Battle Against Kenpachi

Ye Yang showed no reaction, treating the Spiritual Pressure Kenpachi Zaraki released as if it were nothing. Suddenly, Kenpachi Zaraki's Spiritual Pressure pressed outward as though it were solid, a golden column of it soaring into the sky. Fighting spirit rose in Ye Yang's heart. He, too, wanted to see just how strong this future eleventh Kenpachi was.

A surge of silver-white Spiritual Pressure likewise soared into the sky, contending with Kenpachi Zaraki's golden Spiritual Pressure. The two faced each other head-on, neither gaining the upper hand. As wave after wave of Spiritual Pressure collided, the shock waves left Ikkaku and Yumichika struggling to breathe nearby. Ikkaku Madarame's jaw hung open. "These two are so strong they're not even human!"

Ye Yang no longer had his usual warmth. In its place was a commanding presence! A commanding presence that declared no one else his equal! No one here knew who Ye Yang was, so he made no attempt to hide his bearing.

Amid the golden Spiritual Pressure, Kenpachi Zaraki laughed as arrogantly as ever. "Ye Yang Shihoin, you're every bit the opponent I thought you were. Let's have ourselves a fight to the death!"

"Fight to the death?" Ye Yang asked softly. "I think that's a rather crude way to put it, but have it your way! Break free of your bonds—Silver Rend!"

Although Ye Yang released Silver Rend, he did not use its ability. If he did, he would surely cut through Kenpachi Zaraki's Zanpakuto. That would be unfair to Kenpachi Zaraki, who had yet to release his Zanpakuto. As a martial artist in his previous life, Ye Yang would never take advantage of someone like that.

Ye Yang had released his Zanpakuto only because some of his moves were awkward to perform with a sword. Kenpachi Zaraki, however, grew even more excited. "So this is a Soul Reaper's Zanpakuto release? Don't disappoint me!"

"I won't. Come on!" With that, Ye Yang charged straight at him.

Ye Yang did not use the Tai Chi Sword Technique, which was best suited to fighting him. It would normally have been the ideal choice against someone like Kenpachi Zaraki, who possessed both strength and speed. But if Ye Yang used it, Kenpachi Zaraki certainly would not be able to enjoy the fight. The Tai Chi Sword Technique was not about meeting force with force.

Ye Yang chose the simplest kind of fight with Kenpachi Zaraki! Kenpachi Zaraki's slashes were swift and powerful, but Ye Yang had the edge in skill. In Ye Yang's eyes, Kenpachi Zaraki's Zanjutsu was full of openings. But whenever anyone attacked one of those openings, they would be attacked in turn—an exchange of injuries!

But who was Ye Yang? A grandmaster of martial arts! That approach might have injured someone else, but it could never injure Ye Yang. Every time Ye Yang wounded Kenpachi Zaraki and his sword was about to land on Ye Yang, Ye Yang dodged it at an exceedingly strange angle. Before long, Kenpachi Zaraki was covered in wounds. Though they were not deep, even Kenpachi Zaraki surely could not withstand too many of them.

Yet the excitement in his eyes had not faded. If anything, it had grown, and his gaze was full of madness. "Hey! Ye Yang Shihoin! Are all the Soul Reapers in the Seireien as strong as you?"

Looking at the blood-soaked Kenpachi Zaraki, Ye Yang said, "Not exactly, but there are more people whose strength is on par with mine than I can count on both hands. And there are no fewer than five who are stronger than me."

What Ye Yang said was true. At the very least, the division captains were all no weaker than him. The ones Ye Yang was certain of were Captain-Commander Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, Fourth Division Captain Retsu Unohana, Eighth Division Captain Shunsui Kyōraku, Tenth Division Captain Isshin Shiba, Twelfth Division Captain Kirio Hikifune, and Jūshirō Ukitake, Shunsui Kyōraku's contemporary and close friend. Ye Yang was certain that if he truly fought any of them, he would be the one to die in the end.

"Is that so? Sounds like an interesting place. I'll definitely go there. Now, let's keep fighting!"

The two resumed their fight, but this time it was not as simple as Ye Yang had imagined. Several times, after Ye Yang dodged Kenpachi Zaraki's attacks at strange angles, he was nearly cut! Kenpachi Zaraki's sword slashed in the direction Ye Yang moved, as if it had eyes of its own. If Ye Yang had not reacted quickly, he would have been hit. It was not that Kenpachi Zaraki had seen through Ye Yang's moves, but rather that he had the instincts of a wild beast! Those instincts allowed him to find Ye Yang's position at all times. Although Ye Yang could still dodge, even an occasional hit would be serious.

As they traded blows like this, neither Ye Yang nor Kenpachi Zaraki gained the upper hand. Kenpachi Zaraki was powerful, but he rarely hit Ye Yang. Ye Yang's blows were weaker, but his superb swordsmanship allowed him to strike Kenpachi Zaraki frequently. Their fighting spirit endured until dusk, yet there was still no victor.

By now, Kenpachi Zaraki was covered in wounds. Ye Yang had fewer, but every one of them was deep. The two were about evenly matched.

Gasping for breath, Ye Yang looked at Kenpachi Zaraki across from him and said, "Let's settle this with one final move!"

That was exactly what Kenpachi Zaraki wanted. "Fine! One move to decide it!"

Kenpachi Zaraki began unleashing his Spiritual Pressure without restraint, seemingly pouring every last bit he had left into this strike. Violent golden Spiritual Pressure surged into the sky, while Ye Yang merely focused on Silver Rend and summoned all his remaining Spiritual Pressure.

The instant Kenpachi Zaraki's golden figure charged at him, Ye Yang murmured, "Space—Dimensional Slash!"

A pitch-black spatial rift appeared in front of Ye Yang's blade. It then swept forward, devouring everything in its path, and collided with Kenpachi Zaraki's golden Spiritual Pressure. A tremendous explosion rang out, filling the air with smoke.

When the thick smoke cleared, Kenpachi Zaraki stood there, drenched in blood. His sword had broken, and blood was pouring from a massive wound on his left shoulder. He raised the broken sword and said to Ye Yang, "You... won!" Then he fell.

Ye Yang smiled bitterly. He had exhausted himself and did not have the strength even to stand. Looking at the fallen Kenpachi Zaraki, he said, "No... you're the one who won. If my Zanpakuto's ability hadn't happened to counter you, I..." Ye Yang could no longer support his heavy body and fell in front of Kenpachi Zaraki.

Ye Yang no longer had the strength to move, but he had not lost consciousness. Yachiru jumped in front of Kenpachi Zaraki and bowed to Ye Yang. "Thank you for making Kenny so happy. Are you all right?"

Ye Yang's voice was faint. "I'm fine. I just used too much Spiritual Pressure and exhausted myself. I can recover on my own. Shouldn't you be more worried about him? He's the first person to take that move of mine head-on."

"Kenny's really strong!"

As if confirming Yachiru's words, Kenpachi Zaraki regained consciousness and said, "Ye Yang Shihoin, was it? I'll remember you. That was a powerful move. I lost..."

Ye Yang spoke frankly. "My Zanpakuto Silver Rend's ability is to tear space apart! That ability is highly effective against direct-attack Zanpakuto, and it's just as effective against someone like you, who relies entirely on Zanjutsu. So I wouldn't call it my win either. Besides, that move left me completely drained."

In her sweet, childish voice, Yachiru said, "Then let's call it a draw. Right, Kenny?"

"A draw? Still, Ye Yang Shihoin, I'll go to the Seireien to find you," Kenpachi Zaraki said.

"Is that so? I look forward to seeing you." Ye Yang then dragged his exhausted body upright and began recovering his Spiritual Pressure, while Yachiru left with Kenpachi Zaraki. Ikkaku Madarame and Yumichika Ayasegawa had left after watching the two fight. It was too discouraging; a battle of that level was simply not one they could join.

Ye Yang got up as soon as he had recovered a little Spiritual Pressure. Looking at his wounds, he smiled bitterly. It seemed he would have to visit the Fourth Division again. He managed to use Shunpo and dragged his badly injured body to the Fourth Division. By the time he arrived, he had exhausted his Spiritual Pressure again, and his wounds had begun to hurt. Then everything went black, and Ye Yang lost consciousness...

When Ye Yang woke, the first thing he saw was a large "four" on the door. He knew then that he was lying in a hospital bed in the Fourth Division. Turning his head, he saw Yoruichi, Kisuke Urahara, and several other familiar faces, including Kaien. When Retsu Unohana saw that Ye Yang was awake, she said, "You're awake? Then I'll step outside. You only have ten minutes for visitors, all right~" She then left the hospital room.

Yoruichi hurriedly asked, "What happened? How did you get hurt so badly?"

Ye Yang smiled and answered, "It's nothing. I just met someone very strong and fought him once, that's all. Don't worry."

"Nothing? You're clearly badly hurt. You're staying in the Fourth Division to recover for the next few days." For the first time, Yoruichi spoke to Ye Yang in a commanding tone.

Seeing Yoruichi's determined gaze, Ye Yang nodded helplessly. "Yes..."

Kisuke Urahara said, "Someone managed to hurt you this badly? Who was he?"

Only then did Ye Yang remember that Kenpachi Zaraki had not given his name. Although Ye Yang knew it, he still did not say it. "I don't know. I only heard someone call him Kenny."

"He's not from the Seireien?"

"No. I met him in District 79 of Rukongai. He was strong! But his injuries should be no lighter than mine," Ye Yang said slowly, recounting the facts.

Kisuke Urahara was not surprised. He merely said, "The Soul Society really is a place of crouching tigers and hidden dragons."

Afterward, Kaien and the others said things to Ye Yang about getting well soon. When ten minutes had passed, Captain Unohana reminded them, and everyone left. Only Ye Yang and Retsu Unohana remained in the hospital room.

Retsu Unohana spoke. "Can you tell me how you were injured?" She then gave him a saintly smile.

Ye Yang hid nothing and told her about his fight with Kenpachi Zaraki in Rukongai. Retsu Unohana immediately showed an expression Ye Yang could not understand. She asked, "Then do you know his name? You have to tell me the truth~" As she spoke, Ye Yang seemed to see something resembling black energy appear behind her. His instincts told him that if he lied, he would die a terrible death...

A trace of solemnity flashed in Ye Yang's eyes. "His name is Kenpachi Zaraki! And his Zanpakuto is only an Asauchi—an Asauchi with a blade full of nicks."