grumpywinter: Sorry about that. I usually add those notes just before I post the chapter so sometimes I forget check for typos. I meant to write 'I believe that in the cannon, Shunsui, like Jushiro...'. That's what I was talking about. As for Byakuya being there, sorry but the next chapter is set 50 years after the last chapter which will place it in time that Rukia, Renji, Momo, and the others are in the academy. Or at least that's when I believe that happened. During which time Byakuya was already a soul reaper. Though Byakuya will be in this chapter.
Micheal the Archangel: Thanks. First off, I don't plan on doing the Bount arc. I've seen the first few episodes and know the vague storyline of the arc but I just don't really feel like writing. Maybe if another author wishes to work on it with me, or they write it with me betaing it. Otherwise, I won't write it. As to your first question, you've obviously been reading Hollowification if say that. My plans for Arturo differ from a bit from them Hollowification, but somethings will stay the same. Spoiler Alert But he is not the final villain I have planned for either story. And that's all I have to say about that.
Tsukiko91: Thank you. Sorry but as I explained at the end of chapter 4: Turn Back The Pendulum, I don't want to have a Naruto/Sakura or a Sasuke/Sakura pairing in this story. Mainly because I like both pairings and I don't wanna have to choose between the two pairings. It's also one of minor reasons I choose to make Sakura a vizard. The extent of the Naruto/Sakura relationship will be friendship, nothing else.
In case any of you are wondering why I turned Sakura and Kenshi vizards. As I said to Tsukiko91, one of the reasons was to prevent any possibility of a Naruto/Sakura or Sasuke/Sakura pairing. There were two main reasons for it. First, I wanted Naruto to have a purpose, a reason to become stronger beyond just fighting Aizen. What could be better than fighting to bring his friends back home? The other reason is that when TBTP started, I was fascinated by it. I was surprised by how much I learned from just those few chapters. And not just the vizards, Urahara and Aizen, but the other characters that made minor appearances, like Byakuya and Shuhei. And I grew to love the vizards and wanted to have them get a bit more spotlight than they have currently received in the canon. So I decided to put Sakura and Kenshi with the vizards. A minor reason I chose to make them vizards was that Naruto and/or Sasuke are almost always vizards or arrancar whereas Sakura and other Naruto characters tend to be normal soul reapers. So I decided to change it up in my story. Finally, it was balancing the power level between the four. Because I gave Naruto and Sasuke twin-bladed zapaku-tos, which are extremely rare and I suspect, more powerful than most normal zanpaku-tos and their bankais are certainly more powerful than most that have been shown in Bleach. I chose to make Sakura and Kenshi vizards as a means to balance their power levels.
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or Naruto
Chapter Six: Return to the Academy
Squad Eight Training Dojo
Fifty Years Later
Stab...Slice...Block...Kick...Thrust...Slice...Slice...Parry...
"You've gotten much better Naruto. Before you couldn't last more than a minute against my shikai. Now, you've lasted almost four minutes against it." Shunsui said as he swung the twin-blades of his zanpaku-to at Naruto.
Naruto raised his own blades, blocking the blow. "Thanks Captain. But I think I can last much longer than just four minutes." Naruto replied before kicking Shunsui's left shin, throwing him off balance.
Naruto followed up by swinging his swords downward on Shunsui. But the Captain of the Eighth Division swung his right sword at the falling blades, knocking them out of Naruto's hands. Before Naruto could react, the tip of Shunsui's left sword pressed up against his throat. "Whew...Nanao. How long was that?" Shunsui asked.
"Four minutes, 1 second Captain." the Four Seat of Squad 8 replied. (Appearance wise, Nanao looks like she's now in her mid-teens.)
Shunsui grinned. "It seems you did last longer than four minutes. How about we get some lunch?"
"Sure." Naruto replied as he picked up his swords and resealed them.
"You're paying." Shunsui said as put his captain's coat and pink coat back on. "After all, it's rude for a lady to pay for lunch and you lost."
"Wait. The Division kitchens don't charge us anything for food." a confused Naruto said. "So why would I be paying?"
"Whoever said we were going to the kitchens for lunch? We're going to the Rukongai."
"But Captain." Nanao sternly said. "You are still suppose to be on duty. Which means unless ordered to, you can not leave the Seireitei."
"Relax Nanao." Shunsui said, placing his straw hat back on his head. "We're only gonna be gone for an hour. It's not like something big is gonna happen in that time."
"Yeah Nanao. Worrying and fretting about every little thing is gonna give ya wrinkles." Naruto said with his trademark goofy grin.
Nanao sighed and shook her head. "Honestly. Sometimes, I don't know what to do with you two."
Grinning Cat Restaurant
West Rukongai First District
A Short While Later
The Grinning Cat Restaurant...Once a place that brought Naruto memories of good times. Now it was just a reminder of what they lost. He and Sasuke normally only set foot in the place on the anniversary of the last day they had seen Sakura and Kenshi...He wondered where they were now...What they were doing...
Naruto shook his head, clearing away the thoughts. Now wasn't the time to be thinking about them. He resumed eating his ramen. Though he wasn't inhaling it like he used to. Instead, he was eating like a normal human being. Nanao had forced him to learn proper table manners. She could be very forceful when she wanted to. And scary. Like Sakura and Lisa...
He had honestly been surprised when he realized just how much he missed Lisa and some of the others. Lisa, Hiyori, Mashiro, Love, Rose and Shinji had all been fun to be around. Particularly, watching Mashiro annoy 'Hawkie' or watching Hiyori beat up Shinji which happened just about every time they met.
Naruto shook his head again. He really only thought about them this much when he was in this place.
Naruto finished off his last bowl and burped, earning a death glare from Nanao. "Excuse me." Naruto quickly said to avoid the wrath of the Fourth Seat.
Shunsui chuckled. "You have something on your face." he said as passed Naruto a folded cloth napkin.
Naruto grabbed the napkin and unfolded it, revealing an Eighth Division Lieutenant's Badge.
"Congratulations." Shunsui said with a grin.
Both Naruto and Nanao stared at the badge in surprise. In the fifty years since the incident, their Division had been without a Lieutenant. Naruto had started to wonder if they were ever gonna have a new Lieutenant. "Thanks Captain." Naruto said as he tied the badge to his left arm.
"Well, you deserve it Naruto." Shunsui said. "And congratulations are in order for you too Nanao."
"Captain?" a confused Nanao asked.
"Who do you think the new Third Seat is?" Shunsui replied.
Nanao bowed her head. "Thank you Captain."
"Oh Naruto...Before I forget. You first duty as Lieutenant starts tomorrow." Shunsui said. "Tomorrow is the final evaluations of this year's graduating Academy class. And as you know, a high-ranking officer from each Division is required to be there. I want you to be the Eighth's representative. Think you can handle it?"
"Of course I can." Naruto said in a lazy tone. "It's just watching a bunch of students try to prove that their ready to become soul reapers."
"Well actually, there's some interesting kids taking the final evaluations tomorrow. A couple months ago, during a konso training exercise in the real world the real world, a group of Huge Hollows that were able to hide their spiritual presence attacked the group. Four students managed to hold the hollows back long enough for the other students to escape and for Aizen and his lieutenant to arrive and destroy the hollows." Shunsui said as he reached into the folds of his coat and pulled out some papers. "Here's their files."
Naruto read through the files one by one. First up, Izuru Kira. Son of lesser nobility. Both parents dead. Otherwise, no history of any importance beside that incident a few months ago. Average stats. All and all, completely unremarkable.
Second, Momo Hinamori. An orphan from the First District of the South Rukongai. Excelled at kido, otherwise average stats. Even more unremarkable than Izuru.
Next up, Renji Abarai. A orphan from the 78th District of the West Rukongai. Which was fairly interesting. They rarely got candidates from that far. Fairly good swordsman, crappy at kido. An interesting one compared to the other ones.
Naruto turned to the last file and froze the instant he saw the photo on the file. Specifically, the tattoo on the young man's left cheek. The 69 tattoo. It was identical to the tattoo that both Kenshi and Kensei had. He quickly started reading the file. Shuhei Hisagi. Grew up in the Thirty-First District of the West Rukongai...Had he met them during that fateful mission? He had the same tattoo and he lived in that district. The coincidences were too great. Naruto made a mental note to ask him tomorrow.
Central Auditorium
Soul Reaper Academy
The Next Day
Naruto had admit there was a surprising number of Captains attending the final evaluations. Normally, most Captains sent their Lieutenants or high ranked seated officers to scout out the potential new soul reapers. As always, Captain-General Yamamoto was there. Along with Yamamoto was the newly promoted Captain of Squad 2 Soifon, Squad 3 Captain Sugita, Squad 5 Captain Aizen, Squad 9 Captain Tosen. From Squad 4 was, Lieutenant Isane, Lieutenant Iba of Squad 7, Third Seat Rangiku of Squad 10, Third Seat Akon of Squad 12. The remaining members of the group were some very familiar faces. Ikkaku and Sasuke. Normally Kaien would have been there instead, but he and Miyako were still on their honeymoon, so Sasuke, the Fourth Seat of Squad 13, was doing it this year. Rounding out the panel was Lieutenant, soon-to-be Captain, Byakuya Kuchiki of Squad 6.
Byakuya...They had first met during their time at the Academy. Back then, he was arrogant, quick-tempered, hotheaded kid. Now he was an arrogant, cold and calm man. Which wasn't really an improvement. When they were in the Academy, Byakuya was being heralded as a genius, a prodigy and all that other crap people like him got labeled with. Needless to say, they never ever got along. He considered Byakuya an arrogant jackass who needed a someone to give him a major ass kicking. While Byakuya considered him a loudmouth idiot who would never become a lieutenant much less a captain.
Needless to say, Byakuya's face when he saw the Lieutenant's Badge on his arm was priceless. Naruto wished he had a camera when Byakuya saw him.
"Students of the Soul Reaper Academy!" Yamamoto said to the assembled students. "I congratulate you all on making it this far. But only a third of you will pass these final tests and become members of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. On behalf of your instructors, the assembled Captains and Officers and myself, I wish you all good luck."
The students started the first and dullest test, the morning written exam. In fact, Yamamoto was usually the only member of the 13 Court Guard Squads who observed the written exam. But it gave Naruto some time to talk to Ikkaku and Sasuke in one of the smaller classrooms of the Academy.
"Well Dobe, congratulations on the promotion." Sasuke said with a smirk.
"Yeah, congratulations." Ikkaku said. "We're partying tonight and you're buying the sake."
"Yeah yeah." Naruto said. "Hey Ikkaku, could I talk to Sasuke in private for a bit."
Ikkaku raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, okay. I'm gonna go find something to drink."
After Ikkaku left the room, Sasuke stared at him for a moment. "What's this about Dobe?"
Naruto pulled out the folded file on Shuhei. "Look at this."
Sasuke stared at the photo for a moment before reading the file. "You think this Shuhei Hisagi met them on that day?" he asked.
"I think so." Naruto replied. "It's possible that he may have seen exactly what happened that night. What really happened."
"Than we should ask him during one of the breaks in between the tests."
"My thoughts exactly."
The door suddenly opened. "Oh I'm sorry. I thought this room was empty." Captain Aizen said as he stepped into the room.
"Don't worry about it Captain Aizen." Naruto said.
"Congratulations on the promotion Naruto. You're now one step closer to your goal." Aizen said with a smile.
Aizen was one of the few people they had trusted enough to confided in about their goal. Along Captains Kyoraku, Ukitake, and Kurosaki, and Kaien and Nanao. The rest of the 13 Court Guard Squads had no idea about their goal. If fact, Aizen had offered to help them in anyway he could in reaching their goal. (1)
"Thanks." Naruto said. "Heard you came to the rescue of some students taking the tests today."
"Oh that? That was nothing. Just happened to be at the right, at the right time. Though those four were quite impressive for students. Of course, no where near as impressive as you two were when you were students. I have to admit, I'm quite jealous Captains Ukitake and Kyoraku."
"I'm sure many of the other Captains would say the same thing." Naruto said. "Particularly Kenpachi."
Aizen chuckled. "Is he still trying to fight you two every time you meet?"
Naruto and Sasuke both nodded. It was the main reason they tended to stay away from the Squad 11 Barracks. They didn't mind sparing with Ikkaku, Shinn and Yumichika. But the Captain of the Eleventh was something entirely different. The guy was beyond scary. He had fought and killed the previous Captain of the Eleventh, a Division that specialized in melee combat, to become a Captain. Without even knowing his zanpaku-to's name. Naruto shuttered at the thought of Zaraki achieving just his shikai.
"You two might as we get it over with and fight him. He'll stop hounding you after that...At least until you get stronger." Aizen said.
"Yeah...I don't think that's gonna happen." Naruto said.
Aizen chuckled. "I thought not."
The three of them talked for an hour or so before both Sasuke and Naruto left to see if Shuhei had finished the written test yet. By pure chance, when they reached the entrance to auditorium where the test was being written, a group of students left the room. Only two of them Naruto recognized, Renji Abarai and Shuhei Hisagi.
Renji spotted them. "Third Seat Uzumaki, Fourth Seat Uchiha, what are you doing here?" he asked.
"That's Lieutenant Uzumaki." Naruto coldly said as he pointed at his Lieutenant's Badge.
"Representing our Divisions." Sasuke said in his arrogant and intimidating tone. "Why else would we be here?"
"Sorry sirs." Renji quickly and nervously said to the two soul reapers.
Naruto broke out laughing while Sasuke chuckled. "We're just messin' with ya." Naruto said. "We're a little curious about the guys who took on a group of Huge Hollows with nothing more than training zanpaku-tos."
"Really?" Renji asked, pride in his eyes.
"Yes. Are the other two still writing?" Naruto asked.
"Momo and Izuru? No they finished awhile ago." Renji said. "I was going to go meet them for lunch before the next test."
"Well then, let's go have some lunch." Naruto said.
"Hey Renji! Over here!" Momo Hinamori shouted, waving them over to the table she and Kira were sitting at.
The group walked towards their table.
"Hey Shuhei. Care to join..." Momo paused when she saw Naruto and Sasuke. "Hello sirs!"
"Please. No need to be so formal." Naruto said. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki, Lieutenant of Squad 8. And the teme here is Sasuke Uchiha, Fourth Seat of Squad 13."
"Dobe." Sasuke grumbled.
Naruto ignored him. "May we join you?"
"Ah...Sure." Momo said with a smile. "I'm Momo Hinamori."
"And I'm Izuru Kira." Kira said. "I'm curious why two officers like you would be having lunch with some Academy students like us."
"First off, the four of you pretty much ceased being Academy students the night you stood up to a group of Huge Hollows." Sasuke bluntly said, surprising the four. "If fact, you four are probably the only ones who are guaranteed to pass today."
"Second, we're kinda curious about four students who were either crazy, stupid or brave enough to fight a group of Huge Hollows." Naruto said. "Though we do have a personal reason for being here. Involving you Shuhei."
"Me?"
Naruto pulled out an old photo of Team 7, taken a months before the incident. "You see, we knew two people that have tattoos identical to the tattoo on you're cheek." Naruto said as he put the photo on the table and pointed Kenshi. "Did you meet this guy fifty years ago?"
To Naruto's and Sasuke's surprise, both Shuhei and Renji looked shocked. "Yeah...I saw him fifty years ago. But I never heard his name." Shuhei said. "He was part of a group of soul reapers that saved my life from a hollow. There was a tattoo on the abdomen of the gray haired captain that was leading them. I copied that tattoo and decided to become a soul reaper when I grew older so that I could thank him."
"The captain's name was Kensei Muguruma. And this is Kenshi Mitsurugi." Naruto paused for a moment before adding in a sad tone, "They were a part of Squad 9 until an incident that very night. We were hoping that you may have seen something that night."
"I'm sorry. But I left not long after they killed that hollow."
"Hey, who's the girl in the picture?" Renji asked.
"Her? That's Sakura Haruno." Sasuke said. "Another victim of that incident. Why?"
"She and that Kenshi guy saved my life. In fact, Kenshi was the inspiration for my tattoo." Renji said pointing to the tattoo on his forehead.
"Kenshi never had a tattoo on his forehead." a confused Naruto said.
"No. But they mentioned that he got a tattoo every time he accomplished something. So I decided to do the same." Renji replied. (2)
Naruto smiled. "I'm sure he'd be happy to see someone carry on his clan's tradition."
Then Shuhei asked the question. "I don't mean to pry but I'm curious about that incident you mentioned. The one that claimed the lives of your friends...If you want to tell us that is."
Everyone at the table stared at him with surprised looks. Naruto sighed. He leaned forward and said quietly, "Well...First off, what we're about to tell you is top secret. So don't tell anyone what we're about to tell you. Officially, they're all listed as KIA. But they aren't dead. Only Captains have access to the real reports on them. Thought those reports are sketchy and incomplete at best. Even those were around when it happened, don't know exactly what happened. But this is what we do know. Fifty years ago, Captain Muguruma and a team under his command were investigating a string of soul disappearances in the Rukongai. There had been a team sent out ahead of them to scout out the area. Kensei's team would later find the abandoned uniforms of that team and realized that they were the first soul reaper victims of the soul disappearances. Two members of Squad 12 were sent to analyze the scene for any clues. Not long after they left, we lost the reiatsu signals from both Kensei and his Lieutenant. 3 Captains and 2 Lieutenants were sent to investigate what happened."
"We happened next is unknown." Sasuke said. "But the next morning, the ten of them were found in the Squad 12 labs, the apparent victims of taboo experiments. Central 46 ordered their execution but they managed to escape before they could be executed. Where they are now? No one knows."
Naruto sighed. "But that's in the past. Why don't we talk about something more pleasant.
And that's what they did. The six of them spent an hour talking and eating. Naruto and Sasuke told them tales of their exploits, ranging from their days in the Academy to their most recent battles. Renji, Shuhei, Izuru and Momo didn't really have any stories to tell. So they just asked questions.
"So...What's your goals for becoming soul reapers?" Naruto asked.
"What?" Momo asked.
"You know. What you wish to accomplish as soul reapers?" Naruto answered. "Sasuke and me both desire to become Captains."
Momo blushed before answering. Though whether it was from affection or embarrassment, Naruto couldn't tell. "I wish to serve under Captain Aizen."
"Nothing wrong with that. Aizen's a good man." Naruto said. "If you want, we can talk to him. I'm sure he'd love to have you in his Division."
Momo looked ecstatic. "Really?"
Naruto nodded. "Sure."
Naruto turned to Izuru. "What about you?"
"Me? Ah...I guess I want to make my parents proud."
Naruto simply nodded. "What about you Renji?"
Renji stared into space for a moment. "I want to surpass Byakuya Kuchiki."
Naruto whistled. "Now that's a dream. Of course you realize, that's a difficult goal to achieve. Byakuya was considered a genius and a prodigy when we were in the Academy. Most of the current lieutenants couldn't hope to beat him. It could take you years and years of hard work just to reach his level."
"I don't care. One day I will surpass him." Renji replied, an unbreakable determination etched into face.
Naruto grinned. Memories of Rock Lee filled his mind. "Good. Cause even a genius can be beaten through hard work. But always remember the most important thing. Believe in yourself. Because all hard work in the world won't amount to anything if you don't believe in yourself." (3)
Naruto sat up. "Well...It's looks like it's time for us to be heading back." he said. "It's almost time for the next test."
Main Training Field
Soul Reaper Academy
An Hour and a Half Later
Naruto had to admit, the second test wasn't as impressive as he remembered. Or maybe it was because when he took it himself, he possessed a fraction of the skills and strength he possessed now. The second test, dubbed the Gauntlet, was a series of difficult (for an Academy student) obstacles and hazards for them to get past. Needless to say, the students, for the most part, looked quite pathetic. But it and the first test were necessary to weed those that weren't ready to graduate. After the first two tests were completed, the top fifty percent of the group would move on to the final test. A tournament not unlike the Finals of the Chunin Exams from his own world. The best students, regardless of whether they won or lost, would become soul reapers.
Naruto remembered when he and his nakama took the final test. He and Sakura were on one side of tournament and Kenshi and Sasuke were on the other. Sakura lost in the quarter-finals to Byakuya Kuchiki. Then in the semi-finals, he lost to Byakuya and Kenshi lost to Sasuke. Byakuya went on to win the tournament against Sasuke. That arrogant prick was just too fast. But then again, he was the target of the Yoruichi's games.
"So Naruto, Sasuke, what do you think of this year's crop of students?" Aizen asked.
"I don't know." Naruto said. "Were we that bad when we were doing this?"
"Not quite. But you guys were in a class all unto you own. A rare sight. Doesn't look like there's anyone like that in this group." Aizen replied.
"There is some potential in this group." Sasuke said. "Some of them could become quite strong. Maybe even Captain-level one day."
Naruto nodded. "Yeah. Those four that you rescued are definitely gonna go places. You know the girl, Momo, wants to serve under you. I think she has a crush on you."
Aizen smiled. "Does she now? Well, I'll see to it that she's put in my Division."
I rather enjoyed this chapter. Not a whole lot of action, but it lays down some important pieces of the foundation for the Soul Society arc.
(1) I really love writing Naruto's and Sasuke's interactions with Aizen. Knowing that he's gonna betray them and was responsible for what happened to the vizards, makes writing him as their friend so much fun.
(2) They've never explained why Renji adds tattoos to body after every accomplishment he's made. So I thought, 'I should come up with my own reason why he does that.' And so I did. A nod to anyone who realized that in the second part of Chapter 3.
(3) Two of my favorite sayings in Naruto. And I wanted to include them. So I did. Thinking of including a few others in later chapters.
Next Chapter: Weeping Skies-6 Years Later