Eyes of the Soul

by operation meteor

Passing beyond the veil, Itachi finds himself in an afterlife that is far from the hellfire he'd steeled himself for. With a chance encounter involving a pervy sage, a Flash Goddess and a healer whose angelic appearance hides more than a hint of steel, the bane of the Uchiha Clan finds a chance at a second life... and perhaps redemption. Slow burn. M for language and violence.

10. Chapter 10

Author's Notes: Well, I suppose it's time to put the next one up. Actually, this is the last of the chapters that I had already completed prior to when I started posting content for this story, so from here on out the release rate's going to slow up. Sorry about that.

This chapter's different from the previous one in that it's basically a cross between a history lesson and an archaeological expedition. Many of the major changes I've made to the Soul Society's history will be brought to light here, and it will play an important role in future events for the story. So no real action in this chapter, it's mostly exposition and exploration. Don't worry, the excitement will pick back up in subsequent chapters.

Enjoy!

Chapter Ten: Wonders of Old

145 years before Rukia Kuchiki's arrival in Karakura Town

The Academy grounds were an absolute splendor to behold in springtime. Even though she'd seen them plenty of times before, Yoruichi still could not help but smile as she looked upon the cherry trees in full bloom. Classes had just recently gotten out for the day, so the main courtyard was filled with students heading for the dorms or meeting up with friends for some late afternoon leisure time.

She took a deep breath and inhaled the wonderful scent of the cherry blossoms. "Ah… this really takes me back."

To her right, Soi-Fon nodded. "It is nice to return here. This courtyard was a very soothing place to study when I was going through my training."

To her left, her other companion, Squad Twelve Captain Kirio Hikifune, smiled. "Indeed. I wish we had enough space at my division's barracks to recreate this. Our training yard's nice, but it could do with a little more natural beauty."

Yoruichi nodded. "Same with mine. I've had my family's decorators and gardeners come by a few times, but there's really only so much they can do with the space available."

Kirio shrugged. "Oh, well. We have much more important matters at hand than gardening, anyway."

Yoruichi smiled. "That's true. We really should get a move on; it took quite a bit of work for me to convince the Head Captain to get these three a short-term approved leave from class for this little mission of ours. We need to make the most of it!"

Soi-Fon gave her a skeptical look. "Lady Yoruichi, with all due respect, was it really necessary to include them in this? Between Squads Two and Twelve, we already have more than enough people for this assignment. We hardly need to include students in the roster, regardless of how gifted they might be."

Yoruichi shook her head. "It's not a question of manpower, Soi-Fon. They've only got a year left at the Academy before graduation. I'm sure that they've been studying hard since the last little operation we took them on, but there's no better preparation for what they'll face out there once they're through here than to get them out into the field as much as possible."

"She's right, Soi-Fon," said Kirio, "Besides, as you're well aware, there's more to being a Soul Reaper than just purifying Hollows and performing the Konsō on lost souls. The mission that we're going on is an ideal example of an assignment that falls outside those first two tasks. Academy students don't normally get much exposure to missions like ours, so if we can give a few members of the advanced track a taste of the more exotic assignments that they might be given once they join us on active duty they'll be much more prepared for them when the time comes."

"Very well," Soi-Fon conceded, "but why these three in particular? They're the best of the fifth-year advanced track, but if we're only looking for quality then shouldn't we be seeking out students in the sixth-year group?"

Yoruichi smirked. "Normally you'd have a point, Soi-Fon, but even the students in their last year got nothing on these three; their most recent test scores are proof enough of that!"

"Not to mention that one of them in particular is shaping up to be the most sought-after recruit of his class!" chirped Kirio with a grin, "I've been meaning to work on my sales pitch for him, but you've been hogging him all to yourself, Yoruichi! That ends today; you're not getting him without a fight!"

Yoruichi chuckled. "Bring it on, Kirio."

Soi-Fon looked around the courtyard. "So, where do you think Itachi's at? Should we check the dorms?"

Yoruichi shook her head. "From what I've heard, it seems that he likes to go to the library once class is over. Let's start there."

"Hopefully the other two will be there as well," said Kirio, "It would save us some time."

Indeed, she mused, and from what Rija and Shisui told me after that mission last year, it would seem that the three of them have become a little group of their own, at least if the way they fought against the Hollows together is any indication. We might just get lucky…

The three of them made their way to the library, but it turned out that luck wasn't quite on their side. They found Itachi sitting near the back reading, but neither Jiraiya nor Visaelya were with him.

"So much for finding all three at once," Soi-Fon muttered.

Yoruichi shrugged. "We'll track the other two down soon enough."

"Forget about them for now," said Kirio, eagerly eyeing Itachi, "Let's go say hello!"

Yoruichi was amused; she hadn't seen her colleague this excited about a man in quite some time. She wondered how Kirio's Lieutenant would react if she learned that her Captain's attention was at risk of being stolen by someone else; Hiyori Sarugaki was notoriously temperamental.

You'd better hope that Kirio doesn't talk about you in front of her Lieutenant, Itachi, she thought, I'd hate to imagine what Hiyori would do to you…

She saw him look up as the three of them approached. "Yoruichi…"

Soi-Fon's eyes narrowed. "That's Captain Shihōin or Lady Yoruichi to you, Itachi Uchiha!"

Kirio put her hand on Soi-Fon's shoulder. "Calm down, Soi-Fon. We're in a library, after all."

"That still doesn't mean that he should be allowed to address Lady Yoruichi so informally," Soi-Fon huffed.

Yoruichi laughed. "Soi-Fon, you really need to lighten up. I've told him before that it's fine for him to address me like that. Honestly, I prefer it that way. How's it going, Itachi?"

Itachi nodded as he stood up to greet her. "Very well, thank you. It's been some time, Yoruichi."

Kirio gave her a knowing smirk. "You two are on a first name basis? What have I been missing out on?"

Yoruichi chuckled. "I know where your mind's going Kirio, and it's nothing quite like that."

Although I wouldn't exactly say no if it were, she thought as she looked the handsome student over, Itachi, you're a treat for the eyes that never gets old…

She saw him tense up ever so slightly; was he aware of how she was eyeing him? Yoruichi had thought that she was being subtle, but apparently Itachi's senses were even sharper than she had previously realized. She gave him a friendly smile to put him at ease; now wasn't the time for teasing, no matter how much she might enjoy it.

"It's good to see you as well, Miss Soi-Fon," he said with a slight bow.

Soi-Fon nodded. "Likewise. I hope you've been keeping up with your studies; your performance reflects upon Lady Yoruichi since she vouched for you in the past."

"I can assure you that I've been taking them as seriously as ever," Itachi replied.

Yoruichi gave Soi-Fon a pat on the back. "Come on, Soi-Fon, stop giving him a hard time. You've seen his test scores, too; you know that he's doing just fine."

"Fine would be an understatement," said Kirio with a grin as she stepped forward, "Hello, Itachi. Do you remember me?"

"Of course," he replied, "It's been a long time, Captain Hikifune."

Kirio giggled. "Oh, there's no need for formality. Please, call me Kirio!"

And you were getting on my case about being on a first name basis with him, thought Yoruichi with a smirk, Kirio, you're as shameless as ever!

Itachi seemed a bit taken aback by that. "Are you sure?"

"Oh, of course!" she said, "There's no need to be so stiff and proper when the Head Captain's not looking over our shoulders. Or Ginrei Kuchiki, for that matter; the two of them seriously need to learn to relax a little more."

Yoruichi chuckled. "That's putting it mildly."

"I'll take your word for it," said Itachi, "If you don't mind me asking, what brings you all here?"

"Something special's come up," Yoruichi replied, "An opportunity that could serve to benefit both the Soul Society and you, along with Jiraiya and Visaelya."

"We've been looking for a few gifted students to take with us on a field assignment," said Kirio, "You certainly fit the bill, and I'm sure your two fellow classmates do as well!"

"What sort of field assignment did you have in mind?" he asked.

"One that would involve you spending at least a few days away from the Academy," Yoruichi replied, "We've already cleared it with your instructors, and it'll even count as bonus course credit."

"That being said, you should still be prepared to work hard upon your return," Soi-Fon pointed out, "You will have extra work to do, after all."

Itachi nodded. "Of course. It won't be a problem."

Kirio smiled. "You certainly don't lack for confidence! I'm feeling better about our decision to bring you along by the minute!"

"With all due respect, you still haven't completely answered my question," said Itachi, "I would like to know more about what I'm getting myself into."

"Don't worry," said Yoruichi, "We'll fill you in on the juicy details as soon as we round up Jiraiya and Visaelya."

"Do you know where we might find them?" asked Soi-Fon.

"Jiraiya should be back at the dorms," said Itachi, "I believe he wanted to spend some time working on his latest novel. As for Visaelya, I believe she's at the meditation hall; her Zanpakutō recently awakened, so she's redoubled her Jinzen training."

Kirio raised her eyebrow. "Captain Drakken's niece has already awakened her Zanpakutō? Impressive."

"Indeed," said Soi-Fon, "It's the first I've heard of it."

Yoruichi nodded. "Same here. Well, good for her. Sounds like she's coming along quite nicely."

"Yes," said Itachi, "Her Zanjutsu is improving as well, especially considering our latest match."

Yoruichi raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me that she actually beat you? From I've heard, you're untouchable in your sparring class."

Itachi shook her head. "She's achieved no victories over me, but her level of growth has been substantial. In that light, I would say that our sparring matches have been a success."

Soi-Fon's eyes narrowed. "Are you saying that you've taken it upon yourself to train her in lieu of the Academy's instructors?"

"No," said Itachi, "She initiates the challenges of her own free will. However, that does not mean that I cannot use them to help her refine her technique."

Yoruichi smiled. "Well, how about that… you took a potential rival and turned her into a friend. Itachi, you're really something else, you know that?"

Itachi looked a bit taken aback. "What do you mean?"

Yoruichi chuckled and shook her head. "Never mind. Come on, let's go and round up the others. We've got a lot of material to go over before we hit the road."

….

"Sorry for the short notice," said Yoruichi as she opened the door to an empty lecture hall.

Itachi shook his head. "It's all right. It's not like any of us were busy."

"Easy for you to say," Jiraiya retorted, "I was just about to have a big breakthrough on my next chapter! I was so close, I could feel it! All I needed was just a little something extra…"

Visaelya glared at him. "Let me guess; another trip to the women's bath for 'research'? Pervert."

Jiraiya held up his hands in faux-surrender. "Hey, now! There's no call for that, Little Miss Vissy!"

"How many times do I have to tell you to stop calling me that?" she snapped.

Kirio giggled as the three of them took their seats in the front row of the hall. "My, my… if your banter's any indication, I have a feeling that we won't lack for entertainment on this assignment!"

Yoruichi smirked. "Well, a comedy act never hurts morale, so I'm all for it!"

Soi-Fon rolled her eyes. "Lady Yoruichi, please don't encourage this sort of behavior."

I'm with her, thought Itachi, I'd like to get through this mission without Visaelya being at Jiraiya's throat…

Yoruichi gave her bodyguard a smile. "Oh, all right, Soi-Fon. At least, I think we can save it for the road."

"How far will we be travelling on this assignment?" asked Itachi, rather intrigued as to what Yoruichi was getting him involved in.

"Quite some ways," Yoruichi admitted, "Even with periodic use of Shunpo, for students like you it'll be quite the trip on foot."

"And we won't be using Shunpo the whole way," Kirio added, "We can't have you three getting worn out on us, after all."

"Hold on there," said Jiraiya, "I know we may not exactly be at your level of proficiency yet but give us some credit! We're in the advanced track for a reason, after all."

Yoruichi nodded. "Believe me, we're well aware of that. The three of you have gotten superb marks in your Hohō class, and none of us our doubted your abilities. However, we'll still be pacing ourselves on this one, for your sakes as well as that of our subordinates."

"Understood," said Itachi, "We'll do our best not to slow you down."

"So where exactly are we going?" asked Visaelya.

"We'll come to that in a moment," said Kirio, "Fist thing's first; how much have your history classes taught you about the era of the Soul Society that predates the Central Forty-Six and the Thirteen Court Guard Squads?"

All three of them raised their eyebrows; they certainly hadn't been expecting that particular line of questioning. Itachi had a hard time seeing how it might be relevant to a field mission, but he figured that Squad Twelve's Captain wouldn't bring it up without a good reason.

"Not much," Jiraiya admitted, "In fact… well, to be honest, our instructors seemed quite intent on avoiding it altogether. Whenever someone asked a question about it in class, they always wound up deflecting and changing the subject."

Itachi nodded. "He's right. I always found that to be odd. If the instructors say anything at all, they only refer to it as a period of corruption and violence before moving on to another topic. There's surprisingly little material available in the student library that so much as references it, either."

Visaelya closed her eyes for a moment, and Itachi realized that she knew the answer. "It's because they don't want us to study it. In fact, with each passing generation, they've been doing everything in their power to bury the memory of that era."

Yoruichi nodded. "You're correct. Let me guess; the Drakken family archives are much more comprehensive than those of the student library, correct?"

Visaelya's eyes widened slightly. "Yes… how did you know that?"

Yoruichi smirked. "I'm from a Great Noble House too, remember. The Central Forty-Six wouldn't dare touch our archives, so they've survived the slow historical cleansing that's been taking place over the past two-thousand years. My private tutor before I enrolled in the Academy made sure that my history lessons included material covering that era. I'm assuming yours did, too."

"That's correct," Visaelya replied, "and I think I have a better understanding of our mission, now; it involves the old kingdom. A remnant of Nur-Andunaya has resurfaced, hasn't it?"

Kirio smiled. "You catch on quickly."

Itachi and Jiraiya shared a confused glance. This was the first time either of them had heard that name before.

"Nur-Andunaya?" said Jiraiya, "Is that supposed to mean something special?"

"What is it?" asked Itachi, "If it's important enough to have relevance to a mission involving two divisions of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, then why are we only learning about it now?"

Kirio turned to Yoruichi. "Do you want to tell them, or should I?"

"I've got a better idea," said Yoruichi, "Visaelya, since you're the only one out of the three of you receive instruction regarding that particular era, why don't you fill them in on the old kingdom?"

Visaelya's eyes widened slightly. "Me, Captain? Are you sure?"

Yoruichi nodded. "I don't see why not. Your education on the subject would likely have been similar to mine, not to mention more recent."

"There's no need for it to be comprehensive," Kirio pointed out, "Just a summary that's informative enough to give them a decent grasp of the nature of the old kingdom. How it came into being, how far it stretched, how and why it fell; nothing too complicated."

Visaelya turned to Itachi and Jiraiya, surprisingly looking a little self-conscious. "Well… what would the two of you prefer?"

Jiraiya smiled. "We trust you, don't we, Itachi?"

Itachi nodded. "You know the Soul Society far better than the two of us, and the prior education you received as a member of one of the Great Noble Houses gives you a considerable base of knowledge to draw upon. We'd be honored if you would share that gift with us."

That appeared to be all the encouragement that she needed, for Itachi noticed that her typical confident demeanor swiftly reasserted itself. "Very well, then. In the interest of saving time, I will try to limit myself to the most important aspects regarding this topic… although even that may be rather difficult; the shadow that the old kingdom casts over the contemporary Soul Society is vast, regardless of how hard the Central Forty-Six tries to bury it."

"Indeed," said Yoruichi.

"Begin whenever you're ready," said Kirio, "Don't feel that you have to rush things on our account; go at your own pace. Take your time; we're prepared to be here for a while."

"Be mindful," Soi-Fon added as she gave Itachi and Jiraiya a firm look, "While speaking of the old kingdom isn't a crime in and of itself, it can draw unwanted attention if the wrong people learn that knowledge of it is spreading. What the two of you learn in this room today, along with whatever we uncover out in the field, should not be brought up in conversation with others outside this group lightly. Is that understood?"

"Yes," Itachi replied.

"We'll be discreet," said Jiraiya.

Visaelya took a deep breath before beginning her impromptu lesson. "As you have both seen in our classes, the Soul Society stretches far beyond the Seireitei, and even the Rukon District. Our field operation with Squads Two and Ten last year offered a taste of the vast expanse known as The Wild, and I believe that the ancestral homelands of the Five Great Noble Houses, the Principalities, were also briefly discussed while we were travelling to our objective."

Itachi nodded. "I remember. The Drakken Clan's Principality is far to the east, correct?"

"Correct," Visaelya replied.

"The Shihōin Clan has one too, right?" asked Jiraiya, "Way down south, wasn't it?"

"Yes," said Visaelya, "Slightly to the southwest, to be precise. There are actually two Great Noble Houses with Principalities in the south; the second is the Shiba Clan, whose ancestral homelands are in the southeast. Meanwhile, the far north is dominated by the Principality of the Starmont Clan. Last but not least, the Kuchiki Clan's Principality makes up much of the far west, including the coast. Although this was never touched upon in our history classes, all five Principalities are actually linked to the old kingdom. In fact, they are perhaps the best places to find preserved traces of Nur-Andunaya these days due in no small part to their distance from the heart of the Soul Society. Of course, there's also the fact that the Five Great Noble Houses owe much of the power and influence they wield over the modern Soul Society to the foundations that were laid by the old kingdom."

"How so?" asked Itachi.

Visaelya shook her head. "It would be best to start with the roots of the kingdom before getting into that. It's further back than most people are aware; roughly six-thousand years, give or take a century or two."

Jiraiya whistled. "That long ago, eh?"

Itachi's eyes narrowed. "Interesting…"

"Oddly enough, the kingdom's roots are actually in the heart of the Soul Society," said Visaelya, "Back then, the Seireitei wasn't as well organized or developed, and there wasn't much of a real central government. There was still the Soul King, of course, but as you both know, the Soul King is not a monarch in the traditional sense."

Itachi nodded. "Right. He's the linchpin of all reality… or at least, that's how our instructors have put it. It's rather hard to wrap one's mind around, really."

Visaelya sighed. "I know what you mean. Even with the lessons of my private tutors, I still had trouble fully grasping the concept. I think I still do, at least when it comes to the finer details."

Jiraiya leaned forward. "The Soul King's been in the Royal Realm about as far back as anyone can remember, right? I'm assuming that was still the case in the time period that you're describing, anyway."

Visaelya nodded. "You're correct. The ancient Seireitei was under the control of several ruling lords, but they squabbled to such an extent that the rest of the Soul Society was in a state of almost perpetual unrest. Rather than the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, the Soul Society had to rely on private militias run by what were essentially warlords. What few historical records of this time period remain suggest that these forces spent almost as much time fighting each other as they did the Hollows. They could barely be bothered to look after the souls that resided in the Soul Society, let alone the Realms of the Living. In short, you could describe it as the Soul Society's Dark Age."

"That sounds familiar," said Itachi somberly, "The Realm of the Living that we were from suffered from considerable chaos and strife in its past. We called it the Warring States Period."

Jiraiya nodded. "Neither of us were alive at the time, but we both had a chance to study the history of it during our formal education. While there were multiple accounts written by various parties and factions, all were in agreement on the fact that it was pretty much Hell on Earth."

Visaelya looked intrigued, and for a moment Itachi thought she was going to inquire into the matter, but apparently felt that it was best to remain on topic. "I see. Well, from what few records of the era that predated the old kingdom have survived, that same description would not be far off with regards to the Seireitei and the broader Soul Society. Instead of ensuring peace and security in the afterlife, the nobles and their warlords turned it into a realm rife with conflict and suffering. A newly arrived soul would've found very little rest, and between the factional fighting and the depredations of Hollows they would've been hard-pressed just to survive. This was a state of affairs that clearly could not be viable in the long-term, but no one had the strength, wisdom or will to put an end to it. The denizens of the Royal Realm washed their hands of the matter; as long as the flow of souls between the Soul Society and the Realms of the Living continued, that was all they felt the need to worry about."

"But without a unified force to ensure balance, the flow of souls would've been threatened regardless," Jiraiya pointed out.

"You're not wrong," Visaelya conceded, "However, for whatever reason, those who resided in the Royal Realm apparently felt that the threat wasn't severe enough to warrant action. Hence the petty conflicts continued, until a group of noble families decided they'd had enough. Rather than remain in the Seireitei and continue to play a role in the never-ending squabbles, they took all their assets, household vassals, and many like-minded and desperate souls into what amounted to a self-imposed exile. The passed into the west, reached the far shores, and then built ships. The Great Western Ocean was largely unexplored in those days, but rumors from a few brave mariners spoke of islands that could be inhabited. No maps to these islands had been made, and in fact such talk was largely dismissed as the idle chatter of daydreaming fishermen. The Wayfarers, as the records of those days refer to them, were desperate to escape the civil strife of the continental Soul Society and seized upon these rumors as a last hope for a chance to start anew. Once sufficiently large and numerous ships had been constructed, they sailed into the setting sun and disappeared. The Seireitei and the rest of the Soul Society wrote them off as lunatics, and the Wayfarers' voyage became joking referred to as 'The Great Journey', with most seeing it as an elaborate form of collective suicide."

Itachi folded his arms. "Let me guess; the Wayfarers ultimately had the last laugh?"

Yoruichi chuckled. "You could say that."

Visaelya nodded. "Indeed. Whether by luck or design, they eventually came upon a large island. It was fertile, surrounded by waters that teemed with life, and was rich in mineral deposits, particularly beneath the mountains that made up the island's center. Scouting parties were eventually able to map the shape of the entire island, and it roughly took on the form of a large nine-pointed star. That shape, combined with the fact that navigation by starlight had been crucial to their survival during The Great Journey, ultimately contributed to the kingdom's name; Nur-Andunaya, 'The Realm of Starlight'."

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "I can appreciate the name 'Realm of Starlight', but Nur-Andunaya? What language does that originate from?"

"It's an offshoot of the tongue that dominated the noble circles of the Seireitei back in those days," Visaelya replied, "While the Wayfarers wanted to start anew, they naturally could not completely abandon their preferred means of communication. Instead, they developed a new form to symbolize their fledgling realm; the records that survive refer to it as Andunayan. Two distinct flavors were known; generic Andunayan was the tongue of the common folk, while High Andunayan was spoken by the those who came to rule the island. At the height of the old kingdom's dominance, both dialects were known throughout the Soul Society, but nowadays to find anyone with more than a passing knowledge of them is quite rare."

Kirio smiled. "Quite rare outside of the nobility, that is."

"Quite true," said Yoruichi, "Learning both common and High Andunayan in addition to our modern tongue is basically required by all children of the nobility, especially in powerful clans like mine and Visaelya's."

Itachi was curious. "Why? The Soul Society's rulers have been trying to suppress knowledge of the old kingdom, right? Wouldn't banning the study of its dominant language be part of that effort?"

"It is, at least when it comes to general education," said Soi-Fon, "However, nobles are granted an exception due to so many ancient and valuable manuscripts being written in the old kingdom's tongue. The same goes for certain Soul Reapers and officials in key positions."

Jiraiya smirked as he looked at Kirio. "Like high ranking officers in Squad Twelve, right?"

Kirio nodded. "Correct. While each division maintains its own records, Squad Twelve's archives are by far the most expansive. Due to the fact that much of our work isn't quite the same as your typical Hollow extermination or Konsō missions, we often find ourselves relying on books, scrolls, and other such documents from ancient times. Knowledge of both generic and High Andunayan is essential for my division, and officers are given lessons in how to read and translate it after a probationary period in the unit."

"I see," said Itachi before turning back to Visaelya, "Since the language is so prominent in the Soul Society's past, I'm assuming that when the Wayfarers returned from their self-imposed exile they came in force."

Visaelya smiled. "Correct, although it was not without substantial preparation. While they were quite happy with their new island kingdom, the Andunayans still desired to remain informed as to what was happening in the rest of the Soul Society. They were particularly worried about a potential attack from rival noble houses that might've learned of their realm, so they took certain precautions. The records don't offer precise dates, but it would seem that about two or three-hundred years after the establishment of Nur-Andunaya the kingdom began to dispatch spies to the mainland. These came in a variety of forms, including fishermen, merchants, mercenaries and more. Regardless of their disguise, their purpose remained the same; to pass along any vital information regarding activity in the continental Soul Society back to the island kingdom."

Jiraiya's eyes narrowed. "So, did the nobles who stayed behind in the Seireitei ever learn of the new kingdom?"

Visaelya shook her head. "Not until the Andunayans returned to the western shores roughly seven-hundred years after The Great Journey."

"What brought them back?" asked Itachi, "If no one had learned of their new kingdom, then why would they return to the land that they'd been so desperate to leave behind?"

"For centuries, it had been their policy to remain detached from the rest of the Soul Society," said Visaelya, "However, the infighting that had plagued the Seireitei and beyond had only gotten worse since The Great Journey. Hardly anyone was bothering to oversee the flow of souls, and Hollows were running rampant. It was not a situation that could be allowed to stand for much longer, regardless of the Andunayans' wishes. A Soul Society that does not protect souls and preserve the balance between the afterlife and the Realms of the Living is an invitation to the apocalypse. It wouldn't matter how isolated Nur-Andunaya was; they'd be caught up in the inevitable cataclysm just the same as everyone else."

Jiraiya nodded. "So they were acting out of self-preservation when they returned. Makes sense, although it does take away some of the nobility."

Visaelya shook her head. "While self-preservation did indeed play a role, the records that survived to this day indicate that it wasn't quite that straightforward. In the years leading up to the return, a new king ascended to the throne of Nur-Andunaya. The realm was very different than the small and isolated kingdom it had started out as; although the rest of the Soul Society was unaware of it, Nur-Andunaya had become the afterlife's first true naval power. The Andunayans had grown greatly in numbers, and they were not confined to their single island; they had charted and colonized numerous other islands over the centuries, and their mastery of seafaring was unrivaled. At the same time, ever wary of potential discovery and attack from outsiders, they'd refined their knowledge of forging weapons and armor. Although they had no Zanpakutō, they were well-versed in the arts of making Spirit Weapons."

Itachi raised an eyebrow; this was the first time he'd heard that term. "Spirit Weapons?"

Visaelya smiled. "Our Academy instructors may focus on the Zanpakutō, but in truth they are not the only weapons out there that can be used to take on Hollows. Before Ōetsu Nimaiya conceived and created what we recognize as the modern Zanpakutō, our ancestors needed another way to fight Hollows. Kidō was useful, as was Hohō and Hakuda, but without actual weapons to complement them their effectiveness would've been severely reduced. Long before even The Great Journey, craftsmen had discovered the means by which to forge weapons that were imbued with spirit energy. While not as adaptable or powerful as the Zanpakutō, they could still perform two of its key functions; the Konsō and Hollow Purification. When paired with skilled wielders with considerable amounts of spirit energy, these weapons proved to be quite effective. While they may have eventually been supplanted by the Zanpakutō, you can still find Spirit Weapons scattered across the Soul Society, and in the right hands they are capable of going toe-to-toe with the blades of Soul Reapers."

Jiraiya chuckled. "Let me guess; the Andunayans turned out to be better than most when it came to creating these Spirit Weapons, right?"

"Indeed," said Visaelya, "The apex of the age of Spirit Weapons was reached under the Andunayans. They took the craft to an artform like none before them, and despite the old kingdom's downfall, the weapons forged by its craftsmen are still highly sought after by collectors and warriors alike. Many pieces created by Andunayan smiths are one of a kind, imbued with such potent spirit energy that they're rumored to be equal to that of a Soul Reaper's Shikai."

Jiraiya whistled. "Impressive."

"You've got that right," said Yoruichi, "The Thirteen Court Guard Squads are always on the lookout for such weapons; we don't want them falling into the wrong hands. Squad Twelve actually has a vault beneath its barracks devoted entirely to storing the ones that Soul Reapers have found in their missions."

Kirio sighed. "Unfortunately, our collection is far from complete. So many powerful Spirit Weapons remain unaccounted for."

Yoruichi winced. "Yeah… and noble families like mine are part of the problem."

"What do you mean?" asked Itachi.

"Powerful clans tend to be given a lot of leeway by the Central Forty-Six," said Soi-Fon, "That includes, among other things, the types of weapons such families are allowed to issue to their household guards and vassals."

Yoruichi nodded. "The Shihōin Clan has its own stockpile of Spirit Weapons, including several unique pieces with great power. The other Great Noble Houses have their own arsenals and collections, and they jealously guard them. No one outside of a house's elders and guard captains knows the exact number of pieces that said clan has collected or the nature of them."

"That seems like a rather dangerous setup," said Jiraiya, "With each noble family seeking out ancient weapons and keeping which ones they've acquired a secret, that's practically begging for an arms race between rival clans."

Itachi's brow furrowed in thought. "It does seem unstable. What keeps the clans from using these weapons against each other?"

"The might of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads," said Soi-Fon, "If any of them engage in violence against each other and threaten the security of the Seireitei and the broader Soul Society, they will bring the full wrath of our forces down upon them."

"Soi-Fon's right," said Yoruichi with a dark look in her eyes, "In fact, part of Squad Two's duties, or rather, those of the Stealth Force, is to keep the peace within the Seireitei and look for signs of unrest. We're always on the lookout for indicators that one noble house or another may be attempting to assert its power in a manner that disrupts the order of the Soul Society, and that includes keeping watch for hints of potentially lethal power struggles between the clans. Ever member of the nobility knows this, and in the past the Stealth Force has acted to put down uprisings and civil wars before they begin… and we've done so without hesitation or mercy."

She didn't go into further detail, and she didn't have to; Itachi could quite easily imagine what that might entail. After all, it was practically a word-for-word description of what he had done to his own clan.

We might be more alike than I'd previously imagined, he thought as he carefully studied her, Yoruichi…

"You mentioned armor earlier as well," said Jiraiya, "Was that more popular back then? I don't think I've ever seen any Soul Reapers wearing armor."

"Most conventional armor actually isn't that effective against Hollows," said Kirio, "Their claws and fangs are quite sharp, and that's not even getting into the Menos and what they're capable of doing. Also, armor tends to slow one down in a fight, and if the armor's not going to be very effective against the Hollows they're fighting anyway then there's little point in Soul Reapers wearing it and suffering a critical reduction in speed."

"There is an exception to that, though," Yoruichi pointed out, "Spirit Armor is quite another thing when compared to conventional armor."

Itachi raised an eyebrow. "I'm assuming that Spirit Armor is similar in principle to Spirit Weapons. Does that sound about right?"

Visaelya nodded. "In some aspects, yes. As the name implies, it's armor imbued with spirit energy. The most basic effect of this is to boost the armor's toughness, but there are other benefits as well."

"Like what?" asked Jiraiya.

Kirio raised a finger as if she were lecturing a class, which wasn't entirely inaccurate given the circumstances. "It depends on the armor in question. Most sets that we've discovered, along with surviving records, indicate that a great deal of customization was involved in the process of crafting Spirit Armor. In addition to protection, certain sets would either boost particular attributes or grant new abilities. One of the most common enhancements crafted into such armor was to enable an increase in the wearer's natural healing capabilities. Others included amplified physical strength or spiritual pressure."

"Those are just some of the basic ones," Yoruichi added, "More advanced enhancements included imbuing armor sets with elemental resistances, or even granting the wearer a limited amount of control over forces such as fire or ice. Hell, we actually found one set that was modified so that whenever it was struck it would trigger an explosion and burn the attacker!"

"There were even rumors of sets that had more sinister abilities," said Soi-Fon darkly, "Sets that would grant the wearer an incredible boost to their natural and spiritual abilities, but at the cost of draining their life force. Others actually enabled the wearer to leech life energy from their enemies through physical contact. No doubt there are plenty other sets out there with dangerous abilities that we haven't uncovered yet."

"Dangerous abilities aside, this Spirit Armor sounds quite useful," said Itachi, "Why did its use fall out of favor?"

"For starters, there was the cost of creating it," Visaelya answered, "Both in materials and time, the process was not cheap. It takes far greater resources and spirit energy to create Spirit Armor than it does to forge Spirit Weapons. There's also the fact that those who were trained in the art of making such armor were never particularly numerous. It's a highly advanced discipline that requires years of training, not to mention an incredible amount of precise work with the forger's spirit energy. Even amongst populations rich in spirit energy like the denizens of the Seireitei there are few capable of that sort of fine manipulation with their power."

"Also, due to the Andunayans' skill in crafting Spirit Armor, it inevitably became associated with them," said Yoruichi somberly, "Since the Soul Society has been engaging in active suppression efforts regarding the old kingdom for the past two-thousand years, that naturally extends to burying practices that were well connected to it. Spirit Armor may be useful, but by elevating their gifts for crafting it to an artform, the Andunayans ironically wound up dooming it to a long and drawn-out death. Apart from a few artisans and masters employed by the Great Noble Houses, the craft's all but extinct."

Kirio sighed. "It's such a shame, really. Renewed study in the craft could be a boon to the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. If the process could be refined, the armor lightened, and production costs reduced… there's just so much potential."

Yoruichi smiled. "You're starting to sound like Kisuke."

Soi-Fon rolled her eyes. "That's not a good thing, you know."

Kirio giggled. "Oh, I'm not so sure… sometimes I think he's got the right idea when it comes to his little inventions and side-projects. If nothing else, you've got a tremendously creative and gifted Third Seat, Yoruichi."

Squad Two's Captain nodded, and Itachi could detect a hint of pride in her voice. "You've got that right."

Visaelya cleared her throat in an effort to get the conversation back on track. "Anyways, with such high-quality Spirit Weapons and Armor, the Andunayans would've been a formidable force in battle. Like I said before, their numbers had grown considerably since they'd founded their kingdom, and that went for the royal family as well; the reigning king at the time of their return to the continent had five daughters and four sons. Given the significance of the number nine in Andunayan culture, it's safe to say that this also had an effect on how the people regarded their ruling family; they felt that it was a sign, although as to what it might portend was the subject of some debate. Having such an expansive family wound up being a considerable asset when the king decided it was time to end Nur-Andunaya's isolation, though."

Jiraiya leaned forward. "Really? How so?"

"As powerful as the Andunayans were, there was no way that they could bring order to the Soul Society on their own," Visaelya replied, "They needed allies. Fortunately, given the way the noble clans on the continent were fractured, finding new friends wasn't exactly difficult. Thanks in large part to the network of spies they had sown throughout the Soul Society, the Andunayan king already had an idea as to who he would approach. Five families in particular were key."

Itachi's eyes narrowed. "Let me guess; the same ones that currently make up the Five Great Noble Houses."

Visaelya nodded. "Precisely. Although they did not hold great power within the Seireitei at the time, their ancestral lands gave them a considerable amount of resources and manpower. Each family also brought its own unique gifts to the table, and the Andunayans were eager to bring them over to their side. In order to seal the new alliance, the king pledged each of his daughters to one of the clans. Once the marriage ceremonies were complete and the pacts finalized, the combined forces of the Andunayans and the Five Great Noble Houses all but encircled the heart of the Soul Society. The nobles that occupied the Seireitei at the time were still too busy squabbling with each other to realize their peril. By the time they finally understood what had happened, it was already too late."

"So, what happened next?" asked Jiraiya, "Did the nobles in the Seireitei end up uniting to face this new threat to their power?"

Visaelya shook her head. "One would think that having an external foe appear would've given them cause to do just that, and indeed many of them tried to do so, but petty rivalries and base ambition prevented any concrete alliances from taking shape. The coalition of the Andunayans and the Five Great Noble Houses were able to essentially pick them off one at a time. Some they coaxed into the alliance through offers of trade and promises of both personal and political security. Others were quite intransigent, though, and thus more forceful means were required in order to deal with them."

"How bad did it get?" asked Itachi.

Visaelya sighed. "From what I understand… it was an ugly affair. Assassinations and the burning of supply stocks were typically the opening strikes. Spreading misinformation, stealing weapons, hostage taking… the Andunayans and their allies may have had a noble goal, but the methods they employed to reach it were often another matter entirely. With a hostile house reeling from an extended campaign, being weakened severely from the shadows before they even had a chance to face the Andunayans in open combat, by the time those that had refused to yield were able to marshal their forces they were at a considerable disadvantage. Even on their way to the field, they weren't safe; the Andunayans and their allies would subject them to withering hit-and-run strikes, attacking at night to maximize confusion and panic. It was quite rare that they had to face an intact army on the field; most of the time their enemies could only bring forth a battered and demoralized force by the time the sabotage campaign was complete."

Itachi nodded; campaigns like that sounded very familiar. "Not necessarily heroic, but no doubt it was quite effective."

"Indeed," said Visaelya, "Our instructors in the Academy may not like to talk about, but according to my private tutors it's an excellent example of how conquest should be conducted. By offering friendship, security and wealth with one hand while holding a knife behind their back with the other, they executed a divide-and-conquer strategy that had no historical precedent in the Soul Society. Nothing even close to its scale and sophistication had ever been attempted before, and the petty nobles of the Seireitei had no idea how to respond. Riven by pointless rivalries and driven to new depths of paranoia by the campaign, unity proved beyond them, and that wound up being their undoing."

Jiraiya rubbed his chin in thought. "Maybe, but still… there's something missing in all of this. If the Seireitei was truly overwhelmed, then why didn't the Royal Guard step in? A situation as drastic as the one you're describing had to have fit whatever criteria they might've had for intervention."

Visaelya nodded. "That's true. To be honest, the fact that the Royal Guard refused to intervene in the entire conflict has long been a mystery that's baffled scholars. There are several competing theories, but no conclusive answer has ever been provided."

Yoruichi smiled. "I remember Minerva told me hers during one of lessons. She believed that the Royal Guard recognized that the Andunayans and the houses allied with them would be much more capable of providing safety and security for the broader Soul Society, along with enabling much more active hunting of Hollows in the Realms of the Living to help preserve the balance of souls. Due to that, she surmised that the Royal Guard essentially sat out the conflict until the Andunayans finally secured the Seireitei, and then came to an accommodation with them afterwards."

"That's certainly plausible," said Kirio, "It's also possible that the Andunayans may have found a way to reach out to the Royal Realm beforehand and explain their intentions."

"Whatever the case may be, in the end it's irrelevant," said Soi-Fon, "The Royal Guard's primary mission is to protect the Soul King. As long as they determined the Andunayans and their allies to not be a threat to the Soul King, any other concerns would've meant little to them."

"Not necessarily," Yoruichi argued, "Preserving the balance of souls is important, although it's not something that the Royal Guard would directly involve themselves in unless they felt there was no other alternative."

Soi-Fon nodded. "That's true, Lady Yoruichi. I should've accounted for that."

Yoruichi shrugged. "Don't worry about it. Anyway, it was all so long ago that it hardly matters why they sat out the whole show at this point."

"True enough," said Visaelya, "It was more than enough to ensure the end result; the Andunayans and their allies took control of both the Rukon District and the Seireitei. For an outside force to accomplish such a tremendous feat was quite a shock to both nobles and commoners alike, and many feared what the new order might bring. According to the records, it was the period immediately after the conquest that proved to be the tensest; everyone outside the coalition was desperate to know just how the victors would preside over the vast realm and what it would mean for the people going forward."

"What ultimately happened?" asked Itachi.

Visaelya smiled. "In short, it was the beginning of a new golden age for the Soul Society. The Seireitei was finally brought under a single strong, central authority, and unity there meant greater cohesion for the Soul Society as a whole. The army marshalled by the Andunayans and their allies became the kingdom's peacekeeping force, and it was also used against Hollows in the Realms of the Living to great effect. In unprecedented accord reached with the Royal Realm, the ruler of Nur-Andunaya was allowed to take on the title of High King and allowed to govern over the Soul Society in the name of the Soul King. To facilitate such a political union, the High King agreed to send one of his four sons to the Royal Realm to act as an intermediary, a position that would become hereditary. For the first time in ages, there was finally peace in the Seireitei."

"How did the people of the Rukon District react to all of this?" asked Jiraiya.

"The newly forged kingdom was well-received there," Visaelya replied, "Especially after it became clear that the High King's commitment to providing security against both marauders and Hollows was genuine. At the height of the old kingdom's power, the Rukon District knew a level of safety and organization that had never been achieved before… or since, for that matter."

Yoruichi reluctantly nodded. "All too true. It's sad to say that the Central Forty-Six doesn't share the same level of concern for the Rukon District as the old kingdom did. They tend to focus more on the Seireitei, which means that the Thirteen Court Guard Squads oftentimes don't get out into the Rukon District to keep the peace as much as we should. I wish that weren't the case."

Kirio sighed. "Yes, it's quite a sorry state of affairs. Hollow intrusions, like the one you and Itachi found yourselves on the other end of the night you met Yoruichi and Unohana, have become more common lately as a result of the Central Forty-Six's insular thinking. It's still not as bad as the near-anarchy and constant infighting that reigned in the days before the rise of the old kingdom, but it's hardly an ideal situation."

"Squad Two continues to advocate for an increased patrol presence in the Rukon District," Soi-Fon added, "While Lady Yoruichi does send us out on missions there, the simple fact of the matter is that the Rukon District is too vast for us to police on our own. We need the cooperation of the other squads in order to effectively maintain a security presence out there, but with the Central Forty-Six directing much of the necessary funding and resources to the Seireitei it's unfortunately tied our hands."

Itachi leaned forward. "If it's an issue of resources, wouldn't the most obvious solution be to increase the available manpower? In the time I've spent at the Academy I couldn't help but notice that there is actually significantly more space in the classrooms and dormitories than what our current numbers require. Some of the vacancies may be due to attrition, but even discounting that there's still plenty of leftover room."

Jiraiya nodded. "I agree. Given how vast the Soul Society is, there's gotta be far more people out there with latent spirit energy that's potent enough to qualify them for Soul Reaper training than what's currently represented by our class sizes. An increased recruitment drive would go a long way towards alleviating any personnel shortages."

Yoruichi smiled. "You two continue to impress me; you cut to the heart of problems much more quickly than others, whether they be students or fully trained Soul Reapers. Visaelya, I'm assuming your thoughts on the problem are the same?"

Visaelya nodded. "Yes, Captain Shihōin. I know that part of the problem is powerful families like ours constantly recruiting people with strong spirit energy for our own personal guard forces, but even discounting that there are likely still far more potential trainees out in the Soul Society than the noble clans are capable of finding on their own. An increase in recruitment resources for the Thirteen Court Guard Squads would be a sound investment with both short and long-term payoffs. Given the simplicity of the solution, I have a hard time fathoming why the Central Forty-Six has not already implemented such measures."

Kirio somberly shook her head. "The short and long answer to that is politics. I wish that weren't the situation, but it's what we have to deal with. Denying reality will not make it any easier for us to deal with."

Yoruichi grimaced. "Can't argue with that. We're starting to get sidetracked again, though. Recruitment's an issue for another time."

"You're right, Captain Shihōin," said Visaelya, "It wasn't just the Rukon District that became safer under the old kingdom; the Seireitei's reorganization under the Andunayans greatly improved its security. In fact, although its current rulers would be most reluctant to admit this, the modern Seireitei owes much of its contemporary defenses and fortifications to the efforts of the old kingdom. For example, the great wall of Sekkiseki rock that descends to protect the Seireitei from invaders was actually developed thanks to cooperation between the Andunayans and the Royal Realm. This is just the most prominent of their defensive innovations. Another legacy is the Thirteen Court Guard Squads; before they came into being, the primary military force of the Soul Society was the thirteen armies created and maintained by the old kingdom. For those who are aware of this history, the signs of links between the old kingdom and the contemporary Soul Society are not hard to find, no matter how much the Central Forty-Six may try to make it otherwise."

Itachi leaned forward. "There's something that bothers me. You said that the king of Nur-Andunaya became the High King of the Soul Society after the campaign was concluded, right? If he had nine children, how was the line of succession organized?"

Jiraiya nodded. "With that many kids, it's not hard to see them fighting amongst themselves when the time came for a new ruler to rise."

"That is a valid concern," Visaelya conceded, "First of all, since the five daughters had already married into the Five Great Noble Houses, that precluded them from seeking the throne for themselves. That left the four sons, the youngest of which had gone to reside in the Royal Realm per the accord reached between the Andunayans and the Royal Guard. The remaining three were carefully divided and given great responsibilities in the hopes of preventing infighting when the time for succession inevitably came. The eldest was granted the title of Prince Chancellor and charged with overseeing the day-to-day governance of the Seireitei; this was seen as suitable training for the day that they would ascend to the throne. The second son in line became the Marshal General, head of the thirteen armies and all the militias operating under them. The office of Marshal General became hereditary to members of the Royal Family, and while a powerful position it also came with a decree enacted proclaiming that the holder of the title was ineligible for seeking the throne, so it was never passed to a firstborn child of any generation. Finally, the third son was granted the title of High Lord of Andunaya and sailed west to rule the island that the old kingdom had been founded upon. His line would continue to hold dominance there until the Darfulth."

Itachi raised an eyebrow. "The Darfulth?"

"My apologies," said Visaelya, "It's High Andunayan. The translation into our common tongue would roughly be 'Downfall'. As you might expect, it refers to the demise of the old kingdom, although the Central Forty-Six would of course prefer that no one uses the High Andunayan term for it nowadays."

"I see," said Jiraiya, "and how did this downfall come about? From what you've been describing, it sounds like this old kingdom was not only powerful but popular with the people. It must've been faced with a truly devastating crisis for it to have collapsed."

Visaelya nodded. "It was, but… it was a crisis of its own making."

Itachi leaned forward. "What do you mean?"

"For most of the thousands of years that it held sway, the old kingdom helped ensure peace and justice throughout the Soul Society," Visaelya replied, "However, as the power and prestige of the Andunayans continued to grow, it began to manifest itself in increasingly open displays of arrogance over the passing millennia. These were small at first; the creation of new festivals and holidays, fresh honors and ranks bestowed upon those whom already held great power, that sort of thing. Initially these were believed to be relatively harmless gestures, little more than the boasting of a kingdom that had achieved unprecedented degrees of strength and unity over the Soul Society. However, these displays gradually grew to be more and more ostentatious, particularly among members of the royal family as they competed with each other. Soon it wasn't just festivals and grand titles but extravagant monuments and grandiose military expeditions, all borne at great expense. The pride of the High Kings swelled with each subsequent generation, until at last one known to history as Arn-Melgothron, He Who Arises In Might, committed the ultimate sacrilege; he declared himself to be sovereign over all of creation, an explicit challenge to the Royal Realm and the Soul King."

Jiraiya shook his head. "That couldn't have ended well."

"Indeed," said Visaelya grimly, "It stirred tremendous outrage throughout the Soul Society. The growing arrogance and greed of the High Kings and their closest supporters had been borne by the people of the Soul Society with a correspondingly increasing amount of distrust and resentment, and this wound up being the straw that broke the camel's back. The majority of the aristocracy, including the heads of all five Great Noble Houses, demanded that Arn-Melgothron abdicate the throne and go into exile as penance while allowing the current Prince Chancellor to claim the kingship. Unfortunately, not only did the High King refuse to do so, he was backed by the Marshal General, his second eldest son. The rulers of the Soul Society soon became split into two rival factions; those loyal to the High King, known as the Sovereigntists, and those loyal to the Prince Chancellor, who became labeled as the Succesionists. While the might of the kingdom's military was on the side of the Sovereigntists, the Succesionists held the support of not only the bulk of the noble families but also the common people. More importantly, though, was the fact that the Royal Realm was on their side. With tensions rapidly reaching a boiling point, it was only a matter of time before the standoff erupted into civil war."

Itachi's eyes narrowed. "So what spark lit the powder keg?"

Visaelya closed her eyes for a moment, and when she opened them they held a dark look. "While the High King and the Prince Chancellor belonged to opposing factions, ultimately they were still father and firstborn son. When the High King invited the Prince Chancellor to private talks over tea, the son accepted. The records indicate that the Prince Chancellor at the time was diplomatic, humble, and wise; he must've believed that he should take all possible avenues to resolve the crisis short of violence. His commitment to peace and stability was commendable. Unfortunately, his father did not share those virtues. He was also treacherous; as soon as the Prince Chancellor entered the room, he found himself trapped in a binding spell cast by his own father. That was when the Marshal General revealed himself from behind a false wall panel… and stabbed his elder brother through the heart."

Jiraiya sighed mournfully. "Fratricide… and for what? Power? It's just so petty."

"You're hardly alone in believing that," said Visaelya, "From where the High King and the Marshal General were sitting, I imagine that the calculus made sense. They likely saw it as eliminating the leader of their opposition, and probably hoped that without the head the body would die. However, that wound up being a grievous miscalculation. The Prince Chancellor was beloved by both the aristocracy and the common folk, and despite the statements from the High King proclaiming his eldest son a traitor to the realm they were enraged at his death. Arn-Melgothron's lust for dominance turned the Prince Chancellor into a martyr and galvanized the opposition. More critically, though, it created a schism with the ranks of the thirteen armies."

Itachi nodded. "Makes sense. After all, if the High King was willing to murder his eldest son in the name of power, he likely would've thought much less of the lives of the kingdom's soldiers. They saw what he was capable of doing to members of his own family… it must've given them pause."

Visaelya nodded. "More than that; it shattered the unity of the thirteen armies. Factions within each division began declaring for the Succesionists. Arn-Melgothron's power had been based almost entirely on the loyalty of the Marshal General and the kingdom's military beneath him. With that power base now divided, the High King's position became much more vulnerable."

Yoruichi smirked. "There's a delicious irony to it all, really. The High King and the Marshal General had intended to cripple the opposition, but by killing the Prince Chancellor they instead inflicted a mortal wound upon their own cause."

"Quite so," said Visaelya, "The Prince Chancellor's murder became the catalyst for the bloodletting that followed. Units of the thirteen armies that had declared for the opposition attempted to arrest the High King and the Marshal General. However, Sovereigntist soldiers were able to secure the two men and spirit them away before the opposition could take them into custody. Infighting swiftly broke out in the barracks, and eventually troops loyal to the Succesionists consolidated around the Seireitei estates of the Five Great Noble Houses. The High King and the Marshal General gathered their forces at the heart of the Seireitei, while the opposition sent frantic messages to both the commoners of the Rukon District and the denizens of the Royal Realm pleading for reinforcements. Their calls were answered, and not a moment too soon; the High King and the Marshal General launched an all-out assault on the opposition at dawn the following day. The entire Seireitei became consumed by the raging fires of a full-blown civil war."

Itachi winced; as experienced as he was, even he couldn't begin to imagine the extent of the carnage. "Who won the opening engagement?"

"It was hard-fought and costly, but eventually the Succesionists carried the day," Visaelya replied, "An ambush from warriors of the Shihōin Clan actually succeeded in assassinating the Marshal General, and while the High King narrowly escaped death himself on that occasion, the encounter severely rattled him. With the loss of their chief military commander, the Sovereigntists were eventually forced to withdraw from the Seireitei."

Yoruichi grinned. "They've written some pretty impressive songs over the years about how my ancestors scared the shit out of the High King that day. It's one of our more memorable contributions to the history of the Soul Society."

Visaelya smiled as well, and Itachi could detect the pride swelling up within her. "While I shall be the first to acknowledge the invaluable role that your family played in that engagement, I would be remiss if I did not mention how the Drakken Clan's elite dragon riders drove Sovereigntist divisions from the battle in terror. The threat of death by fire from a swarm of giant winged reptiles will have that effect on even the bravest of foot soldiers, especially when they're being cooked alive in their own armor."

Kirio giggled. "Ah, another example of the classic dick-waving contests between Clans Shihōin and Drakken… as if the Seireitei doesn't have enough of that going on already."

Yoruichi laughed. "Yeah, I guess we do tend to get a little heated about those from time to time!"

Visaelya nodded, looking slightly embarrassed. "Yes… I suppose Great Noble Houses like ours can be a little… excessive when it comes to flaunting our accomplishments."

Yoruichi gave her an encouraging smile. "Trust me, Visaelya, you're fine. It's more the men in your family that tend to go overboard with that sort of thing… especially your uncle."

"No need to remind me, Lady Yoruichi," Soi-Fon quipped dryly, "It took him forever to shut up the last time his family's history was brought up in conversation with him. That meeting we were all at took far longer than it had to because of it."

Visaelya cleared her through. "Great feats from our respective families aside, there was little call for celebration after the Sovereigntists had been driven from the Seireitei. The Succesionists had suffered considerable losses amongst their ranks as well, and while the High King and his followers were in retreat they still had plenty of fighting strength remaining. The opposition needed time to secure the Seireitei completely and give its forces a chance to regroup, which provided the Sovereigntists with an opportunity to strategically reposition themselves for the next phase of the conflict. They wound up fortifying a significant portion of the western Rukon District. With secure housing for their troops and easy access to supplies, it was believed that they could hold out there indefinitely while preparing a counteroffensive to retake the Seireitei. The records indicate that the High King thought as much, but as it turned out, the people of the Rukon District had other ideas."

Jiraiya grinned. "Let me guess; a people's revolt?"

"Yes," Visaelya replied, "The Prince Chancellor may have primarily been charged with administration over the Seireitei when he was alive, but even in that capacity his thoughts had never been far from the needs of the Rukon District. During his period of governance, he directed much-needed resources there from the Seireitei, bolstering patrols and heavily investing in public works designed to improve sanitation, healthcare, and other essential services. He even made several trips himself to the Rukon District to oversee such projects, making him one of the few royals that was actually accessible to the common people. The citizens of the Rukon District never forgot this… and they certainly weren't about to forgive the High King for murdering him."

"So, how did they strike against the Sovereigntists?" asked Itachi.

Visaelya smiled. "They may have been commoners, but they weren't stupid; they knew that a frontal assault against the High King's loyalist forces would be suicide. Instead, their first strike came through sabotage, and arson was a particularly favored tactic. Food stores, homes that had been seized by officers, and much more beside were set alight in the middle of the night. Weapons and armor were stolen in the chaos, and soldiers were lured into back alleys to be cut down. When the Sovereigntists attempted to crack down, the subsequent executions and punitive expeditions only served to further harden the commoners against the High King's followers. They sent messengers with valuable information regarding the Sovereigntists defenses to the Succesionists, and despite the fact that they were still licking their wounds from taking the Seireitei they recognized that they had to strike now while an active insurgency was on their side."

Itachi nodded. "They would've had to move quickly; civilians with stolen weapons and no combat training would've been hard-pressed to stand against an organized and professional fighting force."

"Quite so," said Visaelya, "The Royal Guard and the elite warriors of the Five Great Noble Houses formed the vanguard and struck before the Sovereigntists could put down the uprising for good. Other Succesionist forces took longer to arrive, but eventually they were able to inflict such severe losses on the Sovereigntists that they had no choice but to retreat. They pulled out of the Rukon District completely and headed west. At that point, the High King's plan became simply to flee the continental Soul Society with his Queen and surviving forces and hole up in the home island of Nur-Andunaya. His hope was that the vast distance between the island and the mainland, combined with the Andunayans' dominance over the sea, would discourage pursuit. However, he'd made a fatal mistake; he underestimated the depths of his crimes and just how far the opposition would go to bring him to justice."

"The royal family still dominated the home island at the time, correct?" asked Itachi, "Through the bloodline of the original High King's third son, yes?"

Visaelya nodded. "That's correct. The full details concerning the civil war hadn't yet reached the current High Lord of Andunaya, so despite some reservations he still welcomed the High King and Queen and offered them and their remaining followers safe harbor. Had the reigning High Lord understood the true breadth of the matter, perhaps things would've gone differently. Unfortunately, the hospitality that he extended to Arn-Melgothron proved to be a death sentence not just for the High Lord, but for all who inhabited the home island of Nur-Andunaya."

Jiraiya shook his head. "That sounds a little extreme. You're exaggerating, right?"

Visaelya sighed. "I wish I was. After the Sovereigntists were driven from the mainland, a great council was convened in the Seireitei. With the death of the Prince Chancellor and the retreat of the High King and Queen, the main branch of the royal family had no representation in these deliberations; the throne, for all intents and purposes, was wide open. Since the Five Great Noble Houses could claim royal blood through the lines of the five daughters of the first High King, they eagerly began jockeying for position. However, their individual arguments for ascension were ultimately rendered moot thanks to intervention from the Royal Realm."

Itachi leaned forward. "How so?"

"Do you recall what I said earlier about what happened to the fourth and youngest son of the original High King after the Andunayan coalition secured the Seireitei?" asked Visaelya.

Itachi nodded. "He had gone to the Royal Realm to serve as an intermediary between the Royal Family in the Soul Society and the Soul King's inner circle. That was thousands of years before the civil war, though. What role would he have to play?"

"Directly, none," said Visaelya, "However, his bloodline continued in the Royal Realm, and as I mentioned earlier, the position of intermediary was hereditary. The current holder of the position at the time of the civil war was also a powerful warrior, and thanks to the combination of his strength and his pedigree he became the decisive factor in ending the civil war. The Royal Realm dispatched him to the Seireitei to present a decree to the council; the position of High King of the Soul Society was abolished effective immediately. Since the intermediary had the full backing of the Royal Realm, including the Royal Guard, the council did not dare to protest the matter. The intermediary was also charged with executing another decree; that the home island of Nur-Andunaya be laid to waste and its inhabitants all killed."

Jiraiya glared at her. "So they were all condemned to death even though the inhabitants of the home island had played no part in the violence? Is this the justice of the Soul Society?"

Visaelya gave him a mournful look. "I never said that I agreed with the decree, Jiraiya. However, whatever opposition you and I might feel to such harsh measures is practically irrelevant now. After all, it happened nearly two-thousand years ago; our protests, regardless of how righteous they may be, cannot change what has already been done."

"I know that," Jiraiya growled, "but am I really supposed to ignore the fact that the foundations for the modern Soul Society were laid upon an act of utter slaughter?"

Visaelya closed her eyes for a moment. "If you wish to dispute the matter with the perpetrator, I imagine you'll have your chance to do so upon graduation. After all, they'll be the one presiding over the ceremony."

Both Itachi and Jiraiya were caught completely off-guard by that. They knew instantly who she was referring to, and it hit like a punch to the face.

"You're serious…" Itachi murmured.

Jiraiya shook his head. "I'll be damned…"

Visaelya nodded solemnly. "Yes. His original Andunayan name has been lost to history, deliberately; he abandoned it as a symbol of his dedication to carrying out his mission, and the Central Forty-Six has since purged all traces of it from records official and otherwise. The name he took on as a replacement is one that you know quite well; Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto."

"I think I'm starting to see how he actually became Head Captain," Jiraiya quipped with a dark edge in his voice.

"Even back then, his power was almost beyond reckoning," said Visaelya, "No army was required to destroy Nur-Andunaya. A single ship took the future Head Captain to his destination. The Andunayans believed it was carrying an envoy seeking to offer terms; they did not realize that it actually bore their downfall. Not many eyewitness accounts from the sailors were preserved, but one did survive in the Drakken family archives."

Yoruichi nodded. "The Shihōin family archives have one as well; one of my ancestors was part of the retinue on board the ship. I imagine their accounts and those preserved in your family's archives are similar."

"I believe so," Visaelya replied, "Please, feel free to point out any discrepancies if you hear them."

Yoruichi smiled. "I doubt I'll have any need for that. You've been doing pretty well so far."

"Thank you, Captain Shihōin," said Visaelya before turning back to Itachi and Jiraiya, "According to the records, the ship pulled right into the chief harbor of Nur-Andunaya unopposed. Lord Yamamoto departed the ship alone, but not before giving an explicit order to the vessel's captain; that he was to immediately remove the ship from port as soon as he had gone ashore and put at least five miles between the vessel and the shore… and that he was not to return for him until it was over. I can't imagine what might've gone through that captain's mind as he pulled his ship out of the harbor, especially given what was subsequently unleashed upon Nur-Andunaya."

"So, how did he do it?" asked Itachi grimly, "How did Head Captain Yamamoto go about murdering an entire island's worth of people?"

There was a long pause before Visaelya responded. "According to the records, everyone on the ship, from nobles down to lowly soldiers and crewmen, had an affinity for spirit energy. Therefore… they could all sense the moment Lord Yamamoto unleashed his Bankai. Even if they hadn't, though, they wouldn't have needed to; the flames that engulfed Nur-Andunaya were of such intensity that the accounts compare it to a second sun being born on the surface of the Earth itself. Even as far out to sea as the ship had gotten, people still jumped into the water for relief, so oppressive and powerful was the heat emitted. Given other accounts I've read of the Head Captain's power, it's quite frankly a marvel that the ship itself didn't burst into flames even at such a considerable distance."

Jiraiya grimaced. "Death by fire… that's a bad way to go."

Another grim thought crossed Itachi's mind. "You said earlier that the Andunayans had colonized other islands as well, right? What happened to them?"

"They met the same fate," Visaelya replied, "although it was by Shikai; Lord Yamamoto's Bankai was reserved for the home island alone. One by one, the remaining island settlements were scoured by the flames of Ryūjin Jakka. The Royal Realm would not allow any of them to stand, less they be used as a base from which to rebuild Nur-Andunaya. It took some time to track them all down, but in the end, the purge of the Realm of Starlight was absolute. The islands themselves may still exist, but according to rumors the few sailors who've ventured that far into the west have found only blackened and crumbling ruins."

"An example to any who might wish to set up a base of power separate from that of the Soul Society and the Royal Realm," said Itachi, "Sound about right?"

Visaelya sighed. "I cannot say for sure, but that's one plausible theory. In the end, it hardly matters. Nur-Andunaya was destroyed, and the realm that was built on the foundations it lay in the heart of the Soul Society became the one that we all know today. The divisions of the thirteen armies that sided with the opposition were reorganized into the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, with Lord Yamamoto becoming their first and so-far only Head Captain. The great council that had been convened after the Seireitei and Rukon District was secured was eventually reformed and expanded until it took shape as the governing body we all recognize as the Central Forty-Six. Thus, the modern Soul Society was born, and it's been working continuously to bury all traces of its predecessor ever since."

Kirio smiled. "It hasn't been quite as thorough as the Central Forty-Six might like, though. That's where our mission comes in!"

Visaelya nodded. "Yes… I suppose I went on much longer than I should have. Forgive me for delaying you in presenting your mission briefing, Captain Hikifune; Captain Shihōin."

Yoruichi shook her head. "Don't worry about it. After all, we were the ones who wanted you to give Itachi and Jiraiya the history lesson, and we gave you quite a meaty topic to boot. You did pretty well. Your instructors would be proud."

Visaelya smiled. "Thank you, Captain Shihōin."

Soi-Fon gave her Captain a pointed look. "That said, we really should move on to our present concerns. The knowledge of the past will serve the students well once we arrive on-site, but without mission-specific context it lacks value."

"Quite true," said Kirio as she stepped forward, "Visaelya, you can sit down with Itachi and Jiraiya now. Captain Shihōin and I will take over from here."

Visaelya bowed. "Understood, Captain Hikifune."

As she did as the Captain instructed, Itachi watched as Kirio went over to the chalkboard and sketched out a very rough map of the Soul Society. Meanwhile, Yoruichi pulled out an envelope from her Captain's haori, which Itachi assumed contained their mission orders. She withdrew one sheet of paper and passed it to Kirio. After consulting it for a moment, Squad Twelve's Captain proceeded to make some modifications to her map, with particular attention to detail given to the area north of the Rukon District.

"The Andunayans ruled the Soul Society for millennia," Yoruichi began, "and while for the most part it was considered to be a golden age, there were periods even before the Darfulth where the might of the High Kings was challenged. Large tribes of bandits and marauders have been active in the Soul Society throughout its history, although they've typically been considered more of a nuisance than an actual threat. Normally they're fractured and fight amongst themselves as often as they raid settlements. However, there have been a few occasions where they've set aside their differences to form a united front. That's when the danger they pose to the residents of the Soul Society is the greatest."

"There were a few large armies of raiders that were formed during the reign of the High Kings," said Kirio, "When these gathered in sufficient strength, the Seireitei would marshal its forces to put them down. While infrequent when viewed in the larger context of the old kingdom's history, these suppression campaigns could be rather lengthy affairs. After all, the bandits typically knew The Wild much better than their opponents did. Still, eventually these raider armies would be cornered and forced into a major battle, and that would lead to their undoing."

Yoruichi nodded. "While many of them may have been skilled fighters, these marauders were no matched for the discipline and strength of the forces that the Seireitei could bring to bear against them. Still, despite the fact that these battles ended in victory for the armies of the High Kings, that doesn't change the fact that they were gruesome affairs. Once the campaigns were over, it was Andunayan tradition that grand barrows be carved into the land near the sight of the fiercest fighting for their honored dead."

Visaelya's eyes widened. "I've read about these Andunayan barrows before. Not only were the fallen soldiers of the old kingdom interred within them, but oftentimes their weapons and armor were laid to rest alongside them…"

Kirio smiled. "I see you're already catching on. Good. That'll make this much easier!"

Itachi could guess where this was going. "Has one of these barrows been discovered?"

Yoruichi grinned. "Very good, Itachi! One has, although it was by accident; one of Squad Two's Hollow hunting teams operating in the north stumbled across the entrance to one as they were finishing off their prey."

"Talk about a lucky break," said Jiraiya, "Did they get inside?"

"They were unable to do so," said Soi-Fon, "Not surprising, really; the barrows of the old kingdom were typically sealed with powerful Kidō spells. Breaking through the entrance barriers alone is no small task."

Kirio nodded. "You're quite right. Fortunately, it is a task that can be accomplished by sufficiently powerful and skilled Soul Reapers. Between Yoruichi and myself, overcoming the barriers shouldn't be too hard."

"Don't forget Kisuke," Yoruichi added, "With his advanced Kidō skills, we might able to crack the barriers with a little finesse rather than rely on brute force."

Kirio smiled. "Good point."

Visaelya raised an eyebrow. "Kisuke Urahara? He's only your Third Seat though, right? Is he really that good?"

"You'd be surprised," Yoruichi replied, "Sometimes I think he's almost as good as Tessai. He could've gone far in the Kidō Corps, but it would've been a bit too restrictive given the broad nature of his talents."

"Some people need to be restricted," Soi-Fon grumbled.

Yoruichi laughed. "Now, now, Soi-Fon, what have I told you about trying to place nice with him? If you need to be reminded, I could always order you to serve as his subordinate the next time I send him into the field!"

Soi-Fon's face paled. "Th-that won't be necessary, Lady Yoruichi!"

"Is it really necessary for us to be forcing our way into them?" asked Itachi, "After all, if the barriers currently in place require the power of Captains to dispel, then I would hardly think that they're at risk of being breached by anyone outside the Thirteen Court Guard Squads."

Yoruichi nodded. "For the most part, you're right, but there's always the outside chance that someone with sufficient power who's not within our ranks learns of these barrows and is able to break into them. It's better that we get there first and do a proper survey. Whenever an Andunayan barrow is discovered, cataloguing their contents is considered to be top priority. Anything we deem to be dangerous is taken back to the Seireitei and placed in the custody of Squad Twelve."

Jiraiya sighed. "I understand the importance of making sure powerful Spirit Weapons and Armor don't fall into the wrong hands, but that doesn't change the fact that the mission you've got lined up here is basically grave robbery."

"It is a little unsavory," Kirio admitted, "but it is also necessary. Artifacts like the ones we may encounter in the barrows must be handled with care and cannot be left unsecured. Relying on the defenses put in place by the creators of the barrows is insufficient, no matter how formidable they might be. Now that we have located this barrow, it is our responsibility to secure it, catalogue its contents and transport them back to the Seireitei. That is the standing protocol of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, and it is our duty to uphold it."

Itachi nodded. "Understood. Squad Two and Twelve's roles in this mission seem clear enough, but what about the three of us? As mere students, it doesn't seem like we'd have much to contribute to something like this."

Yoruichi smiled. "Don't sell yourselves short. Of all the students currently attending the Academy, the three of you have by far the most impressive records. There's also the fact that I've had the privilege of overseeing operations that have involved the three of you out in the field since your education began, and you've acquitted yourselves very well on those occasions. At this point in your training, the best way for you to move forward is to get more time in the field, and this mission will offer you a unique chance to fine-tune your abilities."

"Not in a combat sense," Kirio added, "We don't anticipate any hostile contact in this operation, although we must always be on guard in case that does take place. Rather, we want to give the three of you a chance to test your observational skills in the field. Andunayan barrows aren't your ordinary tombs; they're quite expansive in size and require considerable effort to properly survey. You three have already demonstrated excellent situational awareness in the field, so bringing you along on this mission will give you an opportunity to expand those observational abilities to new kinds of environments."

"Well, when you put it that way, I suppose at the very least it'll be a learning experience," said Visaelya, "It'll also be rather historical, in a way. After all, the chance to explore an Andunayan barrow is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Jiraiya smiled. "Even if it is a grave, it'll be nice to explore a part of the Soul Society that's beyond the Seireitei and the Rukon District. So, just where in the north is this barrow?"

"In the foothills at the base of the Whitefell Mountains, so about halfway between the Seireitei and the Principality of the Starmont Clan," Yoruichi replied, "It's just to the east of the central trade pass. We'll have quite a trip ahead of us."

"When do we set out?" asked Itachi.

"Tomorrow morning," Soi-Fon answered, "It'll be before dawn, so you'd better not stay up too late tonight."

"Speaking of tonight, you won't be going back to the dorms," said Yoruichi, "The three of you will be spending the night in the Squad Two barracks. This way you can leave with us when we set out, and we'll be able to make sure you're outfitted with the right supplies and gear. We're not going too far north but make no mistake; it'll still be much chillier up there than it is down here."

Itachi nodded. "I've operated in cold climates before. I'll be ready."

"Same here," said Jiraiya, "It's been a little while, but I'll be just fine."

Visaelya, on the other hand, looked a bit hesitant. "Just how cold are we talking here? Will there be snow?"

"Unlikely at this time of year," Kirio replied, "That being said, the weather around the Whitefell Mountains has always been a bit unpredictable."

Yoruichi smiled. "Don't worry. We'll have everything we need just in case the weather turns on us. Any other questions?"

"Just one," said Visaelya, and Itachi could've sworn he saw her blush, "Will... will Tenth Seat Uchiha be coming along on this mission?"

Yoruichi raised an eyebrow for a moment, but that gesture was soon replaced by a knowing smirk. "As a matter of fact, he will. Looking forward to seeing Shisui again after he saved your life last year, Miss Drakken?"

Visaelya looked down, her face flushed with embarrassment. "It's not like that!"

Jiraiya chuckled as he gave Itachi a playful elbow. "Man, you Uchiha sure are popular with the ladies!"

"Can you blame us?" asked Kirio as she winked at Itachi, "Having been privileged enough to meet both Itachi and Shisui, I can testify that you boys are both quite a catch!"

"Don't even think about poaching on my territory," said Yoruichi as she gave Itachi a wolfish grin, "I already called dibs on this one, remember?"

Kirio put her hands on her hips. "That's not how it works! He doesn't belong to either of us until graduation!"

Yoruichi smirked. "Then you'd better step up your game, Kirio. I'm going all out with this one, so you'd better do the same if you want to keep up!"

Kirio grinned. "Oh, you'd better believe I will!"

It felt strange to have two Captains competing over whose unit he would join upon graduation. Itachi had to wonder just what would happen as the point of commencement drew closer and closer. He'd heard stories about some Captains going to considerable lengths to get recruits that showed the most promise. Itachi still had a year left at the Academy; just how many division leaders had their eyes on him already?

He pushed that thought to the side for the time being. That was still some ways off; the mission before him now was a far more pressing concern.

Into the north to explore an elaborate tomb left behind by a fallen kingdom, he thought, I never imagined I'd be undertaking such an assignment as a Soul Reaper, or even as one in-training.

This should be interesting…

….

It was a bit intimidating seeing the Squad Two barracks up close. It wasn't the first time Visaelya had visited a home of one of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads; since Squad Ten was considered to be her family's division she'd naturally been given a tour by her uncle before starting her official Soul Reaper training. The Squad Two barracks weren't all that different structure-wise, but the fact that it was considered the turf of a rival Great Noble House did leave her feeling a certain tension.

Shake it off, she scolded herself, Captain Shihōin hasn't shown any signs of hostility towards you. In fact, despite the rivalry of our families she's actually been quite friendly. I should return the courtesy at the very least.

As they walked through the front gate she found herself looking around anxiously. She wasn't expecting trouble; rather, she was on the lookout for a face she'd been hoping to see for a year now. It was part of the reason why she was secretly rather excited for this assignment; it was a chance to work with him again.

And now you're acting like a smitten schoolgirl, she chided herself, Visaelya, snap out of it!

Now, now, ease up a little bit, said a female voice in her head that was most definitely not her own, Given that you're still in the Academy, one could easily make the case that you are a schoolgirl… and certainly a smitten one at that.

It was hard for her to suppress a scowl as she looked down at the hilt of her sword. Itachi and Jiraiya had warned her what would happen when she eventually awakened her Zanpakutō, but even with that advanced notice and a few weeks' worth of practice now it was still rather distracting. The violet hilt-wrapping and golden circular guard were nice to show off to her classmates, but Visaelya wasn't entirely sure if it was worth the price of another entity having access to her thoughts now.

I am not smitten!

Right. Whatever you say.

Visaelya wasn't sure where the spirit of her Zanpakutō got its particular attitude from. She knew that her awakened weapon was supposed to take on traits that were reflected in her, but now she was starting to question that particular lesson. She certainly didn't picture herself being as flippant as her Zanpakutō could be at times.

You need a lesson in manners.

And you need to be more mindful of your surroundings. After all, someone very special's just shown up.

Looking around rapidly, Visaelya's eyes widened as she caught sight of none other than Squad Two's Tenth Seat. That friendly smile she recalled so clearly was on his face again, and her face immediately warmed.

My memories… I'm glad the excitement and fear of that day did not mar my recollection…

Memories, said her Zanpakutō, and Visaelya could already picture the smirk on the spirit of her weapon's face, or dreams? You've had plenty involving him over the past few weeks…

Shut up!

"Welcome back, Captain," he said before turning to the students, "Good to see you three again."

Itachi nodded. "How've you been, Shisui?"

"Pretty well," he replied, "I'll fill you in later, all right?"

"Sounds good," said Itachi.

"Are you going to be our tour guide?" asked Jiraiya.

"That's right," said Shisui, "Captain, I can take them from here if you want me to."

Yoruichi smiled. "Sounds good. I've still got some pre-mission planning to go over with Kisuke and Soi-Fon, so if you can help get them settled in I'd appreciate it."

"Consider it done," said Shisui.

Yoruichi nodded. "Thanks. Let's go, Soi-Fon."

"As you command, Lady Yoruichi," said her bodyguard.

As Yoruichi and Soi-Fon left, Visaelya became acutely aware of Shisui's gaze shifting to her. She tried her best not to blush and hoped she didn't look as nervous as she felt.

His warm smile helped calm her nerves a little bit. "Visaelya Drakken, right? How've you been? I hope your wounds from that joint operation with Squad Ten haven't been bothering you."

He remembers!

Shocker.

I thought I told you to shut up!

She hastily cleared her through and smiled. "I've been very well, thank you. The injuries I took last year have healed nicely, and the remaining scar I wear as a reminder to myself to not become complacent. Had you not been there, I fear that I would not be alive today to take that lesson to heart. I owe you a great debt, Tenth Seat Uchiha."

Shisui laughed. "Please, just call me Shisui! No need to be formal, Miss Drakken."

Visaelya nodded. "I see. In that case… could you please call me Visaelya?"

"Sure thing," he replied, "Anyway, welcome to the Squad Two barracks! Follow me; the least I can do is show you three around before getting you settled in."

Since she'd seen Squad Ten's barracks before, Visaelya had a good idea as to what to expect. There was the training yard, the supply rooms, the kitchen, the meeting and dining halls, offices, and all the other conventional features of a division's home base. However, there were also aspects that Visaelya realized were unique to Squad Two's facilities. The Shihōin Clan crest was visible in a few areas, and in addition to the regular Squad Two facilities Visaelya also saw buildings that were marked for use specifically by the Stealth Force. Individual members of the Stealth Force's subdivisions, including the Executive Militia, Patrol Corps, Detention Unit and more could also be seen going about their business. They carried themselves differently than other Soul Reapers that Visaelya had seen in the past, almost like they were prepared to vanish into the shadows at a moment's notice. While she didn't like to think of herself as the type to be ill-at-ease with such people, she had to admit that the air they gave off was rather eerie.

Shisui seemed to catch her discomfort and gave her another smile. "Don't mind the Stealth Force members. Some of them can take a little getting used to, but they're all right. They just operate differently than the Thirteen Court Guard Squads."

Visaelya nodded. "Right. It's almost hard to believe that Captain Shihōin's their leader. She seems so much… brighter, if that makes any sense."

"It does," said Shisui, "That's the kind of woman our Captain is; even though she's the head of a group that operates in the shadows, her energy burns like the sun at the height of summer. She's warm with friends and comrades, but don't let that fool you; when the time comes for a mission, she gets right down to business."

"Speaking of a mission," said Itachi, "have you ever been on one like this?"

"You mean surveying an Andunayan barrow?" asked Shisui, "No, this one's a first for me. Not too surprising, though; finding barrows of the old kingdom nowadays is pretty rare."

"What about the area it's located in?" asked Jiraiya, "Any experience going that far north?"

Shisui nodded. "I've been up that way a couple times, though the closest I got to the Whitefell Mountains was just within viewing range. It's a bit chilly out there, but not too bad. There's actually some pretty nice scenery out that way. Definitely a beautiful stretch of The Wild, no doubt there."

Jiraiya smiled. "Too bad this won't be a sightseeing trip. I wouldn't mind the chance to explore a little."

Shisui shrugged. "Well, it'll still be quite a hike to get up that way, so you'll have time to take in the view."

"Are there any particular threats in the area that we should be wary of?" asked Itachi.

"Well, there's always the occasional Hollow," Shisui replied, "I mean, tracking them is how we stumbled upon the barrow in the first place. Some of the local wildlife can be a bit on the mean side, especially the wolves, but they'll usually back down after you give them a taste of your spiritual pressure."

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "There are predators out there that sense spiritual pressure?"

Shisui nodded. "Yup. It's a phenomenon we've noticed in a few species that roam The Wild. They use it both to hunt and to identify threats. Since Soul Reapers are trained to control their spiritual pressure it naturally comes across to such predators as different than that of untrained beings. Once they realize what they're dealing with, they'll typically leave you alone."

"A response to a threat display," Itachi murmured, "Only instead of conveyed through visual and audio signals, the medium is spirit energy. Interesting…"

Shisui smiled. "The Wild's home to all sorts of creatures that we never would've run into in the world we lived in. I doubt we've run into more than a fraction of what's really out there. Squad Twelve's always got survey teams running around trying to document new species, but The Wild's so vast that they've barely scratched the surface."

"Interesting," said Jiraiya, "I wonder if we'll find any of these special beasties while we're up north."

"I should most certainly most hope not," said Visaelya, "Wolves are easy enough to deal with, but they're hardly the worst that the north has to offer. I'd be much more concerned about the cold-drakes that call the Whitefell Mountains home."

Itachi raised an eyebrow. "Cold drakes?"

"Think dragons, only these ones don't breathe fire," said Shisui, "They typically make their home in most mountain ranges up north, not just the Whitefells. They're not as well known as the ones that the Drakken Clan have tamed in the east, mostly because they don't get around as much. They can't fly and they tend to be more reclusive as a result. Still, they're fiercely territorial, and while they're not particularly fast their hides are incredibly tough, and their claws can carve through most forms of armor with ease."

Visaelya shivered just thinking about them. "I do hope that Captains Shihōin and Hikifune have taken such beasts into account. As students, the three of us are hardly qualified to take on a cold-drake."

Shisui shook his head. "You won't have to worry about that. The barrow's in the foothills; cold-drakes don't usually go down that far. They typically tunnel around in the caves that run through the heart of the Whitefells and feast on the creatures that inhabit them. This barrow shouldn't be anywhere close to their territory."

"I hope you're right," said Itachi.

Shisui shrugged. "Well, if I'm wrong, then at least the Captain will be able to get a decent workout in. You might get to see her unleash her Shikai."

Visaelya's eyes widened slightly. "Have you seen it?"

Shisui nodded. "A few times, yes. It's not often that she brings it out, but when she does… well, let's just say it's a real treat."

Jiraiya grinned. "Well, don't stop there! Give us the goods!"

Shisui chuckled as he shook his head. "Sorry, but I'm afraid that's all you're going to get out of me on that matter. It's considered bad form to talk about a Captain's Zanpakutō with someone that hasn't even officially joined the Thirteen Court Guard Squads yet."

Itachi nodded. "I understand. Forgive us for our impropriety."

Shisui laughed. "Ah, Itachi, you haven't changed; still as serious as ever!"

Visaelya was surprised to actually see Itachi smirk a little at that. "I'd like to think that I've gained a little flexibility in death… and even in life, I seem to recall that I wasn't entirely without a sense of humor. I believe I even made you spit out your drink from laughter on at least one occasion."

"Maybe once," Shisui allowed, "but that's all."

"If you insist," Itachi replied.

It felt strange to hear her classmate talk about his past life so casually. Part of it of course came from the rules of etiquette that had been engrained into Visaelya since childhood, but there was also the simple fact that, unlike her three companions, she'd never actually died before. Being born into the Soul Society, particularly into one of the Five Great Noble Houses, might've been a blessing, but it also meant that she was lacking a means to relate to the perspective of the vast majority of its denizens who were part of the great cycle of souls traversing between the afterlife and the Realms of the Living.

Shisui, Itachi, Jiraiya, she thought, they've all ridden the wheel of life and death and have been born anew… and here I am, struggling to truly understand what that really means for them. Which Realm of the Living did they come from? How did they die… and how did they come to be so at ease with their deaths?

You could always ask them.

It wouldn't be proper.

Perhaps… but that doesn't change the fact that it's what you want.

Sometimes she hated the link between Soul Reaper and Zanpakutō. The power boost that one gained from establishing and growing their rapport with their weapon's spirit was fundamental to the evolution of the Soul Reaper, but the access the Zanpakutō had to the wielder's thoughts and feelings could be downright unnerving.

You'll get used to it. Besides, it's not like I have to read your mind to know what you're thinking.

Believe me, I wish that weren't the case…

"Here we are," said Shisui as the four of them came to a stop in the barracks, "These two rooms will be yours for the night. Itachi, you and Jiraiya are in the one on the left; Visaelya, yours is on the right."

Visaelya nodded. "Thank you, although it isn't necessary to provide me with solo accommodations. I do not require special treatment."

Shisui shook his head. "Maybe, but it's what the Captain's assigned you. Take it for what it is and don't overthink it."

"Understood," she replied.

"Thanks for the tour," said Jiraiya, "I hope we haven't missed dinner; I could use a bite to eat."

Itachi nodded. "Yes, I suppose we could all do with some nourishment. Is the barracks' kitchen still open?"

"Yup," Shisui replied, "Feel free to head on over and grab some dinner. You can find your way back here later, right?"

"I think so, yes," said Itachi.

"Good," said Shisui, "Come find me later; we still have some catching up to do."

As much as Visaelya might've liked to eavesdrop on a conversation like that, she knew it wouldn't be proper. Her curiosity could be put on hold for the moment, though. After all, it would take the several days at the very least to reach their destination. She'd have plenty of time and opportunities to learn more about Squad Two's fascinating Tenth Seat.

"Thank you very much for showing us around, Shisui," she said as she bowed her head, "I look forward to working with you on our mission."

He gave her that friendly smile of his, and once again she felt her heart skip a beat. "Same here. Make sure you rest up tonight; we'll be leaving bright and early tomorrow morning."

"Of course," she said, "Until tomorrow, then."

….

Sitting at the edge of the training yard, Itachi looked up at the night sky. The moon wasn't quite full, but it still bathed the Squad Two barracks in evening light.

Rather tranquil, all things considered, he mused, Rather surprising when one remembers that people practice for combat here…

"There you are," said a familiar voice from behind him, "Thought I'd find you here."

Itachi didn't need to turn around to know that it was Shisui. His old friend came up and sat down next to him, passing him a cup with wisps of steam coming up from its contents.

"Brought you a little treat," he said with a smile, "You still like your tea this way, right?"

Itachi took a sip and nodded. "Yes. I'm surprised you remembered after all these years."

Shisui shrugged. "Some things never change."

"Indeed," Itachi replied.

There was a moment of silence before Shisui spoke again. "I've been trying to squeeze in a few trips to the Rukon District in between assignments. As vast as the place is, you can still run an organized search if you plan accordingly."

Itachi's eyes narrowed; he knew where this was going. "You've been looking for our clan. Any progress?"

Shisui shook his head. "Not yet. It's been slow going, and it's not like I can bring in other members of Squad Two without telling them what it's really about. As flexible and understanding as the Captain is, the rules are clear; we can't utilize official resources for personal matters."

"I understand," said Itachi, "Although… there's always the chance that this 'personal matter' of ours could become an official problem down the line."

Shisui nodded. "I know. I'm hoping that doesn't become the case, but we can't rule anything out."

"Once I graduate, I'll do what I can to help," said Itachi, "We can probably include Jiraiya in our efforts as well; he'd understand what we'd be trying to do."

Shisui smiled. "That's good to hear."

"What about others from our particular Realm of the Living?" asked Itachi, "Given the particular skill sets of many Shinobi, the Thirteen Court Guard Squads seem like they would be an ideal environment for other ninja to gravitate towards once they've passed on to the Soul Society."

"I have given that some thought," said Shisui, "and it's a distinct possibility. However, the social taboo within the Seireitei about inquiring into which particular Realm of the Living someone came from before joining the Thirteen Court Guard Squads makes an internal search rather difficult. Who we were in our past lives isn't supposed to matter once we join the ranks of a division."

"A noble ideal, but it may not hold up so well in practice," Itachi pointed out, "After all, you know as well as I do the kind of ambitions members of our clan harbored. Some of them would've been right at home with the Sovereigntists of old."

"Ah, so you've been given the history lesson that the Academy refuses to grant its students," said Shisui, "You're right, of course. Not all of them would've been of that mindset, though. Even then, the clan did have some legitimate grievances."

Itachi nodded. "That's true. The confinement for the purpose of surveillance that was imposed in the later years was particularly egregious. In fact, that measure taken by the village elders and the Hokage may have ultimately been what turned the clan's resentments into the fuel for their conspired coup."

Shisui sighed. "In turn necessitating us turning against them. You know, I'm still amazed that they never figured out that the supposedly brightest stars of the Uchiha Clan had actually become moles for the Hidden Leaf Village. Considering that our clan was in charge of the village's military police, you'd think that they would've taken measures to prevent someone from the inside flipping and taking the side of the village."

Itachi closed his eyes and took a sip of his tea. "They were arrogant. They believed that the clan was a unified body and never contemplated the possibility that individual members might hold opposing viewpoints. We bore the Uchiha name, so that was enough in their eyes. They may have suspected my hand in your death, but that was in reaction to circumstance; even at that late stage, they still had no idea that you and I had turned against them years ago."

"Bet the last person they were expecting to become the instrument of their destruction was you," said Shisui grimly, "Of course, it's not like you wanted to take on that role."

Itachi shook his head. "No. Although…"

Shisui raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"I didn't act alone against the clan," said Itachi, "In the leadup to the purge, I actually discovered someone sneaking around the village. It was Madara Uchiha… or so I believed."

Shisui's eyes widened in shock. "You thought it was Madara? You've got to be kidding!"

"He wore a mask at the time, so I couldn't get a visual confirmation," Itachi admitted, "However, I could see his Sharingan through the eyehole in it. Beyond that, though, I could feel his power. That's why when he gave me that name, I was willing to believe it. I hadn't expected him to still be alive, but I guess someone as strong as him could go on a long time before finally succumbing to old age. Looking back now, I don't think it was actually him, but his power was formidable just the same."

Shisui nodded, although he still looked a bit shaken by the news. "I see. So, how'd you talk the man you believed to be the most powerful Uchiha in the history of the clan into helping you wipe it out?"

"It actually wasn't that hard," Itachi replied, "You know the history as well as I do; you know the resentment Madara held against the clan for being ostracized in the past. My impending operation gave him the means and an accomplice, so it was an alliance of convenience. If this was an imposter simply using Madara's name, he was willing to remain in character to the point of acting on that resentment. When we struck, he attacked our clan's military arm in the police force; I purged the civilian portion of the clan. Since they were concentrated in the compound, it was a relatively straightforward affair."

Shisui grimaced. "That compound was probably designed with that purpose in mind. I wouldn't put it past the likes of Danzō and the elders."

"Agreed," said Itachi.

"So, what happened to 'Madara' or whoever this guy really was when it was all over?" asked Shisui.

Itachi shook his head. "I tried to keep tabs on him during my time in the Akatsuki, but it wasn't easy. He kept a low profile while I was alive, and finding even hints about his true intentions was difficult. Besides, by that point I was fully immersed in my cover as a member of the Akatsuki; trying to dig up information on him without great caution would've drawn unwanted attention from others in the group."

"Good point," said Shisui, "Well, if he's still alive all these years later, then we'll have to trust the ones we left behind to deal with him."

Itachi nodded. "Yes. However, if he's passed on, then he's our concern."

"What makes you say that?" asked Shisui, "The stories all say that Madara's grudges were with the Uchiha Clan for ostracizing him and the Hidden Leaf Village for denying him power. He may find members of the clan here in the Soul Society, but the village belongs to the Shinobi Realm of the Living. Besides, in all likelihood the clan's scattered across the Soul Society; even tracking just one member down would be a colossal undertaking for him. Of course, all this is assuming that his soul didn't end up in Hell instead."

"I wound up here, even after everything I've done," Itachi pointed out, "I'm not ruling anything out at this point."

Shisui sighed. "Look, I'm sure it was brutal, but what you did wasn't for power or revenge; it was for peace. You're not like Madara or whoever his imposter was, Itachi."

"That distinction doesn't mean much to those that I murdered," said Itachi grimly, "Whether they died by my hand or Madara's, the members of our clan met the same fate either way."

Shisui shook his head as he stood up. "I could stay up all night arguing about this with you, but we've got a mission tomorrow. There's no point in wearing ourselves out over the past when the future's right in front of us. Don't forget that you're in training to become a Soul Reaper; once you graduate, your past has no bearing on who you are here."

"A nice sentiment," said Itachi as he joined him, "but I think we both know that it's not so simple."

"Then you'll just have to make peace with it, one way or another," said Shisui, "I hope you're able to do so; it'd be a shame if you got yourself killed here because you're too wrapped up in what happened in your old life."

"I'll try to keep that in mind," Itachi replied dryly.

….

The next day…

Sitting with his legs crossed and his right hand held out in front him, Jiraiya focused intently on the palm of his right hand. After a few seconds it began to glow with blue and white spirit energy, which began emanating upwards in wisps. His eyes narrowed as he then brought his left hand over and held it in the air about half a foot over his right. Bringing all his focus to bear, he was rewarded with the sight of the gathered spirit energy beginning to rotate.

"That's it," he said softly, "Come on…"

The tempo of the rotation began to increase, as did the concentration of spirit energy. It soon began to coalesce into a recognizable form; a whirling ball of power.

Now for the hard part…

He put all his focus into stabilizing the sphere. Jolts of energy arced from its surface, but after a few seconds they began to subside. His confidence growing, Jiraiya cautiously began to remove his left hand from the top of the sphere…

…only for the whole damn thing to explode right in his face.

"Ah!" he cried out as he was blown backwards.

He fell flat on his back a few feet away from where he'd been sitting. Picking himself up, he went over to a nearby stream to survey the damage. Thankfully, it didn't look that bad; his face had a few minor scorch marks and bits of his hair had been blackened, but it was nothing permanent. He couldn't help but smirk as he studied his reflection.

"Man, if Naruto could see me now…" he muttered.

"Another misfire," said a familiar male voice from behind him.

Jiraiya turned around and laughed when he saw Itachi. "Yup! It's a good thing my star pupil's not here; he'd never let me hear the end of this!"

Itachi nodded. "The Fourth Hokage's jutsu… you've been working on this for some time now."

Jiraiya sighed. "It's a lot harder pulling off the Rasengan with spirit energy than with chakra. You'd think after five years I'd be able to manage it, but the containment bit's still throwing me for a loop."

"Perhaps," said Itachi, "Still, that misfire was much more powerful than the last time I saw you practice. If nothing else, you seem to be putting more than sufficient energy into the technique."

"Power's the easy part," said Jiraiya, "It's keeping all the energy coherent and stable long enough to make a useful attack out of it that's the issue. Spirit energy appears to be more volatile than chakra when manipulated like this."

"It also appears to be more powerful, though," Itachi pointed out, "Once you remaster the containment portion of the jutsu, you'll have a strong technique at your disposal."

Jiraiya smiled. "That's what I'm hoping for. It'll be a handy little surprise in a fight, especially if something happens to my Zanpakutō. I'm getting close; it won't be too much longer before I have it nailed down."

Itachi nodded. "I see. You should get yourself cleaned up; we'll be moving on shortly."

"Don't worry," said Jiraiya, "I won't fall behind."

As Itachi headed back towards the main group, Jiraiya took a minute to wash his face in the stream. The midday sun's reflection gleamed on the water's surface, and a pleasant breeze blew through the air.

It's nice to be out in The Wild again, he thought, Sure, the Seireitei's pretty and all, but it can feel a little confining at times, especially when you're stuck in the Academy.

They'd left the Squad Two barracks well before dawn and had been travelling for quite some time already. Even though this was by no means the full might of Yoruichi's division, it was still a formidable travelling group of about three dozen officers and unseated Soul Reapers. The same number of Soul Reapers from Squad Twelve had met them at the Northern Black Ridge Gate, and from there they had set off. They'd cleared the Rukon District through a series of Flash Steps, and while Jiraiya's proficiency in the technique had improved considerably over the years he wouldn't deny that it had been a serious bit of exercise. Their pace had slowed once they were out in The Wild proper, and they had followed the Great Northern Trade Road ever since. This was their first break since setting out, and Jiraiya had a feeling that Yoruichi and Kirio were doing it more for the sake of him and his fellow students than their own Soul Reapers.

I don't think we're that slow. Well, at least not Itachi and I. Actually, Visaelya's come along quite well too.

I didn't think you were the type to look a gift break in the mouth like this.

Jiraiya smirked as he imagined the quizzical look on the face of the spirit of his Zanpakutō. He still hadn't learned his name, but he had definitely learned more about his weapon, and these mental conversations had actually become quite intriguing to engage in over the years.

I just don't want to be patronized. I mean, compared to when I was alive, I feel like a young man again!

Finding new youth in death… that somehow is not surprising for the likes of you. Still, you are surely wise enough to recognize that you have limitations.

Of course. I just wish that they'd give students like us a little more credit.

Dusting himself off, he went over to rejoin the rest of the group. Itachi and Visaelya had already picked up their travel packs and donned the cloaks they'd been given before setting out. It only took Jiraiya a moment to do the same. They weren't nearly far enough north to need the cloaks yet, but the fabric felt nice and Jiraiya could appreciate the work that must've gone into them.

Visaelya raised an eyebrow as he approached. "What was that loud noise we heard earlier? Was that you messing around with that weird Kidō spell of yours again?"

Jiraiya chuckled. "Caught me red handed!"

Visaelya shook her head. "I swear, you are incredibly stubborn. How many times does it have to blow up in your face before you take the hint and give up? Whatever you're trying to do, it clearly cannot become a viable combat spell!"

Jiraiya smirked. "Oh, is that what you think, Little Miss Vissy? In that case, I can't wait to prove you wrong!"

Visaelya scowled at him. "How many times do I have to tell you to stop calling me that? It's annoying and condescending!"

Jiraiya grinned. "Are you sure you're not describing yourself there?"

Visaelya huffed as she folded her arms. "Insolent oaf! You have all the wit of an upstart child!"

Jiraiya laughed; it was all too easy to get under his classmate's skin, and he really just couldn't help himself. "Come on, Visaelya! You really need to learn to lighten up and enjoy some banter. I hope your whole clan's not as stiff as you are."

Visaelya scowled. "The demeanor of the Drakken Clan is none of your concern!"

There was fresh laughter as Shisui approached them. "Nice to see the march hasn't drained too much of your energy!"

"Tenth Seat Uchiha!" said Visaelya as she snapped to attention.

Shisui smiled at her. "Visaelya, what did I tell you yesterday? Just call me Shisui, all right?"

Her posture relaxed somewhat, and Jiraiya couldn't help but notice a slight hint of red in her face. "Oh, right… of course."

She's got a sweet spot for him, he thought with a smirk, I guess that's not too surprising since he saved her life.

"Are the Captains ready to move on?" asked Itachi.

"Just about," said Shisui, "Captain Shihōin's having Soi-Fon conduct a little reconnaissance. She should be back any time now."

"There shouldn't be any threats out here, right?" asked Visaelya, "I know we're in The Wild now, but we're still not too far from the Rukon District."

Shisui shook his head. "No, but it pays to be careful. You never know when you'll find a Hollow or two around here, after all."

Visaelya raised an eyebrow. "This close to the Rukon District? I didn't think they were that bold."

"You'd be surprised," said Itachi, "After all, the night we met Captains Shihōin and Unohana was in the middle of a Hollow attack all the way in West Rukon 37."

"But that was five years ago," Visaelya replied, "The Thirteen Court Guard Squads would surely have tightened up their patrols to make sure no Hollows made it in that far since then."

Shisui sighed. "We've made efforts on that front, but unfortunately it's not that simple. The Rukon District's simply too big to properly police at our current level of strength. We need more manpower."

Jiraiya smiled. "Well, given the sizes of the classes currently in the Academy, I think your shortage of Soul Reapers will be lessened soon enough."

Shisui nodded. "I hope you're right."

"You four ready to hit the road?" called a familiar female voice.

Jiraiya and the others turned to see Yoruichi approaching with Soi-Fon at her side. He'd expected to see Kirio with her at well, but the Squad Twelve Captain was nowhere in sight.

"Captain Shihōin!" cried Visaelya as she stiffened to attention again.

Yoruichi smiled. "At ease, Miss Drakken. I hope you all got a chance to rest up."

Itachi nodded. "We're ready to move out on your order."

Jiraiya looked around. "Where's Captain Hikifune?"

Yoruichi giggled. "Indulging."

Visaelya raised an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Kirio's got a bit of a sweet tooth," said Yoruichi, "However, she doesn't like to have an audience when her cravings hit. She'll probably pop out of the woodwork any second now…"

"You were saying, Yoruichi?" said Kirio as she came out from behind a tree with her arms folded, "You know it's not polite to gossip about your fellow Captains."

Yoruichi smirked as she pointed at Kirio. "You missed a spot."

Kirio's eyes widened as she put a finger to her cheek and found a hint of chocolate. "Oh… well… thank you."

"Anytime," said Yoruichi with a grin, "Ready to hit the road, Sugar Queen?"

Kirio glared at her. "How many times have I told you never to call me that? And in front of the students, too? Sometimes you truly are the worst, Yoruichi!"

Yoruichi laughed. "Hey, I need to have fun where I can find it! Besides, you make it too easy, Kirio."

Squad Twelve's Captain gave her a fiendish smirk. "In that case, you'd better watch your back, Yoruichi. I'll find some way to get back at you."

"I'm shaking in my sandals," Yoruichi replied, "Ready get a move on? We've still got a lot of ground to cover before nightfall."

Kirio nodded. "Yes. I'll make sure my subordinates are prepared. Are the three of you ready?"

Jiraiya knew that she was referring to him and his fellow students. "I suppose, but a little sugar for the road couldn't hurt. Care to share, Captain Sugar Queen?"

Yoruichi laughed again, and even Kirio looked mildly amused. "Your reputation for boldness in the face of powerful women is not without merit, I see. Best be careful, Jiraiya; I may not be Captain Unohana, but you may still find that you're biting off more than you can chew with me."

Jiraiya grinned. "Well, I'm always up for a challenge!"

Kirio smiled. "Indeed? I'll keep that in mind. That being said, I'm afraid I won't be sharing my stash with you, charming boldness notwithstanding; I need this to last me the rest of the mission, after all."

"She's not kidding," said Yoruichi, "I've seen her on a sugar dry-spell, and it's not pretty. She's not so fun when she's craving a fix."

"Good to know," said Jiraiya.

Yoruichi looked at the students for a moment before turning to Shisui. "You'll be taking point for the next stretch. Don't worry about these three; I'll keep an eye on them."

Shisui nodded. "Understood, Captain."

"Be careful up ahead," said Soi-Fon, "I didn't find anything on my scouting run, but The Wild is treacherous."

"I've handled The Wild before, Soi-Fon," Shisui replied with a smirk, "I think I'll be fine."

"Stay safe!" cried Visaelya, yet another hint of a blush on her cheeks.

Shisui gave her a smile. "Don't worry, I will be."

"All right, then," said Yoruichi, "Time to move out!"

….

Several days later…

Save for those assigned to the night watch, most of the combined expeditionary group had turned in for the evening. Itachi wasn't among them. He had quietly slipped off towards the perimeter of the encampment and was sitting on a rock overlooking a river. None of the students had been given watch duties since they still weren't official members of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, and while Itachi knew he should be resting he also knew that it would be some time before he'd been able to do so. The night was peaceful and downright beautiful, with no clouds whatsoever to obscure the brilliant moon and sea of stars above.

Itachi could only wish that the tranquility of this display was matched by his heart, but alas that was not the case. Peace eluded him, as it had for years now.

As it had since the night he'd murdered his family.

A night that had been replayed in his dreams every night since then.

It was frankly a miracle that he could get any sleep at all. In life, Itachi had known that there were forms of medication capable of inducing dreamless sleep, but he had not partaken in them. He would not do so in his afterlife, either. The images of the blood-spattered floors and walls of the Uchiha compound that made up his nightmares were part of the sentence that had been imposed upon him for his actions, and he would take no measure to alleviate them. In his mind, he deserved to live with the horror of what he had done for the rest of his existence.

"I seem to recall giving you orders to hit the hay," said a familiar female voice from behind him, "I didn't think you were the type to disobey orders, Itachi."

He looked over his shoulder and saw Yoruichi approaching. He hadn't detected so much as a hint of her spiritual pressure before, and he wasn't sure if that was because he was distracted or because she was just that skilled at concealing her presence.

"My apologies," he said, "I meant no disrespect."

She smiled as she came up to him and leaned against the boulder he was sitting on. "It's all right; I'm not the type to take that personally. Besides, it's not like this is the first time."

Itachi raised his eyebrow. "I beg your pardon?"

She wagged her finger at him like a teacher chastising a pupil. "Don't think I haven't noticed; you've snuck off to the perimeter of our encampments every night since our journey's started. I've let it slide up until now because I thought you were simply meditating or observing the surroundings; The Wild's got plenty of lovely scenery even in the middle of the night, after all. You've never wandered far, either, so I knew you weren't in any danger. Still, there's an undeniable pattern here… one that's carrying over from the Academy."

Itachi was taken aback by that; he thought he'd been much more careful about slipping out of the Academy dormitories in the past. "How did you know?"

"Elements of the Stealth Force are assigned to help out with security at the Academy," said Yoruichi, "They don't reveal themselves unless absolutely necessary. Think of them as an ace in the hole just in case a student or two gets funny ideas and the regular staff can't handle them."

Itachi nodded. "Makes sense. Given that the Academy courses are all about learning to harness our latent abilities, it would be prudent to take necessary measures in the event that students become drunk on their own power and seek to cause harm to others."

Yoruichi smiled. "Nice to see you're so understanding about matters like these."

Itachi closes his eyes for a moment. "Matters of security and surveillance are not foreign to me. Quite the opposite, in fact."

When he opened them again and met her gaze he was struck by the uncharacteristically hesitant look in her eyes. He was so used to seeing that confident and mischievous light in them that he wasn't entirely sure what to make of what almost looked like nervousness.

"Listen," she said cautiously, "I'm sure it's been brought up to you before, but it's considered poor etiquette among the aristocracy for us to ask souls like you about your past life. Who you were before coming to the Soul Society and who you are while you're here are supposed to be considered two different entities. However, from what I've seen from you… if I had to hazard a guess, I'd say that making a clean break between the two would be a case of easier said than done for you."

He took a moment to weigh his response. She was right on the mark, but while he respected her skills and knew that he owed her his life he was reluctant to go into too much detail on the shadows that haunted his past.

"That's… one way to put it," he said softly.

She smiled again, and he found the sympathy in her eyes to be quite soothing. "I thought so. It's not my place to pry, and I'll respect your privacy if you wish, but if there's anything you want to get off your chest, I've got time."

He was surprised at just how tempting that offer was. His desire to keep his darkest acts buried ultimately won out over the sudden urge to confess, but it was a much closer contest than he otherwise might've expected.

"I appreciate the offer," he said, "I don't mean any disrespect, but for now… I'd prefer to deal with this on my own."

Yoruichi nodded. "I understand. It doesn't appear to have affected your studies or your bearing on our mission so far, so I'll let it go for now. However, if this keeps up and I start to notice your performance slipping, I won't drop the matter so easily."

"Understood," Itachi replied.

She yawned and stretched her arms, the motion looking almost catlike. "Well, I'm going to get some sleep. Don't stay up all night, you got that? I want you to at least get some rest before we hit the road tomorrow."

"I will," said Itachi, "Thank you… Yoruichi."

She smiled. "Anytime, Itachi."

….

A few days later…

Huddling inside her cloak, Visaelya brushed a handful of snowflakes from her hair. She knew that the northern lands experienced the occasional spring snowfall but getting used to it was another thing entirely.

I've spent too much time in the Seireitei, she thought, I didn't realize how much I needed a field expedition like this until now. If I'm going to become a proper Soul Reaper, I can't let something like a little late-spring snow bother me.

Cold aside, Visaelya couldn't help but admit that the northern parts of The Wild had a certain rugged beauty about them. The snowcapped Whitefell Mountains loomed prominently up ahead, far larger now than they had been earlier in their journey. Tall fir trees dominated the lands surrounding the road, their branches sagging slightly under the weight of fresh powder. The gentle murmur of a running stream was coming from somewhere to the east of the road just out of sight. The air was crisp and clean to the point that it actually felt quite rejuvenating despite the temperature drop.

She had to smile as she took it all in. The Drakken Clan might boast of the exquisite eastern coastlines that formed the backdrop of their Principality, but the northern lands had a special charm of their own. It was a lovely change of scenery, more than worth the long journey.

"It's really something else, isn't it?" asked a familiar male voice from behind her.

Visaelya nearly jumped out of her cloak, and her face burned fiercely as Shisui came up beside her. "T-tenth Seat Uchiha!"

Shisui smiled and laughed. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. By the way, don't you remember what I said before about dropping the formalities?"

Visaelya's blush increased in intensity. "Oh, right… sorry."

"Don't worry about it," he said, "Still, don't get lost in the beauty out here. This is still The Wild, after all; take it lightly and it will be the last thing you do."

Visaelya nodded. "Understood… Shisui."

"How are you holding up?" he asked, "You've been keeping pace pretty well throughout the trip, but I imagine it can't be easy for a student, even one as talented as yourself."

Visaelya smiled, pleased by his praise. "I appreciate your concern, but I'm all right. I've been practicing my Shunpo quite a bit to improve my endurance, and it's not like we've been using the technique this whole trip. I can go as far as the Captains need us to."

"Glad to hear it," Shisui replied, "How does it feel being out this way? We're not in the Starmont Clan's Principality, but their borders are in the lands beyond the Whitefell Mountains."

"I've never been this close to the Starmont Clan's ancestral homelands," Visaelya admitted, "My parents always insisted that the Drakken Clan's Principality was the only one that I should ever visit in my lifetime."

"Seems a little closeminded to me," said Shisui, "You should take the chances you get to travel and see as much of the world as possible. Between the Soul Society and the Realms of the Living, the universe has a lot to offer."

"Perhaps," said Visaelya, "but we do not become Soul Reapers so we can travel."

Shisui smiled. "I know, but there's no harm in taking advantage of a far-flung mission like this one when the opportunity arises. Distant lands have much to offer, even if it may not be apparent at first glance."

Visaelya bowed her head. "That's very true. You are quite wise… Shisui."

Shisui chuckled. "Who, me? I'm not sure if I'd go that far. Maybe Itachi, but me… well, I just do the best I can."

Visaelya raised an eyebrow. "Really? You seem far more knowledgeable than him."

"That's only because I've been in the Soul Society longer than him," Shisui pointed out, "I've got a much better lay of the land and culture here than he does, although he's a quick study. As far as life experience goes, we've both seen quite a bit, whether it's in the Soul Society or the Shinobi World."

Visaelya's eyes widened. "The Shinobi World? That's the realm of the living you and Itachi are from?"

"Don't forget Jiraiya," Shisui added, "Of the three of us, he was actually the most well-known there, and for good reason. He was a powerful sage and warrior, and from what he and Itachi have told me it seems he grew even stronger after my death. It would've been nice to have the chance to meet him while I was alive, but I guess the afterlife works too."

Visaelya blushed again, her upbringing as a member of the nobility causing her to instinctively recoil from the subject of Shisui's past life even as her curiosity was only further inflamed. The rules of etiquette that had been ingrained in to her were telling her to change the subject, but her desire to learn more about the man that had saved her life was begging for her to not let this opportunity go to waste.

"Hey, are you all right?" he asked, "Cat got your tongue? You're looking a little red there, Visaelya."

His mentioning that certainly didn't help matters, but Visaelya did her best to reassert control over her expression. "Oh… I'm fine. Sorry, I was just… processing that, I suppose. I mean, I've heard of the Shinobi World, but from what I understand actual Soul Reaper missions to that particular Realm of the Living are uncommon."

Shisui nodded. "That's right. It's because it has a lower overall population than many other worlds, particularly the one known as Terra. There's a long-term observation post for that area held by an assigned Soul Reaper, but reinforcements typically aren't sent unless they fail to send the regular Hell Butterfly update."

"I see," said Visaelya, "That's standard procedure for many Realms of the Living, right?"

"It is," Shisui answered, "However, to be honest, I think the Shinobi World could use a little more attention from the Soul Society than what it currently gets."

Visaelya raised an eyebrow. "Really? What makes you say that?"

"I suppose part of it might simply be personal bias," he admitted, "but not all of it. Itachi, Jiraiya and I… we know full well just how violent that world can get. The amount of lives lost due to senseless warfare and petty rivalries is beyond count, which means you have a lot of souls filled with anger and regret that were unable to properly pass on to the Soul Society. I'd like to think that whichever Soul Reaper's been assigned to that particular world is able to recognize when they need help in dealing with mass casualty events, but I don't know if that's actually the case. The few missions I've seen that deal with that Realm of the Living would seem to indicate that it's not given a very high level of priority."

"Have you brought these concerns to Captain Shihōin?" asked Visaelya.

Shisui nodded. "I have. She does agree with my assessment but acting on it's another case entirely. Even with both Squad Two and the Stealth Force under her command, the manpower at her disposal is just too limited. We're slammed with missions from the Head Captain and Central Forty-Six as it is, and the Shinobi World's just not a Realm of the Living that they can be convinced deserves closer scrutiny."

"That must be frustrating," said Visaelya, "More than any division, Squad Two and the Stealth Force are the ones most responsible for identifying areas of concern so that the Thirteen Court Guard Squads can properly allocate resources. To have your expertise ignored because a particular Realm of the Living is not considered of high importance by those in the top ranks is an insult to your hard work and dedication."

Shisui smiled. "I'm glad to see you're on our side in this matter. It is what it is, though; we made our case and the powers that be decided it wasn't good enough. All we can do is keep going on the missions they assign us while gathering evidence in the hopes of someday being able to change their minds."

"Do you think you'll be able to do so eventually?" she asked.

"I hope so," said Shisui, "Otherwise things could get ugly. There are plenty of powerful fighters in the Shinobi World, and more than enough of them meet bad ends that the risk of them becoming Hollows is considerable. Given some of the beasts that I've tangled with since becoming an active Soul Reaper, the thought of those monsters acquiring certain traits of former Shinobi is… well, it's not pleasant."

Visaelya had no experience with the Shinobi World apart from what she'd heard in passing, but the grim look in Shisui's eyes was all she needed to appreciate just how seriously he took the matter. If a veteran officer was concerned about something like this, then the disinclination of the Head Captain and the Central Forty-Six regarding concrete action was all the more perplexing.

The field reports of officers are supposed to carry considerable weight, she thought, or at least, that's what we've been taught in class. Shisui's taken his concerns to his Captain and she's passed them up the chain of command in the standard procedure, yet the potential threat that they've recognized here is being ignored by their superiors. This isn't how the Soul Society is supposed to function…

"Hey, what's wrong?" asked Shisui, "I didn't say something that upset you, did I?"

Visaelya shook her head. "No, not at all! I'm just trying to put everything you've told me into the context of our Academy lessons. It would seem that I still have much to learn."

Shisui smiled. "Well, I think you'll do just fine. You've got a good head on your shoulders; don't let anyone else tell you otherwise."

Naturally, his praise caused her to blush again. "Oh… thank you."

"Don't mention it," he said, "It'll serve you well once we reach our destination."

Visaelya nodded. "I hope so. Speaking of which, how much further do we have to go?"

"Just a few more miles now, give or take," he replied, "We'll be there with plenty of daylight to spare. I hope you're ready to hit the ground running, because if I know the Captain she's going to want us to survey the place as soon as we arrive."

Visaelya smiled. "Understood. I won't let her down."

….

The Whitefell Mountains loomed imposingly overhead as Yoruichi and Kirio led the expedition into the ravine that held their final destination. Even though they were only in the foothills at the base of the mountain range their altitude had increased considerably. The air was cooler and a little thinner, but the two Captains had no problem with it. The snowfall had become slightly thicker as well, but Yoruichi wasn't overly concerned; a little cold-climate survival practice never hurt anyone, and her division had prepared quite well before setting out on their mission.

"A rather dreary place, isn't it?" asked Kirio as she studied the dull gray cliffs on either side of them.

Yoruichi smiled. "Oh, I don't know about that. It'd be pretty fun to conduct some search and destroy exercises in these foothills."

Kirio rolled her eyes. "You would say that."

Yoruichi giggled. "Come on, Kirio, you don't have to hide it; I know how excited you are to be out here. After all, we're about to unlock a treasure trove of rare artifacts. I'm surprised you're not drooling already."

Kirio smiled. "Fair enough. I imagine Hiyori would be chomping at the bit to break into the barrow already."

"Speaking of your Lieutenant, why didn't you bring her along?" asked Yoruichi, "I know she can be a bit temperamental, but she's still talented. She's more useful than my Lieutenant, that's for sure."

"I certainly won't argue with that," said Kirio, "However, I did need someone to mind the barracks while I was gone. That's the same role you have your Lieutenant in right now, correct?"

Yoruichi nodded. "Yes, and despite my personal distaste for Ōmaeda I'll admit that he is capable enough as far as administration is concerned. That doesn't really sound like Hiyori's cup of tea, though. Was there another reason you left her behind?"

Kirio sighed. "Truth be told, I was worried about her and the students. She's not a patient woman, and while our three trainees are quite talented I fear that wouldn't be enough for her. Hiyori has her gifts, but mentoring is not one of them."

"I see," said Yoruichi, "Well, she's your Lieutenant, not mine. I just hope the officers you did bring along are up for the job."

Kirio nodded. "They may not be quite as talented as your Third Seat, but I can assure you that they're more than capable."

A moment later Soi-Fon came out of a Flash Step in front of the two of them. "Lady Yoruichi, Captain Hikifune; we found it!"

Yoruichi grinned. "Excellent! Is Kisuke there?"

Soi-Fon nodded. "He's examining the entrance as we speak. He said he would need a little bit of time to fully analyze the barrier before we could take it down."

"That's fine," said Yoruichi, "We can set up camp while he checks it out. Is there a good spot up ahead for that?"

"Yes, Lady Yoruichi," said Soi-Fon, "I'll show you. Please, follow me."

A few Flash Steps later the three of them reached the end of the ravine. The overhanging cliffs appeared sturdy enough and offered decent shelter from the weather, and there was plenty of space available. A cave entrance was visible at the far end, and Yoruichi assumed that the barrow entrance was somewhere inside.

"Here," said Soi-Fon as she gestured to the area, "It's reasonably defensible and offers some protection from the elements. Heavy snowfall could be a problem, though."

Kirio shook her head. "We should be all right. The snow's pretty light this time of year. Besides, if it comes down to it, there are plenty of Kidō spells capable of clearing out packed snow in a hurry."

Yoruichi nodded. "True, although using some kinds of Hadō on snow might be a bit overkill."

Kirio smiled. "Well, if nothing else, it would be fun to watch the powder fly."

Yoruichi had to smirk at that. "Good point. Well, let's get everyone to work setting up camp. The sooner we get settled in, the sooner we can meet up with Kisuke and start tackling that barrier."

"It might take some time, Lady Yoruichi," said Soi-Fon, "From what I could sense, it appeared to be a very powerful defensive spell sealing the entrance. I think even the Kidō Corps might have trouble with it."

Yoruichi smiled. "Don't underestimate Kisuke. He'll figure out how to crack it. Count on it."

Soi-Fon nodded. "Very well, Lady Yoruichi."

The three of them set about overseeing their subordinates as they established their campsite. She was pleased to see the three students joining in without much in the way of disorientation; they were adapting very well to life in the field.

They're definitely going to be the hot items by the time next year's graduation comes around, she thought, I'm going to have to give it my all to at least get Itachi into Squad Two's ranks. I wouldn't mind bagging Jiraiya and Visaelya as well, but I guess I shouldn't get greedy.

Pretending to observe the members of both divisions as they set up shop, Yoruichi casually drifted towards Itachi. He seemed to be working naturally with the members of her unit, which she definitely took as a good sign. If he was worn out from all the days they'd spent on the road to make it here he certainly didn't show it. At the same time, she could also sense that he was maintaining his situational awareness; even in an area that had already been cleared by Soul Reapers, he wasn't letting his guard down.

He truly was a natural. It almost felt like a waste to have him wait another year before he could finally leave the Academy. At this point further instruction seemed redundant; he already had what it took to be a Soul Reaper. The only instruction that could offer any practical means of improving his abilities at this point were more field missions and the specialized training that a division's barracks and senior officers could provide.

Training that she wouldn't mind personally providing once she'd recruited him.

It's official; there's definitely something about him, she thought as she headed his way, I can't remember getting this excited over any other potential recruit in the past. The closest that comes to mind is Soi-Fon, but that was more about helping her develop her talents as my bodyguard and friend. With Itachi, it feels… different… somehow.

It was hard for her put into words. The incredible talent that he'd displayed since she'd first met him definitely played a part, but there was more to it than that. Her conversation with him from a few nights ago hadn't been far from her mind as they'd continued their march, and as she replayed it yet again in her head she couldn't help but recognize something she'd missed the first time around; the sorrow in his eyes when his past life had come up as a topic. He'd displayed an incredible amount of control at the time, but even then Yoruichi had caught hints of what must've been a deep pain that he was keeping buried inside him.

She couldn't help but feel somewhat responsible for that. The codes of etiquette that made inquiring into the past of a soul from the Realms of the Living a taboo subject might've been a product of an archaic aristocracy, but at the same time Yoruichi knew that they existed for a good reason. Whatever experiences in his past life that had led to Itachi becoming so knowledgeable in the arts of combat, stealth and surveillance had clearly taken their toll on him, and she ran the risk of reopening old wounds each time she attempted to prod and learn more. By rights she knew that it wasn't her place to pry into something so personal, but she wanted to dig deeper just the same.

It wouldn't be hard to justify it on a professional level. After all, given how keen she was to get him into her division, it was natural that she would want to know more about him so that she could determine how best to integrate him into Squad Two's operations. It was important to have a solid understanding of not only his talents but also who he was as a person in order to make sure that he could continue to grow under her command and come into his own as a member of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. Any personal demons that he was wrestling with could have a negative impact on his ability to carry out his duties, and as a Captain it was her duty to recognize that and confront it appropriately.

However, this went beyond the level of professional duty. Itachi was still a student, and even if he was a recruit that Yoruichi had her eyes she knew that her interest in him was beyond the level of talent scouting or even mentoring. She genuinely wanted to know more about him as a person, and she had for some time.

At least since the soul fracture incident…

…and quite likely even before that.

But why?

She didn't have a concrete answer. There were a few notions running through her mind, some of them intriguing, but she couldn't put her finger on anything definitive as of yet. There was plenty of time to work that out, though, and since she was out in the field she knew that she had more pressing matters to deal with at the moment.

Itachi turned to acknowledge her approach a few seconds later. "Is there something I can do for you, Captain?"

She smiled. "Hey, now, what did I tell you about me and formality? You can relax, Itachi."

"Is it really all right to be informal at a time like this?" he asked, "We are in the field, and this is a mission."

Yoruichi nodded. "I'll decide when the time's right for you to be formal with me, all right? Right now, I want you to ease up. Consider that an order."

"Very well, then… Yoruichi," he said.

She smirked. "There, that wasn't so hard, was it?"

"I suppose not," he replied, "What can I do for you?"

"You can tell me how you're holding up," she said, "We had quite the hike to get here... and you got less sleep than the others."

He nodded, understanding clear in his eyes. "I'm still fit for duty. I'm not about to let my evening reflections get in the way of the mission."

She couldn't detect any signs of weariness, so for now she was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. "All right, then. Anyway, you can leave the rest of the camp setup to the others. Come with me."

He looked puzzled. "What for?"

Yoruichi grinned. "We came all the way out here for the barrow, right? Seeing as how you're the top student in your class, I figure it's only right that you get the first peek at the entrance. Consider it a reward for all your hard work."

"What about Jiraiya and Visaelya?" asked Itachi.

Yoruichi shrugged. "They'll get their chance soon enough. Come on; you should get a good look before a crowd starts to gather back there."

Itachi nodded. "Very well, then… and thanks."

"Anytime," she replied, "Let's move!"

They didn't utilize Shunpo, but Yoruichi nonetheless set a relatively brisk pace as she led him to the entrance of the cave at the back of the ravine. She the held out her right hand with the palm facing upwards.

"Bakudō 3: Hakkō Gaido!" she called out.

Once the small blue-white orb situated itself over her head, providing sufficient illumination, Yoruichi led the way into the cave. It only took a few minutes to reach their objective, but even though she'd known what to expect she still couldn't help but whistle when she caught sight of it.

"They really built 'em big back then, didn't they?" she said.

"Impressive," said Itachi.

The far end of the cavern had opened up considerably and built into the stone at the back was a set of large doors. They were at least the size of a two-story house, quite possible taller, and she could only imagine how thick they were. Torches carved into the cavern wall on either side illuminated the doors with eerie blue-green flames, allowing Yoruichi and Itachi to study the intricate designs carved into them. The upper half was dominated by a nine-pointed star, while the images of four armored warriors were engraved beneath it. She caught sight of Kisuke standing off to the side and led Itachi towards him. Her Third Seat looked up and smiled as they approached.

"Quite the sight, isn't it?" he asked.

Yoruichi smiled. "You could say that."

"Did you light the torches or were they like this before you arrived?" asked Itachi.

"The latter," Kisuke answered, "In fact, I'm willing to bet that these things have remained lit since the barrow was first sealed."

Yoruichi raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

Kisuke nodded. "Yup. There are traces of powerful spirit energy in the flames; whoever cast them wanted to make sure that they lasted through the ages. I'd certainly say they succeeded."

Itachi gestured at the door. "Who are the figures there?"

Kisuke shook his head. "No idea. Kirio might know something about that; she's studied more of the history of the old kingdom than I have. I've just been trying to recreate their Kidō spells."

"Speaking of which, what about the one on the doors?" asked Yoruichi, "What kind of barrier are we looking at?"

Kisuke smiled. "A very impressive one, if I do say so myself. Go ahead and see for yourself; fire a spell at the doors."

Yoruichi smirked. "Are you sure? I might just blast the whole thing apart."

Kisuke chuckled. "Trust me; it's made of sturdier stuff than you might think."

Yoruichi grinned; she was always up for a challenge. "All right, then. Don't say I didn't warn you!"

She held out her right hand with the palm facing the doors. "Hadō 33: Sōkatsui!"

A blast of blue flames discharge from her palm and slammed into the doors. There was a near-blinding flash as the energy from the attack spell and the barrier collided, but as Yoruichi narrowed her eyes she was able to see the power from her strike disperse along the shield. The blue energy was channeled into nine specific points; three along the middle where the doors met, three on the far-right side of the doorway, and three on the left. Those nine points glowed as they gathered the blue energy from her spell before dimming again.

"Interesting," she said as the light faded, "It looks like a multi-node absorption barrier. That's some seriously high-level spell casting right there!"

Kisuke nodded. "Yup. A simple offensive spell like the one you used merely has its energy divided amongst the nodes once it hits the barrier. The power from the spell is then used to fuel the barrier; every time you attack, you actually make it stronger."

"Fascinating," Itachi murmured, "Our Kidō instructor has never made any mention of such a defensive technique before."

"It's not something your typical Soul Reaper can pull off," said Yoruichi, "It requires an extremely intricate knowledge of Kidō in order to properly cast, not to mention an insane amount of power. You usually need multiple casters working in concert, and it can't be set up on the fly so you can't really use it in battle. I think Tessai can pull it off, but not without a lot of prep time."

"He can do it, but it takes some serious work for him to set it up," Kisuke confirmed, "I don't think I've ever seen him do it outside of the tests we've run together. Multi-node absorption barriers are really only good for something you're looking to protect long term."

"Like fortifications," said Itachi, "or a tomb."

"Correct on the second, not so much on the first," said Kisuke, "Multi-node absorption barriers are only really effective over a limited area. You can try to add more nodes as you stretch the barrier further, but eventually it collapses under the weight of its own complexity and power. Besides, the knowledge required to set these things up is pretty obscure; apart from Tessai and a few others, the technique is just not practiced in the modern era. It was much more prominent in the old kingdom, though."

Itachi nodded. "I see. So, how do you take it down?"

"Well, the easiest way is to find the original caster or casters and have them dispel it," Kisuke replied, "Unfortunately for us, given the age of this tomb said casters are long dead. That leaves us two options; brute force or subtlety."

"Kirio and I could pull off the first," said Yoruichi, "I bet if we blast the walls on either side of the doorway we could punch our way into the barrow. However, we could cause a cave-in and get us all killed, not to mention damage or destroy the artifacts that we're after."

"Subtlety sounds preferable," said Itachi dryly, "Any ideas?"

"A few," said Kisuke, "I need more time to probe the barrier, though."

"How much time?" asked Yoruichi.

Kisuke studied the doors for a moment before turning to her again. "Mind if I make this an all-nighter? I just want to be sure that I'm not missing anything. I should have a solution for you by morning."

Yoruichi shrugged. "I don't see why not. We came all this way, and I'm sure everyone else could use a break. If you're willing to work overnight on this, then have at it, Kisuke. If you need help, you know where to find the rest of us."

Kisuke smiled. "Don't worry. By the time you finish breakfast tomorrow morning I'll have figured out our way inside!"

Yoruichi grinned. "I'll be holding you to that! Catch you later, Kisuke."

"Are you sure this is all right?" asked Itachi as the two of them turned around and headed for the mouth of the cavern.

Yoruichi smirked. "A student questioning a Captain? You are a bold one, Itachi!"

He bowed politely. "I meant no offense."

"And I didn't take any," she replied, "so don't worry about it. I just so happen to agree with you that subtlety is preferable for this situation, and I don't mind waiting another night for it to bear fruit. If Kisuke says that he'll have a solution by morning, that's all I need to hear. He wouldn't brag like that on an important mission like this if he couldn't back it up."

"So, what do we do now?" he asked.

"We grab some dinner and take a load off," said Yoruichi, "Kirio will probably come back here later to help Kisuke out; she tends to like puzzles such as this one. Between the two of them, I'm sure they'll get us into the barrow. After that, it's just a matter of surveying for boobytraps and taking inventory."

Itachi nodded. "What kind of traps should we be expecting?"

Yoruichi rubbed her chin in thought. "Good question. Data on the inner workings of Andunayan barrows is rather scarce. We might have some old-fashioned spike pits or giant stone balls to deal with, or there could be something more complex. Based on the kind of barrier they got at the entrance, the latter wouldn't surprise me."

"How do you intend to deal with them?" asked Itachi.

Yoruichi grinned. "Believe it or not, that's actually part of the reason why I brought Shisui along. He may be a gifted fighter and scout, but I've also noted over the years that he's got a real knack for sniffing out ambushes and other nasty surprises. He'll be on point once we breach the barrow. Kirio and I have already briefed him over every bit of knowledge in our possession regarding tombs like this; the rest will be up to him."

"I see," said Itachi quietly.

Yoruichi sighed. "Look, I know you two are friends, so I won't blame you if you've got reservations about the role I have for him in this plan. I wouldn't ask this of Shisui if I didn't trust his abilities."

She was surprised to actually see a small smile appear on his face. "No, it's all right. In fact, I happen to completely agree with you. Back when we were alive, Shisui and I trained together and fought side by side several times. I know what he's capable of, and I'm sure his skills have only improved since then. The mission you've picked for him is one that I know he'll accomplish."

Yoruichi smiled, both relieved and flattered by Itachi's praise of her Tenth Seat. "I'm glad you feel that way. Thanks, Itachi."

"You're Squad Two's Captain and Shisui's superior officer," Itachi replied, "If Shisui is willing to place his life in your hands, then that's enough for me. I trust his judgment and yours."

She studied him closely. "You two really were good friends back when you were alive, weren't you? Shisui's always spoken highly of you, and it's good to see that the feeling's mutual."

Itachi closed his eyes. "We were. To be honest… I believe we died in the wrong order. I should've been the one to pass on first; Shisui had so much more to offer the world than I did. Had he lived longer… a great many things might've been changed for the better."

Yoruichi shook her head and placed her hand on his shoulder. "Itachi, please, don't talk like that. It's true that I haven't known Shisui very long, and you even less, but I've already seen enough to know that you're both remarkable young men. Both of you were taken from your Realm of the Living far earlier than you should've been. I can't change the past, but I can offer both of you a second chance. Life in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads isn't easy, but I firmly believe that the two of you could do far greater good here than you ever could in life. Our actions do not just affect the afterlife, but all of creation. The ripples may be subtle, but one way or the other they are felt. Your life has just as much value as Shisui's; never say otherwise again. Do you understand?"

He smiled again, although she could detect a hint of melancholy behind it. "Is that an order?"

"Yes," said Yoruichi, "and it's one I'll make sure to enforce once you join my division. Your second life has just begun, Itachi, and I want you to make the most of it."

Itachi nodded. "Very well, then. I'll keep that in mind."

Yoruichi grinned. "Good. Now, let's go grab a bite to eat!"

….

The next day…

"Are you ready for this?" asked Shisui as he led Itachi, Jiraiya and Visaelya into the cave.

Visaelya nodded. "As ready as we're ever going to be."

"Is the barrier still up?" asked Jiraiya.

"For now, yes," Shisui replied, "but if I know the Captain and our Third Seat, it won't be for much longer."

"It will be interesting to see how they take it down," Itachi murmured.

Indeed, it was something that he was quite looking forward to witnessing. When Kisuke had demonstrated the barrier to Itachi and Yoruichi the night before, he had been most impressed with it. During his time as a Shinobi, Itachi had encountered his fair share of sealing and barrier jutsus, but the energy field that protected the entrance to the Andunayan barrow was something else entirely. As defensive mechanisms went, it was comprehensive and powerful. If his Sharingan were awakened Itachi felt that he could've found a way to pierce it, but unfortunately, he had yet to reach that particular stage of his second life. His powers were developing at a reasonable pace, but it seemed that awakening the fabled eyes of the Uchiha Clan took longer as a soul than as a human in the Realm of the Living.

He wondered if Shisui had had a chance to study the barrier with his Sharingan. Itachi knew that his friend was trying to keep the power of his eyes a secret from the Soul Society, and with Kisuke studying the barrier overnight he doubted Shisui would've been able to get more than the briefest peek at it with his Sharingan before Squad Two's Third Seat took notice. He more than understood his friend's desire to keep their clan's bloodline trait hidden, but at times like this he wondered if that was really such a good idea.

It would be most useful right now, he thought as they made their way through the cave, and I believe Yoruichi at the very least could be entrusted with its secrets…

They came around a corner and found the barrow doors looming before them, as impressive and intimidating now as they had been the night before. Kisuke was standing before them, as were Yoruichi, Soi-Fon, Kirio, and most of the members of Squads Two and Twelve that had come along on the expedition.

Yoruichi grinned when she caught sight of them. "Hey, about time you all showed up! I'd hate for you to miss all the fun!"

Kirio was practically bouncing on her heels in excitement. "Oh, yes! This is going to be a real treat!"

Shisui smiled. "I take it we have a way in?"

"Yup," said Kisuke, "It took a little while, but I think I've got it."

"So," said Itachi, "what can we do to help?"

Kisuke shook his head. "Sorry, but I'm afraid you students lack the kind of power that's needed to breach the barrier. We'll handle this."

Jiraiya sighed. "That bites. I hate sitting on the sidelines."

"Don't worry," said Yoruichi, "You'll be able to help out once we're inside the barrow."

"In time, we have no doubt that your powers will grow to the point that you'll be able to take part in tasks like this in the future," Kirio added, "but for now, I'm afraid you're not at that point yet. There's no shame in recognizing that."

"What will you do?" asked Visaelya as she nodded at the door, "That barrier's a formidable one."

Kisuke nodded. "Multi-node defense barriers are some of the toughest ones out there. However, they're not invincible. While the nodes working in concert are quite efficient at dividing up energy amongst themselves before absorbing it, they can be overwhelmed if targeted individually with sufficient strength. That's why only Captains and senior officers can take part in breaching the barrier."

He gestured at the doors, and Itachi realized that nine paper markers had been attached to them since he'd last seen it. Each one corresponded with a node in the barrier, and he realized what they were; target designators.

The barrier itself isn't visible unless it's directly attacked, he thought, so you need a way to distinguish where the nodes are even when you can't see the shield. I believe I understand what Third Seat Urahara has in mind…

Yoruichi, Kirio, and Soi-Fon stepped forward, along with several other Soul Reapers. Kisuke joined them, and they all began an incantation.

"Strike, lord of tempest and thunder! Make your fury known to men and beast alike, less they forget the higher order of the world! Hadō 4: Byakurai!"

Rather than using the open hands method, every caster fired the spell using the more precise index finger approach. While the spell itself was a low-level attack, the amount of power behind it with a full incantation was orders of magnitude greater than what a student like Itachi was capable of when cast by the Captains. When Yoruichi and Kirio's attacks were combined with those of their subordinates it became a display of spell casting strength the likes of which Itachi and his fellow students could only marvel at.

Every line of blue-white energy unleashed by the Soul Reapers converged on a single point; the node at the exact center of the barrier. There was a bright flash as the barrier activated to absorb the attacks, but Itachi saw the central node glow with the same bright blue energy as the Kidō spell striking it before suddenly bursting like an overripe fruit. Ripples of residual power from the spells flowed across the remaining nodes, but from the way the barrier was suddenly fluctuating it was clear to Itachi that it had taken considerable damage.

"Impressive…" he muttered.

Jiraiya grinned. "I'll say. A few more of those and the barrier should collapse!"

Visaelya nodded. "I hope you're right."

The Captains and their subordinates shifted their targets and repeated the same process on the center left node of the barrier. Once again, the node was nailed by pinpoint streams of blue-white energy, and just like the previous one it was overwhelmed and ruptured. The ripples of energy flowing across the rest of the barrier intensified as the remaining nodes struggled to compensate for the loss, and it was clear that the seal was destabilizing.

"One more ought to do it," said Shisui.

Glancing at his friend, Itachi saw his eyes briefly flash red; with everyone else focused on the barrier, Shisui apparently felt like it this was a good chance to study the energy field with his Sharingan. It only lasted for a moment, but the small smile that appeared on his face afterwards was enough for Itachi to know that Shisui had gotten sufficient information to verify his previous statement.

"How can you tell?" asked Visaelya.

Shisui turned to her, his eyes already back to their normal obsidian color. "Oh, I've just got a knack for reading situations like this. Spend enough time in the field and eventually you'll pick it up too."

Itachi had to suppress a chuckle. A dodge like that was classic Shisui.

It really was good to have his old friend back.

That didn't mean he wasn't concerned, though. "Yoruichi told me that you'll be on point once we breach the barrow. Be careful."

Shisui turned to him and smirked. "Hey, I thought you knew me better than that."

"I do," Itachi replied, "and you know me."

Shisui nodded. "Yeah, I suppose I do. Don't worry; I'll keep my eyes open."

The Soul Reapers made another combined attack, this time on the center right node of the barrier. Once again, the node burst after being flooded with energy, only this time instead of ripples large gashes began to appear in the barrier. Bolts of energy crackled around them as they grew, and Itachi felt a violent spike in spirit energy as the seal began to break down.

Jiraiya sensed it to. "It's gonna blow!"

"Should we take cover?" asked Visaelya.

Shisui shook his head. "We'll be fine. Trust the Captains."

Indeed, Itachi could see that both Yoruichi and Kirio appeared perfectly calm. Both were making sweeping gestures with their hands, and Itachi could sense their spiritual pressure spiking.

"Ryūbi no Jōmon!" they called out in unison.

Two rows of over a dozen large and thick white pillars materialized from above and fell between the Soul Reapers and the doorway of the barrows. There was a large blast just behind it as all the energy held by the barrow's barrier violently dispersed, but while the shield erected by the two Captains shuddered it did not break. The cavern rocked from the outburst of power, but despite the tremors Itachi did not spot any signs of an imminent collapse.

A few moments later the cavern quieted down again, and Itachi saw the two Captains step forward to closely inspect the barrier they'd erected. Their eyes both seemed to hold a critical gaze, which took Itachi by surprise; in his opinion, the two of them had done a remarkable job in constructing a sufficient defense for both themselves and their subordinates on such a short notice.

"Damn," he heard Yoruichi mutter, "Mine's got some cracks."

Kirio sighed. "Mine as well. That's embarrassing."

"Lady Yoruichi, Captain Hikifune, with all due respect, I think you're being overly harsh on your own performance," said Soi-Fon, "The barriers you erected served their purpose quite well."

Yoruichi shook her head. "Thanks, Soi-Fon, but you don't need to flatter me. Barriers aren't really my specialty. Tessai and Kisuke could easily put me to shame there."

"Tessai's second-in-command performs well there, too," said Kirio, "I'm normally proficient in them, but I think I was a little sloppy this time. It's been a while since I've had to cast Ryūbi no Jōmon."

Yoruichi shrugged. "Well, no sense in worrying about it right now. We're all still alive, so I guess that's enough for now."

The two Captains dispelled their barriers with a wave of their hands. Beyond was the entrance to the barrow. The doors were still intact and appeared undamaged, but Itachi could no longer sense the power of the multi-node barrier; it had been completely dispelled.

"That's amazing," Visaelya muttered, "So that's the power of the Captains…"

Jiraiya leaned forward. "Are we really in the clear? I wouldn't be surprised if that barrier wasn't the only thing protecting these doors."

Itachi turned to his old friend. "Shisui?"

Shisui shook his head. "I didn't see anything earlier, but I was just focusing on the barrier. Kisuke's been studying it a lot longer than I have, though, so if there are any other hurdles for us to get through apart from the doors themselves in order to enter the barrow I'm sure he's spotted them."

Their gazes turned to Squad Two's Third Seat as he studied the doors. After a moment they saw him turn to Yoruichi and nod.

"All right," he said, "Take a whack at it."

Yoruichi grinned. "Don't mind if I do!"

Itachi could only watch in bemusement as the lovely Captain stepped in front of the doors. For a few moments she simply folded her arms as she studied them, only to take Itachi and his fellow students completely by surprise by suddenly kicking the doors.

Hard.

One blow dead center was all it took for Yoruichi to violently open both doors, and Itachi was amazed that they weren't outright shattered from the force of the impact. As it was, they swung back and slammed into the interior walls of the barrow with a great clamor, but they didn't appear to have been knocked loose from the doorway.

Jiraiya chuckled. "Now that's what I call making an entrance!"

That's certainly one way to put it, thought Itachi, I wonder if that was her full strength, or if she was still holding back…

From what he had learned about Soul Reaper Captains so far, Itachi wouldn't be all that surprised if the latter was the case.

Visaelya was gaping at what she had just witnessed. "I thought we were supposed to be careful with a tomb like this!"

Shisui smiled. "That's our Captain for you."

As if on cue, Yoruichi turned around and gestured towards her Tenth Seat. "Shisui, you're up!"

Shisui nodded. "Understood."

"Watch out in there," said Itachi, "The barrier may be gone, but I'm still sensing traces of spirit energy coming from inside the barrow."

"Me too," Shisui replied, "I'll stay on my toes."

"Good luck, Shisui," said Visaelya, "Please, be careful."

He gave her a nod and a smile. "I will. This shouldn't take too long."

….

This is it, thought Shisui as he stood in the doorway of the tomb, I've spent the whole journey out here psyching myself up for this, but now that it's actually in front of me…

It was one thing to read about a barrow like this but preparing to raid one was quite another. It was far from the first time that he'd been ordered to scout out a potentially dangerous area, yet there was still something that made this tomb feel a bit more ominous that any of his prior missions.

Yoruichi seemed to catch on to his apprehension, because she approached him and put her hand on his shoulder. "You sure you want to solo this? I'd be perfectly fine backing you up if you want."

Shisui shook his head. "Thanks, Captain, but I can do this. I'm just trying to figure out where to start."

Yoruichi nodded. "I gotcha. The archives didn't have too much information about the interior of barrows like these, but if it follows standard Andunayan architecture then the chamber for the whoever the most prominent person buried here is should be at the very back. Side chambers should've been carved out for their most trusted subordinates, and then rank and file troops would be interred within the walls. Remember the importance of the number nine in Andunayan culture; that might have an influence on the layout of the barrow."

"Got it," said Shisui, "In that case, I'll head straight back and start by scoping out the rear chamber, then I'll work my way along the sides. If the most important guy in this barrow is buried at the back, then the strongest defenses should be back there too."

"Sounds about right," said Yoruichi, "Be thorough and leave nothing to chance. Those three students are quite gifted, but I still don't like the thought of one of them tripping a trap in there."

Shisui smiled. "I feel the same way."

"I'll leave you to it, then," said Yoruichi, "However, if you don't report back within half an hour, I'm sending Kisuke in after you. Understood?"

Shisui nodded. "Yes."

Yoruichi smiled. "All right, then. Get in there and do what you do best, Shisui."

"You got it, Captain," he replied.

She stepped back and away from the doorway, leaving Shisui alone in the entrance. Much to his surprise, as he peered in inside he realized it wasn't total darkness; there were flickers of blue-green light coming from within, not unlike the flames of the torches that flanked the entrance. Just like those torches on the outside, he could feel traces of spirit energy coming from those inside the barrow as well.

Someone clearly put a great deal of power into those flames for them to last the millennia, he thought as he stepped forward, I imagine it must've required a great deal of dedication on their part. The old kingdom might've had its flaws, but at the very least it would seem they held great reverence for those who gave their lives in battle.

Confident that his comrades wouldn't discover his secret now, he activated his Sharingan. Black eyes became red, with three black tomoe orbiting the pupil. His field of vision took on a crimson tone, but that did not hinder his perception; quite the opposite, in fact. The subsequent increase in visual awareness, with even minute details of the barrow becoming so much more vivid even in the dim lighting, was as familiar to him in the afterlife now as it had been back when he was still alive in the Shinobi World, yet there were some distinct differences.

When he'd been alive, use of the Sharingan had required chakra, although since he was a member of the Uchiha Clan the amount of chakra needed to utilize the Sharingan in its basic form was minimal. Here in the Soul Society, it was spirit energy that fueled the ocular jutsu rather than chakra. The process was very similar to when he had been alive, but spirit energy did have a subtle distinction to it. Technically, Shisui knew that chakra was actually composed of physical energy and spirit energy, which in theory meant that the power he was using now as a Soul Reaper had always been with him, but there was more to it than that. Shisui had been trying to pin it down for years, but even after all this time he still only had theories. The best way that he could square it in his head was to think of chakra as life energy produced by the combination of a living body and the soul, while spirit energy was tied to the soul itself and thus more easily awakened and utilized by the dead as opposed to the living. There were exceptions to this, of course, such as the now-vanished Quincy, and Shisui was aware of the existence of other humans that fell under the broad category known as 'mediums' whose power sprang from spirit energy as opposed to chakra, but in his eyes the distinction he'd come up with still served well as a general rule.

The subtle differences between chakra and spirit energy meant that one could not be manipulated exactly like the other; a wielder had to adjust their technique to account for the discrepancies. That was why a man like Jiraiya, who had been a legendarily powerful Shinobi in life, was now a Soul Reaper-in-training; learning to manipulate spirit energy when one had been used to manipulating chakra all their lives was the equivalent of having to relearn not only how to walk but also having to rethink nearly every other aspect of their existence and adapt accordingly. Shisui was well aware of what that felt like; even now that he was the Tenth Seat of Squad Two and had once again awakened his Sharingan, he still felt like he had a long way to go before he could discover the true scope of his abilities.

He was sure that Itachi felt the same way.

He'll be immensely powerful someday, he thought with a smile, I wouldn't be surprised if he surpasses me once he becomes fully attuned to his spirit energy and his Zanpakutō. He may even be able to recreate the jutsus we used in life through spirit energy beyond simply reactivating the Sharingan and its abilities.

Since Shisui had greatly limited his use of the Sharingan in order to conceal the fact that he had it from the Soul Society, he was actually still trying to discover all that it could do now that he was a spirit instead of a flesh-and-blood human. The powers of the Eye of Insight, for example, seemed to remain intact, but with a few key differences. For starters, Shisui could perceive spirit energy both around him and within others through it, although he imagined that the Byakugan of the Hyūga Clan could still outshine the Sharingan in that department. The incredible clarity of perception remained, and Shisui had discovered that this applied to Hollows as well; the few times he'd been able to fight them alone with the power of the Sharingan, he'd been able to discern minute individual muscle movements in the beasts that had given him a distinct advantage in fighting them, and he'd even been able to pick up hints of their actual composition. This had allowed him to strike with precision that rivaled or even exceeded that which he'd been capable of in life. The third aspect, the ability to copy jutsu, was something Shisui had been unable to test thus far since he'd yet to come across any spiritual foes wielding ninjutsu.

However, he had covertly used the Sharingan on occasion to observe other Soul Reapers as they cast spells or unleashed their Zanpakutō, and he had felt that he'd been able to gain greater understanding as to how their powers worked and how they manipulated their spirit energy. It was impossible to mimic another Soul Reaper's Zanpakutō, of course, but gaining greater insight into how each individual weapon worked in synch with its wielder was still invaluable, especially since one of Squad Two's duties in conjunction with the Stealth Force was to hunt down deserters and traitors. As for being able to copy the unique abilities demonstrated by Hollows, Shisui'd had little luck there, either. What he was most curious about was whether or not it was possible for him to copy and reproduce the Cero of a Menos Grande, but he'd yet to find the opportunity to try that out.

For all of the useful abilities that the Sharingan's Eye of Insight bestowed, though, what had really surprised Shisui was the fact that he could still utilize the gifts of the Eye of Hypnotism. He'd been completely floored the first time he'd realized that the Sharingan made it possible for him to employ genjutsu with spirit energy as the fuel as opposed to chakra. More importantly still was the discovery that the Sharingan's genjutsu was just as effective against Hollows as it was against humans. It was one of the reasons why Shisui was more eager than most members of Squad Two to engage Hollows on his own; he wanted every opportunity possible to test and refine the Eye of Hypnotism aspect of the Sharingan, crafting more and more realistic illusions to entrap Hollows and make them easier to eliminate. Shisui knew that he still had a long way to go on that front, but he felt that he was definitely making progress.

The Eye of Hypnotism was not an aspect of the Sharingan that he needed at the moment, though; it was the Eye of Insight that he required right now. As he stepped further into the barrow, Shisui was already analyzing every stone in the floor for signs of traps. So far, he'd yet to find any, but he had only just entered the ancient tomb.

Remember, don't let your guard down, he mentally told himself, Andunayan barrows do not give up their secrets without a fight.

As he progressed, the blue-green flames from the torches mounted along the walls grew brighter, eventually revealing the tomb in its full splendor. Although he remained focused on the task at hand, Shisui couldn't help but marvel at what he beheld. The main chamber had a vaulted ceiling that must've been at least a hundred feet high, and it was supported by columns that retained their grace and strength even after the passing of the millennia. At the foot of each column standing at least twenty feat high were stone statues of armored warriors, their shields broad and their curved blades raised in salute. Arches on both sides of the main chamber led off into side areas, with Shisui counting four on each side. The walls between the arches had the script of the old kingdom carved upon them, and Shisui suspected that Yoruichi had been right on the money; the common soldiers that had perished in the great battle this tomb had been built for were buried behind those walls.

As fascinating as the ancient script and carvings on the side walls were, though, they paled in comparison to what lay ahead. As he cautiously moved forward, Shisui was stunned by the intricate work he found at the far end of the chamber. High above was a nine-pointed star, each line glowing with bright blue spirit energy. Below it was a doorway, with Andunayan script glowing the same color as the star above emblazoned upon it. Flanking the doorway were two more stone statues of armored warriors, and unlike the ones at the bases of the columns these had intricate and flowing patterns of glowing blue energy upon their armor, shields and even their swords.

"Incredible…" he murmured as he approached.

His awe was well warranted, but it was also a mistake. As he continued to approach he became less mindful of where his feet were with his gaze almost bewitched by what he saw ahead. None of the stone tiles that made up the floor of the central chamber appeared all that different from each other at first glance, but one was faintly emanating blue-green spirit energy not unlike those of the flames that lit up the barrow.

And Shisui was heading right for it.

He only noticed when his right foot brushed against the edge of the tile and he sensed a sudden spike in spirit energy. Reacting on instinct honed through years of training, Shisui Flash Stepped backwards, and it wasn't a moment too soon. The small amount of spirit energy concealed beneath the tile acted as a trigger mechanism; as soon as his foot had brushed it, concealed panels in the ceiling up above had slid open. Shisui's Flash Step was the only thing that saved him from the surge of blue-green spirit energy that came crashing down like a wave. The concentrated power hammered the spot where he'd just been standing, and when the energy eventually dissipated Shisui saw that same area charred and cracked from taking the hit.

He breathed a heavy sight of relief. "That was way too close…"

"Shisui!" called Yoruichi from the entrance, "You okay in there?"

"I'm all right!" he shouted back, "Just found a little excitement in here!"

He heard her laugh echo through the chamber. "Well, don't have too much fun in there!"

He couldn't help but smirk at that. "Right."

He wanted to smack himself for getting so caught up in the splendor of the ancient tomb that he'd forgotten to watch his footing. Renewing his focus, he carefully studied the floor ahead with the Sharingan. He noticed several tiles like the one he'd just brushed up against, spaced out seemingly at random but with their concentration growing thicker the closer they got to the doorway at the far end of the chamber.

I know the Captain said not to have too much fun in here, he mused with a smirk as he sized up the situation, but it looks like I might have to disobey her this time…

….

Visaelya looked back and forth nervously between the open doorway and her fellow students. "Do you think he's doing all right in there? It sounds awfully… noisy for a scouting run."

Itachi wasn't about to argue with that. It sounded like a veritable thunderstorm was taking place inside the barrow, complete with ominous flashes that illuminated the darkness beyond entrance to the tomb. When combined with the spikes in spirit energy that Itachi could sense, one thing was quite clear; the barrow's inner defenses were very much active, and they were giving Shisui a workout.

Still, Itachi wasn't overly concerned; he could still clearly sense Shisui's spiritual pressure, and his old friend didn't feel like he was down for the count. "He's fine."

Jiraiya nodded. "Agreed. A bit of a shame that we have to stay out here, though; it sounds like we're missing quite the show!"

Visaelya folded her arms. "This isn't a game, Jiraiya. Shisui is risking his life for the sake of the mission!"

"Yes, and that's to be expected of any Soul Reaper," Jiraiya countered, "It'll be no different for the three of us once we graduate. Besides, look at Squad Two's Captain; does she seem to be all that worried about her Tenth Seat?"

Itachi glanced at Yoruichi, and she looked much the same as before; calm, confident, and even relaxed. He had expected no less given his prior encounters with her, and it only served to reinforce his own confidence in Shisui's ability to handle his mission.

Visaelya didn't seem quite as reassured, though. "Well, no, but still… that doesn't change the fact that what he's doing is very dangerous. He really shouldn't have been sent in alone like that!"

"He can handle it," said Itachi, "Just wait and see."

Visaelya scowled at him. "I thought Shisui was your friend. Shouldn't you be more worried about him?"

"I'm not worried because he's my friend," Itachi replied, "I know what he's capable of. If he thought this was beyond his ability to handle by himself, he would've said so to the Captains. He knows what he's doing."

Visaelya sighed. "Fine. I still don't like it, though."

She's more concerned about him than I would've expected, he thought, I wonder what brought that on…

You truly are clueless sometimes, his Zanpakutō berated him, I was hoping that you would've wised up at least a little bit by now.

Is there something meaningful that you wish to tell me?

Oh, no, not at all. It's much more fun to watch you wrack your brain trying to figure things out than simply give you a straight answer.

Well, I'm glad you're enjoying yourself.

At least one of us is.

Itachi shook his head as he shifted his thoughts away from his Visaelya and his Zanpakutō and back to Shisui and the barrow. The amount of spirit energy that was being thrown at his old friend was considerable, yet what struck him as odd was that he couldn't sense any other form of life in the tomb apart from Shisui. The best hypothesis Itachi could come up with was that somehow the Andunayans that had built the barrow had managed to create a system of seals and vessels capable of storing spirit energy and then releasing it upon the tripping of the appropriate trigger mechanism. From what he could tell, Shisui was tripping these spirit energy detonators on purpose, likely in an effort to clear out all the traps before his fellow Soul Reapers entered the tomb.

He wished now more than ever that his Sharingan was activated. Itachi was genuinely intrigued with regards to the barrow's defenses, and he would've enjoyed the chance to study them up close with Shisui. Alas, he had yet to reach the point where he could awaken his clan's ocular jutsu; Shisui was indeed correct about it taking longer to unlock the Sharingan in the afterlife than in their first life.

Your time will come, said his Zanpakutō, her reassuring tone taking Itachi by surprise, I have no doubt of that. You've come far in just a few short years, but your journey has only just begun. Trust that the path you stride now is the one you're meant for.

I'll… keep that in mind.

Good. It'd be a shame if all of my lessons went to waste on you.

You're hardly my only teacher.

Perhaps, but I'm the one that will be with you long after graduation.

Itachi had to concede the point on that one.

Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Jiraiya lean forward, his brow furrowing as he studied the gaping entrance of the tomb. "It's gotten quiet. Is that a good thing, or a bad thing?"

Closing his eyes, Itachi concentrated on the spirit energy he could sense in the ancient barrow. It didn't take him long to find what he was looking for, and he opened his eyes a moment later.

"A good thing," he said, "Shisui's all right."

"How can you be sure?" she asked.

"Focus," Itachi replied, "You've had the same training as the rest of us. If I can sense him, so can you."

Visaelya was quiet for a moment as she closed her eyes, and Itachi could feel her concentration narrow on the barrow entrance. A few seconds later she opened her eyes, and there was no small measure of relief in her expression.

"You're right," she said, "He's okay."

Jiraiya smiled. "Thought so. I hope he didn't leave too much of a mess in there."

Itachi's eyes narrowed as he saw a familiar silhouette coming out of the darkness of the tomb. "I think we're about to find out."

Shisui appeared a few moments later. Itachi saw what looked like a few scuff marks on his robes, but apart from that he seemed no worse for the wear.

Yoruichi stepped forward and smiled. "So, how'd it go in there?"

"All traps have been cleared," he reported, "The barrow's secure."

Yoruichi grinned. "Nice work! I knew I could count on you."

"Find any particularly nasty ones in there?" asked Kisuke with a smirk.

Shisui shrugged. "Depends on how you define 'nasty'. The ones you heard earlier were trigger mechanisms for stored spirit energy. I'm not sure how the Andunayans kept it sealed so that it didn't deteriorate over the millennia, but whatever method they used worked quite well."

Soi-Fon's eyes narrowed. "Are you sure you got them all?"

Shisui nodded. "I made a clean sweep. We're good."

Kirio smiled. "Wonderful! Shall we proceed, then? I imagine there's quite a bit in there for us to catalog."

Yoruichi nodded. "I'm sure you're right. Just one thing to take care of first."

She then turned to Itachi, Jiraiya, and Visaelya. "Come on up here, you three!"

The trio looked at each other for a moment, wondering what she had in mind. The only way they'd get an answer was to follow her lead, though, so they did exactly that.

Once they got to the front of the group, Squad Two's Captain addressed them again. "Since I want the three of you to get the most out of this, each of you are going to shadow an individual officer so you can get some one-on-one instruction. Itachi, you'll be with me. Jiraiya, you're with Kisuke. Visaelya, you can go with Shisui. Any questions?"

"What will our duties be?" asked Visaelya.

"To help us catalogue the contents of the barrow, as well as to observe us in our work," said Yoruichi, "After all, you're out here to learn. The knowledge and experience you'll gain today will serve you well in both your last year at the Academy and after you graduate."

"Is there anything in particular that we're looking for?" asked Jiraiya.

"Spirit Weapons and Armor are our top priorities," Yoruichi replied, "However, don't limit yourselves to just items that fall in those two categories. If something stands out to you, don't be afraid to speak up. Barrows like this one are supposed to contain all kinds of rare and unique artifacts, and the old kingdom's artisans were unapparelled in what they could create."

"Try to be careful," said Kisuke, "Shisui might've cleared the way for us, but stay on your guard just the same. Also, watch out when you're handling the artifacts. Weapons and armor shouldn't be so fragile, but you never know what else might be in there."

"Try not to disturb any remains you find if at all possible," Soi-Fon added, "It could very well be that some of the people interred here are ancestors of members of the modern Soul Society's aristocracy, and their descendants will likely react poorly to any news of what could be interpreted as desecration."

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "I though this whole mission was basically desecration. I mean, it is organized grave robbery, after all."

"It's different when it comes to the weapons and armor likely to be inside the barrow," Yoruichi countered, "Retrieval of artifacts by the Thirteen Court Guard Squads is something that all the noble families are in agreement on, and they understand that sometimes that work can appear a little unseemly. They're more on the lookout for acts that could be considered deliberate desecration of corpses; they'd consider those to be gross offenses against their family's honor and would demand retribution. As long as you're cautious and respectful you should be fine."

Kirio grinned. "Well, no time like the present, right? Squad Twelve will start with the left half of the barrow."

Yoruichi nodded. "Squad Two will take the right. Itachi, you and I will inspect the chamber at the far end of the main vault."

"Understood," Itachi replied.

Yoruichi smiled. "All right, then. Let's go treasure hunting!"

The gathered Soul Reapers dispersed and went towards their respective assigned areas. Itachi fell in behind Yoruichi and followed her through the center of the main chamber. He couldn't help but admire the architecture and craftsmanship as they proceeded towards the ornate doors at the far end; the tomb truly was a marvel to behold.

Yoruichi looked over her shoulder and winked at him. "Pretty impressive, isn't it?"

Itachi nodded. "Yes. It's hard to believe they were able to carve such an elaborate structure into the earth like this."

Yoruichi shrugged. "Well, the old kingdom was never known for half-assing projects like this. It's why so many of their structures have survived the passing of the millennia."

Itachi's eyes narrowed. "Even though the modern Soul Society would rather forget all about the old kingdom?"

"That's right," Yoruichi replied, "Sure, the Central Forty-Six goes out of its way to confiscate or destroy anything Andunayan that it can get its hands on, but there are some things that they simply can't do that to. Barrows like these are one of them. They can try to keep people from finding them, but that's about it."

"The Seireitei used to be the heart of the old kingdom, right?" asked Itachi, "In that light, it wouldn't be far-fetched for there to be similar tombs hidden beneath it, especially for the old nobility and royalty."

Yoruichi smiled. "You're a sharp one. To tell you the truth, most of the old barrows that were made in the Seireitei have already been discovered; they're just concealed by the Central Forty-Six or the noble family that they belong to. It's possible there could still be one or two more hidden beneath the Seireitei that no one's found yet, but the odds of discovering fresh barrows are better out here in The Wild."

"I see," said Itachi as they approached the doors at the far end of the barrow.

When they got closer he saw Yoruichi lean closer to study the glowing script on the doors. Her eyes narrowed in concentration, and after a few moments he saw her smile.

"Well, well," she said, "That's interesting."

"What is?" he asked.

"The big shot that's interred behind these doors," she replied, "Turns out it's one of my ancestors."

Itachi raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

Yoruichi nodded. "Yup. A distant one, but one just the same. Guess he underestimated the people they were fighting out here. Well, too bad for him."

She seemed awfully casual about the fact that they were intruding upon the tomb of one of her ancestors. Then again, it wasn't like said ancestor would have any further need of whatever artifacts the two of them found beyond the doors. Their mission was clear, and Itachi had to admire how she could set aside any personal feelings regarding her distant ancestor and focus on the task of cataloguing whatever ancient weapons and armor were interred with them.

She was focused on her objective much like a true Shinobi would be. Itachi had to wonder what it would've been like to serve beside her as a ninja in a past life. If her speed and power as a Soul Reaper Captain was any indication, then he was potentially standing next to a woman that could rival the Fourth Hokage himself in terms of damage she could do on the battlefield.

She gave him a mischievous smile, and Itachi knew she'd caught him staring. "Something on your mind?"

Itachi shook his head, although the slight rush of heat to his face betrayed the mask he tried to put up. "Nothing important."

She winked; she wasn't fooled for a minute but was apparently willing to let it slide so the mission could continue. "Right. Well, if that changes, feel free to let me know. In the meantime, we've got a little situation on our hands here."

"What do you mean?" asked Itachi.

"Simple," said Yoruichi as she gave the door a good knock, "How are we going to get through this thing?"

It was a good question. Turning to study the door, Itachi couldn't detect any signs of a barrier, but the stone appeared quite thick and there were no signs of anything resembling a lock that could be picked. In fact, there were no handles or any sort of opening mechanism whatsoever.

"I'm normally not an advocate for brute force," he said after a moment, "However, given the manner in which we entered this barrow, that might be our only viable option for gaining access to the chamber beyond these doors."

Yoruichi folded her arms, her brow furrowing in concentration. "You might be right. I'd prefer a subtler approach too, but we might not have much of a choice here. The writing on the doors isn't offering much in the way of clues… wait a second."

She leaned closer to the stone surface, and to Itachi it seemed like she was focusing on one word in particular. He wished that he could read the ancient script so he could figure out what she had in mind, and he resolved to make learning it a priority as soon as they returned to the Seireitei.

Yoruichi smiled. "Well, I'll be damned. It was staring us in the face the whole time."

Itachi was puzzled. "What was?"

"The way in," she replied, "In fact, I daresay that I'm the perfect candidate for this job due to my family connection here. Itachi, you might want to step back and brace yourself."

That didn't offer much clarity, but Itachi figured he'd find out what was going on soon enough. Giving her the requested space, he steeled himself the best he could, although it would've been much easier if he knew what exactly he was supposed to brace for.

What on Earth is she planning?

He got his answer a moment later when she unleashed a surge of spiritual pressure. Despite her warning, Itachi still felt his knees buckle at the incredible raw power that washed over him. The air became heavy and thick, and he found himself struggling just to breathe.

"Unbelievable…" he murmured.

He'd known that she was powerful, yet nothing had prepared him for the level of strength that she was displaying now. Her aura was burning a brilliant white, with her spiritual pressure pulsing outward in waves that slammed into Itachi harder than any that an ocean tempest could summon. Fine stone dust fell on him from above, and he realized that the power pouring from her was causing the entire tomb to tremble.

The astounding power Yoruichi was unleashing now was reflected in her radiant golden eyes as they remained fixed on the doors before her. Itachi's eyes widened as he saw the glowing letters upon the entryway grow brighter, as if they were responding to her surging spirit energy. There was so much raw power being brought out now that it was hard to remember that she hadn't even unleashed her Shikai or Bankai; this was still naught but a fraction of her true strength.

If she ever went all-out, he thought as he looked on in awe, she'd be more than a match for the Akatsuki.

Her power blazed like a beacon, and after a few moments more the tomb answered. The already brilliantly glowing runes increased in radiance to a point where they were damn near blinding, and Itachi could hear the slow grumble of stone moving against stone. The two heavy and intricately carved slabs that made up the entrance to the barrow's inner sanctum gradually began to give way, as if they were yielding to Yoruichi's power. Throughout the whole display, Itachi realized that he'd been holding his breath and belatedly gasped for air.

Yoruichi looked over at him and smiled. "Sorry. It's almost over. Hang in there."

She began reducing her power output a few seconds later. By then, the doors to the inner tomb were almost fully ajar, more than enough for the two of them to pass through. Soon enough, Yoruichi brought the rest of her spiritual pressure back down to her normal level of suppression, and it felt like a huge weight had been lifted from Itachi's chest.

She gave him a pat on the back. "You held up pretty well. It takes a lot of strength to stay on one's feet when a Captain's exerting their power. You should be proud."

Itachi shook his head. "I could barely hold it together. I still have a long way to go."

Yoruichi winked. "You're farther along than you might think. That's one of the reasons why I chose you for this mission, you know. You may not realize it but being able to remain on your feet like that means you're already at a level that surpasses many unseated Soul Reapers. You've got a promising future ahead of you come graduation!"

He couldn't help but give a small smile at her praise. "Thank you."

"Anytime," she replied before gesturing at the open tomb, "Now, what do you say we see what kind of treasures are buried with this guy?"

"I'll follow your lead," he said.

As the two of them stepped inside the chamber, green-blue flames suddenly sprang to life in stone torches mounted on the walls. With their light now illuminating the chamber, Itachi was able to make a proper assessment, and he was impressed. It was larger than he'd anticipated, and intricate murals comprised of glowing blue lines of spirit energy flowed along the walls. On the left, one appeared to depict a man in elaborate armor leading troops into battle, his great sword held high signaling a charge. Meanwhile, on the left there was an image of what appeared to be the same figure, this time heading up what looked like a war council. In the center of the chamber there was a large stone sarcophagus, and as Itachi and Yoruichi approached it lit up with the same glowing runes that they'd seen on the doors.

Yoruichi gave a broad, sweeping gesture with her arm. "I'll say this much for the old kingdom; they made sure their dead slept in style. Well, the prominent ones, anyway."

Itachi nodded as he took it all in. "Indeed. This one must've been a general in addition to a lord of the Shihōin Clan. No disrespect intended, but I have to wonder if his rank only came thanks to his noble birth, or if he actually earned his position."

Yoruichi laughed. "None taken. Aristocracies are like that. It could've gone either way, for all we know. I'm a bit surprised at the murals depicting him in heavy armor, though; the Shihōin Clan typically favors speed and stealth over cumbersome gear."

"Perhaps the weight of his armor played a role in his downfall," said Itachi, "He didn't play to your family's strengths and paid the price for it."

Yoruichi shrugged. "Possibly. Maybe he was the exception that preferred the protection and power of heavy armor and great swords rather than being swift on his feet. Remember, just because a Great Noble House has certain specialties doesn't mean that every member adheres to them. It could've been something other than heavy gear and overly large swords that ultimately did this guy in."

Itachi walked around the chamber, looking for signs of hidden storerooms or traps and coming up empty. He then turned back to the sarcophagus.

"I suppose any treasure in this chamber will be in there," he said, nodding at the heavy stone grave.

"Yup," said Yoruichi, "Should be enough room in there for whatever's left of this guy's corpse and plenty of weapons and armor. It was an Andunayan tradition for prominent leaders to be buried with their prized gear, so given this person's level of importance in the barrow's layout we should be looking at quite the find here."

"In that case," said Itachi, "how do we open this?"

Yoruichi knelt down next to the sarcophagus and studied it carefully. She took a few minutes to move around it, searching for what Itachi could only assume was some kind if mechanism to open it.

She eventually stood up and shook her head. "Not seeing any sort of hidden switch or trigger. I guess we're just going to have to slide that big slab there off the old-fashioned way."

"Should we go get help?" asked Itachi, "It looks rather heavy."

Yoruichi shook her head. "No need. I can handle this. Stand back."

Itachi did so, wondering just what he was about to witness this time. He got his answer a moment later when she raised her right leg and kicked the slab.

Hard.

The stone cover went flying into the wall with a thundering crash, yet when it fell to the ground Itachi was amazed to see that there was hardy any damage at the point of impact. The mural of spirit energy lines was mostly intact, with only a few minor disruptions.

"Impressive…" he muttered.

Yoruichi winked. "Me or the wall?"

"Both," he said.

"Aw, you're sweet!" she laughed, "A real charmer, you know that?"

The sound of her warm laughter was like sweet music in his ears. Itachi didn't know why, but once again he felt that strange rush of heat to his face that he only seemed to experience when he was around her.

And once again, he heard his Zanpakutō ridiculing him. You're an idiot.

So you keep telling me. Will you ever enlighten me as to why you keep doing so?

No. Figure it out yourself. The answer's staring you right in the face.

The only thing Itachi could see in front of him was Yoruichi. That alone gave him a few ideas, but he had to question if they were right.

Once again, she caught him staring and pounced on it. "Gonna tell me what's on your mind this time, handsome?"

Itachi pointed looked away, trying to focus on the tomb instead of the Captain. "The mission… that's all."

Yoruichi giggled. "Right… well, in that case, get up here. We've got a grave to rob!"

She sounds way too cheerful about that.

Before the two of them could look inside, they were interrupted by Soi-Fon as she came rushing in. "Lady Yoruichi, are you all right?"

Yoruichi laughed. "Relax, Soi-Fon. It was just a little roughhousing!"

Soi-Fon sighed in equal parts relief and exasperation. "When I heard that loud noise… Lady Yoruichi, please try to be more careful."

Yoruichi raised an eyebrow. "Hold on a moment; the noise I made when I kicked that stone slab into the wall made you come running, but not the spike in my spiritual pressure? Soi-Fon, are you sure you've got your priorities straight?"

"Your surge in spiritual pressure was very controlled, so I wasn't worried," Soi-Fon replied, "It was the crashing sound that came later that caught me off guard."

"In all fairness, you're not the only one," Itachi admitted, "I didn't expect her to open the sarcophagus in such a… blunt manner."

Yoruichi grinned. "Hey, it worked, right? By the way, Soi-Fon; now that you're here do you want to help me plunder my ancestor's tomb?"

Soi-Fon's eyes widened. "What? You can't be serious!"

"Oh, I totally am," Yoruichi replied, "Come on, Soi-Fon; you didn't check the runes on the doors? I was the one that taught you to read High Andunayan script, after all; you should've had no problem recognizing my family name out there."

Soi-Fon sighed. "Sorry, Lady Yoruichi. I was focused on finding you. I didn't think the inscriptions on the doors were very important."

Yoruichi shrugged. "Well, don't worry about it. Come on, then; let's take a peek and see what we find."

Approaching the open sarcophagus with the two women, Itachi leaned over and peered inside. He wasn't surprised in the least to see a skeleton clad head-to-toe in armor, although he had to admit that the bones were preserved remarkably well. Itachi could sense the latent spirit energy in the armor, and that wasn't the only source of power in the grave.

The occupant of the sarcophagus was surrounded by all manner of weapons. The most prominent were a pair of great swords flanking the armored skeleton on either side, but they were far from the only ones. Knives, maces, axes, sickles, and much more were crammed into the grave; whoever this particular ancestor of Yoruichi's was, he'd built up quite the collection over the years.

Yoruichi whistled. "Wow. Talk about a stash!"

Soi-Fon's jaw nearly hit the floor. "Unbelievable…"

"Are all of these Spirit Weapons?" asked Itachi.

"What are your senses telling you?" Yoruichi replied with a smirk.

Concentrating on the stockpile before him, Itachi stretched out with the abilities that he'd been finetuning over the past five years. It took a few seconds, but he found the answer he was looking for.

"It seems they are," he said, "Hard to believe so many valuable weapons would be sealed away in a single grave."

Yoruichi nodded. "It's a damn waste if you ask me. I guess this guy felt otherwise."

"What do we do now?" asked Soi-Fon.

"Simple," said Yoruichi, "Start grabbing and examining. We'll sort by weapon type; knives, swords, axes, etc. The guys in Squad Twelve will owe us one for making their jobs a bit easier."

"Very well, then," said Itachi as he leaned over the open sarcophagus again, idly wondering what piece he should remove first.

After a few moments his eyes settled on a curved dagger. The blade appeared simple enough, but the hilt was made from what looked like fine silver, and numerous sapphires were embedded in it. His curiosity aroused, Itachi cautiously reached out and grabbed the weapon. As he pulled it from the grave he could feel the energy within the weapon reacting to his spirit pressure. His right arm shivered as pulses of frigid power went out from the weapon, and he was startled to actually see frost forming on the blade. That frost swiftly spread down the weapon, and Itachi felt a flicker of apprehension as it evolved into ice and rapidly approached his hand.

Soi-Fon's eyes widened in shock. "Itachi! Drop that blade!"

"No," said Yoruichi, much calmer than her bodyguard, "He can handle it."

"But Lady Yoruichi, it could kill him!" she protested.

"It won't if he handles it right," Yoruichi replied as she put her hand on Itachi's shoulder, "Itachi, hit it with your spiritual pressure. It's challenging you; you need to prove that you're worthy of it."

Itachi nodded, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the blade. "Right."

Concentrating solely on the weapon in his hand, he channeled his power through his arm. He'd received plenty of training over the years about how to harness and control his spiritual pressure, but he'd never had to exert it on a single point outside of a Kidō spell like this before.

I hope you realize that if you fail we're both going to freeze to death.

The thought had crossed my mind.

Good. No pressure or anything.

Of course, he thought dryly.

The encroaching ice halted just short of his fingers; Itachi had managed to assert his power not a moment too soon. He then gradually pushed with his spiritual pressure, and the ice began to recede. A few seconds later it disappeared altogether, and Itachi could sense the power of the weapon begin to synch with his own.

Impressive.

Thanks.

Soi-Fon sighed with relief. "That was close."

Yoruichi had a satisfied smile on her face. "I knew you could take it. You've come much further than you might think, Itachi."

Itachi's gaze was still focused on the dagger. "What was that? I thought the Spirit Weapons of the old kingdom were supposed to act as conduits for our spirit energy and weren't fully sentient like Zanpakutō. This one actively challenged me."

"Some Spirit Weapons were given special properties by those who forged them as a means to defend themselves from unworthy wielders," said Yoruichi, "They test those that pick them up, probing their strength and resolve. It's more of an animal instinct than outright sentience. You passed its test, so now it's falling into line."

Soi-Fon folded her arms and gave her Captain a stern look. "Lady Yoruichi, with all due respect, that was still incredibly reckless. What if Itachi hadn't been able to handle it?"

"I would've backed him up with my spiritual pressure," Yoruichi replied calmly, "but, as you can see, that wasn't necessary. Have a little faith in him, Soi-Fon. After all, once graduation's done, he'll be our new colleague!"

Soi-Fon rolled her eyes. "That strikes me as a bit presumptuous."

"Not at all," said Itachi, "I'd very much like to join the Second Division upon graduation, if it'll have me, of course."

Yoruichi grinned. "You really have to ask? Why do you think I've paid such close attention to you over the years? I've wanted you in my squad since the moment I first saw you and Jiraiya take on that Hollow!"

Itachi couldn't help but smile; he'd suspected that was the case, but it felt good to have that validation. "I'm honored. Thank you."

"Hey, you've earned it," said Yoruichi, "I've been monitoring your scores and instructor evaluations, and you've never stopped improving or pushing yourself. You're the star pupil for your year, and I'm not just blowing smoke because you're my favorite; it's established fact."

"Respectfully, I disagree," said Itachi, "Jiraiya is, at the very least, my equal."

Yoruichi smirked. "Oh, he's good, I've got no doubt of that. I know he plays the part of a playful pervert, especially with his side gig as a writer, but his talent is the real deal. You're both going to be invaluable additions to the ranks of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. Still, between the two of you, I think that you have a bit more of an aptitude for the kind of assignments that Second Division tends to get."

Itachi nodded. "I see. I hope you're right."

"Oh, I think I am," Yoruichi replied with a wink, "Now, let's get back to work. There are still plenty of weapons left for us to take a look at here, and we need to sort them all out before we can go home."

….

"What do you think?" asked Kisuke.

Jiraiya couldn't help but smile at the weapon grasped in his hands. "I gotta admit, it's really something special."

The particular piece he was holding was an ornate spear. Runes of the old kingdom were engraved on both sides of the blade, and the point where it was set into the long handle was sheathed in gold. Several emeralds formed a wavy circle around the hilt, and they each occasionally emitted a small burst of green-yellow sparks. The power of the weapon coursed along it and up Jiraiya's arms in the form of cascading bolts, but he'd already exerted his spiritual pressure to counter them in order to avoid harm.

The ancient artisans and smiths certainly didn't lack for talent, he thought as he studied the Spirit Weapon, I can't recall finding many weapons as refined and lovingly crafted as this one during my life in the Shinobi World….

It was only the latest in a series of beautiful weapons that Jiraiya had examined since he'd started exploring the room with Kisuke. The two of them were inspecting one of the side chambers, and from what Squad Two's Third Seat had revealed to him so far Jiraiya surmised that several mid and high-ranking officers were interred here. The quality of the Spirit Weapons and Armor they'd found so far seemed to fit that category well-enough, and Jiraiya was gaining a new appreciation for why the Soul Society was so determined to catalogue all the artifacts and confiscate them.

A few paces away, Kisuke was studying a series of runes on the wall. There was an open slot just above them where they'd found several of the weapons that currently littered the room, and they were still trying to categorize everything. Jiraiya couldn't help but wonder what his late mentor would think if he could see him now; he doubted Hiruzen Sarutobi had ever pictured him as an amateur archaeologist after playing the role of class clown and troublemaker for so long.

I really do need to see if I can find him one of these days, he mused, I know the Soul Society's vast, far more so than the Shinobi World, but even so I should be able to track him down. I just need information and time.

"Something on your mind?" asked Kisuke.

Jiraiya smirked; despite his laid-back demeanor, Squad Two's Third Seat was as sharp as they came. "Guilty as charged."

Kisuke smiled. "Normally this is the part where I tell you to keep your eye on the ball, but since Shisui's already cleared the barrow of traps we're pretty much in the clear. What's up?"

Jiraiya figured there was no harm in running it by him; he seemed like a pretty decent guy and given his experience he might even have an answer or two that could help him out. "Let's say you wanted to track someone down in the Soul Society that came here from one of the Realms of the Living. How would you go about doing that?"

Kisuke raised an eyebrow. "I take it this is more than just a hypothetical question."

Jiraiya nodded. "You catch on quick."

Kisuke shrugged. "It's part of my job."

"Right," said Jiraiya, "So, how would you do it?"

Kisuke sighed. "Tough call. You got any leads?"

"Only that he'd be from the Shinobi World, the same Realm of the Living that Itachi, Shisui and I are from," Jiraiya admitted, "In a place as vast as the Soul Society I know that's not much to go on."

Kisuke nodded. "All too true. It doesn't really matter which particular Realm of the Living people are from; they tend to get dropped into the Soul Society at pretty random spots. Still, it's not unheard of for souls from particular Realms to eventually link up and form certain afterlife expat communities, for want of a better term."

Jiraiya's eyes widened slightly; this was the first time he'd heard of something like that. "Are you serious?"

"Completely," Kisuke replied, "Most tend to be pretty small and don't draw much attention, but there are some larger ones that the Soul Society keeps tabs on. They're good for peacekeeping purposes in the Rukon District, but they can also be sources of potential organized threats. Whether they're a blessing or a curse really depends on your individual point of view."

"True enough," said Jiraiya, "Ever heard of any communities formed by souls from the Shinobi World?"

Kisuke shook his head. "No, but that doesn't mean they're not out there. The Seireitei's pretty lousy at keeping up with the inner affairs and workings of the Rukon District, to tell you the truth. It's entirely possible that a large Shinobi World expat community has formed out there. Hell, there could be multiple enclaves for all we know."

Jiraiya nodded; it wasn't a confirmation, but it was certainly promising. "Would there be any way to tell them apart from the rest of the Rukon District?"

Kisuke's brow furrowed in thought. "Well, each Realm of the Living is unique, so any expatriate communities that pop up in the Soul Society would likewise have specific characteristics that others would not. They'll usually take some sort of symbol that was commonly used in their particular Realm of the Living and put it on a sign or some other form of marker in order to serve as a guide for others from the same world as them. Family or clan crests, national emblems or flags; there are plenty of different forms such markers can take."

Jiraiya smiled; he could already think of a few such markers that he could look for. "Lots of options out there, but that does help narrow things down. Thanks."

"Sure," said Kisuke, "Of course, even knowing what to look for only helps you so much. After all, the Rukon District alone is bigger than many countries in the Realms of the Living. It'd be the equivalent of finding a needle in a haystack."

"Maybe," Jiraiya admitted, "but knowing what the needle looks like is better than nothing."

Kisuke nodded. "True. Still, you've got another year until you'll be able to start looking for that needle."

Jiraiya sighed. "I know. Even then, I suspect I won't have nearly as much time as I would like to conduct my search given that I'll have duties of my own to carry out as a Soul Reaper."

"Exactly," said Kisuke with a smile, "which is why I would advise that you try to get some help with your search. I can think of a certain Tenth Seat who'd probably be up for it."

Jiraiya's eyes narrowed. "You mean Shisui?"

"Yup," Kisuke replied, "We're not blind; Yoruichi and I know that he's been looking around the Rukon District in his off hours when he's not training. You two are both from the same Realm of the Living, so the odds are good that what you and he are searching for is related. He's not the only one that might be willing to help, either."

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "Are you offering to search the Rukon District too? I'd certainly take all the help that I can get, but what exactly is in it for you?"

"Call it satisfying my curiosity," said Kisuke with a smirk, "The Shinobi World doesn't get much attention from the Soul Society and the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, but that doesn't mean we've been ignoring it entirely. I've heard of the 'Ninja Arts' that your Realm of the Living utilizes… and I also know that you've been trying to recreate them through spirit energy manipulation in the place of chakra."

Jiraiya chuckled. "Can't get anything past you, huh?"

Kisuke smiled. "Well, it's not like our little journey has offered you much private space to practice. Everyone here has sensed your spirit energy fluctuating, and I'm assuming that's because of your training efforts."

Jiraiya nodded. "Yup. It hasn't been easy, but I feel like I'm making progress."

"I bet," said Kisuke as he folded his arms, "Why don't you show me?"

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "Right now? I know this isn't exactly a battlefield, but it is still an area of operation. I'm all for a little fun, but missions should be taken seriously."

"The mission began the moment we left the Seireitei," Kisuke pointed out, "So, if you think about it, each time we've stopped to rest and you've practiced that technique you've done so in an area of operation."

"I guess you got me there," Jiraiya conceded, "Well, if you really want to see it, then who am I to say no?"

He sat down and held out his hands like he'd done so many times in the past. He was only focusing on gathering and manipulating his spirit energy, but even so he could feel Kisuke's gaze locked onto him like a hawk and studying every minute detail. Jiraiya was impressed; despite the Third Seat's laid-back demeanor, when he focused on something he didn't mess around.

Just like the times he'd practiced on the road, bringing together the spirit energy was one thing; containment was another. That familiar swirling blue-white ball of power coalesced in his hands, but Jiraiya knew it wasn't in its final form just yet. The fact that he had an audience meant nothing to him; his concentration was solely on the power he held and maintaining control over it.

Just a little more…

A few seconds later, he determined that it was time to make his gamble. He cautiously removed his left hand from the top of the sphere of energy, holding it only in his right hand.

And this time it didn't explode.

Jiraiya grinned triumphantly as he stood up and held out the ball of whirling energy that was the Rasengan. "Well, what do you know? I finally got it!"

Kisuke applauded. "Nice! That was pretty impressive!"

"Thanks," Jiraiya replied, "I've been trying to pull this off for quite a while now."

Kisuke smirked. "Well, in that case, why don't you show me what it can actually do?"

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow as he looked around the chamber. "Really? Right here? I'm not exactly seeing any targets unless you want me to trash one of the walls with it."

Kisuke shook his head and patted his chest. "Nope. Hit me right here. Don't hold back."

The Third Seat seemed confident enough, but Jiraiya hesitated; he knew the kind of damage this technique could do. "Look, I'm sure you're tough, but I don't think you realize what you're asking for."

Kisuke chuckled. "Really? Well, I could say you're wrong, but it'd be easier to show you. Come on, hit me."

There was a cool layer of certainty behind Kisuke's casual demeanor that made Jiraiya suspect that he could back up his words. "All right, then. Don't say I didn't warn you!"

He lunged forward, his body moving into those old instinctive patterns from his days as a Shinobi. His right hand went straight for Kisuke's chest, and the Rasengan hit him dead-center. The ball of concentrated spirit energy slammed the Third Seat back into the wall before it burst, and the entire chamber shuddered from the force of the impact.

Did I overdo it?

He got his answer a moment later when he saw Kisuke rise and dust himself off. There was some mild bruising on his chest and his robes had a few tears in them, but apart from that he looked little worse for the wear. Jiraiya was momentarily caught off guard before he realized what Kisuke had done.

"I'll be damned," he said, "You increased your output of spiritual pressure just before the impact."

Kisuke nodded. "Bingo. I could've avoided taking damage altogether, but I wanted to at least get a taste as to the kind of power you were packing there. I must say, that's a very impressive technique. A nice substitute should you ever be deprived of your Zanpakutō, and if you become proficient at wielding the blade singlehandedly then I can even see you utilizing the technique with your free hand once your control over your spirit energy reaches a sufficiently advanced stage. As it is, I'd say you're pretty far along, especially considering that you're still in the Academy."

Jiraiya smiled. "Thanks. This is just a small portion of what I was capable of back when I was alive. I still have a long way to go in order to restore my strength… although, since I'm also training to use Soul Reaper powers, I could eventually become stronger than I was in my first life."

"Indeed," said Kisuke, "Don't lose that drive for self-improvement. I can already tell that you've got a lot of latent power. I bet you were really something when it was chakra that fueled you instead of spirit energy."

Jiraiya shrugged. "Well, chakra was what I was used to. Technically, spirit energy is part of what makes up chakra, although now that I'm a soul that's the primary fuel for my strength instead of the mix of spirit and life energy. Even then, this form of spirit energy feels different than the kind that goes into chakra. It's… well, it's hard to really put it into words."

Kisuke nodded. "I understand. Even after years of wielding spirit energy, it can oftentimes be difficult to properly express what it means to manipulate it. Each person's spiritual pressure has a different feel to it, both to themselves and to those around them. It can take quite some time before one's able to properly articulate how they sense and control it."

"I can see that," said Jiraiya.

Kisuke gestured back at the half-emptied sarcophagus that was before them. "Well, as much as I'd like to continue this enlightening chat of ours, we do still have a mission to carry out here. There are plenty of pieces left to catalogue, and we are trying to keep to a schedule."

Jiraiya chuckled. "Right. Well, I guess we should get back to work."

….

As the whirlwind that had temporarily engulfed her died down, Visaelya saw Shisui smile approvingly at her. "Well done."

She tried and failed to suppress a blush. "Thank you."

Looking down at the blade in her hands, Visaelya allowed herself a confident smile. The weapon was a curved sword, with the blade about as long as her arm. Its arc was more prominent than that of a Zanpakutō, and glowing violet runes adorned both sides of the blade. Gems of amethyst were embedded in the silver handle, and the power that emanated from them had lent the whirlwind generated by the weapon earlier a purple hue.

She's seen Spirit Weapons before at the Drakken estate in the Seireitei, but this was the first time that she'd been allowed to hold one that would challenge her. There had been a moment of doubt, but under Shisui's encouraging gaze she'd mustered the strength to meet the sword's challenge and prove herself its equal. Now the surge of power that she'd felt before was stabilizing and allowing itself to be bent to her will.

"That's a beautiful piece," said Shisui, "It's almost a shame that we're just going to lock it up again once we get back to the Seireitei."

"That's true," Visaelya admitted, "However, that's also our mission. Whether we like it or not, we must carry it out."

Shisui nodded. "Yes. You might still be a student, but your mindset is already that of a Soul Reaper."

Visaelya shook her head as she set the weapon down in the slowly growing pile of swords. "I still have much to learn."

Shisui chuckled. "True enough. Still, you're further along than most. Why do you think we invited you to come along with us on this mission?"

"I thought it was because I had some knowledge regarding the old kingdom," said Visaelya, "I mean, I was the one that the Captains asked to provide an account of it to Itachi and Jiraiya, after all."

Shisui nodded. "Your knowledge was certainly part of it, but it was also because of how your skills have grown over the years. Your abilities have become sharper, and your mentality is also becoming more accustomed to the role that you will eventually assume."

She smiled. "Thank you. That means a lot coming from a Soul Reaper as accomplished as yourself."

Shisui chuckled. "I think you're giving me a little too much credit there."

Visaelya shook her head. "With all due respect, you're wrong. To have climbed the ranks to Tenth Seat of Squad Two so quickly speaks volumes as to your abilities. You were also able to singlehandedly clear this entire barrow of traps before the rest of us entered. I could feel the power that was being unleashed as you did your work even though I was outside the tomb. The defenses that you overpowered were incredible."

Shisui smiled. "Well, I've always been quick on my feet. I've got sharp eyes, too, so that job was one that I was well suited for."

"Captain Shihōin must think very highly of you if she entrusted you with such a dangerous task," she said.

"The Captain has a good eye for the strengths and weaknesses of her subordinates," Shisui replied, "She never asks us to do something that's beyond the scope of our abilities, and she doesn't have us take risks that she'd be unwilling to take herself should the need arise. It's part of what makes her such a good commander."

"I see…" said Visaelya, her mind trailing off as she considered the Captain from her family.

Shisui raised an eyebrow. "Something on your mind?"

Visaelya sighed. "It's my uncle."

"Uncle? You mean Captain Rhaegon Drakken?" he asked.

Visaelya nodded. "Yes. Growing up, I thought the world of him. I believed that he was the greatest Captain in the history of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. Now that I've had exposure to him and other Captains in the line of duty, though… I'm not so sure. I still believe in his abilities, but… when I compare my past interactions with him to those I've had with Captain Shihōin, I cannot help but notice some… flaws."

Shisui gave her an understanding smile. "No Captain's perfect… even the ones that we idolize. It takes a great deal of maturity to recognize that."

Visaelya shook her head. "I should've recognized it sooner. The pride, that subtle sense of superiority… they're endemic to my family. That includes myself; during my early years in the Academy, I was so full of myself and the Drakken Clan that I was completely thrown for a loop when I found students that could actually compete with and surpass me. Since then I've been trying to reevaluate my place in the Soul Society and the role that I'll eventually assume. It… it hasn't been easy."

"Trying to reconcile personal ambitions and desires with those of your family rarely is," said Shisui, "Especially when your family's a powerful one."

There was something in his tone that gave Visaelya pause; it felt like he was speaking from experience. "The Uchiha Clan… forgive me for prying, but… was yours a prominent one when… well…"

"When Itachi and I were alive?" he asked.

Visaelya looked down in shame; there she was, trampling all over that taboo again. "I'm sorry. Forget I asked."

She was surprised to actually feel his hand on her left shoulder. When she looked up, she saw that he was smiling again.

"It's all right, really," he said, "I don't mind you asking about it. I know Soul Society nobles have some big social deals about it being improper to inquire into the past lives of people like Itachi and I, but it doesn't bother me."

She felt a huge weight slip from her chest; Shisui had a way of calming her down. "If it's really all right with you, then... could you please tell me? About your family, I mean."

"Sure," he said, "We're still on the job, but I can at least give you the short version."

Visaelya smiled. "I'd be happy with that."

"To keep things simple, yes, we were a prominent clan," said Shisui, "In the land that we were from, the Uchiha Clan held power over what we called the Military Police Force. In essence, we were a major part of the internal security apparatus. I suppose in that sense we weren't all that different from the Stealth Force under Captain Shihōin."

Visaelya nodded. "I see. Were you a member of this Military Police Force?"

"Not directly," said Shisui, "but seeing as their workings were so intertwined with those of the Uchiha Clan, they did attempt to exert some influence over me. They certainly wanted me to join their ranks, but it didn't work out."

"Why didn't you if your clan played such a prominent role in the organization?" asked Visaelya.

Shisui sighed. "It's… complicated. I don't want to lie to you, but at the same time… well, it's not exactly a fond memory, to put it mildly."

Visaelya bowed. "If you don't wish to share it, I'll understand completely."

Shisui shook his head. "Someday I might give you the full version. For now… well, let's just say that we had a severe difference in opinion and philosophy. They wanted me to be what I could not… and perform actions that would ultimately have brought our land to civil war. Itachi faced the same situation. The choices we were forced to make ultimately went against our clan, but only because the two of us decided to serve a higher purpose; peace in both our homeland and the world over our family's pride."

Visaelya's eyes widened. "The stakes were really that high?"

Shisui nodded. "Oh, yes. Believe me, I wish it were otherwise. Itachi and I made the decision to put the safety of the many over the ambitions of our clan. They were our kin; the last thing we wanted was to turn against them. In the end, though… they were too far gone. Old grudges, slights built up over generations, dreams of power and glory continually stifled… the accumulated hatred became overwhelming. Our clan did have some valid points, but what they were prepared to do in the name of finding redress for those grievances was nothing short of treason. Far from being the upholders of law and order in our community; they were prepared to usurp both in the name of payback and power."

She realized that he'd begun clenching his fists as his story went on. Visaelya was so used to him being easy-going and bright that this dark tale and the underlying sorrow caught her completely by surprise.

I've gone too far, she thought, I never should've asked him to relive something like this. Whatever he was forced to do in order to thwart his clan's ambitions, I have no right to pry into it if it's scarred him so deeply.

She stepped forward and, after a moment of hesitation, placed her hand on his shoulder. He stiffened ever so slightly at the gesture, but he seemed more surprised by it than hostile towards it.

"Tenth Seat Uchiha…. no… Shisui," she said, "You need not go further. I was out of line in asking you to bring up what you went through in your past life. Please, forgive me."

After a moment he gave her a smile. "Hey, you've got nothing to apologize for. I was the only that agreed to tell you about my family, remember?"

"Perhaps," she said, "but had I known it would be a topic of such gravity and discomfort I would never have broached it."

Shisui shook his head. "Still, you don't need to say your sorry. Why don't we just drop it for now, all right? I don't mind going into further detail with you at a later date, but for now we really ought to be getting back to the mission at hand."

Visaelya nodded. "I concur. Before we do so, though, there is something that I must have your opinion on. It concerns my family… and how I should handle my ties with them going forward."

"I'll do what I can, but I might not be of much help," said Shisui, "Our respective situations aren't completely the same, after all. My input might not really be suited to your specific circumstances."

"I understand, but I would appreciate it just the same," Visaelya replied, "Members of the Drakken Clan that go through Shin'ō Academy are expected to enroll in Squad Ten upon graduation. That's how it's been since the foundation of the Academy and the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. No member of the clan has ever deviated from that path."

Shisui gave her a knowing smirk. "Let me guess; you were considering becoming the first? Rather bold of you. I like it."

Visaelya flushed with embarrassment. "Well, it's… it's not like I've actually made up my mind yet. When I began my training at the Academy, I thought that I would go down the traditional Drakken path. However, over the past year or so I've been contemplating… alternatives."

"There's nothing wrong with that," said Shisui, "although I am curious as to what brought it on. Anything in particular come to mind?"

It was more like someone, but of course Visaelya wouldn't dare say as much, especially when the person in question was standing right in front of her. She struggled for a moment to come up with something that sounded proper, and she could only hope that Shisui didn't notice her attempt to mask her true intentions.

"Well… I suppose my recent field experience has broadened my perspective," she said, and it wasn't exactly a lie, "My whole life before now, I believed that I was destined for Squad Ten, but now that I've had a chance to give practical application to my skills… I've been wondering if another division might actually be a better fit. I want to put my abilities to the test, and I want to become known for them rather than just my family name."

Shisui seemed willing enough to roll with that, for which she was quite grateful. "I get it. Truth be told, you wouldn't be in the wrong if you did decide to follow your clan's traditional path. It's true that Captain Drakken's definitely got a chip on his shoulder, but he's still a good leader. His division looks up to him, he's charismatic, and he's good in a fight. He runs Squad Ten well, and they've got a good field record as a result. He can be a bit overbearing though, not to mention he tends to suck up all the oxygen in whatever room he's in. Any Captain worthy of the title needs to carry themselves with a certain gravitas, but a few do let it go to their heads sometimes, and Rhaegon's definitely one of them. You'd probably get a decent starting post in his division, but I'm not going to lie; you'd owe that at least in part to the fact that the two of you are family. If you want to be recognized for your skills rather than your name, Squad Ten's not the way to go."

Visaelya nodded. "I thought as much. I actually had another division in mind, although… well, it'd be a rather radical departure from tradition for a member of my clan."

Shisui raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? Which one did you have in mind?"

She tried and utterly failed to keep from blushing as she met his gaze. "Squad Two."

She was surprised by the slightly mischievous smile he gave her. "So, instead of the family division, you go for the one that's run by your clan's most prominent rival? Bold move. You'd really send a statement with that."

"The animosity between the Drakken and Shihōin Clans isn't as bad as most people believe!" Visaelya hastily countered, "We've always been competitors, but never direct enemies."

Shisui nodded. "I know. Still, it's surprising. You're going to raise a lot of eyebrows if you go down this path."

"Perhaps so," Visaelya conceded, "Still, I've given it considerable thought. Captain Shihōin may be from a rival house, but in my experience with her she doesn't seem to have held that against me. If that were the case, I do not believe that she would've chosen me as one of the students to come on this mission. She's given me the chance to stand on my own merits; I've gained a real opportunity to prove myself, something I'm not sure I would've gotten with another Captain given my family name."

"Some might've granted you the opportunity eventually," said Shisui, "Still, you've got a point. Our Captain's keen on letting our skills speak for us. She's fully aware of your family name and all the potential complications that entails, but at the same time she's not the type that'll let that cloud her judgment when it comes to evaluating your abilities. At the same time, though, she's not above taking advantage of some of the perks that come with you being a fellow member of the nobility. Take your knowledge of the old kingdom; it's far more comprehensive that what would be expected of most Academy students, even those in the advanced track. You wouldn't have gotten that without the private tutors of House Drakken, something that she's well aware of. That knowledge base is part of why you were selected to join this mission."

"I understand that," Visaelya replied, "However, I believe she's also aware of the fact that my family could've used this mission as an opportunity for me to spy on the heiress to their rival clan. She had to have known of that risk, yet she chose me anyway. As a result, I've gained fresh chances for learning that I wouldn't have gotten at the Academy. That alone makes Squad Two worthy of my consideration. There's also the fact that in addition to hunting Hollows like other divisions it is charged in coordination with the Stealth Force the task of maintain order and security within the Seireitei."

Shisui shrugged. "That's more the Stealth Force than Squad Two, although we do help with internal policing when we're not on field assignments. Since we both fall under the Captain's command there can be a considerable degree of overlap if she deems it necessary. There's also the fact that Squad Two's senior officers also have leading positions in the Stealth Force. If you climb high enough in the ranks you can find yourself with some very interesting responsibilities."

Visaelya was intrigued. "So… what sort of responsibilities do you have as the Tenth Seat?"

Shisui gave her a wicked grin. "If I told you, I'd have to kill you."

"Surely you jest?" said Visaelya, only halfway believing that was indeed the case.

Shisui chuckled. "Don't worry, I'm kidding. To be honest, my duties aren't really that different from most mid-rank officers. I lead teams, conduct reconnaissance, hunt Hollows and more. If I'm ever assigned to help out the Stealth Force it's usually just to aid in security, hunt down the occasional criminal or engage in a bit of espionage. Standard fare for Squad Two, really."

Visaelya nodded. "I see. Do you think I would have the aptitude required for the duties of Squad Two?"

"Sure," Shisui replied, "You still need some training, of course, but your grasp of the basics seems sound enough. You've got solid abilities and a good head on your shoulders, so you can't ask for a better foundation. Over time you'd need to learn the subtler bits of our particular craft; subterfuge, concealment, infiltration, swift movement while avoiding detection, and more. It's much more advanced than that stuff they typically cover at the Academy, but if you join our ranks you'll get plenty of practice."

Visaelya smiled; she couldn't have asked for a better answer. "I understand. If that is indeed the case, then I think I have a much better idea as to how I want to proceed moving forward."

"That's good," said Shisui, "Still, it's not a decision that you should rush. You've got a year left at the Academy, after all. You should really take advantage of the time you have available to carefully think through what you want to do. Students in the advanced track are typically given considerably greater post-graduation options than those in the standard curriculum, so it likely won't just be between Squad Two and Squad Ten that you'll have to pick from. Don't be hasty with this. It's true that you can transfer between divisions, and it's not uncommon for Soul Reapers to move around quite a bit before finally settling down in a particular unit, but the one you join first can still have a major impact on your future career."

Visaelya nodded. "Of course. I'll give it the utmost consideration that it's worthy of."

Shisui smiled. "Glad to hear it. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't hoping that you'd join us, but this is about you. Don't let anyone pressure you, and that includes your family. Have the strength and courage of your convictions to do what feels right to you, and you won't regret the path you go down."

Visaelya bowed. "I'll keep that in mind. Thank you, Tenth Seat… I mean, Shisui."

He grinned. "Anytime."

….

Three days later…

"Is that the last of them?" asked Yoruichi.

Kisuke nodded as he finished securing the final bundle of Spirit Weapons and Armor. "Yup. We wound up with a pretty good haul."

Yoruichi certainly couldn't argue with that. After thoroughly cataloguing everything they'd found in the tomb, they'd set about preparing the assorted artifacts for transportation. With no beasts of burden accompanying them, Yoruichi and Kirio had opted to divide the artifacts up amongst everyone present and bundle those of similar make in order to transport them. It had taken some doing, but now they were finally ready to leave.

She smiled as she watched Itachi, Jiraiya and Visaelya help the members of Squads Two and Twelve finish cleaning up their encampment. They might still be students, but there was no denying that they had more than pulled their own weight over the course of the mission. There wasn't a bad one in the bunch, and it almost felt like a waste to simply return them to the Academy; as far as Yoruichi was concerned, the three of them were more than ready for active duty by now.

Kisuke smirked, and it felt as if he was reading her mind. "They did pretty well. Bringing them along was definitely the right call."

Yoruichi nodded. "Glad we agree on that."

There was a flicker on the wind before Soi-Fon appeared in front of her. "Lady Yoruichi, I've completed my reconnaissance. The path out of the ravine is mostly clear. There are some points that have grown narrower due to the buildup of snow, but it's nothing that we can't work our way past."

"Good work," she said, "I want you to go find Shisui. Tell him that he's on point for the first leg of our trip back, all right?"

Soi-Fon nodded. "Understood."

She went off in search of Squad Two's Tenth Seat and was replaced a moment later by Squad Twelve's Captain. Kirio looked quite pleased with herself, and it wasn't hard for Yoruichi to guess why. Although the mission had been a joint effort, since Squad Twelve would be charged with studying and then safely storing the Spirit Weapons and Armor they'd collected today it was her unit that would gain the greater prestige. Yoruichi didn't mind; Squad Two had come along as guardians, scouts, and support. They weren't out here for glory, but to do their duty. Besides, Squad Two had more than its share of accomplishments and accolades; Yoruichi felt no need to compete with Kirio on that account.

We'll still have to keep our guard up on the way back, she thought, but we should be all right. Upon our return, it's back to business as usual.

It had been great to get away from the heart of the Soul Society for a while. Yoruichi always found it refreshing to be out in The Wild for missions; it truly felt like a breath of clean air, plus the change in scenery was always pleasant. However, it would also feel good to return to the Seireitei, plus there was the fact that she couldn't leave her Lieutenant in charge of the division forever. After all, knowing Ōmaeda, that kind of authority could all too easily go to his head.

"Well, now," said Kirio, "This has been a wonderful operation! Yoruichi, I can't thank you enough for all the help that Squad Two has provided."

Yoruichi grinned. "Don't mention it. That being said, you should probably save the gratitude until we're back inside the Seireitei."

"Oh, don't worry," Kirio replied, "I've no intention of dropping my guard in the home stretch. Come on, Yoruichi; you know me better than that."

Yoruichi nodded, her eyes once again on the three students. "You're right."

Kirio gave her a sly smile as she followed her gaze. "Those three are really something, hm? Especially Itachi."

Yoruichi wouldn't argue with that. "Oh, yes."

"A year left until graduation," Kirio mused aloud, "The recruitment exhibition at the Academy should be quite the spectacle when the day finally comes."

Yoruichi giggled. "I have no doubt of that. Itachi's going to be at the heart of the competition, and I don't plan on losing."

Kirio folded her arms and winked. "Well, you've certainly got a head start with him, but you'd better stay on your toes. I'm not going to go down without a fight, and you can bet more than a few other Captains also have their eyes on him."

Yoruichi grinned as she locked onto the raven-haired young man at the heart of the conversation. "Bring it on."

Author's Notes: Well, I'm sure that was a lot to chew on. The next chapter shouldn't be quite so bulky, although seeing as I have a reputation for large chapters thanks to my other fics I make no promises.

With regards to the Great Noble House that dominates the north, 'Starmont' is actually a portmanteau of two prominent northern houses from the 'A Song Of Ice And Fire' series; House Stark and House Mormont. The most notable member of this final Great Noble House will actually be introduced in the next chapter. He's one of the Captains, although you'll have to wait until next time to find out what division he commands.

With regards to the lost kingdom of Nur-Andunaya, the inspiration for both the realm and fictional language was a powerful nation from the second major fantasy series that's influencing this story; Númenor, the once-mighty island kingdom of the Dúnedain from Tolkien's legendarium. The parallels were quite deliberate. The tragic tale of Númenor's rise and fall won't be the last time that Tolkien's wonderous world of Middle-Earth plays a significant influence in this story and my version of the Soul Society.

Well, the story's moving forward, and the next chapter will deal with the Academy finals and the 'recruitment exhibition' that Kirio mentioned at the end there. Itachi and Jiraiya will finally graduate and officially join the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, and their adventure will enter its next phase.

Hope you liked the chapter! Please review!