Author's Notes: All right, time to put another chapter up. A few of you have been asking me about whether or not Itachi's resurrection via Edo Tensei would come up at all in this fic, and my answer to that is yes. Specifically, it'll come up towards the end of this chapter, and the next few after will deal with the repercussions. You'll see what I mean soon enough.
Enjoy!
Chapter Five: Student Life
A few months later…
"So, is this the right answer?" asked a rather busty red-haired girl named Julia.
Leaning over the table, Itachi checked his classmate's work before nodding. "Yes, that's it. Excellent work."
Julia smiled. "Oh, thank you! The only reason I got it was because you helped me earlier, though. You're the best, Itachi!"
"Itachi!" chirped the slender raven-haired girl next to Julia, who if Itachi recalled correctly was called Misako, "Can you check mine now, please?"
"No, he needs to check mine!" cried an athletic blonde named Maria.
"No, mine!" protested a lithe brunette named Anya.
How did I get to be so popular?, he mused, I didn't ask these girls to study with me, yet here they are all the same…
'Here' in this case was the main student library of Shin'ō Academy. Itachi had developed a habit of coming here after his daily classes to do his required readings and written homework because it was so much more spacious and comfortable than his tiny room at the dorms. He loved the place; the various books and scrolls were so neatly organized, and there was so much material to choose from. It was also much quieter than the dorms, although that was subject to change whenever his female classmates found him… which was becoming more and more common as of late.
"Calm down," he said, "This is a library, not the common room at the dorm. I'll check all of your answers, I promise."
Reviewing their papers, he found their work to be satisfactory. It really wasn't surprising; they were all in the advanced track with him and Jiraiya, so their wits were plenty sharp. In fact, Itachi had come to suspect that none of them really needed his help with their homework at all; they were just looking for an excuse to spend time with him.
True to his word, he had worked hard from day one to excel in his classes and thereby validate the faith that Yoruichi had shown in him. It hadn't taken long at all for his efforts to become noticed by both his instructors and his fellow classmates, and before Itachi knew it his name was at the top of the first-year student charts. He hadn't been looking to make a name for himself as a star pupil, but he had inadvertently done so just the same. With the diligence and drive that he brought to his studies, his rise had been swift, and Itachi wasn't about to stop pushing himself now.
I've learned so much in just a few short months, he thought, I truly have taken my first steps into a larger world…
The first official day of the new school year alone had been an eye-opening experience. Just like Yoruichi had told him, none other than Head Captain Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto had given the keynote speech at the opening ceremony. It was an address that Itachi would not forget anytime soon; never had he witnessed a man of such age that spoke with such gravitas. The Head Captain had by no means been flaunting his power, but even Itachi, untrained as he was in the arts of detecting and controlling spirit energy, could tell that the bald, heavily scarred and long-bearded man possessed strength beyond comprehension. No Kage that Itachi had ever met could come close to the level of sheer power that he suspected the aged Soul Reaper was suppressing; he imagined that even the mightiest of the Akatsuki would've been hard pressed to stand against him.
As impressive as the Head Captain and his address to the student body had been, even that took second place in Itachi's mind to the fact that he, Jiraiya, and all the other students were presented with Zanpakutō on their very first day at the Academy. From what Itachi understood, the blades that he and his classmates had been given were technically known as Asauchi. These were nameless Zanpakutō that the students were to train with until their own unique blades awakened, but they were still instructed to treat the Asauchi as if they were genuine Zanpakutō. What that meant was gradually becoming clear as their classes progressed, but Itachi knew that he still had a long way to go before all his questions concerning the blades of the Soul Reapers would be answered.
On the whole, the classes he was taking along with the rest of the students in the advanced track were quite fascinating. The first class of the day was known simply as Spirit Arts, and this was primarily focused on teaching the students to properly harness and control their spirit energy, although it also covered other general Soul Reaper activities such as performing the Konsō, or Soul Burial. After that came a combined course on the geography and the history of the Soul Society and how it interacted with the Realms of the Living, and Itachi had already proven himself to be the most detailed notetaker in that class. His reasoning was simple; he wanted to learn as much as he could about this new world he found himself in as quickly as possible, and thus he treated the class like a vital intelligence gathering mission similar what he might have undertaken during his time as a Shinobi. Following that was an introductory course on the nature of Hollows, and this was another class where Itachi was keen to maintain his diligence and gather as much knowledge as possible about the beasts that he would inevitably wind up facing upon graduation.
The other academic classes were rather tame in comparison, focusing on more mundane topics such as writing and mathematics. According to the instructors, courses such as these were meant more to make sure that aspiring Soul Reapers had a good fundamental knowledge base, and that they would gradually be reduced in number and duration as their studies advanced. They weren't held every day, but spaced out across the week so as not to put too much work on them on top of their already intensive combat training.
It was in the early afternoon following the lunch break that said combat training began in earnest. The first class focused on Zanjutsu, and that was naturally the one that was the most looked forward to amongst the bulk of the students. Although the course was focused primarily on fighting with the blade, there were also lectures on how to properly bond and meditate with one's Zanpakutō, and these were absolutely vital to awakening one's personal weapon. Following the swordsmanship course came Hakuda training, which was in turn followed by classes in Kidō and Hohō. It was in these combat courses that Itachi was truly able to begin applying the Shinobi skills of his past life, and the results had rapidly become clear; apart from Jiraiya, none of his fellow students could match him when the time came for sparring bouts.
In addition to their core courses, the students of the advanced track had been given the choice of enrolling in elective classes as well. While not required for graduation, the student counselors had noted that having elective courses on their transcripts made graduates more attractive for potential officer positions when the time came to join one of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, and certain Captains were apparently very keen on particular courses. Itachi's mind had immediately gone to Yoruichi, but it was difficult for him to imagine what sort of elective courses she looked for in candidates for Squad Two. Since it was only his first semester, Itachi had decided to go light on the electives for now and had chosen only one; an advanced civics course that covered the politics of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, the Central Forty-Six, and the five greatest of the noble clans.
The student schedule and pace of education was far more grueling than what Itachi had experienced at the Shinobi Academy. Although classes were only held five days a week, the typical school day lasted roughly nine hours, and there was plenty of material to cover. The weekends were naturally valuable rest days, but even then Itachi refused to let up in his training, allowing himself only a few brief breaks before pressing his nose back to the grindstone.
With the manner in which he pushed himself combined with the gifts that his experience as a Shinobi provided, out of all the first-year students it was only Jiraiya that could keep pace with Itachi. Even then, it had soon become clear that the Legendary Sannin was taking a rather different approach to his education than Itachi was. While the sage got excellent marks, his was a much more relaxed presence in class. He was jovial, boisterous, and even willing to play the fool despite his keen intellect. Most of the time he wasn't outright disruptive, but based on the laughs of the students and the groans of the teachers it was clear that Jiraiya was determined to play the same role as class clown that he had been famous for during his own time at the Shinobi Academy and under the tutelage of the Third Hokage. Jiraiya was clearly embracing his return to life as a student and taking as much fun and amusement from it as he could, and Itachi sometimes found himself envying just how carefree the Sannin seemed. Of course, his laid-back attitude did not in the least conceal from Itachi the fact that the sage was still watching him carefully, although none of the other students or teachers seemed to notice.
Nor should they, thought Itachi, Jiraiya's an experienced Shinobi; covert surveillance is something he's well-versed in.
"So, Itachi," said Maria, "Do you got any plans for the weekend?"
"Training and studying," he replied.
"Again?" pouted Julia, "You always say that, Itachi!"
"Because it's the truth," said Itachi calmly, "I still have much to learn, and I want to build up my knowledge and skills as quickly as possible."
"But you're already at the top of the class," said Misako, "You don't need to work all the time!"
"She's right, Itachi," said Anya with a smile, "Don't you ever take a break?"
"Yes," he said, "and what I do in my off time is my business."
"Well, you should include us in your off time this weekend," said Maria, "We found this great teahouse not too far from the campus, and we want you to come with us Saturday."
"Come on, it'll be fun!" said Julia with a wink, "What do you say, Itachi?"
Itachi shook his head. "I'm sorry. I really do appreciate the invitation, but I'm afraid that I already have plans."
Misako sighed. "Darn it. Here I thought we had something that was right up your alley."
"You can't say no to us forever, Itachi," said Anya with a smirk, "Sooner or later we'll find something that'll get you to break out of your routine. We'll make sure that you really enjoy yourself!"
"Well, if he's turning you down, I can take his place!" said a familiar male voice.
Itachi didn't need to turn around to know that Jiraiya was behind him. He had a feeling he knew why the sage was really here, and it wasn't concerning the girls that had ostensibly approached Itachi for help with their studies.
It didn't take long for said girls to fall into their normal routine of rejection, starting with Maria. "No way, Jiraiya. Don't think that we've forgotten about last weekend!"
"I have no idea what you're talking about!" Jiraiya protested, although his tone didn't exactly sound innocent.
Julia pounced. "Liar! Do you really expect us to believe that that wasn't you sneaking around the baths?"
Misako folded her arms. "Pervert!"
"Now, now," said Jiraiya as he raised his arms, "I can assure you that there's a perfectly reasonable explanation for my actions!"
"If you say 'research' again, I swear I'm going to deck you!" Anya growled.
Itachi sighed. "Please refrain from that. This is the library, after all."
"What do you want, Jiraiya?" asked Maria.
Jiraiya smiled. "Oh, I'm just here for a chat with my pal Itachi… unless you lovely ladies have something more interesting planned!"
"Not with you," said Julia as she and her friends gathered their belongings, "We'll see you around, Itachi."
"Let us know if you change your mind about Saturday!" chirped Misako.
"You know where to find us!" said Anya with a wink.
Jiraiya chuckled and sat down as the girls left. "Turned them down again, eh? Why? From what I can tell, there's not a bad one in the bunch!"
Itachi rolled his eyes. "As I told them, I have plans. It wasn't anything against them."
Jiraiya shook his head. "I know, but even so, you're starting to worry me. It's good that you've got a solid training regimen going even outside our classes, but all work and no play won't do you any favors."
"I make time for recreation," Itachi countered as he reached for a particular book, "Even I need a chance to rest and unwind, after all."
Jiraiya sighed. "Look, as a novelist, I've got no beef with you curling up with a book in some quiet corner of the courtyard as a form of relaxation, but seriously; you have got to get a social life, Itachi."
"I have one," Itachi quipped dryly, "It's called you attempting to badger me into joining you on one of your 'research expeditions' to the ladies' bath, and me sitting back and watching as the girls slap you senseless after they catch you. Truly, I could not ask for better entertainment."
Jiraiya laughed. "All right, I guess I walked into that one! It's a good thing none of them are as strong as Tsunade, otherwise I'd really be in trouble!"
"Indeed," said Itachi as a flipped a page in his book.
Jiraiya smiled. "Okay, be honest; if it was Yoruichi extending an invitation to that teahouse the girls mentioned earlier, would you say yes?"
Itachi nodded casually. "Of course. I could learn far more from her than the girls from earlier."
Jiraiya's smile became a knowing smirk. "Oh, really? You'd go along with her purely because she has more to offer from an intellectual standpoint?"
"She's a Captain," said Itachi, "That alone makes her a fascinating woman."
Jiraiya chuckled. "Oh, I'm sure."
"What are you getting at, Jiraiya?" asked Itachi, although in the back of his mind there was the suspicion that he already knew the answer to that.
After a moment Jiraiya shook his head. "Forget it. If you want to keep fooling yourself, so be it."
"Good," said Itachi, "That means I can get back to the research that the girls interrupted earlier."
Jiraiya leaned over to check the book's title. "Comprehending the Web of Worlds… you know we already covered that in class, right?"
"We went over it, yes," Itachi replied, "but our instructors can only cover so much in a lecture, and there is far more that I seek to learn about these interconnected worlds than what the teachers have to offer."
With as little as Itachi knew about the afterlife, every lesson seemed to offer a fresh eye-opener. However, one of the biggest by far had been introduced early on in the semester when they'd sat through their first lecture on what the instructor had referred to as the Web of Worlds. It had completely shattered the conceptions Itachi had previously held regarding the world that he had lived in, and it was his first real glimpse into just how vast the Realms of the Living truly were.
The reason that they were referred to as the Realms of the Living was simple; there was more than one. Far more than one. Itachi had been stunned to find out that the world he had lived and died in was in fact just one small thread in a truly monumental tapestry. At the very heart of this vast multitude of worlds was the Soul Society, and every other Realm of the Living was connected to it. Soul Reapers were dispatched across the Web of Worlds to cleanse them of Hollows and guide lost souls to the afterlife, but due to the sheer number of realms involved most received little more than a few token Soul Reaper visits each. In fact, the Shinobi World was actually considered one of the smaller and less important ones; the bulk of the Soul Society's forces were concentrated on a single world whose living population dwarfed that of the Shinobi World and most of the other ones. It had gone a long way towards explaining to Itachi not only why the Rukon District and the Soul Society itself was so vast, but also why he had encountered no one else from the Shinobi World apart from Jiraiya; the odds of such a meeting occurring were incredibly small.
Perhaps that's not such a bad thing, he mused, I can't imagine an encounter with a member of my clan going well given what I did to them…
"Well," said Jiraiya, dragging Itachi out of his thoughts, "as long as you're in a reading mood, I was hoping you could go over this for me."
Itachi raised an eyebrow as he read the title of the manuscript Jiraiya dropped in front of him. "Lovers' Strategies, Book One: Oasis of Desire… so you're really going through with it, then."
Jiraiya grinned. "Yup. You know, I kind of got lucky when I died; the last book of the Make-Out Tactics series ended on a note that could be considered a proper ending for the saga as a whole. Now that I'm in the afterlife, a fresh new series is just what's needed!"
"And you seem to have gotten a good start on it," said Itachi as he rifled through the pages, "This is enough to fill a light-novel already."
Jiraiya nodded. "That's because it is a light-novel, or at least it will be. I've got my first draft done, but I wanted to have a third party look it over and help me edit it before publishing."
"And I'm your go-to option?" asked Itachi, "I suppose I should be flattered if one of the Legendary Sannin wants me to help him get his new book off the ground, but the romantic-comedy genre isn't something I have a whole lot of experience with. You may find me to be a poor editor for something like this."
"Doesn't matter," said Jiraiya, "Just look it over and get back to me on it, all right?"
Itachi nodded. "Very well, then. I'll start tonight."
Jiraiya smiled. "Excellent. I'm looking forward to your input."
….
A few days later…
"Not bad," said Itachi as he passed the manuscript to Jiraiya.
It was the brief break between their Zanjutsu and Hakuda classes, and the two of them were out in the hallway with their fellow students in the advanced track waiting to be called in by the instructor. There was a considerable air of excitement among the students; the teacher had mentioned the day before that there would be a guest observing the class today, and while the instructor hadn't gone into much detail regarding their identity he had let slip that the observer was an officer in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. Itachi's mind had immediately gone to Yoruichi, and even though he had absolutely no proof that she was today's observer, there was a feeling in his gut that he couldn't dismiss out of hand.
Whoever it is, I'll still perform to the best of my abilities, he thought, Even if it isn't her, word of a good showing on my part could get back to her. Either way, it can only help my post-graduation placement prospects.
"You really think so?" asked Jiraiya, dragging Itachi out of his musings.
He nodded. "Overall it seems good. I just marked a few grammar and spelling errors that I noticed. Like I told you before, though, I may not be the best person for editing a story like this."
Jiraiya shook his head and smiled as he put the manuscript away. "Don't worry about it. If all goes well, I should have the first copies in print a few weeks from now!"
Itachi raised an eyebrow. "You already have a publisher lined up?"
Jiraiya grinned. "Yup! Remember Lieutenant Mashiro from the meet-and-greet after the exams?"
"Hard to forget," said Itachi, "It's not every day that a girl tries to lick me, after all. What about her?"
"You've got a subscription to the Seireitei News Magazine, right?" asked Jiraiya.
Itachi nodded. "Yes, and I do remember that Squad Nine publishes it. What's that have to do with your new novel?"
"I sent in a letter to the newspaper office asking if they also handled novel publishing," Jiraiya replied, "Turns out they do, although it's not their main source of income. Having both the Squad Nine Captain and Lieutenant at that little gathering of ours after the exams were over is already paying off; I've got a meeting set up with Mashiro this weekend to pitch my book."
"Impressive," said Itachi, "Your networking skills are quite sharp."
"Of course, they are!" said Jiraiya with a smile, "That's an essential intelligence gathering skill, after all; you should know that."
Itachi nodded. "True enough. Best of luck with the meeting."
"Thanks," Jiraiya replied, "If it all pans out, I might just have you help me with editing the second volume, too."
"I make no promises," said Itachi.
It was at that moment that the instructor called them into the room. Unlike the lecture halls devoted to the more academic aspects of their education, the rooms devoted to their combat training were wide open. There were no desks or chairs, just space for drills and sparring. It didn't take long for Itachi to spot the guest observer, and when she met his gaze she gave him a friendly smile; it was Yoruichi.
Next to him, Jiraiya gave him a friendly nudge with his elbow. "Someone's happy to see you."
Itachi wouldn't give Jiraiya the satisfaction of a response, but that didn't change the fact that the feeling was mutual; it was good to see Yoruichi again. He didn't return her smile, but he did give her a nod of recognition, and that seemed to be enough for her.
Their instructor, a man with a receding gray hairline named Akifumi Kato, addressed the class. "Students, I'd like you to meet a very special guest. This is Captain Yoruichi Shihōin of Squad Two. She will be observing your drills and sparring matches today."
Yoruichi smiled and waved at the students. "Good to see you all again! Don't mind me; just go through your class as usual and act like I'm not even here."
Right, Itachi mused, I doubt any of us will be able to do that… and she knows it.
"Now," said Instructor Kato, "let's begin our warmup exercises."
The first third or so of the class was relatively uneventful as Itachi, Jiraiya, and the other students followed their teacher through their drills. It was the normal routine; the real excitement would come once Instructor Kato began pairing up students for sparring matches. Given Itachi and Jiraiya's advanced skills, the teacher had long since ceased pairing them up with anyone other than each other; the former Akatsuki member and the Legendary Sannin were the only students in the advanced track capable of matching each other in a fight.
Itachi could feel Yoruichi's gaze lingering on him as he went through the drills, and when the time came for the sparring matches the excitement in her eyes was palpable. He couldn't blame her; he was actually rather eager to show her just how far his skills in Hakuda had advanced, and he couldn't ask for a better opponent to demonstrate his abilities against than Jiraiya.
"All right," said the sage with a smirk as the two of them squared off in their little section of the hall, "Don't think that I'll go easy on you just because she's watching."
"I wouldn't dream of it," Itachi replied as he dropped into an opening stance, "Ready when you are."
Jiraiya made the first move, lunging forward with a hard right hook straight out of the gate. Itachi ducked beneath the blow and struck back with a quick left jab, but Jiraiya had already brought his arm up to counter. Itachi had planned for that, though, and was already dropping low to make a sweeping kick. However, Jiraiya was ready for it, and he swiftly backflipped to evade the strike.
The move only bought the sage a brief moment of respite, for Itachi surged forward to take the initiative. He pressed hard with a series of swift and surgical punches and kicks, doing all he could to mix up his attacks and keep his opponent off balance. That was much easier said than done; Jiraiya was one of the most formidable hand-to-hand fighters Itachi had ever gone up against, and his years of experience exceeded those of the slayer of the Uchiha Clan. It would only be a matter of time before the Sannin was able to counter and regain the initiative, and Itachi was already bracing for it.
That moment came a few seconds later when Jiraiya grabbed Itachi's right leg mid-kick. Itachi was able to twist free of the sage's grip and leap backwards to regroup, but it was all the opening Jiraiya needed. Now it was Itachi that was on the defensive, and while he held a slight speed advantage over his opponent that was offset by the power behind Jiraiya's blows and the utter relentlessness of his assault. He was hard pressed to block and dodge the sage's attacks, and his onyx-eyes darted this way and that as he searched for even the tiniest of opportunities to turn things around.
A few moments later he found his chance and took it. There was the lightest of gaps between one of Jiraiya's punches and a kick, and Itachi used it to get in a quick jab at the sage's lower torso. Jiraiya was able to twist his body to bleed off most of the force behind the attack, but in doing so he ceded the initiative back to Itachi, who immediately went on the offensive.
As the two veteran Shinobi went back and forth between attack and defense, Itachi was keenly aware of Yoruichi studying his every move. Unfortunately, there was no way that he could shift his focus towards her even the slightest to gauge her reaction to his technique; the tiniest bit of distraction would be all Jiraiya needed to decisively end the fight. All Itachi could do was keep his gaze firmly on his opponent and fight with every ounce of skill that he could muster. It was as intense as all of his previous sparring matches with the sage had been, but at the same time Itachi could not deny the sense of exhilaration he felt as the fight went on. Here he was, going toe-to-toe with the man who had been one of the Third Hokage's greatest students, and holding his own to boot.
It was a shame that it was only in the afterlife that an intense yet friendly sparring match like this between the two of them was possible.
Yes, friendly. As strange as it might've been to imagine, the dynamics between the Legendary Sannin and the bane of the Uchiha Clan had shifted somewhat over the few months since their fight with the Hollow. While Itachi knew that Jiraiya was still watching him like a hawk for the slightest hint that he might become a threat to their fellow students and the Soul Society as a whole, that had not stopped him from treating Itachi like a colleague since they had enrolled in the Academy. It was an utterly surreal situation, one that Itachi was still trying to wrap his head around.
He lost track of time as their sparring match continued, with neither one of them able to land a decisive blow. The two of them almost jumped when they heard their teacher address them.
"Itachi, Jiraiya!" barked Instructor Kato, "Halt!"
The two of them broke off and took a moment to catch their breath before turning towards their teacher. The rest of their classmates had already ceased their matches and were beginning to form a broad circle. That meant only one thing; the assigned sparring matches were over.
Now the free challenge fights would begin.
The sparring portion of their Hakuda classes was always broken up into two halves. The first half was the assigned sparring, where Instructor Kato would try to match up students according to their skill levels to make sure that his pupils were facing off against someone that they were on roughly equal footing with. After that came the free challenge fights where, as the name implied, students were free to call out any of their classmates for a match.
Aside from the obvious rules behind the free challenge matches such as the prohibition of killing or severely injuring one's opponent, there was a layer of unspoken etiquette and protocol that the students were expected to observe. Winning the free challenge fights was a way to stake out one's position in class and advance their social status, but calling out students that everyone knew were weaker than the challenger was frowned upon. Itachi and Jiraiya had only ever challenged each other, and they had stopped issuing those challenges quite some time ago once Instructor Kato has decided to simply pair them up permanently for the assigned sparring matches. Other students had attempted to ascend the informal hierarchy by challenging either Itachi or Jiraiya, but the two former Shinobi had taken down so many challengers since classes had begun that now no one would call them out. The students would only challenge each other, but there was no explicit rule stating that; theoretically, anyone in the hall at the time of the free challenge fights could be called out.
For the past few weeks now, Itachi had begun considering whether or not to call out Instructor Kato. At this point, he suspected that he had a decent chance at winning such a fight, and he imagined that Jiraiya felt the same way. However, he had never crossed that line because he did not wish for their teacher to lose the respect of his students. Kato was not just an instructor, after all; he was also a former Soul Reaper, and Itachi did believe in showing a measure of due deference to one who had put in his time on the front lines in the struggle against the Hollows. Nevertheless, the temptation was always there, but today it had been eclipsed by another desire…
…one that was fueled by the presence of the other veteran Soul Reaper in the room today.
Itachi was under no illusions; there wasn't a ghost of a chance that he could win if he made this move. That wasn't the point, however. It wasn't about victory or defeat now; it was about truly understanding how far his skills had grown…
…and how far he still had to go.
As he and Jiraiya joined the circle, he heard the sage chuckle. "Oh, man. You're really going to do it, aren't you?"
"Nice to see that your powers of observation remain sharp," Itachi replied as Instructor Kato stepped into the middle of the circle, "Yes, I am."
Jiraiya grinned. "And here I am, without any popcorn. What a shame. This is going to be fun!"
"All right, students!" called Instructor Kato, "You all know the drill. Who will be the first to issue a challenge today?"
Before anyone else could make a move, Itachi stepped forward. A collective murmur went through the students of the advanced track, and a few broke out into cold sweats at what Itachi imagined was the thought of going up against him.
You can all rest easy, he thought, I don't plan on challenging any of you today.
He looked past his classmates and made eye contact with the woman who had saved his life just a few months ago. "I challenge Captain Yoruichi."
Every student with the exception of Jiraiya gasped. Even Instructor Kato was unable to maintain his composure; the teacher's face paled as he struggled to comprehend what Itachi had just done.
"Now, now, Itachi," he said, "No one here doubts your gifts in Hakuda, but this… this is…"
"My decision," Itachi finished firmly for him.
Instructor Kato turned to the lady of the hour, as it were. "Captain Shihōin, you don't have to humor him…"
Yoruichi held up her hand and grinned as she kept her gaze locked with Itachi's. "I don't have to, true… but I want to. Actually… I was hoping this would happen."
Instructor Kato's eyes widened in shock and confusion. "What? I… I don't understand!"
"Don't worry," Yoruichi replied as she stepped forward, shedding her white haori and revealing that same black sleeveless and backless uniform that she'd worn the night they'd first met, "You don't have to. You do have to step back, however. Otherwise… well, it'd be a shame for you to get in the way and ruin my fun, don't you think?"
The teacher had no response for that other than to move back as far as he could. The rest of the students followed until Itachi and Yoruichi had almost the entire hall available for their fight.
Good, he thought as he saw the hungry look in her eyes, I have a feeling I'm going to need it.
"I knew you were a bold one," she said as the two of them squared off, "On the very night we first met, you had the guts to go up against a Hollow unarmed and untrained. I'm glad to see that student life hasn't dulled that side of you."
Itachi nodded. "Thank you."
Yoruichi smirked. "Save the thanks until after you've shown me what you're really capable of. I intend to enjoy myself here, so you'd better not disappoint me!"
Itachi dropped into a ready stance, his gaze never leaving Yoruichi's. "I'll give you everything I've got."
The grin on Yoruichi's face was downright predatory now. "Good. Kato! We're waiting on you!"
The teacher jumped before stepping forward and raising his right hand. "Are you ready?"
Itachi and Yoruichi nodded, but they didn't spare Instructor Kato so much as a glance; their eyes remained locked on each other.
"Very well, then," he said, "Three…two…one…begin!"
Yoruichi pounced, and she was on Itachi like a bolt of lightning.
….
It wasn't a full Flash Step; Yoruichi had no intention of going all out against a student, even one as gifted as Itachi had proven himself to be. Still, the speed of her charge was nothing to be sneezed at, and Itachi was barely able to duck in time to avoid her opening punch. From there she immediately went on the offensive, going after him with a ferocious barrage of jabs, with the occasional kick and knee thrown in for good measure. To his credit, though, Itachi kept his arms up in a guard position, and thus he was able to block the strikes that he couldn't outright evade. Yoruichi wasn't about to let up here, though; she wanted to push him to his absolute limit and then some.
And Itachi was up to the challenge. As she pressed her assault, Yoruichi was impressed with how Itachi kept his cool even when under pressure from no less than a Captain like herself. That glint of focused intensity never left his eyes, and she could sense him looking for the slightest opening even when under such a withering barrage. Even when assailed by a foe as powerful as her, he remained calm and collected. There wasn't a hint of panic anywhere about him; he held mastery over his emotions, which was no small feat under these particular circumstances.
A slight shift in his stance was enough to tell Yoruichi that Itachi was ready to counter, and it came a moment later. As she threw a hard right punch she saw Itachi bend his left arm ever so slightly to alter the angle of his block. When her blow grazed his arm, he made his move with a swift right jab. Of course, Yoruichi was ready for it and proceeded to catch his fist in the palm of her hand. However, Itachi's response was immediate and fluid; he twisted his body and leapt back before she could get a solid grip on him. She was still able to retake the initiative, but she still marveled at his reaction speed.
His reflexes are incredible, she thought as she cut loose with a rapid-fire sequence of punches and kicks, I've never seen a student move as intuitively as he does! And this is just after a few short months of Hakuda training…
It wasn't just his speed and instincts that impressed her. His footwork was top-notch, and despite how hard she was pressing him he wasn't anywhere close to being knocked off balance. Every move, no matter how small, was with purpose. He fought with precision and efficiency, spending only the energy that was needed, no more and no less.
He was an absolute natural at Hakuda, and it only made Yoruichi all the more determined to get him into Squad Two the instant he graduated.
His stance shifted again ever so slightly, but this time it wasn't a counter that he had in mind. As Yoruichi made a high kick, Itachi dropped low and rolled to the side. He was back on his feet a second later, but he didn't attack; instead he backflipped to give himself some breathing room. Yoruichi wondered what he was playing at; he had to know that she could close the distance in the blink of an eye, even without Shunpo.
And that was when he became naught but a flicker on the wind before disappearing entirely.
Even as her eyes widened in shock, that didn't stop Yoruichi from whirling around and blocking the blow she knew was coming. Sure enough, she caught Itachi's punch, causing him to twist and leap away again, but that didn't lessen her amazement at what had just happened.
He'd performed a flawless Flash Step.
I don't believe it, she thought even as she went on the attack again, Even in the advanced track, they should only be just going over the basics of Shunpo in his Hohō classes right about now… and he still pulled it off! Itachi…
…you're a goddamn genius!
The fact that he had needed a bit of space in order to accomplish it meant that his skills with the technique were still definitely in the development phase, but as far as Yoruichi was concerned that didn't detract in the least from what he'd just shown her. His progress with both Hakuda and Hohō were nothing short of phenomenal, and now she was seriously tempted to sit in on his Zanjutsu and Kidō classes in the very near future to see just what else he was capable of. She also knew that she would have some serious competition when the time came to get him into her division; at the rate his skills were progressing, every Captain in the Soul Society would be driving hard to get him into the ranks of their respective units by the time graduation rolled around. Hell, she wouldn't be surprised if even Head Captain Yamamoto got in on the action once the word started to spread!
She could tell that she wasn't the only one in the room that was impressed. Even as she continued her assault, she was keenly aware of the slack-jawed looks of stupefied awe on the faces of Itachi's classmates and his teacher. Even the smirk on Jiraiya's face had been wiped away, although from the way his brow was furrowed it was clear that he was intent on retaining his composure and studying every last detail of this fight.
And fight they did. Itachi might've been put onto the defensive once again, but Yoruichi could tell from the look of cold and sharp intensity in his eyes that he had no plans to yield just yet. Giving him a playful smile, she was more than willing to let this game of theirs continue. She knew that he was no fool; the thought of victory was the furthest thing from his mind in this contest. He sought to test himself against the best, and Yoruichi was happy to oblige him.
Now that he had proven himself capable of making at least one Flash Step in battle, Yoruichi felt that it was only fair to repay him in kind. She made one of her own, reappearing behind him. Had she been going all out she could've ended the fight right then and there with a swift blow to the back of his neck, but she allowed herself to slow just enough to give him the chance to whirl around and block her strike at the last possible moment. There was a knowing look in his eyes as their gazes met, and he gave her the slightest of nods in thanks for her generosity.
You've earned it, Itachi, she mused with satisfaction, Now show me what else you can do!
His answer was not long in coming. He dropped low and made a sweeping kick with his right leg. Yoruichi fluidly backflipped to avoid it, but it still gave Itachi the chance to move forward and being a new offensive. Punches, kicks, and the occasional knee and elbow flew forth in a furious yet efficient assault. Yoruichi was able to easily stay one step ahead of her sparring partner, but she was still willing to give silent praise to Itachi's technique and decided to let him keep his initiative for a little longer before seizing it for herself.
She was a Captain; she had other duties to attend to and could not linger here for the rest of the afternoon. Yoruichi was sorely tempted to do just that, however. With her talents for reading opponents and gauging their strength it was a simple matter for her to adjust her pace just enough so that Itachi could barely keep up with her. She was a teasing cat playing with an adventurous kitten, and she couldn't recall the last time she'd had so much fun in a training match.
I really don't want this to end, she thought wistfully as she blocked and evaded Itachi's strikes, Itachi… you really know how to show a woman a good time!
Unfortunately, it did come to an end. To make matters worse, it was not in a manner anywhere close to what she might've wished for.
It started when she saw Itachi's stance waver ever so slightly. At first, she thought it might be from exhaustion, but she quickly realized that wasn't the case. Something was wrong; she could sense his spiritual pressure fluctuating in minor but rapidly growing pulses. His fair skin was starting to pale, and she spotted a cold sweat begin to break out on his brow. The young man's footing became shaky, and a moment later he lost his balance outright and stumbled forward, falling right into Yoruichi's arms.
"Itachi!" she cried as she caught him and knelt down, resting his head on her knee, "What's wrong? Talk to me!"
His eyelids fluttered rapidly, and his breathing became shallow, but he was still able to meet her gaze for a brief moment. "Yoruichi…"
A second later he passed out.
"Itachi!" screamed one of the girls in the audience.
"What's wrong with him?" cried another.
"Captain Shihōin…" said Instructor Kato nervously.
Jiraiya came forward, and while his expression was grim, to his credit he was much calmer than either his classmates or his teacher. "We need to get him to the infirmary."
Yoruichi shook her head as she put her hand to Itachi's forehead. "No; this isn't some typical fainting spell. His spiritual pressure's all over the map, and he's already burning up! The Academy infirmary won't be able to help him!"
"Then who can?" asked Jiraiya.
Yoruichi's answer was immediate. "Captain Unohana."
Without another word, she gently lifted Itachi off the ground. Carefully cradling him in her arms, she disappeared from the training hall with the young man a moment later. Flash Stepping like she never had before, she raced for the Squad Four barracks.
Hang in there, Itachi, she thought as she glanced down at him, I don't know what's happening to you right now, but I am not going to let it take you!
I will save you!
….
As soon as Yoruichi brought Itachi inside, Unohana wasted no time in getting to work. "Lieutenant Yamada, anchor him to the bed! Now!"
Seinosuke Yamada, the raven-haired and black-eyed second-in-command of Squad Four, nodded before beginning a Kidō incantation, yellow energy already crackling in his palm. "Hold, ye lord of mask and bone, to be cleansed of all impurity! Grasp penance in bonds of light! Bakudō 30: Shitotsu Sansen!"
Using the energy in his right hand, the Lieutenant drew an inverted triangle in the air. From each point of the triangle grew three pins of yellow energy, and a second later those pins flew forth and slammed into Itachi, one hitting each shoulder and the third his lower torso.
Yoruichi's eyes widened in disbelief. "What the hell are you doing? Unohana!"
"Calm down, Captain Shihōin," said Unohana firmly, "I give you my word that Itachi shall not be harmed. I have seen this before, albeit rarely; swift action is required to mitigate the worst of it. Please, stand back."
Yoruichi nodded, taking a moment to regain her composure. "Of course, Unohana. My apologies."
Unohana gave her a gentle smile. "It's quite all right. Do not fear; I will not let the Soul Society be robbed of such a gifted potential Soul Reaper as Itachi."
Returning her gaze to her patient, she stepped forward and motioned for her Lieutenant to step back. Holding out her arms over Itachi, she began an incantation of her own.
"Be still, heart of bird and dragon," she chanted, "May rest be upon you, oh wandering spirits of the mountains. Turn your gaze inward, and find your tranquility. Goyōgai!"
A translucent yellow prism of spirit energy enveloped Itachi. As this was a barrier using her own power, Unohana's hands were able to pass through it, and she laid them upon Itachi's brow. Sea-green energy enveloped them as she began to call upon her gifts in the path of Kaidō to begin what she knew would only be first of many healing sessions to come.
"It's as I feared," she said as the soothing energy continued to course from her hands to her patient, "Itachi is suffering from a soul fracture."
Yoruichi's eyes widened. "Wait a minute… you mean that…?"
Unohana nodded as she continued her work. "It would seem that someone within the world that Itachi is from has a form of resurrection technique at their disposal. Such a thing is hardly ever seen, but at the same time it is not entirely unheard of."
Yoruichi folded her arms. "Hold on a second. I thought that most resurrection techniques that have been recorded by the Soul Society have to be applied almost immediately after someone's death. Itachi's been in the Soul Society for months now!"
"That is correct," Unohana replied, "and that is why the soul fracture is occurring. Had whatever technique is being utilized now been unleashed within a day or so of his arrival, his entire soul would've gone back to the world from whence he came. However, as you so astutely put it, that was not the case here. Due to the extensive amount of time that has transpired since his death, Itachi's soul has already acclimated to the Soul Society. That is why the revival technique that was used in his world only took a portion of his soul; the rest remains bound to the Soul Society."
Yoruichi's eyes narrowed. "Maybe, but… how do we keep it that way? From what little I've heard about soul fractures, once it happens…"
"It is incredibly difficult to keep the portion that remains in the Soul Society from splintering further," Unohana finished for her, "That is why I had Lieutenant Yamada bind him to the bed, and it is also the reason for my use of Goyōgai; it is imperative that we do all that is possible to preserve the half of his soul that remains here. If it is not protected and monitored, it could deteriorate to the point that we lose him entirely. As long as he remains within the Squad Four barracks, I can watch over him and make sure that his rest is peaceful and that his soul has a chance to recover."
Yoruichi sighed with relief. "That's good to hear. I'm glad I was able to make it here as quickly as I did."
Unohana smiled while continuing to apply her Kaidō to Itachi. "As am I. However, I am afraid that it is only within my power now to sustain Itachi's soul. There is only one way to fully heal Itachi's soul; the portion that went back to the Realm of the Living that he is from must return here."
Yoruichi's brow furrowed. "Which means he'll have to die again in the world that he originally came from. Whoever did this to him has no idea what kind of cruelty they've just inflicted upon him."
"Indeed," said Unohana somberly, "That is why resurrection techniques are forbidden within the Soul Society; to attempt to reverse the flow of souls ultimately does more harm than good, no matter what the reasons behind the effort may be."
"How long do you think he'll be like this?" asked Yoruichi, unable to hide the concern in her eyes as she gazed at Itachi.
Unohana shook her head. "It is difficult to say. Cases of soul fracturing are incredibly rare, so the body of medical knowledge regarding them is unfortunately quite limited. However, from what little information I have studied of this phenomenon, I believe that the amount of time a resurrection can endure may be proportional to how long the person revived was initially dead. Since Itachi was in the Soul Society for a few months before this revival technique was utilized, it is possible that it will come undone within a relatively short amount of time. Unfortunately, this is little more than conjecture; I can offer no real timeframe. He could linger in this state for months… or even years."
Yoruichi nodded, and Unohana was heartened to see the light of determination in her eyes. "I understand. Please, do all you can for him. Keep him safe until he can rejoin us."
"You seem quite confident that he will," said Unohana.
Yoruichi smiled. "I was sparring with him when he collapsed. Unohana… you have no idea how far he's come since that night we saw him and Jiraiya take on that Hollow. He's strong, and he has so much potential within him. He'll make it through this. Call it a gut feeling."
Unohana nodded. "Your feelings have more often than not been right in the past, so I see no reason to doubt them now. Rest assured that I will do everything within my power to care for him. As soon as the two halves of his soul are reunited and he wakes up, you will be the first person I send a Hell Butterfly to."
Yoruichi bowed. "Thank you, Captain Unohana."
She stepped forward, and Unohana saw her hand hover just over the surface of the barrier. "Rest up, Itachi. I'm willing to bet you'll have quite a bit of catching up to do with your classmates once you come to. I'll help you get back on track when the time comes."
Yoruichi then headed for the door. "I'll try to swing by periodically to check in on him. Thanks again."
Unohana nodded. "You are most welcome, Yoruichi."
The door shut behind her, but as Unohana turned back to her patient she could not help but notice that her Lieutenant was looking back and forth between the door and Itachi. There was a puzzled look in his eyes.
"Is something bothering you, Lieutenant Yamada?" she asked.
"Well," her subordinate began, "Captain Shihōin… she seemed awfully concerned about our patient. Isn't he just a student? No matter how gifted he may be, she seems to be considerably more invested in him than a Captain should."
Unohana smiled. "That may be, but I don't think that's any concern of ours. Return to your duties, Lieutenant."
Yamada nodded. "Yes, Captain!"
It is interesting, though, she mused, I wonder…
She shook her head as she returned her attention fully to Itachi. She would have time to ponder her fellow Captain's behavior at a later date. For now, she had a patient to attend to, and she was determined to give him the very best care that she was capable of providing.
….
The first thing he felt was the sensation of a cold and hard cobblestone pathway on his back. Faint rumbles of thunder and the whisper of the wind were in his ears. As Itachi struggled to open his eyes, he was confronted by the sight of storm clouds in the sky above. However, they were not normal storm clouds; they all seemed to have a hint of crimson to them, and the occasional flash of lighting in the distance was the same color.
"Where am I?" he murmured as he climbed to his feet.
Patting himself down, he didn't find any sign of injury. His sword was at his side, and his student robes did not appear to be damaged. Looking around, he found himself in a world unlike any that he had ever seen before.
In addition to the oddly colored storm clouds and flashes of lightning in the sky, there appeared to be a faint red light that was mostly obscured by said clouds. For a moment Itachi thought it might be the sun, but after a few seconds he realized that it was actually the moon. What surrounded him on the ground was no less strange than the alien sky. While the pathway that he was on looked like many others that he had seen both in the Shinobi World and the Soul Society, the long rows of stone lanterns that flanked it on either side each housed an eerie blood-red flame. Beyond the lanterns were trees as far as the eye could see, twisted and withered without a single leaf on them, and the color of the bark looked uncomfortably similar to that of dried blood.
This is not the Soul Society, he thought, and it certainly isn't the world I inhabited while I was still alive. So what is this place?
With no other landmarks in sight, Itachi decided that the simplest course of action for the time being would be to follow the path before him. After several minutes of doing so he spotted what looked like a large rock jutting out of the path in the distance. Picking up his pace, he peered closer and spotted what looked like a person sitting atop the stone outcropping.
As he drew near he was able to identify the figure… or at least, to a certain extent. He had no idea who they actually were, but he could at least tell that it was a woman.
A woman unlike any that he had ever seen before.
Her midnight hair flowed well past her waist, its lustrous sheen amplified by what little crimson moonlight managed to filter through the clouds above. Her eyes were scarlet gems, and as they cast their gaze upon Itachi he could see a piercing light in them. Her pale skin was a sharp contrast to the tattered black robe she wore. At least, Itachi thought it was a robe at first, but upon closer inspection he realized that it was not one in the traditional sense. What he had assumed was normal fabric appeared to be something else. For a moment Itachi thought it was feathers, but then his eyes widened as he saw it flicker and ripple, and he began comprehend what it really was.
The black flames of Amaterasu.
As he came to a stop at the foot of the rock, the woman stretched out her arms, gesturing to the strange land that surrounded them. "What do you think of my realm, Itachi Uchiha? Actually, I suppose our realm would be a better way to put it."
Itachi looked around for someone else, only for the woman to shake her head. "It's just you and I here, Itachi. No more, and no less."
"You have me at a disadvantage, miss…" he said.
The woman's lips moved, but Itachi could not hear what she said. After a moment she repeated herself, but again Itachi heard naught but silence. Even lip-reading was to no avail; a strange flicker of light obscured Itachi's gaze just enough so that he could not grasp enough detail to tell what she was saying.
A few seconds later the woman shook her head. "I should've expected this. After all, this is only the first time we've met. Truth be told, we were not supposed to meet for quite some time to come, but certain circumstances forced my hand. Had I not acted in this manner, there is a good chance that we might never have had the chance to meet at all."
"What are you talking about?" asked Itachi as he looked around, "What is this place? Who are you?"
The woman smiled. "Surely you can figure that out. Consider your education carefully, Itachi. You may only be a few months into your term at the Academy, but you have already learned all you need to divine the nature of both myself and this realm."
His eyes narrowed as he studied her with great intensity. They had never met before, but now that he thought about it there were certain aspects of her appearance that were familiar. The black flames of Amaterasu that made up her clothing were obvious enough, but there were also her eyes; though they lacked the signature orbiting tomoe, her irises were the exact same shade of red as that of the Sharingan. There was also the fact that he had been unable to hear her name when she had uttered it, and some mystical force had prevented him from divining it by lip-reading. That was all he needed for the pieces to fall into place.
"This is my inner world," he said, "and you are my Zanpakutō."
She gave him an approving nod. "Very good. That was much quicker than I had anticipated. I'm pleased to see that the soul fracture has not impacted your wits."
Itachi raised his eyebrow. "Soul fracture? I have no idea what you're talking about."
"The event that forced my early awakening," the woman replied, "Tell me, Itachi; what do you know about resurrection jutsus?"
Itachi's eyes narrowed. "That they're very rare… and very dangerous. They are also twisted, at least in the opinion of the majority."
"There is plenty of reason for that opinion," said the woman, "That does not change the fact that such techniques still exist, and that one has been used on you. Had your death only been a day or so ago, it would've brought you back in your entirety. However, since you have been in the Soul Society for some time now…"
"My spirit had acclimated to the new environment, and so it split when the resurrection jutsu was performed," Itachi finished for, his mind already following the evidence and implications to their logical conclusions, "If that is the case and part of my soul has returned to the Shinobi World, it would stand to reason that the rest remains in the Soul Society. Why am I here, then, instead of the Seireitei?"
The woman nodded. "A good question. The answer is rather complicated."
Itachi looked around. "I don't see any other pressing matters to attend to here, so I have time for an explanation."
"Very well, then," said the woman, "To begin with, I believe that the part of your spirit that remains in the Soul Society is still in the Seireitei. When the soul fracture began, I awakened and opened your inner world so that I might attempt to anchor you and prevent you from being lost entirely. However, you were most fortunate to be sparring with the swiftest Soul Reaper in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads at the moment the fracture occurred; if my guess is correct, I believe Yoruichi has taken you to the Squad Four barracks. The portion of your spirit that remains in the Soul Society will be under the care of Captain Unohana and her subordinates until the resurrection jutsu comes undone and the pieces of your soul are reunited. However, your awareness, your consciousness, for the part of you that remains in the Soul Society, is now here."
"What about the part of my soul that went back to the Shinobi World?" asked Itachi, "Can you tell me what is happening there?"
The woman shook her head. "I'm afraid that's beyond my power. Once the pieces of your soul are reunited, the memories of the portion that went back to the living realm will merge into those that you already possess and will answer your questions. I do not reside with that portion of your soul, though, so I cannot see into the realm that it inhabits now."
Itachi nodded. "I understand. Do you at least have a sense of how long this may last?"
"No," the woman replied, "In that, I am as much in the dark as you are. That is why it is best that we do not spend this time sitting idly; I would hate for you to lose your sanity due to boredom before your spirit is whole again."
"That makes two of us," Itachi quipped, "So how do you propose that we pass the time? I didn't see a library or teahouse on my way over here."
The woman gave him a mischievous smile. "Oh, don't worry. I have something far more exciting in mind than books or tea."
She held out her right hand, and a pillar of black flames came forth. A moment later the flames dissipated, revealing a sword unlike any that Itachi had ever seen before. From handle to guard to blade, the weapon was almost entirely black. It was a straight sword, and on closer examination it wasn't a completely solid blade; there was a thin gap in the middle that ran from the base to the end, resulting in two points that were very close together. The handle and the guard were different from the traditional ones that Itachi was used to; the guard was ornately carved and looked like a pair of raven's wing pointed downward. Where the wings met was the only part of the weapon that wasn't black. There was a crimson eye set right in the middle, and it was the exact same shade of red as the iris of the Sharingan.
"You will take time to rest while you are here, Itachi," said the woman, "but when you are not resting, you will be training. You will be training with me for as long as you are here. Perhaps days, perhaps weeks, perhaps months, or perhaps years. It matters not. We will train together… and I shall forge you into a swordsman without equal."
The woman raised her blade in salute, an eager smile on her face. "Shall we begin?"
Itachi nodded as he drew his sword. "Ready when you are."
Her smile became a hungry grin. "Good."
Then she was on him like a demon from the deepest pits of Hell.
Author's Notes: Well, there you have it; the initial impact of Edo Tensei on Itachi's soul, and also the first meeting with the spirit of his Zanpakutō. Also, the way I've structured the Soul Society for this fic as a kind of 'hub afterlife', for want of a better term, was the method I decided would be best in order to facilitate the coexistence of the Bleach and Naruto universes. The Web of Worlds and the Realms of the Living will be explored in greater depth further along in the story.
Hope you liked the chapter! Please review!