Naruto Fan Fiction / Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Never Too Late ❯ Those who were Reincarnated ( Chapter 2 )

His blue eyes scanned the body that rested under the white sheets. Guilt welled up in his chest as he watched the chest of the man rise up and down. It continued to rise as the machines keeping an eye on the unconscious human. His fists tightened as the memory of how a once strong man landed up in the hospital bed in the present time.

 

`This is all my fault.' Naruto thought. `I'm sorry my friend, you are my second mistake. I failed Masaki and I failed you…'

 

`How many times have I told you that it wasn't your fault?'

Blue eyes stayed on brunette that was lying on the hospital cot. His hand reached out to brush a strand of hair from the pale face and sighed.

 

`You couldn't be everywhere at once Naruto.'

 

`Then what good is the Kage Bushin if I can't?' Naruto turned to the translucent body of his friend. `Tell me…why is it that those things…those Hollows got you when I was right there Neji?'

 

The paled eyed Hyuuga turned from those beautiful sad blue eyes and looked down at his body that was lying all but motionless on the hospital bed. Yes…he remembered that day vividly. The day he got his memories of Konoha back and the day he went into this god forsaken coma.

 

He was walking home from visiting his cousin Hinata at her new job. She had become a geisha at the new artisan house called Caged Vixens. At first he was skeptical and when he entered thought it was just a normal whore house. Neji's thoughts were soon put to rest when he saw another geisha being harassed by a man who wanted nothing but sex, not art. The Matron of the house immediately got the security guard to `escort' the man out and effectively banned him from entering the house ever again. He had gone to the Matron and inquired about his cousin Hinata. The woman had smiled and told Neji that she was tending to the owner in a private room. This had caused the young Hyuuga to become alarmed. The Matron just smiled seeing his fear and quickly escorted him to the reserved room. Upon entering, Neji felt his breath leave him as beautiful blue eyes turned to stare up into his.

 

His eyes had taken in the scene before him. The female Hyuuga was beside the blonde owner. She was dressed in an elegant white kimono with highlights of purple and a blue sash. Her hair was pinned up with beautiful amethyst and ivory clips while her face held little to no makeup. In front of her was an obsidian tea set, steam rising up from the still hot tea. The owner was seated against the opened rice paper looking out into the exquisite garden. Cherry blossoms fluttered into the room with the gentle breeze.

 

“Neji-kun! Come join us.” Hinata had said. Neji was gentle pushed into the room by the Matron, who bowed and left the room closing the door. Neji numbly walked toward the two, watching as the blue eyes traced the blossoms movements in the air before gently settling into his tea cup. Neji sat beside his cousin and watched as she carefully poured him tea. “Neji-kun, this is Naruto-san. He owns and runs Caged Vixens.” Hinata explained. “He makes sure that we are not treated or respected poorly.”

 

Pale eyes watched as his sweet cousin turned to smile at the blonde. The blue eyed man smiled back and gave a small nod to Neji. The young boy seemed to understand and nodded back. “Arigao gozaimasu, Naruto-san.” When the blonde waved at him, Neji frowned. “Why…”

 

“Naruto-san's voice box was injured in an accident Neji-kun.” Hinata supplied. The younger man watched as the blonde reached up and untied his unusual bandana. When he turned to put it down, Neji saw the scars on Naruto's neck. After that, the Hyuuga male remembered bits and piece of the small talk they had…but everything else is blank. That night…when Neji was attacked, his memories of Konoha were unlocked. Naruto had explained to him that the near death experience had probably done that, just as Neji's returning chakra gave him an astral form. This form was only visible to those with high spirit energy or trained chakra.

 

`Did you ever find the hollow that attacked me?' Neji's astral project asked.

 

`No…' Naruto said dismally. `I will find it though…and I will kill it.' He brushed the dark hair away from the real Neji's face as the medical equipment continued to beep.

 

`I know you will Naruto…' The Hyuuga said. `Until then, I can enjoy the pampering I've been getting.' He said trying to lighten the mood. It seemed to work when Naruto grinned.

 

`So you're boyfriend has been to see you more often lately then.' Naruto stated more than he asked. He sniffed the air a bit as Neji blushed a bit. `And I suppose I'm cutting in on his visiting time.' The pale eyed projection raised an eyebrow, but stopped when the hospital door opened.

 

Naruto watched as Neji's boyfriend entered with a small vase with a branch of cherry blossoms on it. The dark haired boyfriend looked at the blonde and bowed. Naruto smiled and nodded.

 

“Good afternoon Uzumaki-san.” The newcomer said.

 

The older man smiled and pulled out his blackberry and typed a reply on it.

 

`Good afternoon, Uchiha Itachi.'

 

----

 

Ichigo gazed out the window of the classroom. His mind has been wandering all day. His thoughts were on his newly known cousin Naruto. There was something about the man that is off. Forget the fact that the man can see and fight hollows, but the fact that his rich blue eyes seem to hold a weight. A pressure that is only gained when one experienced a tragedy…Ichigo should know he gained that look when his mother died. But it was more than that. Naruto's eyes held such wisdom and sadness…it was as if he had seen the end of the world over and over again.

 

“Kurosaki-san!” Orihime called as she bounced in front of his desk. Ichigo blinked and looked up. “The bell rang five minutes ago.”

 

“Did it?” He lethargically got up and grabbed his bag. He turned to see Chad waiting for him with Tatsuki.

 

“Man Ichigo…you were really out of it.” Tatsuki said as they headed out of the school.

 

“Sorry…” Ichigo murmured as he walked beside Chad. “But I was just thinking of my cousin.”

 

“So troublesome…” A voice said from behind Ichigo as they walked out of the school.

 

Orihime giggled and shook her head. “Everything is troublesome to you Shikamaru!”

 

“He wouldn't be Shikamaru if he didn't.” A pink haired girl said as she walked up with another boy. “Right Sasuke?”

 

“Hn…” The boy behind her replied as he looked at Ichigo. “So is the strawberry worried that his new cousin is going to out due him or something.”

 

The orange-haired boy sighed and shook his head. Usually the raven-haired boy pissed him off, but Ichigo was feeling off today. He just stared at Sasuke and raised an eyebrow.

 

“And if he does…then we would definitely know that he is out of your league.” He replied shaking his head.

 

“Well at least I am not the punk loner in school.” Sasuke replied, pulling Sakura toward his body.

 

Ichigo raised an eyebrow and was about to retort when a loud revving cut him off. Everyone looked up to see a motorcycle racing down the street toward the gates of the school. The dark green motorcycle with orange designs sped into the school grounds. It popped a wheelie as it came closer to the group. Shikimaru and Chad jumped back as the motorcycle's front tire landed and stopped right in front of them.

 

“Nice bike…” Tatsuki whispered to Orihime. “Crazy driver.” The busty teenager grinned and nodded.

 

“What the hell…” Sasuke said. The driver sat straight up and turned to them lifting up his visor to reveal the brightest blue eyes.

 

Those familiar eyes snapped Ichigo out of his stupor causing him to step up to the motorcyclist and frown. “You didn't need to freak them out.”

 

The blue eyes brighten in amusement as he pulled out his blackberry and typed a reply.

 

`You are just mad because you were freaked too.'

 

“I am not!” Ichigo countered with a glare. “Either way, you should have told me that you were coming to pick me up Naruto.”

 

Sasuke's eyes widened at the name. He's heard that name before. Dreams that have longed stopped haunting him. Sasuke swore he would never hear that name again. His eyes snapped up as the rider reached up to remove his helmet. He held his breath in anticipation. If the face matched the name…then Sasuke was going to do something unlike him.

 

Sakura and Shikimaru were having similar thoughts. Sakura bit her lip as the name brought pain to her heart as if she just lost someone important. She reached up and grabbed her shirt in front of her chest. She could not place a face to name, but she knew that the name was important in some way. On the other hand, Shikimaru was staring at the rider. He knew that name from dreams that haunted as well as his friend Neji. The young Hyuuga had spoken of a Naruto, who watched over his cousin in her knew job. He was told that Naruto was someone that he could trust. After all, in the end it was Naruto who saved Neji from certain death even though the young Hyuuga is now comatose…it's better than the alternative.

 

Chad and Orihime watched as Naruto removed his helmet. Blonde tresses fell from the helmet just above his shoulders. Bright blue, amused, eyes smiled at them as the figure turned to the group. Naruto was wearing a pair of dark blue jeans with an orange shirt and a white trench coat that ended mid-calf. Chad noted with a curious feeling that the only thing out of place on the man was the unusual blue bandana with a metal plate around his neck. He also saw the way Naruto gestured to Ichigo.

 

“Why isn't he talking?” Sasuke asked rudely.

 

“He can't.” Ichigo replied.

 

“Why!” Sasuke growled not liking how the face of the older man chilled him to the bone.

 

“Because he can't!” The orange haired boy shouted. He calmed instantly as Naruto reached over and put a hand on his shoulder. The older man had this uncanny ability to calm him with just a simple gesture. Sure it scared Ichigo a bit, but Naruto only did it when Ichigo should think before he talks. Ichigo sighed and looked at Sasuke as Naruto gestured to his neck. “Naruto had an accident a while back, it damaged his voice box. He can't talk.”

 

Sasuke was going to say more when Sakura interrupted him. “We're sorry…” She apologized to Naruto.

 

The blonde waved her off with a smile and gave her a `thumbs up'. She giggled and nodded.

 

“So how does he communicate then?” Chad asked.

 

“Sign language…” Shikimaru answered stepping up to Naruto. “And his phone. Am I right Uzumaki-san?”

 

Naruto looked at Shikimaru questionably.

 

“Neji was my best friend. He said he could trust you and if he does, so do I.” The student said. Naruto nodded and signed to Shikimaru that he just saw Neji. “Yeah…I tend to go a bit later to let Itachi have his time with him.”

 

Ichigo raised an eyebrow at them. Naruto turned and typed that he would tell Ichigo later. He then typed he wanted to be introduced to his friends. The orange-haired boy frowned at having to do this, but did it….grudgingly.

 

“Naruto this is Sasuke, Sakura, Tatsuki, Chad, and Inoue.” The teen said curtly. “Guys, this is my mother's relative Naruto.”

 

The blonde nodded to Sasuke and Sakura. He grinned at Tatsuki when she raised her hand and said `Yo'. It was a familiar gesture that reminded Naruto of his old one-eyed sensei. He then knew that Tatsuki was not someone to confront. With Chad he reached out and shook the tall teen's hand nodding at the strong grip. But with Orihime he stopped. He stared at her as she smiled at him. Naruto's eyes showed him a person who was long dead. Her long red-hair and beautiful smiled burned in his mind. Only one woman he knew had that kind of red hair.

 

Kushina Uzumaki's image was overlapping Orihime.

 

Naruto felt his heart clench as his mind raced through theories that he has learned over all the years. Out of everyone, Naruto has never seen his father or mother reincarnated. Sure he's seen the first and second Hokages…they were Tsunade's relatives. Hell even the old man Sarutobi was still alive and kicking with Asuma and Konohamaru, but never once did Naruto find his dad or mother. Kyuubi had theorized perhaps it was because Naruto was still alive. Those who were reincarnated…their whole families were wiped out of existence. But Naruto lived. The last Namikaze-Uzumaki child. He stared down at her with a frown. `I'll protect her Kyuubi…I swear it. I'll protect them all.'

 

`I know kit…I know…' The fox whispered as Orihime put a hand on Naruto's arm.

 

“Naruto-san are you alright?” She asked. Naruto smiled and nodded. He quickly typed on the blackberry and showed her. She read it out loud so everyone could hear. “'You look like my mother, Inoue-san. She was a very beautiful person like you are.' Aw! You are a very handsome person yourself Naruto-san!” She giggled and hugged him.

 

Naruto was shocked for a moment before he smiled and hugged her back. When she let go, he turned to Ichigo and point to the motorcycle as a signal to say let's go. He tossed his descendant the helmet and climbed back onto the motorcycle.

 

“I'm not riding with you.” Ichigo said looking down at the helmet. The blonde looked up and glared at him. “No! You're a crazy driver!” More glaring ensued. “ARGH! Fine!” Ichigo turned to his friends. “I'll see you guys tomorrow, if I don't die.” He turned to Naruto and pulled on the helmet before climbing onto the motorcycle. The blonde pulled out a pair of sunglasses and put them on with a grin. He gave the others a salute as he revved the engine before leaving with Ichigo.

 

“Wow…” Sakura said. “What a strange man…”

 

“I think he was pleasant.” Orihime said.

 

“You would…” Sasuke snorted.

 

Tatsuki, Chad, and Shikimaru shook their heads at the three.

 

Not too far away from them, a young blue haired boy narrowed his eyes behind his glasses. There was something off with that blonde man. His spiritual energy was like none he has ever seen. Wild, but tame…vast but minimal…a contradiction in itself. It was like the energy's fluctuations were from lifetimes of training and the personality of the host. This was something to look into.

 

----

 

He snorted a bit as he ran his hair through his white hair. When he had gotten the text from the brat a couple days ago when he was visiting the comatose teen, but he didn't think the brat was serious. But standing in front of him was the blonde glaring at him, silently demanding he come to dinner to be introduced to the Kurosaki Family as a `long time' friend. Between him and the blonde…long time was an overstatement.

 

“Naruto…” He sighed. “I've never done dinner before with your descendants…so why would you want me to now?”

 

`Because this time it's different.' The muted man signed as he sat with his guest. `Masaki's oldest, Ichigo, has been fighting the hollows that once terrorized the Great Countries. He is succeeding in what I have failed and I want you to meet him. Please Jiraiya…'

 

Daiki `Jiraiya' Yamabito, was a writer that lived in the greater area of Karakura. Though his name is Daiki, he prefers to be called Jiraiya by his closest friends. He wrote love novels…but Naruto, the brat, considered them porn. Anyway, he was just a normal writer when one day he bumped into the handsome and mysterious blonde haired Uzumaki. There was just something about Naruto's aura that drew him in. It made him follow and study him. Sure Jiraiya knew he was being a stalker, but at the time he didn't care. It was a few years after Jiraiya met the blonde did Naruto give him a choice.

 

`You have a past Jiraiya…one that holds a great deal of importance. You have been my confidant and friend within these last few centuries and it's time to awaken again.' He was told. Naruto told him if he wanted to learn about the past, to meet him in the park the next day at midnight.

 

That day was Jiraiya's twenty-fifth birthday.

 

It was that night that Jiraiya's present self had a dream of his past selves. He had talked to them and learned that when he was reincarnated, Naruto would find him around the age of twenty-five to thirty and unlock his memories. Just before the present Jiraiya woke up he met his true-self, the one from Konoha. It was there he learned the truth.

 

“Naruto has been alone from the time Konohagakure fell. He originally planned to just watch over everyone and live alone with the kitsune that now inhabit Konoha. But a hollow had attacked a town where my reincarnation had resided. He was exhausted from fighting all that morning and need help. He made a choice to unlock my memories or die and let the Hollow slaughter the village. He regrets the choice and each generation I am reborn in he allows us to live a normal life for the first twenty or so years. If by then we have a family, he stays alone for until the time of the next reincarnation, if not he gives us a choice in whether or not we would want to remember the past.”

 

The present Jiraiya frowned. He didn't want to know all this, but there was something about how sadly the Sannin spoke that begged him to listen on.

 

“If you choose to remember, then all of our past selves will merge into one. You will still have your life, but you will have the memories of the rest of us. If you don't wish to remember, then Naruto erases your memory of him and protects you from the shadows as he has been with all of his loved ones.”

 

“It's just him?” The present Jiraiya asked.

 

The Konoha Ninja smiled sadly. “Though the kitsune have human forms, they are not the ones he loves. Sure he cares for them but they all know his past and respect him enough to take care of Konoha when he leaves to protect us. He has been alive well into the centuries and has been alone a majority of it. Sasuke, Tsunade, Iruka, Sakura, the Rookie Nine,” The past Jiraiya paused. “And even Kakashi…he helps their reincarnations lead normal lives.”

 

“How so?” The younger Jiraiya asked.

 

“Money, protection from hollows as well as humans, and should you be injured or ill and are at the hospital at an earlier age he will heal you. Naruto is an angel that is chained to earth and to keep himself sane he will do anything. That includes helping us into relationships to have families.” Jiraiya, the Mountain Sannin, said. He shook his head a bit. “Even for Kakashi Hatake, his former lover.”

 

“Former?”

 

“Kakashi was the last person to see Naruto during the war. We were all dead…but Kakashi survived long enough to say goodbye to Naruto. Kakashi...” Jiraiya smiles sadly. “He is a special case. Naruto dares not interfere with his life unless he is in dire danger. If Naruto had a choice, it would have been Kakashi remembering not us.” The Ninja said. “Please…think about this seriously because even though Naruto is thousands of years old he is just a lonely boy who needs…no wants…the company of his friends and family.”

 

With that the present self had woken up and knew exactly what he wanted to do. He didn't even wait until the evening. Jiraiya had gone straight to the park. Naruto was waiting there, lying on a low tree branch of a cherry blossom tree, relaxing. Jiraiya had surprised him by kicking the tree and shouting that he wanted to remember.

 

Now here he was, looking at the beautiful blonde ten years after that day being asked to meet his descendant. “Really Naruto…unless there is something spectacular about this kid, I'm not going.”

 

`He has Kyuubi's blood inside him.' Naruto signed without hesitation.

 

This caused Jiraiya to become confused and blink at him before his jaw dropped. “WHAT!”

 

`It was before Masaki died. Ichigo had a case of Anemia and neither she nor Isshin's blood was compatible. She had called me out when I came to watch over them for the night and begged me to be the donor. I agreed and when they extracted the blood, Kyuubi told me that his chakra was so deeply laced with my blood that it would heal Ichigo from the disease.' The blonde had put this in word format on his phone instead of signing.

 

“Naruto…” Jiraiya sighed running his hand over his face. “I guess I have to come now don't I?”

 

`Pretty much.' Naruto signed with a smirk. 'So get cleaned up.'

 

The white haired man's eyebrow twitched. “Somehow I knew it was going to be tonight. Thanks for the warning you brat.”

 

----

 

Rukia stared down from roof of the building across the street at the blonde man. Naruto was an apartment, talking with some unknown white haired man. About what, she couldn't hear, but apparently it had sent the white haired man back into his room with a scowl. She frowned when the blonde turned to the window and smiled up toward her.

 

Ever since she had seen him when Ichigo visited his mother's grave, Naruto has been living with Ichigo. This made it difficult for her because she had to hide from him when she knows he senses her within the house. But it is said that Naruto has helped three shinigami escape into the real world. Because of this he was titled a traitor in the Soul Society. Rukia never understood why...but Naruto disappeared soon after she had joined the Thirteenth Division. She was never told why he left or what caused him to leave. Not even her brother, who had a close friendship with Naruto, knew nor did he speak about it.

 

She looked down at the apartment building again to see the white haired man was back and opening the sliding door that Naruro was sitting beside.

 

“He says if you want to stalk him properly, don't daze off.” The man said with a smirk. “But in light of that, he thought you might be hungry so he made some snacks.”

 

Frowning, Rukia jumped down to the balcony and walked into the huge apartment. The man that had opened the window went to go help Naruto with the drinks leaving her to look around. She glanced around and spotted a glass case with items that Naruto is known for in there. Walking to the case, she silently opened the door. There was another bandana in there with a black cloth beside it. Rukia reached out to touch them when a painful grip encircled her wrist stopping her hand from touching either. Turning she looked up to see Naruto looking at her with an unreadable expression.

 

“I wouldn't touch those if I were you missy.” The white haired man said as he put the tray of drinks on the coffee table beside the tray of assorted snacks. “Naruto is a bit overprotective when it comes to anything in that case.”

 

Rukia glanced at the white haired man as Naruto released her and closed the glass door, staring longingly at the bandana and the black material. “What are they?”

 

“Memories of his former lover….”

 

“Who are you?” Rukia asked not wanting to know about a personal subject.

 

“My name is Daiki Yamabito, but I go by Jiraiya.” The other man said. “I would have thought a shinigami would have known about Naruto's past a bit to know me.”

 

“Naruto tended to be a bit on the secretive side with me. I can't say the same for those older than me….” Rukia replied. “He left when I had entered the Thirteenth Division.”

 

“Ah…I see.” Jiraiya looked at the still man before going to him and placing a hand on his back, right between the shoulders. “Naruto, come sit down.”

 

The blonde made a whine-like noise as he was being escorted to the leather couch. He sat down and reached for the glass of water on the tray. After taking a gulp, he looked at Rukia with a raised eyebrow. He quickly pulled out his cell phone and typed in a text.

 

“Tell me, what is the sister of Kuchiki Byakuya doing in my descendant's house?”

 

Of course Naruto would ask that. Everyone knew his story…or at least this part. His way of life had fallen, but inside him was a demon fox that had expanded his life span. But there was hope for Naruto…a distant relative had survived the destruction of his village. Rukia was told that for the last three thousand years or so, Naruto has been watching over his descendants, making sure no harm would come to them. It's a surprise to her to find out that Ichigo descend from that bloodline.

 

“Ichigo is your descendant?” She asked curiously. “How?”

 

“Masaki…” Jiraiya answered. “Masaki was from Naruto's bloodline.”

 

Realization dawned on Rukia. “You were there when she died…”

 

“I was mourning my village that week and had just set out to find Masaki when that happened. I could not save Masaki, but I saved Ichigo and pulled them both out of the river.” Naruto typed. “Now answer my question.”

 

Not wanting to anger Naruto, Rukia answered. “I was sent here to exterminate a hollow, but complications arose and Ichigo got in the way. I saved him, but in order to defeat the hollow I had to give Ichigo my shinigami powers.”

 

Naruto looked at Jiraiya and signed a bit too quickly for Rukia to understand. The white haired man shook his head.

 

“Even if it was a life or death situation, I don't think they would have arisen. Though he has it, it seems it would only boost his reiatsu.” Jiraiya said, confusing Rukia. The young shinigami watched as Naruto signed again. “Is he really?” The novelist said with interesting. “Well then, that's a new spin on things. I'd have to actually examine Ichigo to see.”

 

Naruto nodded and stood up. Jiraiya following Naruto's lead went to close the sliding door and grabbed his keys.

 

“Where are you going?” Rukia asked as she followed Naruto out of the apartment as Jiraiya closed up.

 

“Naruto has invited me to the Kurosaki home for dinner.” Jiraiya said. “I'm sure you'll be able to hear everything from the closet of the boy's room.” He gave the young woman a sly grin as they began toward the Kurosaki home.

 

---

 

 

 

Thanks to all who are reviewing. I just recently started Posting this on adultfanfiction.net, so you know there going to be yaoi in it. I would like to also thank my very good friend Jaxxia7, because she gives me ideas….especially for Jiraiya-sama! Lol! On one last note. College has been hectic and my car got towed on Monday, so I have a hearing in July 10th to contest the ticket I got, as well as a bunch of college work to do. But one good thing is I gots me a new tablet! Yay!...

 

Wacom Tablet = Fanarts for Never too Late! SWEET DEAL!