Disclaimer: I do NOT own Naruto; Masashi Kishimoto does. I Do NOT own Bleach; Tite Kubo does.

***Warning: Spoilers for the current Manga and Anime; as of June 20, 2009.*

Authors Note: Names are in traditional Japanese style. Translations are at the bottom—please note I'm not going to put the translations at the bottom if I already have in a previous chapter.

Previously:

Sōtaichō's Office

He sat in the chair staring wearily at the wood of his desk. When the two captains stood before him he looked at them. "As of now anything to do with this soul's past is deemed classified. You may only discuss it with me, not each other. Do not bring it to the attention of Central 46; or any other. The punishment is death."

Both Captains visibly blanched. "But why; what purpose could classifying this information serve?" Mayuri asked.

Yamamoto stared at him sighing. "I forget that all of you are so young. You may have understood that the world was not the human world correct?" At their nods he continued; "Those techniques the humans used; the tailed beasts, all of it are apart of one dimension. The realm of the Soul King."

Chapter VI

Special Instruction

Time skip 3 weeks – Academy

Orochimaru sat with his head in his hand. The man in front of the class droned on about their duties once they became full fledged Shinigami. The first portion of the day was delegated to lectures, then sparing using wooden swords; then a small break for lunch followed by another lecture then Kidou practice.

He found himself growing bored with the constant lectures; though the information about these…creatures known as Hollows was quite interesting. How every one was unique and they gained power by devouring other souls.

"Orochimaru, since you seem to like to stay incompetent, why don't you demonstrate the first Bakudō spell?" the teacher asked him.

"Hai, Takumi-sensei," Orochimaru responded while making his hand into a fist with the index finger pointing out towards Takumi. He slashed his hand diagonally whilst saying, "Bakudō no Ichi: Sai."

Takumi's arms locked themselves behind his back. "Good, it seems you were paying attention; however what you didn't know is that if the target has releases more reiatsu than was put into it; it can be easily dispelled." He expelled a small amount of reiatsu and was stunned to find that his arms wouldn't move. He repeated the process with more reiatsu only to find that no matter how hard he tired he couldn't release the bindings.

"Maybe this will teach you to call me incompetent;" Orochimaru stated with his sickening chuckle.

One Week Later

Nakamono Takahiro grunted as he forced his reiatsu into the Kidou while chanting the incantation. "O Lord, mask of flesh and bone, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of man, truth and temperance, upon this sinless wall of dreams unleash but slightly the wrath of your claws!" He held his arm fully extended from his body and called out its name. "Hadō no Sanjuu San: Soukatsui!"

A moderately sized ball of blue fire shot from his hand and hit the target kicking up a cloud of dust; when it cleared the targets entire right side was gone; leaving frayed edges. The instructors marked down something on their sheets and motioned for the next student to take their place and use the highest Hadō they knew on the target.

Orochimaru smirked slightly. 'Maybe if I show off they'll advance my education.' He moved down the line to the largest target; which stood about thirty meters tall.

"Hadō no Rokujuu San Raikouhou!" A giant wave of yellow reiatsu flowed from Orochimaru's hand out towards the target. When it made contact the target exploded; showering the crowd of students in wood chips.

The students and teachers stared in awe as he walked back to his position in line. He smirked at Takahiro who stood next to him fuming.

"Yamamoto-Sōtaichō, May I ask why you allowed such a black soul to become a Shinigami?" Unohana asked him.

He sighed; resting weary; weathered hands on his desk. All three of the captains had seen the horrors that Orochimaru committed during his life.

"While his soul is tainted…The Soul king must have had some reason for sending him here; into the Seireitei. Perhaps this is his redemption."

A Few days later Orochimaru was moved into private instruction. He had surpassed his other classmates in all aspects; his private instruction came at the request of the teachers of the academy. Today he was learning to materialize his own Zanpakutō.

The interim Teacher gave him a clear ball and told him to focus his reiryoku into it. Doing so caused it to light up; and steadily flare with energy. Soon afterwards he fell into his mind.

He shot up; opening his eyes as he glanced around the strange surroundings. He was in one of the caves that lead to his hideouts for Otogakure. All along the ceiling were dark blue glowing orbs. Some trailed down along the wall. Curious, he touched one he received a slight shock before a memory flash before him.

Flashback:

"I name you three the Legendary Sannin; Orochimaru, Jiraya, and Senju Tsunade." Hanzo stated from atop his giant salamander.

"I shall leave you alive for now." And with that he was gone.

Flashback end.

He was startled back to the reality of the cave. "So these are my memories then?" he asked to no one.

He shook his head and traversed the cave. Coming across many more Orbs and eventually he found Paintings hanging from the walls. The first depicted Sarutobi Hiruzen' The Sandaime Hokage, The Next Pictured his team, each of them atop their own boss summons. The next had Itachi breaking into a flock of crows as his Sharingan stared at him. The last pictured his former vessel Sasuke; with an image of himself in his Yamata form facing off against Uzumaki Naruto; who had a spectral Kyuubi and Namikaze Minato behind him.

He chuckled mirthlessly when he saw the two of them side by side. "I should have killed the boy when I had the chance."

He shook his head. "If I were a Zanpakutō spirit where would I be?" he asked himself. He chuckled as he continued on towards his goal. He didn't know how he knew it was there; but he did.

He came upon his 'throne room' as he privately called it when he was alive. The room was adorned with giant snake replicas with two extending down towards and sitting on either side of a throne.

"So you're the spirit of my Zanpakutō?" he asked the figure sitting on the throne.

It moved forward, rising from the throne. It-which he found was decided female. "Hello Orochimaru-kun."

Author's Note: Orochimaru will eventually rework jutsu into spiritual form; however as I can't find a free English to Romaji translator they will either be in Italian or French; courtesy of Babel fish – The Same with his Zanpakutou. Description of what she looks like next chapter.

Translations:

Zanjutsu – Swordsmanship

Hakuda – Hand to hand Combat

Hohō – Agility/Step Method

Kidou – Demon arts; Spirit way

Bakudō – Way of Binding

Hadō – Way of Destruction

Bakudō no Ichi: Sai – Way on Binding #1: Restrain

Reiatsu – Spiritual Pressure

Hadō no Sanjuu san – Way of Destruction # 33: Blue Fire Crash Down

Hadō no Rokujuu San: Raikouhou – Way of Destruction #63: Thunder Roar Cannon

Reiryoku - Spiritual Energy

Otogakure – Sound Village