Disclaimer - I do not own Bleach

Chapter Eleven - Child Prodigy

Toushirou had been convinced that his first day as a student at the Shinigami Academy wouldn't go well but he could honestly say that he hadn't expected for it to be boring. And yet that was exactly the impression that he was getting as he listened to the instructor's lecture. It seemed never ending and it was all about things that the white haired youth had already read in the books that Ukitake had given him.

In fact it was so bad that Toushirou began to anticipate the words that were going to come out of the man's mouth. "Is he just quoting the introduction that's in the textbook word for word?" the youth thought to himself.

"Hitsugaya!"

It took the young boy to register the last name that he had chosen for himself on a whim but when he did Toushirou glanced up to find the instructor standing over him. There was a slightly irritated expression on the man's face as he gazed down at the boy. "Yes?"

"Am I boring you?" the instructor demanded, a scowl on his face.

Toushirou briefly thought about his reply, a thoughtful expression in his teal eyes. He fully realized how the answer he was about to give would sound but it was the truth. "Very much so."

This response from the boy didn't serve to improve the man's mood. "Well if I'm boring you then perhaps you'd like to explain the concept of reiatsu to your classmates?"

Toushirou felt that he could quote the textbook just as well as the instructor and, without hesitation, the white haired boy got to his feet. He gave a brief explanation on reiatsu and then turned his gaze back to the instructor. "Was that acceptable sir?"

The man's eyes widened in shock, not having expected the boy to actually be able to complete his lecture. And although he wanted to be angry at the slightly arrogant boy he found that he simply couldn't. "It was acceptable, you may resume your seat."

Without so much as another word Toushirou sat back down and resumed being bored out of his mind.

After allowing the students to have a break for a mid-day meal the instructor led the way out to the training grounds. Then, once they were all assembled before a line of targets, the instructor addressed his charges. "Alright. Now we're going to take what we've learned about reiatsu manipulation and attempt to use practical kidou. And don't worry if you don't get it on the first attempt, that's rare for students."

Having barely managed to make it through the morning of lectures without falling asleep Toushirou found himself grateful that they were going to work on kidou. Of course the moment that the instructor began teaching them the chant for Red Flame Cannon his hopes were dashed. He'd already learned this particular move and could perform it without difficulty.

"So much for relieving the boredom," the white haired youth thought to himself with a sigh.

Toushirou made it a point to keep his mouth shut and he managed to keep his teal eyes focused on the targets. He watched as one after another of his classmates attempted to blast the targets with the kidou. A few of them actually did manage to form the ball of reiatsu but none of them hit the target.

"Hitsugaya-kun! You're up."

"Yes sir."

Toushirou got to his feet, bowed to the instructor, and then took his stance. Holding out his arms the white haired boy concentrated, summoning his reiatsu into his palm. Then, without even bothering to recite the spirit chant, Toushirou released the blast. His teal eyes were focused on the target and he wasn't even remotely surprised as he watched the target explode.

"Well done Hitsugaya-kun."

"Thank you sir," Toushirou said without enthusiasm as he took his spot among his classmates.

The first year students spent the remainder of the day working on kidou, having been instructed to practice Red Flame Cannon until they could successfully hit the target. And Toushirou had been forced to endure yet more boredom since he had destroyed five targets in rapid succession and promptly been excused from the exercise.

This was far from ideal for the young boy and didn't serve to endear him to any of his classmates. Of course none of them said anything about it while they were within earshot of their instructor however, the moment that they were dismissed for the day, Toushirou was accosted by a group of them.

"Look at the little brat…" one boy called out as two others seized Toushirou by the arms. "Thinks he's so smart."

Growling low in his throat Toushirou quickly pulled his arms free from their grasp and turned to face the group. Fire snapped in his teal eyes as he glared. It wasn't as though he had any control over the fact that he could perform the kidou while they couldn't. "Back off."

"Or what?" the leader of the group snarled, a slightly demented look in his eyes. He spread out his hands, gesturing toward his friends. "It's not like you can take on all of us."

As though in challenge to the white haired boy the group stepped forward. Toushirou's mind raced as he vaguely recalled something; something almost like a distant memory. The boy shook his head, banishing the flash of thought, and focused on what was happening to him now.

It was triggering memories but Toushirou refused to allow himself to be caught up in that fact. Because his so called classmates seemed like they meant business and the white haired youth didn't want to give them an edge. Thinking back to the books that he had read Toushirou recalled a kidou that seemed tailor made for this situation.

Being less than familiar with this particular kidou Toushirou had to use the spirit chant. However the kidou did prove effective and the two boys who had attempted to grab onto him were immediately immobilized.

"Lesson number one… binding kidou." Having said this Toushirou turned his attention back to the leader of the group, the only one who wasn't affected by his kidou. "Ready for lesson number two?"

"You little freak…"

Toushirou held up his hands but didn't get the chance to actually do anything. The bully briefly glanced down at his immobile friends before he turned tail and ran away. Snorting in disgust Toushirou muttered the incantation that served to release the two boys from the kidou.

The moment that they were free of the binding kidou the two boys jumped to their feet and ran off. They didn't even so much as glance back at the white haired boy.

Sighing softly Toushirou turned and continued on his way toward the courtyard gate. "I should have seen that coming," he muttered to himself in a slightly dejected tone of voice.

A/N - I apologize for the fact that it took me so long to update this story! Please forgive! I hope that you enjoyed it!