Chapter 13
Recién Nacido
She had only been in this chamber a handful of times. It was a large compartment, dim lighting casting great shadows throughout. Across the length and breadth of the hall were large platforms of varying heights, from a meter to ten. Standing, crouching and sitting on these platforms where other high level Arrancar, most of which were newborns.
In the centre of the room was Aizen, peering over a huge translucent inverted pyramid with a yellowish tint. Within the pyramid was a humanoid feminine form, on its knees with its arms stretched out, and completely covered in white bandages. Beside her Starrk vanished, reappearing on top of a set of black steps at the other side of the chamber. Barragan walked down the steps and came to a stop in front of the nearest platform, leaning against the smooth wall.
Nelliel looked around and saw one of her students on one of the midlevel platforms, stooping down and watching Aizen with a calculated eye. She Sonido'd up to the platform and sat down beside the younger Arrancar, her legs dangling over the precipice.
"You were called Tia-chan?"
Tia Harribel looked over to her, that same calm and stoic face still in place. One of the newer Arrancar she had been placed under Nel's wing to train her in how to master and control her abilities. Tia had a quiet beauty about her, her long messy blonde hair and eye lashes in stark contrast to her dark skin. Her green eyes were piercing. Her body as voluptuous as her own and her choice of attire showed off her greater attributes very, very well.
"Yes, Nel-sama" she said with a respectful bow "Aizen-sama asked for my presence"
"Thank you all for coming" Aizen spoke calmly "Now we can begin the ceremony"
No one knew how their lord was able to change Menos Grande to Arrancar, even the most studious and scientific of the Espada could not find out how he did it. Nelliel considered that he used a small device he called a neo-Hogyoku, a replica of some other device he could not obtain. The device would react to a mass release of his spiritual pressure and then disintegrate when the Shinigamification process started.
After a few moments the inverted pyramid cracked, small ones at first which grew until they encompassed the entire shape. The form shattered into hundreds of pieces sending a mass of dust in every direction. The strips of cloth shredded and fell from the body, revealing a young looking woman with long dark blue hair, light lavender coloured eyes and pale skin, her naked form was that of a well formed young women, although not nearly as voluptuous as herself and Harribel. Looking at her closer Nel could see the remains of her Hollow mask as a necklace of teeth around her neck.
"Can you tell me your name" he asked, looking down on her with a small smile "New comrade"
"My name?" was her reply, looking around to see all of the other forms surrounding her and immediately looking afraid "I don't…know my name"
"I see" Aizen replied, looking a little disappointed.
"Poor thing" Harribel muttered "It's not unusual for a newborn to not know her name"
"Yeah" she replied, her eyes not leaving their new recruit "The fact that she doesn't know her name means that she hasn't been a Menos Grande long. But by her power she is definitely not a Gillian, more like an Adjuchas"
"But she doesn't feel that old" Harribel pointed out "In fact she feels as young as a newly born Hollow, barely a half decade…six years at most"
"He might have forced her growth" Nel thought out loud "I've seen him do it, although with little success. He's been doing research in increasing the speed of a Hollows growth, forcing them to form into a Gillian and then to an Adjuchas. I heard that any Gillian he created was always the less intelligent types, not the ones able to evolve"
"Apparently he has had some success"
"So it seems" Nelliel agreed before rising to her feet and stepping over the edge, landing on the floor and walking towards the scene like she had taken a normal step. She passed Aizen and stooped down beside the girl. She was frowning in concentration, brow furrowed, eyes starring on the floor. She was really trying to remember her name.
Nel Tu had to physically stop herself from crying Kawai and hugging her. Placing a hand on her shoulder she made the young girl look at her, lavender eyes met hazel and refused to shift, she smiled at the newborn "Do you know your name?"
She tried again, her brow furrowing further, but it could be seen in the girl's eyes. She was about to panic. Nel saw it and acted. She squeezed the girls shoulder; regaining her attention "How about I give you a name?" she rose and made a thoughtful expression, taking a few steps back and forth "How about Rafaela, Rafaela Hasiasol?"
The girl seemed to think about it, pressing her two index fingers together and just seemed to notice her lack of clothing. With a squeak of surprise she covered her breasts and pelvis with her hands, looking around nervously. Nelliel forced herself not to laugh, a modest Arrancar? Go figure.
"Could someone bring her a cloak please" Aizen asked softly and waited as a servant ran out of them and, bowing handed the cloak to Nel who draped it over Rafaela's slender shoulders "You'll be taking this one in?"
"Hai, Aizen-sama"
"Very well" her master replied "I leave her in your care, Nelliel"
With that he turned and walked away, all around them the other Arrancar began to one by one vanish in a blur of motion. Harribel was the last to leave, nodded to her teacher before vanishing in a Sonido. Nel looked around before turning to the girl "Come on, lets go"
"Hai" Rafaela squeaked before standing and rushing to her, looking incredibly nervous as she stayed by her side. Nelliel looked down and managed a small smile. The girl was so cute, especially when she was flustered.
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The throne room was situated upon a tower at the very top of Las Noches, overlooking the vast desert, dotted by rickety, crystalline trees which made the surface of Hueco Mundo. He walked to the centre of the large room, its floor covered by black marble tiles and thick pillars holding up a ceiling fifty meters high. Huge open spaces showed the world beyond, the black starless sky and the single huge shape of the crescent moon. At the end of the chamber was a platform with a single, white, high backed throne sitting in the centre, huge marble steps leading up to the podium.
"Interesting how you have not summoned Arrancar for this ceremony"
He turned to see his young associate, Gin Ichimaru, newly made 3rd Seat of 5th Division, leaning against the far wall. A youngster, maybe ten or eleven years old he was already a seasoned killer with spiritual pressure which, if nurtured properly, could become Captain-level before too long. He was an unusual child with silver hair, eyes which he narrowed into slits and a mocking smile.
"There is no need to Gin"
"Yet you summoned them for the other" Ichimaru continued, pressing himself away from the wall and walking towards his master "Out of all your experiments only two had proven successful, one you showed to the Arrancar and yet for the other…"
"She has potential yes" Aizen replied, eyeing his subordinate coolly "But compared to this one" he raised his hand to the inverted pyramid in the centre, a crucified form on its knees and covered in white bandages prostrated within "this one is at least three times more powerful than the girl"
"Now I'm interested" Gin said with a grin "That means that, if properly raised, he could become high Espada level. Maybe a match for me or Tosen"
"It's too early to tell Gin" Sosuke chastised lightly "But that is my hope"
A blur of motion and another appeared in the throne, sitting upon the third step down from the throne, his Zanpakuto leaning against his shoulder.
"Ah you made it Tosen"
"Hai Aizen-sama"
"So, how is he progressing?"
"Incredibly quickly" his subordinate answered "His power has already tripled since he graduated the academy, a match for any Vice-Captain in the Gotei. He has become fluent in Kido, able to caste spells in the mid fifties without the incantation, he already has a basic grasp of Shunpo, and able to call upon the powers of his sword. His special technique is frightening and I fear that is only the edge of what he can do"
"I see"
"His growth rate is terrifying"
"Do you fear him, Tosen?"
The man turned to Gin, and even with his mask and goggles in place they both could feel his agitation "Of course, at this rate in another decade he will be Captain-level" he set his gaze to Aizen "He is dangerous my lord"
"I agree"
"Then why don't we take him out of the equation before he becomes too powerful"
"I would like to try and recruit him. Hopefully this incident will bring him to our way of thinking"
"And if it doesn't"
Sosuke Aizen shrugged "It makes no difference. If he becomes a threat then we eliminate him, there are others"
"The other Biju you mean" Tosen shook his head slowly "Impossible, they have hidden themselves deep within the bowels of Hueco Mundo. Any Arrancar we send to hunt them does not return"
"Hmm" Aizen hummed "But that only proves the acceleration of their growth. It is highly likely that they have become Adjuchas, or even Vasto Lorde level Hollow in barely half a decade" once again he had his subordinates complete attention "If so then it is all the more reason to approach them with caution. Only one of us or an Espada can challenge a Biju and hope to live to tell the tale"
He turned and walked to the centre of the room, looking down upon the crucified form within the transparent shape. He raised his hand and set it on the object, a Neo-Hogyoku in his hand. He concentrated his spiritual pressure, and the small device shattered, followed by small cracks along the length and breadth of the inverted pyramid. A few seconds later the object exploded, the cloth covering the form tore and shredded.
"Can you tell me your name, comrade?"
The young man within looked up at him with the most distinct pair of eyes he had ever seen. They had crimson irises, with three small, black tomoe like shapes. Those eyes held power, and Aizen could swear that this newborn could see straight through him.
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Soifon was disappointed in herself, no, disappointed was not the proper word, she was furious at herself, she hated herself. She had been on a reconnaissance mission with Yoruichi-sama, and had been caught by a Hollow, if her commander hadn't have been there then she would have died. Why was she so weak, she was one of her Honour guard, she was being groomed for a high rank in the division, and yet she allowed a simple Hollow to catch her by surprise?
She had to admit, although it had been a little embarrassing to be caught training in the middle of the night by Lady Yoruichi she had enjoyed the instruction that her captain had given her, and she considered it a pleasure to be able to be a little sister to her idle. She forced herself not to skip in her step.
But the joy had been short lived, for the very next day Yoruichi-sama had been called away on business. She was supposed to school Soifon in swordsmanship and hand to hand training, not to mention helping her understand her Zanpakuto. What was worse was the replacement she had sought out for her. She had a feeling that her sensei was having a private laugh about this.
"Why does it have to be him?" she had growled childishly, forgetting herself for a moment and berating herself for it, she fell to a knee "Forgive me my lady, I just feel that being put under that man's tutelage is unnecessary"
She could clearly see the mirth dancing in her lady's golden eyes "Soifon, I'm going to be away on business, there's a captains meeting I can't afford to miss. You need a trainer who knows what your going through and who can school you through it properly"
"I'm willing to wait" she said simply.
"And instead of it taking you a few months it will probably take you a few years" her mistress replied "I won't be able to give you the tutelage you need all the time, I have other responsibilities" she looked Soifon in the eyes "Do I have to make it an order?"
Soifon looked horrified "No, Yoruichi-sam., I apologise for my outburst"
Her captain smiled that smile that made her blush "Good"
She came to his door and, taking a deep breath and trying to dispel her irritation knocked.
"Come in"
She entered the small office, stood at attention and spoke "Soifon, reporting for training"
"Ah, you're early"
She looked up to see him at his desk, writing his signature on a final few documents and setting them on top of a pile. It had been three months since that disaster with his corps which had cost the lives of his best men and women, and in that time he had slowly recovered emotionally from the loss of his subordinates. Still didn't smile as much though, and she surprised herself by finding that she missed it.
"Do you want to take a seat Soifon-chan" he said "It'll only take a few minutes"
Dispelling a bout of irritation at chan being added to her name she nodded and, walking further into her rivals domain plopped herself down on a chair at the other side of his desk. Watching as he opened documents, read a few important details, signed them, and placed them on a steadily rising finished pile.
She studied his face, and found that when he wasn't cracking that face splitting grin he was actually quite handsome, youthful yet rugged with the whisker like markings on his cheeks. Blonde hair had grown a little; becoming a little messier. Blue eyes were piercing and vibrant. After a few minutes he sighed, signing his name on a last document and putting it on the pile, before bringing his oceanic eyes upon her.
"So, I hear that you want special training"
She suppressed a huff "Of course, I want to become stronger so that I can be more help to Yoruichi-sama"
He smiled slightly. It wasn't that goofy grin but a simple smile "Glad to hear it, because I'm not the type to hold back on a student, and I'm guessing that by your loyalty to Yoruichi-sensei that you are determined in this" he rose from his chair and walked towards the door "Come with me, we will start immediately"
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They had come to a large clearing, several kilometres outside of the Seireitei and far enough away from prying eyes. Soifon looked up at the towering trees and lush foliage surrounding her, and then looked down at the small, flattened grass at her feet. The clearing was fifty meters from one end to the other.
"So Soifon" Naruto began "How far along are you in knowing the name of your Zanpakuto?"
"I can hear a voice" she replied grudgingly "But I still can't hear her name, every time she says her name its like she suddenly becomes mute"
"I see" the blonde replied "Well for that subject the best I can do is teach you a few methods of meditation"
"Meditation" she asked dubiously.
"Yes meditation" he reiterated "To be able to clear and calm your mind, to be able to put aside all distraction. It is only then that the spirit pulls you into your inner world and converses with you, your best option is through that"
"I knew this would be a waste of time" she growled in annoyance "I want to get stronger, not sit on a rock and meditate all day!"
Her tutor smiled at that, and in a swift motion pulled out his Zanpakuto, calmly he set his free hand on the blade and ghosted his fingertips along the flat end of the silver. He whispered his release command "Descend, Kazerasshu" and the blade changed, becoming much longer, and changing colour to a dark blue with a white edge "This is my Zanpakuto, Kazerasshu, or Wind Lash. Its ability is to harness and control the surrounding air currents, compressing them into blades which are capable of cutting stone in two or ripping an opponent to shreds"
Soifon starred at the sword in awe, she had heard of his Zanpakuto's released state and heard stories of its destructive power. Yet this was the first time she had ever seen it up close. The sword seemed designed to maim an opponent, and did not look easy to remove from a body without doing more damage.
"Do you want to know how I learned the name of my sword?"
Besides herself she nodded.
"Because of patience, meditation" he said the last word slowly, putting emphasis on it "Believe me I know how hard it can be to sit in one place, but the results are well worth it" he reared back his blade and whispered "Ten no Kaze" before swinging it. To their left several dozen tall tree trunks were cut down, slash marks running along the bark which seemed paper thin, yet somehow managed to go straight through. The trees fell with a resounding set of crashes, when the noise calmed he continued "There are many types of Zanpakuto. There is melee, Kido, wind, fire, earth, water, snow, ice, darkness, light, offensive, defensive, illusion. There are blades specialised in hitting a wide area, and others in pinpointing and striking an exact target. There are Zanpakuto with abilities beyond imagination and those who seem so simple that you would laugh at them until they were set to your throat"
She found herself hanging on every word, unable to tear away from this lecture. How did he know so much? Was he a quick study or did he actually spend most of his academy nights studying his subjects to the smallest detail? He ran his hand along the blade again, and it turned back to its regular shape in an explosion of steam, silently he sheathed the blade "I will teach you a few meditation techniques later, but it seems you are to restless at the moment. So instead I will see how far along you are in your close range combat and swordsmanship, as well as speed and stamina. I'm guessing yours are excellent, so there's no need for beginners lessons, we'll jump right into the heavy stuff" he looked her in the eye "I was trained by Yoruichi-sensei and Urahara-sensei, they both trained me until I was half dead from exhaustion, expect the same Soifon"
"Hai, Naruto-sensei" she said, and then grimaced.
Did she really call her rival sensei?
It has just recently been brought to my attention that, after a long wait Naruto Shippuden has finally, and I mean finally started being dubbed for English audiences. What do I say to this…well, I will begin by saying thank you Jesus, thank you god, and thank you to those awesome people who are working on the dub even as I rant on. Now I know I'm late to the party considering that the first episodes were completed late September, and this is well…mid November, but still.
I watched the first episode on Youtube, and I have to say that it is hard finding them these days, and from what little stuff I've heard most of the original cast from the original Naruto is still in place. Thank god for that. It should be interesting to see how they change the voices to suit the time skip. Sasuke, Naruto, Sakura, Konohamaru and all sound well enough, and their voice actors have made a good effort in changing the voices to suit their older selves.
My only problem is why it took them so long, I mean the Japanese version is up to episode 134, or was it 135, anyway its been on for years and our guys across the pond are only starting it now! Sure they had to dub all of those filler eps (Personally I think a hundred odd filler episodes was a bit well…much, and some of them were just useless, physically cringing at the memory of the Curry arc) but they finished those ages ago, I was expecting them to jump right into the thick of it. Ah well, they're doing it now, so I suppose it's forgivable.