Chapter Twenty Two

One week and five days later…

"Next target and next spell!" Minerva barked, "Go!"

Itachi nodded before reciting the incantation. "Strike, lord of tempest and thunder! Make your fury known to men and beast alike, less they forget the higher order of the world! Hadō 4: Byakurai!"

Pointing at the target downrange with his right index finger, he let fly with a concentrated bolt of light-blue spirit energy. The precise shot nailed the target right in the middle, leaving a clean and smoking hole in it.

Minerva nodded and smiled. "Very nice. Most students have trouble with the more accurate version of Byakurai; they prefer discharging it from both hands. Your performance with both versions has been exemplary."

"Thank you," Itachi replied.

"Let's not rest on our laurels quite yet," said Minerva, "We still have the rest of the afternoon ahead of us, after all. Next target, and next spell up in the ranks. Hit it with your best shot."

Itachi took a deep breath to center himself before beginning the incantation. "Master of the spring winds, I summon you! Bring forth your creatures great and small, and let them overwhelm the enemies of creation! Hadō 5: Hotaru Bāsuto!"

He held out the palm of his right hand, and from it flew a burst of tiny green spheres made of spirit energy. The rapid-fire burst of emerald projectiles perforated the target next to the one he'd hit earlier with Byakurai.

Minerva clapped as Itachi caught his breath. "Excellent! That's a much more precise burst than I was expecting. First-year students usually send the projectiles flying all over the place."

"I can see why," Itachi replied, "All those spirit projectiles coming forth so quickly can be difficult to properly harness."

"Indeed," said his teacher, "Still, you did quite well. Keep it up and eventually you'll be able to increase the duration of the bursts, as well as your ability to direct the projectiles. With enough practice, a Soul Reaper using Hadō 5 can lay down a barrage capable of pinning a swarm of lesser Hollows. It's a good opening move when you're facing off against a large number of weaker enemies, and it's also useful for covering a retreat when the ranks of the enemy prove to be overwhelming."

Itachi nodded. "I'll keep that in mind."

"Good," Minerva replied before nodding down range, "Now, let's keep at it. Next spell up in the ranks. By the time I'm done with you, not only will you pass the Head Captain's exam with flying colors, but when you rejoin the Academy you'll be the best damn spellcaster in your class!"

….

One week later…

"Ah," sighed Yoruichi with a smile as she leaned back behind her desk, "Finally done with the post-action reports! I swear, sometimes those take longer than the fights themselves!"

She had returned a while ago from a mission to the very edge of the Rukon District. Along with Soi-Fon, Kisuke, and a handful of other officers and foot-soldiers, she had overseen the purging of a Hollow nest that had somehow taken root in the darkest corner of South Rukon 79. The Hollows themselves had proven to be on the weaker end of the spectrum, but the fact that so many of them had been able to establish a foothold in the Soul Society and maintain it for as long as they had was concerning.

We really need to boost our numbers and get more patrols out there, she thought, We're just stretched too damn thin…

The door to her office slipped open, and Soi-Fon stepped in with a tray bearing a small pot and some cups. "Care for some tea, Lady Yoruichi?"

Yoruichi nodded. "Sure thing. Thanks, Soi-Fon!"

The head of her personal guard smiled. "You're welcome, Lady Yoruichi."

After it was poured she took a sip. "Did you make this yourself? You're really getting good at this!"

Soi-Fon bowed, and Yoruichi could've sworn she caught her bodyguard blushing. "Oh, it was nothing, Lady Yoruichi!"

Yoruichi leaned forward. "Come on, Soi-Fon, there's nothing wrong with showing a little pride in your abilities. Take earlier, for instance; you did very well in the fighting over in South 79. Your bond with your Zanpakutō is really coming along nicely!"

"You're too kind, Lady Yoruichi," Soi-Fon replied, "Still… I'm nowhere near as strong as you are."

Yoruichi shook her head. "Don't sell yourself short. Give it time. You're young, and I know how hard you've been training. You've already unlocked your Shikai, and I can tell that you're getting better at using it. I can't wait to see what your Bankai looks like once you finally achieve it!"

Soi-Fon gulped. "Bankai? I'm a long way from that, Lady Yoruichi!"

Yoruichi smiled. "Hey, I used to think that about myself, but look at me now! Trust me, if you keep up the hard work, that day will come before you know it."

Soi-Fon returned her smile. "I'll do that. Thank you, Lady Yoruichi."

As much as Yoruichi liked to tease her bodyguard, she was being completely serious with her today. Soi-Fon could sometimes be a little too high-strung and strict for her own good, but she was a decent woman at heart and a very competent subordinate. While Yoruichi didn't really think that she needed a bodyguard, she was glad that Soi-Fon was the one assigned to fill that role. It felt like having both a younger sister and a pupil, and Yoruichi was proud of how far Soi-Fon had come in the time that she'd served under her. In a way, she supposed that Soi-Fon was the Lieutenant that she really wanted; Marenoshin Ōmaeda was just a placeholder, a sop to a noble family and the petty politics of the Soul Society's aristocracy.

Her and Kisuke, she mused, I'd be much happier with either of them in the Lieutenant's slot, really. I wonder if I could make them both Co-Lieutenants someday. It'd be an unorthodox move, but it's not entirely unheard of. Ōmaeda won't be around forever, after all; a guy like him will either get himself killed through arrogance or will go on extended leave to take over his household once his parents decide to hand it over to him. I guess I'll just have to wait and see how things play out.

After she finished her tea she stood up and smiled at her subordinate. "That hit the spot. How about you and I take a little stroll over to the Squad Four barracks?"

Soi-Fon nodded. "Very well, Lady Yoruichi."

It was only mid-afternoon, and a very pleasant one at that as Yoruichi and her bodyguard left the Squad Two barracks and made their way through the Seireitei. The sun was high in the sky, a pleasantly cool breeze wafted through the air, and there was always the occasional Soul Reaper that bowed in greeting as the Captain and her subordinate passed.

"There are only two weeks left until the evaluation, right?" asked Soi-Fon, "Do you think Itachi will be ready?"

Yoruichi nodded and grinned. "Oh, yes! From what Minerva's last Hell Butterfly told me, it sounds like Itachi's really coming along well. I think the Head Captain will have a hard time saying no once the evaluation's over."

"When he graduates, will he really join the Thirteen Court Guard Squads?" Soi-Fon asked, "His talents in Hakuda and Hohō would make him a prime candidate for recruitment by the Stealth Force, and there's always the chance that the Kidō Corps could take an interest in him as well."

"True," said Yoruichi, "but with the way his skills have been developing, I think it'd be a waste to put him anywhere other than one of the thirteen divisions. The Stealth Force would be the second-best option for him, and since they're still under my authority I suppose I wouldn't object if it came down to that but given that he's already awakened his Zanpakutō that alone makes him a natural candidate for the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. We need someone with his abilities and potential operating on the frontlines, especially given how strained we are for manpower there as it is."

Soi-Fon nodded. "You're right. Actually, the Soul Society as a whole could use a boost in fighting strength. I know all of the divisions are fully staffed, but still… it feels like that's just not enough."

"So, you've caught on to that too, eh?" said Yoruichi with a smile, "Keep those powers of observation sharp, Soi-Fon; you'll go far with them, count on that."

The two of them made it to the Squad Four barracks a little while later. Stopping briefly by Unohana's office to say hello, they then went out to the training yard. When they got there, Yoruichi saw Itachi sitting in the middle of the yard, his Zanpakutō laying across his lap. Minerva was standing over him, and she nodded as Yoruichi and Soi-Fon approached.

"Jinzen…" said Soi-Fon softly as she studied Itachi.

"How's he doing?" asked Yoruichi.

Minerva gave her a confident smile. "He's a natural. It's all coming along better than I could ever have hoped for. You really found something special with him, Lady Yoruichi."

Yoruichi was about to reply when she saw a small cut appear on Itachi's left cheek. Minerva then leaned down and put her hand over the wound, and the familiar blue-green energy of Kaidō enveloped her hand.

That's right, thought Yoruichi, Minerva spent some time as part of Squad Four back in her active duty days before transferring to Squad Two. I'm glad she's kept her healing skills sharp.

"Not a deep one," her former teacher said after a moment, "Most of the wounds he gets in this state tend to be pretty shallow. If nothing else, the spirit of his Zanpakutō seems to be capable of some very precise swordplay."

"How long does he usually spend doing this?" asked Soi-Fon.

"Right now, I have him at half an hour each day," said Minerva, "He's been making the most of it; every time he comes back I spar with him, and his skills get just a little bit sharper each time. If Squad Eleven weren't so disdainful of Kidō I think they'd be chomping at the bit to recruit him; his swordsmanship is incredible considering he's still just a student."

Yoruichi shook her head. "I don't think Squad Eleven would be a good fit for him. They're way too rowdy, and they're not exactly a subtle bunch when it comes to combat. Besides, I can't see Itachi forgoing Kidō altogether just to get into a unit; the ability to cast spells is incredibly handy, especially given the wide variety that are available. He doesn't strike me as the type to set aside such a useful weapon for the trivial reasons that Squad Eleven does."

"Speaking of Kidō," said Soi-Fon, "how is he doing with that?"

"Exceptionally well," Minerva replied with a smile, "He's got his incantations down perfectly, and his energy control is far more advanced than anything I've ever seen in a student at this point in their education. His aim's excellent; incredibly precise, even with spells that aren't exactly known for their finesse. With the right spells and a good firing position, he could provide great cover during a battle, especially once he begins learning the more advanced and powerful techniques. He's got a good sense of spatial awareness, too, which is another vital trait for Kidō users."

"How about Hakuda and Hohō?" asked Yoruichi.

Now Minerva was all but beaming with pride. "The only other student I've had that's taken to either of them so intuitively is you, Lady Yoruichi. His technique in Hakuda is brilliant; I can definitely see how he'd dominate his class. Honestly, I don't think any of the Academy instructors could add substantially to his knowledge in that regard. You said he was a relatively recent arrival to the Soul Society, right?"

Yoruichi nodded. "Yes."

"If that's the case, then I'm certain he was already well-versed in hand-to-hand combat when he was alive," said Minerva, "His reflexes are uncanny, he knows exactly what moves to go with depending on the situation, and his footwork is perfect. As for Hohō, that's coming along wonderfully. He's improving both the distance and precision of his Flash Steps, and he's getting better at working them into our sparring matches. The technique still requires considerable focus from him, but I'm confident that eventually it'll come as naturally to him as breathing."

Yoruichi smiled. "Hot damn! I do know how to pick 'em, don't I?"

Minerva nodded. "Indeed."

"How much longer will he be meditating like this?" asked Soi-Fon.

"He's about halfway into his session right now," said Minerva, "Are you two planning on sticking around? I think you'd enjoy witnessing our sparring match once he's finished, Lady Yoruichi."

"I'm sure I would," she replied, "but I'm afraid we can't stick around that long. There are still some things that I need to take care of today. I was really just coming by to say hi and check up on his progress."

"I'll give Itachi your regards," said Minerva, "If you come by a little earlier or later next time, you should be able to catch him outside of Jinzen."

Yoruichi smiled. "I'll try to remember that. Keep up the good work, Minerva. I can't wait to see what he's capable of once all this is done!"