[POV: With Itachi]
A new Captain was about to be instated into the Seventh Division and Itachi, as per his duties, was required to be present in the Captain's test for this individual.
Sajin Komamura. A rather interesting person in Itachi's view for the simple reason that he wasn't a normal human soul but rather a type of beastkin. He always wore a helmet and gauntlet that covered every inch of his animalistic features.
Another point of interest was that he was the closest friend of Kaname Tōsen who, alongside Gin, was a close party in Aizen's betrayal and also someone that had been under Aizen's Kyōka Suigetsu. He was an interesting subject at the very least.
"I thought we were going to wait for another decade before we had another Captain." Isshin said as he arrived in the open courtyard where the rest of the Captains were gathered.
"Was he recommended?" Itachi asked Isshin who stood beside him.
Isshin shook his head. "From what I heard from Sasakibe, he asked the Head Captain to give him a chance. And from what I know about him, he is a rather upright man with unshakeable morals."
Itachi took in that information and asked no other question in that vein and settled with watching Sajin gather himself for his tests.
Since it wasn't by recommendation, the Captains gathered here had little say in whether or not he became Captain as long as he passed the tests. The decision, which was practically an already made one should he pass, was entirely up to the Head Captain.
"So what do you think? Do you think he has what it takes?" The question this time was surprisingly from Jūshirō who had scooted closer to Itachi while still watching Sajin.
"I don't know." Itachi replied.
"But the feeling he gives you is not that of a mere Lieutenant, that much I can say." Isshin supplied with his sharp eyes analyzing Sajin.
"I see. So both of you can tell." Jūshirō said, nodding to himself. It wasn't exactly a strength thing but instead it was the confident air around him. The air of someone who had achieved Bankai. All the Captains present could tell.
Bankai – it still remained the hardest hurdle to cross into the realm of Captain.
"Tch. They let every weakling become Captain nowadays." Off to the side a very irritated Zaraki stood.
It was obvious to anyone who understood what Kenpachi was currently going through why he was irritated and even on the verge of getting angry.
It was a little unfair that even Itachi felt a little sympathetic about it. It was vexing seeing someone who recently became a Shinigami in the last century or two achieving two times over what you couldn't even achieve once in centuries.
Even Itachi achieved his Shikai, or at least half of it before becoming a Shinigami.
"Oh? Did someone anger him again?" Isshin asked, being completely ignorant of why Kenpachi was fuming.
"Who knows?" Jūshirō said.
The test started with the most basic part, Zankensoki mastery. This was the only part which required him fighting a Captain as Zanjutsu and Hohō required a showing. It wasn't technically a necessary showing but considering his method of becoming a Captain, it was necessary.
His opponent was Byakuya, as decided by Yamamoto, and since it was just a showing it wasn't meant to pick a winner but instead display how their skills stacked up against each other. Byakuya had the edge in both Zanjutsu and Hohō but it was pretty clear that neither of them were going to be winning that fight anytime soon.
Sajin was averagely skilled in Kidō, both in Hadō and Kaidō, seeing as he could cast a spell in the nineties without much issue though Itachi could clearly see that that was not his preferred way of fighting.
"Pretty impressive so far, wouldn't you say?"
His face was the same but Unohana had the impression that he was looking at her suspiciously.
"Yes. Pretty impressive." He said, agreeing with her words.
She smiled harmlessly at his answer. "It is not good to lie, Captain."
"… I have no idea what you mean." That was the only defense he could give. His personal feelings about the quality of the Captains were his own personal issues. He was a perfectionist.
"Is that so?" She said in a manner that told him she knew his reasons. "Comparison is the thief of joy, Itachi. Just because they aren't up to your standards doesn't mean they aren't worthy of the rewards of the efforts they put in."
"I never thought of it like that."
"You didn't? I see then. My apologies." She said with a little incline of her head.
Seeing the opportunity, Itachi took this chance to ask her for something even he was curious about. "Speaking of rewards and efforts, do you have any idea what Zaraki's problem might be?"
It was a very small change but Itachi noticed it.
"You once thanked me for what I did for Zaraki, even when I didn't do much so I think you know something about it. Maybe something even the rest of the Seireitei don't."
She fell silent at that and no longer said anything and just contented herself with watching Komamura's display.
"It is not so easily a problem that can be fixed. He has not yet found a reason… or at least that is what I think."
The display went on until the time came for Komamura to release his Bankai, and released it he did.
Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō. That was the name of the man's Bankai.
Out of everything he had shown, this was the only thing that piqued Itachi's interest and subsequent focus.
While his Shikai, Tenken, allowed him to summon phantom parts of an armored warrior, his Bankai summoned a gigantic armored warrior that copied all of his movements, even his speed.
At a glance, Sajin's Bankai, Itachi had to admit, was superior to his own Susano'o, at least in terms of durability and mobility – mobility because his Bankai could also use Shunpo. Itachi's Susano'o was fast, but nowhere as fast as a Captain using Shunpo.
The test ended with Sajin being assigned the Captain of the Seventh Division, whose former Captain was Love Aikawa, a Visored.
As they left the testing ground, Itachi wondered what could be done about Kenpachi's case.
Kenpachi was currently in a state of false calm that all he needed was the slightest thing to set him off and he would become a raging maniac once again. Itachi wanted to avoid that if he could.
'You are getting it wrong, Itachi.' Amaterasu spoke up.
"What do you mean?"
'I mean that both the brute and his Zanpakutō are just like me. No manner of 'finding his way' will take him to Shikai.'
"So what do you suggest?"
'For him to do what he knows best: brute force his way through it, whether it wants to or not. Don't forget, every Zanpakutō is a reflection of a deep aspect of the host's soul. Do you think there is something more deeper and profound in his soul other than that which you already know?'
"So what?" The reasoning of Amaterasu was on point but then came the problem with it. "Just drown him in enough blood and battle and hope that he figures it out?"
'And what is so wrong with such a simple approach?' Amaterasu asked.
"Maybe the fact that perpetuating a slaughter just for the hope of him figuring it out is something I will never do." Came Itachi's cold response to which he could feel his Zanpakutō spirit shrugging nonchalantly.
He took a cross the corner and came face to face with an irate Kenpachi.
'Who said anything about organizing it? Aren't you going to Hueco Mundo soon? When you are done with your mission why not let the beast have some fun and blow off some steam?'
That was…
"Oi, Itachi! Fight me now!" Kenpachi bellowed, scaring the nearby Shinigami into hiding.
"Sorry, but I can't do that, Zaraki. I am prohibited from fighting you anytime soon."
"Huh?" To his credit, Kenpachi managed to look perplexed. "Why are you listening to those bunch of weaklings?"
Midway their talk was interrupted by none other than the newest addition to the tank of Captain, Sajin Komamura, already donning his Captain's haori.
"Captain Uchiha, Captain Kenpachi, good day to you." He greeted.
"Tch. Say what you want and get lost." Kenpachi barked but Komamura remained unfazed.
"I heard that the Head Captain gave you leave to go to Hueco Mundo-"
"For a strictly reconnaissance mission," Itachi interrupted, staring pointedly at Komamura, "not a rescue and retrieve."
"Captain Uchiha, what do you think love and trust is?" Sajin asked.
Itachi stared at him seemingly through the helmet he wore. Sajin would never say it to anyone but Itachi's stare was intimidating and somewhat eerie.
"It is the best gift one can give to another but the consequences of it is for you alone to bear." He said and walked away, subtly using the mood brought about by the conversation to escape Kenpachi's insistence.
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