Just a few days after Aizen said goodbye to Sōgo.
The 11th Division, belonging to the Thirteenth Division, boasts the highest attack power and combat skills. Its captain doesn't require a recommendation meeting from the division leaders, but this doesn't mean the 11th Division captain is insignificant. On the contrary, each 11th Division captain is hailed as the strongest Soul Reaper in Soul Society and is bestowed the title of Kenpachi. This is because only those who defeat the previous 11th Division 11th Division captain can become the new captain. Theoretically, each generation of Kenpachi Kenpachi stronger than the previous one. However, a man known as the Ninth Kenpachi, Gosuke Kenpachi, broke this ironclad rule in Soul Society. With the departure of the Seventh Kenpachi, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, and the Eighth Kenpachi, Azashiro Kenpachi, Gosuke, a man seemingly insignificant even among the lieutenants, became the Ninth Kenpachi!
Known as the weakest Kenpachi in Soul Society history! He is also the only one who became Kenpachi without ever fighting his predecessor. Yet, this man with such weak fighting power risked his life to serve Kenpachi Kenpachi decades, leaving countless Soul Reaper astonished.
Unfortunately, everyone's luck runs out. Today, a man known as the Rukongai Warrior," with a burly, dark-skinned body and a hideous, ugly face resembling an African laborer, approached the 11th Division.
"Are you the man known as the strongest Soul Reaper in Soul Society?"
The Rukongai warrior glanced at the seemingly frail man before him, curled his lip in disdain, and appeared to completely disregard him.
"I am far from worthy of the title of the strongest Soul Reaper."
Gosuke Kenpachi shook his head slightly at the Rukongai warrior. The main reason he was able to hold the position of captain of the 11th Division for so long despite his weak fighting strength was that he was self-aware.
"Hahaha... It doesn't matter whether you admit it or not, because soon your title of Kenpachi will belong to me."
After hearing Gosuke Kenpachi's words, the Rukongai warrior burst into laughter and then drew his Zanpakuto from his waist.
"Although I am far from worthy of the title of the strongest Soul Reaper, I have no intention of giving it away so easily, after all, this title was passed down from that sage."
Gosuke Kenpachi drew his Zanpakuto and aimed it at the Rukongai warrior in front of him.
A flash of cold light...
Gosuke Kenpachi's blade clashed with the blade of the Rukongai warrior, sparks flying, and this was only the beginning of the battle.
The two moved faster and faster, their Zanpakuto with such dexterity that they seemed like extensions of their arms, relentlessly attacking each other's weaknesses.
Blood blossomed from their bodies, splattering onto the wooden floor of the 11th Division. Sweat dripped from their wounds, and the stinging sensation continued to irritate their tense nerves.
But that's not all.
"Ding ding ding..."
Accompanied by a series of metallic clanging sounds, the battle between the two continued. This was a contest of offensive techniques, a battle between a fierce warrior from Rukongai and the weakest Kenpachi in history.
Amidst the flashing swords and clashing blades, time flew by. The battle raged from the high noon sun until the sun set, stubbornly casting its last rays. It was at this moment that the two novices... no, the two masters finally decided their victor.
"These two pieces of trash can be called Kenpachi?"
Azashiro Kenpachi, who was watching the live stream while imprisoned in the Muken, roared angrily. He wished he could be released immediately and give those two good-for-nothings a good stab each.
"Clatter!"
"I lost..."
Gosuke Kenpachi knelt on the ground, admitting that the fighting prowess of the Rukongai warrior before him far surpassed that of himself.
"Huff! Huff! Huff! As expected of Gosuke Kenpachi, who is known as the strongest Soul Reaper! You are the strongest opponent I have ever faced in my life."
The Rukongai warrior—no, this man with hair that had grown to his chin and a 'honey-like' hairline—was no longer just a simple Rukongai warrior; his true identity was now the Tenth Kenpachi! Kenpachi Kiganjō!
"Out of respect for you."
"I will deliver the final blow to you with the knife in my hand!"
Kenpachi Kiganjō spoke, he swung his Zanpakuto, preparing to deliver the final blow to the strongest enemy of his life before him.
"Is that so? To die at the hands of someone like you, I can say my life has been without regrets."
Gosuke Kenpachi smiled lightly at Kenpachi Kiganjō, appearing quite carefree.
"Farewell! My ex- Kenpachi!"
Kenpachi Kiganjō shouted loudly, swinging his Zanpakuto at the Mujō figure.
Faced with the fierce sword strike, Gosuke closed his eyes, awaiting the end of his heroic life.
"Bite!"
However, at this critical moment, a tall man in black appeared between the two and gently blocked Kenpachi Kiganjō's attack with a single finger.
"Who... who are you? Why are you trying to stop my duel with this man in the name of Kenpachi?"
When Kenpachi Kiganjō saw his proud strike blocked by a single finger, a few drops of cold sweat appeared on his forehead, and he shouted hoarsely.
"You call this a duel wagered on Kenpachi's name? Please stop insulting the name of Kenpachi. Kenpachi in history would cry if they saw the two of you."
The tall man in black spoke with a lazy tone and a hint of helplessness. In fact, he had already arrived near the 11th Division after hearing about the Kenpachi challenge, but he had been successfully hypnotized by the two elderly men's 'hypnotic' swordsmanship. He had been sleeping until just now, and his mind was still a little hazy.
"You..."
Kenpachi Kiganjō gritted his teeth as he stared at the man before him, but made no further move, because he couldn't discern the man's true strength.
"You... you are..."
Gosuke Kenpachi also noticed the man in front of him, dressed in black and over two meters tall, resembling a brown bear. He swore he was absolutely certain that this man must be that person!
Okay, okay~
"Don't tell anyone, I'm nobody."
The masked man in black stopped Gosuke Kenpachi from saying something behind him, then turned around and looked at Kenpachi Kiganjō in front of him.
"This battle ends here. Since you've already become the strongest Soul Reaper in Soul Society, letting this poor soul go won't make a difference, right?"
The man in black stared into Kenpachi Kiganjō's eyes. His brown eyes, hidden in the black cloth, seemed to radiate a wild killing intent, forcing Kenpachi Kiganjō to avoid looking directly into the man in black's eyes.
"Hmph! Fine, I'll spare your lives."
Kenpachi Kiganjō lowered his head and snorted coldly.
"Grateful!"
After speaking to Kenpachi Kiganjō, the man in black swaggered out of the 11th Division's barracks.
"My lord! My lord! I can't mistake you for someone else. I knew you wouldn't die. You've finally returned to lead us again? You are the only one in the entire Gotei 13 who is truly qualified to be the captain of the 11th Division!"
Just as the man in black was swaggering down the street, the man named Gosuke Kenpachi —or rather, the former Kenpachi —ran out after him and shouted.
" Gosuke, do you still acknowledge me as your captain?"
Hearing the voice behind him, the man in black turned around with a helpless expression. His eyes were full of helplessness as he looked at Gosuke, a kind of exasperated helplessness.
"Of course! You'll always be my captain!"
Gosuke Kenpachi addressed the man in black before him with utmost respect.
"Alright, then as the former captain of the 11th Division, I'll give you one last order. Gosuke, listen up!"
The man in black indirectly acknowledged his identity, and he spoke earnestly to Gosuke Kenpachi in front of him.
"Yes, Captain! Gosuke is listening!"
Gosuke stood tall and straight, patiently awaiting the orders from the man before him. He already envisioned returning to how he had fought alongside this man over a hundred years ago. He knew who this man was— the Gosuke Seventh Kenpachi, known as the strongest Soul Reaper! Kuruyashiki Kenpachi!
" Gosuke... stop being Soul Reaper!"
However, just as Gosuke was looking at the person in front of him with high hopes, the man in black spoke to Gosuke deep voice.
"What... did you say?"
Gosuke's expression froze completely; he couldn't believe that the person in front of him was saying these words.
"I told you, stop being Soul Reaper, Gosuke!"
"The profession of Soul Reaper is not suitable for you; you are far too weak."
"Go to logistics or the Kidō Corps! Their work is much easier than that of the Gotei 13 Soul Reaper. Also, don't see my captain again. What's past is past, and it can never be brought back."
After speaking to the man in front of him, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi left without looking back, his steps resolute.
"Hahaha... Hahaha... As expected, Mr. Kuruyashiki was already dead. You're just an imposter."
Gosuke knelt on the ground with a silly grin on his face, and his mental state seemed somewhat abnormal.
"Young man, you seem to be feeling unwell. Is something bothering you?"
Just as Gosuke Kenpachi was kneeling on the ground, grinning foolishly, a Soul Reaper with short brown hair and wearing Shihakusho, who looked incredibly gentle and like a friendly older brother, appeared beside the mentally deranged Gosuke and spoke with a smile...
"Have you heard? The ninth Kenpachi, Gosuke Kenpachi, has been defeated, and now a fierce warrior from Rukongai named Oni Genjo has taken over as Kenpachi."
"I heard that Kenpachi Kiganjō looks terrifying; he's the complete opposite of the previous Kenpachi."
"No, speaking of Kenpachi, he really should look like a monster, right?"
The countless Soul Reaper in Seireitei were constantly discussing the matter of replacing Kenpachi the 11th Division.
" Kenpachi from the 11th Division has been replaced?"
"That Gosuke is such a good-for-nothing! And why did the Captain-Commander let Kenpachi Kiganjō make the captain of the Gotei 11th Division?"
A man with long, golden hair, wearing a haori with the number five printed on the back, lay in the corridor of the Fifth Division, speaking with great displeasure.
"Perhaps the Gotei 13 always needs one or two people like that."
Just after the blond man finished speaking, the man who had stretched out his arm towards Gosuke Kenpachi on the grass outside the corridor was squinting and smiling as he spoke.
" Aizen, you really know how to talk. You're definitely the most suitable person for this captain position."
After listening to the brown-haired man standing beside him, the blond man raised an eyebrow and spoke.
" Captain Hirako, what are you saying? How could I possibly replace you as captain with my abilities?"
Aizen waved his hand slightly at Hirako, as if to say that he was very weak.
"Really? I think you've already had the idea of replacing me for a long time."
Shinji Hirako smiled slightly at Aizen, a smile that concealed a murderous intent.
"No, that must be your imagination."
Aizen smiled slightly at Shinji Hirako, his expression a poker face that made it impossible to see through him.
"Hmph~ How's your preparation for that mission coming along?"
Shinji Hirako snorted coldly, stopped probing, and began to talk about work-related issues.
"I'm fully prepared and just waiting for the reconnaissance order to be issued before heading to the Dangai to carry out the mission."
Aizen nodded slightly to Shinji Hirako and spoke earnestly and solemnly.
" The Dangai is a very dangerous place. You must be careful, lest you go there and never come back."
Shinji Hirako smiled slightly at Aizen and gave him a reminder.
"Really? That's no trouble at all, Captain."
Aizen smiled slightly after hearing Shinji Hirako's words, a smile tinged with disdain.
"Hmph, boring."
Shinji Hirako stood up from the wooden corridor floor, pursed his lips, and walked towards the door of the Fifth Division Barracks.
"You're going to the Twelfth Division to see Lieutenant Hiyori, right?"
Aizen watched Shinji Hirako's retreating figure and asked a question.
"None of your business!"
Shinji Hirako had already stepped halfway out of the gate when he heard Aizen's words. He turned around again, made a face at Aizen in a huff, and then stormed off from the barracks.
"Oh dear, I'm a rather annoying captain!"
Aizen watched Shinji Hirako gradually disappear into the distance and shook his head helplessly, his transparent glasses reflecting bursts of brilliant light.
"I'm back~"
Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, having finally resolved his inner conflict, walked back into the barracks of the Second Division's Special Squad, the Greening Squad.
"Isn't this Mr. Kuruyashiki? Have you taken care of your business?"
Tsunayashiro Tokinada Tokina, who was wiping the floor with a mop, stopped what he was doing and gave a sinister smile to Kuruyashiki Kenpachi.
"Is everyone else gone?"
Kuruyashiki Kenpachi looked at the empty barracks and asked.
" Lord Sōgo have all gone back; after all, it's already 7 PM."
Tsunayashiro Tokinada nods slightly to Kuruyashiki Kenpachi and begins to preach.
"Really? That's a shame. In that case, I'll head back to my resting place."
After hearing what Tsunayashiro Tokinada, Kenpachi Kuruyashiki Kenpachi frowned and, having no intention of staying any longer, left the barracks.
"Hmph~"
Watching Kuruyashiki Kenpachi's figure gradually disappear into the distance, Tsunayashiro Tokinada smiled slightly and continued cleaning.
(End of this chapter)