Chapter 22 - Onmitsukido (1/2)
”Please give me one moment,” Aizen smiled and dismissed the students. He made his way over to itachi.
”Uchiha, that was an excellent fight. Your skills have improved since the last time” Aizen said.
”Thank you, I still have a lot to work on.” Itachi replied.
”Nonsense, you are easily one of the most talented individuals I've seen.” Aizen replied.
Itachi remained silent. He didn't want to continue this conversation with Aizen.
”Anyway, Uchiha I know Captain Soi Fon has already ȧssisted with your early graduation. If you are interested, the fifth division will welcome you with open arms.” Aizen said.
”Thank you for the offer, but I have already accepted to be in the 2nd Division.” Itachi replied with a slight bow.
”That's a shame, It seems Captain Soi Fon beat me to it.” Aizen said.
”I apologize,” Itachi replied.
”Well anyway, take care of yourself Uchiha.” Aizen said bidding his farewell. He walks past Itachi and continues on his way.
Itachi turns around and looks at Aizen's departing figure. 'I already told him it was part of my bloodline. Two months with the resources available to captains, there's no doubt that he has researched it. He came to the tournament, but the instructor didn't mention it, so he attended without prior notice. Did he come for me? Was he trying to see if the other students would be able to force me to use my sharingan? He also kept himself from inquiring about it now, but my instincts tell me he is interested. What is he planning? Or am I overthinking it. Either way I will be ready.' Itachi thought to himself as he turned around and made his way back to his dorm.
After entering his room he laid down and looked at the ceiling. 'Almost a year here.' Itachi closes his eyes and drifts into sleep.
The next morning, Itachi changed into his shinigami shihakusho and flung his Asauchi to his back. Before leaving the dorm, he checked out with the dorm manager. One last time, Itachi went back to the memorial site of Tatsumi.
'It was a good six months. I couldn't have gotten this far without your help.' Itachi leaves his academy shihakusho at the memorial and stays there until late morning. 'It's almost noon, I should go meet with the Captain.'
Itachi walks to the other side of the courtyard where he was supposed to meet Soi Fon. He looks around for her but doesn't see her. Instead, he notices a large man with a large purple collar he has never seen before who was snacking on fried rice crackers. Itachi approaches the man and notices the lieutenant badge as he gets closer.
The man notices Itachi approaching him. He stops eating his fried rice crackers and greets Itachi.
”You must be Uchiha Itachi right? The Captain told me to wait here for you. I'm lieutenant Marechiyo Omaeda! Captain Soi Fon is busy today so I'm here in her place!”
”It is nice to meet you Lieutenant Omaeda.” Itachi bows his head in respect. Omaeda reaches into his bag of rice crackers and puts one more handful in his mouth and scarfs it down before giving Itachi further instruction.
”Captain wanted me to test you somehow but didn't specify how. So I came up with something! I'm going to flash step to the division barracks and you need to keep up with me! Despite my plump exterior, I am the fastest in the second division not counting the Captain!” Omaeda boasts and laughs. ”But just for you I'll slow down a bit so try to keep up!”
Itachi nods in compliance and Omaeda stuffs his bag of rice crackers into his shihakusho. He suddenly vanishes from his spot and Itachi follows.
The two of them enter Seretei and run on top of the buildings at great speed. 'Despite his looks, he is very agile.' Itachi notes. Omaeda looks behind him and sees Itachi keeping up. ”Not bad, not bad!” Omaeda says as he speeds up with Itachi maintaining the same distance behind him. In a short amount of time, they reach the 2nd Squad barracks.
”Here we are Uchiha!” Omaeda says as they walk inside. ”Just pick any empty room and then I have a few tasks for you!”
Itachi nods and walks down the hall. The hallway was very clean but also silent with not a single person to be seen. Itachi sees a room with no name on the door. Itachi goes into the room. It was a lot larger than his dorm room at the academy. Itachi didn't bring a lot of things with him, only bringing his Asauchi. He takes a brief look before exiting and going back to the main hall to meet Omaeda.
”Ok Uchiha, I have your first mission which is also your second test! It will be a test of speed like the last one!” Omaeda declares. Itachi nods and waits for his orders. Omaeda pulls out his wallet and takes out 100 kan. He gives it to Itachi. Do you remember where the store was on our way here?
”Yes.” Itachi responds with a little bit of doubt. 'The store?' He had kept an eye out during their trip to the barracks and noted the surroundings. Although the store wasn't as important he had still noted it.
”As fast as you can, I want you to go to the convenience store and get me a 5-pack of fried rice crackers. Any flavor or brand will do but IT CANNOT BE FISH FLAVOR!”
”Understood.” Itachi vanishes from his spot and goes out the door. He quickly arrives in front of the convenience store. 'This important mission is errands. Is this some kind of test?' Itachi questions as he goes in.
'So it was just an errand' Itachi thinks to himself. Even he was somewhat baffled. 'Calling his errands an important mission? What were this man's priorities….'
”Not bad Uchiha. I could have done it faster but you did okay!” Omaeda quickly opens one of the bags, causing a mess of crumbs to spill all over the floor. As he is about to put a cracker in his mouth, he feels a great amount of pain at the back of his head and drops all his crackers on the ground.
”OOW OW OW!” Omaeda yells out. Soi Fon steps out from behind Omaeda.
”YOU LAZY OAF! WHY ARE YOU WASTING THE NEW RECRUIT'S TIME BY MAKING HIM DO YOUR STUPID ERRANDS! LOOK AT THE MESS YOU MADE!” Soi Fon scolds Omaeda who starts to get on his knees and sweep the crackers off the floor. Soi Fon looks back at Itachi.
”Come with me. I need to fully ȧssess what you are capable of before I send you out on missions.” Soi Fon gestures Itachi to follow her. The two of them walk down the hall in silence. At the end of the hall, they approach a large room filled with shinigami dressed in all black with their faces covered in a mask.
”I want to get you out on the field as quickly and efficiently as possible.” Soi Fon says as she gestures at two of the shinigami to step up. The two of them stand in the center of the room.
”These two have been a part of the executive militia for only a year. You are to fight both of them at the same time. I will warn you now these two are nothing like academy students. If you hesitate, they will not show mercy. I'll step in if I have to but be prepared and do not hold anything back!.” Soi Fon warns Itachi. Itachi nods before approaching the two of them.
There were no words exchanged between the two of them. Without warning, they both lunge at Itachi with their blades drawn. Itachi narrowly dodges the blades and feels blood dripping from a cut on his cheek. 'These two are fast. If it was just one I could deal with it but two of them is a problem.' The two shinigami don't let Itachi catch his breath as they keep swinging their blades at him.
Itachi continuously dodges the strikes of the two shinigami. 'Their speed is amazing. And their teamwork is also very good.' He narrowly evades most strikes with a few managing to graze his clothes.