67 Itsuki vs Yamamoto (1/2)

Yamamoto looked deeply at Itsuki in front of him while Shunsui and Ukitake just arrived and landed behind Itsuki. Nanao appeared after the four teacher and students. She was breathing heavily and looked quite tired.

”Nanao-chan, you're last place.”

”It's because you're too fast, captain”

She suddenly had a shocked expression when she looked past the two captains. Yamamoto was there looking like a frail old man with a slight crouch while Itsuki was in front. The two extreme opposites had a stare-off.

To Yamamoto's question, Itsuki didn't say anything as he looked back. Shunsui and Ukitake weren't surprised by the two having better Shunpo than them.

”These two arrived rather quickly, didn't they?”

Seeing the two, Nanao put her hand into her Shihakuso with the idea of being somewhat useful. Seeing her move, Yamamoto made eye contact with the girl as a despairing expression masked her face causing her to collapse due to the sheer pressure emanating from Yamamoto. Itsuki moved slightly and became the focus of Yamamoto while Nanao stopped feeling the pressure.

Itsuki looked back and reprimanded Shunsui,

”Why did you bring her here? She is too weak.”

Shunsui looked guilty seeing Nanao's expression. Slight saliva was coming out her mouth as she looked blank with no energy to even talk.

”I'm sorry, Nanao-chan. I shouldn't have bought you here”

Bringing her away, Shunsui returned in a short while.

Yamamoto looked at Shunsui as he spoke,

”Your Shunpo distance is as great as always.”

”Nothing like the youngest, Yama-jii”

Yamamoto then looked back at Itsuki,

”Doesn't matter, there's no need for you to answer but it seems you're siding with your brothers. This has gone beyond giving you guys just a beating.”

Both of Yamamoto's eyes were dead serious while he continued talking,

”Out of all three students, you are the one I had the most hope in and the one who I am most proud of. While Shunsui was sharp and astute, he was lecherous, lazy and frivolous in nature. Ukitake had a weak body but was the most popular and he had a very open mind. When the two fought, they would surpass their peers and elders. You, Itsuki, excelled in all three compared. You have the intellects surpassing Shunsui and have the most loyal subordinates amongst the Gotei 13. Although you are still young, your strength has had the biggest improvement and have long surpassed your brothers. I thought of you three like children.”

Although Yamamoto looked at Itsuki, it seemed like he was talking to all three students. He felt hurt seeing that all three of his students were standing against him.

”I felt that although we thought of different minds, we walked the same path.”

Yamamoto brought his walking stick in front of him as the wood disappeared leaving just his zanpakuto.

Ukitake looked at Yamamoto as he unsheathed sword,

”Genryusai-Sensei.”

”Don't say anything, any further discussion on this is useless”

Ukitake wanted to say something, but Itsuki raised his hand prompting him to stop. Itsuki stood there while hr put both his hands on his zanpakuto. His zanpakutos were both on the left side of his waist so Ryurai was held with a normal grip with his right hand and Byakko in a back handed one with the left hand.

Both never moved and looked at each other, they never released their Shikai and kept their zanpakutos in sealed form. Stabbing his sword into the ground, Yamamoto proceeded to take off his captain's haori and his shihakuso off his upper body. A ripped body came into view with scars littering it all over the place.

Yamamoto and Itsuki then released their reiatsu, pressuring the whole of soul society. Everyone felt it, stopping most of the fights currently happening. Ichigo who was battling Byakuya also felt it,

”W-what is that?”

”That is true strength.”

Byakuya returned to fighting Ichigo,

'Be safe, Itsuki.'

Ichigo was a bit distracted before concentrating on Byakuya again.

Soi Fon and Yoruichi, who were fighting, also stopped upon feeling Itsuki's reiatsu. They both had a look of worry on their faces before Soi Fon looked at Yoruichi,

”At first, I was angry at you for not taking me, but I had Itsuki…”

”So why are you still angry?”

”You took Itsuki's first!!”

Their fighting then resumed but both were worrying for Itsuki.

Zaraki had wounds all over his body while a crazy smile never left his face. He felt the reiatsu of the two people he respected most as he continued looking at his opponents.