Itachi Rebirth: A Shinigami Tale

The next day

Itachi stood with the other Captains and Lieutenants above the fake Karakura Town. In front of them, a large Garganta opened up above them and a lone figure walked through it as another stayed inside. Aizen gazed at the Captains and Lieutenants standing below him and glanced at Itachi.

"I had originally expected you to join Kurosaki in Hueco Mundo, Uchiha. But no matter. I know this is not Karakura Town and all of you are of no real threat to me." Aizen commented to himself, before shifting his gaze to Yamamoto.

"Starrk, Barragan, Harribel. Come here." Aizen said.

Suddenly, three more Gargantas appeared below Aizen. Inside one was a woman with blonde hair and olive skin, and behind her were three other female Arrancar. Next was an elderly man with an olive color left eye and a large scar running down the right side of his face. He was joined by 4 arrancars all bowed down near him.

The last was an espada Itachi had already encountered. He stood in the air with a lazy look on his face. He was with the same arrancar that had joined him in the human world, a little girl with light green hair and pink eyes.

At this point, Gin had also stepped out of the Garganta and stood next to Aizen.

"What a shame Kaname couldn't be here with us today." Aizen commented as he looked at Itachi again.

"You must feel very off balance with an empty spot to your side." Gin said with a smirk.

"No matter, with or without him, it will still be very easy to dispose of them." Aizen said.

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The Captains and Lieutenants conversed among themselves, thinking of a strategy to approach the battle. The shinigami became quiet as Yamamoto stepped up in front of them and told them to stay back. The air around them suddenly became hot as Yamamoto's reiatsu flared and the wood from his cane burned off, revealing his zanpakuto underneath.

"Destroy all creation. Ryujin Jakka."

An immense ring of flames swirled around Yamamoto as he launched a large wave of fire at Aizen and Gin, trapping them inside.

"Now...crush them."

While inside the wall of flames, a small smile formed on Aizen's face as Gin commented on the heat before turning to Aizen.

"So what are you going to do against Uchiha? He took down Kaname and Ulquiorra by himself. Can these three Espada really win?" Gin asked.

"I don't expect them to. But I'm sure you remember "him." Aizen replied.

"I see, that's why you haven't brought him out yet." Gin replied.

Itachi observed silently as four Gargantas opened up next to the pillars that were used to swap Karakura Town. Four hollows appeared from them, prepared to bring down the pillars, only for them to be cut down as Ikkaku, Yumichika, Hisagi, and Kira stopped them.

In response, Barragan sent four of his own Fraccion to deal with them as he continued to sit on his throne.

The shinigami and arrancar remained in their places, spectating, when the pillar that Ikkaku was fighting to protect had collapsed. From the shinigami ranks, Komamura suddenly disappeared and rushed over to Ikkaku's pillar.

The shinigami and arrancar continued to watch as moments later, Komamura's Bankai swiftly cut down the arrancar. Both the Espada and Captains saw this as a moment to begin their attack on each other, with Soi Fon and Omaeda confronting Barragon's fraccion, Ukitake and Kyoraku confronting Starrk, and Toshiro, Rangiku, and Itachi confronting Harribel and her Fraccion.

"Captain, I'll handle these three." Rangiku ȧsserted as she faced Harribel's three fraccion.

Hitsugaya prepared himself to face the espada when Itachi appeared in front of him.

"Captain, Hitsugaya. Go with Lieutenant Rangiku. I will handle her." Itachi added in. Toshiro looked at Itachi surprised by his sudden initiative to fight the female Espada but decided it would be best to help his Lieutenant then join Itachi later.

���Very well. I trust you can handle her. We'll join you shortly." Toshiro said as he and Rangiku split up to face the Fraccion.

Itachi remained facing the female Espada in front of him.

"You have strong reiatsu. I can see why that Captain decided to let you fight me alone." The Espada commented as they clashed blades. Despite being in close proximity to each other, Itachi noticed she was purposely avoiding direct eye contact. 'So Aizen has prepared them for the Sharingan.'

Itachi and the Espada continued trading blows with their blades until both distanced themselves again. Suddenly from his side, Itachi felt a large reiatsu where Toshiro and Rangiku were fighting. There he saw a giant beast nearly kill Rangiku as Toshiro tried to hold it off with ice in his bankai.

Itachi briefly turned his attention towards Toshiro and Rangiku, however when he saw the fight, he was relieved. Toshiro would be able to defeat the three arrancar and their beast. In that brief moment, Harribel took advantage of his distraction to strike at Itachi's ċhėst.

"Worried about your friends?" The Espada said as she suddenly appeared in front of Itachi and slashed at him. Itachi parried the blow with his sword and counterattacked with a kick. Harribel blocked the kick with the side of her blade as she was sent flying back from the force.

"I could say the same for you." Itachi replied, referring to the three of Harribel's Fraccion that were unconscious in a block of ice as Toshiro continued to fight the large beast in his Bankai.

"I see...Sun sun...Apache...Mila Rose...you all fought well." The Espada said as she began unzipping the bottom of her jacket, revealing the tattoo of the number "3" on her left brėȧst.

"I am Tier Harribel, Espada number three. After I deal with you, I will strike down the Captain that attacked my fraccion."

"Number 3…as expected of someone of your caliber." Itachi responded.

Despite being trapped in the ring of fire, Aizen and Gin remained calm as they watched the battles unfold. They paid especially close attention to Itachi's fight.

"Captain Aizen, there is something strange about the way he's fighting." Gin commented.

"Indeed." Aizen said, enjoying the show.

"Ola Azul."