How The Kendo Thing Should've Happened

[gigantor21]

(This was originally posted on BleachAsylum.

As presumptuous as it is for me to re-write part of my favorite series, I was so pissed by the Kendo thing that I felt it had to be done. I did the best that I could with it, so try not to be too harsh.

Note: The story starts at page 14 of Chapter 311, The Undead 4. Also, "Chuudan-no-kamae" is the stance Kenpachi used, which is considered the most useful one in Kendo. "Men" is a Kendo strike aimed at the head.)

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How the Kendo Thing Should’ve Happened
By Gigantor21

(A stream of blood shoots out of the base of Kenpachi’s neck.

He stops dead in his tracks, placing his hand over the cut with a grave look on his face—a stark contrast from his maniacal grin during the fierce exchange with Nori.)

Kenpachi: Chih…at this rate, I’m gonna be killed.

Yachiru: (half surprised, half worried) Ken-chan…

Ken: And I’m really not up for a dirt nap right now.

(sighs) Got no choice, huh? I REALLY didn’t want to use this shit.

(Kenpachi grips his sword with both hands and stands at the ready.)

Ichigo: Chuudan-no-kamae!?

Orihime: …Kurosaki-kun?

Ichigo: (staring bug-eyed at Kenpachi) That’s a kendo stance!

What the hell are you thinking, Kenpachi!? A kendo stance isn’t going to do you any good here! It takes years of practice to use Kendo effectively in a match—and it’s not made to fight someone with six arms or Hierro!

During our match, you didn’t use anything like this at all…do you think just using two hands will be enough against this guy? Kenpachi!

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(Here, we turn back to when Kenpachi had just become a captain.

A gaggle of Shinigami from all over the Seireitei are clamoring around one of the 1st division training facilities, trying to get a look inside. Aizen and Gin (who was still his VC at the time) are walking by, and spot a familiar face among the crowd.)

Aizen: What’s the big fuss about? Abarai-kun.

Renji: (whips around suddenly) A-Aizen-taichou! Ichimaru-fukutaichou! What are you doing here?

Gin: We was jus’ headin’ back to the barracks, an’ we heard all types o’ commotion ‘round here. Me an’ Taichou swang ‘round to see what was happenin’.

Aizen: …so? What’s going on in there?

Renji: It looks like the Sou-Taichou summoned the new 11th division Taichou for a sparring match.

Aizen: (mildly surprised) A sparring match?

(Inside, Yama-jii and Kenpachi stare each other down, both holding bokken. Kenpachi stares down at his, not looking too happy.)

Yama-jii: Are you really so vexed about not using your Zanpakuto?

Kenpachi: And why the hell not!? I want to cut some meat, goddammit! How the hell can I do that with this friggin’ stick!?

Yama-jii: (strokes beard) Hmm…your confidence is quite encouraging, 11th division Taichou. But with your current skill, you wouldn’t be able to cut me if I was fighting barehanded.

Kenpachi: (looks up)…what was that?

Yama-jii: That is why I summoned you here. (steps into chuudan-no-kamae) Are you ready?

Kenpachi: (tightens his grip on the sword) Heh…you say some funny things old man. But…!

(Kenpachi grabs the sword with both hands, and charges headfirst at Yama-jii.)

Renji: He’s using both hands!?

Kenpachi: I might not be able to cut you with this, but I can still break some bones!

(Kenpachi brings the wooden sword down with frightening force—but Yama blocks it easily with just one hand.)

Yama-jii: Futile.

Kenpachi: Wha-

Yama-jii: “MEN!!”

(Still using one hand, Yama strikes Kenpachi clean on the noggin, felling him with one blow.)

Crowd: OOOOOOHHHH!!! (XD)

(Kenpachi lays on the ground, motionless.)

Renji: Wh..What the hell!?

All the 11th Division guys said Zaraki-taichou took down the previous captain with just one hand. And he kept on coming back no matter how many times he got cut! But the General-Commander…he blocked his two-handed strike, and took HIM out with one hand! In a single blow!?

Aizen: “...is his arm really that strong?” That’s what your thinking. Right, Abarai-kun?

(Renji looks over at Aizen, who doesn’t seem very surprised (unlike everyone else besides Gin).)

Aizen: But there’s nothing monstrous about it. In fact, with his reiatsu level and sword arm, Zaraki-taichou should be close to the Sou-Taichou in physical strength.

Renji: Th-then how did he fall so easily?

(Yama-jii kneels over by Kenpachi, who’s staring up at him defiantly.)

Yama-jii: It’s a common misconception to believe that using both hands will provide more force. But for a Shinigami—or, rather, any spiritual entity—that alone isn’t good enough.

All beings with reiatsu use reiatsu to fight their foes. And the winner of the fight is usually the one who has more reiatsu, and can tap into it more readily. But when two spirits with similar reiatsu density and output face each other, there is a third factor that will determine who can produce greater physical force.

For one such as you, who prefers to fight at close range with brute strength, this third factor will be crucial.

That is what I must teach you…Zaraki-taichou.

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Nori: What the fuck, Shinigami? THAT’S your trump card!?

Kenpachi: ….

Nori: (with his toothy grin) Well, I’m flattered that you aren’t going to be swinging the sword around like a dumbass anymore…but if you think playing samurai will save you…

(Nori charges again. Kenpachi closes his eyes.)

Nori: Then you’re STILL a dumbass!!

Orihime: Z-ZARAKI-SAN! HE’S COMING! PLEASE OPEN YOUR--

Ichigo: INOUE!

(Orihime clams up, and turns to Ichigo, who’s looking straight at Kenpachi)

Ichigo: Look closely at his arms. Can’t you tell what he’s doing?

Orihime: Wh…?

Ichigo: He’s concentrating all of his reiatsu into his arms…I get it now.

When I fought Kenpachi, he didn’t use any kidou, or shunpou, or any real technique. As strong as he is, the only thing he has going for him is his sword arm, and his toughness. But against an opponent like Noritora, who can match both of those things…

(Noritora leaps into the air, making a beeline for Zaraki’s head.)

Ichigo: The only way Zaraki can win…

Noritora: (Brings down all six scythes) IT’S OVER, SHINIGAMI!!!

Kenpachi: (opens his eyes) …the only dumbass here is you…Noritora.

“MEN!!”

(Kenpachi brings down his sword, and slices Nori in half from forehead to pelvis, scythes and all.)

Ichigo: …is by concentrating all of his reiatsu into pure destructive force!

(The pieces of Nori fly harmlessly past either side of Kenpachi, landing on the sand with a sickening wetness. Orihime stares horrified; Ichigo is more stoic.)

Ichigo: By placing all of his reiatsu into his arms, he’s able to put all of it into the force for swinging down the blade. It’s nothing like the way he normally attacks, where he just uses the general output he produces in battle to swing wildly. For someone like Kenpachi, who has lots of reiatsu but no synchronization with his sword, it’s the only way to produce more destructive power when his usual level isn’t strong enough.

But…

(Kenpachi remains still for a moment, then looks down at his sword.)

Kenpachi: …shit.

(Kenpachi’s Zanpakuto shatters, just as his arms split open in several parts and blood shoots everywhere.)

Orihime: (runs over)ZARAKI-SAN!!

Ichigo: …because Zaraki has so much reiatsu, but isn’t that good at controlling it, the weight of it can do serious damage to whatever part of his body he concentrates it into. That’s why he hates doing it…

(Orihime, fretting like a worried mother, releases her Souten Kishun over Ichigo and puts it over Zaraki, who can’t lift his arms.)

Ichigo: (with a smile) Since “you’d be no good for fights that way.” Right, Kenpachi?

[Schabrak]

Well written and a better solution than what Kubo has given us.^^

[abcdefghijkL0L]

Hm...the only part I needed to read was the ending, but yeah, it would've been better like that. I still like both though.

[hyn_pride93]

niceb job gigantor21... i like ur version/re-write better.

[gigantor21]

Hm...the only part I needed to read was the ending, but yeah, it would've been better like that. I still like both though.

Well, I wanted to attack the whole "two hands are better than one" thing in those parts. I had to address that, since it's the main reason why I hated the power-up. Though you are right that you don't need to read those parts to know what Zaraki was doing.