Zaraki Kenpachi clearly knew his own sense of direction was unreliable, so he didn’t argue when Fujimoto Tōma took the lead.
The two headed together toward the underground prison beneath the academy.
At the gate of the Eleventh Division, Kusajishi Yachiru stood watching their backs disappear. A small smile curved her lips.
If this kept going... maybe she really could return to where she belonged.
Nearby, Madara Ikkaku leaned his sword over his shoulder and glanced at Yumichika.
"Hey, Yumichika. Last ti those two fought for a whole month. How long do you think this one’ll last?"
"The last one only ended because the captain ran out of steam," Yumichika replied after a mont’s thought. "He’s clearly stronger now, so... longer."
"Yeah, figured."
Ikkaku turned and bared his teeth at the lingering squad mbers. "What are you all staring at? Get moving! Assu we won’t have captain support for the rest of the month!"
"Yes, sir!"
No one bothered discussing the outco of the fight.
It was already obvious.
Their captain had never beaten Fujimoto Tōma. Not once.
Back in the day, the Eleventh Division believed that, aside from the Commander, no one in the Gotei stood a chance against Zaraki. So even believed he could defeat the Commander himself.
That blind confidence shattered the mont Zaraki lost head-on to Tōma.
Half a month passed.
Still no sign of either of them.
"Hey, Renji," Ikkaku said one day, slinging his blade casually. "Wanna bet on when the captain cos back?"
"Nope," Abarai Renji replied instantly.
"Boring. Captain’s holding out longer every ti. At this rate, he might actually beat Tōma soday."
Renji snorted. "Or you think you see hope, and then next ti Tōma reminds everyone how deep the gap really is."
Ikkaku frowned. "You really think he’s still holding back?"
"Who knows," Renji said helplessly. "Every ti I think I understand his strength, he proves wrong."
Renji sighed.
First Tōma beca a vice-captain. Then he beat the strongest captain. That kind of comparison crushed people.
Once, Renji had dread of surpassing him. Now he was just trying to figure out how to master his own bankai.
"...Why is the gap between people so ridiculous?" he muttered.
Ikkaku clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Stop comparing yourself to him. Guys like that don’t show up twice in history. Staring at him will just wreck your confidence."
"I know," Renji said with a bitter smile. "But he lived next door. Kinda hard to ignore."
Ikkaku actually felt bad for him.
At least Ikkaku’s goal was beating Zaraki. As insane as that was, it still felt more achievable than chasing Tōma.
"You’ll get there," Ikkaku said.
Renji’s eyes suddenly sharpened. "Then co with to a training ground and teach bankai."
"...So that’s what this was about," Ikkaku muttered.
He grimaced. Ever since Yumichika found out, Renji had beco a problem too.
But after all that encouragent, refusing now would be shaless.
"...Fine. Sowhere empty."
"Yes!"
They trained for several days.
When they returned, the news hadn’t changed.
"They still haven’t co back?" Ikkaku stared at Yumichika.
"Nope."
"...That makes over twenty days."
They exchanged looks.
This wasn’t training. This was nonstop combat.
No breaks. No rest.
Monsters.
Another day passed.
Then finally, they saw it.
Fujimoto Tōma, dragging Zaraki Kenpachi back by the collar.
"...Lost again," Ikkaku, Renji, and Yumichika muttered in unison.
But this ti, Tōma was clearly worse off than before. His uniform was torn, his body marked with fresh cuts.
Zaraki looked even worse. His clothes were basically ribbons.
"Why are you all waiting at the gate?" Tōma asked, surprised.
"Worried about your captain?" He handed Zaraki over to Ikkaku.
"Not really," Ikkaku said. "Just figured the fight was about done."
"Fair enough. Take him to rest. I’m heading back."
Tōma stretched, completely unconcerned with his injuries.
"Do you want to recover here first?" Renji asked.
"No need. These’ll heal by tomorrow."
Renji swallowed.
Those wounds would’ve put him down for a month.
"Kotetsu!" Yachiru suddenly appeared out of nowhere, hopping onto Renji’s shoulder and waving. "Thanks for helping Kenny!"
"...Helping?" Ikkaku and the others blinked.
Weren’t those two just fighting each other?
Tōma looked at Yachiru more closely this ti. Her innocent smile, her strange presence, her na.
"...You’re welco," he said simply.
Then he left.
As he walked, Tōma smiled faintly.
This fight had been worth it.
Zaraki had improved again. Fewer hits taken. Better endurance. Faster recovery.
But this wasn’t growth.
It was restoration.
Zaraki was reclaiming power he’d once sealed away.
Tōma, on the other hand, was raising his ceiling.
That was why their progress couldn’t be compared directly.
At the end, Zaraki’s body had glowed red, his silhouette almost demonic, as if horns might sprout at any mont.
"Don’t stop there," Tōma murmured. "I’m counting on you."
At this rate, next ti Zaraki might fully recover.
And when that happened...
One final duel would be enough to end a thousand-year regret.
Tōma returned to his courtyard, still smiling.
He had a lot to sort through.
Twenty days of nonstop battle left plenty to digest.
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