2/3

Jiraiya nodded. "Believe me, I know. My point is that we really need to keep our eyes and ears open for signs that any of our old enemies might be active in the Soul Society. Ninjutsu made them dangerous enough in life. In death, they may lose the powers that they were accustomed to, but they could gain an entirely different set of abilities… and potentially become even deadlier than they were in life. The likes of ex-Akatsuki getting Hollow powers is bad enough, but can you imagine the kind of carnage they'd be capable of if they somehow acquired Soul Reaper abilities?"

"Kidō and Zanpakutō…" Itachi murmured, images of potential death and devastation flashing through his mind, "Shikai and Bankai… they'd be on a whole different level of strength with such power at their disposal."

"My point exactly," said Jiraiya grimly, "We need to build up our own abilities as quickly as we can, and not just to graduate from the Academy and take our places in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. If any of our old enemies come to the Soul Society and still have the same ideals and beliefs that led them down such dark paths in life, then I'm sure they'd be more than willing to enact them here if they managed to gain the power to do so."

Itachi nodded. He had already been determined to learn all he could and improve his skills, but now there was a whole new level of urgency to his efforts. There were plenty of people that he'd dealt with in life that could prove to be a threat to the Soul Society if given the right tools for the job… and even more who had come and gone long before Itachi had been born.

'Rest in peace' is a common blessing passed from the living to the dead, he mused darkly, but the more I learn about this afterlife, the more it seems to be anything but peaceful…

….

Three days later…

"All right, now," said Minerva from the sidelines, "You know what to do. Three…two… one… go!"

Itachi's eyes narrowed. The world suddenly flew by in a whirlwind, and the next second later he was completely across the training yard. Looking down at the ground, he allowed himself a small and satisfied smirk when he saw the black mat beneath him.

Right on target.

"Excellent!" cheered Minerva as she clapped, "You've really got this down! The only student I've ever seen perform Shunpo better than you at this stage is Lady Yoruichi. She'd be proud to see how far you've come with your technique."

Itachi bowed. "You flatter me, Miss Minerva."

His teacher shook her head. "Hardly. Just ask Lady Yoruichi the next time you see her; flattery's not my style. You truly are a talented young man. I must say, I'm almost reluctant to let you return to the Academy; I'd love to see how much further you could go under my individual instruction rather than have you go back to the classroom."

"I think you're putting the cart before the horse," Itachi replied, "I still have to pass the Head Captain's test tomorrow."

Minerva smiled. "Trust me, you'll be fine. Just give the test as much focus and determination as you have your training under me, and I'm confident that you'll succeed."

Itachi nodded. "Thanks. Do you know how the Head Captain will structure the test?"

"I have only the vaguest outline, I'm afraid," she replied, "There will be a written portion and a physical evaluation. Beyond that, your guess is as good as mine."

"I see," said Itachi.

Minerva came over and gave him a pat on the shoulder. "Don't overthink it. You'll only stress yourself out if you worry about what's beyond your control. There won't be anything on the Head Captain's test that you haven't gone over with me already. The Head Captain's firm, but he can be fair as well. In fact, with everything that I've seen, I wouldn't be surprised if the Head Captain tries to recruit you into his division once the test is done!"

Itachi shook his head. "I'm sure that would be an honor, but from what I've learned since my education here began I don't think that Squad One would be a very good fit for me. Rules and regulation have their place, but the Head Captain's division seems too rigid when compared to some of the other units."

"Well, that's to be expected," Minerva replied, "The Head Captain is the most powerful and renowned Soul Reaper in existence. Naturally, the members of his division are expected to maintain the utmost degree of professionalism and honor in their conduct. The bar's set higher there than any other unit of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads."

"Honor and professionalism are all well and good," Itachi argued, "but based on everything you've taught me, Squad One appears to be a bit too focused on doing things by-the-book. They also don't get as much time out in the field when compared to other units. In fact, the division seems more like an administrative entity than anything else."

"It's true that Squad One is more involved with the day-to-day running of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads as a whole than other units," Minerva admitted, "Given the size of the Soul Society's military, a certain level of bureaucracy is inevitable. All divisions have their own internal paperwork to attend to, but Squad One is the unit that they ultimately file it with, and thus it's charged with coordinating and overseeing all the others. Squad One answers only to Yamamoto and the Central Forty-Six, and if you think the Head Captain's division is stiff, trust me; the Central Forty-Six are orders of magnitude worse."

Itachi nodded. "Duly noted."

"All that considered, don't brush Squad One off as just a bunch of paper-pushers," Minerva cautioned, "They may not get as much field time as the other units, but they make up for that with a strict training regimen. Besides, they've still got both the Head Captain and his Lieutenant leading them, and the two of them are incredibly powerful. The Head Captain himself has seen more battles than any other Soul Reaper in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, and old age hasn't slowed him down a bit."

"So I've heard," said Itachi.

Minerva smiled. "You know, it's not often that he's willing to personally evaluate an individual student. Lady Yoruichi may be your lead advocate, but the Head Captain wouldn't have gone along with this if he didn't see true potential in you."

"It'd be hard for him to see much of anything, considering we haven't met yet," Itachi deadpanned, "The closest we came to that was his address to the student body at the start of the schoolyear."

Minerva raised an eyebrow. "And you don't think that the marks you received in class prior to the soul fracture would've caught his eye? Or perhaps you don't believe that Lady Yoruichi and Captain Unohana witnessing you and Jiraiya taking down a Hollow unarmed and with no Soul Reaper training is something that might earn the Head Captain's attention?"

"The Thirteen Court Guard Squads weren't always here," said Itachi, "I've certainly learned that much from my time at the Academy. The same goes for Zanpakutō and even the Soul Reapers themselves, yet the fact that souls were able to survive the depredations of Hollows before then would seem to indicate that people were still able to fight and defeat them."

Minerva nodded. "You are not wrong, but those times were far more brutal than the present day. Yes, people were still able to defeat Hollows, but those victories often came at great cost. The rise of the Soul Reapers and the Thirteen Court Guard Squads should be enough to tell you that a greater form of protection was needed."

"I do not dispute that," Itachi replied, "but if the Head Captain truly is as old as everyone believes, then I imagine he has met others in the past who were able to defeat Hollows without Soul Reaper powers at their disposal. What Jiraiya and I accomplished may be rare these days, but I doubt it's unheard of. There's also the fact that the two of us were barely able to defeat one Hollow, and three more showed up immediately after that one was killed. Were it not for the intervention of Captains Yoruichi and Unohana, Jiraiya and I would not have survived."

"Quite true," said Minerva, "but thanks to them, the two of you did survive, and you are here now. Lady Yoruichi believes that there is a great deal that the two of you can offer the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, and I am inclined to believe her. It should not surprise you that others feel that way as well."

"You say the two of us, but I seem to be the one getting the special treatment," Itachi noted, "I don't see any special tutors for Jiraiya, yet he and I were at the top of our class together before the soul fracture."

"It is precisely because you suffered the soul fracture that my services became necessary, remember?" Minerva countered, "Were the situation reversed, who's to say that Jiraiya would not receive the same treatment from Lady Yoruichi? You may be the one that's truly caught her eye, but make no mistake; she has high hopes for both of you."

Itachi's eyes narrowed. "If she would help either of us, then why do you say that I'm the one that she's really focused on?"

Minerva smiled as she looked past him. "Why don't you ask her yourself?"

Itachi turned around to see none other than Yoruichi and Soi-Fon standing at the edge of the training yard. "How long have the two of you been here?"

Yoruichi smiled as she stepped forward, her bodyguard trailing behind her. "Long enough. How's it going, Minerva?"

Minerva gave her a polite bow. "Very well, Lady Yoruichi. It's good to see you as well, Soi-Fon."

Soi-Fon gave her a curt nod. "Minerva."

The Captain of Squad Two then turned to Itachi. "So, you want to know why I've taken a particular shine to you?"

"It would be nice to get some clarity on that," Itachi admitted, "Don't get me wrong; I am grateful for all that you've done for me. It's just… well…"

"Why you, out of all the other students I could've chosen to give patronage to?" Yoruichi finished for him with a knowing smirk, "I've got an eye for talent, Itachi. Sure, Jiraiya landed the killing blow on that Hollow the night we met, but I was honestly more impressed with you. The way you moved and fought, coordinating with your ally while playing to your strengths… you may not have been trained in the art of fighting Hollows, but you handled yourself impeccably all the same. I could tell that you were something special, and you've only proven me right since then. In fact, I don't really think it's possible to put it into words, so why don't I help you demonstrate through action just what I'm getting at here?"

"What do you have in mind?" he asked.

Yoruichi grinned as she shed her haori, revealing her black sleeveless and backless outfit while her right hand slipped down to her Zanpakutō. "Fight me. Right here, right now. I won't use Shikai, Bankai, Kidō, or anything else. Just Zanjutsu."

"Lady Yoruichi, you shouldn't!" Soi-Fon protested, "You're too reckless!"

"As much as I'd like to watch the two of you spar, Lady Yoruichi," said Minerva, "I believe that would be unfair to Itachi. Even without Shikai or Bankai, we all know that you'd easily win."

"It's not about winning or losing," Yoruichi replied, her gaze locked on Itachi, "Just like it wasn't about winning or losing the day you challenged me in your Hakuda class, Itachi. It's about discovering just how far your skills have come. What do you say? Care to dance?"

Itachi could not help but give a small smile; there was something about the playful energy in her eyes that he just couldn't say no to. "All right."

The two of them stepped out into the middle of the training yard. As they drew their Zanpakutō, Itachi saw Minerva and Soi-Fon move off to the side. He turned his gaze back to Yoruichi, who held her short sword in a reverse grip.

She gave him a devious smirk. "Ready whenever you are, Itachi."

Itachi turned to Minerva, who stepped forward and raised her arm. She looked back and forth between Itachi and Yoruichi for a moment before commencing her countdown.

"Three…two…one…go!" she barked.

Yoruichi surged forward like a bolt of lightning. It wasn't a Flash Step, but it was still incredibly fast, and Itachi was barely able to bring his sword up in time to block her opening strike. While successful in preventing her from scoring a winning hit right off the back, he didn't have time to congratulate himself; Yoruichi's first attack was just the initial move in a sequence of strikes, a rapid-fire blitz designed to overwhelm his defenses. His sword weaved through the air like a thing possessed as Itachi defended himself from her punishing assault.

My sword's longer than hers, so I have the edge in reach, he thought as he backpedaled and deflected her blows, but a smaller sword can be used with greater speed and precision, and offers more flexibility as well. She's got all of the above and more…

It quickly became apparent that Yoruichi's particular style of Zanjutsu was much more acrobatic in nature than that of his fellow students. She leapt, flipped, rolled, and more, refusing to attack along a single axis. Her agility and flexibility were on full display here, and Itachi could only marvel at her balance and control. For all her hops and spins, there wasn't a single moment where she let her momentum get the better of her. She was in complete command of her body and blade, and it was all Itachi could do to keep her from overwhelming him with her speed and mobility.

Leaping into the air, she did a somersault over his head and came down behind him, lashing out with her sword before her feet even hit the ground. Itachi parried the strike, but before he could counter she struck again, and he was barely able to deflect the attack. She might not have been going all out, but even while holding back she very much remained a force to be reckoned with.

And Itachi loved it.

On the surface he appeared as calm as ever, but inside he could not deny how much he was enjoying the chance to spar with her again. Their fight in his Hakuda class had never been far from his mind during his training bouts with Minerva, but getting to cross swords with her was something new entirely, a breathtaking experience that Itachi wanted to savor. Her moves were so unlike those of anyone that he had sparred with before, with a catlike grace that emphasized her efficiency and precision. His advantage in reach meant nothing in the face of her experience and skill; she was in complete control of the match, and they both knew it.

Regardless of the gap in skill and the knowledge that he didn't have a chance at victory, Itachi's eyes still searched for the slightest of openings even as his sparring partner continued her relentless assault. No fighting style was perfect; every technique had a flaw, a gap in its defenses, big or small, and Itachi was determined to find it here. He could not go this entire fight without at least once seizing the initiative for himself, and if nothing else he wanted to make sure that his opponent got to enjoy herself as much as he was.

After a few more seconds of blocks and deflections, Itachi finally found what he was looking for. Rather than directly parry Yoruichi's next strike, he ducked instead, allowing her blade to slice through the air just above his shoulder. He then brought his Zanpakutō up and thrust forward, forcing her to pull her weapon back to redirect his attack. Itachi didn't let that stop him; he pivoted and whirled, adding centrifugal force to his follow-up strike. Yoruichi once again blocked the attack, but Itachi was able to press the assault; at last, he was on the offensive.

He struck hard and fast, launching a swift sequence of slashes and cuts. Yoruichi deflected every one of them, and the way she hopped back and forth from one foot to the other made it almost feel like she was dancing as she fended off his attacks. She was grinning as he continued to push forward, eagerly evaluating him, studying his moves and trying to figure out just what else he had up his sleeve.

She laughed as she parried blow after blow. "Now this is more like it! Come on, Itachi! Show me what you've got!"

Itachi happily obliged her. He pushed forward, determined to make her sweat this round. Up and down, left and right; his Zanpakutō was all over the place. Variety was the spice of life, as the old saying went, and that was especially true for a swordfight. Unpredictability would be the only way for Itachi to keep his foe on her toes, but that was definitely a case of easier said than done. After all, even with his considerable skills and prior combat experience, it would be all too easy for him to unconsciously fall into a pattern that Yoruichi could eventually recognize and exploit. Feigning randomness and mixing things up was much harder than most people believed. One couldn't just swing their sword about wildly like a drunken lunatic; even in such a mad frenzy, eventually a pattern would emerge whether the wielder wanted it to or not. As counterintuitive as it sounded, randomness had to be calculated.

So Itachi did precisely that, or at least attempted to. A burst of thrusts here, a flurry of slashes there; whatever he could think of that would keep her guessing. Alas, despite his best efforts, not once did she betray even the slightest hint of being caught off guard by his moves. Hers was the confidence of a lioness that had its prey dead to rights; she was only waiting for the right moment to pounce.

That moment came when Itachi overextended himself on a thrust, and Yoruichi instantly seized it. With a deft flick of her wrist, she redirected his strike, and a split-second later her blade was at his throat.

She smiled as she held her Zanpakutō just a centimeter over his skin. "Even better than I'd hoped for. Minerva's worked wonders with you, Itachi."

"I'm afraid I can't take all the credit here, Lady Yoruichi," the instructor chimed in, "After all, he has been practicing with the spirit of his Zanpakutō as well."

Yoruichi nodded as she withdrew her blade and sheathed it. "Of course. How's that been going, Itachi? Making any progress with your Zanpakutō?"

"Not with regards to her name," Itachi replied as he put his sword away, "but our sparring matches are as intense as ever."

Yoruichi gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. "Give it time. You'll be able to hear her name soon enough. Hell, I'm impressed with how far you've come in just the last month. I hope you can see now why I've invested so much time and effort into you; it's not every day that a Captain takes the time to spar with an Academy student, you know."

Itachi bowed. "I appreciate everything that you've done for me. I promise I won't let your efforts on my behalf go to waste."

Yoruichi smiled again. "I know you won't. You're ready for tomorrow, Itachi. I can't wait to see the look on the Head Captain's face when you ace his test!"

"Forgive me, Lady Yoruichi," said Soi-Fon, "but I don't think that a test administered by the Head Captain himself is something to be taken so lightly. Itachi, please remain vigilant."

Itachi nodded. "I will."

Yoruichi sighed. "It's too bad you're not part of the squad yet, otherwise I'd take you out drinking after a match like that. I'd probably drag Kisuke and Soi-Fon along for the ride too, now that I think about it. I bet you'd be pretty fun to hang out a bar with, Itachi."

"I don't know about that," Itachi replied, "I didn't drink all that much when I was alive, and that hasn't changed since coming to the Soul Society."

Yoruichi grinned. "Trust me; we'll fix that as soon as you graduate!"

Minerva rolled her eyes. "No offense, Lady Yoruichi, but sometimes you sound like Captain Kyōraku. I don't think that his is an example that your parents ever wanted you to follow."

Yoruichi laughed. "Oh, lighten up, Minerva! You know that I don't drink nearly as much as he does!"

"Perhaps," Minerva replied with a smile, "but I do worry sometimes. You are the Shihōin Clan's princess, after all; you have a position beyond your rank as Captain to consider, you know."

"You don't need to remind me," said Yoruichi, "I get enough letters from my parents regarding that as it is. Don't worry; I've never taken the partying too far."

"I don't think the partying's really what your parents are concerned about," said Minerva, "but I suppose you would know that better than I."

Itachi raised an eyebrow. "Is there something that I'm missing here?"

Yoruichi shook her head. "It's nothing; just stupid noble family politics. Don't worry about it, Itachi."

Itachi was curious, but he knew when to back off. "Very well, then."

The Squad Two Captain turned back to Minerva. "Well, do you have anything else in store for him today?"

Minerva shook her head. "I've covered everything that I can possibly think of. He's as ready as he can be for tomorrow."

Yoruichi smiled as she turned to Itachi. "Glad we're on the same page, then. Well, nothing left for you to do but rest up until tomorrow, Itachi. Make sure you get a full night's sleep, all right? If I know the Head Captain, you're gonna need it."

Itachi nodded. "Will do."

"I'll see you tomorrow, then," she said with a wink, "Sweet dreams, Itachi!"

….

The next day…

It had been quite some time since Itachi had last seen the Head Captain, and this was the first time that the master of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads had spoken to him directly. If the venerable Soul Reaper had been imposing before when addressing the students of Shin'ō Academy on the first day of the school year, then the weight of his bearing was all the heavier now that it was focused on Itachi alone. The scarred and powerful old man studied him for a good long moment, and Itachi didn't dare make the first move.

Not even the Third Hokage held the same level of gravitas that the Head Captain commands, he thought, I know he's not actively exerting his spiritual pressure, but even so… it's almost crushing with his focus on me like this.

It wasn't just the Head Captain that had come to see Itachi in the Squad Four barracks today. Off to the side were Captains Yoruichi and Unohana, along with Minerva and Soi-Fon. In addition to them was another man that Itachi had not met before; a tall and lightly-tanned Soul Reaper with short silver-gray hair, a small black handlebar mustache, and sharp brown eyes. Over the standard shihakushō he wore a white jinbaori with long white arm-guards. There was also a white turtle-neck under his uniform, and a Lieutenant's armband was on his left arm.

"It is nice to meet you, Itachi Uchiha," said the Head Captain, causing the former Shinobi to stiffen his posture ever so slightly, "Rare indeed is a student that one of my Captains will speak so highly of, yet it seems that you have impressed both Captain Shihōin and Captain Unohana."

Itachi bowed. "I'm honored by their praise. My only desire is to demonstrate that I am worthy of the faith they have shown in me."

"You will be given a chance to do precisely that today," said the Head Captain before nodding at the white-haired Lieutenant.

The man stepped forward and passed a stack of papers to Itachi. "I am Chōjirō Sasakibe, the Lieutenant of Squad One. I assisted the Head Captain in working up the evaluation that you shall take today."

Itachi nodded. "I see."

"You will start with the academic test you now hold in your hand," said the Head Captain as he gestured at the sole table in the middle of the room, "Two hours will be granted for you to complete it. Once it is complete, I will personally review your answers. After that, we shall move on to the physical portion of this examination. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Head Captain," he replied.

"Then take a seat, Itachi Uchiha," said the Head Captain, his eyes narrowing, "Your test will begin on my mark."

Itachi went over to the table and sat down. A pen was already there waiting for him. Itachi took a moment to look over the first page before turning to his audience. Did all of them really intend to just stand there and watch as he took a written test for the next two hours? If they did, he couldn't stop them, although he imagined that they'd be awfully bored waiting for him to finish.

After a moment, the Head Captain spoke again. "Your test begins… now!"

There was nothing left to do now but go for it.

….

"Looks like he's coming along well," Minerva whispered into Yoruichi's ear, "I think he'll be done soon."

Squad Two's Captain nodded. It had been about an hour and a half since Itachi had started the test. No one had left the room, and to his credit Itachi had acted as though the rest of them weren't even there. His attention was solely on his exam, giving each question careful consideration before writing his answer.

I wish I knew what exactly was on it, she thought, Head Captain Yamamoto wouldn't share the material with any of us, though. I guess that's to be expected, though; with the favor I've shown to Itachi, he might've been worried about me trying to give him an edge in the test.

That wasn't something that Yoruichi would've done, though; she had faith in Itachi and wanted him to succeed on his own merits. If she had shown him favor it was only because she had seen the incredible potential within him, and she wanted to do all she could to help him develop his abilities as a Soul Reaper. She considered it her duty as a Captain to make sure that the Soul Society would benefit from Itachi's gifts once they matured… although privately, she might admit that her personal feelings played a role here too.

There was something about the young man that sparked curiosity within her. For a new arrival in the Soul Society, he had already shown a remarkable affinity for the fighting arts, and that raised a good deal of questions. What had he been in his former life? Who had he fought, and how had he fought them? How had a man as bright and talented as he appeared to be met his end at such a young age?

In the Soul Society, inquiring about the past lives of arrivals was considered something close to a social taboo. At the very least, it wasn't to be done casually; only those who had deep connections with each other could even consider to ask such questions. When someone passed on from the Realms of the Living to the Soul Society, who they had been in the past was no longer supposed to matter. Here, they had been given a new life, one that, in theory at least, they could live without being burdened by the past.

However, Yoruichi suspected that Itachi was burdened by his past. Perhaps it was just because he was still a new arrival, but Yoruichi believed that there was more to it. She had not forgotten what Unohana had told her when Itachi had healed from the soul fracture, and she could only guess at what might make a stoic young man such as himself shed tears. Although he had shown himself to be both a model student and a brave individual, Yoruichi had not failed to notice how there seemed to be a shadow in his gaze. He was a calm young man, but she'd caught hints of what appeared to be a deeper emotional scarring when she'd looked into his eyes. She didn't know what he had seen and done when he had been alive, but he was clearly haunted by it.

I know it's not my place to pry, she thought as she watched him enter the home stretch of the written test, but still… that doesn't mean I'm not tempted. I was born in the Soul Society; I didn't come here through death like Itachi did. My knowledge of the Realms of the Living stretches only as far as the missions I've been on outside the Soul Society, so I can only imagine what Itachi's time there was like. However, I think it's pretty safe to say that his life wasn't like that of your average person. Someone who lived a normal and healthy life isn't the type of person who has the skill and temperament required to challenge a Hollow unarmed after just arriving in the Soul Society. Something happened to him… and whatever it was, I've got a feeling that it wasn't pretty.

For now, there was little for her to do but rein in her curiosity. If all went well, not only would Itachi pass today's test, but eventually he would graduate from the Academy and take his place amongst the active duty Soul Reapers of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, preferably in her division. Eventually, she hoped that their professional relationship and personal friendship would develop to the point that she'd be able to broach such a sensitive topic with him. If nothing else, he really did strike her as a decent young man, and she definitely wouldn't mind the chance to get to know him better.

Another ten minutes or so passed before Itachi put his pen down and gathered up the test papers. He then stood up and presented them to the Head Captain.

"I believe that's all of them," the young man said, "What next?"

"I shall grade them personally," the Head Captain replied, "with some assistance from Lieutenant Sasakibe. You will wait out in the hall with the others. Once we are finished here, you shall move on to the physical portion of this evaluation."

Itachi nodded. "Understood, Head Captain."

Yoruichi smiled as Itachi came over towards her. "You finished before the whole two hours was up. I think you nailed it!"

"I hope so," said Itachi as they left the room, "The questions weren't easy."

"That's to be expected," said Minerva as the door shut behind them, "The Head Captain himself came up with the test, after all. Still, you should've been familiar with all the material presented."

"I was," said Itachi, "thanks to you, Miss Minerva."

Minerva smiled. "Don't look so worried; I'm sure you did just fine."

Yoruichi grinned as she gave Itachi a pat on the back. "She's right, Itachi. You got this!"

Soi-Fon nodded. "I believe that you will succeed, Itachi."

"I must admit," Unohana chimed in, "you completed the Head Captain's written examination faster than I thought you would. I believe that bodes well, although you should not rest on your laurels until you've completed the physical evaluation too."

Itachi nodded. "Of course."

They spent the better part of the next hour standing in the hallway making the occasional bit of small-talk as they waited for the Head Captain and his Lieutenant to finish reviewing Itachi's written test. While Yoruichi could be a patient woman when the situation called for it, she was actually rather eager for them all to move on to the physical portion of the examination.

I can't wait for the Head Captain to see just how far Itachi's come, she thought, the excitement building within her, Hell, it'll be fun to see the look on Sasakibe's face too when he sees just what Itachi's capable of!

When the Head Captain and his Lieutenant finally emerged from the room, Yoruichi saw Yamamoto give Itachi a long, hard stare. She couldn't tell what the old man was thinking, but that was par for the course. Eventually the Head Captain nodded at the young man, and Yoruichi thought she caught the barest hint of a smile beneath that ridiculously thick mustache of his.

"Well done, Itachi," he said, "I'm pleased to inform you that you passed your written examination with flying colors."

Itachi nodded, and Yoruichi saw some of the tension leave him. "Thank you, Head Captain."

Unohana smiled. "Congratulations, Itachi."

Minerva folded her arms, a satisfied smirk on her face. "I expected nothing less."

Yoruichi gave Itachi a playful punch on the shoulder. "See, what did I tell you? You had nothing to worry about!"

Even Soi-Fon was smiling. "Well done."

Lieutenant Sasakibe cleared his throat. "While the academic test is now complete, we must still conduct the physical examination."

Yamamoto nodded. "Indeed. Let us proceed to the training yard so that we may begin the tests for Kidō, Hohō, Hakuda, and Zanjutsu."

Yoruichi and the others followed the Head Captain outside. She saw that a series of targets had already been set up; it appeared that they would be starting with Kidō.

The Head Captain pointed the gnarled staff that contained his Zanpakutō at a mat that had been set out in the training yard. "Itachi, we shall begin the physical examination by testing your skills in Kidō. First semester students in the advanced track are expected to have a basic understanding of Hadō 1 through 20, so you will perform all of those spells. You will be given a brief rest period at intervals of every five spells so that you may maintain your spirit energy. Is that understood?"

Itachi nodded. "Yes, Head Captain."

"Very well, then," said the Head Captain, "You may begin when you are ready."

All right, then, thought Yoruichi as she saw Itachi step onto the mat, I guess it's time for Round Two.

You can do it, Itachi!

….

Looks like he's doing just fine, Minerva thought as she watched the home stretch of the Kidō test with a satisfied smile, I wonder what's going through the old man's head right about now…

She looked on as Itachi held his right hand up high and began the latest incantation. "Lord of Storms, Queen of the Sky, Wrath of the Heavens! The Knight of the Bolt rides forth to strike down the Heart of Corruption! Hadō 19: Raimei!"

A spear composed of golden-yellow lighting appeared just above the upraised palm of his hand. The lance flew forward a second later and struck the target downrange dead-center, bursting it into splinters.

Excellent, she thought, I couldn't spot a single flaw in his form, and the incantation was spot-on. Just one more to go, Itachi.

Even with a short break every five spells, running through twenty of them like this was no small feat for a first-year student, even in the advanced track. Itachi had proven himself to be more than up to the challenge, though. He had remained composed and focused throughout the test, and Minerva was pleased to see all the hours they'd spent practicing paying off here. If the Kidō Corps learned of his performance here today, then Minerva suspected that Yoruichi would have even more competition when the time came to recruit Itachi after graduation.

"Impressive," she heard Unohana murmur.

Yoruichi was smiling. "Come on, Itachi. You're almost there."

"Just one left…" Soi-Fon muttered.

Sasakibe quickly jotted something down on a notepad. "Well done."

The Head Captain gave Itachi a nod. "Commence the final spell!"

Itachi held out both hands as he chanted the incantation. "Wave of the Divine, crash upon the ramparts of the Demon King! Overwhelm through righteous might, pound through the tempest of Hell! Hadō 20: Tenkū no Myaku!"

The air rippled and warped as a broad wave of invisible energy burst forth. A line of targets was knocked over by the pulse, and even a few tiles were uprooted by the strength of the attack.

Yoruichi started clapping. "Nice job, Itachi!"

Unohana smiled. "Superb technique."

Soi-Fon nodded. "Well done."

Minerva clapped as well. "Excellent work!"

"Indeed," said Sasakibe, looking rather impressed by the display, "Quite a demonstration for a student."

The Head Captain nodded in approval. "Quite so. That concludes the Kidō portion of this test. Itachi, if you would kindly step inside for a few minutes while we prepare for the Hohō section of this evaluation, that would be appreciated."

"Understood," Itachi replied.