Itachi was grateful for the multiple chances the Head Captain had given him to catch his breath over the course of the evaluation. While he had not been pressed as hard as he might've been in battles past, the tests that had been thrown his way so far over the course of the day were enough to keep him on his toes. The reactions of both the Head Captain and the other onlookers boded well for how he was doing so far, but Itachi remained on guard. After all, the Head Captain could still fail him if he deemed it appropriate even though Itachi had done well on every test so far.
Zanjutsu is the final skill to be tested, he thought, I do not know how the Head Captain intends to conduct this last examination, but if the previous ones are any indicator, passing it will require me to call upon all of the skill that I have acquired in the art of the sword.
Not for the first time since the examination had begun, Itachi found himself glancing at Yoruichi. She gave him an encouraging nod and smile, and the light of anticipation gleamed in her golden eyes. Knowing that she believed in him provided a significant boost in confidence, although he did have to wonder why her approval mattered more to him than that of the others present today. Hell, she wasn't even the one that was proctoring this examination, yet Itachi found that he desired to excel more in her eyes than those of the Head Captain, and it was the latter that would ultimately decide his fate!
For all your brilliance in the fighting arts, there are some areas where you really are quite dull, said a familiar female voice inside his head, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that chief among those areas is women.
It wasn't the first time that the spirit of his Zanpakutō had addressed Itachi while he wasn't training with her in his inner world, but he was still having a little trouble getting used to the idea that she could just drop her two cents on him at any time she pleased. He also found it surprisingly difficult to keep his outward expression from betraying to others that he was having an internal conversation, although he supposed that it was something that he would eventually grow accustomed to.
If you've got something to say, just come out and say it.
She laughed. Where's the fun in that?
He mentally sighed. A Zanpakutō was supposed to reflect the aspects of its wielder, but Itachi had a hard time coming to terms with the notion that she had inherited her level of sass from him. He could make the occasional quip should the occasion called for it, but Itachi had to wonder if he really was as snarky as the spirit of his sword was proving to be.
I don't have time this…
Indeed. You'll have a far more pressing opponent than me to trade barbs with in short order.
What are you talking about? My final trial is one of Zanjutsu, not trading quips.
I know, and the barbs in that trial will be the points of yours and your opponent's swords.
Itachi's eyes narrowed as he carefully regarded the Head Captain. No…
Why not? Your Hakuda test was a match against his Lieutenant, after all. Would it not make sense for him to conduct a similar exercise for the final trial?
I don't believe it.
Then you're a fool.
There was a sinking sensation in the pit of Itachi's stomach as Yamamoto's stern gaze fell upon him. He really didn't want the spirit of his Zanpakutō to be correct, but his gut was telling him that he wouldn't be so lucky.
I might be in trouble here…
He could clearly picture the smirk on the face of the spirit of his sword. That may be a considerable understatement.
"Come forward, Itachi!" barked the Head Captain.
Here we go…
Stepping into the center of the training yard, Itachi waited for the Head Captain to address him again. He did not have to wait long.
"Your final trial will be a test of your abilities in the art of Zanjutsu," said the Head Captain, "In my experience, there is only one way to truly comprehend the depth of someone's skill in the way of the sword, and that is to fight them!"
Best of luck, said his Zanpakutō, and Itachi couldn't tell if she was being sincere or sarcastic.
"Itachi Uchiha," Yamamoto continued, "as your trial in Hakuda was to spar with my Lieutenant, I believe that it is only fitting for your trial in Zanjutsu to be a match with myself. We shall fight until I have gained a sufficient understanding of your level of skill! Is that understood?"
Itachi could only nod as he concentrated on mentally centering himself; he would need every bit of focus he could muster if he was going to pass this test. "Yes, Head Captain."
The old man then held out his staff, and the wood swiftly peeled away, revealing a Zanpakutō with a purple handle and a circular guard. The Head Captain did not unleash his Shikai, but even then Itachi could still feel the power radiating from the blade.
"Prepare yourself, Itachi!" Yamamoto commanded, "Lieutenant Sasakibe; the match begins on your mark!"
"Good luck, Itachi," said Unohana with a smile.
Yoruichi grinned. "You've got this!"
"Fight well, Itachi," said Soi-Fon.
"Show us the fruits of your training," said Minerva.
I seriously can't believe that I'm about to do this, thought Itachi, I've never heard of an Academy student facing off against the Head Captain in a one-on-one match.
Lucky you, his Zanpakutō quipped, giggling like a schoolgirl.
I do not find this to be funny.
Oh, really? Too bad; you'd fare better if you learned to see the humor in situations such as this.
That sounds more like Jiraiya than me.
Perhaps. It'll be amusing to hear his reaction once this is over.
Itachi saw Sasakibe raise his right arm. "Five… four… three… two… one… begin!"
Itachi barely had time to bring his sword up into a guard position before Yamamoto was on him. The Head Captain's advanced age did not appear to impact his speed in the slightest; he was fiendishly fast, and that was more than matched by the power behind his swing. It took every ounce of strength Itachi had to block the attack, and while he was sure that the Head Captain was holding back he was still astounded by the fierceness of the blow.
I can't keep blocking those head-on, he thought as he backpedaled, I'll have to deflect and parry at angles to bleed off the force behind those attacks, otherwise I'll lose all my energy.
So he did just that, altering the tilt and direction of his sword just enough so that his subsequent efforts to fend off Yamamoto's strikes weren't straight up blocks, but instead allowed room to redirect the massive amount of power behind the attacks without Itachi's arms suffering the strain that would otherwise come with a standard block. Even then, though, that was only enough to allow him to maintain a working defense; it was not sufficient to give him the means to counterattack. There was a brutal efficiency in the Head Captain's fighting style; for all the power behind his strikes, they were still precise and controlled. No energy was wasted even as the old man hammered Itachi's defenses like a smith beating metal at a forge.
Itachi continued to fall back under the Head Captain's furious assault. Wanting to avoid getting pushed up against a wall, he made sure to slightly alter his angle as he moved, and as a result the path of the fight began to resemble a broad circle. Itachi wouldn't fool himself, though; this was only a temporary measure. It would keep him from getting cornered for now, but if Yamamoto decided to increase the pressure then it would not hold up. He had to find a way to seize the initiative, but the old man's technique presented no obvious openings. Speed and power combined with millennia of experience meant that the Head Captain was extremely effective at covering himself even while on the offensive.
Effective, but not invincible, he thought as he fended off a sequence of ferocious slashes, There's no such thing as a perfect fighting style, no matter how experienced the wielder may be. Keep your eyes open, Itachi; there will be an opening. You just have to find it.
As the duel progressed, Itachi realized that while he'd been focusing on the Head Captain's swordplay, he hadn't even bothered to examine the footwork that went with it. Sure enough, Yamamoto was well-balanced, firmly rooted but still capable of maintaining incredible mobility. After a few moments, though, Itachi began to comprehend that the key to him perhaps finally getting in a solid attack of his own in this fight lay with the Head Captain's footwork rather than swordplay. The way his legs would brace or shift were subtle signs of what was coming, and although the timing would be incredibly tricky Itachi was slowly beginning to understand how he might be able to exploit that fact.
Continuing to hold the line, so to speak, Itachi patiently waited for the exact moment that he would be able to go onto the offensive. As Yamamoto unleashed a ruthless barrage of overhand blows meant to hammer him into submission, Itachi remained mindful of the Head Captain's legs and feet even as he desperately deflected the old man's attacks. Finally, in the briefest moment in the transition from the final overhand strike to a thrust, Itachi found what he had been looking for.
There was just the tiniest shift in balance, the smallest possible window, but Itachi threw caution to the wind and went for it. As Yamamoto thrust forward with his blade, Itachi bent his sword just enough to allow him to redirect the strike and slide beneath the Head Captain's Zanpakutō. He then lashed out with a horizontal strike, forcing Yamamoto to step back to dodge the attack.
Here we go.
Itachi was well aware that this might be the only chance he'd get this fight to go on the offensive, so he went all in. Surging forward, he unleashed a lightning-fast sequence of slashes and cuts, varying the trajectory of each one in order to keep his opponent guessing. The Head Captain's defense was steady, but Itachi was still able to keep him on the backfoot. Of course, Itachi wasn't about to let that go to his head; if Yamamoto weren't holding back for the sake of the test, he had no doubt that the old man could've killed him several times over by now.
He feinted towards the Head Captain's legs, launching a flurry of swift thrusts before suddenly altering his target. His blade swiftly went upward, missing Yamamoto's chest by the slimmest of margins. Itachi could've sworn he saw the old man's eyes widen ever so slightly, but it was only for a moment. Then the Head Captain stepped forward, and with a single swing he batted Itachi's blade aside before flipping his sword around and bringing the edge to Itachi's throat.
Itachi sighed as he lowered his blade. "I suppose that's the match."
Yamamoto nodded as he withdrew his sword. The weapon quickly returned to its wooden staff façade, and all Itachi could do was wait for the verdict as he sheathed his Zanpakutō.
There was a long moment of silence before the Head Captain gave him a nod of approval. "Congratulations, Itachi. Your swordsmanship was exemplary for a student. You have passed your final test!"
Itachi allowed himself a small smile. "Thank you, Head Captain."
Yoruichi came forward, smiling as she gave Itachi a pat on the back. "Good work, Itachi!"
"That was very well done," said Soi-Fon.
"Your technique was superb," said Unohana, "Lasting as long as you did was no small feat."
Minerva smiled. "You've come a long way since we first started our lessons together, Itachi. The Zanjutsu instructors at the Academy won't know what to do with you when you get back; I doubt they'd have anything more to teach you at this point."
Even Lieutenant Sasakibe got in on the praise. "That was a marvelous performance, young man. I believe you have a bright future ahead of you."
Itachi was surprised to hear a faint chuckle come from the Head Captain. "Indeed. You show great promise, Itachi. It is clear that you trained very hard over the past month. Miss Rawlins, you have done a fine job with your student. You should be proud of him."
Minerva nodded. "Oh, I am, Head Captain. I haven't had a student as talented as him since Lady Yoruichi was under my wing."
Yoruichi grinned. "Ah, those were good times. Thanks again for helping him out, Minerva. I owe you one."
Minerva bowed. "Nonsense, Lady Yoruichi. It was an honor to train Itachi on your behalf, and I would do it again in a heartbeat."
"So," said Itachi, "what happens now? Am I to return to the Academy immediately?"
"Tomorrow morning," answered the Head Captain, "I shall inform your instructors that you shall be rejoining their classes. I'm sure that they'll be pleased to have you amongst the student body again. However, do not let yourself become complacent; you have demonstrated considerable skill today, and your triumph over these trials means that we shall all be expecting great things of you going forward."
Itachi nodded. "I understand. I will not let you down."
Yamamoto's brow furrowed in thought. "Where your path will take you from here… I must admit, it shall be most intriguing to watch you move forward. I believe I am beginning to understand why Captain Shihōin has taken such a keen interest in you. If your skills are properly nurtured and brought to their full potential, then you will have much to offer the Soul Society."
"Word will spread about what happened here today," said Lieutenant Sasakibe, "Officers across the Thirteen Court Guard Squads will take notice of you, if they have not already. There will be many eyes observing your education with great interest."
Minerva smirked. "And they'll want a say in your career path on graduation day. If you continue to study and train as hard as you did to reach this point, then you may find yourself to be a little too popular for your own good when the time comes for you to join the active duty ranks of Soul Reapers."
Yoruichi smiled as she playfully elbowed Itachi. "Don't forget who's already got dibs on you, Itachi! Squad Two will be calling your name on graduation day!"
"That would certainly be a viable career path," said Unohana, "However, that will ultimately be your decision, Itachi."
"When the time comes," Soi-Fon chimed in, "choose the division that you think fits you best. Of course, I would certainly welcome you as a comrade-in-arms should you join Squad Two."
Yoruichi smirked. "You hear that, Itachi? Soi-Fon likes you, too! You'll have another friend already lined up when the time comes for me to give you a tour of the Squad Two barracks."
Minerva chuckled. "Yes, that's one way to sell him on joining up."
Looks like someone's dying to get you into her unit, said his Zanpakutō, She doesn't really have to sell you on anything, though; Squad Two's the only post-graduation destination you have in mind. Don't even try to deny it.
I wasn't going to.
Unohana put a hand on his shoulder. "Come, Itachi. You performed well in the tests, and I don't see any sign of injury, but I do wish to run a quick examination just to be safe."
Itachi nodded. "Very well, then."
The Head Captain nodded. "Sasakibe and I must return to the Squad One barracks. Farewell, Itachi Uchiha. I suspect we shall meet again sooner or later."
"Soi-Fon and I should probably run along, too," said Yoruichi, "We've been away from Squad Two for long enough as it is."
"There is a considerable amount of paperwork piling up," Soi-Fon pointed out.
Yoruichi groaned. "Ugh, don't remind me. I am not looking forward to that."
Unohana giggled. "Some things never change."
"I suppose it's time for me to return to the Shihōin family mansion, then," said Minerva, "It's been a pleasure, Itachi. I hope this won't be the last time that I get the chance to work with you."
Itachi bowed. "Thank you for all that you've done for me. I won't forget it."
Yoruichi smiled. "See you around, Itachi! I can't wait to see what you're capable of the next time we meet!"