"Are you kidding me?!"
Kenpachi Zaraki's sharp gaze glinted like a predator on the hunt, his lips curling into a beastly grin. With his serrated Zanpakutō raised high, he aimed a strike at the edge of Minazuki's Domain.
"Something like this could never stop me!"
But before his blade could descend, a figure abruptly appeared before him, blocking his path.
The newcomer had a prominent cross-shaped scar on the right side of his head, a flowing silver beard that reached his waist, and the fluttering haori of the First Division Captain draped casually over his shoulders.
Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni!
With a single piercing glance from Yamamoto's eyes—radiating sheer authority and pressure—Zaraki's blade froze mid-swing, stopping less than twenty centimeters from the old captain's head.
"Captain of the Eleventh Division, Kenpachi Zaraki. Are you truly planning to raise your blade against me?"
"Hmm?!"
Zaraki's face twisted into a defiant, wild smirk, entirely unbothered by the intimidating presence of the Gotei 13's Captain-Commander. Instead, he retorted boldly.
"Old man, it should be me asking you that. Are you trying to stop me?"
Yamamoto's eyes remained fixed on the newly appointed captain before him. In a calm yet reproachful tone, he spoke.
"As the Captain of the Eleventh Division, you should be leading your squad, ready to respond to emergencies at any moment. Instead, you act alone, moving recklessly and even attempting to challenge other captains. Do you intend to throw the situation into even greater chaos?"
"Hah? Stuff like that—who cares?"
Zaraki shrugged nonchalantly, cracking his neck as though dismissing Yamamoto's words entirely. "Now, step aside!"
For a moment, Yamamoto silently studied the rebellious captain, then spoke again, his tone firm and unyielding.
"I see. Truly a beast in need of discipline. It's time you learned the rules and responsibilities of the Gotei 13."
Zaraki's wild grin widened. His eyes lit up with a dangerous glint as he growled. "Oh? So the old man's looking for a fight, huh?"
"No. I am merely fulfilling my duty as the Captain-Commander—to remind a new captain of his place."
As Yamamoto's voice trailed off, his haori slid gracefully off his shoulders and onto the ground. He planted his staff into the earth, pulling his arms free from his sleeves and exposing his upper body.
The sight was overwhelming—a weathered torso carved with countless scars, rippling with hardened muscle, exuding an aura of raw power. It was a body that bore the weight of centuries of battle, emanating a suffocating presence.
In that moment, Yamamoto's aura transformed entirely.
Moments ago, he had stood like an immovable mountain of authority. Now, he radiated a presence so terrifying it was as if a volcano, poised to erupt, loomed before Zaraki.
Even Zaraki—whose bloodlust had been surging—felt a strange sense of respect mingling with his exhilaration.
"Draw your sword, old man! I've always wanted to see the strength of the so-called 'Strongest Shinigami!'"
Yamamoto's beard and hair seemed to bristle with power as he bellowed. "Foolish beast! Do you think yourself worthy of seeing my sword?!"
In an instant, Yamamoto surged forward, his body a blur. His fist collided with Zaraki's stomach before the younger captain could react.
"Take this punch and learn respect for the Captain-Commander, Beast!"
Single Bone
"Boom!!"
The impact of Yamamoto's punch sent a tangible shockwave rippling outward. Zaraki was hurled across the ground, carving a deep trench in his wake.
But Yamamoto gave no pause. With an impossibly precise Shunpo, he closed the distance in a flash, appearing beside the dazed and astonished Zaraki.
In that moment, Yamamoto's figure seemed to swell larger in Kenpachi's vision, his spiritual pressure surging violently into the sky. His arms rippled with concentrated power as he loomed over the fallen captain.
"Raise your Zanpakutō, or die where you stand. Don't blame me if you fall!"
Yamamoto's furious roar reverberated as his twin fists descended upon Kenpachi, who barely managed to raise his blade in defense.
Double Bone
"Boom!!!"
The ground beneath them crumbled under the sheer force of Yamamoto's blow. Zaraki was driven deep into the earth, spiderweb-like cracks radiating outward, tearing the terrain apart.
---
From a distance, Kyoraku Shunsui, observing the Fourth Division's activities, couldn't help but click his tongue.
"The old man's really mad this time, huh?"
He felt an unexpected pang of sympathy for Zaraki. Having been Yamamoto's disciple for centuries, Kyoraku had endured his fair share of "lessons" but rarely had he seen the Captain-Commander this enraged.
Given the current state of affairs—five captains hollowfied and missing, the Kidō Corps leaders unaccounted for, Captain Unohana possibly compromised, and numerous other officers dead or hollowfied—it was no surprise.
With the Gotei 13's combat strength already halved, Zaraki's recklessness had only fueled Yamamoto's wrath.
Still, Kyoraku's thoughts darkened as his mind wandered to his own vice-captain, Lisa Yadōmaru, and the hollowfied captains.
Suddenly, a realization struck him. His eyes widened in alarm.
With all available Shinigami searching for the Kidō Corps leaders and the hollowfied officers, the defenses around Jūshirō Ukitake, Captain of the Thirteenth Division, were severely compromised.
As someone who knew Ukitake's irreplaceable role in the Soul Society, Kyoraku acted without hesitation. His figure vanished in a blur, racing towards the Thirteenth Division barracks.
"I can't let anything happen to Jūshirō. Not on my watch."
=========================
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