Okay, please don't shoot. This summer turned out to be busier than I thought, but in my defense, this took me a week to type. Any way no more excuses and on with the story!
*INSERT STANDARD DISCLAIMER HERE*
Chapter 7: Enemy Alliances
Sakura stared at the man surprised.
"Zan-Zanpakuto?" she stuttered, there was no way this handsome guy was a sword, let alone an extension of HER soul."You're my Zanpakuto?"
"I am,"he said matter-of-factly." Why else would I be here?" Sakura narrowed her eyes.
"Then why haven't I met you before?" she asked him skeptically.
"The answer to that is quite simple; you've never looked for me. But on an occasion of heightened emotion, you were able to hear me in your head," he explained. "I believe it was when that Naruto person did or said something stupid, that you heard me the most. I was also the reason you were able to expel that Pig-girl from your mind during your Chunnin Exams."
Sakura thought back to that exact moment, she was tired and hurt, she thought she had just been hallucinating when she heard the voice scream at Ino to get out of her head. Her eyes widened as she realized that Kage no Ryuu had been the one yelling.
"You were that voice I heard?"she asked. He nodded and a she gave him a wide smile."You save my life many times, thank you."
"Hmph, think of it as 'self-preservation'" he said with a slight blush dusting his face. "So are you ready for your crash course in becoming a squad captain?" he asked her.
Sakura grinned at his attempt to save face," Have I ever turned down a challenge?" she answered and he grinned. "Quick question though, "she said, "will I still be able to use all of my ninja techniques?"
"Yes," he answered," in fact, I'm not going to teach you Kido. In the matter of no-hands combat, it is better to stick with what you have practiced instead of having a newly learned technique fail you on the battle field."
"Right," she said, pleased with the answer he gave her. The two then fell into a fighting stance, a katana materializing in each of their hands. "In order to obtain your Bankai, you must defeat me in battle."
Sakura's eyes widened," B-But I haven't even gotten my sword yet," she protested. Kage no Ryuu just smiled at her. "When you successfully discovered your Inner World, your Zanpakuto revealed itself to you. If you concentrate, you can sense you physical body." Sakura did as he said. She could fell the tree roots underneath her as well as the weight of a sword in her hand, lying across her lap."And when I told you my name, I gave you the knowledge and skills you would need to use your Shikai. Now are you ready to achieve Bankai?" he asked her and she nodded and fell back into her fighting stance. "I have to warn you, I won't be going easy on you," he said and lunged at her, which she blocked like it was nothing.
Sakura smirked," I'd be insulted of you did. Is that all you got?"she said and lunged forward with her own blade, which Kage no Ryuu blocked effortlessly. He grinned at her as a silent challenge was shared between them. He countered her attacks just as well as she countered his. The sound of clashing blades echoed throughout the training grounds as the battle ensued.
Meanwhile, in Hueco Mundo…
Three men walked silently along the stark white passages of Las Noches. One hade silver hair and wore a white kimono. You couldn't see his eyes because he kept them squinted. The next man was somewhat reptilian. He had long, dark, greasy hair and ash-colored skin. His acid yellow eyes that resembled those of a cobra and contrasted significantly with the lavender butt-bow he wore around his waist. The third man was considerably younger than the other two, still practically a teenager. He walked with a proud stride and his face was always cold and emotionless. He surveyed his surroundings with eyes like coal. His hair, however, would remind someone of some kind of bird: a duck maybe? Although anyone who valued their life would never point that out.
"So, Snake-man," the silver0hairedman started," why is it you want to meet with Aizen-sama?"
"My business is my own," said man snapped, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
"Okay, okay, don't bite my head off," he said raising both his hands in a sign of surrender." Just curious, though, but what's with the kid?"A kunai appeared out of nowhere and embedded itself a hairs breadth away from Squinty's ear. The older man chuckled," My apologies Gin-san, but you shouldn't underestimate Sasuke, it may get you killed." Gin broke into a cold sweat when he looked over to said person. If looks could kill he'd be dead ten times over already. He cleared his throat and averted his gaze to a set of large white doors. "I'll be right back," he said," I got to tell the boss you're here" he then slipped through the door.
"Orochimaru-sama," he said after Gin went inside," why are we here? We don't need any help taking down the Leaf." The snake man chuckled.
"Don't let your pride get the best of you, Sasuke. You are strong, yes, but not strong enough to take down all of Konoha by yourself. If you want your revenge, they have the means to achieve it. Don't do anything rash that would prevent them from getting what we came here for. Do you understand me Sasuke?"
"Hn," he replied as the doors opened up again.
"Lord Aizen welcomes you," Gin said as he gestured for the two guests to enter. Through the doorway, there was a long white table lined with tall white chairs. Sitting at the table were twelve people. All of them save two had what looked like bone somewhere on their bodies. The two men who didn't have bone on their person, besides Squinty, was a brown haired man sitting at the head of the table and the dark-skinned man with braided hair sitting to his right.
"Welcome, Orochimaru-san," said the man at the head of the table; his face wore a calm, yet chilling smile," to what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Straight to the point as always, Aizen-san," Orochimaru said, smirking. "I was merely inquiring about the little Shinigami problem you seem to be having. Your goals are very similar to my own, and I'm only suggesting an arrangement that would be mutually beneficial."
Aizen's eyes narrowed," Go on."
"You see, as the Seireite has been quite the thorn in your side, the Village of Konohagakure has been equally troublesome for me and my friend here," he said, gesturing toward Sasuke."I thought there would be nothing that would hinder the mighty Sannin, Orochimaru, from his goals," Aizen said a triumphant smirk on his face." Well, the warriors of Konoha take everything I throw at them and more, not unlike your Shinigami." Orochimaru countered.
A man with blue hair snorted," Ha, and what makes you think that we need help from a couple of pipsqueaks like you?" the next thing he knew there was a kunai embedded into the back of his chair and his cheek was bleeding. He froze, wide-eyed and gaping like a fish out of water. He scanned the room for anything that might tell him who threw it. His eyes fell on to the newcomers, neither of them had moved, or so it seemed. Upon further examination, the boy's features had changed slightly, instead of their original onyx color; they were now a deep, bloody crimson.
"Now, now, Grimjow," an amused Aizen said," it's best not to underestimate them, they are Shinobi after all."
"Shinobi?" the people sitting around the table whispered amongst themselves. Aizen looked toward Orochimaru, another creepy smile on his face.
"Very well, Orochimaru, I don't see any problem helping an old friend," he said."I'm glad you think so as well," Orochimaru said. "Now that our business is out of the way, care to introduce me to your friend, Orochimaru?" Aizen asked, gesturing toward Sasuke, who had remained silent throughout their entire transaction.
"Of course, how rude of me," Orochimaru said." This is Sasuke Uchiha."
"Uchiha?" Aizen said," I thought that clan was all but extinct."
"Hn, there are only two members of the Uchiha clan left alive," said Sasuke," only myself and my older brother remain," he spoke with the same amount of disgust and venom lacing his voice as he always had when he talked about Itachi.
"I see," Aizen said after a few seconds," there are still a few Uchiha left then. I believe it will be interesting to witness what will happen in the future."
"As do I," Orochimaru said, and evils mile gracing his zombie-like face.
Not as long as I hoped , but it's longer than some of myother chappies.
Please reveiw so I know how I'mdoing
~Ja ne-
Vampknightlvr94