Chapter Ten: The Unstoppable Battle

“Selfish? Your understanding is far too superficial, Shigekuni Yamamoto,” Chojiro replied, a sly and mocking smile playing at his lips as he gazed at Yamamoto, utterly dismissive of those old, worn-out theories.
“This world belongs to all, as does the Soul Society. But—”
“To whom do we ourselves belong?”
“To ourselves.”
He spread his hands as though he were a theorist expounding in grandiose fashion.
“To live for ourselves—what is there to fault in that?”
Yamamoto was silent.
Indeed, it was so; people lived differently from one another in this world.
Even Shigekuni Yamamoto, the paramount figure of Soul Society, had no right to criticize Chojiro’s way of life.
For oneself? Is that truly wrong?
Yamamoto did not know.
Perhaps he would never know, for his whole life had been devoted to Soul Society. This so-called “selfish” way of living was something Yamamoto could not comprehend at all.
“Words are useless. It seems there’s need for a more direct exchange, Shigekuni Yamamoto.”
“So then…”
Chojiro’s grip on his sword tightened, as if pouring strength into his Zanpakuto.
“Stay sharp, Yaringamaru.”
Crackling—!
No one could tell what Chojiro had done, but suddenly lightning blazed across Yaringamaru.
“A pointless gesture…” Yamamoto raised his blade, a trail of dazzling flame slicing through the air.
“Do you believe that lightning can overcome fire?”
“Ha! Who can say?”
“It appears you still need to be taught a lesson.” Yamamoto placed his hand on the blade, as if the flames had no effect on him at all.
“Ryujin Jakka, First Form: Fire Stand.”
Whoosh—!
Many hands gather kindling, and the flames rise higher.
The “Fire Stand” embodied this truth.
Sparks erupted suddenly from the ring of fire encircling the two men, swirling rapidly around Chojiro.
Boom!
Just as Chojiro thought Yamamoto was merely trying to intimidate him, all the sparks instantly linked together, forming a lattice of flame, trapping Chojiro inside.
Fwoosh!
The top of the fiery cage split open, and a blazing mass shot out.
No, not a mass of fire—Chojiro himself, wreathed in flames.

With a turn in midair, he managed not only to land safely but to extinguish the fire on his body; however, his shihakusho was already burned to tatters.
“Haha, not bad at all.” Chojiro gave his lightning-wreathed Yaringamaru a triumphant flick. “So I can already cut through Ryujin Jakka’s flames?”
“To be so pleased over such a trifling feat—your vision is laughably narrow.”
Yamamoto lowered his blade to his side, then swung it sharply at Chojiro.
“Ryujin Jakka, First Form: Thousand Severings.”
Boom—!
The ring of fire flared up as if oil had been poured onto it, flames surging violently skyward.
The fire above Chojiro poured down like a waterfall, intimidating enough to inspire dread just by sight.
“Hahaha! So that’s it! Is this the gulf between our strengths?”
Chojiro raised his Zanpakuto toward the descending inferno, the lightning on the blade sharpening into a spear-like point.
“Pierce through, Yaringamaru!”
Crack!
The lightning spear shot up toward the blazing waterfall.
“You think such a slender bolt of lightning can contend with Ryujin Jakka?” Yamamoto shouted, unwilling to believe his flames could be bested by a mere spark.
Sizzle—
The lightning was swallowed by the fire, like a pebble lost in the sea, leaving nothing but a few ripples in its wake.
With a roar, the torrent of flames surged down at Chojiro.
“Heh, do you really think swallowing that would leave you unscathed?” Chojiro sneered at Yamamoto.
Crash!
Suddenly, the torrent of flame overhead exploded from within, scattering embers around both Chojiro and Yamamoto.
“Well? Is your arrogance not a little ridiculous now, Shigekuni Yamamoto?”
Chojiro spread his hands, brimming with pride. “Did you truly believe I would challenge you recklessly, with no understanding of my own power?”
“You’re far too naïve. The power of Yaringamaru—my power—”
He flashed his rapier, crackling with electricity, at Shigekuni Yamamoto.
“You haven’t truly seen it yet.”
Standing silently amid the falling sparks, Yamamoto slowly raised his gaze to the young man before him, whose very demeanor had transformed.
Had he been concealing this intentionally? No—
Perhaps even Chojiro himself hadn’t realized he possessed such a side, nor the true extent of the power in his hands.
Without warning, this awakened persona had taken over, leading events to this point…

Yamamoto raised his left hand, drawing a strand of flame from Ryujin Jakka and letting it coil into his palm.
Then he grasped it firmly.
It’s my duty to stop him!
Clicking his tongue in disdain, Yamamoto dismissed the arrogance displayed before him.
“Did you really think that level of power would make me retreat?”
“Don’t flatter yourself, boy.”
Killing intent—cold and merciless—crashed against Chojiro without restraint.
“Did you think such strength could truly surprise me?”
“Your self-regard is misplaced.”
“So this is what makes it interesting, Shigekuni Yamamoto. But…”
A sly, crafty smile crept across Chojiro’s face.
“Did you really think my attacks end here?”
Crackle—!
A single ember landed on Yamamoto’s shoulder. Instead of burning out, it flashed with an electric spark.
Wha—
Sensing something amiss, Yamamoto tried to avoid the falling embers, only to find his body numbed without warning.
“Hiding explosive lightning within the embers, then numbing the enemy bit by bit as they fall… By the time you notice—”
“It’s already too late.”
He stepped forward—for the first time, Chojiro advanced toward Shigekuni Yamamoto.
“What’s that look in your eyes, Shigekuni Yamamoto?”
Enjoying his advantage, Chojiro was brimming with pride.
“Unwilling? Humiliated? Angry?”
“What meaning is there in those emotions?”
“In any case, soon you will…”
He raised his blade, cold and ominous, lightning flickering dangerously along its length.
“…be dead.”
“Bankai—”