Chapter 001
Wandering Soul, Lost Shinigami
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I have a poll on my Fanfic page which will be important for the future of this story. The name of Naruto's Zanpakuto. If you want a say in the name then just vote, if you can think of a better name then tell me through the review panel.
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Music
Morning, Naruto OST; Head in the Clouds; Bleach Original; Naruto Main Theme; Naruto OST
The sun rose lazily over the horizon, bathing the streets and run-down houses in the mornings glow. In the main streets vendors and stall owners were already up and dressed, setting up their places of business and preparing for the day ahead.
The slight warmth of the rising sun was what woke him from his slumber, opening his ocean blue eyes to see the cloudless, equally blue sky. He sat up and yawned, stretching out his arms and legs to get the stiffness out of them, sleeping on a roof was not comfortable. In one sweeping move he jumped to his feet and looked out over the still sleeping mass of houses and hovels.
How long has he been in this netherworld?
Wandering from place to place in search of those faces which haunted his dreams?
With an irritated sigh Naruto Uzumaki walked to the perimeter of the roof and took a step over the edge. As he fell he performed a somersault, and landed on the ground in a crouch. He rose from his squat, looking around for any signs of life. A drunk lay in a corner, an empty bottle of Saki in his right hand, other than him, no one.
As he walked through the pathway Naruto mused on how much his appearance changed since he came here, he had always been independent when he was alive. With no father and mother he had no choice. But at least in the Village he had a home, food, clothes and a soft bed. When he came here he had nothing, just the clothes on his back and the weapons in his pouch.
He no longer wore the orange jumpsuit, now he sported a simple grey kimono. His blonde hair had grown longer and messier. Sometimes he mused how much he looked like his father when he looked in a mirror. He doubted that even the Purvey Sage could tell them apart.
Remembering Jiraiya brought mixed feelings for Naruto. He remembered all the times they shared, the hard training the old man had put him through, the many times they bickered about his research for his books, that memory made Naruto chuckle, the ramen they ate together, the times when he showed him a new jutsu or move he had learned, the times where they just sat and talked.
Naruto had nothing but fond memories for his godfather and sensei. But then he remembered how he died, and sadness would creep into those memories.
The Purvey Sage was one of the people he was looking for. This was the afterlife. He had to be around here somewhere. His stomach growled. When he had first arrived here he had tried to get some information out of a small group of travellers. They could tell right away that he was a new soul. They told him that this world was called the Soul Society, how here you would never get hungry, or grow old.
Never get hungry my ass Naruto thought, wandering if he should kick the damn moron in the face if he ever saw him again.
He walked down the street to his favourite spot in the whole town, a little ramen stand located on the main street, if he was reading the sun right then that meant it would be open soon.
He heard cursing and yelling behind him, which only meant one thing. Someone had stolen something from one of the vendors, again. With a sigh Naruto turned to see a child, a girl maybe ten or twelve running towards him, holding a handful of fruit tightly against her chest. Two men were chasing after her, one of whom was wielding a butcher's knife. Naruto wasn't surprised. This was the infamous Hanging Dog district after all.
She ran into a corner and vanished from view, followed moments later by her two pursuers.
Naruto took a few steps on his original course, stopped, sighed and turned around, heading towards the side alley he saw the girl run through. He knew from his earlier morning walks that that way led to a dead end. As he turned the corner he saw a scene which disgusted him.
The two of them were standing over the girls form. Curled up in a ball, eyes closed shut, crying softly as they kicked her, the fruit she had ran with was scattered across the side street. Then one of the men raised his knife, ready to strike her. That was the last straw.
"Stupid little bitch" he snarled, not noticing the former Ninja's approach "Think you can steal from us and get away with it!?"
He came forward and grabbed the man's arm, stopping him from delivering the deadly swing "That's enough" he growled.
"Who do you think you are" the man snarled "She stole from us, she has to pay!"
"I said that's enough" Naruto rebuked "Take the fruit and go!"
He tried to force his arm from the blonde stranger's vicelike grip. The other one came forward, his right fist raised. Naruto ducked the punch, letting go of the first mans knife arm. Blocking the fist with his palm he brought up his free hand and punched the man in the face, sending him staggering back.
Sensing danger he ducked a swipe of the first mans knife, spun around, grabbed his outstretched hand and threw him over his shoulder. He hit the other man and they both landed in a heap. They forced themselves to their feet, anger and hate spread across their faces.
"You bastard" one roared "We'll get you for this!"
"Bring it on fool" Naruto replied with a grim smirk, making the sign of a cross with his hands "I'll bring it back to you a thousand fold"
He took a deep breath "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"
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There had to be a better place to get what she wanted. In all of the Soul Society there had to be, just had to be a better centre than the bloody Howling Dog District. The name on its own was enough to give him tremors. He hated dogs.
He walked down the main street of one of the worst districts in all of the Soul Society, his black Shihakusho and sheathed Zanpakuto gaining the attention of all around him. To the inhabitants of West Rukongai a Shinigami walking down their streets was rare, especially a lost Shinigami reading a small scrap of paper.
Kisuke Urahara sighed, reading the contents which his best friend wanted. He had spent many minutes arguing with her that there had to be a better place to get these goods, closer to the Seireitei perhaps?
She was adamant and, as usual unyielding. He imagined her sitting in her throne like chair, laughing at him and his predicament.
Curse you Yoruichi he thought half heartedly.
It was then that two men passed by him, or for a better term thrown past him. They both slammed into a stall, the wooden structure buckling under the impact. He pressed himself against a worn wooden wall and peeked around the corner, what he saw was surprising.
Three identical beings stood in the hallway. Wearing simple brown male kimonos, their hair blonde and unkempt, with whisker like markings on their cheeks and vibrant blue eyes, the three seemed to be mirror images of each other, an opinion bolstered by the united statement.
"Hah" all three said as one "Is that all you got?"
Two of them disappeared in puffs of white smoke, startling the young officer. They had just vanished without a trace. What could it be? Some type of exotic Kido? The scientist within him was intrigued, more than intrigued. The last man remaining turned around and walked towards the back of the alley.
His mind was raging with possibilities. They could have been illusions, or some type of cloning Kido. But he had never heard of such a spell, and he had studied both the destructive Hado and the Binding Bakudo spells thoroughly.
This was something else.
Wanting to know more Kisuke stayed where he was. Reaching into his spiritual energy he concentrated, shutting it off, he doubted this boy had such advanced sensing abilities, but it never hurt to be sure. He continued to monitor the boy, not even noticing as the two men regained consciousness and ran from the scene, a wish for revenge on their minds.
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"Hey" he said softly, reaching down with his hand to gently shake the shoulder of the still curled up girl.
He realised that she was shaking, her little form raking with sobs, tears were running down her face, and she visibly flinched from his touch.
"It's alright" he said as softly as he could "Their gone, its ok"
He reached out with his hand, offering it to her. She looked up at him, glistening ice blue eyes staring through him to his soul. Timidly she took his hand, letting him haul her to her feet. She continued to look at him, as if searching for any sign of a trick. There was none.
Naruto offered her a grin "You on your own?"
She nodded and to his surprise darted forward and grabbed onto his kimono, not looking like she was going to let go. Naruto, surprised at first ruffled her hair. It was then that he heard a groan from her stomach. He gave her an incredulous look, and saw that she was blushing.
He chuckled "Come on, I know just what you need"
She nodded timidly, and let him lead her out of the dark alley into the main street.
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The ramen stand was no where near as good as the one he remembered from Konoha, but its dishes were still some of the best he had eaten during his year of living in the Soul Society. Located on the main street of Howling Dog, with a vegetable stand to its left and a meats stand to its right, the former Ninja had already memorised its location and committed it to memory.
He pushed back the curtain and looked in to see the same old man standing behind the worn counter.
He looked at Naruto and smirked "Hey Blondie, the usual I'm guessing?"
"You bet" Naruto replied with a grin "And another for my friend here"
He looked over the counter and starred incredulously at the child holding onto his best customer's kimono "You picking up stray's now?"
"Just get the ramen old man" he shot back lightly, taking a seat by the counter and motioning his guest to do the same, she sat down timidly, her eyes concentrated on the surface of the bar.
"So what's the story" the old man asked as he mixed the noodles, vegetables and meats into the frying pan "Where'd you find her?"
"She was being beaten up by a couple of lowlifes" Naruto replied.
"Common story around here I suppose" the ramen owner said "Most of the people here are up to their necks with something illegal, the kids have no one to look up to and are on their own. Most of 'em die young"
"For the afterlife this place is almost as bad as the world of the living" the blonde huffed.
"You got that right" he agreed.
Ten minutes passed before the ramen was ready, Naruto ate his with the same gusto that he remembered having when he was just a Genin in Konoha. The child looked at the food, picking at it with her chopsticks, but eventually started eating with the same enthusiasm that her saviour did.
The old man looked between the two, thought that they must have been related, shrugged and got back to cleaning his little stall.
"So you got a name" Naruto asked, wiping his mouth and placing his chopsticks beside his empty bowl "I can't keep calling you 'hey you' all the time"
The little girl seemed to think about it for a moment before answering him, her voice timid "Rangiku"
"Rangiku huh" Naruto asked as she slurped up the last of her ramen "That's a strange name. I'm Naruto, Uzumaki Naruto"
She giggled "That's a strange name too"
"You think so" he asked, feigning confusion "I think it's a really cool name"
She giggled again.
"So what's your full name?"
"Matsu-moto Rangiku" she replied, having trouble with the syllabus of her last name.
"Do you have family around here" he asked carefully, her face seemed to fall.
"There was someone with me, but he just disappeared" she said with a snivel, sighing Naruto ruffled her hair.
"I get it" he said, eyes closed "Hey old man, another couple of bowls"
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Kisuke watched the ramen stand from the relative safety of a ridge on the building across the street, his form crouched, like a blackbird watching something of interest.
He was certain, he had seen this kid somewhere before, he recognised the facial features now that he had a chance to get a closer look. He racked his brain, trying to remember who it was. Most likely he was a soul he had recently sent to the Soul Society.
He knew that until six months ago there had been a major war in the world of the living. He knew this because he led a platoon of Shinigami there to fight off the hordes of Hollow drawn to the battles, and to Konso the departed souls to the Soul Society. Then it clicked, he was one of the first souls he had saved.
He caught a glimmer of movement out of the corner of his eye, and looked to see a small crowd of men forming, nearly twenty men wearing drab kimonos, and carrying a mixture of random weapons including sticks, butchers knives and knuckledusters. Taking a closer look the Shinigami saw the two men the boy had beaten before, looking smug.
Against a Shinigami of his level this many souls would have been a mere hindrance to him. He wasn't so sure for the blonde haired man who was even now rising from his seat, turning around and left the ramen shop.
He stopped in his tracks when he saw the mob.
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"Uh oh" Naruto muttered under his breath, watching with rising dread as the mass of murderous looking individuals starred at him. Rangiku saw the mob, and grabbed onto her protectors kimono, clutching onto the fabric until her little fists turned white.
"Ah come on guys" Naruto said, feigning a smile "You guys started to whole thing, lets just all calm down and have a bowl of ramen, on me?"
"Sorry kid" one of the men said, this guy was obviously the leader of this little mob "You beat up a couple of my guys, now you have to die"
"Well I couldn't afford ramen for all of you anyway" the blonde admitted, scratching the back of his head "But really, we don't have to do this"
"You little punk" a man with a shaved head and a rusty katana growled "Well teach you to mess with the Howling Dogs"
He charged straight for Naruto, blade held over his head ready for a downward stroke. In a quick flow of movement he pushed Rangiku to the side, adding a silent apology as she landed in a heap, safely out of the way.
He reached into his satchel, located at his leg, and deftly pulled out a kunai knife, spinning it in his hand a few times before bringing it up in time to block the sword. He lashed out with his right foot, catching the man in the abdomen and sending him staggering back. He then jumped in the air, and performed a flawless roundhouse kick, striking him in the face and sending him spinning to the ground.
He fell into a defensive stance, kunai held backwards in his right hand "Better warn you guys. Before I died I was considered one of the best Shinobi of my time"
"Naruto nii-chan" he turned to the cry and saw Rangiku, a knife held to her throat, her eyes wide in fear. The man holding her was the leader, a feral snarl on his face.
"Now I think that's enough" the man snarled "Throw that little weapon to the ground, as well as that pouch on your knee"
His blood was boiling, how this scumbag dares to use a child as a shield. His murderous gaze not leaving he dropped his kunai, and then reached down under his kimono to pull the weapons satchel from his leg. He held it in midair before dropping it. The man laughed.
"A Ninja huh" the man muttered "I used to be one too, names Teppei, former Chunnin from the Village Hidden in the Rocks"
"Naruto" he growled back "Former Hokage of the Village Hidden in the Leaves"
That seemed to strike a cord with this Teppei, his eyes widened in fear for a moment, before falling back to that cold stare "Hokage huh, well you're not anymore, step into the centre of the street. If you don't then this girl will be missing her head!"
Naruto starred at him for a moment, before shrugging his shoulders and walking into the centre of the mob, ignoring their smug smirks and murderous glares, these men were all murderers, thieves, bandits.
"Very good, now just let my protégés kill you"
Two men came running at Naruto, one from the front and another from behind. He did not move. He didn't even flinch as they stabbed him, the one in front with a knife, and the one behind with a woodcutting axe.
"Naruto nii-chan no" Rangiku started.
"Not another word out of you" Teppei growled, inching his knife closer to her neck, she sobbed and hiccupped "Cry all you want but there's no one who will save you now"
Just then the falling body exploded into a mass of white smoke, all in attendance jumped back in surprise, even their boss "What the hell, a Shadow Clone? Impossible!!!"
Suddenly Naruto was behind him, and as the mob boss turned he was met with a fist to his face, sending him flying back several feet before hitting the dusty road hard. Rangiku stood as rigid as a statue, eyes closed, shivering. She opened them and turned.
"Naruto nii-san" she started in disbelief, then her eyes welled up with tears and she ran into him, crying into his kimono.
"Sorry 'bout that" Naruto apologised, a silly grin on his face as he scratched the back of his head "Hey come on, your gonna get it all wet"
"You, but how" the Chunnin cried as he crawled back, his hand holding onto his face, the nose broken "No one can use Jutsu after they die, I lost all my Jutsu. I know former Ninja who have lost all of their Jutsu!"
"Really" Naruto asked, gently pushing Rangiku behind him "I thought it wasn't anything special"
"And when did you create a Shadow Clone anyway!?"
"After I beat up your two fools" Naruto answered with a Cheshire cats grin "I could smell that they were going to be back, so I created a clone and switched with him before I entered the ramen shop"
"You bastard" Teppei roared "Kill him, kill him now!"
Five of them came rushing at him then, two holding old katana's, another with a butchers knife and another two holding sticks. He fell back and prepared himself. His first move was a spin, catching the closest guy off guard and sending him back with a punch to his face, breaking his nose.
He turned again, blocking the second's knife arm by grabbing his wrist and sending him flying over his shoulder, slamming against the third and sending the two of them into a heap. He ducked a swipe from the fourths blade, and delivered a deadly uppercut to his chin, his feet left the ground for a moment. But Naruto did not see the fifth, he had stabbed out with his katana, and he knew that he couldn't avoid the blow.
There was a blur, and a man dressed in black appeared to his right, he reared back with his right hand and delivered a simple palm strike to the fifth mans abdomen, such a simple attack with such a devastating result. The man flew back with such force that he slammed into a group of three others, nearly fifteen meters away.
The newcomer rose to his feet, and Naruto was able to get a good look at him. He wore a black Shihakusho, with a katana sheathed to his waist. The former Shinobi recognised the outfit as that of the man who had sent him to this world. In fact he recognised the messy straw coloured hair, the slightly rugged features covered in stubble and the grey eyes.
"Oh boy" Kisuke Urahara said nonchalantly "Twenty against one is not very fair, now two against twenty sounds a little better"
As for anyone wondering about the music on the top of the chapter, Morning is for the first scene of the chapter, Head in the Clouds is for the scene where Kisuke is lost in the main street and Naruto's Main Theme for when he confronted the thugs. These were the songs which I listened to when I was writing the scenes, and thus I thought that I should put them up.