Renji Abarai & Zabimaru vs. Boomerang Tōjū

 is a fight taking place during the Tōjū Campaign, focusing on the conflict between Lieutenant Renji Abarai and the Boomerang Tōjū.

Prelude
In Karakura Town, as a Senkaimon appears, Renji and his Zanpakutō Spirit step out. As they look around, Hebi, noticing a frog bounding in front of him, pursues it. As Saru pulls him back with her chain, Hebi wonders why she did this. As Saru states they have no time to play with frogs, Renji, interjecting, tells them they only arrived with him in the Human World so they could deal with the Tōjū as soon as possible.

As he orders his Zanpakutō Spirit to follow him, Hebi, yanking the chain, tells her to split it. When Saru reminds him of the seriousness of the issue, Hebi promises to not mess around. As Saru removes the chains fastened around Hebi's neck, the Tōjū's Reiatsu ripples throughout the area. As Renji and Saru pursue it, Hebi, moving to follow them, is distracted by a fish leaping out of the water.

The First Conflict
Renji appears before the Tōjū, who, wielding its boomerang steadily, hurls the projectile at Renji, who jumps up to evade it. As he, landing safely on the ground, prepares to release his Zanpakutō, the Tōjū's weapon hits him in the back. As he states Renji moved in too early, Saru, saying the same of him, swings her Zanpakutō at him. As this attack nicks him lightly on the shoulder, he, realizing he is outnumbered in this fight, flees from the scene.

As Renji jumps after him, stating he cannot escape, Saru follows in his stead. As he notes the Tōjū's movements are quicker when he is trying to escape, Saru, interjecting, states Hebi will be able to intercept him. Bursting into the clearing, the Tōjū, laying eyes upon Hebi, curses as Saru tells him to finish the Tōjū off. Oblivious to the situation, Hebi states he has found a big fish. Telling him to get out of the way, the Tōjū strikes him with his weapon.

As Hebi is knocked back into Saru's arms, the Boomerang Tōjū makes his escape. Berating her other half, Saru wonders what he was doing while they were preparing. As he groans, Renji, reassuring them, states they were able to injure him. As he says the Tōjū will not be able to make it too far, Saru states she did this the moment her chain was removed. As he tells them to get moving, Hebi wonders what their problem is.

Stating he never has time to do what he likes, Hebi stumbles across a patch of blood. As the Tōjū crouches within the shade of the trees, Hebi, assuming he can take him out, for he is injured, reveals himself to the Tōjū, asking him if he will give up. When he denies his request, Hebi asks him if he truly is happy being alone. Stating he has all the freedom in the world, the Tōjū tells Hebi if he lets him go, he will have more time on his own.

The Tōjū reminds Hebi the moment he is captured, they will chain him up again. As he lets the Tōjū escape, Renji and Saru arrive moments too late. As Saru asks him why he was just standing there, Renji concludes he let him escape. As Hebi denies this, Saru prepares to attach the chain back onto his neck. Refusing, Hebi claims he does not want to spend the rest of his life attached to this chain.

Interlude
As Saru tries to reason with him, Hebi states he does not want his new-found freedom to end. As Hebi leaves the area, Saru attempts to follow, but Renji stops her. Walking down the pathway, Hebi states being with them is the last thing he would do. Realizing since he is alone, he can do as he pleases, Hebi, going to the convenience store across the road, eats several packages of food.

Appearing before the Zanpakutō Spirit, Karin Kurosaki tells him he needs to buy this food. When Hebi tells Karin to hit the road, she, refusing to budge, alerts the management of his thievery. As Yuzu Kurosaki and the manager arrive, she informs them of the situation, but they cannot see anyone there, much to Karin's surprise. Walking into a park, Hebi, wondering what her problem was, disrupts a flock of birds before falling asleep.

Waking up, Hebi states being by yourself is the life, for there is no one to boss you around. Realizing he is starving, he, heading over to a butcher's shop, repeatedly asks the owner for food. When he does not hear him, Hebi realizes Humans cannot see him. Wondering how Karin was able to see him, he sits on a railing beside the road, listening intently to other people's conversations, and finds himself drooling uncontrollably at the sight of ice-cream.

As Karin and Yuzu come across Hebi, who fills in for Yuzu, Karin, realizing she can only see him, approaches Hebi. After they introduce each other, Karin asks if he is hungry. Denying this observation, he states it is none of her business. As Karin and Yuzu prepare to leave Him alone, Hebi, noticing she left a complimentary onigiri nearby, refuses to eat it, calling out to Karin. When she asks if he is still hungry, he states he is not.

When Karin assumes he is a ghost, Hebi, denying this, reveals he is a Zanpakutō as Yuzu invites him back to the Kurosaki Clinic, much to their surprise.

As Saru sits glumly on a park bench, Renji wonders if she is worried about Hebi. When Saru refutes this statement, Renji asks what is troubling her. When she states his actions are as rash as those of the Tōjū's, Renji says she is not being honest with herself. Approaching them, Ichigo Kurosaki wonders what they are doing here. As Renji states they are here to capture a missing Tōjū, Ichigo realizes the younger half is missing.

As Renji states he is around somewhere, Yuzu gives Hebi some tea. Revealing the others are out right now, Karin tells him to hide once they come back. Stating her clingy attitude is lame, Hebi claims he can do all he likes on his own. When Karin asks where his parents are, Hebi reiterates he is a Zanpakutō. Yuzu gives Ichigo's pudding to Hebi, who, eating it in delight, introduces himself to them as Yuzu asks what games they should play.

Transfixed by the television, Hebi, asking them how it works, discovers they are sleeping. Later, when Ichigo returns home, he, turning off the television, notices Hebi sleeping next to his sisters. Prodding him awake, he asks why he is in his house. When their argument stirs Karin from her sleep, Hebi storms out of the house, with Karin in pursuit. Once Hebi leaves, he is confronted by the Boomerang Tōjū, who asks him if his dreams are fulfilled.

The Second Conflict
Stating he was able to heal his injuries due to his intervention, the Tōjū says he will kill them all one by one. Materializing his sword, Hebi prepares to take the Tōjū on as Karin rushes onto the scene, having heard him call out. He slams his Shikai into the Tōjū, who wonders where he was looking. As Hebi appears above him, his weapon poised, the Tōjū hurls his boomerang at him, who deflects it with his Zanpakutō. As Hebi is pushed back by the attack, the boomerang returns to its master.

Commenting on the Tōjū's fighting ability, Hebi states he should not underestimate the Zanpakutō of a lieutenant. As Hebi hurls his blade at the Tōjū, he, dodging the attack, realizes he fell into Hebi's trap. As the Tōjū is surrounded by the segments of Zabimaru, Hebi, coiling it into a tight ball, knocks it backwards into a fence. As Hebi states his level of power was sufficient to defeat him, Karin calls out to him once again. Noticing her arrival, the Tōjū uses it to his advantage.

Beating Karin to the ground, the Tōjū, appearing in front of Hebi, uses her as a hostage. When Hebi is forced to surrender his blade, the Tōjū, beating him up with his boomerang, tosses him onto the ground. When he asks him if he enjoyed his fleeting moments of freedom, Hebi, standing up, tells him he is pathetic, and being alone only causes suffering. Refuting this statement, the Tōjū throws his boomerang at Hebi.

As he awaits his attack, Renji, sending the boomerang crashing into the air, congratulates Hebi on luring him out as Saru states his short period of rebellion was worth it, which Hebi smiles at.

Aftermath
Running through Karakura Town, Ichigo, searching for his sister, calls out her name. Seeing Hebi carrying an unconscious Karin towards him, Ichigo takes Karin off his hands as Hebi, reassuring him, states she will wake up soon enough. As Ichigo thanks Hebi for rescuing his sister, Hebi walks off into the distance. When Ichigo asks him if he is going back, Hebi asks him not to tell Karin about any of this. Later, Karin, waking up next to Yuzu, asks where Hebi is.

As Ichigo notices she is awake, she asks him where Hebi is. When he claims not to know who this is, Karin states it is nothing. As Hebi, Saru, and Renji stand over the Kurosaki Clinic, Saru asks him if he is okay. Affirming this, he, claiming he belongs here because he is a Zanpakutō, says they would be lonely if not for his presence. As Renji smiles at this, they all enter the Senkaimon. Hebi looks back momentarily before returning to Soul Society.