I AM SOOOOO SORRY PEOPLE!!! I KNO I DIDN'T UPDATE FOR LIKE FOREVER!! I'M SO SORRY! I HAVE NO EXCUSE! (except that I was discovering new animes if any of you bother to check my profile. And that the bounto arc is KILLING me cuz it sux. Oh and its my last year as a high school student T.T so sad.) Therefore, I give you permission to kill me. Just don't forget to resurrect me please.
Since I haven't written in a while, you might notice some changes of perspective or other in some characters. Just forgive me until I get used to bleach again. So yes, we have discussion on chakra and reiatsu!
Byakuya was 'sipping' tea at an unbelievable rate. Faster than Naruto could say 'Hokage'. And he was getting ANOTHER refill. His 53rd to be exact.
All the shinobi, and some of the shinigami, watched Byakuya's amazing resistance to hot tea. It was like watching a water show. Without the splashes. Nevertheless, it was, without doubt, fascinating. Who could have guessed that Byakuya was so talented in other areas? Then they all remembered it was BYAKUYA they were talking about.
Ukitake coughed to regain order in the meeting. Everyone turned from Byakuya to the 13th squad captain.
"To start off, we'll talk about our zanpakutous. We gain zanpakutous once we become full shinigamis. It is the basic of being one. Our swords specialize in killing Hollows. You can say that that is what it is designed for."
The shinobi nodded, their curiosity satisfied about the swords.
"However, this is not the only function of zanpakutous. Sometimes, defeating the Hollows require more than just our sword skills. That is why zanpakutous may change form according to shikai and bankai."
Gaara put down his tea. "Shikai and bankai?"
Ukitake nodded. "Yes. They are the first and second transformations a zanpakutou may go through. Each zanpakutou take on different forms and have different abilities. These are determined by the soul inside the sword."
All of the shinobi blinked (except Sasuke who had an 'I knew it' look). Sakura frowned, noticing that shinigamis were getting more and more complex. "What do you mean souls?"
The white-haired captain continued. "Souls. It seems that as souls enter Soul Society, other souls from yet another dimension attach themselves to the new souls. If this soul has the potential, the foreign soul 'lends' more reiatsu to the host soul. This results in a shinigami soul. And the soul that attached itself to the shinigami develops into a zanpakutou."
The room was silent as everyone took the new information in. Shikamaru looked satisfied with the notes he had taken. Shino looked as he always did: comatose.
Meanwhile, Ichigo leaned towards Renji to whisper.
"Oi. Did you know about this? How come no one told me about this?"
Renji turned to Ichigo with distaste. "Of course I did! Everyone knows!" Not. I didn't know this. Where do they hide all of this information? Oh yeah, with the 12th division captain. But who the hell would go near him?
Ichigo continued to whisper. "If you knew about this, explain to me."
"Eh?!" Renji stared at Ichigo. Damn it. I guess this is why they tell you not to lie.
"What? Explain it to me!"
Renji scratched his head. "Uh… Just ask Ukitake-taichou. He'll explain it better. He's the one talking right now anyways."
"But he just finished explaining. And you're closer to me."
"Ask Kuchiki-taichou."
"Byakuya's not going to tell me anything!"
"Shut up than. Ask later."
"Don't tell me to shut up!"
Suddenly, Ichigo clued in. He grinned maliciously and pointed a finger offensively at the poor 6th division vice-captain.
"You don't know. That's why you aren't saying anything. You're stupider than I thought."
Renji's face turned as red as his hair, which was not a pretty sight. He looked like a tomato with a tattoo obsession.
"I never said I knew EVERYTHING. You shouldn't have bothered me!"
"EH? So it's MY fault that you're stupid? What kind of reasoning is that?"
"Kurosaki! Abarai!"
Hitsugaya glared at them. It clearly said 'shut up before I freeze you'. The two shinigamis, defeated before they could even react, sat quietly while Ukitake continued.
"However, that seems to be the extent of our knowledge. We do not know how this process happens nor has anyone seen the reaction."
Being the sharpest, Shikamaru looked at the captain quizzically. "But how do you know this happens than?"
"I'm glad you asked," Ukitake said. "Fortunately, Kurotsuchi-taichou has been able to recreate the process by using one of his previous mod souls while adjusting the atmosphere to be as close as that of the one that a soul would come through before landing in Soul Society. Of course the mod soul was to have been destroyed later."
"Mod souls?"
Shunsui slapped his forehead. "Seems we have a lot to explain don't we Jyuushiro?"
The white haired captain smiled sheepishly and nodded. "Seems we do. I hope you all have the time to stay all day…"
---------
At the end of the day as the sunset, all the shinobi lay around the Hokage's second office, exhausted. Almost everyone lay around the room, trying to still absorb all the information told to them that would be necessary. The exception was Shikamaru, being a 200 IQ genius, Aburame because he always looked like he was passed out, Neji since he found it undignified to 'lie around' in the Hokage's office and Sasuke because… well he was Sasuke.
Contrasting with these, Naruto was half off and half on the large love seat. "Too much…information…help…" His eyes were literally swirls that saw nothing except the overwhelming amount of information told to him. With an 'oof' he fell off and hit the floor with his chin. As soon as that happened, he was up in a flash and running around screaming about his chin. Everyone sweat dropped. Somehow…he hasn't changed…
"Hai hai, I'll treat it for you Naruto. Just stop running around."
Soon Sakura had healed his relatively undamaged chin nicely while lecturing him at the same time for his carelessness. Naruto grinned. "Thanks Sakura." Sakura paused.
But at the same time…he's changed.
"Well anyways, before the idiot decided to make a mockery of himself, did everyone understand? If you didn't, did you at least take notes so that you could review it yourself?" Neji asked.
Everyone answered with a yes. They all took out scrolls filled with writing with a specially set jutsu that would let it self-destruct at any given point. Neji nodded.
"Good. I need to leave for my mission first thing tomorrow morning. So do some of you I believe. It would leave only a few of us to be with the shinigami than, to question or confirm information."
Everyone agreed again. Neji, along with Tenten and Lee, would be leaving tomorrow. So would Kiba, and Shino. Also, Shikamaru and Chouji had separate missions. That would leave Sasuke, Naruto, Sakura, Ino, Hinata, and Gaara. Their group had suddenly shrunk to less than half the size.
To their surprise, Hinata spoke. "Ano… it wouldn't pose t-too much of a problem…w-would it?" She had managed to say it barely stuttering; she had worked on that through the three years that she had been separated from Naruto.
"Well I don't think so… Would it? Unless they want to bombard us with even MORE facts. I mean today was way too intense!" Naruto replied, falling backwards onto the couch as he did.
"It will only decrease the main force should any of those… Hollows attack. After all, we are the only shinobi to know this."
"…I'm leaving."
Everyone looked up to see Gaara calmly walking towards the door, a strange aura coming from his demeanor.
"Eh? But why? We aren't done discussing yet-"
The sand shinobi whirled around, scaring most of the group with his dangerous pale green eyes.
"With the way this meeting is going, it is obvious that you will come to a conclusion that we don't need 12 shinobi for information. Also, I have to go back to my temporary residence to gather the paperwork needed to be done for the Sand."
Some of the shinobi clued in. The strange aura… it was annoyance and irritation focused onto paper.
Before they knew it, the door had shut and the gourd carrying shinobi had disappeared. There was an awkward silence in the room. Then Naruto turned to look at everyone, smiling.
"Is it just me or has he gotten a lot friendlier?"
Everyone sweat dropped. It's probably just you.
----------
"Hey, look. What's that?"
"I believe we are looking at a perfect specimen of penniless shinobi."
"Ah? Is there such thing as a penniless shinobi?"
"Of course every society needs a homeless person."
"…. I think you've been with Byakuya for too long."
Renji, Rukia, and Ichigo stood, observing an almost lifeless body in sticking out of an alley. Had they been younger, they would have already gotten up and started poking it with sticks. But since they weren't, they were content with staring. Until the hand of the body started twitching.
Renji backed away a bit. "It's moving! I thought he was dead!"
Rukia continued to be fascinated while Ichigo sighed. "Well let's just help the guy. It's nice to do good deeds once in a while, right?"
Rukia and Renji stared. "Since when are you so into helping people?" Ichigo flinched. Was that supposed to insult him? Ichigo's eye twitched as he heard Renji mumbling 'this coming from a guy who beat helpless shinigami in Soul Society'. Yes, it was meant to hurt him. Even proven even more so when Rukia nodded and flashed Ichigo a slightly sadistic smile.
Trying to ignore them, Ichigo approached the 'penniless shinobi'.
"Oi. Old man. Are you alright?"
"noiu suona…"
Ichigo leaned in. "What? I couldn't hear you."
"neein sumda…"
"What?"
Instead of the expected mumble, it was a death grip on Ichigo's ankle. Needless to say, Ichigo screamed. No, not like a little girl, but he did scream.
Ichigo shook his leg furiously but the hand did not come off. He looked to Renji and Rukia desperately. "Hey! Do something! HELP ME!"
Renji and Rukia stood still. "I don't think we know how to handle penniless shinobi…" Renji apologized. Unknown to others, Renji was actually laughing inside his head. Hahahaha! This is one for the books…
Ichigo, realizing shaking his leg wouldn't help, had resorted to kicking the body on the head with his other foot. "GODDAMIT! HELP ME! I'm being harassed by a freakin' shinobi or whatever the hell you call them!"
The said harassing shinobi grabbed Ichigo's other foot. Surprised, Ichigo looked down. He barely had any time to react as he was thrown into the air. He landed in the same position as the shinobi had been in. Dazed, Ichigo stared at the pair of feet in front of him. He craned his head as much as he could in the position.
"Kids these days… rudely beating up anyone that gets in their way…"
The stranger wiped his hands of dust. He was tall and had a spiky white hair sticking out of a silver headband he wore. The three shinigami stared.
Getting up, Ichigo glared at the newly rejuvenated shinobi. "Who the hell are you?"
The shinobi seemed to have waited for this as he smirked as he bled his thumb. His hands moved at unbelievable speeds, performing a hand seal. His hand touched the ground, where an archaic circle formed around it. Before they knew it, a cloud of smoke arose. The strange shinobi was riding atop of a sizeable toad. Renji and Rukia 'ooo-ed' and clapped.
"I am Jiraiya! The wonderful sannin that can stop a baby's crying while defeating thousands of enemies!"
"Hey, old man, is this thing fake?" Ichigo poked at the toad below Jiraiya. Renji looked at it also. "There's no way a toad this big could exist, right? It's impossible." All three shinigami mumbled and talked amongst themselves about the toad.
"LISTEN TO ME!"
They looked up, disinterested. Jiraiya coughed, slightly fazed.
"I just need you to tell me if Tsunade is in. Can you at least tell me that?"
Ichigo, Renji, and Rukia blinked. "Tsunade? The Hokage?"
GAH! SORRY SORRY! I planned to make it an extra long chapter but failed miserably X.X I'M SORRY! And after not updating for a year I bet, I'll treat you to something special. A SIDE STORY THAT PROBABLY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CURRENT PLOT! YAY!! Feel free to yell at me afterwards for this lame chapter. Ja ne
Gaara's eye twitched uncontrollably. Given a few more seconds, his eye could possibly pop out. Maybe. He breathed in and out. Calm yourself… But that thought was blocked immediately as that thing started making the noise again.
He looked down at it. It was currently hugging his leg while inserting various nicknames where his real name should be. What the hell is this thing?
Yes, he had been minding his own business, heading towards his temporary residence in Konaha. But somehow the fates had decided to damn him. God he needed to MAIM something.
"Ne ne, No Eyebrows, do you want to go eat candy? Ken-chan showed me a candy store but then he destroyed the store… oh that might mean that we can't go right? But can we go? I want candy! Candy candy candy candy candy candy…."
Could a five year get away with calling the Kazekage 'No Eyebrows'? Gaara had no answer for that. He continued to walk, a pink-haired five year old hanging off of his leg.
"Ne, why aren't you as big as Ken-chan? The view isn't as good up on your shoulder… No Eyebrows needs to grow grow grow! Drink milk and eat LOTS of candy! Right right? Candy!!"
Gaara breathed. The loud thing was on his shoulder now. And what the hell was 'Ken-chan'? He trudged slowly, realizing his residence was getting closer. At the same time, knowing that he probably wouldn't get this pink thing off in time for him to get in. Why was life so cruel? Perhaps if he talked to it…
"You… You need to get off… now."
It looked at him, practically thrusting its big brown eyes at him. "No Eyebrows can TALK! YAY! Now let's talk about candy! Candy! I love candy! You love candy! Everyone loves CANDY!"
That plan failed miserably. Sighing, he looked as the door came ominously closer.
Somebody. Help.
And somewhere, in the dark twisted corners of Konoha, Zaraki looked at his shoulder. Needless to say, he went into panic mode, Kenpachi style.
"WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!"
Yes… so this lame chapter is finally over. I apologize again for not updating. I'll try not to abandon my fics. REALLY! Sorry sorry. But I will REALLY appreciate it if you review for me. Please? THANK YOU! Again I'M REALLY REALLY SORRY!