Recaps

Kaien Shiba agreed to help Ichigo Kurosaki and the others enter the Seireitei, but he refused to offer further aid unless Ichigo changed his surname to Shiba. After Ichigo refused, Kaien required Ganju Shiba to join the rescue mission, and the group prepared to depart in Shihakusho.

• Kaien offered to help the group enter the Seireitei in exchange for Ichigo changing his surname to Shiba, but Ichigo refused.
• Kaien agreed to get the group into the Seireitei anyway, while requiring Ichigo to take Ganju along and leaving the rescue itself to them.
• Kaien summoned Ganju, who objected to the mission but agreed after Kaien ordered him to go as head of the Shiba Clan.
• Ichigo urged the group to hurry and asked Kaien how they would sneak into the Seireitei.
• Kaien pulled out several sets of Shihakusho and told the group to change their clothes first.

Kaien Shiba led Ichigo Kurosaki and his companions into the Seireitei through its western gate by relying on his clan’s authority. He brought them to meet Kūkaku Shiba, who welcomed Ichigo back and mistakenly believed he had entered the Soul Society to save his lover, Rukia Kuchiki.

• Kaien Shiba explained the Seireitei’s gates and announced that the group would enter openly through the front gate.
• Kaien Shiba persuaded Jidanbō Ikkanzaka to open the White Way Gate, and Jidanbō recognized the group as Ryoka but let them pass.
• Kaien Shiba led the group through the Seireitei, where his presence kept patrols from challenging them.
• Kaien Shiba brought Ichigo Kurosaki and the others to meet Kūkaku Shiba, who excitedly welcomed Ichigo and urged him to return to the Shiba Clan.
• Kaien Shiba explained the group’s purpose to Kūkaku, who mistook Ichigo’s mission to rescue Rukia Kuchiki as a romantic quest and declared them lovers.

Ichigo Kurosaki and his companions reached the Second Division barracks to rescue Rukia, where they ran into Renji Abarai. Renji decided to join the rescue and pressured Ichigo into taking him along, despite Ichigo’s contempt for him.

• Kūkaku Shiba led Ichigo Kurosaki and the others toward the Second Division barracks while Yoruichi reunited with her as a cat.
• At the barracks entrance, Ichigo recognized Renji Abarai, who was pleading to visit Rukia, and tried to hide from him.
• Renji spotted Ichigo and confronted him about regaining his Soul Reaper powers and coming to rescue Rukia.
• Renji resolved to help save Rukia and demanded that Ichigo take him inside, threatening to shout and expose him if he refused.
• Ichigo agreed to take Renji along but warned him not to get in the way.

Ichigo Kurosaki, Renji Abarai, and their allies broke into the Second Division barracks to reach Rukia Kuchiki, with Kūkaku Shiba joining the fight after smashing through the gate. As Ichigo and Renji pushed ahead, lieutenant Shaoling Fon learned of the invasion and prepared to confront the intruders.

• Kūkaku Shiba refused to accompany Ichigo Kurosaki and Renji Abarai, then knocked out the Second Division guards after they denied them entry.
• When alarms rang, Kūkaku Shiba used a powerful punch to break through the reinforced iron gate and told the group to continue without her.
• Ichigo Kurosaki and Renji Abarai charged into the barracks, while Uryū Ishida, Yasutora Sado, Orihime Inoue, and Ganju Shiba fought off the growing number of Stealth Force members.
• As Ichigo Kurosaki and Renji Abarai became surrounded, Kūkaku Shiba returned and overwhelmed dozens of enemies, allowing them to press on toward Rukia Kuchiki.
• In the captain's office, Shaoling Fon crushed her teacup after hearing that intruders were causing trouble and prepared to face them.

Ichigo Kurosaki and Renji Abarai tried to break through the Second Division to rescue Rukia Kuchiki, but Hōshō Ryo stopped them and overwhelmed them with her speed and strength. Renji held her off so Ichigo could continue, while Hōshō Ryo dismissed their clash as a game of cat and mouse.

• Ichigo Kurosaki and Renji Abarai argued over who should hold off their pursuers while racing toward Rukia Kuchiki.
• They encountered Hōshō Ryo, and Renji recognized her as a dangerous opponent while the Stealth Force members halted behind them.
• Hōshō Ryo vanished from sight and threatened Ichigo, but Renji released Zabimaru, narrowly missing Ichigo as he attacked her.
• Hōshō Ryo caught Renji Abarai's Zanpakuto between two fingers, proving that neither of them could match her strength.
• Renji urged Ichigo to leave and entrusted Rukia's rescue to him, then faced Hōshō Ryo alone.
• Ichigo ran on toward Rukia as Hōshō Ryo mocked Renji's attempt to fight her as a game of cat and mouse.

Renji Abarai challenged Shaoling Fon to let Ichigo Kurosaki continue, but her overwhelming Bankai blasted him and the Second Division grounds. Yoruichi revealed the plan to use Rukia Kuchiki to draw out the hidden enemy, while Ichigo was shot down by Lilynette Starrk near the captain’s office.

• Renji Abarai sent Ichigo Kurosaki deeper into the Second Division and stood to face Shaoling Fon, then released his Bankai, Baboon King Zabimaru.
• Shaoling Fon praised Renji before unleashing her modified Bankai, Suzumebachi Raikōgō, and blasted him with a Hōjaku Raikōben, devastating the barracks.
• Kūkaku Shiba arrived, and Yoruichi appeared in black-cat form to tell Shaoling Fon that Ichigo and his allies were not enemies and should be allowed to rescue Rukia Kuchiki to draw out the mastermind.
• Shaoling Fon said she could not control the Second Division without Sōgo, while Yoruichi recognized that the division’s members were unusually dangerous.
• Ichigo Kurosaki reached the captain’s office, where Lilynette Starrk transformed and shot him through the chest with an azure beam.

Ichigo Kurosaki died fighting Lilynette and transformed into a berserk Menos Grande, while Uryū Ishida and the others were confronted by a mysterious green-haired Soul Reaper. Lilynette prepared a powerful attack to end Ichigo’s suffering as his friends realized the danger he was in.

• Uryū Ishida, Yasutora Sado, Orihime Inoue, and Ganju Shiba headed toward Ichigo after sensing an explosion and terrifying Spiritual Pressure, but a green-haired man appeared and accused them of being spies.
• The green-haired man struck Sado unconscious, then told Orihime that one of her companions had died; Uryū attacked him with Reishi arrows but was nearly killed.
• A savage roar interrupted the green-haired man, who called for Aura before vanishing, and Uryū recognized the new ominous Spiritual Pressure as Ichigo’s.
• Ichigo, who had died, transformed into a lizard-like Menos Grande and roared at Lilynette, who refused to use Resurrección against him.
• Lilynette’s blue attack overwhelmed Ichigo’s Cero, but his regeneration kept him alive through the blast, so she prepared a Menos Grande Flash to finish him.

Ichigo Kurosaki awakened in his inner world, learned that the Hollow inside him had saved him, and fought Zangetsu to master the power needed to reclaim his body. Outside, his Hollow form transformed into a horned, Bankai-wielding monster and faced Lilynette, while White exploited Zangetsu’s weakened seal to send Ichigo more power.

• Zangetsu awakened Ichigo Kurosaki in his inner world and told him that the Hollow inside him had saved him from death.
• Zangetsu explained that Ichigo had to defeat him to master the power needed to tame the Hollow and reclaim his body, and the two clashed with Getsuga Tenshō.
• Lilynette repeatedly blasted the Hollowfied Ichigo’s head as it regenerated, but he rose again and blocked her Cero.
• Ichigo shouted Bankai, transformed into a horned monster, and released Spiritual Pressure that contended with Lilynette’s Resurrección.
• White took advantage of Zangetsu’s weakened seal to send more of his power to Ichigo.

Orihime and the others sheltered from Ichigo and Lilynette’s battle while Kūkaku revealed that Ichigo was her cousin and explained his connection to White. As Lilynette tricked Ichigo with a nonstop Cero barrage, his attack crashed into Kuruyashiki’s food and drink, prompting the former Kenpachi to reveal his Visored power and demand payment.

• Orihime, Uryū, Sado, Ganju, and the Second Division members took shelter from the battle raging above the barracks.
• Kūkaku confirmed that the bull-headed fighter was Ichigo and told Yoruichi and the others about Isshin, White, and Ichigo’s Shiba Clan ties.
• Orihime admitted that she feared losing the Ichigo she knew, and Kūkaku reassured her before asking everyone to keep the family secret from him.
• Lilynette unleashed a heavy-machine-gun barrage, then lured Ichigo into a powerful Cero blast by making him think she needed time between attacks.
• Ichigo crashed into Kuruyashiki’s table, destroying his peanuts and liquor, and the broke former Kenpachi revealed his Visored mask and demanded payment.

Ichigo Kurosaki regained control of his body, achieved Bankai, and tried to enlist Kuruyashiki Kenpachi to help rescue Rukia. He was knocked unconscious by Lilynette Starrk and later woke up chained beside his friends, who explained that Kisuke Urahara’s advice had led Orihime Inoue to throw Yoruichi at Sōgo Shihoin.

• Kuruyashiki Kenpachi fought bull-headed Ichigo with a point-blank Cero clash, and Ichigo eventually drove the Hollow form out and revealed his Bankai, Tensa Zangetsu.
• Ichigo accepted responsibility for the damage to the Second Division barracks and asked Kuruyashiki to help rescue Rukia, learning that Kuruyashiki was one of her teachers.
• Lilynette Starrk punched Ichigo unconscious after he declared he would rescue Rukia.
• Sōgo Shihoin confronted Ichigo and his friends, who were chained up, and asked why they had thrown his sister at him.
• Uryū Ishida explained that Kisuke Urahara’s advice about Yoruichi had been misunderstood, and Orihime had thrown the black cat at Sōgo when they met him.

Ichigo Kurosaki and the others learned that Yoruichi Shihōin was Sōgo Shihoin’s biological older sister, while Sōgo amused himself with Orihime Inoue by inventing absurd stories about their family. The siblings recalled how they had outmaneuvered the Central 46 Chambers, whose members were now all dead, leaving Sōgo lamenting that nobody remained to challenge him.

• Uryū Ishida explained that the group had used Yoruichi against her brother Sōgo, but Ichigo fixated on learning that Yoruichi was female.
• Sōgo confirmed that Yoruichi was his biological sister and teased Orihime with fabricated claims that their whole family were cats.
• Renji Abarai recognized Yoruichi as the former Second Division Captain and head of the Shihoin Family, whose defection was recorded in Shin'ō Academy textbooks.
• Yoruichi woke up and celebrated her place in the textbooks with Sōgo.
• Sōgo recalled defeating the Central 46 Chambers’ schemes after Yoruichi defected and said that everyone who had tried to rein them in was now dead.
• Uryū watched Sōgo and Yoruichi joke about the deaths and recognized their shared, reckless attitude.

Ichigo Kurosaki learned that Sōgo Shihoin had kept Rukia Kuchiki inaccessible to protect her, then faced a demand to pay for the Second Division barracks. His friends ultimately offered to share the burden, and Sōgo freed Ichigo and Renji Abarai after they challenged each other to fight.

• Sōgo Shihoin told Ichigo Kurosaki he would not release Rukia Kuchiki and explained that restricting visitors was meant to protect her.
• Renji Abarai realized Sōgo's orders had prevented anyone from seeing Rukia, while Sōgo demanded over three billion in damages for the Second Division barracks.
• Renji Abarai and Uryū Ishida tried to shift responsibility for the damage onto Ichigo Kurosaki, but Ichigo accepted the debt himself.
• Orihime Inoue, Uryū Ishida, Yasutora Sado, and Renji Abarai offered to share Ichigo's responsibility, with Renji then claiming he would bear it all alone.
• Ichigo Kurosaki and Renji Abarai argued and challenged each other to fight, so Sōgo Shihoin snapped his fingers and released them from their ropes.

Ichigo Kurosaki and Renji Abarai tried to avoid their promised duel, but Sōgo Shihoin healed them and forced the fight to begin. They both secretly intended to defeat the other, and the chapter ended with Renji struggling after Ichigo unleashed a powerful Getsuga Tenshō.

• Ichigo Kurosaki and Renji Abarai made excuses to avoid fighting, but Sōgo Shihoin used his wellness Kidō to restore them to peak condition and insisted they duel.
• Renji Abarai proposed staging a fake fight, and Ichigo Kurosaki agreed to pretend while they held back.
• Renji Abarai asked Sōgo Shihoin to create a barrier, then he and Ichigo Kurosaki activated Bankai and released their full Spiritual Pressure.
• Renji Abarai claimed he would suppress half his strength, while Ichigo Kurosaki answered by unleashing a powerful Getsuga Tenshō.
• Renji Abarai blocked the attack with Zabimaru, but the collision destroyed the training room floor and left him panting as Sōgo Shihoin urged them to continue.

Sōsuke Aizen prepared to begin his plan while Ichigo Kurosaki and Renji Abarai were trapped behind a sealed training-room door. The next morning, patrol members discovered a captain murdered and pinned to an office wall, signaling a crisis in Soul Society.

• Sōsuke Aizen manipulated Momo Hinamori's admiration and reflected that the shock of his eventual betrayal was part of his plan.
• Sōsuke Aizen declared that Sōgo Shihoin, Kurosaki, and everyone else were in position and that the play could begin.
• Sōgo Shihoin left Ichigo Kurosaki and Renji Abarai in the training room, where they dropped their staged fight and discovered he had locked the doors.
• Ichigo Kurosaki and Renji Abarai tried Getsuga Tenshō and Shakkahō against the doors, but a barrier kept them trapped.
• The next morning, Seireitei patrol members found a captain dead, with his own Zanpakuto through his chest and his body pinned to an office wall.

Shaoling Fon arrived at the scene of Sōsuke Aizen’s death and clashed with Gin Ichimaru and Momo Hinamori over accusations against the Second Division and Sōgo Shihoin. Tōshirō Hitsugaya intervened to protect Momo, and Shaoling Fon revealed that her Zanpakuto had already marked her once.

• Shaoling Fon learned that Sōsuke Aizen had been killed and left the Second Division barracks for the square.
• Shunsui Kyōraku, Gin Ichimaru, Sajin Komamura, Kaname Tōsen, Byakuya Kuchiki, and Kūkaku Shiba gathered at Aizen’s body as the captains speculated about his death.
• Shaoling Fon claimed the scene for the Second Division, and Gin Ichimaru provoked her by suggesting the division might be responsible.
• Momo Hinamori accused the Second Division and Sōgo Shihoin of killing Aizen, so Shaoling Fon slapped her and threatened her unless she apologized.
• Tōshirō Hitsugaya arrived to protect Momo, refused to put down his Zanpakuto, and Shaoling Fon challenged him while explaining her Zanpakuto’s two-touch killing ability.
• Tōshirō Hitsugaya saw the mark on Momo’s neck and realized Shaoling Fon had already touched her once.

Shaoling Fon overwhelmed Tōshirō Hitsugaya in their fight while the captains watched, until Yamamoto arrived and ended the confrontation with orders about Aizen’s body and Momo Hinamori. When Kaname Tōsen removed Aizen’s corpse from the wall, Yamamoto, Retsu Unohana, and Shunsui Kyōraku sensed something was wrong, leaving Aizen’s death in doubt.

• Tōshirō Hitsugaya handed Momo Hinamori to Rangiku Matsumoto and faced Shaoling Fon, releasing Hyōrinmaru but being outmatched.
• Shaoling Fon shattered Hitsugaya’s ice attacks, hurled him into the sky, and broke his enormous ice dragon with her Shunkō.
• Yamamoto arrived, stopped the fight, ordered the Fourth Division to take Aizen’s body, and suspended Momo from duty under the Sixth Division’s supervision.
• Retsu Unohana asked someone to retrieve Aizen’s corpse, and Kaname Tōsen took it down from the wall.
• Shunsui Kyōraku, Yamamoto, and Unohana sensed something unusual about the corpse, and Shunsui questioned whether Aizen was truly dead.

After Yamamoto ended the confrontation, Byakuya took Momo Hinamori away while Tōshirō Hitsugaya struggled with his defeat by Hōshō Ryo and questioned how he could grow stronger. Meanwhile, Aizen’s allies prepared to help him escape Soul Society, and Aizen began his plan to stand in the heavens.

• Yamamoto left after announcing his decision, while Byakuya sealed Momo Hinamori’s spiritual pressure and forced her to follow him to the Sixth Division barracks.
• Hōshō Ryo mocked Tōshirō Hitsugaya before leaving for the Second Division barracks, and Rangiku Matsumoto encouraged Hitsugaya to keep working after his loss.
• Hitsugaya questioned whether he could ever match Hōshō Ryo and learned how Soul Society’s reliance on Zanpakuto training had left him without a clear path to improve.
• Gin Ichimaru warned Aizen that his staged death could be exposed, while Gosuke reported that Baraggan and the others would use a thousand Menos Grande to help them escape.
• Aizen told his allies not to underestimate Sōgo Shihoin and declared that he would begin his plan to stand in the heavens.

Sōgo Shihoin recognized Aizen’s reported death as a deception and withdrew the Second Division’s defenses to lure him toward Rukia Kuchiki. Aizen appeared at the barracks but hesitated to take the power sealed within Rukia, then left after declaring he would claim it openly and formally challenge Sōgo.

• Shaoling Fon told Sōgo Shihoin that Aizen had been declared dead, and Sōgo insisted that Aizen had faked his death.
• Sōgo ordered Shaoling Fon to withdraw the Second Division’s fighters and defenses, including Rukia Kuchiki’s guards, so Aizen would come for her.
• Aizen appeared outside the deserted barracks, where Sōya Azashiro reminded him of their agreement and allowed him to enter.
• Sōya Azashiro told Aizen that Rukia was inside and challenged him to retrieve the power sealed within her himself.
• After hesitating and losing his composure briefly, Aizen said he would take the power openly and formally declare war on Sōgo, then vanished.

Sōgo Shihoin learned Aizen had not visited Rukia and spent the morning pampering his sister, Yoruichi Shihōin, while they joked about her friends and his possible future as a masseur. Yoruichi went to train Ichigo Kurosaki and Renji Abarai, arriving to find Ichigo trapped beneath her foot and turning their meeting into a confrontation.

• Sōgo learned Aizen had not gone to see Rukia, then massaged Yoruichi while she praised his technique and suggested he open a massage parlor.
• Yoruichi told Sōgo about her kitten friends, and Sōgo questioned whether they would pay for massages before asking where Ichigo and Renji were.
• Sōgo said Ichigo and Renji were in the basement, prompting Yoruichi to leave and use his training ground to teach Ichigo how to fight.
• Yoruichi changed from her black cat form into a human woman, dressed in clothes from Sōgo's stored space, and headed to the underground training room.
• Ichigo, starving after two days in the basement, called for the iron door to open and found Yoruichi stepping on his head as she entered.
• Yoruichi teased Ichigo about enjoying being stepped on, then admitted she had acted carelessly when he angrily explained what happened.

Yoruichi Shihōin revealed her identity to Ichigo Kurosaki and urged him and Renji Abarai to crash Rukia Kuchiki’s execution, which was scheduled for three days later. Meanwhile, Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake suspected that Aizen’s apparent death was part of a plan connected to Rukia, and prepared for what was coming.

• Yoruichi Shihōin introduced herself to Ichigo Kurosaki, explained that she had returned to her human form, and told him Rukia Kuchiki would be executed in three days.
• Yoruichi Shihōin recruited Ichigo Kurosaki and Renji Abarai to storm the execution and began training them in the Shihoin Family’s basement.
• Retsu Unohana examined Aizen’s corpse repeatedly but remained troubled by a persistent sense that something was wrong.
• Shunsui Kyōraku met Jūshirō Ukitake and the Shiba siblings at the Shiba residence to discuss the Central 46 Chambers’ destruction.
• Shunsui Kyōraku suspected Sōsuke Aizen was behind the crisis despite the corpse, and he and Jūshirō Ukitake connected Aizen’s plan to Rukia Kuchiki.
• Shunsui Kyōraku told Jūshirō Ukitake to seek the Shihoin’s permission and prepare a shield for later use.

Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai and Chōjirō Sasakibe discussed the Central 46 Chambers massacre and concluded someone was trying to frame Sōgo Shihoin and provoke a clash. Yamamoto revealed that Sōgo had surpassed him, then ordered Rukia Kuchiki’s execution to proceed as a staged performance; the execution day arrived with the Gotei 13 divided by secret agendas.

• Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai asked Chōjirō Sasakibe about the Soul Society’s situation, and Chōjirō said the Five Great Noble Clans would be harder to restrain after the Central 46 Chambers were wiped out.
• Chōjirō identified Sōgo Shihoin as the likely killer of the Central 46 Chambers and Sōsuke Aizen, but Yamamoto reasoned that someone was framing Sōgo to provoke conflict.
• Yamamoto told Chōjirō that Sōgo had surpassed him and said the Gotei 13 would have been dead already if Sōgo truly opposed them.
• Yamamoto ordered Chōjirō to prepare the Sōkyoku and proceed with Rukia Kuchiki’s execution as part of the performance.
• Rukia’s execution day arrived, and the Gotei 13 stayed unusually quiet while its captains pursued their own agendas.

On the day of Rukia Kuchiki’s execution, Ichigo Kurosaki and Renji Abarai left Yoruichi Shihōin’s training room to raid the execution ground while the captains gathered. The execution began without the expected rescue, leaving Shunsui Kyōraku and Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai anxious as Rukia was brought before the Sōkyoku.

• Yoruichi Shihōin sent Ichigo Kurosaki and Renji Abarai to raid the execution ground after their training, and they left to rescue Rukia Kuchiki.
• Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai waited at the Sōkyoku with Sajin Komamura as the captains arrived late, including Retsu Unohana, Byakuya Kuchiki, and Shunsui Kyōraku with Nanao Ise.
• Shaoling Fon, Kūkaku Shiba, and Tōshirō Hitsugaya arrived, but the captains of the Third, Ninth, 11th, and Twelfth Divisions did not appear.
• First Division squad members brought Rukia Kuchiki to the execution ground and announced that the execution would begin immediately.
• Shunsui Kyōraku worried that Jūshirō Ukitake had not arrived, while Yamamoto feared the rescue would not come despite having no intention of letting Rukia die.

Rukia Kuchiki faced her execution with composure after Byakuya Kuchiki comforted her, but Ichigo Kurosaki arrived and stopped the Sōkyoku to rescue her. Ichigo hurled Rukia to Renji Abarai, then prepared to face Kikōō as a silver-haired man arrived with a shield.

• Byakuya Kuchiki placed a hand on Rukia Kuchiki’s shoulder, and she walked toward the execution scaffold with her head held high.
• Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai released the Sōkyoku, which transformed into the firebird Kikōō and charged at Rukia.
• Ichigo Kurosaki appeared before Rukia and blocked Kikōō’s attack with his Zanpakuto, then freed her from the scaffold.
• Ichigo carried Rukia over his shoulder and threw her toward Renji Abarai, who caught her; Rukia stomped on Renji after landing.
• Ichigo challenged Kikōō from atop the execution stand, and a silver-haired man arrived with a massive shield as Shunsui Kyōraku welcomed him.

Shunsui Kyōraku and his allies destroyed Kikōō and confronted Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, who released Ryūjin Jakka against five captains. As their battle began, Retsu Unohana asked Tōshirō Hitsugaya to stop the Ryoka who had rescued Rukia.

• Shunsui Kyōraku attacked Kikōō, and Jūshirō Ukitake and Kaien Shiba helped bring it down with the Shihōin Clan's heavenly armament.
• Sajin Komamura challenged Byakuya Kuchiki, but Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai ordered them to fight elsewhere, and they moved away.
• Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai advanced on Shunsui Kyōraku, Jūshirō Ukitake, Kaien Shiba, and Kūkaku Shiba, then Hōshō Ryo joined them.
• Shunsui Kyōraku, Jūshirō Ukitake, Kaien Shiba, Kūkaku Shiba, and Hōshō Ryo faced Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai as five captains and released their Zanpakuto.
• Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai released Ryūjin Jakka, and Retsu Unohana shielded the lieutenants from its heat with Kidō.
• Retsu Unohana told Tōshirō Hitsugaya to stop the Ryoka who had rescued Rukia.

Tōshirō Hitsugaya confronted Ichigo Kurosaki, learned he was Captain Isshin’s son, and released his Bankai after Ichigo revealed his own. Their fight was interrupted when Renji Abarai arrived battered and warned Ichigo to run, just before Kenpachi Zaraki appeared and caught Ichigo’s blade with his bare hand.

• Retsu Unohana sent Tōshirō Hitsugaya to stop Ichigo Kurosaki while she and the injured lieutenants stayed behind.
• Hitsugaya struck Ichigo with Hyōrinmaru, but Ichigo emerged nearly unharmed and sent Hitsugaya flying with a powerful slash.
• Ichigo introduced himself and unleashed Getsuga Tenshō, prompting Hitsugaya to recognize him as Captain Isshin’s son and answer with an ice dragon.
• Hitsugaya activated Daiguren Hyōrinmaru, and Ichigo answered with Tensa Zangetsu, surprising Hitsugaya by saying he had learned Bankai naturally in battle at age fifteen.
• Renji Abarai crashed into the battlefield, warned Ichigo that a monster was coming, and told him Rukia was safe.
• Kenpachi Zaraki appeared behind Ichigo, and Ichigo’s reflexive slash cut Kenpachi’s hand before Kenpachi caught Zangetsu barehanded.