Hey hey! Man, those numbers just keep climbing huh? By now its increased to yet another thousand views-over that even so-making it 15,000! That's some number! And it keeps climbing!

I tell you folks!

Anyway, my joy concerning views to the side, some of you have requested that the following girls-including Rangiku and Soi-Fon-are to be added to the harem.

Nel

Harribel

Anko

Fem-Haku

Fem-Kurama

Yoruichi

Rukia

Samui

Hinata

Kurostuchi

Shizuoka

Fu

These were what has been requested, and I can accommodate, but I will set up a poll. Also concerning the harem, I was thinking of adding a female Kurama to it, but, its up to popular vote.

Getting away from those nitty gritties, I would like to tell you that this will be of a longer chapter, and thus I would like to continue to make them, more content but the time it will take to make them and edit them will also be longer-not like the break I had a few chapter ago-and so it may take more than a week. But, muse willing, may my fingers fly like lightning as I type them, and may they-my fingers-recognize great writing from crap writing-which I shall avoid like the plague. :^)

Alright, lets get things going with the next chapter!

I own nothing!

Naruto gets a bit of a show in this chapter!

Chapter 8

The Start of Something Beautiful

Naruto's sapphire orbs slid lazily open, recognizing a warmth and softness, perhaps a comforter or flush blanket was wrapped 'round him? It were angel's wings tucking each light filled feather firm yet comfortably against his tan skin and tender flesh, caring greatly for each little digit or ligament, for-suring not but his comfort. Was it though? He thought, through bleary eyes, each filled with the clouds of the beginnings of awakefulness.

Then the fog of his dazed eyes cleared.

His first cognitive thought was that of a simple pondering. First, why was there a mound of supple flesh the immediate thing he saw when he awoke? The next, simple it was, is why his arms were wrapped in a firm grip around some slender frame? Then, the very last thought he had, was why in the world was a beautiful woman sharing a cot with him?

Was this heaven?

All this information seemed to lag for some time, not quite reaching the forefront of his mind, until that moment. His reaction, despite what he normally would have done, was not to freak out. Instead, he recognized these voluptuous features in mere moments, realizing that it was not any other woman wrapping their slender arms around him. No, this was someone he knew, someone he found that he longed to see.

"I missed you, Rangiku-chan..." He whispered more to himself than to her.

Naruto didn't care if she heard what he said then, instead, he sunk deeper into her valley, eyes closing once more. Sleep did not come, not one bit, there was not one sinew in his body that ever felt any exhaustion right then, right there. He simply just did not give a-

"-Shit."

He cursed, eyes opening once more, brows furrowing to fine points as he realized something. He had been fighting just a bit ago, and he remembered defeating the man Zabuza. He remembered that Walter had nearly killed-through him-the Devil of the mist. The man, as he recollected, lay in the pond, only due to Chakra exhaustion. So if he was to say, like any other nin, to have a team mate in the incident that he had fallen into a sticky situation, get him out of it. That meant that-

"Oh, sugar honey ice tea. He's still walking."

He closed his eyes tight, breathed in a deep breath, and let another long, drawn out, curse. He opened his blue gaze once more, and noted that Rangiku was still sleeping soundly, despite his foul mouth. Making the sign behind her back, and channeling his Chakra, Naruto made a clone standing right behind him. With another few subtle sign, he used kimiwari, switching him and his clone without even disturbing the orange locks flowing down her angelic face.

He leaned down and told the clone to keep it quiet, and to make sure she didn't wake up until he came back.

"Can do boss." The clone remarked with a slight grin, making sure his voice was low so that he would not awaken the lass.

Nodding in approval to his clone, Naruto snuck himself into the next room-grabbing his zampakto on the way. He found himself in a kitchen, finding Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi-who was quite bandaged up, all of who were sitting down and chatting with Tazuna. There was a young lady he did not know of there too, dark hair and a pleasant way about her she did have.

She saw him first and greeted him kindly, a smile of gentleness warming her face. Her name was Tsunami, he soon learned, the bridge builder's daughter. The woman had him sit, and he did, as she gave him a small bowl of ramen. His eyes lit up to bright and shining sapphire orbs brilling with thanks, as he dug into the small meal.

"My my, such a hungry lad." Tsunami commented, a damn near grin on her face, happy that someone-a complete stranger no less-would so eagerly eat-devour-her food, even if it was not much food.

"I'sh good." He told, an adamant grin on his whiskered visage, happy to eat such good ramen.

This pleased her well, it seemed.

After he consumed his ramen, Kakashi asked, "so Naruto, how do you know Rangiku?"

It was almost cheeky, his voice was, but his tone was pinched, as if he had no time for lies.

Naruto sat back, giving the man a slight once-over, but knew that there was no point in lying. "Do you remember that scroll Mizuki had me steal?" He began, telling them of all that occurred from then till now, even going over Walter and why he had gone into such a haze. But, even explaining his story to his best capabilities, they still had questions. Sasuke for one asked how he had flouted on the air, or when Kakashi asked about how he was able to move at such speeds.

"Well, I'm not sure of that one, but, you know that Reishi and Reiyuko that I talked about?" Naruto asked, getting a nod from the last-?-Uchiha. "See, I gather that beneath my feet, suspending me there, but I was being controlled so, I probably won't have enough control to do it now, Rangiku-san taught me what she could." Was his response, a shit-eating grin on his face. But Sasuke seemed to understand.

He turned to his sensei next, his grin disappearing.

"Its a high speed move that Rangiku taught me, it was the very thing that I used to get those bells from you. It is done by using as little as steps possibly when moving, and practice. The only reason I was able to beat you then was for that last reason. But," here his grin came back, "if you brought out that sharingan you'd probably see it coming a mile away."

Naruto was about to stand and stretch when Sakura asked him something.

"But, how did you do that thing with your sword? That big slash and energy, how did you do that?" Her expression was that of plain curiosity.

He on the other hand lost his grin once more. "I really don't know..."

Naruto looked anywhere but her, having not a clue how to answer her. Instead of pressing it, she asked him another question.

"Why do you and that girl sleep together in the same bed?"

His eyes flew right back to hers fast-as if they were greased lightning!-and saw the blush on her bright face. Naruto imagined he was too, counting the heat arising on his cheeks, and stuttered a slur of words, eyes blinking and darting like flies.

"I-I w-we just, I mean," the blond found himself coughing in his own nervousness, turning to Kakashi for some distraction.

"Hey Kakashi!" His voice was high and strained, cracking. "so what are we gonna do know that Tazuna's back?" Naruto's tone leveled some, yet still it held a slight strain.

"Hm...well, I have reason to believe Zabuza is still alive and is healing as we speak, so for right now, our mission of protecting Tazuna is yet to be over. I planned on having you and the others work on tree exorcises, gain some control over your Chakra so that we may be ready when he does attack."

Naruto nodded, coming to the same conclusion, when Rangiku came sprinting in the room, Shinigami clothes held loosely together while his clone was tucked under her arm. The clone was very flushed in the position his head was in.

"Hey! No one is teaching him anything! That's my job!" She thrust a thumb to her chest-making it jiggle-and proceeded to stomp towards Kakashi. He stood, a painful gimp in his leg slowing him, and glared right back at her with his single eye.

"That is none of your business." He told, trying to keep his cool.

"Oh-ya! Naruto, who's a better teacher?!"

Both turned to him, and he jerked back from the stares they gave him. But, after taking in the question, he answered.

"You both are lazy."

Rangiku turned back to Kakashi and gave him a nasty glare, then let go of the clone-who dispersed quickly-and grabbed the real Naruto-who still had a grip on his sword. She began to drag him away, right out the door, yelling behind her-

"I'll prove he'll be a better shinigami than he ever would be a shinobi!"

With her passing declaration, Rangiku left, and all were able to do nothing about it.

Outside, back into the deep of the woods, Rangiku set Naruto down, standing woodenly with a breath and sigh, a feeling of relief washing over her. Her gaze transfixed onto Naruto there-after, a look of contemplation playing at the edges of those sky blue eyes of hers. For a long time, her lips did not part to speak to him, instead it was silence that filled the air between his ears.

"Are you...okay." She asked at last, eyes almost pleading.

Naruto still stood there, in silence, a word unspoken, one that came not to his lips nor his tongue for a long while. When he did speak, his voice quaked, unsure of himself, but it was enough for her.

"...ya..."

Her face broke out into a smile, gentle and kind-almost like Tsunami's. Rangiku's arms wrapped 'round his shorter frame, enveloping him in her embrace. He smiled too, hugging her back. When they eventually backed away, Naruto felt himself grinning. Rangiku noticed it and asked why.

"You said you'd make me a better soul reaper than a shinobi."

A grin infested her face then as well.

"I said that?" He punched her in the arm, a hardy laugh coming from him. She laughed to, her chuckle sweet and endearing, a chime of whimsy joy, both shaking their heads. When their laughter died down, and they could take a moment of silence, Naruto asked her why his zampakto was trying to get him to learn shikai, why he was so adamant about what he wanted. Rangiku blinked a bit, once, twice, thrice, then gave a heavy sigh.

"Since you're going to achieve shikai soon, your zampakto, he wants to speed it up, so that he can do what he wants." She gave a lengthy sigh, asking, "so, did he tell you what that was?"

With a blink, Naruto said, "He said his wants are the same as mine, basically, so..."

"What do you want Naruto?" Rangiku asked, throwing the boy off as she stepped closer to him, her sky blue eyes piercing right into his sapphire ones. He tried to speak, but with her body so close to his, so quickly in the way she crowded him, the whiskered blond found his tongue almost literally tied.

It didn't help that her breasts were almost against his face either.

"I-I d-don't want-"

"Louder, you have to be clear." She told, pressing into him even more, her eyes never wavering from that heated and concentrated glare. He almost lost it then, but he bit back that stutter and let out a whooping-

"I am tired of losing!"

Silence veiled them both, the birds stopped there chirping and singing, the trees themselves bare no wind in their leaves. All was still, all was silent, none spoke, none moved. There was only that glare, the gleam that persisted in the color of her eyes, never faltering, always piercing deeper into his.

Rangiku leaned back, giving a sigh not unlike disappointment. His heart was pounding up until that moment, feeling as though it would burst from its confines from her closeness. But, after she gave that sigh, that sounded so much like she was disappointment, it nearly stopped. He had no time to wonder on such thoughts though, for she drew her zampakto, holding it at the ready, white-knuckled and baring such a serious expression that it nearly frightened him.

"Naruto," her voice, sharing semblance with her stare, was heated. "Draw your blade, I will not go easy on you. If we leave your zampakto spirit in such a feral state, you may end up destroying things you will not want to destroy."

"But...Rangiku-"

"Draw it now!" She exploded, lunging madly at him, Haineko closing in a large sweeping arc.

SHING!

He had just barely blocked such a devastating blow, forcing his guard up with her reverberating strength. She may have been a well endowed woman-which you would think they would slow her down, she may sound like she was an air head, and she may be lazy, but those things mattered not when it came down to a fight-no-this was not just a fight to her. This was no simple brawl you could just watch and enjoy from some hidden sideline.

This was a battle.

Naruto found that out very quickly as he continued to blocked each ferocious strike, sparks showered them, the air whistled with each swing she made to strike him down. It was all he could do to block, and even dodge, that sword of hers.

Rangiku spun, one-handing her blade as she swung out.

He evaded it.

She was wide open.

And he took the small advantage.

Naruto came back, coming down on her with as much power her could muster. The blow sang a sharp tune of bells throughout the forest, scattering birds with its tone.

She blocked him, one hand against her blade to keep enough leverage, but she could not lift his sword away, leaving them in a dead-lock. Naruto had the leverage, giving her a run for her money in strength. Reishi began to build around his feet, a slow swirl of scarlet rising above his head as his zampakto pressed harder into her defense.

"Rangiku!" He bellowed at her, clearly pissed. "I don't want to fight you!"

Her face was scrunched up, anger brilling up into her face as she tried to concentrate on blocking his blade. But even through grit teeth, she retorted back.

"If you don't fight me, you will go berserk!" The orange haired lass barked, to which Naruto faltered in his build up of strength.

Big mistake.

Rangiku pushed that giant sword to the side, and with the close proximity, tackled him. zampakto's went flying as they tumbled down a steep knoll of grass and hill, both grappling one another in an attempt to gain a hold against the other.

Naruto's back slammed into the ground at last, with Rangiku on top of him, holding his arms down. Now, if he were a normal human, his ribs would have been broken-if not shattered-from such a fall. But, he was no ordinary human.

With her atop him, Naruto could see that she no longer held her serious gaze, or at least, she was trying to, but failed, as a slight smirk played at the corners of her lips.

"Now what." Her voice was cocky.

Naruto smirked.

Her knees were on his thighs, and so he spread his legs, making her lose her balance when her legs did the same. She fell forward, hands unclasping from his wrists, trying to gain stature again by forcing her hands into the ground. With his arms free, he hugged her back and lifted his leg up, kicking the ground with his heel and sending them into another tumble.

Now Naruto was on top, holding her wrists down.

He stared into her eyes with the biggest grin Rangiku had ever seen, and ever so slowly, inched his face close to hers, never losing that big smile of his. Right in front of her, his lips moved to speak in the very same tone she, just moments before-albeit in the opposite position-just had spoken.

"Now what?"

It took a moment for those words to sink in, but boy, when they did...

"Pffff...hm hm hm hm hm," it started between the two like some sort of symbiotic disease, slowly rising from the back of their throats. "Heh heh heh heh heh heh," now it raised in volume, a low chortle between the two even as Naruto continued to hold her down. "Heh heh heh ha ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha! Hahahahahaha!" Laughter burst from them both as they lost their hold to any semblance of seriousness, too enwrapped in their own silliness. Naruto-along with his 'teacher,' could not stop the laughter, nor did they wish to, they were so jovial and happy then, so it would take them such a time to calm from it.

Eventually, after their laughter devolved from its boisterous bouts to slower and slower chortles, they came to a stop. Now, there was nothing that could keep them from staring at one another. So close, faces but a hairs breath away. Rangiku herself could not help but feel a heat work its way to flush across her cheeks, what with Naruto laying atop her they way he was, his hands holding hers down...

So forceful!

Naruto wasn't so thick in the head to realize the gaze that she had was not but of want, of a need. Naruto saw the glazed look veiling her sky blue eyes, the soft lift of her brows, and the slight gape her mouth had-however slight it was. He couldn't help himself either, and she saw it too. One moment, he was staring down on her with that same look she had, the next moment...

He was kissing her, and-unbidden-she felt her own lips part, inviting him without restraint.

Naruto felt her open her mouth, and he met with the same willingness, the heat on their faces felt between them both. He bit the bottom of her lip a slight, a nibble that forced a moan from her. Wanton lust covered their faces when they broke apart, his and her breath coming up in short, uneven, breaths.

"I-I missed you, a lot."

She sat up from beneath him, staring him straight in the eyes.

"I see that." Rangiku gave a short laugh, stopped, then bobbed her head a slow bit, then added, "but, I guess I can't say that I didn't enjoy the kiss...It was..." She trailed off, turning her head from his for a moment longer. Rangiku brought it back soon after, a smile plastered on her face. "You're the first guy that was comfortable enough with me being so close to them. Usually they get scared off because of..." her voice trailed again, her eyes coming down to her chest.

"They're intimidated." He raised a brow to that.

She nodded.

"And the ones that aren't, are creeps." Her voice was actually-decidedly-pleasant then.

Naruto grinned, leaning close to her again.

"Then what am I?" He asked.

"Cute." Was her short reply.

"I am not cute!" He yelled, offended that he was called such. He was thinking along the lines of valiant, brave, hell, he'd take handsome!

But, cute?

She leaned into him, inches from his face. Her face nearly the same as it was since before the kiss, if more teasing than lustful.

"I like cute." She told.

His eyes widened to silver saucers then.

Naruto could be cute!

Naruto liked cute!

But, to late, she backed away, that playful smirk on her lips, Naruto pouted, she laughed, and he gave a slight chuckle.

After they walked back up the steep hill, retrieving their zampakto, Rangiku told Naruto that she had to leave and go back to soul society. He was saddened by this, but she assured him that sometime she would take him there, so that they could hang out for a little bit, talk and maybe go on a date sometime. His head never nodded so fast in his life, so easily agreeing to the woman he began to think more than just a teacher.

Rangiku left by the time it was night fall.

After wishing her well, Naruto came back to Tazuna's house, a smile on his face. He looked and saw that Kakashi sat in one corner, trying not to move to much so that his body would heal, and a smiling Sakura at the table, eating something with Tsunami on the opposite side, smiling along. Tazuna was in a chair, drinking sake.

Sasuke was laid out on the floor, obviously having exerted himself way too much.

"Yo." Naruto greeted.

Tsunami smiled and waved, Tazuna nodded, Kakashi gave a piece sign, while Sakura just gave a 'hey.'

Sasuke tried, in vain, to give a thumbs up in recognition.

"What happened to him?" Naruto asked.

Kakashi answered, "he thought you were doing some intense training and pushed himself on the tree walking exercises a bit too much. Dat boi Chakra drained."

Naruto lifted a brow at the strange wording but said nothing else, placing his sword in the corner and sitting down next to Tsunami, thanking her for the meal. As he began to dig in, half-way through his meal, Sakura asked him what kind of training he did do, and why Rangiku had already left.

"Hm, oh, she had to go back to...the place she lives. Its kinda hard to describe what she said it was." It wasn't, but he thought there would be more questions if he told her-and anyone in the room listening-that she was from a place where the dead go. She took the answer and smiled, but then asked about the training once more.

"Ya, what is it that you two did?" Kakashi asked, still a little angry that the woman had tried to exert herself as a more capable teacher than he was. But, if his ire showed, Naruto said nothing of it.

In fact...

"I-I me and, um," He choked on his words, a bright blush creeping across his face. They were doubly intrigued by the stutter and flush on his cheeks, and pressed it further.

As this went on, Tsunami moved to her fathers side, asking him what was going on. With one arm on the top of the chairs frame, leaned back, and a single leg crossed, he looked on across the room, sipping his sake.

"Now I don't know what he and that lady were doing but, that ain't none of my business."

A/N

Hey guys! Told you Naruto would get a show today, and more so than he thought! Finally, he and her kiss, so it is so. But, with more girls soon coming his way, can Naruto keep up? Will Rangiku and the others be able to stand each other when they come? Or will they beat Naruto up for play'in? Or each other for that matter...

Well, you'll have to wait and see. But I do hope you guys will enjoy this chapter, I know I loved writing it. Though I do apologize, I thought I might have been able to time skip some to the point where The bridge is done and Zabuza and Haku fight them, but, as it were, I think I will save that for next chapter, and hopefully end it then, making it extra long.

Anyway, that aside, polls are up, my loyal and awesome readers. I do hope you vote for your favorite four-and special fifth candidate for Naruto. Please don't forget to Review or Private Message me, it really helps me and keeps me going so that I can bring you the next chapter, bigger badder, and better than the last.

Have a great day!

:^)