Chapter 10
Assignment
The week had come and gone, the graduation had arrived. The old man himself was present on the stage, looking down with wizened eyes upon the twenty students who had survived and passed the year. Behind him, sitting in simple backed chairs were Vice-Captains and other high ranking seated officers of the Goteijusantai, as well as representatives from the Kido Division and the Omnisukido.
He was slightly disappointed to see that neither Yoruichi nor Urahara had attended the ceremony, but it was to be expected. Yoruichi was a captain, and Kisuke had just been promoted to captain of the 12th Division. Instead there was a young petite girl, barely out of her teens sitting on one of the chairs. She looked nervous yet determined among the small group of Vice-Captains and 3rd Seated officers, something a member of the feared and respected Stealth Force should be.
He frowned; she had to be pretty new to the force, considering that he didn't recognise her. Either that or she had been on some long running mission during his visits for training, advice, and of course to visit Rangiku-chan. She had to be a person of a fairly high rank, probably not in the 2nd Division, maybe she was a member of the catlike captains honour guard, he had never really conversed with them.
For once the Sotaicho put his long, agonisingly boring speeches on hold, and just congratulated them on all making it into their chosen squads and warned them that this was only the beginning of their journey. All of the students, including himself, paid strict attention to the commanders words. Finally the speech ended, and with it the beginning of the handing out of Zanpakuto's to the graduates. The Head Captain hobbled down from the stage and exited to another, smaller room. He would be handing out the swords individually, starting in alphabetical order.
The former Hokage's name wasn't called. Why would it be, he already gained possession and knew the name of his sword. The Sotaicho had already explained this to the class, much to Ikkaku's annoyance. One by one the twenty students entered the small chamber, and one by one they left with their own Zanpakuto. Some looked pleased, others incredibly disappointed.
Sakura's Zanpakuto was a simple straight katana. Its sheath was a deep pink. The hilt of her sword was wrapped in pink cloth with a crimson coloured square guard. The blade itself was a glimmering silver double edge, looking sufficient enough to be able to tangle with any Hollow.
Temari's sword was not really a katana, but a Wakizashi, a short sword or shoto blade encased in a teal coloured sheath with similarly coloured wrappings surrounding the hilt. Its guard on the small sword seemed to be nonexistent with very little between the tang and the hilt. The shape of his friends Zanpakuto puzzled him, Temari was always a long ranged specialist in life, and even in death she excelled more in kido than any other art.
Shikamaru's on the other hand was a long, straight katana just like Sakura's. It was encased in a black scabbard with dark grey and black cloth covering the hilt, the guard was shaped like a curved shuriken, four curved blade like protrusions separating the tang and the hilt. It looked a little cool, but by the way he was haphazardly leaning it against his shoulder she wondered how long it would be until he broke it.
Finally after a moment of silence the Head-Captain had congratulated all of the graduates and dismissed the ceremony. The students stood and began to file out of the assembly hall, chattering happily about they're new Zanpakutos and they're squad assignments. Naruto was barely out of the hall when his friends surrounded him and Sakura spoke in a happy tone.
"Anyone want to go get a victory lunch?"
They all nodded in agreement.
------
The place they had gone too was considered one of the famous student spots in the Soul Society. Located five minutes from the academy the small diner was commonly frequented by students as a place to hang out, talk with friends, catch up on gossip and generally relax. Naruto and his friends had come here often, usually to enjoy the food and to relax from the hectic schedule they had with the academy.
The owner, a kind old lady smiled as they entered and sat around they're usual table, sending a waiter up to them to take they're order. Drinks were brought up to them, but when they went for their money the old woman had waved them off, telling them that it was a gift from the house to commemorate them becoming Shinigami. For a few minutes they were silent, enjoying each others company.
"Look's like we're going to be split up" Sakura began sadly.
"Looks like" Nara agreed "Ah man this is so troublesome"
"Don't worry about it" Naruto said as he took a sip of his lemonade "Just because we're in other companies doesn't mean we won't see each other again"
"Guess you're right" Shikamaru said with a sigh "I can't believe I got stuck in the 10th Division, they don't have a captain and all of the work is being divided among the seated officers"
"You sound like you're going to be a seated officer" Temari chided.
"Well yeah, I am"
His three friends looked at him for a moment, trying to gauge whether he was fooling around with them or not. Finally after a moment Sakura spoke up "You're serious"
"Yeah" he said in a bored tone "It ain't anything special, I'm one of about ten guys who will be placed in the 10th seat, from what I have been hearing they get a lot of the paperwork" he looked at the expressions and frowned "You guys ain't been placed in a seated position?"
"I have" Temari said.
"Me too" Sakura added.
Naruto nodded.
"Then why does me getting a seat sound so unbelievable?"
"You're lack of enthusiasm"
"You're grades at the academy"
He frowned at them "Yeah well apparently my actions at the final exam got the instructors and proctors to see the light with me, so I've just been reassigned from the nameless ranks to a seated position" he sighed again "This is going to be such a drag"
His three friends starred at him for a moment, then started to snigger, muffling outright laughter with their hands.
"That's Shikamaru for you" Sakura said lightly.
He set them all with a frown before falling back in his chair "So what positions did you guys get?"
"Nothing special for me" Temari said "I got into the 8th Seated position"
"9th Seat for me" Sakura stated as she finished drinking her water.
Naruto was silent, and as they looked at him he decided to answer "I haven't been given a position yet"
They all looked at him "What do you mean"
"I mean that I haven't been given a position, I know I'm going to be in the 2nd Division but I have no idea in what seat, if I'm even going to be in a seat at all"
"Maybe you're going to be in the Omnisukido"
He made a face "Are you kidding, sneaking around isn't my style"
"Yeah you're far to clumsy for that"
He looked over to Sakura with a mock hurt expression "Not fair Sakura-chan"
She giggled under his puppy dog stare, and then stuck out her tongue playfully when he looked like he wasn't going to give up.
"Here's you're order" the waiter said, balancing four plates of food in his arms "Two orders of dumplings, one miso ramen and one Korean barbeque!"
The four kids picked up their chopsticks, said 'Ikadikimasu' in unison and began eating their food with hungry gusto. Within five minutes the plates were cleaned to a near shine, the glasses of drink had been emptied and the four of them were sitting back in the chairs, sighing happily.
"Hey you"
They all turned to the owner of the voice, to see a petite girl with shoulder length black hair and pale skin starring at them, or more precisely starring at Naruto. She wore the black, skin tight light armoured suit of the Stealth Force, a sword sheathed to a black scabbard across her smaller back.
Naruto frowned at the annoyance in her gaze "Yeah"
"Are you Uzumaki Naruto?"
He paused for a moment "Yeah, so wha-"
His words were cut short when she grabbed his arm and hauled him off the chair, dragging him across the floor and out the door with strength one would have thought unlikely with her small stature. His friends, the other customers and the owner of the bar looked on in a mixture of disbelief and concern.
After a moment Shikamaru sniggered, earning an annoyed look from his two friends "Looks like Naruto's squad will be more troublesome than mine"
------
They were half way down the street when he finally broke free off her iron grip. He came up to his feet wearily as she stopped to wait for him, a scowl of annoyance on her young features.
"What!?"
"Who are you and what do you want?" he asked with a pointed glare which matched hers. It was a question he found he was saying a lot in the Soul Society. In a way he guessed it came with the territory, even though he still found it hard to believe that he was a prodigy as some of the captains had said.
"Soifon, member of Yoruichi-sama's honour guard" she replied pointedly, starring at him like he was an annoying little fly she wanted to scrape from her boot "I have been sent to collect you!"
"Why didn't you just say so?"
"Shut up and keep moving" she replied, spinning on her heel and stalking down the street, her annoyance clear to even a blind man. Naruto scowled, but fell into step and followed her along the streets of the Seireitei.
After ten minutes of walking in silence she tilted her head to the side and looked him up and down, almost like she were a predator analyzing a target. He was not blind to her analysis and glared at her "What?"
"I don't see why she picked you" she said with an obvious scowl "And why she's so interested in you"
"Huh"
"As far as I am concerned you do not deserve to be placed among the top seats of her squad, true warriors are those who sacrifice blood, sweat and tears to gain a position. Not some little genius fresh out of the academy!"
To her surprise he groaned "Ah man, I told her I didn't want to be seen as anything special. That crazy, childish-"
"Watch your mouth" she growled, her tone threatening, her stare laced with killer intent "Address Yoruichi-sama with the proper respect or I will kill you"
Naruto was not about to stand down from that, even if she was going to be one of his superiors. He had enough of being snubbed and looked down upon in one life, he wasn't about to take it in the next. But he held back his retort, reminding himself that this kid probably didn't understand all of the information. Holding back a snarl he fell into step behind her again.
To Soifon her annoyance with this kid was only rising. What does Yoruichi-sama see in this boy? What makes him so god damned special in her eyes? Her sensei was so interested in him that it deemed to piss her off. She just wanted to deposit him at the 2nd division barracks and never see him again.
Calm down she thought stop being so damn childish, she'll probably get tired of him and send him to a desk job somewhere. She thought that, but she knew that would never happen. One thing her mistress always had been was fair. She wouldn't do such a thing if he had talent.
Finally they came to the barracks of the division, and she quietly led him through the entrance, down the corridors and crossroads to the main training ground of the division, a large courtyard not so dissimilar to the ones in the Shihoin residence. He guessed that this place was for training.
"You're finally here"
They looked up to see Yoruichi standing on the roof of the barracks. Her captain's coat and shoulder length dark purple hair swaying in the wind. At her feet were nearly twenty members of the Omnistukido, all kneeling before her as if she were the empress of a great empire. She vanished from view, reappearing in the middle of the courtyard and flashing him a grin so wide that he thought it would split her face from ear to ear.
"Welcome to the 2nd Division Naruto-kun"
Her smile was so contagious that he found himself returning it "I'm here and ready to serve Yoruichi-sensei"
He saw Soifon look up from her kneel, eyeing him dangerously. He ignored her.
"Now I know I promised you nothing special" Yoruichi said "But sadly the Sotaicho didn't agree with our assessment" she became completely serious, crossing her arms under her chest "Uzumaki Naruto, you are hereby presented with the rank of 5th Seat of the 2nd Imperial Court Guard Division, and Captain of the Omnitsukido Patrol Corps"
Naruto made a sour face, but then sighed with a small smile "Throwing me up the river without a paddle huh?"
"Sorry" she replied, sounding anything but "You will be handed command of the Patrol Corps after you get settled"
------
He had been issued his own Shihakusho by the end of the day, and he wore it with pride as he was being escorted to his new residence, one of many rooms for the members of the company in the barracks, because he was a high ranking officer he got a pretty descent room. It was a two room apartment, quite large compared to the simple bedrooms he saw lower seated officers reside. It had a large living room, with a live in kitchen to the right and a door to the bedroom on the left, a window was at the other side of the room, delivering light to his small abode.
He unpacked his possessions quickly and within fifteen minutes he was sitting on a two seat couch, his mind whirling through all of the information he had been forced to process. He knew that someone like him, fresh out of the academy, should not have been assigned such a high rank within the division. Even with all of his credentials.
Then there was the fact that he had also been assigned an entire squad of his own, he knew how closely tied the 2nd Imperial Court Guard Division was with the Omnitsukido, but he didn't know that members of the division were placed in charge of the Stealth Forces five branches.
He sighed, the main reason why he wanted a lower rank was because he wanted to earn his position in the company, and gain the respect of his fellow Shinigami. Something which was impossible to do now, he saw several members of the division look at him in annoyance and agitation, a kid fresh out of the academy getting a highly ranking position was bound to step on plenty of toes.
In times like this he usually referred to his nin-do. Never go back on your word. That was his nin-do, his ninja way, and it was a motto he kept with him even in this next life. He promised himself that he would work hard to earn respect in this company, and show them that the captain's decision was a sound one. He owed her at least that much.
------
"So she threw you right into it huh?"
Naruto leaned back to get a better view of the Shogi board, looking at each of his pieces to see if he had any in a position to do some damage, after a moment he made his move "Yeah, I was expecting something in the latter numbers, but to be thrown into one of the top five seats, and then given command of one of the five branches of the Omnitsukido was kinda overwhelming"
Urahara looked over the Shogi board and made his move "What squad?"
"The Patrol Corps"
"You're kidding"
"No"
"That's unusual"
He frowned at the new Captain of 12th Division. He was barely there a week and he was already making huge changes to the divisions' layout, changing it from a squad with no specialisation to a scientific research bureau. It was a controversial decision he heard, especially with his Vice-Captain, a fiery, blonde haired girl called Hiyori Sarugaki. From what he heard she had levelled Kisuke barely a day after he was assigned, that alongside her reputation as a foul mouthed, ill-tempered lunatic gave Naruto enough information to stay the hell away from her.
"How so" he asked, grimacing when Kisuke took out one of his knights with a crook.
"Usually the Patrol Corps is given to the Vice-Captain" Urahara replied, looking on with a calculating eye when Naruto took out his crook with a bishop "I was expecting her to put you in charge of the Reversal Counter Force"
His young friend made a sour face "The couriers, suddenly I'm glad I got the Patrol Corps"
Kisuke shrugged as he moved an important piece from Naruto's line of attack "I'm only saying it's unusual, but you have you're hands full"
"I know, I know" Naruto murmured "Besides the Executive Militia the Corps is the second most important unit of the Stealth Force"
"More than that"
"What?"
"Consider this. The 2nd Division has a Captain, but she doesn't have a Vice-Captain, and now because of my reassignment she no longer has an Assistant Adjutant" he looked Naruto in the eyes "You we're promoted because of these losses to the company, but also because of your previous occupation as commander of an army, because of that you have leadership skills and ability that the Division sorely needs"
"So I would have been given a high rank whether I wanted it or not?"
"Precisely" Urahara concurred "I think that although you are already in a high position that Yoruichi-san is preparing you to take on the position of Vice-Captain with Soifon gaining the Assistant Adjutant"
"That girl hates my guts" Naruto said with a sigh.
"She is fiercely loyal to Yoruichi-san" Kisuke explained, making another move and smiling, Naruto was good but it would be over in three more turns "Sadly she also acts like her age on occasions. In the end she is a child needing the attention of a parental figure, and Yoruichi-san is that figure"
Naruto frowned as he looked over the board, trying to find a way out of the trap Kisuke was setting for his lead pieces "Yoruichi…a parental figure?"
Urahara chuckled at his look "Sometimes I wonder about her choice as well"
"I cannot imagine her with kids" Naruto said jokingly.
Urahara made his move. The trap was set "So what are you going to do now?"
Uzumaki did not miss the double metaphor "I'll take the position of 5th Seat, albeit grudgingly…" he flicked his king, tapping it over "I quite, you would have gotten me in another move"
"You're not a bad shogi player" Urahara said in amusement.
"A friend of mine taught me after I became Hokage" Naruto replied as he stood up "Said I'd need it for strategy's sake. He was so right"
"Sounds like you're friend is a good strategist"
"He is, I'll introduce you"
"I'd like that" Kisuke nodded "There aren't many shogi players in this Division"
------
The Patrol Corps lived up to its name as one of the most powerful squads in the Stealth Force. Its members were all brutally efficient in what they did. From what he had surveyed they were masters of fast movement, more than capable of fighting Hollows on equal footing and very well versed in tactics and strategy. The branch was made up of a hundred men and women, split into units of five people each. Each squad leader was the best, ruthless to their enemies, efficient in getting the job done and determined to bring their teammates back home. To these people unity meant survival, while separation meant death.
He was impressed, sure he heard about how good the individual branches of the Omnitsukido were, but he just needed to see it for himself. Yoruichi had confirmed that he would be taking command of this elite force by the end of the week, and to use this free time to rest and study the names and specialties off every member. He did just that, memorising each name and ability into his mind, writing it down so that he would remember better.
He was sitting in a small restaurant, a small stack of notes and personnel files on his table, alongside a small plate of dumplings and a large cup of coffee, another commodity he had gotten used to in the academy. Each file was detailed with the member's strengths and weaknesses, their specialty, proficiency in weapons, Kido and ability with their Zanpakuto.
He felt a familiar presence and looked up, smiling when he saw a familiar pink haired girl walk up to him with two cups of coffee. She set one down beside him and took a seat across. Sipping the boiling hot liquid as she watched him study, after a while she giggled, earning a bemused look from her former teammate.
"What?"
"Even after you became Hokage I found it surreal" she said with a smile "Uzumaki Naruto, stuck in a chair, doing paperwork and studying"
"Yeah" he replied, scratching the back of his head "Never thought I'd end up like this either"
"So" she shuffled across the table until she was right beside him, picking up a file and looking at the first few pages "What are you doing?"
"Looking up on my new command" he replied as he took a sip of his coffee, making a face at the bitter taste "Can I pick your brain for a moment?"
She looked at him for a moment, before he face softened into a smile "Sure"
They were up most of the night, looking over reports and putting forward ideas of any changes that may be needed for the squad. By the end of the night they came to the conclusion that the teams were best left as they were, whoever the former Vice-Captain was he obviously knew what he was doing, and Naruto was not going to change a system which worked so well.
A question popped into his head "How's your placement in 4th Division"
"No bad" she replied "Everyone's nice enough, and the Captain and Lieutenant are kind people" she took a sip of her coffee, sighing happily, he considered she may be becoming a caffeine addict "But I'm not being given enough work to keep me busy, so there's a lot of free time. I heard you got a high rank"
"Yeah" Naruto replied with a sour face "Yoruichi-sensei isn't going to put me into the firing line until next week, told me to study like my life depended on it"
She smiled at his pained expression "There's a lot of paperwork right?"
"About three piles a day" he replied "Although I have a sneaking suspicion she's passing her own paperwork onto me"
"What make's you think that?"
"If I told you that then I'd probably have to kill you" he performed a cutthroat gesture and stuck out his tongue, making her chuckle.
------
Like a flash the week came and went. He was officially proclaimed as the new 5th Seat and given command of the Patrol Corps. He had immediately called for a meeting of the Omnitsukido branch to see theirs strengths and weaknesses up close and personal.
Many it appeared were not happy that someone like him, fresh out of the academy was given not just a high seat but also command of their unit. Yet they were very good at hiding this. But he still saw it, and decided to do something about it. They were surprised when he said he wanted to do a little exercise, and even more surprised when he said that they could come at him.
It didn't take long for a few team leaders to raise their hands, eager to both test his ability and see if he was worthy of the position as their commander. Naruto smirked, spun on his heel and walked to the middle of the courtyard he was using for the rally. He stopped in the centre, turned and remained there, unmoving.
With a blur of movement fifteen black suited forms appeared around him, surrounding him completely. A good strategy he thought, best to attack an unknown opponent from all sides. Some had their hands on the hilts of their swords. Others had fallen into fighting stances.
Five came at him, all drawing their katana in a flash. Naruto did not move to draw his Zanpakuto, but just stood there, looking straight ahead. When the first came at him, swinging his sword in a downward stroke he sidestepped and delivered a chop to his neck. He ducked a swing and brought his elbow into his second opponents abdomen, making him gasp and stagger. A third stabbed out with his sword, only to strike an afterimage, the blonde grabbed his outstretched wrist and threw him over his shoulder into the fourth. They landed in a heap. The fifth had his sword held over his head for a downward stroke, and in a flash he brought his fist up, delivering a perfect uppercut to his chin and sending him flying through the air.
To the remainder of the Patrol Corps the opening fight only lasted for five seconds and when the last man was thrown back the first hit the ground. The ten who still surrounded him and the seventy five others sitting at the side looked at this strange young man, eyes wide in both admiration and shock.
Taking a deep breath Naruto fell into a fighting stance, one that Rock Lee had taught him a lifetime ago. He wasn't nearly as spirited with the style, but he was good enough to be considered a master of the practise. He made a come on gesture with his right hand, a smile on his face at the disbelieving looks on his last ten opponents. This was going to be fun.
When they didn't come to him he went to them, taking off in a run the first one wasn't able to react in time, his right hand shot out in a heel palm, striking his chest, sending him flying back and landing hard on the stone tiles. Another charged him, sword half drawn from the sheath. He spun on his heel and jumped delivering a powerful high kick to the side of the seconds head. He came down in time to block a series of punches from his third opponent, whom he quickly despatched with a well timed punch to the man's face. A fourth jumped into the air, setting up a swinging kick to Naruto's head. He blocked it, grabbed his leg and threw him into another three Patrol Corps ninja running at him, sending them down in a heap.
Three left.
Two came at him from either side, swords drawn and ready, he ducked the left one's swing, jumped the right's and brought his legs out in a perfect split, delivering a bone numbing set of kicks to his opponents faces, they flew back and hit the ground at the same time.
He felt a flash of movement and was forced to draw his Zanpakuto, bringing it up just in time to block a swing aimed for his neck. The blade belonged to a woman, her pale face half concealed by black cloth, her shoulder length black hair done up in a ponytail.
"Made you draw your sword" She spoke with a treacle of mirth.
The blonde smiled "Yes you did" She has skill in hiding her presence, I barely sensed her until she made her strike.
She jumped back and fell in a crouch, sword held backwards in her right hand while she used her left to steady herself. Her light armour showed a body at its peak in physical fitness, if a little petite. In fact he swore she reminded him of someone. It came to him.
"Did Yoruichi-sensei send you to keep an eye on me Soifon?"
"No" she replied, removing her veil "I just wanted to see what you can do for myself"
To the men and women of the Corps it was one surprise after another. First they get a kid fresh out of the academy as their new commander, then they learn he could beat the crap out of their strongest members in record time, and now one of their commander-in-chiefs most gifted honour guards was among their ranks and they didn't even now it.
The two ignored the disbelieving stares and the odd whisper of conversation, their focus was completely on each other.
"That's sweet" he said teasingly "But I already have a girlfriend"
She growled in annoyance, he really rubbed her the wrong way "Shut up, I am not here because of some damn crush. I am here because I want to see what you can do for myself!!"
"Keep telling yourself that Soifon-chan"
She growled again. The killing intent in her rietsu was strong enough to make those members of the Patrol Corps not unconscious stand and take several steps back. She charged him, sword ready for a swipe. But as she came within range he moved so fast she could barely register, it wasn't Shunpo, but it was still fast. He grabbed her wrist and tossed her to the ground. Before she could stand he was on her, hand pressing hard against her shoulder and blade against her throat.
"You need to reel in your anger Soifon-chan" he stated with a sad smile "Take it from someone who died because of it, it will get you killed"
She looked into his oceanic eyes and stopped, there was sadness there, like he was reliving a painful memory. He sighed, stood up and turned to his assembled unit, sheathing his sword. The fourteen he had fought had awakened and were slowly getting to their feet, groaning in pain.
"Is that a good enough showing" he asked "Like it or not I am your new commander. I know I seem like just another spoiled brat given a position because of wealth but let me tell you all something. I will earn your respect in the years to come, not from words but from actions. I will be there in the front lines with you. I will fight for you and protect you when you're helpless. I will make damned sure to bring you all back home, dead or alive. I have a golden rule, leave no one behind"
There was steel in his voice that none of them missed, the voice of a leader who had been tried and tested through the fields of war, who had spilled blood and lost loved ones. Even Soifon was forced to change her opinion. These were the words of a man strong in his convictions and determined to earn respect.
"Dismissed"