Hi, everyone. OK, so first off, I am SOOOOO SORRYYYYY it took me this long to update, there really isn't any excuse except that reality kicked my ass. I've now graduated high school and am currently finishing my second semester in college. That being said, I'm putting myself through school so when I'm not on campus I'm working as much as I can because the government is really stingy when it comes to financial aid here in the States, so I don't have much time to write. But I promise everyone, especially thouse of you who have been following this story since I published it alost three years ago, I'm not giving up on this story and I dully intend on finishing it. Just please be patient with me. Second, as all of you are aware, SOPA has reared its ugly head yet again so in order to save this story, I'll also be posting it on archive of our own .org , on that site, my pen name is AmJamis94. Alright, that being said, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 10: The Impossibilities are Endless
At the three hour mark, fifteen people stood assembled in the Hokage's office. Thirteen of these faces were familiar to her; they were the shinobi she had watched grow from innocent children into formidable warriors without match. The other two, though seemingly normal to the untrained and uninformed, were beings of untold power and unimaginable secrets.
Tsunade watched as Neji pulled a map of the Elemental Continent and its surrounding countries and flattened it onto the floor. "So where is this Soul Society you spoke of? I've never heard of it," he inquired in a very Neji-like manner.
"I'm afraid you won't be able to find it on any map of this world," Renji said, "where we are going is a place for the dead and the few living given leave to come and go as they want."
"That being said," Captain Kuchiki began as he pulled a small drawstring pouch from a pocket in his haori and handed it to Renji, who then handed an item from the bag to each shinobi. "You will each need one of these in order to safely pass through the Senkaimon Doors. It will also allow you to see that which can't be seen with the living eye"
"You mean those demon things you spoke of?" Ino asked as she accepted the small metal object she was handed. It was a small silver shield with a flaming skull etched into the face. It hung from a silver chain so it could be worn around the neck.
"Hallows, yes" Renji confirmed, "these charms will allow you to travel across dimensions to the soul society. They will also allow you to see, hear, touch and interact with the supernatural beings in the World of the Living."
Once everyone had the charms settled around their necks and asked a few more questions, Captain Kuchiki pulled a small wooden key out of a pocket in the inside of his kimono. He walked to the center of the room and stood so he was facing the group of fighters he was to escort. He turned a quarter turn to his left and stuck the key out into the air like he was putting it into the lock of a door and let go. He turned to the fighters, who were astonished to see the key floating in midair.
"If all of your questions have been satisfactorily answered, I suggest we make our way to the Seireite without delay." He said, waiting for the nods of affirmation from the shinobi that they were; indeed, ready to embark on this new quest. When he got them, he turned back to the key and turned it one full rotation. As soon as he did a set of solid wooden doors with rice paper windows appeared and slide open to reveal a white void. He looked once again to the shinobi warriors, "are you ready?"
They nodded and he stepped though the gate. At that point Tsunade stood and slammed her fist against her desk and she stared her shinobi down, "Consider these direct orders from your Hokage," she said, forcing the slight quiver out of her voice, "absolutely all of you WILL come back home. Under no circumstances are any of you allowed to die while on this mission, do I make myself clear?"
"Hai, Hokage-sama!" was the unanimous reply as one by one they stepped through the gate. Once they were all through, the gate closed and then dematerialized right in front of her eyes. Tsunade sat down again with a sigh.
"They'll be alright, Lady Tsunade," Shizune said, "It will take nothing short of an apocalypse to kill that group"
"I hope you're right, Shizune, I really do"
Through the Senkaimon Gate...
As each shinobi stepped through the gate they were blinded by a bright light. Once they're vision cleared they found themselves no longer in the Hokage's office, but in what looked like a courtyard of some kind.
"Sugoi," murmured Ino as they followed the Captain and Lieutenant through a maze of corridors that even Kakashi had a hard time following until they came upon a large set of doors. Byakuya knocked and both doors immediately swung open. The group was lead inside and the doors slammed shut behind them.
For the most part, the large meeting room was empty save for two people at the far end of the room. There was an old man sitting on a raised platform, he was wearing the same white haori that Byakuya was and he looked very much in charge. Standing at attention next to him was a white haired man who looked to be in his late thirties, but that was hard to tell seeing as his face was half hidden beneath the sunglasses he wore.
"Welcome, Shinobi of the Hidden Leaf," the old man addressed the group, "I am Captain Yammato, the Head Captain of the 13 Court Guard Squads of the Soul Society. You have our thanks for coming to our aid with such short notice."
Kakashi stepped forward, "We are Shinobi, Yammato-taicho. Short notice is our specialty. We came because an internal affair from our village has bled into your own battle creating quite the predicament for both our causes, out Hokage believes it only fair we help clean up the mess."
"In any case, the Soul Society is grateful for the assistance. Once you get settled in, we will debrief you all on what to expect. Captain Kuchiki if you would escort our guests to the Third Squad barracks."
"Yes, sir," he said, "has the Squad Three recon team returned from Karakura yet?"
"Not yet, when the captain last reported in, they had just fended off another attack. Kurosaki's group had been ambushed by four arrancar, two of which were Espada. Both groups took serious amounts of damage." Yammato answered with an irritated sigh.
"Were there any fatalities?"
"No, thanks to the Captain's extensive medical knowledge, no lives were lost. All members of the reconnaissance team will return to the Seireitei within the day. If that will be all Captain Kuchiki, you may take your leave now."
"Yes, sir," Captain Kuchiki, then turned and addressed the shinobi, "if you would follow me, I will take you to the Squad Three Guest Barracks, they will serve as your living quarters for the duration of your stay."
"Lead the way Kuchiki-taicho," Kakashi replied and motioned for the group to follow them out into the maze of corridors one again.
On the journey to the barracks, Kakashi began to observe the effect this new environment had on is group. He silently observed the younger warriors, watching them memorize the path they were taking, scouting for possible escape routes should something go awry, each of them secretly fingering a weapon of some sort, though their faces were covered with well trained masks of intrigued boredom. 'They're nervous,' mused Kakashi, as they should be, if the Gods of Death were contracting THEM for help, there was surely going to be a battle like they'd never seen before.
Just then a black butter fly fluttered in front of the two Shinigami, and Captain Kuchiki let it land on is hand. Immediately the relaxed air of the group tensed and Renji shot is captain a concerned glance.
"A Hell Butterfly?" he said, confused.
"I see, very well," Byakuya said to the butterfly as it flew off toward its next destination.
Kiba leaned over to Choji, "What the hell? Does this guy talk to bugs like Shino does?" he asked, earning a cross glare from the bug user.
"Is there trouble, Captain?" his subordinate asked.
"Lieutenant Abarai, you will have to take the group the rest of the way to the barracks, it seems that the Third Squad team is returning to the Seireite, Captain Yammato has called an urgent meeting for all the Squad Captains. He has also requested that the team captain of the Shinobi group be present as well," Byakuya looked to Kakashi, "Is that acceptable?"
"Sounds good to me, at least I'll be able to get some intel on what we're up against," he shrugged, "Shikamaru, you're in charge."
"Why me? Make Gai do it," he complained, pointing is thumb behind him at Gai. Kakashi shot him his best "you-really-want-me-to-leave-the-overgrown-ballerina-in-charge" look, which considering that he only had one visible eye was pretty damn impressive. "Because Gai isn't exactly babysitter material"
"That's right," Gai agreed whole heartedly before he actually registered what Kakashi had said, "Hey, wait a second there."
"Ch, alright I get the point, I'll do it,"
"Now that everything is settled, please come with me Hatake-san," Byakuya said, turning around and heading in the direction they had just come from.
"Hai," Kakashi headed the same way. One he caught up to the captain, they both flash stepped out of sight.
"Well, alright then, the barracks are down this corridor," Renji said, and started guiding the shinobi to their destination.
"Oi, Carrot Top, how far are these barracks anyway? It feels like we've been walking around this maze for hours," Naruto, who had been unusually quiet during this trip, hollered at Lieutenant Abarai. Said Shinigami grimaced as a large tick mark appeared on his forehead at the nickname.
"Naruto! Be polite," Hinata chastised
"My name is Renji Abarai, Fishcake, not Carrot Top or Pineapple Head or any other stupid nickname you can think up," Renji replied.
"Fishcake? FISHCAKE! LEMME AT 'EM, I'LL KNOCK 'EM INTO NEXT WEEK!" the blonde screeched, being held back by Choji and Kiba.
"HA! As if you could ever beat me in a fight," the lieutenant taunted sporting a cocky smirk.
"THAT'S IT, LEMME GO DAMMIT. I'LL TEACH YOU NOT TO SCREW WITH ME YOU BAST- OOF!" His sentence was abruptly cut off when Ino hit his head so hard his face promptly made friends with the ground, "That's enough Naruto!" she growled.
"What a pain," Shikamaru drawled, scratching the back of his head.
"Please excuse my husband's rudeness," Hinata said and bowed deeply in apology
Renji blushed and suddenly looked sheepish "Oh, no. its fine, don't worry about it. It's partly my fault anyway."
"OH WHAT A YOUTHFULL DISPLAY OF FORGIVENESS, DON'T YOU AGREE GAI-SENSEI?" Rock Lee suddenly exclaimed with a clenched fist and tears in his eyes. Maito Gai swoops in beside Lee in an equally ridiculous pose.
"INDEED IT IS, MY OBSERVANT PUPIL. WE MUST CELEBRATE THIS JOYOUS DISPLAY OF MANLY GRACIOUSNESS BY- YOWCH!"
"There will be none of that here, sensei," yelled Ten-Ten, who had brought out a paper fan and whapped both the Green Leotard Twins upside the head with it while Neji just face-palmed. Shino just stood in the background, wondering why the hell they brought those two along.
Shikamaru sweat-dropped, 'I'm surrounded by imbeciles' he thought, 'what a pain.'
"Ahem," coughed Renji to regain everyone's attention, "we've arrived" he said as he gestured to a large gate with the kanji for the number three etched into the dark-stained doors
Whew... this chapter was really hard to write. I've never written for so many caracters at once, but I did my best to keep them in character. Please let me know how I did and if you have any ideas on how i can make my story any better I'd really appreciate the suggestions. Thanks again for sticking with this very unreliable author, I'll try to update a little more oftern, but i can't make any promises.
~Je Ne~
Vamp 3