The Undead

Unnerved, Ichigo recognizes the captain-class reiatsu radiating from Kenpachi, who restates that he means to kill Ichigo or die. Distracted by his fallen friends behind him, Ichigo is urged by Ganju to keep his eyes forward or be cut down. The lieutenant Yachiru pops out from Kenpachi's back to tease them and is thrown off. Ichigo orders Ganju to flee with Hanataro and save Rukia, and Kenpachi assures him he has no interest in Ichigo's companions or in Rukia, only in Ichigo himself.

Inside Senzaikyu, Rukia senses the towering spiritual pressure even through the Sekkiseki walls and wonders whether Ichigo has truly come. Outside, Kenpachi praises Ichigo's reiatsu but ridicules his clumsy stance, then grants him a handicap: he opens his haori and invites Ichigo to strike first anywhere he likes. When Ichigo balks at cutting an undefended man, Kenpachi calls it mere courtesy and urges him to savor the thrill of kill or be killed, even pointing out his neck, stomach, and eyes.

Ichigo finally attacks, but his blade cannot break Kenpachi's skin, and his own hand splits open instead. Carried away by Ganju, Hanataro explains that the name Kenpachi belongs to the Shinigami who most loves battle and has slain the most foes, a man who never falls no matter how often he is struck. Unimpressed, Kenpachi at last draws his zanpakuto, pushing Ichigo's blade aside, and asks him not to die too quickly.

Kenpachi offers a free first strike, and Ichigo proves unable to wound him at all. The meaning of the Kenpachi title is explained, and the captain finally unsheathes his own zanpakuto to begin fighting in earnest.

Although this chapter carries the title The Undead, it appears in the twelfth volume; the thirteenth volume later takes the same name. It was adapted into Episode 36, Kenpachi Zaraki Approaches!