Crows x Souls

“If you lie to yourself, how can you have friends or be trustworthy? In the end, all these lies will keep you from seeing your true self.” — Itachi Uchiha.

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They left the Maggots Nest immediately after and traveled the only traversable path which led directly to the 2nd Division barracks. 

“And what have you been doing all this time? I know for sure that you haven’t just been sitting around or letting Yachiru drag you everywhere. That stunt earlier was every proof I need.” 

Well for someone who made her competency to be questioned by every Captain and also the supreme governing power of the Soul Society, Itachi expected more of a withdrawn attitude from Yoruichi but so far she appeared cool and understanding. It was well in line with what he thought of her, given that he didn’t do it with malicious intent, but he also expected something more stern from her. 

“I’m rather efficient in my time management skills.” Itachi simply stated, to which Yoruichi nodded in understanding. 

“So clones uh? Well, it’s a lot more stable than anything I can do with Kidō or Hoho so I kinda get it.” She commented casually but Itachi’s lack of reaction made it look as if he didn’t hear her at all. “You’re good, Itachi, but your stoicism makes you sometimes not that hard to get a read on. Especially when you try to lie.”

That did succeed in drawing Itachi’s attention to her. “You think I can’t lie?”

“Pfft.” She snickered and waved a finger at him. “A master of redirection, yes. A casual liar? Definitely not. You need to be able to show a lot of emotions to be able to lie fluently on a casual basis. That’s why the best manipulators are the super casual ones – the ones who can show a lot of emotions without showing any.”

Itachi said nothing to that – actually it was more accurate to say that there was nothing he could say to it – because she was kind of right. He was bad(awful) at telling simple or harmless lies. 

‘The best manipulators huh?’ That did bring a few unsavory faces to mind, except that the manipulators he knew were more heavy handed. Take Danzo, Orochimaru and Madara for example. 

“Are you coming back to the Second after this is all over?” Yoruichi suddenly asked as they drew near to the 2nd Division. 

“Do I have anywhere else to go?” Itachi asked back but Yoruichi wasn’t falling for it. 

“The answer to that is yes as we both know.” Yoruichi said as she entered the vicinity of her barrack only to find out that Itachi was already gone. “Well, I guess I’ll know soon.”

“Captain, you’re back!” Her Lieutenant, a chubby man with gaudy accessories greeted her upon her arrival. With Soi Fon temporarily relieved of her duties, Yoruichi saddled Marenochin with most of her diligent bodyguard’s task, sending the man into sobbing fits on more than one occasion. 

“Stuff it. I was gone for less than 30 minutes.” Yoruichi scolded with a stern look marring her previously jovial visage. This was the expression almost all of the Shinigami under her was used to, not the one with smiles and mischievousness she showed when either Soi Fon or Itachi was present – both of which were currently on probation. 

“Oh. I forgot to tell him that he should probably visit the Head Captain. Oh well, he’ll probably get wind of it.”

…….

When Itachi left Yoruichi, he stopped running and settled for walking slowly when he came across a prairie. It didn’t let it show but Yoruichi’s words stuck with him, especially the bit she said about manipulators. 

As a genjutsu expert, he understood that the character of a person can sometimes be shown in the way they utilize illusions. Someone like Yoruichi using illusions will probably make them annoyingly complex, not directly subduing but instead passively destabilizing. 

In his case, his illusions were hardly aggressive but instead made to mirror the current reality of his opponents, subverting it for his intended reality – based on his views on life. 

Just like Tsukuyomi told him long ago about going back to his roots, he naturally understood that although not all were good liars, the best illusionists were very great manipulators. 

So what did that say about this one? – this was something he couldn’t tell unless he exposed himself to their illusions multiple times.  

“That’s terribly inefficient.” He muttered. His mind went to the few names he had as suspects; Mayuri Kurotsuchi – a former prisoner for the Maggots Nest before he was pardoned and employed by Kisuke Urahara, who was also another suspect. Aizen Sōsuke – a very kind and empathetic man – Lieutenant of the 5th Division and under heavy suspicion after Tsukuyomi pointed out the discrepancies in his Reiatsu. As for Ginrei Kuchiki, he was too left field to have his son somehow implicated in this. That alone was grounds for suspicion. 

While deep in his thoughts, he remained conscious of his environment which was how he sidestepped the man that was about to collide into him. 

“Oh, sorry. I must have been too lost in my thoughts to sense you.” The man apologized. 

“It’s nothing.” Itachi waved it off and was about to leave when the man asked something that surprised him. 

“I don’t mean to pry but you appear almost as lost in your thoughts as I did. Visiting someone?” 

The man was dark-skinned and wore a blindfold over both eyes, dressed no different from the other Shinigami. 

Itachi looked at him in confusion but that was until he looked at the direction where the man was coming from and saw headstones off in the distance. 

Mistaking Itachi’s silence for admittance, the man gave a sympathetic nod. “I hope you find peace in your grief.” With another nod, the man turned and left. 

“Peace. I seem to appear closer to it than you do.” Itachi muttered to himself. Driven by his emotions, he used his Sharingan to look at the retreating man. His Reiryoku was tightly bound around him and had a metallic feel to it; his ironclad resolve – Itachi thought. 

Looking back at the path leading to the graves, Itachi shook his head and turned in another direction. He had grieved in his life, for his mistakes and his clansmen. In this life, he had no one to grieve and for that he was thankful. 

The brief moment with the blindfolded man temporarily pushed away Itachi’s thoughts from manipulators and set him in an appreciative mood. Though one wouldn’t be able to tell by just looking at his face. 

Unfortunately, even that had to be interrupted as he received another message, this time in the form of a crow, that he was being called to the Head Captain’s office. 

His eyes narrowed as his mind spun out numerous reasons why the Head Captain would call for him, especially so soon after another failure at the Maggots Nest. Maybe Central 46 was done entertaining his ‘ludicrously spun tale’, as one of them had so aptly put it.

Unfortunately, the Head Captain was the number one person who Itachi would never be able to fool with a shadow clone. With the man’s spiritual attainment, he would most definitely sense the halved Reiryoku contained in the clone’s body. As an added level of precaution, Itachi only created one shadow clone for his stand-in while the other others were simpler crow clones. 

“Itachi, you’re here quite late. The Head Captain sent out word for you almost an hour ago.” Chōjirō Sasakibe, appearing as a white-haired middle-aged man, was the Lieutenant and right-hand man of Yamamoto Shigekuni. 

Being the right-hand of the Head Captain, Chōjirō was easily the strongest Lieutenant and judging from his Reiryoku and the intensity of his refined Reiatsu, Itachi concluded that he was certainly stronger than a few Captains he’s met; Kensei Mugurama and Love Aikawa at least, in Itachi’s humble opinion. 

“I was with Yoruichi at the Maggots Nest.” Itachi simply replied. 

“Oh. I see then.” Chōjirō responded in understanding as he led them both to an open space with a small garden behind the 1st Division building. 

Itachi remembered Yoruichi’s words about him not being a casual liar and inwardly scoffed. A half lie was still a lie after all. 

When they arrived at the tiny garden, they saw Yamamoto watering a plant that resembled a white lily with butterflies perched on different parts of his body. 

“Head Captain, I’ve brought Itachi Uchiha.” Chōjirō announced. 

“Thank you, Chōjirō.” Yamamoto turned around to face them, specifically Itachi. “Do you know why I called you here?”

‘As expected.’ Itachi thought but outwardly shook his head. “If I have to say, then it’s probably related to the reason why I’m still suspended from duty. That or Central 46 came to another decision concerning me.”

If it has never been made clear, Itachi held no favorable opinion of the Central 46, yet he would admit that they were necessary and pivotal to the functioning of the Soul Society. He could easily imagine how feudalistic and war torn the Soul Society would otherwise have been if it were the Shinigami Captains that had been in charge of governing the soul population. 

Yamamoto only gave a non-admitting hum to Itachi’s reply before continuing in a brisk manner he was known for. 

“That would normally be the case but since you’re a competent Shinigami, it wouldn’t surmise to have you remain idle throughout the period of your suspension.”

Itachi nodded. This was expected, surprisingly late, but expected. Now only if they didn’t try to throw him into the Maggots Nest for the second time. 

Seeing Yamamoto remaining silent, Itachi took it as permission to speak his mind. “I reckon my request to assist the Onmistukidō in their investigation was overruled.” He stated rather matter-of-factly than questioning. 

“Of course they would. While you appear to be an invaluable asset, that very fact and also that you have been targeted twice – which is also a point of conspiracy against you – along with the nature of your arrival, it seems rather appropriate, does it not?” Yamamoto asked, eyes no longer resting half-lidded but staring sharply at Itachi. “And the insinuation that your addition is pivotal for their mission completion is highly arrogant, don’t you think?”

The small garden fell silent, Itachi silently contemplating, meanwhile Chōjirō stood silently at the entrance. But despite Itachi’s feelings and personal reasons, he nodded.

“… I agree that from your perspective it does seem improbable and unwise.” 

Yamamoto nodded good-naturedly, slightly respecting Itachi’s backbone and conviction. That and he believed Itachi had nothing to do with Hollow experiments other than being a target. 

“That, however, is not the reason why I called you here. Not even remotely close.” He said, causing Itachi to slightly furrow his brows. “How do you feel about being an instructor?”

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