Warnings: This is a fan fiction crossover featuring Naruto and Bleach. In no way shape or form do I own the series and/or its characters. This story however is an original idea that I have had for a while now and decided that it is time that I got around to writing it. Some of the characters may seem a bit OCC so please don't hate me for it!
Key Guide: "regular speech", 'thinking to ones self', *mental speech*, (author notes), bold - Kyuubi & Shirosaki speaking, italic - attacks/jutsu
Chapter 2 - healing
As Ichigo rounded a corner into a nearby alley, he could see a blood bruised up kid two years younger than him. The kid had sun kissed golden blond hair and brilliant sapphire blue eyes that looked almost dull and lifeless. Being the son of a doctor, Ichigo knew that he had to help this kid.
"Hey kid are you all right? Hang on, I am going to help you." Ichigo told the kid before he had closed his eyes.
"What in the world happened to him?" asked Shiro.
*I am not certain Shiro. We can worry about that later. First we have to get him home in order to tend to his wounds.* replied Ichigo as he noticed that Naruto was wearing clothing that he wasn't familiar with. Who in their right minds would wear an orange jumpsuit (Naruto's first outfit). Shiro just nodded his head that he understood as he vanished from Ichigo's sight retreating back to Ichigo's mindscape. Ichigo took off his backpack from his back as he slung it across his chest. Ichigo positioned Naruto to sit up against the wall this way Ichigo could hoist the injured kid onto his back. Ichigo carefully lifted Naruto onto his back as he noticed that the child he was carrying was incredibly light and boney. As if he hasn't had a decent meals in days. Ichigo stood up once he was sure that Naruto was squarely on his back. Ichigo then took off for his home which also doubled as a clinic with the unconscious Naruto on his back.
Ichigo juggled opening the door to his house hoping that his father was home.
"I'm home!" he called out as his two younger twin sisters came running to greet him. Both Karin and Yuzu eyes bulged when they saw their older brother covered in blood holding another kid on his back.
"Dad come here quickly!" both Karin and Yuzu shouted out. Isshin Kurosaki came running when he heard his twin three year old girls desperate cries. Ichigo held Naruto against his back as Ichigo was covered in the younger kids blood.
"What happened Ichigo?" asked Isshin.
"I don't know dad. I found him in an alley like this on my way home from school." replied Ichigo as he kicked off his shoes.
"Karin I need for you to run a bath. Yuzu get the bandages and antiseptic. Ichigo bring him to the bathroom and remove his blood stained clothing." commanded Isshin. The Kurosaki household went to work completing their assigned task. Ichigo removed Naruto's ninja sandals placing them with the rest of the shoes. He then went to his room to drop off his backpack before heading to the bathroom.
Karin had finished filling the tub half way as she allowed Ichigo to enter followed by her father as Yuzu gave him the items that he requested.
"All right you two. Ichigo and I can handle this. Can you two prepare a hospital bed for our guest?" asked Isshin.
"Can you also grab me and him a change of clothes from out of my room? They maybe slightly big for him but we will make due." asked Ichigo.
"Sure thing." the twins replied as they took off to complete their new tasks. Ichigo stripped off his bloody school uniform leaving on his boxers. Ichigo then began to stop Naurto out of his blood stained ripped clothing leaving the smaller kids boxers on. Ichigo climbed into the tub as Isshin gently lifted Naurto into the tub handing him to Ichigo this way he could clean off and bandage all of Naruto's wounds. Once all of the blood and grime were off. Isshin placed on the antiseptic cream followed by bandages. Both Ichigo and Isshin had noticed the odd looking tattoo on Naruto's stomach. Suddenly there was a knock on the bathroom door.
"I have the clothes." stated the voice of Karin. Isshin opened the door taking the clothing from his daughter. "The bed is ready when you guys are done." stated Karin as Isshin nodded his head as he retreated back into the bathroom handing Ichigo the clothes. Ichigo got dressed into a pair of blue jeans and a black tee-shirt with the band known as "Disturbed" on it. Then Ichigo got Naruto dressed into a cream color baggy sweatshirt and a pair of grey sweatpants. Both looked to be two sizes to big on him. Isshin carried Naruto carefully out of the bathroom bridal style as Ichigo cleaned up the bathroom.
Later that night Ichigo curled up in a chair besides Naruto's hospital bed just incase the younger kid regained consciousness. Unknown to Ichigo at that same moment, Naruto had found himself within his mindscape. It looked like the sewers back home in Konoha. However Naruto could feel that he was not alone.
"Hello?" he questioned in a shaky voice.
"This way….. I'm over here!" called out a very dark voice. Naruto found himself heading towards the owner of the voice. When he came towards intersections in the sewer, the voice called out to him directing Naruto which way to go. Finally Naruto seemed to come to a large area which had a gate that reached far beyond his view. "Its about damn time that you had shown up Kit." stated the dark voice as it seemed to becoming from behind the gate. Naruto got closer to the gate squinting his eyes to try to see who or what was within the gate. The lighting seemed to adjust to Naruto's thoughts allowing him to see into the cage. Naruto stumbled back when he saw the large red-orange nine tailed demon fox.
"You…. You're the nine tailed demon fox. The fourth Hokage killed you four years ago." gasped Naruto in shock.
"Yes it is true that I am the nine tailed demon fox. But your Hokage didn't kill me. He instead sealed me away within the body of a newborn." stated Kyuubi calmly. Naruto then remembered the villagers taughts.
"You're the reason why everyone hates me and wants me dead!"
"Guilty as charged." replied Kyuubi as his ears dropped back against his head. Nauto stood there in a daze as his sapphire blue eyes lost all life. This change in his hosts demeanor didn't go unnoticed by the fox. "Kit….. Kit!" he growled slamming into his cage. Kyuubi cursed violently as he didn't have the power and/or ability to snap his host out of his trance. He could sense that Naruto had lost all will to live. Kyuubi slammed against the gate harder this time as he growled angrily. "Please Kit….. Wake up!" Kyuubi snarled. That's when Kyuubi's red eyes had noticed Minato Namikaze, the human who sealed him within Naruto, Naruto's father. Kyuubi watched as Minato performed several hand signs before tapping his son's shoulder snapping Naruto out of his trance. Minato looked at Kyuubi as he placed one finger onto his lips urging the great demon to remain silent. Minato then vanished from view as Naruto came back around. He noticed that the demon fox was looked at Naruto with concern in his blood red eyes. "Are you all right Kit?" asked Kyuubi in concern.
"What happened?"
"You went into shock after learning that I was the cause to why everyone hates you." replied Kyuubi. "If its anyone fault its those damn villagers. They truly can't see that you are a jailor holding my powers within you. Its only thanks to me that you have managed to escape with your life."
Naruto then noticed that the fox had hurt himself.
"Your hurt." stated Naruto.
"I'll be all right Kit. Some of these wounds happened when the villagers attacked. Others were from rushing at the gate." replied Kyuubi.
"Where exactly are we?"
"Your mindscape."
"Kind of depressing ain't it?"
"Of course it would be since almost all of the villagers want you dead. You don't have any friends or family as you are all alone." replied Kyuubi. The words sank into Naurto turning on the water works over head. "Oh…. Come on Kit!" screamed Kyuubi. A sheepish grin crossed Naruto's face as he focused on trying to stop the water works from drowning them both. The water stopped forcing Kyuubi to shake his body.
"Sorry….."
"That's all right Kit. You can't help how your mindscape was formed but you have the power to alter it. I wouldn't mind a forest as it would allow me a chance to stretch out my legs." stated Kyuubi. Naruto closed his eyes as he pictured the lush forest of Konoha were he spent most of his time. Kyuubi could feel the mindscape altering as a forest stretched before him. The large gate disappeared as it transformed into a dog collar complete with a seal as a tag. Once the mindscape was done being altered, Kyuubi stretched out to his full height stretching out his limbs. Naruto opened his eyes as his eyes widened when he saw Kyuubi's full height. "I can never thank you enough for this Kit."
"You keep calling me Kit….. Why?" asked Naruto.
"Kit is the demon word for child. That is what you are to me." replied Kyuubi.
"If it is all right you can call me Naruto as it is my name."
"Fine then. You can call me Kyuubi. I have used up a lot of my powers to get you away from that mob so in the meantime you will heal rather slowly. We can talk some more when you are feeling better."
"Thanks Kyuubi." replied Naruto before he vanished from his mind. Kyuubi took his time exploring his new surroundings making a den for himself.