Battle of the Reigai

Prologue
Following the Hollow attack on Nozomi Kujō, during which she first manifested her powers in the form of a sealed Zanpakutō, those Shinigami still left in the Human World decide to hold a meeting in Ichigo Kurosaki's bedroom. They discuss the dire report made by Retsu Unohana, who is still in Soul Society and currently healing Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto after his battle with the Reigai. The update is read out by Nanao Ise regarding their enemies becoming even stronger. Marechiyo Ōmaeda gets upset at the prospect of the captains being defeated but Ikkaku Madarame gets annoyed and threatens him to shut him up if he doesn't quieten down.

During their argument, Nozomi, who is dressed in the standard Shihakushō of a Shinigami, stands up and declares that she wants to fight. Stunned, only Ichigo and Kon manage to reply, arguing that just because she now has a Zanpakutō doesn't mean she will be able to fight against the very powerful Regai. Nozomi insists that her Zanpakutō should be able to counteract Kageroza Inaba's abilities once unleashed. Yumichika Ayasegawa points out that she doesn't sound too confident and asks what power she has. Nozomi does not remember everything yet, but she insists she knows she can defeat him. Ikkaku is not impressed and decides it is not something they should take a risk over. He stands up and asserts that sitting around a talking is not going to defeat the enemy and that they have to move now. Nanao tell Nozomi that they can't risk allowing her to fight at this point abd Ichigo agrees. However, he also vows to help her awaken her true power so that she can fight.

Meanwhile, Inaba sends several of his Captain-class Reigai to the Human World in order to retrieve Nozomi. These include the clones of Tōshirō Hitsugaya, Byakuya Kuchiki, Sajin Komamura and Kenpachi Zaraki. As they rune through the Dangai, they run into a trap set by Kisuke Urahara and Tessai Tsukabishi that alerts them when the enemies are caught. Tessai asks should he proceed with the next step and Urahara agrees as they are not going to get support from the Soul Society at the moment. He explains that they will freeze them where they currently were. Inaba realizes what has happened and who is responsible, laughing about how the Reigai are now separated but claims it will not buy them that much time.

Elsewhere, Ichigo and his friends have taken Nozomi to a spacious field to help train with her. They all proceed to attack her one by one, forcing her to block their attacks before she demands that they come at her harder. Rukia Kuchiki attacks next and knocks her to the ground before Kon runs towards her in a worried fashion, begging her to quit this training as it was clearly too much for her to handle. Nozomi denies his request, getting to her feet and insists that this is the only way to awaken her Zanpakutō. Kon makes to argue once more but she kicks him away in aggravation before continuing her training. Ichigo then begins to trade blows with her repeatedly, not letting up. He thinks back to his initial days of training with Urahara and quietly reaffirms that they are doing the right thing. Next, Uryū Ishida starts to attack Nozomi, who appears to struggle although she does manage to block everyone of his attacks. Yasutora Sado attacks again, using his powers to try and punch Nozomi. She succeeds in blocking his attack, crouching to evade it as well. Just then, her Zanpakutō begins to glow and they all watch, shocked, as it absorbs Sado's Reiatsu.

The group are stunned ror a moment before Nozomi takes this event as a sign that their training is starting to work and that they were close to releasing her her power. She insists that they continue at the same rate. Close by, Ikkaku is seen watching from the side, recalling how fighting with Kenpachi helped him become a better fighter. Yumichika appears beside him then and asks him what's wrong, wondering if he is interested by what Nozomi's abilities are. Ikkaku denies this and insists he's only concerned about when the Reigai will arrive in Karakura Town. Despite Nozomi's rejection, both Kon and Orihime Inoue demand that she rest some or else she will do herself damage. Kon offers her a drink which she turns down and walks towards a fountain to wash her face. Ikkaku approaches her then and advises her that training so hard will only end up hurting her and not help her fight. Nozomi denies this and claims that this is her chance to fight and die so that she can help others live, reminding Ikkaku of his own pledge to die under Kenpachi. He calls her a fool before she returns to her training.

As the other begin to resume Nozomi's training, a sudden burst of Reiatsu surrounds them and the sky over Karakura Town appears to crack. Renji Abarai arrives and confirms that the enemy is attacking and that now was the time to take Nozomi somewhere to hide. Nozomi rejects this solution and demands that they continue with her training. Renji objects but he is faced with stiff competition from Ichigo and all his friends. Finally he relents and agrees to help as well. The crack in the sky explodes and Kenpachi's cloned Reigai arrives in a secluded spot on his own, commenting that he is the first reigai to arrive. Ikkaku then appears and attacks him, insisting that he is the Reigai's opponent irregardless of Ichigo's plans. Ichigo sense Ikkaku's Reiatsu but is stopped by Yumichika before he can go help, who informs him that Ikkaku is trying to buy them more time and not to waste his efforts. The rest of the Shinigami arrive to help Ikkaku but he insists on battling Kenpachi alone. When they object, he reminds them that they have other opponents, as the other Reigai captains begin to arrive separately. reluctantly, the other Shinigami agree and leave Ikkaku to his fight and move off to face the new arrivals.

Battle
Ikkaku apologizes to Kenpachi's clone for keeping him waiting, who in turn responds that he would never be able to defeat him, sending a large wave of yellow spiritual pressure towards the Shinigami. Ikkaku struggles but stays on his feet and is commended by the Reigai for doing so. Ikkaku insults him for this and releases Hōzukimaru before immediately moving on the offensive to attack his Captain's clone. They trade blows for several seconds before the Reigai epresses his boredom and send Ikkaku backwards. Determined, Ikkaku attacks again and this time, Kenpachi's clone manages to hit the joint of his staff, leaping into the air and sending another blast of Reiatsu at the Shinigami.

In the meantime, Nozomi is still struggling to achieve her Shikai release. She is flung to the ground once more and Kon runs over to her, concerned for her well being. Nozomi shrugs off his concern and demands that Ichigo continue to train with her, which he agrees. Visible reiatsu begins to envelop Ichigo as he battles, taking on a light blue color as he continues to clash with Nozomi over and over again. Yumichika watches on as Nozomi once again is flung away and hits the ground. He informs Ichigo that if he continues to attack this way, they are wasting their time, stating that he needs to use some serious amounts of reiatsu if he is going to succeed in their goals.

By this stage, Ikkaku is lying upon the ground, seemingly defeated as his Captain's clone stands over him. The Reigai comments that Ikkaku is just all talk and moves to leave the field in order to complete his mission. Instead, Ikkaku grabs his foot, revealing that he is still conscious however, the Reigai simply kicks him away, sending him sprawling once more. Kenpachi'c clone insists that Ikkaku is no match for him but Ikkaku replies that he should decide that after his next move. Pink reiatsu begins to envelop Ikkaku as he starts to get to his feet, clearly shocking the Reigai as he does so. At the training field, Yumichika explains his words to Ichigo and the others, drawing his weapon to point it at Nozomi as he does so. He maintains that they need to threaten her with real reiatsu, meant to kill her, forcing her to block or die and that's the only way to awaken her Zanpakutō. Initially shocked, Nozomi then agrees that they should do it, stunning Kon into action. He asks Ichigo to stop her but he merely asks if she is sure to which Nozomi insists she is.

Back at the battle, Ikkaku succeeds in releasing his Bankai, Ryūmon Hōzukimaru, much to the utter shock of Kenpachi's clone. The Reigai appears impressed and decides to see if Ikkaku can stop him with his Bankai. They engage in another battle as Ikkaku uses his Banaki against the Reigai. Kenpachi begins to laugh when Ikkaku's barrage is halted for a moment, stating that now the battle had become fun. Ikkaku begins to inform him that his Bankai awakens through battle just ast he dragon image begins to fill. He begins to spin it above his head, powering his weapon up as the Reigai watches on. Ikkaku then leaps into the air to strike at his opponent, going all out to win the battle.

Elsewhere, Nozomi is still training, this time Ichigo and his friends begin to attack in earnest. Nozomi's sealed Zanpakutō begins to glow brightly with a violet hue to it. The last to attack, Ichigo activates his Bankai, Tensa Zangetsu, swearing as he realizes his powers are weakening further. He attack Nozomi using his black Getsuga Tenshō, which she manages to block. She thinks back and remembers what Ikkaku said to her about being willing to attack first. This helps her to try and strike which causes the release of her Zanpakutō's shikai abilities, completely absorbing Ichigo's reiatsu as her sword transforms into it's true appearance, Arazome Shigure, which is shining violet with all the reiatsu she has recently absorbed.

The group hear a large crash a cloud of smoke begins to billow in the air nearby. Before they can do anything, Nozomi runs towards the comotion, that is revealed to be the result of Ikkaku's battle. He is crouched on the ground with his Bankai broken and defeated behind him. Kenpachi's clone stands over him, commenting that while the battle was a little fun, it was now over. Nozomi arrives on the scene, shocking the Reigai, who asks if she has come to surrender. In response, Nozomi swings her Zanpakutō towards the clone, unleashing a devastating attack force of reiatsu that hits the Reigai and sends him flying.