Hey guys, been pretty satisfied with this fic thus far, got some good advise, good practice, and have increased my writing skills, even though there is improvement that needs be. My editing too, but, even masters of writing always try to make the best they can, so, I am too, even if at times I am a terrible writer.

Anyways, I've had lots of fun with you guys and doing this, it really is, an I appreciate everyone of you, and i'm not excluding anyone from that gratitude. From those who are honest, those who drop questions, to even flamers. All of you are just, awesome. I know it's weird to thank people that even hate on my writing, but you know, that just means I have to try harder and write better.

I know I probably sound like i'm gonna drop out of this fic or something else that sounds bad or whatever, but I promise, I won't do such a thing. I know you guys really do appreciate my stuff, so, I just decided to drop a thank you to everyone who's been here so far, you guys really are awesome, the whole lot of ya :^)

Okay, with that said, I would like to say that in the next few chapters, Risen, will be done. That may be three, or six, I don't know, depends on the flow, but I promise, this will be a work I can say i'm proud of, with the people I wrote it for-thats you guy's-always at the forefront of my mind, comments, views, PM's and all.

So, done with my thankyou's and such, let's get the ball roll'in. Naruto gets to show his skills and powers, new and old, as he demonstrates his crafty mind. The village hidden in the clouds, the shinobi nations, Seireitei, Hueco Mundo, and the whole of everything just gets a wonderful wake up call.

Grand adventure and action awates!

Stuff shifts and Harribel catches up with Naruto!

Warning!

I!

OWN!

NOTHING!

Chapter 20

The Great Gamble, or, How to Fool all Worlds

shits go'in down!

Naruto exited Hueco Mundo from his Gargantua, a little bundle of green wrapped in his crimson trench-coat, snoring as she slept from the recent ordeal. He pitied her, seeing as her friends were gone, that she would never see them again, but, he made a promise to the fallen hollow duo, that he would take care of Nel, protect her and make sure she was happy.

And he never went back on promises.

Samui was just ahead of him, as if she were leading the way towards the leaf village gates, sword sheathed at her side. What a strange weapon it was, ice nymph, but it made sense, her favorite word was 'cool' after all, so, meh. But, then he wondered, if she had an elemental type-ice obviously-then what there for was his?

Thoughts for later.

Kyuubi walked with him, arms wrapped about his arm, holding and cooing, happy to be free at last, and to be with someone she watched grow up. Maybe, maybe in an alternate time, she should have pulled him in and taught him things, been more kind. But, then again, until she met him, she had grown to hate all human's-except a certain sage whom treated her with kindness.

Kyuubi slid her eyes to the side, watching Nel snore, cute as a button that. She had been through a lot, and not just recently, Kyuubi could feel it in her tails, this little one was something else all together, she had to be. But, as she thought this, she could sense something from the large cut and gap that strung across Nel's mask that caught her attention. There, she smelt something, almost as if-

"Halt!"

They stopped at the gates, two men-shinobi-having stopped them. They eyed Samui, who grasped the handle of her sword, and then their eyes fell to Kyuubi, and backed away with fear brewing in their eyes.

"N-no, you, you can't be-"

"B-but h-how-"

Kyuubi cocked her head to the side, long fox ears tilted that way, her large scarlet slitted gaze peering at them with much curiosity, nine bushy tails swaying behind with a gentle sway. They stopped quivering at that, and found themselves regarding her not in fear, but with their own curiosity. Then they spotted Naruto, her arms wrapped around him, and both blew a sigh of slight relief.

"Oh thank the good log god*." One said, the other nodding.

"Is that really the nine tails?" The other asked, wondering how something so vicious before, could be a cute girl now, him and his gate keeping friend watching as they began passing through. But, before they did, his friend had to open his big mouth.

"Naw, the nine tails is a big ugly monster, Naruto would never date-"

And she was there, ears swiveled back, all nine of her tails swishing and puffed out in jagged ire, large scarlet slitted orbs pinioning him with a glare as her nose scrunched up in anger. Her lips curled back, showcasing her large needlepoint teeth, baring them with a growl.

"I will devour your soul, mortal." Kyuubi's voice, with all the viciousness it had, nearly made the man wet his pants, that angry snarl graveled near the end, making his skin crawl with petrified terror.

"Come on Kyuubi-chan, we got to go meet the others!" Naruto's call from afar made her eyes large again, sparkle almost, her tails softening as her ears swiveled back ahead of her, her nose no longer scrunched up, but now its normal button nose. Then she turned, and came to his side again, walking away without a glance back.

Next to him, his friend looked at him with wide eyes.

"You are so lucky."

"Y-yah, y-ya think ssss-s-so?" The man stuttered worse than a Hyuuga heiress.

Naruto took over the leading from Samui, who otherwise said nothing, and made their way towards his apartment, knowing that his girls would be waiting, he could feel them all, the anticipation in their bones, knowing that today was the day he returned. He could feel Soi-Fon's tentive worry, he could feel Anko's knowing smirk, even Yoruichi had that wave of anticipation welling up in her. But, most of all, he felt Rangiku's soft presence, her so so way that was relaxed in all things, yet strong, built by a corner stone others dismiss.

And then, he was in front of his door, a new member to his little band wrapping herself to his arm, a reluctant woman behind, and a girl he knew could overcome the dark of her past with this present light of her own strength.

Just as he was coming on to his apartment, he felt another presence, it was not that of his girls, or anyone he could particularly remember. But, it keened for him, almost cried for him, just behind the few blocks of building. The call, he could not ignore it, and so he told Kyuubi-whom he gave Nel to-and Samui to go ahead into his apartment without him. A reluctant sigh came from Kyuubi as she unwrapped her arms from him, and went with Samui to do as he asked. With a nod, Naruto turned towards the presence that was unlike the others, and leapt towards it.

Harribel had exited her own Gargantua not but a few minutes after Naruto, and now, stood, hidden behind a building. She did not rightly trust anyone here, not knowing them, and made herself as inconspicuous as she could.

"Hey-"

Her eyes widened as she nearly leapt from her skin, turning around with her zanpakuto drawn and ready to slice whoever dare sneak upon her. Mere inches from his skull, her weapon stopped, just in time, sheathed before any words could be spoken of it. Harribel felt like falling to her knees, she felt like crying, baling, to pour out all that was welled up in her, as she stood in front of Naruto, the man who was the only one who could help her.

A hand was on her soft cheek, where a remnant of her mask did not touch. She was about to speak regardless of the act, she was about to tell him what happened, but, her gaze fell when his eyes met hers, and she felt the words in her mouth turn to ash. It was as though her tongue were deadened lead, creeping down into her chest as she felt tears well up once more. Even now, a month gone, she still felt tears well up. Wet streaks fell down her ebony cheeks, and even as they did, Harribel felt two arms pull her into an embrace, holding her without fear of being struck for the over familiarity.

"He killed them, didn't he."

She felt his clawed digits tense, wringing what was left of her jacket a slight. When her words failed her, and her body numb, Naruto seemed to know, nonetheless. It was then, that she felt something from him, images flashing behind her emerald gaze, and it sent chills of fear down her spine. His Reiyuko had changed, not just the hollow and shinigami sense of feeling either. It was as if it went from calm concern-like the waters in a stream-to that of a fury untold, unspoken-a speeding river, spilling into a raging ocean.

"Aizen," he spoke, not to her, "you bastard," he continued, as if to make his contempt reach the man and throttle him till death.

For a long time, he held her close, without letting go-not a once!-but let his concern be known.

When Harribel's tears dried, and she could find strength in herself once more, Naruto took her with him, hoping the others would understand.

Upon getting back to his apartment where everyone was waiting, and opening the door, someone leapt out, followed by another, and another, bowling him over and on the ground. Not too surprised, he looked down to see his more excitable women on him. Kyuubi on one arm, and Anko on the other, with Rangiku smack dab in the middle, flush against him. He smiled, grinned really, then laughed. He gave a peck to Rangiku's cheek, and did the same to the others. When they finally allowed him to stand, he looked about and spotted Soi-Fon in the door frame, hands clasped in front of her, with a stark smile and light red covering her cheeks.

He smiled a bit gentler to her as they moved back inside.

Yoruichi sat in a chair by the wall, smiling like a cat, happy for his return, Samui sat on the couch, regarding him with a stern stoic nod, sword laid across her legs. His head turned to and fro as everyone sat down, but could not find, for the life of him, the little green haired-and dressed-Nel. Before he asked where she was, he felt a weight-albeit not that heavy, in fact it was feather light-settle on his shoulder. Something draped around his shoulders, the familiar feeling of his trench-coat against his bone white hands.

"Hello~" a light voice, as light as the weight aloft his shoulder, spoke next to him.

Naruto turned his head to the voice, and saw little Nel perched there like a bird. He smiled at her, big and bright, tilting his head so as to get a better look at her. "Hey Nel-san, thank you for returning my trench-coat." He thanked her, although he could make another with his familiar's, it was a nice gesture.

"Hahaha! You're welcome!"

Naruto laughed with her, not the sadistic, or sinister, laughter that usually accompanied his voice, it was light, just as hers, like the soft beat of a drum, tittering down. When he finally could catch his breath, he found himself relaxed, and gave little Nel a pat atop her head. She cooed as he did so, even though his hand did flinch when it went over the gash in her hollow mask. Reishi leaked there, and instantly a thought ran through his mind. His crimson gaze stretched across the room towards the women there, and finally fell towards Soi-Fon.

"Can you take Nel and sow the gash in the mask of hers with that Kido?"

The petite woman jumped a slight, but with the others eyes on her, she could only ask why. When told he felt Reishi leaking from it, she cocked her head to the side in thought, and nodded.

Smiling warmly at her, he set Nel on the ground, asking her to go with Soi-Fon for just a little bit. When asked why, he chuckled and told her it would make her stronger, to which she giggled and happily obliged and went with the captain.

When they were out of the room, Naruto looked towards his girls, his smile disappearing.

"I have news concerning Aizen, and what he's planning, and you guys won't like it."

While he spoke of the hokyuko and of the soul king, Soi-Fon tended to the wound on Nel's head. Kido was one thing she was excellent at, and she too had come to the same conclusion as Naruto. Nel's Reishi was leaking from that spot on her mask, and by sealing it, she will be able to keep all that she would usually leak out. Now though, as the hollow remains slowly began to close above the fidgeting girl, Soi-Fon wondered what would happen once it was finally closed.

At last, it was done, and Nel leapt into Soi-Fon's slender arms with that boisterous joy that only a child could have. She chuckled as Nel giggled, smiling softly. It was strange for Soi-Fon, to be holding something that a few months before she would bring straight to Yamamoto's attention, and strictly follow his orders, even if it meant killing her. But now, she stood, a little hollow-shinigami hybrid child, smiling brighter, and closer to her former teacher, and more joyful, than ever before.

It was all that damn blond's fault.

With a small sigh, a little upward quirk of her lips, and shouldering Nel, she came back into the room with everyone else. A butter knife could have cut the tension in the room then, but as soon as she entered, Nel spotted Naruto and leapt to his shoulder. He caught her, and perched her atop his head instead, smiling up as she smiled down.

"Did Soi-Fon help you?"

"Ya ya! She's really nice!"

"That's good!" He bellowed with a grin, matching her enthusiasm. "Did you thank her?" He added, smiling.

"Oh!" She turned her head towards the petite woman with a slight bit of worry, "thank you!"

Soi-Fon smiled brightly, then, as she sat down.

The next morning, after successfully escaping a tangle of limbs that was his girls, Naruto made his way to the kitchen, intent on fashioning some breakfast from what he could. He had not yet checked the cabinet's or fridge yet, since his departure to cloud and subsequent month long stay in Hueco Mundo. So, he was a slight astonished when he found an abundance in food where he imagined there would be little to nil.

"So they stocked me up while I was away..." He spoke out of mind, to no one imparticular.

"Wha?" He heard a voice answer him anyways, a little voice he knew of well, the pad of her tiny feet against the tiled floor as she came closer. When he turned about, her gaze was already staring up at him. Nel was curled up in his bed not long ago, sleeping soundly, but it appears she was wide awake. Though, as he stared on at her, she appeared...older, as if she had suddenly aged. A little taller, her face not as round as before.

Snapping out of his thought, he answered her with a smile. "Oh, well, I was in Hueco Mundo for a month, and the day I took you here, yesterday...well I had assumed that Rangiku, Soi-Fon, Anko, and Yoruichi had all eaten my food, but-" he stopped talking and realized she had lost interest, her eyes squinting as she tried to listen just a little.

"We're gonna make everyone some breakfast, you wanna help?" He asked instead, and her eyes perked up, her head bobbing fervently.

"Ya ya ya!"

He chuckled a bit, and with her smiling face, they began making breakfast.

Harribel was on the couch, sleeping the day away, tired from all that has been going on. Last night, Naruto had given her a new set of clothes, and asked if she wanted an apartment, but she declined, and was humble to ask to sleep where she was. She knew the others had gone to sleep in his bed, which now was a queen size, though Samui remained away, and decided that she would sleep in one of the recliners Naruto had.

Tai felt her nose wrinkle as something delicious smelling entered her nose. It was the smell of meat and eggs and batter sizzling on pans. The aroma was so much so that her eyes cracked open, then half-lidded did they widen. Was he making breakfast?

"Hahaha! You got pancake on your face!"

Was that...huh. Harribel thought as she heard the giggles of Nel. Harribel sat up and craned her head to the kitchen area. She spotted Naruto there, wiping some batter from his nose with a rag, but smiled down. Harribel felt a little smile of her own grow, and decided to see what they were all fixing.

Getting up from the couch, she made her way towards the little kitchen, finding a slightly taller Nel giggling and laughing kindheartedly as she watched Naruto flip some scrabbled eggs. Naruto turned his head to her and greeted Tai with a good morning. She nodded, bobbing the locks of shaggy golden hair of hers.

Others woke up too, Soi-Fon, first, Anko then Kyuubi, and after them was Yoruichi and Samui. As they settled down and ate, Naruto headed in to his bedroom, wondering if Rangiku was still sleeping. When he stepped in, she was no where to be found, just a tangle of sheets as the others had left it. A little concerned, he turned about, wondering just where in the world she could be.

Then, he heard something come from the bathroom.

He turned on his heels and strode to it fastly, and stopped by the door. He heard the noise again, hearing a groan, then a curse. Knocking, he asked if she was okay, and when she did not reply after a long silence, he opened the door.

She kneeled by the toilet, looking sick to her stomach. He came to her side, rubbing her back as he loomed over like a protective hawk. She was roused by this, and when her half-lidded gaze met his, he found himself nearly scared stiff.

"You bastard," she said without much rancor.

"Rangiku what's happ-" He cut himself off before he could ask anything else. It was then and there that he realized something that his dense head had not a single for-thought of. Rangiku...no, not just Rangiku. She and the other two were. . .oh shit. Oh shit oh shit oh shit.

Naruto held Rangiku then, teary eyed.

"I'm sorry." He apologized, though she turned to him as best she could, and embraced him with her weakened arms, as tightly as she could. "Don't," her voice held a bit of power then, "ever apologize." It softened. "I want this. I want you to want this..." She nearly came to tears herself then, just as well, eyes beginning to wet.

He nodded, feeling joy he had never known before well up in him, something like pride in them both.

When a few hours past, and it was nearly noon, about all had settled, and Naruto sat on the couch with Rangiku in his lap, Soi-Fon leaning to his shoulder, and Anko sitting on the floor, leaning her head back. Off to the side, Kyuubi played with Nel, letting the growing girl jump between her strong tails like a jungle gym. Samui was reading a book while Yoruichi napped in her cat form. Harribel took to meditating, relaxing herself as best she could and trying to find some peace.

Naruto though, he was deep in thought, his eyes glaring into empty space, off to a thousand mile stare that seemed to prick through the walls. Rangiku, Soi-Fon, and Anko were all pregnant, though they may not know that he knew, that did not change the fact of what he was going to do. From the memories of that Nnoitra man, he found that Aizen was far stronger than most anyone else, even if the kages were to amass against him, they would find themselves locked in a long fight that they might end up losing. Right now, he could beat a single kage if he were using all his tricks and powers, so he was no where near strong enough to fight him.

That was what led him to a conclusion.

Shikai and bankai, the former weaker than the latter, and the latter coming with a whole new set of abilities, if he were not mistaken. So, if he was this strong in shikai, and bankai was stronger, then the obvious thing he had to do was achieve it. Though he could go and ask someone to help him, he decided that it would be futile. If he went around and asked for someone to help him achieve something, he would not gain it rightfully. What he needed was to enter his inner world, and get it from Walter.

With his mind finally made up, Naruto nudged his girls, and they let him stand. When he did, they asked what he was up to, which he simply smiled down at them, as warmly as ever.

"I got to go do something, I won't be back for a while."

Rangiku's eyes widened, and she looked hurt as he went to the door, but he turned about and said, "I won't be gone forever."

She relaxed somewhat, worry leaving her then as he exited without saying anything else.

Naruto sighed heavily on the other side of his door, but soon used shunpo, slipping away to a secluded place, hoping that maybe he could gain the power to protect those he loved.