Chapter 8 - One Look (2/2)
Taro is also surprised to see Itachi simply standing there with no expression. ”What is he up to?”
Daiki sneers at Itachi. ”So what if he's good at hakuda? With no experience there's no way he can best me at Kido techniques!”
Taro looks at Daiki without saying anything and looks back towards Itachi.
Ounabara walks up to Itachi to offer some pointers. But before he is able to say anything, Itachi calmly points his finger without raising his arm towards the dummy.
Hado 1: Sho, Itachi quietly says before a burst of invisible force strikes the dummy and sends it flying over 10 meters before hitting the fence behind it. A few moments later the dummy recovers itself back to its original position.
The class looks at Itachi with stunned faces. Ounabara was also surprised with Itachi's technique. However, before they recover they once again hear Itachi's voice.
”Bakudo 1: Sai.” Itachi points to the dummy and recites the spell. An invisible force is sent towards the dummy as it locks its arms. The force of the restriction was too great for the dummy as the arms snap off the body.
”Hmm, too much force. I overestimated the required amount. I need to repress and control the flow of the reiatsu more.” Itachi thought to himself.
Taro was also shocked at Itachi's talent in Kido.
Akemi was also surprised, her Hado had sent the dummy flying over 5 meters, but Itachi's had went and slammed into the fence. Not only that, his Bakudo completely snapped off the dummy's arm. She looked at Itachi with some reservation. His talent was scary.
A few minutes later the dummy fixes itself once again before going back to its position.
Ounabara coughed before heading to the front of the class. Ounabara signals the class to once again rotates with the next set of students.
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After an hour, the class finishes their last cycle of kido practice and Ounabara calls for a short break. He leaves the training field temporarily and the students talk among themselves. Itsuki approaches Itachi.
”Hey Itachi that was amazing haha, you really showed those nobles.” Itsuki says to Itachi.
Itachi remains silent and just looks at him with a stoic expression.
Itsuki smiles awkwardly before changing the subject ”Hey next is the Hoho class. Should I keep my weights on?” he asks.
”It's up to you to decide what you can and can't handle.” Itachi replies. Itsuki nods as the instructor comes back.
”Looks like his kido skills are also very strong.” Taro sighs before turning away.
The students continue talking amongst themselves, send occasional glances at Itachi before a voice is heard.
”Break is over! We are going to the hoho practice field. Let's go!” Ounabara signals the students and they all follow. They walk through the courtyard then around the back of the academy. They see an open field.
”Here I'll show you how to properly use Hoho. Remember Hoho is the ability to incorporate speed and agility in our movements. The greatest expression of this technique will be when you are all able to use the flash step. Watch me carefully as I demonstrate the basic steps.
Ounabara stands facing the open field in front of him. He takes a single step forward but instead of traveling the distance of a regular step, he traveled several meters forward with great speed.
”The goal is to gain the most distance in the least amount of steps.” Ounabara demonstrates it one more time then stops.
”Now I'll show you the flash step.” Ounabara says. Itachi once again activates his sharingan to watch Ounabara closely as he performs the technique. Ounabara suddenly disappears from sight and reappears halfway across the field. He vanishes again and appears right back. To most of the students, his movements were too fast for their eyes to follow but Itachi tracked and analyzed each of Ounabara's movements.
”To get from his position to the center of the field took him only two steps and back again was also another two steps. He concentrated reiatsu to his legs with such precision to increase his speed much like the body flicker technique but there is a huge emphasis on taking less steps. So that's how he flashed behind me yesterday.” Itachi thinks to himself before deactivating his sharingan.
”All of you spread out on this field. I'll be going around watching your performances.” Ounabara says before flash stepping to the middle of the field. The rest of the students pan out. Itachi finds an area by himself. With the image of Ounabara's flash step still clear in his mind Itachi focuses his reiatsu to his feet. For now he stops channeling his reiatsu into the weights and focuses on just his legs. He looks ahead to an empty area in the distance and takes a step forward. Itachi suddenly vanishes, then reappears in the place he was looking at. ”Five steps. I can do better.” Itachi looks back to where he was originally standing and tries again. Itachi vanishes and reappears. ”Three steps this time. I am getting the hang of it. It also helps me control my reiatsu better. I should try flash stepping with the weights on as well”. He channels his reiatsu into the weights and begins practicing once again. Itachi was feeling the strain of practice as his control was split between the steps and the weights. He begins to feel the exhaustion as he continues his practice.
Ounabara walks around the training field looking at each student. He sees Daiki, Daiyu, and Taro performing hoho at an advanced level. ”Those three are very close to learning the flash step.” Ounabara keeps walking around the field watching the other students stumble and fall and gives them pointers. Out of the corner of his eye he catches a fast movement. He looks to his left and sees Akemi Kuchiki disappear and reappear several meters away. ”Oh she already can flash step? Impressive.” Ounabara keeps watching the other students and then his eyes open with shock as he sees Itachi flash stepping back and forth in an area with minimal steps. ”Amazing, his technique is near flawless. I expected him to be at around Akemi's level but...this far exceeds her technique. This kind of talent is very rare. And he's someone with no background or status. He reminds of that Hitsugaya kid from all those years ago.”
Itachi notices Ounabara approaching him and stops his training. He was already panting from the excessive training.
”Uchiha. Again you surpass the expectations I had set for you.” Ounabara compliments Itachi. Itachi nods as he receives the compliment. ”Thank you”. Ounabara smiles and heads towards the other students.
Itachi bends over and tries to catch his breath for the next few minutes. He could feel pain in his feet and legs from the added weights.
A few minutes later Ounabara's voice was heard.
”Okay that's enough for today! You are all dismissed!” Ounabara shouts from the middle of the field and his voice echoes.
Itachi starts to make his way towards the dorms as Itsuki walks up to Itachi.
”Hey that was amazing, you already have grasp over the flash step!?” Itsuki questions.
”No, I am still taking too many steps. The goal of the technique is to use the least amount of steps to move.” Itachi replies. Itsuki nods and memorizes Itachi's explanation.
”Were you also using the weights during the practice?” Itsuki questions. Itachi nods.
”Wow! How did you split your control so well between the technique and keeping the weights active?” Itsuki questions.
Itachi gives Itsuki more pointers before bidding farewell and continuing his way towards the library. Itsuki notices Itachi looked very tired and decided not to pester him about training and bids him farewell and heads towards the training field.
The librarian was very expectant as he awaited the arrival of the strange book-reading individual.
”Hmm the classes were over so he should be arriving soon.” He thought to himself before looking towards the door.
Just as he was finishing his thought, the door opened and Itachi walked in. Itachi greets the librarian with a nod as he walks past.
”He's here!” The librarian watches itachi go towards his usual corner and pick up his book. He waits for him to start flipping pages like crazy.
He waits a brief moment and realizes Itachi just reading like a normal person.
”How come he's not flipping pages?” He thinks to himself feeling slightly disappointed.
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Itachi.
”I am too tired to activate my sharingan. I'll finish this small book for now.” He picks up a book about the academy history and its Alumni. He sits down in a chair and starts reading the book.