A.N: Loved the thoughts on the new arc everyone, the idea that Isshin and Masaki will play a great role in it is agreeable. And you may be right on IchiRuki, Kubo may pair them up yet (writers tend to lie about things to keep them secret, they don't want to spoil the ending). So keep your fingers cross (and all IchiHime fans, keep praying that it doesn't happen LOL).

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach

Chapter 10: The Arrancar With no Blade

"What do you have to say for yourself, Captain Kurosaki?" Asked Yamamoto.

Ichigo stood at attention. "Well, Gramps, I simply found it necessary to personally check on Akio and Soifon, in case Akio actually did lie to you."

Yamamoto opened one of his eyes. "Why would my own son lie to me?" He asked.

"Well you know Akio," Ichigo said, letting the lie flow smoothly off his tongue. "He's a great actor, he can find his way out of any situation."

"Don't lie to me, Captain." Yamamoto said, unimpressed.

Ichigo gulped. "You and Lt. Kuchiki have new orders. You are to meet Captain Abarai at the Squad 3 Barracks for a full briefing. Dismissed." Said Yamamoto.

Ichigo nodded and quickly left the room. Chōjirō Sasakibe looked at his captain. "Sir," he began. "Why'd you let him go?"

Yamamoto sighed. "Kurosaki may be a loose cannon, he may be a headache. But the boy's actions were understandable."

"What do you mean?" Asked Sasakibe.

"Ichigo went out of his way to protect his home. I wish we had Soul Reaper's who were that defensive of this home like him. Unfortunately, the only Soul Reaper's we have like that are each captain and lieutenant except for Zaraki and that little girl of his."

Yamamoto then cracked an eye open. "And to top it all off. Ichigo, and Akio too, were like I was when I was their age. I look at both of them every day, and see myself in them. Therefore, punishing the two of them, is like punishing myself."

Yamamoto turned to his lieutenant. "You understand, don't you Chōjirō?"

Sasakibe looked at Yamamoto in shock. "I guess so."

Cortez Orgulloso walked down the halls of Las Noches in worry, his Fracción, a young man with messy brown hair named Vasco Xuan, followed loyally behind. "His Majesty hasn't come out of his room since that horrible meeting." Cortez said in worry.

Cortez looked at Vasco. "I'm telling you right now Vasco, when King Muerta does come out, someone better think of something to impress him, or he will have someone killed out of frustration."

Vasco's eyes widened. "Would he really do that, sir?"

Cortez thought it over. "No, he wouldn't do something that rash. I've known him for a long time. He has never had a moment of sheer insanity. He didn't even do anything when General De Poder..."

"Sir!" Vasco said shrilly. "There's a reason nobody talks about that."

Cortez nodded. "Thank you for correcting me Vasco."

The two then saw the man in question walking down the same hallway. One of his Fracción, a young man with glasses and dark hair, followed behind. "Good afternoon, General De Poder." Cortez said peacefully, nodding curtly.

Bruto De Poder returned the nod. "Good afternoon Cortez."

The Fracción did the same. "General Orgulloso, Vasco, it's good to see you both."

Vasco spoke up. "Hello Pascual."

Cortez spoke again. "What're you doing here General?" He asked.

Bruto gestured in front of him. "I'm going to visit His Majesty and request an attack on Karakura Town. Or at least, this Fake Karakura Town I've heard about."

Cortez' eyes widened in shock. "Have you lost your mind, General? His Majesty has kept himself secluded for a reason."

Bruto grinned. "I'm aware of that, my friend, believe me I know what I'm doing."

Bruto then walked past Cortez. However, Cortez' words stopped him. "If you think that your plan is going to make up for what you did to General Dionisio and gain favor with His Majesty, your solely mistaken. Nothing you do will make up for killing him, even if you succeed."

Bruto chuckled. "Haven't you figured out by now that he doesn't care about that? A General of Los Retazos is meant to be strong, invincible. The fact that Dionisio was killed simply means he was far too weak."

Bruto continued walking. "I am a general now, Orgulloso, you might want to accept that."

Unbeknownst to Bruto, it wasn't just Cortez that was angered by his words, Pascual was walking behind him with his fists clenched in rage.

Bruto continued to move towards Benito's room, Cortez' words still played over in his mind repeatedly. Nothing you do will make up for killing him, even if you succeed.

Damn that Orgulloso. Bruto thought. All that bastard does is remind me of the past...

Flashback: Some time ago during Aizen's rule

Bruto fell to the floor, defeated by the Numeros that stood over him. "Ha, look at you," the Numeros said arrogantly. "All brawn, and no skill with that sword of yours."

Bruto looked at his sword and glared at it. It was certainly true. When he was an Adhuchas, he was an undefeated fighter, because back then, he didn't have to worry about using a sword. But after Aizen's Hōgyoku made him into an Arrancar, he was suddenly one of the weakest fighters among the Arrancar Army. He just could not fight with a sword. Bruto got up, panting. "Again." He simply said.

The Numeros shook his head. "Hell no," he replied. "You aren't worth my time De Poder."

"Again." De Poder insisted.

The Numeros turned away. "Grow some brains with those muscles De Poder, you will never win in a sword fight, so don't bother trying."

Bruto groaned in frustration as the Numeros walked away. That made eighteen battles he lost with that damn sword. "Dammit!" He screamed. "Why do I have to be so weak?"

Bruto slammed his fist into the ground. "If only there was a way." He said in anger. "If only there was a way I could become strong again!"

"You wish to become stronger?" Came a curious voice.

Turning his head, Bruto saw a bespectacled man of average height and shoulder length pink hair. Bruto immediately recognized the man. "Szayel Aporro Granz." Said Bruto.

The former Eighth Espada frowned. "That's Lord or Master Szayel Aporro Granz, Numeros." He said. "Remember, as an Espada, I outrank you."

Bruto glared at him. "What do you want?" He asked.

Granz smiled. "I couldn't help but overhear your desire to become stronger. Obviously, that's going to happen with that sword of yours." He observed.

"Go on." Bruto said slowly.

Granz smile grew wider. "Since the inclusion of our new comrade, Coyote Starrk, I've grown quite curious about other ways to seal the powers of an Arrancar besides in a Zanpakutō. I think I might have found a way to do so. Would you perhaps like to be my first test subject?"

Bruto's eyes widened when he realized what Granz was offering. "I must warn you," Granz continued. "It will probably be quite painful, are you still willing to do so?"

Bruto got to his feet. "I've made up my mind," he said. "If I can become stronger, I will gladly go through any pain your tests will put me through, Master Szayel Aporro."

Granz chuckled. "Very well, come with me."

Several minutes later, Bruto was strapped to a table, his sword laid on a table next to him. A long cable was attached to both. "Now, if what Starrk told me was true, he used his spirit energy to split his soul in two, creating his counterpart an the key to his Resurrección, Lilynette Gingerbuck. If this is true, it can easily work in reverse." Began Granz.

Bruto tried his best to nod a confirmation that he heard Granz. "This cable here," Granz continued, gesturing to said cable. "Once I throw the switch, it will increase your spirit energy exponentially, but that won't be enough. I need you to release your spirit energy to its highest level. Concentrate it, and then I'll throw the switch. That will give us a brief time when your spirit energy and spiritual pressure will be on the level of Starrk. Unfortunately, pushing your body past its limits, that's what's going to cause the pain in this procedure."

Granz looked at Bruto. "I need you to get started now Bruto. The sooner we get this done, the sooner I can see the results."

"Of course." Replied Bruto.

With that, Bruto started to concentrate the energy inside of him. Granz took a look at the meter that measures his spirit energy. "Good so far," Granz told him. "It's increasing at a steady rate. Try concentrating a bit more."

What Granz was going for was a marker on the meter that signified when Granz was supposed to pull the switch to increase his energy to dangerously high levels. Levels that were on the level of Coyote Starrk. Minutes later, the pain was noticeable on Bruto's face. But, the energy had gone past the marker on the meter. "Here we go." Said Granz.

Granz quickly threw the switch. Bruto suddenly screamed in excruciating pain as his spirit energy shot up to very high levels. Granz then saw his Zanpakutō glowing. "Oh my," he said to himself. "It's working!"

Bruto continued screaming as the Zanpakutō glowed brighter. Suddenly, with a flash of light, the Zanpakutō disappeared and Bruto fell unconscious.

Some time later, a voice broke the silence. "Wake up." Came the voice of Szayel Aporro Granz.

Bruto's eyes slowly fluttered open. "Master Szayel Aporro," He muttered. "How long was I out?"

"About an hour," replied Granz. "Sorry I didn't wake you sooner. I was looking at the results on my computer."

Bruto then remembered why he was here. "Did it work?" He asked.

"Take a look at your chest." Said Granz.

Bruto looked at his chest to see some sort of marking in his chest. He immediately realized it was a sun. "After running some tests, I realized that marking is the center of your power," explained Granz. "It's quite remarkable really."

Bruto leapt to his feet and bowed to Granz. "Master Szayel Aporro, thank you."

"It was all in the pursuit of science, my friend." Said Granz.

Bruto stopped at the door to Benito's chambers. "General?" Pascual inquired quizzically.

After that, I was suddenly strong again. Even after the war, I continued to get stronger. Than I became so strong, I felt confident enough to go to Benito Muerta and challenge for a spot among his strongest subordinates, the Generals of Los Retazos. Thought Bruto.

Flashback: Three months ago

Bruto bowed to Benito Muerta. "Your Majesty," he began. "I come before you humbly to request a chance to fight one of your generals to take one of there positions."

Benito's eyes widened at the request. "That's a serious request Bruto, you do know that such a request only leads to a fight to the death. And if you lose, you will die."

Bruto rose and nodded. "I am fully aware of the risk. And I am willing to take it for the chance to serve as one of your strongest subordinates."

Benito smiled. "Very well, I will allow it as King of Hueco Mundo."

Someone cleared his throat behind Bruto. Benito's smile widened. "Ah, Andres, so good to see you."

Andres Dionisio was an old man with a gray beard and mustache, his hair purely gray as well. However, unlike most elderly people, Andres was in very good shape. "Your Majesty." Began Andres. "I would like to request being the general that challenges De Poder."

Benito raised an eyebrow. "You?"

Andres nodded. "My King, you trust me, correct?"

Benito nodded. "You are my most trusted general, Andres." He admitted.

Andres looked at Bruto disdainfully. "Well, allow me to say that this man doesn't belong as a general. And I will prove it."

Bruto glared at him. "You think I don't belong?" He asked, remembering all who looked down on him. "Show me to the battlefield, Dionisio."

Andres nodded. "Follow me," he said.

Andres lead Bruto out of the throne room. One of Andres' Fracción fell into step with Bruto. It was Pascual. "You will die today." He said confidently.

Bruto simply scoffed at his remark.

Soon, the two men were staring each other down from different sides of the battlefield. Andres drew his Zanpakutō, a Western-style longsword. "Where's your Zanpakutō De Poder?" He asked.

Bruto shook his head. "I don't need something so useless." He replied, raising his fists.

Andres scowled, as Bruto's fists started to glow. Andres then Sonido'd towards Bruto. Hoping to end the fight quickly, Andres thrust his sword towards Bruto. However, what happened next shocked everyone present. Bruto caught the blade with one of his large hands. "Both of the ends are sharp!" Shouted Andres. "How do you feel no pain?"

Bruto smirked. "Because all the power I need is inside of me."

Bruto then slammed his free fist into Andres' midsection. Andres screamed in pain as his body started to shatter. "General Dionisio!" Bruto heard someone scream as the old man's body literally shattered.

Everyone stood in silence, unsure of what to do. Then Benito Muerta stood up and applauded Bruto. "Well done General De Poder." He said smiling.

End Flashback

It always amazed me that King Muerta was given no grief for allowing me to be a general despite the way I achieved such a post. I guess it was due to their fear of him. From that day forward, I decided that I was proud to serve under him. And this...this is what's going to put me in his favor. Bruto thought.

Bruto knocked on the door. It was soon opened by Benito, who had a quizzical look on his face. "What is it, Bruto?" He asked.

Bruto bowed. "Your Majesty," he began. "I know you're angry but allow me to lead my Fracciónes in an attack that will put your mind at ease."

Benito raised an eyebrow. "What sort of attack?" He asked.

Bruto smiled evilly. "An attack on Karakura Town, or this Fake Karakura Town you speak of."

Benito was shocked for a moment. He then smiled. "Very well, your request is granted. Good luck, General."

Bruto nodded and Benito returned to his room. The hulking general turned to see a curvy woman with black hair in a ponytail standing in his path. A playfully disappointed look on her face. "Claudia." Bruto said, addressing the woman.

Claudia Tentadora pouted. "Damn," she began. "And here I thought I would've been the one to do something to impress His Majesty, but you beat me to the punch Bruto."

Bruto raised an eyebrow at her as he walked past her. "I'm well aware of how you feel about King Muerta, Claudia, and I must advise you to keep such feelings in check." Said Bruto.

Bruto turned momentarily to smile lecherously at Claudia. "And besides," he said. "You'll be throwing yourself at me naked when I come back victorious."

Claudia chuckled. "We'll see about that, Bruto."

A.N: And another chapter is finished. I must admit, this was an interesting chapter to right because the backstory of a villain is always so interesting.

On another note, I'm already making plans for what my next story is going to be once I finish this series. There's a strong possibility it will be another Bleach Story, or a different story on a different anime. I do intend to finish this series first, but it's always good to know what you're going to do next, don't you think? That being said, I've got to ask: What're your favorite anime's besides Bleach? Tell me and I'll tell you in the next chapter. If I can match one of my favorites with another in nearly every other review, that might be my next story (got to get the story in my mind first). Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. This is ND2014, signing off.