I've been busy. I AM an aspiring actress, and I've had an audition to go to recently for a place that is sort of like an "actors" recruit. I got invited to go, but unfortunately it costs much to money (3 grand) to go. Thus, I must skip out. But I will not give up! I WILL find something else to put my mind to!

Here's another chapter. I'm not too sure where I'm going with this…any suggestions? Again, I love nice reviews? I even appreciate flaming, because even though I ignore it, just having it there is enough to let me know you angry people care about my story enough to rant about it. ^^

Also, I altered the plot a little. If you notice it, feel free to point it out. xD I personally think it's obvious. You should get used to this altering of the plot, it's going to happen often.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto OR Bleach. But seriously, if I did I'd live in a huge mansion with a tiny giraffe like in that one commercial. .

That tent was hell to sleep in. Ichigo hated it. No, he more than hated it. He despised it. The ground was cold, hard, and not to mention dirty! Plus, there was no way to be sure someone wouldn't waltz right in and attack him out of the blue. For some reason, the ninja in this place looked so powerful. Something about them seemed so very…thicker. Ichigo did his best to keep thoughts like these out of his mind, but being a natural pessimist did NOT make it easy.

To make matters worse, being alone was never an option. Zangetsu was always there, chuckling at something Ichigo might have said to himself, or thought. A fairly private thought had once crossed Ichigo's mind, and Zangetsu had the nerve to mock him about it. So what if he thought Sakura's hair was kind of cute? This was the first time he had ever recalled someone with pink hair. The color pink, left completely alone, practically screamed out 'cute'. (Though from what he had seen, he knew Sakura's headstrong, and rather violent personality was anything by adorable.)

Off and on Ichigo would drift off to ether in dream. Only to be awakened by Zangetsu, or the ruffling of bushes and trees outside his tent. These shinobi were always on the move. Always. Not an hour went by where they stood still, not passing and disturbing his temporary synthetic home. By the time sunrise came, Ichigo had gotten a meek amount of hours of sleep. At the latest, he was deprived. But it didn't particularly matter, considering he wasn't in his real body. Though Sakura and the others did not know that, and it was a fact he intended to keep to himself. Just like they thought his sword was just…a sword. Oh, if only they knew it was a mystically thing called a Zanpakto! Imagine how confused they would become! The thought of Sakura not knowing something for once was enticing…

Once fully awake, he rested his head on his arms in a leisurely position, waiting for someone to come. Waiting…just waiting… His eyes fluttered closed occasionally, but again, this did not last. The shinobi were all the more active when the sun was up, and daytime had begun.

Being patient was not a strong personality trait for Ichigo. He found himself fiddling with everything and anything he could find in the tent. This dragged on waiting period was enough to make him mumble on and on to himself angrily. Just how long did they expect him to wait? Ichigo grumbled, he felt he had to do something. Thus, he completely put aside his orders to stay inside the tent until someone got him. He felt there were far more important things he could be doing!

The shinigami got up from the ground, attacking Zangetsu to his back in a fluid motion. He wasted no time in throwing the tent flap open. His impatience had gotten to him, and he had completely blocked out the presences of those around his tent. Thus, it was a shock when his hand, swiping the flap aside, hit something hard on the other side. He froze, an annoyed yet worried look painting his features. Had he…hit someone?

Ichigo stepped aside from the tent, letting go of the fabric to see a person on the floor. More importantly, this person was a familiar person. Although he had never seen her before in his life, she reminded him so much of someone he knew back home. On the ground before him was a girl his age, who had long black hair paired with eyes that were lavender and void. Her garb was all to match her eyes, light shades of purple. Just something about how she rubbed her head so meekly, and the reaction when she saw him was familiar. And at the same time, it was so very difference.

"A-ah!" She exclaimed once she had gotten a good look at the person before her, "So sorry! I didn't mean to run into your tent!" She hurriedly got up, dusting herself off before preparing to walk away.

Ichigo stepped her way. First off, he was determined to become acquainted with this girl who seemed so familiar. Secondly, now that he was no longer alone, there was a chance she could help him figure out what was happening. To keep his chance at answers from walking away with a red face, he held his hands out slightly, stopping her. "You ran into my tent? Don't apologize for something so stupid. I am the one who should apologize. I hit you with the tent."

She raised her eyebrows questionably, taking a moment to look at the tent closely. With her expression calmed down, she turned back to Ichigo. "Sorry." Was all she could utter.

Ichigo's upper lip twitched. "Don't apologize for apologizing!" He told her. She seemed so very unsure of herself. The way she walked, and talked, remind Ichigo so much of Orihime. Even in a world such as this, there was something that reminded him of home. For a moment, he didn't feel quite as alone as before.

"Oh. So-"

She managed to stop herself in time, looking down at the ground. Ichigo took that moment to introduce him, reaching out a hand to her. "Kurosaki, Ichigo." He stated blandly.

"My name is Hyuuga, Hinata. It's nice to meet you, Kurosaki-san." She told him, at first very hesitant to shake his hand. It was such a foreign gesture. Thus, in the end she refrained from shaking his hand, and merely bowed her head. Her head remained bowed for a good, long while. Until something overcame her features, a strange sensation of realization. Her eyes widened, and her already pale skin became lighter as she looked towards Ichigo's face. "Y-you're the one everyone's t-talking about!" She told him, pointing in a very ignorant matter.

He tilted his head to the side. "Huh? People are talking about me?" He asked. It came as a surprise. Ichigo had expected to make an entrance, but not a big enough for information about him to circulate. Ichigo had never seen himself as such an important person, and to be honest, it felt weird to suddenly be put on the spot.

"Is it true? Can you really fly?" She asked, sounded oddly hopeful.

"Flying? Really now, flying is the best they come up with?" He replied, obviously someone was spreading the wrong things around town. He crossed his arms, shrugging nonchalantly. "I don't think so, but I've never really tried. Don't act all surprised. Isn't flying something common for ninjas?"

She shook her head. "No." The only place she could think of where flying ninjas existed was in those little kunoichi storybooks, where female shinobi were portrayed as princesses, rather than fighters.

Of all things, Hinata seemed disappointed that she couldn't fly. Her strange reaction only reminded him more of Orihime and her crazy imagination. Nonetheless, he shook that thought off. He had more important things to worry about, fantasizing about his days before this mess in Konoha was less important. He nodded to Hinata, stepping out of her way. "Have you seen Sakura around?" He asked.

Once again, she solemnly shook her head. Hinata was distasteful to the fact that she was of no help to her new acquaintance. "Iie*. I haven't." She told him, "So sorry…"

Ichigo shrugged it off. "It's not a big deal, I'll find them soon." He mumbled, leisurely beginning to saunter away. Though what Hinata did was not expected. Silently, she followed him. The girl kept a good distance, and if she wasn't so similar to Orihime, Ichigo would have blindly gone along with her as a shadow. It was hard to ignore someone who so blatantly reminded him of another. He couldn't help but wonder what Orihime, Chad, and Ishida were doing. No doubt Rukia was safe in Soul Society, where she belonged. Still, a part of him hated the fact she was gone.

He wandered blindly, not too sure where he was going. Hinata never piped in any directions, thus Ichigo went with what he felt. Now and then he would stop to scratch his head and look at the surrounding area. He had an inkling that he was traveling in circles. Nonetheless, the orange-haired teen trudged on. He made numerous turns. Left, right, right, and left again. He didn't waste anymore time making small talk with Hinata, or any other that approached him. (Someone actually approaching him was rare. People were automatically repelled by his strange attire.)

It was when he caught sight of a familiar head of pink hair that he sighed with relief, looking up to the sky and thanking whatever deity was watching him. He perched behind a pile of wood, not far away. Sakura was with Naruto, and that one-eyed man Kakashi. They seemed to be in a deep conversation with two people Ichigo had never met before: a young boy and a very old, yet strong seeming man. The whole group looked genuinely happy to see each other. It was a mysterious sight to see. This was the first time Sakura actually looked nice, not violent. Ichigo raised his eyebrows, doubting her honesty.

From the conversation he had overheard, Ichigo concluded the boy and the man were Carpenters. The boy, at the very beginning, was quick to give out his name; Inari. The group spoke of so many things, from rebuilding Konoha, a fight with a man named 'Gato', to a former teammate named 'Sasuke'. The last topic interested Ichigo. The expression on everyone's faces changed. The glow behind their eyes became solemn, and a little nostalgic. Whatever it was, Ichigo doubted that Naruto was telling the whole truth. This 'Sasuke' must have done a lot more than merely get into a small 'fight' with Naruto.

Apart from Ichigo, Sakura at first was so excited to see familiar faces. Not to mention proud! To think that a mission from so long ago would create such strong bonds! Her spirits were lifted to see how much Inari had grown over the years, and how observant he was to her own growth! When he commented on her being 'pretty', she smiled bashfully, scratching behind her ear. At least Inari knew what to say to a girl! After three years apart, the first thing Naruto said was that she 'looked the same', even when she had hinted to him! She'd practically laid out the proper words to say! That day still annoyed her, making her fists clench in an irritated fashion. Inari was a lucky boy, considering he grew up with manners, completely unlike her blond friend.

The topic of Sasuke came and went, making her fists relax. The urge to punch Naruto from his mistakes so long ago was lost when she remembered Sasuke. She still couldn't get her heart to stop fluttering. Even with him away, it still hurt. His leaving was one of the worst things that had ever happened to her. All Sakura had ever wanted was to be accepted by Sasuke. Unfortunately, fate was a fickle fiend. The one to pick up the pieces after he left had always been, and will always be, Naruto. She was grateful to her friend, and that gratitude only grew when he acted so calm and collected in front of their old acquaintances. He acted as if it was no big deal. Though she knew how completely wrong that was.

After the group had parted, leaving just the original Team 7 members (minus Sasuke, of course), a sort of eerie aura overcame them. First off, Sakura was not the only one to realize the presence of another, right behind a pile of wood feet away. Kakashi noticed it as well, taking a moment to look over. However, both he and Sakura were distracted when Naruto's voice rang in. He was reminiscing.

"I know what revenge is." The blond mumbled, looking to the ground. Leaves from trees far were scattered by the wind, creating a gloomy mood. Naruto continued, leaving Ichigo unnoticed. "I thought I understood him…but I really didn't. No wonder all the things I said to him never got through to him…"

His reference to the past only made sense to Sakura and Kakashi, who both had a sort of sad, deadpan look to their face. Not in a humorous way, no. The reminder that everything Naruto, their number one knuckleheaded ninja, said that day and was blatantly ignored by Sasuke was painful. Everyone had expected Naruto to return to Konoha, with Sasuke close in tow. And everyone was shocked and sad to see that he returned battered and bruised, with no Sasuke in sight.

The mood became lighter when Naruto continued. "If I can't understand his pain, I can't laugh with him." The blond looked up to his comrades, carrying a small grin. "It might hurt a lot, but I want to fight him for real this time. 'Cause I want Team 7 to laugh together again!" He leaned his head back, his grin turning to something stupid. Sakura laughed, and behind his mask Kakashi smirked. Even Ichigo, who still went unnoticed, had a brief look on his face.

'You always know what to say, Naruto,' Sakura thought to herself.

With the wave of nostalgia passed, Kakashi finally got a decent amount of time to stare blankly at that pile of wood. An orange hair or two poked out, shining in the daylight. By now Naruto had seen this, and for the sake of his pride nobody told him that they'd sensed their new ally long ago.

Ichigo knew when he was caught, and he should have expected this to happen so soon anyways. It was only natural, he was dealing with ninja. Speaking of ninja, he glanced in the direction Hinata was, but was astonished to see she was gone. So quickly, without even leaving a trace she had vanished. He shrugged it off. Surely Hinata had her reasons to leave so soon, and it wasn't at all offending.

The male slowly got up from his crouch, his hands in the air to a certain degree of pride. He acted nonchalant; as if he didn't care that the looks they were giving him were anything but friendly. What Ichigo had heard was no doubt something they wanted to keep to themselves. "…didn't mean to bother. I just got so damn bored in that tent…" He told them, his eyes narrowing towards Sakura. "Don't you think you forgot something?" He made a slight gesture to himself.

In return, the roseate narrowed her eyes. She crossed her arms defensively. "Sorry." She responded coldly, her words completely chilling. "Important business came up." She turned her head away, as if to ignore him.

Kakashi decided to break the ice. He hadn't gotten the chance to talk to this newcomer yet, and there was still so much to learn. Besides, Tsunade was down, and somebody needed to figure out what to do with Ichigo, a person who could only be seen by ninja. That was the only thing Kakashi knew about this teen, and he was curious as to what else was remained a mystery. With that thought in mind, he waved off the brief disagreement between Sakura and Ichigo, ending their hateful looks. They both turned to him when he said, "It's good you're here, I've been meaning to ask you some things." Kakashi sighed as he took a few steps back. "All three of you, come with me." With a small wave, he led them away.

(The Crater in the center of Konoha)

"Look at this place!"

A female ninja with spiky red hair, dark skin, and cat-like eyes was astonished to see such a wreck. Her eyes were open wide as she absorbed it all. The place was destroyed. It was, without a doubt, a complete catastrophe. However, seeing this massacre was nothing to her. All she could think about was the current state of Konoha in comparison to her precious village, Kumogakure.

"Ha! Konoha had it coming to them. If their village was more fortified like ours, this would have never happened." She rambled, crossing her arms with a proud look to her face as she followed behind two of her companions.

One teammate, the only male in the team, turned his head. He looked at her, slightly amused by her words. He had short, snow-white hair that poked out over his steel-plated headband. Sucking on what seemed to be similar to a modern-day lollipop, he chuckled and replied, "Of course they wouldn't. Flat-chested girls like you, Karui, would scare them away! There would be no need to fi-!"

A very large, point rock pummeled him to the ground, originating from Karui. She was brimming with anger, and had thrown anything she could find to get her teammate to shush. "FLAT-CHESTED?" She growled, menacingly approaching.

The male, known as Omoi, had wide eyes as he picked himself up off the ground. His hand clutched at the top of his head. "OW! Karui, why are you flat girls always so violent? Can't you be calm, like wondrously curvy Samui over here?" He gestured to the third ninja.

The one Omoi had identified as Samui was truly a beauty to behold. Her blond hair was cropped short in the back, but long enough in the front to reach her shoulder. Unfortunately, her angelic face was anything but the truth. Despite her bountiful chest, and wide hips, she had an ice-cold personality. Her name fit her perfectly. 'Samui' meaning cold. The female seemed detached from the conversation at hand. She merely walked forward, ignoring her two rowdy teammates. She was more interested in Konoha's destruction, and the cause behind it.

"There are no guards, and the village is in ruins…" Samui mumbled, stopping when they approached a Konoha shinobi. His eyes were blank, labeling him a kinsman to the Hyuuga clan. The trio stopped in front of him, Samui continuing on with a question, "What the hell happened here?"

The Hyuuga nin explained it all to them in just three words. "It was the Akatsuki."

He needed to say nothing more. Team Samui understood him perfectly. Anyone who knew of the Akatsuki knew of the strength their group possessed. So much strength with such little numbers! It was astonishing to anyone who really thought about it. There was no time to mourn at the devastation (though the group didn't plan on doing that anyways). Samui got right down to business, requesting an audience with the Hokage. The Raikage, the brother of Team Samui's sensei, had urgent news. Even Samui couldn't phantom how the Raikage's wishes would play out.

'Just what is he thinking…?' Samui thought to herself, the Raikage's angry face in mind.

In time, the Team got their wishes. They were escorted to the Hokage's tent far off in the village. The walk there was harsh. Everywhere they looked there was evidence of destruction. Pieces of buildings, loose soil, and fallen trees were everywhere. Not to mention that personal items, like toys and clothing, cluttered the ground. It was hard to face it, but Samui kept a stone-cold expression on as she led her companions onwards, following the Hyuuga nin in front of her.

They wasted no time. Karui and Omoi stationed themselves outside of the tent, while Samui situated her position on the inside. Along with Samui was the Hokage's sleeping form, and another female called 'Shizune'. The conversation was quick to get to a certain point, and Shizune was forced to explain Tsunade's condition.

"She's unconscious?" Samui asked blandly, her brows furrowed.

Shizune nodded. "Unfortunately, yes. But I'm Tsunade-sama's aid; I can take her letter for you." She added. From what she knew, the team Kumogakure had sent to Konoha had more than just a few kind words. Any shinobi confrontation between the Kage always had to do with letters, and even some mutiny. (Though Shizune wished against the mutiny.)

Samui, however, would not stand. "I need to speak with whoever's in charge while she's…gone. It's urgent!" She tried not to look at the Hokage's shriveled body as she said that. No doubt the Hokage would be 'gone' for a while.

When a new person entered the tent, Samui was slightly outraged. The whole reason she had put Karui and Omoi outside was to prevent people from interrupting her discussion with the Hokage, or in this case, the Hokage's aid. Whoever this person was, they had no right to be in the tent! Or at least, that was her belief until she actually looked at the person. A very aged man entered, leaning his weight onto a solid cane. His head was wrapped to cover his forehead and his right eye. Though even that was not the most distinguishing trait of his person; it was his scar. The scar shaped like an 'x' on his chin. The man's appearance practically screamed 'cruelty' and 'experience'. His age suggested he was wise, and Samui decided to let his entrance slip.

The mild surprise on Shizune's face was ignored by both Samui and Danzo as they went on. Danzo said one thing, and Samui said another. The end result of that conversation led to the letter being passed to Danzo, and an eternally shocked Shizune.

Danzo, one of the most treacherous men in Konoha, was the new Hokage.

(Reconstruction Site of the Hokage Tower)

Ichigo was led to a less-battered area of town. With him were Kakashi, Sakura, and Naruto. The four of them all took respective seats on the ground. Although they tried to feign hospitality, it was obvious to Ichigo they didn't care whether he was comfortable or not. All they cared about was answers. For the three of them sat in a line facing Ichigo, all with varying expressions on their faces. The shinigami didn't waste time trying to figure out what these people thought of him. Something like that would take far too long.

Kakashi cut to the chase, clean and simple. "How did you get here, Ichigo?"

Finally being spoken to, the teen shrugged. "I don't really know myself." He stated with a humorous grin. Though the three people before him were anything but amused. He sighed, looking down to the dry dirt of Konoha that they sat on. "I was doing everyday things when it happened. I was fighting a Hollow named Jiryokou when it happened. One moment I was slashing at his chest, and the next I was standing in the middle of nowhere." He shrugged absently.

Naruto didn't like Ichigo one bit. His dislike of Ichigo was born from two simple facts: Ichigo had come to Konoha alongside an abnormally happy-looking Sakura, and he was tall. Though this dislike only grew when he listened to Ichigo clearly, hearing the way he so familiarly talked to everyone. Though the dislike had to be put aside with Ichigo's words. Naruto wasn't the only one confused by what the shinigami had said. "A Hollow?" He asked. The others sighed. That was a question that had been meaning to ask as well.

"A Hollow is a human soul that couldn't pass on to Soul Society and stayed in the human world for too long. They like to hunt humans because of emotional conflict, or something like that… But that's all I know." While saying that, Ichigo was carefully setting Zangetsu on the ground to his side. (It was rather uncomfortable to sit with such a large sword…In fact, sitting was nearly impossible.) Ichigo paid no attention to the ninja, currently eyeing Zangetsu with reproach.

They were still extremely skeptical, and certain things did not make sense. Sakura was the first to continue with the Hollow approach. "Just why were you fighting this 'Jiryokou' in the first place?" She raised an eyebrow.

Ichigo gave a half-assed response, leaning back with his hands supporting his weight. The dry dirt felt oddly moist under his fingers. "It's what I do." He told them, shrugging. "Ever since I met Rukia, I've been fighting Hollows…" Still, the look of bewilderment never left their faces. (Excluding Kakashi, since Ichigo could not clearly see his face.) He shook his head, and scratched his chin. His eyes were half-lidded and looking intently at the three in front of him. "I'm a Substitute Shinigami." He told them dryly.

The dislike Naruto had once had for Ichigo was slowly diminishing into nothingness. It only took four words to impress him so much that he actually liked this new person in town. He crawled onto his knees, looking at Ichigo expectantly. "Matte, matte*!" Naruto called out, he cocked his head to the side in surprise, and blurted "Shinigami are real?"

Ichigo merely nodded, and that was enough. Sakura's eyes widened to the sizes of dinner plates, and Kakashi had a sly smile that even he could not conceal under his face mask. Most of all, Naruto looked as if he was going to choke on his shock. This was all very entertaining for Ichigo. He looked at them, grinning stupidly. He could get used to this. Back at Karakura Town, nobody would care or believe him if he told them he was a shinigami. Here, in this strange new place, was a whole different story. All over, people were shocked out of their minds! It was invigorating!

Nothing would change what would happen next, however. All the surprise they felt, and the entertaining air the area had would not stop their fates. As much as they secretly wanted to postpone the future by exaggerating on small things, the future was bound to happen sometime. They could not escape it any longer. Ichigo stopped with his mindless grinning as his body tensed and stiffened. Something in the air had changed…something so strange.

The confusion on their faces, and the rest of the trio's questions were lost when Ichigo's senses went off. He felt more people enter the village, but they were far different from shinobi. Their aura felt more like Reiatsu, real Reiatsu. To make matters worse, they were getting closer and closer to him. Kakashi, Sakura, and Naruto noticed the difference too. Unfortunately, it was more difficult for them. They didn't know it yet, but whatever was currently in the village was not another ninja.

(Exactly ten minutes and thirty-two seconds ago.)

Hinata didn't know what she was doing. Ichigo was looking for Sakura, and as much as she wanted to hand around and help, she was worried over something so small and insignificant… Yet she could not stop herself. Her feet were in control. Before she knew it, she was standing behind a pile of wood next to Ichigo, familiar voices on the other side. And when she took a moment to look over the wood, she nearly fainted.

It was Naruto. Naruto was talking to old acquaintances with Kakashi and Sakura! Hinata felt her whole body tremble. Her ill-fated social workings were doomed from the start. Ever since the fight with Pein, talking to Naruto had become even more unbearable. Just what could she saw? To make matters worse, she hadn't spoken to Naruto formally in days, and could not tell what he thought of her daring confession. To be honest, Hinata didn't even want to know. She liked their relationship before the fight with Pein. It had been friendly, and casual. Of course, she had still harbored her feelings, but remaining anonymous had allowed her to just be herself. She saw that nearly impossible now…

Though another part of her desperately desired to know what Naruto thought. Especially since after her untimely defeat, the Kyuubi broke loose. Just what did that mean about Hinata? The Kyuubi only became loose when the Jinchuriki's emotions became unstable! Of course, that could mean so many different things.

'You're over thinking it,' she told herself, lightly slapping her cheek, 'The Kyuubi got loose because you nearly died, and Naruto considers you a good friend…' That thought did nothing to cheer her up, however. Sensible inner-Hinata only made the real Hinata sadder. She wanted Naruto to admire her as a strong shinobi. A good friend was not enough.

In the end, Hinata decided she wasn't strong enough to confront Naruto again. She couldn't make things more complicated until she had enough power to pull her own weight in this world! Being a Chuunin was not enough power if she wanted Naruto and everyone else to stop worrying about her. In spite of all her development, she still did not believe she was strong enough; her confidence was lacking.

Thus, afraid to face Naruto, she quietly eroded into the shadows and away from Ichigo, going the opposite direction from them. Hinata didn't know where she was going, but something in her gut told her it would be a good time to go watch the gate. Ichigo was proof that anyone who wanted to enter Konoha could.

On the way she passed the Hokage's tent. She momentarily stopped to look over her shoulder and pray for the best, before continuing on. "I hope Tsunade-sama is okay…" Hinata mumbled. She had yet to find out what happened to their wonderful Hokage. After passing that tent, the walk away was brutal. Particularly because she passed a rather abnormal looking man as she did so. Little did she know that man was Danzo.

Putting the man's strange appearance, she walked forward. Hinata failed to notice he, someone she did not know of, was going to the Hokage's tent. (Though she could have sworn she'd seen him around the village many times before.) If she had known who he was, and all the bad things he was known for doing, she would have acted. Hinata, however, was yet to connect the face with the name. To her, the name 'Danzo' was a person whom she doubted she would ever meet. It was ironic to think she had just walked past him.

Near the gate, Hinata felt some odd and eerie. It felt incredibly strange, and so very wrong. Her breath caught, and she stopped smack-dab in the middle of the village gates. The shinobi around paid no attention to her; everyone was busy in the reconstruction of Konoha. It was no doubt she was bound to see things they would never acknowledge. Which, she did see things that day. That was a small part of her fate.

Much like Naruto had spotted Sakura and Ichigo, Hinata saw two figures emerge from the horizon. She wasn't sure what to think about it. Instinctively, she became defensive. "Byakugan." She mumbled, closing her eyes briefly. When her lavender orbs opened up again, what she saw was strange. The coloration of the world was wrong. Everything was black with white lines, with the exception of the green chakra lines on the body. However, what she saw approaching was not green. It was anything but green. Hinata was comfortable to say it was on the opposite side of the color wheel.

The approaching people did not have green Chakra; they had something orange that ran through their bodies. And it was much lighter, the strands and the connections less rough and frayed. Hinata began to think she wasn't using the Byakugan right. 'Unless that's not Chakra at all!' She thought to herself madly, biting her lips. "What to do, what to do?" She mumbled, pacing back and forth, her Byakugan still in action.

Her own period of confusion allowed the two people she saw to get much closer to the village than she would have preferred. One moment they had been at the horizon, and the next they were only yards away. At that distance, however, it was easier to the see the details. Hinata was particularly disturbed by what she saw. One was a short female, dressed exactly like Ichigo! And the other, even more absurdly, had orange hair identical to Ichigo's (Only this so-called twin wasn't dressed like a ninja, nor was he dressed like Ichigo and female stranger.)

'Perhaps they're not enemies…' She thought. One of them was wearing the same attire as Ichigo, and she had to assume that meant they had some type of relation. Hinata quickly looked away, rubbing her arms madly. She closed her eyes, releasing the Byakugan. In her mind she went over possible scenarios for her meeting with them. Though she didn't turn to look at them, their footsteps were a giveaway that they were near.

One, two, three, four, five… She counted down the seconds until they would get to her. Six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven… It took them quite a while to get there, but Hinata (oddly) felt relieve when they did. She briskly turned around to look at them, but they walked right past her. The two completely ignored her! At first, she felt offended, and was prepare to go express her sorrows about being ignored to someone who might care, like Neji. That idea, however, was dismissed when she saw the taller newcomer.

Before they took too many steps into the village, but were still a good distance away, Hinata shouted out, "Kurosaki-kun?" She pointed, and walked towards them. They both stopped to look at her, and their faces were anything but warm and welcoming. Not realizing their momentary surprise, she went on, "Is that you, Kurosaki-kun? I just saw you a minute ago. Why are you dressed like that? And who's your friend?"

Her last words made the muscles in the female spasm, her upper-lip twitching. "You know Ichigo? Where is he?" She ordered, taking a step forward to grab Hinata by the shoulder. But she missed. With fast reflexes, Hinata evaded the hand by taking a sharp step sideways. Rukia was not pleased. "Tell me now! Where is Kurosaki Ichigo?"

Hinata gulped, looking to this female. She was a little bit shorter than Hinata, and had short black hair that jetted out at the ends. Not to mention her eyes were adorably huge! Despite the tension, Hinata smiled. "Isn't that Kurosaki-kun?" She pointed to the Ichigo-doppelganger.

"What? Of course not! That's Kon!" Rukia told her, jabbing at Kon's sides.

Kon grimaced. Rukia's poking hurt. "Eh? Onee-chan*, don't do that! You might hurt Ichigo's body!" He rubbed his side gently, as if Rukia had plunged her finger deeper than she really did. Kon always was such a character…

"Kurosaki-kun's body…?" Hinata mumbled. The conversation that had just played through gave her deeper insight into the whole situation. And when it came down to the realization that this "Kon" wasn't really Ichigo, she gasped and pointed accusingly at Kon. "Why do you look just like him?" She then swung her finger in Rukia's direction. "And why are you dressed exactly like him."

Rukia felt stupid. After all of this time talking to this girl, she'd missed out on one important detail. By the end of that minor exchange, it came to her, and she immediately face palmed.

"Wait, you can see me?"

* Matteまって means 'wait'.

* Iie いいえ means 'no'

* Onee-chan means 'big sister'. (I'm too lazy to add the Hiragana writing, sorry.)

* Note: Sometimes I will slip in some basic Japanese terms. Try to get used to it, I can't really change my habits…