Bleach Fan Fiction / Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Phase ❯ chapter 6 ( Chapter 6 )

Disclaimer: I do not own any recognizable character in this story.

 

05/08/07 un-beta-ed so beware of grammar and spelling errors.

 

 

When Ishida heard Naruto say that his training started right away he did not expect it to be so literal. Soon after, Naruto pulls out an odd scroll. While he holds it, he performs a few odd hand gestures and with a puff of smoke a set of weighted bands appears. Naruto picks up the weight bands with no effort at all. Handing them over to Ishida, Naruto informs, “These are weighted body weights that will help build strength, speed and endurance. I want you to wear these at all times, that means while you sleep, shower, eat and training. We will start light at five kilograms each. Now put them on one around each limb and one on your waist.”

 

Obediently, Ishida replies with a curt, “Hai Naruto-sensei.” Taking the weights he straps them on with out hesitation. The added weight on his body weighed heavily on him. Moving his arms and limb a bit experimentally, he can already feel the strain on is muscles. Taking a step, Ishida finds him self loosing his balance and falling face first into the pavement. While straining to pick him self up upright again, he hear the ringing of amused laughter. Craning his head, he glares at new laughing sensei. Suddenly, the laughter ceases replace by a stern cold look in Naruto's eyes.

 

Addressing his flattened student on the floor, Naruto orders, “You have three seconds to get up and start running to your house to pick up anything you will need for your training. You have fifteen minuets, to get back here. If you do not make it back by the time set, there will be punishment.” Taking out a few choice shuriken Naruto starts counting. “You have three seconds…one…” Hearing his sensei start counting, Ishida struggles to get up, not wanting to see how sharp those shuriken are Naruto is holding. “Two….,” he hears Naruto call. Getting up on wobbling limbs, Ishida gives a hard push right as he hears Naruto begin to say three and dashes off. “Three…,” Naruto finally says while watching Ishida dash off. Chuckling in amusement, Naruto twirls the shuriken in is fingers before putting them away and starts the fifteen minuet count down.

 

Within his mind, Kyuubi laughs. “You are one sadistic bastard. That was something that snake bitch would have done. Ah… she was quite the character, not to mention her skills in both the field in the bedroom.” Ignoring the fox's comments, Naruto continues to plot how to further torture his unfortunate temporary student.

 

Minuets pass and as soon as it was only ten seconds till the fifteen minuets are up; a cloud of dust begins approaching. With only a second to spare, Ishida barely makes it to the meeting point before collapsing in exhaustion panting heavily on the ground with his overly large duffle bag in hand. Sweat soaked and breathing hard, Ishida is barely able to mumble out, “did….hah … I …hhah…make it?”

 

Naruto looks at the exhausted man unsympathetically. Flippantly Naruto comments, “Yes, but only barely. However, I only told you to bring what is essential for training. That would only mean one to two extra sets of clothes, your weaponry, perhaps some reference material for your type of combat style and maybe essential first aid materials. You look like, you have packed everything but the kitchen sink.” Picking up the overly stuffed duffel bag and sorting though it, Naruto pull out a whole set of multi-colored threads, yarn and fabric. He looks down at the exhausted man with one brow arched in question. “Tell me why you would need periwinkle yarn and so many other sewing paraphernalia with you?” Without waiting for an explanation, Naruto takes all the unnecessary things that do not have much significance to training and tosses them out until his is satisfied with the bag's contents. Ishida being too tired to respond merely lies still on the ground watching is precious sewing kit be thrown away.

 

“Okay, now you are all ready to go. Get up and lead the way to the training area.” Naruto strictly orders not caring for Ishida's seemingly tired state. “If you cannot survive this then you have no power to protect anybody. Now get up.”

 

Focusing on Naruto's words, Ishida shakily picks himself up from the ground. Standing up right again and trying his hardest to not show any weakness, Ishida answers, “Hai sensei”. He reaches out to take his baggage back from his sensei. Taking the bag into his hands, Ishida with much pain starts walking in the direction of their destination the bus stop and then up the mountains.

 

The bus ride was over all extremely unpleasant for Naruto. Though out the whole ride the acrid fumes of the vehicle suffocated Naruto's sensitive sense of smell. There are disadvantages to having such advanced senses. Half way thought the bus ride, Naruto recalls he had left with out leaving Kisuke or Yoruichi any notices. He tells himself to remember to send a toad summon with a note once they reach their destination.

 

After getting off the bus, much to Naruto's relief, the duo hiked a good six hours until they are far from any urbanized areas. Arriving at a bright clearing, Naruto notices the area is nicely secluded, lush with vegetation and very close to a decent flowing stream and a waterfall. Seeing that Ishida is very close to his physical limits now, he decides Ishida has had enough today. “This clearing will do well. Take rest the rest of the night off to recuperate. Tomorrow morning we shall resume. Be ready at dawn.”

 

Relived to hear training is dismissed for the rest of the day, Ishida promptly collapse and falls straight to sleep without bothering to set up sufficient shelter for the night. Naruto looks down and the unconscious boy on the floor and shaking is head at the boy's carelessness. With a light sigh, Naruto sets up the small tent in Ishida's bag and rolls out the compact sleeping bag. He places the tired sleeping boy in the sleeping bag. Looking down at the youth, Naruto carefully removes the boy's glasses and brushes his disheveled bangs from his face. Whispering a quiet, “oyasumi,” Naruto zips up the small tent leaving the boy to sleep.

 

Not forgetting to message Urahara shop, Naruto quickly forms seals and supplies the blood necessary for a toad summon. A small sleek toad appears in a billow of smoke. Writing a short note, Naruto attaches the note to the messenger toad and send him off. With his task finished, he looks about to find a nice comfortable tree to sleep in. Finding a nice pair of trees not ten feet from the sleeping teen, Naruto summons some vines growing on the three to extend and weave into a makeshift hammock with his powers of plant affinity. Climbing into the hammock, Naruto slips into his meditative state.

 

With the rise of the sun, Ishida groggily stirs in his tent, which he did not recall setting up the night before, until a barrage of sharp shuriken comes his way. Sensing the sudden call of danger, he rolls to his side to avoid the projectiles. Glaring up at his assailant, he sees Naruto stand at the opening of his tent. “What was that for?” Ishida states coldly.

 

Naruto smirks cruelly at the ruffled looking boy and monotonously explains, “I told you to be up by sun rise. It is sun rise now. I shall wake you in this fashion every morning if you cannot wake on your own on time.” Satisfied with the hesitant nod he receives, he continues to state, “Good, now get ready for training. I expect to see you at the river in five minuets.”

 

Arriving in exactly five minuets, Ishida during this time notice the weight he was still wearing have become a bit more tolerable. Naruto not hesitating starts his explanations of their planned training regimen. “You have asked me to train you in your abilities; however, I cannot do that. The type of energy you utilize in your attacks are much different from what I use. On top of that, I have no knowledge of your clan's abilities. You will have to master those on your own. I, however, can help you in increasing your physical abilities and your focus. That is what we will work on, as you can see from your experience yesterday. Your physical abilities are much lacking. We will start with running then we will work on meditation. I want to you to run in this stream against the flow without slipping on the slippery and uneven rock bedding. This will help with your endurance and also your balance. I will tell you when to stop and if you are going to slow, I will be forced to add motivation.”

 

Seeing the sharp kunai twirling in Naruto's fingers, Ishida had no doubt in his mind his sensei will stay true to his threats. Not waiting for Naruto to start providing such motivation, Ishida begins running as he was told to.

 

The week passed as such, with Ishida going to bed every night sore, tired, bleeding and bruised. After five days of the intense conditioning, he found utilizing is Quincy power to be much easier; his power reserves larger, and is endurance much better. On the sixth day Ishida wakes to find his mysterious blond sensei to be no where in site. On the door flap of his tend he finds a short note.

 

Ishida-

 

You have improved much during the last five days. I hope what little we have accomplished here shall aid you, if even the slightest bit, in your goals. I am sure we will meet again soon. So don't miss me too much. As a word of warning; form my observations of you, your powers have not yet reached maturity yet. If you are to over stress your body using your powers, there may be dire consequences. Be cautious and take care.

 

-Naruto

 

Ishida after reading the short note whispers a quiet, “Thank You”, into the winds in hope his sensei will feel his gratitude. Spending some the rest of the morning trying to master his spirit arrows, Ishida packs his bags in the afternoon and makes his return to find Ichigo.

 

Strolling up to Urahara shop, Naruto even before reaching the door is greeted with a flying blur with sandaled feet colliding with his head. Smashing him head first into the adjacent wall, Naruto distinctively hears Jinta yelling at him. “Slacker!” Jinta screams, “Where the hell have you been the last week. You are recruited to work are you not?!”

 

Waving his hands in surrender and sheepishly smiling, Naruto attempts to pacify the raging red head. “Gomen, gomen, I got lost exploring town. Then I met some interesting people that showed me around, but then lost track of time.”

 

Not buying the excuse the slightest bit, Jinta retorts, “You are telling me you got lost and then lost track of time for a whole week? Baka…!” Lifting his leg Jinta prepares to send another flying kick at Naruto's head, but was suddenly stopped by Kisuke.

 

“Alright Jinta, I think that is enough,” Kisuke states humorously. Understanding the subtle dismissive command in Kisuke's statement, Jinta huffs and stomps way. Kisuke lowers a hand to help Naruto stand. Smiling playfully, he asks, “Welcome back Naruto-chan. Do you happen to have some free time starting tomorrow for a few weeks? I need a favor.”

 

Brushing off some dust off his clothes, Naruto sends an irritated glare at Kisuke. “Don't call me Naruto-chan,” he whines. Staring at Kisuke suspiciously, Naruto crosses his arms and questions, “What is this favor?”

 

“Well, remember our dear friend Ichigo. I am hoping you can perhaps accompany him and a few of his friend in their quest. You are in no obligation to do much, only to watch their backs in the case thing get too out of hand. Just as long as no one dies a gruesome death,” Kisuke explains.

 

Naruto scrunches is brow in deep thought. The adventure quest thingy sound like it could be a lot of fun, but at the same time bring loads of trouble. Seeking his oniisama's advices, Naruto asks, “Oniisama, what do you think? Should I help out?”

 

Kyuubi since hearing Kisuke's favor was already weighing the pros and cons of accepting to help. Figuring it should not hurt too badly if they offered their aid and if things go get bad he can always leave this dimension. Deciding to go along with this quest, Kyuubi give Naruto an affirmative nod.

 

Turning a bright smile to Kisuke, Naruto happily exclaims, “Sure! When do we leave?”

 

“Tonight at midnight,” Kisuke replies gladly. Turning his grateful expression to a perverted one, “Since you will be leaving and will be gone for a while; how about we finish our little game you started last time,” Kisuke leers roguishly. Since the spunky blond had ran off after their interrogation session, Kisuke has been keeping the man in his thoughts. It was not everyday he meet someone so entertaining to mess with. Sure Yoruichi was spunky enough, but she was family practically and that would be wrong.

 

Cheeks puffing in annoyance and irritation, Naruto stomps away while muttering, “perverts… the world if full of grade A perverts…” While he walks away to find a nice tree to lounge to pass time until midnight, he can hear his oniisama's muffled voice speaking. “Hypocrite.”

 

Midnight came swiftly and soon it was time for the little quest to begin. Making his way to Urahara shop, Naruto arrives to see two other people he did not recognize; a tall male with dark skin and the other stranger a female with a Tsunade complex. “Yo!” Naruto greets while waving in friendly gesture. Turning to the two teen he has not yet met, he introduces himself. “Uzumaki Naruto, Ninja extraordinaire. Nice to meet you.”

 

The tall stoic boy nods stiffly in response. “Sado Yasutara, call me Chad.” Naruto returns the acknowledgement with a nod of his own.

 

The female with a bright smile and some what vacant look bows politely in greeting. “Inoue Orihime. Nice to meet you.” She seems like the type of girl that always sees the positive side of thing and care way more than she should about others. As kind as she seems, it does not look like she had much in the brains or the common sense. He briefly wondered why anyone allowed her get involved in this risky mission. Sakura and Tsunade would kill him for even briefly thinking a female to be useless. Shaking his head, he clears of those thoughts from his mind. Smiling at the cheerfulness of her attitude, Naruto returns a small polite bow.

 

To everyone's surprise, Ishida approaches Naruto and addresses him respectfully. “Good evening Naruto-sensei. I am glad to see you again so soon.” Most were shocked that Ishida knew of this mysterious person and briefly wondered what Naruto has taught the young Quincy.

 

Grinning that the boy cheekily and patting the taller male on the head, Naruto responds teasingly, “Yes my dear young grasshopper. I said we shall meet again soon did I not.” Inwardly, he laughs at the look of embarrassment on the younger boy's face from being addressed so childishly by him. At this point, all thoughts of Naruto being able to teach anything serious and useful went out the window.

 

“Alright you people enough standing around and chit chatting. It is time to go.” Yoruichi announces, catching everyone's attention. “Once the gate is open everyone must get to the other side as fast as you can or else you shall be stuck in there forever. Now get ready.”

 

Together, Yoruichi and Kisuke summons a gate before them. Without hesitation, the odd group rushes forward into the gate. As soon as the door close path behind them quickly closes up creeping faster and closer toward the group and swallowing up anything in its path. The whole group seeing the fast approaching doom screams varying degrees of profanity while trying to run faster. Naruto was having the time of his life running along side the group. He could have easily made it to the other end in a flash, but what is the fun in that. Escaping barely from the gate; the group of young teenagers fall face first into the ground groaning at their close brush with death.

 

Following Yoruichi's guide they make their way into though Rukongai to the gate to enter Seireitei. Naruto measures the gate guardian's ability discreetly in the background. Deciding the gate guardian, who introduce him self as Jidanbo, to be of no real danger to anyone's well being; he decides to sit back and just enjoy the show.

 

Ichigo and easily by passed the gate watcher Jidanbo. Stepping though the gate, the group is greeted by a strange man with short silver hair and a permanent smile on his face. The presence of the seemingly friendly man did not settle well with Naruto. The smile and kind face can not fool Naruto of the man's malice. He had enough experience of deceptive facades from Kabuto to tell when someone was putting up an act. Assessing the level of this new opponent, Naruto judges the man to be quite strong. At the level Ichigo is at right now, there is no chance of him winning. The group is sure to get thrown on by this man. Discreetly, Naruto fades into the shadow and hide is presence completely. If the group is going to be thrown out; it would help is at least one of them can gather information until the other can find an alternative means to enter Seireitei.

 

Just as Naruto has predicted, Ichigo is losing to the over whelming power level of a Shinigami captain. Sending a careful took to Yoruichi to notify her of his intentions, he takes one last look at the loosing battle and sneaks off stealthily past all the guards into Seireitei. After getting past the guards, Naruto quickly performs a dozen kage bunshin and applied a henge into the forms of a typical shinigami. He orders them to scatter and to gather information on the lay out of the whole Seireitei and current information about the division captions and Kuchiki Rukia. He strolls through the streets until he found a casual dango shop and enters. Entering, he takes a seat next a couple of female shinigami chattering away. Looking over at the two females, he turns on his fox charm full blast making the two females blush. Flashing them a kind yet mysterious smile, he turns his attention back to his tea and dango.

 

Still under the spell of the Naruto charm, one of the female built up the courage to call his attention. “Umm… excuse me, are you new around here? I don't think I have ever met you before. I am Yamashida Hikari and this is my friend Takano Michiko we are from fourth division. What is your name?”

 

Smiling kindly, Naruto mentally scream an exuberant, “bingo,” he replies to the two blushing females. “Hatake Arashi, I am from division thirteen. Yes, I am new. Just became official shinigami a few weeks ago.”

 

The two females took in his words with sparkling eyes. “Really, now wonder your face is unfamiliar since your looks is not something to easily forget,” Michiko comments while twirling the ends of her straight black hair in her fingers.

 

“Is that so, well I am glad to meet new people and especially if they are as friendly as you two are. I hope I don't sound silly for asking, but what is going on here. I just came back from a long term assignment straight out of the academy and everything seems so tense around here. What is going on?”

 

Hearing the question, the two girls become solemn. “Kuchiki Rukia was recently sentence to death for breaking some really grievous rules. It was so bad that the members of Central 46 Chambers had the execution moved forward and that has never happened before. She was such a nice girl too. And could you believe it, I heard it was her own brother that brought her in for sentencing. Now, just today, there was news of intruders trying to break into Reiseitei. It's been terrible, everyone is on high alert. You better be careful yourself.”

 

“Don't worry about me, I will be careful. You ladies take care too, it would be a shame if such nice people got hurt in this complicated situation,” Naruto placidly replies while he takes in all the information.

 

“So, you were sent on a long mission right after the academy? Wow, you must have been really good. How did you like your first assignment,” Hikari asks, shifting away form previous depressing topic.

 

Naruto laughs jovially, “No, I am not good at all, I tend to be a bit clumsy and my techniques are not very good at all. The assignment was so boring. I was sent to a very small town on the country side I didn't have a single thing to do the whole time there. I think they were just trying to get me away so they did not have to deal with me.”

 

The girls giggle at his comment. “Don't say that. I am sure if you can manage to graduate academy then you have to be at least proficient. Most first assignments are boring, but if you can prove yourself, they will start giving you better assignments.”

 

Finishing up is dango and tea, Naruto stands and courteously bows. “Well ladies it was nice getting to know you, but I have to get going. Don't forget me.” Giggling the two females waves goodbye to Naruto.

 

Making it out of the shop, and walking farther toward the center of Seireitei, he spots one of his clones approaching him. Discreetly, the clone hands him a rolled up sheet of paper. After the clone is a good distance away, Naruto turns into a more secluded ally and unrolls the paper his clone has handed him. Reading the paper, Naruto finds it to be a map of Seireitei with all the major building labeled with various notes concerning divisions and captains along with notes of about the higher administrative figures of Soul Society. Figuring that the Central 46 Chambers would be the best place to start looking for information, Naruto rolls up the map and stealthily makes his way there.

 

In a burst of speed, Naruto disappears from the isolated ally. Traveling in speed barely visible to the eye, Naruto makes it to the Central 46 Chambers without anyone noticing. Approaching the doors to the structure, Naruto can make out intricate sealing mark on the doors meant to keep everyone out. Strangely, Naruto notices, the seal on the door have already been broken; signifying that someone had forcibly broken into the structure already. According to the information gathered, no one is allowed into the Central 46 Chambers.

 

Slipping into the building and into the dim chamber, a heavy scent of blood and death bombarded his senses. Careful to not disturb any of the evidence lying around, Naruto carefully inspects the victims and scan for any clues to who the killer may be. After careful searching, Naruto disappointed finds nothing to who the killer may be. This is very troubling, seeking his oniisama's opinion he asks the ancient spirit fox, “What do you take of this oniisama?”

 

Kyuubi has been pondering the same thing since entering the chamber hums thoughtfully, “humm… there is definitely something bigger going on behind the guise of the execution of that girl. Who ever did this want the girl dead and as quickly as possible. This person must also be someone pretty high up in authority like a captain or something. As we don't know much about them, it will be difficult to decipher who is capable and has motive to do this. I would suggest you find out more about the captains of each division and share this with the cat woman.

 

Erasing the scene of his presence, Naruto slips out of the chamber and makes his way, according to his map, to the area that houses the different Court divisions. Deciding to start from the top and work his way down, Naruto moves toward the first division.

 

After observing the captains for a short while, Naruto has eliminated suspects down to only three people. The first division captain was an elderly man that held a lot of respect and is very wise. He seems much like the late Sandaime back in Konoha and did not seem like the type of character that would plot in hiding. The second division captain Soifon was strict and righteous. Not to mention her unhealthy obsession with Yoruichi, Naruto found after investigating her room, ruled her out of be a suspect. Division Four captain, being the healing specialist, Retsu Unohana a soft spoken and kind woman, much like Hinata, was definitely not a suspect. Captians Kuchiki Byakuya, Komamura Saijin, Tosen Kaname and Hitsugaya Toshiro of divisions six, seven, nine and ten all seem too strict and up tight to be plotting a murder scheme. Naruto counted out Shunsui Kyoraku in being a suspect. No real villain can be as close has he is with his lieutenant; that man cares. Zaraki Kenpachi although rough and violent is to blunt and straight forward to be the scheming type. Ukitake Jushiro is an odd one; he was one of the few that genuinely be against Rukia's execution. That leaves the third division captain Ichimaru Gin, which Naruto felt he disliked since he first saw him. Aizen Sosuke, who by appearance seem to be kind and caring, but his eyes cannot lie. They showed no real concern when speaking of that Rukia girl. Finally, Kurotsuchi Mayuri of division twelve also made it on to his list of suspects. That strange man was mad and his ambition in his research along with how he treats other as nothing but test subjects makes him suspicious character.

 

Storing away all this information, Naruto makes his way away from the central area of Seireitei. Finding a secluded area, Naruto finds himself a nice tree to spend the night hoping that the rest of the group will make it here soon. Come early morning, his rest is suddenly disturbed by an up roar in Seireitei. Looking up he sees a glowing ball of energy pushing and penetrating thought he barrier. Grinning, Naruto says to himself, “finally, about time they got here,” and leaps off the tree to seek the group out. He had urgently needed to speak to Yoruichi about what he had discovered.

 

A.N. I hope this chapter is not too boring. Once again I would like to thank all of those who cared to comment and supply both motivation and constructive suggestions. Bleach dimension will definitely be over soon and I am excited to move on to a new exciting work for Naruto to explore. Comments and suggestion are all welcome, except if you have something mean or discriminatory to say. Comments on how sickening yaoi/slash is will be ignored.

 

A.N. II: I know some of you noticed Tosen is not listed as one of the suspects. Of course we all know that he is involved in the conspiracy, but Naruto does not. All of those he listed are just speculations. He may be all powerful, but he is not infallible.