During the Arrancar arc, Zaraki appears to Ichigo as his instinct and desire to win, explaining to him that they were both the type of people who live to fight (or fight to live) battle after battle. After Orihime is taken to Hueco Mundo, Zaraki arrives with Byakuya Kuchiki to retrieve Tōshirō Hitsugaya's group and bring them back to Soul Society. Later, in Hueco Mundo, Zaraki comes to Ichigo's aid during his battle with the Arrancar Tesla, dealing the Arrancar a mortal blow with a single strike and then engaging the Espada Nnoitra in battle. Despite having "more fun than he has had in a long time," he suffers enough injuries to realize that he may die if the fight continues. He flashes back to his Kendo training and grips his sword with two hands to deal Nnoitra a vicious, incapacitating blow. Unfortunately for Nnoitra during the ensuing fight Zaraki's eye-patch, which is a special seal that strongly 'consumes' his Spirit Pressure (this way battles will last longer allowing him to have more fun,) is cut off allowing Zaraki to fight at full power. When Nnoitra refuses to accept defeat and charges Zaraki, the latter kills him with another strike. Zaraki then stands over Nnoitra's corpse, telling him their battle "was a blast". He later appears to save Ichigo from the Cero Espada Yammy by cutting off one of his legs, and further engaging him in combat with Byakuya Kuchiki. When it seems that Zaraki and Byakuya are about to defeat him, Yammy undergoes a monstrous new transformation. Byakuya and Zaraki ultimately defeat their opponent, though Zaraki thought the fight was "boring". He is last seen being reprimanded by the Captain-Commander for losing his captain's "haori" in battle.