Chapter 7: Full Blast Getsuga Onslaught vs. Invulnerable Luffy!

The zanpakuto, its unique shape and abilities are defined by its Soul Reaper. A Soul Reaper is able to harness the power of the zanpakuto by learning its name and forming a synergistic unit. The Zanpakuto is born with its Soul Reaper and dies with its Soul Reaper. That is the existence of the zanpakuto.


A man calling himself Muramasa caused all of the zanpakuto to go into their physical form and attack the Soul Society. Without the use of their shikai, the soul reapers were overpowered. In one night, the zanpakuto have delivered a serious blow to the thirteen court guard squads and vanished. And now the seireitei is in a confused and precarious state. After Rukia's battle with her zanpakuto, Sode no Shirayuki, Muramasa appeared before Ichigo and Luffy. Ichigo decided to battle Muramasa on his own but during the fight, Zangetsu made an appearance.

"Zangetsu?!" Ichigo said shocked. "How can you be here?!" Zangetsu appeared beside Ichigo and pushed towards the wall with his sword. Zangetsu fired a blue energy wave from his sword at Ichigo, creating an explosion.

Muramasa walked over towards Zangetsu and looked at Ichigo, who was struggling to sit up. "I'm impressed that you can still move." He said. "It's over for you."

Ichigo got on all fours, glaring at his zanpakuto. "Zangetsu, I don't understand!" Ichigo shouted. "You've with him now?!"

Zangetsu raised his sword and poor his spiritual pressure into it. "Getsuga Tensho!" He said, firing a blue energy at Ichigo. Before Zangetsu realized it, a fist came out of the smoke and connected with his fist, sending him crashing into the wall behind him. Muramasa looked the smoke as it started to clear, revealing the attacker. It was Luffy.


In the Squad 4 barracks, the members of the squad are very busy tending to the wounds of the soul reapers who injured during the zanpakuto attack. Captain Unohana was with several of her squad members, treating the Squad 7 Captain Komamura.

"Captain Unohana!" Isane shouted, running toward her captain.

Unohana looked at her lieutenant and said, "Oh Isane, is something the matter?"

"Yes ma'am. I have a field report from Squad 12." Then the lieutenant of Squad 12, Nemu Kurotsuchi, walked into the room and explained to the Squad 4 captain and lieutenant what was she told from Mayuri.

"You're saying that the zanpakuto had somehow become separate entities?" Unohana questioned.

"Yes." Nemu said.

"What does that mean?" Isane asked.

"I'm not exactly sure of the ramifications but Master Mayuri had come to this conclusion only after testing the phenomenon from his own body."

"Could you share the details?" Unohana asked.

"Yes." Nemu said.


(Flashback)

In the Squad 12 barracks, Mayuri plugged his body into his computer, researching the cause for the zanpakuto rebellion.

"Well, it would seem that the zanpakuto spirit really has left my body." Mayuri said. "Fascinating, most fascinating."

"Master Mayuri, I was under the impression that the zanpakuto and soul reapers were different manifestations of the same essential soul." Nemu said.

"Normally that is the case but now the two have split into entirely distinct entities."

"That's impossible."

"That's why it fascinates me. And don't act like a know-it-all, you useless idiot. The real question is what cause this change to suddenly take place."

(End of Flashback)


"From what you're telling us, it seems that our current situation is worse than I have imagined." Unohana said.

"Excuse me but can I ask a question about something?" Isane asked. "Since they aren't connected to us anymore, what will happen if a soul reaper defeats a zanpakuto in battle?"

"I don't know." Nemu answered.

"If that happens, is there a chance that we may lose our zanpakuto forever?"

"It is possible. But without more data, I can't tell you for certain what will happen."

"I understand." Unohana said. "I suppose that the only thing we could do is have faith in Captain Kurotsuchi."

"There's one more thing." Nemu said. "Master Mayuri has a request for you, Captain Unohana."

"What did he want?"

"He asked if you could provide him with data on the soul reapers currently receiving treatment from Squad 4 so that he can analyze it."

"Of course, I'll have it sent to you right away."

"Also, he want to start compiling a data profile on you as well."

"You mean that Captain Unohana has to go all the way down to the Department of Research and Development?!" Isane asked with widen eyes.

"That's right." Nemu said. "He told me that he needs to start collecting data on all of the captains."

"Very well then." Unohana said.

"But captain…" Isane protested.

"It will be alright, Isane."

"But ma'am, you know Captain Kurotsuchi's examination will be incredibly personal and invasive. Are you sure about this ma'am?"

"Isane, I'm afraid that we're in a race against time."

Isane looked down and said, "Yes ma'am."

Unohana looked at Nemu said, "In return for my cooperation, I ask that you report any new findings to us immediately, understood?"

"Of course." Nemu said.

A soul reaper rushed into the room and shouted, "I have a field report! Large scale combat has been confirmed in the seireitei! The spiritual pressure reported at the scene belongs to Rukia Kuchiki of Squad 13 and Substitute Soul Reaper Ichigo Kurosaki as well as their ally 'Straw Hat' Monkey D. Luffy!"


Zangetsu got back to his feet, wiping the blood off of his lip and glaring at Luffy. "This matter doesn't concern you." He said. "Leave here at once."

"No way." Luffy said, cracking his knuckles. "If you want to fight Ichigo, then you have to go through me first."

Zangetsu narrowed his eyes at Luffy and said, "Very well…" He appeared behind the straw hat boy, ready to attack. "Have it your way." Luffy slowly behind his shoulder as the zanpakuto swung his sword at him. Luffy jumped back from Zangetsu's blade and charged towards him.

"Gum-Gum…" Luffy shouted, stretching his arm back and twisting it. "…Rifle!"

Zangetsu put his sword up in defense. The force of the attack pushed him back but he was unharmed. Zangetsu pushed Luffy's arm back and fired a wave of energy at Luffy. Luffy quickly moved out of the way and charged towards the zanpakuto.

"Gum-Gum Gatling!" Luffy fired a barrage of punches at Zangetsu. Zangetsu raised his sword over at his head, prepare to counter.

"Getsuga Tensho!" Before Luffy knew it, a blue wave hit him and sends him into a wall opposite of him. Luffy was seen in the smoke, getting back to his feet.

"Ok, that hurt." Luffy said, dusting himself off. He grinded his teeth, seeing another blue wave heading towards him as he quickly dodged it. He charged towards Zangetsu again, stretching both of his arms back. "Gum-Gum Bazooka!" Just like before, Zangetsu put up in front of him to block Luffy's attack. Zangetsu pushed Luffy off and jabbed his sword at the pirate. Luffy ducked and kicked Zangetsu in the stomach, sending him flying. Then Luffy gather all of the air into body, inflating it like a balloon and twisting it. He released all of the air he gathered and sending himself flying towards Zangetsu. "Gum-Gum…"

"Getsuga…" Zangetsu lifted his sword, sending his spiritual pressure into it.

"…Storm!" Luffy threw a barrage of punches at the zanpakuto but Zangetsu disappeared, causing him to stop.

"Tensho!" Zangetsu appeared behind Luffy and fired his attack, creating an explosion and sending Luffy crashing to the ground. Zangetsu appeared beside Muramasa, believing that the battle is over until he saw a figure starting to move in the smoke. "You're very persistent, aren't you? I'm surprised to see that you're still moving. But you won't be moving for much longer."

"Oh yeah, we'll see about that!" Luffy said, bending his knees and putting one fist to the ground. Luffy pumped his blood with his legs. "Second Gear!" His body started to turn pink and stream is coming out of his body.

"What's that?" Muramasa said, looking at Luffy's body. Luffy looked up at the two zanpakutos with a smirk on his face. Soon another figure was seen in the smoke standing up. It was Ichigo with half of his face covered by his hollow mask.

To be continued…

Next Chapter: The Fist Explodes! Destroy the Zanpakuto!