The New Kenpachi

The battle had naturally come to an end.

After the Menos Grande had been defeated by Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, the 11th Division's members joined forces and quickly cleared the area of Hueco Mundo. No one had died in the process, though injuries had been unavoidable.

As long as there was a battle, there was always the possibility of casualties.

Even among the captains of the Gotei 13, mighty as they were, quite a few had fallen in battle over the years.

The fact that no one had died was a good thing in itself.

Not long after the battle ended, another squad of Soul Reapers hurried to the scene.

The newcomer was Kyoraku Shunsui, who often dropped by the 11th Division to mooch drinks.

He had brought members of the 4th Division to provide support.

The commotion here had been enormous, and the Hollow horde had been so large that the Gotei 13 had responded soon after the battle began, dispatching members of the 4th Division to provide aid. After all, they couldn't expect the wounded to make their own way back to Seireitei for treatment. Temporary medical care on the battlefield was essential.

Kyoraku Shunsui had joined the squad along the way. As captain of the 8th Division, he was responsible for gathering intelligence. The frequent invasions of Soul Society by Menos Grande in recent days, along with certain changes in Hueco Mundo, had caught his attention. So when he saw the 4th Division heading out to provide support, he joined them, wanting to find out what was going on.

"Looks like I'm too late."

When he arrived, Kyoraku Shunsui saw that the battle was already over and couldn't help saying so.

"No, you came at just the right time!"

Kuruyashiki Kenpachi called out to Kyoraku Shunsui.

"We've won another battle, so let's hold a drinking party!"

And so, the drinking party began.

Some of the members left the battlefield for a while, and soon returned with a large supply of fine liquor.

There in the wilderness, where the stench of blood from the battle had yet to fade, the drinking party began, as usual.

But today's party was a little different.

Halfway through the drinking party, a cool voice interrupted Kuruyashiki Kenpachi as he spoke with Kyoraku Shunsui. "Could I speak with you in private?"

Kuruyashiki Kenpachi paused, then looked at the speaker.

The other Soul Reapers also turned to look at the newcomer.

He was a young man whose clothes were unlike those of the Commoners of Rukongai or the Soul Reapers of the Gotei 13. A single glance was enough to tell that he was a noble, but unlike most nobles, he wore no extravagant ornaments. His appearance was almost starkly plain.

"Oh? A young nobleman, huh? Want a drink? I can spare some!"

Kuruyashiki Kenpachi didn't distance himself from the young man because of his noble status. Instead, he smiled and spoke to him.

"I didn't come here to drink with you," the young man said. "Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, I've heard that if I kill you in front of two hundred members, I can take the position of 11th Division captain and claim the title of Kenpachi."

Kuruyashiki Kenpachi stared at him for a moment, then set down his cup and stood, facing the young man.

"You heard right!"

"So there's no need for any further formalities. If you're willing, fight me and let's see who's stronger." The young man's tone remained as cool and detached as he stated his purpose.

A hush swept through the drinking party.

After a brief silence, the members of the 11th Division began to snicker.

They were laughing at the young man's overconfidence.

In their eyes, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi was the strongest Soul Reaper. Some nobody who had appeared out of nowhere and wanted to challenge him was a joke. There was no way he could win.

Natsuki heard his companions mocking the young nobleman, but didn't join in.

He hadn't been in the 11th Division for long. Although he had witnessed Kuruyashiki Kenpachi's strength, he hadn't developed the same personal admiration for him as the other members.

He simply had an instinctive feeling.

This nobleman didn't look like a fool.

Since he had chosen to come here and challenge Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, he must have had something to back him up.

Ignoring the laughter around him, the young nobleman quietly watched Kuruyashiki Kenpachi. In the end, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi accepted his challenge.

At that moment, because of the earlier battle, all the members of the 11th Division were gathered there. The requirement of two hundred members had been met, and with Kyoraku Shunsui present to drink, the condition of having a captain as a witness had also been fulfilled.

And so, out in the wilderness, though the battlefield made for an unusual setting, the challenge for the title of Kenpachi began.

The result of the battle surprised everyone.

Kuruyashiki Kenpachi lost!

Although the young nobleman was also badly wounded, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi's injuries were ultimately worse.

In a challenge for the title of Kenpachi, defeat had only one outcome: death.

So, after stopping his furious squad members from attacking the badly wounded nobleman, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi said a few words to his men and to Kyoraku Shunsui, then calmly passed away.

And with his death, a new Kenpachi was born.

Several days passed after the challenge for the title of Kenpachi.

Throughout the 11th Division, many members were in low spirits over Kuruyashiki Kenpachi's death.

They couldn't accept what had happened.

But because of Kuruyashiki Kenpachi's dying words, and with Kyoraku Shunsui as witness, the man who had killed him ultimately became the new Kenpachi.

His name soon became known.

Azashiro Soya!

He should now be called Azashiro Kenpachi.

Unlike the approachable Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, the new Kenpachi was extremely cold and taciturn. The only good news for now was that he had no intention of changing the 11th Division. Gosu remained the lieutenant, and none of the other members' seats had changed.

Even so, many members still resented him for becoming Kenpachi. They believed Kuruyashiki Kenpachi hadn't used his full strength. If he had, the new Kenpachi would never have won.

As Natsuki spent his days among the various members, he gradually learned why they thought this way.

It was because, many years ago, Central 46 had issued an order forbidding Kuruyashiki Kenpachi from using Bankai in Seireitei or its surrounding areas.

The reason was that Kuruyashiki Kenpachi's Bankai was too powerful. Once released, it would cause irreversible damage to the surrounding environment.

Because of that, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi had never used Bankai again. Even when far from Seireitei, he rarely used Shikai.

In the conditions of the battle earlier, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi could clearly have used Bankai, but he hadn't.

"Was he worried about hurting the members nearby?"

Natsuki pondered Kuruyashiki Kenpachi's final actions.

Then he thought, If it were me, I'd never do that!

At a life-or-death moment, why waste time thinking about so much? The important thing is to make sure I stay alive!