When Sōya Azashiro announced Kenpachi's challenge, everyone was stunned. But even as Jun was stunned, his deepest worry was relieved.
Why would Jun use such a method? Because in the original work, on the same day, Sōya Azashiro directly killed Kuruyashiki Kenpachi.
In the original work, today's attack also occurred, and the attacker was that Hollow, that Vasto Lorde, who was none other than Szayelaporro. At this time, Szayelaporro was still the Vasto Lorde, and it seems he had just Baraggan's faction. As for the reason for the attack on Soul Society, it is currently unclear.
In the original work, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi also disrupted the attack in the same way. He provoked Szayelaporro but received no response, Szayelaporro then left on his own, which is quite strange and puzzling.
The party proceeded as planned, but in the original work Sōya Azashiro, upon arriving, launched a sneak attack on Kuruyashiki Kenpachi! This is crucial.
Sōya Azashiro's sneak attack this time was premeditated. He had planned every possible way to kill Kuruyashiki Kenpachi. He first separated his own Reishi and merged them into Kuruyashiki Kenpachi's body to directly break through his defenses.
Then, more Reishi invaded and self-destructed inside Kuruyashiki Kenpachi's body. This was a disgusting move that hurt both the enemy and oneself. Kuruyashiki Kenpachi was left with an incurable wound, Sōya Azashiro himself wasn't much better off.
As mentioned before, if the Spiritual Power split from Sōya Azashiro's body were destroyed, he himself would suffer complete damage. He killed Kuruyashiki Kenpachi using this self-destruction method.
Kuruyashiki Kenpachi's death was a huge loss to Soul Society, because in a sense, he had the potential to grow to the Captain-Commander. None of the weaklings in the Zero Division would even consider him worthy of attention.
This was even worse news for the 11th Division. After Kuruyashiki Kenpachi's death, he was a very magnanimous person. Even though he was killed in a sneak attack, he acknowledged that Sōya Azashiro had completed the Kenpachi challenge and thus passed the title of Kenpachi to Sōya Azashiro, making Sōya Azashiro the captain of the 11th Division.
However, as we the Visionary before, what was Sōya Azashiro's purpose in becoming the 11th Division Captain? It was for himself, for that possibility of becoming a nobleman. In the original work, because there was no Main-house faction, his enemy, the Central 46, held absolute power. Therefore, Sōya Azashiro could only regain his noble status by performing extraordinary feats.
For example, to eliminate Baraggan, the greatest enemy of Soul Society, he planned to use the entire Rukongai to lure away Hollows, allowing him to lead the 11th Division straight to Las Noches, and then deliver him to Baraggan, thus completing his plan to Baraggan.
From the perspective of a pure, all-knowing God like ourselves, this plan has absolutely no chance of success for any quark. Why? Because Baraggan's Reishi properties are invincible. Sōya Azashiro believes the possibility of him killing Baraggan using the same method he used to kill Kuruyashiki Kenpachi is zero.
So that's how things are. In Jun's timeline, Sōya Azashiro has returned to the nobility, and the Main-house faction treats him very well. Because he already had a grudge against the Retainer faction in the Central 46, Sōya Azashiro no longer has the necessity he had in the original work.
So why is he challenging Kenpachi now? He himself has explained why.
"Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, I was blinded by hatred before. I've always been planning to kill you and then use the 11th Division to my advantage to fulfill my ambitions."
"But now, my ambition has been inexplicably fulfilled, my body is unable to bear children, and the Azashiro Clan can no longer continue. So, after bringing the Azashiro Clan back to its noble status in my lifetime, my existence no longer has much meaning."
"So now I'm here to challenge you. This is the only reason I've found to survive so far. I want to know, between you and me, who is stronger!"
Kuruyashiki Kenpachi was a fearless man, and faced with Sōya Azashiro's choice, he laughed heartily and said, "Alright! Then let's go!"
This is way too fast! Why didn't you choose an auspicious day? A lucky day according to the Chinese almanac? Deciding on this on the spot is far too hasty!?
"Wait a minute!" Jun jumped out just as Kuruyashiki Kenpachi was about to draw his sword. "Are you guys about to start fighting?"
"Jun~ What are you doing!? Kenpachi's challenge is an internal matter of the 11th Division, we have no right to stop it! Get back!" Shunsui Kyōraku cursed fiercely.
"That's not how it works!" Chun, of course, wasn't going to let the fight start like this. "I'm saying it's unfair!"
"Huh? What's unfair about it?" Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, Sōya Azashiro looking at Jun with slight dissatisfaction.
Jun pointed at Sōya Azashiro and cursed, "You look so refined, but I never expected you to be so treacherous! You knew perfectly well that Kuruyashiki Kenpachi was Sealed Blade and couldn't use his Release in Soul Society, yet you still challenged him here. You're always keeping your Release alive! If that's not taking advantage, if that's not unfair, then what is?!"
The onlookers were instantly won over by Chun's reasoning, nodding in agreement. "Yeah! You, Azashiro, don't take advantage of the captain just because he can't use his escape technique!"
"Yes, yes! This isn't fair!"
"You despicable scoundrel Sōya Azashiro!"
He didn't react only to what was said around him; Sōya Azashiro sheathed his sword the moment Jun uttered his reason. He wasn't one to be easily swayed by external influences, but this upright reason was indeed something he had to uphold. However, he frowned.
"If that's the case, then even if I win, it would be an unfair victory. But you can't use your Release in Soul Society, so how can we fight fairly?"
"Ugh~ this," Kuruyashiki Kenpachi was also quite troubled. He glanced around and finally looked at Jun, "Jun~, you're smart, tell me where we should fight?"
The fight is still necessary, Jun is really frustrated right now, can't you guys take this opportunity to say you don't want to fight? But Kenpachi's challenge is indeed the legacy of the 11th Division. Every time it appears and is announced, one person must die, and the winner inherits or retains the Kenpachi Title. This is Kenpachi's glory!
Having no other choice, Chun had a sudden thought, "Let's fight in Hueco Mundo then. You two aren't afraid of Adjuchas. If you encounter Vasto Lorde, just team up and kill him first, then fight him. Anyway, there's not much danger."
"What if they decide a winner, but the victor wins with great difficulty?" Shunsui Kyōraku asked.
However, Jun had already thought of this problem, but she didn't want to bring it up herself. She mentally gave Kyōraku a hundred thumbs up, and then, pointing to herself, said with great smugness...
"Me? I'll be the referee and witness. I know Space Kidō, so even if the winner runs out of energy, I can bring them back! I'm absolutely certain!"
The two looked at Chun, then exchanged another glance. Kuruyashiki Kenpachi nodded approvingly, "It's indeed a good idea, I agree!"
Sōya Azashiro held Chun in high regard, as his Azashiro Clan's return to nobility was largely due to Chun's influence. Therefore, he nodded and said, "That's excellent!"
"Shall we go now?"
"No way!" Chun was genuinely annoyed. "Do you two really want one of you to die?" "Um, I'll go scout Hueco Mundo first, find a better spot, so that if you two start fighting, you don't summon Vasto Lorde or anything like that, and then I won't be able to handle it."
"That's fine then. We'll leave this to you, Chun. We'll wait for your news."
"Good"
It seems neither of them had any objections; as long as they could fight, that was fine. Chun blinked a couple of times and said, "Uh, don't you guys need to report to the First Division?"
"No need~, this is our 11th Division's business."
"Oh, fine, you just wait."
The news of Kenpachi's latest challenge spread like wildfire throughout the Soul Society; it wasn't just the Seireitei that cared, but everyone in the Soul Society.
Because the title Kenpachi almost universally refers to the second strongest person in Soul Society —after all, the strongest man is that old man—the question of who the second strongest is will always be a topic of conversation.
However, because in previous Kenpachi challenges, the new Kenpachi only became known to everyone after the fight and he reported to the First Division, the excitement lasted only until the event was over. But this time, because one of the challengers had Sealed Blade the game, a special situation arose.
And that's not all. Kuruyashiki Kenpachi has the longest tenure of Kenpachi in history. He has served as Kuruyashiki Kenpachi for nearly four hundred years up to this challenge, a Kenpachi that surpasses the combined tenure of all previous Kenpachi. He's stronger than six of them combined.
Therefore, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi is also known as the strongest Kenpachi. So, in this Kenpachi challenge, everyone will witness whether the title of strongest Kenpachi will be reclaimed or changed hands – the show's entertainment value is off the charts!
Jun began several trips between Hueco Mundo and Soul Society, which were official business, and no one objected. However, under these circumstances, Jun secretly smuggled some personal goods along.
First, they went through the Senkaimon to the Expedition Force's encampment. Then, Jun went into the Forest of Menos, arriving at a location where he could be sure he wouldn't be detected. At that moment, the Cloak behind Jun was lifted, Muramasa bowed to him.
"Excuse me~", Muramasa materialized Jun's sword, revealing a woman with a resolute expression, wearing a cloak and wooden clogs, and possessing an Explosion beautiful figure. This was Tsunade.
"Tsunade greets her lord."
"Okay, I'll be staying in Hueco Mundo from now on. Here, try it out, see if it works?"
Jun tossed Tsunade an Earring, which she put on. This Earring was the portable Spiritual Power storage device Jun had envisioned before, and to ensure its reusability, Jun had also designed it to absorb surrounding Reishi. The absorption intensity could be adjusted, but absorbing too much could attract Hollows.
Then, after each knife was materialized, Jun would make a storage container according to the desired shape. Tsunade put on the Earrings, released some Spiritual Power, and then, feeling the effects of the Earrings, nodded.
"It's a success, my lord. This item can replenish my energy."
"Hmm, we'll test the maximum storage capacity once we get to the base. Oh, they're here."
Starrk landed on the ground, tilted his Tsunade, and said, "She looks a lot like Muramasa."
The Arrancars had all met Muramasa before. Jun nodded, "Yes, this is a Materialized Zanpakuto. From now on, it will be my clone. Say hello."
"Hello, Starrk, I'm Tsunade."
"Hello," Starrk nodded in greeting, then looked at Pure, "Where to?"
"Going to the base, I need your help with something."
"Sure, we're happy to have something to do."
Have any new companions joined?
"Unfortunately, no, but I've found another potential Vasto Lorde."
"Oh~ I'm really looking forward to it! Did Natasha go to the World of the Living?"
"She went, but she caused some trouble."
"What is it?"
"The general took a liking to her and insisted on taking her as a concubine, and then you know what happened."
"Ah~," Chun clutched her head, "You guys killed the general?"
"No, but he seems to have gone mad."
"Fine, you guys win."