Bleach: I Have No Talent

The next day arrived swiftly, the warm glow of the sun filtering through the windows as Shiro stretched and prepared for the day. The academy buzzed with the usual morning energy, students rushing to their classes or chatting in groups.

Shiro was looking forward to Hohō class, secretly hoping Instructor Kenta would still be absent. Yoruichi's unique style of teaching had left an impression on him. However, as he walked to class with Haruto and Aizen, his hopes were dashed. Instructor Kenta was already standing at the front of the room, his stern gaze sweeping over the students as they filed in.

"Well, there goes my morning," Shiro muttered under his breath.

Haruto chuckled beside him. "You really thought we'd get that lucky two days in a row? Kenta's probably been itching to make up for lost time."

Aizen glanced at them, his usual calm expression unreadable. "It doesn't matter who the instructor is. Improvement depends on effort, not the teacher."

Shiro rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. We all know you're the model student, Aizen."

Haruto smirked. "You're just salty because Yoruichi isn't here to throw you off your game."

Shiro ignored him as they took their seats. The class proceeded as usual, with Kenta drilling them relentlessly on their footwork and precision. By the time the lesson ended, Shiro's legs felt like lead, but he couldn't shake the feeling that Aizen had been watching him more closely than usual.

Throughout the day, Shiro occasionally caught Aizen staring at him, his expression thoughtful, as if he were piecing together a puzzle.

Finally, during lunch, Haruto couldn't hold back his curiosity. "Alright, Aizen. Spill it. What's with the intense stares? You've been giving Shiro the 'mad scientist' look all day."

Aizen's lips curled into a faint smile. "I'm simply observing. Shiro's progress has been... intriguing."

"Observing?" Shiro raised an eyebrow. "You make it sound like I'm a science experiment."

Haruto leaned closer, mock whispering to Shiro. "Careful, he might dissect you next."

Aizen let out a soft chuckle. "Nothing so dramatic. But it's clear you've been pushing yourself harder lately. It's worth noting."

Shiro shrugged, trying to downplay it. "Just trying to keep up with the competition."

Haruto grinned. "Don't sell yourself short, Shiro. You've got the whole 'mysterious hardworking guy' vibe going on. Pretty soon, the rest of us won't be able to keep up."

Aizen's eyes glinted with something unreadable. "Indeed. At this rate, you might surprise even yourself."

Later that evening, after classes had ended and the dorms had quieted, Shiro found himself alone in the training grounds. He had been waiting for this moment all day.

Standing in the middle of the field, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes, focusing on his Reiatsu. The familiar, warm energy flowed through him, steady and controlled. He had been thinking about this for a while, and now it was time to see if he could pull it off.

He brought his hands together, forming a series of intricate hand seals. The energy within him shifted, responding to his intent. With a focused burst of Reiryoku, the air around him shimmered, and four identical copies of himself appeared, standing at attention.

A small smile tugged at Shiro's lips. "Finally, the Shadow Clone Technique works."

The clones stood silently, awaiting his command. Shiro took a moment to observe them, noting their stability and form. He could feel the faint connection between them and himself, a thread of energy binding them together.

"This is all I can manage for now," he murmured. "But it's a start."

He directed the clones to begin practicing, splitting their focus between Zanjutsu, Hohō, and refining their techniques. Each movement they made resonated within him, a constant feedback loop of effort and improvement.

As he watched them train, Shiro couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. The road ahead was long, but moments like this reminded him that progress, no matter how small, was still progress.

Unbeknownst to Shiro, Aizen stood at a distance, his presence hidden by the shadows. His sharp eyes took in every detail of Shiro's actions, his mind already formulating plans.

"So he's mastering some Clone Technique," Aizen muttered to himself. "Good. It's a sign his potential is even greater than I anticipated."

A faint smile played on his lips as he turned and walked away, his thoughts already shifting to the next stage of his plan. If Shiro was to reach his full potential, he needed to be pushed to his limits. And for that, sacrifices would have to be made.

In the quiet of the training grounds, Shiro continued to push himself, unaware of the storm that was slowly building around him.

Shiro stood in the middle of the quiet training grounds, gazing at the four shadow clones he had summoned. Each was identical to him, but they had specific tasks to accomplish. Maintaining them took a considerable amount of Reiatsu, and he already felt the strain pulling at him.

"Alright," he said, his voice steady despite the effort it took to keep the clones active. "You each have your tasks. Let's not waste any time."

He pointed to the first clone. "You'll focus on Zanjutsu. Work on swings, stances, and precision strikes. We need to refine the fundamentals before moving to advanced techniques."

The first clone nodded, gripping the Asauchi tightly and moving to a clear area to begin its practice. Its swings were steady and deliberate, each one aiming for better form and power.

Shiro turned to the next clone. "You two will train Kidō. Go through every technique I know. Focus on accuracy, control, and speeding up the incantations without losing power."

The two clones exchanged a glance and moved to their corner.Hadō spells started lighting up the area as he worked through Shiro's repertoire, carefully testing and refining their techniques.

Finally, Shiro faced the last clone. "You'll focus on Ninjutsu. Practice the Water Prison Jutsu and Shark Bullet Jutsu until they're as smooth as possible. We need versatility in combat, and these techniques could make a difference."

The fourth clone gave a determined nod and walked toward the small pond nearby. It began drawing on Shiro's Reiryoku to mold water and practice.

With his instructions given, Shiro sat down under a tree. He leaned back, focusing on steadying his breathing and conserving what energy he could while the clones trained. The quiet hum of Reiatsu manipulation, sword swings, and faint Kidō chants filled the air.

Hours Later

The sun dipped below the horizon, bathing the training grounds in a warm, golden glow. Shiro opened his eyes as the first clone dispersed.

A rush of memories and sensations hit him. He felt the weight of the Asauchi in his hands, the strain of precise Zanjutsu training, and the slight improvements in his form.

Moments later, the second and third clones vanished in quick succession. The flood of experience from the Kidō training overwhelmed him briefly. He felt the intricate control of Reiatsu required to stabilize and cast the spells, as well as the subtle improvements in his timing and incantation speed.

The last clone dissolved not long after, bringing with it the memories of grueling Ninjutsu practice. Shiro felt the difficulty of molding water with Reiryoku, the satisfaction of executing the techniques successfully, and the crushing fatigue of maintaining such precision for hours.

Shiro staggered, clutching his head as the accumulated strain and exhaustion hit him all at once. His body trembled, sweat poured down his face, and his legs gave out beneath him. He collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath.

"Damn it," he muttered, wiping his forehead with a shaky hand. "That was... way too much."

As Shiro lay on the ground, his body aching from the effort, he reviewed what he had gained:

His Zanjutsu techniques were noticeably smoother and more precise.

His Kidō spells had better accuracy and faster casting speeds.

The Water Prison Jutsu and Shark Bullet Jutsu were more refined, though still exhausting to execute repeatedly.

However, the cost was steep. His Reiatsu reserves were nearly depleted, and his muscles burned from the shared physical strain of his clones' training. He hadn't realized how taxing it would be to absorb the experiences of four clones simultaneously.

"This... is insane," he muttered, his voice hoarse. "But it's working."

Shiro pulled himself into a sitting position, leaning back against the tree. The night air was cool against his overheated skin, and he allowed himself a moment of rest before trying to stand.

Far away, Aizen observed silently, hidden in the shadows. His sharp eyes followed Shiro's movements, taking in the sheer effort the boy put into his training.

"So, this is how he's pushing himself forward," Aizen mused, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Admirable... but reckless."

His mind churned with schemes, plans to ensure Shiro's growth accelerated even further. Aizen saw potential in Shiro, potential that could be cultivated—and manipulated.

"This bond between Shiro and Yoruichi... it could be useful," he thought, his expression unreadable. "I'll strengthen it, let it grow."

A darker thought crept into his mind. "And when the time is right, I'll sever it in front of him. The despair will push him beyond his limits."

For now, Aizen allowed Shiro to bask in his small victories, unaware of the trials and heartbreak waiting in the shadows.

End Chapter Stats

Progress: 16.31%

Template: Madara Uchiha

[System Status]

Strength: 42

Endurance: 40

Speed: 44

Reiatsu Control: 40

Intelligence: 37

Battle Instinct: 40

[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 Hollows.

[Techniques Unlocked]

Water Style: Water Prison Jutsu

Shunpo

Byakurai

Shō

Reiatsu Strengthening

Moeru Danmaku

Water Style: Water Shark Bullet

Kaidō

Shadow Clone Jutsu

[Asauchi Imprinting Progress]

Current Bond Level: 20%

[Ongoing Quests]

Get Madara Uchiha's Template progress to 20% in 2 months. (1 Month Left)

Reward: Unlock all past life memories

Penalty: Never unlock past life memories again