A Different Kenpachi

『250 Years Ago | Soul Society, somewhere in Rukongai』

In a plain, somewhere in the outskirts of Rukongai, there's the sound of metal clashing. Shinigami are the protectors of spirits in the human world and the Soul Society, but they are also hunters. Hunters who cut down Hollows with their Zanpakutou. These hunters are dancing on the battlefield, slashing through a group of Hollows that appeared in this area.

They are Shinigami.

They are warriors.

They are the edge of the blade.

They are swordsmen.

They belong to the 11th Division, the division most specialized in 'battle' among the 13 divisions. They are smiling because they love fighting in battles that threaten their lives, but also because they have absolute faith in their leader. This man seemed to radiate "danger." The size of the reiatsu around his body made the masks of the Hollows tremble.

The captain of the 11th Division: Kuruyashiki Kenpachi.

『Several hours later』

The battle ended, and the 11th Division is having a drinking party. The 4th and 8th Divisions arrived to offer support, but seeing that the battle had already ended, they decide to return, though Kuruyashiki forces them to join the party.

The members of the 11th Division are impressed by their captain's strength ("Only Captain Kuruyashiki can face a Menos like that!"). Kuruyashiki tells them not to forget about Captain Yamamoto, or Captain Hikifune of the 12th Division, or those from the Kuchiki and Shihouin clans. But his members reply:

"But you never hear of anyone taking down a Vasto Lorde like you did in the past, Captain."

Kyouraku Shunsui is also present, and Kuruyashiki pulls him into the conversation.

– Could you take down a Vasto Lorde?

– It depends on compatibility – Kyouraku responds – I might defeat a Vasto Lorde and lose to a Gillian, you never know. But is it okay for the soldiers to be drinking like this? Yama-jii might yell at you again if Kuruyashiki-san doesn't arrive on time. Also, what will Captain Unohana say if she finds out you've gotten her soldiers drunk?

– Truly, Retsu-neesan is scarier than any Menos when she's angry.

They discuss what had happened earlier.

– It's already strange enough that several Hollows appeared, even more so with a Gillian, an Adjucha, and perhaps a Vasto Lorde at the same time.

– Do you think the Hollows are starting to organize and form battle formations? – Kyouraku questions.

– Maybe in the future, but not yet. Despite Kuruyashiki's response, he still remembers the Vasto Lorde he defeated in the past screaming "Barragan-sama!" before being killed. Apparently, it was a Hollow general. He would love to fight this "Barragan," but he believed Kanō Ashido might kill him first.

Ashido disappeared in Hueco Mundo a few years ago with some subordinates while chasing a Hollow. The way Kuruyashiki and Kyouraku spoke about him made it clear they believed he was still alive. Thus, Kuruyashiki continues to talk about what he thinks of the future.

– Even if the Hollows keep evolving, the Gotei 13 will also improve. In two hundred, three hundred years, all captains and even vice-captains will be able to face Vasto Lordes.

– By then, we might have to retire, haha – Kyouraku jokes, but Kuruyashiki replies:

– By then, I might already be dead, but that's no problem because the 11th Division will always be led by a "Kenpachi."

One of his members asks if it's true that the Zero Division invited him. It is, but he declined. He is not suited to protect a king, hiding in a different dimension until the enemy breaks in. And it's not like he was officially ordered to join Central 46 either. Besides, as "Kenpachi," he must wait here until someone surpasses him.

–– "Excuse me. May I have a moment of your time?"

A young man uttered these words. He spoke softly, but somehow his words resonated clearly in the ears of the Shinigami, despite the party.

His appearance made it clear he was a noble, yet he wore the minimum of decoration. Even Kyouraku, the second son of a noble family, did not recognize him.

Kuruyashiki asks the young man: "What do you want? A drink perhaps?".

The young man hears a female voice behind him ("That's him! That's Kuruyashiki Kenpachi!"). The black-haired woman laughs loudly. She's wearing a white kimono in a way that exposes much of her skin and an excessive amount of decorations. Two wide leather straps crisscross over her face, covering her eyes.

"Don't state the obvious… stand aside," he orders the woman, and she does as told, replying:

– Cold! Hope you lose this fight!

– Kuruyashiki Kenpachi. I've heard that... if I kill you in front of more than 200 soldiers, I will earn the title of "Kenpachi" and the position of captain.

Kuruyashiki merely laughs, confirming:

– That's right.

– I would like to duel you to the death now. But I don't mind waiting until you're sober.

Another Shinigami laughs at his request, asking if he wishes to die. However, Kyouraku, the members of the 4th Division, and Kuruyashiki are not laughing.

– I don't need to sober up. – Kuruyashiki stands. His members are shocked but quickly step aside when they realize he's serious, sending pitiful laments to the young man:

"He'll lose!", "Die already!", "He's not even carrying a Zanpakutou!".

They form a circle around Kuruyashiki and the young man.

– Kyouraku, I need you to be the witness. – After receiving these words from Kuruyashiki, he turns to the young man, trying to keep the peace.

– Boy, there are other ways to become a captain.

– I have no interest in idle talk.

– Kuruyashiki, be careful with him. – Kyouraku notices a lack of emotion in the boy's voice, despite the arrogant words. He realizes this is someone dangerous. Shunsui, thinking to himself, believes the absence of a Zanpakutou doesn't necessarily mean he is weak. For instance, the leader of the Kidou Corps, Tsukabishi Tessai, could compete with a captain solely through Kidou. However, seeing Kuruyashiki's smile, Kyouraku knows it's pointless to try and stop him. Kuruyashiki has won many such duels.

– Have the requirements for the duel been met? – The young man asks.

– We can start at any time.

– I see… then your life won't be in vain.

In the next moment of this brief dialogue, blood bursts from Kuruyashiki's entire body. It was as if a tornado of blades exploded from his body.

No one saw the young man reveal a Zanpakutou, nor cast a Kidou.

He didn't even move. Yet, he was now the new "Kenpachi."

A man stronger than Kuruyashiki had appeared, just as Kuruyashiki had desired.

To everyone's astonishment, Azashiro defeated Kuruyashiki as soon as the duel began, making him the new Kenpachi by consequence. But the soldiers of the 11th Division did not accept it.

– Wait… impossible! He didn't even move!

– He cheated!

– Treacherous, he used some trick!

The soldiers accused Azashiro of this strange victory. In unison, they all rushed with their Zanpakutous toward the young man who hadn't moved from his spot. Kyouraku tried to stop them, but before anything could happen, Kuruyashiki halted him with a punch and released his Shikai, Gagaku Kairou, forcing them to retreat.

Kuruyashiki's Shikai was a living creature, reminiscent of Unohana's Zanpakutou, Minazuki. In the case of Gagaku Kairou, it was a white monster, the size of a bear. It had no eyes, nose, ears, or limbs—just a mouth with large fangs. There were 13 of them floating around Kuruyashiki.

Kuruyashiki somehow managed to stand, even though he was nearly dead. And beyond that, he gathered enough strength to shout at his subordinates.

– What the hell do you think you're doing!? I lost! Accept it! Don't bring shame to the 11th Division! He turns to Kyouraku and asks:

– Tell Yamamoto to take care of this young man. You know, I would have liked to fight you and Ukitake someday.

At this moment, Kuruyashiki is on the verge of death and falls to his knees. Azashiro looks at Kuruyashiki kneeling and admits:

– You could have beaten me if you had released your Bankai immediately.

Which was true. Kuruyashiki's Bankai was well known throughout the Soul Society. It summoned a massive jaw with large fangs from the ground, devouring and pulverizing everything within its reach. It made no distinction between animate and inanimate, friend or foe—it devoured everything except Kuruyashiki himself. But his Bankai had two drawbacks.

First, Kuruyashiki couldn't use his Bankai and Shikai for six months after invoking it.

Secondly, he couldn't control his power correctly, meaning anyone within the area would be killed. Central 46 considered his power too dangerous and forbade Kuruyashiki from using it within Seireitei.

– You could have used your Bankai here in Rukongai, but you probably didn't to spare the lives of your subordinates. How foolish! – Azashiro comments.

– What is your name?

– Azashiro Soya.

– Azashiro Soya, I acknowledge you as my successor and -" but to everyone's surprise, as Kuruyashiki awaited his death, falling to the ground without strength, he was stopped, gently held in the hands of the Young Heir Kenpachi.

–Don't talk too much, you idiot. Save your strength– Azashiro scolds while gently laying the man on the ground, a green glow emanating from his body.

–W-What?– Kyouraku was as confused as everyone around him. First, the young man challenged and in seconds brought Kuruyashiki to the brink of death, and now, he was holding him tenderly with the gaze of a loving partner? This young man made no sense!

–What, you ask? It's simple. I KILLED Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, I purged him, and now I am the Current Kenpachi. Since there is no longer a "Kuruyashiki Kenpachi," there's no reason to let him die. Now, his life belongs to me, "Kuruyashiki of Soya"!– While closing the wounds of the ex-Kenpachi, the young man explained his reasoning.

Strange indeed, was a way to define the Current Kenpachi.

–Hehehe, what surprises we are witnessing, huh?– Kyouraku commented while sipping his drink, wondering where this would lead.

Kuruyashiki looked on in confusion and amusement as his head was placed in the lap of his young successor. He was in a lot of pain, even after the healing that denied him such privileges. He only smiled and nodded; his successor was strange, and his logic equally so, but he had lost, and as Azashiro said, he now belonged to him. All that was left was to accept it.

As he took a cup of sake that conveniently appeared in the young man's hand, who tilted it towards him, he turned his eyes to his scared subordinates and, with a big smile, shouted:

–A NEW KENPACHI HAS RISEN! LET'S CELEBRATE!–

–YEAAAAH KURUYASHIKI-SAMA! YOSH AZASHIRO-SAMA!–

Meanwhile, Azashiro looked impassive at the scene.

"I'm surrounded by idiots." In his mind, he could clearly hear the laughter of a woman, who wouldn't let him forget this.