"Excellent work, Jiraiya," said Kisuke with a smile as the student completed the Konsō.
The Legendary Sannin nodded as the soul he'd just attended to vanished into a stream of brilliant blue-white light. "Thanks. That was surprisingly more satisfying than I imagined it would be."
"I know what you mean," said Itachi, "It may be one soul at a time for us, but it really does feel like we're making a difference with helping these fallen soldiers find rest."
"Well, for every one of them that we send along their way, that's one less Hollow for us to deal with," Kisuke replied, "Most students and fresh Soul Reapers tend to view Hollow slaying as our greatest purpose, but that's a rather short-sighted view. It's true that Hollows are a menace, but the reason they're created in the first place is because people have died with regrets and can't find their way to the Soul Society on their own. By being proactive in seeking out those souls and performing the Konsō, we not only protect those souls from Hollow attacks and keep them from becoming Hollows themselves, but we also indirectly protect our fellow Soul Reapers by making sure that they won't have as many Hollows to face in the future."
"There are far too many as it is," said Jiraiya grimly, "That's the impression I've gotten from our education so far, anyway."
Itachi nodded. "Indeed. Having a realm like Hueco Mundo to retreat to doesn't help matters."
Kisuke sighed. "Ah, yes; the Hollow World. The home of our enemies, and yet it's always been beyond our reach. It's sad to say that the same is not true the other way around… as the two of you found out the hard way."
Jiraiya chuckled; the memory of that fateful Hollow attack three years ago was never far from his mind. "You've got that right."
"Is Hueco Mundo truly beyond us?" asked Itachi as Kisuke continued to lead him and Jiraiya in search of more souls, "I have a hard time believing that no one's ever tried to create some means to get there."
Kisuke smiled. "Well, the only way we know for sure to get there is through a Garganta, which is something that only Hollows can create. That being said, there's no law stating that things have to stay that way."
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"Studying Kidō theory is one of my many, many hobbies," said Kisuke, "and I've always wondered if it might be possible to use Kidō to replicate a Garganta."
Itachi's eyes widened. "Is that really within the realm of Kidō?"
Kisuke smirked. "Hypothetically, yes. Shin'ō Academy really just scratches the surface as far as your Kidō instruction is concerned. The spellcasting arts are really far more versatile than your classes let on. Kidō's got potential applications beyond blasting Hollows, putting up barriers, and healing people. Once you study it in-depth and come to a deeper understanding of its true nature, you realize that it could become a key to a multitude of problems if harnessed and manipulated in the appropriate manner."
Jiraiya's eyes narrowed. "I didn't realize that such in-depth study of Kidō was required of the head of the Detention Unit."
Kisuke laughed. "Normally it's not, but you'll find that I'm more than just a glorified jailkeeper! Yoruichi knows that far better than most."
"If your interests lie in Kidō, then why serve as the Corps Commander of the Detention Unit?" asked Itachi, "If you and Yoruichi are old friends, then surely she'd be willing to give you a post that would better suit your abilities."
Kisuke smiled. "She would, but it turns out I'm pretty good at my current job, too. To be the head of the Detention Unit, one has to be highly skilled in both Hohō and Hakuda. Not that I'm trying to brag here, but I daresay I've got talent in those areas. Besides, this role and the rank of Third Seat are about more than just putting me in charge of watching over prisoners."
"What do you mean?" asked Jiraiya.
"Normally I wouldn't discuss stuff like this with students," said Kisuke, "but Yoruichi likes the two of you, and at the rate you're going you'll be joining our ranks soon enough, so I figure she won't mind if I start filling you in now. Long story short, she doesn't think too highly of Squad Two's Lieutenant, so she wants people she knows she can trust in positions of authority. Being Third Seat gives me considerable influence in the division and makes it easier for me to help her implement her policies."
Itachi's brow furrowed as he recalled the meeting with some of the other Captains Yoruichi had taken him and Jiraiya to after the Academy entrance examinations. "Her Lieutenant was imposed on her due to noble family politics, right?"
Kisuke nodded. "That's right. Marenoshin Ōmaeda might be able to use Shikai, but trust me; that's really his only qualification for the role of Lieutenant. He lets his family's wealth go to his head and keeps forgetting that, as far as the nobility's concerned, his clan is actually a minor one. He's okay in a fight against your garden variety Hollows, but anything above that's out of his league. He's full of himself and has just the right combination of arrogance and ignorance to make himself a nuisance to everyone around him. Not many people in Squad Two like the guy, but unfortunately we're stuck with him."
"So the Captain works around him by elevating people she trusts to positions of authority," said Jiraiya with a knowing smile, "Even if they hold a lower rank than the Lieutenant, with enough of them in the right positions she can neutralize his influence. Sound about right?"
Kisuke smirked. "You catch on quickly. As far as Lieutenants are concerned, Ōmaeda's a paper tiger. The real management of Squad Two is handled by Yoruichi, Soi-Fon, and myself."
"A well-conceived setup," said Itachi, "However, what happens if the Lieutenant catches onto the fact that he's being sidelined?"
"Well, so far we haven't had to worry about that," said Kisuke, "Subtlety and intrigue isn't one of the Lieutenant's strong points. If he does, we'll play it by ear; we've gotten pretty good at improvising over the years."
"Is that part of why she wants me to join Squad Two after graduation?" asked Itachi, "Does she think I'll be able to provide another work-around to use against her Lieutenant once I advance in the rankings?"
"It might be a factor," Kisuke admitted, "She's definitely taken a shine to you, and she's usually a good judge of character. Would you be willing to play along if that were the case?"
Itachi nodded. "Yes. After all she's done for me, supporting her in her efforts to run Squad Two as she sees fit would be the least that I could do in return."
Kisuke raised an eyebrow. "Not a hint of hesitation… I'm impressed. She really does know how to pick 'em."
"What about you, Jiraiya?" asked Itachi, "In the event that we both end up in Squad Two, would you be willing to go along with Yoruichi's… management system, for want of a better term?"
Jiraiya smiled. "I've got no problem with it. If it helps her run her division effectively, then I'm in."
Kisuke grinned. "Great! I've got a feeling that the two of you will fit in with Squad Two just fine after you graduate."
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," said Itachi as he gestured at the scarred landscape and the multitude of rotting corpses, "We should keep our focus on the job currently at hand."
Jiraiya's nodded. "Right. That soul I just sent along wasn't the last one that needs a Konsō to be performed today."
"All too true," said Kisuke grimly, "Let's go find them before they become the beasts that we're sworn to put down."
….
"That makes six for each of you now," said Kisuke as the soul Itachi had just performed the Konsō on disappeared in a stream of blue light, "You guys have really gotten the hang of it."
Itachi agreed. He had been a little nervous at the start of the mission; the Konsō was unlike any other ritual or task that he had performed before. However, it was quickly becoming natural to him, and he suspected that part of that had to do with the sense of accomplishment and serenity he felt each time he sent a soul onward to the other side. This wasn't the same as killing an enemy. It was releasing an innocent from torment and giving them the chance to start anew. It was granting lost souls peace and safe passage from the grisly battlefield where their lives had been so cruelly cut short.
It almost felt… redeeming.
I am beyond redemption, he forcefully reminded himself, I slaughtered my kin and tormented my younger brother so that he might strengthen himself and avenge our family's murder by taking my life. It doesn't matter if I wiped them out for the sake of the village and for peace; nothing can change the fact that it was and remains a monstrous crime. No amount of good deeds I commit as a Soul Reaper will absolve me of that guilt.
Yet you strive for that absolution just the same, said the spirit of his Zanpakutō.
That gave Itachi pause. There was not a hint of sarcasm in her remarks, but Itachi still found it hard to believe that she was being serious.
Why would I strive for what I know is beyond me?
Perhaps because you are not as wholly consumed by darkness as you believe yourself to be.
So says the woman generated from my soul that wears the black flames of Amaterasu as clothing.
Not all that is dark in appearance is dark in intention. Nobility and virtue exist even in the shadows if one knows how to look for them. I would've thought that you, of all people, would understand this.
I know what it means to work in the shadows for a purpose greater than one's self. However, if you go too deep into the darkness, even with selfless intentions, your nobility and virtue can be irreparably scarred. I fear that my passage through shadow and flame in the name of peace came at a cost to my soul that was far too high. No amount of nobility and virtue can wash away this much blood.
No one is saying anything about washing away the blood that has been spilt. I would come at this from a different perspective.
And what might that be?
Let the blood you've spilt in the past be a reminder and a warning. Use it to keep yourself anchored in your purpose. As long as you are able to remember the terrible price that you paid in the past for going too far, you will be able to find your path to a future where redemption may yet be possible.
That's…. surprisingly optimistic, coming from you.
The spirit of his Zanpakutō giggled. Even maidens wrapped in the black flames of Amaterasu can have hope for tomorrow, you know. Best we pick this back up at another time, though; youare currently in the field, after all.
It was at that moment that Itachi felt a hand on his shoulder. He nearly jumped before he saw that it was Jiraiya, who looked a little worried.
"Hey," he said, "Everything okay? You still here with us?"
Itachi nodded. "Yeah… sorry. I got… distracted."
Jiraiya folded his arms. "That's not like you."
Kisuke smiled. "Let me guess; your Zanpakutō decided to have a little chat with you?"
Itachi raised an eyebrow. "How did you know?"
"Hey, I used to be a student too once upon a time, remember?" Kisuke pointed out, "It can take a while to get used to having a two-sided conversation inside your own head, believe me. Eventually it'll become second nature and you'll be able to do so without getting distracted from the world around you."
Jiraiya chuckled. "I hope so. Mine can be pretty talkative sometimes too, so I can see why you zoned out there for a second, Itachi. Still, you might want to tell her to keep it down; this isn't the best place to get distracted."
Itachi nodded. "You're right."
Who does he think he is to order me to shut up?
Just do me a favor and go along with it for now, all right? I've got a job to do here.
The spirit of his Zanpakutō huffed, and Itachi could easily picture her folding her arms and scowling. Fine, then. You're a lousy conversationalist anyway.
Itachi wouldn't argue with that.
"How many more souls do you think are out here?" asked Jiraiya.
Kisuke's brow furrowed in thought. "Hard to say. If the other students have been sending them along at the same rate as you two, then we should've made a decent dent in their numbers. More than a few had already become Hollows or had been consumed by Hollows before we even arrived here, so there's that to consider as well. I also had some of my subordinates on Konsō duty earlier in order to get a jump start on containing the situation. We've still got a way to go, but we're making progress."
Itachi surveyed the ranks of rotting corpses. "Are battles like the one that was fought here common in this world?"
Kisuke sighed. "I wouldn't say that they're an everyday occurrence, but they happen far more often than you'd think. Of all the Realms of the Living that Soul Reapers monitor, Terra has the largest population. That means more souls need guidance to the Soul Society from this world than any other, and to make our jobs that much harder it seems that the leaders of the many nations that make up this world have little to no qualms about starting wars with each other. As if that weren't bad enough, they're also determined to find more and more effective ways of killing each other."
"So I've noticed," said Itachi as he knelt next to a fallen soldier and closely examined the weapon next to the corpse, "The smell coming from this thing… blasting powder?"
Jiraiya took a good whiff before nodding. "Hey, you're right. I haven't smelt this stuff since the last time I saw fireworks at a festival."
"Apparently, it's been weaponized in this world to shoot projectiles at lethal velocity," said Kisuke, "In this world, humans kill each other practically every day with these weapons. Anyone can learn to use them with a little practice, and while they're not particularly accurate, that can be made up for through sheer numbers. The result is a field of death like the one we're walking through now."
"These look mass produced," said Itachi as he studied a few more rifles, "Each soldier from the same army has the same weapon. No individual craftsmanship, but I suppose that's not really needed for the weapons of frontline infantry."
"It's a shame, really," said Jiraiya, "There's no soul or artistry in these things. I know it's not their purpose to look pretty, but it is nice when someone takes their time with making a weapon."
Kisuke chuckled. "Well, when you wield a Zanpakutō, most other weapons look pretty plain in comparison, whether they're mass produced or otherwise. It's hard to find weapons as unique as ours, especially once we unlock our Shikai and Bankai."
"Since you're the Third Seat of Squad Two, I take it that you've managed to achieve Shikai, right?" asked Itachi.
Kisuke smiled. "Indeed, I have. If you're lucky, you might get to see it sometime."
"How long did it take you to unlock?" asked Jiraiya.
Kisuke shrugged. "A while. Faster than most, but the process was still time consuming. Some people just click with their Zanpakutō easier than others. It varies from person to person."
Itachi nodded. "I see."
"So, what's yours like?" asked Jiraiya, "Is it a man or a woman?"
Kisuke gave the two of them a sly smile. "Now you're getting greedy. A good Soul Reaper doesn't reveal every trick they have up their sleeves, you know. Some are eager to show off their Zanpakutō and regale others with descriptions of its power, but I prefer to keep my cards close to the chest."
"A reasonable attitude," said Itachi, "Does Yoruichi know about it?"
Kisuke nodded. "Of course. She's my friend and my Captain, so I'm not worried about her knowing what it can do."
"Speaking of Yoruichi," said Itachi, "What's her Zanpakutō like? With the skill I've seen her demonstrate, I find it hard to imagine that there are many Hollows out there capable of pushing her to the point that she uses either her Shikai or Bankai."
"That's very true," Kisuke admitted, "I have seen her use both forms, though, and they're really something special. However, it's not my place to tell the two of you about them. That's for her to share with you if she feels like it. That being said, if you both join Squad Two and survive long enough, I'm sure you'll see her unleash her Zanpakutō's abilities eventually. Consider it something to look forward to."
Indeed, thought Itachi, I imagine it must truly be something to see if she's strong enough to be a Captain. All the more reason to push myself so I can get into her unit.
Is that the only reason?
No games. Not now.
The spirit of his Zanpakutō sighed. Sometimes you are just no fun.
"Every Captain has both Shikai and Bankai, right?" asked Jiraiya, "Is that an ironclad rule?"
Kisuke's brow furrowed in thought. "Well, it's been the general rule, but I suppose the Head Captain might make an exception if a Soul Reaper demonstrated Captain-class power without achieving Bankai. To my knowledge, I don't think it's ever actually happened, but it'd certainly be interesting to see."
Itachi raised an eyebrow. "Anyone capable of matching a Captain's strength without Bankai, let alone Shikai, would be a fearsome warrior indeed. Perhaps too fearsome, even. Wouldn't the Head Captain and the Central Forty-Six see someone like that as a potential threat?"
Kisuke nodded. "The Central Forty-Six probably would, but it's hard to tell with the Head Captain. Frankly, his Shikai alone can lay most Bankais to waste. There's a rumor out there that if the Head Captain uses his Bankai for too long it would actually destroy the world."
Jiraiya's eyes widened. "You're joking, right?"
Kisuke shrugged. "Like I said, it's a rumor. It's been a very long time since anyone's forced the Head Captain to go all out from what I understand, and it's not like I've ever seen his Bankai in person. Given the strength of his Shikai, though, I wouldn't exactly rule it out."
"If he's that powerful, then what's stopping him from ruling over the Soul Society directly?" asked Itachi, "The Central Forty-Six are judges, not warriors; it's not like they could stand against him if he decided to seize the reins for himself."
"There is the Royal Guard," Jiraiya countered, "They should be able to stop him… right?"
Kisuke smiled. "Hard to say. Every member of the Royal Guard's a former Captain, so they're not pushovers. However, they don't leave the Royal Realm very often. Even if they did, I honestly don't know if they'd be a match for the Head Captain. In terms of raw power, he's in a class by himself."
"Then if there's no meaningful check on his power, what has kept him from ruling as a dictator?" Itachi pressed.
"The Head Captain's his own check and balance," Kisuke answered.
"What do you mean?" asked Jiraiya.
"You could consider the Head Captain to be the human embodiment of conviction," Kisuke replied, "His belief in the laws and customs of the Soul Society is absolute, and he follows them without fail. He also possesses greater loyalty to the Soul Society than anyone else in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads; everyone knows that he would sacrifice both himself and all of our divisions in service to the Soul Society without a second thought."
"So it's through conviction and dedication to duty that keeps him from assuming the power to rule, then," said Itachi, "Is that really enough?"
Kisuke shrugged. "Well, he hasn't assumed absolute power, and he's had plenty of opportunities to do so. If he hasn't taken over the Soul Society over the past two thousand years, then I think that tells you quite a bit about the kind of man he is."
Itachi nodded. "That's true. If nothing else, it shows a great deal of respect towards order and tradition."
Jiraiya smiled. "He might be a stiff old man, but it seems like his heart's in the right place."
Kisuke nodded. "You could say that. He's stern and unyielding, but he's got a strong sense of honor and justice. He'll enforce the letter of the law even when it might cause him personal difficulty, and he doesn't play favorites. The high noble clans know better than to mess with him, and it's thanks to that deference that the Thirteen Court Guard Squads aren't at the mercy of their whims. The nobles can and do exert influence, but they all know better than to cross the Head Captain. He keeps us united in our purpose, and that's no small feat when you consider just how large of an organization we are."
Itachi's eyes narrowed. "He's led the Thirteen Court Guard Squads since their founding, right? What happens if he steps down… or is incapacitated?"
Kisuke looked concerned. "To be honest, I don't think anyone's really given that much consideration. The Head Captain's very presence has become something akin to a law of nature. His role as our commander is treated the same way as the sunrise and the sunset; something that cannot be challenged."
Jiraiya folded his arms. "He's not immortal, though. I mean sure, souls live for far longer than humans do in the Realms of the Living, but even then, they eventually die and go back into the reincarnation cycle. The Head Captain can't avoid that fate forever."
"There must be some sort of succession protocol," said Itachi, slightly worried at where this conversation was heading, "Right?"
Kisuke sighed. "I'm not an expert in all of the Soul Society's laws, but off the top of my head… I don't think there is."
"And no one considers that to be a problem?" asked Itachi, exerting considerable effort to keep the incredulity he felt from his voice.
Kisuke chuckled. "Well, not everyone's as forward-thinking as you."
"I don't think that you have to be a 'forward-thinking' individual to consider something as simple as a succession protocol," Jiraiya pointed out, "That seems like something that should be pretty standard fare for any military organization."
"And the Thirteen Court Guard Squads are a military with a mission that's more important than that of any other armed force in all of existence," Itachi pressed, "Maintaining the balance of souls, keeping the Hollows in check, and preventing the apocalypse that could ensue if something went wrong? There is no more vital mission than that. For the Thirteen Court Guard Squads to not have a clear procedure for succession in the event of the Head Captain's fall from the scene is blatantly irresponsible."
Kisuke shrugged. "For what it's worth, I'm not arguing with you. Those are all completely valid points that the higher-ups really need to give greater consideration than they have been over the years. The problem is that both the Soul Society and the Thirteen Court Guard Squads are organizations that place an incredibly high level of importance on tradition, and since the latter's founding the Head Captain's been woven into the very heart of that tradition. It can be as stubborn and rigid as the old man himself."
"Well, then they need to find a way to make themselves more flexible," Jiraiya argued, "That level of rigidity is not a trait that lends itself to long-term survival."
Kisuke nodded. "You're right about that."
They were suddenly interrupted a bloodcurdling call. The hairs on the back of Itachi's neck stood up; he immediately recognized that cry.
After all, he'd heard it before over three years ago.
Itachi instantly drew his Zanpakutō, and Jiraiya and Kisuke did the same. "A Hollow."
Additional cries rang out, their tones slightly varying but still similar enough to belong to the same species. Itachi's eyes narrowed, and the expressions of his companions became equally grim.
"More than one," said Kisuke.
"I thought your advanced team had cleared this area out," said Jiraiya.
Kisuke nodded. "We had, but that doesn't mean that new Hollows can't show up. This is still a fresh battlefield, after all. There are plenty of scraps left for them to hunt down, and of course there's us as well."
"What should we do?" asked Itachi.