Chapter 18:

of the Namikaze Clan here in the Seireitei as one of the lesser Noble Houses, and what this could mean for Soul Society as a whole.

We must also make a decision as to which Division the First Generation Head of the Family will be joining and representing in their Clan's colors. "

This was something Naruto didn't see coming, but he was a Shinobi, so he already had an idea of his own. "My apologies Sou-Taichou, but based on my already existing skill-set, would it not be best to have me placed in the Niban-tai?"

Yamamoto frowned in thought before seeming to come to a quick decision. "As the Niban-tai is already represented by the Shihouin Royal Family, I am not so certain that would be wise.

"

Yoruichi stepped forward and turned her attention directly on the Sou-Taichou. "I've already discussed it with the Elders of Tenshiheisōban, and they have agreed to allow the Namikaze Clan Complete control of the Onmitsukidou; we already have enough on our plate as it is Sou-Taichou-sama, and it would be a great help.

Not only to myself but to the Omaeda Clan as well, as they have been a part of the Patrol Corps operations for some time and are unable to shoulder any additional burdens. "

Yamamoto nodded appreciatively in Yoruichi's direction as she stepped back in to place, before he turned his attention on Naruto. "Is this acceptable?"

Naruto turned his attention to Yoruichi for a moment with a raised eyebrow before nodding mutely. That was when the sweat-drop formed on the back of his head as Yoruichi pumped a fist in victory.

The thoughts going through her head being rather joyous about how much paperwork she had been able to pawn off on someone else. This meant far less cramping in her wrists and hands from now on.

Yay.

"Then it is decided, Namikaze-san will be inducted into the Niban-tai as the new head of the Onmitsukidou; Shihouin-Taichou, from here on you will be responsible for his training. There is much he still needs to learn about the duties of a Shinigami, not to mention his new duties as head of the Onmitsukidou.

Until he is properly acclimated, he is your responsibility. "

Yoruichi nodded and sent a wink his way, sending a strange shudder down his spine. Why did he suddenly feel like he'd just been thrown to the metaphorical wolves?

"Then with this, Welcome to the Goteijusantai, Namikaze Naruto-san. "

(AN: Bad spot for a Time-Skip, but I wasn't entirely sure how to go with that. So, we're time skipping to around the time of the disaster known as the creation of the Visoreds, and from here, we'll see the real start of this story)

Forty two years later, Approximately One Hundred and Ten Years Before Start of Bleach Canon

Naruto sighed once again as he looked out over the last batch of new recruits. He could already tell that they were going to require a lot of work, and he honestly didn't know how to start.

The last time he'd taken on new recruits they already had a good grasp of the basics for this particular profession; this time though, he had taken them fresh from the Academy instead of the the Detention Force or Patrol Corp.

These new recruits were fresh faced, and thought they were ready for anything; oh how wrong they were, and he could only hope they learned quickly. Naruto had only been a member of the Goteijusantai for about forty years now-heh, only-, but he'd seen things that any normal person would have been greatly disturbed by.

He wouldn't go over it in detail with anyone at any time, but he'd seen things. Things that refused to leave his memories, and by proxy him, in peace.

Things that to this day still haunted his dreams.

Like that incident with Miyako and Kaien, of whom both were among his closest friends. He had been introduced to the Shiba Clan Members by Yoruichi and her friend Urahara, the Juniban-tai Taichou and head of the Gijutsukaihatsu Kyoku(Technological Development Department), about thirty some odd years back after Yoruichi had decided that he had acclimated to his position more quickly than she'd thought he would.

Even after knowing him for as long as she had, some things still surprised her.

He had immediately hit it off with Kaien and his sister Kukaku; while Ganju saw him much like he did Kukaku, thanks to their similar styles of dress and propensity to beat the crap out of things that pissed them off. So Ganju was more terrified of him than anything else, knocked the Youngest Shiba about the head after he'd decided it would be wise to take it upon himself to find out what rankled him the most.

Seems he still didn't quite understand his own strength, because Ganju had been given a lesson in flight that day. He replaced the wall of course, and even apologized to Ganju in the aftermath, but it was the fact that he hadn't even been trying that probably hadn't helped much.

After meeting them he'd been introduced to Isshin. An eccentric but cheerful man, he'd been one of the Taichou's from the meeting he'd attended roughly ten years prior, and like his Niece and Nephew, though on a slightly different wavelength, the two had become fast friends.

It was a few years later after Kaien had taken the position as Lieutenant of the Jusanban-tai, that something terrible happened. Naruto had been out visiting his old home in Hokutan when he'd sensed the Hollow, but something about it had been off.

Way off.

(Flashback)

Sitting on his deck, looking out over the lake set in front of his home, Naruto smoked his pipe while wondering about his current life. He could honestly say he enjoyed having friends again, having precious people.

Ever since that night where Yoruichi had kissed him goodnight, she hadn't done anything like it again. Well, not exactly like it.

She had discovered a number of ways to tease him over the years, but it never escalated beyond touching. It would seem the boundary had been drawn, and he was fine with that.