Bleach: Stirring Up a Storm

Chirp, chirp, chatter, chatter. Zaraki was getting annoyed by the group behind him. ”Stop making so much noise! Who said I needed you?”

*’Kenpachi probably doesn’t know the meaning of the word retreat, right?’*

”Four against one, perfect for me to test my blade.”

Even if they had anticipated this, actually hearing it still startled everyone present, including the four facing off against Zaraki.

”Do you plan to take on all four of us alone?” The four leaped down. They all felt Zaraki was absolutely insane. Komamura, leading them, spoke bluntly, ”I know your strength. But this is far too arrogant, Zaraki Kenpachi!”

*’Indeed, even for Kenpachi, facing two captains simultaneously is pushing it, especially a closely-knit pair like Captain Komamura and Captain Tōsen...’*

Kaien thought, his right hand slowly moving toward his Zanpakutō. But before he could grasp the hilt, Zaraki’s voice stopped him. ”Hey, what are you thinking? Yeah, you. Hurry up and disappear, don’t get in my way!”

*’Is he talking to me?’* Before Kaien could ask out loud, Ikkaku and Yumichika flanked him, shielding him from behind. ”The Captain already told you to leave. This is Squad 11’s job, Kaien.”

”You two, get lost as well!” Zaraki unceremoniously lumped Ikkaku and Yumichika into the ’nuisance’ category.

But these two flashy guys didn’t feel like nuisances at all. Right in front of Zaraki, they actually started bantering back and forth.

”My, my, four isn’t quite enough to go around, right, Yumichika?”

”I just need to handle one,” Yumichika said, stroking his hair. Beside him, Ikkaku curled his lips and muttered loudly, ”I originally wanted to take two, but it looks like that won’t work now. If we only leave one for you, you’d be upset, right, Captain?”

”I never said I agreed to that kind of distribution.”

”Don’t be so stingy!”

Listening to their argument, Kaien realized they weren’t faking it. These guys were seriously dividing up the two opposing captains and their lieutenants.

*’Are the people of Squad 11 all a bunch of idiots?!’*

”Ken-chan and the others are having fun. It’s better if you don’t ruin their mood, Little Bird.” Yachiru’s childish voice rang in his ear. Just as Kaien was wondering who ’Little Bird’ was, a small hand suddenly grabbed the back of his collar and gave it a hard yank!

”Ahhhhh!”

”Let’s go! And Gorilla, Pencil, let’s all go find little Ichigo!” Yachiru dragged Kaien, who felt like he was on a roller coaster, and dashed backward in a flash.

Seeing Kaien’s terrified face, Chad and the others actually had the exact same thought he just had...

*’Gorilla... she means me, right?’* Chad patted the back of his head. *’It sounds pretty strong.’*

*’Pencil?’* Ishida couldn’t figure out why he was being called that. *’Is my head really pointy?’* He was just about to turn and ask Inoue, but noticed something was off with her. ”Inoue, what’s wrong? Why is your face... a little red?”

*’Boing-boing... how embarrassing! How could Yachiru call someone that!’*

Among these people, only Ganju was normal. Every single one of them... were they all this unprofessional at running away?!

”Let’s go!”

”Oh, right!”

”Hahahahaha!” Yachiru laughed like a child going out to play, leaving the adults far behind her. If one only looked at her, they would never think this group was running for their lives.

”How can I just let you leave as you please.”

Tōsen suddenly appeared beside Yachiru. His tightly shut eyes didn’t seem to affect his judgment at all. A sharp flash of a blade suddenly appeared, about to cleave Yachiru in two in the blink of an eye.

However, Yachiru seemed completely oblivious to this, still running forward with a smile on her face.

*’Drawing a sword in this state is really asking too much of myself!’* Kaien felt like his stomach was about to be tossed out. His right hand kept trembling—no, his entire body was like a carp streamer fluttering in the wind, flying at a low altitude!

”I never said you could just bypass me either.”

Zaraki’s towering figure suddenly appeared behind Tōsen, holding his heavily chipped Zanpakutō high. The massive shadow looked like a giant beast with a gaping maw, ready to swallow the prey before it whole.

”Not good!” Tōsen abruptly turned around. At the same time, Zaraki slashed down. ”Turning your back to me, what an idiot.”

The flash of the blade crashed down. Accompanied by a loud bang, Tōsen Kaname’s figure was swallowed by the exploding dust.

”Tōsen!”

”Captain Tōsen!”

Komamura and the other two moved almost simultaneously. However, Ikkaku and Yumichika weren’t slow to react either, seeking out their respective opponents from the left and right.

”A mere lieutenant trying to take on a captain. Is this the confidence you found after going to Squad 7?”

”You dare face me?” Iba shot back. ”Haven’t seen you in a few days, and it seems your guts have grown quite a bit, Ikkaku.”

*’Does this kid think I left Squad 11 because I felt I couldn’t compare to them?’* Technically speaking, he was Ikkaku’s senior. Though, to be fair, this guy had plenty of guts back when he was in Squad 11 too.

”Don’t be in such a rush. If we’re talking about making a move, your captain was the one who attacked first,” Yumichika said, looking at Hisagi Shūhei in front of him, ’kindly’ consoling him. ”Getting hacked to death is only natural.”

”Bastard.”

Just as Shūhei was worrying about Tōsen’s safety, a figure suddenly dashed out from the billowing dust ahead. Who else could it be but Tōsen Kaname, who had just been in mortal peril.

He wasn’t injured, but his captain’s haori had been sheared short, making it look a bit strange. In this clash, Zaraki Kenpachi still had the upper hand, didn’t he?

Just as Kaien was internally shocked by Zaraki’s terrifying power, Yachiru’s voice rang out again. She seemed to have anticipated this scene all along.

”We’re gonna keep looking for the way! You better hurry up and follow us, Ken-chan!”

”Yeah, I’ll be right behind you.”

Dashed out? No, when it came to Zaraki, rather than saying he had emerged from the dust, it was more accurate to say that the billowing dust was desperately fleeing from this dangerous man.

”It will be over soon.”

A hoarse voice rang in his ears. Tōsen Kaname could even feel Zaraki’s heartbeat, like a beating war drum, every thump tugging at his nerves.

He didn’t know what Zaraki’s face actually looked like. What surfaced in his mind was a face obscured by blood and grime, its features indistinguishable.

*’What a terrifying and detestable guy...’*

*’So that is Kenpachi?’* He was actually such a terrifying person. Kaien was somewhat startled by Zaraki’s final appearance. Seeing is believing. As one of the oldest titles in the Seireitei, he realized he had previously underestimated the weight of the word ’Kenpachi’.

Actually, he had seen Zaraki fight before, but the feeling was completely different. It was like a fierce tiger locked in a cage—dangerous, but not lethal. But when it broke free and stood right in front of you, only then did you realize just how heavy that danger truly was.

Perhaps, the ones he should be worrying about were Captains Komamura and Tōsen.

*’But how are we supposed to deal with the other fierce tiger?’* Kaien felt a headache coming on. *’Has that guy Kōe always been such an absurd existence?’*