Fanfic / Strike a Match

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After somehow perishing in his world, Naruto Uzumaki finds himself in the world of Hueco Mundo. Mystified by his new form and surroundings, he meets a certain Tres Espada and her Shinigami master, who he creates an alliance with. With his old powers combined with the powers of an Arrancar, the ex-shinobi carves out his place in all three of his new worlds, while turning the balance of power upside down.

But how did he die? How does he still have Kurama sealed in him? And why do so many woman want to jump his bones?!

Strike a Match is a crossover Fan Fic between Bleach and Naruto written by NeonZangetsu on FanFiction.Net. It is ongoing.

Alternately, it can be found on Archive of Our Own here.

Strike a Match contains examples of:

• Abled in the Adaptation:
  • Nel is saved from Nnoitra's ambush by Naruto. As a result, she doesn't lose her memory or regress to a child.
  • Naruto uses his powers to regrow Kukaku Shiba's missing arm, much to her joy.
• Actually Pretty Funny: When Naruto brings up Grimmjow in his seminar about Arrancars, Ichigo says that he sounds like the name of a punk rock band. Zangetsu howls with laughter, and Naruto suppresses a laugh behind his fist. He even asks Ichigo to say that when he meets Grimmjow, just to see his reaction.
• Adaptational Badass:
  • Naruto was already a force to be reckoned with, but he gets a few upgrades now that he's an Arrancar, letting him go toe-to-toe with all but the heaviest hitters in Bleach.
  • Thanks to Naruto protecting her from Nnoitra's backstabbing, Neliel never suffers her canon injuries and amnesia, and remains a Lady of War. Later on, she unlocks Segunda Etapa, which gives a demonic form resembling the goat demon Baphomet. With it, she utterly and completely trounces Harribel, to the point that Naruto believes she's as strong as Starrk.
  • Like Nel, Tia unlocks her own Segunda Etapa, which transforms her into a shark-woman with greatly enhanced strength and speed.
  • Ichigo, thanks to Naruto's teachings and a more symbiotic relationship with Zangetsu, is a good bit stronger than his canon self by the time of the Soul Society arc.
  • Kenpachi is convinced by Naruto to stop holding back in their fight, which helps him unlock Shikai earlier, and he unlocks Bankai in his duel against Ichigo.
  • Much like Kenpachi, Unohana shakes off her rust and gets back in action thanks to her duel with Naruto.
  • Kukaku Shiba possesses a Zanpakuto of her own, and has even achieved Bankai with it. It was enough to induce an Oh, Crap! from Naruto!
  • Hisana Kuchiki Came Back Strong as an Arrancar, and proves herself powerful enough to take on her husband Byakuya — a Captain — and have the upper hand.
  • When Dordoni is brought back into the fold as the Fifth Espada, he undergoes a second augmentation from the Hogyoku. While it had a chance of killing him, he nonetheless survived, and became much stronger as a result.
• Adaptational Context Change: In canon, Shunsui lost his eye to one of the Sternritter at the start of the Thousand-Year Blood War Arc. In Strike a Match, he slices out his eye himself in an attempt at recompensing a vengeful Naruto.
• Adaptational Early Appearance: Hueco Mundo and all its residents appear a good while before Soul Society ever does.
• Adaptational Karma: Mayuri receives some long-overdue justice for his many atrocities courtesy of an enraged Naruto tearing him from limb to limb before moving on to his soul.
• All Amazons Want Hercules: Naruto's various love interests are all very strong by themselves, and Naruto's own power makes him rather attractive. Sung-Sun in particular cozies up to him because he represents safety.
• An Arm and a Leg: In chapters 48 and 49, Naruto tears Mayuri apart, starting with his right arm. Then he takes the left arm, then both of Mayuri's legs, and finishes with the man's soul.
• And I Must Scream:
  • Aaroniero Arruruerie is reduced to a powerless voice trapped in the back of Kaien Shiba's mind after the Soul Reaper fought and devoured through all the souls Aaroniero consumed until he gained enough power to wrest control of the former Gillian's body.
  • Ashisogi Jizo is revealed to be trapped in a state of never-ending pain and torment because Mayuri Kurotsuchi refuses to acknowledge his own zanpakuto as its own sentient being, begging Naruto to put him out of its misery when the former shinobi clashes with the Mad Scientist.
  • Alluded to in Chapter 51 when Aizen is watching Naruto level Squad 12 to the ground in a fit of rage. Aizen imagines that if there is an afterlife beyond their current one, Mayuri will spend the rest of eternity there screaming in frustration as his life's work is completely and utterly unmade.
• And This Is for...: When Naruto is unleashing a barrage of brutal attacks with his Shikai on Mayuri, he unleashes a fourfold version.
  This one's for Hinata.
  [uppercuts Mayuri into the sky]
  This is for your lieutenant.
  [jumps up after him and brings down his gauntlet on Mayuri's back]
  For your zanpakuto, and everyone you've ever hurt!
  [smashes Mayuri into the ground]
  And this?!
  [stomps down on Mayuri's chest, then raises both hands for the final, devastating blow]
  THIS ONE'S FOR ME!'
  [blows Mayuri away in a massive explosion]
• Anti-Hero/Anti-Villain: While Naruto and Aizen are technically villainous figures by virtue of opposing Soul Society, the fact that Soul Society is responsible for atrocities such as putting Hinata Hyuga through Human Experimentation under Mayuri Kurotsuchi's sadistic purview and maintains a dystopic, unequal society for its residents makes the former two infinitely more sympathetic by comparison. It helps that Naruto's managed to influence Aizen into pursuing less callous avenues for his plans against the Soul King, meaning that the renegade Soul Reaper burns less bridges among the people he knows when he officializes his desertion from Soul Society.
• Armor-Piercing Response: In chapter 49, after Naruto kills Mayuri in front of Nemu, she tells the former that she will one day kill him herself, and avenge Mayuri's death. Naruto grants her a tired smile and asks her if she really thinks that Mayuri is worth avenging.
  Nemu: He created me! He gave me life!
  Naruto: And did he, even once in your life, treat you like a human being?
• Ascended Extra:
  • Roka Paramia was nothing more than Szayelaporro's background Fraccion in canon. Here, Aizen makes her Naruto's handmaiden, and she has a more active role in the plot.
  • Yin and Yang, just minor sidekicks for a filler villain in canon, get recruited by Roka to serve as Naruto's Fraccion. Like her, the two have a larger role in the story so far, often forming a trinity with Roka.
• Asshole Victim: Mayuri's death is anything but pleasant, and he deserved every single second of it. When Zaraki and Unohana see what's left of his corpse, the former smiles widely and bids the man good riddance, and the latter barely even spares a second glance at the cadaver.
• Assimilation Backfire: Aaroniero Arruruerie, you really shouldn't have eaten Kaien Shiba. The man has a far stronger soul than you. Kaien ate his way through all the souls Aaroniero absorbed, eventually regaining enough of his sense of self to completely take over the body of the Espada. Nowadays, the gluttonous hollow is trapped in the back of Kaien's mind, unable to move even a finger.
  The once proud Ninth Espada, reduced to a gibbering wraith in the back of his head. Served him right. That's what he got for trying to devour him. There were certain things a man couldn't let go of, and his iron willpower was a thousand times stronger than some stupid uppity Gillian.
• Back from the Dead: After her canonical death, Hisana Kuchiki is eventually reborn as an Arrancar, and slowly regains her memories of her former self before finally revealing her identity in chapter 37.
• Badass Boast:
  • In chapter 24, Yamamoto warns Naruto not to cross him. This particular boast leads to the below-mentioned Baddie Flattery from the Uzumaki.
    Yamamoto: Tell me, youngster, how do you think I've remained Head Captain of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads for over a thousand years? [increases his spiritual pressure tenfold] Allow me to tell you. It's because no Shinigami born during that time has been stronger than I. I've faced countless challengers in my heyday and crushed them all with my bare hands.
  • In chapter 32, Roka arrancarizes Yin and Yang and conscripts them into becoming Naruto's Fraccion. When the twins try and protest, the spider-girl points out that her powerset makes her more than a match for the two, and they wisely stand down.
    Roka: You should know that in this form, I am functionally immortal. I cannot be killed by conventional means, and those I serve are much more powerful than me. I also possess the power to connect to all matter with these threads of negation and in doing so share spirit energy and other information. Likewise, I store, transfer, and record information and spiritual energy. My primary power allows me to mimic techniques I have witnessed, including high-level abilities. I've witnessed a great many. This is called a Cero Oscuras, as displayed by Lord Ulquiorra, the Fourth Espada. Shall I show you?
  • After Nel and Tia's Cat Fight over Naruto evolves into a Brutal Brawl in their Segunda Etapa forms, Tia learns the hard way that the senior Espada is far above her on the food chain. Granted, Tia does actually manage to win her respect a little by the end.
    Neliel: You arrogant little snit. Do you honestly think you have any right to my beloved? You, who can't even make me bleed? You'll never be able to protect him. Not like I can. You may have tasted this power. You may have experienced it. You may even think yourself somewhat skilled in its usage. But you've yet to master it. I discovered this form when you were still wandering the desert as a Vasto Lorde, searching for strays. I learned it when I lost everything; through blood and sweat and tears, I struggled and scraped and screamed until I could control this power. I mastered it when my Fraccion, my friends, my family were stolen from me and scattered to the winds. And YOU think you're on MY level? Like this?! Know your place! You can't even- (Tia slashes her) Well, well. Not bad. I may have to reconsider my opinion of you. I'll give you ten seconds, Tia. Try to survive.
• Baddie Flattery: Played With regarding Naruto's friendly words to Yamamoto when the Arrancar General and Shinigami Captain meet for the first time. Naruto isn't really a villain per se, more like a chaotic neutral party who holds little to no malice for anyone (at least until the Soul Society Arc), but he is a Hollow, the natural enemy of all Shinigami. That, and he had just finished beating the living daylights out of Yamamoto's surrogate daughter Unohana (to be fair, she started the fight). Nonetheless, the old warrior's sheer presence awes him, and Naruto praises him as probably the sole person in the Bleach 'verse who stands above him, while also warmly complimenting his skills with fire. Yamamoto lampshades that being complimented by an enemy feels rather strange, although he too gains some respect for Naruto after their brief clash and the two part on friendly terms.
  Naruto: Heh. I knew it. You're waaaaaaay stronger than Jiraiya and old man Sarutobi, ain'tcha? I mean, I get it, old guys usually are tough as nails! I've met some pretty badass old dudes in my day, ya know! You stand head and shoulders above them, easily. And as far as fire users go? You probably could've snuffed Sasuke out with one hand behind your back.
  Yamamoto: (thinking) How strange it was, to receive a compliment from one's enemy.
• Barrier Warrior: Unohana is skilled with barrier Kido, utilizing them to shield herself against Naruto's devastating attacks in their first and second duels, to limited effect. She can even utilize barriers inside her own body, via layering shields around her womb after she becomes pregnant with Naruto's daughter.
• Battle in the Rain: Byakuya hates the rain, because it was raining heavily when his wife died. Naturally, it's pouring with rain when he has to fight Naruto and his resurrected wife. He lost both times, although emotionally he won the latter.
• Beware the Nice Ones:
  • Aizen is Affably Evil and a Benevolent Boss to his arrancar subordinates. He's also given summary executions to Nnoitra and Barragan for getting uppity and attacking their fellow arrancars just to satisfy their bruised egos.
  • Naruto is still as jovial, carefree, and empathetic as he was back in his old life... and he delivers a brutal death upon Mayuri Kurotsuchi upon learning about the depraved scientist's horrific experiments on his wife Hinata Hyuga.
• Big Damn Heroes:
  • After Sasakibe attacked Ichigo In the Back, he passed out, and only survived thanks to Naruto drop-kicking the Squad One Lieutenant all the way into the Rukongai, knocking him out cold and allowing Ichigo to survive long enough for Naruto to heal him.
  • Probably the best example in the whole story occurs in chapter 62, right when the Sokyoku is about to burn Rukia to ashes. Fortunately, an old friend Back from the Dead returns just in time to blast the firebird away: Kaien Shiba.
• Big Brother Mentor: Naruto takes up this role for Ichigo, teaching him how to fight in a very unorthodox manner. It seems to be having an effect, as Ichigo is doing a lot better compared to canon so far.
• Bite of Affection: Nel tends to nibble on Naruto as her own way of showing affection. Perhaps a side-effect of her goat motifs, as her instinctual reaction to finding herself in bed with him was to chomp his shoulder.
• Blasé Boast: When Naruto accesses new levels of power that should be impossible to reach, Mayuri cries out in horror that Naruto is exceeding the limits that all mortal beings possess.
  Naruto: And this should bother me because...?
• Brutal Brawl: Naruto and Unohana's chaotic fight in There Will Be Blood is a gory nightmare, with both of them receiving wounds that would have killed most people a hundred times over.
• The Bus Came Back: Yachiru Kusajishi vanished from the story for a little while after Kenpachi and Naruto's brawl in chapter 8. She doesn't reappear until chapter 51, which is years in the real world. When Kenpachi annoyedly asks her where the hell she's been, she cheekily refuses to answer.
• Came Back Strong: Kaien and Hisana fit this trope very well after being resurrected as Arrancars.
  • Kaien used to be a moderately powerful and skilled Lieutenant-class Shinigami. Now, he's the Ninth Espada and a Captain-level threat. Toshiro Hitsugaya was no match for him at all, and he was even able to repel the Sokyoku!
  • Hisana Kuchiki is no longer a frail housewife. She's currently an Arrancar warrior of immense power, being able to take on low Captain-class opponents and win.
• Can't Kill You, Still Need You: Aizen decides not to kill Gin after the latter's horribly failed attempt at taking out Ichigo. He spares Gin because of two reasons: 1; Gin is a strong subordinate and people like him are a rarity, and 2; Naruto has made Aizen less cruel, so he sees no reason to callously murder Gin. However, he makes it very clear that if Gin ever acts without permission and interferes in his plans again, then Gin will pray for the sweet release of death.
• Cat Fight: Chapters 32 and 33 are aptly named "Catfight of the Espada". After Aizen suggests a duel between Nel and Tia to decide the position of Second and Third Espadas, the already-jealous duo go completely nuts fighting each other. In fact, the shockwaves they inadvertently produce nearly blow away the spectators.
• Chekhov's Gun: Aizen managed to capture some surviving Quincy in prior chapters, and takes a Bankai-stealing medallion from an as-of-yet-unidentified female one. He gives this medallion to Naruto, stating that it could be useful for the latter's trip to Soul Society. And lo-and-behold, the man was right. In chapter 48, Mayuri attempts to unleash his own Bankai on a furious Naruto, and the Arrancar uses the medallion to suck it up and take it away from the mad scientist.
• Circling Birdies: When Neliel suplexes Ichigo into the ground in a drunken rampage, the narration notes that "[he] didn't just see stars. He saw the whole universe. His tongue tasted colors."
• Clingy Jealous Girl: Nel gets very, very territorial around Naruto. It eventually gets to the point that when she sees Unohana's hickey on Naruto's neck, she finally loses patience and gets Naruto to take her virginity.
• Clingy Sleepers: Naruto seems to attract clingy sleepers. Neliel is found in his bed using him as a pillow in Chapter 29, and Unohana refuses to let him leave the bed in Chapter 54.
• Combat Compliment: Naruto and Unohana's Brutal Brawl goes from Unohana wanting to eviscerate Naruto to exchanging compliments. Naruto in particular praises her for being the best teacher he's ever had. The duel ends with Unohana having developed a rather sizable crush on him.
• Come Back to Bed, Honey: In chapter 52, Byakuya wakes up from his fight/reconciliation with his resurrected wife Hisana. He attempts to head back out to the battlefield, hopefully to engage in combat with Ichigo. Hisana, completely nude, stops him in his tracks, and makes it clear that he is not going anywhere. Byakuya wisely surrenders himself to the ministrations of his wife, who drags him back to his bed for the foreseeable future.
  Hisana: And just where do you think you're going, husband of mine?
  Byakuya: To battle.
  Hisana: Is that your final answer? I'll ask you one last time. Where are you going, Byakuya?
  Byakuya: Nowhere, wife...?
  Hisana: [hums in satisfaction] Correct answer. You owe me at least a century of cuddling and countless other things besides before I even begin to forgive you!
  Byakuya: But my comrades-
  Hisana: Can wait 'till morning. Do you have any idea how upset I am with you? Tonight, you're mine!
• Crossover Couple: As of this writing, the official harem is Naruto/Nel/Unohana/Halibel/Roka/Yin and Yang/Isane/Soi Fon/Nanao/Rangiku/Kukaku/Yoshino.
• Crossover Power Acquisition:
  • Naruto not only gains the standard Arrancar set of superpowers, he also receives a Soul Reaper Zanpakuto from Aizen.
  • Because Mayuri used Hinata's remains in the creation of Nemu, the latter possesses Hinata's Byakugan eyes.
• Curb-Stomp Battle:
  • More-or-less all of Naruto's fights, with a few exceptions.
  • Naruto finally meets his match against Yamamoto, who shatters his zanpakuto and leaves the young Arrancar smoking.
  • Ichigo takes down Ikkaku in a matter of minutes.
  • Zangetsu deals one hell of a curb-stomp to Gin Ichimaru.
  • The Bounts led by Jin Kariya are wiped out by Naruto, Unohana, and Zaraki with laughable ease.
• Deader than Dead: Naruto uses his Rinnegan to tear out Mayuri's soul and crush it to dust in his hands. The narration makes it very clear that his soul has been completely erased, unable to reincarnate, gone completely.
• Death by Adaptation: 
  • Naruto evidently passed away sometime after the end of Shippuden, although he does not know when or how he perished.
  • Hinata died as well, and her soul sadly never met Naruto again, as she was captured by Mayuri and torn apart. Her soul went out into the cycle of reincarnation, and her whereabouts are unknown for now.
  • Mayuri himself dies painfully and brutally at the hands of a livid Naruto, avenging the previous entry on this trope.
• Defector from Decadence: As of Chapter 67, Kaien Shiba, Hisana Kuchiki, Nemu Kurotsuchi, and Momo Hinamori have defected from Soul Society in favor of Naruto and Aizen, with Kaien now owing Naruto a life-debt for helping him regain his sense of self, Hisana livid at the Central 46 for condemning Rukia to death, Nemu deciding to follow Naruto as a survival tactic, and Momo being too loyal to Aizen to ever consider leaving him.
• Dies Differently in the Adaptation:
  • Nnoitra is decapitated by Aizen after the cocky Arrancar is caught in the act of trying to kill Nel and attack Naruto, rather than being cut down in a duel against Kenpachi.
  • Barragan is defeated by Naruto and executed by Aizen the same way after the arrogant "king of nothing" tries and fails to subjugate Naruto.
  • Quilge Opie is Killed Offscreen by Aizen and Tosen, rather than being sliced in half by Grimmjow.
• Dramatic Drop: Byakuya drops his sword in sheer horror and shock when his long-dead wife reveals herself to have returned as an Arrancar.
• Drowning My Sorrows: After seeing Tia kiss Naruto, Nel storms off to Karakura Town in a huff and gets very, very drunk at Urahara's shop. Urahara has absolutely no idea what to think of a high-ranking arrancar drinking half his liquor stock.
• Energetic and Soft-Spoken Duo: Sosuke Aizen and Naruto Uzumaki aren't all that alike. Aizen is affable, level-headed, and conniving while Naruto is blunt, energetic, and a little dense.
• Exactly What I Meant to Say: In Chapter 47, Unohana confronts Kyoraku after he got Naruto drunk. Keep in mind that she's gone back to her Yachiru mindset lately.
  Kyoraku gulped. "I Can Explain."
  "I'm sure you can." Her smile promised pain. "But later. I have a husband to hunt. Be a dear and clean up after me, won't you?
  "Husband?" Hooo boy, she'd completely lost it, hadn't she? "I think you meant Arrancar."
  The First Kenpachi merely hummed and licked her lips. "I know what I said, Shunsui."
  Her piece said, she walked away from him with a sinister laugh, hips swaying.
• Everyone Has Standards:
  • Akon may be an aloof scientist and subordinate of Mayuri, but he has his standards, and considered what his captain did to Hinata cruel and unnecessary.
  • Likewise, the other 12 Gotei 13 captains are beyond disgusted when they discovered just what Mayuri did to Naruto's wife.
• Exact Words: As Naruto points out to Soi Fon after she tried to kill him for allegedly killing Yoruichi, Byakuya said that Naruto "felled" her, not killed her. She feels rather foolish about if afterward.
• Eye Scream: One of the many injuries that Naruto inflicts upon Mayuri in chapter 49 is the loss of his right eye. A very karmic injury, after what he did to Hinata's eyes.
• Face Death with Dignity: Jin Kariya meets his incoming death at Yoshino's hands with a weary smile on his face since her catching feelings for Naruto means that his species can live on even with his plans going down the drain, with Kariya wishing his former lover to live a good life before he's incinerated.
• Face–Heel Turn: Downplayed since the Soul Society aren't very good Faces in the first place, but as of Chapter 67, Kaien Shiba, Hisana Kuchiki, Nemu Kurotsuchi and Momo Hinamori all defect from Soul Society to serve Naruto and Aizen.
• Faint in Shock: When he finds out that Naruto defeated Unohana, Ukitake collapses out of shock. This puts him out of commission for the Soul Society arc.
• Friendly Enemy: Despite being part of a race that is the mortal enemy of Soul Reapers, Naruto and his Arrancar subordinates are mostly cordial to the residents of the Soul Society. For example, Kyoraku gets a new drinking buddy, Kenpachi gets the Worthy Opponent he always dreamed of, Unohana gets a new reason to live, etc. etc. Ichigo has this status too, although in his case, it's more like he's dealing with a strange combo of this trope, Cool Big Bro, and Trickster Mentor.
• Fusion Dance: Naruto has to endure a very straining fusion after the Sokyoku tests him to see if he is worthy of her. He fuses with its released state, becoming a humanoid phoenix with firepower to rival Yamamoto. He endured this state for seven whole minutes, and if he was any weaker, he would have had his very soul burned to ashes.
• Go Seduce My Archnemesis: In order to distract the chaotic Hollow shinobi from causing havoc and destruction for Soul Society, Yamamoto and Kyoraku come up with a plan to send in the female Shinigami to seduce Naruto. So far, it seems to be having mixed effects.
• Green Thumb: Fitting her "tortured princess" aesthetic, Hisana's Resurreccion, Lagrimas Espinosas (translates to "Thorny Tears"), gives her the power to create and control massive thorny brambles.
• Greater-Scope Villain: Twofold within Soul Society.
  • The Central 46's racism, corruption, callousness and general despicability are the reasons why Naruto turned from a quirky agent of chaos to a raging juggernaut, as they condemned the kind and innocent Hinata to death by Mad Scientist. As Aizen later finds out, they apparently sent many people from Naruto's world to their deaths.
  • Ichibe and Squad Zero are shaping up to be major architects behind the afterlife's current state as a Crapsack World. Ichibe used his powers to hide the true name of Naruto's zanpakutos in order to weaken and hopefully kill him, and Aizen's sheer hatred of them is well-rooted.
• Groin Attack: In their drunken scrap, Rangiku knees Naruto in the crotch. He barely reacts, simply telling her that he needs them in an exasperated tone.
• Harem Genre: Like in most of NeonZangetsu's works, Naruto has a strange quality that seems to attract the female characters of the story like flies to honey. Neliel and Halibel have a Cat Fight of ridiculous intensity to prove themselves to him, Aizen and Roka seem to find it amusing to direct other girls towards him, Unohana alternates between wanting to fight him and wanting to marry him, Kukaku drops all subtlety and just jumps him, Nanao winds up (possibly) married to him, etc. etc.
• Harem Seeker: Naruto himself is not one by any stretch (he's more of a Clueless Chick-Magnet), but at least two of his paramours seem fond of polyamory. Roka Paramia takes it upon herself to recruit more handmaidens for Naruto (on Aizen's advice), and Unohana has dragged both Isane Kotetsu and Soi Fon into threesomes. As for Aizen, he seems to take great amusement in actively attempting to give his partner-in-crime a harem.
• Heterosexual Life-Partners: Naruto and Aizen aren't the boss of each other, but are instead partners. On Aizen's side, Naruto is the sole person in the world who Aizen views as his equal, stemming from Naruto's immunity to his powers and unique nature. On Naruto's side, he quickly becomes Aizen's Best Friend and helps him find less callous and cruel ways to achieve his goals.
• Honesty Is the Best Policy: Aizen immediately chooses to come clean about his goals regarding his crusade against the Soul King after his initial encounter with Naruto since he knows that the former shinobi can detect ill intent and dishonesty.
• Honey Trap: Mayuri attempts this with Nemu and Naruto, hoping to see what kind of offspring they'd make together. Naruto isn't amused, although he is rather flustered.
• Hungry Weapon: A strangely cute version of this trope occurs with Hinoki, Naruto's zanpakuto. When she attains sentience, the first thing she asks of her wielder is food. Sweets in particular. How a talking sword can eat that is anyone's guess. Later on, she proves to be a more straight-and-true terrifying Hungry Weapon when she engorges herself on the Central 46 as she and Naruto slaughter them for killing Hinata. Eventually, she gets so stuffed she passes out.
• I Cannot Self-Terminate: Horrifyingly, Ashisogi Jizo is constantly crying out in pain for someone to kill it and end its suffering at the hands of Mayuri. Naruto attempts to grant this wish, only to end up becoming its new wielder, much to Ashisogi Jizo's delight.
• I Let Gwen Stacy Die: Naruto is utterly heartbroken when he finds out that poor Hinata had been captured by Mayuri before Naruto gained sentience in Hueco Mundo. His first love died alone, in pain, and crying out for him. The arrancar considers it his greatest failure: all that power, and yet none of it could save his wife.
• I Lied: In chapter 41, Naruto reveals that he didn't kill Yoruichi to an irate Soi Fon. He actually said it to mess with her, and rile her up a bit so they could have a good fight.
• Instantly Proven Wrong: In chapter 43, Kaien Shiba meets Toshiro Hitsugaya on the battlefield. Kaien immediately notices that Toshiro has his Bankai activated, and in order to even the playing field, he decides to activate his own. Toshiro is certain that the Espada is bluffing... and Kaien promptly activates his Bankai, Nanatsunoumi No O Nejibana.
• Interspecies Romance: Naruto (an Arrancar) with Unohana and Kukaku (Soul Reapers). If events are of any indication, Yoshino (a Bount) is set to fall for him.
• I Want Grandkids: Yamamoto, if you'll believe it. He doesn't have an issue with Naruto and Unohana's courting as long as he gets some honorary grandchildren out of it.
• Kneel Before Zod: In chapter 11, Barragan tries to subjugate Naruto in a fit of envious rage. Unfortunately for him, the younger Hollow is not afraid or respectful of him in the slightest, and Naruto's sassy response drives the soon-to-be-deceased Espada to reach even greater levels of fury.
  Barragan: You...insufferable child! I am the King here. You will kneel!
  Naruto: Ha! I don't kneel for anybody. Especially not the ancient, the jealous or the decrepit.
• Lame Comeback: After Nel gnaws on Naruto's hand in her jealousy-driven drunken fit, their fight gets a little less professional.
  Neliel: You taste awful!
  Naruto: What kinda comeback is that?!
  Neliel: You're a damn comeback!
  Naruto: And you're drunk!
  Neliel: Nuh-uh!
• Late to the Realization: In Chapter 59, Kaien Shiba brings Captain Ukitake up to speed on the current chaos occurring in the Soul Society. He begins by revealing that his new leader is on the warpath. Ukitake questions who his boss is. Kaien reveals that he now serves under Naruto Uzumaki, husband of the deceased Hinata Hyuuga, who came to Soul Society and never left.
  Ukitake: (contemplates on what Kaien said) Did you say Uzumaki?
  Kaien: Yeah-huh.
  Ukitake: As in the arrancar that's been causing us so much trouble in the living world?
  Kaien: The very same.
  Ukitake: Hinata Hyuuga was his wife?
  Kaien: Getting warmer there...
  Ukitake: (realises that he's Locked Out of the Loop)
  Kaien: [smiles sadly] You're looking lost there, boss. Want me to fill ya in on what you missed?
  Ukitake: ...please do.
  [Kaien explains the horrific fate of Hinata, much to Ukitake's despair]
  Kaien: Funny thing, turns out she was still alive when they handed her to Kurotsuchi. Didn't know that, did you? And it turns out her husband, my current boss, ain't pleased about that. Sure as hell didn't help when that rat bastard Kurotsuchi started running his mouth like a motor around him. He's dead, by the way.
  Several things added up at once, leading to a bitter tally indeed. Ukitake blinked. He blinked hard. But that would mean...
  ...oh. Oh, no. Oh, no, no, no.
  [Naruto's enraged spiritual pressure flares from a long distance away]
• Like a Son to Me: Yamamoto won't admit out loud, but he cares for Jushiro, Shunsui and Unohana like his own children.
  • Naruto's Zanpakuto is explicitly treated as a daughter by him. She even mourns Hinata's death alongside him, saying that if Hinata was Naruto's wife, then that meant she was her mother.
• Like Cannot Cut Like: The clash of fire Zanpakuto in Chapter 65 is ridiculous, as Naruto fused with the Sokyoku and Yamamoto wielding his Ryujin Jakka is a fight no one sane wants to get anywhere near. Unfortunately, neither warrior can deal any particularly meaningful damage because of their shared element, so the person who tires first is the person who dies first. Naruto starts gaining the upper hand when he begins mixing his usual techniques with phoenix fire.
• Literal Split Personality: Hisana has developed the ability to split her particularly strong emotions into clones, to assist her in both combat and reconnaissance.
• Little Girls Kick Shins:
  • Poor Ichigo gets his feet stomped on and kneecaps punched by the tiny form of Yachiru in chapter 53.
  • Nanao isn't exactly little, but she kicks Naruto in the shins when she gets locked up in a box with him.
• The Lost Lenore: The brave, beautiful and loving kunoichi Hinata Hyuuga was Naruto's beloved wife. He had no idea he had lost her due to his Laser-Guided Amnesia, and when he finds out about her death from her killer and tormentor Mayuri, he slaughters the man in an apocalyptic Roaring Rampage of Revenge. Ever since he found out about her demise, Naruto has been a monstrously vengeful and terrifying Crusading Widower.
• Magic Enhancement: In Chapter 52, Unohana reveals that she invented a complex Kido spell that enhances her body to the point that she can stand roughly toe-to-toe against a berserk Naruto.
• Make an Example of Them: Before killing him, Naruto tells Mayuri that his grisly death will be a reminder to everyone that no-one hurts Naruto's loved ones.
• Man Bites Man: Or rather, Arrancar bites Arrancar. Nel has bitten Naruto at least twice. Once when she was a jealous drunk, and once when she drowsily mistook him for breakfast.
• Marshmallow Hell: Tia hugs Neliel into her sizable bosom to help calm her fellow Espada down. Apparently, she heard about it from Aizen, and figured it would be a good way to calm down the stressed-out Segunda. To her credit, it does help.
• Master of Your Domain: Yachiru Unohana is not only a master healer, she's also an expert of her own domain. Her feats include casually brushing off fatal injuries (thanks to her centuries of experience with healing herself), using Kido to magically augment her physical abilities, and most impressively, surviving being impaled by Shinso while pregnant, with zero harm done to the baby. She achieved that last one by placing barriers around her womb area, which are so impenetrable that not even Yamamoto could pierce them.
• Mathematician's Answer: In chapter 62, Yamamoto warns the beaten Sasakibe that his underhanded attack on Ichigo has earned him the ire of two very dangerous young men.
  Yamamoto: I suggest you take time to rest and to recover. He will be coming for you.
  Sasakibe: [grimaces] Uzumaki or Kurosaki?
  Yamamoto: [smiles evilly] Yes.
• Meanwhile, Back at the…: In the midst of the Soul Society arc (chapters 37-68), Chapter 45 is a break from the antics of the Ryoka and an opportunity for the readers to see what's going on back at Hueco Mundo.
  • Neliel, trying to keep order in Las Noches, is interrupted by Yammy, who pushes her Berserk Button regarding Naruto and drives her to toss him into the middle distance. Tia notices what happened and forms an accord with Neliel after calming her down, followed by the two discussing who should be the new 10th Espada.
  • Starrk can't be bothered to get out of bed, so he's no help.
  • Ulquiorra, Dordoni and Grimmjow are training like mad, although the latter two make the mistake of crashing into Neliel's office when she's still in a mood, which leads to their double KO at her hands.
  • Zommari is still preaching religion and worshipping Aizen (nothing new there).
  • Szayelaporro is 'preparing' four captured Quincies for Aizen and Naruto.
  • Rudbornn is keeping the peace and patrolling the fortress with his Exequias army.
  • Cirucci is training with Gantenbainne, intent on raising her power so she can claim her place among the Espada once more by her own merit.
  • Roka, Yin and Yang are traumatising Loly and Menoly into being Naruto's servants upon his return.
• Mercy Kill: As revealed in chapter 50, after all the torment Mayuri put her through, Akon decided to put Hinata out of her misery after the loss of her eyes. She even thanked him.
• Mythology Gag: When Naruto is trying to think up names for his Zanpakuto, he suggests "Himawari", the name of his canonical daughter.
• Nerves of Steel: The intimidating form of Zangetsu stares down Orihime after she watched him completely pulverise Gin Ichimaru in single combat. When he asks her if she's afraid of him, she lifts her head high and tells him no. She knows he's a part of Ichigo, and that means she has no reason to fear him. Which was exactly what Zangetsu wanted to hear, because he wants Ichigo's future wife to be brave.
• New Child Left Behind: Unohana picked a very poor time to get herself pregnant, since her "husband" Naruto is currently in full Crusading Widower mode over the death of his first wife Hinata, who died at the hands of Soul Society's corruption. He doesn't even know he's going to be a father, since he left Soul Society in the same chapter as the pregnancy reveal, shortly after demolishing massive chunks of the Society and possibly killing Komamura. Unohana basically got herself pregnant with the most powerful enemy of the soul reapers, and an Arrancar to boot. To her credit, she's put powerful wards over her womb to ensure that her kid is safe.
• Non Sequitur, *Thud*: After getting drunk in a fit of jealousy, Nel gets into a bit of a scrap with Naruto. She eventually managed to straddle him, drowsily flirt, plant a wet kiss, then collapse.
  Nel: Mwah~! There... now I'm more than even... with... that bitch...! I win! Victory for Nel! I get all the cakes! Oooh, I see pretty colours-! [collapses]
• Parenthetical Swearing: When Nel is reminding Yammy of the pecking order after the ex-Espada disregards her personal space, she uses his full name, which the narration notes as "the closest thing to 'fuck off' she could say without actually saying it".
• Past-Life Memories: Large chunks of Naruto's memories are missing from his life in the Elemental Nations. Ichibe is implied to be responsible. He does have some of them, but they rarely show themselves. He doesn't even know how he died and wound up in the Bleach 'verse. Sasuke Uchiha is loosely implied to have killed him in a duel after the events of either The Last or Boruto. So far, all he remembers are his comrades, his techniques, his late wife, and maybe his son and daughter.
• Pay Evil unto Evil: Naruto is usually jovial, carefree, and usually tries not to needlessly hurt or kill people. Then he found out that Mayuri tore his lost wife apart and used her remains in his experiments. He loses it, brutally and bloodily tearing Mayuri asunder, before swearing to dismantle everything the man ever worked for.
• Pregnancy Makes You Crazy: Subverted with Yachiru Unohana, who reveals herself to be pregnant with Naruto's daughter in chapter 68. She's already completely insane, so she really can't get any worse at this point. In fact, judging by her less crazed behavior lately, she's holding back a bit so she doesn't wind up killing her child by taking part in the carnage that she usually enjoys.
• Pregnant Badass: In chapter 68, Unohana takes on both Aizen and Gin while newly pregnant with Naruto's daughter. Isane balks at this, but Unohana calmly tells her lieutenant that she has taken measures to protect her child by shielding her womb with Kido barriers. While she manages to beat Gin, she loses to Aizen after he presses her Berserk Button.
• Polyamory:
  • As is common for NeonZangetsu stories, Strike A Match features Naruto Uzumaki at the center of a vast harem of women. First it was Neliel Tu Oderschwanck, then Tia Halibel, followed by Retsu/Yachiru Unohana, Kukaku Shiba, Isane Kotetsu and Soi Fon. Unohana in particular is making an attempt at filling the hole in Naruto's heart left behind by his dead wife Hinata, and has recruited Isane (who she caught peeping on her and Naruto, and gave her a choice: join them in a threesome or die) and Soi Fon, who found herself in the chaos ostensibly in the name of apprehending him. Other girls interested in him range from Naruto's three Fraccion (Roka Paramia, Yin and Yang), the Tres Bestias, Nemu Kurotsuchi (made more complicated by her artificial relation to Hinata), Rangiku Matsumoto and Nanao Ise, the last two being the result of Yamamoto and Kyoraku trying to weaponize Naruto's Chick Magnet nature.
  • Ichigo seems to be slowly building a harem for himself too, judging by Rukia Kuchiki, Orihime Inoue, Yoruichi Shihouin and (maybe) half of Hisana Kuchiki. According to Word of God, Riruka Dokugamine has a high possibility to be a part of his relationship as well.
• Power Fist: Naruto's Shikai ability gives him massive, lion-shaped gauntlets fuelled by steam and blue fire. The design and similar abilities are a homage to Hinata's signature Twin Lion Fists move.
• Power Makes Your Hair Grow:
  • After Ichigo goes Vasto Lorde in his battle against Kenpachi, his Hollow form grows his hair as in canon, but unlike canon, his hair permanently stays long afterwards.
  • When Naruto fuses with the Sokyoku, his hair grows into a spiky golden mane as part of his power-up.
• Pre-Mortem One-Liner:
  • When Nnoitra's attempt to ambush and kill Nel fails thanks to Naruto, Aizen shows up shortly afterwards, very unamused, and decapitates the one-eyed arrancar.
    Aizen: You would weaken my ranks? Know your place.
    Nnoitra: Wait!
    Aizen: I will not. You've disappointed me for the last time.
  • After tearing Mayuri limb-from-limb in righteous fury for killing his wife, Naruto suddenly figures out how to activate his Rinnegan. Mayuri is utterly horrified, but he receives no mercy, as Naruto tears out his soul and crushes it into nothing.
    Mayuri: What is that?! What are those eyes?! What have you done?! A power like that shouldn't exist! YOU SHOULDN'T EXIST!
    Naruto: Neither should someone like you!
• Proper Lady: When Naruto speaks to her, Kyoka Suigetsu is revealed to have a personality reminiscent of the Yamato Nadeshiko archetype, being polite, respectful and gentlewomanly.
• Rage Breaking Point: Naruto starts to cross it after Mayuri reveals his murder of Hinata, but truly goes over the brink after recovering Hinata's remains, and that Mayuri had a backup stored in the system of the 12th Division.
• Rank Up: After the deaths of Barragan and Nnoitra, the positions of Segunda and Quinto Espada are rendered empty. Aizen proposes a duel between Nel and Tia to determine who gets the former position, which Nel wins. As for the latter, Naruto brings Dordoni back into the fold to offer him the position, which he accepts.
  • Ran'Tao is selected as the 12th Division's new captain after Mayuri Kurotsuchi is killed by Naruto.
• "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Naruto gives one to Komamura in Chapter 63 about his Blind Obedience towards Soul Society no matter how heinous their actions are shortly before the former lunges at the latter.
  Komamura: You fiend...!
  Naruto: Ha! That's right. Bark at me! Apparently that's all you can do! Follow orders! Like a good dog! Even when they're wrong! Even when they lead to the death of an innocent woman!
  Komamura: You know about that incident...?
  Naruto: I know everything. And incident, hmmm? Is that what they're calling it these days? Another pretty bow put on such an ugly affair. Did you even once think to ask why? Did you even protest?
  Komamura: She was a danger to the Soul Society-
  Naruto: SHE WAS MY WIFE!
• Relative Button: Naruto could honestly care less when people insult him. But when Nnoitra insults Naruto's parents by saying they did a poor job raising him, Naruto loses it and beats the stuffing out of the soon-to-be-former Espada, coupled with Punctuated Pounding.
  Naruto: Take! Back! What! You! SAID!
• Rerouted from Heaven: Combinated with Trapped in Another World. Naruto transforms into an Hollow in the Bleach universe instead of his soul resting in the Pure World of his universe.
• Resist the Beast: Right after seeing Mayuri's smug Video Will (which revealed that when Naruto killed him for tormenting and killing Hinata, his mind lived on in Squad 12), Naruto begins shaking in suppressed rage. Before he completely loses it and devastates everything around him with an Angst Nuke, he tells Nemu to take Hinata's remains and run.
• Right for the Wrong Reasons: When Yammy cruelly tells Neliel that Naruto is probably banging other women in the Soul Society, Neliel throws him through the roof. Although he wasn't exactly wrong, considering that Naruto somehow managed to get in bed with Kukaku, Unohana, Isane and Soi Fon. Fortunately, Neliel doesn't have too much of a problem with polyamory, as long as she's the one on top.
• Right-Hand Hottie: Shortly before meeting Halibel, Naruto was joined by a quiet Arrancar girl by the name of Roka Paramia, assigned to him as a Fraccion/handmaiden. She's slender, pretty and polite, and Naruto's quite fond of her. She also seems to have taken it upon herself to recruit more girls into his harem, much to his exasperation. Later on, she's joined by Yin and Yang, and the three form a trinity of Fraccion.
• Roaring Rampage of Revenge: Naruto snaps when he discovers the grisly fate of his lost wife Hinata at the hands of Mayuri Kurotsuchi. After a moment of grief-stricken horror, sorrow gives way to rage, and he decides then and there that the architect of her misery has forfeited his 'being alive' privileges. First, he subjects Mayuri to a devastating Curb-Stomp Battle with his new Shikai, finishing the brutal beatdown by ripping the mad scientist's heart out. Then he makes his way to the 12th Division to recover Hinata's stored remains, only to discover that Mayuri had uploaded a backup of his mind into the Division building itself. In a fit of rage, Naruto levelled the entire division in a furious blaze of Segunda Etapa, and was completely feral for a time afterwards.
• Rookie Red Ranger: Coyote Starrk and Tia Harribel have barely been in Las Noches for more than a week, but their power and skill was enough to have them promoted to the ranks of First and Third Espada. Naruto himself is a downplayed version, as he joined Aizen as his Best Friend / Dragon-in-Chief / equal partner within days of arriving at Las Noches.
• Shattering the Illusion: Naruto becomes the first person in Soul history to be completely immune to the effects of Kyoka Suigetsu. According to him, the way it works is similar to the genjutsu of his old world, and he's had a lot of practice breaking out of them.
• Sheathe Your Sword: When faced with his resurrected wife Hisana, Byakuya is forced to fight her due to her fury over Rukia's treatment. He eventually stops fighting altogether, drops his sword, and hugs her hard. Fortunately, Hisana doesn't kill him, and spends the rest of the day cuddling his battered body, bawling her eyes out, and tearing her clothes off. Intermittently.
• She Will Come for Me: Mayuri cruelly taunts Naruto with the information that until her death at the hands of his division, Hinata always believed that Naruto would find her. This proves to be his undoing, as Naruto's Roaring Rampage of Revenge claims his life.
• Shipper on Deck:
  • Aizen is actively trying to give Naruto a harem of female Arrancars, much to his friend's exasperation.
  • Yamamoto ships Unohana and Naruto, figuring that their courting would be good for his self-destructive surrogate daughter.
• Shipper with an Agenda: In chapter 53, Yamamoto's shipping of Naruto and Yachiru Sr. evolves to including the female officers of the Gotei 13. Why? Because he desperately hopes that the chaotic Arrancar will be too busy with them to cause any more havoc.
• Shut Up, Hannibal!: In chapter 48, aptly named "Strike Down A Scientist", Mayuri confronts Naruto. The arrogant Mad Scientist proclaims that Naruto has no chance of defeating him whatsoever. Naruto, for his part, isn't amused.
  Mayuri: Do you think me unprepared, arrancar? I've studied the footage of all your battles! Your every fight! That's right! I know your every move, your greatest strengths, and most importantly, all your weaknesses! Are you angry? Feeling frustrated? Too bad! This is what it means to come prepared! You've been a busy bee, haven't you? Burning the candle at both ends, none the wiser to the danger! My devices may not be able to penetrate all the way to Hueco Mundo yet, but rest assured, you've shown me more than enough in the World of the Living and here in Soul Society for me to neutralize your every advantage!
  Naruto:...are ya done talking now, you creepy clown?
  Mayuri: I beg your finest pardon?
  Naruto: For crying out loud! Stick a sock in it already! I know your kind, Mayuri. You're no better than another mad scientist I know. In fact, you're worse! You think you can just waltz around and take whatever you want, from whoever you want, whenever you want. Unfortunately for you, I'm nowhere near as nice now as I was when I was alive. You think you know power? You have no idea. But don't worry, doctor. I'LL SHOW YOU.
• Sleep Cute: When Naruto wakes up to find that Nel had snuck into his bed, he can't help but note that she looks adorable.
• Spared by the Adaptation:
  • Kaien Shiba's soul survived his apparent demise, and eventually managed to break out from Aaroniero and reclaim his body.
  • Yoshino becomes the sole surviving Bount in existence after she enlists the help of Naruto, Unohana, and Zaraki to take out her former compatriots.
• Surprise Pregnancy: Everyone present can scarcely believe that Unohana is pregnant as of Chapter 68. Isane is doubtful, given that her captain's stomach is still flat, but Unohana points out that she's a healer, so she's capable of sensing pregnancies early (for context, she only got laid four days ago). Aizen and Gin think that Unohana's putting on a facade, and the father of the baby (Naruto) is still unaware for now.
• Surrounded by Idiots:
  • In chapter 37, Yamamoto mutters that he's "surrounded by children" when a Captain's meeting devolves into chaos. He strongly begins to consider retirement.
  • Neliel quotes this trope in Chapter 45 after having to deal with an indignant and dickish Yammy, followed by Dordoni and Grimmjow smashing into her office in the middle of a brawl.
• Stress Vomit: After a long night of getting her ass kicked by Naruto, Soi-Fon is then shown the letter Naruto wrote to the Captains describing why he killed Mayuri. She throws up in sheer horror.
• Take That!: The "Strike a Skip" mini-arc is written as a rightfully spiteful dig against the much-reviled Bount Arc from the Bleach anime, with Jin and his cohorts getting wiped out in short order by Naruto, Unohana, and Zaraki.
• That Came Out Wrong: When Naruto prepares to head to Karakura Town to break up Ichigo and Neliel's brawl, his gratitude for Aizen's kido lessons end up implying that he'd use them for some bondage sessions with Nel on accident. His words prompt a bashful squeak from Roka and a Fascinating Eyebrow from Aizen.
  Naruto: Thanks for the Kido lessons, by the way, Might have to try out a few of those binding spells on Nel.
  [Beat]
  Naruto: (blushing) Okay. Not what I meant! I'm just really eager to test out those spells, ya know?
• That Wasn't a Request: In Chapter 67, Aizen and Unohana fire this trope at each other before their duel, after the former tells the latter that he's glad to finally see her true face.
  Unohana: [draws her sword] Let's see yours.
  Aizen: In due time, my dear.
  Unohana: I wasn't asking, boy.
  Aizen: Neither was I.
• They Were Holding You Back: In an effort to demoralize the former shinobi, Mayuri tells Naruto that he should be grateful that Hinata is dead, since she was "weak" (a big fat lie given how she managed to permanently scar Kyoraku in their battle). Naruto doesn't rise to the bait and rips Mayuri limb-from-limb in vengeance.
• This Is Gonna Suck: In chapter 40, Toshiro manages to talk Rangiku down from trying to hunt down Naruto for hurting Gin, by pointing out that the energy residue on Gin didn't match Naruto's. Unfortunately, that only made her switch from angry to intrigued, and in Toshiro's experience, a curious Rangiku is far worse than a vengeful one.
  Toshiro: Matsumoto, no.
  Rangiku: [humming mischievously] Matsumoto, maybe.
• This Is Unforgivable!: Naruto is willing to forgive a lot of things, be it Neliel attacking him in a fit of jealousy, Aizen trying to hypnotize him, Unohana ambushing him, etc. The one thing he will never let slide is the death of his wife Hinata from Soul Society's corruption and Fantastic Racism against Hollows.
• This Means War!: Spoken word-for-word by Neliel after Tia steals a kiss from Naruto, establishing her as Nel's love rival for life. This is followed by her unleashing Resureccion in a fit of envious rage.
• A Threesome Is Hot:
  • In chapter 53, Naruto awakens in Unohana's room to find himself sandwiched between the 4th Division captain and another woman. The following chapter reveals that said woman is the 4th Division lieutenant Isane, who had been peeping on Unohana and Naruto along with Rangiku and Nanao. When Unohana noticed the three outside her room, she coerced Isane into joining her and Naruto in bed while the other two wisely scarpered. Isane blushes beet red throughout the whole exchange.
  • Soi Fon is later dragged into another threeway by Unohana when she shows up attempting to apprehend Naruto in Unohana's bedroom. Before that, the arrancar attempted to break out from the 4th Squad Captain's iron grip and was close to succeeding, only for Unohana to ask the younger woman to help her 'subdue' Naruto. The embarrassed 2nd Squad Captain can do little but comply.
• Tickle Torture: Apacci receives this from Roka, Yin and Yang when she shows absolutely no gratitude or respect to Naruto after he saved her form being blown away by the Espada duel that was going on.
• Traumatic Superpower Awakening: After Nel's beloved Fraccions vanish into thin air due to Nnoitra, she unlocks Segunda Etapa out of sheer grief.
• Transhuman Treachery: Well, Trans-Soul Reaper Treachery. Kaien Shiba and Hisana Kuchiki were brought back to life as Arrancars, and joined Aizen and Naruto in Hueco Mundo.
  • Kaien was brought back after Aaroniero ate him. The hideous Hollow eventually regretted that, as Kaien was able to reclaim enough of his power to take over Aaroneiro's body, rendering him the dominant personality while Aaroniero is reduced to a whining voice in the back of Kaien's mind.
  • After her death, Hisana was pulled out of the cycle of reincarnation by Aizen and his Hogyoku. She has a hard time recalling her memories at first, but when she does, she joins Naruto and the Ryoka in the mission to rescue her little sister Rukia while also giving her husband a piece of her mind.
• Twerp Sweating: Yoruichi does this to Naruto when she finds out that the shinobi took Soi Fon's virginity. Both him and Soi Fon herself blame Unohana for it, which is true.
• Uncertain Doom: Dondochakka and Pesche vanished offscreen in the first few chapters of the story, and there hasn't been a sight nor sound of them ever since. No one knows if they're MIA, dead or AWOL. Apparently Nnoitra was responsible, but since Nnoitra is dead, we'll never know for sure.
• Unexpected Kindness: When Naruto was finished with Mayuri, he turned to Nemu and gave her an Affectionate Gesture to the Head. She was shocked at his kindness, and wondered why she had not been slain like her 'father'. The primary reason was because Naruto saw her as a victim, same as Hinata, and he doesn't hurt innocent people. The secondary reason was that Mayuri used Hinata's DNA to make Nemu, and that makes her Hinata's little sister in a way.
• Unholy Matrimony: Played With regarding Naruto and his Arrancar lovers. He deeply cares for them, and they reciprocate, but never forget that they are still part of Aizen's army and intend to overthrow Soul Society and kill the Soul King (albeit for increasingly well-founded reasons).
• Unwanted Harem: Zig-Zagged. While Naruto isn't actively looking for women, he certainly isn't averse to a polyamorous relationship.
• We Will Meet Again:
  • Mayuri attempts this after being on the receiving end of a very lopsided Curb-Stomp Battle from Naruto. But there was to be no "again", as Naruto ends him then and there for killing his wife Hinata.
  • After extracting the Hogyoku from Rukia in front of Ichigo and subsequently defeating him, Aizen tells Ichigo that if he wants to learn more about his mixed heritage, then he should seek him out in Hueco Mundo.
• Weapon Chooses the Wielder: The ancient firebird Zanpakuto known as the Sokyoku won't let anybody wield her unless their soul is strong enough. In order to prove himself, Naruto has to fight Yamamoto, Kyoraku and Ukitake simultaneously while having his very soul set ablaze for seven minutes. It's a very close thing, but Naruto manages to survive with encouragement from Hinoki, which makes the Sokyoku accept him as her new user.
• Wham Episode:
  • Chapter 48. When Naruto and Mayuri engage in combat, Mayuri is reminded of another arrancar that Naruto knew...Hinata Hyuga. The soulless soul reaper reveals that he tortured the poor girl to death in his experiments, and reduced her to mush, which he stored in his lab. Naruto just about explodes at the revelation, finally unlocking his Zanpakuto's name, "Hinoki" in the process. Determined to avenge his lost love, Naruto begins the cold and ruthless process of tearing Squad 12's Captain into shreds.
  • Chapter 62. It starts with Aizen uncovering a vast amount of information in the Central 46's archives. Among his discoveries was proof that Naruto and Hinata were NOT the only people from the Elemental Nations to have reincarnated in the Bleach 'verse. There were apparently many more people like them, but all are either missing or dead. Curiously, none of the reincarnators were Hollows like the Uzumaki couple. Once he's done memorizing it all, Aizen prepares to broadcast a false announcement from the 'Central 46' — using his up-till-now unrevealed Bankai. The next scene shows Nemu collapsing to her knees in the Living World, having exhausted herself searching for someone very special to her and her master. She bemoans her failure, having been unable to find her target — then she notices a silhouetted form greeting her. Said silhouette is that of a scarred young woman, who Nemu instinctively recognizes as the person she was searching for. This woman is all but explicitly said to be Hinata Hyuuga, Nemu's genetic donor and Naruto's lost wife. The scene then changes to a secret location with Naruto, Yoruichi and Ichigo. There, Naruto reveals that Ichigo's body has started mutating beyond comprehension due to overusing his Hollow powers. Having been brought to exhaustion from the events of the previous chapters, Naruto finally falls asleep shortly afterwards. This leaves Ichigo at the tender mercies of Yoruichi, Soi Fon and Unohana. Flash-forward three days after Ichigo's Training from Hell at the women's hands, Rukia's execution has finally arrived. While Byakuya and Hisana are preparing to rescue their sister after breaking a mysterious seal, Rukia herself sadly accepts her fate... only for Kaien Shiba to reveal his return to the Soul Society, preparing to take on anyone who'd hurt his old subordinate.
• What Beautiful Eyes!: In Chapter 54, Naruto wakes up from a long night of pain, blood, passion, rage, and pleasure. The first thing he notices is the tall form of Isane Kotetsu, who he inadvertently managed to add to his harem the previous night. Her eyes flicker open, and they're a lovely gray-blue. He's still pretty tired, so his tongue betrays him.
  "Huh, neat. Pretty eyes."
• Woman Scorned: Chapter 42 is all about this trope. It's even aptly named "Hell Hath No Fury (Like a Woman Scorned)". Said woman is Hisana Kuchiki, Back from the Dead and very pissed at her husband Byakuya, who failed to look after her sister Rukia and has been a Lawful Stupid idiot ever since she died for the first time.
  Hisana: I trusted you. I entrusted you with it all. Everything I was, everything I held dear... and yet you... you... YOU! YOU BETRAYED ME! BETRAYED RUKIA! BETRAYED US! WHY?!
• Would Hit a Girl: Because he's a serious Chick Magnet, Naruto doesn't usually have to worry about fighting women. That lasts until he meets Unohana, who attacks him with a sword. He attacks right back.
• Wouldn't Hit a Girl: Shunsui Kyoraku is no good at fighting women, and he paid for this dearly when up against Hinata Hyuuga. She beat him so hard that he still has the scars from her flurry of strikes to his pressure points.
• Wowing Cthulhu: Yamamoto gains some begrudging respect for Naruto after the young arrancar fights Unohana in single combat and wins, then comes out of a brief clash with him mostly intact. The elder shinigami notes that if Naruto was a Soul Reaper, he'd be considering him as his successor.
• Ye Olde Butcherede Englishe: The Sokyoku talks like this, although she more frequently uses Antiquated Linguistics. Hinoki can barely understand what she's saying as a result.
  The Sokyoku: A most unsightly place thou hast me too. 'Tis downright...despondent.
  Hinoki: What's 'despondent' mean?
  The Sokyoku: In a word, poor.
  Naruto: Must you speak like that?
  The Sokyoku: Like what, mine wielder?
  Naruto: That!
• You Have No Chance to Survive: Mayuri arrogantly proclaims to Naruto that he has seen and recorded every single one of the latter's battles, so he knows exactly how to counter and defeat the shinobi. Unluckily for Mayuri, Naruto has a few tricks up his sleeve that no one's seen yet. As such, Mayuri is the one to die instead.
• You Make Me Sick: The Central 46's callousness, hedonism, corruption, and general unpleasantness is bad enough that Naruto mentally states his disgust towards the obstructive legislature of Soul Society.
• You Will Be Spared: Because Akon was the only one to protest Hinata's treatment and end her suffering mercifully, Naruto decides to leave him out of the massacre of the 12th Division, along with a few other innocents.