Kenmaru, Ruriko, Hariko, and Arashi were all done with their Kido Exams and like the rest of the students called to the main hall for a surprise presented by Captain Einshu. They found seats up front by another of their good friend Suzume Sasaki.

"Hey Suzume." Kenmaru smiled as he waved to Suzume. She looked around seventeen, she had somewhat a pale skin, intense green eyes like emeralds, her hair was a firey red like a mane of fire that fell to her waist, and she had bangs that stopped at her eyebrows, she was dressed in the usual Academy outfit.

"Hey Kenmaru, sorry about your Kido Exam."

"It's no problem. It's not like I'm going to use Kido anyways, right?"

"Haha right. Using Kido is like you falling asleep...I mean not falling asleep haha sorry." She somewhat blushed.

"Huh? It's okay, I just can't wait to hear this announcement!"

"Same here, I heard it's about the hand-to-hand combat and swordsmanship exams." She stated.

"Whatever it is I'll pass without a doubt!"

"Like how you passed the Kido Exam?"

"Heeyyy..." Kenmaru sighed somewhat depressingly.

"Sorry, I didn't mean it!"

"That's okay, let's just sit and watch...or listen."

"Yeah it's listen." She smiled.

"Alright everyone listen up..." Captain Einshu stood up behind a large podium with a golden plaque with the Thirteen Court Guards Squad Insginia on it. He looked at the students dressed in an ocean of white with diffrent streaks of red and blue. Then the shirtless Kenmaru sitting there awaiting eagerly for the announcement. "As you all know I am Captain of Squad five of the Thirteen Court Guard Suads. Captain Tenshi Einshu, I'm here to explain to you on the idea I came up with on how to test all of for your next Exams. Your Hand-to-Hand combat and Swordsmanship Exams will all be taking place as tournaments."

"Tournaments?" Kenmaru muttered under his breath.

"You all heard me right." Tenshi reassured the now talkative crowd of students, "Let me explain. It's all some what similar. In the Hand-to-Hand combat you will be scored on whatever we think is fair , depending on the intensity I guess you could say, for your fight. I, Kenpachi Zaraki, and Captain-Commander Yamamoto will be scoring this tournament. We will not be counting hits as points. However the match goes we will score you. There will be a top ten. Though even if you get a low score in that you can make it up in the Swordsmanship Tournament. It goes the exact same way, except we study and observe how you handle your sword, technique, fighting style, etc. Then when both are done the one who either scored number one in both tournaments or whoever got the highest score will get a prize."

"Which will be what!" Kenmaru yelled crossing his arms now interested in what else Tenshi was going to see.

"They will lead a squad of six to seven people who also scored highly for one final test. This test will help me see how well they do in leading a group, how they coup in difficult situations, and so on. They will lead that team from three months to a year if they go very fluently. Then when it's all said in done...well...you'll just have to get that far to see."

"Are we going to be using our own zanpaktuo?" Arashi asked.

"Yes you will, I mean if you are able to. When I say 'able to' as in use nothing but your sealed form. If you have any further questions all of your teachers have been informed. Now I will see you in...a month up to two months. Understood? In that time you have no school and just time to train and practice. Also for those who scored terribly...and I mean terribly." Tenshi looked at Kenmaru for a while.

"On the Kido Exams." He finished with a stare at Kenmaru.

"Did I say sorry about that?" Kenmaru asked.

"No, you didn't."

"Oh ok then...well sorry? I guess."

"Whatever, anyways yeah see you then!"

"Perfect!" Kenmaru jumped up out of his seat and raised his fist high, "I have a whole month or so to train. Though I don't need it so I'm going to sleep for a whole month."

"That's not sleep, that's coma." A voice commented.

"Huh?" Kenmaru turned around to see teenager who looked seventeen, he had short spikey dark almost black purple hair with streaks of a dark indigo, he had large green-yellow eyes that had slightly slited pupils, he was very well built, and very lean, and he had a black snake tatoo at the base of his neck that continued on to his shoulders. Though you couldn't see it go to his shoulders, you just saw the design of the snake and the pathway it was taking around his body. He wore no socks, sandals, his lower hakam was ripped to an inch or so below his knee, and the sleeves were completley gone.

"Hey there Hotaka." Kenmaru waved, "How'd you find your way over here?"

"I heard you retard." The male, now known as Hotaka, replied while taking a blind fold and tied it to his face to cover his eyes.

"Why am I constantly being called retard?"

"Because you kinda some what sort of are one." Suzume answered.

"Yeah, thanks Suzume. But you guys should know I'm not mentally ill okay. I'm perfectly fine."

"Whatever floats your boat buddy." Hotaka smiled, "Oh by the way! Hey Arashi, Ruriko, and Hariko. Everyone's together huh?"

"Yeah." Arashi walked up with the two girls by his side.

"So what do you guys think about this whole tournament thing?" Hariko asked.

"I think it's wonderful! I have up to at least two months to try experiments, train, pull pranks, pull pranks, try out experiments..."

"You said pull pranks and experiments twice." Suzume said.

"I know."

"Well all I know is that it's about time." Kenmaru chuckled.

"About time for what?" Hotaka asked.

"Hmph, that they gave me a reason to actually try now." Kenmaru snickered.

1 week later...

"Kenmaru wake up dude!" Arashi grabbedc his friend and tossed him down off the roof where he found him.

"Guah!" Kenmaru woke up and landed on his feet at the last second limiting the damage he took from the fall. "What do you want Arashi!"

"You said the school gave you a reason to try right? Well it's time to try."

"Whatever makes you feel better." Kenmaru picked up his school sword that was give to every student. He held a blue hilted sword with an oval guard.

"Then here I come!" Arashi yelled, his sword had a yellow hilt with the same guard. Their swords clashed and they had an intense stare down.

"That all you got buddy?" Kenmaru teased. He kicked Arashi sending him up then threw his sword at Arashi. Arashi dodged Kenmaru's blade and grabbed it, what he didn't notice was that Kenmaru was behind him and actually struck Arashi. They were back-to-back in mid-air. Kenmaru swung his hand back hitting Arashi with his forearm sending him back down. "I was always the more battle ready one."

"I was always the smarter one." Arashi teased with his blade and Kenmaru's at Kenmaru's neck. "Looks like I win." Arashi smiled.

"Yeah or..." Before Kenmaru could finish his eyes went black and he heard the demonice distorted voice from his Kido Exam.

"SLEEP!" The voice demanded. With that Kenmaru quickly reacted to grabbing both his and Arashi's blades, kicked Arashi and sent himself downwards landing back first.

"Kenmaru!" Arashi dashed down only to find him asleep.

"What's going on?" Hariko asked as she, Suzume, and Ruriko aided Arashi. They all saw what happened from at least three miles away.

"I don't know we started training and he just fell." Arashi explained.

"We should get him to the nurse right?" Suzume asked.

"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea." Ruriko agreed.

"Then let's get going." Arashi picked up his friend and their swords.

Meanwhile...

"Darn it where am I!" Kenmaru stood up and found himself looking down at ruins. A large town of destroyed city ruins, but there was something diffrent from this. He looked at where he stood and found himself standing on the sky as clouds passed by he looked up to see the ruins collapsing. As a piece fell it came towards him, it was very diffrent and weird indeed. "Where am I!" He yelled.

"Well, finally you're here."

"Huh?" Kenmaru's attention was snatched quickly like a theif in the night by a man who looked around forty. He had short black hair that hugged his face and was somewhat ragged, his eyes were brown, he was taller than Kenmaru and wore a white ankle legnth sleevless hooded shihakusho with a black interior.

"My name is..."

"Hey I really don't care who you are!"

"My name is Kyuseishu n!"

"Well sorry Kyuseishu."

"Wait you heard me?"

"Yeah clear as day."

"Well then listen up, because I'm in only here for one reason."

"Which is?"

"Because I am your zanpaktuo..."

"My...zanpaktuo?" Kenmaru repeated

"Yes..your zanpaktuo."

"What do you want?"

"Do you not undestand! It's about time you listen to me so you can use my as your partner."

"Yeah, that's cool and all but I have these exams coming up and no offense but I want to do it without using you."

"So what are you saying?"

"I'll train with you, but I won't use you."

"Hmph, well then let's just see how you intend to do that. Because before you can even use me, you have to beat me..."

"Beat you?"

"In a fight!"