New Sword Eight

The battle, naturally, had come to an end.

After all the Menos Grande were defeated by Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, the numerous members of the 11th Division joined forces and quickly cleared out the rest of Hueco Mundo. During this process, no members were killed, though injuries were unavoidable.

Wherever there is battle, there is the possibility of casualties.

Even among the captains of the Gotei 13, who are powerful as they are, quite a few have fallen in battle over the years.

The fact that there were no deaths was, in itself, a good thing.

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

The newcomer was none other than Kyoraku Shunsui, who often came to the 11th Division to sponge drinks.

He had brought members of the 4th Division along for support.

The commotion here was so great and the number of Hollows so vast that shortly after the fighting began, the Gotei 13 had made preparations, mobilizing the 4th Division to come to the rescue. After all, it was impossible to have the wounded return to the Seireitei on their own for treatment; on-site emergency care was essential.

Kyoraku Shunsui had joined the group halfway. As the captain of the 8th Division, he was responsible for intelligence gathering. The frequent incursions of Menos Grande into the Soul Society of late, coupled with certain changes in Hueco Mundo, had made him particularly concerned. Thus, upon seeing the 4th Division heading out to provide support, he joined them, intending to see exactly what was going on.

"It seems I've arrived late."

Upon arriving, Kyoraku Shunsui saw that the battle had already concluded and could not help but remark.

"No, you've arrived just in time!"

Kuruyashiki Kenpachi said to Kyoraku Shunsui.

"Another victory has been won; let us hold a drinking party."

And so, the drinking party began.

Some members left the battlefield briefly, and soon, they returned with a large supply of fine wine.

Right there in the wilderness, in a place where the bloody scent of battle had yet to dissipate, the party began, just as it always did.

However, today's party was somewhat unusual.

Just as the party was halfway through.

A cold voice interrupted Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, who was in the middle of talking to Kyoraku Shunsui, "Could we speak in private?"

Kuruyashiki Kenpachi was taken aback and immediately looked at the speaker.

The other Shinigamis also turned their gazes toward the newcomer.

The visitor was a young man. His attire was different from that of the commoners in the Rukon District or the Shinigamis of the Gotei 13. At a single glance, one could tell he was of noble status. However, unlike typical nobles, this young man wore no excessive, gaudy decorations; on the contrary, his appearance was terrifyingly simple.

"Oh? A young master of the nobility, eh? Do you want a drink? If you do, I can spare some for you!"

Kuruyashiki Kenpachi did not distance himself because of the other's noble status; instead, he said this to him with a smile.

"I did not come here to drink with you," the young man said. "Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, I have heard that as long as one kills you in front of two hundred squad members, one can obtain the position of 11th Division Captain and the title of Kenpachi."

Upon hearing this, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi paused, then set down his wine cup, stood up, and looked the young man in the eye.

"You heard correctly!"

"Then there is no need for extra formalities. If you are willing, please fight me to the death and let us decide who is superior!" The man's tone remained as indifferent as ever as he stated his purpose to Kuruyashiki Kenpachi.

A silent tension instantly swept through the entire party.

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

They were all laughing at this fellow for overestimating himself.

In their minds, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi was the most powerful Shinigami; for some guy who popped out of nowhere to challenge him was simply a joke—there was no way he could win.

Natsuki listened to his companions mocking the noble youth, but he did not join in.

He had not been in the 11th Division for long, and although he had witnessed Kuruyashiki Kenpachi's strength, he had not developed the same cult-like worship of him as the other members.

He simply felt, by instinct.

This noble did not look like a fool.

Since the other party chose to come here to challenge Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, he must have something to rely on.

Ignoring the mockery of those around him.

The noble youth watched Kuruyashiki Kenpachi quietly, and in the end, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi accepted the challenge.

At this moment, because of the earlier battle, the members of the 11th Division were all present, satisfying the condition of two hundred squad members. And because Kyoraku Shunsui had come to sponge a drink, the condition of having a captain present as a witness was also met.

Thus, in this wilderness, despite the unusual battlefield, the challenge for the title of Kenpachi began.

And the result of the battle was shocking.

Kuruyashiki Kenpachi—lost!

Even though the noble youth had also sustained heavy injuries, in the end, it was Kuruyashiki Kenpachi whose wounds were more severe.

In a challenge for the title of Kenpachi, there was only one outcome for failure: death.

Therefore, after stopping his enraged subordinates from attacking the heavily wounded noble, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi spoke a few words to his members and to Kyoraku Shunsui, then passed away with composure.

And it was after his death that a new Kenpachi was born.

A few more days had passed since the conclusion of that Kenpachi challenge.

Within the entire 11th Division, morale among many members had plummeted due to the death of Kuruyashiki Kenpachi.

They could not accept such a reality.

However, due to Kuruyashiki Kenpachi's final words before his death, coupled with the testimony of Kyoraku Shunsui, the culprit who had killed Kuruyashiki Kenpachi ultimately became the new Kenpachi.

His name also became known to all.

Azashiro Soya!

He should now be referred to as Azashiro Kenpachi.

Unlike the approachable Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, this new Kenpachi possessed an extremely cold and taciturn personality. The only good news at present was perhaps that he had no intention of changing the 11th Division; Gosu remained the lieutenant, and the seats of the other members had not undergone any changes.

Even so, many members were still deeply resentful of this man becoming Kenpachi, believing that Kuruyashiki Kenpachi had not used his full strength at the time, and that if he had, this man would absolutely not have won.

Natsuki, who spent his days mingling among the various members, gradually came to understand why they thought this way.

The reason lay in a prohibition issued by Central 46 to Kuruyashiki Kenpachi many years ago.

He was forbidden from unleashing his Bankai within the Seireitei or its surrounding areas.

The reason was that the power of Kuruyashiki Kenpachi's Bankai was far too immense; once unleashed, it would cause irreversible destruction to the surrounding environment.

Because of this, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi had never used his Bankai since that time, and even when far away from the Seireitei, he rarely even used his Shikai in his daily life.

In the environment of that previous battle, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi could clearly have used his Bankai, yet he had not.

Was he worried about harming the nearby members?

Natsuki pondered Kuruyashiki Kenpachi's final actions.

He then thought to himself, If it were me, I would absolutely never do such a thing!

At a life-or-death moment, there is no room to think too much; ensuring one's own survival is the only thing that matters!