Soul Reaper Uzumaki

Chapter 2: A prodigy is forged

Ten long years passed since the day that Naruto had been enrolled into the Spiritual Art's Academy, during his first week Naruto had been informed that he had been placed in the care of the Captain of Squad 2 some guy named Minato Namikaze, but since he was still in the academy and Captain Namikaze was the head of the special Punishment Force he hadn't had time to meet him.

Naruto was currently pacing in his dorm, he was worried since tomorrow were the graduation exams, were they were tested in combat in front of the Captains and Lieutenants and if they like what the saw you would be given a place in their squad, if not then it was another five years in the academy.

"NARUTO if you don't stop pacing I'm going to go get Rangiku." said Renji, Naruto just glared at him before sighing and sitting back in the bed.

"I still can't believe you got together with Rangiku fucking Matsumoto, the hottest chick in the academy." said Renji as he glared at the now grinning blonde from the corner of his eyes.

"Ahh come on man, she's been my girl for almost ten years and you still can't believe it…" said Naruto as he ducked the pillow Renji threw.

"You're just lucky you manage to snag her before she…grew." said Renji who now had to ducked the pillow Naruto threw, normally Naruto would have been furious if someone made a comment like that about his girlfriend but even he had to admit there was a kernel of truth in Renji's comment.

Naruto had gotten together with Rangiku during their second year in the academy and at that time she looked just like any other girl, a very pretty girl, but not different from the others but these last two years she had started to grow in certain places that made Naruto giddy just thinking about them, but her changes weren't just in her breast, she had grown from just a pretty girl into what Naruto considered the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

"Don't be a pervert that's my girlfriend you're talking about." said Naruto trying to sound stern but the stupid grin on his face ruined it.

"So are you freaking out about tomorrow? Don't.. you're top student in everything, your Kido is so powerful that even without the full incantation you can out do everyone else in class, I heard one of the instructor saying that he hadn't seen a flash step that good since Captain Kuchiki's time in the academy and even the instructors refuse to spar with you during Hakudo and Zanjutsu classes, the only way you could get better tomorrow is if you unleashed you Shikai during the fight." the last part was meant to be a joke but when he saw the guilty look on Naruto's face his eyes widened in shock.

"NO, YOU CAN'T BE SERIUS…WHEN?" asked a clearly excited Renji, he was also a little jealous he was even close to getting his Zanpakuto to talk to him yet Naruto already had his Shikai.

"A few weeks ago, I was training against one of the kept Hollows when my foot slipped and I fell to the floor, I was about to get impaled by the hollow's tentacle when I heard a voice in my head, it filled me with power and I just knew what to do, I been training with it ever since, you and Rangiku are the only one's that know, so keep it quiet I want to surprise the old man." said Naruto as he picked up his Zanpakuto, it was a long straight katana, the scabbard was black with a fox engraved on it and the cloth on the handle was a dark orange that reminded Naruto of his old jumpsuit.

"I want it to be a surprise, the old man is going to flip when he sees it, it's a fire Zanpakuto." said Naruto as he looked fondly at his sword, he was really proud of his Shikai.

"Wow, man you never cease to surprise me, what's next planning on challenging Captain Kenpachi for his captaincy." said Renji only to burst out laughing when he saw Naruto shudder at the mention of the crazy captain's name, the last time the met Naruto spend a week in the hospital, serves the crazy blonde right for challenging the captain to a spar.

"Don't even mention his name, the crazy bastard might hear you." whispered Naruto as he clutched his blade to his chest and looked out the window. Renji just burst into even louder laughter when he saw his best friend looking out the window with a terrified expression on his face.

"Stop laughing you jerk…you know what screw you I'm going to go find Rangiku-chan" said the blonde as he strapped his sword to the sash at his waist and left the room.

"Come on don't be…like…that…I'll stop…laughing…eventually." screamed Renji from the door as he watched Naruto walk away, he was about to say something else when the blonde just sneered at him and disappeared in a flash step.

NEXT DAY

Captain Commander Yamamoto stood in the podium before the graduating class with a smile on his face, this years graduates had the most potential he had seen in quite a while, even better this was little Naruto's class, he had to hold in a grin when he looked to the side of him and saw the Captain of the 2nd division Minato Namikaze and his vice captain/ wife Kushina Uzumaki looked at their son.

"Now that were all here, let the graduation ceremonies begin, when your name is called you shall step forward and fight one of the shinigami present, depending on your skill a position might open up for you…begin." said the Captain Commander as he slammed the floor with his cane, when he did his vice Captain stepped forward with a list in hand and started calling names.

Few Hours later

With the students

Naruto was nervously shifting his weight from foot to foot as he watched the student fighting lost his balance and fall to the ground before her shinigami opponent used a binding kido to win the fight, thankfully all his friends, Renji, Rukia, Momo and Izuru had won their fights and had been accepted into squads, his girl Rangiku had also won and had been offered a position on squad 10, he had to smile when he remember the squeal Rangiku let loose when the captain of squad ten had offered her the position.

He was so enthralled in his thought of Rangiku he almost missed when his name was called…almost. Naruto took a big breath before he stepped forward and stood in the middle of the courtyard facing his opponent.

"Naruto Uzumaki…we meet again." said his opponent as he grinned at Naruto, the blonde ex jinchuriki had to hold back a snort when he saw who his foe was, Ikkaku had been the only one that had the guts to spar with Naruto in Zanjutsu before he graduated two years ago.

"Ikkaku…a pleasure to see you again, are you ready to get this show on the road." said the blonde as he shifted into his fighting position, he had his legs spread apart on hand resting on the hilt of his sword and other facing forward.

"Come on Naru-chan, I still owe you from the last time." said Ikkaku as he pulled his Zanpakuto from his scabbard and took a Zanjutsu stand. They stood there facing each other for a few seconds before Ikkaku exploded into motion and ran forward and sliced his sword in Naruto's direction, at first Naruto didn't even move, just when the sword was about to hit him, he disappeared and appeared behind Ikkaku with his hand out stretched.

"Hado number 4: Pale Lighting." said Naruto as his hand released orange bolts of Lighting towards Ikkaku's back, seconds before they hit Ikkaku jumped to the side.

Stands

All the Captains and vice captains present, especially Minato and his wife, stood riveted watching the fight between Ikkaku and this year number one student.

"He's fast." said Byakuya Kuchiki as he stared at the blonde that was currently dodging slashes from Ikkaku's Zanpakuto, the people around him could only nod, the blonde really was fast, especially for one so young.

"And strong, too, his Hado was impressive and he didn't even use the incantation." said Kushina as she gripped her husbands hand when one of the slashes from Ikkaku manage to nick Naruto in the arm drawing a bit of blood.

"But why was it orange? Usually that Hado is white isn't it." asked Minato looking at Byakuya since that Hado was considered somewhat of his specialty. The head of the Kuchiki clan only nodded, he was about to speak when one of the academy instructors beat him to it.

"That's Naruto for you…of course he manage to change his kido to orange, god knows the brat loves the color." said the instructor as he shook his head with a smile on his face, Naruto's obsession with the color orange was really amusing.

"I suggest paying attention to the fight, I have a feeling it's about the get interesting." said the Captain Commander, his eyes never leaving the fight, some of the other's were about to ask what he meant when a surge of spirit energy brought their attention back to the fight.

With Naruto

Naruto jumped to the side when one of Ikkaku's slashes got him in the arm. The blonde just growled as he saw the smug look on Ikkaku's face.

"Drew first blood, little Naru-chan." the Ikkaku as he flicked his sword to get the blood of the tip, he was about to taunt Naruto some but before he saw Naruto smirked at him and drawing his sword.

"So I guess were getting serious now huh?" asked Ikkaku as he grinned at the blonde. Naruto just grinned back before disappearing, before Ikkaku could even fully turn he felt the blonde slash at his back and kick him, sending him flying towards one of the walls, before he hit he heard Naruto chant behind him.

"River of blood, ocean of bones the creator is angry for your trespass. Bow to his majesty and all will be forgiven but sin again and the punishment will be your oblivion…Hakudo Number 40: Serpents trap." Bellowed the blonde, before two stone serpents sprung from the ground and trapped Ikkaku's arms. Before he could say anything he had the blonde standing in front of him with a smug look on his face.

"Wow this is sort of what happened last time isn't it." asked Naruto as he grinned at the trapped Shinigami, Ikkaku could only scowl back, he hadn't predicted that Naruto was faster than the last time they fought.

"Almost…but there's a reason I'm third seat in Captain's Kenpachi squad." said Ikkaku before he grinned, one cause of the shudder that he saw Naruto give when he mention his captain's name and two…because he had an ace in the hole.

"Yeah and what's that baldy." asked Naruto, using Ikkaku's old nickname to piss his opponent off even more.

"I'll show you a baldy you dumb blonde….Grow Hozukimaru." screamed Ikkaku as the sword on his side started change, and the force of his spirit pressure making both the stone snakes wrapped around his arms crack and break away. Naruto could only manage flash step away before he was impaled with Ikkaku's Shikai, a long spear that Naruto saw could do a lot of damage with its serrated edge's

"Don't run Naru-chan, come and face the wrath of my Hozukimaru." screamed Ikkaku as he ran after the blonde swinging his spear.

Back in the stands.

When Ikkaku released his Zanpakuto Minato was about to jump in when a hand landed on his shoulder stopping him. Minato looked behind him to see a jovial Yamamoto shaking his head.

"Captain Commander I have to stop this, Naruto could get hurt, he's still an academy student and his facing a trained shinigami that just unsealed his Zanpakuto." said Minato as he tried to shake off the Commander's hand to jumped down.

"Calm yourself Captain Namikaze…Naruto can handle it, just stay back and watch." said the Captain Commander as he stood back with Minato to watch the rest of the fight.

"How can you be so sure." asked Kushina as again she gave Minato's hand a death grip when Naruto barely flashed stepped away from a slash of Ikkaku's spear.

"Because…even though Ikkaku just released his Zanpakuto…Naruto's grin is still as big as ever." said the Commander making all the shinigami that were looking at him focuse back on the blonde, and true to the Captain Commander's word Naruto's grin had only gotten bigger.

With Naruto.

"Come on Blondie give up…you're never going to win." screamed Ikkaku as Naruto parried his blows with his sword, if he were to tell the truth the grin on the blonde's face was starting to unnerve him.

"I have to say Ikkaku, your Shikai is freaking awesome…" said the blonde as he flashed stepped away, Ikkaku was grinning from the complement Naruto gave his sword but his grin stopped when he hear the next words from the blonde.

"…but not as awesome as mine." said the blonde as he landed on the other side of the yard, Ikkaku's face paled when he saw the blonde grabbed the hilt of his Zanpakuto and close his eyes, he was about to dash forward to try to end the fight when a blast of spiritual pressure from the blonde knocked him back.

"Impossible." said Ikkaku as he jumped back a few feet and watched the grinning blonde warily.

In the Stands.

"Did I hear right, did he just say he had a Shikai…impossible he still an academy student." said Captain Kaname as he looked around at all the shocked faces. He wanted to ask again but stopped when he heard the Captain Commander laugh.

"Of course he has a Shikai, Minato my boy you're son never seizes to surprise me." said the Captain Commander as he patted Minato's shoulder, said Blonde Captain was stuck between shock that his son already knew his Zanpakuto name and pride that his son already knew his Zanpakuto's name.

With Naruto.

"Come on Ikkaku don't act so surprise…you knew I was awesome, now." said the blonde as he opened his eyes and smirked at the still shocked bald man.

"Sear and Melt anything that touches you…Kurama." screamed Naruto as another wave of spirit pressure sprung from him and slammed onto everyone around him. Before everyone present Naruto's Zanpakuto started changing [a/n it's Dante's Red Queen, link in my profile] in his arms appeared two thick gauntlets with a snarling fox head on them with flames dancing out of their eyes.

"Ahh fuck me." said Ikkaku as he watched the grinning blonde's Zanpakuto.

"It's not over yet…Melt" said the Blonde a he lifted his blade and pointed it at Ikkaku, when he did the edge of the blade started burning white hot, it looked like someone had held the blade over an opened flame making the edge of the blade shine an orange color.

"Fuck me sideways." said Ikkaku before he had to jump backwards as Naruto slashed his sword towards Ikkaku and a thin flame came out of it and towards the bald swords man, when Ikkaku dodged it the energy flame hit one of the statues in the courtyard and melted it.

"DUDE! Careful that shit is hot." screamed Ikkaku at the grinning blonde, Naruto just smirked even more before he disappeared from sight and appeared in front of Ikkaku mid swing, Ikkaku fully expecting the blonde to do that jumped to the side and swung his blade at Naruto's back, the blonde just used one of his gauntlets to block the blow before he spin around and kicked Ikkaku in the stomach sending him flying backwards towards the center of the yard.

Naruto took the opportunity to looked around and barely held back the grin at the shocked faces from his fellow graduates and the big smile on Old Man's Yamamoto's face.

"Hey blondie pay attention." screamed Ikkaku as he appeared next to Naruto and swung his spear at him, again Naruto used his gauntlet to stop the blow but this time a large crack appeared on it.

"Damn, I'm still not sure what the damn things do." said the blonde and she shook his hand and swung his blade at Ikkaku, they traded blows for a while before Naruto started feeling tired, he still wasn't use to long fights with his Shikai.

"I have to end things fast…I still have power for one last Melt before the blade reverses back to normal." thought the blonde as he dodged Ikkaku's attacks.

In the stands

"That is a powerful fire Zanpakuto." said the captain commander as he watched the burning hit edge of the blade, he couldn't believe little Naruto had a fire based Zanpakuto, but now that he thought back the way Naruto died probably had a lot to do with it, that and the share of the Kyuubi's power still inside the blonde.

"He's getting tired." said Byakuya Kuchiki as he watched the blonde ex demon host use flash step to get out of reach of Ikkaku's spear.

"His speed is decreasing, that last flash step was slower than the rest, it most be the Shikai, he's still not used to fighting long tern fight with it active." said Minato, as he watched his son Flash step around Ikkaku.

"Yes…from what my contacts in the School tell me, he only learned of his Zanpakuto name a few weeks ago." said The captain commander as he ignored the shocked looks he got from everyone, even he was astounded by the amount of control Naruto had with his Shikai after only a few weeks of achieving it.

"That's unreal." said Kushina as she and the rest of the Captains and vice captains watched the fight.

With Naruto.

"Ok, I have one shot at winning this, I better make it count." thought Naruto as he flashed stepped behind Ikkaku and lifted his blade in the air.

"MELT." screamed Naruto as he swung down, Ikkaku paled before he jumped to the side to avoid the attack, only to realized that Naruto hadn't used the Melt attack at all, Naruto just screamed that to get Ikkaku in the position he wanted him in.

When Naruto swung the blade down he let go of it impaling it on the floor right in front of him, Naruto used the time in which Ikkaku had jumped in the air to chant.

"Hakudo Number 62: Hundred Steps fence." screamed Naruto as a rod of energy formed in his hands before he threw it towards Ikkaku, just as it reach halfway to the bald shinigami it broke into hundreds of smaller rods with pinned Ikkaku to the wall.

"Gotcha." said Naruto as he used the last of his energy to flash step in front of Ikkaku, his sealed Zanpakuto resting close to Ikkaku's throat. Ikkaku just groaned when he saw the smirk on Naruto's face.

"I can't believe I fell for that…I yield" said Ikkaku as Naruto smiled and canceled the Hakudo on him.

As Naruto sheath his blade back in its scabbard the students burst into applause behind him, he turned and his face could barely hold on to the grin that form when he saw the proud smile on Old Man Yamamoto and the smile his friends and girlfriend were sending him.

"I come a long way from the little street urchin that was hated and abused." thought the blonde as he stood in the middle of the courtyard waiting for his assessment. It didn't take long since almost immediately the Captain Commander stepped forwards from his place in the viewing balcony.

"This was a most excellent demonstration… as it is, Uzumaki Naruto, you have been granted the title of Soul Reaper and a position on the 13th Division under Captain Jushiro Ukitake." said the Captain Commander as Captain Ukitake stepped up to Naruto to hand him his new Soul Reaper uniform, Naruto could only grin in reply as he looked it over, things were finally going well for the blonde…if only good things lasted.

End Chapter

a/n next chapter is the final time skip before the story truly starts, it's going to be taking place during the Rescue Rukia arc.

and yes i know i changed the name of Naruto's Zanpakuto but...ehh i liked Kurama better.