5-2 Bankai Battle: Black vs. White

*Pant* *Pant* *Pant*

Lisa, I want you to keep a sharp eye on that Soul Reaper and look after him.

Don't worry, I won't let him out of my sight.

*Pant* *Pant* *Pant*

Yeah? But you're not watching him. You're just sitting there looking at swimsuit catalogs.

Fine, have it your way.

One, two. One, two. One, two. One, two.

Ahahahahahaha!

I can't take it anymore!!!

What's the idea? You try something like that again, dumbass, and you're dead!

I should be saying that to you!

You bragged about how you were gonna teach me control and how to suppress the Hollow inside me forever!

So why the hell are you idiots making me run all day long on this cheap, homemade, poor-excuse-for-a-cross-country-ski machine?!

Quit complaining and keep running until you drop!

Why, you!

Calm down, Ichigo.

The stupid-Hiyori-treadmill-trainer is the foundation for your future training.

We determine the level of your next training program based on how long you can run on the treadmill.

What exactly do you mean when you say level?

After about three days, you'll collapse from exhaustion. First we break you down and then we build you up by teaching you how to control your Hollow transformation.

What?! That's a joke! Well, you can forget about three days. I can run on that thing for almost a week without getting tired.

I get it, okay?

That stupid machine is designed to drain me of all my spirit energy. Well, big deal!

You want to measure my maximum spirit energy output by seeing how many days I can run before I collapse.

You idiots! With the spirit energy I have right now, I can go at least five days straight on that thing! There's no point in testing me like this.

Just teach me how to control my Hollowfication already! I don't have time to waste on this crap, dammit!

I cannot afford to lose any more time playing around with you Visoreds!

Shut your mouth!

You don't have time? That's really something coming from a guy who doesn't even know how long it takes for the Hogyoku to awaken.

Wait a minute. What did you just say?

I said, stop blabbing when you don't really know anything about the Hogyoku or anything at all about Hollowfication!

What is this? How do you know about... How is it possible you know about the Hogyoku?

I know all about it. The Hogyoku, the Arrancars, even Sosuke Aizen.

I've known all about them for many, many years.

Don't worry. I'll give you all the details another day.

I thought it would be a good idea to take some time at the beginning so you can get used to us.

But now that I think about it, you can already turn into a Soul Reaper, you can use your Shikai, and you have a Bankai.

You know about all that, too?

But I can see it would be better if we just jumped right into teaching you how to control your Hollow, just like you originally asked us to.

Are you ready, Ichigo?

I hope you don't regret this.

In a moment, you are going to fully transform into a Hollow.

Don't let it consume you. Consume it instead.

If it eats you, it's all over.

Hey!

Long time no see, King.

What's wrong? By the expression on your face, you look glum.

Where the hell is Zangetsu? Answer me.

I'm confused.

When you talk about Zangetsu, do you mean the one you're holding in your hand?

Or is it this one in mine? Beautiful, isn't it?

A white Zangetsu?!

You asked me a question, "Where's Zangetsu?" Well, here's your answer.

I am Zangetsu!

Say it! Why won't you tell me what happened to Zangetsu?!

You're persistent, making me repeat myself. I told you, I'm Zangetsu!

Maybe you aren't aware of this, but Zangetsu and I have always been one and the same.

Together, we're your spirit energy. I used to be part of him.

We shared the same body, but as our relationship began to change, so too did our individual appearances.

When life is in control, flesh covers the bones. When death takes over, the bones become exposed. It's the same with Zangetsu and I.

Over time, my power increased. Control started to switch over to death and Zangetsu became a part of me.

The more you try to draw on Zangetsu's powers, the easier it became for me to dominate your soul.

Is that so?

Then that means if I defeat you here, then Zangetsu will once again become the center of my spirit energy.

That makes sense...in theory. But you won't win.

Is that right? Don't be so sure about that! I wonder how confident you'll be after you see this!

You just don't understand, do you?

It's not like you MIGHT beat me. You CAN'T beat me!

Bankai!

I told you, you're not good enough, Ichigo.

Didn't you notice?

I was the first to use Getsugatensho after we released our Bankai.

And you? All you did was watch my technique. You tried to imitate me and failed miserably. You're incompetent. But you know that, don't you?

Ichigo... You might as well give up.

You're not good enough at Bankai.