Somewhere in Hueco Mundo

Szayelaporro made his escape from Las Noches and was hiding. As he waited for his wounds to heal he thought back to the conversation between him, Mayuri and Wiz.

Szayelaporro?: So I'm just a copy, huh? Nothing more than an afterimage born from the knowledge of Szayelaporro Granz. In other words, there's no reason for me to be bound by Szayelaporro. I never thought it'd be such a relief to learn that I'm not actually myself. But, I wonder why "I" decided to discard myself in the first place?

Szayelaporro said, referring to his original self removing Yylfordt from his soul. Szayelaporro decided to test how much power he currently had. The clone charged a cero, and shot it in the middle of the desert of Hueco Mundo.

Szayelaporro?: Much stronger than I was as an Adjuchas, however that was only 30% as powerful as Szayelaporro Granz was at full strength.

Szayelaporro then started to laugh hysterically.

Szayelaporro: I simply have to experience battle and soon enough I'll regain Szayelaporro's full strength! No, I'll surpass him! Forget the name Szayelaporro! From now on... I'll go by Cien Granz. Yes... Cien means 100. That was Szayelaporro's original rank before entering battle as a Vasto Lorde.

The man now known as Cien adjusted his glasses.

Cien: And once I'm at full strength, I can destroy that annoying tool once and for all. I have no more need for her. She was always deadweight anyway... Maybe I can also study that (Y/N) fellow that the Witch was referring to. If his immortality is much better than mine as she suggested then he'll be a problem.

As Cien was monologuing to himself, a group of hollows were making their way towards him. None of them were Vasto Lorde level but Cien used this chance to adjust to some of the power he just unlocked.

Cien: You lot will make a good warm up.

...

(Timeskip) In the World of the Living

(Y/N) and Wiz were relying as much info as they possibly could after all the new information they've discovered.

Wiz: So Roka isn't a bad person... That's a relief...

(Y/N): Yeah. We can scratch her off the list of enemies, thankfully.

Wiz: I still worry about that Kenpachi fellow. Are you sure you don't want me to come to the world of the living?

(Y/N): Thanks for worrying, but Hueco Mundo needs as much help as it can get. We already have Nelliel here. At the very least you can convince Grimmjow to help you guys. He's been itching to fight someone strong and if what you said about Szayelaporro true, then Grimmjow would be more than happy to take him on.

Wiz: You're right. As usual, I'll keep you updated on the situation here.

(Y/N): Same here. I'll talk to you later.

(Y/N) hung up as he turned to the Urahara Shop staff (including Soi-Fon, Roka and Nelliel). Everyone else had separated, going home for the day and promising to meet up again the following day. Nelliel and Roka stayed behind. Everyone agreed that the Urahara Shop was the safest place for Roka at the moment and Nelliel would be there to keep her company.

(Y/N): Alright, how do we handle both of these threats? It seems Szayelaporro is now going to be a bigger problem than we thought.

Yoruichi: Well, let's start with the request you asked before we got the call from Wiz. How exactly will learning Shunko help you beat Azashiro?

(Y/N): It doesn't. It seems Azashiro knows just about everything about my abilities. So if I have an ability in my arsenal that he doesn't know I have, I can at least take him off guard. Besides, I'd feel frustrated knowing I still haven't even activated the technique at least once. I trained a lot to try to learn that technique during the invasion and failed at activating it every single time.

Yoruichi: At your level you should be able to at least use an imperfect version of it.

(Y/N): I couldn't even get that.

Soi-Fon: Shunko aside, do you have any other ideas on how you'll combat Azashiro?

(Y/N): Well... I had one, but to be honest it's hard to tell what the outcome would be...

Yoruichi: What were you thinking about?

(Y/N): Cero Reversión.

Soi-Fon: I'm not sure I know of that ability...

Yoruichi: Me either.

(Y/N): It's because it's an ability unique to me. I can fire a cero using the enemies spiritual energy rather than my own. But it requires me to make contact with the enemy. However, using it against someone like Azashiro comes with complications.

Yoruichi: That makes sense. Making contact with him is asking to be fused with him.

(Y/N): That's one issue. The other is actually in regards to how much spiritual energy he has. I haven't met him myself so I don't know how much he has. A technique like Cero Reversion is much more useful against someone with a lot of spiritual energy.

Soi-Fon: I can see how that's an issue.

(Y/N): Yeah but it also doesn't end there. Azashiro's fusion with the Soul Society creates a rare situation where for the first time ever, I can use the reishi in the atmosphere for the Cero Reversion. The reishi in the atmosphere of the Soul Society would technically be his. Hypothetically if we fought him there, Cero Reversion would immediately become a threat. Heck, it could immediately kill him. However, you think about it for more than a few seconds and you immediately realize why using Cero Reversion would be the worst thing to possibly use.

Soi-Fon thought for a moment before her face became pale.

Soi-Fon: You'd essentially make the entirety of Soul Society a bomb.

(Y/N): Yeah. Using the spiritual energy from the Soul Society means creating a cero that would destroy an entire realm. Even I couldn't handle that power. I'd immediately die. No Bankai would resurrect me from that. And obviously I'd never sacrifice an entire realm full of life to kill one person.

Yoruichi: You truly possess that ability?

(Y/N): Yep. Used it against Aizen to buy me and Gin some time for Ichigo's arrival. I didn't come out of it unscathed though.

Yoruichi: *sigh* So fighting Azashiro in the Soul Society is a no go.

(Y/N): Yeah. If I'm being honest. There's one more problem that goes with using that technique in Soul Society. One that I'm sure will happen if I even think about using it.

Soi-Fon: And what would that be?

(Y/N): Squad 0. I'm sure if someone was to speak about Cero Reversion in the Soul Society and I attempted to use it, they would be here in a heartbeat. There's no way they wouldn't come down from the Royal Palace if they knew someone had the ability to destroy the Soul Society and he was ready to pull the trigger.

Yoruichi: Even more reason not to fight him there.

(Y/N): This is a unique situation. This could only happen because of the combination of Cero Reversion and Azashiro's fusion. No other instance would this be able to happen. I hate to say it, even without Cero Reversion, fighting Azashiro in the World of the Living or Hueco Mundo is far more advantageous for us anyway.

Soi-Fon: Agreed. I'm sure Azashiro is slowly figuring out our location at this very moment. He could arrive at any moment. We have to stay on our toes. The only thing that can delay the inevitable is Kenpachi Zaraki.

(Y/N): That's right. You said the Head Captain sent Captain Zaraki to go after Azashiro. Which means he'd eventually show himself here in the World of the Living.

Soi-Fon: Regardless, we need a plan to take him out before he gets to you. Zaraki could only hold him back for so long.

(Y/N): You don't sound like you have any faith in him.

Soi-Fon: Can you blame me? Sure, Zaraki is powerful. But Kenpachi Azashiro has a powerful ability that makes him practically invincible!

Yoruichi: Not quite.

Soi-Fon: Huh?

Yoruichi: Remember what I said at the meeting. Azashiro's zanpakuto told us his ability and what his weakness is. Urozakuro herself told us that as long as Bankai is activated, Azashiro could not train his body. In fact his body is probably weakened due to having his Bankai activated for so long.

(Y/N): Really? That's a tremendous downside.

Soi-Fon: It is. Which is why he negates it by fusing with Soul Society.

Yoruichi: Your paranoia is understandable. Azashiro is keen. He isn't going to pick a fight without covering his glaring weakness. But at the same time, there's one more weakness that both me and Captain Unohana pointed out during the meeting. Something that (Y/N) can make good use of.

(Y/N): Hm? What is it?

Yoruichi: Your ability to absorb reishi. Azashiro's fusion ability works because his body becomes fused with reishi. Which means he's extremely vulnerable if he decides to try it. But then again, trying to fuse with anything in the World of the Living would prove to be difficult because of the low reishi here.

(Y/N): These weaknesses are so glaring but at the same time, he can easily avoid them. If he really wants to, he could force this fight into Hueco Mundo. There's nothing stopping him from taking a hostage there and forcing us to fight in another realm with more reishi in the atmosphere.

Yoruichi: You're right. And besides, Azahshiro's Bankai isn't the only thing that we should be worried about. Being a part of the Azashiro clan means he's extremely proficient in Zanjutsu and Kido.

(Y/N): There's so much to think about... *sigh*

(Y/N) got up from the seat he was sitting at and stretched.

Soi-Fon: Huh? Where are you going?

(Y/N): Home.

Soi-Fon: W-wait a minute. We still haven't-

(Y/N): I know. We haven't found out how we'll beat Azashiro. I'm going to sleep on it. So far we've just been throwing stuff at the wall. Besides, up until now, I've realized we haven't taken Roka into account. She's just as important to this fight as I am. Maybe the both of us can make something happen. But for right now, I'm tired.

Yoruichi: It'd be best if you go home. Rest up and come back tomorrow. We'll start Shunko training again.

Soi-Fon: Will he learn Shunko in time? And would it even be effective?

Yoruichi: Who knows.

(Y/N): For now, let's think about it more tomorrow.

Soi-Fon: Fine. I better see you here early. No oversleeping.

(Y/N): You're that eager to see me? I'm ditching school to hang out with you all day tomorrow.

Soi-Fon immediately blushed before yelling.

Soi-Fon: Y-you idiot, this is serious! T-this isn't a date, this is training!

(Y/N): I'm just teasing... Although if I do learn Shunko before Azashiro arrives, can I take you out on a date again as a reward-

Soi-Fon: OUT! NOW!

(Y/N): Yes Ma'am.

(Y/N) left Urahara Shop.

Soi-Fon: The things that come out of his mouth sometimes, I swear...

Yoruichi: Way to make me feel like the third wheel.

Soi-Fon: I-it's not like that, Yoruichi...

Yoruichi proceeded to tease Soi-Fon for the rest of the night.

(Timeskip) The Next Day

Kenpachi's POV

Kenpachi Zaraki, along with Yachiru, Ikkaku and Yumichika were making their way through the Dangai, following a hell butterfly. Kenpachi was getting fed up simply walking.

Kenpachi: This is stupid. Shouldn't I just grab this thing and run?

Yachiru: Kenny, no! If someone with your strength grabs a butterfly, you'll tear its wings off!

Kenpachi simply groaned.

Kenpachi: This is why I hate weaklings.

Ikkaku: More importantly, if you grab it, it won't show us the way.

Just then the shinigamis saw the exit to the Dangai just some ways up ahead.

Ikkaku: Oh, we're finally at the exit now.

Yumichika then stopped abruptly.

Ikkaku: What's up Yumichika?

Yumichika: I can sense that guy's spiritual pressure.

Ikkaku: O-ho, so he's already here.

However, in the blink of an eye, Yumichika felt a presence behind him. When Yumichika turned around, nobody was behind him. This confused Yumichika but the moment he snapped out of his confusion he realized that his zanpakuto was not with him.

Yumichika: What in the-

Yumichika then realized he was separated from the rest of his Squad. Before he could ask any questions, Azashiro made himself known.

Azashiro: Yumichika Ayasegawa, 5th seat of Squad 11.

Yumichika: What do you want from- Actually nevermind, you have my zanpakuto. Let me rephrase the question. Why did you steal my zanpakuto?

Azashiro simply looked at it before responding to the question with a question of his own.

Azashiro: Why do you still hide Ruri'iro Kujaku from your comrades?

The mention of Yumichika's shikai's real name caught him by surprise.

Yumichika: *thinking* He knows my secret. Did he see my battle with Shuhei? Or when I fought the Arrancars?

Azashiro: Do you really think Zaraki or Ikkaku Madarame would look down on you merely for being a Kido-type Zanpakuto user?

Yumichika: Really, now? I don't think you understand the captain or Ikkaku as well as you think you do. Even if that were the case, I will not forgive you for bad mouthing Squad 11.

Azashiro: I see. Well, you needn't worry. I will not share this with anyone else. However, I will be borrowing Ruri'iro Kujaku from you for a short while.

Yumichika: What?! Hey, wait! Just what are you playing at here?!

Just then, Urozakuro appeared.

Urozakuro: Keehahaha! There you go, having idle chit-chat again! You could've just taken the blade without so much as a squeak, you know? What is it this time? Ooh, ooh! Is this what they call regret? Attachment? I mean, I don't blame you. Even if it were only for a little while, you WERE the captain of Squad 11. Too bad not a single person in Squad 11 sees you as their captain!

Azashiro: I don't need them to. What I want is not Squad 11, but my rightful title as Kenpachi.

Urozakuro: Keehaha! Oh but you sure did work so hard at your job during that first year! How pointless it was! Did you think you'd get other people to go along with you by doing that? No way! I mean, who in their right mind would want to work for the guy that killed THE Kenpachi Kuruyashiki? Well, maybe if you had given him a fair duel, but what you did was no better than an ambush. Foul play, I say!

Azashiro: That's the 3,245th time you've pointed that out during these 250 years. It is only natural for me to give my all to my work. There is nothing I want more than to annihilate Hollows.

Urozakuro: Whoa, what a surprise! I thought pointing out this stuff counted as one of those futile actions that you hated so much. But, oh well, that's fine. Because I forgive you!

Azashiro: I won't even bother telling you to shut up. Just get lost.

Yumichika watched as Azashiro rambled to himself from his perspective.

Yumichika: *thinking* Is this what Head Captain meant when he said Azashiro has the ability to talk to his Zanpakuto soul? Not being able to see her makes him look like a lunatic.

Azashiro then turned his attention back to Yumichika.

Azashiro: I apologize for being rude.

Yumichika: Talking to yourself after stealing another man's blade? You sure have a lot of confidence in yourself. If you have the time for such nonsense, why don't you finish me off once and for all?

Azashiro: There is no need to. A Shinigami's duty is to annihilate hollows, guide the deceased, and maintain the balance between the Soul Society and the World of the Living. That's all. Fighting and killing one another have no place among our duties. I will return Ruri'iro Kujaku once I have achieved this goal. You can head back to the Soul Society and take a break in the meantime.

"So this is where you were. Way to vanish on us just as we got to the exit"

Arriving on the scene was Ikkaku, Yachiru, and Kenpachi.

Ikkaku: Look at this guy. Even though he's a major criminal, he's still wearing a captain's coat.

Zaraki: Be quiet.

Ikkaku immediately stopped speaking, allow Zaraki to speak to Azashiro.

Zaraki: Hey. It's Azashiro, right? The name's Kenpachi Zaraki, and I came to cut you up.

Azashiro: So, you won't call it a fight to the death. You, who finds so much pleasure in life-or-death struggles.

Zaraki: If this turns out to be a real fight to the death, then that's just how it is. Everyone's been saying you're really strong. I've been lookin' forward to this. Of course, even if you end up being weak, I'll still need to cut ya. If I don't, it'll be a stain on my Kenpachi name.

Azashiro: It's just a name. There's no need to cling to it so much.

Azashiro then paused for a moment before speaking again.

Azashiro: I take that back. Things might be different for you. Maybe you've known no name other than "Kenpachi" and had to live with the pain of being nameless.

Zaraki: I heard you like to peek into people's lives, but I'm not gonna sit here and listen to your crap.

Azashiro: No, you're right. I also hate pointless conversations. I'm ready whenever you are.

Yachiru: You've got this, Kenny!

Zaraki, without warning, swung his sword at Azashiro. However, the blade missed.

Zaraki: I can't read your Spiritual Pressure at all, so I thought I'd go ahead and take the first swing.

Azashiro: Worry not. There's no need for honor in battle.

Azashiro then took a battle stance as he got ready to fight Kenpachi.

To be continued.