"Aaahhh" a thin shrill voice let out satisfyingly into the dark, musky air. "To think such treasure would exist in such a place like this." he said as his eyes turned in the dark looking at everything before him "I am shocked. Almost too shocked for words" But he was a genius so he would surely find some.

Mayuri had stumbled on this place as most would call 'by accident'. Nothing he does however, is done without proper and precise planning. Now this world as opposed to the other was truly more.. primitive was too kind a word, but fitting well enough. But it seemed to hold more treasures. While Captain Kuchiki might find those seven balls both intriguing and blasphemous, Mayuri couldn't dare to be bothered with such concepts. But this! This was something else entirely.

A laboratory clear enough, though it seems to have seen better days. Tanks large enough to hold in a human being lined the room on both sides. They may have once been filled, but now were cracked open and whatever they held were no longer there. Some semblance of green light still lingered in the corners while elsewhere it was dark and obstructive. Deeper into the room stood a table that like everything else hadn't been touched in some time, yet there were numerous books layered on and above it. Who ever created such a place must be a man be must meet and know. Intimately.

He was studying every little crevasse so precisely that neither or Nemu beside him heard the two soft steps from behind.

"What are you doing here?" a man's voice suddenly called from the darkness behind them.

"Hm?" Mayuri calmly perked up and looked over his shoulder, past Nemu who stood firmly by his side to see someone else standing there in the shadows just like himself. Behind them, closer to the door in which he entered stood a young man, dressed in a white short that opened up to show his chest and torso. He had dark hair, but it seemed almost blue as well. His hand rested on a sword around his waist, but he was no one Mayuri recognized. Mayuri wasn't the slightest bit concerned even considering his recent encounters in other worlds. Nemu was more worried about this man, even if she didn't show it. "And" Mayuri began as he shifted back to face him "who are you?" he asked intentionally ignoring the question.

Another thin silence fell into the room as the two starred each other down. Mayuri remained lurched forward, as the stoic young man didn't lose his hard stare.

"What are you doing here?" he repeated, his tone and expression hadn't changed at all. Mayuri's face dropped to one side as he studied him before righting itself. His eyes glared at him, and Mayuri could see hate burned inside of them.

"I am just a typical man of science looking to push the boundaries of knowledge." he said opening his arms wide before him, his fingers wiggled like worms as he did. The man before him remained emotionless. He seemed a lot like Nemu. "Now, are you the maker of this fine establishment?" he pointed with his long nail stretching out to him "If so I must chide you for the sorry state I have found it in." he said with disappointment and intrigue mixed in his voice which sounded like the slithering of a snake.

"I'm not." he answered plainly, and much quicker this time. "The man who created this place made many others like it. His name was Orochimaru."

"Ah..." Mayuri let out as he dropped his arms "and where might he be?" Mayuri asked his interest clearly peaked.

"You won't find him no matter how hard you look." he replied without answering him.

"And why would that be?" There were a few cold moments of deathly silence before a fitting answer was given.

"I killed him."

Mayuri twisted his face towards him in what looked like an unnatural way "Oh!" he let out surprised "What a shame." he admitted "I would have eagerly enjoyed a meeting with someone who I dare might even consider an equal." he said placing a hand flatteringly to his chest.

"It seems like you have more in common than I originally thought." the man commented.

"I'm not surprised to hear it. But there are few truly like me." he said as his tongue poked out of his mouth. "And what does that make you in all this?"

"My name is Sasuke Uchiha. I used to work alongside him." he told finally revealing his name and his connection to this place.

"Mayuri Kurotsuchi. Captain of Squad Twelve and head of the Society of Research and Development" Mayuri returned introductions graciously though his voice was still far from pleasant. "Of course with titles such as mine you mist understand why I must know more of such a place." he said, but Sasuke said nothing in return. A few more moments of cold silence passed between them before he spoke again. Sasuke's eyes hardened on Mayuri as his studied him endlessly "Well then" Mayuri let out a sigh "since you possess such an intricate and intimate relationship with this place I suppose you'll have to do." he said moving his hands across his belt to his sword.

"I'll have to do what?" Sasuke stirred in question, showing a slight reaction as his head titled suspiciously towards Mayuri. And he had good reason to be suspicious.

"Give me the tour of course." Mayuri said as he pulled his sword from it's sheath "Bankai!"

The darkness of the room gave way to a sudden shining light coming from his sword.

Soul Society 10th Division Office

Laying comfortably back in a familiar setting Toshiro decided the best thing to do after all of this was not paperwork. He had seen too much of it recently and none of it being his own. After that whole mess all he wanted to do was sleep. Even Toshiro would admit- but never aloud or to anyone, but himself- that every one needed a rest.. especially growing little boys.

But he would never get it with all this going on.

"And then I said 'Read the medical book!? I'll feed you the damn medical book!" Rangiku paraphrased-lied-about their recent adventure "Whoo!" she pounded a fist in the air. Her audience was captivated by every single word she said.

"Wow!" Hisagi let out, though to be honest he was always captivated by whatever Rangiku did. And when she invited them over to hear her story he was the first to arrive.

"What'd you do next?" Kira asked sitting beside him, gloomy, but just as captivated.

Rangiku blinked cluelessly to her audience. She seemed to stare back as if she wasn't even sure of what happened herself. The rest of them however waited in curious anticipation for more. For beside the two lieutenants there were two captains in attendance as well. Shunsui's eyes poked out form under his hat to get a better look at her while Jushiro seemed just as enthralled as the two lieutenants. They were eager to hear even more about these new worlds ever since Ichigo came back with Gohan, followed by Rukia and Renji who passed through shortly after. Of course they weren't able to hear many first hand accounts from this ninja world so they relieved themselves of their duties at the Senkaimon to Captain Komamura. Since Mayuri had gone into the other world to search on his own again. Once they told Sajin that the Head Captain required it he did little to back down, and the two then made their way here. "I did just that!" she answered confidently with a cheery smile. The four erupted into applause.

"Could you keep it down?" she suddenly heard a grumble from beside her, and the clapping ceased. All eyes suddenly went next to her to Toshiro laid out at the other end of the couch.

"Look at you catching a break for once." she chirped looking him over. He tossed over on the couch leaving them to talk to his back. "Wow Captain your such a rebel!" Rangiku said shocked. He grumbled his annoyance. She then turned back to her captivated audience who awaited an encore. "Now where was I?" she asked and Hisagi opened his mouth to answer "Oh that's right!" she suddenly remembered silencing him before he could answer. "So then we continued our epic duel!" she exclaimed. Toshiro peeked over his shoulder at her interesting choice of words. Last he checked at this point in the story, both she and Tsunade had cleared out the bar and were asked-forced-to leave. "She was a strong one, alright!" Rangiku gripped and showed off on arm in a show of strength. Of course she was more used to showing off something else.

"What did she look like again?" Hisagi asked. He seemed to be having a hard time remembering details like that.

"Well she was kinda like me," Rangiku admitted -"well, not exactly." she quickly corrected "There's not a lot of women like me!" she said flatteringly rather impressed with herself. "But she had a great taste in drinks." she started before going on to ramble about her physical appearance.

"Sounds like my kinda woman." Shunsui said taking a sip form his cup.

"But she wasn't so bad in the end. In fact she invited us back and I can't wait to go back." she said cheerily. "She even said I should be a Captain. And you know she was the leader of the entire village? I'd consider than a pretty bold recommendation." she crossed her arms as a smug grin came over her face "I wonder if the Head Captain would accept it?" she asked aloud peering up.

Grumbling into the couch that his office had become a gossip den at an inconvenient time, at the mention of those last statements he picked his head up and looked halfway back at everyone.

"Well, your a little brazen with the details today aren't you?" Toshiro spoke up. All eyes suddenly went to him looking back over his shoulder and Rangiku instantly regretted opening his mouth.

"Captain, I thought you were trying to sleep!" Rangiku whined.

"It's a little difficult at the moment." he admitted rolling himself over to fully view every one, plopping onto his back. "You also left out how neither of you liked doing work."

Rangiku's eyes shifted nervously to him to their guests. She could tell by the looks they were giving her that she was losing her credibility.

"Captain that's not fair!" she whined "If you wanna tell the story you can just wait till your part!"

"I was there the whole time just like you. And I just thought they'd like to her the truth of the matter." he said putting his hands behind his head and sounding wide awake with a small smirk on his face.

"I'd certainly like to hear all about it." a new calm voice resonated across the room.

In the doorway stood Captain Unohana and beside her, her towering lieutenant Isane, though her face was obstructed by the doorframe.

"Sure come on in!" Rangiku invited them with a happy wave "I don't mind telling it again!" Toshiro wondered how different it would be the second time around, especially now that he was there as a secondary source against her. "Isane! Come here!" she got up and raced to the other side. Isane was bending down to follow her captain through the door, when suddenly Rangiku forcefully grabbed the taller woman by the arm and dragged her across the room to sit down across from her. "So where do I begin?" Rangiku began, and Isane sat comfortably with her hands nervously in her lap.

"Is it a long story?" she asked in her soft timid voice.

"Of course! I have to give you all the details you know?" she waved a finger at her.

"Does it have a happy ending? I love happy endings." she perked up a little more.

As Rangiku regaled her with her story- of which details had already started to change- Captain Unohana made her way over to the young captain who was still sprawled out on the couch with his feet by Rangiku and his head on the armrest.

She leaned over Toshiro and started to look him over.

"Is... something wrong captain?" he asked uncomfortably beneath her.

"Well, why aren't you sitting up straight when you talk to me?" she asked in a sweet voice, but the room seemed to turn darker and Toshiro was filled with dread. He quickly sat upright with perfect posture before his fellow captain "Much better." she said delighted and the uneasiness subsided. "Now what was this I was hearing?" she asked coming upright away from him "I heard you had gotten into a terrible fight, but there's not a scratch on you."

"It was." he admitted dropping his head, but then looked back up to her "But afterwords the leader of the village attended to my wounds after the battle. They say that she's the greatest healer in that world and given the results I find it hard to argue against it."

"Greatest healer?" Unohana repeated "I'm sure your not implying that she's better than me? Are you?" she asked pleasantly, yet a cold grim feeling overcame everyone in the room, but none more than Toshiro who had to stare her down as she bent down closer to him awaiting an answer.

"Nonono not at all" he squirmed nervously in his seat.

"Ehh" Shunsui let out "I know how she can get." he admitted aloud as he lowered his head and his hat with it. He then looked at Jushiro and silently nodded towards the door. Jushiro nodded back.

"Sorry every one, but we really must get going." Jushiro announced as he stood up "Some one's got to keep an eye on the Senkaimon."

"And that just happens to be us." Shunsui said he got up with him, and they headed towards the door "Good bye now. Give us all the juicer details later." he waved, and they left the Tenth Division office. Shunsui and Jushiro continued on their way and walked out of the tenth division. "Well, that was enlightening." The Captain of Squad 8 said.

"Certainly was." The Captain of Squad 13 agreed with smile. "What an adventure!"

"I said it once, and I'll say it again." he said as they rounded a corner and came to exit the squad Ten barracks coming back to the winding streets of the Soul Society. "Things certainly have gotten interesting. Even around here." he nodded off into the direction of Squad 2. Where upon his return from his mission, Toshiro had sent two young prisoners.

"It's shame what had to happen. They're just kids, like Shiro after all" Jushiro said, saddened suddenly by the mere thought of it.

"Never knew the little guy had it in em." Shunsui stopped and picked his hat up "Whatta say we go check on em? Make sure they're alright?" he asked turning to his friend.

"I'd certainly feel better for it." Jushiro said happily with opening his arms.

"Alright! Let's get on our way." he said as they began to march off together towards Squad 2. Shunsui suddenly stopped when he heard his voice being called.

"Captain!" his sweet Nanao called, freezing him in place "Captain where are you?! There's work to be done!" At the sound of that Shunsui then looked to Jushiro.

"Run."

Border of the Land of Fire

Gohan and Goku wrapped their arms around each other. All the laughter and smiles were at a loss on the tall grim figure wresting on overturned tree behind them, but Gohan hadn't noticed him just yet.

The desolation and bare environment didn't match their enthusiasm. Thick dead trees stood scattered across the bare sandy ground. It was a far cry from the desert or mountains the two had just found themselves in.

"What happened? What are you doing here?!" Goku asked he then tugged on his green clothes and tugged on his shoulders "Still wearing this I see." he said cheerfully looking at the remnants of his great Saiyaman outfit.

"I came to find you!" Gohan told "I waited at home, but when things got bad back there I knew I and to come find you!"

"But whose back there? Whose looking after the Earth?" Goku asked concerned.

"Don't worry about that dad, I know it's fine." Gohan said reassuringly "Some of my new friends are there now." he spoke of Rukia and Renji not knowing that they had followed him and Ichigo here. Worse still was that they've had just as much trouble finding them as Gohan had found while trying to find Goku. "I'd love for you to meet them. But first there's-" he motioned over as if to introduce some one, but he soon realized no one was there. "Aaaahh!" he suddenly screamed startling Goku, and causing him to flinch.

"What? What's the matter?!" Goku asked turning just as frantic as his son as he moved his head around to try to find what was wrong.

"My friend!" Gohan cried brining his hands to grab his head "He's back there in the desert! You have to go back for him! He needs my help!" he screamed frantically at his father. He however only turned sheepish by his sons frantic requests.

"Well, you see" Goku smiled nervously as he scratched the back of his head "The thing is that.. I can't go back."

"WHAT?!" Gohan screamed, and Goku put his hands up defensively.

"It's not that I don't want to" Goku said "It's just-I only knew where you were because I felt your energy so distinctly all of a sudden. I knew it had to be you. To be honest I've kind of been in and out since I've been here. There are all kinds of new energy signatures here that I'm not used to sensing." Goku admitted. Gohan felt it as well. From Gaara to Mayuri, Ichigo and himself there was something distinct between all of them "I thought I felt the boys before, but then they disappeared too. And Vegeta and Piccolo appear only sporadically. Sometimes feeling as close as you are and sometimes even farther off like they were never there." Goku explained.

"What happened?!" Gohan asked "Did you split up?! That's a terrible idea when you can't get a read on this place!" His father was silent for a few moments.

"Well it wasn't our plan exactly." he chuckled "We made a wish and this is how it turned out. I guess we should have been more specific." he chuckled embarrassed. Gohan could only drop his head before looking back up to his father.

"So are you saying-"

"I can't really sense your friend back there. So I can't go back and get him." Goku told pained as it was for him to say it or Gohan to hear it.

Gohan let out a sigh "Well I don't think he'll need my help. He'll be alright, I'm sure of it!" he said his voice and tone more comforting now and each word started to make him more confident in Ichigo. If he came all this way to find his father, now he would have to find him too "So.." he calmed down and looked up to his father "where to now dad?"

Goku put his hands on his hips "Well, we are here to find tailed beasts aren't we?" he asked. "So let's go find one." he brought up a fist and clenched it.

"It's a good thing." Gohan agreed "In fact I may just know where to go." Gohan said knowingly.

"Hm?" Goku let out curiously. The gnarled figure behind them stirred, his head titled towards them in curiosity.

"That fight you interrupted." Gohan began to explain "The one I fought against. Turns out he used to be a host for one of the tailed beasts."

"A host huh?" Goku repeated "I wasn't expecting that." he admitted taken back by this new information "Sounds kinda like me when I was a boy. Seems like we don't have to wait for a full moon" he chuckled recalling his transformation in his youth. "So where is it then?"

"There are two." Gohan told "There's the eight tails. The other is the nine tailed fox"

"The Nine Tailed Fox." Goku repeated intrigued. Now that was something that evoked power to him, just the thing he's cross worlds to find. And he was ready to rise to the challenge. "Now that sounds more like it" he put a hand on Gohan's shoulder "Well done son" he congratulated him. From behind the large battle worn figure stirred, titling his had more towards them "Now where is it?"

"The eight tails is in the Cloud Village." Gohan told, just as he heard it from Gaara. Goku's determination faded as he looked up to the sky to see the clouds were sparse above them. Little did they know he just came from that way "But this Nine tails" Gohan said as Goku turned back to him innocently "It's in the Leaf Village."

Goku now turned his head to see the scattered dead trees all around them. But looking ahead he could see them mass together and sprout green leaves. If there was any place a Nine tailed fox would call home, Goku bet it was that way.

Goku then turned back to him "Then that's where we'll go." Goku squeezed his shoulder "Well, try to find your friend too."

"I know we will." Gohan said matching his fathers determination "I think you'd get along great." Gohan admitted. True they was a difference in age, but he could see Goku warming up to Ichigo, given all he'd done for Gohan already.

"We will once this tailed beast is taken care of." Goku said "Then King Kai won't have anything to worry about." he then pointed over his shoulder at someone sitting behind him "I've already found a swordsman to fight."

As if on que the grim figure behind them shifted in place, lifting himself off of the ground and stood a tall imposing height over them. Gohan was clearly startled by him and the way his eye gleamed down at him.

One of his eyes rolled over to Goku "This is your son?" he asked looking to Goku as the two stood in his shadow.

"You bet." he nodded not put off at all by him. "Gohan, this is Kenpachi Zaraki. He's one of the strongest Soul Reapers ever!" Goku introduced them excitedly.

'A soul reaper' Gohan thought 'Just like Rukia and Ichigo!'. But he could tell he was no substitute like Ichigo and than he was a Captain level one, like Mayuri, Ichigo, Shunsui and Jushiro.

A small pink haired girl poked up over Kenpachi's shoulder the way a rabbit would pop out of its hole.

"Hi there!" she chirped "My name is Yachiru! I'm Kenny's lieutenant."

Kenpachi made a move and stepped before Gohan. His arms were tucked into his tattered white jacket as his one visible eye trailed all over Gohan's body.

"He's your son alright." he grinned, but it had an unnerving, unpleasant look to Gohan, though no one else seemed to mind it. "Not as strong, but I bet it'll be a good fight." he said pushing his arm through his sleeves and reaching for his sword.

"Whoawhoawhoa" Gohan waved his arms around "I don't want to fight anyone! We're on the same team here!"

"No fighting's no fun." Yachiru chirped sitting on his shoulder.

"Save your strength for later." Goku put a hand on Kenpachi's shoulder "We'll need it." Grumbling Kenpachi obliged Goku by taking his hands off his sword. Looking over his blade Gohan noticed how different he seemed from all the others he'd seen and that got him thinking about something else.

"You know I've met someone who uses a sword too." Gohan said "Maybe you know him?"

Kenpachi's interest hardly seemed peeked "Was he from Squad 10?" he asked preoccupied with something stuck between his teeth.

"No." Gohan shook his head "Actually they were back at my home world." No sooner had he said that has Kenpachi loomed over him.

"If it's anyone else, they shouldn't be here!" He suddenly drew his sword and pointed it dangerously close to Gohan's head "Tell me who it is, so I can gut em when this is all over!" he grinned maliciously while Yachiru cheered him on from his shoulder.

"N-nevermind forget I said anything!" Gohan said nervously. He certainly wouldn't want Ichigo coming to blows with some one like this. Little did he know he already had. But telling him that would truly only make it worse "Come to think of it I can't even remember his name." he lied, but it was enough for Kenpachi to back away from him.

Clearly disappointed Kenpachi rested his sword against his shoulder.

"Enough of this talk." he grumbled turning to Goku "Let's get going."

"Alright." Goku nodded. The two of them then turned to Gohan who was ready to join them on their journey to the Leaf Village.

"You listen to me! Yachiru screeched at them "I know the way! I'll show you!" she then hurled herself over Kenpachi's shoulder and grabbed onto his Captain's cloak and swung up so she was eye to eye with Gohan "You better keep up new guy!" she pointed her little finger at his face. "Or else we'll leave you behind."

Winding road in the Land of Fire

'The trail wasn't cold, not yet!' Lee thought to himself. With one hand in front of the other, he walked across the ground on his hands, using them as if they were his legs; treating this as an extra bonus to both his training and trailing regiment. He had continued on the path he set out for himself following the road as it was flanked by the forest around him. Vegeta could fly, but that would be no match for Lee's tenacity and fury.. once he found him that is.

His head was closer to the ground, so he titled it up rolling his black ball of hair back so he could view the sky. It was open and clear, yet there was no sign of anyone travelling through it. "Over Ten thousand paces and still no sign of him." he admitted, but not in defeat "Time for a change in strategy!" he declared pushing his hands on the ground and flinging himself in the air, doing a flip and landing on his feet. He raised his right leg perpendicular to his body and began jumping forward "Only nine hundred ninety-nine more paces!" he shouted. Thinking of it now jumping may even give him a way to counter his flight.

Surprisingly that turned out to be true. For as he bounded forward he saw higher into the air and he saw something in the trees above the road further down from him.

Standing up in a tree by the road with his arms crossed was a muscular man with black hair, sleeves blue gi and white gloves and boots.

The search was over!

Lee finished his last jump and landed firmly on the ground, coming down with both feet. He gazed upwards to the back of the man he had traced all the way from the Fire Temple. There he was sitting arrogantly up in a tree, not even noticing him. Instead, he was staring off into the distance, as if some great force that he couldn't see had his attention and was eating away at him.

"That energy?" Lee heard him mutter in disbelief, his voice just as irritating as when he last heard it "Could it be?" he asked aloud in surprise.

"Vegeta!" Lee shouted out from below, his voice ringing in determination high up into the trees.

"Hm?" the figure let out. He looked around finding nothing, until he finally looked down to see someone starring defiantly up at him. He seemed confused as to who it was at first. But after a few moments a chortle escaped from him and that cocky grin that Lee remembered returned. He cocked his head at him from above and pointed at him with a white glove "That's Prince Vegeta to you." he corrected. He saw Rock Lee stiffen beneath him "You." he said with a sly smile as he pointed down to him "I must have left in such a hurry last time and since I thought I'd never lay eyes on you again I found no point in asking." he said arrogantly and Lee's large eye brows furrowed and his round eyes squinted at him. "I suppose you think that's rude of me." he let out a small chuckle as Lee remained silent "Who are you again?" he finally asked.

Now that he was somewhat taken aback by. He stood up straight and declared "I am Rock Lee!" he pointed to himself and began to proclaim his status as proudly as Vegeta had told him his name before at the fire temple "Handsome Devil of the Hidden Leaf Village! Pupil to the Great Might Guy greatest Tai jutsu master in the world-"

"Your world maybe." Vegeta cut him off and Lee starred up at him with determination. "Well, then Rock Lee" Vegeta crossed his arms and said his name for the first time, something Lee was overjoyed to hear. "I'm surprised to see you again. You have spirit for one so small.. but spirit isn't everything." he said gaining Lee's fury and getting more enjoyment out of it the longer it dragged on. That look now and his insistence on pushing after him had reminded Vegeta of Kakarot, given how Lee carried himself. So that brought him to a simple conclusion. "But you've managed to find me. Do you still intend on beating me?"

Lee nodded and answered without hesitation, taking his trademark pose putting one hand behind his back as he brought the other forward and pointed his fingers outward "Certainly."

Vegeta's cocky smile grew when he heard that. "Alright." he said somewhat amused "I haven't had a challenge since I've got here. No swordsman or beast to be found." he said as he hopped off of the branch and began floating down to his level, his arms still crossed "So you'll have to do." he said as he touched back on the ground, planting his feet firmly on it.

Lee did the same across from him. This was it! His mission would come to a glorious end here.

Vegeta watched him across the way as he moved his arms for an attack. Lee had thought out how to both act and react to Vegeta. He was prepared for a ki blast like he'd seen before, anticipating Vegeta would make the first move. And perhaps he could have, but then suddenly Vegeta froze in shock. His eyes went wide, and his head snapped in another direction. His guard dropped and his attention was completely off of Lee and back into the distance to where he Lee had found him looking before.

"What?!" he shouted. Lee raised one large eyebrow at this. Was it a trick? Some new tactic? "Ka-Kakarot?! I'd know it anywhere!" he said aloud looking off into the distance. Lee looked as well but saw no one.

'Reinforcements?' he thought not letting his guard down.

Vegeta continued on in disbelief "And.. Gohan? Why's he here?!" Now Lee was just as confused as Vegeta appeared. Then out of nowhere and as if he wasn't there at all Vegeta powered up and took off into the air, away from him once again.

"Wait!" Lee called and Vegeta stopped short in mid air suddenly as if just remembering what was about to transpire. He looked back down to see Lee staring up at him, disappointment evident in his face just as much as the determination from before.

"Oh you're still here?" Vegeta said as if he had already forgotten about him. "Unfortunately for you I have more important things to find and do right now." he said, and Lee only shook a fist as time "But it seems that won't suffice for you" he smirked "Well, then I'll make you a deal boy."

"Boy!" Lee repeated offended "I have told you my name is Rock Lee!" he proclaimed reminding Vegeta who he was dealing with.

Vegeta chuckled at him "If you say so." he said dismissively "If your so intent on having this fight then we may just have it..." he paused and seemed to speak agreeably to him "if you can track me down again that is." his voice hardened and he cackled mockingly. And without another word said he soared off away into the sky leaving Lee behind once again, thinking for certain this time that this would be the last time he saw him.

That however, only fueled his determination as he watched him leave him behind. Lee would hold Vegeta to his word.

Next time: Their decision made and fate revealed, back to the home front.

Reunions and Revelations in the Hidden Leaf Village and Soul Society.

And Naruto meets a new ally!