Chapter 35 - Black and White (2/2)

As he entered, he noticed a familiar short figure with white hair sitting at one of the tables. Itachi ordered a small bag of amanatto then took a seat in front of Toshiro. Toshiro looked up, surprised to see Itachi.

”Lieutenant Uchiha, I didn't expect to see you here.” Toshiro said with a glum expression on his face, looking down at the table.

”Something on your mind Hitsugaya?” Itachi asked, noticing his expression.

”A week ago, Captain Shiba went missing. So far, Lieutenant Matsumoto has been taking his spot temporarily but I will be the next Captain because I proved my ability to use bankai.” Toshiro said.

”Congratulations then Captain Hitsugaya.” Itachi said. However, Toshiro's expression did not change.

”I may have bankai, but at the same time, I don't feel ready for Captain quite yet.” Toshiro looked back up at Itachi. ”I remember your skill from years ago when you were still in the Second Division. Now that you're a lieutenant, I ȧssume you've been training hard. I wish to fight you.” Toshiro declared to Itachi. ”I need to test myself to make sure that I'm truly ready for this role.”

”I think you are ready to take the Captain's position. But I'm curious myself on how my abilities will fare against a Captain level opponent. I will accept your challenge.” Itachi replied.

The two of them finished their amanatto and Itachi followed Toshiro back to the tenth division barracks. Itachi and Toshiro stood facing each other in the middle of the training field as people from the division began to gather around.

”Isn't that the lieutenant of the Thirteenth Division?”

”Why is he here?”

”Are they about to Duel?”

Toshiro puts his hand on the handle of his zanpakuto and Itachi closes his eyes and opens them again, revealing his Sharingan. There is a brief silence and tension in the training field as the two of them stared down at each other. The silence is broken when Toshiro pulls out his zanpakuto.

”Sit upon the frozen heavens, Hyourinmaru!” Toshiro yells out, releasing his zanpakuto and summoning a long dragon of ice at Itachi. Itachi feels the temperature in the area drop severely. 'He's gotten a lot stronger.'

”Bakudo 81: Danku.” Itachi doesn't move from his spot and a large rectangular barrier forms in front of him. The ice dragon collides with the barrier, creating a massive explosion of ice in front of Itachi that begins to seep past the sides of the barrier.

Toshiro appears above the barrier and shoots another ice dragon at Itachi. Itachi notices in time and raises his hand at Toshiro.

”Hado 63: Raikoho.” A bright, yellow orb of reiatsu forms in Itachi's hand and exerts a large shockwave of electricity at the ice dragon. The two impact, creating an explosion of electrified ice crystals that fill the air with a cold mist.

Toshiro charges through the mist and swings his blade multiple times at Itachi with each swing being narrowly dodged as Itachi reads his movements with his sharingan. Itachi tries to jump away off the ground but is unable to as his feet have been frozen to the ground. Toshiro approaches Itachi and puts the tip of his blade up to his ċhėst.

”This is my win, Uchiha.” Hitsugaya says to Itachi.

”Not quite.” Itachi replies and his body begins to break down into crows, surprising Toshiro. Toshiro turns around and sees Itachi rematerializing behind him. Toshiro swings his blade at Itachi but Itachi blocks it with his own blade and counters Toshiro with a kick, knocking him back a few meters. Itachi feels something cold in his hand and realizes his blade was becoming encased in ice.

”Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu.” Itachi ignites his blade, melting the ice that was starting to cover it.

”Not bad, Uchiha.” Toshiro charges in again and swings his sword in a wide arc, summoning another ice dragon to charge at Itachi.

'His offense is strong but he has a longer start up when he uses the ice dragon. That will be my chance.' With his other hand, Itachi weaves a hand sign in front of him.

”Fire style: Fireball Jutsu!” Itachi breathes out a huge ball of flames that collides with the dragon, evaporating it in the blast and filling the air with steam. The steam in the air begins to cool down shortly and ice crystals begin to form as the steam clears up. Toshiro winds his zanpakuto back again to shoot another ice dragon but Itachi flashes towards him and swings at Toshiro. Toshiro manages to react in time and parry the blow.

”I wouldn't expect anything less of you, Uchiha.” Toshiro says to Itachi with a slight smile. Itachi's eyes widen as he realizes his feet are frozen to the ground and his body begins to encase in ice.

”Think again.” Itachi says with a slight grin and his body begins to glow inside the ice. Toshiro's eyes widen upon realizing what is happening.

”When did he-” Toshiro jumps back and Itachi's body explodes, engulfing a majority of the training field and blowing back the spectators who were standing too close to the fight.

Shortly after, the smoke clears and Toshiro is seen down on one knee, panting, covered with moderate burns and Itachi is standing in front of him.

”You covered yourself in ice at the last moment to reduce the damage. Impressive.” Itachi says to Toshiro. Toshiro shakily stands back up.

”I understand now. In the last attack when your fireball hit my ice, you used the steam to swap yourself with a clone. You're something else Uchiha. You were a step ahead of me the whole time. I think I should show you what I am truly capable of.” Toshiro replies to Itachi as he holds his blade out in front of him.

”Bankai.”