"They know the area better. You've only worked in Japan."

Toshiro didn't want to admit it, but the kid was right. His lieutenant and him only worked in Japan, they weren't familiar with America.

"Before anything else, we need our zanpakuto."

Gibbs reluctantly decided it was best to give the two soul reapers their zanpakuto back. DiNozzo, at some point, had taken the three brothers weapons. Even more reluctantly Gibbs decided to give the eldest brother his sword back. Giving back the young captain and his lieutenant's weapons was a much easier decision, as Gibbs had more trust in those two than the brothers. Gibbs figured giving back the cooperative one the weapon back was a reasonable enough, though he still didn't give into the younger two brothers, who were whining for their swords back. Of course he still didn't necessarily trust the eldest brother, but out of the three he was the best option. It wasn't his decision in the first place to even give the kid back the sword, it was Urahara. Gibbs didn't know why the man had suggested the notion, but it was logical that if the boys happened to get separated or something did happen at least one would be able to defend himself. Gibbs begged to differ at that argument made by Kisuke, his agents could protect them well enough. Yet, Gibbs knew there were too many in NCIS care now, between the Kurosaki's, Matsumoto, Hitsugaya, Urahara, and the three brothers, priorities would have to be made. He knew that most in their care could take care of themselves, especially since the white haired kid was finally out of the restricting gigai. Rather than argue with Kisuke, Gibbs had just given the eldest brother the sword and trusted that it wouldn't be used against him.

Little did Gibbs know that one of the brothers wasn't on the same page as everyone else. This brother was mad at his eldest brother for making the cowardly decision to surrender and become silly little witnesses. He didn't even know how this process would work! NCIS, the Soul Society, working together? Impossible, they were in two different worlds! It was great that their employer was ready. It was fantastic. She'd fix this, she'd fix everything.

"So, what exactly is the plan?" Everyone in the room seemed to nod in agreement with DiNozzo's question. The only thing that was brought up was getting the weapons back, nothing was explicitly talked about in terms of a plan.

"We split up," Taro said. "There's about four places she visits in the world of the living, two of which are in Japan, one in Europe and one here in the United States. There is only one in the Soul Society, but it is a rather large base. It's filled with tunnels and caves, she constantly switches her main base. There's no way to predict which she'd be in."

"What about the Soul Society?" Matsumoto questioned.

"There are various places all over, I'll created a list. You can get a soul reaper to retrieve it with one of those hell butterfly creatures."

Matsumoto nodded, she was alright with this. If the locations worked out, then they could trust this brother. If not, then they obviously couldn't.

Toshiro was not in total agreement with the older brothers plan, splitting up the soul reapers wouldn't be too much of a problem but now that NCIS was in on this case they'd want to be apart of the search. The captain wasn't even sure he could trust the brothers and the information Taro gave about the locations. Though, the Soul Society part of the plan was alright, Rukia and Renji could easily take care of that part.

"Ichigo, Karin, Taro, and Ziva will go to the Japan locations. Leave Karin in Japan, her job here is done," Hitsugaya said. Karin would be out of harm, finally. There was no reason for her to be in this mess in the first place. Both Ichigo and Hitsugaya were glad that she would be able to get home and out of harms reach.

"McGee, Matsumoto, and Koji will go to the Europe location," Gibbs said, using the exact same group Hitsugaya had originally thought of. Hitsugaya would have liked to have his lieutenant at his side, but her going with a different group gave Hitsugaya a better perspective of another group. He would have preferred her go to the two Japan locations, but Ichigo would be just as fine. Also having Matsumoto look over the middle brother was a good thing. Toshiro barely trusted the elder brother, but he definitely didn't trust the middle one.

"Wait! That leaves myself, Toshiro-kun, Gibbs-kun, and Nao-chan!" Urahara excitedly exclaimed. Each person flinched at the title given to them, equally annoyed.

"It's taicho," the young captain sighed, Urahara would never get it right. Even though he would rather leave Urahara behind, the soul reapers insight would be helpful. At least, he hoped.

"Hey, what about me?" DiNozzo said, mock hurt filled his tone.

"Wait, who are you again?" Urahara replied. DiNozzo stiffened, he was actually forgot about.

"DiNozzo, you'll come with me," Gibbs answered, ignoring Urahara. DiNozzo lightened up, but was now unhappy with his group. Or at least one member of it. Well two, considering his back was still sore from the previous sleeping arrangements. That white haired kid was too stubborn.

"Great! So, um, where exactly are we going?" Matsumoto asked, not entirely sure of the locations. Just saying 'Europe' wasn't exactly a great lead and she needed a change of topic. DiNozzo and Urahara's exchanged made the room a bit more awkward.

Taro looked at his brothers, they would know these locations. Taro was just afraid they would get into trouble and he wouldn't be there to help. They had the other soul reapers though, and these NCIS agents. The agents he could trust, but not the reapers. Not as much.

"In Kyoto there's Shizushi cave. In Niimi, Okayama Prefecture, there's Maki-do. These are the Japanese locations. They aren't exactly what you'd think of a base, she's basically hiding in plain sight. Got that?" Taro finished, looking towards the other three members of his group.

"The Europe location is in Slovakia, it's called the Ochtinska Aragonite cave. Koji, are you able to navigate it?" Even though it was a cave that the brothers had often been to, the middle brother had trouble navigating it. Koji liked to think that this was because he was scatter brained, but his brother knew it was because of his infatuation with their boss, because of that he just couldn't pay attention.

"Um, yeah. I can totally do it. I did it last time, right?"

Matsumoto face palmed, this was her guide. This kid was supposed to lead the way, and he probably didn't even know where the freaking cave was.

Taro rolled his eyes and continued, "The last location in the United States is in Hutchinson, Kansas. Nao knows the salt mines best, even though we aren't exactly sure where in them she could be. Salt mines are best for storing goods, this is because of constant temperature and relative humidity. The salt mine Strataca is where she mainly stores her goods."

DiNozzo let out a disappointed sigh, Ziva got to go to Kyoto and Okayama Japan, while McGee got to go to Slovakia. And where was DiNozzo going? Kansas. In the middle of nowhere.

Before Tony could react there was a head slap. "What was that for?"

"You know." Gibbs deadpanned.

Gibbs excused himself from the conference room, leaving both Toshiro and Ziva in charge while he went to go make travel arrangements. Questions were asked of course, why would Gibbs need these flights? Gibbs made sure to ask the right people, the people who owed him favors. Questions were asked, but Gibbs requests were successful.

Gibbs returned with flight information and schedules, both McGee and Ziva's flights left early the next morning, while DiNozzo and Gibbs' flight was around noon. Sleeping arrangements were revised for the night, everyone would just go to the house or apartment that their respective NCIS agent owned. Urahara was, of course, ecstatic about spending the night with Gibbs again. Whereas Gibbs was not, and DiNozzo was dreading the young captain and his sleeping arrangements. DiNozzo did not want the floor again.

"Keep in touch," Gibbs said, as each group departed.

Author's Note: It's finally summer vacation! Yay! I kept telling myself, "Ok, it's summer. I can try to go back to a chapter a week for both my stories!" Then I realized, well, I was in California for a week. Got a week break in which I got this chapter done and one for my other story Fullmetal Witness (NCIS & Fullmetal Alchemist). But I'm leaving for China in two days, and I'll be gone for two weeks. Then I have summer school when I get back, because I need an extra gym credit. Plus, I've applied for a job. Which I'd work evenings after summer school. So… this will be a busy summer! I'm planning on trying to update at least once every two weeks, and if I'm lucky once a week again (like I used to wayyyyy back when). Anyways, speaking of China, I'm leaving in a couple days and my trip will last two weeks. This will be the last chapter I'm uploading before then. I'll try to update as soon as I'm back though! If you are reading my other story, Fullmetal Witness, I am planning on updating before I leave. Hopefully I will update it the next day or so. Anyways, as always, thanks for the support!

Also, each cave/mine mentioned is a real place. Location and names of these places are real and not made up.