Do I Have A Purpose Anymore?
Chapter 13: The Truth Can Hurt As Well As Heal
"So, you wish to obtain a blade to slay a demon, is that correct young Sasuke Uchiha?"
"Hai Lord Kuchiki." Sasuke contritely answered, while kneeling before the former 13 Gotei Captain out of respect.
"You may address me as Byakuya-sama Uchiha-san. Now, I was not aware that during this time-period in the world of the living that you were even aware of Hollows."
"Holl-Hollows, I do not understand what you mean. Are Hollows what you refer to as demons?" Sasuke asked in confusion.
"Hollows are a race of creatures which are born from human souls who, for various reasons do not cross over to the beyond after their death and stay in the human world for too long. They are corrupt spirits with supernatural powers that devour the souls of both living and deceased people."
"I still don't understand."
"Hollows are former deceased human souls that lose their hearts to despair or remain in the real world for too long. Any spirit that is not guided to the beyond by a Shinigami via a Soul Burial may eventually descend into a Hollow."
Sasuke contemplated what he had just heard intently. It would seem that these Hollows Byakuya had described to him were similar in some ways, but also different in others from the Bijuu demons he was talking about. However, one thing that disturbed the Uchiha was that Hollows are formed from human beings who have lost their hearts to despair…..just like Naruto had. Sasuke thought he may need the sword even more now because if that was true, should he be forced to kill Naruto he would need to perform this Soul Burial ritual in order to save his friend from becoming one of these Hollows.
'I might have to kill Naruto just to save him. Kami, what kind of cruel joke are you playing on me?' Sasuke thought with derision.
Sasuke's thoughts was interrupted when Byakuya asked.
"Are Hollows the demons you wish to kill?"
"N-no Byakuya-sama. The demons I speak of are called Bijuu or tailed demons possessed within a persons. The demons themselves are known by the number of tails their body carries which also signifies how strong they are. Ancient scribes tell that these Bijuu were once all part of an even greater entity known as the Juubi or Ten-Tails. They also tell that the first ninja, the legendary Rikudou Sennin did battle with the Juubi and split its power into nine individual entities using his Izanagi jutsu. I seek a blade capable of destroying one of these Bijuu…if I'm forced to."
"Hmm, I believe these Bijuu you describe are definitely a different type of demon than the Hollows. However, A Zanpaktou should still be able to dispatch any supernatural demon regardless of its type."
"What is a Zanpaktou?"
"A Zanpaktou is the type of blade you seek, which will kill a demon."
"Hai then that is what I want."
"Were you anyone else I would refuse your request. However, I am bound to honor the blood pact made between the Kuchiki and Uchiha. Wait here and I shall return shortly."
"I thank you Byakuya-sama."
Sasuke watched closely as the Kuchiki patriarch left the room. A few minutes later he returned and handed over to Sasuke what looked like just an ordinary katana blade to the Uchiha. Sasuke studied the blade carefully as he held it before Byakuya spoke once more.
"What you hold there young Uchiha is the Zanpaktou my First Lieutenant Renji Abarai wielded during his service to me. It is a powerful Zanpaktou and should be sufficient to achieve the task you desire."
"He no longer needs the blade?" Sasuke asked in curiosity.
"No, he was one of the noble fallen during the Arrancar war." Byakuya solemnly replied before adding.
"Renji Abarai was the finest First Lieutenant to ever serve for me. Something I regret not letting him know of during our time together. So I'm entrusting his blade to you with the hope that you will wield it with honor as he did."
"I promise Byakuya-sama, I shall."
"I shall hold you to that young Uchiha, for if I hear different, I will seek you out and I will be most….displeased."
Sasuke remained silent, but knew that was not an idle threat.
"Now to begin the training with your Zanpaktou, you will first need to achieve Shikai, which is the initial release of the blades second form to what you now hold. To activate it, you will need to learn the name of your Zanpaktou. This is not as easy as simply picking a name, as the living spirit of the Zanpaktou already has its own name. Therefore, you must be able to communicate and harmonize with your Zanpaktou effectively, which requires being able to speak to the spirit within its world. Once this is accomplished, then we can begin your training to achieve Bankai with the Zanpaktou." Byakuya explained.
"I see, Byakuya-sama I had no idea that I would need such extensive training to use this weapon. Unfortunately, my time is limited and I need to be able to wield the blade effectively to either save or destroy my friend when the time comes."
Byakuya stared intently into Sasuke's eyes looking for any sign of deception after a minute he finally spoke and said.
"I can teach you to achieve Shikai in a short amount of time. After that, you will have to learn to unlock Bankai all on your own."
"I understand Byakuya-sama."
"Very well, I shall begin by telling you the Shinkai name of your Zanpaktou,….it's name is Zabimaru."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Nel saw Hinata lying on the ground with blood starting to pool around her and screamed in a panic.
"HINA-CHAN!"
Naruto immediately rushed over to Hinata followed by Nel wriggling out of Yugito's hold the poor child in tears, as she looked upon Hinata. As Naruto began checking over Hinata, he found she was alive but unconscious.
Whatever that beam of energy had been, it had gone clean through Hinata's shoulder and out the other side, leaving a solid hole in her arm. However, her shoulder was bleeding quite heavily, as Naruto tore his sleeves off his arms and attempted pack the wound.
Seeing that this was doing little good, Naruto ordered Daisuke to carry Hinata and threatened the man with death if he dared drop her, whilst Yugito resumed carrying the now weeping Nel.
Once they had done this, Naruto then ordered them to follow him as quickly as possible.
Drawing out his Zanpaktou, Naruto then charged down the remaining distance of the hall at blinding speed. Slicing through one turret after another that rose out of the floor before him. When the final obstacle was removed, he crashed through the wooden door ready to take on Kami himself, if that was who was waiting for him on the other-side.
Looking about the room quickly, he spied a wizened old man, clad in a white kimono, with a long white beard sipping tea at a table. The old man looked at the blonde warrior standing before him then at the ruined door and commented with amusement.
"I would have opened the door if you had knocked."
"Who are you?" Naruto growled, in no mood for formalities.
The old man eyed the giant blade in Naruto's hand and chose to speak again.
"Well, since I see you carry my former student's Zanpaktou, allow me to introduce myself-
Rising from his crossed leg seating, he gave a small bow to the blond.
"My name is Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto."
It was at that moment Yugito came rushing into the room holding Nel who was a still crying in her arms followed quickly by Daisuke with Hinata in his. Naruto quickly sheathed his blade and took Hinata from the bandit and looking pleadingly to the old man asked.
"Hinata-chan's been hurt, can you help her?"
Yamamoto noticed the hole in her arm and nodded.
"I can see that, yes I can help the young girl."
He looked to a nearby long table and ordered.
"Bring her over here."
Yugito winced as she watched Naruto carry the Hyuga over to the old man and noted to herself that Naruto had referred to Hinata with a suffix now.
Nibi also took notice of this and was screaming at Yugito in her mind to hurry up and claim the blonde before she lost him all together.
Yugito shouted back for Nibi to shut up and let her think as she watched the old man hands begin to glow while he pressed them onto Hinata's wounds. A few seconds later, the blood pouring from the wounds ceased, and Naruto looked on in amazement, as they began to close and heal almost instantaneously.
Yamamoto looked up with an aged smile.
"Your young lady friend will be fine now. Her injury has been healed, but it will take time to replenish the blood she lost. Follow me; we'll take her to my room where she can get some rest."
Naruto nodded and ordered the others to stay behind, as they would be returning shortly. Nel who was still crying stubbornly refused and wanted to go with them to make sure her Hina-chan was alright.
Yamamoto eyed the little Arrancar warily, before quickly deducing that she was no threat and picked the sniffling child up, almost like a grandfather would and said.
"Now now, little one, I promise the young woman will be fine, she just needs some rest."
"R-Really?" Nel sniffled, while rubbing the tears out of her eyes with tiny fists.
Yamamoto nodded before he took the green-haired child over to a small chest, and pulled out toy fox plushie doll out for the distraught orphan, who immediately took the orange plushie in her arms, and squeezed it tightly.
"Now, if you promise to stay here, and PROMISE to be good-
He paused, as if thinking.
"Then I'll give you some ice cream and sweets, would you like that little one?"
The mention of sugary treats helped to soothe her nerves and Nel reluctantly agreed and began playing with her new toy with Yugito. While this happened Naruto carrying Hinata left the room with Yamamoto.
A few minutes later Naruto returned and introductions were made before everyone sat down at the table while Yamamoto served tea before sitting down himself
"I apologize for your friends' injury; I take it one of Zabuza's traps was the culprit. I'm not surprised; he did hide them quite well."
Yugito shook her head as she sipped her tea, swallowing before speaking.
"It's not your fault she got hurt Yamamoto-san, the Hyuga Princess was careless."
Naruto stiffened, but she ignored him.
"She should have seen the traps no matter how well they were hidden." Yugito quipped this last part, while she drank her tea earning a glare from Naruto telling her to shut up.
Yamamoto tilted his head to one side.
"What do you mean?"
Naruto coughed before speaking coldly.
"What she means Yamamoto-san is that Hinata-chan is from the Hyuga clan of Village Hidden in the Leaves. They possess a unique Kekkei Genkai, which grants her clan extra-sensory perception. This also gives them penetrating sight and telescopic vision within 360 degrees."
Naruto spread his arms in an all-expansive gesture to encompass the entire room, as he said this.
He then shot an angry glare at Yugito, before speaking again.
"So what Yugito-chan is saying is that no matter how well Zabuza hid his traps, Hinata should have seen them." Naruto hung his head as he said this, a faraway look in his eyes.
The old man shook his head and stated regretfully.
"I'm afraid you're both mistaken."
Naruto's head snapped up, and Yamamoto received two odd looks from both blonde Jinchuuriki, as he went about fixing Nel her promised ice cream, which she was practically dancing with glee upon receiving her favorite flavor chocolate.
"I've heard of the famous Hyuga clan and know all about their abilities and so did my pupil Zabuza. He went to great lengths to shield his traps from several of the vision based Kekkei Genkai's that exist in this world."
His tone saddened as he went on, whilst Nel eagerly spooned the cool desert into her mouth.
"I'm afraid no matter how hard that girl used her Byakugan; she would not have been able to see the traps until they had sprung." Yamamoto stated this with absolute certainty.
This revelation was like a slap to Naruto's face, as he realized that he had angrily blamed Hinata for almost getting Nel hurt because of her carelessness.
Now he felt sick to his stomach, upon learning that his former love had not been at fault in any way whatsoever. A feeling of anger and guilt at himself surged through his mind.
While he was thinking how much of an idiot he was, Naruto heard Yamamoto say to Yugito and himself.
"What I can't understand is why she got hurt? Zabuza set his traps to target the most powerful chakra sources and while that young woman is indeed strong, I can sense that both of your chakras are much more powerful than hers."
He looked them over with a cursory glance, before scratching at his baldhead, deep in thought before commenting
"I would have thought you two would have been the first targets, so why did it attack her first?"
If it was possible, at that very moment, both Naruto and Yugito realized that Hinata had sacrificed herself in the corridor to save them from any possible injury or perhaps even death.
The feeling of guilt that washed through them was immeasurable in their minds.
As Yugito contemplated why the Hyuga girl would save her, and Naruto thought what a fool he had been.
Yamamoto spoke up once more, the riddle left unsolved for him.
"Well that's a mystery for another time."
Now, he turned his full attention to Naruto.
"Now, I see you carry Zabuza's Zanpaktou with you. I take it you are the chosen one?"
In a rare moment of confusion, Naruto tilted his head to one side, confusion see upon his chiseled face.
"The chosen one Yamamoto-san?"
The old man nodded sagely.
"Yes, the one who Zabuza said he would send to me to unlock the full power and potential of his blade. Something even he was unable to do."
Shrugging, Naruto rolled his large shoulders, whilst Daisuke listened intently.
"I guess that's me? Zabuza's spirit from his blade spoke to me and asked me to seek you out Yamamoto-san."
The trace of a smile tugged upon the sage's face.
"Well if that's the case, than he has indeed deemed you worthy and able to do what he was incapable of."
Scratching his head, Naruto spoke another question.
"What's that?"
Yamamoto's eyes narrowed, all business now.
"To achieve Bankai for your Zanpaktou, Naruto."
"What is Bankai, Yamamoto-san?"
Yamamoto held up one finger, a serious smile upon his face.
"Ah, in that lies a story."
Nel happily clapped her hands, a look of intense curiosity all over her face.
"YAAAAY! TTORY TIME! Yama-jii is gonna tell a ttory!"
Nel was spared a kindly look by Yamamoto who was amused at being addressed as Yama-jii.
"Bankai or final release is a state of being for your Zanpaktou that once achieved, can increase its power several times over."
Naruto nodded. "Okay...
Yamamoto chuckled. "Ah, I see you are a fast learner, much like Zabuza."
"Before Bankai, there is the form of Shikai, which means to release, while Bankai means to release again. This Zabuza was able to achieve rather easily."
Naruto unsheathed his blade, briefly looking at the wickedly large Zanpaktou.
"So I don't have to worry about Shikai?"
Yamamoto nodded.
"However, you must first pass a series of trials by one of my protégé's to make certain you truly are worthy to wield such a power, before we can begin the true training for Bankai."
Sheathing his blade, Naruto sipped the last of his tea and set the cup and small plate down with a small clank.
"I understand Yamamoto-san."
He took a deep breath, gathering himself before speaking again.
"When must I begin my first trial?"
Snapping his fingers, a dark hole appeared behind the man, creating a light breeze, as it stretched into darkness
"We can begin with the first trial right now if you would like Naruto."
The blond bowed in respect.
"Thank you Yamamoto-san. I would like to begin, but there is something I must take care of first. I need to speak to Hinata-chan before I start. May I have a moment?"
The elder smiled in understanding, waving away the portal with another click of his fingers.
"You may go speak to the young girl before we start. I'll keep your friend's entertained until you return."
Naruto bowed respectfully to the old man and then hurried out of the room to see and speak to Hinata.
Upon reaching the room he silently sat on the bed she was lying on.
Her breathing was peaceful and steady, yet he feared that she would not awaken from her slumber.
Quietly, he called her name.
"Hinata-chan."
Hinata's eyes flew open at the sound of Naruto's voice and when she realized he had used a suffix with her name for the first time since they had reunited.
Looking up to his face she noticed a sad look to his eyes. Fearful that someone had gotten hurt because of her carelessness once again she hurriedly stammered.
"Nar-Naruto-kun is everyone alright?" Oh Kami, Nel-chan wasn't hurt was she? I, I'm sorry I didn't see the traps again before they sprung."
She hung her head, and her tone was filled with despair, as she feared the worst.
"I-I don't understand... I feel so stupid and useless."
She looked up at him now, tears glistening in her eyes, those lovely pale lavender orbs.
"You, you must hate me. I know I hate myself."
When Naruto heard those words from Hinata, he pulled her into an embrace and hugged her tightly much to her utter shock and amazement.
He brought his lips close to her ear, and so no one but her could hear, whispered:
"Hinata-chan, I could never hate you and I never want to hear from you that you hate yourself."
Hinata's lavender eyes softened, as he went on.
"Everyone is fine thanks to you. You saved us back there. I feel like such a fool for the way I treated you."
Pulling back, he noticed the absence of a blush. "I was cruel, and for that I apologize. I must have hurt you greatly."
She shook her head insistently.
"It's-it's alright Naruto-kun."
Naruto heard Hinata so easily forgive him and asked in confusion.
"How can you still love me after all this time Hina-chan? I'm no longer worthy of being loved anymore. I've changed so much since we were last together. Look at way I've treated you even though I now know the truth of why you married Kiba. I still can't seem get past the fact that you did and I feel such anger and bitterness over it. And because I couldn't let go of that anger and bitterness you were hurt because of it."
"I will always love you Naruto-kun no matter how much time has passed between us. You may think you aren't worthy of being loved, but you're wrong. Nel-chan loves you as you are and so do I. Any pain I have suffered or felt is nothing compared to the pain I inflicted on you three years ago."
Tears began to swell in Hinata's eyes and began streaming down the fine features of her face.
"I-I'm so sorry for that, and I hope one day you can forgive me. The, the last three years have been torture for me.…..especially not being able to be with you."
"It's not a question of forgiveness Hina-chan." Naruto replied before sighing and continuing on.
"Knowing the truth now there's nothing to forgive, but you have to understand, I had given up on my feelings for the past two years. So, it's difficult for me to find them once more."
His eyes hardened now, yet his tone remained kind as he looked to her.
"As you can see, I'm not the same man I was three years ago, and you may find you won't like or even love the man I am today."
She shook her head rapidly and for just a moment, he was reminded of when they were kids, as she insistently argued with him yet again
"I-I said don't care who you think you are now! You are and always will be my Naruto-kun."
He visibly stiffened, noticing the emphasis on my as her hands, smooth and soft touched the rough stubble of his cheeks, as he had neglected to shave in the past few days, her smooth fingers running over his rough face, leaving him paralyzed, unable to move.
Instinctively, his body screamed at him to shove her away, yet with a supreme force of will he quelled the desire and instead focused solely on her words.
"Your feelings still exist within you, they're just buried."
She smiled warmly as Nel's laughter was heard from outside the room.
It would seem that Yamamoto was making good on his promise.
"But I know they still exist just by seeing how you are with Nel-chan. I can see the love you have in your heart for that little girl, and she's absolutely adorable."
Looking down, she realized the truth of the words she had just said, now fearing that she had gone too far in saying that he was HER Naruto-kun.
"And if you are unable to find any room in your heart for me, that's alright."
Looking pleadingly at him, her tone was soft and loving, pure innocence, not a trace of dark or evil within her.
"Just know that I will always love you no matter what, that I will always be here for you."
Naruto pulled back from his embrace to look at Hinata's tear-filled eyes and saw nothing but the love this girl has for him. At that moment, he came to a decision; one that had begun brewing ever since he realized how much Hinata had sacrificed in her life for him.
"Hinata..."
He decided that he not only wanted but also needed Hinata to become a part of his life once again.
Such unconditional love, surpassing all boundaries, no strings attached-
He was certain that he would never find it again if he spurned her feelings for him.
Leaning towards her, his eyes drifted closed.
"I'm sorry..."
Then, for the first time in many a year, he captured her lips with his own, his rough and dry lips, firm against her soft and smooth.
Her eyes widened inexplicably, as his lips moved to cover her own.
Yet the tension lasted for but a second, before she practically melted into his arms, and allowed herself to enjoy the kiss.
After a minute, he pulled away from a now breathless Hinata and smiled for the first time in a long time and said:
"I think I can find some room in my heart for someone else besides Nel, Hina-chan."
Hinata sobbed into his chest in happiness as they embraced once more and held each other tight.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Meanwhile, a certain pink haired kunoichi was making her way through the forest in her own attempt to reconcile with Naruto. After stopping by a large tree, Sakura flopped to the ground in frustration as she thought to herself.
'Damn it Sakura, you are completely lost in these woods. Why didn't I think this out more carefully? I was in such a rush to leave and find Naruto; I didn't give any thought as to how I was going to do it?'
With a groan, she checked herself for cuts and bruises.' I have no idea where to go find him. I should have asked Kakashi-Sensei if I could borrow Pakkun to sniff out where Naruto is.'
The moon was high in the sky now, nearly full lighting all in its pale glow.
There really was no point in heading back.
'Well it's too late now. I guess all I can do is get out of this abominable forest and try to find a town. If I'm lucky maybe someone will have some tracker dogs I could get?'
Just then Sakura heard a twig snap behind her. Grabbing her kunai and pressing her body against the tree, she could sense someone was approaching.
At the last instant, she jumped out-
Only to be tackled by something large, white and furry?
When her attacker decided to lick her face, she heard a familiar voice call out.
"Did you get her Akamaru?"
Sakura still pinned under the weight of the large dog yelled out in response.
"Yes Kiba, Akamaru got me! Now you want to call him off please!"
Once Kiba came upon the scene he saw whom Akamaru captured and helping Sakura off the ground, sheepishly apologized.
"Sorry about that Sakura. Akamaru sniffed out someone he knew and I thought it was somebody else. I didn't realize it was you."
Shooting the mutt a small glare, she rolled her shoulders in a shrug.
"That's ok Kiba, truthfully I would much rather it was Akamaru tackling me to the ground than you and your wandering hands." Sakura jokingly said before adding, with a confused expression:
"Why are you two out here anyways?"
Kiba's smile disappeared and the tone of his voice had an edge to it as he replied.
"I'm looking for my wife."
Sakura blinked, more confused now than ever.
"Hinata, why is she out here?"
Kiba's expression hardened and he spat with bile in his voice.
"She left me a few days ago to go after that filthy bastard blonde teammate of yours."
Sakura resisted the urge to punch the Inuzuka in his disgusting mouth for referring to Naruto in such a way. However, the news that Hinata was also in pursuit of Naruto and had several days head start on her was not good news as far as Sakura was concerned.
Sakura knew of Hinata's longstanding love of Naruto and could claim him for herself if she got the chance. Sakura looked at the Inuzuka heir or more specifically his partner Akamaru and realized they were the answers to her current problem.
Akamaru could sniff out Naruto's trail and if all went well, maybe she could beat Hinata to reaching him first. Sakura was broken out of her train of thought by Kiba who asked.
"Why are you out here Sakura?"
Hastily, she made up an excuse. "Uhh, I'm on a mission for Lady Tsunade. She wants Naruto found and returned as soon as possible."
Kiba looked to the left and right.
"So she sent you? Where's your tracker dog?"
"Yes she sent me. Lady Tsunade felt that I was the best candidate to talk Naruto into returning since we've been friends for so long."
Now it was her turn to chuckle sheepishly.
"As for my tracker dog, I kinda lost him. Say Kiba, since were both out here and you say Hinata might be with Naruto, can I join you and we'll try to complete both our missions together?"
Kiba thought about it a moment before looking back at Sakura and saying.
"I guess that will ok. It would be safer for the both of us to stick together. Plus if Hinata is with Naruto maybe you can help convince her to return home."
He bared his fangs, as he said the last part.
"It would be better for Naruto if you did."
"What do you mean Kiba?"
The look on Kiba's face changed to something feral and his voice was dripping with venom as he replied to Sakura with.
"Because if Hinata is with Naruto and she doesn't return home with me, I'm going to kill the both of them!"
Then as if nothing was said, he smiled brightly at Sakura.
"Come on, let's get moving!"
Sakura gulped to herself and wondered who it was she had just partnered up with, as the man before was not the Kiba Inuzuka she remembered.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sasuke was quite surprised to find a campsite off the roadside.
Even more surprised to see that it was Ino who had set it up
"Ino, what are you doing?" Inquired Sasuke, as he hopped off a tree, arching an inquisitive black eyebrow, whilst the blond let out a surprised gasp, dropping the firewood in her arms, the light of the moon shining down upon the two.
"S-Sasuke?"
He nodded. "That'd be me. Care to answer the question?"
Her eyes narrowed as she saw the blade strapped to his back, a blade of the purest white.
"First, tell me what you're doing out here."
Sasuke's response was simple as he sat down on the log.
"I'm looking for Naruto and I'm guessing you are as well."
Ino hid the small smile on her face. She could use him to help track down Naruto and offered to the Uchiha.
"Then why don't we team up?"
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Tsunade shook her head in frustration, as she read over the report.
"So now Sakura, Ino, and Kiba have left as well?"
"Hai, Hokage-sama." Shizune hesitantly answered, a bit anxious of her master's reaction to the news.
The buxom blond Hokage slammed her hand down onto her desk and growled out in annoyance.
"At this rate, I won't have any shinobi left in the village what with all of his friends going after the blonde gaki! Which will only give more ammunition to Danzo and the Council who are crying out for his blood!"
"I'm not sure you can call Sakura, Ino, and Kiba friends of Naruto anymore Lady Tsunade."
"True, they all may rue the day if they do find Naruto." Tsunade cryptically commented, before pulling out a sake bottle and ordering Shizune that she did not want to be disturbed for the rest of the evening.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Author Note: Wow, two chapters posted within a three-day time-period, I must be insane. Well, yes I am, but I did this as a way to say thanks to everyone who has stuck with and supported the story. Even with the long layoffs, when I have to go back and work on my main story Naruto vs. Sasuke: The Aftermath. I might get one more chapter posted on this before I have to get back to work on that story. I will also try and get to answering some of the reviews over this and the last chapter asap. My thanks to everyone for all of your reviews; it's much appreciated by me that you took the time to write them.
Anyway, here is chapter thirteen presented to you for your enjoyment, I hope? (Lol) Surprisingly, this chapter was a little bit difficult for me to revise, even though I was the one who wrote the majority of the original. The Sasuke and Byakuya scene was brand new and for those of you not fluent with Bleach I apologize if it seems confusing. It is the one main peril in writing a crossover tale that your audience needs to be fluent or semi-knowledgeable in both genres. I also made some serious revisions to Naruto and Hinata's conversation. Now are they officially back together yet? I would say no, but Naruto is more open to it and I trust I was able to convey that to you all. And there are a few subtle changes besides the major ones I've already mentioned in the chapter as well.
So while there was some substantial additions and rewriting I did for this revised version, I do hope all of you still enjoyed it. Anyway, I'm very curious to see what everyone thought about the chapter. Thanks again to everyone for all of your support and your reviews. Now onto the news and something I could really use your help on.
News:
A couple of my readers and fine authors themselves brown phantom and Zentary have set up polls on each of their accounts asking the question.
Who is the best Naruto fanfic writer on this site?
They have each listed 50 authors and you're allowed to vote for 10 choices on each poll. Both authors have graciously placed my name on both polls. And both Polls have been going on strong for a few months and I'm looking forward to seeing the final results.
So I humbly ask if you feel I'm worthy of being one of your 10 picks to please place a vote for me. If you haven't voted yet on these polls please do so, as I could really use your help to make a good showing.
I thank you in advance for your support and the links to the profile pages for both brown phantom and Zentary are listed below.
brown phantom http:/www(dot)fanfiction(dot)net/u/1634435/
Zentary http:/www(dot)fanfiction(dot)net/u/2022054/
Take it easy and be good!
Kingkakashi