Chapter 36 - Prologue (1/2)

The spectating shinigami get up from the ground after being thrown back by the shockwave of Itachi's shadow clone explosion.

”Bankai? Did he say he is going to use bankai?!”

”Isn't he going a bit too far?”

”Yeah...no I'm not sticking around I'm getting out of here!” A few shinigami said as they watched the sparring session escalate.

The shinigami began to urgently leave the training field as the temperature drops further.

”Bankai!” Toshiro yells as his body is covered by an ice cold reiatsu. Ice forms around his arm and sword handle and up his shoulder, taking the form of a dragon head. From his shoulders, large wings begin to sprout from his back.

”Daiguren Hyourinmaru!” Toshiro says as his bankai finishes forming. Itachi stared at his bankai, amazed by its power being it was the first time he has seen a bankai up close.

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Some distance away, two figures were seated opposite to each other. One was a tall and thin man with white hair and black eyebrows. He had a slightly pale face and sunken eyes. The other was a tall shinigami with wave brown hair. He was wearing a Sugegasa straw hat and a pink, flowered lady's kimono, which he drapes across his shoulders and over his captain's uniform. They were playing shogi while eating and drinking. There was a young lady standing in the corner. She was a slim and youthful girl wearing a normal shinigami outfit. She was also wearing a pair of glasses whilst carrying a book. She had a serious expression on her face as she remained standing.

”So Ukitake, how is the new lieutenant?” Kyouraku asked while sipping his sake.

”Very strong and he's also very disciplined. I am also surprised at how efficient he is.” Ukitake replied.

As the two continued talking, they felt two massive waves of reiatsu near the Tenth Division barracks.

”This reiatsu is?!” Ukitake said slightly surprised as he looked towards the Tenth Division.

”Oh not bad, is this the new captain of the 10th division. Who is he fighting that he even released his bankai.” Kyouraku.

”Hmm, the other one feels like Uchiha… Why are the two of them fighting?” Ukitake replied.

”Shall I investigate? The young woman asked.

”No I'll go. Besides, there's no doubt that this reiatsu already alerted the old man. I'll let him know I will investigate. Take care of things here Nanao” Kyouraku said still with his lazy expression.

”Yes sir” Nanao replied.

He sent a message to the other captains alerting them that he would take care of it.

”Oh, then let me join you.” Ukitake replied while smiling.

Kyoraku and Ukitake got up and the two vanished from their spot.

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”Uchiha, don't hold back!” Toshiro charges in at Itachi with his sword in front of him.

”Bakudo 21: Sekienton.” Itachi creates a large smokescreen that fills the area then jumps high into the air above the smoke screen as Hitsugaya is still inside.

”Heart of the south, eye of the north, finger of the west, foot of the east, Inferno and pandemonium, the sea barrier surges, march on to the south! Hado 31: Shakkaho!” Itachi shouts as three spiralling orbs rotate around his palm and he throws them at Toshiro. Toshiro notices Itachi in the air performing the incantation. 'Did he just combine Bakudo 58 with Hado 31?!' Toshiro jumps away from the spiraling orbs coming at him but they proceed to follow him as he flies through the air. 'I see. He used the reiatsu homing capabilities of Kakuishitsujaku and combined it with his upgraded version of Shakkaho which means this blast will keep following me.' Toshiro turns around to face the attack and swings his sword, creating a large arc of ice that collides with the blast. A red explosion occurs as the two attacks collide, covering the area in mist.

Two figures escape out of the mist and face each other once. The mist clears and Toshiro begins the attack. He raises his zanpakuto into the air and swings down his blade, creating an enormous ice dragon that rushes at Itachi.

”Bakudo 81: Danku.” A large, transparent wall forms in front of Itachi to block the attack. The dragon collides with the wall and it holds off the dragon momentarily. Shortly after, the barrier cracks and the ice dragon breaks through and collides with Itachi, creating a huge explosion of ice. Toshiro looks into the icy mist created by the collision but his face turns to shock when he sees two large glowing orange eyes and a humanoid-like ethereal figure.

”Not bad.” Itachi says as Toshiro stands in awe of the large orange figure surrounding Itachi. Itachi raises the arm of the Susanoo up in the air and beads of reiatsu begin to form in its palm.

”Alright that's enough!” A voice suddenly interrupts both of them.

The two look towards the owner of the voice. They see Ukitake approaching them from a distance.

”It's good to spar once in a while, but you don't have to go all out like this right?”

Itachi nods. He receded his reiatsu and deactivated his sharingan.

Toshiro also complied and reverted his zanpakuto back to its asauchi state.

”Sorry for the disturbance. I'll take my leave first.” Toshiro made a quick bow to Ukitake and Kyouraku.

”Uchiha, that was a good battle. It's a shame it ended so quickly, but hopefully we will finish it someday.” Toshiro said as he looked at Itachi.

”Indeed.” Itachi replied.

Toshiro nodded and left.

Itachi turned to Ukitake. ”I apologize for the disturbance captain.”

”Don't worry about it Uchiha, just remember to keep the spar simple.” Ukitake replied with a smile.

”Understood.” Itachi replied before leaving.

”Hmm.. That's him huh? Not bad. He's definitely skilled and still very young. He will definitely go far.” Kyouraku commented.

”I believe so as well. His talent in Kido is the most impressive I've ever seen.” Ukitake said.

”The fact that he can already use Kido in the eighties as a vice captain is impressive enough. But he used it without the incantation.” Kyouraku mused. He had seen the scene when Itachi had used his bakudo to block an attack from a bankai.

”What if I told you I had just taught it to him a few days ago.” Ukitake replied.

”What?!” Kyouraku was surprised. ”A few days to use Danku at that level? He's some kind of genius, much like Hitsugaya who already became a Captain despite being so young.This is a good sign for soul society to have such talented youngsters.”

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Itachi returned to his compound. He digested the battle he had today and reviewed it over.

'So that was a bankai' Itachi mused as he entered his room. 'It rose his strength by at least five times and forced me to use Susanoo in that fight. Looks like I have to train harder.' Itachi thought to himself as he fell asleep.

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17 years have passed.

There were no new events in Soul Society. It seemed after the strange hollow incident in the human world, things had quieted down. During this time, Itachi had continuously trained, increasing his limits on his Mangekyo Sharingan further than he ever had before when he was still alive. He also continued his training under Ukitake to learn even higher levels of Kido and master them up to eighty nine while also making sure to perform his duties properly.

Itachi enjoyed this time of peace. He never liked conflict and it was great for If he could avoid it whenever the chance. He also frequented the dango shop for his favorite snack and also often ran into Renji from time to time. Renji by this point had remained as the 6th seat in the 11th division.

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During one rare encounter, Itachi had run into Renji during his personal day.

”Itachi, It's been quite some time since we met, let's eat!” Renji said enthusiastically.

Itachi smiled and nodded.

The two continued talking before they were interrupted by a hell buŧŧerfly.

”Eh what's this…” Renji said.