Two days passed in a flash.
In a secluded suburb of Rukongai.
Zaraki Kenpachi strode with steady steps, treading on dry branches and fallen leaves.
In a short while, he arrived at a quiet clearing.
His right hand gripped his blade tightly, and the aura emanating from his body grew increasingly mighty with each movement, spreading outwards like surging waves.
The surrounding trees rustled under the impact of this powerful aura.
The animals among them, unable to bear the pressure, fainted directly, as if stunned by a giant hammer, losing consciousness.
When he saw that both Yamamoto Genryusai and Retsu Unohana were present, his heart skipped a beat.
Beside the two stood an old man he had never seen before—Kuchiki Ginrei. Zaraki Kenpachi couldn't help but click his tongue.
"Hey!"
His booming voice rang out like a clap of thunder:
"Where is everyone?!"
"Why am I the only one?!"
He scanned his surroundings.
His heart was filled with dissatisfaction.
Creak—
Behind him, there was a sudden sound of a branch breaking.
Zaraki Kenpachi quickly turned around to look back, and what met his eyes was a young man in a black Shihakusho, slender, with a somewhat shy smile.
Although he looked incredibly weak, his intuition told Zaraki Kenpachi that this was also an opponent worth cutting!
But…
It wasn't Tsugikuni Yoriichi.
"Hmm?"
Zaraki Kenpachi raised an eyebrow and asked impolitely, "Who are you?"
"Where is Tsugikuni Yoriichi?"
"Lord Yoriichi…" Hearing this, the young man, who was Kisuke Urahara, stopped.
He stood still, thought for a moment, and slowly said:
"He is very busy, but… he will come, don't worry, he should be on his way now."
"Lord Zaraki Kenpachi, for some considerations, your opponent today is me."
"You?" Zaraki Kenpachi scoffed, swinging his sword fiercely, producing a sharp whistling sound that seemed to cleave space itself.
"What a joke!?"
"How could my opponent be a little squirt like you?"
"Please do not underestimate any opponent, Lord Kenpachi." Kisuke Urahara shook his head and extended a finger:
"First, in a sense, I am also a Captain, just not yet officially appointed."
"You don't need to worry about my strength; at least, I'm on par with you."
About a few months ago, he broke through the third-grade spiritual power, and in terms of spiritual pressure, he was comparable to Zaraki Kenpachi, so there would be no situation where he couldn't break through his defence.
"Second."
He paused, then extended a second finger,
"Today is not only the day you challenge Tsugikuni Yoriichi, but also the day of my Captain assessment."
"To avoid unnecessary casualties, the Captain-Commander combined these two matters, which is acceptable in principle."
"Because you once lost to him, and I have not yet fought him."
"If you can defeat me… only then can you prove that your belief in staking the Kenpachi title was not in vain."
"Lord Kenpachi, you must understand that the title of Captain is not given away casually."
"If a trend of rigged matches were to form… could you bear the consequences?"
Impossible.
Before coming, Kisuke Urahara had done a psychological modelling of Zaraki Kenpachi and concluded that he was a pure hedonist and self-indulgent.
He only does what he wants to do, and even if it causes unknown consequences, he doesn't take it to heart.
It's nothing more than cutting it down.
Or dying.
"So…"
At this point, facing Zaraki Kenpachi's almost fiery gaze, Kisuke Urahara concluded:
"For the safety of Seireitei and the balance of the Three Realms, I have come to be your opponent this time and to verify my strength to become a Captain."
"This is also Captain Retsu Unohana's decision."
"Lord Kenpachi, you don't need to hold back."
"..."
Zaraki Kenpachi snorted coldly, his gaze sweeping like a sharp sword over Retsu Unohana in the distance.
He saw her give him a gentle smile…
However, this smile, in Zaraki Kenpachi's eyes, was so glaring.
The anger in his heart grew even stronger.
"Unohana…"
"Do you also think I'm too reckless?!"
He gripped his Zanpakuto tightly, as if the bandages on the hilt were about to be crushed by him.
An extreme feeling of depression replaced the anger, refilling his chest.
Creak—!
The bandaged hilt of the sword emitted a creaking sound under the immense pressure.
Taking a step forward.
Bang!
The ground suddenly caved in. He took a deep breath and said loudly:
"I'm too lazy to listen to those grand theories. In short, as long as I cut you down, I can challenge him, right!?"
"Yes." Kisuke Urahara nodded gently, his expression normal. He also gripped his sword hilt, his posture relaxed and at ease, as if full of confidence in the upcoming battle.
Hiss.
He took a slight breath.
At this moment.
Yamamoto Genryusai coughed lightly twice, interrupting: "You two, please enter the arena first."
"Today, I, Yamamoto Genryusai, Retsu Unohana, and Kuchiki Ginrei, three Captains, will personally judge whether Kisuke Urahara is capable of serving as the Captain of the Twelfth Division."
"Zaraki Kenpachi will serve as the examiner."
"Responsible for verifying Kisuke Urahara's strength…"
After the two entered the arena.
The area within 300 meters was their battlefield. After confirming that it would not affect others, Yamamoto Genryusai nodded and said:
"If there are no objections, let us begin…"
...
...
At this moment.
Tsugikuni Yoriichi had already reached the edge of the battlefield.
When he rushed over, he saw Kisuke Urahara and Zaraki Kenpachi locked in fierce combat.
Kyōraku Shunsui and Jūshirō Ukitake were sitting on a tree branch, he didn't know when they got there.
They gazed at the battlefield, facing the strong winds formed by the immense spiritual pressure.
Hearing the movement.
He turned his head.
Kyōraku Shunsui chuckled, "You're here, Yoriichi."
"Don't worry, you're not late. It's just that the teacher instructed me to tell you that the meeting time was delayed by five minutes."
"These five minutes may seem insignificant, but they can prevent the death of a Captain. I also wanted to see what kind of person this new Captain of the Twelfth Division is…"
"He was previously unknown, but I didn't expect him to have mastered Bankai… He's quite low-key. In that regard, he seems very similar to you."
Yoriichi remained silent. At this moment, he finally understood what his senior brother had told him the day before…
The phrase "a battle of severe injury" — was it referring to the battle between Kisuke Urahara and Zaraki Kenpachi?
Who would be severely injured?
He slightly raised his eyes.
Jūshirō Ukitake coughed twice and slowly said:
"If nothing unexpected happens, this battle will end with Zaraki Kenpachi's defeat…"
Changing the subject,
"This should be our first meeting, right?"
His eyes gently looked at Yoriichi, "My health isn't good, please excuse me. I've heard about you from Kyōraku."
"You did well."
"The existence of those rebels had lasted for decades, a chronic illness. Your defeat of them has also relieved some pressure from the teacher."
"I thank you here."
"…No need to thank me. These are all things I should do." After a moment of silence, Yoriichi slowly shook his head, "Senior Brother Ukitake, let's talk about the matter at hand."
"Why will Zaraki Kenpachi lose?"
"Also…"
"Is Kisuke Urahara participating in the battle on my behalf the teacher's own decision?"