The Craft of Shinigami: The Craft of Lying
Disclaimer: Nope don’t own Naruto, and I never will. I’m only saying this because I’m at gunpoint. I do own Naruto…I mean I don’t!
Story: Naruto wasn’t an ordinary genin when they started. No, he was Captain of Fifth Squad in the Gotei 13, a shinigami with prodigious talent and a great actor.
Set as an AU.
Spoilers: Eh, not really.
Warnings: ????
Pairings: I don’t know. Maybe I’ll make this into KakaNaru or not, depending.
A/n: I fiddled with the ages to change it up more, just because I have several AUs and I need to keep it interesting.
The Craft of Shinigami
Chapter One: The Craft of Lying
Naruto sighed, fingering the sword at his side. At age sixteen, all of them were supposed to graduate and become shinobi.
Keyword, supposed to.
He plastered on a goofy smile and discreetly held onto his sword, other genin bumbling around him. They had just finished the exam and he had to fail. Only he didn’t.
His job had been simple, fail and catch Mizuki.
How was he to know Mizuki would actually get through to Iruka and allow Naruto to pass the exam?
Later at nighttime, Naruto tracked down Mizuki. He cursed mentally when he realized that Iruka had followed the other chuunin and was confronting him.
“Hold it,” Naruto said, slipping Empress out of its sheath. “You have been a pest.”
The two chuunin snapped their heads to face him, the silver-haired one sneering.
“If it isn’t the monster,” Mizuki spat out.
“No, Mizuki! You mustn’t!” Iruka shouted alarmed.
Naruto laughed, “I’m sorry. Is it about the Kyuubi? I already know about that. But I’m here for your execution, traitor.”
Mizuki growled, “You little bastard!”
Naruto smirked and dodged the shuriken Mizuki threw at him and disappeared. He reappeared right in front of Mizuki and swung Empress. Mizuki’s head was lopped off.
“N-Naruto!” Iruka stared.
“Iruka-sensei, please hand Mizuki over to the Anbu. I will take the Forbidden Scroll to Hokage-sama,” Naruto filched the Forbidden Scroll from Mizuki’s back and hefted it over his. He started walking away when Iruka hesitantly stopped him.
“That wasn’t anything how a genin acts. Naruto, I know you’re not the demon. So what just happened?”
Naruto looked over his shoulder at one of the two men he had always trusted, “I am Uzumaki Naruto. Make no mistake about that. But know me as Shinigami Captain of the fifth division Uzumaki-taicho.”
Naruto flash-stepped to the Hokage with his burden.
“Uzumaki-taicho, I see you have retrieved the Forbidden Scroll,” Sarutobi sighed in relief.
“Hai, Sandaime. Is there anything else I need to do for you tonight?” Naruto tilted his head.
“Iie. You have done most admirably. Just rest tonight and be prepared for the Genin Test tomorrow.”
Naruto nodded and shunpoed away. The Sandaime sighed and wondered if he should change the teams around. Naruto had to pass and he didn’t know if Kakashi would be willing to let it slide this time around.
The next morning, Naruto woke up early and groaned. Another day, another passage of time. He forced himself up and then dressed in the orange clothing he had specifically chosen to look like the idiot. Eating something quickly, he pushed chakra into his feet as he ran to the Academy.
“Get out of the way, Naruto!” Sakura and Ino pushed past each other, trying to reach a seat next to Sasuke.
Naruto hmphed and rolled his eyes.
“Why you –!”
The blond pointed to the other seat next to Sasuke and the two girls began to fight over it, other members of the Sasuke Fan Club joining in.
Naruto snorted and began fingering his sword. Iruka came in and glanced at him with a small discreet smile and then began listing off the teams.
Unfortunately, Naruto was teamed with Sasuke and Sakura. In regards to his mission, it made it easier.
Staying put after everyone else went to go eat lunch, Naruto stared forward and waited for his sensei to come in three hours time. One for the lunch hour and two because his sensei was the infamous Hatake Kakashi.
Soon enough, his teammates trailed into the room as well as the other graduates. Chatter filled the room again, but Naruto ignored it and focused on his sword. It lent him strength and glowed slightly, not really noticeable to anyone. Except one girl did notice and her eyes widened a little.
Naruto felt dread enter him soon after the comfort of his sword faded away, and his eyes snapped open.
Them.
He jogged down to Iruka and whispered, “I have to go, Iruka.”
Iruka twitched in semi-understanding and said rather loudly, “Hurry it up, Naruto. We just had break, you should’ve gone to the bathroom then.”
Naruto let a small smirk cross his face and then he was off. On the way, he exited his gigai.
It was as monstrous as it usually was. Naruto glared down the Hollow and whipped out his sword…no, zanpakuto.
He needed to deal with it fast so he had to use shikai.
“Empress, scream!” his zapakuto lengthened and became a double-sided naginata, the blades sharp and tinted blood red while the handle was blue-grey and sculpted to be like a dragon’s body twisting.
Naruto flashed quickly behind it and struck at its weak spot, severing the mask completely from its face. It let out a roar and then dissipated.
Sheathing his zanpakuto, Naruto turned back and hurried to the Academy. By the time he made it back, everyone but his two disgruntled teammates was gone.
“Where’ve you been, dobe?” Sasuke glared at him.
Naruto shrugged nonchalantly, putting on another smile. He was surprised to see Sakura only staring at him with wide eyes.
“Our sensei’s still not here, huh? We still have half an hour to go,” Naruto commented, staring at the clock.
That half hour went by quickly with no changes from his teammates. One was still glaring at something and Sakura…she was still staring at him.
Kakashi entered the silent room and saw three silent genins. One angry-looking Uchiha, a wide-eyed girl, and a dopey-looking blond.
“Alright, let’s –” Kakashi was cut off.
“Let’s meet in this room, sensei! Why were you late anyway?” Naruto glared at him through slitted eyes.
“Maa, a black cat crossed my path and I had to go the long way around. Okay, let’s start introducing ourselves. Give your likes, dislikes, dreams, whatever.”
“I’m Haruno Sakura…I…” she stared at Naruto and then shook her head. “I like Sasuke and my hobby is to compete with Ino. My goal is to beat her. I dislike…Ino,” Sakura said dully, still glancing back at Naruto but no longer staring.
“I am Uchiha Sasuke. I don’t have any particular likes or dislikes. My dream is my ambition. I will kill a certain someone,” Sasuke eyes narrowed in remembrance.
Naruto meanwhile, had been coming up with all sorts of introductions in his head. He laughed at a lot of them, but there was one introduction that was absolutely truthful. Too bad he couldn’t say it.
‘I am Shinigami Captain of squad five. I like a bunch of my colleagues and subordinates, dislike three traitorous shinigami and all Hollows, my dream was to become captain now it is to become stronger and end the war, and my hobbies are eliminating Hollows, doing paperwork, sparring, serving the Gotei 13 and being on the frontlines.’
“My name’s Uzumaki Naruto! I love ramen!” he knew he was laying it on thick, but for some reason Sakura wasn’t letting it go.
Kakashi didn’t even bother to introduce himself, “Good, now everyone report back at Training Ground 13 tomorrow for your mission. We’ll start off with D-ranks and work our way up.”
Kakashi disappeared with a poof, leaving Naruto to narrow his eyes at the space he had occupied.
No test. Sarutobi had forced Kakashi’s hand.
Naruto sighed, but shrugged mentally. It’s as well. He couldn’t do anything about it and it really didn’t matter.
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Two weeks went by fast, and they did a massive amount of D-ranks. It was tiring and boring, but Naruto managed to deal with it. Unfortunately, Sakura was still staring at him for some reason.
With nothing happening, Naruto was finding it hard to find a way to keep her off his case. He was grateful for the C-rank they were finally allowed to do.
Another unfortunate thing, the person they had to protect annoyed him. He gritted his teeth and bared it, gripping onto his zanpakuto tightly.
And then the incident with the Demon Brothers put them off and they all realize they were on a more difficult mission than they had thought.
They proceeded cautiously, but were still attacked.
“So, the Copy-nin Kakashi has green brats. Just step aside and let me take out the bridge builder. I’ll even let you guys go,” Zabuza smirked through his mask.
A roar was heard throughout the forest.
Naruto froze. No…no. It couldn’t be. There was no way he could just slip off to purify the Hollow now. One, he couldn’t leave them to fight on their own. Two, he would be noticed gone if he did that and they would ask why. Three, he didn’t want to reveal himself.
He hadn’t even considered that the Hollow would go there.
The Hollow made the choice for him as it entered the clearing, roaring. He had no choice but to fight it there and reveal himself. He didn’t get to leave like he should’ve and he was still going to be found out.
It roared again, creating huge waves on the lake as it walked towards them. It even crossed onto the lake, the waves becoming larger.
“W-what is that thing?” Zabuza demanded.
“What thing?” Kakashi squinted in the same direction Zabauza was staring. “I can’t see it. I see a vague outline, but that’s it.”
“Haku, do you see it? That monstrous thing!”
A boy wearing a hunter-nin’s mask appeared next to Zabuza, “I’m sorry, Zabuza-sama. I don’t see anything.”
“I-I see it,” Sakura whimpered, staring at it also. Tazuna nodded, staying quiet.
“What the hell are you people talking about?” Sasuke grunted, glaring at them and the spot to where they kept looking at.
“I also only see a vague outline,” Haku admitted.
“Naruto, you can see it too, right? I’m not crazy,” Sakura looked at Naruto.
Naruto sighed and swallowed a mod pill, his body automatically moving back and then he was in his shihakuso and definitely in spirit form.
“Why is there two of him?” Zabuza stared.
“What are you talking about? Naruto is right here,” Sasuke sneered, Naruto’s gigai right next to him.
Kakashi and Haku were agreeing with Sasuke until Sakura grasped onto Kakashi’s sleeve.
“You have to see him, Kakashi! He’s right there in some kind of robe.”
Kakashi blinked, finally seeing, “I can now. Just when you touched me, my eyes adjusted and I can see that thing and…Naruto?”
Zabuza grabbed a hold of Haku and the senbon user could see it also.
“No time to explain, just go back to where Sasuke and my body is,” Naruto ordered. He whipped out his zanpakuto and awoke it.
“Empress, scream!” it screeched and its shikai form revealed itself again.
Naruto bit his bottom lip, “Alright, let’s do this.”
He dodged the Hollows attacks and then jumped up, releasing his zanpakuto.
“Empress, strike it down! Scream!” his soul slayer crackled, lightning encompassing it before he swung it down and the lightning hit the Hollow head on.
It roared in pain and Naruto quickly shunpoed behind it, immediately seeking to take out his mask.
It roared its finally scream and then it was purified. Naruto floated down to the lake, standing on it. He breathed in a few deep breaths.
“What was that?” Zabuza repeated.
Naruto sighed, “Let me reintroduce myself. I am Shinigami Captain of squad five. I like a bunch of my colleagues and subordinates, dislike three traitorous shinigami and all Hollows, my dream was to become captain now it is to become stronger and end the war, and my hobbies are eliminating Hollows, doing paperwork, sparring, serving the Gotei 13 and being on the frontlines.”
Looks like he did get to use that introduction after all.
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“So…you’re a Death God?” Sakura asked.
Naruto nodded.
“That’s why I started getting this odd feeling from you after I saw your sword glow,” she revealed.
“I don’t understand what the hell are you guys talking about,” Sasuke interrupted.
Naruto ignored him, “I was wondering why you wouldn’t get off my trail. As I explained earlier, I am a captain of the Gotei 13, Soul Society’s royal guard. As such, I am entitled to going back and forth between worlds. As a shinigami, I must protect all pluses, or good souls, and humans from bad souls, or Hollows. I am also supposed to purify Hollows with my zanpakuto, sending their spirits to Soul Society when they have become pure from my zanpakuto. If they were corrupted before they became a Hollow then they go to Hell. Good souls stuck here must have a soul burial performed on them to send them to Soul Society or else too long earth-bound would cause them to become Hollows.”
He explained the basics to them and sweatdropped as he witnessed the fascinated looks everyone had.
“If you’re a shinigami, doesn’t that mean you’re dead?” Tazuna asked.
“Now that is a complicated story to be told on another time. Anything else?”
“What is this Soul Society?” Kakashi asked next.
“It’s what you would call Heaven only not quite. Soul Society is where all good souls go to before their chance to become reincarnated.”
“Oh, what’s a zanpakuto?” Haku asked. Zabuza wasn’t asking anything anymore, but he was definitely listening attentively.
“My soul slayer or what looks to be a sword,” Naruto pulled out his zanpakuto. “This is its normal form, or its sealed form. Then it goes to the next stage shikai and awakens when I call out its name. Empress, scream!”
It became a naginata again, the red blades glinting from the moonlight.
“It specializes in wind and lightning attacks. The next stage is bankai and I shouldn’t really show it.”
“Come on, Naruto! Please?” Sakura’s eyes lit up and this was the first time Naruto had ever seen her act so nice to him.
Naruto twitched. He loved showing off. He didn’t have the same experience the other captains had, and therefore didn’t have the maturity they all had in regards to restraint and patience.
“Fine,” Naruto sighed and led them a little ways away. Getting into shinigami form again, Naruto held his zanpakuto in his hands. Breathing in deeply, Naruto swung it up sharply.
“Bankai,” it crackled worse than it did for the lightning attack and black lightning joined it. A roar was heard and then a black dragon emerged and circled the naginata once before shooting up into the sky. It faced them and then charged in their direction, missing them by inches.
“The second stage of my bankai is much more complicated and destructive. That I can’t show,” Naruto explained.
“Why?” Sakura asked for the rest of them.
“Because it destroys everything.”
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“Sou ka…yes, they have been informed. I have them. Of course. The plan is going smoothly. Don’t worry, the Sharingan will be well-protected. Yes, I have also located the ryouka with high levels of spiritual energy. I’ll be watching over them. I understand,” Naruto stopped talking to the hell butterfly, sensing his pawn listening.
“Ah, Kakashi. How are you tonight?” Naruto asked, sitting nonchalantly on Tazuna’s docks by his house.
“Fine. But what was that about? Did you intend for us to find out about you? And I have a feeling you wanted me to hear that.”
Naruto smirked, “Kakashi-sensei, how very perceptive. You’re right, I did want you to hear that because you’re going to help me protect the Sharingan and keep track of the…people with high-level spiritual energy. Can you guess who they are?”
Kakashi narrowed his eyes, “Sakura and Zabuza.”
“Correct! Tazuna as well. You do too, but yours isn’t as refined. You need to develop more and grow your spirit energy. Haku’s is mediocre and Sasuke’s abysmal. There are only two in Konoha who have strong spiritual energy. There were formerly three, but you know…Itachi went away. And though I intended all of you to find out, I hadn’t planned to do so at the time. But it was an opportunity I couldn’t waste.”
“So the opportune moment came along and you took it, knowing sooner or later you’d have to reveal yourself and that moment had been perfect,” Kakashi concluded.
“Very good, now your first job is to look after Zabuza tonight. I doubt he’ll try to kill Tazuna, but it’s better to be safe. And he’s also probably in a shocked state after what’s happened.”
“Why should I help you?”
“Because. I’m the unknown. You never mess with the unknown. As a Death God, I could easily give out your consequences.”
Kakashi narrowed his eyes at the threat, not really expecting it.
“Good night, sensei. Be sure to be a good pawn,” Naruto said, waving as he left to go back inside.
Started 10/31/07 –Completed 11/1/07
Story: Naruto wasn’t an ordinary genin when they started. No, he was Captain of Fifth Squad in the Gotei 13, a shinigami with prodigious talent and a great actor.
Set as an AU.
Spoilers: Eh, not really.
Warnings: ????
Pairings: I don’t know. Maybe I’ll make this into KakaNaru or not, depending.
A/n: I fiddled with the ages to change it up more, just because I have several AUs and I need to keep it interesting.
The Craft of Shinigami
Chapter One: The Craft of Lying
Naruto sighed, fingering the sword at his side. At age sixteen, all of them were supposed to graduate and become shinobi.
Keyword, supposed to.
He plastered on a goofy smile and discreetly held onto his sword, other genin bumbling around him. They had just finished the exam and he had to fail. Only he didn’t.
His job had been simple, fail and catch Mizuki.
How was he to know Mizuki would actually get through to Iruka and allow Naruto to pass the exam?
Later at nighttime, Naruto tracked down Mizuki. He cursed mentally when he realized that Iruka had followed the other chuunin and was confronting him.
“Hold it,” Naruto said, slipping Empress out of its sheath. “You have been a pest.”
The two chuunin snapped their heads to face him, the silver-haired one sneering.
“If it isn’t the monster,” Mizuki spat out.
“No, Mizuki! You mustn’t!” Iruka shouted alarmed.
Naruto laughed, “I’m sorry. Is it about the Kyuubi? I already know about that. But I’m here for your execution, traitor.”
Mizuki growled, “You little bastard!”
Naruto smirked and dodged the shuriken Mizuki threw at him and disappeared. He reappeared right in front of Mizuki and swung Empress. Mizuki’s head was lopped off.
“N-Naruto!” Iruka stared.
“Iruka-sensei, please hand Mizuki over to the Anbu. I will take the Forbidden Scroll to Hokage-sama,” Naruto filched the Forbidden Scroll from Mizuki’s back and hefted it over his. He started walking away when Iruka hesitantly stopped him.
“That wasn’t anything how a genin acts. Naruto, I know you’re not the demon. So what just happened?”
Naruto looked over his shoulder at one of the two men he had always trusted, “I am Uzumaki Naruto. Make no mistake about that. But know me as Shinigami Captain of the fifth division Uzumaki-taicho.”
Naruto flash-stepped to the Hokage with his burden.
“Uzumaki-taicho, I see you have retrieved the Forbidden Scroll,” Sarutobi sighed in relief.
“Hai, Sandaime. Is there anything else I need to do for you tonight?” Naruto tilted his head.
“Iie. You have done most admirably. Just rest tonight and be prepared for the Genin Test tomorrow.”
Naruto nodded and shunpoed away. The Sandaime sighed and wondered if he should change the teams around. Naruto had to pass and he didn’t know if Kakashi would be willing to let it slide this time around.
The next morning, Naruto woke up early and groaned. Another day, another passage of time. He forced himself up and then dressed in the orange clothing he had specifically chosen to look like the idiot. Eating something quickly, he pushed chakra into his feet as he ran to the Academy.
“Get out of the way, Naruto!” Sakura and Ino pushed past each other, trying to reach a seat next to Sasuke.
Naruto hmphed and rolled his eyes.
“Why you –!”
The blond pointed to the other seat next to Sasuke and the two girls began to fight over it, other members of the Sasuke Fan Club joining in.
Naruto snorted and began fingering his sword. Iruka came in and glanced at him with a small discreet smile and then began listing off the teams.
Unfortunately, Naruto was teamed with Sasuke and Sakura. In regards to his mission, it made it easier.
Staying put after everyone else went to go eat lunch, Naruto stared forward and waited for his sensei to come in three hours time. One for the lunch hour and two because his sensei was the infamous Hatake Kakashi.
Soon enough, his teammates trailed into the room as well as the other graduates. Chatter filled the room again, but Naruto ignored it and focused on his sword. It lent him strength and glowed slightly, not really noticeable to anyone. Except one girl did notice and her eyes widened a little.
Naruto felt dread enter him soon after the comfort of his sword faded away, and his eyes snapped open.
Them.
He jogged down to Iruka and whispered, “I have to go, Iruka.”
Iruka twitched in semi-understanding and said rather loudly, “Hurry it up, Naruto. We just had break, you should’ve gone to the bathroom then.”
Naruto let a small smirk cross his face and then he was off. On the way, he exited his gigai.
It was as monstrous as it usually was. Naruto glared down the Hollow and whipped out his sword…no, zanpakuto.
He needed to deal with it fast so he had to use shikai.
“Empress, scream!” his zapakuto lengthened and became a double-sided naginata, the blades sharp and tinted blood red while the handle was blue-grey and sculpted to be like a dragon’s body twisting.
Naruto flashed quickly behind it and struck at its weak spot, severing the mask completely from its face. It let out a roar and then dissipated.
Sheathing his zanpakuto, Naruto turned back and hurried to the Academy. By the time he made it back, everyone but his two disgruntled teammates was gone.
“Where’ve you been, dobe?” Sasuke glared at him.
Naruto shrugged nonchalantly, putting on another smile. He was surprised to see Sakura only staring at him with wide eyes.
“Our sensei’s still not here, huh? We still have half an hour to go,” Naruto commented, staring at the clock.
That half hour went by quickly with no changes from his teammates. One was still glaring at something and Sakura…she was still staring at him.
Kakashi entered the silent room and saw three silent genins. One angry-looking Uchiha, a wide-eyed girl, and a dopey-looking blond.
“Alright, let’s –” Kakashi was cut off.
“Let’s meet in this room, sensei! Why were you late anyway?” Naruto glared at him through slitted eyes.
“Maa, a black cat crossed my path and I had to go the long way around. Okay, let’s start introducing ourselves. Give your likes, dislikes, dreams, whatever.”
“I’m Haruno Sakura…I…” she stared at Naruto and then shook her head. “I like Sasuke and my hobby is to compete with Ino. My goal is to beat her. I dislike…Ino,” Sakura said dully, still glancing back at Naruto but no longer staring.
“I am Uchiha Sasuke. I don’t have any particular likes or dislikes. My dream is my ambition. I will kill a certain someone,” Sasuke eyes narrowed in remembrance.
Naruto meanwhile, had been coming up with all sorts of introductions in his head. He laughed at a lot of them, but there was one introduction that was absolutely truthful. Too bad he couldn’t say it.
‘I am Shinigami Captain of squad five. I like a bunch of my colleagues and subordinates, dislike three traitorous shinigami and all Hollows, my dream was to become captain now it is to become stronger and end the war, and my hobbies are eliminating Hollows, doing paperwork, sparring, serving the Gotei 13 and being on the frontlines.’
“My name’s Uzumaki Naruto! I love ramen!” he knew he was laying it on thick, but for some reason Sakura wasn’t letting it go.
Kakashi didn’t even bother to introduce himself, “Good, now everyone report back at Training Ground 13 tomorrow for your mission. We’ll start off with D-ranks and work our way up.”
Kakashi disappeared with a poof, leaving Naruto to narrow his eyes at the space he had occupied.
No test. Sarutobi had forced Kakashi’s hand.
Naruto sighed, but shrugged mentally. It’s as well. He couldn’t do anything about it and it really didn’t matter.
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Two weeks went by fast, and they did a massive amount of D-ranks. It was tiring and boring, but Naruto managed to deal with it. Unfortunately, Sakura was still staring at him for some reason.
With nothing happening, Naruto was finding it hard to find a way to keep her off his case. He was grateful for the C-rank they were finally allowed to do.
Another unfortunate thing, the person they had to protect annoyed him. He gritted his teeth and bared it, gripping onto his zanpakuto tightly.
And then the incident with the Demon Brothers put them off and they all realize they were on a more difficult mission than they had thought.
They proceeded cautiously, but were still attacked.
“So, the Copy-nin Kakashi has green brats. Just step aside and let me take out the bridge builder. I’ll even let you guys go,” Zabuza smirked through his mask.
A roar was heard throughout the forest.
Naruto froze. No…no. It couldn’t be. There was no way he could just slip off to purify the Hollow now. One, he couldn’t leave them to fight on their own. Two, he would be noticed gone if he did that and they would ask why. Three, he didn’t want to reveal himself.
He hadn’t even considered that the Hollow would go there.
The Hollow made the choice for him as it entered the clearing, roaring. He had no choice but to fight it there and reveal himself. He didn’t get to leave like he should’ve and he was still going to be found out.
It roared again, creating huge waves on the lake as it walked towards them. It even crossed onto the lake, the waves becoming larger.
“W-what is that thing?” Zabuza demanded.
“What thing?” Kakashi squinted in the same direction Zabauza was staring. “I can’t see it. I see a vague outline, but that’s it.”
“Haku, do you see it? That monstrous thing!”
A boy wearing a hunter-nin’s mask appeared next to Zabuza, “I’m sorry, Zabuza-sama. I don’t see anything.”
“I-I see it,” Sakura whimpered, staring at it also. Tazuna nodded, staying quiet.
“What the hell are you people talking about?” Sasuke grunted, glaring at them and the spot to where they kept looking at.
“I also only see a vague outline,” Haku admitted.
“Naruto, you can see it too, right? I’m not crazy,” Sakura looked at Naruto.
Naruto sighed and swallowed a mod pill, his body automatically moving back and then he was in his shihakuso and definitely in spirit form.
“Why is there two of him?” Zabuza stared.
“What are you talking about? Naruto is right here,” Sasuke sneered, Naruto’s gigai right next to him.
Kakashi and Haku were agreeing with Sasuke until Sakura grasped onto Kakashi’s sleeve.
“You have to see him, Kakashi! He’s right there in some kind of robe.”
Kakashi blinked, finally seeing, “I can now. Just when you touched me, my eyes adjusted and I can see that thing and…Naruto?”
Zabuza grabbed a hold of Haku and the senbon user could see it also.
“No time to explain, just go back to where Sasuke and my body is,” Naruto ordered. He whipped out his zanpakuto and awoke it.
“Empress, scream!” it screeched and its shikai form revealed itself again.
Naruto bit his bottom lip, “Alright, let’s do this.”
He dodged the Hollows attacks and then jumped up, releasing his zanpakuto.
“Empress, strike it down! Scream!” his soul slayer crackled, lightning encompassing it before he swung it down and the lightning hit the Hollow head on.
It roared in pain and Naruto quickly shunpoed behind it, immediately seeking to take out his mask.
It roared its finally scream and then it was purified. Naruto floated down to the lake, standing on it. He breathed in a few deep breaths.
“What was that?” Zabuza repeated.
Naruto sighed, “Let me reintroduce myself. I am Shinigami Captain of squad five. I like a bunch of my colleagues and subordinates, dislike three traitorous shinigami and all Hollows, my dream was to become captain now it is to become stronger and end the war, and my hobbies are eliminating Hollows, doing paperwork, sparring, serving the Gotei 13 and being on the frontlines.”
Looks like he did get to use that introduction after all.
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“So…you’re a Death God?” Sakura asked.
Naruto nodded.
“That’s why I started getting this odd feeling from you after I saw your sword glow,” she revealed.
“I don’t understand what the hell are you guys talking about,” Sasuke interrupted.
Naruto ignored him, “I was wondering why you wouldn’t get off my trail. As I explained earlier, I am a captain of the Gotei 13, Soul Society’s royal guard. As such, I am entitled to going back and forth between worlds. As a shinigami, I must protect all pluses, or good souls, and humans from bad souls, or Hollows. I am also supposed to purify Hollows with my zanpakuto, sending their spirits to Soul Society when they have become pure from my zanpakuto. If they were corrupted before they became a Hollow then they go to Hell. Good souls stuck here must have a soul burial performed on them to send them to Soul Society or else too long earth-bound would cause them to become Hollows.”
He explained the basics to them and sweatdropped as he witnessed the fascinated looks everyone had.
“If you’re a shinigami, doesn’t that mean you’re dead?” Tazuna asked.
“Now that is a complicated story to be told on another time. Anything else?”
“What is this Soul Society?” Kakashi asked next.
“It’s what you would call Heaven only not quite. Soul Society is where all good souls go to before their chance to become reincarnated.”
“Oh, what’s a zanpakuto?” Haku asked. Zabuza wasn’t asking anything anymore, but he was definitely listening attentively.
“My soul slayer or what looks to be a sword,” Naruto pulled out his zanpakuto. “This is its normal form, or its sealed form. Then it goes to the next stage shikai and awakens when I call out its name. Empress, scream!”
It became a naginata again, the red blades glinting from the moonlight.
“It specializes in wind and lightning attacks. The next stage is bankai and I shouldn’t really show it.”
“Come on, Naruto! Please?” Sakura’s eyes lit up and this was the first time Naruto had ever seen her act so nice to him.
Naruto twitched. He loved showing off. He didn’t have the same experience the other captains had, and therefore didn’t have the maturity they all had in regards to restraint and patience.
“Fine,” Naruto sighed and led them a little ways away. Getting into shinigami form again, Naruto held his zanpakuto in his hands. Breathing in deeply, Naruto swung it up sharply.
“Bankai,” it crackled worse than it did for the lightning attack and black lightning joined it. A roar was heard and then a black dragon emerged and circled the naginata once before shooting up into the sky. It faced them and then charged in their direction, missing them by inches.
“The second stage of my bankai is much more complicated and destructive. That I can’t show,” Naruto explained.
“Why?” Sakura asked for the rest of them.
“Because it destroys everything.”
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“Sou ka…yes, they have been informed. I have them. Of course. The plan is going smoothly. Don’t worry, the Sharingan will be well-protected. Yes, I have also located the ryouka with high levels of spiritual energy. I’ll be watching over them. I understand,” Naruto stopped talking to the hell butterfly, sensing his pawn listening.
“Ah, Kakashi. How are you tonight?” Naruto asked, sitting nonchalantly on Tazuna’s docks by his house.
“Fine. But what was that about? Did you intend for us to find out about you? And I have a feeling you wanted me to hear that.”
Naruto smirked, “Kakashi-sensei, how very perceptive. You’re right, I did want you to hear that because you’re going to help me protect the Sharingan and keep track of the…people with high-level spiritual energy. Can you guess who they are?”
Kakashi narrowed his eyes, “Sakura and Zabuza.”
“Correct! Tazuna as well. You do too, but yours isn’t as refined. You need to develop more and grow your spirit energy. Haku’s is mediocre and Sasuke’s abysmal. There are only two in Konoha who have strong spiritual energy. There were formerly three, but you know…Itachi went away. And though I intended all of you to find out, I hadn’t planned to do so at the time. But it was an opportunity I couldn’t waste.”
“So the opportune moment came along and you took it, knowing sooner or later you’d have to reveal yourself and that moment had been perfect,” Kakashi concluded.
“Very good, now your first job is to look after Zabuza tonight. I doubt he’ll try to kill Tazuna, but it’s better to be safe. And he’s also probably in a shocked state after what’s happened.”
“Why should I help you?”
“Because. I’m the unknown. You never mess with the unknown. As a Death God, I could easily give out your consequences.”
Kakashi narrowed his eyes at the threat, not really expecting it.
“Good night, sensei. Be sure to be a good pawn,” Naruto said, waving as he left to go back inside.
Started 10/31/07 –Completed 11/1/07