Itachi Rebirth: A Shinigami Tale

A blood soaked Renji ran at Ichigo and grabbed Ichigo's shihakusho.

"I never won once...against Captain Kuchiki...ever since Rukia left, I trained everyday but I still failed. Fighting to get Rukia back is nothing but an impossible dream for me. Kurosaki...I'm probably shameless for doing this." Renji's legs wobbled as he held onto Ichigo's shihakusho a bit longer.

"Please...you have to save Rukia!" Renji exclaimed. Ichigo looked down at Renji who was still grasping his clothes.

"Yeah...you're not the first one to ask me. I'll definitely save her." Ichigo reassured Renji. Renji looked back up at Ichigo.

"Someone else asked you?" Renji asked, curious about who else would want Rukia saved.

"Before I met you here, I ran into another Lieutenant. Uchiha Itachi. We fought earlier." Ichigo replied. Renji was surprised upon hearing this.

"You fought Itachi?! There's no way he was fighting you seriously. I've sparred with him dozens of times and haven't won a single time. He never even used shikai against me. It's always been with only Kido or Hakuda. I've never seen his full strength but he's definitely above the rest of the lieutenants…" Renji let go of Ichigo's shihakusho and tried to stand up on his own but ended up falling forward on the ground. 'So even Itachi wants to save Rukia too…' Renji thought to himself. He was happier knowing that Itachi was on their side. He smiled before his consciousness faded.

Shortly after Renji fell, Ichigo also collapsed, with Ganju and Hanataro appearing moments later and recovering Ichigo.

"Damn I can't believe he was able to fight a Lieutenant level opponent and win" Ganju said with a shocked expression.

"Ichigo... what is he?" Hanataro commented, questioning Ichigo's strength.

"I don't know," Ganju sighed before he picked up Ichigo and carried him away.

-----

Renji was carried back to the lieutenant meeting room. Kira stood over the unconscious Renji as he looked down. He was saddened that he was unable to assist Renji on time.

Hinamori clutched her mouth in shock looking at the giant sword wound across Renji's c.h.e.s.t.

"This... " She had no words to explain her feelings.

"Momo, hurry up and contact the 4th Division, and ask for a higher officials' assistance." Kira said.

"R..Right!" She nodded. However, before she could contact, a figure suddenly appeared behind her.

"There is no need. Throw him in jail." A cold voice came from behind.

"Captain Kuchiki!" The both said at the same time.

"He fought the enemy alone, and since he did so, he had no reason to lose. I don't want an idiot in my division who can't understand this." Byakuya said before leaving the room.

Hinamori was ready to retort before she felt a hand clamp her shoulder.

"I am sorry sir." Kira said, bowing down.

"How scary." A voice came from the side.

"Captain Ichimaru!" Momo said.

"Don't worry, I will contact the fourth division." Gin said before leading Kira away from the room, leaving Hinamori.

Hinamori stood in silence looking down at Renji. However she was suddenly interrupted as a voice came from behind her.

"Wow. How did Abarai get beaten so badly?" It was a shinigami with frosty white hair and white Haori over his shinigami apparel.

"Toshiro!!" Momo shrieked.

"I am already a captain, so you should address me as such." Hitsugaya replied with a deadpan expression.

"Enough of that, how come none of you captains make any noise when you walk?" Hinamori said, still startled at his entrance.

"By the way, why are you here?" Momo asked.

"I came to warn you. Watch out for the Third Division" Hitsugaya said solemnly.

"What.." Momo said. Confused at Hitsugaya's sudden suggestion.

"Look, just be careful okay." Hitsugaya said before leaving the room.

------

Itachi had already returned to the barracks and checked on Kiyone and Sentaro, who were still at the Captain's bedside. For the remainder of the day and the next day, Itachi sat at the office, thinking about his next move. 'The Captain will most likely help try to free Kuchiki once he is well. But for now, it appears I am on my own. Until the captain wakes up, I'll have to rely on Kurosaki Ichigo to reach Kuchiki.' Itachi began sorting through papers until he fell asleep at his desk.

Itachi is awoken when he hears yelling coming from Ukitake's room. 'hmm?!' Itachi springs up and runs outside and sees a member of the inner court troup on the ground in front of Ukitake's room.

"What?! Aizen was murdered?!" Ukitake yelled as he exited the room. "When? Who did it? Why?"

"T-this morning. The criminal and their motive are still unclear." The inner court troup member replied nervously.

Itachi was surprised upon hearing this. 'Were my suspicions about him wrong? Or did someone else catch him in the act and ended him ahead of time…?'

"Damn why did it have to be during my sleep...unforgivable…" Ukitake scratched his head and noticed Itachi standing there staring at them.

"Ah Uchiha! I'm better now. It appears I missed a lot during the time I was sick." Ukitake looked back at the inner court troupe member. "You can leave now. I will have my Lieutenant fill me in."

The inner court troup member nodded and vanished from the spot. Itachi filled Ukitake in on what has been happening for the past few days and his brief meeting with Ichigo and Yoruichi.

"Captain, I feel that there is definitely foul play involved in the whole situation. The execution is completely unheard of for such a crime." Itachi said.

"I understand what you mean. In all my years as a shinigami, there has never been such a harsh punishment for such a crime. Unfortunately, the central 46 orders are absolute. It doesn't matter how one feels.

"But it's great you found individuals with similar motives. I am always impressed at your judgement Uchiha. Come on, we have to do what we can to save Kuchiki as well!." Ukitake said after being filled in.

"Now what are we to-" Ukitake is cut off as both he and Itachi feel a massive spiritual pressure being released.

"That's from the direction of the Senzaikyuu." Itachi commented as both he and Ukitake looked in that direction.

"It's definitely Captain Kuchiki's reiatsu. Come on we should go there. He might be confronting those invaders." Ukitake said and both he and Itachi vanished from their spot. On the way there, Ukitake suddenly keels over and begins coughing once again. He coughs out a bit of blood but quickly wipes it away.

"Captain!" Itachi turns around and rushes over to Ukitake.

"Uchiha, I am fine, go without me, I'll catch up shortly. It seems I am not as well as I thought I was." Ukitake said. Itachi nodded and flash stepped away towards the Senzaikyuu.

----

"Please stop big brother!!!" Rukia cried out, as Byakuya was about to deliver the final blow to a bloody and beaten Ganju. As Byakuya held the hilt of his blade back, ready to swing Senbonzakura at Ganju, However, just as he is about to strike, he feels someone grip his wrist, preventing him from swinging his hilt. He turns around to see the person that stopped him.

"Lieutenant Uchiha?"