In the Soul Society: The Rukon District.*
Itachi strolled through the Rukon District with his hands comfortably tucked in his pockets. It had been several months since his demise, his brother finally succeeding in ending his life. However, time in the soul society passed at a faster rate compared to the ninja world or the living world, as others residing here might perceive it.
He navigated through the crowd of souls, engaged in casual conversations amongst themselves. Itachi pondered on his experiences during his time in this realm.
During his initial arrival in the soul society, Itachi found himself bewildered, uncertain of his whereabouts and the reason for still being clad in his former attire. It took some time for him to comprehend the nature of this place and why he was directed here instead of the underworld, where he believed he should have been sent.
A few souls had kindly enlightened him on the functioning of this realm, including the fact that sustenance was unnecessary for souls to survive, unless they possessed a hint of spiritual pressure. This concept somewhat resembled chakra, although Itachi contemplated on their differences.
Some individuals have mentioned that those possessing a strong spiritual pressure have the option to pursue a path as a soul reaper and reside in the seireitei, a prominent city located at the heart of the soul society, which acts as a dividing point for various districts.
This information has sparked a certain level of intrigue within him, particularly when a soul elucidated the role of soul reapers in the world of the living, namely in saving and transporting souls to this aforementioned realm. However, not all souls are fortunate enough to reach the soul society, especially those who have engaged in illicit activities such as murder or have prolonged their stay in the living realm.
Unfortunate souls who fail to reach the soul society ultimately transform into monstrous beings known as hollows. It is the duty of soul reapers to exterminate these hollows, although it is unclear how this is achieved as the aforementioned soul did not provide any specific details.
Furthermore, the soul imparted knowledge about the existence of thirteen squads, each commanded by a captain who leads a distinct unit. Curiously, they mentioned that three captains were currently absent, with reasons undisclosed.
Itachi promptly shook his head, endeavoring to clear his thoughts and pondered upon his purpose for being in this particular place. He had been diligently searching for it throughout his entire stay here. He refrained from expressing dissatisfaction, as the surroundings were undeniably picturesque, save for the dilapidated shacks reminiscent of the bygone era of the Leaf Village. Nevertheless, it appeared that everyone here was contented.
The Soul Society proved to be a unique yet familiar realm, akin to the ninja world. One could witness joyous children engaged in playful pursuits, while the elderly ambulated amidst stalls vending various snacks. A soul elucidated that they could still satiate their hunger, albeit requiring minimal sustenance to subsist.
The youthful Uchiha observed with a hint of amusement as a little girl eluded the pursuit of a boy, who frantically wielded a stick as though it were a sword. "Halt in your tracks!" the boy gleefully squealed, racing after the girl. "Nay!" the girl giggled in response.
Itachi couldn't help but emit a chuckle, reminiscing upon the days of his youth wherein he and Sasuke engaged in playful activities, albeit infrequently, due to his scarce availability.
Shaking his head to clear his mind, Itachi was grateful to be back in the soul society. He felt a sense of relief knowing that he could see his parents again and explain what had happened that night. Itachi was glad that neither his mother nor his father held anything against him, as they understood his reasons for his actions.
Walking through the streets, Itachi's eyes were fixed on the ground, unaware of his surroundings. Suddenly, he bumped into someone. "I apologize," he said, looking up to see who he had collided with. To his surprise, he noticed that everyone around had stopped and was looking at the newcomers with a mixture of shock and respect.
"It's alright," a woman's voice responded from in front of him. As he looked up, he saw four souls standing before him. The woman who spoke had deep blue eyes and long braided hair.
Itachi symphonized his agreement, his gaze fixed upon the woman whom he found aesthetically pleasing. His head shook gently as he inquired, 'Is there a specific request that you have?' Itachi discerned the lack of movement from both souls, and observing their attire resembling that of the soul reapers, some donning black robes, he presumed them to be of the aforementioned group. Additionally, the presence of white coats surrounding three souls led him to conclude that they held the status of captains within their respective squads, as conveyed by the souls themselves.
"'Certainly,' delivered a composed male voice, prompting Itachi to divert his attention towards the woman's left. There, he encountered the presence of a substantial canine or lupine creature, possessing dark eyes and pointed ears. Itachi did not ponder upon this peculiarity, for he presumed soul reapers to encompass diverse entities.
Itachi's crimson irises narrowed subtly before he inquired, 'And what might that be?' His curiosity piqued as to their intentions, questioning whether it pertained specifically to him.
As though capable of discerning his thoughts, an individual with ebony skin, long purple hair elegantly fashioned into a high ponytail, and attired in an orange jacket and dark trousers, promptly spoke up. 'If you agree to accompany us, we shall elucidate our desires,' she declared.
The man, who appeared to be of similar age to Itachi and had long dark hair with something in it and purplish gray eyes, halted Itachi's response. His tone was cold as he asserted, 'We do not have the luxury of time for your delayed answer.' This rude behavior caused Itachi, to narrow his eyes.
'Oh Byakuya, could you please show some friendliness for once,' added the dark-skinned beauty with a sly smirk on her face. Itachi raised an eyebrow at her, but quickly dismissed the thought.
'But first, I need to understand why. I refuse to blindly follow some reapers,' Itachi firmly stated, wanting to assert that he was not someone to be bossed around.
The braided woman nodded and motioned to silence her companions. Both of them nodded and stepped back. 'I comprehend your hesitation to join us,' she calmly stated, her blue eyes locking with his red ones.
Itachi nodded as he looked at the raven-haired woman with gratitude, appreciating her understanding of his reasons. 'I am Retsu Unohana, captain of squad four,' she introduced herself, causing Itachi's eyes to widen in surprise. He wondered why a captain was present and what they wanted from him. If Unohana was a captain, then Byakuya, whom he learned the name from the dark-skinned woman, was also a captain, along with the wolf-man.
"'This is Sajin Komamura, captain of squad seven,' Unohana continued, tilting her head towards the wolf who nodded in greeting, displaying a greater patience compared to Byakuya. 'And this is Byakuya Kuchiki, captain of squad six,' she added. Itachi nodded, allowing their names to register in his mind. Then, he turned his attention to the dark-skinned woman, who wore a smirk on her face.
"'I'm Yoruichi Shihoin, former captain of squad two and former commander of the stealth force,' she declared, pointing to herself. Itachi repeated the term 'stealth force,' wondering if it was a part of the squads.
"If you accompany us to a certain location, we will provide a detailed explanation of our intentions and desires," Unohana stated in a gentle tone. "Rest assured, it is nothing negative; we simply have some questions that need to be asked." Itachi maintained a calm demeanor as he observed her.
"Do I possess the option to decline?" he inquired, realizing that his choice of words may not have been ideal. Unohana appeared to radiate with a certain aura as she closed her eyes.
"Itachi Uchiha, I will not repeat myself," she spoke in a calmer tone compared to before. "You will come with us willingly, or we will follow you."
Itachi involuntarily flinched and distanced himself from the woman who had quickly transitioned from pleasant to intimidating. He pondered questioning how she knew his name, but Unohana's expression remained unchanged.
"Very well, I will accompany you," he acquiesced, feeling relieved that he did not know anyone present, as he feared they would mock him for being frightened of an individual.
Unohana opened her eyes and smiled. "Excellent, now follow me, Itachi," she instructed in her usual voice. Itachi nodded, and he could have sworn he heard Yoruichi chuckled from behind him, causing Itachi to raise an eyebrow in response. 'Do not worry, you are not the only one she unnerves with that smile,' she said. Itachi nodded, relieved that he was not alone in feeling that way.
'However, it would be wise not to antagonize her. Retsu will discreetly inform you if necessary,' the dark-skinned woman added, patting his shoulder before following the fourth captain.
Itachi observed their departure and let out a sigh. 'I will remember that,' he thought to himself, before joining Unohana and the others. 'Where can we find a suitable place to converse?' Unohana inquired.
'We can go to my residence. It will provide a quieter and more private setting,' Itachi suggested, taking the lead to lead them to his house. He did not notice the scrutinizing glance Unohana gave him, and even if he had, he would have disregarded it.