Crows x Souls

"I already told you, Komamura. The path that harmonizes with my view is naught but the path that is least drenched in blood. There it is where justice always is. The very path that I tread upon is the one of justice." — Kaname Tōsen. 

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[POV: With Itachi] 

His maneuvering through the structure of Las Noches was far less challenging as he had been here before, even with the slightly new changes to the architecture. 

Despite the dangers of this particular mission, he wasn't in a hurry. With the significant increase in the Hollow population and overall strength of the castle, haste was the last thing Itachi had in mind. 

'It seems he got to one faster than I did.' He thought. What he was doing was risky—very risky in the fact that Aizen could have singled out his location and point all his Hollows his way. But nothing ventured, nothing gained. 

He wasn't in the Soul Society anymore, nor was he under his limitations as a Shinigami Captain. Now he was just Itachi the Shinigami, one at the Captain level. 

He wasn't being dramatic when he referred to this as a suicide mission. 

'Since he is so kind as to number them in their hierarchical strength, he shouldn't be crossed if I use it as reference.'

He was targeting the fracción of the Espada, most importantly the weaker ones. Using Luppi and Nnoitra as a template for the median strength of Espada, especially the lower numbered ones, Itachi reckons he won't have much of a problem with them. 

Now, as for how many of the Hollows were as strong as Ulquiorra, if he were to go with the safest choice of the number being five then there was no way he was escaping Las Noches. Not with the likes of Baraggan, Aizen and whatever monstrosity he had brewed up. Even if by the slightest chance he managed to escape, it wouldn't be in one piece. 

If the details and prospects of the mission were so bleary then why did he choose to go in the first place? To that question, the answer only he knew. 

And with all those thoughts in mind, Itachi made his way through the underground passage of Las Noches, homing in on one of the more impressive Reiatsu, until he came across his prize. 

In what looked like a room one would find Orochimaru in, a pink-haired Espada was carrying out an experiment on one of his test subjects, a fellow Hollow. 

"Tch. What a waste. Bring me another one!" With a swift move of his hand, he decapitated the Hollow and watched apathetically as it dissolved into dust and energy. 

Itachi watched the scene impassively as two of the subordinates moved in trepidation to grab another of their fellow Hollow to be experimented on. 

The two Hollows came back moments later with a beaten and battered up Hollow and strapped him to the bed, all deaf to his groaning plea. 

"Good. Now get lost." The Seventh Espada, Szayelaporro Granz, who had newly been appointed into the rank of Espada after the untimely death of Nnoitra Gilga and promotion of Luppi Antenor, snarled threateningly. 

As Szayelaporro went on to continue his experiments, the strangest thing happened when the strapped Hollow started twitching violently. 

His anger bubbled at the incompetence of his subordinates but before he could arrest the violent movements, the Hollow broke out of the bindings and socked Szayelaporro straight across the jaw faster than he could react and bolted out the door immediately after. 

First stunned, then furious, Szayelaporro practically flew out of the room to kill any Hollow he came across. 

Seeing everything play out, Itachi stepped out of the darkness from which he hid. 

"I should have brought Junpei here for him to practice hiding his presence." He said to himself half-seriously. 

Unfortunately he couldn't kill the Hollows as he pleased since that would without a doubt bring all eyes to his position if the Reiatsu of an Espada was suddenly snuffed out. And he wasn't like he could kill them all so silently. They weren't weak sheep awaiting a slaughter. 

He moved from there and went deeper into the castle, half wondering what his clone was currently doing and how much longer could he travel unimpeded. 

….. 

[Inner Castle Walls, Las Noches] 

Kaname Tōsen was sat, cross-legged, in a dark room with not so much as a speck of light or the slightest echo of sound. 

Ever since that fateful day, ever since his grim departure, this room has been a realm of solace to him, he could realign somewhat closer to his perfect peace. 

His Zanpakutō hovered just above his hands, emitting a wave of Reiatsu that drew Tōsen deep into his mental realm. Whatever battles he fought in his head, his victories or otherwise, none were to be told, not in this room. 

His head slowly lifted up as vibrations from outside of his dark room filtered in, disturbing his tranquil peace. 

Those barbarians. 

If not for the simple fact that they were tools to further Lord Aizen's goals, he would have pleaded Lord Aizen that they kill every single one of them that they came across. 

As his Lord had once said, "They are no comrade of mine. Only pieces given more weight that they might never be able to bear."

It was just for the common goal so Tōsen would endure. But that didn't mean he would remain silent while Szayelaporro Granz went on a half-baked rampage for an issue not worth the exertion. 

He stepped outside of his room and made to locate Szayelaporro only to stay his legs when he saw Aizen walking in his direction. 

"My Lord." The reverence in his words has never faltered. 

"Curious about the disturbance are we?" The faint smile on Aizen's face that teased at his knowledge of something no one else knew was present on his face. 'Because he knows things no one else does.'

"I will go stop him right this instance." He spun around immediately, more eager to put an end to a bumbling Hollow's madness. 

As he left, his Lord gave him a passing warning, one that he took great heed of. 

"There's a rat in my castle."

As soon as Aizen left, Tōsen burst in full speed ahead, aiming straight for Szayelaporro. The Reiatsu he could sense, though furious, didn't feel like Szayelaporro was in a fight. Probably pissed off at one of his fracción, but it wouldn't hurt to check. 

He passed Tier Harribel on the way, who was probably going for the disturbance like he was, but different from him she was taking her beautiful time. 

"Granz. Stop your meandering right this instance."

"Oh Eyepatch, it's just you. Get out of my way, I need to find a worm that is hiding from me."

He tried to storm past Tōsen only to be grabbed hard on his shoulder, causing him to glare dangerously at the blind Shinigami. 

"Lord Aizen believes that there are intruders in Las Noches. So I will say it for the last time, stop pratting about like a grieved child and start making yourself useful to Lord Aizen." Tōsen warned. 

He turned to Tier Harribel and she only gave him a slight nod before leaving, making him sigh inwardly with relief that there were at least a few useful ones among the barbaric lot. 

His mind briefly wandered to someone that, though he had been loath to consider a comrade, was someone who even Lord Aizen judged as competent – Ichimaru Gin. Alas, he too ran out of his use. 

In his search for the intruder he came across yet another competent Hollow, Ulquiorra Cider, the Fourth Espada. 

"I can feel the Reiatsu around Las Noches bubbling up in activity. Tell me, what has happened?" Ulquiorra asked, and Tōsen told him. 

"An intruder, is it? And if Lord Aizen's words hold true then this intruder is none other than-" 

"Itachi Uchiha." Tōsen spat out hatefully. 

He hated the cowardice and injustice of the Shinigami – the cause that the Shinigami stood for – as a whole, but it was a collective hate. They were all grouped under one banner. 

But if you asked in on a deeper level, Kaname Tōsen would tell, with passion in his voice, that the person he hated most was Soi Fon, and then her captain, Itachi Uchiha. 

One was his source of pain, and a glaring reminder of his weakness, while the other was a persistent thorn in his Lord's side. 

"The Captain, I see." Ulquiorra nodded. "Quite a feat to infiltrate this castle with none of us being wiser as to his location."

Ulquiorra stroked deeper into the underground passage with both hands behind his back. 

"I'll search the entirety of the lower levels. Search elsewhere."

Tōsen would have reprimanded him for his arrogant tone but carrying out the order he was given was more important. 

He couldn't help but think darkly to himself as he took another direction. 'With Las Noches being high on alert and two of the most powerful Espada actively looking for you, tell me, Itachi Uchiha, how you plan to escape Lord Aizen this time?'

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A/N: Sorry for now posting for the past few weeks. The cold got to me, which in my opinion is the worst thing that can happen to anyone at this time of the year. Thankfully, it didn't leave me bedridden throughout the holidays. That would have sucked major.