Chapter 39: ZUTArc: Captain vs. Captain

Byakuya's POV

Kenpachi just had to arrive to cause more mayhem like the idiotic simpleton he is. . . I suspected he was going to appear eventually, however, I wished it was later, rather than now.

I watch the maniacal 11th Division captain lay waste to the 3rd Division's lieutenant's zanpakuto spirit. The spirit had a decent strategy in mind, but unfortunately, he decided to implement it on a captain that cannot be cut down so easily. He was simply dispatched for his troubles, now a broken blade lying on the ground before the victor's feet.

"He may have beaten Wabisuke in one fell swoop, but he unleashed a lot of spiritual pressure just to make his entrance," says Senbonzakura as he suddenly appears before me, just as Kenpachi looks my way. "Why don't you leave him to me?"

". . . Alright," I know Senbonzakura can handle himself against numerous opponents, but even I have my 'uncertainties' when it comes to him going against Kenpachi by himself.

"You should go. Bankai!" He says as he drops his blade into the ground. However, Kenpachi retaliates by unleashing another column of his spiritual pressure into the atmosphere. It's almost disorienting to say the least, and I manage to move away to escape the brunt of it, but not too far away that I was completely missing from the scene. The last I see of Senbonzakura is before Kenpachi swipes his blade, still shrouded in spiritual pressure.

When the dust finally settles, Kenpachi is still looking at me with his ever so present maniacal grin on his face.

"You released a considerable amount of energy to make sure that it would be just the two of us," I say as I look at him indignantly. "It must have been taxing on your body."

"It might have been," he tells me as he scratches the back of his neck. "But it was well worth it if I get to have my chance to fight you Byakuya Kuchiki. Now then, do you want to come at me first, or should I have the honors?"

"Neither. I do not have the time to fight with the likes of you."

"Fine then. Looks like I'll come at you first after all!" he yells as he comes at me with his blade raised. I match him quickly, but that grin of his never goes away as I parry his attack. I say my zanpakuto's command then and there, the blade breaking apart as they start to attack Kenpachi while I leap back away.

"That's not going to stop me!" he yells before sending a large amount of his spiritual pressure my way. I manage to block the attack, but that doesn't deter Kenpachi in the slightest as he continues to try to cut me. He even manages to block one of my attacks with his hand, but nonetheless, I break away from him, using my speed to dodge numerous slashes before appearing behind him to deal a blow. He manages to move most of his body away just in time, only taking the hit to his forearm.

"This is pointless Kenpachi. Don't you see it? You will never capture me at this rate." I couldn't help but badger him about that. I guess I wanted to provoke the proverbial bear.

"We'll see about that!" We clash blades again and I try to attack him from behind once more, but yet again, he catches my blade right in his meaty grip. "You've just been caught!"

He moves to strike me down, but I manage to move out of the way before he can give me a devastating blow. I take in deep breaths as I stare the taller captain down, his irritating smile still plastered across his face as he rested his zanpakuto on his shoulder.

"Why?" I ask as I finally catch my breath. "Why do you want to fight me so much? Why go this far?"

"I wanted to see what you got Kuchiki. I figured fighting you was the best way to do it."

"I see," I say as I held out my blade. "Scatter!"

Minata's POV

"Hmm, Captain Zaraki looks pretty tired over there."

"Huh?" I turned to the direction Mizukiri was looking at to see Zaraki and Byakuya standing about 20 feet apart from each other with their swords in hand. Captain Kenpachi was breathing heavily while Byakuya was looking on with an apathetic expression on his face. Both of them were visibly injured, but judging from their levels of spiritual pressure, their battle would be ending soon.

"Should we go in for a closer look?"

"Alright, but keep your spiritual pressure low and stay out of their sight. We don't want any unwanted trouble coming our way." I say as we shunpo closer to the two captains' position. We stay out of their sight, both of us being mindful to not let the two higher ups' detect us as they continue their confrontation.

"I will not say this again. Don't bother me any further. If we face each other again, I will not hesitate to take your life." says Byakuya as moves to walk away, but Kenpachi's cackling stops him from taking a step further.

"Take my life? I'd like to see you try!" Kenpachi challenges as he lets a big grin show. "I've always wanted to face you in a swordfight to the death Byakuya Kuchiki. Come at me with your best shot!"

". . . Very well then." says Byakuya before the two reengaged in battle. They go blow for blow before Ashisogi Jizo appears in its' bankai form out of a haze of its poison.

"Dammit! Ashisogi Jizo looks like he's about to spew out another round from its mouth. We better take cover before the poison spreads over here!" I say as I turn to Mizukiri.

"What about Captain Kuchiki and Captain Zaraki?" she asks me as we spot Ichigo falling into the haze of poison from above. That guy was probably already too far gone to be pulled out of the giant poison cloud, but if anyone had a good chance of surviving it, Ichigo could.

"They'll be fine. Knowing them, they'll find their own ways to avoid the poison . . ." I say as I shake my head. I shoot the two captains one last look before shunpoing away, knowing very well that Byakuya, at least, would find a way.

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