I fell asleep in a world dressed in grey

Only to awake in a garden divine

There was song and dance and untarnished flesh

A feast for the body and eyes

It was you who brought me here

Yours, whose face greeted me, in the garden of light

You are the face of god

You are my breath

My life, my death

Isis - Garden of light

Chapter 7 : Nothing can be explained

In a darkly shadowed room Aizen is pacing back and forth as he constantly rubs his forehead.

'Damn it Gin if they killed him, I don't think your going to escape the punishment this time!'

Aizen had become very interested when he had caught word from his accomplices that two captains and fifteen others had been sent to cleanse one hollow on the eastern plateau. There would have been nothing to worry about if Gin or even Tousen were sent, but no it was those damnable fools Kenpachi and Minato.

As the seconds passed on Aizen started tapping his foot as his frustration with the entire situation was rising very quickly. Naruto was strong but to overpower two captain level shinigami he wasn't hundred percent certain that even the Kyuubi could save them from those odds.

What irritated him the most were the facts that his carefully thought out plans were going exactly as they were planned; Minato would have been killed by his own son and Gin would have been promoted to captain. But those meant absolutely nothing to him if Naruto was to die. Almost everything was riding on the boy and the beast inside of him.

Soon he would have a power far greater then any other and soul society would crumble before his might. Yet all it would take to ruin his great schemes was for one cocky irrational hollow who seemed to enjoy tormenting and killing shinigami, to die. One slice to a mask that might as well be made out of paper and he would have to start from scratch and wait probably another few hundred years.

So while Aizen waited impatiently he hoped for the sake of his sanity that Naruto had survived and maybe if possible killed both captains.

After three gruelling hours that Aizen endured with a smile and a cup of tea past, he finally felt Gin's presence as a knock echoed through the his private courtiers.

Clearing his throat as the cooling liquid flowed down his neck and soothed the ache out of his body his voice resounded with a powerful and commanding "Yes."

The wooden door was flicked up open with minimal effort and a purple haired shinigami with a creepy smile casually strolled inside.

"Ahhh…Gin, good news I presume." Aizen lifted his chocolate eyes to his accomplices face, but continued to sip at his tea.

"I doubt I'd be here if it wasn't Aizen-San." Gin said calmly without the smile leaving his features.

"Well?" Aizen said after a few moments, knowing that Gin was just trying to irritate him further. Gin put his finger to his chin, and began humming to himself. Sighing Aizen laid his cup down and released a small margin of his energy out to jolt his cohorts memory.

Gin's purple hair shook as he slammed his right fist into his left palm, "So do you want the good news or the bad." Gin said slyly

"I really hate your childish games Gin." Aizen replied in a bored tone. "I must warn you though my patience is reaching it's end. So tell me exactly what it is I wish to hear." Gin seemed unfazed by his friends obvious frustration as he started mumbling something under his breath.

Just as Aizen was about to place the annoying shinigami under a most unpleasant illusion Gin spoke.

"Naruto is alive, he has killed over fourteen shinigami six were seated members." Gin said. "Hatake Kakashi; six seat of the third division and Zaraki Kenpachi; captain of the eleventh division are alive, but in critical condition."

"Zaraki? Well that's quite a feat." Aizen whispered. "I'm guessing he failed…Minato still lives."

Gin chuckled as he gracefully sat down in the chair across from Aizen.

"You don't seem to upset by these results Aizen-San."

Brown eyes looked intently at the purple haired man. "Gin come now, it's foolish to thing that one being no matter how powerful they may be could complete every task assigned to them without failure ever occurring." A smile brightened up the face of the fifth squads lieutenant.

"Truthfully I'm quite pleased by Naruto's accomplishments. Taking on a horde of shinigami, led by two captains is no laughable task to survive. Let alone to mortally wound one."

In reality he didn't care if Gin and Tousen had been the ones sent and were defeated by Naruto. It would definitely be a loss, two fine shinigami as themselves, but he would sacrifice anything for the power inside of his most faithful servant.

Stretching from his seat Aizen's muscles groaned in agony as each had not been moved very much during the whole three hour wait.

"Go, and get those three." Gin looked up with confusion in his eyes. Seeing this Aizen grinned and motioned to the folder sitting on his desk.

Gently but swiftly the documents were in Ichimaru's hands as he skimmed through each one.

"Isn't it a little too soon for this?"

"Possibly." Aizen responded in a smug tone. He knew the risk that came with exposing such an important but essential part of his plans to these three so early. "Don't you think it would benefit us much more if they had such a great amount of time to prepare?"

Nodding Gin kept his full attention on the files in his smooth hands. "Hmmm…this could be quite interesting, I can't wait to see there reactions." Gin voice sounded very childish as he seemed to simply bounce out of the office.

Aizen stayed standing behind his desk with a dark grin splitting his face.

"Oh you have no idea my friend."

Another knock resounded through the office. Immediately Aizen's facial features relaxed into his caring and calm mask. Opening the door Aizen looked at the face of his foolish but useful captain.

"Good Afternoon Hirako-Taicho"

"When the hell is Aizen-Sensei coming back Grimmjow." Said panther just stared at the pacing blond haired teen. "Seriously Naruto I have no fucking idea and I don't care what you do in the meantime as long as you leave me the hell alone."

Naruto glared at his irritated friend, his normal blue eyes becoming piercing shards of ice. "Your suppose to be my caring friend you know." Grimmjow sighed, only Naruto could make you truly regret ever becoming friends with him.

"In a fight, Fox! That's the only time your ever allowed to come to me for help." Naruto's glare intensified. "What! your so god damn annoying that I'm about to kill myself, if I have to listen to you whine anymore."

"Grimmjow. Your such a drama queen." Naruto laughed to himself as he listened to the snarling and sounds of various things breaking as he walked back to his room.

As Naruto made it to the wooden door leading to his room he let his cheerful façade drop. As he entered the room, he immediately went to the middle of the room and sat down cross-legged.

Focusing Naruto pushed away all the sounds that were surrounding him. He inhaled through his nose and allowed the air to fill his lungs. With a sigh he turned every ounce of his concentration onto the beating off his heart as he began to meditate.

Soon everything disappeared and he was standing in a throne room where his red haired twin was sprawled out on a enormous chair.

"Well what brings you all the way out here to my humble abode." Kyuubi flashed a toothy grin as he adjusted his sitting position.

Naruto just stared at him in wonder. It always amazed him how his resident Fox lord could always be so calm and happy after almost being wiped from existence.

"Any breakthroughs?"

"Not much luck in that department." Kyuubi growled.

"Irritating isn't it?" Naruto smirked. "I mean the almighty Kyuubi no Kitsune can't even catch a little parasite that's been leeching off our spirit energy."

Kyuubi's lips pulled back to expose his gleaming white teeth as he snarled.

"I've caught the leech a couple times, If your mind wasn't so fucked, I would have disposed of the freeloader by now."

"I'm quite sane thank you." Naruto replied

"You have no idea how large and confusing you actually are. I can't even keep track off how many rooms there is in your twisted little head." Kyuubi elaborated thinking of all his fruitless searching.

Naruto didn't comment. He stood still looking in the distance hoping the leech would just simply appear.

"Is that all his majesty wanted to know? Or is there another reason to why your wasting my precious time?" Kyuubi's face split into a grin. Naruto knew the damn fox was just trying to start a fight.

"Yes…those shinigami I knew them."

Kyuubi blinked. He didn't anticipate this. "Which ones?"

"The two, the fox shadows ambushed. Both were my Sensei. Kakashi was wearing the eye patch and the other one was Jiraiya of the legendary Sannin."

A nostalgic feeling passed through Naruto as memories off the past flashed through his mind.

"Knowing that they were once your allies, you still tried to kill them without a hint of hesitation or regret." Naruto smiled sadly.

"It's only natural. I am a hollow, and there job is to exterminate our kind Kyuu." Kyuubi nodded in understanding.

"You met a dear old friend of mine as well." Naruto noticed the look of pure hatred that marred his fathers face.

"Who?"

"Come now your majesty…you locked blades with him."

His eyes closed as he pictured images of each and every shinigami he battled with in the forest. Sweat began to slide down his face as he tried to put faces to them all. Naruto shook his head violently to clear all the faces of the shinigami he killed.

Kyuubi rose from his seat and walked pass the reminiscing blond.

"Well I'm going hunting. If you by any chance happen to remember something come see me."

Kyuubi flashed a knowing smirk. "I have another suggestion, instead of brooding about failing your mission for rest of the year, why don't ya go have some fun for a change. I'm sure Nel will be more then willing to show you what I mean."

Before Naruto could yell in frustration at the annoying kitsune he was forced out of his mind. As he sat there too lazy to move he swore he could hear the fox's laughter echoing in the back of his head.

Ignoring the silent laughing taunting him, he instead focused his mind on what Kyuubi had said. 'An old acquaintance.' But who? Was the question nagging at Naruto. He could only think of a few that would dare even approach Kyuubi, and all of them were massive demons.

But he had not encountered any of the bijuus yesterday. That same question came back to slap in the face 'Who!' Once again he began to sort through each and every face. Shocked, terrified, sad, proud, excited, confused, and angry faces. But no matter how many faces he went through none of them could have possibly encountered the Fox. It had to be someone from his world; the elemental nations.

But of course a lot of memories invaded his mind and ruined his concentration, as soon as he thought of his old home and life. Standing up he ran his right hand through his golden locks. He had to get out of here. If he stayed here he would more then likely spend the rest of the day searching his mind for answers that would never come.

"I think for once I'll use your advice Kyuu."

"Unohana I just want to speak with him, I swear I won't try to help him escape..." Minato paused as he looked away from the caring woman's hardened gaze. "Again." He finished in a whisper.

Sighing Unohana stepped out of the way and allowed Minato to enter the fourth division.

"Minato I'll have you arrested if you try to release Kakashi-san." She called before he disappeared around the corner.

Minato's pace doubled as he basically ran through the fourth division. He knew Unohana would do it, there was no doubt in his mind. Sure she was the most caring and selfless individual in all of Soul Society that he knew.

Until you mess with her patients, then her claws came out and she was out right scary.

Especially someone as injured as his student was. Kakashi was barely clinging onto what life was left in him when he was carried into the hospital wing inside the fourth division. Unohana had healed Kakashi as best as she could while he was off chasing after the hollow which had inflicted such an extensive amount of damage and death.

Apparently she had not noticed the poison flowing through his veins while she cleaned and stitched his wounds. If Kakashi hadn't been trained all his life on strengthening his body to survive the worst possible conditions imaginable. He would have died on the trip back to Sereitai, before Unohana could run a thorough diagnostic check on him and discover the deadly venom.

Minato couldn't hold a grudge against her, for the mistake she had made. He knew how hard it most of been to know that so many were dying while she was trying to save one mans life. Unohana was just to gentle of soul and her slip must have been eating away at her enough already. He would not add to her suffering, just to relieve his own frustration.

Finally reaching the east wing Minato was greeted by a full grown man begging his nurse to be released.

"Kakashi my friend, how is the food." Minato chuckled softly as the copy-cat Ninja Hatake Kakashi shuddered at the mere thought of hospital food.

"Taicho they won't listen to me. I keep telling them I'm In perfect shape, but they just ignore me and tell me to be quiet." Minato tried to reign in his control but seeing a former shinobi tied to a hospital bed and pouting like a four year old was just too much.

Minato could feel Kakashi's eyes spearing him with a glare but he couldn't help it. His laugh was loud and boisterous.

"Hn." Kakashi grumbled as he crossed his arms, clearly he wasn't impressed.

"Have I ever told you how much I hate you sometimes Taicho." Kakashi said. "Do you have any idea how long they plan to keep me here."

"Forever." Minato replied with a straight face.

Kakashi recoiled back as if he had been struck. "No…oh please god NOOOO!."

"BOTH OF YOU SHUT UP!" Every occupant in the room looked shocked at the usually quiet and calm shinigami nurse.

"Now I understand why you want out so badly." It seems that was the last straw as the nurse glared at Minato with her green glowing eyes before storming out of the room.

"Finally." Kakashi breathed out a sigh of relief.

"For second there I thought she'd never leave." Kakashi continued.

Minato snorted. "If she had stayed any longer she would've strangled us." Minato turned his eyes from the door to the hospital inmate.

"Alright, what was so important you wanted to speak with me alone?" Minato addressed seriously.

"In the woods..I can't be certain..but I think…Naruto was there." Kakashi watched as his Taicho stiffened and froze. He didn't move or blink, it almost seemed as if he were a living statue.

Minato felt cold, his son was in the forest. His child was so close and he had been ignorant to these facts. He didn't know how to react to this information, what did it matter now anyways. Even if Naruto was truly there he would be long gone by now. Still a little voice was yelling very loudly in his ear that his son was alive. Then another thought occurred to him, If Kakashi recognized him that meant he wasn't a hollow.

"Kakashi did he look normal?" Kakashi was a little startled as Minato firmly grasped his shoulders. He had been afraid at first to tell Minato, worrying about how he'd react with such knowledge. Kakashi could only hope he wouldn't go overboard or do anything too drastic.

"If it was him then yeah. He looked exactly as he did when we were alive." Kakashi couldn't stop the shiver which tingled up his spine at his Taicho's unnerving gaze.

"So what exactly are you planning sensei." Minato didn't respond right away, instead he took a seat on Kakashi's bedside.

"I've got to find him Kakashi." Minato stood and started pacing frantically around the room.

"I have to know if he's alright…I have to." Kakashi easily snapped the straps restraining him from moving. He walked beside Minato and placed his hand on his Taicho's shoulder. Minato looked behind him to see his sixth seat's worried expression.

"Well if were going to look for one small boy, in such a large world. How about we band a search party together?" Kakashi eye smiled.

Naruto had a certain bounce to his step, as he skipped down Las Noches corridors. After spending an evening with his favourite hollow, he had forgotten all about finding out which friend of Kyuubi's he had met, when they were attacked by a group of shinigami in the forest of death. Naruto chuckled as he remembered the ridiculous name his forest had required since his last battle.

Naruto almost growled as he noticed a similar figure leaning against the wall at the end of the hall, near his door. He quickly stoned his features and wore his expressionless mask as he strode past Nnoitra. He stopped in front of his door, with his eyes glaring at the prey mantis although he considered him more as a snake then a bug.

"Uzumaki, I hope you enjoyed your evening?" With gritted teeth Naruto reached his hand out and grabbed the door handle.

His hand stayed on the metal item between his fingers as he contemplated weather he should respond. After a few seconds Naruto let out a sigh and shifted his eyes to the pest beside him.

"It would have been perfect, had you decided to crawl in a hole and die!"

Nnoitra didn't respond, instead he laughed as he walked away. Even after Naruto had slammed his door shut behind him he could still hear the bugs laughter echoing through the walls.

With his right hand he soothingly started rubbing circles on his forehead. Naruto knew he shouldn't have reacted so strongly to Nnoitra's presence and words. Just the way Nnoitra had stared at him with his eyes openly displaying his hatred and impatience. Naruto could feel his anger spiking as he thought about the other hollows strange behaviour. Normally Nnoitra would have come back with a comment to anger him further for his own amusement. Never had he just brushed off such a remark with laughter.

Releasing the breath he just discovered he had been holding Naruto flopped on his mattress and began the tedious task of trying to calm himself enough to fall asleep.

Something dark was hovering over him, he could taste the familiar scent wafting off of his guest. Only once in his long existence of being deceased had he ever smelt the scent of the food he had craved when he was alive; ramen. Now it was a disgusting stench that made his body quiver with each breath.

A high pitched screech followed the scent and a burst of light exploded all around Naruto exposing the landscape of the forest of death. It took a second for Naruto's eyes to adjust to the sudden brightness. As his vision cleared he could make out a figure approaching him at a speed that matched his own.

By instinct alone his blade was drawn and clashed with a blonde haired man with bright sapphire eyes.

Time seemed to freeze as Naruto stared into the man's face. A sudden revelation hit him as he remembered the stone face that he had spent most of his life sitting atop of. This shinigami bared a perfect resemblance to the fourth Hokage of Konoha. The man he had crossed swords with, a being the most powerful demon considered a friend through hatred for the other. 'Yondaime.'

Naruto flung off of his bed in his natural fox form. His fur was soaked in sweat and oddly he felt weak instead of feeling power flowing through his rejuvenated body, as he usually felt after sleeping.

Without evening fully thinking about his weakened physical condition. Naruto mechanically sat cross-legged on the cold floor and forced himself into meditating.

Naruto realized something was wrong the second he appeared in his mindscape. Something had definitely happened when the Kyuubi changed his palace into the Hokage Monument overlooking Konoha.

Taking in the scent of fresh trees. The sound of running water, and the gentle caress of the blowing wind, caused Naruto to panic. He knew Kyuubi cared not for scenery the fox paid more attention to the size of his throne then nature. The fact that Konoha was captured so vividly meant this was not the demons doing.

"Good morning Naruto-kun, I have been waiting a long time for you to awaken."

Naruto gasped as he took in the sight of the crimson haired goddess he had the pleasure of meeting once before. The women grinned at his stunned reaction.

"I'm so happy you remember me..." She paused as a wicked smile contorted her face. " my son."

Well heres where the story actually begins to get interesting. I hope you all liked the ending? So like usual read and review. Let me know what you thought of the cliffy.