Chapter 32 - Promotion (1/2)
'Uchiha Itachi...' Ukitake thought to himself before returning to the 13th division barracks.
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Itachi concluded the meeting and the members of the detention unit began to leave and return to the Maggot's Nest. Itachi felt Omaeda's jealous gaze but as he turned to face him, he quickly looked away and quickly crammed down a bag of rice crackers. Itachi gave him a light smile before leaving the room.
Itachi walked down the long hallway leading outside of the barracks. During this time, he thought about his training and developing new ways to use kido. 'So far I've been trying to develop techniques that were either just Bakudo or just Hado...but what if I were to combine two using a dual incantation…' Itachi's thoughts are interrupted as he sees a hell's buŧŧerfly flying towards him. Itachi reaches his hand out and it lands on his finger. 'So the Captain wants to see me urgently. I wonder what for.' Itachi thinks as he turns back around to head to the Captain's office.
Itachi walked into the center office, and could see Soi Fon sitting behind a desk while shuffling through a large stack of papers in her hands. She was looking through a list of profiles from her squad.
”Who would be a good fit…..” she mumbled to herself. She sensed someone's arrival and looked up to see Itachi standing at the entrance. She gestured to him to come in.
”Captain, you wanted to see me?” Itachi asked as he walked up to her desk.
”Yes, I have some news.” Soi Fon replied.
Itachi remained silent and waited for the captain to finish.
”There was an incident very recently that was also the reason that the captains were called to a meeting today. It was because of the death of Lieutenant-Captain Shiba of the 13th Division.”
Itachi was surprised. The death of Lieutenant was indeed surprising as they were generally the second strongest in their squads and the death of one was a great loss of strength.
”Was a hollow involved with his death?” Itachi asked.
”Yes, and a hollow that powerful rarely appears in Soul Society.” Soi Fon answered.
”This probably isn't the reason you called me here with the instructions to report immediately.” Itachi commented, questioning the Captain's intentions of summoning him only to talk about a lieutenant's death.
”Of course not. The reason I called was because I recommended you to the Thirteenth Division Captain to be their new Lieutenant.” Soi Fon replied.
”What lead to you recommending me?” Itachi asked as he maintained his stoic demeanor but on the inside, he was surprised as he had not had any thoughts about increasing his rank at the moment. The only thing he was focused on at the moment was increasing his strength and gathering information. Although he would have more access to information, he did not want to bring too much attention to himself on his suspicion of Captain Aizen whom he still hasn't found concrete evidence in relation to the hollows from the field exercise.
”I won't beat around the bush Uchiha. Although your strength is great, your ideologies conflict with the way of the Onmitsukido. This was also the reason that I made you the warden of the Maggots Nest, but I am sure you already realized this.” Soi Fon replied.
”Yes.” Itachi already figured out why he had been promoted to third seat. He also had a verbal clash with the captain due to this reason in one of his earlier missions years ago.
”It would be a shame to see your abilities wasted for this position, so I recommended you to the thirteenth division. Of course, this is just an option, I won't force this upon you. So the choice is with you. I will allow you until the end of the day to make your decision. You are dismissed. Soi Foi said before signaling Itachi to leave.
Itachi walked out the room and made his way towards his room. 'A lieutenant of the Thirteenth Division…'
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The day passes and Itachi heads to the main hall, he walks into the main office to see Soi Fon seated behind her desk. She looked up towards Itachi.
”So, you've made your decision?”
Itachi nodded with a determined gaze.
”I accept.”
”Good, then I will inform Captain Ukitake about your arrival. In the meantime, take a seat. I need you to fill out these forms before you are processed into the Thirteenth Division. It's a hassle but it's part of the procedure especially because you are switching divisions. Soi Fon said as she pushed a stack of paperwork towards Itachi. Itachi sat down and began signing papers for the next half an hour. As he finished his last signature, he stood back up.
Itachi made a quick bow to Soi Fon. ”Thank you for everything.”
Soi Fon's cold gaze lightened slightly as she nodded.
”Now get out of my office Lieutenant Uchiha.”
Itachi turned and left the building. As he walked back he ran into Taro and Daiyu. He conversed with them for a few moments. He informed them about his transfer to the thirteenth division as the Lieutenant . They both congratulated him and wished him the best. He bid them farewell and made his way back to his room. He lied down and stared at the ceiling. He thought about many things during his time at the second division. He thought about the future. And finally he closed his eyes and fell asleep.
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The next morning, Itachi stood at the front of the Division Thirteen barracks. As he walked through the courtyard, he felt the eyes of various shinigami looking at him. He paid it no heed and walked into the main hall. When he entered the room, he saw a tall man standing near a bonsai tree. He had white hair with black eyebrows and a somewhat emaciated appearance.