The Maelstrom and Deathberry -

The First Act

Part 1: A Boy, a Demon, and a Blade

Opening Song: "Alones" by Aqua Timez (Bleach)

Ending Song: "For You" by Azu (Naruto Shippuden)

IMPORTANT A/N: This is my first story (and my first crossover), so while I appreciate honest opinions of this work please be reasonable in the temperament of your criticisms. On a side note this story begins sometime after chapter 593 of the Naruto manga and chapter 197 of the Bleach Manga; the parts of the story that come after that point, whether it be jutsus, character development, and revelations of events before chapter 593, may still appear but are not guaranteed to occur in my story.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and Bleach.

Prologue

Shinobi Quote:

"We are humans... . We don't know what kind of people we truly are until the moment before our deaths. As death comes to embrace you, you will realise what you are. That's what death is, don't you think?"-Itachi Uchiha

Naruto Uzumaki woke up to find that he was lying in sea of white light; as he sat up he could hear Kurama, usually known as the Nine-Tailed Fox, saying something.

"I guess our time has ended" the tailed beast said matter-of-factly to which

"I guess so." Naruto replied; he then smiled and said, "Thank you, Kurama; thank you for sticking with me even in death." Kurama simply replied with a subtle "Hmmph."

Naruto then began collecting his thoughts about had happened until then. It had all happened so quickly; after he had freed the Bijuu and their Jinchuriki from Tobi's grasp. He then proceeded to end the battle, despite the protests from the rest of the Konoha 11; before he had approached Tobi, however, a redeemed Sasuke, who had taken a near fatal blow meant for Naruto after Sasuke's brother Itachi revealed the actual truth regarding the Uchiha clan and Konoha, said "Naruto, please come back alive or not at all." Naruto agreed to do so before finally engaging Tobi while everyone in the Shinobi Alliance, who were too exhausted to continue fighting, fell back. Tragically, in order to finally defeat Tobi and stop his threat to the world, Naruto was forced to make the ultimate sacrifice in order to win the battle.

Now he was preparing to see his mom and dad again in the afterlife. As he waited, Naruto thought to himself, "Even though I didn't become Hokage, I was still able to protect my friends; I can move with at only one regret." He then thought to himself "Though I wish I could I still be with them…"

All of a sudden the sea of white around Naruto exploded in blinding flash before Naruto even had a chance to react; he didn't know yet, but his desire to protect the bonds he had gained would give him new powers and a "second chance"…

Next Time - Chapter One: Arrival and Meeting