"What?!"
"No way…"
"The Head Captain actually challenged Bai Chen himself?!"
After hearing Chojiro Sasakibe relay the message, Bai Chen wasn't nearly as shocked as the others. He had already mentally prepared himself for something like this.
So while the news was surprising, his expression stayed calm.
The surrounding Shinigami, however, reacted very differently.
Gasps spread through the crowd.
To them, the idea was unbelievable.
"Bai Chen…" Sasakibe said with a faint smile. "I know this request is sudden… but you don't object, do you?"
His tone carried unmistakable gratitude.
As the deputy captain of Squad One — and the commander of the purification mission — Sasakibe should have been the one to stand at the front lines and turn the tide.
But in reality?
He never even drew his Zanpakutō.
Throughout the entire crisis, he had essentially been sidelined.
Even though Bai Chen had asked him to hold position, the fact remained: he had contributed nothing decisive.
And that weighed on him.
"Of course I don't object," Bai Chen replied casually. "Like you said… the Head Captain isn't narrow-minded. He's probably just curious about Great Fire Extinguishes the Fan."
Truthfully, Bai Chen welcomed the opportunity.
Ryūjin Jakka was acknowledged as the strongest fire-type Zanpakutō in Soul Society — arguably the most destructive blade ever forged.
And under normal circumstances, the Head Captain rarely needed to fight personally.
This duel would be a rare chance to truly measure Great Fire Extinguishes the Fan against the pinnacle of fire power.
He was looking forward to it.
At that moment, Isane Kotetsu stepped closer, eyes drifting to the flame fan strapped to Bai Chen's back.
"Bai Chen… I've been wondering about your Zanpakutō," she said.
"Why does Wood Dragon revert to a normal blade after battle… but Great Fire Extinguishes the Fan stays released?"
Bai Chen thought for a moment before answering.
"Great Fire Extinguishes the Fan is a permanently released Zanpakutō," he explained.
"It doesn't need a command phrase. This is its natural state."
Silence followed.
Then—
"What?!"
"A permanent release?!"
"That's a thing?!"
Shock rippled through everyone present.
Even Sasakibe was momentarily speechless.
Wood-type Zanpakutō… dual-type Zanpakutō… now a permanent release…
Each revelation felt like common sense breaking apart in front of him.
Meanwhile, Bai Chen found their reactions understandable.
Permanent release blades were incredibly rare. Only legends existed of such weapons — blades that never returned to dormancy.
Great Fire Extinguishes the Fan belonged in that category.
After the brief discussion, attention shifted back to the battlefield cleanup. Everyone awaited the arrival of the reinforcement captains.
Hours later, near dusk, the rescue teams finally reached Zaraki District.
Unohana Retsu froze when she saw the unconscious Zaraki Kenpachi.
Her calm expression flickered.
For an instant, memories of a blood-soaked duel from a thousand years ago surfaced — the day she first crossed blades with that monstrous child.
"…So it's him," she murmured.
Nearby, Ikkaku and Yumichika exchanged confused glances.
They didn't understand the weight of her reaction.
But Bai Chen did.
He had anticipated this moment.
Unohana approached Bai Chen gently.
"You defeated him?" she asked.
Bai Chen smiled faintly.
"With the swordsmanship you taught me."
That answer struck her like thunder.
The same style she once wielded… now used to surpass Zaraki.
Fate had twisted in an unexpected way.
Then Bai Chen added:
"Before he passed out, Zaraki said he wants to join the Gotei Thirteen."
Unohana blinked in surprise.
Zaraki… willingly joining Soul Society?
That alone was shocking.
Before she could respond, a small voice chimed in.
Little Yachiru leapt onto Bai Chen's shoulder.
"Ken-chan said he's going to beat the Squad Eleven captain and take the name 'Kenpachi' forever!"
Silence fell.
Unohana's gaze sharpened.
The title Kenpachi… the name she once carried.
For a moment, something fierce stirred beneath her gentle demeanor.
Finally, she nodded.
"Bring them back," she said firmly.
"Zaraki — and his companions. They have the strength to become Shinigami."
Sasakibe agreed.
"But whether he becomes the new Kenpachi… depends on his duel with the current one."
Unbeknownst to them, the present Kenpachi — Kiganjo — was already nearby leading a sweep operation.
Three days later…
With the battlefield cleared and Zaraki fully recovered…
The clash that should have occurred years in the future happened here instead.
Zaraki Kenpachi
vs.
Kiganjo Kenpachi.
A life-and-death duel.
A fight for the name.
And in front of assembled Shinigami…
The battle for Kenpachi began early.
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