Facing Azashiro Kenpachi!

"Different people have different views of the same thing. In your eyes, I may seem somewhat extreme, but I don't see myself that way."

Azashiro Kenpachi's gaze was calm, betraying no emotion as he replied to Natsuki.

Then he continued, "Natsuki, Third Seat, now that you've discovered my secret, you and I must fight today."

Azashiro Kenpachi was always so composed. It seemed impossible to sense any change in his emotions. Even when he spoke of battle, it sounded as though it had nothing to do with him. He was simply that calm.

When Azashiro Kenpachi challenged him, Natsuki showed no sign of backing down.

Or perhaps he had considered staying out of it, but couldn't. So all he could do was face it calmly.

"I'd also like to cross blades with a powerful fighter like you, Captain Azashiro."

"It's a shame we're not in the Division right now, and there aren't any other captains here to witness this. Otherwise, if I happened to defeat you, Captain Azashiro, I could become the new Kenpachi."

Natsuki's words were somewhat arrogant.

Azashiro Kenpachi didn't call him out for it, instead choosing a more tactful response. "It seems you're confident in your abilities."

Natsuki said nothing.

The next instant, he vanished, using Shunpo to appear in front of Azashiro Kenpachi.

His hand had already settled on the hilt of his Zanpakuto.

A flash of cold light!

Golden Sword Pressure swept toward Azashiro Kenpachi, whose body split in two. Yet Natsuki showed no sign of satisfaction. As the Sword Pressure cut through him, Natsuki had sensed a feeling of nothingness.

This wasn't the real Azashiro Kenpachi.

His keen Spiritual Perception instinctively sought out Azashiro Kenpachi's Rei-Network, searching for the location of his true body.

After picking up on a clue,

Natsuki shifted again with Shunpo and instinctively swung his blade.

Another streak of golden Sword Pressure tore through the air.

Boom!

A nearby home was destroyed. A boy's startled cry came from inside.

Natsuki's expression didn't change.

Azashiro Kenpachi's voice suddenly sounded beside his ear. "Let's fight somewhere else."

His tone was still calm.

Natsuki didn't refuse.

After sensing Azashiro Kenpachi's Rei-Network, he swiftly pursued it.

Before long, they reached an uninhabited area of Rukongai.

The moment he spotted Azashiro Kenpachi, Natsuki attacked again.

"Hadō #31: Shakkaho!"

A crimson fireball shot through the air toward Azashiro Kenpachi.

Natsuki didn't rely solely on Shunpo and Zanjutsu in battle. He used Ghost Way from time to time as well, and his skill in it was considerable.

He cast the spell without an incantation. It wasn't as powerful as a fully chanted spell, but it formed quickly—almost instantly.

The crimson fireball struck Azashiro Kenpachi, and billowing smoke rose amid the roar of the explosion, shrouding his figure.

Natsuki used Shunpo, but didn't charge at Azashiro Kenpachi through the smoke.

Instead, he swung his blade toward a spot behind him.

Another image of Azashiro Kenpachi was cut down, but it still wasn't the real one.

"What kind of ability is this? Is it connected to your Zanpakuto, Captain Azashiro?"

Natsuki didn't attempt another attack. Instead, he called toward the direction of the Rei-Network he sensed ahead.

In the world of Soul Reapers, putting aside Quincies and Hollows, whenever a Soul Reaper had some strange or unusual ability, it was easy enough to attribute it to their Zanpakuto.

After all, Soul Reapers had no special qualities as individuals.

Zanpakuto were different. The souls that gave rise to them were all unique, so every blade had different abilities. Some of those abilities were bound to be bizarre.

"I have no obligation to answer your question!"

A figure appeared. It was Azashiro Kenpachi.

He was completely unharmed, and even his clothes were pristine. Clearly, all of Natsuki's earlier attacks had missed.

"Then, as the Kenpachi, are you planning to keep dodging like this?"

Natsuki began to guilt-trip him.

Sure, Natsuki had attacked first. But he was the weaker one, while his opponent was the Kenpachi. Why shouldn't he get the first move against someone so strong? It was the Kenpachi who was refusing to fight head-on, which was truly contemptible.

Natsuki piled on the guilt and hypocrisy in his mind, stacking up buffs like crazy.

But, admittedly,

guilt-tripping did have its uses.

"You're right. Since I was the one who proposed the fight, there's no reason for me to keep dodging."

As Azashiro Kenpachi spoke, a blade suddenly appeared in his hand.

To Natsuki, Azashiro Kenpachi was a very unusual Soul Reaper. Other Soul Reapers might not keep their blades in their hands at all times, but they were certainly accustomed to carrying their Zanpakuto with them. Azashiro Kenpachi was different. He went about alone, and after becoming the Kenpachi, the only thing he seemed to have gained was the Captain Haori. There had been no sign of a Zanpakuto.

But there was no doubt the blade had been there all along, hidden by some special method.

And he could draw it whenever he needed to.

That had been the case when he fought Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, and it was the same now.

The moment the blade appeared in Azashiro Kenpachi's hand, Natsuki felt an intense Reiatsu coming from it.

What a terrifying blade!

Natsuki thought to himself. Now that Azashiro Kenpachi had agreed to fight head-on, that was exactly what he wanted.

Whoosh!

He used Shunpo again, and Reiatsu surged into his Zanpakuto, turning into Sword Pressure.

Golden Sword Pressure slashed toward Azashiro Kenpachi.

Azashiro Kenpachi merely swung his Zanpakuto lightly.

Natsuki's golden Sword Pressure abruptly shattered.

Then Azashiro Kenpachi's blade was suddenly right in front of him.

As the bearer of the name Kenpachi, Azashiro Kenpachi had previously chosen to use Ghost Way whenever a Menos Grande appeared. Although he had successfully defeated them, this behavior had made it difficult for the 11th Division's members to accept him and feel any admiration for him.

Now, in front of Natsuki, Azashiro Kenpachi revealed his formidable Zanjutsu.

Natsuki swung his blade once more, meeting Azashiro Kenpachi's attack.

The two Zanpakuto met.

Natsuki felt an indescribable pressure bearing down on him. Azashiro Kenpachi's Zanpakuto carried an immensely powerful Reiatsu of astonishing density and quality. Just from the blades clashing, it seemed poised to snap Natsuki's Zanpakuto.

Natsuki couldn't let that happen.

So he summoned even greater Reiatsu. Crimson Reiatsu erupted and surged into his Zanpakuto. His blade, too, filled with intense Reiatsu, meeting Azashiro Kenpachi's in a fierce clash.