Chapter 9 - Training (1/2)

The next day.

Itachi sits down at his desk waiting for the instructor to arrive. A few minutes later, Ounabara comes in through the door and stands at the podium as he greets the class.

”Today will be a simple day. We will go over several topics on Soul Society and hollows.” Ounabara says to the class.

For the next thirty minutes, Itachi listens to the lecture but doesn't take many notes. He had already read these things in the library and it was mostly review for him. Itachi stares out the window and starts to daydream. 'When Sasuke passes away, is it possible I will ever meet him here?' Itachi shakes the thought then goes over various training scenarios in his head he could do after class.

Itachi's daydreaming is interrupted by Ounabara raising his voice.

”Remember there is no class for the rest of the week! Spend your free time wisely! If you don't train and study consistently you will fall behind! Class is dismissed.”

Itachi remains seated for another few moments and thinks to himself. 'These classes are starting to become unnecessary now, just like the shinobi academy did. I might as well send a shadow clone in my place next class. It should be good training as well' Itachi gets up from his desk and is greeted by Itsuki as he walks out the door.

”Hey Itachi! You want to spar today?” Itsuki asks eagerly.

”Alright.” Itachi replies. After leaving the classroom the two head to the hakuda training hall.

Itsuki takes off his weights before he readies his stance. He charges at Itachi and they begin their fast paced spar. Itsuki sends a relentless stream of attacks to no avail, as Itachi counters them with ease through various applications of grapples and footwork. They continue their spar for thirty minutes as Itachi continues to give various pointers in regards to Itsuki's form and strikes. Itachi starts to notice Itsuki's blows becoming dull and sloppy.

”This is enough sparring for today. Next session you should keep your weights on to help with your physical strength and reiatsu control. Your end goal should be to be able to fight while maintaining steady reiatsu flow to your legs.” Itachi says when Itsuki is unable to get up.

”Okay.” Itsuki nods in agreement and takes a moment to catch his breath.

”Remember you only just started training. You can only improve from here on out.” Itachi said as Itsuki sits down for a moment to relax.

Itsuki gets back up after his short break and he puts a little bit of reiatsu back into his weights. Itachi and Itsuki spar for another 5 minutes before Itsuki has to take another break again.

”It is incredibly hard to focus while using these weights. They are easy to maintain while I'm sitting in class or walking through the courtyard but in an actual fight I keep making them overly heavy…” Itsuki attempts to sit down to rest again. As Itsuki sat down, he felt his legs throbbing with pain now that he stopped moving. He releases the flow of reiatsu on his weights.

”Hey Itachi I think I'll call it a day. I'm about at my limit. I'll probably go to the library and study a bit on what Ounabara lectured earlier.” Itsuki says as he gets back up.

”That's fine. I plan on training a bit longer.” Itachi remarks. Itsuki waves and heads towards the library. Itachi exits the hakuda hall and sees the kido training field in front of him. He notices multiple paper targets set up and a lone student practicing on them. The student was firing red orbs from his palms, a technique that Itachi had never seen before. Intrigued, Itachi goes closer to watch.

”Hado 31: Shakkaho!” The student yells. He raises his arm straight in front of him with his palm facing the target. A red orb forms and launches towards the target. Upon impact, it explodes and as the smoke clears the target is incinerated. As the student wipes the sweat from his forehead, he notices Itachi observing him out of the corner of his eye.

”Hmm, you are?” The young man stops his practice and looks inquisitively at Itachi.

”Pardon me. I was interested in your hado spell.” Itachi replies.

”Ah, it's not a problem then, It's a spell you can learn once you reach the higher classes anyway”. The youth smiled and replied.

”Could you show me how to perform the technique?” Itachi asked.

”Yeah, I don't mind showing you. By the way I'm Ukitake Tatsumi. I'm in my 6th year.” Tatsumi held out his hand.

”Uchiha Itachi. 1st year.” Itachi shakes Tatsumi's hand.

”Ahhh you're a new student then. Well this technique might be difficult for you to pull off at first so don't worry if you don't get it on your first try. First thing to know is the incantation. I'll show you the hado while using the incantation. It is a lot stronger with the incantation and easier to use but takes longer to perform. Now watch carefully” Tatsumi raises his palm up towards a target as he concentrates his reiatsu.

”Ye lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of man! Inferno and pandemonium, the sea barrier surges, march on to the south! Hado 31: Shakkaho!”