Chapter 26 - Stealth Corps Code (2/2)

He glares at Itachi and releases a large amount of Reiatsu, blasting both Shun and Itachi away from him. Itachi gets his balance back and lands. He looks back up at Nobutoshi and notices something going on with where he just stabbed him. He sees the stab wound seal back up and heal.

”Instantaneous regeneration...a trait that some hollows use…” Shun says as he appears next to Itachi. Shun and Itachi watch as Nobutoshi starts emitting a foul reiatsu and his body slowly transforms. His arms and legs become the same color as his mask and a hole starts growing in his ċhėst.

”He's transforming into a hollow?!” Shun looks at Nobutoshi but is unable to get near due to the sheer amount of reiatsu being released that is pushing him back.

”Instantaneous regeneration with immense power and speed...even my genjutsu seems to have a limited effect on him because of the difference in reiatsu…” Itachi keeps observing Nobutoshi, going over many scenarios in his head in rapid succession in order to form a plan to beat him.

”Itachi, I'm going in. The only way to kill this guy at this point is a strike through the head. Even if I die, make sure you finish him off.” Shun says to Itachi before flash stepping in. Shun delivers a heavy kick aimed at Nobutoshi's chin. Nobutoshi takes one step back from the force of the blow but retaliates by grabbing Shun's face. A red light starts to emit from Nobutoshi's hand towards Shun's face.

At the last moment, Itachi appears and cuts off Nobutoshi's hand, cancelling the cero. He grabs Shun and flash steps away before the reiatsu in the dislodged hand explodes, knocking back Nobutoshi in a large red explosion.

Itachi puts Shun down and Shun gets up. He gives Itachi a disappointed look.

”You could have killed Nobutoshi there. But instead you saved me.”

”Letting you die there just for a chance to kill Nobutoshi is not worth letting a comrade die. If you deemed Nobutoshi someone who you need to give your life to kill, you haven't found his weakness. Every technique, every enemy has a weakness. We simply need to find it.” Itachi replies to Shun with a stern look.

Shun's expression softens slightly. ”That way of thinking may work for you but it's not how we do things here in the Executive Militia. I'm sure you know about how we use an ally's death as an opening to kill our target.”

Itachi does not reply to Shun and looks back at Nobutoshi who was getting back up from the explosion.

”His reiatsu keeps rising. We'll do formation A.” Itachi says to Shun. Shun nods and charges in, with Itachi close behind. Both Itachi and Shun are taken by surprise as Nobutoshi disappears from their line of sight. Nobutoshi reappears with a loud boom sound next to them.

With great speed, Nobutoshi swings his arm at Itachi. Itachi looks at Nobutoshi directly in the eye.

'Genjutsu: Sharingan.'

Nobutoshi ignores it and continues his attack on Itachi. Itachi's Sharingan manages to let him react to it and bȧrėly dodge it as he steps back. Shun jumps in to attack Nobutoshi but gets grabbed at the waist. Nobutoshi lets out a roar as he charges another cero and a bright light envelops Shun.

'Even if I kill Nobutoshi, the reiatsu that is built up in its hand will still go off and kill Shun.' Itachi jumps over the hollows head and attempts to cut off its hand again. However his blade only bȧrėly scrapes across the surface of the hollow's skin. Itachi could only watch as the cero is fired from Nobutoshi's hand and envelops him entirely.

As the smoke cleared from Nobutoshi's hand, Nobutoshi released his grip and all that was left were a pair of legs.

'Why did my blade bounce off its skin? Does it have some sort of skin hardening technique?' Itachi looked back at the remains of Shun's body. 'My weakness let another comrade die...I...'

Itachi looks back at Nobutoshi who was glaring at Itachi. Itachi closes his eyes briefly and reopens them, activating his Mangekyou Sharingan.

In that brief instant, Itachi catches a glimpse of Captain Soi Fon.

”Sting all enemies to death, Suzumebachi.” Soi Fon draws out her Zanpakuto and stabs Nobutoshi in the back with it. She winds her arm back and stabs the same spot again.

”Nigeki Kessatsu.” Nobutoshi's body suddenly starts to glow and break down. His hollowfied state disappears and his human body starts to break down as well. Before Nobutoshi has a chance to fully disintegrate, he whispers one last sentence as he looks at Itachi.

”Sixty...years...exile…” Nobutoshi murmurs to himself quietly before his body vanishes. Soi Fon didn't hear his voice but Itachi understood clearly when he saw his lips move with his Sharingan. Itachi deactivates his Mangekyou Sharingan and looks back at Soi Fon.

Soi Fon ignores Itachi and goes to Shun's remains. Several other Executive Militia shinigami arrive on the scene.

”I want this place cleaned up immediately!” Soi Fon yells out. The shinigami immediately start clearing the area out.

”Now.. now.. Captain Soi Fon let me take care of this. I'll gladly take whatever is left in that warehouse!” A voice suddenly appears behind Soi Fon. Soi Fon turns around and sees Captain Kurotsuchi.

”I would also love to study the remains of that shinigami over there.” Mayuri points towards Shun's remains.

”You can take the warehouse but those remains stay with us.” Soi Fon gives Mayuri a cold look and the two of them engage in a brief staredown.

”No need to be so hostile to each other.” Another Captain appears next to them and gives a soft smile.

”And what are you doing here Captain Aizen?” Soi Fon instead focuses her attention on Aizen.

”Wouldn't anyone come to investigate if there was a large hollow reiatsu that could be felt from Seretei?” Aizen replies while still smiling.

”Fine. Just don't stand in our way.” Soi Fon says as she walks away from Aizen.

She heads towards Itachi who remains staring at what is left of shun.

”Are you saddened by his death?” Soi Fon asks.

Itachi remains silent. He had seen death numerous times and had even participated in his own family's massacre. Although he was saddened, he kept his composure.

”Don't be, remember our creed, If your comrade is being defeated, you should see it as an opportunity. Rather than standing in the way, you should stab the enemy in the back. And if the enemy is so far above your level that you cannot even manage that, then you should let your comrade die. That is the way of the Onmitsukidō.” Soi says coldy before walking away.

Itachi remains standing, thinking about his own past.