Kenpachi Zaraki

"That Reiatsu is enormous—at the very least, it's Third Seat level!"

Kisuke Urahara rested his chin on his hand, his face filled with astonishment.

"What kind of monster is this?!"

Yoruichi Shihōin's eyes also showed a trace of surprise and confusion.

"Come on! Use your full strength, and let's settle this once and for all!" the man laughed madly.

"My full strength? But you're still too green!" Shadow narrowed his eyes and said softly, "You'd better be careful. Whatever you do... don't die!"

Shadow held the blade flat before his chest and ran one hand across it. Then he pointed the tip straight at the man and gave a low shout. A burst of Reiatsu erupted from his body, no weaker than the man's. The jet-black Reiatsu soaring into the sky seemed to form a savage wolf. Its black eyes held not the slightest trace of humanity, and the chilling gleam that struck fear into the soul filled the surrounding air with boundless killing intent.

"Ahhh!!!"

The man moved first, roaring as he charged forward with unstoppable momentum and immense Reiatsu.

Boom!!!

With a deafening crash like thunder splitting the heavens, the two destructive Reiatsu collided. Within a hundred meters, every grain of sand, tree, and house was reduced to nothingness and vanished. The ground trembled as though it, too, were afraid.

"You really are strong. Just as strong as her!"

As the smoke dispersed, the man collapsed on the ground, covered in blood. A horrifying slash stretched across his lean chest, running from his left shoulder down to his right abdomen. Blood poured from it as though it cost nothing.

As for Shadow, only the original wound on his shoulder remained. It was as if that clash had not harmed him in the slightest.

Shadow sheathed his Zanpakutō. The madness, savagery, and killing intent in his eyes all faded away, leaving only his usual indifference.

"Kenny!"

At that moment, the little girl at the side slowly walked over. She crouched down and gently stroked the man's hair. A touch of softness flashed through her eyes, and a knowing smile bloomed on her lips.

"Sorry, Yachiru. I lost."

"It's okay. As long as Kenny is happy!"

"He's a true beast too," Shadow said flatly. It was unclear whether he was speaking to himself or to Yoruichi Shihōin, who had walked over.

"Is that so?" Yoruichi Shihōin reached out and touched Shadow's wound, which had stopped bleeding. With some concern, she asked, "Does it still hurt?"

Shadow shook his head to show that he was fine, then took a few steps forward and looked at the man whom the little girl had helped up.

"What's your name?"

"Kenpachi!" the man answered with a vicious grin. "My name is Kenpachi Zaraki!"

"Kenpachi—the strongest Bleach?" Shadow said coldly. "You truly have the potential to become Kenpachi."

"She said the same thing."

"My name is Shadow." With a cold smile, he continued under the astonished gazes of Yoruichi Shihōin and Kisuke Urahara, "Would you be willing to take me as your master?"

"What can you teach me?" Kenpachi Zaraki asked.

"What do you think?" Shadow countered. "What do you want me to teach you?"

"Fine!"

Kenpachi Zaraki answered without the slightest hesitation. In truth, the two of them were the same kind of people—possessing the hearts of beasts and the pride of humans.

Hearing Kenpachi Zaraki's answer, Shadow was not surprised in the least. He turned around, dropped to one knee, and said, "Lady Yoruichi, I'm deeply sorry. I want to..."

"That's enough!"

Yoruichi Shihōin bent down and toyed with the black hair by Shadow's ear, her eyes full of amusement. "Whatever you want to do, go ahead and do it. But Shadow, don't forget to come back!"

"Yes, Lady Yoruichi. Shadow understands!"

Soul Society, Rukongai.

Two figures walked one behind the other along a ruined street.

The figure in front was a man with messy black hair. A forehead protector was tied around his brow, and a lock of hair hung beside his ear. He wore a black skintight outfit and fingerless gloves, with an entirely black Zanpakutō strapped to his back.

What drew the most attention, however, was his sharply defined face and those indifferent eyes devoid of even a trace of warmth. It was as if eternal frost had been planted in people's hearts. It was Shadow.

The figure behind him was a tall but somewhat thin man. He wore rough linen clothes, and a chipped blade was tied to his back. A scar ran across his cheek, making him look especially fierce. Madness filled his eyes. It was Kenpachi Zaraki.

"Kenny, where are we going?"

Suddenly, a little pink head poked out from Kenpachi Zaraki's shoulder. Her cheeks were flushed. She was the little girl Kenpachi Zaraki had saved, Yachiru Kusajishi.

"I don't know!" Hearing Yachiru Kusajishi's question, Kenpachi Zaraki grinned. "But it doesn't matter where we go!"

"Okay!" Yachiru Kusajishi nodded cutely, then waved her hand toward the front and called out, "Hey! Little Black!"

"..." Shadow remained silent.

So far, Yachiru Kusajishi had two most notable traits. One was that she loved sugar candy. The other was that she loved giving people random nicknames. She called Kenpachi Zaraki Kenny, A-Kenpachi, and all sorts of things. Honestly, anyone who didn't know better might think there were a lot of Kenpachis around!

And the name she gave Shadow was even more outrageous—Little Black. Well, Shadow was dressed entirely in black, that was true, but that nickname really was better left unused!

"Shut up, Yachiru!" Kenpachi Zaraki turned his head and shouted, seemingly fiercely.

"But Kenny, Little Black isn't answering me!"

Whether he was truly fierce or only pretending, Yachiru Kusajishi ignored him completely.

"Idiot! Who would answer if you called them that?"

"Huh? Is Little Black not a nice name?" Yachiru Kusajishi asked in confusion.

"It's not nice!" Kenpachi Zaraki rejected it outright.

"Then..."

After thinking for a moment, Yachiru Kusajishi revealed a delighted smile. Her large eyes sparkled as she said, "Then I'll call him Big Black, or A-Black!"

"If you call him that, he'll be even less likely to answer you!"

"Why?"

"Because it sounds even worse!"

Yachiru Kusajishi lowered her head. After a while, she raised it again and asked, "Then, Kenny, what should I call him?"

"Idiot, Yachiru! Of course you should call him Master!"

"Mhm!" Yachiru Kusajishi leaped onto Kenpachi Zaraki's shoulder and said excitedly, "Then I'll be Little Master!"

Ignoring Kenpachi Zaraki's grin, Yachiru Kusajishi cheered for herself.

Just then, a burst of commotion came from nearby. More than a dozen people dressed in rags that could barely even be called clothes were beating up a silver-haired boy. They struck him viciously, but the boy only curled up and trembled without making a sound.

In the chaotic Rukongai, injuries and death were common occurrences. People were accustomed to them and often turned a blind eye. In order to survive, even a child might take your life.

In this world where the strong preyed upon the weak, lacking strength meant lacking the right to live.

Simply put, whoever had the bigger fist was obeyed. If you did not want to be bullied, you first had to learn how to bully others. So-called mercy had no soil in which to grow here.

Whether it was the cold and ruthless Shadow, the battle-crazed Kenpachi Zaraki, or Yachiru Kusajishi, who had grown up amid bloodshed, all of them had seen such scenes countless times. Excessive mercy was, in truth, another kind of cruelty.

Yet the moment he passed by, Shadow stopped. Looking at the boy who endured the beating without saying a word, he suddenly thought of his former self. In his previous life, he had met Mitaraishi Anko; in this life, he had met Yoruichi Shihōin. Without them, he would probably have been just like this boy.

If there was any difference, it was that Shadow had not wanted to resist, while the boy was unable to resist.

All of a sudden, Shadow felt a trace of gratitude—gratitude that he had met Mitaraishi Anko and Yoruichi Shihōin.

"Get lost!"

It was only one word, and his voice was not loud. Yet the killing intent within that indifference made the dozens of people tremble uncontrollably. They were merely souls without any Reiatsu. How could they withstand Shadow's presence? One after another, they fled in terror.

"Can you stand?" Shadow walked over to the boy and asked coldly.

"Yes."

"Do you want to come with me?"

"Yes."

"What is your name?"

"Gin... Gin Ichimaru!"