Itachi Rebirth: A Shinigami Tale

Itachi slowly opened his eyes as the sunlight hit them. Remembering what had just happened, he quickly sprung up, and realized he was in Urahara's shop.

"Ah, Itachi you're awake. That was one hell of a battle you had, I could sense it while I was helping Captain Hitsugaya fight the other arrancar that showed up." Urahara said as Itachi rubbed his eyes.

"Uchiha, you are finally awake." Toshiro said.

"How long was I out." Itachi asked.

"Just a day." Toshiro replied.

"I see. Then Miss Orihime…" Itachi continued. However from their attitudes he could already deduce what happened.

"That Espada was too strong. He defeated both Renji win a single blow." Toshiro said.

"Mr. Uchiha, don't worry. You don't have too many physical injuries, it seems like it was mainly over exhaustion of your reiatsu." Urahara commented.

"I see. Thank you for bringing me here." Itachi replied.

"It was no trouble."

"Uchiha, I know you just woke up, but I need you to come with me, the Captain Commander would like to have a word with us regarding the situation." Toshiro interrupted.

Itachi nodded wearily as he shakily got up from the bed, with Toshiro helping him up and mounting his arm over his shoulder for support before flash stepping away.

Itachi and Toshiro arrived at Inoue's house. As they entered into an empty room with a large monitor setup for communication to Soul Society, Itachi saw the faces of Rukia, Renji, Ikkaku, Yumichika, and Matsumoto standing there. Itachi noticed the solemn atmosphere in the air as he entered. Renji had an especially downcast appearance. He noticed Itachi enter the room and walked up to him in greeting.

"Itachi, are you alright?" Renji asked.

"Yes, I'm fine. What about you?" Itachi asked.

"I…" Renji looked down and clenched his fist. He was unable to stop the Espada from capturing Orihime.

"Renji, it's not your fault." Rukia came up to console him.

"She is right, don't beat yourself up over it." Itachi added.

"Uchiha stay here, I'm going to go get Kurosaki." Toshiro said as he vanished from the spot.

"Lieutenant Uchiha, I'm glad you're alright." Rukia said with relief in her voice. Both she and Renji were bandaged up but seemed generally okay. Itachi nodded silently in response as he began to piece together that Orihime was not there and something happened to her, which explained Renji and Rukia's injuries.

A few moments later, Toshiro arrived with Ichigo with him.

"Matsumoto, connect us." Toshiro ordered. Rangiku nodded and turned on the monitor.

Suddenly, the Captain Commander's face showed up.

"Please report." He said sternly. Toshiro bowed before giving his report.

"Several of the Espada appeared and attacked us. At first the reason for their attack was unclear but it was a diversion as according to Kuchiki, another group of Espada showed up with the intent of kidnapping Inoue, to which they succeeded." Toshiro finished.

"What…" Ichigo said in disbelief as he clenched his fists.

"This was my fault this happened, Captain Commander." Itachi added in as he stepped up to the monitor. "I was the one who escorted Inoue through the Dangai. While I was there, we were confronted by the Espada, Ulquiorra. I had managed to get away from him but he followed us to the world of the living and brought another Espada with him along with the traitor, Tousen. With ȧssistance from Kurosaki, I was able to defeat Tousen and Ulquiorra, but the third one, Starrk, managed to slip by me somehow and took her."

"It wasn't your fault, Itachi…" Renji interrupted. "Even with my Bankai, that Espada defeated me so quickly. I wasn't strong enough to protect her. From here on out, I Abarai Renji, Lieutenant of the Sixth Division, will go to Hueco Mundo and retrieve Inoue."

"I will accompany him and do the same." Itachi added in.

"That's enough!" Yamamoto interjected. "Inoue has been captured and that is quite unfortunate. But right now, the Arrancar are preparing for war. All members of Hitsugaya's advanced guard return to Soul Society at once!"

"Captain Commander...does that mean you are abandoning Inoue?" Rukia questioned.

"Indeed. There is no point in weighing the life of one person against the fate of the entire world." Yamamoto responded.

"Captain Commander...my deepest apologies but I cannot obey that order." Rukia replied.

"I expected as much. This is why I prepared ahead of time." Yamamoto replied confidently as a Senkaimon gate opened up in the room behind everyone. From the gate Captain Kuchiki and Captain Zaraki emerged from the light.

"That's how it's gonna be…" Kenpachi said as he stared at everyone in the room.

"Do not resist, if necessary we have orders to bring you by force." Byakuya said coldly.

"I get it...I won't ask for Soul Society's help, but at least tell me how to get to Hueco Mundo. Inoue is our friend and I'll go save her myself." Ichigo demanded with firm resolution. Yamamoto paused for a moment before replying.

"I forbid it." Yamamoto replied. "I will not permit you to act selfishly and die like a dog. Your power will be needed in the upcoming battle. Stand by until you receive further orders."

Ichigo stared at the monitor in disbelief as the other shinigami walked by him and entered the Senkaimon.

"I'm sorry...Ichigo." Rukia whispered to him before entering the Senkaimon.

"Do what you need to do, Kurosaki. For the sake of a comrade." Itachi said as the Senkaimon closed.

----

"Welcome back. I see you were successful in your mission." Aizen said as he sat high on this throne, looking down at Starrk with Orihime right behind him, with Yammy, Luppi, and Wonderweiss also standing nearby. Mounted over his shoulder, was the unconscious body of Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez.

"How strange. Kaname and Ulquiorra didn't come back with you." Aizen commented as he looked at the group of Arrancar in front of him. Starrk placed Grimmjow's body on the ground before bowing in respect.

"I regret to inform you that Tousen and Ulquiorra were defeated by Uchiha Itachi with help from Kurosaki Ichigo." Starrk replied. Aizen raised his eyebrows and a faint smile appeared on his face.

"So Uchiha bested them both? I find that hard to believe. How is it you're still alive?" Aizen questioned.

"Before the fight, Uchiha had immobilized me with the point of a finger. Before I knew it, I was unable to move as if I had rods jammed into all of my limbs. If Lilynette had not hit me, I would not be standing here today." Starrk replied.

"I see...well the mission was accomplished successfully. It is quite unfortunate what happened to those other two but they fulfilled their duties." Aizen responded. He looked at Orihime and focused his gaze at her.

"Inoue, Orihime. Forgive my rudeness. Welcome to our castle of Los Noches." Aizen greeted. Orihime remained silent as she gave him a nervous gaze.

"Would you mind showing us your power?" Aizen asked and pointed a finger at Grimmjow's limp body on the ground. "Heal Grimmjow."

Orihime nodded and cautiously approached Grimmjow's body. She raised her palms out in front of her and a barrier of light formed around his body.