Naruto: God Of Death (CH 1)

A/N: This story is rated M for mature content not suitable for children.

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Chapter 1: Black Cat

Soul Society [Rukongai]

Junrinan [District One]

Naruto looked around his new surroundings. He had died not too long ago, or at least it felt that way to him. He woke up in the afterlife.

The blonde thought that it would be a place where he would be reunited with his dead loved one, but as it turns out, it reminded him of the poor areas of Konoha where he grew up.

This was his new reality. He was now a dead soul in a place that should be paradise but is just like any poor human city.

The only good part about his new life is that he got adopted by a kind old lady he called grandma or granny. She was living with her grandchild called Momo Hinamori, a cute little girl with black hair and grey eyes.

Naruto looked in a bowl of water that he was using to wash himself and he took in his young appearance. He looked like a 12-year-old, but in reality, he should be closer to 80 years old.

The Uzumaki had died young for a person in his clan, but his reckless use of Kurama's chakra had cut his life span exponentially.

Hinata, his children, and their children were by his side in his final moments of life, along with his friends who were still alive. Naruto died without any regrets and was at peace with everything.

The blonde shook his head and snapped back to reality. He finished bathing and was met with the smell of grandma's delicious cooking. Momo was sitting at the dining room table, waiting for him so they could eat.

"So when are you going to start attending the academy, Naru-chan?" Granny asked. Earlier this week, a Shinigami had stopped by when he noticed Naruto's Reiryoku.

The man had explained a bit about the academy, Reiyoku, and its effect on those around them. For instance, grandma was old, and if he wasn't trained, he ran the risk of accidentally killing her. But in Momo's case, she is young and has the potential to be a Shinigami too, so his power was actually strengthening her.

"I will be attending in the coming week," Naruto replied. He was hesitant to leave his new family, but he had to in order to learn to control his power, as he didn't want to accidentally kill someone. "But I will come home every chance I get."

Momo looked happy when her adopted brother said that, she didn't want him to leave either but she understood that he was worried that he might kill granny if he didn't learn to control his spiritual powers.

"Momo, can you take care of my garden for me when I am away?" Naruto asked his little sister. She looked surprised at his request because the blonde had created and nurtured his garden and only allowed her to water his plants under his supervision.

"I would love to, brother," Momo replied, trying to look serious but failing. She looked like a cute 8-year-old, making Naruto and Granny laugh. "Hey, don't laugh. I am being serious."

Momo's pouting only made the pair laugh louder until she joined them until they fell into a comfortable silence while they ate.

Flashback Scene Ahead

Death was an interesting feeling, Naruto noted. He was now a spirit, watching his friends and family grieve around his dead body, waiting for the shinigami to guide his soul to the Pure Land to be reunited with his loved ones.

"So this is it," Naruto said out loud, but nobody heard him. He looked at his sons, daughter, and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren with a loving look.

"I lived a good life; it wasn't always easy, but I came a long way from being an orphan outcast pariah." Naruto felt at peace with himself. At that moment, the blonde spirit began to glow and turn into particles of light.

This was the last time Naruto Uzumaki, the seventh Hokage, the child of prophecy, Konoha's number one unpredictable ninja, would see the Elemental Nation.

Soul Society

Night Time

"Where the hell am I?" Naruto said, looking around. He was near a river in a forest in a place he'd never seen before.

Naruto walked to the river and saw his reflection, making his mouth fall open wide because he was a brat again, and he somehow had on a white kimono.

"Who the hell changed my clothes," Naruto exclaimed, embarrassed at the thought of a stranger doing things to him when he was unconscious.

GROWL

"Man, I'm hungry," Naruto said to himself with his stomach sounding like a beast. Then he took a look into the river and saw a school of fish swimming by, which brought a smile to his face.

"Looks like I'm having fish for dinner," Naruto said as he stripped naked and dived into the river, using the survival skills he learned from his time alive to catch the fish.

Fast Forward

The Uzumaki had built a fire to cook the ten fish he caught and had eaten seven while the other three fish was still cooking.

"That was so good," Naruto said, lying back on the forest floor, looking up at the stars in the sky. "Is this the Pure Land?"

Naruto knew he was death. There is no way around that fact, but this doesn't seem to be the pure land, the place where all dead Shinobi go to when they die.

"I wish I still had chakra; it would make everything much easier," Naruto while he was catching fish. He had tried to use shadow clones to help him, but he quickly learned he couldn't.

"Chakra is life energy, after all," Naruto said in a sad tone. "I've spent my entire life honing my chakra. Now it's all gone. But now I am dead, maybe I have a different energy."

It made sense to the Uzumaki, and there's the fact that he could feel another unfamiliar energy in his body in place of his chakra.

Naruto closed his eyes and focused inwardly. His sense of the world around him faded, and he reappeared inside a familiar mindscape.

"hmm I must have accidentally brought myself here because before I died I released Kurama, so there shouldn't be anyone in here," Naruto said, but he suddenly felt a pulse of power and followed it to the source "it looks like I spoke too soon."

"I didn't expect us to meet so soon, but then again, you are no normal soul, Naruto Uzumaki," said a giant nine-tailed fox that was definitely not Kurama.

"Who are you and how did you get in my head," Naruto asked calmly. He had learned to keep his cool from years of being a Kage; the fox didn't seem hostile.

"My name is Tenbatsu no Kizuna," the giant fox replied, watching Naruto intensely. "I am your Zanpakuto spirit, or I will be once you get an Asauchi."

"What is a Zanpakuto spirit or an Asauchi for that matter," Naruto asked. He saw that the fox was pleased for some reason.

"So you could hear my name," the Zanpakuto spirit stated, getting a confused look from Naruto. So Kizuna decided to explain, "Usually, you would need years of training to meet your Zanpakuto spirit, and even more to learn its name."

"Oh, I guess I am special like that," Naruto said jokingly, but Kizuna nodded seriously.

"You are a very unusual soul," Kizuna said honestly. "And as for what a Asauchi is, it is basically a blank blade. Shinigamis use for combat and sending souls to the afterlife."

"And what about a zanpakuto spirit," Naruto asked, looking into the giant fox eyes.

"I am your Zanpakuto spirit," Kizuna said he had lain down on the mindscape floor. "I am the physical representation of your power."

"That really doesn't explain anything," Naruto said with a roll of his eyes.

"All will be clear in the future, but know I will always be by your side," Kizuna spoke those words with such conviction that Naruto had no doubt he would keep them.

That night, Naruto slept under the stars, his mind filled with thoughts of his Zanpakuto spirit. The outside world seemed to pressure him, keeping any animals or people at bay.

Next Day [Morning]

Naruto woke up feeling refreshed even though he was in his mindscape talking with Kizuna the entire time; he might even feel stronger than ever.

"Kizuna did say that the deeper the bond one has with their Zanpakuto, the stronger they can become," Naruto thought as he started to think of his next move.

The Uzumaki decided to try and see if he could sense if anyone was near. Usually, this would be an easy task using the Eye of Kaguya (a sensory technique), but without chakra, he didn't know if it would work.

"Maybe it will work with Reiryoku," Naruto said. He didn't know how Kizuna knew all about this since he was a part of him and the blonde knew nothing about where he is, but apparently, the fox zanpakuto was both a part of him, yet he also connected to the world.

Naruto closed his eyes and expanded his senses. First, he noticed a power inside him, different yet similar to chakra. Then, he focused outward and felt several signatures nearby. To his right, past the forest.

The blonde walked until he found people and houses; the were dressed similarly to him with some differences, but the town looked like an old trading village.

Flashback Scene End

Naruto smiled as he remembered how he came to be here, after he discovered the town he lived in by selling fish and any other animals he caught.

He met granny and Momo one day when they were being harrased by a drunk idiot, he intervene before anything bad could happen and from there the rest Is history.

"Do you think I can go to the academy one day, brother?" Momo asked all of a sudden, making Granny and Naruto raise an eyebrow.

"Of course, you do, Momo," Naruto replied. "Don't you remember what that Shinigami said? You have potential." He didn't know if he wanted his cute little sister to fight hollows one day, but if it was what she wanted, he would support her in any way.

"I am sure you will be a great Shinigami one day," Granny said with a gentle smile.

"Thank you, Granny, and big brother," Momo said with a happy expression. "I will be the best Shinigami ever; you two just watch."

The small family went to sleep that night peacefully. Naruto was in his mind, thinking of training with Kizuna. Momo was dreaming of becoming a shinigami. The grandmother was praying for her grandchildren's safety and happiness.

Soul Society

Seireitei [Shinigami Academy]

"So this is Shinigami Academy, huh?" Naruto stated, dressed in the academy uniform. "It's not what I expected."

The place seems more like a place samurais would live in, like back in the shinobi world in Iron country, but then again, Shinigami love their Zanpakuto.

"To all new students, please be quiet and show your respect to our special guests, the captain commander and two of the captain's gotai 13." One of the instructors of the academy announced.

Naruto looked around the area and everyone was dressed in the Shinigami Academy uniform. The blonde's eyes were drawn to an old man whose spiritual pressure, while heavily suppressed, felt like he was a star burning everything that got near him.

Next to him were two men who also had impressive power but nowhere near that of the old man's. Naruto looked at the other Academy students and noted that none of them seemed to sense the spiritual powers of the three men.

"It must be because I retain my sixth sense from when I was alive," Naruto said to himself. It was true; ever since he came to the afterlife, he still had these enhanced senses.

Naruto knew that his ability to sense things had surpassed that of Karin Uzumaki, who had the ability of the Eye of Kaguya; it was the result of his constant use of the Six Paths Sage Mode and Kurama's chakra.

"Students, let me introduce you to Captain Commander of the Gotei 13, Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, and his two greatest students, who are also captains, Shunsui Sakuranomiya Jiro Kyoraku, and Jushiro Ukitake," the academy head instructor declared in a tone that showed his absolute respect for the captains.

Naruto tuned most of what the head instructor said out of his mind; he was too busy trying to gauge how strong the three captains were. Their power was probably on the level of surpassing that of Kaguya, possibly even greater.

"I guess they're not called gods of death for nothing," Naruto said to himself, getting a weird look from a girl with blonde hair and blue eyes, next to her was a boy with silver hair and narrowed eyes, like a fox or maybe a snake.

"What do you mean by that," the blonde girl asked curiously. "My name is Rangiku Matsumoto, by the way, and this is my friend Gin Ichimaru."

Naruto looked at the duo and had the feeling Rangiku was a bigger airhead than Ino was, and Gin reminded him a bit of himself mixed with Sasuke.

"What I mean is the three captains' spiritual pressure is on another level than I ever felt before," Naruto said honestly. "Nice to meet you, My name is Naruto Uzumaki."

"You could feel their Reiryoku," Gin asked suddenly, his eyes opened slightly.

"Yeah, especially the captain commander; he is like the sun, burning everything that gets near him," Naruto stated before he focused back on the stage where the academy head instructor finished his speech.

Naruto tuned out Rangiku and Gin, missing the looks of interest the silver-haired boy sent his way and the cute pout the blonde girl had on her face because he was ignoring them.

Fast Forward

Two Years Later

The Spiritual Arts Academy was not much different from the Ninja Academy. Naruto thought they basically taught you some history and primarily focused on combat techniques.

The four areas focused on are Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hoho, and Kido. Each can make or break a shinigami in battle if they don't have a basic grasp of them.

Zanjutsu is the art of fighting with your Zanpakuto. It is considered shameful if one does not master at least this fighting style.

Hakuda is a hand-to-hand combat without any weapons; it combines multiple martial arts. Naruto excelled at it thanks to his memories of past lives.

Hoho is something that comes naturally to the blonde Uzumaki; it's basically a foot technique that can enhance one's movement. The highest level of this technique is called Shunpo or flash step.

Naruto found it funny that this technique is so similar to the Instant Movement technique he mastered in his last life.

The area where Naruto had the least success was Kido. It was spells that Shinigamis use in combat and other applications, which needed strong, controlled Reiryoku and sometimes long incantations to use. The Uzumaki didn't have the patience or control to master them.

Despite this, Naruto was seen as a prodigy within the Academy for his skills with Hoho and Hakuda, with Zanjutsu not far behind.

Naruto was in class with his friends Gin and Rangiku; they became quick friends mostly thanks to the blonde woman's insistence, but the Uzumaki didn't mind too much. They both seemed like good people, although Gin sometimes gave him a vibe similar to Sasuke.

Naruto looked at the blue and white uniform all the male students of the academy had to wear, and the red and white uniform Rangiku and all the female students had on; it needed a bit of orange in Naruto's opinion.

"Okay, class. For today, you all will be given an Asauchi. When you graduate, it will be yours officially," the instructor, who looked more like a yakuza thug than an actual teacher, funny enough he is one of the best teachers at the academy.

In the first class, there was a bunch of Zanpakuto, with one for every student. One by one, the instructor called students down to claim one for themselves.

Naruto walked down to the front of the class when it was his turn; he could feel the eyes of everyone on him watching to see if the Asauchi would react to him, and it did.

The Instant Naruto touched the Asauchi, it transformed itself into a short blade, more akin to a wakizashi, with the handle being black and orange.

Naruto could feel Kizuna flowing his power through the Zanpakuto, connecting himself with the blade. The Uzumaki unsheathed the Zanpakuto and gave it a few test swings; it felt natural to have it in his hands. He then sheathed it.

"Not bad, Mister Uzumaki, take your seat, please," the instructor said calmly. He had made a note to talk to the captain commander later.

The instructor called the next student while Naruto talked to his friend, specifically the Rangiku, who was looking at his Zanpakuto with awe.

"Wow, your Zanpakuto changed so fast! I heard it takes years for one to do that," Rangiku exclaimed, making Naruto laugh at her childish innocence.

Gin was observing all this. He had known that Naruto was special since he met him. He had high spiritual energy and sensory abilities that could feel a captain-level shinigami even when they had their powers suppressed.

"I am just awesome like that," Naruto stated with a grin, making Rangiku laugh at his goofiness. "Do you two want to train together after this?"

"I have to go, I have something I have to take care of," Gin said politely declining, in his mind he was thinking about his meeting with Aizen, the bastard was advancing with his plans and summoning him to assist him.

"No way, you are one of the only people I know who consider training to be a fun hobby," Rangiku stated with her arms crossed under her developing chest.

Naruto laughed at her reaction, but he sent a look at Gin. He had been busy lately, and he had the feeling that his silver-haired friend was getting himself mixed up in something bad. However, any time he tried to talk to Gin about it, he would change the subject.

"I look like I'm going to train solo," Naruto declared, slumping his shoulder. "I need better friends." he said jokingly.

Fast Forward

Naruto, after parting with Gin and Rangiku, had gone to one of the training fields specially made to withstand the Reiryoku of up to Captain-level shinigami.

The Uzumaki had chosen one that was empty and surrounded by trees; it made him feel more comfortable, and he wanted to test his new Zanpakuto privately.

"Are you ready," Kizuna's voice echoed in his blonde head. "I've been waiting for this day a long time now. Say my name."

"Roar with Justice, Tenbatsu no Kizuna!" Naruto exclaimed, his Zanpakuto unsheathed, the blade in one hand and the sheath in the other.

There was a flash of light and an explosion of Reiryoku kicking up dust all over the training grounds when it cleared. The Uzumaki held a large, double-edged broadsword with intricate, glowing seals running along the blade. The swords hilt was wrapped in orange cloth, reminiscent of Naruto's signature color, and a chain of linked, shining orbs (resembling the Rasengan) hung from the pommel.

Naruto examined his Shikai; it was beautiful and weightless in his hand. He looked at a tree and swung his blade. It went through it, and the force alone caused several trees behind it to fall down.

"That's quite the impressive zanpakuto you have there," Naruto heard a masculine voice speak; he looked around and saw no one. "Down here," the voice said.

Naruto looked down and saw a black cat; he stared at the cat, and amusement was clear in its eyes.

"Hey there, Mr. Cat," Naruto asked confused. "Were you the one talking to me?" He had known talking animals in his past life, but he didn't think there were any here in the afterlife. Maybe someone was trying to prank him.

The cat stared at him, making the blonde feel stupid for talking to a cat. He decided to get out of there; maybe the place was haunted, the blonde thought with a shudder, forgetting the fact that everyone in Soul Society could be considered a ghost.

"Ha ha, you are an interesting one, Uzumaki," the cat talked again, but this time Naruto saw it do it. "Not even a day has passed since you got your Zanpakuto, and you can already use Shikai."

"Who are you and how do you know my name," Naruto demanded, he didn't like the face the cat was trying to make fun of him "you are no normal cat, are you."

"Sorry, but I couldn't resist but I'm impressed with your talent," Kizuna said, looking at the black cat "it's a fine Shikai."

"You still haven't told me who you are and how do you know me," Naruto stated, annoyed at the cat avoiding his question. "Whatever, I'm done training for today anyway."

Naruto released his Shikai, only to find the same black cat blocking his path. The blonde was not amused, but a small part of him wondered how this cat could not only evade his senses but move so fast.

"You young trainees are so impatient these days," the black cat said, looking at Naruto intensely. "I know of you because all the captains keep an eye out for new talent like you. Not even in the academy for two years yet, you have as much Reiryoku as a vice captain, and a talent seen once every generation."

"Who are you," Naruto asked again. He had an idea: this cat might be a captain or the familiar of one.

"Fine, let me introduce myself," The cat replied as a puff of smoke engulfed it, and from that smoke, the shade of a woman appeared. "I am Yoruichi Shihoin, the captain of the second division."

Naruto was frozen to the spot not because the cat transformed but what and who it transformed into a dark-skinned beauty with purple hair and yellow eyes, and she was naked.

"Will you please put some clothes on?" Naruto exclaimed, his hand clamped over his nose to stop a nosebleed.

"I knew you were interesting," Yoruichi said with laughter, not caring she was completely exposed, making Naruto get a massive nosebleed. "You have some big balls on you for talking to me like that, knowing who I am."

Naruto, for his part, had to turn around from Yoruichi to stop the bleeding, but the playful woman didn't want her fun to end, so she mischievously draped herself over Naruto's shoulders, her large breasts on either side of his head.

"Am I being naked too much for you?" Yoruichi said teasing Naruto, the blonde's face turned red, and he had to use Shunpo to get away, surprising the woman at the speed, although she could easily follow it. "You are full of surprises, aren't you?"

"Will you just put some on," Naruto exclaimed, feeling his head get light. He had not been with anyone since he died, despite not being a virgin when he was alive.

"What am I supposed to wear? There aren't any clothes around here," Yoruichi asked in amusement, her head tilted, watching the blonde's reaction.

"Here, put this on," Naruto shouted as he took off his uniform top and threw it at the captain of the second division, who caught it.

Yoruichi decided that she had her fun already and placed the Naruto uniform top on it, which went to her upper thighs but covered her privates well enough.

"Is this better now, Uzumaki-Chan?" Yoruichi asked, making a pose that looks sexy in his uniform, but the blonde decided to just nod; it was better than her being naked.

"Now, what do you want? I doubt you came all this way just to tease me," Naruto said, his face not serious.

"I want you to join the second division," Yoruichi replied bluntly, getting straight to the point. "Well, at least when you graduate, I don't mind giving you some training in the meantime. So, what do you think?"

"What," Naruto's mind froze. He knew trainees could graduate early, but it was unusual because of their talent exceeding what the academy could teach them. It was rare, or rather unheard of, for a captain to approach a student with such such an offer.

"So will you join the second division," Yoruichi asked again. She enjoyed the dumbstruck face the blonde had, and it took all she had not to laugh and tease him about it.

Chapter End

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A/N: Don't forget to like and comment, until next time.