"In solitude, we find strength; in silence, we find our voice." – Itachi Uchiha.
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What followed was a calm and precise recollection of everything that happened from the moment of their departure, from different Captains point of view, to the gradual developments of the situation they were faced with.
It was a rather long exposé of events that had each Captain retelling their personal observations, so it was a very lengthy process.
At different parts of the meeting, Yamamoto's eyes could be found drifting towards and from a few of his Captains, old and new, the expression on his face hardening slightly every time he did.
Yet he never said a word, only silently listening as a vivid picture of their most recent battle was painted before his eyes.
From the experiences of the Visored to the observations of the Exiled, their failings and over-extensions, to the actions and reactions of the Captains to Aizen's act.
Yamamoto remained stoic throughout the report (even through the parts that were downright outlandish and almost taboo) that his lack of reaction made a few of the Captains shift uncomfortably.
Slowly and surely, it ended on the topic of one of the main reasons this meeting was called.
What has become of the Hōgyoku?
Obviously the answer that 'the Hōgyoku has been sealed' was a little too flimsy for most of the Captains to take confidence in. Especially when none of them knew just how potent Itachi's sealing was. For all they knew, an instantaneous sealing method like the Sword of Totsuka was nowhere as potent as the arrays of Bakudō the Kidō Corps would have otherwise set up for the Hōgyoku's sealing.
It also didn't help matters that none of them, not a single one, had any idea that Itachi's Susano'o was capable of sealing. More than a handful were skeptical and downright doubtful of Itachi's claim.
And also, the fact that he couldn't unseal it for them to make sure, nor did he have any semblance of control over whatever he sealed, were all points that didn't help his case.
But at the end of the day, even if a few of the hardheaded ones were disgruntled at the foggy explanations surrounding the state of the Hōgyoku (and rightfully so they were), Itachi was a distinguished Captain of the Gotei 13 with a flawless record of his time in service. Even with all the conspiracies that drew him dead center, none could be seen as a stain to his person given how he flawlessly maneuvered over and around it.
Other than being one of their strongest Captains, he was also one of the most trustworthy and capable ones.
"Itachi, are these words true?" Yamamoto's grouch voice called out, his eyes having never strayed from Itachi for the last minute or two.
Itachi gave a firm nod. "Yes, they are, Head Captain."
"Hmm."
"What? Just because you said so means little to nothing. We can't base our relief and security concerning Aizen's little toy just because you said so." Like always Mayuri wasn't afraid to say how he truly felt. "For all we know, you are now fused to the very same thing."
Yamamoto shared a glance between Itachi and Mayuri before focusing more on the former. "Is that so, Captain Uchiha?"
"No Head Captain." He replied succinctly. His assured posture was what really pissed Mayuri off the most.
"And we are supposed-"
"What you are supposed to do, Captain Mayuri, is listen to the words I speak rather than insinuating the worst possible scenario." Itachi cut in.
"But you can't say he's exactly wrong now, can you?" Shinji interjected, not exactly siding with Mayuri but also not completely refuting his words. It was a very delicate situation as it was a bunch of Captains that didn't exactly trust someone like Itachi (who they didn't know for long before their forced exile) to be the sole possessor of something as threatening as the Hōgyoku. They would rather it be in the possession of a trusted party like the Kidō Corps.
"So, you will fault me for a situation I had no choice but to contain in the only way I saw fit?" Itachi asked rhetorically. And that there was the technicality in Itachi's favor. He had no choice but to seal the Hōgyoku in the way he did. It was not as if they could fault his Bankai in the resoluteness of its actions. Them more than anyone else knew just how unbending the rules of most Bankais were.
Seeing none of them willing to jump in that particular rabbit hole, he turned back to Yamamoto, "as you were, Head Captain."
"Hmm." The old wizened Shinigami gave a neutral grunt. "We'll be dropping the matter concerning the Hōgyoku for now because I have something else concerning you, Itachi."
Even before he even said anything, Itachi and a few others already knew the particular glaring can of worms he was about to open. If the last issue wasn't enough to put Itachi in trouble then this one very well could.
"Captain Uchiha. It is to my knowledge that you recruited the help of Hollows in your recent espionage mission prior to this latest one, does that stand correct?"
"Yes sir."
Yamamoto nodded. His spiritual pressure suddenly engulfed the room, focused on none other than Itachi. "Explain."
Itachi did not buckle or tremble under Yamamoto's fiery gaze, nor under the oppressive force of his Reiatsu. But that was not the same for others. Shunsui, Jūshirō and Unohana had little to no reaction. Kisuke, Shinji, Yoruichi and Kenpachi bristled slightly (the latter more in surprise than anything else), while others like Byakuya, Sajin, Rōjūrō and Mayuri took a full step back as force of the Head Captain's Reiatsu hit them, even without it being focused on them.
"Don't keep me waiting, Captain." The pressure from Yamamoto increased, causing the structures to creak and break into splinters. So great it was that the air around Itachi was warped, as if he was standing in the blistering heat.
"There was no disrespect or traitorous intent behind my actions, Head Captain." Itachi replied steadily. "I acted on the situation as it were."
"And that is?"
"They weren't enemies then-"
"And the reason you remained silent on them?"
"Because I deemed it impudent not to further complicate the already complicated situation we had with Aizen." Itachi straight-forwardly replied.
"How awfully convenient." Mayuri tutted, exaggeratingly rolling his eyes at Itachi.
The Captains around them remained silent as they listened to the back and forth between Itachi and Yamamoto, and the occasional snarky input from Mayuri.
Whatever it was that came from it, they had little to any say in it. Although all of them could tell how… unethical (somewhat) it was for a Shinigami Captain to speak in defence of Hollows. Especially when they had some of the highest Hollow kill counts among Shinigami.
Itachi leveled a more substantiated look at Mayuri, which was his form of a hard glare before turning back to the Head Captain.
"I planned to have them reported after Aizen has been dealt with, and I didn't see much reason to be worried about any unseen developments that came from them since they were in the company of two former Shinigami Captains and ex-Kidō Grand Chief Tessai. It was a calculated risk, taken with sufficient precaution, on my part."
"Be that as it may, it still stands that you colluded with Hollows to some extent without the directives from the Head Captain." Byakuya said, sporting a mild frown. "You are a Captain of the Gotei 13. You are free to have your own ideals and ambitions, but so long it doesn't besmirch what the Gotei 13 stands for. Because at that point, it no longer becomes a difference of ideals or opinions, but instead rebellion."
The air in the room shifted even as a few Captains palmed their faces and shook their heads.
Isshin looked just about done with everything. "It's like they just want to see everything burn at this point."
Shunsui chuckled from where he stood. "The least they could do for us is wait for the whole thing to be finished and us to be gone before they escalate."
The next person who spoke up was surprisingly Sajin, who still had half of his body wrapped in bandages. "I can't help but agree with Captain Kuchiki, Captain Uchiha. Regardless of your reasons, the fact is that secrecy could have not only put us in more danger but also could have helped us in pitting them against Aizen's forces from the beginning."
Shunsui, Isshin and Yoruichi had to stifle a chuckle as they saw the absolutely dry look on Itachi's face. It was an expression that said he was absolutely done with it all. They had no doubt that had it not been for the severity of the issue at hand, Itachi would have pulled one of his disappearing acts.
"Then how about I give you a simple reason:" It was honestly commendable how his voice remained even throughout the mock-trial. "They were not an enemy, neither were they a willing ally."
They all could see that he had no intention of budging on that despite the calm disposition he wore.
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