Aizen had snatched away Orihime Inoue to Hueco Mundo.
It was believed that Aizen was going to awaken the Hogyoku
using Orihime's ability to reject phenomenon.
The Soul Society responded to this
by dispatching captains of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads.
However, Orihime had only been brought there to lure the captains.
Aizen's true objectives were to create the Ouken
by wiping out the Enriched Spirit Zone of Karakura Town,
and to take over the Soul Society by force.
Aizen sealed off the Garganta,
the opening that led to Hueco Mundo,
trapping Ichigo and the others there.
He then took Gin and Tosen with him to invade Karakura Town.
Genryusai, however, saw through his intentions,
and ordered Urahara to make the captains
capable of fighting in Karakura Town.
Urahara built a device called a Tenkaiketchu
that would act as a huge Senkaimon,
and used it to swap the real Karakura Town
with a town replica built in the Soul Society.
It seems we made it in time.
Made it in time?
Now why would you say that?
I'm well aware that what lies there is not Karakura Town.
But that means nothing to me.
If Karakura Town is in the Soul Society,
we'll just kill you here
and create the Ouken in the Soul Society.
That's all there is to it.
Until then…
I will leave Las Noches to you…
Ulquiorra.
Yes, sir.
My job…
is to protect my friends.
KAGAMINO CITY (22 KM EAST OF KARAKURA TOWN)
12:13 p.m.
Are you all right, young lady?
Oh boy, looks like the Spiritual Pressure got them.
Man, I'm telling you, that's some insane Spiritual Pressure.
If we don't get the heck out of here,
we could end up like them.
Umm… Your panties are showing, young lady.
Who are you, mister?
Huh? Me?
Yeah.
My name is Eikichiro Saido.
I'm just a petty Soul Reaper who was
recently put in charge of this district.
So you're a petty person?
Ouch!
That's okay.
Listen, if you stay here,
you'll end up dead, like those monsters.
Get away now while you can.
Okay.
Oh boy.
Looks like it's going to begin.
Well let's see how this contest turns out, good or bad.
AT THE SAME TIME
70 METERS ABOVE KARAKURA TOWN
His Spiritual Pressure is monstrous,
just the way I remember it!
If it scares you, you can run away.
Coward.
Should we go after the leader first?
No, Aizen's powers are very special.
In order to concentrate our attacks on him,
we should defeat those around him first.
Who do you suppose is the strongest among those three Espada?
That's hard to say.
We'd have to ask Aizen.
The problem is that while we're fighting the Espada,
there's no guarantee that Aizen and his men won't interfere.
You're right.
Stand back, everyone.
Render all things in the universe to ashes.
Ryujinjakka.
Get down, Ukitake!
I know!
Jokakuenjo.
Aizen and the others won't be able to
get past this wall of flames for a while.
Now then,
shall we crush them?
The Head Captain's pretty drastic, isn't he?
Just goes to show how upset Old Man Yama is.
Aizen.
Jeez… That's hot, hot.
Head Captain sure went overboard.
What'll we do now, Captain Aizen?
With all this, we won't be able to join in.
We'll do nothing.
It just means that
this battle will end without the
need for us to get our hands dirty.
That is all.
AT THE SAME TIME
LAS NOCHES TOWER 5
Are you afraid?
Lord Aizen has considered you unnecessary.
There is nothing to protect you anymore.
It's over.
You will die here, all alone, with no contact with anyone.
I'm asking if you are afraid?
I am not afraid.
Because everyone came to rescue me.
My heart is…
with theirs.
Such nonsense.
You say you are not afraid because your friends came for you?
Do you really mean those words?
Yes.
Getsugatensho!
When I first heard that they came to rescue me,
it made me a little glad.
And awfully sad.
I came here because I wanted to protect all of them.
Why did they all come here?
Why couldn't I make them understand?
I wondered.
But when I sensed that Kuchiki had fallen,
and when I saw Kurosaki fight in front of me,
I felt like all of that didn't matter.
All that mattered was I didn't want Kurosaki to get hurt.
I wanted everyone to be safe.
When I felt that way, I realized,
that must've been how all of them felt.
If someone in that group had disappeared like I did,
I would surely do the same thing they did.
I take it you are the intruder, Ichigo Kurosaki.
I am Rudobon, captain of the Exequias.
I have come for your life.
I said I will have your life. You will stop here.
Sorry, but I don't have time to deal with the likes of you.
That's just fine.
I, too, have no time to waste on you alone!
Damn! How many are there?!
Coming at you one more time!
Renji!
El Directo!
Chad!
You fools.
Letting a minor unexpected turn of events easily get the best of you.
Tsuginomai Hakuren!
Rukia!
Idiot!
Save the reunion for later!
Go quickly, Ichigo!
Gotcha.
Jeez… He's so high maintenance.
Do you think you can defeat me with that level of strength?
You, too,
are nothing more than a minor unexpected turn of events.
This is absurd.
Your fate and that of your friends is already set.
Even if your friends come,
it won't overturn the fact that all of you will die.
Sharing feelings with those who are about to die,
that is how you humans comfort yourselves.
It is one of your instincts to help you
escape from fear and hopelessness.
Sharing feelings doesn't exist in the real word.
It is nothing more
than a meaningless illusion you humans have.
You may be right.
Perhaps it is impossible to feel exactly the same emotions.
But by cherishing each other, our hearts can be that much closer.
Don't die!
Don't die, Kurosaki!
You don't have to win. You don't have to try.
Just don't get hurt anymore.
That's what it must mean to "be of one heart."
Heart, you say?
You humans use that word so casually,
as though it's in the palm of your hands.
My eyes see everything.
There is nothing they do not see.
If they do not see it, it does not exist.
I have fought until now, convinced of that.
What is "heart"?
If I rip open your chest, will I see it inside?
If I split your skull, will I see it inside?
Roar, Zabimaru!
El Directo!
Hakuren!
Aren't you guys overdoing it a bit?
We haven't appeared in a while!
We have to show all we can, or we'll lose out!
Now I feel sorry for the Exequias.
The Substitute Soul Reaper Work Journal!
Hey!
What're you doing?!
It's not my fault!
The closet is too small!
For crying out loud, what do you have packed in here?!
What are these?!
They are the Gigai I'm keeping for everyone!
Substitute Soul Reapers cannot refuse a request for a favor.