FSDYT Note's:

Okay so like I decided to continue this story for some while, though I am a bit reluctant to really write to move it along. It had once been a idea that sounded good but is now just not really what I want to right besides the feedback on this story is just how I feel about writing it. But what ever, here's a new chapter.

"Arata stop that"

"But dad! I read that one has to be nice to their zanpakuto or else it might be mad at them."

"I know that son but not at the dinner table."

The boy with a smile that had been cemented on his face for quite some time now. Stopped his ministrations of running a fancy cloth dipped in expensive oil up and down his sheathed katana.

Putting the cloth down beside the bowl of oil on the table he then took the sword from his lap an sat the katana down against his chair with much care as he watched a almost unnatural gleam appear on the slick jet-black surface of the sword. His sword.

The older red headed man looked to the sword beside his son's chair. He shook his head at the gleaming weapon that somehow cast another gleam with out a sufficient source of light.

'How the hell does it do that. . . Must be a damn soul sword thing' coming from his wondering thoughts the man then remembered why he had set up this elaborate dinner, with table filled with food of sorts.

He with a smile looked to his right to see a red headed man that looked like most of the hard line warriors of their clan. A stern back as he sat in the chair, discipline that radiated off of him with a sense of refined power. Except this one being had a more calm disposition. Such as so it showed slightly in his posture but not as much in his light green eyes that eyed the food before him with disinterest.

'Shuji. . . Your still so care free'

"Alright everyone eat up! Before it get's old" encouraged the man

Arata needed no more invitation as he greedily began shoveling mouth fulls of rice and fish in to his mouth. Barely taking time to chew his food before swallowing.

The clan head him self was much more refined as he used his chopsticks to sample a few dishes in front of him.

Shuji though did not eagerly touch his meal. He would have to admit that the food in front of him, lobster cakes with tempura and skewered grill chicken was a bit too fancy to him. Besides the fact of the sounds to his right of food being inhaled at a god awful rate was messing with his appetite.

The sound of a throat being cleared was heard at the head of the table making all look at the Uzumaki head.

"Dad are you choking?" inquired Arata about to help his father.

The man gave a soft laugh "No son I am fine. I just wanted everyone's attention. Nothing like some dinner talk eh?"

The boy shrugged before he went back to his fourth dish of rice.

"So, Shuji-san let's get down to the real reason I invited you here"

"I knew this was coming" muttered the man unsurprised.

"About three months ago I learned of your refusal to no longer teach my son. I know of how difficult he could be so I when I found out told him to apologize for any offenses he may have made against you. Now the next day I see my son has awoken his zanpakuto. That is a. . . um. Great occurrence. So I had thought you two had made up but I then learned when my schedule cleared up that my son in fact was still no longer under your care. This I find very upsetting. So I would like to request you begin teaching my son again"

"While I adore the idea of teaching this boy. He is-" Shuji looked to the boy who was sucking fiercely upon a bowl of soup with out a care in the world before he continued his explanation.

"I just don't feel we have a compatible teacher student relationship." explained the man in his calm bored voice.

"Surely you two just need time. With him having awakened his soul sword he needs you Shuji-san. No one else has your skill with the zanpakuto. Plus he is just rough around the edges but very smart. If you don't do this for the sake of raising another great warrior then please do this as a favor to me"

Shuji looked at the man that was quite simply his leader and boss. As in the Uzumaki clan structure there was the regular members usually married in or born in or even rarely inducted in.

Then there was the warriors, each trained and ready to fight with varying skills from the simple medical ninja which was few to the sealing expert which was plenty. Followed by that class of warriors there was the more elite expert class of warriors known as the senior warriors. Each of that class having exceptional skills and usually De-facto group leaders in battles as well as trainers who took apprentices. They were sort of the back bone of the clan.

Followed by them was the honored elder council whose power, influence and skill, renowned as very plentiful since the Uzumaki longevity allowed for long lives meaning when a Uzumaki was a elder they were no doubt at least pushing over one hundred and thirty years of being alive.

They were only second in overall power to the clan head. The man who was the most rounded of the clan as well as skilled, by standards of a varying kind. As anyone pure blooded of the Uzumaki clan could be clan head initially. But as what had been for the last many years, the clan head had been a descendant of Arata the first.

Shuji knew all this well, as well as he a senior warrior was more inclined to listen to this man then any other member of the clan. Only because as a senior warrior he had a certain reputation to upkeep and there was a unspoken rule that the clansmen of such a high rank could never refuse a order, request or anything the clan head said. Even if it was said in a nice or flippant manner it was to be taken as a order.

So strict was that belief he knew if it were to get out he; did not willingly train the clan head's son. Banishment would soon be a great possibility. Even if he a rare zanpakuto wielder and the top warrior of the clan was the one to refuse.

He looked to the boy. . .

The boy tilted his bowl slightly just to see over it's brim before giving the man a wink then continuing to drink the bowls contents.

'The little bastard knew of this. . . Damn mind games and politics.' thought the relaxed man with disdain.

He had figured just passing the boy off by making him realize he was not going to teach him anything of the zanpakuto type. Would make the boy leave him alone. And the idea was cemented by their last falling out ending with him knocking the boy unconscious and going about his day. He thought the boy and him was done. Yet that was far from the case, the boy was back an up to his old tricks.

He wondered if the boy's father knew what type of weird manipulative kid he was raising.

In his life he knew weird meant very dangerous, even if the kid did not know it.

But for one thing he knew for sure he did not want to teach a weird kid. One that was volatile if provoked, carefree, stupid, yet very smart at the same time. There could be no easy way to tame the kid or refine him in to the traditional Uzumaki warrior. The boy was again just too. . . weird.

Eyes trailing back to a kindly smiling leader Shuji spoke "Sir. . . I am quite busy-"

Arata interrupted the man "Hey Shuji aren't you a cool senior warrior of the clan?"

"Yes" was the short abrupt answer.

"Then aren't you loyal to the clan? Huh?" said the boy suspiciously.

The clan head as if just realized hurriedly spoke "Arata! You will NOT manipulate people threw politics and clan binding. Now go to your room" commanded the man with a serious disappointed voice.

Arata wordlessly picked up his sword and with a bow to his father left the room.

The disappointed man looked to a slightly surprised Shuji.

"I apologize for his behavior. I can't believe he would try to blackmail you like that" spoke the man with a regretful voice

"Do not apologize sir. . . He is just a kid who wants his way."

"I know. . . but I fear it is more then that. You see I know how my son is. He can be spontaneously genius. Yet quite idiotic. That is something which is unbalanced and he will only get worse. I know that the zanpakuto can talk to their wielders. This worries me greatly as my wife. . . She informed me that the legend is true those swords are real direct mirrors of the soul. With minds. You could help him greatly" stated the man looking down with his hands clasped before his head.

Shuji sighed as he understood his leader's unspoken words. He knew he would be forced to speak them out loud because his leader could not speak such words about his son.

"You believe that his nature, mostly his child like devious nature with his astonishing growing mind would be shown in his sword. That his sword will start to influence him in a way that would lead him down a bad path."

Minutes passed in tensed silence. Then a full ten minutes passed and Shuji began to think he should have never spoken but the silence was broken.

"Yes. . . he needs to be guided Shuji-san. He listens to me and respects and loves me as his father but Shuji-san you would understand him more. I know he is but a child with a weapon of great power a living weapon with it's own mind. I know of the possibilities and dangers that could happen. He could be overcome by the sword's own personality. An if that sword's true personality be a bit psychotic. . . I don't want that for my son"

The red haired warrior looked to his leader and frowned he didn't want to but he knew he had to "Alright sir. I will take your son on as my apprentice"

"Thank you. . . Shuji-san. I'm in your debt"