Eyes of the Soul

by operation meteor

Passing beyond the veil, Itachi finds himself in an afterlife that is far from the hellfire he'd steeled himself for. With a chance encounter involving a pervy sage, a Flash Goddess and a healer whose angelic appearance hides more than a hint of steel, the bane of the Uchiha Clan finds a chance at a second life... and perhaps redemption. Slow burn. M for language and violence.

4. Chapter 4

Author's Notes: All right, another chapter up! Like I said before, I am slowing up the release schedule from here on out. Can't spoil you guys too much, after all!

Enjoy!

Chapter Four: Meet and Greet

"How does that feel?" asked Unohana as she pressed her hand against his bare chest.

Itachi closed his eyes for a moment before responding. "Fine. I'm not feeling any residual pain from the night before."

The Captain of Squad Four smiled. "That's wonderful news. I was afraid that the rigors of the exams might exacerbate your wounds from last night, but it would seem that I was worried for nothing."

"I have you to thank for that," said Itachi as he put his shirt back on, "The way you healed me last night was very impressive. I don't think I'm any worse for the wear."

Unohana nodded. "You're too kind. Still, it never hurts to take precautions."

That was a sentiment that Itachi could wholeheartedly agree with. Sitting in the Academy infirmary with the Soul Society's premier healer, he had patiently cooperated with her as she had conducted her examination. It was a very educational experience for him; while he had occasionally been treated by the Leaf Village's medical ninja during his time with the Anbu Black Ops, he actually had never gained as great a comprehension of their healing methods as he had of other jutsu. Being under the treatment of a healer who used spiritual energy as opposed to chakra for her medical arts was quite fascinating, and when he'd asked Unohana about her methods she had described them as a subset of the spell casting powers known collectively as Kidō; in this case, Kidō for healing was known as Kaidō, and the members of Squad Four were all trained in it due to the unit's function as the medical corps of the Soul Society.

"Well," said Unohana with a smile, "I'm most pleased to give you a clean bill of health, Itachi."

Itachi nodded. "Thank you. Was it the same for Jiraiya?"

Unohana laughed. "Yes, although his examination session didn't go quite as smoothly as yours. His behavior forced me to use less gentle means of treatment."

Itachi raised an eyebrow. "Less gentle?"

"I suppose there's no harm in telling you," said Unohana with a smirk, "While I was examining his shoulder I could not help but notice one of his hands had begun to, shall we say, wander. It became a little too adventurous for its own good, so I decided to teach it a lesson by demonstrating just how easily what was healed the night before could become damaged again without the proper care."

Itachi suppressed a chuckle; he had a pretty good idea what had taken place given Jiraiya's reputation. "I see. I'm sure it was a very valuable learning experience."

"I'd like to think so," Unohana replied, "Is there anything else that I can do for you, Itachi?"

"If you don't mind," he said, "I actually had a question. It's regarding your powers as a healer."

Unohana smiled. "I'm always willing to educate others on the ways of Kaidō. Ask away, Itachi."

"Is the utilization of Kaidō taught at Shin'ō Academy?" asked Itachi.

Unohana nodded. "There are introductory courses offered, and members of Squad Four frequently act as guest teachers. Those who show particular promise in this field are typically recruited into my division upon graduation."

Itachi leaned forward. "Isn't it unwise to have all of the Soul Society's healers concentrated into a single group? I can understand the organizational benefits, but wouldn't it be more prudent to have healers assigned to multiple divisions in order to improve first response times?"

"You are not the first person to raise that concern, and it is a valid one," said Unohana, "Within my division are rapid response and relief teams that are assigned to work with the rest of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, but I'll be the first to admit that the current system could use some work. We are particularly hamstrung by a certain regulation from the Central Forty-Six; Squad Four members, with the exception of the Lieutenant and Captain, are not allowed to journey to the Realms of the Living without the prior authorization of the Head Captain."

Itachi raised an eyebrow. "Why? That doesn't make any sense."

"Healers are a valuable resource," Unohana replied, "Our protection is given considerable priority. Without the members of Squad Four, the rest of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads would not be able to function cohesively and effectively."

"Perhaps," said Itachi, "but your hands are needlessly tied by this regulation. More to the point, from what I saw the night before it would seem that you personally require very little in terms of protection."

Unohana smiled. "Well, I'm the Captain for more than just my skills as a healer. Other members of Squad Four are capable of engaging in battle as well, but that is not their primary field of expertise. To specialize in the healing arts is no small thing; expert Kaidō practitioners devote many long hours to maintain and improve their medical skills, and this unfortunately means that they have far less time than others to devote to combat training. My gifts make me one of the few exceptions. I am very proud of the members of my division, Itachi, but one of the requirements bestowed upon me as Captain is to recognize their strengths and weaknesses. If the time ever comes when members of Squad Four must fight on the front lines, then it means we would be faced with a truly dire situation."

Itachi nodded. "I understand. I apologize for questioning you in such a manner."

Unohana gave him a warm smile. "You have nothing to be sorry for, Itachi. That you would ask such questions and argue against the current system in the desire to improve it speaks highly of your intellect. If anything, I should be thanking you for it; I've rather enjoyed this conversation of ours. I'd very much like for it to continue further, but I'm afraid that will have to be at another time; I do have other patients to see, after all."

"Of course," said Itachi as he stood up, "I've taken up enough of your time as it is."

"Think nothing of it," Unohana replied, "Oh, could you do me a favor?"

"Name it," said Itachi.

Unohana smiled again, but there was a shadow behind it that nearly made Itachi bolt for the door right there and then. "Please tell Jiraiya that he'd best mind his wandering hands… lest he misplace them altogether."

Itachi got the message loud and clear; he could only hope that Jiraiya would heed it. "I'll do so."

"I'd greatly appreciate it," said Unohana, the warmth returning to her expression as if nothing had happened, "Take care of yourself, Itachi, and best of luck with your upcoming classes."

It didn't take long for Itachi to return to the meal hall. Jiraiya was setting at a table munching on what looked like dried fruit, and Itachi joined him after grabbing some water. He saw the sage rub his left shoulder; no doubt Unohana's 'lesson' from earlier still hadn't completely worn off.

"Your skirt chasing is going to be the death of you," said Itachi as he joined the Sannin.

Jiraiya chuckled. "Well, I can think of worse ways to go."

"I'm not so sure about that," said Itachi, recalling the chill he'd gotten from Unohana, "If you try to cop a feel on the Squad Four Captain again, your afterlife could prove to be a short one."

Jiraiya smirked. "Is that the message she wanted you to give to me?"

"More or less," Itachi replied as he looked around, "Where's Yoruichi?"

Jiraiya shrugged. "She hasn't come by yet. I'm sure she'll show up sooner or later. She did seem pretty eager to introduce us to her fellow Captains, after all."

That was certainly true, and Itachi wondered just how many they'd end up meeting before the day was out. Yoruichi and Unohana had been very impressive in their own right, and he couldn't even begin to imagine what the other Captains would be like. If they were all as powerful as the two he'd already met, though, then he would be very thankful for the fact that they seemed to limit their activities to managing Hollows and other affairs of the afterlife; Yoruichi and Unohana alone could do tremendous damage should they decide to turn their attentions towards the ninja world.

Can Soul Reapers even interact with those who are still alive?, he mused, I suppose that's one of the many things I'll learn once my new education begins.

"By the way," said Jiraiya, his expression more serious now, "We need to talk later."

"About what?" asked Itachi.

"You know what," Jiraiya replied, his eyes narrowing, "Naruto, the Akatsuki, your clan; all of it. I was originally going to put this on hold for a little longer, but now that we're through the entrance exams it's a different matter. The student body here has no idea who you were when you were alive, so if you're going to be attending class with them I need to be sure that you're not a threat."

Ever the protective teacher, he thought, even though the students here are not under his tutelage. It's a little sooner that I had hoped for, but I can certainly understand his desire to move forward quickly with this.

"Very well," he said after a moment, "Once we're settled in later, we can begin whenever you're ready."

Jiraiya nodded. "All right, then. You've got a little bit of goodwill thanks to that fight with the Hollows last night, but that goes out the window if you try to bail out on this, you got that?"

"Understood," said Itachi.

It was at that moment Yoruichi walked in, and from the look on her face she could already detect that something was brewing between Itachi and Jiraiya. "Hey, what's up? You guys passed the exams, so why the sour vibes towards each other? Don't tell me you've already become rivals!"

Itachi shook his head. "It's nothing like that."

Jiraiya chuckled. "Well, maybe not entirely like that. There's nothing wrong with a little healthy competition between men, after all. Isn't that right, Itachi?"

"Whether you wish to compete with me in anything is entirely up to you," Itachi replied as he stood up, "I'm here only to learn and to train. Is it time, Yoruichi?"

She nodded. "Yes. I was going over test results with some of the other Captains, and I think they're ready to meet you now."

"Sounds good to me," said Jiraiya with a grin as he rose to join them, "This should be fun."

"Oh, yes," Yoruichi replied, "but before we go, afraid I got to set a ground rule. I don't mind you guys being informal with me; I'm not really one for titles myself. That being said, some Soul Reapers are pickier about that than others, so it's better to be on the safe side."

Itachi knew what she was getting at. "Of course. What should we call you, then? We may not be full-fledged Soul Reapers, but we're no longer mere candidates for Academy enrollment, either. What do students call Captains or other officers in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads?"

"Soi-Fon's a big stickler for my title of nobility," said Yoruichi, "but I'd rather avoid that. If we're in front of Soul Reapers on duty, or teachers and their assistants here at the Academy, call me Captain Yoruichi; I prefer that to my last name, and with the rank in front it's still formal enough that some of the stricter Captains will let it slide if they hear you addressing me that way. Otherwise, if I'm just paying you a friendly visit, feel free to call me Yoruichi. Simple enough?"

Itachi nodded. "Yes."

Jiraiya shrugged. "Fine by me. I was never really big on titles myself, so I get where you're coming from there."

Yoruichi nodded. "Good. Follow me, then."

She led them down a corridor, and a few minutes later they came to what looked like a staff conference room. The Captain of Squad Two opened the door and ushered them in, and they were immediately confronted with an… interesting variety of Soul Reapers.

The first one to greet them was a tall, light-skinned man with grey eyes and wavy brown hair tied in a long ponytail. He wore a Sugegasa straw hat and a long and flowing flowery pink kimono over his white Captain's haori. Tied at his waist were not one but two swords, a traditional daisho pairing of a tachi and wakizashi. Both weapons had rectangular guards with the corners cut off, were decorated by patterns of lines and cherry blossoms, and each sported a dark blue handle. There was a decent amount of stubble on his jawline, and Itachi could detect a hint of sake on his breath.

"Well, now, who do we have here?" he said with an easygoing smile, "Are these the gifted new students you were boasting about earlier, Yoruichi?"

Yoruichi smiled. "You got it! This is Itachi Uchiha and Jiraiya. Itachi, Jiraiya, meet Shunsui Kyōraku, Captain of Squad Eight."

"Nice to meet you," said Itachi as he bowed his head.

"Good to make your acquaintance," said Jiraiya before looking over the Captain's shoulder and grinning, "And who might your lovely companion be?"

Shunsui chuckled, and from the look on his face Itachi knew that the Captain had already sensed a kindred spirit in Jiraiya. "That would be my Lieutenant. Come on, now, Lisa; it's impolite to withhold a proper introduction."

Itachi regarded the Squad Eight Captain's second-in-command. She was a slender woman with turquoise eyes, red-rimmed oval glasses and raven hair that was braided into two pigtails. Her attire was a shortened variation of the standard black Soul Reaper robes, with her hakama resembling a skirt. The sword at her hip appeared to be a nodachi with a dark blue hilt and a square tsuba with two rectangular attachments on two ends, while a badge was tied to her left arm. She turned to face both of them, but after a moment Itachi could tell that she was more focused on him than Jiraiya.

"My name is Lisa Yadōmaru, Lieutenant of Squad Eight," she said, "It's a pleasure to meet you."

A tall man with long-white hair and a friendly light in his green eyes leaned forward. His white haori identified him as another Captain, but unlike Shunsui his physique actually struck Itachi as slightly emaciated. His skin was slightly paler as well, and while there was a warm energy about him he did seem to be a little under the weather. A single katana with a rectangular bronze cross guard and a dark red handle was tied to the sash of his robes.

"Captain Shihōin has told us quite a bit about the two of you," he said, "I'm Jūshiro Ukitake, the Captain of Squad Thirteen. Well met, my friends."

"So you two are Captain Shihōin's amateur Hollow killers, eh?" said another man from across the table, "It's not every day we get applicants with your kind of potential coming through the Academy entrance exams."

The speaker had very long blond hair that flowed over his Captain's haori. There was a sharp, evaluating look in his brown eyes even as he had an amused smirk on his face that revealed some of his teeth. A katana with a red hilt and sheath hung at his side, and its guard was shaped like an hourglass.

"Oh, sorry," the man continued, "where are my manners? I'm Shinji Hirako, Squad Five's Captain. Congrats on making it through the exams."

"Indeed!" said a woman not too far down from him, "Your results were absolutely splendid!"

Taking a closer look at the new speaker, Itachi saw that she was a slender but very well-endowed woman. She let her long violet hair flow wild and freely over her Captain's haori, and she had a very warm and cheerful aura. Itachi saw Jiraiya's smile grow as the Sannin feasted his eyes on the lady's ample bosom, and he could only hope that the sage didn't do anything that might get the two of them on this woman's bad side, especially since her katana was no doubt as sharp as that of everyone else's at this gathering.

"Hearing you say that is music to my ears, miss…" Jiraiya began.

"Oh, forgive me!" said the woman with a friendly smile, "My name's Kirio Hikifune, Captain of Squad Twelve. Captain Shihōin won't stop singing your praises, and I can see why!"

"As can I," said a deep-voiced man on the other side of the table, "Written test, the Pillar Run, and the Crystal Lens; you guys soared through on all three."

It was another Captain, and this one sported sunglasses and a round afro. He was definitely on the taller side and looked very well-built as well. The katana at his side had a white hilt and a heart-shaped tsuba.

"You're too kind, Captain…" said Itachi, waiting for the man to fill in the gap in his knowledge.

"Love," the man replied, "Love Aikawa, Squad Seven's Captain. It's always nice to meet the new talent coming into the Academy."

"The prowess the two of you showed in the exams is impressive for new recruits," said another man, his voice much gruffer in contrast to Love's smooth basso, "Killing a Hollow without Soul Reaper training even more so. Who scored the final blow against the beast?"

The new speaker was a Captain as well, and the way he carried himself strongly reminded Itachi of a Chūnin drill master. A tall and muscular man with sharp features, his silver hair gave him a rather frosty look, which was further accented by the steely glint in his brown eyes. Despite the much more military air about him when compared to his colleagues, he actually sported a handful of piercings, with one on his left eyebrow and three on his left ear. As if that weren't enough, through the opening in his robes Itachi could spot what looked like the uppermost portion of a tattoo on his torso, and he was curious as to what the full design was. His weapon appeared to be a wakizashi with an H-shaped tsuba and white hilt.

"That would be me," said Jiraiya, "although I couldn't have taken it out were it not for Itachi drawing its attention, plus he got a few good hits on it in his own right. So overall it was a team effort, Captain…"

"Muguruma," the man finished for him, "Kensei Muguruma, Captain of Squad Nine. I'm glad to see that you know how to share credit when it's due; that's important for maintaining good teamwork and comradery."

"Are you really that strong already?" came a female voice from behind Kensei, "I wanna see you two fight!"

A second later a petite woman with wavy lime-green hair popped up over Kensei's shoulder. In addition to her robes and the badge on her left arm, she also wore a pink scarf and a pair of glasses atop her hair. The sword at her side was an average-length katana with a green hilt and rectangular guard which had circles on each corner. Contrary to the Captain she was lurking behind, Itachi's first impression of her was that she was rather perky.

Kensei rolled his eyes. "Mashiro, first of all, it's rude to tell two people to fight like that. Second of all, you should introduce yourself properly; it's polite!"

The woman nodded and smiled. "Oh, okay! I'm Mashiro Kuna, Lieutenant of Squad Nine. Nice to meet you!"

"Likewise," said Itachi.

Jiraiya gave her a friendly smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you. If I'd known the Thirteen Court Guard Squads had so many lively women in them, I would've applied for the Academy as soon as I arrived here."

"Which was barely over two weeks ago," Itachi quipped, "So you still would've wound up taking the entrance exams today anyway."

"You got a point there," said Yoruichi as she sat down at the table before motioning for Itachi and Jiraiya to join her and the others, "Then again, if Unohana and I hadn't found you when we did then you wouldn't be here at all. Talk about good timing, huh?"

"About that," said Jūshiro, "Captain Shihōin, which part of the Rukon District did you say you encountered them in again?"

"West Rukon 37," Yoruichi replied.

Shunsui stroked his chin. "West 37… that's not good."

Lisa's eyes narrowed. "When was the last time Hollows made it that far into the Rukon District?"

"Years at the very least," Shinji answered, "Usually the closest they get these days are the 60s or mid-50s. I think our patrols are getting sloppy again."

"Or the Hollows may be getting smarter," Kirio countered, "At the very least, they do seem to be getting bolder."

Love sighed. "Lucky for us they were just common Hollows this time. Can you imagine the damage a Menos Grande could've done had it gotten that far inside the Rukon District?"

Itachi raised an eyebrow. "Menos Grande? What's that?"

"Trust me," said Kensei grimly, "if you saw one, you'd know; each one's taller than a palace. You get a Menos when Hollows become cannibalistic, which is rather common with them. A bunch of the cannibal Hollows try to devour each other, and they end up merging into a Menos Grande. They're not the smartest Hollows out there, but they make up for it with brute force."

Yoruichi shook her head. "You're only describing Gillians, Kensei. One of those alone would be a mess, but one that we could dispatch relatively quickly. An Adjuchas, on the other hand, would be much more problematic."

Jiraiya leaned forward. "Adjuchas? Can anyone explain that to us new guys?"

"Oh, I know! I know!" chirped Mashiro, bouncing up and down in her seat, "Kensei, can I answer? Can I? Can I?"

Kensei folded his arms. "You don't need my permission to answer a question, you goofball!"

Shunsui chuckled. "Looks like someone got more than her usual amount of sugar today."

"Adjuchas are the second classification of Menos Grande," said Lisa, "They're much smarter and stronger than Gillians, but fortunately are fewer in number. They are also smaller than Gillians, although one could argue that that particular quality may actually make them even more dangerous due to their increased mobility."

"Hey, no fair, Lisa!" pouted Mashiro, "I wanted to give the answer!"

Lisa shrugged. "Then you should've given it right from the start."

Mashiro sighed. "Oh, man, it's just like the Academy all over again."

Itachi's eyes narrowed. "If Gillians are formed from Hollow cannibalism, then are Adjuchas formed from Gillians eating each other?"

Kirio smiled. "You catch on quickly, don't you? My, my… you definitely found a sharp one here, Yoruichi."

Yoruichi grinned. "What can I say? I got an eye for talent!"

"In truth, you may only be partially right, Itachi," said Jūshiro, "While cannibalism is a component of Hollow evolution, we believe that other factors come into play when Gillians evolve into Adjuchas, although at this stage these are only theories."

"What sort of factors?" asked Jiraiya.

"From what little we've been able to observe," Shinji chimed in, "we think that the creation of an Adjuchas is at least in part determined by which of the many Hollows that made up the original Gillian is the dominant one."

Love sighed. "In truth, there's a ton we don't know about the Adjuchas. The Soul Society's never really done an in-depth field study of them. Squad Twelve's supposed to hold most of the archived reports on them, though."

Kirio nodded. "Indeed, although even then our knowledge is far from complete. Studying even Gillians is difficult when one recalls how rare it is to encounter one in the field. They typically remain in Hueco Mundo, something that the rest of us should be very grateful for."

"Hueco Mundo?" said Itachi, "Is that their home?"

Kensei nodded. "It's a dimension that exists between the Soul Society and the Realms of the Living. Hollows are able to travel freely between worlds thanks to their ability to create spiritual pathways called Garganta. Unfortunately, the only way to get to Hueco Mundo is through a Garganta, something the Soul Society has never been able to replicate."

"So let me get this straight," said Jiraiya, "Hollows can pop up in any world they want, snack on some human souls, and then run right back home without anyone being able to chase them? Man, that's just not fair."

"No kidding," groaned Yoruichi, "It's actually possible for Soul Reapers to go after them if they're able to make it through the Garganta before it closes, but only a few have ever managed to pull it off… and none of them have ever returned to tell the tale. As far as Hueco Mundo goes, we're unfortunately flying blind."

"That's a major disadvantage," said Itachi as his brow furrowed in thought, "Especially if the same is not true for the Hollows. The ones that we encountered the night before seemed to be little more than primal beasts, but if what you say about these Adjuchas is true then it is entirely possible that they've conducted advanced reconnaissance of the Soul Society. That's a potentially staggering information gap."

Jūshiro smiled. "I think you're overreacting, Itachi. It is true that Adjuchas are much more clever than other Hollows, but from what we've seen in the field their intellectual prowess is merely on the tactical level. They are strong enough and smart enough to command Gillians as foot soldiers, but aspects of long-term strategy such as detailed intelligence work and analysis is beyond them."

"Jūshirō's right," said Shunsui, "Above all, Adjuchas are driven by the same urge as other Hollows; the desire to feed. In addition to them attacking lesser Hollows, we've also spotted them on rare occasions trying to devour one of their fellow Adjuchas. They may possess the capacity to cooperate for short-term gains, but their predatory and cannibalistic natures make them incapable of acting strategically."

"With all due respect, Captain," Lisa protested, "that strikes me as an idea based more in wishful thinking and circumstantial evidence than anything else. Anecdotes and the occasional field report aren't enough for us to make conclusive statements on the nature of the higher orders of Menos Grande. I'm with Itachi on this matter; the idea that the Hollows have far more information on us that we do of them is an alarming prospect, especially if they prove capable of effectively organizing to take advantage of it."

Shunsui winked at Itachi. "Well, well; it seems you already have a fan in my Lieutenant, Itachi. I bet you're pretty popular with the ladies in general, aren't you?"

"Well, he's definitely not lacking in the looks department," said Yoruichi with a playful smirk, "I caught more than a few of the female applicants eyeing him during the exams, and I can't say I blame 'em!"

"He is pretty cute!" chirped Mashiro.

"That he is," said Kirio with a grin, "I think I could find a place for him in my division once he graduates."

Jiraiya chuckled. "Well that's typical."

"My appreciation of Itachi is based on the intelligence he has displayed here," said Lisa, although Itachi was keenly aware of her looking him over from head to toe, "although I am not above admiring his physical qualities. I am a curious woman with healthy interests, after all."

Shunsui smiled. "That you are, Lisa."

"We're getting sidetracked," said Itachi, quite eager to steer the conversation back towards its original course, "Lieutenant Yadōmaru, a few seconds ago you mentioned 'higher orders' of Menos Grande; are you implying that there is another classification that goes beyond that of Adjuchas?"

Lisa nodded. "Yes… although evidence for their existence at this point beyond anecdotal reports is rather slim. Still, they cannot simply be dismissed out of hand."

"Indeed," said Kirio somberly, "Not when the potential threat they could pose if conclusively proven to be real is so grave."

Itachi saw Jiraiya's eyes narrow. "So what is it? What's out there that could be worse than an Adjuchas?"

"The Vasto Lordes," Shinji answered, "There have supposedly been a few sightings of them, but those reports came from survivors of teams that were almost entirely wiped out, and the witnesses were so badly shaken that it was almost impossible to get solid information out of them."

Love sighed. "If the ravings of a few badly wounded and severely traumatized Soul Reapers are to be believed, these Menos Grande are about the size of normal humans. However, supposedly they're both smarter and far more powerful than those of the Adjuchas rank."

"How much more powerful?" asked Itachi, his gut telling him that he wouldn't like the answer.

Kensei scowled. "If the fear mongers' are correct, their strength surpasses that of a Soul Reaper Captain."

Itachi was floored. From what he and Jiraiya had witnessed the night before, the barest glimpses of Yoruichi and Unohana's abilities had indicated that the powers of Soul Reaper Captains were in a league of their own. Was there truly a level of Hollow out there capable of surpassing that?

Jiraiya shook his head. "Well… shit."

Itachi nodded after a moment. "Yes… I suppose that's as good a way to put it as any."

Shunsui raised his hands. "Now, now, there's no need to panic. Sightings of these things have been extremely rare. From what we can tell, if they do exist they hardly ever leave Hueco Mundo."

Jūshiro gave what Itachi guessed was supposed to be a reassuring smile. "Let me put it this way; you have a far greater chance of being struck by lightning than encountering a Vasto Lorde. Besides, us Captains aren't exactly pushovers. A Vasto Lorde may sound like a truly daunting foe, but no enemy is invincible."

Yoruichi nodded. "True, but that being said, if they do exist then they should be handled with extreme caution. I actually spoke to the Head Captain about them a while back, and he was thinking of issuing a decree regarding them; any sighting of a Vasto Lorde is to be reported directly to him, and they are not to be engaged until at least two Captains and their Lieutenants have arrived on the scene."

Lisa raised an eyebrow. "The Head Captain actually said that?"

"First I've heard of it," said Shinji.

Love's eyes narrowed. "Something like this should've come up at the last Captains' meeting."

"He's right," said Kensei, "If this is true, then why has it been kept from us, Yoruichi?"

"Because it was an informal conversation that I had with him," Yoruichi replied, "If the Head Captain decides to make it official policy, he'll announce it accordingly."

Lisa shuddered. "I hope the likes of the Vasto Lordes remain in Hueco Mundo. Fighting one of those does not sound fun."

"Now, now, Lisa, there's no need worry," said Shunsui as he patted his Lieutenant on the back, "If we have to go up against one, you can just leave the heavy lifting to me."

Lisa scowled. "With all due respect, Captain, as your Lieutenant I will do my duty in battle no matter what the nature of our opponent may be. I will not allow you to take on a powerful enemy by yourself out of some misguided sense of chivalry."

Shunsui chuckled. "As feisty as ever. There's just no arguing with you when you get like this."

"I wanna fight one!" chirped Mashiro, "Kensei, we can take one, right?"

Kensei glared at his Lieutenant. "Mashiro, were you not paying attention to the others at all? We should hope that we never have to face one of these Vasto Lordes at all!"

"We shouldn't be worrying about the likes of them anyway right now," said Kirio as she smiled at Itachi and Jiraiya, "After all, wasn't the reason we all came here today was to review test results and scout potential recruits? I'd say that we're not doing a very good job if the two most talented applicants in the pool are right here in front of us and we're talking about something else!"

Jūshiro nodded. "You're quite right about that. Itachi, Jiraiya, if you don't mind me asking, where did you acquire your hand-to-hand combat skills? To be able to go up against a Hollow without proper Soul Reaper training is no small feat."

"You haven't been in the Soul Society very long, right?" asked Shinji, "I doubt you would've had much of a chance to train here."

"That's correct," said Itachi, "The skills you refer to were ones we both had when we were alive, although we never had the opportunity to use them against Hollows until last night."

Jiraiya chuckled. "We didn't even know that Hollows existed until we got here. Maybe we were good fighters when we were still alive, but after watching Captains Yoruichi and Unohana last night it's clear that we both have a lot to learn."

"True," said Shinji with a smile, "but the fact that you recognize that means you're off to a good start; you're not overconfident. If you manage to maintain a sense of perspective then I think the two of you'll do just fine in the Academy."

Love nodded. "If your skills are already sharp enough to defeat a Hollow in unarmed combat, then if nothing else the two of you should ace your Hakuda classes."

Itachi raised an eyebrow. "Hakuda?"

"The hand-to-hand fighting arts utilized by Soul Reapers," Kensei answered for him, "We're taught to fight with more than just our Zanpakutō, after all."

Now it was Jiraiya's turn to voice the pair's confusion. "Zanpakutō?"

Mashiro's eyes widened. "What? You two don't even know what a Zanpakutō is?"

"Mashiro, be nice," Lisa gently chided her, "Remember, they said they only arrived in the Soul Society a few weeks ago. There's still a lot they have to catch up on."

Mashiro nodded and smiled at Itachi and Jiraiya. "Right, I forgot about that. Sorry!"

"To answer your question," said Yoruichi, "a Zanpakutō is a Soul Reaper's sword. They're our signature weapons, and only one trained in the Soul Reaper arts can properly wield them. Your instructors at the Academy will go over them in greater detail, but for now just know that they're not normal swords by any stretch of the imagination."

Itachi nodded. "Very well, then. Thank you."

"Yeah," said Jiraiya, "It's nice to have a little bit cleared up, at least."

Yoruichi smiled. "Your instructors should cover this on the first day, but I don't see any harm in giving you two a running start. There are four different styles of combat that Soul Reapers can practice. We've already covered Hakuda. Zanjutsu is the art of fighting with a Zanpakutō. As you might imagine, traditional swordplay is a major part of Zanjutsu training, but the unique nature of the Zanpakutō means that there's more to it than conventional fencing. You'll see what I'm talking about once your classes start."

"What are the other two arts?" asked Itachi.

"One's called Kidō," Yoruichi replied, "You two got a taste of it in the second phase of the exams."

Jiraiya's eyes narrowed. "The last leg of the Pillar Run… that was those balls of energy the people on the shore were shooting at us, right?"

Shunsui chuckled. "I still can't believe Tessai let you drag him and his subordinates into Phase Two like that. You really are a devious woman, Yoruichi."

Yoruichi grinned. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Jūshiro smirked. "You are correct, Jiraiya. Kidō, also known as the Demon Arts, is a form of combat that involves using spirit energy to cast spells. The people that were firing those blasts of energy at you and Itachi during the Pillar Run were members of the Kidō Corps, a branch of the Soul Society's military that specializes in spell casting as their primary method of combat."

"Tessai's the head of the Kidō Corps," said Yoruichi, "You saw him during Phase Two; he was the guy with the fancy blue robe."

Lisa's eyes widened. "You had the Grand Kidō Chief personally involved with the Academy entrance exams? I've never heard of him doing something like that before!"

"How'd you talk him into it?" asked Mashiro.

"Tessai's an old friend," Yoruichi replied, "Him, Kisuke and I all go way back."

"Who's Kisuke?" asked Itachi, scanning the room in case he'd missed someone earlier.

"He's the Third Seat of my division," said Yoruichi, "Kisuke Urahara's in charge of the Detention Unit, but he also likes to tinker and has all sorts of research projects that he's conducting on the side. Those trick pens from the first phase of the exams were made by him."

Jiraiya smirked. "Sounds like an interesting guy."

Yoruichi nodded. "That's certainly one way to put it. I'd say he's one of the smartest guys in the Soul Society, and he's always coming up with some crazy new invention. He's pretty friendly once you get to know him, but he can definitely come across as a bit of an odd-ball at first. Life's never dull with him around, that's for sure!"

Itachi leaned forward. "You said he's the head of the Detention Unit, right? Would I be correct in assuming that's some sort of prison detail?"

Yoruichi nodded. "Yup. Basically, the Detention Unit's in charge of the imprisonment and supervision of all criminals in the Soul Society. It's under Squad Two's umbrella, which means I'm supposed to be the boss, but I like to let Kisuke run things on his own; he knows what he's doing and doesn't need me micromanaging him. Mastery of both Hakuda and Hohō are required for anyone working in the Detention Unit, and Kisuke's got both of those nailed down."

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "Hohō? Would that be the fourth style of Soul Reaper combat?"

"Yes," said Lisa, "It's a defensive style based on footwork. The key elements of it are speed and agility."

"The signature Hohō technique is Shunpo," said Jūshiro, "The user moves so fast that their movements aren't even perceptible to those of untrained beings. It's commonly referred to as the Flash Step."

Itachi's eyes widened in comprehension as he turned to Yoruichi. "That's what you did during Phase One, wasn't it?"

Yoruichi smiled. "You got it!"

Shunsui chuckled. "I still can't believe there was applicant dumb enough to pick a fight with the Flash Goddess."

"Flash Goddess?" Itachi repeated in confusion.

Shinji smirked. "Yoruichi's the best Shunpo practitioner in the entire Soul Society. She can make Flash Steps as casually as you and I might walk through a park."

"Don't forget she's also the fastest!" chirped Mashiro.

"Aw, you guys are way too nice to me!" said Yoruichi with a laugh.

Even with her faux-protest, there was an unmistakable hint pride in her voice, and it wasn't hard for Itachi to see why. Her movements both during the exams and the fight the night before had been nothing short of outstanding; Flash Goddess truly was an appropriate title for her.

"Hohō by itself isn't enough to win a fight," said Kensei, "That's why users combine it with either Hakuda or Zanjutsu."

"You'll get the full rundown soon enough," Love added, "It should be interesting to see how quickly you two take to it."

Yoruichi had a cat-like grin on her face as she regarded Itachi and Jiraiya. "If what I saw last night and during Phase Two today is any indicator, I think you guys are gonna be naturals at both Hakuda and Hohō. Squad Two would be a natural home for you once you graduate!"

Jūshiro smirked. "Looks like someone's a little eager with her recruitment pitch!"

"Come on, Yoruichi," said Kirio with a smile, "You can't hog the best applicants to yourself. They've both shown themselves to be rather intelligent, so I think Squad Twelve would be a suitable division for them. What do you two say?"

"Don't listen to her," said Shinji, "She'll have the two of you waste your time maintaining the archives."

Kirio folded her arms. "That's not true, Shinji! I already have plenty of good hands managing the library. I think Itachi and Jiraiya would be best suited to my field-study teams!"

Love shook his head. "Field-study? For two men capable of taking down a Hollow barehanded with no training whatsoever? No way, Kirio; these two are front-line fighters. If you guys want to go somewhere that'll let you put your talents to good use, Squad Seven's right up your alley."

"Not so fast," said Kensei as he regarded Itachi and Jiraiya, "If you two had the guts to take on a Hollow without the education of a Soul Reaper, then you'll be that much more formidable once you've graduated from the Academy. I can already tell that you two are the types who'll keep pushing themselves even after graduation. You should consider Squad Nine; I'll drive you two hard, but you'll thank me once you've unlocked your true potential."

Mashiro smiled. "We're also in charge of the Seireitei News Magazine! We're always looking for new editors and columnists, so if either of you have any writing talent you should join up with us!"

Jiraiya grinned. "Well, I was a novelist on the side while I was still alive. Never tried my hand at journalism before, but there's a first time for everything. I might just take you up on that."

"A novelist, eh?" said Shunsui, "I like a good book now and then. What was your genre?"

"Romance and comedy," he replied, "Life is meant for love and laughter, after all, and there's no reason why the afterlife can't be the same way!"

Shunsui had a good chuckle at that. "An argument I've made myself on more than one occasion. As long as we're all making recruitment pitches, I think you'd do all right in Squad Eight. Normally I only extend such offers to women, but I'm willing to make an exception here."

Jiraiya's face lit up. "Wait a minute, are you saying that, aside from you, your division is made up entirely of women? Count me in!"

Lisa groaned. "Don't be ridiculous; we accept both male and female recruits. This is one of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, not my Captain's personal harem, no matter how much he tries to make it one!"

Shunsui laughed. "Now, now, Lisa; don't go scaring away a potential recruit. It's bad for the squad!"

"Please take no offense, Jiraiya," said Lisa, "but I can already tell that you'd be no different from my Captain here, and I can only handle one of him in Squad Eight. Itachi, on the other hand, would be a most welcome addition our ranks."

Jiraiya sighed, but Itachi could still see an amused light in his eyes. "Some guys really do get all the luck…"

"Captain Hirako, I'm rather surprised at your sudden silence," said Jūshiro, "Aren't you going to make a pitch for them to join Squad Five?"

"I'd rather wait for them to graduate from the Academy first," Shinji replied, "Don't get me wrong; you two had by far the most impressive exam results out of all the candidates, so it's clear that you've got a lot of potential. I just prefer to wait and see how students do at the Academy before making a recruitment pitch; the curriculum does a good job at illuminating the strengths and weaknesses of a potential Soul Reaper. Once I've had a chance to review your final test scores, I might just pay you a friendly visit before the graduation ceremony."

Jūshiro nodded. "A reasonable approach. That's usually mine as well, although I'm more than willing to scout the field, as it were. For what it's worth, I think you two will do very well at the Academy. When the time for graduation draws near, do keep Squad Thirteen in mind as a potential first assignment. We're always on the lookout for talented individuals, and I believe that every person has something special to offer to the division."

"That's a very open-minded approach to recruitment," said Itachi.

Jiraiya looked around. "Well, if nothing else, it seems like we'll have plenty of options for when we graduate. How come the other Captains aren't here?"

"They've either got duties to attend to or just weren't interested," said Yoruichi, "It's always a different batch of Captains each year that gather to review the entrance exam scores. Don't worry; once you two graduate, you'll meet the rest in due time."

"Do not become overconfident," advised Lisa, "You may have performed well in the entrance exams, but the Academy is not to be taken lightly. Expect a rigorous curriculum."

"Oh, they'll be just fine," said Kirio, throwing a friendly wink at Itachi, "and once they're done, it's straight to Squad Twelve with them! At the very least, I'd like to see you join our ranks, Itachi!"

"I'm sorry, but I think you're mistaken," said Love with a smirk, "They're both clearly meant for Squad Seven."

"No, Squad Nine calls dibs!" chirped Mashiro.

"That's rather premature," Lisa asserted, "Jiraiya's an open question, but I would contend that Itachi should come to Squad Eight upon graduation!"

Yoruichi laughed. "I knew you two would be popular! Jiraiya, don't take this the wrong way, but they can fight over you to their hearts' content. However…"

Before Itachi knew what was happening Yoruichi leaned towards him. There was a playful, almost feline, look in her eyes, and a moment later she licked him on the cheek.

"None of them are getting you, Itachi!" she said with a cat-like grin, "I'm marking my territory here and now; you're mine!"

It wasn't in Itachi's nature to blush, but he could feel a slight warmth coming to his just the same. Just how exactly was he supposed to respond to something like that?

Yoruichi chuckled, and the mischievous look in her eyes told Itachi that she had a pretty good idea regarding his current state of mind. "What's the matter, Itachi? Cat got your tongue?"

He was vaguely aware of the smirk on Jiraiya's face. "I'd say that's a pretty good way to put it."

"No fair!" Kirio pouted, "Yoruichi, that's cheating!"

Yoruichi folded her arms and smiled. "Hey, we never laid down any ground rules for claiming recruits, right? I'd say it's fair game!"

"Then if I lick him, that means he'll have to join Squad Nine!" cheered Mashiro, "Come here, Itachi!"

Kensei bopped her on the head. "Mashiro, cut it out! That's now how a Lieutenant is supposed to behave."

"But Captain Shihōin did it!" Mashiro protested.

"She's a Captain," Kensei countered, "She has greater leeway… even if some of her behavior doesn't necessarily set the best example."

Yoruichi laughed. "Oh, lighten up, Kensei! Let her have a little fun!"

Kensei folded his arms. "No offense, Captain Shihōin, but I don't need you rubbing off on my Lieutenant. If she falls under your influence, then the next thing I know she'll be Flash Stepping out of her clothes!"

Itachi raised an eyebrow as he turned to Yoruichi. "Wait… do you actually do that?"

Yoruichi gave him a playful smirk. "Want to find out?"

"Yes, please!" cheered Jiraiya.

"I… I don't think that's necessary," said Itachi, unused to feeling quite so flustered.

Jūshiro chuckled. "I'm with Itachi here, Captain Shihōin, as are the others I would imagine."

"Now, now," said Shunsui, holding up a hand, "Let's not be so hasty here! It's just starting to get fun!"

His Lieutenant whacked him on the back of the head. "With all due respect, Captain, keep it in your pants!"

Shunsui laughed as he rubbed the spot where Lisa had hit him. "All right, all right. I guess a Captain stripping down in the middle of an Academy conference room wouldn't be very professional. We'll have to save the exhibition for another time, Captain Shihōin."

"That's too bad," said Yoruichi, winking at Itachi, "I was ready to put on a show. Oh, well."

Shinji smirked. "There's never a dull moment when you're around, is there?"

Yoruichi shrugged. "Well, me or Kisuke, really. Without the two of us, Squad Two would be a lot less interesting."

"Especially if that Lieutenant of yours was running the show," said Love, "What was his name again? You know, the guy that's got his head shoved up his ass because of how rich his family is?"

"Ōmaeda, I think," said Kensei, "Marenoshin Ōmaeda. Seriously, how did he wind up becoming your Lieutenant, Captain Shihōin? I know he's achieved Shikai, but he's not exactly talented with it. No offense."

"None taken," Yoruichi replied, "To tell you the truth, taking him on as Squad Two's Lieutenant wasn't exactly my choice. Sure, he met the requirements, but I had other potential candidates who weren't nearly as condescending towards others as he is."

"Do you not have the freedom to promote your own subordinates?" asked Itachi.

Yoruichi shook her head. "Normally I do, but this was a different set of circumstances. You two already know that I'm not just a Captain; I'm also part of the Soul Society's nobility. The Ōmaeda family isn't anywhere near as powerful as mine, but they're still quite wealthy and thus are inevitably part of the games that the noble houses like to play with each other. Long story short, he's my Lieutenant because of Soul Society aristocratic politics, and I can't get rid of him at will partly because of those politics but also because he possesses at least enough competence to do his job without requiring constant supervision. It's not an ideal situation, but it's one that I've learned to work around."

"You mentioned that he's achieved Shikai," said Jiraiya, "What's that?"

"Something you'll learn about at the Academy soon enough," Yoruichi replied before standing up, "Speaking of which, I really ought to get you two over to the student dorms now. It's tradition for a party to be thrown for the candidates that make it through the entrance exams, and it would look strange if the two top performing applicants weren't there. So as fun as this has been, I'm afraid we need to get going."

"That's a shame," said Jiraiya, "I was really enjoying myself here. Ah, well. If there's a party to be had, I'm not about to turn it down."

"It was nice to meet all of you," said Itachi as he and Jiraiya joined Yoruichi.

Jūshiro smiled. "Likewise. Best of luck with your time in the Academy."

"Enjoy yourselves!" said Shunsui with a grin, "The Academy doesn't have to be all learning and no fun, after all. My student days certainly had their share of adventures."

Jūshiro chuckled. "That's putting it mildly."

"Captain, stop setting a poor example for the new students!" Lisa scolded before turning back to Itachi and Jiraiya, "Please take your studies seriously. The better your grades, the better your chances of gaining a seated officer's position when you graduate from the Academy."

"Study hard," said Kensei, "I'm looking forward to seeing what the Academy will turn you into."

"Don't forget to subscribe to the Seireitei News Magazine!" chirped Mashiro, "Students get a discount, and the fees can be subtracted automatically from your Academy spending accounts, so you won't have to worry about forgetting payments!"

Shinji gave them a wave. "Have fun in class. Don't goof off too much!"

Love smiled. "Show everyone what you can do."

"Hit the books and keep your grades up!" cried Kirio, "I'm expecting great things, especially from you, Itachi!"

"Catch you all later," said Yoruichi as the door shut behind them, "Come on, let's get you two settled in."

Itachi nodded as they set off towards the student dorms. "Thank you for introducing us to them. It was a very informative experience."

Jiraiya smiled. "I'll say. You Soul Reapers sure are an interesting bunch!"

Yoruichi laughed. "Yeah, that's definitely one way to put it! Keep an eye out for the other Captains and Lieutenants while you're at the Academy; eventually most of the higher-ups will pay the school a visit at least once during your time there. Some hold guest lectures while others just observe students and try to find potential recruits."

"Does that include the Head Captain?" asked Itachi.

Yoruichi nodded. "Occasionally, yes. Normally he just gives the big speech on the first day of the new school year, and he'll also address the year's graduating class as well, but every now and then he'll make an appearance that isn't ceremonial. Nine times out of ten it'll be during one of the history lecture halls; the Head Captain's by far the oldest Soul Reaper on active duty, so a lot of the events you'll read about will personally involve him."

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "Really? Just how old is he?"

Yoruichi's brow furrowed. "Hard to say. He's been around since the founding of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, so the bare minimum would be over two-thousand years. I wouldn't be surprised if it was closer to three or four-thousand, but that's just my take on it."

Itachi's eyes widened. "Are you serious?"

"Completely," Yoruichi replied, "He's the most powerful Soul Reaper in all existence; he hasn't lived so long in such a dangerous line of work by being a pushover, after all. Age hasn't slowed him down a bit, either. They say that at full-strength he's a match for every other Captain and Lieutenant in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads combined, and I'm inclined to believe that. You don't mess with the Head Captain if you want to live, take my word on that."

Itachi nodded. "I see."

"He's not thinking of retiring anytime soon?" asked Jiraiya, "Two-thousand years is a long time to be on the job."

Yoruichi shrugged. "He doesn't seem to mind it. From what I can tell, I don't think he'd ever consider doing anything other than what he is right now. The Head Captain will serve until he dies, and may it be a long time yet before that day comes."

Despite her casual attitude, Itachi could tell that her respect for the Head Captain was genuine. As swift and powerful as she was, she was still deferential to him, which made Itachi quite curious as to what the man was like. He supposed that he would find out one way or another in due time.

After leaving the main building and walking through a broad courtyard, they came to the student dorms. There were several small groups of people in front of the building, mostly consisting of students or faculty.

"Here we are," said Yoruichi, "If you head inside, just to the right after the front entrance is the student help desk. Tell the secretary your names and she'll tell you where your rooms are. There should already be some basic school supplies inside them, and you'll get more come orientation tomorrow. It's been a while since I've been here, but if I recall correctly the first-year students are concentrated on the second floor. There should be a common room in the middle; that's where the student parties are held."

"Thank you for everything, Captain Shihōin" said Itachi, bowing his head, "We wouldn't be here today if it was not for you."

Jiraiya bowed as well. "He's right. Thanks for all your help, Captain Shihōin."

Yoruichi smiled. "Hey, now, what did I tell you guys earlier? There's no need to get all formal with me. If you have to, call me Captain Yoruichi. Otherwise, Yoruichi works just fine."

Itachi couldn't help but give her a small smile in return. "In that case, thank you, Yoruichi."

Jiraiya smiled as well. "We owe you one."

Yoruichi folded her arms. "If you want to pay me back, then you can do so by showing the instructors here what you're really made of. The Hollow encounter last night and your exam results today are all I need to know that you two are something special, but the teachers here are another story. There'll be plenty of fun in your student days, and I definitely want you two to enjoy yourselves, but don't forget that this is first and foremost a school. Study and train hard, because by the time graduation rolls around I want to be able to make you two seated officers right out of the gate; you've definitely got the potential for it."

"I appreciate the confidence you have in us," said Itachi.

"You've earned it so far," said Yoruichi, "but the real work starts here. I've got no doubt that they'll put the two of you in the advanced track based on your test scores, which means you'll have twice as much work as the other students. Hit the books as hard as you hit that Hollow the night before, and your classmates will run out of breath trying to keep up with you."

Jiraiya chuckled. "Sounds like we've got our work cut out for us. Should be fun!"

"I give you my word that your faith in us will not be misplaced," said Itachi.

Yoruichi grinned. "Good. Well, it's getting late, and I need to get back to Squad Two. I'll see you two around!"

She turned to leave, but she had only gone a few steps before looking over her shoulder. "Oh, and Itachi?"

"Yes?" he said.

She gave him a wink. "If any of the other Captains swing by, do me a favor and don't let them sweet-talk you. Come graduation, you're mine!"

"I'll… try to remember that," said Itachi, once again unused to being so flustered.

"Glad to hear it," she said as she waved, "Catch you later!"

Jiraiya smirked at him as Yoruichi went on her way. "You Uchiha… your clan's just a bunch of natural-born lady-killers."

Itachi doubted that he'd meant his words as a barb, but they cut deep all the same. Even after all the time that had passed since the Uchiha Clan massacre, the wounds on his psyche were rawer than he let on.

"You have no idea," he said after a moment, his tone grim.

Jiraiya studied him carefully for a moment before speaking again. "Well, then, shall we go settle in? If they're hosting a party up there, it'd be a shame to miss it."

"Parties aren't really my thing," Itachi replied, "but I suppose it would look odd if I wasn't in attendance. An obligatory appearance will do, and then you and I have some business to attend to."

Jiraiya nodded, his eyes narrowing. "That we do."

….

For all of Itachi's misgivings, the first-year student party had actually been a rather relaxing affair. By the time he and Jiraiya had arrived food and drinks had already been set out and people were digging in. It had taken a few moments for everyone to realize that the two top candidates of the entrance exams had arrived, but once the word was out Itachi and Jiraiya had been pulled into the center of the festivities. Itachi had felt more than a little awkward at first; life on the run as a rogue ninja and member of the Akatsuki hadn't exactly improved his social skills, after all. However, his fellow students seemed to be a friendly and pleasant group overall, and they appeared to catch on rather quickly to the fact that he wasn't exactly a party person.

It hadn't taken Jiraiya long at all to establish himself as the jokester and overall life of the party. From what Itachi could see it appeared to be a role that the sage had slipped into quite easily. While the Sannin held court with lewd jests and tales of a rather seedy nature, Itachi was able to quietly settle in a little off to the side and field questions from the mainly female students that wished to chat with him. He remained guarded and refrained from telling them anything regarding his past life, but he was still able to politely engage his fellow students in small-talk and openly ponder with them just what exactly lay in store for them come orientation and the first day of class.

I don't think I ever experienced anything quite like this back when I was alive, he mused, I graduated from the Shinobi Academy so quickly due to my advanced abilities that student life passed as a blur. My talents set me apart and got me noticed, but I wound up nearly isolated. Were it not for Shisui and Izumi… I could very well have not made any real friends at all.

As fun as the party wound up being, Itachi was keenly aware of Jiraiya subtly studying him the whole time. After what he deemed an appropriate amount of time had passed, Itachi excused himself and went to his room. A few minutes later there was a knock at the door, and Itachi knew who it was.

"Go ahead," he said.

Jiraiya opened the door. "So, are we having it out here?"

Itachi shook his head as he grabbed several sheets of paper and a writing board. "No. We'll go to the courtyard; at this hour, there shouldn't be many people there."

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "All right, but what's with the paper? This isn't exactly a study session."

"Trust me," said Itachi as he stood up, "You'll thank me for bringing it soon enough."

It wasn't hard for the two former Shinobi to slip out of the dorms undetected. After they found a quiet corner of the courtyard and sat down, Itachi pulled a familiar object from his pocket and passed it to Jiraiya. The Sannin's eyes widened as he saw what it was.

"One of the pens from the first phase of the exams…" he said softly as he studied it before giving Itachi a smirk, "Well, well… you know how to plan ahead."

Itachi nodded as Jiraiya returned the pen. "Once I was able to comprehend the true nature of the writing utensils we had been given for the test, I realized that they might be able to serve a purpose beyond the entrance exams. If Yoruichi is right, once we learn to properly control our spiritual pressure these special pens will become useful only for writing, but since we have yet to reach that point I can apply them as an enforcement mechanism for my testimony."

Jiraiya folded his arms. "So, do you intend to write an essay with me watching your every move, then?"

"I'd call it more of a pop quiz, but some of the answers I'll provide may well be lengthy enough to be considered essays," said Itachi, "Ask me whatever you wish. If we run out of paper, I'll simply have to grab more. We both already know what will happen if I try to lie. Is this arrangement acceptable to you?"

Jiraiya nodded. "Sounds good to me. Let's get started."

….

I'll be damned, thought Jiraiya as he read all of Itachi's answers, I was sure at least one of my questions would get him, but there wasn't so much as a spark. So…

…it's all here, then.

He would give credit where it was due; Itachi had been quite thorough with his answers. Several of them really had turned into essays, and in fact the young man had needed two breaks to grab more paper to write on. Jiraiya was sure that it was well past midnight now, but he wasn't the least bit tired. Quite the opposite, in fact; with all that he had learned tonight, he knew it would be quite some time before sleep found him again.

His brow furrowed as he contemplated the testimony before him. The Uchiha Clan's downfall, Itachi's role in the Akatsuki, the real reason behind his reappearance in the Village Hidden in the Leaves, and all the information he had gathered regarding the organization and its hunt for the Tailed Beasts… all that and more was staring him right in the face.

It was hard for him to find words for it all, or even just for a starting point, but he took a shot at it just the same. "So… Danzō, huh?"

Itachi nodded. "Yes… although that does not excuse the part I played."

"It was all sanctioned, then," said Jiraiya as he scanned the written answers, "Danzō, the village elders… and even the Third Hokage."

Itachi shook his head. "Not quite. The Third Hokage only became aware of the true nature of my actions after the clan was murdered. He had still been pursuing a policy of negotiation and reconciliation, a course that Shisui and I had desired as well. Danzō's ultimatum came without the Third Hokage's consent or knowledge, although Lord Sarutobi gave retroactive approval after I reported to him."

Jiraiya sighed. After all that Itachi had told him, he had a good understanding of the position his late master had been forced into. It did not diminish his faith and pride in his teacher, but that did not change the fact that Jiraiya wished his old mentor could've found another way to handle the situation.

At least Danzō was formally stripped of his authority afterwards, he mused, although given how cagey the bastard was, I doubt that was too much of an obstacle for him. I hope Tsunade can keep him in check.

"So, you made your report and struck your pact with him," said Jiraiya, "and then threatened Danzō for good measure. After that… well, it's all here, but I suppose I'll need a little more time to go over it all… and let it sink in."

"I would expect nothing less," Itachi replied, "and while I would not presume to rush you… I do need an answer."

Jiraiya gave him a hard stare. "You mean a judgment. My judgment."

Itachi nodded. "Yes. I chose death in battle against Sasuke because I felt he was the only one worthy of avenging our family and punishing me for the sins I committed. Suffice to say that when I pictured the afterlife I was in for, the Soul Society was not what I had in mind. For reasons beyond my comprehension, I've been spared the flames of Hell."

"So, since the afterlife has not seen fit to punish you, I'm supposed to mete out a sentence instead?" asked Jiraiya.

"You yourself stated that you wanted to judge whether or not I was a threat to the other students at this school before I took my place in class with them," said Itachi, "You know quite well what I was capable of in life, and while in death I have lost a great deal of my former powers, the abilities that I have kept are still enough to make me dangerous. The same goes for you. In fact, if you and I were to fight right here and now… I believe you would win."

Jiraiya folded his arms. "And is that what you want? You already met your death in battle against your younger brother. Are you so eager to end your afterlife at my hands?"

Itachi sighed. "No. Although I do not believe that I deserve redemption, I would nonetheless like to join the ranks of the Soul Reapers and do what I can to protect those who have already passed beyond death's door. I will not pretend that this may grant me absolution; what I have done is beyond atonement. However, if I do have the power in the afterlife to defend others and act in a manner that would truly be appropriate for a Shinobi of the Village Hidden in the Leaves, then I would like the chance to do so. That being said, your mistrust in me is more than warranted given my past actions. If you believe that I would be a threat rather than a protector, then let's have it out here and now."

After a good, long moment of consideration, Jiraiya shook his head. "No. I will not fight you. As for the judgment you seek, I don't think it's mine to give quite yet."

"What do you mean?" asked Itachi.

"What I mean is that the situation is far more complex than I had originally realized," Jiraiya answered, "I don't necessarily condone your actions, but with all that's been revealed I would be wrong to simply condemn them out of hand either. I think it's clear that you got caught up in events that were beyond your control. You were handed some nasty choices, and the situation was far from black-and-white. Even taking your testimony in its entirety does not mean that I can come to a final verdict right away. It'll take some time for me to come to an appropriate conclusion. I'll have to give it a great deal of thought before I get back to you on it."

Itachi nodded. "I understand.

"I'm not finished yet," said Jiraiya, "Regarding the other students, at this point I am confident in that you don't pose a threat to them. Whether or not that will continue to be the case as your powers develop remains to be seen. That's why I'm going to continue to monitor you as we go through our training together."

"I would expect nothing less," Itachi replied.

Jiraiya smiled as he stood up. "In that case, I think we'd better head back inside. I'm all for staying up late and partying, but we do have orientation tomorrow. It'd be a shame to sleep through it, don't you think?"

He was surprised to see Itachi smirk as he rose to join him. "I suppose you're right. To think that we'll be students again after gaining such mastery of our crafts when we were still alive… is it strange that I'm actually looking forward to it?"

Jiraiya laughed. "Not at all. To tell you the truth, so am I. Don't get me wrong; I'll hit the books, but there's no rule saying I can't do that and cause a little trouble at the same time! It'll also be a great opportunity to start research for my new novel series, especially since the student dorms are co-ed!"

Itachi shook his head. "You're fortunate that none of our fellow students seem to be aware of the reputation you had when you were alive. Then again, I suppose there's no reason why the legendary Pervert Sage can't rise again in the Soul Society."

Jiraiya chuckled. "Now you sound like Naruto. 'Pervy Sage' was his version of the title. That kid just didn't understand the true nature of my research!"

"Keep telling yourself that," said Itachi.

As the two of them headed back inside, Jiraiya could not help but reflect on the strange new circumstances he found himself in. It was one thing to become a student again in order to learn how to harness his new powers; he truly was looking forward to that. It would be another thing entirely to be attending class alongside a man who had been known as one of the most notorious mass murderers in the history of the Hidden Leaf Village. At any other time Jiraiya would've dismissed such a possibility as completely outrageous, but after learning what he had tonight his thoughts on the matter were now much more complex.

Whether or not atonement for what he did in life is possible at this point is a question that I can't answer, he thought, but if he truly is determined to seize the second chance that the Soul Society has given him, then it's not my place to deny it to him. It would seem that he truly wants to take this opportunity to reform himself, or at least serve in a manner that was denied to him while he was alive. That's more than I ever got out of Orochimaru. For now, all I can do is watch and wait. And so, starting tomorrow…

…my watch begins.

Author's Notes: So I'm sure you guys noticed the changes in old man Yamamoto's age, as well as that of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. That was intentional, and they'll play an important role later on when the history of this version of the Soul Society is explored in greater detail.

Hope you liked the chapter! Please review!