A Different Kenpachi

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In his office, Azashiro thought about what had brought him there as he read and signed his paperwork.

The last thing he remembered was injecting himself with the same poison developed by Mayuri that had killed the Eighth Sword Szayel, and suddenly he woke up in the past, just after fleeing to Rukongai.

He had a few years to plan what to do and if he should change anything. He thought about perhaps returning to his super soldier plan and lobotomizing humanity, but he gave up later. He saw where that had led him in the past and was not going to repeat the same mistakes. Besides, thanks to the new Shinigami he had faced in the future, he knew that the Gotei was more than ready to defend itself in the future. Aizen Sousuke's defeat proved this to him.

And how determined he was to change his ways and recover what he had lost. He started towards Kuruyashiki, who would be of great help in the future against Aizen's forces. He was sure of that.

Besides that.

"He...Kenpachi of Zaraki...I will be waiting for our future rematch, my successor..." The current Kenpachi smiled calmly as he looked out his window.

240 years...he could wait all this time to face his successor. But first, he had to take care of a problem...a problem called "AIZEN SOUSUKE".

:

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『Five years after Azashiro assumed the mantle of Kenpachi, District ZARAKI:80』

Rukongai is the largest and most populous area of the Soul Society. It is divided into 320 districts (80 districts in each cardinal quadrant), each numbered in descending order based on their distance from the center. This results in the higher-numbered districts (which are the furthest away) degrading into slums. While District 1 is peaceful, resembling the antiseptic lifestyle of the early Edo Era, District 80 is a harsh, violent area infested with crime, more reminiscent of the Heian Era.

The duties of the 13 Gotei Divisions include defending the allocated districts of Rukongai. However, which Division is responsible for each district varies due to the vastness of the area, so multiple divisions rotate between districts. Living standards in Rukongai drastically decline after the 50th district, with life resembling that of countries suffering from extreme poverty. It is precisely in these distant districts, neglected by many Shinigami, that bandit tyranny runs rampant. For this reason, the 11th Division, which has the highest percentage of Rukongai-born members, is more familiar with the situation.

Thanks to orders from their captain, the 11th Division now conducts regular patrols in all the distant and neglected districts. Due to the high number of criminals, battles between the squad and the bandits are frequent. Just like now.

The sound of battle echoed on the barren, dusty street, now painted red as Shinigami and bandits fought for supremacy. Further away from the crowded fight on the road, three figures could be seen. Two of them were the leaders of the 11th squad: Azashiro Kenpachi and Kuruyashiki de Sōya (yes, Azashiro made him sign up for this). The bandit leader was a stereotypical figure from a modern perspective. Both sides stared at each other with different emotions. Indifference and amusement from Azashiro and Kuruyashiki, respectively. Irritation from the bandit leader.

("Let's end this quickly.") thought the young Kenpachi. For Azashiro, this was nothing more than taking out the trash. However—

"Ha! So they sent a noble girl and her bodyguard to deal with the KING of the bandits? Tsk." The self-proclaimed "King of the bandits" seemed eager to brag about something, as he quickly continued. "Did you have to sell yourself to some noble for your position, princess?"

Upon hearing the bandit's words, Kuruyashiki could be seen gritting his teeth and stepping forward. However, before he could act, he was halted by a signal from Azashiro, informing him not to interfere, which he reluctantly accepted.

"If you think I'm that weak, you wouldn't refuse a duel with this 'maiden,' would you? Mr. King of beggars?" Though his face remained indifferent and his voice calm, it was clear from his tone that Azashiro was mocking and disdainful of the bandit.

With a growl of rage, the "King" drew his sword and, with an impressive display of speed, appeared above Azashiro, aiming for a vertical slash.

"DIEEEE!" screamed the bandit.

However, with a faint smile, Azashiro passively stared at him and said: "Idiot... you're the one who's already dead."

The false King only had time to look confused before his body was instantly shredded to pieces in a single moment, exploding into grotesque chunks of flesh and blood that fell like rain. Before they could land on and drench the young Kenpachi, an umbrella appeared above him, keeping him clean. This was done by Kuruyashiki, who had a tense smile on his face.

("No matter how many years pass, it's still terrifying to see that ability of his, and to think I'm the only one who's ever witnessed it and survived.") Kuruyashiki thought as he walked behind Azashiro, following him toward the rest of the squad.

Upon reaching the scene, he could see that the Shinigami had already dealt with the bandits and were piling up the bodies in the center. They acted as a real unit rather than the wild brutes they had been in the past, all thanks to the leadership of their two Kenpachi, who had organized the rebellious warriors of the Eleventh Squad into a formidable army.

As both approached, the soldiers, noticing their presence, stood at attention and saluted—

"YOSH! AZASHIRO-TAICHOU! KURUYASHIKI-FUKUTAICHOU! WE ELIMINATED THE CRIMINALS AND HAVE COLLECTED THEIR LOOT!" In an impressive display of discipline, all the soldiers saluted and spoke in unison.

Azashiro looked at the pile of corpses before pointing a finger and casting a Kidō:

"Hadō #31. Shakkahō." In an extreme demonstration of control and power, Azashiro summoned the Hadō without an incantation. From the captain's palm, a fireball was launched at the pile of bodies, immediately setting it ablaze.

After years under his command, the members of the Eleventh Squad had grown accustomed to their captain's prodigious level of skill, so such a display did not surprise them.

As soon as the pyre was completed, Azashiro turned, preparing to walk away from the scene with his lieutenant, or at least that was the plan.

"Hm?!" Azashiro suddenly stopped, his eyes widening as he sensed a familiar Reiatsu approaching quickly.

"Hm? Is something wrong, Aza-chan—" Kuruyashiki's words were cut short as he found himself pushed aside by Azashiro, who materialized his sword, a weapon Kuruyashiki hadn't seen in years!

And from above, jumping like a demon with a devilish grin, an attack came with an explosion.

"Shikai: Urozakuro!"

The young Kenpachi barely had time to raise his luminescent white blade before stopping a strike from a worn Odachi aimed at cleaving him in half.

**CRUNCH**

The ground beneath the captain's feet cracked like a web before the worn blade finally overpowered and shattered the captain's Shikai, continuing its path down Azashiro's body—

**CRUNCH!**

"GAH!" For the first time in their lives, the Shinigami of the Eleventh Squad saw their captain Azashiro Kenpachi bleed.

Azashiro's left shoulder had been completely sliced and torn by the unknown blade.

"Tsk, hehehe, I intended to split you in two, but you blocked it and even attacked me at the same time... hehehe, you're strong..." The attacker laughed as he rubbed his free hand over his chest, now bearing a bloody cut inflicted by the captain, who gasped and leaped back to gain distance.

The figure laughed again before releasing an explosion of Reiatsu, making the nearby civilians faint and causing the Shinigami to fall to their knees. "LET'S FIGHT!"

"Ah, ah... damn." Despite the wound on his body, Azashiro smiled at the scene, but before the captain could advance into battle, he was stopped by Kuruyashiki.

"Hm? What are you doing? This fight is mine!" For the first time, Azashiro seemed to show the bloodlust of a Kenpachi. However, he was soon halted by Kuruyashiki slapping his head.

"Tsk, you can barely stand, Azashiro. Normally, you should have killed this guy instantly with your Bankai, but for some reason, you deactivated it and activated your Shikai, even though you know how vulnerable your body is in this form." While reprimanding the captain, Kuruyashiki stepped forward. "I think even a lieutenant could take you down right now. You've been cleaning up Rukon for an entire week without stopping until the last district. You're definitely not at 100% for this fight... so—" With a confident smile, Kuruyashiki continued as he drew his Zanpakutō. "As your lieutenant, I, Kuruyashiki de Soya, will fight. And this time, I won't underestimate my enemy!"

As he finished his words, Kuruyashiki stabbed his blade into the ground, concentrating his Reiryoku and increasing his Reiatsu. Azashiro slightly opened his eyes wider than usual, knowing what that pose meant!

The unknown figure before Kuruyashiki only smiled as he felt the rising power of his new opponent, grinning before saying:

"HAHAHAHA, YES! EVEN FROM A DISTANCE, I COULD FEEL YOU! FIGHT ME! GIVE IT YOUR ALL! I WANT TO FEEL MY BLOOD BOIL LIKE NEVER BEFORE!"

With unmatched bloodlust, the young man unleashed more than double the Reiatsu from before, as if, in just one moment, his power doubled! "PREPARE YOURSELF, KURUYASHIKI DE SŌYA!"

"Hahaha, well, since you know my name, don't you want to introduce yourself, boy?" Kuruyashiki asked humorously.

The young man in front of him smiled before answering—

"My name... is—

"ZARAKI!"