Disclaimer: I do NOT own Naruto; Masashi Kishimoto does. I Do NOT own Bleach; Tite Kubo does.
***Warning: Spoilers for the current Manga and Anime; as of June 20, 2009.*
AU. Orochimaru centric. Bleach Crossover
AN: There is a poll up on my profile about this story. And im looking for someone to translate from English into Romaji. Please Help.
Chapter One
Through the Seas and Storms
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Uchiha Hideout.
"I can give you what you want…"
Sasuke cringed as the voice rang thought his head. Its words brought forth clarity of mind he hadn't had since challenging his brother. He had been losing ever since the beginning. Itachi had been stringing him along with Genjutsu and superior fighting prowess from the start.
"You know you need me Sasuke-Kun…"
He winced as it spoke again. 'No, I don't need help from you' his mental shields were weakening. He dropped to his knees as Itachi looked on in curiosity.
"Release me and you'll have your revenge on Itachi…"
"Stop!" he growled as he clutched his Curse Seal. "Aah!"
"Yamata no Jutsu! " it spoke again in a hoarse scream.
Sasuke grunted as eight white snake heads rose from his Curse seal. They quickly grew to a colossal size; standing opposite of Itachi's Susanoo. One of the heads opened its mouth as an object appeared climbing out of its throat. First a sickly white hand followed by another, then by a head covered in black hair.
"Ku ku ku; Aaaaaahahahahahahaah!" Orochimaru chuckled as he emerged from the snake's mouth, naked from the waist up. He gagged as the Kusanagi sword made its way out of his mouth hilt first. Orochimaru grasped it and pulled it the rest of the way out; brandishing it at Itachi. "This is the chance I've always wanted. Ever since you cut off my hand Itachi-Kun;" He chuckled as he continued; "it's all thanks to you forcing Sasuke to use up all his chakra." Serpentine eyes glared at the man under the spectral Susanoo. "I'll make his body my own and…" the rest of his threat died on his lips as Susanoo's sword impaled him. "This won't stop…Gah!" Orochimaru gasped as pain lanced through his body. He glanced down to find his body melting into the sword.
"T-this is…The Sword of Totsuka!" he rasped as blood leaked from his mouth. "Itachi; you've had it all this time?!" he coughed again, blood staining his white skin. "I s-searched everywhere for it…The sword of Totsuka; a-also known as Sakegari's Katana;" he coughed "A sword with sealing powers; anything it touches is sealed into a dream-like Genjutsu."
The slight upturn of his lips was the only indication of Itachi's amusement. "You have certainly done you're research Orochimaru."
"W-where did you find it?" he rasped; "I searched everywhere for it."
"Why;" Itachi chuckled at him. "In the places the Uchiha clan calls home of course."
A little more of Orochimaru's body slipped into the sword; he clenched his teeth as he furiously thought of a way out of his predicament. As more of his body was dragged into it drew back all of his power from the Curse Seal he planted on Sasuke. Amassing all of his chakra and the chakra from the Curse Seal; he violently expelled over half pushing the effects of the sword away momentarily. Using the rest of his chakra he used the Shunshin no jutsu to escape just as the swords power activated again.
As the shunshin took effect and he flickered away, the sword grazed him. He screamed as the ability took effect. His mind was ripped from his body; and as his body was torn in two he lost consciousness.
Uchiha Hideout.
Sasuke groaned as Orochimaru's power left him. He glared across the expanse at his elder brother. "B-bastard!" He ground out through clenched teeth.
"Now where were we little brother?" Itachi asked
Mist covered the ground, billowing around his feet. Yellow eyes darted around the space; finding only darkness. Murmured whispers caused him to snap his head around; still finding empty air.
"This is not your world…"
He glanced over his shoulder finding nothing he turned around. He growled under his breath and attempted to create a Tsuchi Bunshin; only to find he couldn't grasp his chakra, like it wasn't even there.
"Your Jutsu won't work here…"
Finally composing himself he asked, "Where is here?"
It seemed to pause, the silence dragging on for an eternity.
"Everywhere and yet nowhere at the same time…"
"Then why am I here?" Orochimaru rasped.
"Why are you here?" It seemed to chuckle. "Because you no longer belong there. Nor do you belong where you were…You no longer exist there…"
"No longer exist there?" Orochimaru cackled. "Impossible, I am…" the rest of his sentence was cut off by the voice.
"The Immortal Orochimaru…" it mocked him, parroting his voice.
He paused; staring around curiously. "And how do you know me, whatever you are?"
"How do I know you? We have met before. As for what I am…" Slowly a figure appeared from the darkness. It floated above the ground in white flowing robes. White flames danced around it like will-o-wisps. Purple skin gave way to a great white mane of hair, with dark crimson horns protruding from its head. In its mouth; it clutched a short blade.
"Does this answer your question?"
Orochimaru stared at the figure in undisguised horror. "The Sh-Shinigami!"
The Shinigami chuckled at him. "Correct Orochimaru…"
Orochimaru stared at it in horror. "Impossible. I'm not dead yet; I still breathe."
Its grin widened as it took the blade from its mouth and sheathed it at its side. "And that is where you are wrong. Normally I devour the dead; however your case is special."
Orochimaru cocked his head. "Special How?" He asked cautiously.
The Shinigami cackled as it stared at him. "You really don't know do you? When that Itachi boy's technique grazed you as you were using your technique you didn't flicker away; and yet you weren't sealed into a Genjutsu…"
Orochimaru cocked his head at it. "Oh, then what happened?" Despite being hailed as a genius, Orochimaru couldn't work out a connection. "Of course it's a Genjutsu," He paused, "the Sword of Totsuka seals whatever it touches into a Genjutsu World."
"Yes that is true however…"
"However…I was also using a shunshin at the same time..." His eyes lit up in understanding. "So the shunshin had an adverse effect on the sword?"
"Now you're getting it…the swords ability transports the mind and body of the person it strikes into a fantasy world. A world of bliss where anything the subjected dreams becomes possible. But your technique threw it off. You weren't transported to the Genjutsu realm. Your blunder caused a tear in space; which I also guard for in addition to governing souls." It seemed to glare at him. "Two things happened when Uchiha Itachi struck you with the sword. When you were struck you were already on your way to the Genjutsu Realm. That; However; is where things became complicated. You used a shunshin just as the tear between worlds opened; as you did you spiraled through it and into this world."
Orochimaru staggered back, "T-this world? There are others!" He asked in stunned curiosity. "There is more than one world." He whispered. Eyes alighting with a supernatural fury as he stared at the being before him. "You will not have my soul!"
The Shinigami smirked at him; bearing its overly large teeth in a menacing grin. "Your jutsu won't work in this world. This world is split into to portions. Four really if you want the truth. First Earth, where humans live – Normal humans, what you would consider civilians. Secondly Hueco Mundo where creatures known as Hollows reside. They devour the souls of the dead to become stronger, often taking on grotesque forms. Thirdly Hell; where those who have sinned beyond redemption are sent to suffer for eternity. Finally the Soul Society; divided into two portions the Rukongai where souls await reincarnation and the Seireitei where Shinigami reside."
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed in fascination. "There are other Shinigami?
It chuckled again before nodding. "Special Souls from the Rukongai can become Shinigami after proper instruction; much like the shinobi academy of your world."
Orochimaru chuckled. "Ku ku ku; and I could become a Shinigami? With my Jutsu and tactical mind it will be a breeze to rule this world."
The Shinigami rolled its eyes; sighing lightly. "You think it will be easy? The Shinigami and Hollows have techniques greatly similar to jutsu. But Chakra doesn't exist here. In this world it is a spiritual energy called Reiryoku."It grinned. "Though you should have trouble grasping it, it is essentially chakra."
"But if it is essentially chakra then my jutsu will work." Orochimaru responded. His eyes lit up as he slowly came to the conclusion. "… But chakra is made up of spiritual and physical energy. So my jutsu won't work…"
"The techniques Shinigami of this realm use are spells called Kidou…theoretically you could convert your jutsu into Kidou, but I don't know how…" The Shinigami glanced around as the mist shivered. "Our time here is at an end. You will be thrust into the Rukongai after leaving here…."
Orochimaru straightened up, glancing around as the world started to dissolve. "Why are you being so helpful?"
The Shinigami grinned at him, its body starting to fade away. "Because Orochimaru, You will no longer be my problem anymore; trying to transcend death…"
The world around them seemed to dissolve leaving a bright white expanse. As they started to dissolve the Shinigami seemed to perk up. "One more thing; things in this world are different…prepare for a few shocks….Orochimaru…"
He woke up in the middle of the forest in a crater surrounded by people in ragged clothing. He was sore as he climbed to his feet. Glancing down he found himself in a plain white Kimono. Surveying his surroundings he noticed moderately nice houses beyond the crowd of on lookers. Calling out to one he asked, "Where am I?" He coughed slightly as he waited for someone to answer.
An old man gathered his wits enough to respond. "You're in West Rukongai; District Three—Hokutan."
Nodding slightly he walked forward; ignoring the gasps from the people and climbed out of the crater. He was about to ask directions to the Seireitei before his stomach grumbled audibly and he passed out.
The old man stared in astonishment as the man rose and climbed out of the crater; already walking around after just arriving. Then he heard a loud grumbling and watched him fall down unconscious.
In the Gotei 13's Division Twelve a red light blinked on the map over Hokutan. Standing up from the consol Akon used Shunpo to deliver news of an unusual soul to the Sōtaichō.
AN: Read and Review.
Translations:
Yamata no Jutsu – Eight Branches Jutsu
Shunshin no Jutsu – Body Flicker Jutsu
Tsuchi Bunshin – Earth Clone Jutsu
Seireitei – Court of pure souls
Rukongai – Wandering Souls city
Reiryoku – Spiritual Energy
Hokutan – Third District in Western Rukongai
Shunpo – Flash Step
Sōtaichō – Captain Commander