Awakening the Absolute

As the golden light of early morning broke over Tokyo, Itachi found himself deep within Ryuji's dimly lit apartment. The room was an embodiment of Ryuji himself: cluttered but strong, with weights scattered across the floor, faint scuffs on the walls from fists thrown too close to the surface, and a lingering, metallic scent that clung to the air. Seated around him were Haruto, Yuki, and Ryuji, each casting a curious glance in his direction as they awaited his words. Itachi's face was as calm and enigmatic as ever, but a solemn gravity settled around him.

Breaking the silence, Haruto was the first to speak. "Did something happen?" His tone was careful, observant.

Itachi looked up, his dark eyes flickering with an almost imperceptible gleam. "I have realized something."

Ryuji leaned forward, brow furrowed. "What is it?" he asked, his voice low and steady.

In the stillness of the room, Itachi's voice dropped to a grave tone. "I haven't even touched the power of the Absolute."

Ryuji's eyes widened in confusion. "But we can use dark energy, right? Isn't that part of the Absolute's power?" 

Yuki, ever perceptive, turned her attention fully to Itachi. "Itachi-san, can you explain what you mean?"

Itachi nodded slowly, as if the weight of his thoughts had settled heavily within him. "The dark energy we command—that power isn't the Absolute's true essence. It is... the power of the Abyss. When the Absolute Being was sealed in the Abyss, he claimed this dark energy for himself." He paused, letting the words sink in. "It became part of his arsenal, but it is not his origin."

Haruto leaned back, his gaze sharpening. "Then what is the Absolute's real power?"

Itachi's eyes seemed to drift as if into a memory from another world. "Think back. Remember how I could reshape the Abyss with a single thought?"

Each of them nodded, recalling the effortless way he'd commanded the Abyss itself, bending it to his will.

"It's not because I control the Abyss's dark energy alone," Itachi continued. "That control came from the Absolute's true powers."

Haruto frowned. "Are you saying that... this power comes from something beyond even the Abyss?"

Itachi nodded. "The Absolute transferred his powers to me, but he hid parts of it, sealing away certain abilities." He paused, as though recalling an ancient, hidden memory. "He had locked them away for a reason."

Intrigued, Yuki tilted her head, her soft voice breaking the silence. "Did you find a way to undo the seal?"

"No," Itachi said quietly. "I did nothing. After my last fight, memories began to resurface. The Absolute had hidden them, because he knew I wasn't ready. My control over his 'basic' powers had to be stable before I could approach the rest." A flash of bitterness crossed his face, so brief it might have gone unnoticed.

"So," Haruto ventured cautiously, "this is like... the vessel of the Shadow Monarch? He too has to build his power before reaching his full potential."

Itachi gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. "That's not far from the truth."

"But why would the Absolute seal your memories?" Yuki's voice was thoughtful, and the crease between her brows showed her concern.

"They weren't exactly sealed," Itachi replied. "They were corrupted—small fragments scattered and lost. The memories of that encounter, the knowledge I should have had, was fragmented. The Abyss's dark energy—our own power—it distorted those memories, shrouding them in darkness." His gaze turned inward, as though reliving the process.

Ryuji clenched his fists, a trace of frustration evident on his face. "Corrupting your memories? Why memories? Wouldn't it try to corrupt you entirely?"

Itachi's eyes grew distant, lost in contemplation. "Perhaps the Absolute's power itself was my safeguard. Even the Abyss couldn't fully erase his influence over me." He looked back at his team, his gaze piercing but steady. "The Absolute understood that I needed to be tempered—shaped—before I could begin to touch his real strength."

The gravity of his words settled heavily in the room, each of them realizing the implications of what Itachi was saying.

"So, can you control the Absolute's power now?" Yuki asked, her voice almost hesitant.

Itachi was silent for a moment before he replied simply, "Barely." With that, he turned away, his hand lifting in a faint, ethereal motion. As he did, a portal appeared before them, swirling with a dark yet strangely inviting light. "We're going to the Abyss. We won't return anytime soon."

Without hesitation, Itachi stepped through the portal, his form disappearing into the swirling darkness. One by one, Haruto, Yuki, and Ryuji followed, their expressions a mixture of apprehension and resolve. When they emerged, they were greeted by a vast, barren expanse—the Abyss itself. But as Itachi raised his hand, the world around them shifted, bending to his will. From the wasteland, a colossal training ground materialized, filled with winding paths, towering peaks, and open fields stretching as far as the eye could see.

Itachi turned to his team. "This will be your training ground for the foreseeable future. Each of you has your own schedule, tailored to push you beyond your current limits."

Haruto, ever the strategist, accepted the challenge with a sharp nod, already calculating how best to utilize his assigned regimen. Ryuji cracked his knuckles, excitement gleaming in his eyes, while Yuki gazed at the vast expanse with an intensity that belied her usually gentle demeanor.

After assigning their tasks, Itachi found himself alone on a quiet patch of ground. He looked down at his sword, a blade that had served him faithfully through countless battles. Yet, as he held it, a thought nagged at him—it no longer felt right. This weapon, was insufficient for the Absolute's power. With a calm certainty, he set it aside, lowering himself to the ground and closing his eyes.

Time lost all meaning as he meditated, sinking deep within his mind, searching for the strength he knew was now within him. The power of reality warping—an art more advanced than even his most refined genjutsu—whispered to him from the depths of his soul. Taking a deep breath, he reached out, allowing his thoughts to shape the space around him. Slowly, his surroundings transformed from the barren Abyss into a vibrant green field, grass swaying gently beneath an azure sky.

Yet, his control wavered. The illusion flickered, unstable beneath the weight of the Absolute's influence. Itachi clenched his fists, steadying his mind, determined to master this ability. As he regained control, he felt a new sensation—a subtle shift in the fabric of time itself. Curiously, he focused on the flow of time around him, reaching out to manipulate it. A soft hum filled the air as he found himself able to slow time, watching as the grass bent to a barely perceptible breeze, each blade moving with a languid grace.

From a distance, he saw Haruto practicing with his sword, movements swift and deadly. Concealing his presence, Itachi approached, reaching out to slow the world around him. The sensation of control over time was intoxicating, yet he found it difficult to maintain. The strain grew quickly, and after only a few seconds, he released his hold, returning time to its natural flow.

Turning back to his training ground, Itachi resolved to master time manipulation. It would allow him endless hours of training within moments, a skill of inestimable value. And so, he immersed himself in relentless practice, bending time, space, and matter to his will over countless, unmeasured hours.

Finally, after what seemed an eternity, Itachi decided to test one of the Absolute's more formidable powers. Raising his hand, he closed his eyes, summoning an image to mind—a simple flower, delicate and white, blooming within his palm. As he opened his eyes, a flickering shape formed above his hand, the beginnings of a blossom, faintly translucent and delicate. But the flower was imperfect, its petals faded, edges frayed. Frowning, he tightened his grip on the power flowing through him, willing the flower to take shape.

But as he beheld the fragile creation, a wave of resolve washed over him. The Absolute's power could bring life, perhaps even beings as mighty as the Rulers and Monarchs themselves. Yet, he could not—would not—use this gift to create life for war. He held the flower for a moment longer before releasing it, watching as it dissolved back into the ether.

Days, weeks, or perhaps years passed in the Abyss. Time lost all meaning as Itachi continued to hone his skills, his command over dark energy and the Absolute's powers growing sharper with every passing moment. The ground around him bore marks of his relentless practice, charred earth and scorched air the remnants of his struggles.

And finally, as he emerged from his trance-like training, Itachi's presence felt even more profound, his power radiating from within. There was no longer any doubt—he was not merely a wielder of dark energy or a master of the Absolute's gifts.