Next chapter is here! I hope that it's good. I had trouble writing this chapter. Why? Just wait and see.
Thank you Reviewers:
ZxZ Fic Hunter, marc, Silvdra-zero, RHatch89, yukicrewger2, beast man1500, EXpERieNCed, darkyamato, Fez8745, Jason blood, hiddenworldwalker, and daniel 29.
Now on with the chapter!
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Naruto was sitting in a throne in his inner world. The throne was cracked, and falling apart. Thorns grew around the stone throne. He sat there, his eyes unfocused, and gray. Naruto looked like he once did. Blonde, spiky hair, sea blue eyes, tan skin, and three whisker marks on each cheek. He looked like a doll, lifeless. His eyes covered by his overgrown hair. Naruto's head bowed, looking at his feet. There was chuckling echoing around the inner world. Naruto's inner world consisted of broken buildings, dirt, and endless night. The buildings crumbling, some had already fallen apart, and then a few of them destroyed by something. Naruto shuttered, as the chuckling got louder. From the shadows a person appeared, with a very large smile on their face. "Naruto…" the person said. The person was deathly pale, a distinctly large hole in their lower chest. Crimson marks spread from the hole. The person's hair was black. Eye's consisted of a black sclera and red iris. Naruto ignored the person, he grabbed Naruto's chin forcing the boy to look at him, "When I talk to you, I expect you to look at me." The hollow smiled.
"Shut up!" Naruto yanked away from the hollow's touch. The hollow was very tall, unlike Naruto who was very short. "I don't have to listen to you!" Naruto yelled, glaring at the hollow. The hollow smile grin grew even bigger. The hollow gently brushed Naruto's hair. The rash blonde tried to punch the hollow, but chains stopped him. He wanted to kill the hollow. The hollow had a narrow face, and it reminded Naruto of Ichigo, but the hollow had wider eyes, which were like an older Naruto. The hollow's hair almost like Naruto's, but much longer in the back. The hair reached the hollow's lower back and was not spiky it was straight.
"Naru-chan," he shook his finger in the boy's face, "You don't have to be so hostile. I'm your friend…you're only friend." He placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder. Not being able to punch the hollow Naruto bit the hollow's hand. Naruto glared up at the hollow. The hollow's grin turned into a frown. His eyes narrowed, at the sudden gesture. Using the other hand the hollow punched Naruto hard in the face, "No need for you to be so animalistic. You remind me of that stupid fox." Naruto recovered from the punch.
"You are the animal when compared to the Kyuubi!" Naruto yelled, grinding his teeth in anger. The hollow grinned again, and shook his head. "You are a monster!" Naruto added. The hollow cackled like psycho. He pinned both Naruto's arms to the throne armrests. He looked into the boys eyes.
"Correction, Naru-chan." The hollow pressed his forehead against the stubborn blonde who was burning with anger, "WE are a monster." Naruto spit in the hollow's face. The tall hollow didn't seem fazed. The hollow stepped away from Naruto, wiping the spit onto his hand.
"Y-you are the monster! I am-" Naruto was cut off by the hollow.
"We are Naruto. You and I are the same. WE, not you or I. WE" The hollow still grinning like a crazy person. Naruto clenched his fists.
"I-!"
"You what? I didn't attack your friends those many years ago, we did. You and I are the same. I didn't choose to leave, WE did. I didn't attack Hitsugaya, WE did." Naruto fought back tears, not wanting to cry in front of the hollow. "I warned you that everyone would betray us. No one accepts us." Naruto's chest heaved, trying to stop himself from showing weakness. In other words crying.
"You're wrong!" Naruto growled trying to appear tough. The hollow was unimpressed with Naruto's attempts however. "Toshiro and the others accept me!" he looked at his reverse self. Who was still grinning like mad.
"They are pretending Naru-chan; they want to lock you up forever. Keeping you thinking that people care for you, so you don't hurt anyone." The reverse Naruto explained. Naruto truly believed that the others didn't care about him. He still wanted to believe that maybe someone cared.
"They wouldn't really do that." Naruto tense shoulders fell, he blinked. Thinking on how he could defend himself, "No…no they wouldn't." he shook his head trying to believe his own words. If it was true, then why did Toshiro betray him? Why did they put him back down here? The hollow grinned ear-to-ear, seeing himself winning the fight. "Don't they trust me?" he looked up with wide eyes.
"They may not, but I will always be there for you. Fight for ourselves." The hollow said smoothly, "All you do is accept my gift." The familiar mask formed from the darkness in the palm of the hollow's hand, the black mask gleamed in the darkness. "And you never have to deal with them. We will fight for ourselves." Naruto looked at the mask and then the hollow. He glared.
"No." Naruto said sharply. The hollow growled, "I don't care if I have no friends. I have to keep myself in check, even if I am miserable." Naruto sighed. The hollow hissed. The mask deteriorated into the shadows of Naruto's inner world. "That's the same duty that I have with the Kyuubi, and you." The hollow cackled.
"That damn fox? I took care of him." The hollow said, a low rumbled sounded. The ground began to shake. A tail came out from the rubble of a building hitting the hollow away from Naruto. The hollow flew into a half standing structure, making it tumble to the ground.
"I'm not dead yet you insolent brat." A booming voice said, the giant fox stood from the remains of the building, "So don't count me out yet." The Kyuubi growled. Naruto watched at the once frightening beast stood. The seal had not deteriorated, but instead of a collar around the Bijuu's neck. The collar had a chain that restricted most the Kyuubi's movements. Naruto had learned how to take care of the Kyuubi long ago, but it still wasn't easy.
"Ah, well look who decided to wake up from their last defeat." The hollow rose from the building's debris, "The old fox." The hollow crawled out and cracked his back. He laughed; "Going to try to fight me again?" the hollow cracked his neck.
"You couldn't kill me even if you tried." The Kyuubi growled. Reverse Naruto laughed giving Naruto chills up his spine. Kyuubi's eyes narrowed at the hollow. "You dare underestimate me!" the fox roared, "That will be the end of you!"
"I have been fighting you for fifty years! I don't think I could be destroyed by you!" The hollow smirked. He ran at the Kyuubi with great speed. The Kyuubi roared and slammed his hands into the ground. From out of the ground hands made of chakra tried to catch the hollow, "You'll have to try harder than that!" the hollow laughed. The old fox growled and charged up a tailed beast ball. The negative and positive energy swirled around into a compressed ball. The hollow merely grinned at the move.
"I will kill you!" he fired the energy. Naruto watched as the two monsters fought, still restrained to his throne. The ball hit the area directly in front of the hollow. A large explosion happened. Naruto flinched at the size of the explosion. The Kyuubi laughed, "That should keep you in your place!" the Kyuubi smiled wickedly. "I will be the one to control this boy!"
"Really? I think you're mistaken old timer." The hollow said standing before the fox. He jumped up to the Kyuubi's face and punched the fox's nose. The power of the punch made the fox's face slam into the ground. "Your rein ended over one hundred years ago. You waste your time." The hollow cackled evilly, standing over the fox's head. The hollow looked over to Naruto. He walked over to the young boy. "Now after that rude interruption…" abruptly on of the Kyuubi's tails slammed on top of the hollow. The Fox head rose from the ground, blood seeping from the jowls of the fox.
"I told you it would be the end of you." The Kyuubi growled recollecting himself shaking his head. Legs shaking a bit, "I rule this world." He looked at Naruto with a dark grin, "I will be the one to be free."
"You got some guts to do that." The hollow emerged from the place the fox's tail slammed into him. His bones made cracking sounds, Naruto wondered if his bones broke. The Kyuubi growled, and stood ready to fight. "I'm tired of this." The hollow formed a small black ball in his hand.
"I'll finish you!" The Kyuubi charged another tailed beast ball, but it was too late. The hollow used a cero on the fox. The blast hit the fox harshly. The Kyuubi fell back when the blast hit. The hollow grinned seeing how he defeat the old monster. Naruto frowned, and closed his eyes.
"You thought this beast was strong. You misjudged him greatly." The hollow disappeared and reappeared in front of the boy. "The only reason I keep him alive isthathe gives US power." Naruto looked away from the very unstable hollow, "Don't be so childish." The reverse Naruto growled, the hollow was going to slap the boy but he was repelled by a strong energy.
"Don't touch me!" Naruto shouted, "If you think I'm weak then you are grossly mistaken!" Naruto ground his teeth together. "I may have the body of a child, but I can could kill you." The boy's eyes bore into the hollow. The boy had strength, wisdom, and knowledge, but he didn't have security. The hollow knew this.
"Naru-chan…don't you trust me? I have ALWAYS been there for you." The hollow gazed gently at the boy. "You did this to yourself." He looked at the throne and the chains that held him to the stone chair.
"It is to protect everyone." Naruto said to himself, "If I can't control my actions, then I must lock myself away." The hollow frowned but still looked at boy with a soft gaze. "It also keeps you away from complete control."
"I just wan to help Naru-chan…" the hollow reached out again, but Naruto wouldn't let the hollow touch him. The hollow hissed in pain as a light energy repelled him.
"I know what you want, and helping is not what it is." Naruto said firmly, "I will not let history repeat itself." Naruto kept a dark glance on the hollow. "I may not trust anyone in the Soul Society, but one thing that's for sure is I don't trust you more." The hollow glared.
"Just wait and see Naru-chan. Everyone will try to lock US up." The hollow said, his eyes challenging Naruto. "In the end, WE can only depend on each other." The hollow smiled, and vanished into the shadows. Naruto was all alone. He sat uncomfortably on the throne
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Back in Naruto's cell, the boy sat in the corner. Head still aching from the recent fight of the Kyuubi and Hollow. Naruto looked at his skin seeing the pale pigment he sighed. The hollow already gaining more control everyday. Slowly but surely. He still harbored a deep hatred for the Soul Society and his so-called friends. However, he had a duty, to contain the Kyuubi and now this hollow. "Who am I really?" Naruto asked himself. His memories of his life in the Konoha were dissolving. He couldn't remember his first mission. The days all blended in with each other. Naruto found it hard to think about the good times in the dark cell. Naruto lifted his hand the shackle and chains rung in his ears.
"I'm a prisoner in my own mind, and in the real world." Naruto felt something wet on his cheek. He wiped it with his hand and looked at it. It was a tear. Naruto sobbed a little. "When did I turn back to a child mentally?" he shook his head. He didn't know if it was the hollow thinking or himself. He sobbed. Was it him that hated the Soul Society or the hollow? Naruto didn't know any more. When he first arrived at the Soul Society, he could repress the hollow. Now he had to struggle to maintain his own state of mind.
"I am no longer myself…not anymore. I am a monster…" he cried tears stinging his eyes. He was no longer a human. He had been running away from that, we strived to be human. The fact was he wasn't. The question was would anyone ever care for a monster? He heard footsteps from the hall. Naruto looked up, and rubbed the tears from his eyes. He felt a familiar presence.
"It's been a while, hasn't it? Naruto Uzumaki." The aura was very familiar, but Naruto couldn't see who the person was. Naruto thought of the energy for a few minutes, closing his eyes. He couldn't really remember the person's name, but it was the same as someone from when he was human. His eyes snapped open in the sudden realization.
"Itachi."
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It had been a day since the talk with Shunsui. Kurosaki didn't sleep for a second night. Ichigo had been looking for any of the people Shunsui mentioned. Retsu Unohana was busy, and he didn't know where Sui-Feng was. Kurosaki hoped he could find Shuhei Hisagi. Running to what he thought the direction of the 9th division. He thought it was the right direction. "Should have asked if they had map." Ichigo said sarcastically. Turning the corner rather quickly, Ichigo came face to face with Kenpachi. He hit the man in the chest and fell back, Kenpachi just stood there. He really needed to stop turning corners so fast.
"What are you up to Kurosaki?" Kenpachi asked. He smiled darkly, "Come for a rematch?" Yachiru looked over the captain's shoulder. She smiled and jumped to the ground.
"Hi Icchi!" Yachiru waved excitedly.
"Actually, Kenpachi, I was looking for the 9th division building." Ichigo looked at the intense man.
"Well you are heading the wrong way." Kenpachi stated. Ichigo slapped his hand against his forehead, and groaned. "I think." Kenpachi added. Ichigo knew this man's sense of direction was the worst.
"Uh, ok." Ichigo said and turned the other direction to see if he could find the 9th division. Yachiru grabbed orange-haired shinigami's arm.
"Kenny we should help him find the 9th division!" the pink haired girl said. Yachiru then jumped onto Kenpachi's back, "You're not doing anything anyways." She smiled. Ichigo wished she hadn't offered to help. They would most likely get him even more lost than he already was.
"Fine." Kenpachi lead them in the direction he 'thought' the 9th division was. Yachiru threw hers hands in the air excitedly. Ichigo mentally yelled at himself. Right now, he didn't want to deal with this.
"Aren't you supposed to know where everything is in the Soul Society?" Ichigo asked. Kenpachi looked over his shoulder.
"Yeah, what's your point?" Kenpachi said, and Yachiru hummed to herself. Ichigo wondered how Kenpachi could not know where anything was. Yachiru suddenly pointed the opposite direction they were walking.
"It's that way!" Yachiru shouted. Ichigo twitched a little. Kenpachi then walked the way she was pointing. So, the man really didn't know where he was going. There was a silence after Yachiru spoke. Ichigo then thought of Naruto. The hollow had been sitting in a cell for a couple of days, and it had been two days since he visited the hollow. The saddening memories still haunted Ichigo. He wondered if anyone else had bothered to visit Naruto. By the way Shunsui talked, Naruto seemed to have many friends. He remembered how Naruto compared Ichigo to himself. Saying they were the same. Ichigo wondered if he would end up like Naruto. Recalling the conversation with Toshiro about revenge. He wanted to be powerful, and to be able to destroy anyone who hurt his friends. Ichigo sighed, getting the attention of Kenpachi who didn't like the moping teen.
"What's with the sigh?" Kenpachi asked rather annoyed with how downed Ichigo was. Ichigo didn't seem to hear him, or he ignored Kenpachi. Either way not a good thing to do around Kenpachi. He took out his zanpakuto, and tried to hit the young shinigami. Ichigo barely dodged the attack, jumping away at the last second, landing ungracefully a few feet away.
"What the hell was that for!" Ichigo yelled agitated. Kenpachi smirked satisfied with the reaction. Ichigo growled, "I told you I don't want a rematch!"
"You were moping." Kenpachi sheathed his zanpakuto. Ichigo blinked, he didn't think Kenpachi would care. "And you ignored me." He added and turned back around, continuing walking. Ichigo followed, "If ya' don't mind me asking, why do you want to go to the 9th division?"
"I wanted to talk to Shuhei." Ichigo responded. That raised Kenpachi's eyebrow. Yachiru looked at Ichigo.
"Why would you want to see Hisa-Hisa?" Yachiru asked. She leaned over into Ichigo's face, "He is sooo boring!" she rolled her eyes.
"Well I wanted to talk to him." Ichigo kept it rather vague. Yachiru pouted and she huffed.
"Well that's obvious! By why do you want to talk to Hisa-Hisa!" Yachiru poked Ichigo's forehead. He gave the girl an annoyed look, but she didn't care. Kenpachi was curious himself. Ichigo didn't know Shuhei very much.
"Well I wanted to ask him about certain person he knows. Someone from a long time ago." Ichigo hoped this answer cured her curiosity. Ichigo didn't know why but he didn't want to bring up Naruto. For some reason he felt it wouldn't be a good subject to bring up.
"Who?" Yachiru's eyes widened. Ichigo sighed knowing he couldn't avoid the subject any longer.
"Naruto Uzumaki." Ichigo said, Kenpachi stopped. Ichigo nearly walked into the man again. Yachiru looked at Ichigo with a wondering look.
"Naruto Uzumaki?" Yachiru repeated, "Why does it sound familiar?" she scrunched her nose. Kenpachi swung around. Ichigo saw Kenpachi's face was full of malice. Ichigo couldn't help but take a step back.
"That hollow?" his eyes narrowed, "Why the hell would you want to talk about it?" Ichigo felt a dark aura surround the very threatening man. Yachiru was even a little surprised. Kenpachi had obviously a grudge against the boy.
"Ken-chan?" Yachiru poked Kenpachi's face, "Who is Naruto?"
"The hollow that almost killed you."
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Toshiro hadn't seen Ichigo in the past day, which agitated him greatly. He was supposed to be explaining the Naruto case, but instead Ichigo runs off. Hitsugaya might as well get his own business done. "Hitsugaya-taichou." One of the members of the 2nd division snapped Toshiro out of his thoughts, "Sui-Feng will see you now." Toshiro nodded and walked into Sui-Feng's office. She didn't look quite happy. She flicked her hand, and the 2nd division member bowed leaving the two alone. Hitsugaya sat on his knees on the tatami mat bowing his head a bit showing respect. Sui-Feng bowed her head as well.
"I am sorry to disturb you." Hitsugaya said with little emotion, "I have something to discuss with you and it's highly important." Sui-Feng rolled her eyes. She had been particularly busy and now this captain wanted to talk to her. She wasn't in the mood to waste time.
"Well, if you are going to waste my time, make it quick." Sui-Feng said with a sharp, angry tone. Toshiro wasn't too taken with the tone of her voice. He had to fight back snapping back at the captain.
"With the recent events going on, I'm sure you know that Naruto Uzumaki has been imprisoned." Hitsugaya started. Sui-Feng's eyes narrowed at the statement, "You know that there will be vote whether to keep Naruto imprisoned."
"Yes, I know this." Sui-Feng said with a loud voice, "Have you come to remind me of everything going on?" she asked. Toshiro glared at the captain, not to happy with how she acted.
"I know at one point you were friends with Naruto. Don't try to act like that never happened Sui-Feng." Toshiro gave the woman a cold look. Sui-Feng took in a deep breath. "What I am trying to do is prevent what happened one hundred years ago."
"Oh?" Sui-Feng sounded amused, "How are you going to do this?" she asked. Toshiro balled his hands into fists. Hitsugaya didn't understand why she was so bitter. He straightened his back and stared into Sui-Feng's eyes.
"I know how the council will vote." Hitsugaya closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath, opening his eyes "They will make him stay in prison forever, if no one does anything." Sui-Feng repositioned herself on the tatami mat. She had a satisfied look.
"Is that not a bad thing?" Sui-Feng titled her head, her eyes expressing her satisfaction. She held her head high. Hitsugaya was holding back his anger. He knew this wouldn't be easy.
"Not a bad thing?" Toshiro scoffed, "You just can't keep him in a prison cell forever!" He yelled. She didn't even flinch. "I don't know why you find that a good thing! He is already unstable we don't need him to go over board!"
"I don't see what's wrong with keeping him in the Soul Society. Where he is not hurting anyone. Where he is safe from enemy hands." Sui-Feng said. Hitsugaya stood up.
"We need to get him out of the prison! He will go out of his mind if he is kept there!" Toshiro walked over to Sui-Feng, getting in her face. "As Naruto's friend, I though you be able to understand this."
"Oh, and letting him run free is a good thing?" she stood up, looking down at the child prodigy, "If I remember correctly, the Soul Society permitted him to walk around at one time. If I remember correctly he started going crazy when he was walking around the Soul Society."
"Naruto was manipulated by someone." Hitsugaya said with an icy tone, "I believe it was Aizen." Toshiro calmed himself down taking another deep breath. "This is not entirely Naruto's fault. We as his friends and the council take some of the blame."
"Oh?" Sui-Feng sounded sarcastic, "Is that so? I'm part of the problem?" she tried to get Hitsugaya to argue with her again. He ignored her.
"Just listen to me." He asked, looking at her with a gentle gaze. Sui-Feng sighed and nodded for him to continue. "As you know there is a way to veto the council's decision. If all the captains disagree on the action." He said with a quiet voice.
"Yes, and you want me to agree upon your terms." She hissed, turning from Toshiro in a childish manner, "Absolutely not! I agree with the council." Sui-Feng said crossing her arms.
"Please." Toshiro pleaded, he sat on his knees. He was going to hate himself for this, "I am begging you not to let the council do this." He bowed humbly to Sui-Feng. The girl watched at the humble display, back still turned. She sighed. "I will be in your debt." Toshiro felt humiliated by his own action.
"I will…think about it." Sui-Feng said after a moment of silence. The prodigy looked up from the floor, "Now get out of here. I have work to do." Hitsugaya stood up and walked to the door. He paused for a second.
"Thank you." He said with hushed tone. Sui-Feng rolled her eyes.
"Just leave." Toshiro nodded and left the 2nd division base, hoping that the others would be easier to convince.
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I tried to make Naruto's hollow (Dark side) different the other hollows. The reason was that I thought it would be cool. My friend complained that the hollow wasn't creepy enough. I tried to make the hollow a little bit more sophisticated. The hollow observing Naruto more than Ichigo's own dark self/hollow would. There is still more explaining with the hollow stuff as well.
Not everyone is friends with Naruto. However, there will be surprises coming up in the next few chapters!
The Kyuubi will be explained as well in due time.
Remember to R&R!
P.S. I believe the next chapter is going to be very long. Multiple things will happen. Dun Dun Dun!