BLEACH episodes

Barragan's two remaining fraccion, Ggio Vega and Nirgge Parduoc, offer to deal with the other Shinigami themselves, and end up facing against second division captain Soifon and second division lieutenant Marechiyo Oomaeda. While tenth division captain Toshiro Hitsugaya begins fighting Harribel, lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto begins fighting her fraccion, who are able to defend themselves against her zanpakuto's ability by using ceros. Eighth and thirteenth division captains Kyoraku and Ukitake face Stark, but are unwilling to fight against his fraccion, Lilinette. While Oomaeda struggles against Nirgge, Soifon is able to pin Ggio to the wall and releases her zanpakuto.

Ggio manages to free himself and fights back against Soi Fon, chiding her for not finishing him off when she had the chance. He releases his zanpakuto and continues fighting her, seeming to be of equal or greater skill. Oomaeda continues fighting Nirgge, and while it appears that Nirgge can keep up with his speed even in his slower release state, Oomaeda reveals that he had only pretended to be slow, and manages to outmaneuver Nirgge and bash him in the head with his zanpakuto. Despite this, Nirgge gets up again, only to die when Ggio accidentally knocks Soi Fon at his head.

Soifon continues fighting Ggio, and is pinned down. Nirgge gets up and tries attacking Omaeda again, but he defeats him and tries to help Soifon. Ggio is about to shoot Omaeda with a Cero but Soifon breaks free and knocks Omaeda away before Ggio can kill him, revealing that she had hoped to study an arrancar's resurrecion form before facing the Espada. Ggio then responds by turning into his "Tigre Estoque El Sable" form to grow stronger, but Soifon kills him easily with her zanpakutō's ability. She then explains her zanpakutō second ability before she and Omaeda go to face Barragan.

Rangiku struggles against Harribel's Fraccion until fifth division lieutenant Momo Hinamori arrives and, using kido and her zanpakuto's abilities, manages to severely injure the enemy. In response, the three Fraccion release their zanpakutos, rip off their left arms and combine them to form a strange hybrid creature named Allon. Elsewhere, Ukitake refuses to fight Lilynette because she appears to be a child, while Kyoraku and Stark fight against each other despite being unwilling to release their zanpakutos.

Ukitake overpowers Lilynette, being able to repel her attacks almost effortlessly, and tells her he has no desire to fight her. Allon attacks Rangiku and Hinamori, defeating each of them in one hit, but Hisagi and Izuru arrive to help. While Izuru starts to heal Rangiku and Hinamori, Hisagi tries to fight Allon, but is easily defeated, and Iba is blown away with a cero when he tries to attack it. As Allon closes in on Izuru, Yamamoto arrives to fight it.

Allon goes into a rage upon seeing the wound Yamamoto inflicted, and immediately regenerates it. He enlarges his right arm into a gigantic size and tries to punch Yamamoto, demolishing several buildings in the process. But Yamamoto blocks the attack easily, releases Ryūjin Jakka and cuts Allon in half. When it seems over, one half of Allon attacks once again and Yamamoto finishes him off by incinerating him. Mila Rose, Sun-Sun and Apache attack Yamamoto in unison but are burnt to crisp before the might of Ryūjin Jakka. Meanwhile, Hitsugaya continues his heated battle with Harribel. Harribel releases a torrent of energy from her weapon and reveals herself as Tercera Espada. Shunsui and Starrk watch the pair's battle. Shunsui guesses Barragan must be the Primera Espada, but Starrk corrects him and reveals his "1" tattooed to the back of his left hand. The three most powerful Espada unleash pillars of energy, readying themselves to fight at top strength. Meanwhile Rukia, Renji and Sado dispatch the last of the Exequias and Rukia faces down Rudobone, the Exequias' leader. Ulquiorra tells Ichigo that it is useless to resist but Ichigo swears to keep fighting for the sake of everyone. The episode ends with Ulquiorra firing a cero and Ichigo slamming his blade against it, fading to white.

In the real world, much of the main class is attending their first day at Karakura High School. Ichigo and Chad met and befriend Keigo Asano and Mizuiro Kojima while saving Keigo from some thugs. Orihime meets Chizuru, who tries to woo her only to be kicked in retaliation by Tatsuki Arisawa. In Soul Society, the lieutenants meet and decide to promote Renji to Lieutenant of the 6th Division and send Rukia to Karakura Town. Renji discusses his promotion with his friends, but decides to make it a surprise for when Rukia gets back. Rukia, after speaking with her captain and third seats, heads to Karakura town, at the same time as the first episode begins.

The Soul Reapers decide to take a vacation to the ocean in the real world because captain Byakuya Kuchiki destroyed the pool the Shinigami Women's Association covertly built in his mansion. The Women's association shop for swimsuits and then head for the beach where everyone meets up. After attending Ukitake's weak body from the heat, they form groups to produce works of art on the beach for a competition. Watermelon-like monsters attack and most of the Shinigami are helpless against them without their zanpakuto until Yoruichi Shihōin and Soi Fon defeat them. It is then revealed that Retsu Unohana arranged the event with Byakuya and Ukitake as a game of splitting watermelons, and several more arrived as the episode ends.

Ikkaku Madarame and Yumichika Ayasegawa travel to Karakura Town on a assignment to catch a hollow that had attacked a convoy in Soul Society. The two travel to Ichigo's house planning to stay there until there assignment is complete. Ichigo however, turns them down and takes them to Keigo's. Keigo's sister, Mizuho is all over Ikkaku until Yumichika glues a wig to his head. Mizuho kicks them out and then leaves with Keigo to get juice. While out the two are attacked by the hollow from Soul Society. The hollow is defeated The episode ends with Ikkaku carrying Mizuho home and then leaving on good terms in the morning.

A mysterious man informs a group of strange beings that it is the time to strike. Ichigo Kurosaki wakes up in Zangetsu's dimension and receives a warning of what is about to happen. Meanwhile in Seireitei, the captains and lieutenants of Gotei 13 begin to feel their zanpakutō's detachment from them, but do not understand what it means. At night, a group of ryoka attempts to enter Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai's abode. Yamamoto and Sasakibe confront the intruders but what they see leaves them in shock. Later, the captains and lieutenants are ordered by Yamamoto to gather at Soukyoku Hill. Upon arriving there, they are met by the mysterious man, who calls himself Muramasa. Sajin Komamura attacks the intruder with Tenken but instead of hitting Muramasa, Tenken attacks Komamura. Reappearing as a human form, Tenken strikes down Komamura. The rest of the Soul Reapers prepare to attack but find themselves unable to release their zanpakutōs. Their zanpakutōs take on human form and stand beside Muramasa, who tells the Soul Reapers that their zanpakutōs have renounced them and declares war.

Ichigo finds Rukia injured in the world of the living, and that she is being attacked by a strange woman, who uses rukia's abilties. It is revealed to be that this woman is Rukia's Zapakuto, Sode no Shirayuki. Ichigo successfully forces the renegade zapakuto into submission, and Sode no Shirayuki retreats back to soul society. Ichigo brings Rukia to the Urahara shop, where she reveals that the Shinigami's zanpakuto's have attacked their masters, and reveals that Byakuya was seemingly defeated fighting by his own zanpakuto, Senbonzakura. The remaining shinigami of the gotei 13 squads regroup to the 4th Division headquarters while they try to re-establish their defenses, and learn more about the zanpakuto rebellion. and Urahara observes that only the Zapakuto in Soul Soceity are affected and that those in the real world are unaffected, and decides to try to capture one of the materialized zanpakuto in an attempt to learn more about their new enemy. In the middle of the night, Rukia leaves for Soul Society, apparently in search of Byakuya. Ichigo and Yoruichi leave for soul society in an attempt to go after Rukia and save soul society.

Rukia rushes back to the 6th Division HQ and is reunited with Renji. However, Byakuya's status remains unknown after the night of the zanpakutōs' attack. Ichigo and Yoriuchi arrive in Soul Society and split up to search for clues. Rukia returns to Byakuya's compound and finds Sode no Shirayuki attacking and freezing the shinigami there. She tries to reason with her zanpakutō but Shirayuki demands her freedom. After a fierce battle, Rukia loses to Shirayuki and is about to be frozen to death when Ichigo arrives to rescue her. However, he too is defeated by Shirayuki. Rukia attempts to get Sode no Shirayuki back to her by telling the zanpakutō how important she is to her. Using her kidō powers to restrain Sode no Shirayuki and herself, Rukia attempts to sacrifice themselves both in order to convince Shirayuki one could not live without the other. The resulting explosion injures Rukia severely. Sode no Shirayuki has a change of heart and attempts to reach out to her master, but Muramasa arrives and holds her back. Muramasa introduces himself to Ichigo and states that he is a zanpakutō.

Muramasa sends Sode no Shirayuki away, and Ichigo asks why he wanted the zanpakutō to gain independence over the shinigami. Although he does not give the reason, Muramasa replies that zanpakutōs can seperate themselves away regardless of being the soul of a shinigami, and he is a good example of one. Ichigo cannot accept this view and attacks him. Muramasa uses illusions to overwhelm Ichigo and pins him to the ground, where he proceeds to drag Zangetsu out of him. Once Zangetsu manifests, he immediately attacks Ichigo. Meanwhile, Mayuri begins experimenting on himself in order to research the zanpakutōs' manifestation. After Zangetsu seemingly defeats Ichigo, Ichigo transforms into his hollow form and strikes back. After a while, he transforms into his stronger form and easily beats down Zangetsu. Muramasa tries a sneak attack but Ichigo immediately regenerates and attacks him. Before the hollow form can do anything else, Ichigo manages to return to his shinigami form and falls unconscious at Muramasa's feet.

Rukia is found by the 4th Division and sent to recover from her injuries. Hisagi and his men patrol Seireitei and are attacked by the sadistic Kazeshini. Renji searches the ruins for any clues of the missing Byakuya, who was last seen hit by Senbonzakura's attack. He instead encounters Zabimaru in its baboon and snake humanoid form. Both entities of Zabimaru have no intention of returning to their original owner and attacks Renji. Ichigo wakes up in Zangetsu's dimension but the old man is missing. He sees Muramasa and attacks him, but the man immediately incapacitates him and summons his hollow form out as a separate entity. Muramasa has begun to take an interest in the hollow form and uses his powers to freeze it in place. Thinking that it has been subdued, Muramasa approaches it but the hollow form merely tricks him with its act and lashes out straight at him.

Kyoraku and Ukitake discuss the possibility that defeating the zanpakutō spirits will destroy the zanpakutō themselves. Renji continues fighting with Zabimaru, who taunts him for his weakness. Hisagi fights with Kazeshini, and, disgusted by his desire to take life, plans on killing him even if he loses his zanpakutō. Ichigo's inner hollow fights with Muramasa inside his mind until Muramasa uses his powers to restrain him. Ichigo then steps up to fight, stating that the hollow is a part of him, too. Ichigo manages to force Muramasa outside of his mind and continues the fight with him there. When Zabimaru threatens to kill Rukia, Renji regains his resolve, and manages to activate Zabimaru's shikai.

Hisagi is wounded in a surprise attack by Kazeshini, but Izuru intervenes to help him, and using kido, binds Kazehini long enough for the two of them to escape. Renji's fight with Zabimaru continues, and Zabimaru takes the advantage when they are able to activate bankai while Renji, no longer able to control them, cannot. Renji considers his own weaknesses, and tricks Zabimaru into taking his sword, then breaks it with a Red Flame Cannon kido spell and uses Higa Zekkou to defeat Zabimaru by firing the broken shards at them. Ichigo fights Zangetsu, and struggles when Zangetsu activates Bankai. He uses a new Getsuga Tenshou working together with his inner hollow to defeat Zangetsu, and forces Muramasa to retreat. Zangetsu reveals that Muramasa is using a technique to awaken the zanpakutos' instincts and by doing so, he can control them.

Ichigo reports his findings of Muramasa's abilities to Ukitake, Shunsui and Unohana. In order to find out about Muramasa's effects on zanpakutō, Ichigo and Ikkaku patrol Seiretei to seek out the entities. Meanwhile, someone breaks into a compound and knocks out the Soul Reapers guarding the area. Ōmaeda and his men stumble on the unconscious guards and investigate, only to encounter his zanpakutō spirit, Gegetsuburi and Hozukimaru. Ōmaeda and Gegetsuburi are just about to fight when Ichigo and Ikkaku interrupt. Ōmaeda is knocked out of the fight, leaving Ichigo to battle Gegetsuburi, while Ikkaku fights Hozukimaru. Ichigo defeats Gegetsuburi but Ikkaku is wounded by Hozukimaru's bankai. Just as he attempts to continue the battle, Ukitake, Shunsui, Soi Fon and her Stealth Corps arrive to surround Hozukimaru, but he uses his bankai to get away. However, they manage to obtain Gegetsuburi. Ichigo goes after Hozukimaru, but the entity escapes when Senbonzakura's petals block Ichigo's route. Ichigo discovers that the attack was from Byakuya, who disappears.

Ichigo continues searching for Byakuya, and encounters the spirits of Tobiume and Haineko, who are looking for Hyourinmaru. Momo and Rangiku arrive to fight their zanpakutos while Ichigo continues the search. Momo uses a kido spell to knock Tobiume into Haineko, causing the two to begin arguing. Ichigo encounters Hyourinmaru, who cannot remember his name or that of his master. He attempts to freeze Ichigo and leave, but Toshiro confronts him. Elsewhere, Muramasa kills a large number of hollows, including several Menos Grandes.

Ichigo is still trapped in the ice prison Hyorinmaru imprisoned him in as Toshiro and Hyorinmaru confront each other. Meanwhile, Momo and Rangiku fight their zanpakutos in the woods and finally manage to overpower them with kido spells. As Hyorinmaru and Toshiro begin to fight, Toushiro tries to seal him but is shocked as Hyorinmaru effortlessly dissolves the seal into fragments of ice. As their fight continues, Hyorinmaru's tremendous power turns the whole of Soul Society's sky black.

Mayuri experiments on Gegetsuburi, and discovers that the zanpakuto only return to their owners' control if they are defeated by their owners. Momo and Rangiku send their zanpakutos back to the 4th division barracks, but the cart carrying them is attacked by an unknown assailant. Ichigo meets with Momo and Rangiku, then reaches Muramasa, who is having difficult using his abilities in his current body. Ichigo fights Senbonzakura, and gains the upper hand before Byakuya arrives. Byakuya reveals that he has joined Muramasa as part of following his internal desire to protect his pride, then attacks Ichigo.