Sorry sorry! I haven't been updating for a while...i was losing inspiration. But now I got it back and my computer! ^^ I also want to thank the people who have reviewed so far since i didn't get to reply to any of them. Anyway... ya i hope this chapter is what people were hoping for and any comments are appreciated. :)

Chapter 6: Inner and Outer Worlds

Darkness. Emptiness. Dry, still air. He could feel cold shivers crawling up his back. He was still clutching his chest, feeling his heart radiating through his shirt. He could hear blood pumping in his ears. His breaths were slow and shallow and his throat was sore. And the pain that he once felt was gone, leaving his still recuperating body.

Where am I?

"Naruto. You can't even remember your own world?" A demonic voice rasped.

Naruto stopped breathing. It wasn't...was it?

"Nine tail?" Naruto said tentatively.

"Yes?" The nine tail asked mockingly. He cackled, the voice echoing through the space.

Naruto growled. "What have you done to me? Take me back!" Naruto shot up, his anger fueling his body.

The nine tail continued his demonic laugh, red tinted tears at the corners of his bloody eyes. Naruto fumed and continued to snarl. Finally moments later the laughter subsided and nine tail began to speak. "No. Don't you remember Naruto? Like you I have a "goal"."

"What are you talking about!" Naruto felt his temper shortening little by little, playing games like this was so annoying.

"Why Naruto isn't it obvious? I'm going to kill you and leave your retched body. And then following your death will be the rest of your precious village."

Naruto tried to keep a controlled composure but within him were tumbles of emotions. He could feel dread seeping into his mind. Though, he wasn't sorry for himself, far from it. He was thinking of his people on the outside of his inner world, where everything mattered. He was suppose to take care of this village and he was doing one hell of a job. It reminded him back when he was nobody, when everyone thought he would fail at becoming hokage because he was the jinchurrichi. Now, he would fail at being hokage because he was the jinchurrichi. The irony. I can't let this happen.

Naruto looked into the beast's blood shot eyes with steal blue.

"I have a goal too and it is to protect this village!"

The ninetail lifted a single red eyebrow sceptically.

"If that means I will have to kill you well...I WILL!"

XXXXXX

At The Village

Ichigo felt his eyelids drooping, his eye site getting slightly hazy. The humidity and black warmth was eerily comforting and making him drift in and out. Uuryu pocked at his shoulder for the fifth time.

"Wake up idiot."

Ichigo quickly rubbed at his sore eyes. "Shut up. I am"

Uuryu and Ichigo crept past another small shop by the side of the already narrow road. They no longer could depend on the flashlight, for it now only gave off a weak yellow light. The moon had long past deserted them, so it was simply them and the winding streets. Though, they were heading a general direction. The center of the village.

"Oof!" Uuryu shouted in the darknees. His face bumping at what he would immediately conclude was Ichigo's back and had made his glasses flop on his face skewed. "Watch where your going idiot!" Uuryu said annoyed.

"Quiet!" Ichigo hushed, "Can't you feel that?"

Uuryu quickly inspected over the spirit energy around them.

"No I-" Then suddenly as if the air around him had gotten a million times heavier it started pushing his body to the ground.

"Whe-where did this spirit energy come from?" Uuryu said desperately, as he tried to keep himself from falling to the hard stone street.

"Ichigo." Uuryu whispered. He squinted his dull eyes, searching for the soul reaper in the pitch black.

"Ichigo?" Uuryu said with more force. "Where are you?"

He heard a gruff growl answer him back.

"Ichigo! What's wrong?" Uuryu said slightly hysterical now.

"Thi-this anger. I-I don't know...where it's coming from."

Ichigo was trying to hold back from just screaming. The anger was taking over his mind, and it wasn't even his own. Moments ago normality, now this. Flashes of the past, hate at enemies, the world, and even himself. Hate. Disappointment. Anger. It was all just seeping in and he couldn't stop it. He screwed his eyes shut. He was now clawing at his hair, grabbing the orange clumps.

"KING! FUCKING STOP THIS!" Shiro screamed. Shiro's voice intensifying the anger.

Ichigo growled viciously.

"I can't!" He cried out.

"Something is invading your inner world! And it isn't some weak pussy. It's fucking strong."

"Well take care of it!"

"Fuck you. Remind me again why I have to be connected to a weakling like you."

Ichigo's eyes shot open. His golden irises now had streaks of red. As weak as the insult was, it struck his frail fuse. He growled wildly. He fled, the anger fueling him forward. Almost as if the simple emotion was possessing him to run forward in the darkness. He couldn't even hear Uryu's desperate yells after him. In no time at all, Ichigo was confronted by a large building. Visible black and red demonic chakra curling around it. Ichigo ripped open the door and started to haphazardly crawl his way to the top. A stairway that would take a normal person a good 10 minutes now took him 30 seconds. He couldn't feel his body's stamina decreasing, the numerous scratches on his arms, or his own heavy breathing and sweat. He threw open the top door making his way into a large open room with tall glass windows.

As if a race was over, the anger released from Ichigo, letting Ichigo's knees fell to ground and his hands to follow after. His eyes were wide with shock. He couldn't comprehend it. The bizarre happenings all throughout today was all too weird, and this just took it to a whole new level.

What the hell is happening to me?

After a few gasps of air and letting his worked body recuperate he stood up and finally looked as to what was going on around him. His eyes immediately connected to two glowing red eyes across the room next to the large desk by the glass windows. He jumped back surprised. The eyes belonged to a strange beast. It reminded him almost like a hollow but not quite. It was composed of strong demonic blood colored reishi, but unlike hollows the reishi was...liquid like. There was bubbles popping on it's skin, and the reiatsu was incredible, similar to what he felt with Uuryu. Before he suddenly went crazy...He looked even closer at the beast and could tell that it was the the growing form of a fox-like animal, and it was expanding quickly, especially at the tails. But what was the strangest of all was that within the animal there was a male teen unconscious, and it almost seemed like the fox was growing from the human. Ichigo squinted his eyes to look closer at the boy. He had blond spikes scattered around his head. His face was emotionless, almost as if he was sleeping. Occasionally he would move, but the timings were bizarre and awkward.

Is this thing the reason why I've been acting so crazy? The reiatsu is the same to what I felt with Uuryu...and there must be a reason why I suddenly found myself here...damn it. I can't make sense of this.

Suddenly the teen within the beast opened his eyes, his eyes were blood shot. Ichigo crept back.

"Hello soul reaper boy." The boy spoke monotonously.

Ichigo backed up slowly. "How...how do you know I'm a soul reaper?"

"It's because I've been living in this world for a long time. I was here when you soul reapers were in this world, and was here when you soul reapers left. That was probably... a century ago. Not that long actually." The boy responded in the same dead like fashion.

Ichigo frowned. "You don't look that old. Your at least as old as me!"

"No idiot. Not this...boy. I'm the nine tail fox."

For a second Ichigo couldn't understand. Is this boy screwing with me? He isn't a fox and he isn't a million years old. Ichigo looked at the beast's eyes again which were staring at him intently. Finally he understood. The body was almost like a puppet to the fox and speaking for him

"Wha-what is this guy then?"

"I was sealed within this boy and was expected for to me connected to him forever. But thanks to you, my seal to him has weakened considerably."

Ichigo could hear the hint of malicious intent in what used to be an toneless voice. He reached out behind his back to clutch his sword, then slowly pulling it out in front of him.

"Oh yeah? Why has my coming here has weakend your seal? And what are you going to do once you "unconnect" from this kid?" Ichigo asked suspiciously.

"Your first question I have no idea, but for your second..." The fox grinned evilly. "I'll kill him of course."

Ichigo narrowed his eyes. "Kill him? Your going to kill a defenseless person?"

The ninetail cackled. "Hah. And with every single person in this village."

Ichigo frowned, he held on to Zangetsu tightly in front of him.

"I can't let you do that." Ichigo said. His decision absolute. "I can't let you kill all those innocent people. Even though I don't come from around here don't expect me to let you do that."

The ninetail looked at the human before him. He looked at the bizarre orange spiked hair and his deep frown. He could see the boy's obvious determination and his power. And he could also see the boy's stupidity to just throw himself in front another to "protect." The ninetail snarled. Thinking about such idiocy always gave him a bad taste in his mouth. But it was apparent, there was many similarities between the boy in front of him and the one he was fighting in his inner world.

The nintail spoke, "I see. You are a stupid child. Here is the boy you so desperately want to save."

Ichigo continued staring at the ninetail, his stance unwavering. Suddenly, the boy within the fox began to move out of the nintail's body. Slowly his arms slipped out of the ninetail's jelly like stomach, and then finally his legs. His body was hanging limply onto the ninetail. Then, painstakingly slow, a red cord consisted of the same substance of the fox's body was pushing the boy forward. The red cord was connecting the boy to the ninetail. Finally, as if the body had suddenly came to life, the boy's body rightened it's self. But it looked robotical.

Ichigo spoke, "What did you do to him?"

The ninetail smiled. "You'll see."

The boy lifted a hand in front of him and spoke airily, "Rasengan."

On the palm of his hand, a whirlwind of power started to spin. Ichigo's eyes widened and stepped back cautiously

The boy spoke again, relaying another of the ninetail's messages, "Now you shall realize your stupidity and your lost opportunity to leave alive."

Ichigo gripped Zangetsu tightly and stared at the boy confronting him. He realized what problem he had in front of him. I can't hurt this guy but I also have to defend my self against him. Meaning I have to hurt this annoying beast thing before this guy can get me.

Ichigo tore his eyes away from his opponent, and looked at the nintail.

Damn it.

XXXXXX

At the Leaf Prison

Renji smiled smugly as he watched his captor in front of him. The mysterious male's body was slightly fatigued, which was apparent by his heavy breathing and the sheen from his cold sweat on his body. Renji pressed his zanpaktou forward, causing small beads of blood to dribble down the ninja's neck. This time I'll be the one to protect Rukia. Ichigo can't be the one to do all the saving. The ninja shifted under the blade, and was now staring at Renji with an intense glare. Renji re-gripped his sword, preparing. The muscles on his arm tightened, anticipating to cut in quickly. "Any last words?" Renji inquired.

"Psh. Ya." the ninja snapped,"Watch it."

Renji looked at the ninja in surprise then suddenly he felt his body slam against the prison wall. The cement crushed under him, as the impact burst across the wall. Small chunks of rocks was shook off the wall from the incredible force. Renji's chest compressed, rushing out all the air in his lungs. His back was hit with numbing pain that was quickly spreading. His body would immediately crumple if not for the wall's hold on his arms and legs.

"Renji!" Chad quickly began running toward Renji's body.

"Stop!" Renji coughed out, "Don't come any closer!"

Chad stopped in surprise, he didn't imagine Renji would still have strength after the kick from the green suited ninja.

Renji, mustering his energy, eased out of the wall, ripping his arms away. He set his legs on the ground, waiting until his legs had the strength to hold him up. Finally he had completely stood, but with bruises and cuts crisscrossing all over his body following his black tattoos.

Hmph unbelievable. Lee looked at the red head he had kicked. Usually they don't survive after that.

Neji narrowed his eyes, which were already at their Byakugan stage. He covered him self in chakra at the last second to protect him self. Interesting.

"YOU!" Lee spun toward the voice. "You fucking bastard! I'm going to slice you to pieces!" The red head was now yelling at green suited ninja, his voice almost hysterical.

The redhead stepped forward, his anger radiating off of him. His clutched his sword tightly and took a daring step forward.

"Renji" Chad put a hand at Renji's chest, pushing him back slightly.

Renji snapped his head to his friend. "What do you think your doing?" He said, his temper waning.

"Let me take this." Chad responded slowly, but Renji could hear Chad's determination.

Renji waited a moment, then finally responding but with reluctance. "Fine. Besides I haven't finished this anyway." He turned toward Neji with a glare.

Neji returned it with almost more intensity. Almost. Renji growled lightly and turned toward the ninja. He thrusted his zabimaru in the air, the zapatou's extended length reaching the ground. Then with a snap of his wrist he started to turn Zabimaru like a whip, gaining speed. Neji, unmoving, watched and inspected the red heads movements. Finally he then put his arms up in formation, preparing for the stranger's next move.

"NEJI!"

Neji spun around toward Tenten's annoyed voice. Her arms were crossed in front of her, a deadly frown on her face.

"What? Don't you see I'm a bit busy?" Neji said at tad frustrated.

"Neji I've been ignored this whole time! Let me take him!"

"No."

"Argh Neji! Come on!"Tenten stomped her foot childishly. "At least let me cover for you." She whined.

Neji was about to roll his eyes at her actions but suddenly turned around and quickly dodged an incoming sword.

Neji spun at the red head. "Don't you know it's rude to fight an opponent when they aren't ready?" He said icily.

Renji retracted Zabimaru, the sword going back to it's compressed state.

"Tch. A fight is a fight. I didn't ask you to wait for me now did I? Unless you need some "extra care" and want me to go easy on ya." Renji mocked obnoxiously, his face in a smirk. "Oh yeah and you can have your girlfriend help you too." He added, his smile even wider.

Neji snarled viciously. "No than-"

Tenten suddenly jumped in front of Neji, cutting him off. She looked at Renji with cold eyes.

"Tenten what are you-"

"Stop." Tenten's voice was deadly serious. "I'm going to take care of this guy and I don't want to hear a peep from you." Tenten continued to look at Renji as he grinned right back.

Tenten narrowed her eyes, "Wipe that smile of your face."

Renji frowned and eased him self into fighting position. "Irritating me eh? Bid mistake."

Tenten replied coldly "No. It's your mistake to underestimate me." Tenten kneeled to the ground setting down two scrolls.

"Twin Rising Dragons"

XXXXXXX

Compared to the other 2 opponents, Chad and Lee were amazingly calm. No intentions of sizing the other up and no anger, just the plain will to fight and determination. Both stood in front of the other almost motionless. Moments later, Lee eased into his position and Chad simply continued standing, almost relaxed. A moment passed between them.

Silence.

Suddenly the air around ablazed with energy. Both opponents simultaneously going into action. Lee flew forward as Chad went straight to defense, covering his right hand with black and red lined covering. Lee's left leg snapped up almost hitting Chad's side, but at the last second Chad's hand flew out stopping it. No damage at all to Chad's protected hand. Though in quick response, Lee threw his right hand at Chad's wide chest, effectively sending him backward. Chad skitted against the ground without losing balance then dug his heals in the dirt to stop his momentum. He switched to offense, lighting up his right arm with blue spirit energy. Charging forward, he ran toward the green suited ninja. Lee put his hands in front of him, preparing for close combat. Though unexpectedly, Chad stopped midway between him and the ninja, and threw his arm back like a baseball pitcher. Lee's eyes widened as he watched as the blue energy tripled in size. Chad then forced his arm forward. Lee moved quickly out of the way but not quick enough. The green clothe covering his left arm was now charred with patches of bloody skin showing through the crisp holes. Lee ripped of the damaged clothe but forgotten to discard it, leaving it tightly clutched in his hands.

"Hey." Lee suddenly said. "Your pretty good."

"You too." Chad responded.

Lee spoke again, putting more force, "When you came here did you fight anyone?"

"Yes, of course." Simple. Concise.

"Who was it?" Lee's voice felt sharp. An aching silence followed.

"A girl. Pink hair." Chad said.

Lee's entire body suddenly tensed, and his knuckles were unnaturally white now, the outcome of his intense grip of the once green clothe.

"Sakura." He murmured. The team Guy were the ones retrieving the three ninjas who first encountered the strangers. Lee was the first to see Sakura, who at that time was lying against the tree, almost dead. Chad looked at the ninja curiously, wondering what was the problem. Lee then turned, looking directly at him with intensity that Chad hadn't seen before ever since they started fighting. Lee let go of the clothe and let it drift to the ground. I'll win for sure. I have to because if I don't... I'll never be able to face Sakura again.

I hope people understand this chapter. I think the part where Ichigo sees the ninetail and Naruto is a tad confusing...But anyway next chapter will definitey have more action ( I know I've been avoiding it...hehehe...) And please review! Gives me inspiration to update quicker :)