Author's Notes: All right, here's the next one, just like you've been asking for!
Enjoy!
Chapter Six: Recovery
A few weeks later…
She was pressing hard today. Itachi had been almost constantly on the defensive throughout this latest match with the spirit of his Zanpakutō. Backpedaling as he blocked or deflected one blow after another, it was difficult for him to find even the smallest of openings needed to make a counterattack. There was a certain vicious efficiency to her fighting style, relentlessly exploiting even the tiniest of gaps in Itachi's defenses and making him pay for the slightest mistake in blood.
Zanpakutō spirits are supposed to embody key aspects of ourselves, he thought as he fended off one attack after another, but her mastery of the sword… it's far beyond anything I ever achieved when I was alive. Her speed, precision, power and brutality… I've never seen anything like it. Even the Samurai of the Land of Iron could never hope to match her.
How long had this latest match gone on? It had started almost the moment that Itachi had woken up in the morning, and had continued for hours on end. Of course, concepts like 'morning' and 'night' were irrelevant here; the sky above had remained the same since his arrival, with the red-tinted storm clouds, crimson flashes of lightning, and the faint scarlet light of the moon ever-present. The flow of time was very difficult to discern in a place such as this, although the spirit of his Zanpakutō seemed to have a pretty decent handle on it. It was she who told Itachi when to sleep, when to wake, and when to fight, so it stood to reason that she must have had some way of determining how much time had passed in the outside world.
Of course, she had not seen fit to provide that knowledge to Itachi. Only his training concerned her, and as ruthless a taskmaster as she had proven to be, Itachi would not deny that her methods were quite effective. There was no better teacher than experience, after all, and the countless hours that they had already spent fighting against each other were honing Itachi's swordsmanship skills better than any training that he had undertaken while he was alive. Had she materialized during his Zanjutsu lessons at Shin'ō Academy, Itachi highly doubted that any of his instructors would've been able to stand against her.
If only I could learn her name…
Every day he had asked, and every day silence had been her answer. Not willful silence, mind you; her lips had moved, but no sound had come forth. Even with all the time that had already passed, it seemed that Itachi was not ready to unlock his Shikai. When he had asked her how long it would be until he could hear her, she had simply shaken her head and told him that she did not know. There was no set time-period; it would happen when it was meant to happen, no sooner and no later.
"Put it from your mind for now," she had told him once, "It is no small feat simply for you to have reached your inner world after such a short amount of time, even if the manner in which you arrived was not entirely conventional. Most Soul Reapers do not accomplish this task until well after graduation from the Academy."
Once Itachi had learned that he was to remain in his inner world until the portions of his soul were reunited, he had become concerned about how far behind he would fall in his studies of the Soul Reaper arts. His fears weren't entirely ungrounded; the spirit of his Zanpakutō had outright stated that she would not be able to help him advance his academic education, and that she would be a poor teacher with regards to Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō. He would have much to catch up on once his spirit was whole again, but one thing was quite clear; he would most certainly not be behind when it came to Zanjutsu.
His foe picked up the pace, and Itachi could sense that this duel was at last drawing to a climax. He gave everything he had, parrying, deflecting, and blocking with all the skill and strength that he had to muster. However, after fighting for who knew how many hours now, exhaustion was beginning to set in. The near-constant fighting he had done since entering his inner world had worked wonders for his endurance, but even then, his stamina was but a pale shadow when compared to that of the spirit of his Zanpakutō. It was only a matter of time now until his foe scored the winning hit, but Itachi was still determined to make her work for it.
Sidestepping and redirecting her latest thrust, Itachi seized the rare chance to go on the offensive. Had he been fresh and well-rested, he might've been able to make the most of it, but the slashes and stabs he made were not as efficient or precise as the situation required. His opponent was able to parry and counter, and she made Itachi pay for his weariness with a swift slice into his left shoulder. She then brought the blade to his neck, and Itachi could smell the blood on it.
"Match," she said with a smirk, "Not bad, but your stamina needs improving."
"So I've noticed," he said with a wince as he sheathed his sword before checking his shoulder, "Good thing this isn't deep."
The woman nodded. "Indeed. Get the cloth away from the cut."
Itachi grimaced; he knew what was coming, and it was never pleasant. Nevertheless, he did as she instructed. As soon as she had clear sight of the cut, she pointed her sword at it. A small jet of crimson flames flew forth from the gap in the blade, searing and cauterizing the wound. It hurt like hell, but Itachi didn't make a sound.
That was something the woman made note of. "Not so much as whimper, just like last time. You truly do have a remarkable level of pain tolerance."
"You would know," Itachi quipped.
The woman gave him a stern look before nodding. "Indeed. I think that's enough for one day. We'll continue tomorrow. Get some rest."
She turned around and started to head towards the rock that he had first seen her on, but Itachi stopped her. "Wait."
She halted, but did not look back. "What is it?"
"What's your name?" he asked.
She turned around, her lips moved, but once again there was only silence. Itachi sighed; even if she had already told him not to worry about it for now, it was still frustrating.
The woman shook her head. "Why you insist on asking every day, I'll never know. It's better to let this play out naturally. As our bond progresses, the time will come when you will be able to tell by instinct alone that you are ready to unleash my Shikai."
"I'll still keep asking," said Itachi.
The woman sighed. "I suppose you will. Good night, Itachi."
As she retreated to her rock, Itachi picked a spot off to the side of the path and laid down on his back. Gazing up at the stormy sky, he found it odd that despite the thunder and crimson lightning not a single drop of rain had fallen since he had arrived here. After pondering it for a moment he shook his head; very little about his inner world made sense, so why should its weather behave in a sensible manner?
You have more important things to worry about, he thought as he closed his eyes, like just how hard she's going to come at you tomorrow morning…
….
"There," said Unohana, pointing at Itachi, "The left shoulder this time."
Yoruichi nodded as she saw the cauterized cut. "Must be going at it with his Zanpakutō again. At least he's being productive while he's down and out."
This wasn't the first time Yoruichi had seen wounds like this appear on the unconscious Itachi. The first time she had seen it was the day after he had been left in the Squad Four barracks. Unohana had sent her a Hell Butterfly that day, and when Yoruichi had arrived she'd seen a long and shallow cut across Itachi's chest. The Squad Four Captain had easily been able to heal it, but another wound had appeared soon afterwards. Yoruichi had been amazed once she'd realized what was happening; it was practically unheard of for an Academy student to enter his inner world and train directly with the spirit of his Zanpakutō, but Itachi had done exactly that. It may not have been intentionally; according to Unohana, it appeared that his Zanpakutō had awakened prematurely in order to mitigate the worst of the soul fracture. Nevertheless, it was still impressive.
Itachi was no longer bound by the piercing light of Shitotsu Sansen; from what Unohana had told Yoruichi, that had become unnecessary after about a week had passed. The translucent orange prism of Goyōgai was still active, and periodically the Squad Four Captain or her Lieutenant would renew it or take it down so they could tend to the wounds that had begun to appear on Itachi. Yoruichi wished that she could peer into his inner world and see just what form the spirit of his Zanpakutō took, not to mention witness their fights, but unfortunately that was beyond her power.
What was within her power, though, was the ability to keep informed of his condition, and Yoruichi was intent on doing that. She did not neglect her duties as the Captain of Squad Two, but she still made time for regular visits to check in on the star pupil she had scouted months ago. She typically visited in the early evening, and she was glad that she had made room in her schedule to do so, for even when he was out cold, Itachi had still proven himself to be a most intriguing individual.
It wasn't just the new wounds that gave testament to his progression; it was the sword that lay on the table next to the bed as well. The Asauchis given to students at the Academy all looked the same; it was only after a pupil had truly awakened the spirit of his or her Zanpakutō that the weapon became unique. Itachi's had done so, and Yoruichi was quite curious with regards to the design. The sword itself was a standard-length katana, and the handle had black wrapping, so there wasn't much out of the ordinary there. It was the guard that was interesting; it was crimson, and carved into it were three tomoe surrounding the base of the blade.
"I wonder what the name of his Zanpakutō is," she said.
"So do I," Unohana replied as she healed Itachi's shoulder, "I imagine it will be quite some time before we find out, though."
That was certainly true; even gifted students typically took years after graduation just to awaken their Zanpakutō, let alone learn its name and unleash its Shikai. As vast as the ranks of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads were, it was actually a relatively small portion of its members that had been able to achieve Shikai, and those capable of Bankai were even fewer in number. Still, Yoruichi found herself eager to learn the name of Itachi's sword, and given what she saw now she had a feeling that it wouldn't take him as long as most students to unlock his blade's Shikai.
That's going to be a very special day indeed, she thought with a smile, I can't wait to see it!
She turned back to Unohana. "I should get going. Take care of him, Unohana."
The Squad Four Captain smiled. "My patients are always in good hands, Yoruichi. You know that."
Yoruichi nodded. "Of course. I'll come by again soon."
She gave Itachi one last look, smiling as she did so. "Watch yourself, Itachi; don't let your Zanpakutō's spirit get the better of you. Kick its ass. I want to hear all about it when you wake up."
….
Several months later…
"Again!" barked the woman clothed in black flames.
Itachi lunged forward, paying the cuts on his cheeks and arms no mind as he flung himself back into the dance of blades with the spirit of his Zanpakutō. The song of steel rang out as their swords clashed repeatedly, a lightning-fast rhythm the pace of which seemed to increase with each passing second. Steel met steel in a rapid exchange of strikes and parries as the combatants whirled like dervishes, their moves little more than blurs as their melody of violence continued.
He had come quite some ways since the early weeks of his time within his inner world. Whereas his foe would once give him breaks after her blade had drawn blood, now he gained only a second or two of respite at the most before their dance continued. The fights were lasting even longer now than before, and for all Itachi knew some of their matches could've gone on for days before his opponent had finally decided to grant him rest. His endurance, speed, precision, and efficiency with regards to Zanjutsu had improved immeasurably, but that was not the only area in which Itachi had sought to hone his skills. While his Zanpakutō had decided to train him exclusively in the art of swordsmanship, Itachi had eventually learned to take it upon himself to maintain his other skills, less all that he had learned from his Academy lessons before the soul fracture had occurred go to waste.
Parrying his foe's latest blow, Itachi dropped low to make a sweeping kick instead of countering with his blade. His opponent backflipped to avoid the attack, but it still gave Itachi a chance to take the offensive. Moving swiftly, he launched a fierce series of slashes and thrusts, pressing hard against his adversary.
When she inevitably moved to counter and retake the initiative, Itachi was ready. Switching to a one-handed grip, Itachi reached out with his free hand and pointed his index finger at his foe.
"Hadō 1: Shō!" he called.
Since it lacked an incantation and his Kidō studies had been in their early stages when the soul fracture had taken place, the energy behind this simple attack was weak. Nevertheless, the invisible pulse of kinetic power was enough to force his foe back just a step, and that was all Itachi needed to disrupt her counter. Itachi seized the opportunity and advanced, bringing his sword down in a hard overhand strike. His opponent was able to block the attack, but Itachi still saw an approving smile on her face.
"Not bad," she said as she held him at bay, "Not bad at all."
Itachi's only reply was to press his assault. He attacked hard and fast, raining down an unrelenting barrage on his opponent. His blows were swift, powerful, and relentless. As his foe fell back, Itachi was determined to do what he had been unable to accomplish since he had first arrived in his inner world; land a hit on her.
Unfortunately, that was far easier said than done. Even when put onto the defensive, the woman never showed a hint of fear. It had proven almost completely impossible to truly knock her off balance; his earlier Kidō attack was his most successful effort to date to do just that, and even then, it hadn't exactly done much. She was as implacable as she was skilled, and most of the time it felt like she knew what his moves would be before he even made them. It was an eerily familiar sensation.
No, Itachi firmly told himself as his eyes met hers, the color might be the same, but that is not the Sharingan that is looking at me.
It was most fortunate that was the case; she'd be all but unstoppable if she had that kind of power at her disposal.
Their duel raged on, and Itachi knew that he was approaching the end of his rope. His endurance had improved immeasurably over the months of training, but he still could not fight forever. If he was to have even the smallest of chances to score something resembling a victory, he would have to make his move before fatigue began to make itself known in earnest.
He feinted low with a thrust at her knees, but as soon as she moved to parry he pulled his blade back. That was when he made his second thrust, this one going right for her neck. However, his foe did not try to block this time; instead, her blade too went for Itachi's neck, and the two combatants found themselves in a standoff, their swords at each other's throats.
The woman smiled again, and there was what looked like just a hint of pride in her expression. "A draw… impressive."
Itachi didn't dare remove his sword until he knew for sure that she wasn't going to pounce the second he let his guard done. "Is that all for now?"
She nodded before he saw her gaze turn skyward. "Yes… and not a moment too soon, it would seem."
Itachi looked up and saw that, for the first time since he'd arrived here, there were no longer flashes of crimson lightning. The clouds were still there, but they were no longer the dark and stormy ones that he had become accustomed to.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"The lightning from before was brought on from the turmoil caused by the soul fracture," said the woman, "It's finally subsided, which means one thing."
Itachi's eyes widened. "The resurrection jutsu is fading…"
As he spoke the light of the crimson moon behind the clouds began to intensify. The clouds parted a moment later, and Itachi and the woman were bathed in blood red light. At the same time Itachi could feel a rushing sensation, a surge of energy so strong that it felt like a heavy wave crashing into him. He dropped to one knee as he tried desperately to brace himself.
A gentle hand fell on his shoulder, and Itachi looked up to see the woman staring intently at him. "Don't fight it. Lie down."
Itachi did as she instructed, and she knelt beside him. "Your time in this world is coming to a close, but do not fear; now that you have opened the door to your inner realm, you will be able to return at will."
"How?" asked Itachi.
"You already covered the basics in class before you came here," the woman replied, "Recall your lessons and learn to apply them once you awaken, and you will find your way back here."
Itachi nodded, although the light from the crimson moon had become so bright now that it was difficult to keep his eyes open. "Very well, then."
Her smile was the last thing he saw before the red glare became so intense that he was forced to shield his eyes. "You've done well so far, Itachi… but you have a long way to go yet. Once you've reconciled your memories and have resumed your classes, meditate upon your sword. There is still much that I have to teach you."
Itachi could not help but give a small smile. "I'm looking forward to your next lesson."
He heard her chuckle. "Oh, really? You know how harsh a taskmaster I am; do not expect me to go easy on you just because of how well you've performed so far."
"I wouldn't dream of it," said Itachi.
There was a sound like an oncoming gust of wind. Louder and louder it grew, until Itachi felt as though he were at the heart of a great cyclone. Yet even over the roaring gale, Itachi could still dimly hear the parting words of the spirit of his Zanpakutō.
"Until we meet again, Itachi Uchiha."
And then the onrush of memories from the second half of his soul took his mind by storm.
….
His head hurt so badly that Itachi swore it was about to burst, but somehow, he still found the strength to open his eyes. He found himself lying in a bed near an open window. A light and cool breeze filtered in, and as he looked around, wincing against the splitting headache, he quickly found that he wasn't alone; none other than Unohana was standing by the bed.
She smiled when his gaze met hers. "I felt your spirit energy begin to strengthen, and I'm glad to see my hunch was correct; the soul fracture has healed. Welcome back, Itachi."
He gave her a nod as he tried to sit up in the bed. "Captain Unohana…"
She gently pushed him back down. "Best you lie still for the moment. Tell me, how do you feel?"
"Like someone lit a thousand fireworks inside my head," he groaned.
Unohana nodded. "I thought that might be the case. The memories from two halves of the same soul becoming one… I can only imagine how intense that might be."
"You could say that," quipped Itachi, still trying to make sense of it all.
She laid her hand on his forehead, and soon it was surrounded by sea-green energy. "Take deep and controlled breaths, Itachi. The pain should pass soon."
Itachi winced; the power that was flowing from her hands felt good, but it still seemed like someone was inside his skull with a hammer and a ton of nails. "I hope you're right…"
"Close your eyes," she instructed, "Don't try to make sense of everything that's come back to you just yet. Don't focus on anything at all. Just relax."
Itachi tried to follow her instructions, but it was definitely a case of easier said than done. There were so many events and faces flashing through his mind that trying to set them all aside or ignore them was all but impossible. Every instinct he had was telling him to grasp the flow and control it, to bring order to the chaos that his memories had become, and he had to fight it with every ounce of willpower that he could muster.
"Do not focus," said Unohana, as if she were reading his mind, "Do not do anything, Itachi. Think of your memories as a river, one that you want to follow. Do not fight the flow, and do not try to control your pace; let it carry you all on its own."
He wasn't exactly sure how to do as she was telling him to, so he simply settled for keeping his eyes shut and acted like he was trying to fall asleep. Of course, sleep had ceased to come easy for him ever since he had massacred his clan. Still, the attempt seemed to unlock something, for he felt the pressure on his mind ease. Slowly but surely, the memories started to settle down, and he could gradually begin to make sense of it all. The pain in his head was receding as well, which he definitely took as a good sign.
As the flow of memories slowed, he began to recognize certain faces. Kabuto, Madara Uchiha, Pain…
Naruto…
Sasuke…
His eyes snapped open as every memory his resurrected half brought to him regarding his younger brother flashed before him. Their clash with Kabuto, the undoing of the resurrection jutsu…
…and his final conversation with his beloved sibling.
"Itachi?" said Unohana after a moment, her voice soft and concerned, "What is it? You're crying."
Itachi's eyes widened as he touched his cheek to find that she was right; a single tear had fallen. He then closed his eyes again to focus on that last moment, his final words to the brother that he had sacrificed everything for.
"You don't ever have to forgive me… and whatever you do from here on out, know this…"
"No matter what, I will love you always…"
He smiled as he opened his eyes again, not even bothering to fight back the tears. Finally, after so much time, he had been able to relay his true feelings to Sasuke. He had gone to his first death believing he would never have the chance to do so, but the resurrection had given him one final opportunity to say what he had long desired to.
His little brother finally knew the truth.
All of it.
And that was enough.
Not enough to bring true peace to Sasuke; the road ahead would remain difficult for his younger brother. Not enough to bring peace to Itachi, either; the nightmarish memory of what he had done to their family would be his darkest shadow for the rest of his afterlife, of that he had no doubt.
But it was enough to bring closure.
Closure to a blood feud that Itachi had never wanted.
Closure to the violent chasm that had been so cruelly carved between him and his dear little brother.
Closure between him and the member of his family that he had loved above all the others.
The pain in his head was gone now, and Itachi realized that Unohana had actually removed her hand a little while ago. She smiled down at him, and while it was impossible for her to know exactly what was going through his mind, he had a feeling that she could at least comprehend his joy and relief at what had transpired at the very end.
"You left without regrets," she said after a moment, "When your resurrection ended, I mean. May I infer at least that much from your smile and tears?"
Itachi shook his head. "Not quite. With all that had happened before, there will always be some regrets. There were far too many mistakes made along the way. However… I was able to right the biggest of those mistakes. I was able to tell someone the truth that I should've told them so long ago… and that was all I wanted."
Unohana nodded. "I see. I'm glad to hear it."
"What will happen now?" he asked.
Unohana regarded him carefully. "With regards to how you reconcile your memories, that is for you and you alone. Your condition, on the other hand… well, I would like to keep you under observation for at least a week or two, but as of right now I'd say that you're through the worst of it. There will be some physiotherapy, but since I was able to use Kaidō to preserve the portion of your soul that remained here and maintain your health it shouldn't be too extensive. You have returned to us, Itachi, and for that I am most grateful."
"As am I," he replied.
She stood up and headed for the door. "I'll come back soon. I promised a few people that I would let them know when you regained consciousness. If you wish for a way to pass the time, I might suggest starting with the bedside table; you had quite a few well-wishers come by here while you were out of it."
As she left the room, Itachi turned and saw that she was right; there were quite a few get-well-soon messages left on the table. It was quite surprising; Itachi wasn't used to people actually caring about him.
He idly flipped through them. Most were from fellow students, but he found a few outliers. He was a little taken aback to see that Captain Kirio Hikifune was one of his well-wishers, along with Lieutenants Lisa and Mashiro. There was also a card from Soi-Fon, another pleasant surprise to be sure.
And of course, there was one from Yoruichi. More than one, actually; Itachi found two messages from her as he went through the pile. He felt a warmness slowly grow in his chest as he read her well-wishes.
In all the time that I was alive, I never realized just how much small gestures like this could mean…
Finally, at the very bottom of the pile, Itachi found something other than a card; a book.
A book with a familiar title, in fact.
Lovers' Strategies, Book One: Oasis of Desire.
You actually got it published, Jiraiya, he mused as he opened it, I suppose congratulations are in order…
And that was when he spotted the dedication on the first page.
'For an unexpected friend…
…Itachi Uchiha.'
Itachi chuckled. "An unexpected friend… yes, I suppose that's a good way to put it."
With that, he leaned back and started reading the first chapter.
….
"That was fast," said Unohana.
Yoruichi smiled. "I dropped everything as soon as I got the Hell Butterfly."
Next to her, Soi-Fon sighed. "That wasn't very prudent, Lady Yoruichi. There's still work to be done back at the Squad Two barracks."
Yoruichi shrugged. "It's just paperwork, Soi-Fon. It can wait."
Especially given how long I've been waiting for this day, she silently added, Itachi, it's about damn time you woke up!
"So, how's he doing?" she asked.
"Physically, quite well," Unohana replied, "I'd still like to observe him for a little while just to be on the safe side, though."
Yoruichi nodded. "That sounds prudent. How about mentally? I mean, I can't imagine all those memories from the other half of his soul rushing back into him would be easy to handle."
Unohana shook her head. "No, it would not. That being said, I think he'll be all right. However… he may need a little time."
There was something in her voice that made Yoruichi nervous. "What's wrong?"
Unohana sighed, and Yoruichi was surprised to see a somber look in her eyes. "I cannot say for sure since Itachi has not seen fit to enlighten me, but… it seems like the portion of his soul that was revived went through a great deal. Actually, that may not be the whole picture; from what little I can tell, it would seem that Itachi had been through some very trying ordeals before his initial arrival in the Soul Society. Whatever happened after the soul fracture was tied to what transpired in his past life, and it impacted him profoundly. When he woke up and began to reconcile the memories… he wept, Yoruichi."
Her eyes widened; she hadn't seen that coming. "Are you serious? What the hell did he go through?"
"I don't know," the Squad Four Captain replied, "However, they were not tears of sorrow, of that I am certain. He told me that he was able to right a past wrong, to make what seems to be a confession of sorts, but he did not elaborate further. It must've been something monumentally important to him, though. I could sense a great air of relief about him, as if a truly heavy burden had finally been lifted from his shoulders."
Yoruichi nodded. "I see. Under those circumstances, would it be better if we came back another time?"
Unohana smiled. "I think he's well enough for a visitor or two today. Just be mindful of all that's transpired. It would be best not to speak of his memories unless he brings them up."
"Understood," said Yoruichi.
"What about… you know, our Fourteenth Seat?" said Soi-Fon, "Lady Yoruichi, shouldn't we tell Itachi about him? I mean, I told him before the exams that I'd explain after he graduated from the Academy, but with all of this…"
Unohana raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"
Yoruichi shook her head. "It's nothing to worry about. We won't do it tonight; I prefer your original idea of waiting for Itachi to graduate, Soi-Fon. There's no need to bring it up on the off-chance that it's tied to the memories he's trying to sort out. It could make things harder for him. Better to hold off and be safe for now."
Soi-Fon nodded. "Very well, Lady Yoruichi."
"If you're ready, please, follow me," said Unohana.
She led them down the hall, and it only took a few moments for them to arrive at Itachi's room. Unohana opened the door as quietly as she could and peeked in, and Yoruichi saw her smile a second later.
"Ah, glad to see you're looking well," she said, "Itachi, would you be up for a pair of guests? One of them in particular is quite keen on seeing you today."
"Sure," Yoruichi heard him reply, "Please, send them in."
Unohana nodded and fully opened the door, standing aside so Yoruichi and Soi-Fon could pass. "Please, try not to make too much noise. I don't have too many patients to look after right now, but there are still people who need rest around here."
Yoruichi nodded. "We'll keep things low-key. Thanks again, Unohana."
"Anytime," her fellow Captain replied, "I'll be in my office if you need anything."
Yoruichi and her bodyguard stepped inside. She smiled when she saw that Itachi was sitting upright in bed and looking little worse for the wear. A book was open in his lap, although he closed it when he saw Yoruichi and Soi-Fon enter the room.
"Hey, Itachi!" she said as she approached him, "How're you feeling?"
Itachi nodded. "Physically, pretty well. Mentally, I suppose you could say I'm still finding my feet."
"I bet," Yoruichi replied, "What you went through is pretty rare around here."
"So I've heard," he said, "It's good to see you again."
"Hello, Itachi," said Soi-Fon, giving him a polite nod, "It's been quite some time. Do you remember me?"
"Of course," he said, "It's nice to see you as well, Miss Soi-Fon."
Yoruichi leaned forward. "Hey… isn't that Jiraiya's book?"
Itachi nodded. "Yes. Have you read it?"
Soi-Fon scowled. "Do you seriously think that Lady Yoruichi would read the garbage peddled by that oaf?"
Yoruichi laughed. "Soi-Fon, calm down! I actually have, and I think it's a fun read! You should try it some time, Soi-Fon."
Her bodyguard's face turned a deep shade of red, and her eyes widened as well. "Lady Yoruichi! You mean… you've read that… that…"
"It sounds like Jiraiya's reputation hasn't changed a bit," said Itachi with a small smirk, "It's nice to see that some things remain consistent no matter how much time passes."
Yoruichi nodded. "Yeah. So, what do you think? Do you like it so far?"
"Yes," Itachi replied, "which is rather surprising. I never considered this genre to be my thing, so to speak. Still, it's been… enjoyable, so far."
She saw Soi-Fon's eyes widen again when she saw the sword laying by Itachi's bed. "Hold on… is that…"
Yoruichi nodded and smiled, pleased that her bodyguard had caught on so quickly. "You got it; that's Itachi's awakened Zanpakutō!"
Soi-Fon looked back and forth between Itachi and the sword. "But… but he's still in the Academy… he's been unconscious for months… how is it even possible for him to have already awakened his Zanpakutō?"
"To be honest, I'm still not entirely sure about that myself," Itachi admitted, "It would seem that she awakened in response to my condition; I did nothing consciously to bring this about. Besides, she has only awakened; I do not know her name."
Yoruichi smirked. "So it's a girl, eh? Nice! It's the same for me and Soi-Fon."
Soi-Fon blushed. "Lady Yoruichi… you shouldn't go around giving people information like that! It's… personal."
Yoruichi shrugged. "I don't think it's that big of a deal. Whether a Zanpakutō is male or female is trivial in the end. It's the nature of the Zanpakutō and its bond with its wielder that matters most."
Soi-Fon nodded. "Very well, Lady Yoruichi."
"So," said Yoruichi, "what's she like?"
Itachi closed his eyes for a moment before answering. "Harsh, brutal, intelligent… and very powerful. I learned more about the ways of the sword from her than anything my Zanjutsu teacher had been able to instruct the class in before I passed out."
Yoruichi nodded. "I saw the wounds she left on you. You're lucky Unohana was able to take care of those."
Itachi's eyes widened slightly as he looked himself over. "Where…"
Yoruichi shook her head. "Don't bother; like I said, Unohana already took care of it."
"Any wounds that you suffer while in your inner world are reflected on your body in the real world," said Soi-Fon, "That's why it's important to be cautious whenever you interact with the spirit of your Zanpakutō."
Itachi nodded. "Duly noted."
"Now that you've managed to open your inner world, I recommend making time to visit once a day, even if it's just for a short while," said Yoruichi, "You've already learned about Jinzen, right?"
"Yes," said Itachi, "It was one of the first lessons in our Zanjutsu classes. Our instructor told us to practice it every day even though we had yet to awaken our individual Zanpakutō."
Soi-Fon nodded. "There was good reason for that. It's important for you to become accustomed to that form of meditation as quickly as possible. Jinzen will be the key to entering your inner world and communing with the spirit of your Zanpakutō."
Yoruichi smiled. "As your training progresses and your rapport with your Zanpakutō grows, she'll be able to grant you great power. However, bear in mind that this process is a two-way street. Do not simply try to draw power from your sword and leave it at that. We all have the ability to reverse the process and lend power to our Zanpakutō. It's this mutual growth that's the true key to a Soul Reaper's strength."
"I'll remember that," Itachi replied.
She saw him look out the window, his brow furrowed in thought. "Will I really be able to continue my studies after Unohana releases me? I may have learned a lot in the time I spent in my inner world, but I'm not a fool; I know that the courses at the Academy continued while I was out. The first semester must already be over by now. I'm pretty far behind."
"That's true," said Soi-Fon grimly, "Awakening your Zanpakutō so early is impressive, but there's far more to becoming a Soul Reaper than just that, which is what the Academy's meant to teach. You were in the advanced track, too, which means that you've got even more work to make up than the average student would under these circumstances."
Yoruichi nodded. "Normally, given the situation, the Academy would have you start over. You wouldn't have to retake the entrance exams, but with how much time has passed I know the head honchos would still have you go through the rest of the curriculum. That's a waste of time, though; I know you can catch up. You just need a little boost, and I think I've got a way to give that to you."
Itachi raised an eyebrow. "What do you have in mind?"
"I'll get back to you on that," Yoruichi replied, "I need to run it by the Head Captain first; he has ultimate authority over the Academy, which means he can overrule the top faculty that would normally have you go all the way back to square one. Normally he's not the type to dish out favors like this, but with your skills I think I can talk him into making an exception. I'll just need a little help from Unohana."
"With all due respect, Lady Yoruichi," said Soi-Fon nervously, "are you sure about this? I mean… this is the Head Captain you're talking about, after all. His views on rules and tradition are not quite as flexible as yours."
Yoruichi smiled. "Don't worry about it, Soi-Fon. Just leave everything to me."
Her bodyguard bowed. "Very well, Lady Yoruichi. Forgive me for questioning you."
Yoruichi rolled her eyes and smirked. "Oh, relax. How many times to I have to tell you that it's okay to do that? I think you need to spend some time with Kisuke; he'll find a way to get you to loosen up!"
Soi-Fon's face paled. "No! I-I mean… I don't think that's necessary, Lady Yoruichi."
Yoruichi chuckled. "I'll be the judge of that."
"What should I do?" asked Itachi.
Yoruichi smiled and gave him a pat on the shoulder. "Rest up and listen to Unohana. You'll need to be strong and sharp to pull this off. I'll come by again soon. Catch you later, Itachi!"
….
The next day…
"Good to see you awake," said Jiraiya with a smile as he pulled up a chair next to Itachi's bed, "You had us all worried for a while there!"
Itachi nodded. "Thanks for coming by. How were you able to find your way to the Squad Four barracks? The Seireitei may not be as big as the Rukon District, but the layout's still quite the labyrinth for uninitiated like us."
"Unohana sent her Lieutenant to escort me," he replied, "He seems like an okay guy, although I would've preferred to be accompanied by the lovely Captain herself!"
Itachi shook his head in amusement. "Why am I not surprised?"
The afternoon sun shone through the open window, and there was a pleasantly cool breeze filtering in as well. He was still confined to bed rest per Unohana's orders, but under the circumstances Itachi didn't mind. He still had Jiraiya's book to read, after all, not to mention it gave him time to continue sorting through all the memories that had been jammed into his head since the soul fracture had been healed. His classmate visiting like this was a surprise, but definitely a welcome one.
Jiraiya nodded at Itachi's Zanpakutō. "So, what's that about? That's definitely different from the Asauchi they gave us when we all first started at the Academy."
"Apparently that's my awakened Zanpakutō," said Itachi, "The time I spent unconscious here wound up being surprisingly productive."
Jiraiya smirked. "I see. So, what was your inner world like?"
Itachi closed his eyes for a moment before replying. "Alien, yet familiar… it's not an easy thing to put into words."
"I bet," said Jiraiya, "What about the spirit of your sword? Did you meet him?"
"I met her, yes," Itachi corrected him, "She was… interesting."
Jiraiya grinned. "So it's a woman, eh? Is she a real babe? Come on, give me the details!"
Itachi shook his head. "That's none of your business. Besides, I have a feeling that if she caught you leering at her she'd burn you alive."
Jiraiya chuckled. "Oh, so she's a feisty one, huh? I could go for that!"
Itachi rolled his eyes. "What kind of woman don't you go for?"
Jiraiya shrugged. "Hey, what can I say? There's enough of old Jiraiya here to share with all the ladies!"
"I'm sure they all appreciate that," Itachi quipped dryly, "Your generosity is legendary."
"Not just my generosity," said Jiraiya, nodding at the book on Itachi's bedside table, "It looks like even in the afterlife I've still got my writing talent. That thing's been quite the hit since it got published. What did you think of the final draft?"
"I'm still reading it," Itachi replied, "Still, I like what I see so far. I can certainly understand it being popular."
Jiraiya smiled. "Thanks. I've actually already started working on the next volume. It feels good to have a new series going again. It really makes it feel like all this is a fresh start. When you look at it that way, this afterlife really isn't so bad."
Itachi nodded. "Yes… I suppose you have a point there."
He looked at Jiraiya for a moment, and the memories that had come surging forward upon the mending of the soul fracture flew through his mind. He knew that the sage needed to know just what he had seen, but figuring out how to put it into words was easier said than done.
Jiraiya immediately caught that something was up; Itachi should've expected no less from a man as perceptive as him. "What's going on? Did something else happen while you were out?"
Itachi closed his eyes for a moment to give himself some room to gather his thoughts. "What did they tell you about my… condition?"
Jiraiya leaned forward. "Not much, to be honest. Unohana said something about a 'soul fracture', but she didn't exactly go into detail on it. What the hell happened to you, Itachi?"
"It would seem that our old world was not quite finished with me," said Itachi, "I was revived… by Kabuto Yakushi."
Jiraiya's eyes widened. "Kabuto? Wait a minute... was Orochimaru pulling his strings?"
Itachi shook his head. "From what I could tell, he seemed to be acting independently of him. The situation was… complicated."
He then went into detail regarding how he and other members of the Akatsuki had been revived to fight on behalf of Tobi, the man who Itachi had initially believed to be Madara Uchiha, in the Fourth Shinobi World War. He told the Legendary Sannin about how he had been paired up with Pain, who had in the past been none other than one of Jiraiya's old students, Nagato, and how they had wound up confronting both Naruto and Killer B, the man who was the vessel for the Eight-Tailed Beast. To say that Jiraiya was taken aback by all this would be a considerable understatement; the man's jaw had nearly hit the floor when Itachi had relayed it all to him. As Itachi continued his tale, however, he saw the shock in the veteran ninja's eyes be replaced with something else when it came to the actions of his last student; pride.
When it was finally over there was a long moment of silence. Jiraiya closed his eyes, and to Itachi it appeared that the man was meditating over everything that Itachi had told him. Itachi couldn't blame him; he'd already had to deal with his reunited memories for a full day, and he was still having trouble processing it all.
After a while, Jiraiya opened his eyes again, and there was a smile on his face. "Well, now… it sounds like Naruto's really grown."
Itachi nodded and allowed himself a small smile in return. "Your last student is really something else. This Fourth Shinobi World War… I have no doubt that how it all ends will ultimately come down to Naruto. Him and Sasuke both still have a hard road ahead, but I believe they'll make it through. The future is in their hands, now. We played our parts and left the stage; it's up to them to carry things forward from here."
"Yeah," said Jiraiya, "It's time to let the next generation pick up the torch. From what you've told me, I think they'll do just fine."
There was a contented silence as the two men took a moment to reflect on the sense of relief they both felt. They had both done all they could to prepare the way for those who had come after them, each in their own fashion. It was now up to their successors to finish what they had started and usher the ninja world through the night and into a new dawn.
"I wouldn't mind going back sometime," said Itachi after a moment, "As a Soul Reaper, I mean. It would be nice to see what sort of new world they build out of what we left behind."
Jiraiya nodded. "It would. I suppose we'll just have to wait and see if either of us get assigned to head out that way. You never know where the future will take you, after all."
Itachi couldn't help but chuckle. "Those might be the wisest words I've ever heard you say."
Jiraiya gave a hearty laugh. "You might be right about that!"
How strange it was for him to share a laugh with the sage that had once considered him an enemy… and yet, it also felt perfectly natural. When he was alive, he would never have imagined that the future would take the strange twists and turns that his afterlife had, but here he was. He still could not comprehend why he had been taken to the Soul Society rather than Hell when he had died, but he was most thankful that he had gotten the chance to be reborn into such a unique and wondrous place.
And his afterlife was still quite young.
"So," said Jiraiya after a moment, "what's next for you? I know you're gonna want to hit the ground running, and I bet you could catch up given the chance, but the teachers… well, with the way I've heard them talking over the past few months, it sounds like they don't share my confidence. From what they've been mumbling, it sounds like the best-case scenario in their eyes is you starting pretty much from scratch."
"Don't be so sure," said Itachi, his eyes narrowing, "I've got two backers that might just be able to help me turn the tables on our instructors."
Jiraiya smiled. "You mean Unohana and Yoruichi? What are you planning on talking them into?"
"That's the thing," Itachi replied, "I haven't talked them into anything; they're acting all on their own. In fact, if I'm right, they should be making a case for me as we speak."
….
Even with all the meetings she had attended with him, Yoruichi still found it difficult to get a good read on Head Captain Yamamoto. His scarred and wrinkled face could be utterly inscrutable, and he rarely betrayed so much as a hint of what was really going through his mind.
"So that is your request, Captain Shihōin?" he asked, "You wish to have this Itachi Uchiha mentored by one of your clan's private tutors until he is caught up with his fellow Academy students? This is a most unorthodox proposal."
Yoruichi nodded. "I understand that, Head Captain. However, I believe that an exceptional student like Itachi deserves such consideration. To have him start over from the beginning would be a profound waste of both time and talent. We need him to get back on track so we can get him into the Thirteen Court Guard Squads as quickly as possible."
The Head Captain shifted his gaze. "Do you concur with her, Captain Unohana?"
The leader of Squad Four nodded. "Yes. While I do realize that this is a breach of protocol, I believe the current situation warrants it. You have seen the marks he received before the soul fracture occurred, yes?"
"Indeed," said Yamamoto, "and I shall be the first to admit that they quite impressive, all the more so for a newly arrived soul. However, good grades alone are not enough to warrant such special treatment."
"Then consider this, Head Captain," Yoruichi countered, "Itachi's shown a knack for combat that goes far beyond what we typically see in students. He and Jiraiya were able to take on a Hollow unarmed and with no knowledge of the Soul Reaper fighting arts. That alone should speak volumes of the potential that he holds. Those fighting abilities are deeply ingrained in him, and I'm positive that they're skills he held when he was alive. He's a natural, and we'd be fools to set him back just because of a medical incident that was completely beyond his control."
Unohana nodded. "Captain Shihōin raises a very valid point, Head Captain. After all, consider Captain Ukitake; his medical problems are well known, and yet that does not change the fact that he is an invaluable member of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads."
"There's also the fact that his innate abilities as a fighter have already grown exponentially in the limited time that he's been at the Academy so far," Yoruichi added, determined to press her point home hard, "When I sparred with him in his Hakuda class, I could already tell that his skills had evolved tremendously, and that's a growth that would only be set back if we had him start over. He's also already accessed his inner world and awoken his Zanpakutō, and while that may have been prematurely triggered due to the soul fracture, that doesn't change the fact that he spent time training with the spirit of his sword while his body was in the care of Captain Unohana. Itachi's already well down the path towards unlocking his true powers as a Soul Reaper, and I believe that we should be doing everything possible to make sure that he continues down that road. I'm confident that by the time he graduates, his abilities will have grown to the point that he could be granted an officer's position right out of the gate. He's a rare find, Head Captain; we can't let this opportunity go to waste."
There was a long pause, and Yoruichi could sense that this was the moment of truth. The Head Captain's brow furrowed in thought, and Yoruichi could only hope that the old man made the right decision.
After a moment, he turned to the leader of Squad Four. "Captain Unohana, how long would you say that Itachi requires observation now that the soul fracture appears to have been mended?"
Unohana took a few seconds to consider before replying. "Normally, I would like to keep him under my care for at least two weeks. However, given how far behind he has already fallen when compared to his classmates, I am willing to reduce it to one."
The Head Captain nodded. "Very well. In that case, here is my decision. Captain Shihōin, how soon can you make contact with a suitable tutor from your clan for Itachi?"
Yoruichi smiled. "I'll have the Hell Butterfly out within the hour. I know just the instructor for the job."
"Good," said Yamamoto, "You will have your tutor come to the Squad Four barracks in two days' time. While Itachi continues recuperation, he will begin to catch up on his academic instruction. Once Captain Unohana deems him fit, he can recommence his physical training in the Squad Four practice yard. From that point forward, I want him to undergo an accelerated curriculum, and I shall personally evaluate him one month after his period of observation under Captain Unohana comes to an end. Should he pass, I will allow him to rejoin his classmates in the advanced track. If he fails, he will have to wait until the next school year comes around and start from the beginning."
One month, thought Yoruichi, that's going to be tight. Still, if anyone can help him cram all the knowledge and skill Itachi will require to pass the Head Captain's evaluation into him during that time period, it should be the tutor I've got in mind…
"Do you find this to be an acceptable arrangement, Captain Shihōin?" asked Yamamoto.
Yoruichi nodded. "I do, Head Captain."
"As do I," said Unohana with a smile, "I believe Itachi will be more than up to the challenge."
Yoruichi was surprised to actually see the Head Captain chuckle at that. "Such confidence, I see. I have not seen you praise a student like this in quite some time, Captain Unohana."
Unohana nodded. "Well, students as gifted as Itachi are rather rare. I'm quite optimistic regarding his chances of passing this accelerated curriculum."
Yamamoto then turned to Yoruichi. "As for you, Captain Shihōin… it is rather unlike you to take such a personal interest in a student. If his talents are great enough to warrant the advocacy you've given him, then I look forward to presiding over his evaluation."
Yoruichi grinned. "Trust me, Head Captain; you won't be disappointed."
….
Two days later…
"How are you feeling, Itachi?" asked Unohana as she walked in.
Itachi nodded. "Very well. I just finished Jiraiya's book, actually. I must say, I'm rather surprised; since I helped with the editing, I didn't think I would enjoy the final product as much as I have because I knew how the story went. Despite my foreknowledge, it's been a pleasurable read."
Unohana smiled. "Is that so? Well, I'm glad to hear it. I do hope that you've been resting like I told you to, because starting today I'm afraid you're going to have much less free time."
Itachi raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"
Instead of answering his question directly, the Squad Four Captain looked over her shoulder and called out into the hallway. "Feel free to come in now!"
Two women stepped into the room. The first was Yoruichi, who gave Itachi a friendly nod and smile as she approached. The woman next to her, however, was one that Itachi had not met before. She was a tall and well-built woman, with a mature, athletic figure and ample curves that were visible even through her black and white shihakushō. Her dark blue hair was tied up in a bun, and her cerulean eyes had a certain stern look to them, but at the same time there was also a hint of almost motherly warmness visible as well. A set of thin-framed glasses gave her a scholarly air, and that was further emphasized by the books she was carrying. At the same time, though, a standard-length Zanpakutō with a triangular guard and dark green hilt was more than enough to tell Itachi that this woman wasn't all books and learning, and the confidence in her stance suggested that if push came to shove she'd be more than competent with her blade.
"How's it going, Itachi?" asked Yoruichi.
"Quite well, thanks," he asked before turning to the mystery woman, "Forgive me, but I don't believe we've met before, miss…"
She gave him a nod. "I am Minerva Rawlins, former Lieutenant of Squad Two and now retainer to the Shihōin Clan. I serve as both a family guard and also as a private tutor in the Soul Reaper arts. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Itachi Uchiha. Lady Yoruichi speaks very highly of you."
Itachi's eyes widened. "Former Lieutenant? But I thought…"
"That Soul Reapers don't retire?" Minerva finished for him with a smile, "Technically, that's true. My status is more along the lines of 'extended leave' than anything else. Theoretically, I can be recalled to active duty at any time. In practice, my good standing with the Shihōin Clan gives me greater protection than most. For former high-ranking officers like myself, forging connections with a powerful noble family is the best way to ensure a comfortable post-active duty lifestyle."
Itachi nodded. "I see."
"It's actually pretty common practice for families like mine to take in Soul Reapers who have grown weary of active service, provided they can still aid us in some way," said Yoruichi, "Minerva was my personal tutor when I was young, and she helped prepare me for the Shin'ō Academy entrance exams. It's considered embarrassing for a noble family to send a son or daughter to the Academy only for them to fail the exams, so private tutors are a way for them to determine ahead of time if their children have the aptitude for it and save themselves a potential loss of face."
Itachi's eyes narrowed. "That makes sense, but it's hardly fair to students who come into the Academy through the Rukon District and lack such an advantage."
"A point that both of us will readily concede," said Minerva, "Unfortunately, that's hardly the only unfair aspect regarding the Soul Society's structure and class divisions. If you're as sharp as Lady Yoruichi has told me, then I'm sure you've noticed plenty examples of inequality already."
"You could say that," Itachi replied.
"You'll learn a good deal more about them by the time Minerva's through with you," said Yoruichi, "She doesn't hold back, which is one of the reasons why my family took her on as a retainer."
Minerva nodded. "I reviewed the courses that you were taking part in once Lady Yoruichi sent me her request. I must say, I was rather surprised; most students in the advanced track don't choose a class in politics as an elective in their first semester. That requires taking a very close look at how the Soul Society is structured… and despite how they may frame the course, a gifted student can readily see through the sugar-coating the instructors lay on and examine this realm's many faults and inadequacies."
"It wasn't hard to find a few of them," Itachi quipped, "and that's putting it mildly."
Minerva smiled. "A sharp wit and tongue, I see… I like this one, Lady Yoruichi."
Yoruichi grinned. "I figured you would."
"So, why are you here?" asked Itachi, "I have a hard time believing that Captain Yoruichi brought someone like you along just for a friendly visit."
Yoruichi nodded. "Nice to see your mind's still ticking on all gears, because you're gonna need it in top shape to get through this. Normally, when a student misses as much class as you have due to a medical emergency, the higher ups at the Academy have them start the semester over. That's fair enough for most students; it's better than kicking them out of the Academy altogether, and it still gives them a solid chance to make it through their coursework and successfully graduate. However, I'm of the opinion that the normal approach would be a waste of time with regards to you… and thanks to a little help from Unohana, I was able to talk the biggest authority in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads into seeing things my way."
"The Head Captain…" said Itachi softly.
"Yup," Yoruichi replied, "The Academy falls under his jurisdiction, which means ultimately the final decision on matters such as this lies with him. It took some work, but Unohana and I were able to convince him to give you a shot at catching up that doesn't involve you starting over from square one. However, you're gonna have to work for it, and there's a serious time crunch involved."
Itachi nodded. "I'm listening."
"For the next five days," said Minerva, "you will continue your recuperation and physical therapy under Captain Unohana's guidance. During that time period, we shall begin cram study sessions to get you back on track as far as your academic studies are concerned. Once the observation and convalescence period ends, you will then be undergoing an accelerated curriculum over the course of a month. Academic studies, Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Kidō, and Hohō; you'll be working on all that and more. Unlike the Academy, there will be no days off; we don't have the luxury of them given our time constraints. I'll be running you hard, so you'd best steel yourself now."
"Understood," said Itachi, his eyes narrowing, "What happens once that one-month time period is complete? Am I to take my place amongst my classmates right away, or will there be some sort of final test first?"
Minerva smiled. "The latter. A comprehensive evaluation will be administered, and your examiner will be none other than the Head Captain himself."
Itachi's eyes widened slightly. "Are you serious?"
"Yes," Yoruichi answered, "Minerva and I will be observing you as well during your test, but the final decision on whether or not you pass lies with the Head Captain alone. Pass, and you'll be readmitted into the Academy and be allowed to resume your studies. Fail, and you'll have to start over next school year, minus the entrance exams. The Head Captain can be a strict judge, and he'll have high standards for you to clear given the exception he's making here, but he's not unreasonable. If you put everything you have into your training and the final exam, I'm confident that you'll succeed."
Itachi nodded. "I appreciate that. I'll do my best."
Yoruichi smiled. "Glad to hear it. Well, I've gotta get back to the Squad Two barracks. Minerva, he's all yours. I'll check in from time to time to see how things are going. Good luck, Itachi!"
"Thanks," he said before she left the room.
Minerva then stepped forward, setting her stack of books at the foot of his bed before passing one to Itachi. "No time like the present, I always say. Let's get started. You've got a lot of catching up to do."
Author's Notes: So, regarding the amount of time between when Itachi lost consciousness in the previous chapter and when he woke up in this one: Naruto tends to be a bit hazy on some of the details regarding the run-up to the Fourth Shinobi World War. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't narrow down an exact date for when Itachi was revived via Edo Tensei. So I had to take a guess on the time period that his resurrection lasted for. Whether I was close to the mark or off is pretty much just splitting hairs at this point as far as this story is concerned; he's completely back in the Soul Society now, which means it's time for him to make up for lost time and kick his training into overdrive.
Hope you liked the chapter! Please review!