Bleach: I Have No Talent

The next morning, Shiro woke up with the usual soreness from yesterday's training. His muscles protested with every movement, but he powered through, knowing he couldn't afford to slow down. There were classes to attend, and he had no time to rest.

He quickly dressed in his school uniform, moving deliberately to avoid aggravating his pain. When he stepped out of his dorm room, Aizen and Haruto were already waiting outside.

Aizen gave him a knowing glance. "How's the body holding up?"

Shiro stretched, grimacing slightly. "Feels like it's protesting every move, but I'll survive. No time to slow down."

Haruto chuckled. "Try not to pass out this time, alright?"

Shiro smirked. "No promises, but I'll try to keep it together."

They made their way to the Zanjutsu lesson, chatting along the way. Upon entering, they found their instructor already present. The class was about to begin.

The instructor, a tall and imposing figure, stepped forward, his voice firm yet calm. "Alright, class. Today, we'll go over the fundamental techniques of Zanjutsu. Mastering these basics is key to becoming a true swordsman."

He raised his sword and demonstrated a basic stance. "First, the Chikō-no-Kamae," he said. He stood tall, with his sword held in front of him in a defensive stance, knees slightly bent. "This is the neutral stance. It allows you to quickly transition into both offense and defense. It's a position of readiness."

The instructor smoothly transitioned into the next stance. "Next is Iai-no-Kamae. From this stance, you draw your sword quickly for a fast, lethal strike. It's perfect for taking advantage of an opponent's moment of weakness."

He then raised his sword in a high guard. "This is Kōtō-no-Kamae, a defensive stance that guards against overhead attacks. You should be able to deflect any strikes that come from above, while positioning yourself to strike back quickly."

Shiro watched closely, activating his Sharingan. Each movement felt sharper, more detailed. He could see the precision behind every shift of the sword, his mind instantly memorizing the exact angles and flows of each technique. As the instructor continued demonstrating, Shiro found he could replicate each move with perfect accuracy. While he might not have the instructor's strength, his speed and precision were more than enough to match the technique.

The instructor then looked at the class. "Alright, now we will test your understanding. I will fight each of you and assess how well you've grasped these techniques."

Aizen stepped forward first. The instructor moved into a combat stance, and the two began to spar. Aizen was calm, using the Chikō-no-Kamae to deflect the instructor's initial strike. He followed up with the Iai-no-Kamae, attempting a swift cut, but the instructor parried it with ease.

"Not bad, Aizen," the instructor said, stepping back to evaluate. "But remember, your strikes should come with more intent. Speed is nothing without precision."

Aizen nodded, stepping back, before the instructor called up Haruto. Haruto faced the instructor with a more cautious stance. The instructor was quick, attacking first with an overhead strike, which Haruto blocked with Kōtō-no-Kamae. He followed with a counter-attack, but the instructor smoothly sidestepped, tapping his sword against Haruto's to send him off-balance.

The instructor called up Shiro, and the atmosphere immediately shifted. There was a quiet anticipation in the air. Shiro stepped forward, his eyes burning with focus. He had already memorized the techniques, and now it was time to test them in real combat.

Without hesitation, the instructor lunged forward with a swift strike. Shiro was already prepared. He sidestepped the attack with lightning speed, feeling the rush of adrenaline course through him. His sword met the instructor's in a sharp clash. The sound of metal ringing through the air was deafening.

The instructor pressed forward, swinging a series of attacks, but Shiro was faster, his movements calculated, almost instinctive. He parried a downward strike with Kōtō-no-Kamae, immediately following with a quick counter, but the instructor blocked it in time, stepping back just enough to avoid the blow.

The fight picked up pace. Shiro moved with a fluid grace, each movement flowing from one technique to the next—Chikō-no-Kamae to Iai-no-Kamae to Hassō-no-Kamae. He was on fire, anticipating every strike, his body working on autopilot, the adrenaline fueling his every move. The instructor came at him with an overhead slash, aiming to catch him off guard, but Shiro met it head-on with a clean block, spinning his body and immediately striking back with a horizontal cut.

The instructor grinned, impressed by Shiro's speed. But just as the instructor began to shift into a more aggressive stance, Shiro was already closing the gap, his sword aimed at the instructor's chest. The instructor barely managed to parry it in time, the force of the strike sending him stumbling back.

"Not bad," the instructor muttered, regaining his footing.

Shiro didn't give him a moment to recover. With a burst of speed, he lunged forward, slashing downward. The instructor was forced to retreat, his movements more defensive now. Shiro pressed forward, the adrenaline coursing through him, feeling unstoppable.

The instructor, realizing the momentum had shifted, quickly raised his sword in a defensive position, blocking Shiro's final strike. Their blades locked for a brief moment before the instructor stepped back, signaling the end of the match.

"Good. Very good," the instructor said, nodding in approval, though there was a hint of surprise in his voice. "Your technique is solid, Shiro. But remember, power isn't everything. "Control is what will win battles."

Shiro sat down, his arms still sore from yesterday, and now the pain was intensifying after the fight with the instructor. The rest of the day had been uneventful—Kidō was just a repeat of what they already knew, Hohō was the same, and Hakuda felt no different.

Time Skip

Finally, the lessons were over, and it was free time. Shiro, Haruto, and Aizen made their way back to the dorms.

On the way, the trio shared some light-hearted banter.

Haruto, looking at Shiro's exhausted state, grinned. "You're looking pretty rough, Shiro. Did the instructor break you, or is it just your charm wearing off?"

Shiro shot him a glare. "I was too busy not getting killed to notice my 'charm.'"

Aizen chuckled softly, joining in. "If I had to guess, Haruto, I'd say it's the 'too much training, not enough sleep' syndrome. You know, the one that makes you wish you could just sleep through the whole day."

Shiro rolled his eyes. "Thanks for the sympathy, guys."

Haruto laughed. "Hey, you're the one who decided to go head-to-head with the instructor! You've got to know your limits."

Shiro grumbled. "I don't have limits. Just... really sore muscles."

Aizen smirked. "That's a nice excuse. Let me know if you need a massage later, Shiro."

Shiro groaned. "I think I'd rather just sleep."

Once they reached the dorms and Shiro collapsed into a chair, Aizen turned to him, his expression thoughtful.

"Shiro," Aizen began, "those eyes... What are they? I noticed you activated them when the instructor was demonstrating his moves, and after your fight, it looked like you were using his fighting style against him."

Haruto overheard the conversation and, curious, turned to Shiro as well. "Yeah, what's up with that?" he asked, intrigued.

Shiro paused for a moment, not expecting Aizen to ask. Should he say it? Haruto was his friend, but what about Aizen? Did Shiro trust him enough?

He took a breath, mentally telling himself not to overthink it. Don't be an idiot. Even if Aizen turned out to be a villain, this is the real world. I believe I can change him.

Shiro took another deep breath and spoke, his voice steady. "I call it the Sharingan... it's part of my bloodline. Because of it, I can copy the techniques of others."

Aizen raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "A bloodline ability, huh? Sounds impressive." He leaned back, folding his arms as he studied Shiro. "So, you can copy anyone's moves just by looking at them?"

Shiro nodded, though his expression remained neutral. "Yeah, pretty much. But it's not foolproof. I can copy the technique, but I don't always have the strength or skill to use it perfectly."

Haruto, who had been quiet up until now, tilted his head. "So, if I showed you one of my moves, you could do it right away?" He grinned, clearly amused by the idea.

Shiro smirked. "I wouldn't go around showing off just yet, Haruto. It's not as simple as that."

Haruto chuckled. "Alright, alright. Just making sure."

Aizen smiled faintly, his gaze sharp. "Interesting. It seems like you've got quite the advantage in combat. But you still need to refine it. No technique is truly effective unless you understand it inside and out."

Shiro's eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of a challenge in his voice. "I know that. And I'll make sure I do."

the conversation shifting to lighter. Despite the humor, Shiro couldn't shake the feeling that Aizen was thinking more deeply about the Sharingan than he let on

Shiro, exhausted from the day's events, desperately wanted to collapse into bed and sleep. Yet, something in him refused to let him rest just yet. He dragged himself to the bathroom and stood under the steaming water, letting the pressure of the shower wash away some of the tension in his sore muscles. The hot water felt soothing against his skin, but his mind kept racing. Despite his physical fatigue, sleep seemed distant, as if his mind refused to rest, haunted by the day's conversations and the strange dynamics with Aizen and Haruto.

Meanwhile, Haruto had already succumbed to sleep, his gentle breathing a sign of his easy nature. Aizen, on the other hand, was wide awake, his mind a storm of conflicting thoughts. He sat on his bed, staring at the ceiling, but his thoughts were far from tranquil.

One part of him—the part that had gotten so used to manipulation and control—saw Shiro for what he truly was: an asset. The Sharingan, a bloodline ability that allowed Shiro to copy others' techniques. If nurtured, it could become a weapon more powerful than any technique Aizen had ever encountered. The mere thought of what it could do—of what Shiro could become—set his mind on fire with possibilities. If he could develop that power, if he could unlock its true potential, might he one day surpass even the might of Yamamoto himself?

But another part of him—a quieter, more distant part—told him that Shiro was his friend. He had seen something in the young man's eyes, something genuine. Friendship was rare in Aizen's world, and to betray that for power… it didn't sit well with him.

Aizen clenched his fists, shaking his head as if trying to rid himself of the temptation. He knew what he should do. Let Shiro grow, let him develop his potential freely. And when the time was right, when Shiro's abilities reached their peak, then, and only then, could Aizen make his move.

The conflict simmered within him, unresolved. Was he lying to himself? Was he truly willing to treat Shiro as a friend, or was he just biding his time, waiting for the perfect opportunity to use him? The thoughts twisted in his mind like a knot, one he couldn't unravel.

Sighing deeply, Aizen lay back in his bed, closing his eyes. He couldn't afford to lose focus. Not now. Shiro was still an unknown, but for now, he would allow him to grow. And perhaps, in the future, he could make a decision that didn't feel so… morally ambiguous.

With that thought lingering in his mind, Aizen drifted off to sleep, the shadows of his doubts following him into slumber.

End of Chapter Stats

Progress: 10.61%

Template: Madara Uchiha

[System Status]

Strength: 40

Endurance: 39

Speed: 42

Reiatsu Control: 38

Intelligence: 34

Battle Instinct: 36

[Abilities]

Sharingan (2nd Tomoe):

Enhanced tracking of fast movements, with greater accuracy.

Can cast basic genjutsu, manipulating the opponent's perception.

Can copy techniques such as Zanjutsu, Hakuda, and Kidō with near-perfect accuracy, adapting them for personal use.

Hollow Detection: Sense the presence of Hollows.

[Techniques Unlocked]

Water Style: Water Prison Jutsu

Shunpo

Byakurai

Shō

Reiatsu Strengthening

Moeru Danmaku

Water Style: Water Shark Bullet

Kaidō

[Asauchi Imprinting Progress]

Current Bond Level: 13%

[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