Shunsui Kyōraku vs. Katen Kyōkotsu

 is a fight within the Zanpakutō Rebellion. It focuses upon the conflict between the captains of the 8th Division and 13th Division and their Zanpakutō Spirits.

Prelude
As the Shinigami enter the Zanpakutō cave, Captains Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake, splitting up, arrive in a platform area. When Kyōraku states it is quite a scenic area, Ukitake berates him for taking things too casually. As they realize they have to scale the platforms in order to progress further, a figure from above approaches them as another figure asks them what games they would like to play.

When Ukitake asks who they are, the figure wonders if he does not already know. Ukitake is trampled by two children, wearing blue robes, who persist in asking him to play games. Stating he cannot bring himself to fight children, even if they are Zanpakutō Spirits, he asks who their wielders are, wondering if they are Sōgyo no Kotowari. Confirming this, they, asking him to play a fan-throwing game with them, manifest their fans, which hurtle towards Ukitake.

When Kyōraku asks the figure whether she would like to play a game, she states she is tired of playing games with him. When he asks her to return to his sheath, as they have known each other for a long time, she, dismissing this idea, states they despise his smug and complacent attitude. As Kyōraku wonders what she means by “they”, another figure emerges behind him, and he realizes he was not imagining things when he sensed another Reiatsu nearby.

Battle
The wakizashi, raising her blade at Kyōraku, clashes with him. As he blocks all of her attacks, the tachi states his power level is unimpressive, and he should be stronger than this. When Kyōraku states he is finding it difficult to fight against them, as they are ladies, she, wondering whether that is so, states the same cannot be said for them. As she says this, the wakizashi, moving in again, slashes at Kyōraku, who dodges.

As they both move to attack him, they reveal their job is to guard the area. As he repeats his previous statement, the tachi merely smiles at him. Meanwhile, Sōgyo no Kotowari is being pursued by Ukitake, who, telling them to sit still before they get hurt by their fans, threatens to stop playing with them, causing them to stop moving. Telling Sōgyo no Kotowari to hand their fans over, he says will play whatever game they desire if they do so.

Walking up to him, asking if he will truly play with them, they tell him to pinky swear, which he does enthusiastically. Satisfied, the Zanpakutō Spirits hand their fans over to Ukitake. As a malicious smile forms upon their faces, their fans, glowing brightly, send out a blast of lightning. As Ukitake dodges the attack, his Zanpakutō Spirits, running off into the distance, chant "He fell for it!". Sighing deeply, he calls them bad boys.

As Kyōraku continues fighting with the wakizashi, the tachi asks what he is trying to achieve, because he has not been able to hit them once. Denying this, he states they have not been fighting for real the entire time. When she asks what he means by this, he explains his twin blades move at separate speeds, a trait which is advantageous during a battle. Stating they have not been doing such a thing, he says the common practice for swords like them is to catch them off guard with their speed and finish them off with their blades.

But rather than do that, they have seemingly prevented him from attacking by forcing him to take a defensive stance. As the tachi comments upon his deductive reasoning, Sōgyo no Kotowari lures Ukitake to a nearby waterfall, clapping their hands loudly. He tells them he will get angry if they do not come out, but they do not care either way. As he sighs deeply, Sōgyo no Kotowari, appearing in the air above him, hurl a multitude of spikes from their scroll.

Ukitake, using Hadō #31 Shakkahō, sends the Kidō spell directly into the water, which results in a gushing torrent of water, streaming upwards, destroying their attack. As the twins proceed to attack him with their fans directly, Ukitake intercepts the attack and their fans clatter to the ground. As Ukitake assumes he has won, they, kicking him in the face, run off excitedly again. As he clutches his nose, stating their tricks are taking up too much time, he realizes what their objective is.

Kyōraku and Ukitake state their objective was never to kill them, and they have been stalling for time during their brief conflict. The tachi, laughing, states there is no chance he can leave now that Kyōraku understands the truth. Using Shunpo, they appear behind Kyōraku, who, intercepting their attack, states he has to get moving, regardless of whether they are ready to fight. Ukitake runs to Yamamoto's location with Sōgyo no Kotowari in hot pursuit.

The twins, using Shunpo, appear in front of their former master, their fans poised. Stating they cannot let him past, they hurl their glowing fans at him. Dodging this attack, the fans embedded into the ground, he jumps high into the air. Commenting on their stubborn nature, he gets past his Zanpakutō Spirits.

Aftermath
Ukitake, running to Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's location, wonders why Muramasa is so interested in Ichigo. Sensing the Zanpakutō Spirits' Reiatsu, he judges his intention is not to kill him. Kyōraku, coming to the same conclusion, believes Muramasa is waiting for something. Since this is Muramasa's intention, they believe he is waiting for Ichigo's ultimate attack.

After Muramasa destroys the barrier concealing Yamamoto, the two captains appear beside Yoruichi Shihōin and Ichigo Kurosaki. Their respective Zanpakutō Spirits also appear, all eagerly awaiting the outcome. As Muramasa reaches out to Yamamoto, Ukitake realizes what he is after. Kyōraku observes he fused his own Reiatsu with Ichigo's to create an explosion large enough to destroy the barrier. As Yamamoto moves to the Shinigami's side, Muramasa unveils his true plan.