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Chapter 250 B
🕑 Added 2025-02-06 16:00:14 +0000 UTCChapter 250
Kenpachi had already started sparring with Komamura Sajin while Kaelith and Aizen conversed.
At this point, Kenpachi’s strength was far beyond what it had been when he first joined the division. Every time he crossed swords with Kaelith, his abilities surged. A year ago, Komamura could still trade a few dozen blows with him; now, Komamura couldn’t last ten moves.
Clang!
A crisp sound rang out as Komamura’s sword was knocked from his hand, spinning through the air before burying itself in the ground.
Komamura: “…”
He glanced down at his large, fur-covered hands. These hands could crush an ordinary person’s bones, but against Kenpachi’s attacks, he couldn’t even maintain his grip on his sword. Though Kenpachi was tall, he was still very lean. The fact that Komamura, all broad and imposing, was getting tossed around by that skinny figure made him give a wry smile.
Kenpachi shook his head, looking unsatisfied.
“This won’t do, Dog. You’re improving too slowly! How can you call yourself an 11th Division man?”
Looking remorseful, Komamura answered, “I’m sorry, Vice-Captain Zaraki. I’ll work twice as hard!”
Nearby, Madarame Ikkaku couldn’t help but interject, “Hold on—you’re already training nine hours a day. Any more and you’ll overwork yourself to death!”
“Don’t worry. I’m pretty confident in my stamina,” Komamura said with a smile.
When he’d first been brought to the 11th Division, Komamura had been deeply anxious about his canine face—what if people shunned him or told him to “go back to the mountains?” However, what he actually encountered was very different.
Sure, the 11th Division members crowded around him, but not because of how he looked. After a brief moment of surprise upon seeing his face, they all just wanted to test his skills.
Risking the possibility they might hate him, Komamura sparred with them a few times. Once they experienced Komamura’s strength, the 11th Division’s attitude shifted.
“Not bad, Big Dog! You can really fight!”
“Looks like once you officially join, the 11th Division will have another top‐tier officer!”
“We’ll overthrow the 1st Division and usher in an 11th Division regime in no time!”
“All for Big Bro Kaelith!”
(Setting aside those last two alarming comments…) Komamura truly liked this division. They didn’t care about one’s background or appearance. Earning approval came down to character and ability. With a canine grin, he looked toward Kaelith. He counted himself lucky indeed to have been brought to Seireitei under Kaelith’s notice. To one day become Kaelith’s right hand in earnest, he’d keep striving to grow stronger.
Having hurled a few casual insults at Komamura, Kenpachi hoisted his sword and scanned the area. When he spotted Rangiku decimating three training dummies with a single swing, his eyes lit up.
“Hey! Little brat!”
Kenpachi brandished his blade from afar, pointing it at Rangiku.
“Have you grown up enough yet? Come and cross swords with me!”
Alarmed, Ikkaku hurried to stop him:
“Hold on, Vice-Captain! That’s Matsumoto—she’s only a first-year at the Academy. You can’t be serious!”
Ayasegawa Yumichika also stepped up, trying to intervene. Kenpachi, however, just shrugged.
“What’re you two on about? That kid looked pretty strong to me.”
Yumichika gave a wry smile. How much skill could a mere first-year—no matter how talented—really have? Not everyone was Kaelith, after all…
He was about to say more when a voice called from behind him, “All right! Let’s give it a go!”
“Huh?”
Startled, Yumichika glanced over his shoulder. Rangiku was dusting off her red-and-white uniform and taking a few steps forward.
“But you’re going to limit your reiatsu to the same level as mine!” she added.
Kenpachi flashed a toothy grin. “Sure. I’m good at that.”
Under many surprised gazes, the two walked to the center of the training ground.
“Captain! Is this really okay?” Ikkaku asked, glancing anxiously at Kaelith.
Kaelith had his arms folded, brow arched. He knew Rangiku was nowhere near Kenpachi’s level—where was the girl’s confidence coming from? Maybe she was so intoxicated by that hidden power of hers that she believed herself unbeatable?
That being the case, letting Kenpachi clobber some sense into her might not be a bad idea. Recalling the carefree personality Matsumoto showed in the original story, Kaelith doubted she’d suffer any lasting trauma from the experience.
Watching them from the sidelines, Aizen observed with interest. He stepped forward, offering to referee. At his signal, Kenpachi and Rangiku launched themselves into action.
Kenpachi was all wild grins, sword raised high as he charged forward in big strides. Rangiku, by contrast, stayed in place, calmly lifting her Zanpakutō. Then, for all to see, she brushed one hand along the side of her blade.
“Growl—Haineko!”
The moment she uttered those words, the weapon’s blade disintegrated into silvery-gray ash that wafted through the air.
Kaelith’s eyes widened in surprise. She’s only been at the Academy for about a year, and she already knows how to release her Zanpakutō? As expected of a prominent character in the main storyline, that’s some enviable talent.
But… Kaelith knew Haineko’s power. Good for mowing down small fry. Dealing with someone on her level was no issue. But jumping tiers—especially against a juggernaut like Kenpachi—seemed impossible. He assumed Haineko’s meager offensive power would be shrugged off while Kenpachi barreled straight in.
Just as he was thinking this, he suddenly frowned.
Wait…there’s something off about the volume of ash!
His eyes grew sharp, watching the motes swirl around Matsumoto. In half a second, he confirmed his suspicion. In the canon, Haineko’s ash was basically just a handful’s worth. Now, the dust cloud around her was at least a whole bucket’s worth!
Given that Haineko’s combat style was similar to Senbonzakura—affected in large part by both the user’s finesse and the overall amount of material—such a massive increase in ash should mean a big jump in her attack power. Kaelith couldn’t help looking forward to seeing how it would turn out.
While Kaelith’s mind raced, Kenpachi roared and charged straight in. Though he sensed some danger in Haineko, he was still confident he could power through. Matsumoto gave a slight smile, raising a hand in a slicing motion. As she did so, the tips of two of her fingers on each hand glowed faintly.
The ashen particles in the air leapt to life.
