Chapter 22: Hueco Mundo
A middle aged man sat on bench, wearing a three piece suit not expensive, but look like it was. Taking a look at a watch inside his coat, he saw it was about noon.
Sitting by him I too wore a three piece suit. Smiling as he knew who I was, leaning back.
"Kakashi it's nice to see you, here I thought you cancelled" he chuckled
"No, I just got lost in this new body"
Over the years Captain Mayuri had invented an Artificial Human body so that Soul Reapers could operate physically in the Human world.
"Well you're here that's all that matters"
"So Soken how are things?"
"Good, my son is about finish school though he doesn't have a taste for Quincy arts" he answered
"What's he going to do after high school?"
"He wants to be a doctor says the Quincy Craft doesn't offer any real money, but that is choice I can't force him even though some would" he answered
"At least he's on the straight and narrow"
"Of course! I just don't think I can handle him in a band or something that could end him in troubling situations" he confessed
"Well good for you"
"Do you still have it?" He asked
"Oh yes of course" I said holding up the silver cross he gave long ago
"Good, just making sure"
"So what does a Quincy do on his downtime?" I asked
"Mostly, he just sits here takes in the peace, but I do have a peace of information for you"
"Hmm?"
"A Soul Reaper is here, he studies with my son at the University" he explained
"What?"
He then handed me a picture, it was Isshin Shiba in a coat smoking a cigarette. He seems to be walking by a young woman with brown hair.
"That standing beside him is Masaki Kurosaki, she's a Quincy in training"
"...How do you know he's a Soul Reaper?"
"My son told me, he was there when a Hollow attacked them" he explained
It was then I was hit by an emergency recall order.
"Well I must be on my way, I am being called back" I said putting the picture in my coat
"Oh so soon? Here I was hoping to treat you to lunch"
"Sorry, but I will pay when we do and keep an eye on them"
"Will do"
Soul Society
Captain-Commander Yamamoto stood sitting across from me. He seemed to be in a situation that he didn't quite favor.
"Vice-captain Hatake, I have an extremely dangerous mission for you"
"Yes, Captain-Commander?"
"A rescue mission, as you know we send research teams to collect data so that we may combat our foes"
"So what is it that must be done?"
"I am having you and a team go into the home of Hollows themselves: Hueco Mundo"
Hueco Mundo that dimension where the Hollows live in. Not many venture there in fear of being eaten by them, but this was a serious matter.
"This mission is one of our most dangerous due to the fact, that Hueco Mundo is home to our enemy even more so due to the area in question the team needs assistance" he explained
"Why is that?"
"A very powerful Vasto Lorde known Barragan dwells there along with a following of Hollows" he answered
"Who's on my team?"
"You'll meet them at the gate, but make with haste or they may not survive the night"
Garganta
Standing outside the gate awaiting my team. A few had made it some I knew: Sajin, Kaien, and Nemu which surprised me.
"Nemu? May I ask why you're here?"
"Captain Mayuri has sent to make sure that the data the team was sent to collect isn't damaged or forgotten" she answered
"Okay! Let's get going, we have an objective that is to rescue the research team, the place they're located is dangerously close to a Hollow den so we need to be careful" I announced
The Garganta opened as wind picked up.
"Everyone got their slips"
Everyone held up their return slips, taking a deep breath we went through the portal. The next thing we knew we were surrounded by sand. The weather was chilly and their seemed to be no sun only a moon.
"Here I was expecting something a bit darker" I commented
"What were you were expecting?" Kaien asked Sajin
"Not sand"
Nemu then approached me, holding a watch of some type.
"What's this?"
"A tracker that'll help us locate the Research team, Captain Mayuri has them ready for such occasions" Nemu answered
"So far so good, it says to go north alright everyone let's head that way keep your eyes peeled though, don't want anything surprising us"
We walked through the cold desert, not a single Hollow in sight. The sand hard to stand in as we slid almost falling in dunes. A small quake rumbled underneath us.
"What was that?" Sajin asked
"I don't know"
It then went silent waiting, til a giant serpent like Hollow pierced the surface of the sand.
"Roar!"
"Move!"
As it crashed into the sand, I was able to get an opening to cut the head off. Despite its size it was relatively easy to kill.
"That was an unwelcoming hello" Kaien said
"We must hurry or we could attract more" Sajin advised
"Yes, let's get going before we're surrounded"
Walking having difficulties due to the soft form of the terrain. The weather cold and unforgiving, no wonder Hollows live here. Following the tracker a blinking green light which was most likely the research team.
"Nemu, why was this team sent here?"
"To study Vasto Lorde"
"Vasto Lorde?"
"They're the strongest Hollow class in Hueco Mundo, but are scarce in numbers" she explained calmly
"So why here?"
"Barragan is a Vasto Lorde, and due his title as 'King' he was much easier to find than others" she concluded
Barragan, I didn't who or what he was and didn't want to find out.
"Let's just retrieve the team or data and leave"
"Fine by me" Kaien said
A few hours later we came by a forest of dead trees. Having a white color of bone, touching you could tell they were dry. Looking up the moon hadn't moved or even phased. Looking back at the tracker the team had to be a few feet away.
"Kakashi?" Nemu said as we stopped in front of trench
It was dark and seemed to go down for miles. The tracker said they had to be here, but the only other reason.
"They're down there" I said gazing at the darkness
"What!?" Kaien shouted
"It would be logical" Nemu agreed
"So how do descend?" Sajin asked
"No other way, but to jump"
"W-what? Listen I-I know I'm a fearless t-type, but Arghhh!"
Before Kaien could finish I pushed him over. I then started my descent as did the other two.
The wind whipped through us, as Kaien shouted as he was falling. Seeing the ground getting closer we all used our blades to slow descent. Except for Nemu who I had hold due to her not having a Zanpakuto. Slowing we gently came to the bottom of the trench, except for Kaien who fell o flat on his face.
"Ow"
"Thank you, Vice-captain Hatake" Nemu said with gratitude as I released her
"It was trouble, now Kaien get your face out of the sand we gotta find that research team" I ordered
"Yes, sir" He said his voice muffled
"Where do we go now?" Sajin asked
Before I could take a look at my tracker, a small quake shook again. Then series of them came steadily that was when I saw.
"Everyone hide"
We four took cover in tunnel entrances just as a massive foot came down.
"A Menos Grande"
The giant hollow simple minded, but hardly called weak. Attacking it would be a death wish since only a few travel alone. Passing very slowly til it turned down a trail. Coming out of tunnel entrances, as it cleared.
"It seems we've literally jumped into a maze"
"Oh great"
Taking a look at the light had changed from north to east. Gesturing to the others to move we continued. Keeping my eye on the tracker we had seemed to be going down a dark path a den most likely.
"How much longer?" Kaien whined
We then came across a pile of corpses, most likely the research team. Bending down I took a look at the scene.
"They seem to be wearing Division 12 uniforms"
"And the tracker seems to indicate that this is them" Nemu agreed
"But where is their data?" Sajin asked
"Shriek!"
We turned to a tunnel that seemed to the largest. Cautiously walking up to the entrance, but felt a heavy presence. A large thin Hollow came out, narrowing its eyes at us.
"Who are you!? No wait! I know! You're after my stuff! Well you can't have it!"
It then held up a limb showing a Cero, as it was about to fire.
AN: I am thinking of adding another Naruto character, but I don't know who. Just letting you know what might happen.