Mayuri came bursting through the doors of the Research and Development lab shortly after Szaeylaporro's escape.

Mayuri: That buffoon! Wasn't he on his way to the other arrancar with Squad 11th?! How'd he end up all the way here?

Akon: There has been an explosion located at the gate of the Seireitei and then at Sokyoku Hill. Most likely caused by the second arrancar. If I had to guess, he was lost when he saw the explosions and decided to come here. He's not good at detecting spiritual pressure, remember? I heard that if a clash doesn't involve Bankai, he can't even tell there's a fight going on. I have no doubt that he can even see spirit ribbons.

Mayuri: What good is a beast if it doesn't even have the ability to hunt its own prey?! Whatever, forget that useless barbarian. We need to talk about those two arrancars.

Akon: It seems that that arrancar that caused the explosion was only a decoy for our specimen to make his way here. Speaking of, the arrancar that was here looked exactly like the Espada you fought in Hueco Mundo.

Mayuri: Did he now?

Akon: Your notes did say about a technique that could resurrect someone using another body, but does that have anything to do with this?

Mayuri: For now, no. Not unless we find evidence that says otherwise. However, there are things we can infer from the research records left by that specimen and what we know about that female arrancar. Though, I'm hoping that my inferences turn out to be incorrect. It's time to get to the bottom of this...

(Meanwhile) The Central Great Underground Prison.

Level 8: Muken

During the commotion of the two arrancars, a man who was in the lowest level of the Underground Prison left his cell. A woman following behind.

???: Kehahaha! It's been so, so long! How many years has it been since you've opened your eyes?! About 250 years? Or even 500 years? It could even be 20,000 years!

???2: It was since Aizen Sosuke was sealed in here.

???: Oh yeah, that's right! Aizen took a really hard hit from those two Subsititute Shinigamis, Kisuke Urahara, the exiled Captain of Squad 12, and that human with those special abilities. So, why did you open your eyes this time? Why, why?

???2: I saw a thin thread. It felt like reishi... no, it's Negacion. Let's go Urozakuro...



The woman now known as Urozakuro, followed the man without question.

Urozakuro: Have you decided on what you wanna do? What is it, what is it?

???: We're going to meet Aizen Sosuke...

The man walked off, wandering Muken until he could find the infamous Shinigami. As the prisoner in question found Aizen's location, Aizen noticed him and spoke up immediately.

Aizen: Well well, well. I am honored to be graced by the presence of such a seasoned prisoner as yourself. Now, how should I refer to you? With your birth name, Soya Azashiro, or the name that shows you are the strongest shinigami? I suppose you deserve that respect... Kenpachi Azashiro, 8th Captain of Squad 11.



Urozakuro immediately spoke up in excitement.

Urozakuro: Keehahaha! Get a load of this Aizen guy! He's as cool as a cucumber! So, this is what the guy with the power of the Hogyoku's like, huh? He's awesome! I like him!

Urozakuro then looked towards Azashiro.

Urozakuro: C'mon, let's steal the Hogyoku! It'll be easy for you, right? Let's rip off his nails and gouge his eyes out until his blood goes splurt splurt splurt!

Azashiro: Be quiet.

Azashiro then turned his attention to Aizen.

Azashiro: I guess I don't need to explain to you who I am, as it seems you already know. You might ask this later, so I'll save you the breath. I have no interest in the Hogyoku, nor in the sins you've committed. I'm here to ask you a few questions about the outside.

Aizen: What makes you think I have anything to offer? What could I possibly give to the man who was able to see through everything while in the Muken, and against whom Kyoka Suigetsu is ineffective?

Urozakuro spoke up before Azashiro could speak.

Urozakuro: Keehahaha, but that's exactly it! You know, Ken here took a full two days to see through Kyoka Suigetsu's trickery! He kept muttering stuff in the dark. "That's strange." "How bizarre." "There's a place where my senses differ from reality." He wouldn't stop!

Azashiro: Quiet.

Azashiro stopped Urozakuro from speaking before, once again turning to Aizen.

Azashiro: What I seek is knowledge of what lies outside of the Seireitei. And pardon me, but I'd also like to ask you about your loss to Ichigo Kurosaki and (Y/N) (L/N). I was quite surprised to learn that those two triumphed.

Aizen: Yes, that's fine. I don't mind having a chat with you.

Azashiro: Even though you have nothing to gain from this? Why, thank you.

Aizen: On the contrary, I'll be able to pass the time by predicting your future plans and outcomes, based on what you ask me.

Azashiro: Then let's start with your loss at the hands of Ichigo Kurosaki and (Y/N) (L/N).

Aizen then gave Azashiro a full summary of the battle between the two Substitute Shinigamis in Karakura Town.

Azashiro: Alright. Allow me to get straight to the point. Why did you abduct Orihime Inoue and imprison her in Hueco Mundo? You must've known that you could've awakened the Hogyoku on your own. Or does that girl possess some other hidden power?

Aizen: I'm sure you're aware of some of the reasons I had. I even planned to let her go once I had accomplished what I set out to do. But if you hate meaningless endeavors so much, you should be more direct with your questions, Kenpachi Azashiro. You didn't ask me that question because you're worried about Orihime Inoue, did you? The two people that concern you the most are (Y/N) (L/N) and the man who inherited the Kenpachi name, is it not?

Azashiro: I won't deny that this "Kenpachi Zaraki" is a problem. In all honesty I was confused by the report of the man who had supposedly lost to Ichigo Kurosaki killing an Espada in Hueco Mundo.

Aizen: Zaraki, huh. Indeed, perhaps the greatest benefit of Orihime Inoue's presence was that it allowed me to isolate Kenpachi Zaraki in Hueco Mundo.

Azashiro: What do you mean by that?

Aizen: Have you not figured it out yet? I believed that Ichigo Kurosaki getting into Hueco Mundo of his own volition would speed up the process of getting the Soul Society to send in the captains. And just as I predicted, Zaraki was dispatched immediately, allowing me to isolate him there. As for the other three, that was merely incidental. Let me be clear. The only two captains whom I judged to be true obstacles were Shigekuni Genryusai Yamamoto and Kenpachi Zaraki. I decided not to fight with Kenpachi Zaraki, in particular, until I had awakened the power of the Hogyoku and gained an immortal body. That's why I took the steps to isolate him.

Azashiro: I didn't come here to listen to your absurd drivel. I know the limits of Kenpachi Zaraki's strength. He lost to Ichigo Kurosaki before the boy had even achieved Bankai. Yet, you defeated the very same Ichigo Kurosaki, even after he had mastered his Bankai. With that in mind, there should be no reason for you to fear Zaraki.

Urozakuro: Keeheehee! What's this? You've sure become talkative, Ken! Are you feeling a bit anxious? Maybe you're worried that Kenpachi Zaraki might be stronger than you, hmmm?

Azashiro: Silence.

Aizen spoke up once again.

Aizen: I was ready at any time.

Azashiro was confused at Aizen's sudden comment.

Azashiro: What are you talking about?

Aizen: In order to help Ichigo Kurosaki grow into a worthy opponent, I set him up to fight whoever was closest to him in strength at the time. However, I decided that going from Renji Abarai to Byakuya Kuchiki was too big of a leap, so I pitted Ichigo Kurosaki against Kenpachi Zaraki back then. You must be aware that I had to resort to some tricks to bring Zaraki and Ichigo together, right?

Azashiro: That just means the level of Kenpachi Zaraki's strength is only so high, though. What are you getting at?

Aizen: You may be able to see through everything, but you only look at the outcomes superficially. In some ways, that is a virtue, but it will likely be your undoing as well. Would you like to hear my prediction, Kenpachi Azashiro? You may be a Kenpachi yourself, but you'll be defeated by the very same name.

Azashiro: Ridiculous. Nothing but meaningless riddles. Then why don't you tell me about (Y/N) (L/N)? I find it hard to believe an ability such as his doesn't come with a drawback.

Aizen: (Y/N) (L/N) has trained with one of the greatest minds in the Soul Society to make sure he could reach the level of strength he's at now.

Azashiro: You're referring to Kisuke Urahara correct?

Aizen: Indeed. He's one of the only people I'd consider my equal when it comes to a battle of minds. And (Y/N) is slowly developing a mindset like his. It's how he's allowed to use and grow his ability as fast as he has. An ability like that comes with great effort of management of spiritual energy. Simply because (Y/N) (L/N) can absorb spiritual energy doesn't mean he simply can summon whatever he wants. If he does that he'll simply run out of energy before he can launch an attack. And that also doesn't take into account his ability of immortality. If you think you can handle such an ability you'll need a stronger body than you already have.

Azashiro: Hmph.

Azashiro turned around as he walked away.

Aizen: I see. Is that all you wanted to ask me?

Azashiro: Yes. I'll be taking my leave now.

With that, Azashiro walked away. However as he continued to walk through Muken, he heard a voice speak to him through one of the cells.

"My, my... A prisoner walking through the Muken freely? Now that's a sight to see."

Azashiro turned to the cell.

Azashiro: Although I got the answers I wanted, I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask you as well.

Azashiro walked towards the cell and spoke to the prisoner.

Azashiro: Would you mind asking me what your experience was like working with (Y/N) (L/N) in his fight with Aizen Sosuke? You must know a lot more about (Y/N)'s abilities if you worked alongside him, Gin Ichimaru.

In the cell, Gin sat in chains and restraints, although nowhere near as convoluted and complex as Aizen's.

Gin: You want to know about (Y/N)? What exactly do you want from him?

Azashiro: His powers.

Gin: Is that so? Well let me ask you another question. What do you plan to do with that power?

Azashiro: That's not for you to know.

Gin: Then I can't say I can give you any information.

Azashiro: It seems to be more than that.

Gin: That look in your eyes... All I see is that of a man who's vengeful. I can't trust Rangiku's protection with a man like you.

Azashiro: My goal will protect everyone in the Soul Society.

Gin: Is it now? Well, I rather trust the naive kid than the man with a vengeance.

Azashiro: I see. Then I guess there's nothing else to talk about. Farewell, Gin Ichimaru.

Azashiro didn't wait for a response as he took his leave from Muken.

Gin: Kenpachi Azashiro, eh? How did (Y/N) get the attention of someone like him?

(Meanwhile) In the World of the Living

(Y/N) was currently speaking on the phone with Wiz. Next to Wiz was Nelliel and Harribel. Wiz made sure to put the phone on speaker so everyone in the room could hear (Y/N).

Wiz: Medium length black hair and grey eyes. And a mask that covered her covered the right side of her face. Is that right?

(Y/N): Yeah. Do you think Nel or Harribel knows anyone by that description?

Wiz looked towards the two arrancars, which they both nodded.

Harribel: Sounds like someone that used to work as one of the nurses at the infirmary.

Nelliel: Roka Paramia.

Wiz: You know her?

Nelliel: Yes. She was a part of Szayelaporro's fraccion once upon a time.

(Y/N): I've never seen this Szayelaporro guy myself, but Uryu told me some stuff about him. And after seeing his lab, I gotta say, he sounds just as creepy as Mayuri, maybe even worse.

Wiz: That's because Mayuri's held back by laws and rules from the Soul Society. Szayelaporro is the complete opposite.

(Y/N): Yeah, that makes sense. But I have to say, where has this "Roka" been this whole time?

Harribel: If I recall, she died by the hands of Yammy.

(Y/N): Huh?

Harribel: The very first day we met, Yammy and Ulquiorra went after Ichigo Kurosaki. After we withdrew, Yammy came back with a missing arm, most likely by having it severed by Ichigo. If I had to guess, Yammy went to have it reattached. And Yammy always leaves destruction, no matter where he goes. My guess is that he probably killed her after the arm was reattached.

(Y/N): If that's true then how could she have possibly come back to life?

Nelliel: My guess is that she was either resurrected or she was never fully dead.

(Y/N): Huh? Resurrected?

Nelliel: Yes. Szayelaporro has that ability. It was how he got reinstated into the Espada. My guess would be he implanted the same ability in Roka.

(Y/N): Reinstated? That implies he was kicked out before.

Nelliel: He was. When he was reinstated he was placed as Number #8. But that was because he split himself into two. The person we now know as Szayelaporro and his brother Yylfordt.

(Y/N): Wait a minute... Those two were once one being?

Nelliel: It's a bit more complicated than that. From what I remember, both Szayelaporro and Yylfordt died on the same day, and Szayelaporro consumed his brother's soul the moment they both became hollows.

(Y/N): That's... crazy...

Nelliel: Yes. And as Szayelaporro grew as a hollow, he eventually became a Vasto Lorde.

Harribel was just as shocked as (Y/N).

(Y/N): Hold on a minute... How can Szayelaporro be a Vasto Lorde? Was it because he ate his brother's soul?

Nelliel: Yes. As a Vasto Lorde, Szayelaporro was actually ranked the 100th Arrancar. But that was only when he was out of battle. However, when he was in combat, that number changed... to the 0th Espada.

(Y/N) froze at the revelation.

(Y/N): That big of a jump?

Wiz: It sure is... Yammy took Szayelaporro's rank as Espada 0 after he split his soul from his brother's. Although I knew of Szayelaporro's previous rank of Espada 0, I was under the impression only Yammy was able to switch rankings.

Nelliel: Yylfordt was the personality that took over when Szayelaporro got into a fight. When that happened, Szayelaporro's strength increased dramatically, which caused the jump in ranks. This got in the way of Szayelaporro's research. So Szayelaporro split his soul in two. Szayelaporro becoming the intellect we know now and Yylfordt being the powerhouse. However, splitting in half meant that Szayelaporro was no longer a Vasto Lorde. The process reduced him to a Adjuchas level Arrancar, he was kicked out of his 0th spot and became a Privaron Espada. However after developing his abilities and creating the technique "Gabriel", he was allowed back in the Espada as Espada #8.

(Y/N): And Gabriel is the resurrection ability he used?

Harribel: So now that we're back on topic, can we assume that Roka also has the same ability to use Gabriel?

Nelliel: There's no telling for sure. There's a possibility that the Roka we're talking about isn't the original and very well a clone. Roka was artificially created so there's a chance Szayelaporro created more than one.

(Y/N): Artificially created, huh?

Harribel: You seem to know a lot about Szayelaporro and Roka, Nelliel. How do you know all of this?

Nelliel: Well, I've been around for a while. I even had the chance to ask Szayelaporro a few questions of my own back then. And I even offered Roka a spot in my fraccion if she didn't want to stay with Szayelaporro.

(Y/N): So now that we have a bit more insight on this situation, it feels like we're slowly painting a picture. But we still don't know if Roka is planning something or not. And unless Nelliel or Harribel see this arrancar as confirmation, there's no telling if this is really Roka, someone that looks like her or someone completely different.

Wiz: I'll look around Szayelaporro's lab for any sort of clues. I'll let you know if I find anything.

Nelliel: I'll help out.

Harribel: And if Roka is traveling in between realms, me and my fraccion will look around Hueco Mundo for any whereabouts on her.

(Y/N): I'll see if any of my summons can find any of her whereabouts here in Karakura Town. And if Ichigo and the rest of the group wants to help out, that'd be great too.

Wiz: Alright, I'll call you back if I find any useful info.

(Y/N): Alright, until next time.

As (Y/N) ended the call, he just sighed in exhaustion.

(Y/N): So much for a break...

To be continued.

A lot of lore drops. Now the canonicity of the SAFWY novel is a bit iffy, but what they did introduce is extremely interesting.

-Szayelaporro being the original 0 Espada and his eventual regression to 8th Espada.

-Kenpachi Azashiro having one of the craziest Bankais in the series.

-That random arrancar that Yammy killed during the Hueco Mundo Invasion arc actually being a prominent character in the novel.

There's also the fact that in SAFWY, we find out Szayelaporro was actually apart of Baraggan's fraccion before Aizen's takeover. Unfortunately, I didn't have this information during the development of (M/N) and Wiz's backstory, so I can't use this information to my advantage. Still an interesting tidbit of info though.

There's so much more that happens but will be brought up during later chapters. The more that get's revealed the more crazy the lore of Bleach gets. But because Kubo didn't write the story himself many people say it isn't canon. In my opinion, I don't think the events of the novel are canon but some backstory and characters (like Azashiro) are.

Now... What if question for this chapter. I know many people at the beginning of this story was hoping this would be a harem story so I wanna ask...

If (Y/N) did have a harem, who do you think would be in it? (I'll cap the max number at 5)