AN: Chapter two is here and waiting for your eyes! Heh. This story is popular. Or it's getting popular. That's always a good sign. I just have to make sure to keep my updates consistent.

Now then, here's the chapter

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Chapter two

With a pain filled grunt, a large bear like hollow smashed into the ground, covered in bruises and cuts. Its glowing eyes were shining with fear and resignation. "So…it's true," he grunted out between labored breaths. A second later a vaguely humanoid shape landed beside him and crossed its arms.

"Is what true? That you're really an Adjuchas class hollow? Because I really doubt that."

The bear tried to glare but couldn't muster up the energy. "Low-level trash," he said instead, causing the humanoid shape to laugh.

"This comin from the guy who got his ass whooped all over this forest? Heh."

The bear growled and tried to stand again. "This…is a travesty," he muttered. "I'm over three hundred years old and two classes higher on the ladder than you. How can I have lost to trash weaklings like you?"

The humanoid figure laughed again. "Three hundred and you're already and Adjuchas? Well, that is impressive." Then he started thinking.

"Well maybe your three hundred year old ego would still be intact if you'd stayed away from us eh? Just because you're WAY older than me doesn't mean that I'm weaker. But Noooooooo you HAD to come over to play in the kitchen but couldn't take the heat. You suck."

The hollow roared. "Don't taunt me!!!"

"Taunt? I don't taunt people. What do you think I am? An asshole? No, I tell the truth and that's it."

The hollow succeeded in getting back to his feet. He towered four feet over his adversary like a menacing wall of flesh and fur. But the significantly smaller hollow didn't even so much as flinch.

"Hey Smokey, we've done this already so why waste both our times?"

"Fuck you, child. I will not be embarrassed like this."

The humanoid hollow shrugged and sighed. "Whatever, I'm leaving."

I'm not done with you yet insect! Face me!!!"

With another roar, the bear charged, its claws lengthening and getting sharper in an instant. "Die!"

The figure sighed and without even pausing in his trek, bashed the bear in the side of the head, with his tail, knocking him out.

"Jeez."

He continued walking.

Ten years is more than enough to change two children. And that's exactly what happened. The two had learned a lot over the last decade. They had gained a lot as well, power, reputation, a good number of decent challenges. Hell, they even had a few hollows willing to be their underlings even if they absolutely refused to take servants. "Such a thing is not something that should even exist in the afterlife," they had said to the numerous weaker hollows that had come to them.

They had also grown. No longer were they the little midgets, as so many had found the pleasure of calling them. Ichigo stood an impressive five ten, his orange hair was a wild mane of spikes that went down to his mid back and his tail really was a deadly whip now, strong and dangerous like that of a reptile and the markings on his body grew more intricate and beautiful. He was often mistaken for a Vasto-Lorde due to his very humanoid shape but confirmed just as quickly that he was not due to his reitsu. No matter how…vast and different it was, it was still that of a low class hollow. Perhaps that is why he and Naruto were the constant targets of all of the higher level hollows out there. Oh well. It didn't really matter to him at all. It gave him time to practice and get stronger.

Naruto had grown as well…

BOOM

"Hey Skull boy that took you longer than it should have. Getting soft there are ya?"

Ichigo didn't even bat an eyelash as a massive masked fox with seven tails crashed into the ground next to him. The creature was huge. He towered over Ichigo by more than ten feet and radiated an aura more sinister feeling that Ichigo's. For years the two had questioned this but they never could find an answer. The fox's fur was a mix of crimson, yellow and orange. It was a uniquely beautiful mixture that shimmered on the border between all three colors when the light hit him. Ichigo had called him rainbow fox for three years. The tips of his tails were bone white as were the paws and underside. His mask stayed the same, only increasing in size with its owner. The broken seal on the forehead was also something the two had always questioned. But Naruto just couldn't piece together what it was there for. No other hollows had such designs and it made him glad to know that he was unique.

"Bite me Fox," said Ichigo with an annoyed huff as he continued walking. Naruto merely chuckled as he fell into place with his friend. It was quite an odd site even in the forest. While it was generally common for hollows to travel together. That usually only applied to the weaker and less intelligent hollows and Gillian. But to see two low class hollows as intelligent as these two and as powerful, travelling together was odd, especially with the very obvious size difference between the two. By all rights, these two should be trying day and night to eat each other.

Ichigo and Naruto hadn't even begun their plans to create a heaven for the souls of the departed. How could they when they were spending all of their time surviving in a forest full of monsters hell bent on killing them and absorbing their power?

Still though, they actually enjoyed it. Hollows, the more intelligent ones could be rather good company, especially those of weaker power who…looked up to them so to say. And since they had a certain…reputation, they always had available sparring partners. Sure, many hollows mocked them at every turn, calling them soft pussies and such, but they still had fun. Ichigo smiled despite the fact that it was hidden by his mask.

Naruto himself was similar to Ichigo in terms of thought. He had loads of fun! He had never been so free in his entire time existing. When he was alive, the pleasures he had access to now, were denied to him with a vengeance. But after he died, he had gained everything he was missing out on, a friend, a goal, power and a good deal of respect. He never told Ichigo this but he's glad they were both killed on the same day. Otherwise they would have never met.

The two were fifteen now, teenagers in human terms but still babies according to the rest of the hollows. It didn't bother them too much. They knew that if they so chose, and they were smart enough, Hollows could go on forever. But what did bother them is the constant disbelief they were faced with whenever someone faces off against them. They've literally had people swearing that they had some other more powerful hollows working for them behind the scenes even as they were bashed into the ground by a tail or a fist. It was freaking ridiculous.

The two were taken out of their thoughts by a sudden onslaught of spiritual pressure from right in front of them. It appeared so suddenly it momentarily shocked them both. Then a voice spoke up.

"Hmmm pale skin, orange hair, red tattoos, and a giant seven tailed fox. Yep it's them alright."

Naruto and Ichigo stared at the figure of a humanoid reptilian hollow twice as large as Ichigo. It stared with a mix of anger and mocking at the two before it.

"Hmmm we meet at last."

"Eh? You've been lookin for us?" began Naruto. "Don'cha got better things to be doin with your afterlife?"

The hollow glared. "Don't mock me boy. I'm here to see if those rumors spoken about you are really true."

Ichigo sighed. "Not this again. Naruto you take him."

The fox shrugged. "Sheesh it's always the same with you guys huh?"

The hollow's eyes narrowed. "I'm different from those fools that you faced in the past."

"Yeah and we've heard that about a bajillion times too."

Ichigo snorted. "A bajillion? You're not even trying anymore to sound intelligent are you? you lazy Fox?"

"Bite me Skull boy."

"Don't mock me!" exclaimed the hollow. "I'll have you know that I was a master martial artist when I was alive! I won't be underestimated!" The hollow charged straight at Ichigo, attempting to capture him off guard, unfortunately his path was rudely interrupted by one of Naruto's tails, which suddenly slammed into his back tossing him like a rag doll clear over Ichigo and into the forest.

"He swings he scores!" said Naruto, clearly happy. Ichigo crossed his arms.

"Master martial artist, as if we haven't already faced every ex battle class there is."

Naruto chuckled. "Hey remember that guy who said he was an emperor in life?"

Ichigo nodded. "Yeah, and I still think he was telling the truth."

Naruto shrugged, not caring at all, though the mocking grin could be seen on his maw. "Whatever you say Skull boy, whatever you say."

Ichigo was about to respond when he was suddenly booted in the side of the head and sent careening into a tree. He fell to the ground on his head looking shocked. For a second everything was quiet.

Before Naruto burst into laughter.

"Hahahahahahahaha Ichigo you suck man! you really do!!!"

"Hey bite me, Ass Wipe! The coward snuck me!" The orange haired hollow glared heatedly at the reptile that Naruto had swatted away earlier and let a bit of his reitsu leak out. The hollow's eyes widened at the power hidden just behind. If Ichigo chooses to he could kill him with his spiritual pressure alone! This was…this was unreal!

However he narrowed his eyes and prepared to strike again. He had something to prove and these two were the perfect stepping stones for him. He wasn't going to let these two children make a fool of him. Unfortunately for him however, Naruto had other plans, thus becoming evident when a massive paw suddenly slammed down and pinned the reptile to the ground.

"Uh, yeah. Look guy, I'm really not in the mood right now alright? So beat it before I seriously hurt you."

The hollow glared up at him, reitsu suddenly exploding off of him in a display that made Naruto widen his eyes in surprise. The fox recovered just in time to avoid a vicious upward kick to the jaw.

Heh so you DO have a bit of skill do ya? fine then."

Ichigo just righted himself and sat down and inspected his fingernails in a manner that told everyone there that he was bored. The reptile hollow's eye twitched a bit. He stood straight up and glared into Naruto's eyes. His reitsu was swirling around him like a tornado. It was actually quite impressive.

"Damn these brats still mock me are you really that arrogant? Because you happened to win a few battles over a few low class opponents? HA! Don't make me laugh! I refuse to believe that the two of you are as strong as they say you are. No one with your philosophy could hold that type of power!"

At this Naruto's eyes narrowed. He's heard this million of times as well. "A philosophy? You're all butt hurt over a fuckin philosophy?" Naruto's reitsu began to leak out, thick and gelatinous, and crimson. It was like its own entity. The hollow tensed up at this but he couldn't help but scoff as well.

"You and your friend are disgraces to hollow everywhere, walking around showing off your strength but then refusing to finish off your opponents. It shameful! Heh I heard that you don't even eat! It's a wonder you're even as strong as you are."

Naruto sighed. "Well excuse me for viewing your perception of afterlife as a stupid one. Things like death shouldn't even be fucking possible in the afterlife. Every soul should be granted its own paradise after death. After all it's a second existence, a blank slate. Ichigo and I were killed when we were five almost six. SIX!" a burst of reitsu threw the hollow into a tree. "Do you know how fucking disappointing it is to die a little kid and wake up to this shit? Then we learn that this place wasn't even Hell, just a second existence for those who couldn't get over their sadness. How un fucking fair is that? Then we find that these souls go around killing and eating each other? HAH! What kind of afterlife is that? You wanna know why we don't kill or eat other hollows? It's because it's WRONG!"

Naruto stood up to his full height, he loomed over the reptilian hollow and glared with piercing glowing blue orbs, yet another unique thing he and Ichigo alone shared as the eyes of a hollow were always yellow and black. "So don't come to us with your petty little judgments. We won't kill. We won't eat others and we sure as hell won't take the easy way to getting strong. He turned and started heading away. If you want to get strong then train. It's what we do. It's not that hard."

The hollow could only watch, shocked as the giant fox vanished into the woods with Ichigo following after him.

"Heh that was strangely Emo of you fox."

"Bite me Skull Boy,"

The two continued on, trading good natured insults as they always did. But they were unaware of a pair of eyes that was watching them.

"Jeez, agin they let someone live?" began a voice full of arrogance and scorn. "They're both a coupla pussies. I say we take em out right now."

"And for the millionth time, no. You know what Aizen Sama said. We are to observe them. They…interest him."

"Pfft whatever."

Two hollows hidden in the shadows watched the two boys for over an hour. It had been about four months since word had reached their master's ears, about two hollows, low level with more reitsu and strength than hollows more than two classes up the ladder then them. They knew all about what these two were about, how they refused to kill. How they refused to eat other hollows. They even avoided the massive gatherings that formed the Gillian. It was quite a shock at first to learn that people like these two existed. Pacifists were not the ideal choice of lifestyle if you planned to live long in this world. They were…unique. Aizen-Sama had taken an interest in them for the simple fact that they were so…pure.

However he didn't want to reveal himself to them. They'd come to him. All hollows did.

That was what Aizen's words had been when he sent these two to observe Naruto and Ichigo four months ago.

"It's always and adventure following these two…" began the first voice.

"Whatever."

There was an audible sigh before both were gone.

Once they were gone, Naruto and Ichigo both visibly relaxed.

"Ya think they'll ever tell us why they're following us?" asked Naruto with a grin. Ichigo glared. "I know you heard them talkin you dipstick, and based on their conversation the answer is no."

Naruto sighed and plopped to the ground, rattling the trees around him. "Jeez you're such a moody bitch ya know that?"

"Bite me Fox."

"Anyway I wonder who this, Aizen Guy is? Is he some type of powerful hollow with thousands of underlings?"

Ichigo shrugged. The truth is that Naruto and He first heard the name Aizen mentioned when they were ten. They had defeated a rather cocky hollow and right before they left to continue their wonderings. the hollows started panicking, demanding that they kill him or he'd be forced to face Aizen-Sama's wrath. But like now, they didn't give two shits about Aizen and his pointless wrath. To this day they know not what happened to that hollow. Only that they didn't kill him. It was shortly after the tenth year after they died that they noticed a pair of rather powerful hollows trailing them wherever they went. They were horrible at stealth, especially that arrogant guy whose voice is full of the lust for battle. Naruto wanted to laugh every time they "Secretly" followed after him and his orange haired companion.

"Well, ain't no skin off my bones. Wake me up in an hour," Said Naruto as he closed his eyes. Ichigo would have raised an eyebrow if he could.

"What makes you think I'm waking your big fat lazy ass up, Asshole."

"I ain't fat dammit! It's the fur."

Whatever helps you sleep at night fatty."

"Bite me Skull boy."

The two boys were asleep three minutes later, smiles tugging at their lips. It was always like this. The two were like brothers. And only they could understand their relationship.

(Elsewhere)

"So…they are stronger than they were a month ago?' asked a male voice from within the shadows. It was a voice that was paved over with kindness and aristocracy, but also transparent and filled with dark intention.

Two hollows stood rigid at attention, their entire postures desiring nothing more than to please the owner of this voice.

"Yes," began a female centaur-like Hollow with green hair. "They grow stronger everyday and still they refuse to kill. I still do not know why this is, but I know it has to do with their…dissatisfaction with the afterlife."

There was silence for a second before, "How strong do you think they are now?"

The second hollow scoffed. He was a large praying mantis with a mane of smooth black hair. "They're nothing," he said. "Hardly worth wasting our time observing."

"I disagree," said the centaur, causing the praying mantis to glare at her. "They are both very powerful. They can fight with Adjuchas now. The fox seems to be growing tails whenever he reaches a certain level of power. I'm not sure how many more tails he has to go. The orange haired Vasto-lookalike has gotten a lot faster and his reitsu recently took on the feel of a Shinigami…hybrid. But I'm not sure. Perhaps he had Shinigami in his ancestry. I guess that in a few months they may even be stronger than some of the Espada."

If anyone one else was around they would have gasped, However since it was just the three of them the responses were not all that noteworthy.

"I see…" said the shadowy figure after a minute. "Interesting." He seemed to contemplate for a few more minutes before the words came smoothly.

"Fight them. If they are as strong as you say than they should provide a decent challenge. If not, then kill them."

"What do we do if they prove to be stronger than us?" asked the centaur the praying mantis scoffed.

The shadowed man said nothing at first before he said, "Win their favor. Convince them to come to me."

The two hollows nodded, "As you command, Aizen –Sama."

Meanwhile as Naruto and Ichigo slept, they spoke while asleep, their dreams seeming to take on lives of their own.

"It's time to begin," said a voice in Ichigo's head.

"It is time for you to begin your ascent to godhood," said a voice in Naruto head.

"Impress me…Ichigo."

"Make me proud…brat."

"Fulfill your promise."

"Stay true to yourself."

The two boys spoke simultaneously.

"Of course/Dattabayo"

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And thus it begins. Naruto and Ichigo have a long grueling path ahead of them. Will they make it? Or will they fail. Anyway tell me what you think.