From ninja to shinigami

by jacke44

Returning to Wave after being snubbed by his sensei for his teammate, Naruto explores a secret structure he found on the way to the bridge confrontation, opening the door to a new world of possibilities for his future, gaining something once lost, and many allies in the wake of revelations a forgotten past, enemies close than you think, and the teaching owed to him from the beginng

6. Wait A SWORD PRINCESS?

From Ninja to Shinigami

Chapter 6: Wait... A Sword Princess?

By: jacke44

x

===July 15, 8:30 AM, Mayuri's Bunker, Naruto's Mindscape===

"Who're you?" Naruto asked.

"My name is..." The girl was cut off by... silence. It's not that she stopped speaking, it was more like a tangible nothing asserted itself when she attempted to speak her name.

"Um... Loli-chan I can't hear your name, can you speak louder for me?" Naruto said.

After throwing a small, but admittedly cute tantrum, the loli spirit finally answered. "I'm not a Loli, Kami dammit! And I just need you to answer a question to be worthy of my power."

(Back to the present)

"For you to be worthy of my power, you must answer this one question... what is power?" Questioned the unknown Zanpakuto spirit.

Without batting an eye, Naruto replied gravely. "I believe power is the strength needed to protect your precious people, no matter what the cost is, even at the expense your life. And I never go back on my word, that is my ninja way!"

After a few minutes of pondering, the Zanpakuto Spirit questioned Naruto. "Is this your final answer, young one?"

"Yes, it is." Naruto replied then his eyes widened when he saw the spirit give him an approving nod.

"Interesting... it seems your soul is pure and your answer is truthful. I will permit you to use my power... Naruto." The Zanpakuto spirit replied..

"What? Just like that!" Naruto exclaimed thoroughly surprised at the seemingly simple test. He had remembered from the information download that the trials to unlock their Zanpakuto were long and quite dangerous, and this was too easy.

"Let me finish Naruto." Naruto's jaw snapped closed as he let her finish her explanation. "I am the princess of Zanpakuto's, Lunetta."

After gaining his wits, Naruto asked Lunetta if she was related to benihime to which he received a giggling fit and the reply that Benihime was only a princess in name and in reality was just the Daughter of one of her families servants and does not hold any political power in her society.

Confused, Naruto questioned Lunetta as to why the Zanpakuto's never came forth with this information. Lunetta just replied, "The shinigami believed they understood our powers, but they have barely scratched the surface of our abilities. For thousands of years, Shinigami felt that they were the superior ones using Zanpakuto like mere tools, instead of comrades. This is why we never gave the Shinigami knowledge of our society."

Naruto absorbed the new information given to him by Lunetta, his mind picked apart Lunetta's statements as he realized that his Zanpakuto was the PRINCESS of the Zanpakuto. His eyes widened as he glanced upon the smiling visage of Lunetta who gently smiled when she saw that he finally realized her status in society.

"Now Naruto, please remember that if you use my powers for the sake of evil. You will face my father, Varunastra, the king of the Zanpakuto as he drowns you in the everlasting tides of his anger." Lunetta warned with an all-too-innocent smile on her face.

"Also, Naruto since you passed my challenge I will give you a glimpse of my real power." As Lunetta was talking, Naruto noticed the water below him starting to swirl and splash. The little disturbance of water slowly became a terrifying hurricane that seemed to swallow the surrounding water to increase its massive size. Naruto consciousness slowly faded away, as the powerful storm washed him away. Back In the Lab...

(The Real World)

Naruto's eyes snapped open, much to the surprise of the occupants of the room. His subsequent power-boost also surprised the occupants of the chamber as he exclaimed with all his might. "Wash them away, Lunetta!"

A massive explosion of light temporarily blinded the still confused Nemu and Yoruichi. Once the two women recovered from the dazzling light show, Naruto could be seen wielding two beautiful extended butterfly swords that seemed to glow with barely restrained power.

"Well, you finally found your Zanpakuto, huh?" Yoruichi stated with a smirk. "And I think you need a private lesson to use your sword"

"I gotta go see you later!" Naruto said very fast, the words blurring together, then zipped away with a beet red face.

"Still so easy to tease." Yoruichi giggled as she went to whatever she did.

x

After Naruto returned to the lab after composing himself, he channeled reiatsu into his Zanpakuto to turn it into its sealed form, a small tanto with a golden hilt with a crescent moon shaped guard. "I think we should sit down for this, you're not going to believe what happened." Naruto said.

As the three moved to one of the tables to sit down, Naruto looked over at the central computer which Mayuri had taken up to use for this conversation as Naruto put the sword on the table. Naruto explained the events that occurred during his blackout. His parents agreed with his answer and stated that he should keep those powerful words to heart. Yoruichi, Nemu, and Mayuri were quite surprised and intrigued at the events and information that occurred from Naruto's encounter with his Zanpakuto.

After the explanation, Mayuri's face was filled with excitement and joy at the new information within his grasp. "Naruto would you be willing to leave you zanpakuto here tonight, so I can run some scans on it? I never imagined that they would have a royal family and I wish to see if it has any different properties that standard zanpakuto have." Mayuri asked.

Naruto scrutinized Mayuri a few momenrs before answering. "I can do that, but I would like a report by tomorrow morning, so I can begin training."

"If you would just place the sword on the table to your immediate right." Naruto gave the sword to Nemu who walked over to the table and started the machine.

Once Nemu was back at the table, Naruto took papers out of his jacket pocket. "I spent some time last night to write out a list of things that I want to get done, but before we get to that Nemu where are the two people I had come here last night."

Nemu bowed. "I will fetch them, Naruto-kun." Nemu said.

Naruto sighed in exasperation at the honorific, but was still preparing the Soul Injection Chambers for the revival of Zabuza and Haku.

After Nemu retrieved the two spirits, Naruto walked them into the center of the Laboratory. After observing his high-tech surroundings, Zabuza begrudgingly admitted that 'the brat' had a good setup.

After some unintelligible muttering, Naruto questioned the two deceased Shinobi if they were ready to return to the land of the living.

"Ready as ever, Brat." Zabuza replied without missing a beat.

"I am ready Naruto-kun." Haku assured him.

"Alright!" Naruto said and opened the chamber.

"Just step into the machine and don't move once the door closes." Naruto pushed a few more keys and the device emitted a high-pitched screech. After several minutes, both chambers opened to reveal two revived Kiri-Shinobi.

Haku glomped Naruto without a second thought and soon rained kisses upon the young man. After a few moments, Haku got off Naruto with a dark blush. Naruto stood up with a similarly colored blush only to feel a tight pressure on his shoulder.

"Don't even think about it brat, just because you gave me a new body doesn't mean I'm going let you try anything with my... oof!"

Zabuza's threat ended when the very person he was talking about punched him right in his stomach.

"Stop trying to scare off everybody I talk to!" Haku exclaimed then started stomping on Zabuza's stomach.

"But it's my job as a Father figure to scare away your potential boyfriends!" Zabuza half whined as Haku was stomping on him, though not really hard.

With a red face Haku shouted. "He's not my boyfriend, I was just thanking him for giving me a second chance at life and if you keep acting like this I'll tell Mei Terumi on you!"

"No, please don't tell her!" Zabuza begged as Haku smirked and continued trying to stomp him through the floor, at least it looked like she was.

As Haku and Zabuza continued squabbling, Naruto stood off to the side observing the admittedly comical beatdown. It was obvious to him that Haku was learning how to exert herself and Zabuza was letting her do it, he knew as well as she did how tough Zabuza really was.

"Would this be just as bad if I brought my first girlfriend home?" Naruto questioned his parents.

"Naruto, it would never be this bad! I would gladly welcome your girlfriend in the house." Minato replied

"Naru-chan it would depend on how young you were when you brought a girlfriend home." Kushina added.

"I hope the day never comes when I have a daughter that has me wrapped around her little finger." Naruto murmured under his breath.

"It will." His parents chorused.

Deciding to move on from observing the daughter-father beatdown, Naruto walked over to the table in the lab and picked up several Ninjutsu scrolls. "I may need to increase my training since it's been so long.

"Hey, Dad?" Naruto mentally said.

"Yes, Naruto?" Minato replied.

"Do shadow clones transfer training?" Naruto asked.

"Yes, they can Naruto. However, it can transfer only mental training such as chakra control, Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, Taijutsu and Fuinjutsu, but it can't transfer muscle growth to the original." Minato replied.

Now that he knew the benefits of Shadow Clones, Naruto wished that he'd bought more jutsu scrolls with him. He had only brought the scrolls Akari gave to him, and unfortunately those scrolls were made with kunoichi in mind.

He'd explored the building, with the exception of a few locked doors, and it seemed to be in good shape. Naruto suddenly had an idea. "Maybe I can make a room into a hall of famous kunoichi, so new generations can be inspired to become kunoichi and one day be presented here." He said, one of the things he knew was that kunoichi didn't get the same credit men did as heroes, and he knew plenty of strong kunoichi.

"Naru-chan! That's a terrific idea! It could help the new generations of kunoichi learn about their sisters in arms." Kushina agreed.

Mayuri, who heard everything Naruto said called out to Naruto. "If you need Ninjutsu, I might be able to help you."

Naruto walked over to the central computer and sat down. "How?"

Mayuri replied, "If you recall, I told you that I studied your dimension for years and in that time, I went to every Ninja Village and made complete copies of each Village's Ninjutsu Library."

Several files popped up on the screen, each had a name, Naruto read them and recognized a few, such as... Konohagakure, Kumogakure, Sunagakure, Kirigakure, Iwagakure, Takigakure, Kusagakure and finally Uzushiogakure. For some reason the last one gave Naruto a sense of nostalgia.

"Yes, in my studies of your dimension I was able to go to each of the villages and observe them, but the most attractive village of all was Uzushiogakure." Mayuri was now accessing and decrypting an assortment of files. "But what goes up must come down."

"What do you mean, Mayuri?" Naruto questioned with a feeling of dread crawling up his spine.

"Uzushiogakure was betrayed by Konoha, Naruto." Mayuri replied.

Naruto grabbed his head in pain as his parents demanding to know about the dark secret of the destruction of Uzushiogakure. Mayuri smirked and finally decrypts the file and showed it was a video file with the title, The Death of Uzushiogakure.

(Start video)

Overlooking a small cliff are three figures with robes signifying some sort of high position within Konoha's government.

"Danzo, are you sure about this plan?" The feminine figure on the left said.

"This is for the best Koharu, once we have eliminated Uzushiogakure we can acquire all their sealing techniques to increase our arsenal. We are already taking steps to ensure their bloodline will survive by bringing Kushina to the Village so that she will be the next Kyuubi jinchuriki. Mito is a liability and must be eliminated, that's why we began poisoning her to prepare to transfer the Kyuubi to Kushina." Danzo said.

"We will finalize the plans with the leaders of Kumogakure, Kirigakure, and Iwagakure so we can be rid of this Village once and for all" The other male figure said then all three jumped away.

(Stop video)

"Okay someone needs to explain to me what is going on right now what Clan was in the Hidden Whirlpool Village and why did the three elders of the leaf village sell them out." Naruto asked strongly.

"The clan that resided amongst of whirlpools was the Royal Uzumaki family, along with several small Clans. As to why they was sold out, it was so they could have control of the nine-tails seeing as how Mito Uzumaki was planning on moving back to the hidden Whirlpool Village and taking the nine-tails with her to spend out the rest of her days with her family." Mayuri said.

Naruto stood up, walked to an empty table and brought his fist down, breaking it in half. "I'm going to kill those bastards! They're going to wish that they never heard the name Uzumaki... when did they destroy the Uzumaki clan?"

"The attack happened during the second Shinobi War. I went there after it was destroyed, but I was not able to find any survivors. You have my condolences, I was under direct orders from my superiors not to interact with people in your world at all, I was only two analyze and collect data, had I been able to I would have helped your clan, they were truly fascinating people." Mayuri said.

Naruto stood there silently for several minutes, until Yoruichi put her hand on his shoulder. "Are you going be ok Naruto? This is a lot to take in." Yoruchi asked gently.

Buy now Zabuza and Haku had stopped their sparring and saw the video as well. Naruto looked at Zabuza. "Did you know about the Uzumaki Clan and what the Hidden Mist did to it?" His reply was a nod of the head, then Haku took a step forward and got on her knees. "Please accept our condolences Naruto, I know saying sorry can never make up for what our Village did but I want you to know how sorry we are."

Naruto begins to rub his forehead, Kushina's screaming is givng him a headache. "I may not be book smart, but the one thing I do know is about Kage of the villages. Zabuza, Haku, I don't blame you or your village, the people responsible are the ones in that video, they are the ones who are going to pay for what they did. Yes your village may have had a hand in my family's destruction, but the Hidden Mist Village has paid for it's sins with this Blood War your village has been suffering from for so many years so attacking the Hidden Mist would serve no purpose, it would make me no better then them. Another fact is during the second Shinobi War the hidden Cloud Village was run by a man who is a disgrace to the to title of Kage, he didn't care about anything but winning the war it didn't matter if he was sending his troops to their death as most of them were so afraid of him they couldn't refuse so they were just following orders to protect themselves and their families."

"As for Iwa, I believe my dad took care of that in the third Shinobi War so going after them makes no sense either." Everybody in the lab looked at Naruto with surprise.

Yoruichi wrapped her arms around Naruto and kissed his cheek. "Spoken like a true leader."

"Both your mother and I are going to help you train, we will give you everything we can think of to help you get strong enough, and when the day comes we are going to stand there with you and help you defeat them." Minato said.

"Seeing as how I now have a complete list of each Hidden Village's Library that's going to help us get on our feet and become a Hidden Village. Unlike Konoha, I'm going to have classes that are actually going to help the students and not some dumb class like flower pressing or flower arrangement." Naruto said. 'Oh crap, I hope Ino and her mom didn't sense me say that... if they did I'm in a lot of trouble, especially because Ino's mom one the top five scariest mom's in Konoha.' He then thought.

===10:03 AM, About 50 yards from Konoha===

As the Inuzuka family approached the Village Gate, having to stop during the night to campout due to Noriko not being able to travel as long as them. "When can I start the academy mom!" Noriko asked.

"Since you just turned 4, you have to wait until you're 6, that's how it works here." Tsume replied.

"But mom! That's so far away what am I supposed to do!" Noriko whined.

Hana reached over and rubbed her head. "Don't worry so much imouto, you'll still get the clan training. We will also be helping you with your history and other classes, that way when you go to the academy, you'll be prepared for the classes."

"Let's just hope Naruto didn't rub off on her and make her the dead last like him." Kiba said, which earned him two smacks to the back of the head by his mother and sister, which made Noriko laugh at him.

"Welcome to your new home Noriko." T sume said as they were walking over to the check-in point, then quickly signed in and headed down the street.

"Where are we going to now Mom?" Noriko asked.

"Since we just returned to the Village, we have to check in with the Hokage. After returning from a mission we need to do that right away." Tsume said.

"But didn't we check in at the front gate." Noriko asked, confused.

"Yes, but we have to check in multiple places." Tsume replied.

As they walked down the street they pointed out different stores to her. "Over there is the bookstore where we can get you some new books."

"But I don't know how to read Hana-Oneechan." Noriko said.

"Well there's one thing we can teach you." Kiba said.

"Ok, as long as the books are fun like Naruto-niisan's book, I really like that book... he read a couple chapters to me." Noriko said but didn't see Tsume and Hana smile.

"We've got to remember to have him give us a copy of it when he's finished." Tsume said.

"I've been telling him to finish it forever, I hope he can finish it soon." Hana said as thay continue walking up the street.

They point out the different restaurants as they walk. "Over there we have the dumpling restaurant, and over there is Ichiraku ramen."

"Can we please eat there for lunch, Naruto told me all about it! He said that they make the best ramen ever!" Noriko exclaimed happily.

"I don't see a problem with that." Tsume replied with Noriko doing a cute happy dance.

"Once we get done checking in we can go there for lunch." Tsume said. When they reached the Hokage Tower Tsume lead her family up to the top and said hello to the secretary. After getting a nod from her Tsume opened the door and lead them in.

The Third Hokage looked up from his paperwork and grinned slightly. "Welcome back, I hope everything went well and you were able to get your new family member home safely."

"Hai Hokage-sama, everything went well, and I would like to introduce you to our new Clan Member... this is Noriko, Noriko this is Hokage-sama, he's leader of this Village." Tsume said.

"Noriko, realizing that this was important, gave a small bow. "Greetings Hokage-sama, hopeful you will let me stay in your village."

Hiruzen just smiled. "You are welcome in this Village, if Naruto vouches for you then I will trust you."

Tsume begins to give a report as Noriko looks around the office then out the window at the Village. Soon she comes up to the pictures of the previous Hokages, as she's looking at the pictures she notices the picture of the fourth Hokage then went back to her mother. Tsume stopped mid-sentence and looked down at her. "What can I do for you?"

"Why does Naruto-niisan have his picture on the wall?" All three Inuzuka's look to where she is pointing.

"I don't see a picture of Naruto." Kiba commented.

"Me neither." Hana said.

Noriko ran back over to the wall and pointed at the picture. "See, it's Naruto-niisan, but he doesn't have his whisker marks in this picture."

The three walk over to the picture.

"Now that you mention it he does look like Naruto." Hana said.

"I wonder why we never noticed that, I mean he has a giant head looking out over the Village." Tsume said and looked down at Noriko. "This is not Naruto it's the Fourth Hokage, but we'll give you a better lesson when we get home."

Tsume suddenly starts to have flashbacks of her friend that she had not thought about for many years, realizing there was no possible way that he was not her child, Naruto was the son of her best friend Kushina Uzumaki.

"Hana, Kiba, I want you to take Noriko and go get lunch, I'll meet up with you in a little bit." Both can see the look on their Mother's face and know not to mess around.

Once the three children left, Tsume walked up to the front of the Hokage's desk and grabbed him by the front of his robe, bringing them face to face. The only thing going through the mind of Hiruzen at that moment is the size hospital bill he'll get if he doesn't confirm what he knows she just figured out, as he also knew Kushina was one of her best friends. Plus, he could see it in her eyes, she didn't care about what could happen to her if she attacked him... that was just how the Inzuka were, especially in 'protection mode'... and she was quickly approaching 'attack mode'. If that happened talking to her would become impossible. The only woman he'd ever met that was scarier than Tsume Inuzuka in a full rage, was his former student Tsunade in a full rage.

===9:30 AM, Yamanaka Flower Shop===

Walking to the back room she saw her daughter Ino transplanting flowers into new pots and smiled. "You know those could have waited till tomorrow, I thought we were going to go shopping." Inoiki said. With a smile Ino looked over her shoulder. "I know Mom, but you know how much I love working in the flower shop, I just wish that Naruto would stop teasing me about this and thinking he has a better green thumb then anybody in our family." This makes both mother and daughter laugh. "Well I got these done at least so let's go shopping, then we can get some lunch."

===20 Minutes Later===

Walking around the Silk Kimono searching for new clothes while trading new gossip, Ino looks at her Mother. "Hey Mom, did I ever tell you

about the time Naruto snuck into the flower arrangement class at the academy? He tried to use a Henge to fool us, he sat next to me but I knew it was him... the look on his face when I ratted him out was hilarious!"

Inoiki laughed. "I think I remember that day, wasn't that also the day you brought him home and made him work in the flower shop because he said the class was a waste of time and had no purpose being a class, and it's also when we learned that Naruto is really good at gardening. If I remember correctly you came walking in almost dragging him and your Father chased him around the shop for over an hour because he thought that he was going to be your boyfriend, then threatened him by sayng if he ever makes you cry or hurts you he'd use a family jutsu that'd make him live out the rest of his life believing that he's a little girl, and he'd have you braid his hair."

"That's also the day I told Naruto if he ever made fun of flower arrangement again I'd beat him until..." Ino suddenly got a chill down her back. "I don't know why, but I think he just did that... when he gets back from his training I'm going to see if he did... and if I find out he did I'm going to make him work in the flower shop for a month straight!" Ino said.

"You know it's too bad you never took Naruto as your boyfriend, I think the two of you would have made a cute couple." Inoiki said.

"Mom you know that I see Naruto as a brother, just like Shikamaru and Choji." Ino countered while blushing brightly.

Inoiki just smiled, Ino's blush and body language said otherwise. "Of course Ino-chan."

x

End Chapter 6