Season 2

14. A Back to Back Fight to the Death!
15. Kon's Great Plan, Mwahaha
16. Meet Renji Abarai!
17. Ichigo Dies!
18. Ichigo Degenerates into a Hollow!
19. Reclaim! The Power of a Shinigami!
20. The Shadow of Gin Ichimaru (!)
21. Break In! The Shinigami's World! (!)
22. The Man Who Hates Shinigami (!)
23. Rukia To Be Executed Before the 14th Day (!)
24. Gather! The 13 Gotei Divisions (!)
25. Breaking Through with a Giant Cannonball? (!)
26. Formation! The Worst Tag (!)

General Overview

In Depth Summaries

14. A Back to Back Fight to the Death!
    Corresponding Manga Chapters - chapter 45 to chapter 50
    Characters Appearing -
    Kidou -
    Locations -
    Released Soul Cutters -
    Relevant Terminology -

    Summary coming soon!

    Differences in chapter 45 to chapter 50:

    • Nothing!
15. Kon's Great Plan, Mwahaha
    Corresponding Manga Chapters - chapter 26 and chapter 51
    Characters Appearing -
    Kidou -
    Locations -
    Released Soul Cutters -
    Relevant Terminology -

    Summary coming soon!

    Differences in chapter 26 and chapter 51:

    • Nothing!
16. Meet Renji Abarai!
    Corresponding Manga Chapters - chapter 52 to chapter 54
    Characters Appearing -
    Kidou -
    Locations -
    Released Soul Cutters -
    Relevant Terminology -

    Summary coming soon!

    Differences in chapter 52 to chapter 54:

    • Nothing!
17. Ichigo Dies!
    Corresponding Manga Chapters - chapter 55 to chapter 57
    Characters Appearing -
    Kidou -
    Locations -
    Released Soul Cutters -
    Relevant Terminology -

    Summary coming soon!

    Differences in chapter 55 to chapter 57:

    • Nothing!
18. Ichigo Degenerates into a Hollow!
    Corresponding Manga Chapters - chapter 58 to chapter 61
    Characters Appearing -
    Kidou -
    Locations -
    Released Soul Cutters -
    Relevant Terminology -

    Summary coming soon!

    Differences in chapter 58 to chapter 61:

    • Nothing!
19. Reclaim! The Power of a Shinigami!
    Corresponding Manga Chapters - chapter 62 to chapter 64
    Characters Appearing -
    Kidou -
    Locations -
    Released Soul Cutters -
    Relevant Terminology -

    Summary coming soon!

    Differences in chapter 62 to chapter 64:

    • Nothing!
20. (+) The Shadow of Gin Ichimaru
    Corresponding Manga Chapters - chapter 65 to chapter 69
    Characters Appearing -
    Kidou -
    Locations -
    Released Soul Cutters -
    Relevant Terminology -

    Summary coming soon!

    Differences in chapter 65 to chapter 69:

    • Nothing!
    (!)
21. (+) Break In! The Shinigami's World!
    Corresponding Manga Chapters - chapter 70 to chapter 74
    Characters Appearing -
    Kidou -
    Locations -
    Released Soul Cutters -
    Relevant Terminology -

    Summary coming soon!

    Differences in chapter 70 to chapter 74:

    • Nothing!
    (!)
22. (+) The Man Who Hates Shinigami
    Air Date - March 8, 2005
    Corresponding Manga Chapters - chapter 74 to chapter 78
    Characters Appearing - Nehero Ishino, Taichi Misemoto, Adatomo "Dumbbell" Saionji, Sanji Sezushita
    Kidou -
    Locations -
    Released Soul Cutters -
    Relevant Terminology -

    Summary coming soon!

    Differences in chapter 74 to chapter 78:

    • Nothing!
    (!)
23. (+) Rukia To Be Executed Before the 14th Day
    Corresponding Manga Chapters - chapter 78 to chapter 79
    Characters Appearing - Renji Abarai, Sousuke Aizen, Momo Hinamori, Gin Ichimaru, Jidanbou Ikkanzaka, Orihime Inoue, Uryuu Ishida, Nehero Ishino, Koganehiko, Rukia Kuchiki, Ichigo Kurosaki, Taichi Misemoto, Yasutora "Chad" Sado, Adatomo Saionji, Sanji Sezushita, Ganjuu Shiba, Kuukaku Shiba, Yoruichi Shihouin, Shiroganehiko
    Kidou - None
    Locations - Court of Pure Souls, jail, Kuukaku's house, Rukongai, Shrine of Penitence
    Released Soul Cutters - Zangetsu
    Relevant Terminology - artificial body, captain, Dual Terminus, shinigami

    We left Ichigo off last time as he was about to be squashed by Ganjuu's raging boar after he discovered he was late for something. But that distances are deceiving in anime. Bonnie-chan actually managed to clear Ichigo easily and instead kicked Ganjuu about 30 feet. After that Ganjuu asks her to let him ride her, and she butts him onto her back and runs off after saying they'll continue the fight the next day so wait for him. Ichigo is about to chase after when he gets trampled by the rest of the gang chasing after Ganjuu.

    We then see the episode number - this time a shaking paint-splattered star.

    The next day we see Inoue, Chad, and Ishida talking first about Jidanbou and then what they think Kuukaku is like (Inoue draws some funny pictures of her guesses). Finally they wonder where Ichigo is. Ishida then goes to find Ichigo, leaving Inoue to keep thinking about what Kuukaku is like.

    Inside the house, Ichigo is determined to wait for Ganjuu (he doesn't want Ganjuu to think he chickened out of the fight.) Ishida starts trying to drag Ichigo out of the house, but Ichigo is being really stubborn. Then Inoue shows up and asks if they're leaving yet. Ishida asks Inoue to help him, but Yoruichi solves the problem by scratching Ichigo's face and sets his priorities straight (first save Rukia from getting executed, then fight Ganjuu).

    We then see Rukia in her cell and the doors open. She asks Renji if her sentence has been moved forward and he tells her she'll be killed in 14 days and use of the Dual Terminus (used for executions) has been approved. So, Rukia is going to be transfered to the Shrine of Penitence. Renji is there with guards to take her to her new cell.

    Next we see Ichigo and company walking along a dirt road. After some quibbling about whether they're heading in the right direction or how they'll know their destination, they spot it: a traditional-style Japanese house with a huge chimney and a pair of huge arms holding up a banner that says Kuukaku's name (which horrifies Ishida and Ichigo). As they walk to the house, Ishida wonders what's up with its chimney and then he notices the top of it is sealed. They're nearly stopped by two guards until the guards notice Yoruichi.

    One of the guards guides them to Kuukaku, whom they're startled to discover is a young woman (that looks a bit like a punk) with a fake right arm. Everyone but Yoruichi is startled to see that. Kuukaku asks why the kids are there and then Yoruichi says they need a favor that might be troublesome. Kuukaku replies that she loves trouble.

    After the break we see Renji and the guards taking Rukia to her new cell. Rukia's face is covered by a white cloth and the four guards are each holding poles with a red string attached to a collar around Rukia's neck. When they reach their destination, the cloth and strings are removed (though not the collar). After explaining that she's supposed to repent by staring at the execution ground, they release the rope binding her hands and it retracts into her collar. Then the guards leave. But first Renji approaches Rukia and lets her know that there's an unconfirmed report that five intruders entered Soul Society the day before and that one of them was an orange haired shinigami with a sword as tall as he is tall. This finally gets a reaction from Rukia.

    Meanwhile, back at Kuukaku's she's agreed to do the favor for them, saying she couldn't refuse if Urahara was involved. However, she might trust Yoruichi, but she doesn't trust the kids so she decides to have her little brother accompany them. He turns out to be Ganjuu. Ichigo and Ganjuu point at each other and scream when they realize this, while Kuukaku is a bit confused and ask if they know each other.

    Next we see Renji walking next to a house thinking about Rukia. He thinks she was more alive than he's seen her in days, and is glad he didn't tell he heard it from Gin and that Gin has probably killed Ichigo. He's spotted by Sousuke Aizen. Aizen asks Renji if he thinks Rukia should die after ascertaining that they were close. Renji evades the question and Aizen points out it's strange the way the authorities are dealing with Rukia's crimes of lending her powers to someone and exceeding her time limit on earth. First the immediate confiscation of Rukia's artificial body, then the revocation order, then the reduction of her grace period from 35 days to 25 days, and the use of the Dual Terminus on someone who isn't a captain, all of which are unprecidented. Aizen suggests everything is moving according to one will, and seems to imply he may be killed, but is interrupted when there's an announcement for an emergency meeting of all division commands. (During this conversation, we see shots of Rukia, the Dual Terminus, and Gin Ichimaru smiling evily).

    Back at Kuukaku's, Ichigo and Ganjuu are having a fist fight and trashing the place while everyone else is calmly sitting and watching. Eventually Kuukaku gets pissed off when her pipe is knocked out of her hand and broken, and makes a fire explosion to stop them (and trashes the WHOLE house with it, including burning up her banner outside). After that she yells at Ganjuu and Ichigo gets so scared he apologizes, which she accepts. He comments to Ganjuu that she's scary, and Ganjuu agrees. Kuukaku then orders the guards to take care of some preparations. She then leads everyone else to the base of the chimney and says she's going to use it to send them to the Court of Pure Souls. She's going to send them via the sky since she's Rukongai's best fireworks maker.

    The character of the day was Momo Hinamori, lieutenant-captain of the 5th division.

    Differences in chapter 78 to chapter 79:

    • The long conversation between Inoue, Chad, and Ishida about Kuukaku doesn't take place.
    • Ishida merely argues with Ichigo and does not try to drag him outside and Inoue and Chad are there watching.
    • The contents of chapter 79 is interspersed with that of chapter 78. In the manga chapter 78 merely covers the events leading up to Kuukaku's introduction while chapter 79 covers the events with Rukia and Renji and then Kuukaku breaking up the fight between Ichigo and Ganjuu.
    • In the manga Kuukaku doesn't have a prosethtic right arm. Instead her arm is merely cut off.
    • The scenes of Gin and the Dual Terminus during Aizen's conversation with Renji were not shown.
    • The manga doesn't show Kuukaku's pipe getting knocked out of her hand or crushed.
    (!)
24. (+) Gather! The 13 Gotei Divisions
    Corresponding Manga Chapters - chapter 80 to chapter 82
    Characters Appearing - Renji Abarai, Sousuke Aizen, Fong Soi, Momo Hinamori, Tetsuzaemon Iba, Gin Ichimaru, Orihime Inoue, Uryuu Ishida, Koganehiko, Sajin Komamura, Byakuya Kuchiki, Rukia Kuchichi, Ichigo Kurosaki, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Shunsui Kyouraku, Rangiku Matsumoto, Marechiyo Oomaeda, Yasutora "Chad" Sado, Ganjuu Shiba, Kuukaku Shiba, Yoruichi Shihouin, Shiroganehiko ?, Kaname Tousen, Retsu Unohana, Genryuusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Kenpachi Zaraki
    Kidou - None
    Locations - Kuukaku's house, meeting hall, Shrine of Penitence
    Released Soul Cutters - Zangetsu
    Relevant Terminology - captain, kidou, shinigami, spirit core, spiritron, lieutenant

    We start off by seeing the last scene from episode 23. Then it's the title page: a bomb this time.

    At Kuukaku's command her two servants start turning a handle and raising a platform, opening up an area of the roof, and breaking off the seal on the chimney in the process. After introducing the "chimney" (which is actually behind the house rather than attached to the roof) as her personal fireworks station, "the great Kakaku cannon," Ishida starts saying how ludicrous the idea is and gets hit in the face with a ball, which turns out to be a "spirit core," and bounces into Ichigo's hands. Kuukaku tells him to hold onto it and put his spirit energy into it, but Ichigo of course doesn't know how to. Kuukaku is very surprised and tells him to do it like he does with kidou, but then Yoruichi explains he's not officially trained and doesn't know how to use kidou. So, Kuukaku has Ganjuu illustrate instead, which he does after he manages to get the spirit core from Ichigo. When you use it, a shell of spirit energy appears around you. It is this shell that Kuukaku wants to use as the cannonball.

    Kuukaku then explains that walls around the Court of Pure Spirits is made out of a special material that completely blocks out all spiritual energy and that they all release a wave from all cut surfaces, basically making a barrier all around the Court of Pure Spirits both above and below. The only way past this barrier is to make a hole in it or the wall. If they hit the barrier without the protective sphere, they'd turn to dust. So, she plans to put everyone in a protective shell of spiritrons (provided by the spirit core) and shoot that like a cannonball at the Court of Pure Souls. She then asks if they have any questions, but before they can ask any she has her servants take them to a practice room to practice using a spirit core.

    After Ichigo and company have been dragged off, Kuukaku tells Ganjuu to go with them, but he asks her if she is really going to help them. Ganjuu doesn't want to because Ichigo is a shinigami. He says he doesn't care what she says about their older brother. Kuukaku tells him she said never to mention that again and orders him to go to the practice room. After that he finally goes.

    Next we see Renji and he comments that it's the first time he's worn his lieutenant armband. He's with Tetsuzaemon Iba, lieutenant of the 7th division, who says it's the same for him. They find Momo Hinamori, the lieutenant of the 5th division, already in the waiting room when they get there. Soon after them Rangiku Matsumoto, lieutenant of the 10th division, comes in and comments that most of the captains and lieutenants are on missions and it will take half a day to gather everyone. She says she can't find her captain. Momo hasn't seen her captain either (Aizen from last episode), and asks Renji if he's seen him. Renji lies and says he hasn't. Momo then says he's been acting funny lately, but she doesn't know why and he won't tell her when she asks. Renji covers Aizen by saying this situation would do it to anyone, but inside he wonders what Aizen is up to.

    In the practice room Ichigo is having a hard time using the soul core.

    Meanwhile Kuukaku is drinking alone and apologizing to her older brother for helping out a shinigami. It turns out the reason Ganjuu doesn't like shinigami is that their older brother was killed by one. Not only that, he had loved shinigami and had been one himself before he died. Most likely if he were alive he would have scolded her if she hadn't helped them out.

    After the commercial break, we see Ichigo is the only one who hasn't figured out how to use the soul core yet. Everyone aside from Ichigo, who stays behind to practice more, ends up going to eat dinner (Inoue tries to stay behind, but once her stomach starts rumbling Ichigo tells her to go, so she does.) While they're gone Ganjuu tries to get a reason for why they're trying to save Rukia. Ichigo eventually says it's because he owes her a favor - she gave him the power to save himself and his family and by doing so got arrested and is going to be executed. After hearing that Ganjuu grabs the spirit core and claims he's going to practice more. What he actually does is gives Ichigo a hint on how to use it. He imagines a dark circle in his mind and then he imagines himself moving towards its center. This is the basics of kidou. He then says it was so easy he didn't need to practice and leaves the room. Ichigo is irritated by the behavior, but isn't too proud to try the trick.

    Meanwhile, Chad and Ishida have just finished eating, but Inoue doesn't want to touch her food till Ichigo comes to eat. The next thing they know there's a huge explosion. Everyone runs to investigate and Kuukaku finds Ganjuu on the hallway floor. He apologizes to her, saying that he taught Ichigo his trick. When they enter the room they find Ichigo in this ginormous sphere. Kuukaku yells at him to focus and refine his energy. Ichigo manages to do that, and the sphere shrinks down to normal size. After Inoue congratulates Ichigo, though, Kuukaku yells at him not to loose concentration. But it's too late - a crack appears and the whole thing blows up. Kuukaku then yells at both Ichigo and Ganjuu (and Ichigo actually agrees that she said if they didn't concentrate it would blow up, although she never did.)

    Then we go back to the shinigami. The meeting has started with Gin being the last to arrive. The captains are all there (aside from Juushiro Ukitake, who's been excused due to ailment) and they start picking on Gin for fighting the intruders out of his jurisdiction and then letting them get away alive. Gin says he's surprised that they're still alive, but the others accuse him of feigning carelessness to cover him purposefully letting them live. Finally Captain-General Yamamoto takes control of the situation and demands an explanation of why Gin acted without permission and why he allowed them to escape. Gin says he has no excuse for it and then Yamamoto says he will be punished. However, Aizen interrupts and says he has something he wants to ask. However, we never hear the question, since the alarm is raised. Intruders have entered the Court of Pure Souls!

    The last thing we see is Rukia saying Ichigo.

    And today's character of the day is Marechiyo Oomaeda, lieutenant of the 2nd division.

    Differences in chapter 80 to chapter 82:

    • Kuukaku just had a cut off right arm, rather than a fake one.
    • Kuukaku demonstrates the barrier with a small stone, but in the manga it merely shows an illustration of the spiritual wave around the Court of Pure Spirits.
    • The 13 Gotei Divisions meeting starts before Ichigo manages to use the soul core.
    • The scene at the end with Rukia in it was not in the manga.
    • They leave out the side story about Karin Kurosaki seeing a hollow in the sky (thinking it's a bird) and then chasing after it that was at the end of chapters 81 and 82.
    (!)
25. (+) Breaking Through with a Giant Cannonball?
    Corresponding Manga Chapters - chapter 83 to chapter 85
    Characters Appearing - Renji Abarai, Sousuke Aizen, Toushirou Hitsugaya, Gin Ichimaru, Orihime Inoue, Uryuu Ishida, Nehero Ishino, Sajin Komamura, Byakuya Kuchiki, Koganehiko, Ichigo Kurosaki, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Yachiru Kusajishi, Shunsui Kyouraku, Taichi Misemoto, Yasutora "Chad" Sado, Adatomo Saionji, Sanji Sezushita, Ganjuu Shiba, Kuukaku Shiba, Yoruichi Shihouin, Shiroganehiko, Fong Soi, Tetsuzaemon Iba, Kaname Tousen, Retsu Unohana, Genryuusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Kenpachi Zaraki
    Kidou - Kakaku Shahou 2: Kagizaki, Kakaku Shahou 2: Follow Up Encantation
    Locations - Court of Pure Souls, Kuukaku's House, Meeting Hall, Shrine of Penitence
    Released Soul Cutters - None
    Relevant Terminology - shinigami, lieutenant

    This episode starts with a flashback of Ichigo learning how to use the spirit core. We then see the episode title, which is a spirit core. After Kuukaku has finished yelling at Ichigo and Ganjuu, Yoruichi says Ichigo has finally learned to use a spirit core and approaches him. Ichigo has fallen fast asleep and Ganjuu asks what's up with him. Yoruichi then asks the others to sit. Yoruichi is telling the others the plan for entering the Court of Pure Souls, when he suddenly screams.

    We next see Ganjuu reading something in the practice room. Ichigo is still fast asleep but soon wakes up after a weird dream and the two immediately begin arguing. Ganjuu refuses to tell Ichigo what he's up to. At that moment Ishida shows up to let him know that everyone's waiting on the surface so they can leave.

    On the surface everyone (aside from Ganjuu) is waiting for Ichigo and Ishida. There's a bit of a funny story about Ichigo falling sleep after making the sphere and crunching Yoruichi's tail. Kuukaku quickly changes the subject to ask where Ganjuu is. Ichigo says he saw him reading and mumbling something downstairs. Just then Ganjuu busts through the door, announcing the heroes always arrive later. He's wearing some sort of goofy battle suit and Ichigo asks what for since Ganjuu is just saying goodbye. Ganjuu gets face to face with Ichigo and says loudly that his older brother was killed by a shinigami in cold blood. Kuukaku yells at him to shut up but Ganjuu tells her to just listen.

    He tells them that his brother was a genius. He passed the shinigami school entrance exam on one try, had as much spirit energy as the lieutenant of the 13th, finished 6 years of study in only 2, and after 5 became a lieutenant. Ganjuu was young when his brother was killed, but he saw the killer and will never forget the killer's cold eyes and smile when his brother was thanking that shinigami. He doesn't understand why his brother never spoke ill of shinigami even when he was dying, but he wants to figure out why his brother believed in shinigami so much. He then says that Ichigo is different from normal shinigami and he knows if he goes with Ichigo he'll find out the reason, so he's going with them. (During this we see a flashback of Ichigo explaining to Ganjuu why he wants to save Rukia.)

    Kuukaku doesn't object and Ichigo grab's Ganjuu's shirt and tells Ganjuu to watch his back. Yoruichi then asks if everyone's ready. Ichigo is yet again holding a spirit core and asks if Yoruichi can use the spirit core. To answer the question, Yoruichi has him put it on the ground, gracefully jumps onto it, and uses it no problem. Yoruichi then gloats about how he did it so easily without any practice while Ichigo had to practice like his life was on the line.

    Kuukaku asks Ganjuu if he was studying down in the practice room and he confirms that he learned what he needs to know. She then asks if he can handle using Kakaku Shahou 2 and he tells her he can. After that she tells him to give it his all and not to run away in the middle. She then asks everyone to get in the cannon after pushing a button on the side to open up a doorway. She'll shoot it off at dawn.

    Inside the cannon Yoruichi tells them to not split up once they're in the Court of Pure Spirits and if they meet a Captain-level shinigami, to run. Just then Kuukaku starts the spell, so everyone starts pouring their energy into the spirit core. Then Kuukaku shoots off the cannon using her own special kidou technique. As she watches the cannon take off, she tells Ganjuu to take care.

    After the break Ichigo comments that he thought the impact would be worse and Ganjuu tells him that it's just started. The cannonball, which had been going straight up, suddenly starts travelling parallel to the ground, and Ganjuu whips out a scroll. He then explains it's a two part encantation with the first part determining the direction while the second part (which he needs to cast) makes corrections to the speed and trajection. He tells them not to disturb him and that the energy emissions in the cannonball must be kept very stable. However, since he needs to concentrate on the spell, he won't be able to control his spirit energy so the others will have to compensate for him by sensing changes in the emission through the orb and adjusting accordingly. If they don't manage it, it could be fatal. Unfortunately this is easier said than done for Ichigo. Everyone in the sphere keeps telling him to adjust his spiritual output as Ganjuu is casting the follow up kidou. This screws up Ganjuu's concentration and he messes up the encantation, gets mad at Ichigo, and starts yelling.

    In the Court of Pure Spirits, we see the alarm being raised just as in the last episode. It shows Gin smiling evily again, and the gates into the Court of Pure Spirits being closed. Some of the captains wonder if it's the same intruders as last time. Kenpachi Zaraki runs out of the captain's meeting before it's finished. Soon after his Lieutenant, the cute little girl Yachiru Kusajishi, leaps from a rooftop onto his shoulders. Zaraki wants to slice up the intruders because they managed to survive against Gin.

    Back at the meeting hall, the rest of the meeting has been postponed. As all the captains leave, Gin and Aizen walk past each other, and Aizen comments to Gin that the alarm chose the perfect time to go off. Gin replies that he doesn't understand, and Aizen asks him if he thinks he can get away with it. He adds that it's best not to underestimate him. This is all witnessed by Toushirou Hitsugaya.

    First we see Rukia watching the sky and noticing that it's getting brighter. Next we see other shinigami watching the cannonball, including Yachiru, Kenpachi, Renji, Aizen, and Byakuya.

    Back in the cannonball, they realize they're going to crash, so Yoruichi tells everyone to emit as much spirit energy as possible to make the ball as hard as possible. And then they strike the barrier. Aizen realizes it must be made of dense spirit energy for it to be able to hit the barrier without getting destroyed. Ichigo shouts go through, and then the cannonball, only it dissolves in the process.

    Inside the cannonball, they've passed the barrier, but haven't begun to descend yet. Yoruichi shouts at them not to separate and explains that they're being held together temporarily, but soon a tornado will form and it does. Ganjuu starts getting separated and tries to latch onto Ichigo, who starts trying to get him to let go. Yoruichi then orders everyone to grab onto the person they're nearest. Ichigo reluctantly grabs Ganjuu, Chad grabs Inoue, Yoruichi jumps on Ichigo's shoulder, but Ishida looks like he's getting swept away. So Chad tosses Inoue at the group, lunges for Ishida, and tosses him at the group as well. Inoue catches Ishida, but then Chad gets separated from the group and falls. Next Inoue and Ichigo try to grab each other's hands, but fail.

    In the sky we see three groups heading in three totally different directions. Then we see Kenpachi looking at the sky and we see all four groups (Chad, Inoue and Ishida, Ichigo and Ganjuu, and Yoruichi) are all heading in totally different directions. Kenpachi which group is the strongest.

    The character of the week was Shunsui Kyouraku.

    Differences in chapter 83 to chapter 85:

    • Kuukaku's right arm is simply cut off.
    • This episode should begin with the end of the shinigami meeting.
    • You don't see Ichigo actually pull Yoruichi's tail. You only hear about what happened later.
    • Instead of Kuukaku asking about Ganjuu, Ichigo asks Kuukaku what Ganjuu was up to.
    • There was no flashback of Ichigo explaining to Ganjuu why he wants to save Rukia.
    • Kuukaku tells Ganjuu to give it his all and not to run away before Ichigo grabs Ganjuu by the shirt.
    • Kuukaku asks if everyone's ready instead of Yoruichi and they need to walk to the base of the cannon.
    • Ichigo asks if they'll all be in the same cannonball before he asks if Yoruichi can use the spirit core.
    • Rukia's scene occurs after Ichigo and company realize they're going to crash.
    • It shows a scene with the lieutenants hearing the alarm.
    • Kenpachi and Yachiru were searching for the intruders all night before they notice the cannonball in the sky.
    • Ichigo doesn't shout get through before the cannonball penetrates the barrier (in fact it doesn't show the cannonball penetrating the barrier at all).
    • Chapter 85 gets split.
    • There is a short side story about Karin Kurosaki seeing a hollow getting blown up by Misao "Don" Kanonji, who is trying to organize a superhero group that will fight hollows. Since Ichigo isn't around he tries to recruit Karin.
    (!)
26. (+) Formation! The Worst Tag
    Corresponding Manga Chapters - chapter 85 to chapter 87
    Characters Appearing - Renji Abarai Aizen Sousuke, Yumichika Ayasegawa, Orihime Inoue, Uryuu Ishida, Itzuru Kira, Byakuya Kuchiki Rukia Kuchiki, Ichigo Kurosaki, Yachiru Kusajishi, Ikkaku Madarame, Yasutora "Chad" Sado, Ganjuu Shiba, Yoruichi Shihouin, Kenpachi Zaraki
    Kidou - Sebba
    Locations - Court of Pure Souls, Shrine of Penitence
    Released Soul Cutters - Fujikujaku, Hoozukimaru, Zangetsu
    Relevant Terminology - 6th Division, released, shinigami, soul cutter, spirit core, lieutenant

    First we see a recap of Rukia, Aizen, Zaraki, Yachiru, and other shinigami watching as the cannonball strikes the barrier and the intruders get scattered. We then see Chad preparing to fire his arm to cushion his impact. Inoue tells Ishida to hang in there and calls upon her shield fairies to protect them as they land. Yoruichi speeds along silently alone. Last, we see Ganjuu and Ichigo arguing and Ganjuu uses his sand magic to cushion their blow. Next it's the title: this time scribbles.

    When Ichigo and Ganjuu land they both end up coughing up sand (Ganjuu coughs longer, oddly enough). After that the two immediately begin arguing. Unfortunately for them, they're immediately accosted by two shinigami, a beautiful one and a bald one. The bald shinigami immediately launches into some sort of weird dance, stunning both Ichigo and Ganjuu.

    Next we see a bunch of shinigami gathered around a big crater. There's no body so they decide the intruder must have survived and split up to search. Stupidly, they didn't look up. Chad is sitting in a tree with his arm in battle mode looking at a bird and wondering what he should do next.

    Meanwhile, a bunch of shinigami are preparing for Yoruichi, who is speeding towards them. But suddenly there's a flash of light and Yoruichi is standing calmly on a rooftop instead of barrelling down the street. The shinigami go to search for the intruder. He comments that perhaps it was for the best that he's alone and walks off.

    We then see Inoue dreaming about Ichigo as Ishida tries to wake her. She then realizes that Ishida bandaged her arm since she hurt her shoulder in the fall. Luckily there was no one around where they fell. Ishida apologizees for causing her to get hurt when she protected him in the fall, but Inoue replies she would have gotten hurt anway, and without him there to bandage her up she would have died from anemia. They decide to leave quickly because someone is sure to come and investigate, but after they've left we see they weren't alone - the foot of an unknown shinigami can be sticking out of the shadows.

    Ichigo and Ganjuu, on the other hand, are watching the bald shinigami dance some more. He gets mad when they didn't take the opportunity to run and they wonder what's up with him. Ganjuu starts arguing with Ichigo in whispers, trying to get him to run. The bald shinigami asks what they're arguing about but says it doesn't really matter since they'll die either way. But then the pretty shinigami points out that they shouldn't wait because someone might steal their kill. The bald shinigami agrees and says he'll let them argue until the end of the next dance. Ganjuu decides to run for it, but Ichigo holds his ground. Yumichika, the pretty one, takes after him, while the bald one stays to take care of Ichigo.

    Back with Ichigo, the bald shinigami comments he's surprised Ichigo didn't win, which he thought was smart, but Ichigo responds that if he is weaker and ran, they'd catch up eventually anyway, and if he's stronger there's no point in running. The bald shinigami then attacks, but Ichigo dodges out of the way and counterattacks. However, the bald shinigami parries with his sheath, so Ichigo jumps off the sheath and they go into a series of attacks. Eventually Ichigo jumps again and they both ready for an attack. Blood can be seen dripping after this but it's not clear who was hurt. The bald shinigami asks what Ichigo's name is, and then comments that it's a good name because of the "ichi" (which means one) because people with that in their name are often powerful and talented. He then announces that he is Ikkaku (the "I: also is the character for one), 3rd seat of the 11th division. You then see that both Ichigo and he got hurt around their left eyes.

    After the commercial break we see Ganjuu running from Yumichika. Ganjuu is annoyed at how persistent Yumichika is and Yumichika berates him for how ugly he runs. Ganjuu eventually runs into a dead end. Instead of letting that stop him, he changes the wall into sand and runs through the hole it creates. Yumichika realizes that Ganjuu is the one that changed the ground into sand to cushion the impact and thinks it's strange magic. However it turns out that making the hole didn't make a whole lot of difference since beyond the wall was a huge pit. Ganjuu nearly runs into it, and wonders what it's for.

    Yumichika, who's caught up, explains in ancient times shinigami would put criminals and hollows together into the pit and have them battle it out. Ganjuu comments that it's cruel, and Yumichika replies that so is looking at Ganjuu's face and that it was long ago. Ganjuu then calls Yumichika pretty (which he takes as a compliment) and then insults him. Yumichika then gives Ganjuu a choice: jump in the pit and die or get killed. Yumichika adds he wants to see how ugly Ganjuu can get.

    Back with Ichigo, Ichigo wipes some of the blood out of his eye, and Ikkaku comments that only a rookie would take his hand off his sword. Ichigo replies that he couldn't see and Ikkaku tells him that the wound isn't that deep and doesn't bleed that much so he should find a way to stop the bleeding. He then touches his fingers to his gash and applies some ointment to stop the bleeding. Ichigo calls him a cheater for doing that. Ikkaku replies that it's intelligence, not cheating. He adds that Ichigo is pretty weird - it's obvious that he's a rookie and can't see him being a warrior. They then resume fighting. While they're fighting Ikkaku comments that Ichigo's reactions are quick, his attacks are strong, and his body movements are close to Ikkaku's. Then he asks who taught Ichigo, and Ichigo responds that the guy only taught him fighting tactics for 10 days so he's not sure he'd call the guy a teacher, but he was taught by Urahara. We then see a shot of Urahara in traditional shinigami clothes.

    Ikkaku recognizes the name and apparently respects Urahara a lot because he releases his soul cutter, Hoozukimaru. In released form it's actually a spear and not a sword. He tells Ichigo he has no time to be surprised and attacks, but Ichigo still parries the series of attacks (with one eye, too, since the other is closed to keep the blood out). Ichigo says he knows that spears attack slower so there's no way he'd miss the attack, but Ikkaku says he's wrong and attacks again. It turns out he had an ace up his sleeve - Hoozukimaru will split into three sections upon command and is actually a 3 piece nunchuck.

    Back with Ganjuu, Yumichika is being quite arrogant and gloating, so Ganjuu tosses a handful of sand in his face and then turns the edge of the pit to sand. Yumichika manages to jump away in time, but Ganjuu falls into the pit. Luckily he has the spirit core and activates it, so he floats. Yumichika gets annoyed and tries to slice through the cannonball, but is unsuccessful, so he releases his sword, Fujikujaku, which resembles a scythe that can rotate on a joint near its hilt. It has four blades that fan out using the joint. Using his released soul cutter, Yumichika manages to slice through the cannonball. However, at this point Ganjuu comments that if he looses concentration... And demonstrates by making the cannonball blow up, which blast him across the pit and into the far wall. He then blasts through the wall and runs off. Yumichika is annoyed that Ganjuu tried to kill him and jumps off.

    Meanwhile, Ichigo's arm go sliced up and Ikkaku explains the splitting was what he told Ichigo not to miss. Ikkaku goes on to explain that Ichigo's sword arm is unusable now and if he were anyone else Ikkaku would try to capture him alive. Ichigo doesn't pay attention, however, because he's too busy bandaging up his arm with the cloth on the end of Zangetsu's hilt. Once that's done, he attacks again, and Ikkaku only manages to dodge out of the way. The building behind him gets totalled by Ichigo's blow.

    This week's ending animation is of the 6th Division's captain and lieutenant: Byakuya Kuchiki and Renji Abarai respectively. The character of the day is Itzuru Kira, lieutenant of the 3rd division.

    Differences in chapter 85 to chapter 88:

    • Chapter 85 gets split and its contents are mixed among that of chapter 86. Chapter 85 ends with Ikkaku and Yumichika showing up, while 86 begins with showing how the other people landed before resuming Ichigo's and Ganjuu's encounter with Ikkaku and Yumichika.
    • Yoruichi comments that perhaps it's better that Yoruichi is alone before landing.
    • Rather than Inoue dreaming about Ichigo, she mistakes Ishida's voice for Ichigo's when she wakes up. Afterwards Ishida apologizes to her that he's not Ichigo.
    • Immediately after Ichigo jumps off Ikkaku's sheath, they both attack and get cut above their eyes.
    • Ganjuu only blasts through one wall before reaching the pit.
    • Ganjuu doesn't call Yumichika pretty or insult him.
    • After Ikkaku says Ichigo is a rookie and he can't see him as a warrior, he immediate compliments Ichigo's movement, etc. while they're just standing there.
    • The part with Ganjuu throwing sand into Yumichika's eyes, changing the edge of the pit into sand, falling into the pit, using the spirit core to float up doesn't happen.
    • Once Yumichika gives Ganjuu the choice to fall in the pit and die or get killed, they don't appear again until after Ichigo's and Ikkaku's fight is over.
    • There is a short side story about Karin Kurosaki joining up Misao "Don" Kanonji's superhero group consisting of Jinta Hanakari (red), Karin (red), and Ururu Tsumugiya (pink).
    (!)