On the edge of the Leaf Village, three distinct groups clamored at its gates. To the native Leaf Village ninjas, it looked like the regular start to a large group mission. Only this would be one where they would not follow.

Instead, the group stood amongst themselves exchanging-pleasant or otherwise- goodbyes.

In between them all stood Goku. Moving his head from side to side, he saw every one else, but when he looked before him he saw Naruto.

"You sure you don't want out help?" Goku asked him "I've fought entire armies before you know." he reminded him of his adventures when he was even younger than he was now "We have one more wish from the dragon too." he offered. If this Akatsuki was as strong as they sounded, it seems they would need all the help they could get.

Naruto looked like he appreciated his sentiment, but still shook his head "This is our fight. And I'm gonna see it finished." he declared. Goku nodded to him, acknowledging the resolve in his fiery little rival. Naruto returned it and the two looked at each other with the same knowing respectful look; they had come a long way from that battle. Their stare was broken by Naruto when he turned his head to look at the third member of their group "You get them home safe alright?" he said turning to Ichigo.

"You don't have to worry about that." Ichigo assured him. His word was his bond, and he would see it through and it was all the reassurance Naruto would need to hear from him.

They were centered in the large group. Being in the middle of it all the three of them they looked around to every one else.

"Well," Ichigo began as all three saw other pair ups made throughout their shared adventure "Of all the world's I've been to." he said thinking back to when he first left Karakura Town to go to Soul Society and then to Hueco Mundo all over again "Your two worlds" he paused taking everyone in himself "might just be my favorite." Turning back to him Naruto and Goku giggled and nodded in agreement. They then turned back to look at everyone else.

Rangiku had brought Tsunade into a tight deadlock of a hug. Many of the men starred on gaping at the interaction.

"I'm gonna miss you girlfriend!" Rangiku sobbed into her shoulder, as their chests pressed together "When ever I drink now, it'll be twice as hard just for you!"

"No!" Toshiro budded in from below "You will not!" Toshiro snapped.

"Captain" she whined down to him "I'll be grieving!" she sobbed, but all he saw were crocodile tears and more excuses.

Toshiro opened his mouth to retort, but something large and round was suddenly placed in his line of sight. He was ever so used to it, already expecting it to be someone's large chest in his face. But looking over, he saw Shizune bending down and offering him a watermelon. Taken aback by it, he settled down and looked up at her.

"Just a little gift from us." she smiled happily "For the journey home." she said offering it, her voice sentimental.

Toshiro looked at the gift before him "It's not a long one." he admitted taking it, the aggravated tone of his voice leaving as he did "But thanks." he managed a smile. He then looked down at the gift as a shadow overtook him from the front. Looking up from the watermelon in his hands, he saw Tsunade bent down before him. She wasn't eye level with him for all he saw was her chin and neck. But he felt her lips pressed against his forehead as a kiss.

He instantly blushed red as she pulled away.

"Thanks for everything." she said "Now it's just up to me to get the village back on track."

Red faced Toshiro averted his eyes "You'll do fine." he mumbled. From beside him his lieutenant put a hand to her mouth.

"Oh Captain." Rangiku giggled down at him "You're so popular with the ladies." He just rolled his eyes at her lighthearted comment.

Before Goten and Trunks Onoki floated in the air.

"Now listen here you two," he started to lecture them, but what went on from there was a long, long lecture of the benefits and hindsight of age. One that was so long and boring that the two of them snuck of without the old geezer even noticing. But as they crept away they only ended up bumping into Team Ebisu.

"Where do you think you two are going?" Konohamaru asked standing in their way.

"Home." Trunks answered.

"Away from here." Goten added.

"But if you leave now, how will we ever find out whose worthy to carry that sword?" he pointed over to Toshiro holding his watermelon who only sighed, once again annoyed at the prospect. "Because I don't accept draws."

"Well, we're leaving now, so maybe I'll get it." Trunks grinned.

"No fair." Konohamaru whined.

"Boys!" a haggard old voice said and Onoki flew in from the side, floating above the two groups "Now where was I?" he said before continuing right where he left off, only with more ears to listen in willingly or otherwise.

Beside them Rukia approached Sakura.

"I drew these pictures to commemorate our time together. " Rukia said, graciously offering the numerous pieces of paper to her, enough to fill a book with.

"Oh!" Sakura cooed as she flipped threw them. Seeing multiple pictures of Chappy and a similar looking one only dressed in pink to represent Sakura. She turned each page gaining more and more appreciation for it. One showed her fawning at Byakuya, another showed them training together, another showed Rukia meeting Rock Lee "That's so-" she stopped suddenly when she saw a picture of Chappy stabbing the one in pink; their first meeting. She looked to Rukia who blushed hoping Sakura would like it "..very thoughtful" she cringed, suppressing her urge to tear it up.

'It's better than Sai's at least.' Sakura thought to herself.

Renji stood by idly waiting for this all to be over. His arms folded and his head hardly moving, he waited for it all to be over. But a sudden creepy feeling came over him. Turning his head to the sound of soft footsteps, he was taken by surprise by Shino once again.

"Dah!" he let out but quickly silenced a shriek when he realized who it was, though it didn't make him feel any more secure. Shino was before him, standing as still was Renji was before.

"I suppose I should thank you." Shino said probably thinking he sounded kind and not eerie. Renji thought it was the latter. "I managed to meet up with your captain." he told as the sun flashed across his lenses "After a wonderful trip to Namek that is." he paused introspectively "Many great specimens there." he told, sounding more like Mayuri than Renji would have liked. Shino went on for a bit with some details of his trip to Renji, who was only interested in what happened when Shino finally came across Byakuya.

"You uh" Renji paused as he saw Shino's perfectly unharmed body. Certainly not what he was expecting "Get to fight?"

"Sadly, no." he shrugged before setting his shoulders back down "But he did give me your job."

Renji was dumbfounded at first, but let out an uncomfortable chuckle "Oh hehe. I didn't know you knew how to joke."

A strange moment of silence past between them, made all the more stranger to Renji by Shino's regular oddness. But the next thing made it even worse.

"I'm not." he said flaty.

"WHAT?!" Renji shouted. Despite his loud cry, it went unnoticed for other such outbursts were occurring close by.

"Alright you!" Might Guy pointed a finger at Vegeta, whose eyes only seemed to twitch the more this man looked at him.

"Oh look, they grow up so fast." he grunted.

"Not with the Power of Youth!" he exclaimed raising his arms up in the air before turning them back onto Vegeta "Don't think that by scurrying off like this in a fury that I'll let you off the hook. You can be an entire world away and it won't save you from me!" Vegeta just raised an eyebrow to his ramblings. He opened his mouth to say something, but Guy moved on to another target. "And don't think I've forgotten about you!" Guy quickly snapped around to point at yet another assailant. The clueless cat sat on the ground looking back at him over the edge of his finger "Don't give me those wide eyes, you know exactly what your capable of!" he continued to ramble on at the helpless animal not knowing that behind him Kakashi and Yoruichi watched him; both with amused and dumbfounded looks. She shot a strange look at Kakashi who only shrugged in response.

"Do not take what Guy-sensei says for granted." Lee declared up to Vegeta who smugly looked away from him "He is strong and wise beyond his years!" he said taking up where Guy left off.

"Oh yes, it shows." Vegeta scoffed as Guy shouted down at a cat. From behind Bulma then nudged Vegeta in the shoulder. Caught between the both of them and crossing his arms he looked away from her.

"But it is not Guy-sensei who you should be wary of." Lee told "It is I." he pointed a bandaged thumb to himself.

"Tch." Vegeta let out amused between his teeth "Well I grant you this. It won't take you a hundred years of training to match me, 'Handsome Devil of the Hidden Leaf'." Vegeta smirked, quoting the very moniker Lee introduced himself as the second time they crossed paths on the road.

"The Prince has learned some humility!" Lee grinned ecstatically. Bulma smiled at the developments. Vegeta's comment about taking a hundred years to train was a reference to another, which Lee understood. The person he alluded to was outside of the group now.

Byakuya was one of the few who looked on with solemn silence, distancing himself from the others.

"Goodbye's are always sad huh?" a woman's voice rang out, and he dreaded thinking it was for him. Looking over he saw the Mizukage creep up next to him, breaking his solidarity.

"I suppose." he answered dryly.

"Are you sad that this is all happening?" She placed a reassuring hand onto his shoulder. He quickly put his up to swipe it off.

"No." he answered flatly and walked off to find his solitude again.

Amongst all the clamor and commotion Piccolo found comfort alone under the shade of a tree.

"And what are you doing?" a small curious voice spoke up. Looking over his left shoulder, he saw Sakura looking up at him. He turned back to observe the group, seeing everyone converse and stand amongst each other which for now would be the last time. He was silent as he took it all in, but was still somewhat sentimental.

"Can't say I've ever been one for goodbye's." he admitted.

Sakura let out a small smile "You know.." she paused to look back at the group and Piccolo's eyes rolled over to her "I don't think anyone really is." He smiled in agreement to that.

"It's going better than some hello's" a voice called out. It startled Piccolo and he pushed himself off of the tree to see that sprouting out from behind it was none other than Yamato.

"Y-Yamato" Piccolo let out surprised. He paused to look him over "You're alright."

"Much better now." he admitted rolling his shoulder "You don't pull any punches do you?" he asked, sounding friendly, but only making Piccolo more regretful.

"I'm sorry." Piccolo bowed his head mournfully.

"Don't be." Yamato consoled him with a hand to the shoulder "If I was in our position I'd be the same."

Piccolo raised his head "Thank you." he nodded "But it still would have ended up being for nothing." Yamato nodded to him now. Yamato then turned his head to see the large mesh of people at the gate.

"So," he began "This is what I missed?"

"I'll try to bring you up to speed." Piccolo said.

Inside of the group Gohan and Ichigo swung their arms up and grabbed each other's hands.

"It was a pretty fun time wasn't it?" Gohan asked.

"Yeah," Ichigo nodded "I can do a little less with certain things." he shrugged.

Gohan nodded "Next time."

Ichigo paused to look him over now. The orange and Blue definitely made him fall in place with his father and brother. Gohan offered him a chance to unlock his potential through the Elder Kai, but Ichigo declined. He wouldn't want to stand that long anyway. But seeing Gohan in this outfit now, a smirk came across his face.

"What is it?" Gohan asked concerned.

"Normal or not," Ichigo began "I think I like the other costume better." That of course only made Gohan feel all the more better, even if he was parting from his new friends at the moment. "Just keep saving the world Great Saiyaman." Ichigo smiled.

"So long as you keep track of your friends."

"You know I will." Ichigo said. The two released each other and Ichigo looked back to Goku and Naruto. Moving away from Gohan, he went to the two who were talking amongst themselves. He seemed to arrive at the perfect time however, as they both looked up to see him.

"Eh," he mumbled as he rubbed the back of his head "Sorry about try to..uh... you know."

As amusing as him stumbling over his words was Naruto cut him short "Don't sweat it." Naruto put both of his hands on the back of his head and a grin of his own.

Relieved at that, and that he was forgiven Ichigo lowered his hand down to his side and smiled. With one bridge mended, he turned over to do the same to the other.

"Danger or not, at least you found your kids again." Ichigo said looking to Goku "I guess I could take credit for that... some how."

"Yeah, cause they all tried to ditch you." Naruto cut in and laughed as Ichigo's face went a bit red.

"Well, I'm about to ditch you here." he said back and the laughing stopped.

"Hey," Naruto grumbled "what's that supposed to mean?"

"I think he's trying to say bye." Goku budded in. Ichigo and Naruto exchanged glances from Goku and to each other.

"Yeah. Something like that." Ichigo shrugged.

"You got it!" Naruto exclaimed.

Naruto extended his fist out to Ichigo, but not threatening him this time. Grinning Ichigo brought his up and knocked it against his. They were joined by a third one as Goku placed his with theirs making a triangle with their fists. Then at the same moment they lowered their hands.

All eyes went to Ichigo "So are we gonna do this?" Goku asked.

"Not me." Ichigo answered pointing off to Rukia who with her sword extended outward had already opened the door to the Soul Society.

"That's so cool!" Sakura squealed, cheering her on. All eyes were on the door and every one who would be passing through it; the Z warriors and the Soul Reapers as they left the ninjas behind. More goodbye's occurred, some fast, some drawn out, but eventually all the two groups left the third and crammed through the door. Once on the other side all eyes went back to those they were leaving behind.

Remaining behind at the gate of the Leaf Village was everyone who they had come across in their adventure. The boisterous young children of Konohamaru, Udon, Moegi jumping up and down at one end to the more stoic and still Shino and Neji on the other. Filling out the ranks in between was Rock Lee and Might Guy who hurled passionate farewells and boastful challenges to come, Tsunade who offered a small hand gesture and Shizune who struggled to wave while still holding onto Tonton. Sakura stood beneath her master waving herself, but next to her and centered in the middle of everyone was Naruto who stood watching them all go.

From the other side of the gate, now within the bounds of the Soul Society everyone waved or called goodbye in their own way. Goku was the closest one to the door and still the closest one to the world of the ninja's he had just left behind. He looked back to see everyone there wishing them good luck and goodbye. His eyes steadied in on Naruto who looked right back at him.

Goku let out one more wave to Naruto who brought his own hand up to wave back at him. Ichigo then came up beside Goku to do the same and Naruto's waved turned into a thumbs up. The doors on both sides of the Senkaimon began to close now, limiting their view of the ninja world. The closer the doors got the more of that marvelous group they knew disappeared. The last thing they saw Naruto and his thumbs up, a happy if mischievous grin on his face.

Then finally the doors closed completely and the ninja world was gone behind them.

Finishing his wave Goku put his arm down with Ichigo beside him. The two then moved from looking to what was once there, to what was still there and turned to each other. Goku nodded and Ichigo returned one. Letting out a sigh, Ichigo turned around to see every one else.

"So," Goku called to Ichigo as he turned around with him looking to see two distinct groups: the Z warriors and the Soul Reapers still intermingling together. It was very reminiscent of what was happening before at the gates of the Leaf Village only on a slightly smaller scale now.

As soon as they had gotten here, the group thinned out even more as Byakuya had moved himself away from the still very large group. Though his escape did not go unnoticed.

"Brother!" a voice called and he stopped. He turned his head halfway to look back over his shoulder to see Rukia watching him, still within the confines of the larger group "Where are you going?"

"The mission is done, if there ever was one." he told calmly "There is no reason to stay behind now. Not when there is work required of me at my barracks."

Though expecting it, Rukia still voiced her disapproval "But brother-"

"Let him leave." a voice that sounded the exact opposite of Byakuya's called out; loud and irritating. Rukia turned back as Byakuya looked further past her to see Vegeta standing with his arms crossed and his body bladed to them, but looking the other way towards the door, waiting to leave himself "Good riddance." he bid not looking their way. Rukia grumbled to the Saiyan Prince, but Byakuya seemingly agreed with the assessment.

"Yes." he said looking to Vegeta "Good riddance." he finally turned back and headed down the street, but stopped again only this time he did not call back. "Renji." he called placidly yet his voice still carried.

Renji was talking with Gohan and fidgeted when his name was called. Looking over, he saw his captain was not looking at him, but was still waiting for him.

His eyes shifted between Gohan and Byakuya "I'll be right there Captain!" he called to him.

Now Byakuya said no more. He moved again continuing on his way down the street and away from the group before turning a corner out of sight.

Toshiro stood calmly amongst everyone else. Though with two young half Saiyans circling around him in the air, he found it hard to keep his grumbling in check.

"Don't think you got off the hook this time." Trunks said as he swerved around him.

"Yeah." Goten agreed as he went in the opposite direction.

"But it makes me wonder." Trunks suddenly stopped causing Goten to do the same and even Toshiro raised his head to look at him out of the corner of his eye "Since you beat Gotenks, maybe I should use you as my new fusion partner from now on." he proposed with a greedy chuckle to go with it "That way I can definitely get my hands on that sword." he said, eyeing Hyorinmaru on Toshiro's back.

"Heey! Truunks!" Goten whined.

"What would we be?" Trunks wondered aloud "Toshirunks? Trushiro?" he asked.

"Goshiro!" Goten said defiantly "Toshiten!" he continued.

Even Toshiro couldn't help but grin at that "It's Captain Hitsugaya." he said causing the two to stop rambling names and look down to him "And nothing more." The two boys settled down in the air before him.

"Awww." a bubbly voice cooed as a shadow overtook Toshiro. Toshiro looked up to see what it was and was suddenly taken from behind and above as Rangiku grabbed ahold of him, and her chest fell down right on top of his head smothering it, making him look decapitated as he disappeared within it "Captain, it's so nice to see you playing with kids your age!" Watching on Goten and Trunks turned a bright shade of red.

"Alright you two." Bulma came from behind and put her hands over their eyes "That's not for you to see." she said angrily as she watched on disapprovingly.

Standing off from the group were two more figures. They were not leaving it behind like Byakuya had, but lingering on the outer edge of it was Piccolo and Yoruichi. She stood as he often did with his arms crossed, while she leaned casually against the wall.

Seeing everyone together like this, it sure made Ichigo and Goku all the more content, but there was of course that matter of what to do with all of them.

"What's next?" Goku asked Ichigo, but the look on Ichigo's face showed he was just as confused as he was. Naturally he thought, it would be the obvious; to get them all home from here. A voice then called out from the side of the Senkaimon to answer him.

"You just wait a moment!" Shunsui said and all eyes went to him, naturally with Jushiro as they stood by the control panel on the side of the massive doors. The very device that allowed the Soul Reapers to go beyond their natural boundaries to travel to these two new worlds. It would now be used one final time to bring the Z warriors home. "This'll take a moment to set up." he said even as a bright light shot out and up from the Senkaimon that could be seen across the entire Soul Society.

At Squad 11 Yachiru poked her head out the window to see the bright light shooting up to the sky as the doors opened.

"See the light Kenny?" she asked as the Captain lay sprawled across the floor with his eyes closed "Wanna see?" she asked turning around to him.

"...na.." he grumbled lazily as he lay there.

She titled her head down at him. "Wanna say goodbye?"

"I've no use for such things." he let out in a huff. Cooing she turned from him back to the bright light shooting up into the sky. As this went on in the Combat division, a similar such predicament was going on at the Department of Research and Development.

"Captain." Nemu spoke up as he lay hunched over a computer screen watching to make sure every single one of them left. The light from his screen shined even brighter now as it showed the light from the Senkaimon "Are you watching it sir?" Mayrui grinded his teeth in frustration.

"What does it look like I'm doing you stupid girl?" he retorted before leaning back in his chair angrily. "The sooner they're gone the better." he crossed his arms and fidgeted in his chair, yet his eyes were glued to the screen and the massive doors that would take this foreign group home. Courtesy of him. His eyes focused back to the side of the Senkaimon where his invention was placed. "Such a marvelous device" he managed a small grin at his genius.

From the high peak of Squad 1 Yammamoto gazed down the Senkaimon and the bright light that shined from it.

At the Senkaimon the large doors opened again, and a familiar sight was before them; home. A large green hillside overlooking a city. There was the bustling and busy West City with the Capsule Corp Dome in the middle of it. In the distance, they thought they could see Korin's Tower reaching high in the sky. Goku, Vegeta both of their families and Piccolo leaned in through the door to the welcoming sight of Earth.. or their Earth to be specific.

"Ah" Goku released a big breath "Good to see it again." he said.

"Still as noisy as I remember it." Ichigo grinned beside him.

"Maybe next time we can see your world. The one you live in." Goku said "I'm sure Naruto would love it."

"It's not as adventurous as this place." Ichigo said looking back at the Soul Society over his shoulder. Goku turned back with him to see that everyone started to move now, or at least half of them did. Vegeta, Bulma, Piccolo Gohan, Goten and Trunks all moved away to take their place by Goku in front of the open doors. Everyone else remained behind. Of the group standing before the doors only one of them moved; Ichigo making his way back to stand among the Captains and lieutenant of the Soul Society.

Watching him go, Goku was the first of his group to turn back to see all the Soul Reapers looking at them. He scanned the crowd to see every one present and then locked eyes with Ichigo. He shot him a thumbs up.

"Stay in touch, alright." he said.

"Well," Ichigo shrugged "I guess I can't ask you to do it since we'll have to come to you."

"We still have another wish." Goku reminded him pointedly, as if he wanted to be rid of it already. For now it seemed the only way for them to reach the Soul Society or Leaf Village, until Bulma could figure something out like a time machine. "Maybe I'll see you first. And we can finally have an end to that fight."

"You're on." Ichigo grinned, taking him up on the challenge "but let's save it for some one who really needs it next time." He shot him a thumbs up now.

With that final motion, Goku took in one final look of all the Soul Reapers they had encountered. From his own world to the Soul Society to the Ninja World; he took it all in just as he did when he first viewed home now.

Then pivoted on his heels and bounded through the door leaping through it. Then following his lead Vegeta, Piccolo, Gohan, Bulma, Goten and Trunks followed him. A sudden fresh gust of wind past through each of them as they passed through. As soon as they had jumped through, they touched down on the ground. Goku quickly turned to look back and see the door close behind them.

"Goodbye!" Goku yelled back to the door before it closed, his voice accompanied by a wave. He received the same from the other side from Ichigo as they closed, shutting them off from each other completely. Then the massive doors disappeared again, with all of those who were behind it.

And just like that the adventure that brought them through two new worlds and home again was done.

Smiling Goku turned to every one else with him on the green hillside. Goten and Trunks were flying circles around Vegeta while Bulma spoke with Gohan with West City behind them. This was how it should be. After everything that had happened, they were finally home. Safe and at Peace. But with more to show this time. They had made new friends and allies. It didn't matter if they were worlds away or not.

It was that very sentiment that upon looking to his group again it was at the moment that Goku noticed something was off, or rather missing.

"Wait a second." Goku said concerned as he looked around, gathering every one's attention "Where's Piccolo?" he asked. Alarmed and concerned every one else looked around in an attempt to find their green friend, but no one could.

Little did they know, he wasn't the only one missing from his respective group.

In the middle of the arctic Piccolo, Kakashi and Yoruichi sat together on a small lone block of ice adrift in the water. The two men were on opposite sides of the ice sitting with their arms and legs crossed with their backs facing each other with Yoruichi laying between them completing the circle; her back to the other two, her legs crossed with one foot bobbing up and down against the surface of the water.

"Is it over?" Piccolo asked.

"Not till the fish jumps." Kakashi responded. A small fish then jumped out of the water by Kakashi.

"It's over." Yoruichi said.

The End