The Shinobi Visitor

Chapter 8 - Another Ryoka...?

(HSD Universe)

-Survivors' Island-

He can hear the birds chirping over him and the waterfall behind him. Naruto felt bits of water splashing against the back of his jacket as he kept his steady breath as he sat in a meditative state with his eyes closed. His sword, Tenkaichi, lay flat on his knees with perfect balance and no lingering signs of movement.

The dense trees surrounds Naruto with only the sunlight piercing through the small leaves on the branches. Unbeknownst to the ninja, multiple movements spurred behind the wild with the only hint of their existence is the subtle movement of leaves and bushes. When the movements tactically positioned themselves around the Leaf Shinobi, they charged at the latter. They revealed themselves to be Takashi, Rei, Saya, Kotha, Asami and lastly, Saeko.

Naruto's eyes snapped open as he swiftly grabbed Tenkaichi's hilt with his sword-arm and back-rolled to dodge the collaborative attack. His cold gaze was upon his disciples as Naruto stood to his full height before he stabbed Tenkaichi into the ground, forming cracks as a result. The ninja smirked as he took a taijutsu stance before motioning his opponents to bring it on, which they happily obliged by rushing towards him.

As the shinobi watch his friends charged toward him, Naruto reminisced about that fateful day two months ago.

(Flashback Starts)

-(Five Weeks Ago)-

"Come again?" asked Naruto with his arms crossed and Saeko standing next to him. In front of him were Takashi and the gang, all of them with determined faces. The gang was present and standing in front of a large waterfall with dense trees around them and the sun setting

"Are you deaf?! We want you to train us!" Saya demanded as she stomped her right foot. She sported a yellow T-shirt with a long brown skirt that reached her ankles and brown sandals.

Takashi glanced over his right shoulder. "Saya… Remember: we need to ask him politely," He then faced Naruto again, "Please train us in Ninjutsu."

"No," was the answer from the Leaf Shinobi.

Now it was Rei's turn. "Why not?" Naruto looked at the buxom spear master.

"Like I said before back in the city, your chakra circulatory system and pathways are too underdeveloped. It would take a lot more time for you guys than my people back home."

Kotha slumped his shoulders as a result of his destroyed hope, "This sucks." Takashi and the others were feeling down as well.

Naruto felt a hand on his shoulder and looked at Saeko who gave him a pleading look and sighed in response. "However…" Everyone looked at the ninja with renewed hope. "I can train you guys in Taijutsu along with stealth and tactics."

"Really?!" exclaimed Takashi and Kotha happily.

Naruto nodded and the teenagers cheered with Rei's parents, Takashi's mother, Shizuka and Alice smiling. "But…" the cheering stopped, "I will not make it easy on you guys. I'll use the same training methods I went through when I was younger and it won't be pretty." He heard gulps from his friends, "By the time I leave, you guys will be stronger, faster, and more durable than anyone on this planet… except me, of course." He grunted in surprise when Saeko jumped on his back and caught her by reflex. "I assume you want in on the training too, right?"

Saeko giggled, "Of course." Everyone else laughed, but Naruto knew the kind of hell he will bring upon the teenagers and it will be sweet. However Saeko thought about something else and asked her boyfriend, "Naruto…" He looked at the purple-hair swordswoman. "What did Zabuza mean that night? When he said about your chakra level being low?"

Naruto heard the cheering ceased and found everyone looking at him with interest. Then Kotha spoke up, "Man, I completely forgot about that. What was Zabuza talking about?"

A blanket of silence came among them as Naruto stayed quiet with the wind blowing against him. Finally, he sighed, "The reason my chakra level was low is because I was suppressing it at that time." Everyone's eyes widen including Saeko as she slid off her boyfriend's back.

"Why were you suppressing your chakra level?" asked Asami.

"Did you guys feel the air tighten around you when Zabuza released his chakra to full strength?" asked Naruto calmly. He received surprised looks from everybody. "I thought so."

"What do you mean, Naruto? Please tell us," Takashi said with Myra and the others agreeing.

Naruto closed his eyes before he opened them again and a serious look took over. His friends and girlfriend flinched under the look, "If you guys and the survivors had stayed when I released my chakra back to full strength, you all would've…"

"What?" asked Shizuka tilting her head.

"Died." Silence grasped the teenagers and parents once again as they processed what the superhuman shinobi had just told them. Naruto continued, "Even as we speak, I'm suppressing my chakra level whenever I'm around you guys or the rest of the people." He hadn't heard any comment from either of his friends, so Naruto walked past them, "Training starts tomorrow at 6:00 AM. Don't be late."

(Flashbacks Ends)

It felt like a moment when the ninja remembered that day before he met his disciples' charge while laughing. Five minutes later, the gang excluding Saeko who was carried bridal-style by Naruto, was in a pile with lumps on their heads and swirly eyes. Naruto couldn't help but chuckle at his friends' current state. "Hey, you guys did last more than before."

"It's not fair! You went easy on Saeko!" complained Saya.

Naruto received a kiss from his girlfriend, "She's my girlfriend. I simply can't bring myself to harm her." The ninja looked at his watch on his right wrist, "Whoops, it's almost time. I must get everything ready." He let Saeko get to her feet and kissed her lips as the teenagers who managed to pull themselves from the pile.

He was about to leave when his girlfriend cleared her throat. "Yes? Saeko pointed at Tenkaichi. "Oh, right." Naruto stretched out his right arm and the black daito flew to his hand before he sheathed it on his back. During the two months, Naruto discovered that he control his sword with his thoughts. He figured it's because the sword is a part of him. It also makes him of what else can Tenkaichi do.

"I so love that. See you guys at the beach." With that, he Shunshined from his spot he was standing.

"You didn't tell him?" asked Rei to Saeko who frowned at the swirling leaves where her boyfriend was standing a moment ago.

"…I couldn't." With that, Saeko walked ahead of the others who was confused, 'cept Rei and the girls of the group.

Kotha turned to Asami, "What's she talking about?" Asami shook her head as she started walking and caught up with the swordswoman.

She looked back at the boy, "Sorry. That's among us ladies," replied the policewoman, causing the marksman to slug his shoulders.

-Beach-Survivors' Camp-

Later on, the entire camp was gathered close to the shores to say good-bye to Naruto who donned another Leaf Shinobi attire with Tenkaichi strapped to his back. Fortunately for him, he packed a spare before he started the journey. In front of the survivors were Saeko and the others as they waited while Naruto was saying good-bye to the kids, especially Sasha. When the ninja eventually came to them, he only had this to say.

"I'm glad to have met all of you guys. These… last two months were really something. Watch each others' backs and remember: 'True strength comes from within when you have someone precious to you'." He felt something grab his left leg pant and found Alice with tears about to escape her eyes. "Ooohhh…" Naruto picked Alice and let her cry on his shoulder to let it all out, "Don't worry, Alice. I may not be here with you and the others," He brought Alice in front of his face and smiled at her, "But I'll always be in your memories and your heart."

Alice sniffled and rubbed away her tears before she displayed a sad smile, "OK." Naruto gave a peck on Alice's forehead and set her down where Zeke was and the ninja patted the dog.

"Be a good boy and protect Alice and the others, okay?" Zeke barked with determination, causing Naruto to chuckle. He rose up to his height and walked in front of Saeko who looked away, but Naruto cupped her face and brought her gaze to meet his own. "Before I came here, I had one reason to stay alive and that was to save my world and beat the Ten Tails. Now I have two more reasons to stay alive."

Saeko couldn't help but be surprised, "What are they?" She received a smile from her boyfriend.

"The first one is you, of course. And the other, well…" He put his right hand on Saeko's stomach, "I think you know." The look of surprise on Saeko's face was exemplified before she smiled with tears and hugged him. "You should've told me, Saeko."

"I-I didn't want to hold you b-back. If I had told you, you would've stayed instead," replied Saeko still crying. She found her-self gazing at Naruto's blue eyes and his smile again.

"I promise you, Saeko; I will do my best to end this mission quickly and defeat the Ten Tails, so I may return to you and our child." Naruto turned to Takashi and the others, "Come here, guys." Takashi's group got close to the ninja, "Stretch out your hands, please." Everyone did what Naruto asked with the latter placed his hand on each of them. He left a Fuinjutsu marking on each hand, including Zeke's paw. "This seal is a protective seal. I made it myself during my training for the last few weeks. They will protect from all harm and warn you of impending danger."

After engaging in a group hug with his friends, Naruto and Saeko walked together towards the water. As they gaze into each other's eyes, the couple pressed their lips against each other with passion. Minutes passed until Naruto regrettably broke it and opened the portal, surprising the audience behind him.

Just when Naruto was about to leave, Saeko pulled him close to her and whispered something into his ear, shocking him of whatever she said to him before he smiled at her again. He gave one last kiss to his girlfriend before entering the portal and soon the portal closed behind him, leaving behind a smiling Saeko who rubbed her stomach, knowing her lover and the father of her child will return for them… with company.

-(Inside the Portal)-

"I can't believe it. I'm going to be a father!" Naruto exclaimed happily as he walked through inside the portal with a grin. There were beams of lights coming and going from opposite directions at the speed of a shooting star. The ninja was walking atop of a white straight path that seemed to go on for miles. "Kurama, did you hear me?"

"Yes, I heard you." Naruto raised a brow at the fox's tone.

"What are you moody about?"

"Oh nothing. Just my knuckle-headed Jinchuriki knocked a girl up!"

Naruto was caught off-guard by the fox's tone, "I didn't mean to! I-I-"

"You and Saeko had been going at it almost everyday!" remarked Kurama with his Jinchuriki gaining a tick mark. "You couldn't keep it in your pants every time you laid your eyes on her! Did you think there's be no consequences?!"

"I'm a man! She's a woman! I couldn't help it even if I tried. Besides you shouldn't talk to me this way." Kurama huffed, "Especially since you're the godfather!" Naruto heard a stunned grunt from the Tailed Beast.

"W-What… what did you just say?" asked a surprised Kurama.

Naruto smiled at the change in the fox's tone, "You're my child's godfather, Kurama. You're perfect for it since you're my partner and partners look out for each other and their families. Plus you'v technically been a part of my clan/family since Mito, so why not make it official, right?" Kurama was at a loss of words as he processed what his Jinchuriki just told him. A Tailed Beast being the godfather of a child was unheard in the Ninja World's history, but the Sage of the Six Paths was a father-figure to him and the rest of the Tailed Beasts before his unfortunate death.

"Well? I'm waiting. Come on, you know you want to."

Kurama chuckled as he smiled genuinely, "Thank you Naruto. I'm truly honored to be your child's godfather and I promise you that I will protect that child with all my strength."

"I'm glad, Kurama," Naruto chuckled as he continued walking on the path that leads to the next world. As he walked, Kurama suggested to him about raising his chakra level to half-strength before they reach to the next world. He raised a brow, "Why should I raise my chakra level to half-strength? It's enough to suffocate people who are or aren't nearby me."

"Remember: this is the first Major World we're entering now. It could be filled with strong people. It doesn't hurt to be a little cautious." Naruto had to agreed with the fox on this one.

"Okay then, you're the Tailed Beast." Naruto smirked, "You know better… old man."

Kurama growled at the old man comment, "Pervert." The fox chuckled darkly as Naruto gained a tick mark on the back of his head.

-Unknown Realm II-

In a hidden and underground cave that is located underneath a mountain. The cave was filled with boulders as obstacles and small cliffs as advantage points for fighting as small craters with smoke coming out of them are evident to that. In the middle there stood two figures with one of them on the floor. "Congratulations, Ichigo. You finished your Bankai training," said a woman with a smirk.

She is a slender, dark-skinned woman at average height, with golden-colored eyes and long purple hair that was kept in a ponytail. Her attire consisted of a black, backless sleeveless undershirt, an orange over-shirt with two white straps on each shoulder, a large beige sash around her waist and lastly a black stretch pants with a pair of lightweight brown shoes.

"I-I told you… that I could do it, Yoruichi," Ichigo said on his knees, panting heavy. After a moment, he stood up revealing to be a fairy tall, lean built and muscular young man around 15 years of age. He has spiky orange hair, peach skin, and brown eyes and sported a black kimono with a white undergarment and a strap across his chest. The strap is red rosary-like and shaped like a kite with a flat-top and bottom. Lastly there is a large sword that was covered in bandages located on his back.

Yoruichi nodded before a serious look took over, causing the boy to flinch a little. "Rukia's execution is a few hours away. We have to come up wi-" Electricity sparked into existence and out of nowhere, prompting the two to stand ready for battle. "What is this?" She and Ichigo braced them-selves when the electricity destroyed small parts of boulders around them.

"Yoruichi look!" Ichigo said drawing his sword. It was a oversized Khyber with a black blade, silver edge, and wrappings around the improper hilt. The two warriors were surprised when the electricity started to form a white hole while still destroying the boulders and small cliffs in their training ground, but their surprise turned to shock when they felt incredible pressure coming from inside the portal.

Ichigo struggled a little and Yoruichi seemed unfazed, but her expression suggested otherwise. "What Spiritual Pressure! T-This is easily a Captain's level like Ichigo. Maybe more." She soon saw an appearing figure exited the portal and her look of surprise returned when she realized the origin of the intense Spiritual Pressure is the figure.

"Who are you?!" asked Ichigo to the mysterious stranger.

The stranger blinked before he took a closer look at Ichigo, "Do you have a fetish for black or something?" A tick mark appeared on Ichigo's head.

"Don't change the subject!"

"And what's with that hair color? Not the color I would've chosen for my hair." More tick marks appeared on Ichigo's head.

Yoruichi decided to step in before Ichigo's temper took over. She walked forward a bit with the gaze of the stranger/potential enemy now fixated on her. "Who are you? How did you find this place?" She was observing the stranger's characteristics; blonde hair, blue eyes and whisker marks; three on each cheek. Yoruichi also observed his attire; a dark blue long-sleeved shirt and matching pants, a flak jacket, a long black headband with a metal portion that holds a strange symbol in the middle and lastly the sword strapped on his back with a small swirl pattern dangling from the hilt. "His attire gives him the appearance of a ninja, much like the Stealth Division in Soul Society."

The stranger raised a brow. "Why? Is this place hidden?" Yoruichi nodded, "Sorry about that. I guess the portal opens to anywhere and anytime. As for my name…" Yoruichi could've sworn that the stranger was smirking at her, "I'll tell you if you or the fetish guy can land one hit on me." The stranger ignored Ichigo's shout of not having a fetish. He observed each of the opponents in front of him, "Their chakra levels are really high given by the air being so tight in here. Kurama was right about this world's people and their strength."

"He's challenging us? Either he doesn't sense our Spiritual Pressures or he's a cocky one." Yoruichi was about to give her answer, but she was beaten to it.

"I won't just land one hit on you! I'll cut you up into pieces!" Ichigo shouted as he charged at the man who made fun of him. He lifted his sword for a overhead slash and swung it when he got close to the blonde stranger, but the latter didn't stay put as he sidestepped the strike with ease.

"Not bad. You lift that huge sword with ease. But can you really use it?" The stranger taunted, leaping backwards to put distance between him and Ichigo. As he landed, the ninja ducked under a roundhouse kick from Yoruichi who appeared behind him. "She's fast! I didn't see her move!" He rolled forward, only to stop in front of Ichigo who already had his sword in downward motion and looked back to find Yoruichi coming at him with a drawn back punch. "One way then." The ninja disappeared in a burst of speed, leaving only a swirl of leaves.

"Was that Flash Step?" thought Yoruichi before she Shunpoed after the ninja, leaving a bewildered Ichigo after he stopped his attack.

"Damn it! Where are they?" asked Ichigo as he looked around his friend/teacher and the unknown enemy.

Finally the two warriors appeared at the top of training ground with the ninja's hand connecting to Yoruichi's foot. The force pushed back the two of them, causing them to land on the ground with Yoruichi standing in front of Ichigo. "Yoruichi!"

"I'm fine, Ichigo. I thought I had him with that last hit, but he countered it at the last second," Yoruichi stated while the ninja shook his hands to rub off the stinging pain. She looked at him appraisingly, "I'm impressed. Your speed matches those of a Shunpo Master."

The ninja chuckled, "I don't know what a Shunpo Master is, but I have to admit that you're faster than me… really fast. I was only lucky to dodge your attacks by my senses and reflexes. Plus I'm only at half-strength and I was at full strength, I still wouldn't be able to keep up with you. Your speed clearly rivals my father's speed… I think you two would've made great friends." He bowed to the two associates, "My name is Naruto Uzumaki." He stood from his bow and gestured to them.

"He's only at half-strength? If he was at full strength, I would have actually put effort in my attacks," thought Yoruichi before she gave her name,"My name is Yoruichi Shihuin and this is…" She nudged the teenage orange-head.

He groaned, "My name is Ichigo Kurosaki, Substitute Shinigami." He yelped when Yoruichi punched him in the head, " What was that for?!" Ichigo rubbed the bump on his head.

"You idiot! He doesn't even know what we are!"

Naruto cleared his throat, gaining the two Shinigami's attention. "Could you repeat that again? Something about a Shinigami?"

"Before we tell you, you must tell us about how you arrived here and your origins," said Yoruichi determinedly with her arms crossed.

Naruto crossed his arms as he thought about this. He sensed no negative motions from either of them, but he sensed a dark power within Ichigo but chose to talk about it another time. "Kurama, do you sense the Key?"

The Tailed Beast growled before answering his Jinchuriki, "Yes, it's above us, but I sensed other chakra signatures all over above ground. These signatures are very powerful. I believe those two can help us understand more about this world. They seem trustworthy, but only tell them about the war, your training with the old man and your mission."

"Okay," He ended the link. Naruto looked at Yoruichi and Ichigo, which the latter was impatiently waiting by tapping his foot.

The past hour was full of surprises for Jinchuriki and the Shinigamis as the former tried to interpret everything he's been told by Yoruichi. His eyes were closed, "Okay, let me get this straight: You, Yoruichi, is a Soul and a Shinigami." Yoruichi nodded while leaning backwards against a wall with Ichigo standing next to her, "And Strawberry over there is a Substitute Shinigami, a human who was given Shinigami powers from a regular Shinigami called Rukia in order to save his family from a Hollow."

He stifled the urge to scream when Ichigo mumbled 'Fishcakes' in retaliation for calling him 'Strawberry.' "Now we're in a underground training area in the Soul Society where all the Souls and Shinigami reside in." Naruto opened his eyes with his gaze upon Yoruichi, "How am I doing so far?"

"You're surprisingly on track. I thought you'd be another block head like Ichigo here," Yoruichi teased, receiving a glare from the orange teenager.

Naruto's eye twitched. "Gee thanks," replied the Jinchuriki sarcastically before he continued, "So now Rukia is going to be executed in a few hours just for giving her powers to Ichigo just so he can save his family. Now you and others are on a rescue mission to save her." He received a nod from the serious teenager. "Okay… Count me in!"

"EH?!" exclaimed Ichigo and Yoruichi.

"You're surprised? Why?" Naruto asked after tilting his head in confusion.

Ichigo pointed at him comically. "Why are we surprised?! You're a freaking superhuman ninja that came from another dimension! How can-" Yoruichi hit him in the head, "OW! What was that for?"

"You also forgot the part about a powerful demon killing all of his friends in front of him and the Sealing Keys he was sent to retrieve by his master in order to save his world."

"Oh yeah," Ichigo turned to Naruto, "Sorry. I-it's just-"

"-You do not trust me," Naruto received a nod from the Shinigami, "I understand how you must feel. That's why I want to help you save Rukia. Another reason is…" Ichigo raised a brow as the ninja continued, "I want to be your friend." Naruto said with a grin.

Ichigo's expression first changed into surprise before a small smile took place. He walked towards Naruto and extended his arm, which the latter firmly took and shoot it before letting go. "After we save Rukia and all, we should fight." Ichigo said to Naruto.

The Shinobi grinned at the Shinigami, "Yeah… I'll probably win that match." An angry vein appeared on Ichigo's forehead, "I mean you were slow when you attacked me, I thought I had to wait for 20 years for you to land a hand on me… Strawberry." Naruto smirked when multiple tick marks appeared on Ichigo's head.

"Oh, you're real sure about that..."

"Don't you say it!" Naruto's arms tensed when he realized what his new ally was about to say.

"Fishcakes."

"That's it! You're dead!" The ninja added something else, "For real this time!" Naruto landed a punch to the Shingami's chin simultaneously with a kick to his chin from the latter, which led to a wrestling match as evidenced with the teenagers punching and kicking each other in a smoke cloud that covers their bodies.

Yoruichi sweat-dropped at the sight of this. "And I thought he was a mature man before this." She sighed before clearing her throat, stopping the scuffle between the boys who looked at her. Naruto took advantage of this and got in one last punch to Ichigo's face before he Shunshined out of the latter's grip and reappeared next to him. Ignoring Ichigo's grumbling about the ninja and sucker punches, "Since you two stopped your lover's quarrel," Yoruichi ignored 'we're not lovers!' comment from the boys, "We must come up with a plan. Now I thin-"

"Can't we just barge in and beat the crap out of whoever is in our way?" asked Naruto with Ichigo nodding in agreement. His answer was a hell of a right hook from the former Division 2 Captain, "OW! What? It's a legitimate question." He complained as he rubbed his bruised cheek before sending a glare at a snickering Ichigo.

Yoruichi grumbled about the boy's lack of planning ahead. She then pointed at the ninja who flinched a little in response of getting hit again, "You come with me. I'll explain more about Soul Society and the Gotei 13's Captains and Lieutenants including their abilities." She turned to Ichigo who stood up. "You rest until we leave." Ichigo opened his mouth to say something but the older Shinigami cut him off, "Now. You'll need your full strength for your fight Byakuya." The Substitute Shinigami reluctantly obliged and left the area, leaving only Naruto and Yoruichi alone.

-(Noon)-Sokyoku Hills-

"I told you I would get you out of here, didn't I Rukia?" Ichigo said with Zangetsu against his right shoulder and carrying Rukia under his left armpit. He stood atop of what used to be the Arc of the Sokyoku before its apparent destruction by the latter's new strength and was sporting a gray cloak that covered his Shingami attire.

"You… idiot." Rukia said with a hint of gratitude. She then looked up at her human friend, "You really are an-"

"IDIOT!" Both Ichigo and Rukia blinked a couple time before the former turned to the left to find Naruto Shunshined next to him with a angry look, "How could you leave and disregarded the plan?!" Ichigo growled at him.

"You didn't sensed or see that huge firebird? It was about to kill Rukia, so I intervened," He looked down at the audience below, specifically two certain Shinigami, "And apparently those two."

Naruto was confused until he followed Ichigo's gaze towards the two men who helped save Rukia.

"Captain Shunsui Kyoraku of 8th Division and Jushiro Ukitake of 13th Division… They're okay in my book since Yoruichi told me about them. Somehow I knew that Ukitake felt that Rukia being executed wasn't right."

Naruto observed the men's appearance. Kyoraku is tall, light-skinned with high cheekbones, grey eyes and long wavy brown hair that is tied into a long ponytail and has long bangs that frame the left side of his face. His attire consists with the Shinigami attire, a captain's cloak and a pink, flowered lady's kimono that drapes over his uniform and his two swords on his left side of his sash. Jushiro is a tall man with a emaciated appearance, long white hair that almost reaches his waist and sports the Shinigami uniform with a long-sleeved captain's cloak and a crimson lining with a narrow obi that secures his sword.

Rukia stared at the stranger with a surprise look as the latter talked about her captain like he knew him a long time, "How do you know about my captain? Wait-how do you know about me? Who are you?" Naruto turned his gaze from the captains to the petite Shinigami.

"My name is Naruto Uzumaki and I'm a friend," replied Naruto with a grin as he shuffled Rukia's hair, getting a glare from the latter. "I'm here to help this fool rescue you." He ignored Ichigo's remark of 'Hey' and gave a once-over look at Rukia. She has black hair in a bun, petite skin and was wearing a white kimono instead of the Shinigami black kimono. "Hhmm." Ichigo and Rukia looked at him curiously when they heard him.

"What?" asked both Ichigo and Rukia at the same moment.

Naruto grinned mischievously at the two Shinigami and pointed at them dramatically, "You two are going out, are you? Come on, don't lie to me."

"No we're not!" Ichigo and Rukia snapped childishly at the ninja. "What's the matter with you?!" asked Ichigo with a comical scowl.

Meanwhile the Captains and Lieutenants were getting over the fact that one of the Ryoka managed to stop the Sokyoku, but another Ryoka appeared out of nowhere. One of them had to ask the obvious question, "Where do these guys come?"

"Sorry." Naruto said with a pouty face before it turned serious as he looked back at the enemies who stand in their way. "Let's get you out of here, Rukia." He then heard clanging in the distance and looked up further to see a Shinigami with spiky red hair and katana knocking out a couple Shinigami behind him. "Whose that? A friend of yours?" He looked back at Ichigo and Rukia.

"Renji!" Rukia shouted over the land with relief.

"Hey there, Rukia… Ichigo," replied the man known as Renji with a smirk. Naruto then noticed the man's heavy breathing and wondered if the latter was in a fight recently.

"Glad you could make it." Ichigo said with a small smile.

Renji scoffed, "Well I couldn't let you have all the fun, right?" That's when he noticed Naruto standing next to the Substitute. "Who's he?"

"An friend," Naruto replied across the land.

"Now we got that out of the way," Ichigo said confidently as he lifted Rukia over his head, which didn't go unnoticed with the latter, Naruto and Renji.

"W-Wait Ichigo. You can't-"

Renji turned blue and became unsure of Ichigo's action, "H-Hold on. You're not really-"

"Look out below!" Ichigo hurtled a screaming Rukia from the stand to a freaked out and shocked Renji. Naruto winced when the two Shinigami crashed into each other and was sent back several meters.

After recovering, Rukia got up and glared at the human, "Gah! Damn you, Ichigo!" Renji was the second to get up and glared at the human as well.

"You idiot! What if I didn't catch her!" Renji scolded his new human ally with a twitching eye.

"Take her and go!" Ichigo declared to them with Naruto loosening his arm for the upcoming fight. "Get her to safety! That's your duty." Renji sighed and started running to escape with his best friend in his arms.

"Ah… Renji?" asked a shocked and large Shinigami. He has black hair and sports the standard Shinigami robes with a large purple collar and a katana kept to his side through his waist tie. The katana has a bright yellow handle and a bass octagonal-shaped guard with two square notches on opposite sides. This is Marechiyo Omaeda, Lieutenant of 2nd Division of the Gotei 13.

"Why are you standing there, you fool? All lieutenants after them!" commanded the woman behind him. She is a relatively petite woman with gray eyes and black hair which is worn short with twp long braids bound in white cloth, each ending in a large golden ring. Like all the other Shinigami, she wears the Shingami uniform with a white sleeveless cloak, a yellow obi and traditional Chinese shoes with ordinary white socks instead of the standard Shinigami footwear. The cloak shows her rank as one of the captains of the Gotei 13.

Omaeda and two other Lieutenants from Division 1 and 4, who got permission from their respective captains, went after Renji and Rukia with their swords drawn. Before they could even get close enough, the Ryoka with the orange hair Shunpoed in front of them, stopping them in their tracks while stabbing Zangetsu into the ground. This irritated Omaeda. "Get out of the way!" Ichigo lifted his head and opened his eyes.

"Run! Itegumo!" The sword glowed before two smaller blades protrude from the hilt at 45-degree angles belonging to the woman. She is a tall, young looking woman with gray eyes and short messy solver hair with strands on the right side of her face that are shoulder-length and styled as two thin braids, a thin dangling red earring on each ear and a lieutenant badge on her left arm on his Shinigami attire.

"Pierce! Gonryomaru!" said one of the Lieutenants who had short silver-gray hair and a small handlebar mustache with light tanned skin. His attire is a white jinbaori over the stadard Shinigami uniform with long white arm guards. His sword glowed green before turning into a rapier.

"Crush 'em! Gegetsuburi!" Omaeda's sword blade transformed into an oversized spiked ball attached to a long chain, similar to flail. Just as he released his Shikai, Ichigo easily punched through it, destroying it in the process and into his stomach, easily knocking him out.

Ichigo spun around to dodge a thrust slash from the older male Shinigami and delivered an uppercut to the surprised Lieutenant's chin, knocking him out as well. "This is impossible. He's not even using his zanpakuto!" thought the woman before she was sent off her feet by an open palm attack from Ichigo.

Hearing running steps and a sword being drawn behind him, Ichigo spun around while grabbing Zangetsu with his left hand and blocked a slash from the captain of Division 6 and Rukia's brother, Byakuya Kuchiki. "I can see your moves, Byakuya," Ichigo said with confidence and a grin while the captain kept his stoic expression as they were about to begin their battle.

"Now's my chance!" said one of Shinigami attempting to intervene in the battle. As he was about to Shunpoed, a blur appeared in front of him and was sent flying back by a hard kick, stopping at the feet of Soifon. The Stealth Captain looked from the downed Shinigami to find the Ryoka with the blonde hair standing with his left leg still outstretched from the attack.

Naruto put his leg down before he asked them one question. "Which one of you is Head Captain Yamamoto?" This received widen eyes from the Shinigami. He received his answer when an old man with a wooden staff used as a walking stick. He has brown eyes, a very long white beard and long eyebrows with scars on head and sports a greatly exaggerated Shinigami outfit with the captain's cloak draped over it. "Head Captain Yamamoto?"

Yamamoto nodded his head, "You know my name and yet I don't know yours."

"The name is Naruto Uzumaki and I'm the one who will beat the living crap out of you for what you've done." His response received stunned looks from the Shinigami, including Ukitake and Kyoraku. "But for me to do that, I have to stop suppressing my chakra at half-strength and allow it to return to full strength." The stunned faces on the other Shinigami were exaggerated by the boy's claim of being at half-strength.

"His Spiritual Pressure is easily a Captain's level and it's only at half-strength?! Where do guys like that Kurosaki kid and him come from?" thought Soifon before her eyes widen as the pressure around the Ryoka increased evident by the blue flame-like aura surrounded his body. "I-I-It's going higher? How can a human have this kind of power?" The ground shook a bit until the aura disappeared from sight and the boy took a deep breath before he opened his eyes.

Yamamoto stood there, unfazed by the increased Spiritual Pressure from the ninja until he did something unexpected; he actually chuckled. He discarded his captain's cloak and gestured Soifon and the others to step away, so they did. "All right boy. I'll humor you, but you will soon regret it. I promise you that, brat."

"Whatever, let's do this." Naruto replied before consulting with his partner, "Kurama, do I have a chance against this guy? His Spiritual Pressure is intense."

"…Hm… Maybe…"

Naruto sweat-dropped at the tone of Kurama's answer. "Did I bark off more than I can chew this time."

"Definitely…" Naruto was about to panic but Kurama stopped him, "But you are the most unpredictable shinobi in our world and he doesn't know anything about your abilities plus you have me to back you up." The Jinchuriki let a small smile as his confidence grew bigger.

"Thanks Kurama." Naruto replied as he draws Tenkaichi with his sword arm/right arm. "Here I come!" He charged at the leader of the Shinigami.