The rules for this fight are simple. This will be a two round, point based contest. The fight will end when either the zanpakutou or the prospective user have earned enough points to be declared the winner. GET READY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A relaxed expression rested upon the face of Isao as he sat in his personal quarters. He was calm and peaceful, with his zanpakuto resting upon his lap. His legs were crossed and his hands sat gently upon his knees. Concentration was required for the task he was doing. It's called Jinzen. His consciousness drifted slowly as he searched his soul for the location he desired. The inner world of his zanpakuto. It didn't take long. Water rushed out of the void like a tidal wave and swept him off his feet. He was thrown around under the power of the liquid for only a few short moments before washing up on a beach. He opened his eyes to see a beautiful beach of tan sand. The waters calmly brushing it's edges. He had arrived. Studying the area, he noticed a few strange things. He lifted his body up off the sand, standing in an informal state. He quickly brushed off the sand, making sure his Shihakusho wasn't too dirty.

As he once again focused on the scenery around him, a few things jumped out at him like flashing neon lights. The sand stopped after 30 meters, met with a field of flowers that were blue in color. What exact kind he did not know. The sun was bright and high in the sky, and yet he did not feel it's warmth. He looked out to the sea to see no aquatic animals. Things were odd, but that was to be expected. His task was simple. He had to wait for the arrival of his opponent. Nejibana. Many times they had met in this same place. Every time, Isao made a new observation about the place. As he grew in power, it seemed this place grew in it's oddly fascinating appearance. Isao moved his hand to the hilt of his zanpakuto, lifting it out and holding it in a cautious stance. Where the spirit would come from changed every time, however he was prepared. Alertness was something that was learned, especially after being in a war. All he could do now, was wait.

" Hey, hey..." The form that was Nejibana would come as if out of the ether from slightly behind the Shinigami. The blade knows well that it could have struck the young man down yet, it chose rather have a conversation with him. It had been quite some time since the last time his wielder entered into his world, so he would take every moment he could to enjoy the company. " It has been such a long time since we last spoke like this....I see you have been doing well.." The blade's mood would not denote that of a weapon with the propensity to kill but rather, for the propensity to garner friendships. The blade made sure to take a second to eye the blade within the grasp of his Shinigami. He could tell his Shinigami was being cautious and rightly so, for they both knew why he had come.

" I always enjoy these conversations old friend....do we have to do this right now?" The blade had a look of concern across it's face. It really did not want to have to fight it's old friend but it knew that no amount of talking could decide if the Shinigami was indeed worthy of wielding such power as that within the possession of Nejibana. The sounds of the water rushing onto the beach every so often would help to illuminate the true feelings of the blade. " What is indeed powerful....yet it is also gentle....my power is very much like this and yet, you fail to even call upon it's true nature when you know I care deeply for you and enjoy every moment we spend together in battle..." The blade would smile at the Shinigami before withdrawing his own blade.

" I pray that I obtain the answers I seek through the clashing of our blades...may luck be with you..." With those words, the blade took off immediately. Using the initial thrust from his sudden sprint forward the blade would leap slightly into the air, then coming back down with a hard overhead slash at the Shinigami. The blade would act as a guillotine, in an attempt to chop into the man's skull.

Suddenly, the voice that was so familiar to him sounded out. The source was behind him, causing him to spin around quickly. He smiled as he saw the old friend that went by the name of Nejibana. The spirit had a unique look, seemingly taking the anatomy of a human with subtle traces of fish characteristics. Markings that looked like gills sat upon his neck and below his eyes. His body had a blue tint in its coloring. He was truly a magnificent zanpakuto. He was clothed in a very loose fitting attire, allowing the spirit free movement. There was a battle to be had, and yet his words were kind. Such an attitude is what made Isao simply love his zanpakuto and their relationship. "It's nice to see you to my friend. Unfortunately, I think we better get to it. Maybe we will have time to chat afterwards." The words were truthful as he slid into that same defensive stance he used before.

Nejibana spoke of his power and how Isao did not use its full potential. That much was very true, but not from a lack of effort. He loved their time together and would be here more often if only his position allowed it. "Hopefully, I can do just that. Thank you." He said as Nejibana took off in a sprint, signaling the start of the battle. As the spirit moved forward and swung his blade, Isao waited till the last moment to Shunpo out of the way. It was a simple task for someone of his speed, and he was about to follow it up. He would stop only a 5 meters away from his opponent. He raised his hand and spoke clearly. "Hado #33, Soukatsui" the words were softly spoken as the blue colored reiatsu built in his hand and jetted towards the spirit almost instantly. He doubted such a weak Kido would hurt him significantly, but he always took a little time to fight at full force against the spirit he respected.

As the blade came down, it noticed the sudden increase in reiatsu coming from the boy, and in turn swatted it's blade to the left, parrying off the blade. Nejibana's move appeared majestic as it entered into a small tuck backwards, landing on the ground softly. Without any hesitation or moment of rest, Nejibana began sprinting towards the boy. The blade would allow it's sword to be grasped in a lower guard position as the blade had begun to build up momentum for the coming strike. Upon reaching the boy. the blade would step off the ground, entering into a high speed twirling spin. The blade was spinning so fast it looked like a flashing light as it came down towards the Shinigami.

" Good idea...we can talk after I beat you....." The blade's words were rife with sarcasm and playfulness.

With a brilliant move, Nejibana dodged the kido effortlessly. He wasted no time in in starting him counter attack, sprinting forward once again. Isao slid into that same defensive stance, waiting for the right moment to move. It was time to go ahead and take this seriously. He moved at an even faster speed than the shunpo before, leaving behind an afterimage of himself. As Nejibana's attack landed, The afterimage seemed to be hit and fell to the ground. This technique was an incomplete version of Utsusemi, but it would do the job hopefully. Isao would appear behind the spirit about 10 meters away. A glowing rod was already in his hand as he spoke clearly once again. "Bakudo #62, Hyapporankan" As the sentence ended, the man's arm thrust forward launching the rod in Nejibana's direction.

As it quickly traveled the distance between them, it split into 50 rods of a much smaller length. It would be hard to dodge all of them without going Shikai, which is exactly what he wanted the spirit to do. "It will take more than straight forward attacks to beat me old friend." He responded in a playful manner as he awaited to see what Nejibana's reaction would be. He clutched his sword tightly with his right hand, making sure to never relax it. He was fighting a powerful spirit that could easily turn the tide of the match with a quick move. He was alert and ready for anything.

The blade could feel itself slide through the after image and it could instantly tell that the Shinigami had used a technique it had seen him use many times before. Without falter the blade turned around just in time to see the rods coming, shortly after hearing the attack's name being called out. Nejibana leaped into the air, twisting and twirling to avoid the coming rods. All the rods had managed to glide past the blade, which in turn, allotted the blade a chance to leap back down to ground. The blade knowing the Shinigami would be caught off guard entered into a high speed movement, closing the gap between them. " Your movements have become unrefined, amateurish...sloppy..." The blade was no longer being nice and polite and had become rather agitated by the Shinigami's half-hearted attempts to defeat it.

Upon reaching the boy, the blade would slash inward toward the Shinigami's stomach. " Do not take me lightly Isao....or you will die.."

As Nejibana turned to see the rods flying towards him, he jumped into the air, using that same incredible acrobatic skill to weave through them. The spirit never ceased to amaze Isao, making him give a smile at it. Once the spirit connected with the ground, he entered a high speed movement. An eyebrow raised as Isao prepared himself for an attack. Suddenly, the zanpakuto appeared in front of him and slash inward towards Isao. Moving his hand only a small distance, he would block the blade with his own. Once they connected, he put strength behind his blade, hoping to make the opponent loose balance. He would leap backwards and spin his blade quickly. "Surge, Waters and Heaven, Nejibana" with these words spoken, the blade would form into the trident like weapon of its Shikai. Water bursts from both sides as he stopped its movement. "Do not mistake me for a fool. I am neither amateurish nor sloppy. You haven't faired any better."

His words were no longer sweet, but determined. He wasn't the most confident guy around, but being insulted by his own blade brought out the will of the lieutenant. He would use high speed movement to close the distance in a fast manner, thrusting the pronged side of his weapon at Nejibana's stomach. Water would flood from its tip, creating a wave of great force to emphasize his attack. He was already thinking of his next move, weighing the options of various Kido in his mind. He would win. That was his only option.

Nejibana chuckled lightly as it's blade was parried away. " Your movements are indeed sloppy...." The blade could feel a sudden increase in reiatsu coming from the Shinigami. As the Shinigami went into Shikai, the blade would back hand spring high into the air, then landing several feet away acting as a two fold move. One, to avoid the coming watery blast and two, to add some distance between the two. The blade itself knew what fighting against Shikai would mean and in turn, smiled at the boy. He had gone into Shikai almost as if out of instinct or rather was it agitation? Either way the blade was delighted that he managed to make the Shinigami go into Shikai so easily. " You need to liven up a bit old friend, you allowed my words to stir such emotion out of you....are you truly that weak?" The blade would raise it's own reiatsu, then going into Shikai itself.

" Surge, Waters and Heaven, Nejibana " With those words, the Zanpakutou's own blade transformed into it's true self. " You lack the propensity to defeat me....that has now become obvious....Shall I end your life now or end your life after you have struggled for a little while?" An air of contention was around the two as their battle ensued. The Zanpakutou had known the Shinigami for many years and in so, had managed to pick up on all of his fighting ques and weaknesses. The blade would now begin it's counter offensive. With one swift motion the blade twirled itself through the air coming down towards the head of the Shinigami. " Die!!!!"

The blade continued it's words as it dodged the attack that Isao used. "You have stirred the motivation and determination out of me, not anger. I don't recall you having such arrogance." He said with a calmly demeanor. The spirit then activated the it's shikai as well, continuing to speak as if the battle was already won. Isao didn't let it effect his mind, staying strong in his stance that was now defensive. "Act as you see fit. I will do the same." Isao responded to his question with a gleam of pure willpower in his eyes. His reiatsu was strong and his facial expression matched it. He would wait for the enemy to make his move, watching as his weapon twirled through the air to attack from the front. Isao would simply meet his bade with his own, causing them to clash and bounce off one another. He was up close, making it harder for Nejibana to dodge the next attack.

With only a slight movement, Isao would twist the trident so that the spiraled end would thrust out towards Nejibana's stomach. Water would burst from it's it's tip in a concussive wave. Isao was far from done though. A use of shunpo was all it took for him to quickly position himself 10 meters to the spirit's left. His hand would already be raised and start to crackle with electric reiatsu. "Hado #88, Hiryu Gekizoku Shinten Raiho" These words sounded different than the kido commands that were spoken before. These were confident and serious. Within a moment, a gigantic blast of electric reiatsu would rush towards the blade. Being caught in it or using the shikai's water powers against it would be a deadly mistake. It would require the blade to further use his high speed movement. This wall all within the Lieutenant's plan, as he had another few techniques in mind to make fighting a bit harder for the confident spirit.

You have passed! Congrats