Yumichika Ayasegawa vs. Shūhei Hisagi

 is a fight taking place during the Ryoka Invasion between 11th Division 5th Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa and 9th Division Lieutenant Shūhei Hisagi after they find themselves on opposite sides during Rukia's Execution.

Prelude
After being broken out of prison by 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki, Yasutora Sado, Uryū Ishida, and Ganju Shiba follow him, 11th Division Lieutenant Yachiru Kusajishi, 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame, 5th Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa, Orihime Inoue, and Makizō Aramaki to a large, empty pavilion atop a building in search of the execution grounds, where Uryū nervously observes that finding the right street seems to take luck as Orihime affirms that ten or twenty dead-ends is not uncommon. With Yachiru irritated by this, Ikkaku points to this as proof of why he did not want her leading them, leading Yachiru to angrily bite his head in response.

Suddenly, Yumichika senses an intense Reiatsu in front of them, and upon being alerted of this, Kenpachi criticizes such sneaking around and demands that they show themselves as he claims that captains should not be concealing their Reiatsu. Berating Kenpachi for his arrogance and questioning if he knows what he is doing, Tōsen appears on the rooftop in front of the group alongside Komamura, Iba, and Hisagi. As Tōsen inquires where Kenpachi is going with the Ryoka and if lost his honor when he was defeated, a terrified Aramaki identifies him, Komamura, Iba, and Hisagi while expressing disbelief at being confronted by four powerful opponents like this.

However, though Yumichika assures Aramaki that they are outnumbered by the Ryoka's group and Aramaki asserts that it is not about numbers, Kenpachi tells them to be quiet and reminds Yumichika that he never said he would let the others fight before declaring that he will be fighting all four of the Shinigami at once, though he does not believe it will be enough to test his sword. Moving to the ground alongside the others, Komamura picks up on Kenpachi's comment about testing his sword and inquires if the latter intends to fight all four of them at once. With Komamura asserting that he may be overrating himself despite his impressive skill, Kenpachi exerts his Reiatsu as he draws his Zanpakutō and demands that they fight instead of talking before advising them to attack from all sides at once so one of them might have a chance at cutting him.

After Yachiru seemingly leads the others away, Iba and Hisagi approach Kenpachi as they request that their captains let them take care of this, and as a disappointed Kenpachi reminds them of his advice to attack him all at once, Ikkaku echoes his criticism and declares that he knew it would be like this before appearing in front of Kenpachi alongside Yumichika, who asserts that they will have to step in if this is how Iba and Hisagi want to do things. Though Kenpachi is confused as to why they are still here, Ikkaku berates Iba and Hisagi for thinking they would have the privilege to take on a captain despite being only lieutenants, and after Kenpachi realizes they want to fight as well and orders them to do so somewhere else at risk of being killed if they get in his way, Ikkaku and Yumichika comply.

When Iba questions when Ikkaku gained the right to speak to him like this, Ikkaku claims that he does not need lessons on how to talk from a coward who left the Eleventh Division because he could not become the lieutenant, leaving Iba visibly irritated by this, though Ikkaku tells him to save this for later and to go somewhere else because he does not want Kenpachi to kill him, which Yumichika echoes. Upon being requested by Yumichika to go somewhere else with him, Hisagi asserts that it will not matter regardless of what he does, and he, Yumichika, Ikkaku, and Iba all disappear with Shunpo.

Battle
Later, on a rooftop in the Seireitei, Hisagi sees that Tōsen has activated his Bankai, Suzumushi Tsuishiki: Enma Kōrogi, meaning that he is in trouble or just wants to toy with his victim. With Hisagi deciding that he should go check either way, a wounded Yumichika questions where he is going because Hisagi has not beaten him yet while propping himself up on his false Shikai, Fuji Kujaku. An incredulous Hisagi points out that Yumichika is finished, and when Yumichika states that losing means death to the Eleventh Division, Hisagi rebukes that the Ninth Division does not think this way, which Yumichika concedes is what he figured. Despite this Yumichika claims that this is why he has been putting on a fight like this, leaving Hisagi confused.

Hisagi asserts that this is all the more reason for Yumichika to sheathe his sword since a 5th Seat does not stand a chance against a lieutenant and dying in a fight would be shameful for a member of a division that loves to fight. However, Yumichika clarifies that the Eleventh Division is made up of people who believe it is better to die fighting than to surrender before revealing that he is only a 5th Seat because he does not like how the kanji for "four" looks. As Hisagi expresses surprise at this, Yumichika elaborates that he considers the kanji for "three" to be the most beautiful character, but since Ikkaku is the 3rd Seat, he decided to go with "five" since it looks more like "three".

After informing Hisagi that the Eleventh Division also has an unspoken rule of only using their Zanpakutō for melee attacks because they look down on Kidō-type Zanpakutō as men who live to fight, Yumichika fans out the blades of Fuji Kujaku and declares that he will show Hisagi his Zanpakutō's real power before releasing his true Shikai, Ruri'iro Kujaku, causing dozens of peacock-feathered vines to suddenly flare out from the hilt of his Zanpakutō in place of its curved blades. Yumichika requests that Hisagi not tell Ikkaku or Kenpachi since they will get mad at him if they find out, leaving Hisagi astonished and intimidated by what he is witnessing.

Aftermath
Soon afterward, as Kenpachi sits on the broken bridge across from the pavilion where he was fighting with his Zanpakutō embedded in the ground next to him, Yumichika cheerily approaches and wonders where he is. Upon spotting Kenpachi sitting alone, Yumichika inquires if the fight is over, prompting Kenpachi to reveal that Komamura sensed Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto fighting somewhere and rushed off to help him. With Yumichika cheerfully noting that this must be what he has been sensing, Kenpachi questions why he is in such a good mood and turns to see Yumichika completely unharmed, to his surprise. As Yumichika confirms that he won without getting hurt and admits that he had to change his shihakushō after it got dirty, Kenpachi observes that he seems to be more cheerful now.

Yumichika interprets this as being told he is more beautiful than he was before and begins squirming in happiness, to Kenpachi's annoyance. After calming down, Yumichika apologizes and explains that he is simply excited because he has not been able to fight like that in a long time. Back on the rooftop, Hisagi pants heavily as he lies on the tiles and complains about Yumichika's Zanpakutō consuming all his Reiryoku. Suddenly, Hisagi sees an enormous fire raging in the Third Old City and recognizes the Reiatsu as belonging to Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.

After 5th Division Captain Sōsuke Aizen sets his endgame into motion, 4th Division Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu informs the combatants within the Seireitei of his plot and betrayal, leaving Hisagi stunned by Tōsen's betrayal as 4th Division 8th Seat Harunobu Ogidō supports him. Later, Iba confronts Aizen on Sōkyoku Hill alongside several other captains and lieutenants.