Bleach: I Have No Talent

The next morning, Shiro woke up and went to breakfast with Haruto and Aizen.

As they sat down at the table, Shiro sat quietly, his mind racing with thoughts about what would happen if he unlocked his memories. Would he like them? Would they be full of pain and suffering?

"Calm down and stop thinking about it," Shiro muttered to himself, shaking his head. He took a deep breath and forced a smile as he looked over at Haruto and Aizen, who were already busy with their breakfast.

The dining hall buzzed with the usual morning energy. Haruto, as always, attacked his food with gusto, shoveling rice and eggs into his mouth like he hadn't eaten in days. Aizen, in stark contrast, sat with perfect posture, sipping his tea and occasionally picking at his plate with a measured pace.

"Man, they need to serve seconds here," Haruto said with a grin, his voice muffled by a mouthful of food. "I'm starving! This isn't enough for me."

Aizen raised an eyebrow and glanced at him. "Maybe if you ate slower, you'd feel full before you even finish."

"Where's the fun in that?" Haruto shot back, smirking as he reached for his drink.

Shiro poked at his plate absentmindedly, his appetite nowhere to be found. His thoughts kept drifting back to the system's announcement from the night before and the weight of what it promised. Memories. What if they only brought more pain?

"Not hungry today?" Aizen's calm voice cut through his thoughts, drawing Shiro's attention.

Shiro hesitated for a moment, then forced another smile. "Yeah, just not feeling it today."

Haruto laughed, nudging him playfully. "What's this? Too good for breakfast now, like Mr. Fancy over here?" He motioned toward Aizen with a mischievous grin.

Shiro chuckled softly, though the sound lacked real warmth. "No, just... got stuff on my mind."

Haruto's grin faded slightly, and he leaned forward. "Stuff? You know you can talk to us, right?"

Shiro looked down at his plate, his fingers tightening around his chopsticks. His chest felt heavy, but he wasn't sure how to put everything into words. "It's nothing, really. Just thinking about things I can't control."

Aizen studied Shiro quietly, his eyes thoughtful. "If you ever need someone to talk to, we're here," he said simply, his tone sincere.

For a moment, Shiro's gaze met Aizen's, and he saw nothing but understanding in his friend's expression. He gave a small nod, his smile becoming just a little more genuine. "Thanks, I'll keep that in mind."

After breakfast, the three of them made their way to Kidō class. The classroom was already filled with students as they took their seats at the desks. Shiro sat down in the middle, still lost in his thoughts but trying to focus on the lesson ahead.

As the bell rang, the door to the classroom opened, and the instructor, Sayuri, entered. She was a tall woman with long black hair, wearing the traditional Shinigami uniform. Her presence commanded attention, yet her expression was calm and welcoming.

"Good morning, everyone," Instructor Sayuri greeted the class with a slight bow. "Today, we'll be learning Hadō #8: Moeru Danmaku."

She moved to the front of the class, a flick of her wrist sending a small orb of energy floating above her palm. It pulsed with fiery energy. "Moeru Danmaku is a mid-level Hadō that releases a barrage of fireballs upon the target. The key is to focus on both the speed and control of the spell as it fires."

Sayuri demonstrated by raising her hand toward the ceiling, and in a flash, multiple fireballs shot out from the orb, each one crackling with intense heat as they streaked through the air and exploded harmlessly against the wall. The students watched in awe, some already eager to try it themselves.

"Now, who wants to give it a try?" Sayuri asked, her gaze scanning the class.

Shiro, despite his internal turmoil, found himself drawn into the lesson. His eyes narrowed as he studied the spell carefully, observing the precision with which Sayuri controlled the fireballs. He could feel the familiar sensation of the system's presence in the back of his mind.

Suddenly, the system notification popped up in his vision.

System Notification

New Task:

Learn Hadō #8: Moeru Danmaku in 2 days.

Reward: 0.50% progression

Penalty: None

Accept?

Yes/No

Shiro didn't hesitate this time. He clicked "Yes," silently committing to mastering this Hadō in the next two days.

Raising his hand, Shiro caught Sayuri's attention. "Instructor, could you show it again? I just want to make sure I understand the form correctly."

Sayuri smiled warmly, clearly impressed by Shiro's attentiveness. "Of course, Shiro." She flicked her wrist again, and the orb of energy appeared, ready to launch the fiery barrage once more.

The class watched in anticipation as the fireballs flew through the air again, each one following the instructor's precise movements. Shiro's eyes tracked every detail, studying the way Sayuri controlled the energy. The key, he realized, was in the subtle shifts of her reiatsu, balancing both the intensity and direction of the flames.

When the demonstration finished, Sayuri turned toward the students. "Now, let's see how you all do. I'll walk around and offer guidance as needed. Remember to focus your reiatsu carefully."

End of the Kidō lesson

After Kidō class, Shiro walked with Aizen and Haruto toward their next class—Zanjutsu. The halls were buzzing with the chatter of students, but Shiro was lost in his thoughts. The weight of the upcoming challenge—unlocking his memories—lingered in the back of his mind.

That's a problem for my future self, Shiro thought, shaking off the thoughts. For now, I just need to get to 20% progress.

Aizen noticed Shiro's distant expression, but he gave no comment. He was too good at hiding his true self. He was acting like a normal student, but Shiro knew better. Aizen had been holding back during their interactions, and even now, as they walked together, Shiro could sense the subtle tension in the air. Aizen was a genius, and there was no hiding it. The game he was playing was one of subtlety—trying to blend in.

Shiro couldn't care less. He had his own goals to focus on. The rest could wait.

When they arrived at the Zanjutsu class, the instructor—an experienced Shinigami—had the students line up, each holding their asauchi. This was the beginning of their journey as swordsmen, and for now, their swords were not zanpakutōs, but empty tools for learning. The class began with a lecture on the importance of Reiatsu, the force that pressure from one's Reiryoku created when released. It was a concept Shiro already understood well. But it wasn't about Reiatsu right now—it was about sharpening their swordsmanship.

The instructor demonstrated a few basic stances, the fluidity of his movements almost mesmerizing. The class was then split into pairs to begin their sparring.

As Shiro scanned the room, expecting to face Haruto, he found Aizen standing in front of him, already poised and ready. He didn't say anything, but Shiro knew the look in his eyes. Aizen was testing him. Playing the role of the normal student, but there was always more behind his gaze.

"You ready?" Aizen asked, his voice casual, but the challenge beneath it was unmistakable.

Shiro gave him a nod, his grip tightening around his asauchi. This would be interesting. No matter how much Aizen tried to mask his abilities, Shiro could feel the presence of something much greater beneath the surface.

Aizen moved first. His sword flashed forward, faster than Shiro could track. Shiro barely reacted in time, managing to raise his asauchi to block, but the force of Aizen's strike sent shockwaves through his arms. His knees buckled slightly under the pressure.

Damn, Shiro thought, gritting his teeth. He barely managed to keep his footing.

Aizen's next strike came from the right, and Shiro was slower this time. He only just dodged, his body jerking to the side as the sword whooshed past him, narrowly missing. Sweat dripped down his face as he tried to keep up with Aizen's relentless pace.

Aizen wasn't even going all out, but Shiro was already struggling to keep his balance. His heart was pounding in his chest, each movement feeling heavier than the last. He couldn't predict Aizen's strikes—not in time, anyway. Every motion felt just a step too late.

Aizen's sword came down again, aiming for Shiro's shoulder. Shiro barely brought his blade up to parry, but the impact nearly knocked the wind out of him. His muscles screamed in protest as he strained to hold his ground. Sweat poured down his back, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he gritted his teeth and pushed himself to the limit.

Aizen didn't slow down. He was relentless, his strikes fast and precise, forcing Shiro to react on pure instinct. Shiro's body was moving, but his mind was struggling to keep up. Every time he blocked one strike, Aizen was already delivering another. His arms were burning, and his grip on the asauchi was starting to slip. The pressure from Aizen's Reiatsu was crushing, making it hard to breathe, hard to think.

Shiro's sweat-slicked hands barely managed to keep a hold of his sword. His muscles were screaming for rest, but he couldn't afford to stop. Aizen's eyes never wavered, his expression still calm as he moved with fluid, effortless grace.

Shiro could barely keep up. He wasn't adapting to Aizen's speed—he was just reacting, every move a desperate attempt to stay in the fight.

Aizen's sword came down again, and this time, Shiro wasn't fast enough. He barely managed to shift out of the way, but the tip of Aizen's blade grazed his side, leaving a thin cut. The pain shot through him, but Shiro didn't have time to register it. He had to keep going.

I can't lose here, he thought, forcing his legs to keep moving, his body to keep fighting. I'm not going down that easily.

The spar continued, each strike from Aizen coming faster than the last, each block from Shiro becoming more sluggish as the sweat dripped into his eyes. His breathing was ragged now, his body starting to feel heavy. Every muscle in him screamed for rest, but there was no time. Not yet.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the instructor called for a halt. Both of them lowered their blades, panting heavily. Shiro stood there, drenched in sweat, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. His arms felt like lead, and the cut on his side stung, but he didn't care. He had held his own—barely.

Aizen gave him a small nod, his gaze steady. There was no surprise, no admiration—just the calm acknowledgement of what had happened. He had held back, but Shiro had kept up.

"You've got potential," Aizen said, his voice almost approving. "But you've got a long way to go."

Shiro didn't respond. He was too exhausted, too focused on his own body, trying to regain his breath and steady himself. He had done it. He had survived the spar, even if it was by the skin of his teeth.

End of Chapter Stats

Progress: 9.61%

Template: Madara Uchiha

[System Status]

Strength: 30

Endurance: 29

Speed: 32

Reiatsu Control: 28

Intelligence: 24

Battle Instinct: 26

[Abilities]

Sharingan (1st Tomoe):

Improved tracking of fast movements, slight slowing effect on opponent's attacks.

Hollow Detection: Sense the presence of Hollows.

[Techniques Unlocked]

Water Style: Water Prison Jutsu

Shunpo

Byakurai

Shō

Reiatsu Strengthening

Asauchi Imprinting Progress]

Current Bond Level: 9.0%

[Ongoing Quests]

Get Madara Uchiha's Template progress to 20% in 2 months.

Reward: Unlock all past life memories

Penalty: Never unlock past life memories again

Learn Hadō #8: Moeru Danmaku in 2 days.

Reward: 0.50% progression

Penalty: None