Kenpachi Zaraki vs. Tenken & Gonryōmaru

is a battle that takes place in the Zanpakutō's cave during the Zanpakutō Rebellion.

Prologue
After finding Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's Reiatsu, Yoruichi Shihōin organizes a search team to go rescue him. As she explains the situation to Captains Jūshirō Ukitake and Shunsui Kyōraku, Captain Kenpachi Zaraki and Lieutenant Yachiru Kusajishi listen on. Yachiru pleads with Kenpachi to go but he says that they are not playing hide and seek. Kenpachi asks Yoruichi if he will be able to fight someone if he goes and she responds that he most certainly will but he needs to not attack the Captain-Commander by mistake. Kenpachi laughs and says that Yamamoto would not die from him attacking him accidentally. After Ukitake and Kyōraku also agree, they head off to the cave.

Once there, Ukitake senses Yamamoto's reiatsu and but also a barrier, leading Kyōraku to believe that not even Muramasa could control Ryūjin Jakka. Kenpachi gets excited and asks if Yamamoto is really in the cave. Yoruichi says there is no denying it but the cave is like a maze. Yoruichi says that they will need to be cautious since this is the enemies main hiedout. Kenpachi smiles and says to forget that and they should just kick their doors down as he begins to enter the cave with Yachiru on his shoulder cheering him on.

Kenpachi wanders around in the cave in complete darkness. He says he was going to charge right in but he cannot even see his hand in front of his face. He asks Yachiru which way they are going but she simply responds "that way", prompting him to say that he cannot tell which way that way is. Yachiru angrily says that that is why she said "this way" and Kenpachi yells for her to stop pulling on his ear. He finally reaches a lighter passage when Tenken and Gonryōmaru appear above. Kenpachi laughs and mutters that they finally came out and that now he doesn't need helping luring them out. Gonryōmaru says he is amazed that Kenpachi has made it this far but that its time for revenge.

Battle
Kenpachi clashes with Tenken, grinning as he does so. He begins to overpower the giant Zanpakutō spirit before saying it is time to die and slashing across, forcing Tenken to dodge. Gonryōmaru tries to attack Kenpachi from behind but Kenpachi quickly turns and sends him flying backwards. Kenpachi taunts Gonryōmaru, asking him what is wrong and saying he thought he was going to exact revenge. He asks for Gonryōmaru to give him something he can work with and Yachiru pops out to taunt Tenken, saying he can't beat Kenpachi if he doesn't attack. Kenpachi tells Yachiru to stay out of it though. She says that it is true though and that they aren't even a challenge, almost as if they weren't trying. Kenpachi tells her to just sit and watch but realizes Yachiru has a point. He asks the Zanpakutō spirits if they are even trying to kill him. Gonryōmaru says that sometimes the goal isn't just to win. Kenpachi asks if they have already accepted defeat then and raises his reiatsu.

Kenpachi cuts Gonryōmaru down, reverting him back to his sword form. He tells Tenken not to worry about the other leaving as he will be staying right there. He clashes with Tenken repeatedly as Yachiru watches on. As Tobiume throws a fireball at Yoruichi elsewhere in the cave, Kenpachi feels the blast hit the wall, realizing the others are fighting too. Yachiru asks if he thinks Ichigo is okay but he says whether he is alive or not, he will fight him or whoever beat him once they get out of the cave. He turns back to Tenken who throws his whip at Kenpachi but Kenpachi easily knocks it away. Kenpachi lunges at Tenken, knocking him back before lashing out wildly at him. Tenken holds his ground and strikes back with a powerful downswing but Kenpachi catches it barehanded.

He tells the Zanpakutō spirit that it is about time he manned up. He says he has known all along that he was holding back because he was worried about his friend but now he has no one to worry about and that it is time for the real festival of blood to begin. Kenachi unleashes a surge of reiatsu as a heavy wind envelops the area and Yachiru grows a big smile across her face. Tenken counters with his own surge of reiatsu, causing Yachiru and Kenpachi to get excited. Yachiru says that he is finally getting serious and Kenpachi says Yachiru should get out of there and she runs off. Tenken then unleashes his Bankai, transforming him into the giant of his master's Bankai and breaking through the top of the cave. Seeing this causes Kenpachi to break out laughing in excitement. He says he hopes the massive body is not just for show. Tenken prepares to swing at Kenpachi and Kenpachi surges his reiatsu, catching the sword before with it and jumping up to his opponent.

Worn out now, Kenpachi tells Tenken to make his next move. After Tenken does not comply he jumps up to attack the giant. Tenken swings his sword at Kenpachi who tries to block with his own sword but is thrown far back into the wall. He falls to the ground and Yachiru yells out for him. Still smiling, he tells Yachiru to pipe down. He tells Tenken not bad and says that this is now a fight. Tenken swings his sword down at Kenpachi who blocks with his own but the tremendous force causes him to sink into the ground below. Kenpachi gets up and knocks Tenken's sword away with his reiatsu, saying that it was a fine attack but it was not good enough. He then jumps up and cuts one of Tenken's horns off and after landing says that it is not over yet.

Aftermath
In the Human World, Muramasa manages to free Kōga Kuchiki and forces unite to stop him, leaving the result of this fight unknown.