Episode Title

Airdate

A mysterious man informs a group of strange beings that it is the time to strike. Ichigo Kurosaki wakes up in Zangetsu's dimension, where Zangetsu asks if Ichigo can hear anything, but thinks it is okay that he cannot. In Seireitei, the captains and lieutenants of Gotei 13 are confused as to why their zanpakutō are not working and feel detached. At night, a group of ryoka attempt to enter Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai's home. Yamamoto and Sasakibe confront the intruders but what they see leaves them in shock. Later, Yamamoto calls all captains and lieutenants to Soukyoku Hill. There they are met by the mysterious man, who calls himself Muramasa. Sajin Komamura tries to attack him with his zanpakutō, Tenken, but Tenken appears in a human form and turns on him. The other Soul Reapers attempt to attack, but are also unable to release their zanpakutō. The zanpakutōs assume human-like forms and join Muramasa, who states that the Soul Reaper zanpakutōs have renounced them and are declaring war.

Ichigo finds Rukia injured in the world of the living, and is attacked by her zanpakuto, Sode no Shirayuki. Sode no Shirayuki retreats, and Ichigo brings Rukia to the Urahara shop, where she reveals that the zanpakuto attacked the captains, and mentions that Byakuya was seemingly defeated fighting Senbonzakura. The rest of the squads regroup to the 4th Division headquarters while they try to re-establish their defenses and learn more about the zanpakuto rebelling, and Urahara decides to try to capture one of the zanpakuto. In the middle of the night, Rukia leaves for Soul Society, apparently in search of Byakuya, and Ichigo plans to go after her.

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.