With his strike, Zaraki Kenpachi met unexpected resistance, sparks flashing everywhere.
It was an underhanded strike worthy of the filthiest rat, as it would expected of a champion hailing from Rokungai. Ryoma didn't take that as an insult, rather... he felt thrilled the other party was not taking him as a pushover.
None of those disciples would ever know an honourable captain of the Gotei13 to discard their honour and sneak attack somebody, let alone someone injured.
*CLAANGG!*
But Zaraki Kenpachi was one to not give a shit about honour. Ryōma met that strike head-on with a broad smile, holding Hebimaru with both hands and feeling the clash of a mountain over his regenerating dislocated shoulder.
"Ugh!".
An explosion ensued when he switched the momentum of Kenpachi's sword, directed it towards the ground, and flickered away. There was no way he could parry that strike with his shoulder in that state.
"Captain Zaraki, what is the meaning of this!? There are disciples present!" A teacher screamed and flashed onto the stage, a massive hand grasped his head and pushed him away.
Similarly, Kurayami protectively flashed in front of Ryōma, she couldn't believe a captain had made a move so brazenly for no motive whatsoever, 'Was Ichimaru Gin related to Zaraki Kenpachi somehow?'
The spiky head cracked his neck and moved onwards without care or even saying so much as a word; he had only one objective in mind.
"Captain, this is an unbecoming behaviour–".
A blur flashed past Kurayami, making her gasp.
*CLAANGG!!*
"Clear out, Kurayami! I haven't been training all this time to play with a pussy seated officer. I have been training to face you, Kenpachi!" Ryōma slashed forth without regard to his wounds, he knew they'd recover... the shoulder would fix up eventually, but he couldn't give up the chance to have this fight.
From the start, he wouldn't underestimate the one who had the title of the 'strongest'.
The previous fight against Ichimaru Gin had been thrilling but unsatisfactory. A battle where the one with more wits turned out victorious, not the one with the most skilled swordsmanship.
*CLAANG!*
Each strike contained so much power and skill that the disciples had to evacuate as some of them fainted from the cheer pressure of reiatsu.
The field's ground cracked by this pressure and Ryōma noticed that while he used both hands to wield his sword, Kenpachi was casually swinging his katana like it was a bamboo stick with one hand and yet exerting so much power with each strike.
'He's strong!~' He mumbled inwardly in satisfaction.
Much to Kenpachi's shock, Ryoma could match that power even though his Reiatsu output was notably lower.
*CLAANG!*
"Those shallow muscles of yours truly don't tell a tale, huh!" Kenpachi struck forward, finally talking a bit.
*CLAANG!*
"Withered old relic talking about muscles?".
*CLAANG!*
"Huh?!"
Each strike brought so much destruction that those remaining onlookers couldn't believe Kamishiro Inuzuri had this much power despite suffering so many injuries.
Despite that, Ryōma stayed in the defensive position even though he was eager to rush recklessly, just like Kenpachi; but he needed time to regenerate. Similarly, he could also tell that Kenpachi, although eager, was far from using everything that he had… he looked too casual swinging that sword with one hand and gauging distance as if getting used to Ryōma's style.
"I knew those injuries weren't much for you, I would be disappointed if they were, Kamishiro Ryōma," He said Ryoma's name with a rugged voice, he knew.
Each of Kenpachi's strikes had their momentum craftily redirected, whenever they met the ground they delivered crushing damage that destroyed the field beyond repair. Ryoma looked at Kenpachi's sword and couldn't help but shriek inwardly and cringe in sadness.
This man had no regard whatsoever to care for his sword. It was chipped, and dented... he even wondered how was it possible for it to remain so sharp until he noticed that the sharpness was not due to the sword but due to Kenpachi's overwhelming Reiatsu.
"You are certainly strong, but you should be ashamed to wield a sword like that, Zaraki Kenpachi" He mumbled in disgust and could even feel Hebimaru's pain, facing a fellow sword in that condition was like facing a weakened opponent... there was no honour in doing such.
"I'll take her from you and give her some proper care~"
"Huh?! What the fuck you said!?~"
*CLAANG!*
Ryōma soon felt his shoulder was back to full power, and the wounds on his abdomen from Gin's piercing had already disappeared. All of this happened in front of Unohana's keen eyes and also Aizen. Both seemed completely uninterested in Ichimaru Gin's status.
However, Unohana still had her duty.
"Izane" She mumbled and a silhouette flashed next to her, it was a woman with short grey hair.
"Yes, Captain!".
"Please verify Ichimaru-kun's condition and take him to the infirmary. I... I have to watch this in case things get out of control–" She said with a slight sigh concealing a smile, she knew very well that was not the reason why she was staying.
"That wouldn't be necessary, Captain Unohana," Sosuke Aizen said with a smile amidst the clashes of swords that thundered the world.
She looked at her with furrowed brows.
"If things get out of control I will try to control Captain Zaraki. I would like to leave Gin in your capable hands–".
"Izane's hands are as capable as mine. You do not need to bother yourself" Her tone was no longer so condescending, "We both knew if Captain Zaraki was to lose control, it would take at least two of us... in order to save Kamishiro-kun's life, that is".
There was a brief staredown before Aizen Sosuke nodded in approval. Unohana gave him a side glance and continued to spectate the fight as a nervous Izane retreated to perform her duty.
There was an underlying tension between the Captains.
...
Soon the field had been evacuated, when a Captain wanted to be selfish and willful, there was very little that could be done, especially if the captain was Zaraki Kenpachi.
Only a set of onlookers remained; Kurayami, Mikoto and Sakuya were included. Despite Kurayami's suggestions, Sakuya and Mikoto had vehemently refused to go. Alongside them were several teachers of the academy together with a single woman who had arrived not too long ago.
When Kurayami looked at her, she immediately knew why she was there.
"Matsumoto".
"Where is Gin?" The pretty woman said with an anxious voice, she was a long auburn-haired beauty who wore a black haori with a huge cleavage, a Shinigami who was in an anxious state and had just flash-stepped in. She knew what was going to happen today in the academy, but was a bit puzzled to find an unknown man and Captain having a stare-down in a now abandoned and barren field.
"He was defeated and must be heavily injured... but Izane has already been assigned to work on it, you don't have to worry".
"G-Gin was defeated..." She clenched her fist and looked at the person who had to be the one. A handsome young man standing pridefully in front of a captain as if they were equals.
"What did you expect? He defeated me too and now he has finally reached this stage... it is too fast for you to be facing a Captain already" Kurayami sighed and took out something from her robes, then threw it at Ryōma, "There is no point in keeping secrets if you die".
*WHOOSH!*
Ryoma caught Shitsutora without even looking and grinned.
'About time, you fucking brat!' The tiger growled.
"You missed me?"
'Who would miss your sorry ass? look at you all bruised, that's what happens when you don't have me. If I'm not with you... you will just get killed!'.
"Great that you know I need Hebimaru and you with me at all times".
'S-Shut up and let's do this swiftly without causing too much commotion, you have already shown enough to the Gotei13'.
...
Floating above were two captains who stared at everything with interest for different agendas.
Zaraki stood tall, his chipped katana gleaming despite its wear. His wild grin stretched across his face, eyes gleaming with savage joy.
"Two Zampakutōs? And that sword is... it doesn't matter. What the fuck are you trying to do, kid? Do you think I am stupid? It is useless for a Shinigami to wield two Zampakutō!"
Kenpachi thought Ryōma was out of his head, it was widely known a shinigami could only bond with a single Zampakutō and although there were exceptions, they were quite exceptional.
"You ain't 'seen nothing yet. I'll show you why I so vehemently refuse to join this pathetic academy" Ryōma held one sword in each hand and gained a rather hooligan stance, ready to flicker at any time.
"It is because compared to you all, I am built different!"
*WHOOOSH!*
*CLAANG!*
Kenpachi blocked a double strike like Shunpo was nothing to him, he could see Ryoma's movements all day; However, with equal swiftness, Ryōma did a pirouette and sliced one, Kenpachi blocked, twice... he parried... the third time he kicked the spiky in the face.
*BAAANNG!!*
Zaraki felt the strength behind the strike and groaned, the kick had exploded in his face with power.
'This brat's physical power is insane'.
While jumping mid-air, a flare of Reiatsu rushed out of Ryōma and caught Kenpachi by surprise.
"I am not particularly fond of Nitoryū (dual-wielding) so let me show you something good!"
He released Hebimaru just for one moment and held Shitsutora tightly.
!!!
When the lights dimmed, Ryoma caught Hebimaru; a set of platinum boots and gauntlets. Puzzlement and confusion ensued among the captains, but Zaraki didn't have the leisure to get surprised.
*BOOOMMM!!*
That fist punched his face with such power that his body shot like a rocket out of the field and into a building several miles away, it was a shattering level of power that didn't belong to the realm of common shinigami.
It was the strength of a captain.
"Where are you going, Kenpachi!? Don't tell me that's it!"
Ryōma flickered away giving chase out of the field with a maniacal stare... he couldn't wait to finally realise the fight he was so looking for in the past months. He left behind a speechless group as only Kurayami, Sakuya and Mikoto were aware of all this.
Unohana looked at Kurayami as if asking in silence if she knew. Not only did he have Shitsutora in his power, he also achieved Shikai... and she had already told Ryoma what would happen if this were to be known.
Kurayami nodded nonchalantly with her shoulders shrugged, 'It is his business, not mine'.
For their part, Sakuya and Mikoto sighed a breath of relief, once again strengthening their faith in their 'sensei' who seemed to meet no hurdle that he couldn't tackle.
The battle changed locations. Standing on top of a building, a ragged Kenpachi fixed up his jaw with a crack and spat a mouthful of blood and a few teeth.
"You're a fucking handful... I knew I wasn't mistaken, kid".
Ryōma landed in front, it was the middle of the night and the reflection of the moon shone brightly against Shitsutora's form, giving Ryoma a godly sight. He gained his stance and when the moonlight reflected on Hebimaru, it released a purple venomous hue that almost had him hearing a snake hissing in his head.
A 'Shinigami' successfully wielding two Zampakutō was a sight that Kenpachi had never seen in his lifetime.
"Show me what you can do, Kenpachi!–"
*RUMBLE!!*
The world began to shake, and Ryōma felt power like never before to the point his shoulders felt heavy. A golden aura flared out of the captain as he held his sword towards Ryoma as if nothing of what he had seen could ever face him.
The next thing Ryoma knew was that a torrent of blood was splashing all over the place, he felt an immense pain akin to a chainsaw slicing his flesh.
"Don't get cocky, kid... your power just caught me by surprise a little".
"..." Before falling to his knees, Ryoma stepped on that building's roof harshly, shattering it and turning around to look at Kenpachi with a grim, bloodied sword resting lazily on his shoulders.
A snake's purple slit eyes met an equally dangerous predator.
"You know this is a battle to the death, don't you?".
"Just what I wanted, brat~".