Hello True Believers and Mandalore-holics!

I was pretty pleased with the response of the previous chapter, so I decided to give you all a treat and give you the 2nd of 2 ideas that originated from the saem plot point. The guys at TFF, after reading the first two parts of the last chapter, requested this alternate storyline be ran. So this is an A/U of an A/U.

It starts out pretty much the same, but does deviate from the previous chapter considerablly as it continues.

Enjoy!

"Stop him!" shouted Soi Fon surprising many, "Those two are trying to destroy Syoukyoku!"

Unfortunately, it was already too late. The damage was done. Seireitei's most effective tool of execution was destroyed, as was the shield bearing the mark of the Shihouin Clan.

"Hey! What are you doing now?" asked the executee, Kuchiki Rukia to her would be rescuer, Kurosaki Ichigo.

"Isn't it obvious?" asked Ichigo with a grin, spinning his massive zanpakuto, "I'm going to destroy this rack."

As Rukia protested, he told her to shut up, and watch him.

Much to her astonishment and those below and the dread of one, Ichigo shattered the rack with a single solid blow and took Rukia into his arms in one fluid motion.

"I've come to save you Rukia," said Ichigo as he held her under one arm and his zanpakuto on the opposite shoulder.

Before anyone could do anything else, a surge of power washed over the area.

"Are you two aware of what you have done?" asked Yamamoto bitingly. The grip on his cane tightened visibly. "The rack, the Syoukyoku, and the Shihouin Crest each played a vital part in the security of Seireitei!"

"Now, Now, gaki... Is that anyway to act around your former Taichou?" asked an amused voice. However, many noticed the slight slump in Yamamoto's shoulders. "So... What type of operation are you and those prejudiced idiots running here Yama-kun? Given the location, I'd say you were about to host an execution. Given the damage and the way everyone here is about to jump each other, I'd say some people don't exactly agree with you."

The man made no attempt to move or show any indication that he was hostile. However, his appearance was more than a small surprise to everyone present.

The newcomer was a rather young looking man with spiky blonde hair and bright blue eyes with six whisker-like birthmarks. In his hand was a rather plain looking, black bladed katana. He wore typical shinigami robes, though they seemed a bit tattered. However, he wore an orange sash around his waist. His captain's haori was different too. It was dark red, with black flames. It too was tattered.

Around his arm was a badge that all recognized.

It was nearly an exact replica of the one held by Yamamoto-Genryuusai Shigekuni in his office. It bore the symbol of the First Division of Seireitei. Many looked back at the Sotaicho only to see him trembling. The blonde man's insignia was not pure gold with a black engraving. His was mostly black, with the border and the crest were gold.

"S-sotaicho...?" asked Soi Fon towards Yamamoto. At the address, the blonde man raised an eyebrow.

"I see the last couple thousand years have been both kind and not so kind to you, gaki," said the man. "You used to look younger than me when I was sealed."

Seeing that his sensei was making no move to defend himself, nor treat this newcomer as any sort of hostile, Ukitake Juushirou decided to take a step forward and engage the young man in conversation.

"Tell me, friend, who are you?" he asked in a curiously friendly tone.

"You know, it's only polite to give your own name first when asking the name of another... Friend," the man chastised Juushirou politely.

"I am Ukitake Juushirou, Captain of the Thirteenth Division of the Gotei 13," replied Juushirou with a bow.

"Now was that so hard?" asked the man teasingly. "Uzumaki Naruto, former Captain of the First Division and Sotaicho of the Gotei 13."

The shinigami known as Naruto then looked around, his face getting serious. He spotted an orange haired boy holding a raven haired lolita up at the top of the rack where his body was once sealed and a pineapple haired red head with a really cool visor amongst others who were in attendance.

"Why don't you three come join the rest of us so I can figure out what the hell is going on here!" he shouted at them. He added a small fraction of killing intent into the order, to which both the seemingly injured red head and the orange haired gaki quickly responded.

"So... Yama-kun..." Naruto began as he thought over what he was going to say. "What has..." he trailed off looking at the white robed girl questioningly.

"Rukia," she answered, "Kuchiki Rukia."

"Kuchiki, huh?" asked Naruto disbelievingly, "You don't look like much of one."

Forgetting her current plight, Rukia became resentful. "And what is THAT supposed to mean?"

"That you don't LOOK like a member of the Kuchiki Clan, unlike that guy," Naruto shot back, pointing at Byakuya, "Which means you were adopted into the family, something that is highly unlikely due to the fact that the entire clan is a bunch of stuck up, stick in the ass, assholes who care for nothing more than the image of their clan and their status!"

All were shocked speechless by the small outburst, except for Byakuya who attempted to attack Naruto in defense of his clan, only to be held back by Yamamoto.

"Now, what has little Rukia-chan done to warrant an execution?" Naruto asked, glaring at the others, "Executions are rare enough, but to execute someone from a clan, the Kuchiki especially, is unheard of unless they are outcast by the clan and branded a traitor. Considering she was adopted by them and still bears their name, I highly doubt that has happened."

"It's my fault," Ichigo spoke up before Rukia could stop him.

"Oh?"

Ichigo then launched into the story of how he had spotted Rukia in the course of her duties while helping out a regular ghost. He then went on to talk about how they first officially met, the Hollow attack, and the transference of her powers to him.

"I see..." Naruto said thinking something over. "Yama-kun... I'm disappointed in you. I expected better from a former Fourth seat in my division." He then looked up at the Sotaicho, who refused to meet his gaze. "What have I always said about those who break the rules?"

Yamamoto looked uneasy. "They're trash..."

"But..."

"Those who abandon their comrades are worse than trash..."

Naruto glared at the current Sotaicho. "This execution is over."

Soi Fon was the first to move, however one glare from Naruto was sufficient to keep her in check, much to the shock of those who had known of her capabilities. She immediately slumped to her knees and vomited.

Soi Fon, on the other hand, wasn't sure what to think. Whatever that was, was far more potent than anything she had ever felt from even the Sotaicho or a Vasto Lord. For a moment, she had thought she was dead as her mind had been assaulted with various visions of her horrible gruesome death.

The Second Division Captain could do nothing but kneel and pant as she struggled to control her breathing. 'Wh-what... Is... He...?'

Naruto then turned towards a disturbance in the wind. Less than a second later another figure, clad in orange and black, and wearing a mask, made an appearance. He immediately noticed the yellow slitted eyes of her feline heritage.

"Shoalin!" the figure, obviously a female, gasped, tearing off her mask.

"Y-Yoruichi-s-sama..." Soi Fon stuttered out.

"Hello, Shihouin-san," said Naruto calmly. "Considering you're easily this Shoalin's equal, and not wearing a uniform, I take it you are also here to stop the execution?"

The woman looked at Naruto warily, waiting for an impending attack.

"Who are you?" she asked easily sliding into a defensive stance.

"A friend," replied Naruto with a wide smile. "The Shihouin have always stood by me, I hope you shall do the same."

"Why are you helping us?"

"Because it's the right thing to do," replied Naruto easily, "No one deserves to die for saving a life."

So... Good, Bad, Ugly...?