Crows x Souls

"All of us have the same pride in our hearts. The pride of shouldering the weight of the Gotei 13." — Jūshirō Ukitake. 

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The silence that followed was accusing. The main reason they haven't yet made an active effort in fishing out Aizen was because of Yamamoto's vagueness on the subject. 

While they knew that they couldn't actually storm Hueco Mundo since they had practically no updated information on it, at the very least Yamamoto could point them in a direction for them to go in. Carrying out his orders was the reason they were Captains after all. 

Not just Kyōraku and Itachi, all the Captains turned to Yamamoto to hear what he had to say. 

"… Itachi." Yamamoto's old eyes fell on Itachi, his second most unruly Captain. He was a different kind of rascal when compared to the likes of Kyōraku and Kenpachi, or even Isshin, but that wasn't enough to fool Yamamoto's eyes. Itachi was a different kind of stubborn – the polite type. 

"Yes, Head Captain."

"The Captains are spread too thin for such a large scale and proportionally intense endeavor. Too few would mean a shameful loss if we were to assault Hueco Mundo. Too few Captains here would mean a shameful defeat should the Soul Society be attacked in your absence. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"…" 

The earlier silence was accusing while the new one was oppressing. The choices of a leader was not oft an easy one to make.

Aizen was playing them against a tight spot, knowing and hoping the choice they – Yamamoto – would make in the event of his actions. Forcing them to play defensive and giving them a reason to be content with the choices made, after all he more than anyone knew just how addicted the Shinigami was to comfort, so he gave them just that – the comfort of the illusion of choice. 

If it was another time, maybe an alternate future, then this choice wouldn't have been a hard one to make or accept, except…

"But we don't have to worry about having fewer Captains here to defend the Soul Society, do we?"

"What are you saying, Kyōraku?" The look in his steel-clear eyes were practically daring Kyōraku or even anyone to continue in his reckless student's line of thinking. 

"I'm saying that we have no reason to fear a pincer attack from behind, after all we have the greatest defense, don't we Head Captain Yamamoto?"

The silence ensued longer with Yamamoto and Kyōraku being tied in a stare off which ended with Yamamoto scoffing and Kyōraku smiling. 

"You're right," Yamamoto said and stood up from where he sat. "What greater security is there? What other defense does the Soul Society need, other than me?"

He didn't emanate any abundance of Reiatsu nor did the weight of his Reiryoku fill the hall. He didn't need to. His words alone were enough proof. 

"Captain Itachi, you once petitioned me to allow you to enter Hueco Mundo in order to investigate the rise in Hollow activity. Do you still have the same confidence to carry out that mission in the current time?"

"As long as it is strictly infiltration and investigation, then yes. All I ask is that the specifics and priority of the mission be decided by me." If it was anything other than an infiltration mission then Itachi would have said that no. 

Infiltration and investigation was their best bet and even if Aizen was expecting it, as long as he made sufficient preparation, the chances of him escaping was over 50%. It also helped that he had once been to Hueco Mundo and had traveled alongside one of the strongest Hollows he'd ever seen. 

Seeing the opportuned time for what it was, Itachi struck while the iron was blistering hot. 

"Something interesting also happened during my mission and it was with it that I think I've figured out why Aizen sent those Hollows to attack in the first place."

"This ought to be interesting." Mayuri said, rubbing his palms together. No matter how much he loathed Itachi as a complete entity, he usually brought up some interesting topics, mostly about his incompetence though. 

"While I was fighting the other Espada and Lieutenant Shiba and Junpei were distracting the other one, someone helped them, or rather Lieutenant Shiba, after Junpei was incapacitated."

"Spit it out already."

"Miyako Shiba. Lieutenant Shiba's wife. She saved him."

"And the day just keeps on giving." Kyōraku looked genuinely tired at this point. 

"Ohoh, now this sounds interesting." And wasn't that the understatement of the decade. The proclamation instantly changed the bubbling mood of the hall. 

Jūshirō looked profoundly shocked and at the same time hopeful just from that simple statement that Itachi gave. "Captain Uchiha, you mean…"

He had yet to meet his Lieutenant but he knew Itachi was someone who would never joke about this sort of thing. 

"Not only Miyako Shiba but also the other members of the exiled. They are alive and also seem to have tamed the powers of the Hollow."

Yamamoto's face scrunched as he heard that last part. Millennium spent fighting Hollows, Quincies and other unsavory threats made him… opinionated about these things. 

"And you let her go?" Byakuya asked frostily. His sense of duty flaring up at Itachi's seemingly unrepentant attitude when it came to eliminating threats as soon as they were identified. 

Itachi replied nonplussed, not even looking in Byakuya's direction as he did. "And what? Fight my way through four Shinigami Captains with unknown Hollow capabilities? And what if Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihōin were there? Or what about the former Kidō Grand Chief?

Compulsion to duty is good, but wisdom in carrying it out is even better."

"It's like none of them even care at this point." Kyōraku once again. 

Sparks flew between them. The hostility in the air was so thick and apparent that everyone knew that it was only because they were in the presence of the Head Captain that they weren't drawing their blades yet. 

"Regardless, we can't simply trust them just because one of them helped out her spouse." Isshin said as he put himself between Itachi and Byakuya. 'At least give the man your attention if you're talking to him.'

"I am not saying we should but at the very least it is an avenue to consider. Whether we plan with them or plan against them, they are no longer an unknown."

At that moment Kaien walked in after being called over by Soi Fon halfway through the Captains meeting. 

"Lieutenant Shiba, you seem well."

Kaien bowed his head. "I am well, Head Captain."

Kaien then recounted everything that happened, from his fight against Luppi with Junpei to when Junpei was incapacitated and Miyako suddenly appeared from nowhere. The barebones of the brief conversation he had with her and his overall conclusion of whether that really was Miyako Shiba or a Hollow posing at her. The question was so cruel that even the kindhearted Jūshirō Ukitake almost launched himself at Mayuri, except he didn't because he knew just how crueler Hollows could be. 

Kaien's word regarding Miyako didn't have as much weight as Itachi's given his intimate relationship with the person in question, whereas on the other hand Itachi was someone who was prepared to kill Yoruichi when he thought she was the one trying to bait him. And he was also a Captain. 

"That went relatively well." Soi Fon said following behind Itachi as they left the First Division. 

"Did you see her? No, I guess you wouldn't if she didn't want to be seen." Soi Fon asked but immediately corrected herself and then asked again. "Was she anywhere nearby?"

Itachi shook his head. He sensed neither Kisuke, Yoruichi or Tessai when the fight was going on. He knew they were definitely nearby watching but he couldn't sense them. 

"You don't sound particularly interested." He stated to which Soi Fon simply shrugged. 

"I am interested, but at the same time I feel like maybe it is too soon."

"I understand."

She looked at him for the side of her eye before nodding slowly to herself. "I know you do." 

Her thoughts concerning Yoruichi became a lot more complicated now that she felt she could see her any time soon. She was mostly resolved when it came to her feelings regarding Yoruichi but now it felt like she was no longer sure. 

'I'll think about it later.' She thought to herself. "So how did Junpei do?"

Junpei was Itachi's only student, at least as much as the man said it himself, so he was kind of a junior subordinate-student to her, not to mention one of the few people she was close to. His progress was as much as Itachi's interest as it was hers. 

"He performed exemplary. As usual, his innate strength is the only thing holding him back." Itachi replied positively. 

"So no being hard on him for the next few years?" For the record, she asked just to be sure. 

Itachi chuckled. "No need."

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