Chapter 15
Night of the White Masks
They both stood in the darkness, their forms lit up by squares of light from the upper ramparts. Kisuke looked at the darkened central chamber which acted as the main meeting room for the forty wise men and six Judges which made up the judiciary Central 46. All of these powerful individuals had taken their seats in the surrounding upper rise platforms, their forms obscured from view by white coverings.
Kisuke Urahara and his friend and fellow Captain Tessai Tsukabishi had been arrested and hauled to the Central 46 chambers in shackles.
"Just what is going on?" Kisuke asked, genuinely curious.
"Have we given you permission to speak" one asked in agitation "You are under investigation. You may not speak except to answer our questions" his next words were smug "Bare that in mind Captain"
Investigation, so they suspect me of something; Kisuke turned his head to the member who spoke, offering a small nod "Sorry"
Another spoke up "Where were you around midnight last night?"
"In the woods of sector 6, to the west" he replied truthfully, he was about to explain why he was there, but another spoke up, his tone accusing.
"Conducting your Hollowfication experiments" another stated in disgust.
Kisuke stopped; his surprise clearly readable on his face. They thought he was the one behind the incident? But before he could deny it one of the judges spoke up "There, using the results of your evil experiments you attacked and attempted Hollowfication on eight Captains and Lieutenants starting with the 5th Division Captain. Am I right?"
"Wait a minute" Kisuke shouted in disbelief "Who told you that!?"
"You do not have the right to ask questions" a wise man replied coldly.
"Was it Lieutenant Aizen?" he continued, ignoring the reprimand.
"That's your second warning 12th Division Captain" another wise man informed.
Ignoring the reproach again he shouted at the top of his lungs "He did it all. We headed there to try and save Hirako-taicho and the others!!!"
"Your lies are becoming ridiculous" a judge chastised "The 5th Division Vice-Captain did not leave Seireitei last night!"
Once again Urahara was caught completely by surprise "What!?"
"One hundred and twenty four Guards and one Captain can vouch for him. There is no doubt about it"
The 12th Division Captain was so surprised by the statement that his voice failed him. Standing there, eyes wide and jaw slightly agape in shock he barely heard one of their agents enter the chamber until a light was caste on him. The man was dressed in the garb of the 2nd Division militia and was kneeling before the council.
"Reporting in" he stated calmly "Numerous signs of Hollowfication experiments have been found in the 12th Division Laboratory" Of course there would be signs of Hollowfication in his laboratory, that's where he had taken the victims of Aizen's machinations. He and Tessai had tried with everything they had at their disposal to save them.
"That settles it" the main judge stated matter-of-factly "We will now sentence you!!!" he paused for a moment, then he spoke in a booming voice "Kido Captain Tsukabishi Tessai. For the crimes of using forbidden Kido techniques you will be imprisoned in underground prison three, Shugo!" his uncaring eyes then turned to Kisuke "12th Division Captain Urahara Kisuke. For the crimes of conducting taboo experiments, deceiving your colleagues and causing grievous injury you will be stripped of your powers and eternally banished to Earth!" the old man paused again to catch a breath, and when he spoke there was no sadness nor guilt in his words "Furthermore, the 5th Division Captain and the other seven victims of your evil experiments will be dealt with as Hollows!"
"Wait a minute" Kisuke shouted in outrage, not at his own sentence but the cavalier way they were dealing with the victims of this disaster, it just wasn't right "That's-"
His argument stuck in his throat as the main door opened and a harsh, unforgiving light fell down the hundred steps to the council chamber. A shadow fell upon them all, casting off the light. Slowly Kisuke turned, expecting to see his executioner. At the top of the steps was a feminine figure, dressed in a black body hugging combat suit with a cream cloak draped over her shoulders, face obscured by two pieces of cloth, one covering her face below the nose, the other wrapped around her head. Her golden eyes were completely focused on him.
The council didn't take the interruption well "Who are you?"
"Who gave you permission to enter during an inquiry!?"
Get out, you filth!!"
Their questions and insults seemed to fall upon deaf ears. In a flash she disappeared from her vantage point, reappearing between the surprised and confused forms of Tessai and Kisuke with blinding speed. So fast she was just a blur to them and the Central 46. She grabbed both of them, and vanished again. All that marked their passing being a thin spray of dust.
There were a few moments of stunned silence. Then all hell broke loss.
"Get them!"
"Rebels"
"Is anyone there!?"
"Someone"
------
The girl ran down the streets, breathing raggedly and drenched in sweat. She didn't know how long she had ran from the monsters, but her legs burned, her chest heaved, she couldn't keep up this pace for much longer. Finally her exhausted body failed her, and she stumbled, falling hard onto the concrete path. She crawled a few feet, turned and watched the approaching monsters in horror.
There were three of them. Huge bodied creatures of bulging muscles and spikes, over their faces were porcelain masks of different shapes, the slits for their eyes glowing with a feral yellowish light. Eyes wide as dinner plates she was frozen in fear as they approached, releasing bloodcurdling growls and opening their maws. This was it. This was how she was going to die.
Forcing her eyes shut she waited for the inevitable. But the inevitable didn't come. As the Hollow got within three feet of her a figure appeared, shielding the terrified girl with his body. Black robes ruffling in the wind, his right hand grasping the hilt of an unsheathed sword. He vanished in a blur, reappearing behind the Hollow, eyes closed, sword held in his hand, the blade glistening in the early morning rays of the sun.
For a moment the Hollow stood there, unmoving. Then its mask shattered and it disintegrated with a demonic cry. He vanished again and the other two met the same fate, masks shattered by sudden and precise swings from his blade. When the girl opened her eyes again there were no monsters, there was just one man. A handsome young man with spiked blonde hair and oceanic eyes walking towards her, his sword sheathed in the scabbard once again.
He reached out with his hand, and she shied away, expecting him to strike her. That was what her killer had done. He had hit her again and again until she felt no more pain, and when she woke up she was looking down at her own broken body, a chain attached to her chest. She tightly shut her eyes again, and was surprised when no strike came, but instead a hand ruffling her chestnut hair.
She opened her eyes and looked into a pair of beautiful oceanic orbs, her saviour smiled reassuringly at her "There, there, you must have been scared. But it's all over now"
She choked back sobs, failed and flung herself into his chest, crying. He patted her on the head. Those soft, caring orbs making her feel at ease "Its okay. It's over now. I'll send you somewhere where the monsters can't get you. Would you like that?"
She nodded and he gently pushed her back and unsheathed his sword, she was about to shy away, but his smile and those piercing eyes kept her in place "Relax, close your eyes"
She did so, and felt something gently press against her forehead. There was a terrific light and for the first time since she had died she felt something, she felt warmth, she felt at peace.
Watching as the twelve year old girl vanished into the light Naruto sighed sadly as he sheathed his blade, so young, so full of life. So harshly cruel that it was taken away from her. She had been no older than he was when he became a Ninja, seemed like centuries ago. In a way it was. Time seemed to move differently here than in the Soul Society. The elemental nations were gone, and for a time the Samurai seemed to have flourished. Then technology from the far west came into play and the warrior-class couldn't adapt to the change. It was only a matter of time before they met the same fate as the Ninja.
His attention settled upon a small black fluttering form, heading straight towards him, a Hell Butterfly. Carefully he reached out, allowing the small creature to rest on his middle and index fingers. He read the message and frowned.
Uzumaki Naruto, Vice-Captain of 2nd Division. You are to return to the Soul Society immediately. It lacked information, but an order was an order, and when that order came from the Sotaicho himself it was to be followed to the letter.
Allowing the small insect to take off he turned "Fu, Hisa, Ao, Jung!" four members of his corps appeared before him, standing to attention with their hands behind their backs, he smiled to his top four squad leaders "Looks like I wont be sticking around after all, message from the higher ups to return"
"What do you expect sensei" Fu said with a snort, her tanned skin and shoulder length raven hair hidden beneath her bandana "You have nearly five piles of paperwork to sign"
"You looked again didn't you?"
"Sure did"
"I don't want to know"
------
He was surrounded by at least a hundred guards as soon as he left the gate. They weren't all in plain sight. Only ten of them were waiting for him in the courtyard, the other ninety were hidden in the trees, bushes and surrounding buildings. By a glance he could tell they were all from the 1st Division, several of them were seated officers.
What the hell is going on!?
"Uzumaki Naruto"
His eyes settled upon the speaker, a tall foreboding man who seemed to visibly flinch under his cool gaze "By order of the Central 46 you are to be escorted to their chambers for questioning"
"Questioning?" he asked "About what"
"That is not my place to say"
"You son of a bitch" someone shouted "Were you in on it too" His eyes came to a much smaller man, who's eyes starred at him accusingly "Are you a traitor like that whore!?"
"What are you talking about" he asked, keeping his anger in check, at least for now.
"Two nights ago Kisuke Urahara and Tessai Tsukabishi were found to be guilty of experimenting in Hollowfication on eight Captains and Lieutenants" the leader said, casting a dangerous glance on the man responsible for the outburst "Through trial they were both found guilty and sentenced"
He looked at the man in disbelief and open shock. Urahara, a traitor, no way in hell, Tessai he didn't know so well, but he knew the man wasn't a traitor either "There's no way"
"The evidence against him was irrefutable"
"And when justice was done that bitch Yoruichi broke them out" another shouted "Are you in league with her"
"What" he asked, his shock taking new heights, he looked to the leader, only to see him nod.
"Also true"
"If you know where the whore is spill it" the man responsible for the original outburst said "Or we'll beat the truth out of you ourselves"
No one disrespected his Captain like that, no matter what the situation. His spiritual pressure exploded, and before it all of them paled "Watch your mouth!"
There was a blur and within a heartbeat his entire Patrol Corps descended, their blades drawn and held against the arrest squad's throats, so close some were drawing blood. They weren't alone, he saw more shapes move through the treetops, through the stone paths. He saw Soifon, the Militia and the Detention Squad appearing out of thin air and place their blades to the throats of the ninety odd men in hiding.
"My corps, no my division gets very trigger happy when someone disrespects our Captain, watch your mouth or you'll have your head taken from your shoulders"
"W-we meant no disrespect Naruto-sam-"
"Like hell you didn't" he growled at the man, who looked like he wanted to run until his feet bleed "Where is your evidence that Yoruichi-taicho is a traitor. I want to see it then maybe I won't kill you all for your insult" he looked to the man who had insulted his sensei "You know what, fuck it, I'll just kill you!!!"
He looked like he was about to wet himself, but was saved by a booming voice which not even the Lieutenant of 2nd Division wanted to face off against "Enough!"
All in attendance turned to see the Sotaicho, the Captain-Commander of the Goteijusantai hobble forward with his large walking stick. Physically the old man seemed harmless, but his spiritual pressure was almost suffocating. Weaker guardsmen fell to their knees, fighting hard just to breathe. To Naruto and Soifon who had just descended and was now standing beside him, the commanders rietsu was enough to make their bodies triple in weight.
"This division within the ranks will cease" his voice left no word for argument, he turned to his squad, his eyes cold and radiating disappointment "Leave us, I will take Uzumaki-fukutaicho to the Central 46 myself"
His men bowed and left, as did the entirety of the 2nd Division who had come to Naruto's aide. The only one who remained stubbornly in place was Soifon. Naruto could see it from his student. Her mind was an explosion of confusion, hurt, sorrow and anxiety. She was as confused about the situation as he was. To them the idea of Yoruichi as a traitor was impossible.
Yamamoto looked at the young woman, his eyes unreadable as he repeated his order, more steel in his voice this time "Leave us"
She flinched, but remained doggedly in place, falling down to kneel with her head bowed low "Sotaicho, I want to know. I can't believe, I refuse to believe Yoruichi-sama is a traitor…I-I"
Her broken words were cut off by a hand on her shoulder. She looked up, tears in her dark orbs to see Naruto on a knee, smiling reassuringly at her "Don't worry about it Soifon. I'll find out what's going on and you'll be the first to know, okay?"
She nodded timidly, dried her eyes and jumped away into the trees. For a moment both Naruto and Yamamoto starred at each other. Then he bowed "Lead the way, Sotaicho"
------
Squinting his eyes as the blinding light descended upon him the Lieutenant had to blink a few times to regain his sense of vision. He had been led by the Captain-Commander straight to the chambers of the Central 46. It was his first time before these forty wise men and six judges who held sway over the judiciary system of the Soul Society. Yet for the life of him he felt no fear or joy for being called before such a powerful court. If anything he was annoyed.
"I have come as asked" he said simply, arms folded in an act of open defiance to the forty six old men surrounding him and his supreme commander "Now what is this all about?"
"Silence" one said gruffly "We are the ones asking the questions!"
"Fine" Naruto said, his tone respectful yet strained "Ask away"
"Where were you two nights ago at midnight?"
"In the world of the living, taking part in a Hollow hunt"
"Are there any who could confirm it?"
"Only ten members of my Patrol Corps, I can give a list of their names"
"How do you know former Captains Kisuke Urahara, Tessai Tsukabishi and Yoruichi Shihoin?"
"Tsukibishi I do not know very well, but I heard he was one of the most powerful Kido casters in the Soul Society" Naruto answered, not missing the word former added to the sentence "Captains Urahara and Shihoin are my mentors, they taught me almost everything I know"
"So you should have known of their plans" one shouted.
The Lieutenant frowned "What plans?"
"Do not act coy with us Uzumaki-fukutaicho. Being as close to them as you are I doubt you were completely ignorant to knowledge of what they were planning to do"
"I am ignorant because I have no idea what you are on about!" he spat, beyond irritated at their pointing fingers and implications "Try and slow down and use small words so I can properly understand what you are accusing me of"
"You are accused of assisting the traitor Urahara Kisuke in his experiments of Hollowfying a number of Captains and Lieutenants"
"Hollofying" Naruto turned the name around in his mind "What the hell is that!?"
"Your feigned ignorance will do you no good"
"You are charged in assisting Kisuke Urahara in illegal experiments concerning Hollowfication, and using this knowledge on the Captains of third, fourth, fifth and ninth Divisions, as well as the Lieutenants of eighth, ninth, twelfth and the Kido Divisions"
The Vice-Captain felt his jaw drop at the statement, not that they were partially blaming him for the crime but for the fact that four Captains and another four Vice-Captains had been attacked and…Hollowfied, whatever it was he knew it wasn't good by a long shot.
"Stop" Yamamoto said in a calm and stoic voice, taking a step forward, his cane echoing as it tapped of the tiled floor "What evidence do you have of Uzumaki-fukuaicho's involvement in this crime? When the incident was being played out he was in the world of the living with his squad, whom ten members can confirm. You have had your own search his quarters and the rest of the 2nd Division barracks. Tell me is there any evidence supporting these claims?"
"He was a pupil of theirs, that and their close relationship-"
"I see, so he is guilty simply because of association?"
"You overstep yourself Yamamoto-sotaicho"
"Not at all" the old man replied "I am simply stating fact. The fact is that in forty eight hours we have lost seven Captains, four Vice-Captains and two seated officers of the ninth Division, the Goteijusantai has been severely weakened by these losses, yet you wish to remove another Vice-Captain with no evidence that he was involved in this crime other than that he associated with the condemned"
The council was silent for a moment, the meagre spiritual pressures of a few of them fearful and uncertain, finally one of the six judges spoke "The investigation will continue, until such a time as he has been cleared of any wrongdoing Uzumaki-fukutaicho will be confined to house arrest. All activities of the Patrol Corps are to be suspended until further notice. All members taking part in away missions are to be recalled. For the near future the second, twelfth and Kido Divisions are to be placed in quarantine"
------
"Arigato Yamamoto-sotaicho"
The old Captain trained his eye on the youngster for a moment before setting his attention on the path again "We have lost too many Captain-level Shinigami already. To lose another for no reason would be unwise"
Naruto nodded, he had been led out by Yamamoto personally and was moving back to the 2nd Division barracks. Where the Lieutenant and now Pseudo-Captain of the Division would be making the announcement that they were all to be quarantined until further notice, but a singular question kept tossing and turning in his mind "Do you believe what they are saying, Sotaicho?"
"The evidence is very strong against them and sentencing on Urahara and Tsukabishi had already been carried out when Shihoin intervened and aided them in their escape. Furthermore from the evidence found in the twelfth laboratories Urahara had been the one who created the formula for Hollowfication" the old man looked Naruto in the eyes "Add to that him being there that night and the evidence is overwhelming"
"I see" Naruto replied slowly.
He still found it hard to believe, beyond hard to believe. Urahara was a scientist at heart, he had been known to let his curiosity get the better of him, but he was also a man with a conscience and morals. He believed zealously that his friend would not have been party to such experiments. To Kisuke the costs would have been far too high. And with the arrest and sentencing of his friend, Naruto would have been deeply surprised if Yoruichi just stood by and did nothing, she didn't admit it, but Naruto knew the feelings both had for each other.
With her and Naruto it was a little brother/older sister relationship, so much so that any physical relationship with her would have been gross. She was an extremely beautiful woman and he admitted her personality made her even more attractive, but the mindset had been put firmly in place. With her and Kisuke it was different. The looks they caste each other, the way they were always together when off duty, the times when she would come back to the barracks the next day after being out all night, smiling and glowing radiantly. He had suspected that they were a couple, and knew that their feelings were so strong that one would have shunned duty if it meant protecting the other.
"I trust you will make sure that your Division will adhere and cooperate with the Central 46's investigation Naruto" the old man said, his eyes still caste on the boy.
Naruto nodded "Hai, Sotaicho"
He was not going to let this go until he had proof beyond a reasonable doubt that his senseis were guilty. He would leave the barracks at the first opportunity and go to the scene of the crime, investigate it himself. But he was not about to drag the entire Division with him.
------
His announcement to the Division gained the results he expected, he saw disbelief in their eyes, but also knew that they would adhere to his orders and cooperate with the investigation. His exact words were 'Let's show the old geezers that we are innocent'. They had surrendered their Zanpakuto's to the 1st Division squads sent to disarm them. They had willingly allowed themselves to be questioned about their former Captain, and as the investigation in the barracks came to a close and the huge doors were shut, they had adhered to the Central 46's decision to quarantine them.
That night Naruto was in his office, sitting in his chair, a pen in his hand, writing on a slip of paper. He finished, signing his signature on the bottom and placing the pen back in its place rolled up the scroll, depositing it in a small cylindrical covering.
He was not going to let this go until he had proof himself, beyond a reasonable doubt that his sensei's were guilty. In order to do that he would be going against orders, and breaking a few age old laws. He rose and left his office, heading to the one person he knew he could trust.
Soifon was in her room, he knees drew up against her chest, hugging a pillow, eyes downcast on the floor. When she heard a knock on the door she wearily stood, walked across her small room and opened it. Naruto stood before her, and from the redness in her eyes he could tell that she had been crying.
Upon seeing him her last essence of self control snapped and she ran into his arms, tears falling freely. Naruto put his arms around her, and held her close. He knew how much this was hurting her. She had remained strong and unwavering during the entire investigation, even though inside she was breaking apart. Her legs unable to hold her she had to use Naruto for support, still her sensei held her, patting her hiccupping form.
He sighed, picking her up in his arms and settling her on her bed, making her sit up he looked him in the eyes "Soifon"
She had calmed down a little bit, she wasn't howling in sorrow anymore, but she was still shivering. To hear that her big sister had become a traitor to the Soul Society was heartbreaking. She would probably hate him for what he was about to do "I need you to do something for me, can you do that?" she nodded.
"I'm going to go against the Central 46's orders and leave the barracks" he said, trying to ignore the shock on her youthful features "I need to see, beyond proof of a doubt that what they're saying about her is true. I'm going to lead my own investigation, and go to the scene of the crime"
"Take me with you" she said, successfully pushing back her grief for a few moments.
He shook his head "I can't. This will be my decision and my decision alone. I will take the consequences of my actions and I will not drag you, or the Division into this" he reached into his robes and pulled out the small cylindrical covering, giving it to her and closing her fingers around it with his own "If I am not back by first light, take this message to the Sotaicho. You will give it to him, and only him. Do you understand?"
That same light still shone in her eyes "Someone else can do it. I am still going with you"
"You're not" he replied with a voice of steel "You are going to take that message to him. I will make sure of it even if I have to knock you out here!" his ferocity startled her, but her stubbornness still remained, he smiled, she would make a fine commander "And do one more thing, if I don't come back tell Sakura that I'm…I'm sorry"
Before she could respond a hand flashed out from his side and aimed a perfect chop for her neck, hitting her right on the nerve. She lost consciousness before she began falling to the floor. He caught the petite Assistant Adjutant as she fell, picking her up and laying her on the bed. He took the casing, setting it on her bedside table and turned to leave.
"Naruto" he stopped and turned to see her still unconscious, but tears fell from her closed eyes "Don't…go"
"Gomei Soi" he whispered, closing her sliding door "But I can't let this go"
Taking a deep, shuttering breath he walked down the darkened halls of the barracks with a purpose. Now all that was left was for him to collect his Zanpakuto, it should be in the courtyard.
The Zanpakuto were laid out on the tiled floor of the yard in lines, hundreds of swords of different shapes and sizes stretched out, all under the guard of five Shinigami from the 1st Division. Naruto grinned from his perch, looking down at the courtyard and the five Shinigami scattered across it. This was going to be easier than he thought. He put his hands together in a basic Jutsu hand sign, it was useless when summoning Kido, but it was a habit he never got out of.
"Bakudo Rokujuugo: Hakufuku (Way of Binding 65: White Crawl)"
To the five guards the last thing they saw was a flurry of white feathers, and then their eyes became heavy. To Naruto the guards began to stoop. Then they fell to the ground, unconscious. He smiled, Hakufuku was a midlevel binding spell, designed to knock out Shinigami below the level of fifth seated officers, the stronger the officer the more power needed to be put into the spell.
Jumping down from his perch on the rooftop, his Shihakusho and head hidden by a black cloak, the Lieutenant walked through the lines of Zanpakuto, picked up his own by its strap and vanished in a Shunpo. It took five in quick succession to get him out of sight of the 2nd Division barracks, and away from the alert eyes of another fifty guards patrolling the perimeter.
In his office, lying on his desk was the seal of the 2nd Division Lieutenant, and beside that was the Vice-Captains armband.
------
He arrived at the site of the supposed crime, it was easy to spot. Slash marks and craters dotted the ground, debris and pieces of rock and dirt. By the destruction wrought on this site he knew it had to be the place. He blurred into existence at the edge of the clearing, his eyes scanning every inch. Even two days after the battle he could still feel the after effects. Residual rietsu was still detectable, alongside other, more ominous forces.
He kneeled, his hand running along the crevice of a slash mark in the dirt. The battle here must have been fierce. There was no doubt about it in his mind. Rising to his feet he walked to the centre of the clearing, his eyes and senses scanning all the while, no spiritual pressures within a two kilometre radius, it was good enough for what he was planning to do.
Summoning all of his knowledge in Kido he raised his hands in the air, as if he were a pianist ready to play a tune. Silently he mouthed the words of an incantation. First he would create a five layer defence barrier around the clearing. Then he would raise a detection barrier to make sure no one noticed what he was doing. Finally he would create a dampening barrier, blocking any rietsu levels to the outside world.
It was a long and complicated set of spells to create, to anyone who was not an S-level spell caster the entire thing had to be spoken word for word. To date only two members of the Shinigami could do it with ease, one was now labelled a traitor, and the other was Hollowfied. After ten minutes of casting he had raised all of the barriers he needed. Taking a deep breath, eyes closed the entire time he held onto an amused smile.
That was the easy part.
Taking another deep breath he slammed his hands together into a basic hand sign, a focusing tactic, this spell required incredible concentration and even better rietsu manipulation. If he screwed up even once, the power would seep through the barriers and alert the whole Seireitei to the fact that he had just used a forbidden Kido spell.
Taking another, deep breath he reiterated the chant "Waves of the west, oceans of the south. The rippling mirror shatters under the midmorning breeze. Seven moons, six suns, through twilight let the eyes see; Nagare Sanpo (Forbidden Art: Flow Walk)"
His eyes closed, he didn't notice the small ball of translucent energy that encompassed his frame, nor did he see the forest begin to slowly change in front of him. The Flow Walk was a forbidden Kido which allowed the practitioner to travel back in time to see certain events, he could not change what had transpired, but he could see it.
It was a forbidden technique, though why was a mystery to him.
He felt a slight buzz in his ear, a sign that he had arrived at the time he wanted too. Snapping his eyes open he stopped the reversal of time, and starred upon the same landscape, albeit without scars, craters or debris.
There was an explosion of dirt and smoke, hindering his vision, but he recognised the figure from her shadow. Hiyori jumped back from an explosion of earth, landing hard and skidding several meters across the ground. She looked up, her cheek cut and bleeding at a towering dark silhouette in the centre of the newly made crater.
It looked at her and without a single ounce of hesitation charged her, its right arm drew back to deliver another deadly punch. There was no way she could block it. He saw her close her eyes and wait for the inevitable. Another shadow blurred into focus and with his unsheathed Zanpakuto batted the deadly blow away.
The smoke cleared enough, and Naruto saw Hirako-taicho, his Zanpakuto drawn and held in his hands. Placing himself between Hayori and her attacker, looking up to Shinji, she mouthed his name, surprised to see him here.
"Baka" he said simply "Why didn't you run?"
"Idiot" was her reply, eyes downcast "How could I?"
The smoke had cleared further, and the creature before them became visible. Besides him self the lieutenant gasp. It was the Captain of the 9th Division, Kensei Muguruma. Or at least it once was Kensei Muguruma. He was stooped forward, a mass of cylindrical protrusions sticking out of his back and shoulders, his feet were skeletal and his hands seemed to be encased in gauntlets. But the strangest thing was the mask he wore; it was flat with six slits, reminding him somewhat of a hockey mask.
This was Hollowfication?
The 5th Division Captain could only look at the deformed figure of his comrade in open shock, eyes wide as dinner plates. But he held his ground, even when the Hollowfied Captain let out a piercing howl which chilled him, Hayori and even Naruto to the bone. In a mass of blurs the other victims arrived. The Captain of 3rd Division, Rojuro 'Rose' Otoribashi, his friend and 8th Division Lieutenant Lisa Yadomaru, and leading them was 7th Division Captain Love Aikawa.
"Shinji" Love called "Are you okay, Hiyori!?"
Then they saw Kensei, almost unrecognisable to them except for the 69 tattoo etched into his chest. They starred at the Hollowfied Captain, eyes wide in disbelief, it was Love who broke the silence, mouthing the fallen mans name.
"What's going on?" Love asked, his eyes not leaving the stooping Captain.
"Is that really Kensei?" Rose asked uncertainly "The mask, the rietsu. It's as if he's a Hollow"
Shinji spoke, his eyes not leaving his comrade "I don't know whether or not its really Kensei either, but I do know that if you don't draw your swords" 'Kensei' looked up at the group of individuals, hissing a throaty growl which sounded like an echo through a hollowed out chamber "You'll die"
Suddenly the creature threw its head back and roared an echoing war cry, so piercingly potent that it went right through the Captains and Vice-Captains. A small shockwave seemed to reverberate from the roar, kicking up a dust devil of finely grained dirt and grass. Feeling its spiritual pressure rise they jumped away.
Then the Hollow vanished, reappearing in midair behind Love, haori flapping, armoured fist reeled back for a punch. The 7th Division Captain barely had time to twist his head to look at the monstrosity, crying out a surprised "What?"
The following impact created a huge cloud of white smoke, followed by another impact, then another. 'Kensei' flew back, trailing white smoke in his wake as he struck the ground and skidded to a halt. Love appeared next, his Zanpakuto drawn, his robes and Captains jacket torn away around the right torso and upper arm, smoke trailing from the burned skin.
"Whew, not bad" Aikawa managed between pants for breath, he was able to deflect most of the blows "Leave it to Kensei"
"Stop" Hiyori shouted, still tucked under Shinji's arm "Don't you get it? It's Kensei, we-" she began to sputter and cough, the wound she suffered clearly affecting her.
"Quiet Hiyori" Hirako chastised softly "We have to stop him, especially if it is Kensei"
"He's right Hiyori" Rose added, he and Lisa drawing their swords and holding them in en guard stances "Kensei's important, that's why we have to stop him"
"Don't worry" Lisa added, gripping her sword with both hands "There's plenty of ways to stop him without killing him"
Besides what he was seeing Naruto smiled at them, it was no small secret that these guys were all close as family, almost as close as he was with his friends. If they could stop the 9th Division Captain without killing him, they would do it in a heartbeat.
------
A flutter of clothing and a tapping of sandals signalling their arrival the three figures stood on the last ring of trees around the clearing. Silently they waited for a few moments, until finally one of them began walking forward. Only to be stopped from an outstretched hand from their leader.
"Aizen-sama" Tosen asked "What is wrong?"
The man seemed to think for a moment, then smiled; Clever Naruto-kun, very clever "He has raised a five layered protection barrier, as well as a dampening and detection field"
"Quite high levelled stuff" Gin whistled.
"Yes" Sosuke agreed "If you walked another step then you would have been burned by the field, and you would have triggered the detection alarm"
"A five layered protection field is hardly enough to keep us out Aizen-sama" Kaname replied.
"It's not meant to keep us out" Aizen replied "It's meant to buy time"
"Time?"
"It would certainly take us a few moments to break the barrier. He hopes this will be sufficient for him to complete whatever he is doing in there"
"What is he doing?"
"Something he shouldn't be"
------
The sudden arrival of Mashiro, clad in an insectoid Hollow mask surprised them, and with a quick, incredibly powerful kick she took out Rose before he even knew she was there. She went after Shinji next, her lower body, seemingly encased in a slender white carapace made contact with the Captains sword with enough power to destroy and heave the ground around them.
"Bakudo Nanajuugo; Gochūtekkan (Way of Binding 75; Quintet of 1 Kan Iron Pillars)"
Five unnaturally tall and thick pillars of steel, joined by chains fell upon the Hollowfied Vice-Captain, pinning her to the ground and saving Shinji from another brutal kick. Standing several feet away, sweating from his exertions was the Lieutenant of the Kido Corps, Hachigen Ushoda, his palms slammed together. Naruto was glad he was there, forgetting for a moment what the outcome of the battle was.
Silently the Kido Lieutenant looked up to the sky, seeing Lisa desperately defending herself against the rapid strikes and punches of Kensei. He stretched out his right hand, palm open, eyes as hard as diamonds "Bakudo Rokujuusan; Sajo Sabaku (Way of Binding 63; Locking Bondage Straps)!"
A huge chain of golden locks appeared, coiling and tightening with terrifying speed around the Hollow. The power behind it seemed to stop Kensei in his tracks, immobilised he fell to the ground, landing beside the Kido Lieutenant with a painful thud.
"Shinji, what is going on" the Lieutenant asked, his surprise evident "Why are Kensei and Machiro-" he stopped midsentence upon hearing the scratching noise of buckling chains and looked down to see the Hollowfied 9th Division Captain forcefully break open the Kido. Naruto looked on, stunned, how the hell could someone break a level 60 Kido spell on pure strength?
His opinion was shared by Ushoda, who said the exact same thing, and jumped away as the behemoth broke the rope holding him down. From then on the battle just seemed to get worse, and it wasn't long until another Captain-level Shinigami joined Rose. He visibly winced when he saw Lisa's broken body slam into the ground with a sickening thud, blood flowing from her mouth. He instinctively took a step forward, she was his comrade. He needed to help her. Then he remembered that he wasn't really there, and cursed under his breath.
Deranged by whatever happened to him, he had both Lisa and Rose at his mercy. Roses comment about Kensei going so low as to strike a woman seemed to enrage him further, if that was possible, and leaving Lisa's crumpled form Kensei went after Rose with a roar, his fist reeled back for another of his deadly punches.
What he saw next was engraved in his memory for all time. He didn't even notice as Hachi slammed his hands together "Bakudo Kyuujuuku: Kin (Way of Binding 99; Seal)!"
Black spiritual ribbons, as strong as Sekiseki rock wrapped themselves around Kensei's arms and back. The first ribbon wrapping around his arms with blinding speed, tying them behind his back, another looped around his shoulders, slamming him into the ground, next came iron shafts, emblemmed with some unknown symbol stabbed into the loose strips on the ground, holding him down.
Naruto could only watch as the Hollowfied Shinigami struggled vainly against the spell, and knew it was hopeless. That was the most powerful of binding spells, unbreakable, and he didn't even hear an incantation from the Lieutenant. This guy was scary.
"A level 99 binding Kido huh" Shinji asked, although he was clearly impressed "Not bad"
"I might have… [pant] overdone it a little" Hachi replied, breathing raggedly, powerful spells like that would definitely drain the user.
Slowly the Captains and Lieutenants walked, limped and crawled around their imprisoned colleague, unsure of what to do. It was Shinji who spoke "And now, what do we have here?" he thought out loud before turning to Hachi "Can you fix him?"
"I can't fix it if I don't know what the problem is" the Lieutenant replied calmly.
Hiyori was coughing again, more violently this time, and even from this distance Naruto could see that her little body was starting to convulse. He felt an ominous presence, something here was seriously wrong. Her suffering didn't go unnoticed by Hirako "What's the matter? Are you alright Hiyori?" when all he got was more coughing he turned back to Hachi "Take care of her first"
"Shin…ji" she managed between ragged coughs, she looked like she was about to vomit "Let…go" and she did vomit, but instead of throwing up her last meal a gush of white liquid came out instead. Before Shinji knew it a Zanpakuto slashed him diagonally along his chest. The others, including Naruto could only watch with shock.
Shinji fell and Hiyori rose. A Hollow mask covering her face, dagger like teeth, a long sharp horn, a chain of raindrop symbols etched across her forehead. She was no longer Hiyori Sarugaki, she had been overtaken with whatever disease had taken Kensei and Mashiro.
"Hiyori" Lisa shouted, more in shock than anything else.
"Tch, what the hell is going on!?"
Before anything else could happen black tendrils encompassed the entire area, blocking Naruto's vision for a few heartbeats, looking about this dark abyss the Lieutenant thought something had gone wrong with the spell. But no, a few moments later his vision returned to be met with a massacre. Everyone was down, slash wounds the obvious culprit. Standing over them was a man wearing the white cloak of the 9th Division, a man with goggles and a mask.
"Tosen" both Naruto and a downed Shinji stated in disbelief as the 5th Seated officer removed his goggles, and then pulled down his mask, revealing a man with dark brown skin and clouded eyes.
"Why…did…you" Hirako managed through the pain "Betray Kensei…your own Captain?"
So it was Tosen, he had done it all. When Naruto saw him again he was going to beat him to a bloody pulp!!!
"He didn't betray anyone" another voice said, calm and stoic with a treacle of friendliness "He's very faithful. He just faithfully followed my orders"
"Aizen" Naruto stuttered in surprise. Wait, Aizen did this. He turned to see the Lieutenant walk calmly into the open, that small brat Gin Ichimaru flanking him. The fukutaicho had withdrawn his Zanpakuto from its sheath, holding it almost casually by his side.
"Please don't blame him, Hirako-taicho"
"Aizen" Shinji growled vehemently "So it was you after all"
"You suspected, I should have expected as much"
"Of course I did"
"Since when?"
"Since you were in your mother womb"
Any further conversation was lost to Naruto, as he watched his vision blurred, and he saw crimson. Feeling the sudden pain in his eyes he quickly raised his right hand into a basic sign and called out "Kaii!!!"
The landscape blurred, returning to its war torn aftermath once again. Taken by a sudden feeling of nausea he fell to his hands and knees, feeling something warm flow down his cheeks. He reached up with his left hand. Blood was seeping from his eyes.
He laughed without mirth "Now I know why it's a forbidden spell" he muttered under his breath as his recovery powers set to work, repairing the torn muscles and ruptured blood vessels behind his eyes "If I didn't have my regenerative powers I would have gone blind by now"
A buzzing sound assaulted his ears.
His detection field had been breached.
"Find anything, Naruto-kun"
He spun around, seeing the man he had seen in his Flow Walk, barely ten seconds ago "As a matter of fact I did, Aizen"
"Oh" the Lieutenant hummed "Anything interesting"
Their eyes met "You might say that"
He held the blondes orbs for a few moments, before lowering his head "I see"
A blade exploded through Naruto's chest.
The gods must hate me, I have searched for ages to find a brilliant Naruto fanfic writer, and when I finally find one he sends a hiatus post to all his stories. Lord of the Land of Fire was his name and he had written some truly brilliant works of fiction for the genre. In fact finding his page opened the floodgates, allowing me to find other awesome Natuto fics. In fact his works have inspired me to try my own what if story, but not until I finish one of my current fics.
But now his university life is nearing its end, and he has put all three of his main works on hiatus until the New Year. Just a month or two I suppose, but his work is addictive to read, a master of plot twists, able to keep you interested all the way through. The thousands of reviews he has for his longer stories speak for itself.
Anyway, annoyingly long rant over. I used several scenes from the Turn back the Pendulum miniseries to set up the chapter, and because of that I would just like to say…ahem…that Bleach is the property of Tite Kubo and Naruto is the property of Masashi Kishimoto, I write for fun and have made nothing from this fic, so please…PLEASE don't sue me lol.