promised!."she shouted enthusiastically, already a great deal ahead of him.

Groaning slightly; Ichigo made to catch up with her. konan seemed to have a very skilled hand at origami...he's never actually seen her make it, because most of the time she did it in private, or told him on several occasions to turn around and not peek. Lets just say he learnt the first time, never to peek.

"Okay. paper, bread, cheese, meats. and what else was there?." He was pulled out of his thoughts, from the the sounds of pots smashing and shouting.

"Let go of me!!. stupid old fart!!."It seemed to be another orange head, not with his red highlights of course, and his long bangs but. He could probably pass as one of his relatives.

"This is the fourth time, i've found you stealing from one of those stalls. And frankly." His eyes and tone seemed to turn darker as he continued."I've had enough!!. your coming with me!!."the rain nin shouted. Face etched into furious sneer, as he held the orange haired boy from his collar. Looking about ready to choke the boy to death.

Gritting his teeth in anger. The boy shouted back."It wasn't even that much!!. If you guards didn't demand so much, there'd be enough food for everyone!!."he continued to struggle more, face staring defiantly at him."But no!!. all you nin are the same. Selfish and greedy!!, and don't care who you have to walk over, to get what you want."his face suddenly turned into a furious scowl. Quite reminiscent of Ichigo's in fact"and if anyone's had enough...IT'S ME!!."he roared at him, before biting his hand and delivering a kick to his little 'shinobi'.

Ichigo had cringed at the sight, hand travelling to his family jewels."Geez, come on." even he thought that was a little harsh. The nin had let go of the orange headed boy when the kick had connected, dropping to the ground with a loud thump. As the boy seemed to land on his feet coughing and gasping for air.

The rain nin was nothing more than a crumpled mess, holding what ever was left of his dignity in his hands, Taking deep breaths wheezing every now and again. Looking up glaring hatefully at the orange haired boy, that now stood over him looking down at him with disdain, and was that..dissapointment?."you..'cough'..little."he was unable to finish, before the black hilt of a blade was smashed into his temple, knocking him out cold.

The orange haired boy was shocked to say the least. Looking the other boy over; he seemed to have a much lighter shade of orange hair than his own, with strands of red blended in...also he seemed to like black alot, since he seemed to practically be living in it..and that scowl of his, seemed pretty nasty to look at.

Ichigo wiped some of the rain drops from his lashes"help him she said...all you have to do is talk to them she said...hurry up she said...I am really questioning her voice of reasoning skills"he thought bitterly he really didn't want to get involved since he just wanted to get in and out and maybe even use this place as a target location for future supplies...well that can go in the trash.

Glancing at the boy across from him he seemed to have a thoughtful look in his eyes seemingly judging him as he was doing, his hair was...orange only slightly darker...and less cool his atture seemed to be a beige rain jacket(similar to the one konan is wearing)with a pair of grey shorts also by his height which is not too far from his own he seems to be around the same age as himself.

Both seeming to size eachother, almost in a challanging way. Judging eachother, and critizing eachothers sense of style, and the way they walked. Seeing as they seemed to be checking eachother out, their eyes met.

"Well... Your help was..unexpected?.. But thanks."The orange headed boy seemed to say with genuine thanks. As he grinned in a thankful manner towards Ichigo.

Ichigo's eye's seemed to widen a fraction, due to the fact that he was used to dealing with ungrateful people on his journey, but never really asking for their thanks anyway.. But it's always nice to hear a thank you every now and again.

The boy seeing this, decided to voice it with a cheeky tone."Judging by your eye's just then, you seem to have dealt with ungrateful people too huh?."Giving ichigo a thoughtful smile. Understanding what he might be going through aswell.

Chuckling slighly while rubbing the back of his neck."Yeah haha.. You could say that I have one with me right now!."his voice seemed to rise, as if to get someone else's attention, as he glanced off to his side.

"that's mean Ichigo!."another voice seemed to whine from a distance. The orange haired boy looked to his right to see a young girl, close to his age in fact, short straight blue hair, amber eyes slightly lighter than his redheaded friend here...and was that paper??.

looking back over at said redhead."Ichigo huh?.. one who protects right?."He asked

Ichigo smiled slightly, finally finding someone who understood."Yeah that's right."he liked this guy already. before Konan nudged him, turning an annoyed stare at her, before she gave him a look of 'introduce me'.

With a blank stare, and a bored clipped tone."oh yeah this is Konan... Said ungrateful friend."which earned him a whack over the head, and an annoyed glare from Konan.

The boy seemed to look between the two. Finding their antics to be hilarious, as he found it hard not to laugh at the 'stupid strawberry'and 'demanding brat'insults traded between the two... Kinda reminded him of a married couple actually.

"Names yahiko by the way."he said with a warm smile, hand held out in a friendly gesture. Hoping to get to know these to better. Or better yet stop this pointless argument, since It looks like it's getting darker and the rain nin in the area will likely come out here looking for their buddy.

Konan and Ichigo seemed to stop mid rant. looking over at yahiko and the hand he had offered, before both quickly shook his hand, offered a quick."welcome to the family." before resuming with their argument..

He seemed to look on with a deadpanned stare wondering if it wasn't to late to go with that ninja instead, before thinking.

"Wait?.. Welcome to the family?."

Well it's a start.

Authors notes

Well that's chapter two up and finished. I'm kinda proud of it?.. I guess??. I don't know it's up to you guy's. I'd also like to apologize for the fact that I screwed up all their ages in the story I have gone over both chapters and hope to fix my mistakes. thankyou again for reading this hope to see any suggestions or criticism you have for me bye bye.

Ichigo:11

Konan:10

Yahiko:11

Nagato:10