Chapter Nine: Rivalry's Flames 1/4

Author's Notes: Well, I was originally planning on waiting a little longer to release this one, but I couldn't resist any longer!

A quick word on the Soul Society's high aristocracy; more of my reshuffle of the nobility and alterations will be on display in this chapter. To help you get your bearings, the Shihōin, Kuchiki, and Shiba Clans are still among the Great Noble Houses. However, two more are new. One is the Drakken Clan, which will be introduced this chapter. As for the last one, you'll have to wait a little while longer for their proper introduction.

Enjoy!

Chapter Nine: Rivalry's Flames

146 years before Rukia Kuchiki's arrival in Karakura Town

"Again!" barked the spirit of his Zanpakutō.

She's relentless today, thought Itachi as he braced himself for her opening assault.

The woman cloaked in black flames came in hard and fast, immediately putting Itachi on the defensive. The blades of the two duelists flashed like bolts of lightning as they clashed, and despite his foe's ferocious strikes Itachi was holding his own. His defense was solid; tight, efficient, and swift. His footing remained firm, and even as he was under attack he was already looking for the opening he would need to initiate a counter.

That opening came a moment later. After deflecting a diagonal slash, Itachi countered with an overhand strike. His foe was forced to block, and Itachi was able to seize the initiative and go on the offensive. He surged forward, his Zanpakutō little more than a series of silver streaks as he went into a sequence of swift and precise blows. His opponent fell back, but she was hardly deterred by his assault. Just like Itachi before, she was patiently waiting for her chance to strike back, and he knew that she would seize it the instant it was available.

Despite sparring with the spirit of his Zanpakutō every day since his return to the Academy following the healing of his soul fracture, Itachi had never once grown weary of these matches. On the contrary, they were a much looked forward to part of his routine. He always felt like he had something to learn from each fight, and he couldn't think of a better way to keep his Zanjutsu skills sharp. These skirmishes had become even more important to him once he'd learned that Jiraiya had also managed to make it to his inner world; a little friendly competition from the Legendary Sannin was a nice bit of incentive for Itachi to maintain his efforts to improve his abilities.

Not for the first time since these matches had begun, Itachi couldn't help but notice that his inner world had subtly changed since the first time he had visited it. The cobblestone pathway remained, as did the stone lanterns with their eerie blood-red flames and the twisted trees, but the environmental conditions had been altered significantly. The clouds that had once filled the sky of his inner world were completely gone now, allowing the crimson moon's full brilliance to shine down from on high. That wasn't the only light coming from the sky, either; red stars were visible all across the black backdrop above. In fact, Itachi could've sworn that they were shining brighter now than they had in the past.

"I'm so glad that you're able to admire the scenery in my humble abode," his foe gently chided him, "but your eyes should be on me, Itachi."

She made him pay for his momentary lapse by thrusting her blade forward. Itachi was able to deflect the strike, but it was still all that she needed to regain the initiative. Once again, she went into a furious assault, as withering and vicious as it was swift and powerful. There was a certain beauty in her movements that Itachi couldn't help but admire; it was the deadly grace of a she-wolf on the hunt, hounding her prey with her eyes set on its throat.

"Why the changes in the weather?" he asked as their blades crossed yet again.

"Come now, Itachi," she replied with a smile, "You know full well that the conditions in this world aren't influenced by traditional means. They reflect your soul, so they're bound to change as your journey down the path of the Soul Reaper continues."

"So does all this reflect progress or regression?" Itachi pressed as he parried her strikes.

"Progress, of course," said his sparring partner.

Itachi raised an eyebrow as he deflected a slash. "That's unusually straightforward of you."

The spirit of his Zanpakutō smirked as she continued to attack him. "I don't always feel the need to speak in cryptic riddles, you know? Besides, I hear that positive reinforcement for such development is a good thing."

"Perhaps," said Itachi, "but it's still a little strange coming from you."

His opponent shook her head. "You know, it's considered rude to question a compliment like that. I thought you were more well-mannered than that."

"Does etiquette have a place in a fight?" Itachi deadpanned as he blocked a particularly powerful blow.

"I suppose not," his adversary replied.

The song of clashing steel intensified as their duel continued. Back and forth the combatants went, trading the roles of attacker and defender fluidly and frequently. Itachi idly wondered what his Zanjutsu instructors would make of a fight like this. Had any of them ever fought their Zanpakutō in a duel like this one?

It wasn't just his technique that benefitted from matches like this. The daily duels were improving his conditioning as well, to the point that Itachi barely even broke a sweat in his Zanjutsu classes anymore. If anything, the Academy's lessons on swordsmanship seemed rather tame when compared to the fierce clashes that he regularly engaged the spirit of his Zanpakutō in. About the only time he really had to put in work during those official sessions nowadays was when he sparred with Jiraiya.

How would he and the Legendary Sannin perform against Hollows now? It had been a year since their encounter on Terra with the beasts that had attempted to invade their Konsō exercise, and even though it had been a brief fight it still hadn't been far from Itachi's mind. Practice matches both in the classroom and with the spirt of his Zanpakutō were all well and good, but Hollows were the enemy that he was ultimately training to defeat, so Itachi was naturally inclined to wonder when he'd get another chance to face them. It wasn't that he was actively seeking out such an encounter, but he knew that it would have to happen sooner or later.

"What's the matter?" asked his opponent as she launched a fresh offensive, "Don't tell me you're growing bored with our little match here?"

"Hardly," Itachi replied as he fended off her attacks.

"Then why the discontent?" she pressed, "You forget that I can read you far better than others, you know."

His eyes narrowed as he countered her strike and retook the offensive. "There is only so much that I can learn in an academic setting. Our matches have been instructive, but you are not my enemy. I need to know that I'm capable of challenging and defeating Hollows consistently. A single encounter during my entire term at the Academy hardly qualifies in that regard."

"Your time will come," his sparring partner replied, "You of all people ought to know the value of patience. Focus on your training; the chance to prove yourself in the field again will find you soon enough."

Itachi nodded. She was right; the best thing for him to do right now was focus on continuing to improve his abilities and learn new skills. It wasn't like him to be eager to face a new enemy, even one that had proven just how dire the need was for experienced warriors to fight against it. Hollows were unlike any foe that he had encountered during his life in the Shinobi World, and there was still much about them that he did not fully understand. It would not do to rush into a confrontation just for the sake of testing his skills out in the field; he had to take advantage of his time in the Academy to gain as much knowledge and practice as he could before he graduated and officially joined the Thirteen Court Guard Squads.

The duel continued on, but Itachi could sense that it was approaching a climax. His opponent was growing more aggressive, and Itachi had no choice but to match her. Deflecting a diagonal strike, he countered with a thrust that his opponent redirected. She whirled around, adding centrifugal force to her follow-up slash, and Itachi was barely able to block it. He ducked beneath her next strike before bringing his sword up in a slash, but she swiftly parried that attack. The two of them thrust their blades out at exactly the same time, bringing them to a stop just a hair's breadth above each other's necks.

She smiled before withdrawing her weapon. "A tie… well done, Itachi."

"Thanks," said Itachi as he sheathed his sword, "You certainly made me work for it."

"Well, someone has to keep you on your toes when Yoruichi isn't around," she shot back with a smirk, "We wouldn't want you losing your edge just because your classes can't sufficiently challenge you and she hasn't seen fit to put you back under Minerva's tutelage."

Itachi couldn't help but chuckle at that. "Good point. I wonder how she's doing…"

"Minerva or Yoruichi?" she asked with a knowing smile.

Itachi shook his head a little more forcefully than he'd meant to. "Never mind. I need to get going."

"Of course," she said with a mischievous smirk, "Until next time, Itachi!"

….

The training hall sang with the melody of clashing wooden practice swords. As per the normal routine, the lead Zanjutsu instructor for the advanced track students had already paired them up with the sparring partners for the session's drills, and Itachi and Jiraiya were well into yet another one of their fast-paced yet friendly bouts. It was a ritual that Itachi had grown as accustomed to as he had with the matches the spirit of his Zanpakutō engaged him in, and he would privately admit that he enjoyed these skirmishes with the Legendary Sannin just as much as those with the maiden cloaked in the black flames of Amaterasu.

He couldn't help but smirk as his eyes fell on the bruise on the right side of Jiraiya's forehead. "Should I ease up a little, old man? I'd feel bad about claiming a win that was made possible by a giant toad thrashing you beforehand."

Jiraiya chuckled as he fended off Itachi's assault. "Hah, you mean this? That was just a tap! I didn't feel a thing!"

"A 'tap' from an armored fist or boot?" Itachi asked as he pressed his attack, "Or did you get headbutted this time? The spirit of your Zanpakutō rarely seems to hold its punches these days."

Jiraiya grinned as he countered and went on the offensive. "Hey, it's no fun when he's holding back, and the same goes for you! I may look old, but I feel a hell of a lot younger now that I'm dead, so hit me with your best shot!"

Indeed, Itachi mused as he deflected Jiraiya's blows, I never thought that the afterlife would be quite as rejuvenating an experience as it's proven to be. Death, it would seem, is not without its advantages…

It was actually quite easy for him to forget nowadays that he was indeed dead. He had acclimated well to the Soul Society over the past four years, so much so in fact that it was hard to remember that this was supposed to be the afterlife. Itachi might've passed on from the world of the living, but it was hard to recall a point in his past life where he'd felt as alive as he did now. Yes, he was still dead, but a whole new world of opportunity was before him, and he had taken great strides to realize it since enrolling in the Academy.

Of course, no one could progress as rapidly or ascend as highly as Itachi and Jiraiya had without ruffling some feathers. Itachi was all too familiar with how success and prodigious growth could isolate someone from others, and while he had tried to avoid making the same mistakes as he had in his younger days, he suspected that some alienation might be inevitable. Having a friend like Jiraiya, as odd as their friendship might be, certainly helped, as did the support of Yoruichi and her circle of friends, but his relationship with his fellow students was a little on the tense side. Yes, many admired him, and he knew that he was still the object of desire for an uncomfortably large segment of the female student body, but there were others who saw his rise and prominence as an obstacle and regarded it with jealousy and suspicion.

As he continued his match with Jiraiya, Itachi could sense that one of those not-so-friendly students had their eyes on him. A second of distraction could very easily cost him the match, but Itachi felt that the risk was worth it to find out just who was studying him so intently today. It only took a moment to discover them, but in that brief instance Jiraiya was very nearly able to land the winning hit on him.

Jiraiya laughed as Itachi was barely able to block his attack. "Getting sloppy there, mister class genius! What's got you so distracted?"

"We're being watched," said Itachi as he backpedaled and regrouped, "Their scrutiny seems rather sharp, I might add."

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow before looking past Itachi's shoulder and spotting who he was referring to. "Oh, so it's little miss Vissy that's got her eye on us, eh? Interesting…"

'Vissy' was the teasing nickname that the Legendary Sannin had developed for the young woman who would've been at the top of the advanced track student rankings were it not for himself and Itachi. Her full name was Visaelya Drakken, and she was none other than the niece of Squad Ten's Captain, Rhaegon Drakken. A rather tall woman with a slender yet athletic frame, she was quite easily the most popular female student in their class. It wasn't hard to see why; her fair complexion, exotic violet eyes and long, silver-blonde hair definitely made her stand out in a crowd, but she was more than just a pretty face. Like every student in the advanced class, male or female, she had demonstrated great aptitude for the Soul Reaper arts, and despite, or perhaps because of, her hailing from one of the Five Great Noble Houses she was a very hard-working girl, putting impressive effort into both her academic and physical studies. Her gifts were considerable, and Itachi had no doubt that she'd go far once she graduated from the Academy.

Unfortunately, it had become readily apparent that 'going far' wasn't enough for Visaelya. It hadn't taken Itachi or Jiraiya long to tell that she was gunning to make herself the standout student in the advanced track, but from the moment the entrance exams had taken place the two former Shinobi had stolen her thunder. It was the two of them that had been invited to meet the Captains reviewing the exam scores, not her, just as it was the two of them who had consistently stolen the top spots in the rankings ever since beginning their education at the Academy.

"You'd better keep your guard up," said Jiraiya with a smirk as he redoubled his attack on Itachi, "She's got fire in her eyes today. Hell, she might just call you out in the challenge fights later!"

"What makes you think she won't challenge you instead?" asked Itachi as he countered and seized the initiative, "She hasn't called either of us out in years. No one has."

"Please," Jiraiya replied, "it's written all over her face. That's confidence and determination if I've ever seen it. She's gunning for the top spot today, and since only one of us in the advanced track has actually sparred with a Captain, I think it's pretty safe to say we both know who she's got in her sights."

Privately, Itachi had to concede that Jiraiya had a point. Although both former Shinobi were at the top of the class, everyone knew that he was the favorite of not only Yoruichi, but several other Captains. Itachi was as high a profile target in the advanced track as one could get, and just because no one had called him out over the past few years in their Zanjutsu class didn't mean that they couldn't. They were in the fourth year of a six-year education; there was still plenty of time for one of his classmates to try to knock him from his perch. Itachi wasn't particularly attached to his lofty position, but at the same time he wasn't about to let himself be dethroned without a fight.

Their match dragged on for a few minutes longer with no clear winner before it was broken up by the instructor's call. "All right, everyone, it's time for the challenge fights! Cease your duels and gather in the center of the hall!"

Jiraiya smirked as the two of them lowered their training swords. "Saved by the teacher."

Itachi nodded. "Indeed. I would've won the duel on the next exchange."

The Legendary Sannin chuckled. "Is that so? I'll have to prove you wrong in our next match. Maybe Vissy won't get to challenge you today; I might just have to cut to the front of the line!"

"You're welcome to do so," Itachi replied casually, "I'll be waiting."

The two of them joined their classmates in forming a circle at the center of the room. Their instructor, a middle-aged Soul Reaper who went only by the name 'Iemon', stepped into the middle of the circle.

"So, who will go first today?" he asked, "Who wants to open up today's challenge fights?"

Visaelya immediately stood up and stepped forward. "I do, Iemon-sensei!"

Your oaf of a friend appears to be right this time, said the spirit of Itachi's Zanpakutō.

She hasn't called me out yet.

Don't kid yourself. She's looking right at you.

Indeed, she was. Visaelya's gaze was locked on Itachi, and he could see the determination burning in her violet eyes. She wanted a fight; there was no doubt about it.

"I challenge Itachi Uchiha!" she barked.

A collective gasp went through the assembled students, with the exception of Itachi and Jiraiya. The sage had a satisfied smirk on his face; Itachi was sure that it was taking every ounce of restraint the man had to keep him from rubbing it in that he had called this one perfectly.

I'm never going to hear the end of this.

It'll be even worse if you decline her challenge. What's your move?

What do you think? The dice have been thrown, so I'll put my stake on the table and play her game.

He was sure that the spirit of his weapon was smiling. Good.

Itachi stood up and nodded. "I accept."

Iemon looked back and forth between the two of them for a moment. "Are you sure about this?"

"Absolutely," Visaelya replied firmly.

"If she insists," said Itachi.

The instructor stepped back as the two of them faced off. Visaelya was glaring daggers at him, and Itachi idly wondered if he'd inadvertently done something to piss her off.

Women were never my strong suit...

You don't say?

No quips. Not now.

Killjoy.

There were no pre-fight taunts or gestures from his opponent. The look in her eyes was enough to tell Itachi that she was all business. She clearly had a great deal invested in this fight, and she'd likely been planning it for some time. Itachi would have to keep his guard up; she'd had plenty of chances to observe his fighting style over the past four years, after all.

Iemon raised his hand. "Ready? Three… two… one… begin!"

Visaelya made the first move, lunging forward like a pouncing lioness and bringing her blade down in a hard-overhand strike. Itachi raised his sword to block the attack and was surprised by the strength behind the blow

She never struck me as a power-fighter, he thought as he fended off her subsequent strikes, Her physical strength has improved considerably, though. She's been putting in some serious extra training.

Her moves were swift, and her strikes flowed with a gracefulness that belied the might behind them. She was aggressive and confident, traits that Itachi could certainly admire even as he was on the other end of them. If nothing else, Visaelya was clearly determined to make him work for his win today, and Itachi was willing to oblige her.

He had an opening to counter and take the offensive, but Itachi declined it. He was curious as to just how far she had come since the last time she had challenged him, so he decided to content himself for the moment with simply deflecting her attacks and studying her form. Itachi continued to backpedal, altering the angle of his retreat so that he wouldn't get forced into a corner and allowing himself flexibility with his defense. When he didn't outright block or parry a blow he would duck and roll beneath it, coming back up just in time to contend with her next assault.

From the way Visaelya intensified her attacks, it was apparent that she had caught on to what he was doing, and she wasn't happy about it. "Take this seriously, Itachi! I won't accept you holding back on me! Attack, damn it! What are you waiting for?"

"Timing is everything," Itachi replied calmly as he redirected her thrust, "You ought to know; is that not why you've waited until now to challenge me?"

She didn't say anything, but from the way she was gritting her teeth Itachi knew that he was getting on her nerves. It wasn't his intention to do so, but if his opponent was going to let herself get riled up then Itachi wasn't above exploiting that.

How ruthless of you.

You disapprove?

Quite the contrary.

He continued to play defense, allowing his foe to further irritate herself and expend valuable energy. Her blows rained down hard and fast, but by keeping himself calm and centered Itachi was able to withstand the assault. She was head and shoulders above the other students in the advanced track with the exception of Jiraiya and himself, but her pride was a critical weakness.

Itachi rolled to the side as she brought her sword down in a vicious overhand strike. Coming back up and brining his weapon into guard position in a single fluid motion, he deftly parried her follow-up attack. Her next sequence of strikes was swift and precise, but her anger was costing her; she was unconsciously broadcasting her intentions, making it a relatively simple matter for a fighter as experienced as Itachi to read her moves and react accordingly.

She has talent. It's a shame that her jealousy of your prominence is undermining it. No matter; that's just one more weakness for us to take advantage of.

She must learn to master her emotions and not let them override her judgment. Once she accomplishes that, I imagine her true potential will be quite impressive.

Yes, but that is for her to realize. You are not her teacher. You task here and now is to crush her and defend your position at the top of the hierarchy.

Not the way I would put it. Defeat her, yes, but not crush her. She can still learn and grow. Besides, I don't care about the hierarchy of our class, and I will not demoralize and humiliate a fellow student simply to assert dominance.

You're too soft.

Itachi didn't bother to respond. As he deflected one blow after another he began to seek out the opening he would need to bring this contest to a close. He tightened up his defenses, minimizing his profile and leaving no gaps for Visaelya to exploit. She continued to rain down blow after blow, but Itachi detected a growing sense of desperation in his adversary. Her strikes were becoming less and less efficient as her frustration grew; their power was now becoming a liability as she succeeded only in draining her own energy reserves in her efforts to bash down the moving barrier that Itachi's sword had become.

It was when Visaelya lunged forward and thrust her sword at his gut that Itachi found the opportunity he'd been looking for. Bringing his weapon low, he altered the angle of his sword so it was pointing towards the floor at a slant. As he redirected Visaelya's strike he then pivoted and whirled around, bringing himself full circle and landing a solid blow right on her back. The strike was just hard enough to knock her off her feet but do no lasting harm; at most she'd have a bruise that would fade within a few days or so.

"Match!" called Instructor Iemon, "Itachi wins!"

Visaelya shook her head furiously. "No! I want another round!"

Iemon shot her down. "You know the rules, Miss Drakken; a student can only be challenged once per day. If you wish to fight Itachi again, then you will have to be the first one to call him out during tomorrow's session."

She hung her head in defeat. "Damn it!"

Lowering his practice sword, Itachi held out his hand. "If you do wish to challenge me again tomorrow, I will accept. You fought very well, Visaelya. Can you stand?"

She glared at him, defiance burning in her eyes. "I don't need your pity, Itachi!"

"I would never deign to insult you with pity," Itachi replied, "Am I not allowed to be concerned for a fellow student?"

She brushed his hand aside and stood up on her own. "I don't need your concern, either."

Like I said; you're too soft.

Perhaps, but that is my decision to make, not yours.

As Visaelya looked him in the eye, he could see fresh determination blazing. "I will challenge you again tomorrow, Itachi, and not just in Zanjutsu. You'd best be prepared!"

Itachi nodded. "I will, so long as you are as well."

She looked like she was going to offer some harsh retort, but seemed to think better of it. Instead she simply huffed and turned her back on him before rejoining the friends she'd been sitting with earlier.

What was all that about?, he thought as he returned to his spot on the sidelines next to Jiraiya, Did I do something recently to anger her and she's trying to seek redress through single combat?

I doubt it's anything like that. You're not the type to go out of his way to anger a woman.

Then what do you propose lies at the root of this? I'm open to suggestions.

Her family name, for starters. Remember, she is not only a member of the Drakken Clan of the Five Great Noble Houses, but she is also the niece of none other than Squad Ten Captain Rhaegon Drakken. No doubt there are great expectations placed upon her as a result of her heritage. It is not enough for her to excel in the advanced track; she must challenge your dominance for the sake of her family's honor and pride. At least, I suspect that she sees things that way.

Itachi had to admit that her arguments made sense. He knew a thing or two about prideful families given his background, after all, and he also knew what it was like trying to live up to the high hopes of prominent elders. Even as friction had grown between the Uchiha Clan and the rest of the Village Hidden in the Leaves, they were still a formidable family with power and influence. In that respect, Visaelya's circumstances weren't all that different from Itachi's back when he was alive.

Except for the part where I turned against my family and slaughtered them in a single night…

He was jolted out of his musings by a friendly elbow from Jiraiya. "What's eating you? Don't tell me you're actually worried about her challenging you again. You handled her pretty well today; no reason you can't pull off a repeat performance."

Itachi shook her head. "It's not that. I'm just not sure about how this is all going to play out. This situation could get… volatile."

Jiraiya smiled. "Or it could be fun! You never really had a rival when you were going through your training as a kid, right?"

"There was Shisui," Itachi replied, "Although that was more an instance of friendly competition, I suppose. Visaelya doesn't appear to be interested in that, though."

"So roll with it," said Jiraiya, "If she's gonna make a habit of gunning for you from now on, it'll keep you on your toes. Besides, she's pretty easy on the eyes; you could definitely have worse rivals!"

"Why am I not surprised that you brought her looks into this?" Itachi deadpanned.

Jiraiya chuckled. "Ah, you know me so well! Look, don't overthink this. Whether you wanted it or not, you've picked up a rival here. Accept it and move forward accordingly."

Itachi raised an eyebrow. "And how exactly do I do that?"

"Keep training and be ready to fight her!" Jiraiya answered with a grin, "I'll be rooting for you, buddy!"

How did I land myself in this situation?

Well, for starters, you died.

Very funny.

….

One week later…

Credit where it's due, thought Itachi as he ducked a punch from Visaelya, she does not give up easily…

In the week since she had first challenged him in their Zanjutsu class, Visaelya had been as good as her word. Not only had she challenged him every single day afterwards in their swordsmanship class, but she had extended that to their Hakuda sessions as well, and if their Kidō and Hohō classes had a means of allowing for one-on-one challenges Itachi was certain that she would've called him out in them as well.

He respected her determination if nothing else; she was clearly quite driven to best him, and she was putting a great deal of effort into it. During every class exercise, she was working herself harder than practically everyone else in the advanced track, and no one could deny the strides that she was making. Her skills seemed to grow more refined with each passing day, and Itachi actually found himself grateful for that; it was just another reason for him to push himself harder.

Jiraiya was right about having a rival not necessarily being a bad thing, he mused as he brought up his arms to block a series of blows, I'll never admit that to his face, of course.

As much as he might admire Visaelya's spirit, though, that did not mean that Itachi intended to let her win. If she wanted a victory over him, then he would make her work for it. The eyes of more than just their instructors and fellow students were on them, after all; the thought of the Captains of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads evaluating them and sizing them up was never far from his mind.

Especially the Captain of Squad Two.

Yoruichi was a legend in the Soul Society for her skills in both Hohō and Hakuda, which made Itachi all the more determined to give standout showings in those classes. If he could excel in the areas that she had achieved such mastery in, it would only improve his chances of getting into her division upon graduation. Of course, Itachi wasn't neglecting the other aspects of his studies just to get the most out of those two areas of expertise, but he was keenly aware of the emphasis that Squad Two put on them.

Ducking and weaving through Visaelya's punches and kicks, Itachi found the opening he'd been looking for and took it. As Visaelya made a powerful right hook, Itachi grabbed her arm and flung her forwards, turning her momentum against her. She landed flat on her back, winded but otherwise unharmed. The young woman blinked a few times as if she was still trying to process just how suddenly the tables had been turned on her.

"Did I… lose again?" she asked, although it felt like she was talking to herself rather than Itachi.

He held out his hand. "You did well, but you're overly aggressive. It leaves you vulnerable to more experienced fighters."

She glared up at him. "And is that why you beat me? You're more experienced than me? I find that hard to believe considering that we're both in the same Academy year."

Itachi nodded. "And I imagine that you also believed that the early training you would receive as a member of the Drakken Clan would give you a further boost. Does that sound about right?"

Her eyes widened. "How did you know about that?"

"It's an open secret that the offspring of the Five Great Noble Houses have access to private tutors, and that their families employ them in order to avoid the embarrassment of one of their children failing to make it through the Academy," Itachi replied, "I had help from one of those very tutors when I was recovering from that incident back in our first year."

Visaelya scowled. "It was a Shihōin Clan tutor, right? We all know that the Squad Two Captain favors you. She has since the entrance exams!"

"Because I proved to her before the exams ever started that I had the abilities she sought," said Itachi, "So did Jiraiya. Do you know why that is?"

Visaelya looked a bit taken aback at his line of questioning. "No… what was it?"

"You were born in the Soul Society, Visaelya," said Itachi, "I imagine that the same is true for many of our classmates. Jiraiya and I, though… we were not."

Her face paled slightly. "So… you died, then? In one of the Realms of the Living?"

Itachi nodded. "Yes… and they weren't peaceful deaths for either of us."

He reached down and pulled her to her feet before she could refuse him. When her eyes met his again he saw that she no longer appeared angry. Instead she seemed more curious than anything else as she looked back and forth between him and Jiraiya.

"So… the two of you died in battle, then?" she asked.

Technically, mine was disease, he mused, but that was further exacerbated by my violent lifestyle, and when I succumbed it was during the duel with Sasuke, so I suppose that's splitting hairs.

"Yes," he said, "but before that, we had engaged more than our share of foes. You have wondered why the two of us rose so swiftly in our classes despite not having a background like yours. The answer is experience. There is no training that can ever match an actual life-and-death fight. I suppose you could say that we had our own little advantage coming into the Academy, but it is not one that we were born into. We earned our strength… and we are not done building it yet."

Visaelya's gaze hardened. "My strength is not something that was given to me just because of my bloodline. The power of the Drakken Clan is strong, but it is only strong because its members strive to attain true mastery of combat! Do not mistake me for someone who cannot stand on her own without the power of her bloodline!"

Itachi shook his head. "Forgive me if I gave you that impression. You are obviously quite strong; the past week has amply demonstrated that. If you continue your training with the dedication and passion that you have shown so far, then I have no doubt that you will bring honor to the Drakken Clan."

Some of the tension in her demeanor seemed to ease up, and her hostility faded. "I… I appreciate that… Itachi."

Itachi gave her a respectful nod. "If you wish to challenge me again in order to test and improve your skills, you know where to find me. I will not turn you down. In exchange, I will ask only one thing."

Visaelya raised an eyebrow. "And that is?"

"Let go of your anger, and keep your pride in check," Itachi replied, "When you let them rule you, they undermine your skills. If you're able to master them, then I think you'll find that your abilities will make a considerable leap forward."

After a moment she nodded. "I'll keep that in mind… thank you."

"You're welcome," he said before he returned to his spot on the sidelines next to Jiraiya.

The Legendary Sannin smiled. "You handled that pretty well. I'm impressed; never really saw you as the diplomatic type back when you were alive."

"I'm sure," Itachi deadpanned, "I never gave you reason to, after all."

That was your old life. Remember that this is not just your afterlife now; it is a second life. Use it to become who you were meant to be.

Itachi could stop a small smile from appearing on his face. That's quite encouraging, coming from you.

Well, I do have a vested interest in your self-improvement.

That you do…

….

One week later…

Soi-Fon raised her eyebrow as she finished reading the notice Yoruichi had given to her. "A joint operation with Squad Ten… and the Academy students will be involved as well? Lady Yoruichi, I know it's not my place to question the Head Captain, but still… is this wise?"

That was something Yoruichi had actually been wondering herself. "Well, I'd be lying if I said I didn't have concerns. Still, I can see the merits behind it."

"Mind if I take a look at that?" asked Kisuke.

Soi-Fon scowled at him, but a nod from Yoruichi was enough to make her relent and pass the sheet over to him. The Squad Two Captain saw her old friend smirk as he reviewed the notice, which she took as a good sign; that usually meant that Kisuke felt that a certain course of action was worth pursuing.

"Interesting," he said, "Possible large-scale Hollow nest just outside the eastern borders of the Rukon District… well, I can see why the old man wants this to be a joint operation."

"That much I can understand," said Soi-Fon, "but Academy students have no place in a mission like this. The level of danger involved is beyond what they're ready for."

Yoruichi smiled. "Not necessarily… at least, not for all of them. The Head Captain specifically ordered for students in the advanced track only to be brought in, and even then, only the ones in the top tier of the fourth, fifth, and sixth years. I can think of two who fit the bill nicely."

Kisuke nodded. "I agree. I think it's about time the two of them had another chance to shine in the field. They did quite well last time around, and I imagine they've only improved since then."

Soi-Fon sighed. "I have no doubt that Itachi and Jiraiya have both made progress with their training, but this may be too much even for them."

Yoruichi shook her head. "No. They can do this. They're ready for it, and I'm willing to bet that most of the other advanced track students that get picked for this mission will be as well."

Kisuke smiled. "Faith in the next generation… it's a beautiful thing. Of course, we need to make sure that they survive long enough to earn that faith first."

Yoruichi nodded. "You're right about that. I'll do everything I can for them, and I know you both will too. However, it won't be just us overseeing them this time… and that worries me."

"Why?" asked Soi-Fon, "I know Captain Drakken's family is a rival to yours, but you've never been particularly worried about that in the past."

"I'm not," she replied, "Rhaegon, on the other hand… he might be a problem."

Kisuke raised an eyebrow. "What makes you say that? He has a pretty solid track record in the field. There might be some family friction there, but nothing that we can't work around."

Yoruichi sighed. "I'm not so sure. The Drakken Clan has always been prideful, and while that's to be expected of any of the Five Great Noble Houses, they take it a bit too far. Rhaegon never misses a chance to show off, and if he brings his pet along for this mission then that'll only exacerbate things. He could end up putting the students at risk."

"His own niece would be among them, though," Soi-Fon pointed out, "He wouldn't do anything to put her in danger… would he?"

Yoruichi's eyes narrowed. "Hard to say. I don't know how close Rhaegon is with his siblings or their children. I'd like to think that having a niece in the fray would act as a restraint on his more hot-headed tendencies, but it might just further feed his ego."

"What do you want to do?" asked Kisuke, "Have you considered talking to the Head Captain about it?"

Yoruichi shook her head. "This is an official order, which means the old man's not changing his mind. These are the cards we've been dealt, so we just need to play them the best we can. Besides, it won't just be Squads Two and Ten; according to those orders, Squad Four's also dispatching one of their relief teams to provide rear echelon support. If something goes wrong, at least we'll have some qualified healers nearby. It won't be the same as having Unohana with us, but it's better than nothing."

Soi-Fon nodded. "So be it. Who all do you want on this mission, Lady Yoruichi?"

"You and Kisuke for sure," she replied, "I'll round up several of our top tier officers to cover our bases."

Kisuke smirked. "If they're top tier, then that means we're leaving our dear Lieutenant out of it, right?"

Yoruichi nodded. "Yup. We're gonna have enough on our plate without Ōmaeda strutting about like he owns the place. I'll saddle him with garrison duty; if I put him in charge of managing training drills for our reserves, we can slip away without him causing too much of a fuss."

Kisuke chuckled. "Sounds good to me! It's always nice to leave him out of the action and then watch him squirm when we hint about what happened afterwards."

Yoruichi laughed. "That's true! Maybe we've been a bit too rough on him in the past… but, then again, with how pompous and stuck-up he acts, he kind of deserves it."

Soi-Fon's brow furrowed in thought. "If we're bringing our best officers… then does that mean our new Tenth Seat will be along for the ride?"

"That's right," said Yoruichi, "He's already proven his worth in the past, after all, so it's time to break him into his new rank. What's up, Soi-Fon?"

"When Itachi passed the entrance exams and first started at the Academy, our Tenth Seat was Fourteenth back then," she said, "You told me back then that you wanted to wait until graduation to properly introduce him to Itachi, and that didn't change even after Itachi suffered the soul fracture. If we bring him on this mission now, there's a good chance that they'll meet."

Yoruichi nodded. "I know. I'd been hoping to keep him as a little surprise to spring on Itachi once I learned that they knew each other, but it's out of my hands now. We're going to need as many qualified officers and enlisted on deck as we can get for this one, and he's got more than his share of talent. He's coming along, which means Itachi's going to meet him early. That's all there is to it."

"Understood, Lady Yoruichi," Soi-Fon replied.

Kisuke smiled. "Well, if nothing else, at least that'll be interesting to see. I wonder how he's gonna take it…"

Yoruichi shrugged. "We'll find out tomorrow when the mission starts. In the meantime, we've got a lot of prep-work ahead of us, so let's get to it!"

….

The next day…

"So," said Jiraiya as he looked around the lecture hall, "any idea what's going on?"

"Your guess is as good as mine at this point," Itachi replied.

They had only just arrived at their first class of the day when the instructor had ordered them to go to a different room. While their teacher had assured them that they weren't in trouble, Itachi was more than a little concerned about the fact that the instructor had not offered any further information. Upon their arrival, they had recognized a few other members of their particular class already in the room, and a handful more had shown up since then. Other students were in the room as well, but not enough to bring it to full capacity.

They're all advanced track students, he thought as he studied them, and they're all from either our year or the ones ahead of ours. If the ones I recognize from our class are any indication, they're bringing only the top students from each advanced track group from years four, five and six to this room. The question is why…

He was surprised to see Visaelya approach him. When he met her gaze, he was relieved to see that she wasn't as tense as she'd been whenever she challenged him to a fight; she appeared to be 'lightening up a bit' as Jiraiya often put it.

"I take it the two of you are just as much in the dark as I am," she said, "Am I wrong?"

Itachi shook his head. "No, you're not. I was hoping you might have some insight into all of this, but it seems I was mistaken."

"At least we're on equal grounds here, then," she said as she looked around, "None of my friends have shown up here, but based on the faces I've seen it appears that only the very best of our class have been selected; the elite of the elite, as it were."

"So it would seem," said Jiraiya, "Maybe it's a pop quiz for us hotshots."

"I'm not seeing a proctor for an exam," said Itachi as he scanned the room again, "Of course, they may not show up until we're all assembled."

Visaelya shook her head. "I don't think they're going through all this trouble for a paper test, especially if the top tier students from the fifth and sixth year advanced tracks have also been brought in. They've got something else in mind."

Itachi nodded. "I agree."

Jiraiya smirked. "You two actually agreeing on something? I think that's a first!"

Visaelya folded her arms. "I may consider Itachi to be my competition in our class, but I respect him enough that I would be willing to concur with him should his point be valid. I'm glad to see that he seems to share the same level of maturity and mutual regard. I couldn't care less about your thoughts on the matter, Jiraiya the Perv Author!"

Jiraiya scowled. "Perv Author? You take that back! I'll have you know, young lady, that I'm a highly accomplished novelist! My series has been at the top of the Seireitei's best seller list since it made its debut!"

"Only because the masses are easily amused by the cheap smut you peddle!" Visaelya scoffed.

"Cheap smut?" Jiraiya replied incredulously, "It's a romantic-comedy series with no rival in the Soul Society! You just have no taste for good literature!"

Visaelya glared at him. "I'll have you know that I have excellent tastes when it comes to reading material! They just happen to be far too refined for a lout like you to properly comprehend."

If these are my teammates for this mission, then my sanity may not survive…

At least they'll be good for entertainment.

Glad to see one of us is able to find the silver lining…

The two of them were interrupted by the classroom door opening a moment later. Rather than one of the Academy instructors, Itachi was surprised to see none other than Yoruichi and Soi-Fon walk into the lecture hall.

Visaelya's eyes widened, and hers were hardly the only ones to do so. "Captain Shihōin? What is the meaning of this?"

"That's what I'd like to know," muttered Jiraiya, "Well, I guess that throws 'pop quiz' out the window."

"Indeed," Itachi murmured, his heartbeat picking up ever so slightly; he highly doubted Squad Two's Captain and her bodyguard had shown up just to administer a paper test.

Something much more interesting was in the works.

Yoruichi immediately caught Itachi's gaze and gave him a friendly smile and wink. He gave her a small nod in return while at the same time trying to figure out just why his face felt a little bit warmer all of the sudden.

You're an idiot.

I wasn't asking for your input.

That doesn't change the fact that I'm right.

Itachi didn't bother to respond; there was no point in trying to argue with her when she got like this. She would enjoy it more than anything else, and Itachi had much more important things on his mind than trying to take down the spirit of his Zanpakutō in a test of verbal barbs.

The assembled students ceased their chatter as Yoruichi addressed them. "Good morning, everyone! Sorry for the manner in which we dragged you out of your regular classes, but this came down the pipe rather quickly. Time is of the essence, something that you'll find is all too common once you graduate and join the rest of us on active duty."

She then nodded at Soi-Fon, who stepped forward. "When you become a Soul Reaper, you can be called upon at any time to take part in an operation. You must be constantly prepared for such an event, so consider this a taste of what's to come should you complete your education."

Yoruichi nodded. "Well said. Now, we're on the clock, so I'll jump right to the chase; you're all the best of your respective classes, and we're going to put you to the test in the field. Today, Squads Two and Ten will be conducting a joint operation just outside the eastern borders of the Rukon District, and you're coming along for the ride. A group of Hollows have set up a little nest in the foothills out there, and it's our job to clear them out!"

A collective gasp went out from most of the students. Itachi couldn't blame them. It wasn't unheard of for students to take on Hollows before graduation; the Konsō exercise from the year before was proof enough of that. However, for students to be asked to participate in a clear-out operation was another thing entirely.

And it's a joint operation on top of that, he thought, I guess we've either impressed the Thirteen Court Guard Squads significantly enough for them to desire to test us in the field, or they're short on manpower. The only way to find out for sure will be to get on site and see what forces they have assembled apart from us.

"The Hollows have taken up residence in a network of caves beneath the foothills that's rather expansive," Yoruichi continued, "Our objective is to take them all down. While the frontline fighters will all be active duty Soul Reapers, there will also be reserves stationed outside the caves to intercept any Hollows that attempt to flee. Given the nature of the environment will be operating in, it's more than likely that some will evade us in the caves and be able to make a break for the surface. That's where you come in; you'll be operating with the reserves to hold the perimeter and make sure that none of them slip through our net."

"You will not be expected to act on your own," Soi-Fon added, "You will be divided up and placed under the supervision of active duty Soul Reapers. Pay attention to their instructions, follow their lead, and you will make it through this operation alive."

Yoruichi nodded. "I won't mince words; this will be a dangerous mission. We'll do what we can to minimize the risk to you students, but out in the field it's impossible to guarantee complete safety. That being said, missions like this are what you all have been training for. Remember all that you've been taught up to this point, listen to the Soul Reapers that are supervising you, and you'll be all right."

So it's not entirely different from search and elimination missions that Shinobi might conduct, thought Itachi, Hollows may not be the same kind of prey as humans, but some of my old training should come in handy nonetheless.

"All right, then," said Yoruichi, "We've got a lot of ground to cover before we get to the mission site, and we don't have all day. Let's get moving!"

….

Yoruichi hadn't been exaggerating regarding the distance to the area where the mission was taking place. It was true that it was just outside the eastern borders of the Rukon District, but given that the City of Wandering Souls was in fact larger than several small countries that Itachi had seen in the Shinobi World, getting to the site within a day was still no small feat. Even with his improved proficiency in the art of Shunpo, covering so much ground so quickly was hardly an easy task. It had been early morning when Yoruichi had informed Itachi and the other students of their mission, but by the time they actually reached the general region where the mission was to take place it was already mid-afternoon.

So, he thought as the group finally came to a stop, this is where the Rukon District ends…

…and The Wild begins.

As mind-bogglingly vast as the Rukon District was, it was not the whole Soul Society. Far from it, in fact. The Rukon District, and the Seireitei within, were merely the most densely populated areas in the Soul Society, and in actuality were just a very small fraction of the realm that made up the afterlife. While there were other inhabited regions in the Soul Society, most notably the Principalities, the ancestral homelands of the Five Great Noble Houses and their vassals, the grand bulk of the land was actually unclaimed wilderness.

Vast unclaimed wilderness.

It was one thing to see it briefly presented on maps or in paintings in the classroom, but quite another to actually step outside the Rukon District and into it. True, they were only on the very edge, but even here Itachi could feel the difference. The Seireitei was nice, but even then, it still held some of the same crowded vibe that seemed to permeate the Rukon District. Just stepping beyond its borders and onto the frontier was like suddenly getting blasted with an onrushing gale of fresh air. Suddenly there were no more buildings around them, no throngs of people milling about.

There was green, and so much of it. They were atop a small hill, but even that modest vantage point was enough to slam home to Itachi just how massive the world beyond the Rukon District truly was. Mountains were visible just over the horizon, but the expanse before them was a majestic tapestry of trees and plains almost as far as the eye could see. There was nothing manmade in sight; this was nature in all its glory and more.

"It's something else, isn't it?" said a familiar female voice from just over his shoulder.

Itachi turned and saw Yoruichi come up next to him. A knowing smile was on her face, as if his reaction was just what she'd been expecting.

All Itachi could do was nod. "That's… one way to put it."

Jiraiya whistled. "No kidding. Haven't seen something like this in quite some time."

"Beautiful…" said Visaelya softly, "I heard stories, but I never knew…"

"That's right, I almost forgot," said Yoruichi, "You're Captain Drakken's niece, right? You've spent your whole life up until now inside the Seireitei, haven't you?"

Visaelya nodded. "Yes. I always wanted to go beyond… journey across The Wild along the Great East Road to our clan's Principality… but I was never allowed to do so. My parents told me the trip would be long and dangerous, and that it would be better to complete my training before undertaking it."

"They're not wrong," said Yoruichi, "Taking a trip across The Wild is not something to be done lightly. Hollows are much more numerous out there; their Gargantas commonly bring them into the Soul Society through various entry points in the wilderness, and it's from there that they begin to converge on the Rukon District, assuming they're not drawn towards one of the independent settlements. Hollows aren't the only beasts to worry about out there, either; there are plenty of dangerous creatures that make their homes in The Wild, and they're viciously territorial. As if running that gauntlet weren't bad enough, there are also the various bandit tribes and marauders that are on the loose beyond the borders of the Rukon District."

"It wasn't always that way, though, right?" asked Itachi, "Our classes have made the occasional reference to ruins out there that would indicate prior habitation, but they didn't go into much detail; they considered them to be part of a past better left forgotten."