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(Toji POV)

The time had come. It was finally time for Ace to leave Foosha Village and become a Pirate. It was funny how he still wanted to become a pirate even when he had his mother, Garp as his Grandfather and me as his teacher. Although I have the fleeting suspicion that he sees me as more than just a teacher. A brother or maybe even a father. The atmosphere turned weird after a few years of living here together with Ace, Luffy, Sabo and Rogue.

Whenever Rogue was in the same room as me, it turned awkward. I found it awkward because Rogue was the woman of Roger, who was my friend. So starting something with her was almost impossible. My subconscious stopped me. I know that it doesn't really matter and while I enjoy her company and like her personality, I am not looking for a partner actively. I knew that there were a few women back in the Soul Society and also Hueco Mundo who might be willing to become more than just friends or acquaintances. But I was just not really interested at the moment.

Getting into a relationship meant that I had to sacrifice my freedom and care about another's opinion. And that was just not really my cup of tea. Yoruichi was a cat and they changed their opinions every day. Harribel is cute but a bit hard to deal with. Haaa, I was not really interested in sacrificing my freedom for them. And I knew that I would have to. That's why I enjoyed Rogue so much. She was just as interested in freedom as I was, she had her own personality, dreams, wishes, likes and dislikes, but she was also very much willing to both push her point and yield.

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Over the years that I was here, I trained the three brothers in martial arts and physical training. I also helped Luffy train the Gomu Gomu no mi. He was very smart in terms of fighting, but a bit shy on brains in other things. I enjoyed all the kids' company as well as Rogues'. I loved One Piece in general to be honest. There were a lot of bad things that were going on, but there were such things in Bleach as well. There are bad things everywhere, in every world and you can't stop all of ... well I guess I could. But that wouldn't be proper. The way Luffy does it, by pulling people in and having them fight for their dreams, that's the best way to solve this issue.

So now I stood here at the small port of Foosha Village and watched together with Rogue, who was disguised, Luffy, Dandan and the other bandits as Ace set sail and waved us goodbye.

"BYE Ace!! I'll come after you for sure!"

"Bye Luffy! I'll make sure to become strong and see the world until you come as well!", Ace screamed.

I smiled at this. It was funny to see him go. I knew some of the things that he would experience but I was also happy that he would get to fulfill his dream of becoming a pirate. I wasn't sure about the War of the Best yet. I thought about interfering but I didn't want to wait that long. I was going to leave One Piece ... temporarily. And I will leave today. It has been a while since I left Bleach and I wasn't sure how time flowed here compared to there. In the end, it wouldn't matter, as I would just get back to where I wanted.

I didn't stop my training even in this world. I teleported to space and saw some things ... well I wouldn't want to spoil it for anyone. After this complicated process, which I also don't want to spoil, I began to train in space. My control over my powers was coming along nicely. Thanks to the Essence of the Blank, I would grow as long as I trained and noticed a difference. I was still making progress.

.

"Rogue, I wanted to talk to you. Do you have time? You as well Luffy."

"What is it Toji?" "Sure Toji."

"You see. I have been on this island for 17 years now. And while I am free-spirited, I enjoyed my time here. But there are a few things, which I have to take care of. I put them off for a while now and it is time for me to take care of them. I hope that you two can understand that.", I said to them. Rogue seemed to understand what I was saying, contrary to Luffy.

"How long will you be gone?", she said with a strange expression.

"I don't know. But I guess a few years probably. It could be a few years or a few months, I'm not sure. But I will definitely return, you can believe that."

"NANIII? You're leaving TOJI???!!", Luffy screamed.

"I am also leaving, yes. But don't worry Luffy. I taught you what you need to know to survive this dangerous world. If you continue to train and listen to what I taught you, then I am certain that you will fulfil your dream of ************** and become the Pirate King."

"Shishishishishishi, you are the only one who never laughs at my dream, Toji."

"Why would I laugh? You weren't lying were you?"

"NO!!"

"Tahahaha. Don't worry. I will return and when I do, I want to see what progress you made and whether or not you will be able to find One Peace and become the Pirate King."

"Shishishishi, yes that's good."

.

The departure was hard. I came to see both Luffy and Rogue as my family in a way. They, Sabo and Ace, had the same position in my heart, as Shunsui, Jushiro and Yama-ji. They were very important to me and I would make sure they lived a good life. But now I have to take care of those that are important to me as in the other world. And for that, I need to leave, no matter how painful it may seem.

"Until we meet again you two. Don't worry about anything. I'll come back.", I wave them goodbye and then enter the forest. I didn't want them or anyone to see what I would do. I was going to travel through Multiversal barriers and that wasn't something they had to see.

I sat down somewhere and focused. It was almost two decades after I was forcefully ejected from the world of Bleach. And now I was uncertain how the world was going to greet me. I didn't care though. I was now stronger than ever and would make my way inside, one way or the other. I focused on the task at hand. I imagined the world of Bleach lighting up, like a lightbulb in the dark. Not really but metaphorically.

That was when I found it. I was correct, the worlds of Bleach and One Piece are very close together. Like Borthers and there is another one as well. The third of the brothers. But that wasn't important right now. I focused on the world of Bleach and where I wanted to go as well as when. After making sure nothing was wrong, I imagined being there and with a...

*Woosh*

... I was gone.

.

I appeared in Soul Society and was shocked for a moment. I looked around and saw ... death. All around me was death. What a f*cking tragedy was this! I had planned on arriving at this time, but now being here and seeing the devastation was hard. Apart from death, the entire Soul Society was seemingly on fire. An overpowering Reiatsu could be felt everywhere and it threatened to burn everything to the ground. I knew who this power and Reaitsu belonged to. It seemed Yama-ji was in the midst of battle.

[Picture]

The heat in the air was amazing however the next moment ... everything disappeared. All the flames, the heat, the danger and the familiarity ... it all disappeared in the next moment. I used Shunpo to arrive at the scene of the fight. I knew what this meant. It meant that Yama-ji had just lost his Bankai and also ... his life.

.

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(3rd Person POV)

The fight between Shigekuni Genryusai Yamamoto and Yhwach has come to an end. Yamamoto ... has died. Half of his corpse lies on the ground, while his lower body still stands in the same position.

"Let's go Haschwalth.", Yhwach says and turns around. 

"Yes, sir."

However just before Yhwach can walk away, he stops and turns around. It seems that Yamamoto even at the brink of death, grabbed his coat as if to say that he refuses to let him go. Yhwach looks at the hand for a moment and then cuts it off with his Reishi sword. 

"Trying to show that you won't let me get away even in death?"

Yhwach steps on Yamamoto's head and pushes it further into the ground.

"Pathetic."

"Shigekuni Yamamoto, you half-hearted fool. You will never know why I removed you from being counted as one of the six Special Threats.

Why didn't you restore your left arm? You could've done so if you'd ordered that human girl to...

I know why. You didn't want to exploit humans. I know all about it. Even during your battle with Aizen, you were apprehensive about getting Ichigo Kurosaki involved because he was a human. And even now, you stood before me trying to carry the burden of the Soul Society and the World of the Living on your shoulders ... and you lost.

You've grown weak, Shigekuni Yamamoto. You used to be different. The original Thirteen Court Guard Squads that you founded were Court Guards in name only. They were a group of savage killers. But because of that, they were a fearsome bunch. And as their leader, Shigekuni Yamamoto, you were truly a beast with the sword ...

You used everything and anything to slay an enemy. The lives of the people, including your own subordinates, weighed only as much as ash to you. But all that changed after you exterminated us Quincies.

Upon gaining a peaceful world, you people had more things to protect and to love. You've deteriorated into a bunch of weaklings who would hesitate to take action to satisfy your pathetic sense of justice and pride.

You died without realizing this, so I'm going to tell you."

Yhwach took a few steps backwards and then continued talking. He pointed a finger at the corpse of Yamamoto and a blue ball of energy appeared.

"The Soul Society is about to perish. But the Thirteen Court Guard Squads died with us a thousand years ago!"

Just as he finished talking, he fired the ball of energy at Yamamoto's corpse.

But just as it was about to hit Yamamoto, something happened. The energy vanished without a trace ...

.

Yhwach widened his eyes. He was surprised. Genuinely surprised. 

"Yare yare. Those were some harsh words you said there.", a male voice said. 

Yhwach and Jugram Haschwalth looked to the front and saw someone approach them. A single Shinigami, dressed in a Captain's haori.

"But I can't say that you're wrong. In fact, I couldn't have said it better myself.", he continued with a smirk on his face that screamed confidence. 

Yhwach and Jugram Haschwalth looked at the man in front of them. Yhwach narrowed his eyes. He knew who this was, in fact, he was one of the threats whom he paid a lot of attention to only for him to disappear suddenly.

"Toji Fushiguro, one of the Special War Threats.", he said.

"Oh? You know of me? I am deeply honoured to be recognised by someone with such a ... magnificent moustache. Truly kudos to you sir for maintaining this. I must say, hands off the best one. Do you use any special gel or something? I mean even Yama-ji tried to maintain his moustache but he just let himself go.", Toji said.

"Allow me your Majesty.", Jugram says and begins to draw his sword.

"No! Time to finish this. Inform every member of the Sternritter. Tell them to thoroughly ... crush the Soul Society!", Yhwach said to his second in command without taking his eyes off of Toji, who was still going on about moustaches.

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The next few chapters are probably going to be my favourite ones.