Zanpakuto…
Their shape and abilities are based on their Soul Reaper's soul.
Soul Reapers gain power
by learning their names and synergizing with them.
They are born with Soul Reapers and die with Soul Reapers.
That is what Zanpakuto are.
What is this Spiritual Pressure?
Rukia!
Hang in there! What's wrong?!
You're injured.
That you, Ichigo…? Don't worry.
How can I not worry?!
What happened?!
This Spiritual Pressure… She's not a Hollow?
She doesn't have a mask or a hole.
Are you this town's Soul Reaper?
Who are you?!
Hand her over.
What?
I don't know who you are, but I'm not giving you Rukia!
I see…
So you’re the Substitute Soul Reaper.
How do you know about me?!
Somenomai…
Tsukishiro.
That was…!
Tsuginomai…
Hakuren.
Damn you…
Getsugatensho!
Who the hell are you?
Both Tsukishiro and Hakuren are Rukia's techniques!
Yes. That's why they are my techniques.
What?!
Wait!
Damn it!
Rukia!
Hang in there! Who is she?!
Rukia!
She's…Sodenoshirayuki…
My Zanpakuto…
What?!
Rukia! Rukia!
URAHARA'S SHOP
Here you go.
Down I go.
I hope Sister is okay.
Orihime is with her, so there's no need to worry.
No problem.
Continuing on…
Kuchiki said that the woman was Sodenoshirayuki, right?
Yeah.
But I never imagined a Zanpakuto
would take physical form and attack its owner.
For now…
I’m having Yoruichi check out the Soul Society.
We should wait for Kuchiki to recover first.
Rukia regained consciousness!
Sister!
Don't worry, Kon. I'm all right.
But, but…
Jeez… She said she's all right!
Why don't you trust in Orihime's powers?!
So Kuchiki, what happened on the other side?
It was a nightmare…
My name is Muramasa.
Tonight marks the end of
the Soul Reapers reign over the Zanpakuto.
From here on,
the Zanpakuto will rule over the Soul Reapers.
The Zanpakuto will rule the Soul Reapers?
What do you mean?
It's exactly what it sounds like.
I told you.
Your Zanpakuto have already been freed from your control.
Roar, Zabimaru!
This stuff about Zanpakuto is important, but…
Where is Old Man Yama?
I believe he's the one who called us here.
Could you tell us?
Genryusai Yamamoto has been sealed away.
His Zanpakuto, Ryujinjakka, refused to work with us.
Therefore, your Zanpakuto,
Katenkyokotsu, Sogyonokotowari, and Minazuki,
combined their Spiritual Pressures to seal his power away.
What?!
Captain…
Ridiculous… Is it even possible to seal away the Head Captain?
This is truly interesting.
Do you think we believe that?
Whether you believe me or not, it's the truth.
Ikkaku!
Captain Kyoraku, Captain Ukitake!
It's pointless talking to him any longer!
Kyoraku!
I guess I have no choice…
Captain!
Isane, get Lieutenant Sasakibe!
Yes, ma'am!
Captain!
I'll help you out!
Kyoraku! Let's retreat for now!
That seems like a good idea.
Oh?
It looks like it's going to spit poison.
Everyone, run!
You can't escape.
What's going on?!
Where did the captains run off to?!
I want to take them on!
There's nowhere to run, Soul Reapers.
Damn it!
They're just doing whatever they want!
Do you suppose everyone is all right?
Yeah! We shouldn't have to worry about the captains!
How's your Zanpakuto, Rukia?
It's no good. I can't use my Shikai.
I see…
Here they come!
What?!
Rukia…
Bakudo Number Sixty One…
Rikujokoro.
Brother!
Rukia!
Are you all right?
Captain!
Don't let your guard down.
I see…
The captains are truly impressive.
They certainly have the strength to control powerful Zanpakuto.
Brother!
My name is Senbonzakura.
Go.
But…
I will not repeat myself.
You should know better than anyone about how hopeless it is
to challenge my thousand blades with a single sword.
Not good enough.
It's useless!
Brother!
Wait, Rukia!
Let go of me, Renji!
Captain Kuchiki is all right.
Anyway, look around you!
Could that be…?
Tsuginomai, Hakuren.
I got separated from Renji.
I managed to get to the World of the Living
through a Senkaimon while fighting Sodenoshirayuki.
Zanpakuto resisting the will of their Soul Reapers
and attacking them…
I've never heard of such a thing.
Anyway, a Zanpakuto's true body exists
within their Soul Reaper's inner world.
What is a Zanpakuto's true body?
A Zanpakuto has a consciousness that controls its power—
its true body.
A Soul Reaper can draw power from a Zanpakuto
by conversing with its true body.
Does Zangetsu have a true body?
Yeah.
Naturally, my Benihime has one too.
The Seireitei…
Is everyone all right?
They're all right.
The Thirteen Court Guard Squads still haven't been destroyed.
Yoruichi! Back already?
Lady Yoruichi, how is the Soul Society?!
My brother… What about my brother?!
Don't panic.
I'm going to tell you.
The Seireitei was in a terrible state.
The battle appeared to have ended,
but buildings were in ruin and many were injured.
I looked for someone who could talk to me.
I ended up going to Squad Four's relief center.
I met Captain Unohana there,
as well as Captain Ukitake and other members
who had been staying in Squad Four's barracks.
So those bandits wreaked havoc and then suddenly disappeared?
That's right.
There are many injured in Seireitei.
Several buildings burned to the ground,
starting with Squad One's barracks.
The damage is extensive.
Luckily, the relief center was all right.
Squad Two and Twelve's buildings were also intact.
Captain Soi Fon and the rest of the Stealth Force
are already going after the Zanpakuto.
And I hear Captain Kurotsuchi
has begun to look into this phenomenon as well.
For now, let's use Squad Four's barracks
as an information center.
We need to find skilled Soul Reapers among the uninjured
and use them to boost our security.
Please take care of it.
With the Head Captain missing, we need to pull together.
Yes.
I guess I have no choice.
I'm going to go back to the World of the Living.
I have to ask Kisuke's opinion about this phenomenon of
Zanpakuto rebelling against its owner.
You mean, you’re going to have him look into it as well, correct?
That sounds about right.
Well, that's great news.
The captains are all right.
But that doesn't change the fact that
the Thirteen Court Guard Squads are in terrible shape.
Depressing…
Lots of problems.
Even more depressing…
Kurosaki, has anything changed with your Zanpakuto?
Not really.
I see.
To tell you the truth,
there had been reports recently in the Soul Society
of Soul Reapers having trouble with their Zanpakuto.
For the record, I had no problems with my Benihime.
In other words, the enemy's control over Zanpakuto
only stretches as far as the Soul Society
and has no effect on Zanpakuto in the World of the Living.
Is the enemy's power unable to reach the World of the Living
or is there some other reason for this?
I guess we won't find out until we look into this.
When dawn breaks, I'll return to the Soul Society once more.
Please do.
Yoruichi…
What about my brother?
I’m told they have confirmed the whereabouts of
the other captains, lieutenants, and high-ranking officers.
But Byakuya is the only one still missing.
Brother…
It's all right.
Byakuya would never die.
You know, better than anyone, how strong he is.
Yes.
Good evening!
Bad news, Ichigo!
What do you want at this hour?!
We've got an emergency!
Big problem.
Rukia disappeared!
What?!
Sister!
There is evidence that a Senkaimon has been opened.
It seems she went back to the Soul Society.
What is Rukia doing?!
Her wounds haven't even healed yet.
She must have been quite worried about Byakuya.
I understand.
Urahara, open up a Senkaimon.
I'm going after Rukia.
Wait a second, Kurosaki!
It's dangerous to go to the other side in our current situation.
We need to gather more information first.
But we can't ignore Rukia!
Still…
Let him go, Kisuke.
I was planning to go in the morning anyway.
I might be able to work faster if someone comes with me.
Yoruichi…
Please, Urahara!
Good grief…
It looks like I can't stop you.
I have no choice.
I will make preparations to assist you.
Try not to rush into things.
Okay.
Let's go, Ichigo.
Wait up, Rukia.
Don't do anything rash.
Sister! I'm coming right away!
I see you're ready to go.
Yeah!
You're going to have to fight lots of Zanpakuto in that form.
Yeah…
You're going to have to fight swords with your bare hands.
Sister, forgive my cowardice.
THE ARRANCAR ENCYCLOPEDIA
The Arrancar Encyclopedia.
Today, I'm going to be showing all of the names
of the Resurrección that I haven't featured.
Mamut, Tigre Estoque, Cierva,
Leona, Anaconda…
This is how they're written.
Why are you showing them at this point?
I thought we still had time to introduce them.
But then this all happened.
If we don't do this now, they won't be able to rest in peace.
This segment is pretty difficult to host, you know.
How's it difficult?
Why don't you give it a try then?
Huh?