The Reishi that filled the anchored space was quickly flaking away because of the huge hole that covered like ninety percent of the sky, from which the Dangai was seeping in.
"Take care of that." Itachi gestured to Aizen and ordered Gin, or rather Snake since his mask was back one, who silently went ahead and covered Aizen's body in sealing cloth.
"I can already foresee the issues that will arise with this." Itachi struggled to actually keep a straight face when he thought of all the rage and accusations that were bound to come with him sealing the Hōgyoku with the Sword of Totsuka.
The Sword of Totsuka was an irreversible action. Not all Effects can be reversed into Cause, and that was the basis of the Sword of Totsuka. He had no idea how many things were sealed in it or how to bring out what was sealed in it, with the notion of the latter being something that Itachi thought would have diminished the potency of the ethereal weapon.
The first person to arrive from the waiting group was Soi Fon, along with Junpei who arrived barely a second later, who spared a brief glance at the Snake and the sealed corpse under his feet before focusing on Itachi.
Junpei had a wry smile on his face that was barely holding on. "You look spry for someone who just fought Aizen, Captain. Sheesh, you Captains keep getting scarier the more I see you fight."
"Shut up, Junpei." Soi Fon's glare dared him to speak another word. She then looked at Itachi. "Are you alright?"
There weren't any injuries on his body but she knew it was never that simple.
Itachi however gave her a nod. "I'm a bit tired, but other than that I'm fine."
He looked as cracks started appearing all over the dimension and surmised that it was the after effects of his Bankai.
"Come on." They went back to where the other Captains were gathered.
The Snake dropped Aizen's body at the feet of the Captains and made himself scarce.
The Captains sported different expressions as they looked at the body of Aizen. Shinji and the rest of the Visored all bore heavy grim faces.
"Remind me never to bet against you, Itachi. You actually did it." Shunsui smirked at Itachi. "Must have been one hell of a Bankai."
Kisuke appeared at that moment and clapped his hands to gain their attention. "Yes, I know. The century's big bad is gone and we all deserve to celebrate, and I will be giving out special discounts to everyone here, but we have to leave now. Like right now."
Seeing no objection, Kisuke tapped his sword on the ground and activated the teleportation Kidō with the power of the remaining key points.
A flash of light and a bit of disorientation later and they found themselves still at the same spot except that hundreds of miles haven't been turned into a wasteland.
They were in the outskirts of the city and everyone was finally gathered together since the fight was over.
The Hollows' side were Starrk, Lilynette, Ulquiorra, Harribel, Apacci, Mila Rose and Sung-Sun.
The Visored had Shinji, Rōjūrō, Lisa and Miyako on their side.
The Exiled were just Kisuke, Yoruichi, Hachigen and Tessai.
The Shinigami had Itachi, Isshin, Shunsui, Jūshirō, Byakuya, Unohana, Kenpachi, Sajin, Soi Fon, Junpei and Kaien. They had the most numbers.
"Now that we are all back, I just have one more inquiry before we get into the rounds of congratulations." Kisuke said as she pushed himself into the middle of the group. His eyes locked instantly with Itachi's.
"Where is the Hōgyoku, Captain Uchiha?"
Despite expecting this and knowing the snowball it was about to create, Itachi remained wholly unaffected.
"I sealed it away using my Susano'o."
His answer surprised the whole group, leaving a lot of them unsure of how to react. The obvious suspicion that sprouted from some was expected.
"… You sealed it away?" There was clear hesitation and skepticism in Kisuke's words as he looked at Itachi, specifically the two Zanpakutō strapped to his waist.
"Since when could it do that?" Yoruichi asked, more curiosity than skepticism in her voice.
Some looked more curious than skeptic, but the latter was the more prevalent expression on most faces, especially those of the Visored and Exiled
Itachi ignored the skepticism he was being showered in and replied nonchalantly. "From the beginning."
Kisuke didn't really like that reply, neither did most of them. "Then it's no problem for you to unseal it for a moment right? I… I have to be sure." And he really did. The Hōgyoku had caused them a lot of problems and he wouldn't let it go just because of a lackadaisical excuse that it was already sealed.
Itachi finally sighed. He was tired. This was the first time he had been this drained and he really wanted to rest.
"I can't. Anything sealed with the Sword of Totsuka can't be unsealed or used or interacted with in any way. Not even I can access it." His words were direct and its meaning clear. Not that it was any more pleasing to the ears that heard it.
"So you're trying to tell us that…"
"The Hōgyoku is gone. Permanently sealed away." Itachi took a step but Shinji took one that put him in Itachi's path.
He scratched his head awkwardly but his body language was direct and unmoving. "C'mon man, you can't really 'spect us to take ya words as is, do you?"
"Why don't we–" Shunsui put himself between them only to be interrupted.
"That's quite enough." Unohana finally spoke as she walked to stand beside Itachi. "I'm glad to see that your injuries aren't impeding your actions but put the questioning off until I've made sure that Itachi here isn't struggling to remain on his feet. Can you all manage that?"
The smile she had on her face made anyone who had been wanting to speak swallow back their words and just dumbly nod their heads.
"Thank you for your consideration." She said with a sincere bow, one that made them feel even more uncomfortable.
She silently dragged Itachi to a spot and made him sit on the ground as she performed a checkup on him.
"Thank you."
"Mm. Think nothing of it." She said with a soft smile. "Though I will admit I am a bit curious."
Itachi nodded, understanding what she meant. "It seals anything, material or immaterial, into an eternal illusion. One I can't control or influence in any way."
"I see." She simply nodded, accepting his words for what it was. She patted him on the back and stood up with a genuinely soft smile.
"You're fine. You just need some rest since it's the first time you've pushed your Bankai this far."
Itachi nodded. She wasn't exactly wrong about that. Both Takamimusuhi and Kamimusuhi were the extensive part of his Bankai, two of three reasons why it was considered Bankai. Thankfully, as he had predicted, Tsukuyomi and Amaterasu's abilities had been enough to put an end to Aizen and it had prevented him from using the third part of it – Amenominakanushi.
Unohana helped him up and followed him back to where the rest of the Captains were waiting. With no more reason to lag around, they returned back to Kisuke's shop to inform the Seireitei of their victory against Aizen.
Yoruichi was somewhat amused at the way Soi Fon and Junpei flanked Itachi during their return, as if guarding him from the other Captain's questioning stares, but chose not to say anything. It was heartening to the ex-Captain. The irony of the fact that Soi Fon once used to hate Itachi wasn't lost on her.
"I see. The important fact is that Aizen is no longer a threat factor. We will deal with the rest upon your return to the Seireitei." Yamamoto relayed with grim eyes as he regarded the gathered group.
He only superficially questioned the presence of Hollows and the absence of the Hōgyoku before ending that topic and focusing on another.
"Shinji Hirako. Kisuke Urahara. You and your cohorts, along with the returning Captains, will present yourselves before me. Your sentences and status have all been lifted, albeit temporarily, until I hear the rest of what you have to say." It was synonymous to a full pardon as long as it was Yamamoto saying so.
The hearing was all but a formality to silence the prattling mouths of Central 46. It wasn't as if they would say no to bolstering the strength of the Shinigami. The issue with the Noble Families also silenced most of what they had to say concerning this.
"Of course, Head Captain. We'll be arriving soon if no other complications arise."
Yamamoto nodded at Kisuke's words and cut off the transmission.
"Well, you heard him. You have the next hour to pack up your trinkets before we return. Best get to it while you can." He tipped his hat and went inside his shop.
Behind the shop, Itachi sat in a circle with an odd group of Hollows.
Tier Harribel was staring hard at Starrk while her fracción tried but failed to glare a hole into Itachi's skull. Lilynette looked awkward and embarrassed as she sat beside Starrk. Ulquiorra on the other hand appeared aloof and unaffected, except he was staring directly at Itachi.
––––––
Patreøn*com/QuackVader
––––––