Mitsuhide and Yamamoto stood facing each other, Yamamoto with his burning blade that turned the air to ash, and Mitsuhide with his plain sword, which appeared paltry in comparison. The hatred that seemed to pass between the two was almost as fiery as the flames now rippling from Yamamoto's sword. The old man looked around, at the scores of Shinigami that Mitsuhide had beaten, and at Hitsugaya and Ukitake, who he had discarded with a wave of his hand.

"I see," said the old man, glaring at Mitsuhide. "That you are back to your old self again. I trust your power did not diminish, during your imprisonment?" Mitsuhide laughed, and idly swung his sword so it formed arcs around his body.

"Not one bit, Yama." Mitsuhide gave him a glare of his own. "Guess this means your plan failed, right? I will kill you, no matter what it takes." Mitsuhide flourished his sword, and stood in a battle-ready stance, watching Yamamoto carefully.

"Listen, Mitsuhide, I know you must be-"

"No talking, you lying bastard!" Mitsuhide sped forward, swinging his sword downwards. Yamamoto was only just able to dodge it, before Mitsuhide spun around, brining his sword with him in a wide horizontal arc. Yamamoto leapt up to dodge the strike, and swung his own sword. The two blades clashed, and Yamamoto looked down in shock. Any blade should have been burned to ash by his sword, and here was a sword, not even in shikai, holding back his flames with ease.

"Your blade has not dulled since then, has it?" said Yamamoto, and Mitsuhide pushed him away, sending him skidding along the floor. He chuckled. "I should be thankful, at least, that your taking it easy on me, eh?"

"Believe me, I wouldn't be if I could," Mitsuhide glared at him. "I'll never forgive you, Yama. I just want you to know that. I'm the only one still living that knows just exactly who you are, and what you've done." Mitsuhide ran forwards, and Yamamoto swung. Mitsuhide dropped to his knees, sliding across the floor, slashing as he went, and Yamamoto staggered, blood erupting from his thigh. "Do you still remember what you did? What you took from me?" Mitsuhide pointed his sword forwards, blood dripping off it's edge. "Or has senility finally gotten to you?"

"Believe me, this old man has a few tricks left up his sleeve!" Yamamoto spun around, and fired his flames towards Mitsuhide, who smirked and held his blade out before him, running forwards towards the pillar of fire. It seemed to disperse before him, splitting into twin snakes of fire that seemed to be eager not to come near him. Mitsuhide reached Yamamoto, and swung his own sword, the fire he was still spewing forth dying out as the blast of force kicked up a mighty gust of wind. Yamamoto barely saw it coming, as it was, his blade only managed to glance Mitsuhide's, so t merely scratched across his chest, rather then cut open his stomach.

"Your old, Yamamoto! Too old!" Mitsuhide swung again. "Soon, I'll be taking back what's mine!" Mitsuhide and Yamamoto clashed, and Mitsuhide sprung away with a Flash Step. Yamamoto charged forward with his own Flash Step, and they clashed, again and again, their movements invisible as they moved at breakneck speeds. Mitsuhide stabbed down, and impaled Yamamoto's foot to the ground of the chamber, before he charged forward with a fist, swinging for Yama's head. The old man was only just able to remove the sword from his foot and jump away before the wall behind him cracked and broke apart from Mitsuhide's blow.

Someone stirred, on the ground. Both Mitsuhide and Yamamoto looked at who it was who was awakening. Soifon, the leader of the 2nd Division, was trying to struggle up, and Mitsuhide nodded to Yamamoto, before walking over and jabbing her in the same place he had down with Rukia, knocking her out immediately. She fell down again, and Mitsuhide turned back to Yamamoto.

"I hate you, but no one should see you die." Mitsuhide and Yamamoto circled each other. "They respect you as a hero, you know? I think it's stupid and distasteful. You really must have painted a complete lie about yourself, if they're all willing to die for you." Mitsuhide sighed. "The need that respect, I guess. They shouldn't see you for what you really are."

"I've told you countless times that I-"

"I don't want to hear it, Yama." Mitsuhide lazily deflected an attack from the old man, who had Flash Stepped in when he was distracted. "I don't care if your sorry, or if you want to make amends. I have had six centuries to hate you, and right now, I can't just let you go. Not when I can do this!" Mitsuhide flung out his hand. Yamamoto swung down, attempting to cut if off, but Mitsuhide grabbed it. Yamamoto stared in fear. No one could come into contact with his sword and not be burned, but Mitsuhide looked as though it was nothing. Yamamoto couldn't even pull his blade away from his vice-like grip, as Mitsuhide's sword curved round, swinging for Yamamoto's head.

Yamamoto leapt away, leaving his sword behind. He tried to command it back to him, but Mitsuhide kept a firm grip on it. When Yamamoto tried to begin a kido casting, Mitsuhide twirled the old man's sword, held it like a spear and, with a strong, over arm throw, speared it through Yamamoto's chest. As the old man collapsed, Mitsuhide approached, dragging his sword across the ground, and as Yamamoto tried to struggle up, he knelt beside the old man, looking down on him. He flipped him over with a hand, so he was string upwards, and he grabbed the sword embedded in his chest and drew it out, throwing it to the side.

"Guess I win this one, eh, Yama?" Mitsuhide watches as Yamamoto tried to speak. "Don't talk. Listen. Now, I'm going to kill you, not out of hatred, but out of necessity. You need to die. As long as you live, your secrets and lies will destroy Soul Society. Then, I'm going to help the Shinigami against their new opponent, because I have a good feeling that I'm going to know who it is, and how to stop him. I'm going to lead them, I'm going to help them, and I'm going to bring back the King, so that people like you can't rule the Soul Society the way you do."

"Then I'm going to leave." Mitsuhide stood, and looked down on the old man. "I'll do my part and then seal myself back up again. Hopefully, no one will do what you did, and take part of my Zanpakuto from me, but, well, with your death, it will come back to me anyway, wont it?" Mitsuhide spun the sword so the blade pointed down in his hand. "But that's not the only thing you took, is it?" He leant down, to whisper close to Yamamoto, and to see the old man's face. "I wont forgive you for killing her. Not now, not ever. So think of this as justice finally being served, you old bastard."

Mitsuhide snarled as he raised his sword high above his head, and he roared as his blade plunged down, cutting through the air towards the old man's throat. It came within inches, before a black wave of energy struck his sword and sent it spinning into the air. Mitsuhide glared in the direction of the door, waiting for the interloper to step in, as his blade flew back into his hand.

Ichigo stepped in, his Bankai activated, his black sword held aloft, and he Flash Stepped in, speeding over Yamamoto, towards Mitsuhide, who jumped back as the ground where he had been standing was hit by another Getsuga Tensho, and he barely blocked as Ichigo flew in with his sword, sending both flying back, and the two of them jumped at each other, swords stabbing through the air, cutting towards each other.

Rukia, on the floor, woke up in time to see them both erupt in a shower of blood.