Volume 8 THE BLADE AND ME

If it rusts together, it cannot pierce again
If I fail to grasp it, my body will be cut

Yes, pride is
like a blade

62. Lesson2-2: Bad Endin' in The Shaft
63. Lesson2-3: Innercircle Breakdown
64. BACK IN BLACK
65. Collisions
66. THE BLADE AND ME
67. End of Lessons
68. Last Summer Vacation
69. 25:00 Gathering
70. Where Hollows Fear To Tread
    
    Extra: BLEACHEXTRA!!! RADIO-KON3
    Extra: RADIO-KON☆BABY!! 2　(Guest: Tatsuki Arisawa)

Author's Comments

Yesterday I received a letter from a fan saying "I named my son 'Ichigo'." The thought that something I drew has influenced someone I don't know that much makes me happy and amazed and makes my body tense. I hope I can draw something that can make him proud of his name when he grows up.

General Overview

Despite all of Ichigo's efforts to regain his shinigami powers before he becomes a hollow, his chain of fate actually entirely erodes away and Ichigo starts becoming a hollow. But because his mask starts to form before he deconstructs and reconstructs elsewhere Kisuke holds off on killing him for a bit. In Ichigo's mind he meets an odd scruffy old man who explains that Ichigo possesses his own shinigami powers aside from what he got from Rukia and if he can locate it before the world in his mind collapses, he can save himself from becoming a hollow. Ichigo manages to do just that by using spirit threads and following the red one back to a box containing his soul cutter, which turns out to be the scruffy man. Back in the real world Ichigo survives smashes his own hollow mask to become a full fledged shinigami again.

Urahara then immediately moves onto lesson 3, which has no time limit and is simply slicing his hat in two. To spice things up Urahara gets serious and draws his soul cutter, Benihime out of his cane. The remainder of Ichigo's soul cutter gets sliced down to just a hilt and he begins to flee. But then he sees the soul cutter man again, who tells Ichigo to stop being afraid and face ahead. Then he tells Ichigo his name, Zangetsu, and when Ichigo says it his hilt turns into a black cleaver-like sword as long as Ichigo is tall. After that he takes one swing and clearly slices Urahara's hat in two. Urahara luckily managed to block most of the attack or he would have lost an arm. With Ichigo unconscious the lessons are declared over.

Meanwhile, Chad and Orihime have completed their lessons with Yoruichi the cat. Ishida also has completed his training. Once Urahara has prepared the gate to Soul Society Ichigo, Chad, Orihime, and Ishida gather at Urahara's Store. Once inside they learn that they will only have 4 minutes to cross the dangai and get out before it closes and they're stuck there forever. Furthermore, there's a current inside and if they get caught in that, they're almost sure to not make it across in time. But this doesn't phase any of them, and Yoruichi, Ichigo (as a shinigami and not in his body), Ishida, Chad, and Orihime rush inside as soon as the gate is opened. Urahara tries to go in as well, but encounters some kind of electric barrier.

In Depth Summaries

62. Lesson2-2: Bad Endin' in The Shaft
    Corresponding TV Episode - episode 19
    Characters Appearing - Tatsuki Arisawa, Jinta Hanakari, Orihime Inoue, Ichigo Kurosaki, Karin Kurosaki, Yasutora "Chad" Sado, Yoruichi Shihouin, Tessai Tsukabishi, Ururu Tsumugiya, Kisuke Urahara
    Kidou - None
    Locations - Karakura, Urahara's Store
    Released Soul Cutters - None
    Relevant Terminology - chain of fate, hollow, shinigami, Shun Shun Rikka, Soul Society

    Ichigo screams as the last link on his chain of fate gnaws away at another of the links. Ichigo tries to scrape off the disgusting link but gets bit by it in the process. Urahara says he won't help because even he would get eaten if he did. Urahara then explains that in the bottom of the Shattered Shaft is a gas that speeds up the chain's corrosion process. Usually it takes months or years, but down there it will only take three days. If Ichigo doesn't become a shinigami and leave the shaft on his own, he will become a hollow and Urahara and his employees will have to kill Ichigo. Tessai is still in the shaft with Ichigo, sitting as if he's praying. For the title page we see Orihime's back as she stands on top of a plane-shaped jungle gymn with her arms stretched out.

    Chad and Orihime, meanwhile are shouting. Yoruichi says it's no good and at this rate they won't be able to go to Soul Society. He then says it's not too hard to do - all they have to do is remember the first time they did it and do the same thing. Orihime says it's not that easy, but Yoruichi interrupts and asks what she was trying to do. Like when someone wields a sword, she was doing it to protect something, whether her life, social standing, reputation, things that she loves, or things that she believe in. Orihime thinks of Tatsuki, whom she was protecting at that time. Chad, on the other hand, tries to recall Karin, but can't remember her face. So he pictures Ichigo with longer black hair, a red cap, and lipstick (since it's a girl). He comes up with a very distorted picture and gags at the ugliness. Orihime, however, is successful. Her hair pins glow and then the Shun Shun Rikka appear after she says she wants to go to Soul Society to protect Ichigo. Tsubaki immediately starts beating her up for summoning them when she's not in danger. Yoruichi ignores that for the moment and then asks Chad why he wants to go to Soul Society.

    Back in the shaft, Ichigo's fifth corrosion ends as the last link at the end of his chain goes back to normal. His chain is considerably shorter as he thinks it has a cycle of a few minutes of corrosion every few hours. Since it's too painful to move during the corrosion periods, he tries to get out of the shaft while they're dormant and then tries to run straight up the rock face to the top. But he fails and falls down. Ururu and Jinta think its a dumb way of going about things. Jinta then asks Ichigo if he's hungry and Ichigo replies that souls don't get hungry so how could he be hungry? Jinta tells him that's good, but if he starts to get hungry in a soul state, it's a bad sign and means he'll soon become a hollow. Thirst, however, is ok, and Ururu and Jinta start drooling into the shaft so Ichigo can drink their drool if he gets thirsty.

    Later Ichigo is lying in the shaft thinking he can't climb up. He wonders how long it's been and how he can get out of the shaft, when Jinta suddenly appears and runs down with a tray of food because he figures Ichigo will be hungry soon. Ichigo responds that he isn't hungry and still has quite a bit of his chain left (though it is down to only six or seven links). Jinta then tells Ichigo it's been over 70 hours since he was put in the shaft and that the last corrosion is stronger than the others. Then just on cue all of the remaining links on Ichigo's chain sprout mouths and a hole opens up in his chest as they fall away. A hollow mask starts pouring out of his mouth and eyes.

    The last page shows Ururu and Jinta examining the fruit Ichigo was provided to eat. Jinta thinks they all require hands to eat, but Ururu wonders if he can just bite on the apple.

    Differences in episode 19:

    • Nothing!
63. Lesson2-3: Innercircle Breakdown
    Corresponding TV Episode - episode 19
    Characters Appearing - Orihime Inoue, Uryuu Ishida, Jinta Hanakari, Ichigo Kurosaki, Tessai Tsukabishi, Ururu Tsumugiya, Kisuke Urahara, Zangetsu
    Kidou - None
    Locations - Ichigo's Mind, Karakura, Urahara's Store
    Released Soul Cutters - None
    Relevant Terminology - hollow, shinigami, Shun Shun Rikka, soul cutter, spirit thread

    All of the store employees are shocked when Ichigo's hollow mask begins forming. Jinta has only just climbed out of the shaft. Ururu is about to move in to kill Ichigo when Urahara tells her to wait because Ichigo's transformation to a hollow is occurring in the incorrect order. Usually a soul becoming a hollow starts by deconstructing and reconstructing elsewhere. Since Ichigo's mask is appearing before that, it means Ichigo is fighting the process, so there's still a chance he'll become a shinigami. Ichigo, meanwhile, hears a voice asking if he can hear it. The title page shows Ichigo sitting on the side of a skyscraper in a city where gravity seems to pull parallel to the ground rather than perpendicular. He wonders where he is.

    He hears the voice calling him from behind, and he sees a scruffy middle-aged man wearing a cape and odd glasses standing on the tip of a flagpole. Ichigo asks who he is and the man says his name, but for some reason Ichigo can't hear the name properly and it comes out garbled. The man is disappointed and says that Ichigo still can't hear him, when Ichigo should know him better than anyone else in this world. As he says that, he steps on the top of the flagpole, so he's standing perpendicular to the ground and parallel to the side of the skyscraper that Ichigo's sitting on. Ichigo asks how he can do that, and the man responds that he's surprised Ichigo can sit where he is. Ichigo then begins falling downward towards the ground. Ichigo starts screaming and the man jumps down headfirst so he can talk to Ichigo as he falls. He says that it's amazing that Ichigo can still yell but it will be okay since shinigami control death. Ichigo retorts that he's not a shinigami at the moment. The man explains as a shinigami he can control the spirits floating around by attaching them to his feet so he can essentially float in the air. Ichigo recalls an incident where he did just that while fighting a hollow. The man then explains that Byakuya was too careless when he attacked Ichigo. He only destroyed Rukia's shinigami powers, but failed to realize Ichigo possessed his own shinigami powers apart from Rukia's. These powers were awakened by Rukia's powers, but they're hidden deep inside of Ichigo so it's only possible for Ichigo to find it as his world decays, like it is now. You see boxes falling around Ichigo and the old man, who has stopped falling and is standing in midair as Ichigo continues to fall, tells him that one of these boxes has his shinigami powers in it and he needs to discover which box it is before the world disintegrates entirely. Ichigo thinks that's impossible, given the sheer number of boxes there, but if he doesn't he'll become a hollow.

    Ichigo then ends up hitting the "ground," but it acts like water and not land. As he's floating in the water with boxes all around him, he thinks the task is too difficult and that Ishida told him he's always been bad at sensing the spiritual energy around him. He then remembers Ishida had a clever trick for detecting and locating shinigami power. After some struggling he recalls that the spirit thread of shinigami is red. Ichigo then summons spirit threads and tracks the red one back to the box. When it opens the handle of a soul cutter pokes out. The man is happy at that and says he can finally tell Ichigo his name. Ichigo is shocked as he begins to realize the man is his soul cutter, but has no time to talk about it since the world is collapsing. The man shouts for Ichigo to draw him out of the box.

    In the real world Ichigo's hollow mask is nearly complete on his face. There's suddenly a huge explosion in the shaft.

    The last page shows Inoue taking a lunch break from training. She's spacing out, wondering if Ichigo's ok so Tsubaki is trying to steal her hot dog. Shunou thinks this is the third lunch box she's eaten today and wonders if it's ok for her to eat so much.

    Differences in episode 19:

    • Nothing!
64. BACK IN BLACK
    Corresponding TV Episode - episode 19
    Characters Appearing - Jinta Hanakari, Ichigo Kurosaki, Isshin Kurosaki, Yuzu Kurosaki, Tessai Tsukabishi, Ururu Tsumugiya, Kisuke Urahara, Zangetsu
    Kidou - Bakudou 99 Version 2: Bankin
    Locations - Kurosaki Clinic, Urahara's Store
    Released Soul Cutters - None
    Relevant Terminology - hollow, shinigami, soul cutter

    In Ichigo's mind the still nameless scruffy middle-aged man shouts for Ichigo to pull him out of the box. Ichigo tugs on the soul cutter, but has a lot of problems with it. The title page shows Ururu, Kisuke, and Jinta gazing down into the Shattered Shaft. Ichigo is still screaming with his mostly complete hollow mask. When the pins restraining his arms pop out, Tessai, who is still in the shaft with Ichigo, decides to move to exterminating him. He casts the second version of Bakudou 99. During this Jinta asks him what he's doing since that will surely kill Ichigo, but Tessai replies he must be restrained and eliminated before he becomes a hollow. So, Ichigo gets wrapped in cloth and pierced by large metal pins. Just before Tessai does the final part of the bakudou, Ichigo manages to rip parts of the cloth, revealing a full hollow mask and hole in his chest. But before he can do anything else, is smashed by a square block of stone from above. When the block hits, there's a huge explosion and something is thrown out of the Shattered Shaft to crash in the ground near Urahara, Jinta, and Ururu. Jinta shouts insults where the thing crashed, hoping it's Ichigo, but is only answerd by a pair of glowing eyes. As the smoke clears they see a figure wearing a hollow mask and shinigami clothes, with remnants of the cloth and pins from Bakudou 99 Version 2. Ururu and Jinta are confused on whether it's a shinigami or hollow, and as the figure draws out the soul cutter, they see it's been broken off about where Ichigo's one had been cut off. However, instead of attacking with the broken off soul cutter, the figure smashes its hollow mask with the hilt and pulls off the hollow mask, revealing Ichigo has indeed become a shinigami. Jinta is shocked he didn't become a hollow, but Urahara quickly congratulates him on passing lesson 2. Ichigo's response to that is hitting him in the face with the hilt of his soul cutter.

    It turns out Ichigo is so mad at Urahara that he wants to kill him. Urahara is ok with that, however, since lesson 3 happens to be Ichigo cutting his hat off his head. There's no time limit. Ichigo gets cracking even before Urahara stops talking and manages to knick it. Urahara says it's pretty good for a broken-off sword and Ichigo replies that when he gets serious he'll be able to do it in 5 minutes. Urahara responds in that case he'll give him 5 minutes and draws a sword out of his cane.

    The last page shows Yuzu upset because Ichigo had promised to play with her over the summer. To try to cheer her up, Isshin suggests they play beach by dressing up in swimsuits and eating ice cream in his room with the A/C off.

    Differences in episode 19:

    • Nothing!
65. Collisions
    Corresponding TV Episode - episode 20
    Characters Appearing - Renji Abarai, Keigo Asano, Jinta Hanakari, Gin Ichimaru, Byakuya Kuchiki, Rukia Kuchiki, Ichigo Kurosaki, Tessai Tsukabishi, Kisuke Urahara, Kenpachi Zaraki
    Kidou - None
    Locations - Court of Pure Souls, Soul Society, Urahara's Store
    Released Soul Cutters - Benihime
    Relevant Terminology - captain, Central Room 46, hollow, shinigami, soul cutter

    In Soul Society, Renji is shocked when Byakuya tells Rukia that she will be executed in 25 days. Then he says it will probably be their last conversation and he'll see her at the execution site. The title page shows Renji, wearing a long black coat, odd glasses, and a bandana leaning against a wall and lighting a cigarette.

    After Byakuya is gone Renji tries to cheer Rukia up by saying that things might change. Rukia's response is that she's not depressed, the decision of Central Room 46 (the ruling body of Soul Society) cannot be changed, and she knew this would be the outcome from the start. She then starts teasing Renji to cheer him up. This manages to anger him and he storms out. Rukia looks sad after he goes. Outside, Renji thinks her escaping is impossible since it's capital punishment and wonders if Byakuya is really ok with this.

    Byakuya, meanwhile, runs into two other captains who comment on how calm is even when his sister is sentenced to death. It turns out they're Gin Ichimaru, captain of the 3rd division, and Kenpachi Zaraki, captain of the 11th division. Kenpachi offers to execute Rukia and Byakuya retorts he didn't know that Kenpachi could kill people. They nearly start fighting until Gin ties up Kenpachi and drags him away (which he does at lightning speeds). Zaraki is yelling to be let go, but Gin says he doesn't want to fight Byakuya and to greet Rukia for him. They then leave. After that Byakuya walks off.

    Back at Urahara's Store, Tessai has climbed out of the Shattered Shaft. Jinta is surprised he's ok, but Tessai says he's not because his glasses are shattered. Jinta tells him he should still wear his glasses since Kisuke has drawn his sword. We then see Ichigo and Urahara fighting. Urahara is doing the attacking, pushing Ichigo back. Eventually Ichigo realizes only a soul cutter could hurt a shinigami and figures Urahara's sword isn't one since it came out of a cane. He turns and holds his ground, only to have the remainder of the hollow mask sliced off his head. Urahara says his sword is a real soul cutter and to prove it he releases it.

    The last page shows Keigo at home playing video games. He's crying so much he can't see the screen while his sister, who's fanning herself, tells him to play in his room because it's making her angry.

    Differences in episode 20:

    • Nothing!
66. THE BLADE AND ME
    Corresponding TV Episode - episode 20
    Characters Appearing - Renji Abarai, Jinta Hanakari, Uryuu Ishida, Ichigo Kurosaki, Tessai Tsukabishi, Ururu Tsumugiya, Kisuke Urahara, Zangetsu
    Kidou - None
    Locations - Karakura, Urahara's Store
    Released Soul Cutters - Benihime, Zangetsu
    Relevant Terminology - soul cutter

    Ichigo is shocked and recalls Renji telling him about how every soul cutter has a name. He then attacks Ichigo with some form of special attack. Next we see the title page, Ishida entering (or leaving) a movie theater.

    Ururu, Jinta, and Tessai take shelter behind a rock as we see Ichigo tumble out of the smoke made by Urahara's attack. Ichigo manages to get to his feet in time to parry a second attack with the stub of his soul cutter, but Benihime easily cuts through that. Realizing things are bad, Ichigo flees. However, Urahara easily catches up to him and tells him that his power didn't really solidify and only bloated up into the form of a soul cutter, so it was easily cut. He then slices off the remainder of the blade and the hand guard, leaving Ichigo holding only an unattached hilt, and asks how Ichigo plans on beating him and slashing his hat with just a hilt. Ichigo runs again, somehow dodging an attack by Urahara, only to get grabbed by his collar and thrown to the ground. He manages to roll away from the next attack and runs again, all the while thinking how embarassing it is to be in this situation. But then he suddenly sees the soul cutter man standing in front of him. The soul cutter man asks why Ichigo is running and notes Ichigo still hasn't said his name since his ears are covered by fear. Ichigo stands to face Urahara and the soul cutter man tells him to forget his fear, face forward, and keep going. Ichigo then says his name, Zangetsu, and the hilt in his hand sparks with energy.

    The last page shows Zangetsu the man.

    Differences in episode 20:

    • Nothing!
67. End of Lessons
    Corresponding TV Episode - episode 20
    Characters Appearing - Jinta Hanakari, Orihime Inoue, Uryuu Ishida, Kon, Ichigo Kurosaki, Yuzu Kurosaki, Yasutora "Chad" Sado, Yoruichi Shihouin, Tessai Tsukabishi, Ururu Tsumugiya, Kisuke Urahara
    Kidou - None
    Locations - Karakura, Urahara's Store
    Released Soul Cutters - Benihime, Zangetsu
    Relevant Terminology - sanrei glove, soul cutter, Soul Society

    Jinta, Ururu, and Tessai wonder why Ichigo has suddenly stopped running, but Urahara doesn't take the apparent opportunity to attack. As Ichigo turns around to face Urahara and says Zangetsu's name, there's a bright flash of light. When it clears they see Ichigo holding his new soul cutter, which looks like a black cleaver as long as Ichigo is tall. The title page shows Ichigo holding Zangetsu.

    Jinta thinks the last sword was better because it had a clear hilt and handguard, while this one does not. Although Tessai doesn't say anything, he seems shocked by the soul cutter's appearance. Urahara says since Ichigo now has his soul cutter, they'll officially start lesson 3, but Ichigo tells Urahara he'll have to hide. As he raises Zangetsu to slash down at Urahara, Urahara tells Benihime to yell. The next thing we see is Urahara's hat in the air, cut in two. Urahara thinks if he hadn't used Benihime to make an obstacle out of blood in front of him, he would have lost his arm. He then picks up his damaged hat and puts it on his head, saying he didn't expect one swing to be so powerful. Ichigo is now slumped on Zangetsu, who's securely stuck into the ground. Ichigo appears to be unconscious as Urahara declares lesson 3 over.

    Meanwhile, Ishida is panting as something around his hand winks out of existence. He's now wearing a strange sort of glove which he was using to train. But now his training is complete. Chad, meanwhile, punches through the side of a building with his arm and he and Orihime celebrate because now both of them can go to Soul Society. Yoruichi calls them idiots and tells them to run. Kon, on the other hand, has run away from home again to get away from Yuzu, but thinks if he stays outside much longer he'll turn into a dirty rag.

    Differences in episode 20:

    • Nothing!
68. Last Summer Vacation
    Corresponding TV Episode - episode 20
    Characters Appearing - Tatsuki Arisawa, Keigo Asano, Orihime Inoue, Mizuiro Kojima, Kon, Ichigo Kurosaki, Isshin Kurosaki, Karin Kurosaki, Yuzu Kurosaki, Yasutora "Chad" Sado
    Kidou - None
    Locations - Karakura
    Released Soul Cutters - None
    Relevant Terminology - gate, Soul Society

    This chapter begins with Keigo sobbing about he's so glad Ichigo's back because he was really bored. Mizuiro is back, too, with a tan, a hawaiian shirt, and a lei. Still bitter about his trip, though, Keigo tosses salt on him. As they continue to fight Ichigo thinks that the reason he's there right now is he has to wait while the gate to Soul Society is opened. The title page shows Chad, Orihime, and Ichigo in tank tops standing back to back with their eyes closed and their hair blowing in the wind.

    Ichigo then asks Keigo why they've gathered in the afternoon when they're gathered for a fireworks spring festival (which is held in the evening). Keigo was so lonely he actually wanted to gather the night before. Keigo then gets kicked as Tatsuki (with her arm in a cast and sling), Orihime, and Chad arrive. It turned out she got runner up in the national karate championship. At first they think her opponent in the final match (which she describes as a gorilla woman) broke the arm, but she actually broke it when she got hit by a car after making it into the final 8. She fought both her semifinal and final matches with her right arm broken.

    The time passes quickly as they're walking and chatting, and they find themselves near a river bank far from where the fireworks will be launched. Tatsuki thinks it's a good place to watch away from the stores and crowds but Keigo wants to go closer so he can gawk at girls in kimonos. He then asks why Orihime and Tatsuki (but especially Orihime) are dressed in normal clothes. Just then Ichigo's sisters and dad show up and tackle him. It turns out all of them are drunk because some guy selling juice at the festival spiked the juice with wine. Isshin had reserved a spot to watch fireworks on the opposite bank early that morning, so all the guys take off to go there. Tatsuki and Orihime say they'll go later. Ichigo's a bit reluctant to go as well, but goes after Tatsuki tells him they're not bothered by his family at all.

    Once Ichigo leaves Inoue and Tatsuki comment they only come to that spot once a year in the autumn. They reminesce about how once Orihime ran off after red dragonflies and it took Tatsuki 2 days to find her. Tatsuki tells her not to go too far and Orihime replies she can't help it that she has to go to her grandmother's and she'd rather stay closer by. They then promise to watch red dragonflies there at the end of summer vacation. Then they see a fireworks in the sky. They think it's too early for them to go off, but run to join the others anyway. Orihime hopes Tatsuki won't worry too much because either Tatsuki will follow her wherever she goes or she'll return to Tatsuki if Tatsuki can't follow her.

    Meanwhile, Ichigo's sisters have passed out, so he's carrying them both home. His dad, as usual, jokes around and then Ichigo tells him he'll be away from home soon again, and this time he might not be back till the end of summer vacation. The dad assumes it's to travel and asks to be introduced to cute girls Ichigo meets along the way. He says he'll take care of things at home while Ichigo's away.

    The last page shows Kon collapsed outside because he was away from home so long. There's a mysterious shadow approaching him.

    Differences in episode 20:

    • Nothing!
69. 25:00 Gathering
    Corresponding TV Episode - episode 20
    Characters Appearing - Orihime Inoue, Uryuu Ishida, Rukia Kuchiki, Ichigo Kurosaki, Isshin Kurosaki, Karin Kurosaki, Yuzu Kurosaki, Yasutora "Chad" Sado, Kisuke Urahara
    Kidou - None
    Locations - Karakura, Kurosaki Clinic, Soul Society, Urahara's Store
    Released Soul Cutters - None
    Relevant Terminology - artificial body, gate, quincy, shinigami

    The chapter begins with Soul Society researchers waiting for Rukia's artificial body to be delivered it so they can study it. At first they're excited, but once it arrives they're shocked at its workmanship and say that anyone with the skill to make such an artificial body would have been exiled from Soul Society. Next we see Urahara standing in front of his almost completed gate. For the title page we see Yuzu, Karin, and Isshin sledding.

    At the clinic Ichigo opens up his window at Urahara's instructions. Apparently he's going to send some sort of message through it at 1am. He thinks the breeze is nice until a ball with a picture of Urahara on it comes through the window and splats on his closet door. It leaves behind a message saying to go to Urahara's Store, but Ichigo thinks it looks like it was left by someone who's dying. Then a P.S. appears saying anyone who thinks that has no sense of humor. This makes Ichigo angry, but he still leaves. Outside the clinic he nearly gets jumped by his dad, who then insists he take along a lucky charm that belonged to his mother and return it when he returns.

    On Ichigo's way to Urahara's Store he runs into Orihime, and he finds out she's going to. When they arrive at the store Chad is already there. It seems he was restless and was wandering close by when the message came. Ichigo wonders where Ishida is because he heard Ishida was coming, too. Orihime says that if they wait Ishida will come, but Chad disagrees. He thinks it might even be better since Ishida is most complex so he's also probably the weakest. But Ishida shows up soon after in quincy garb. His response is that he wants to beat shinigami now that he's stronger and he wants to show Ichigo how much stronger he's become. Ichigo's only response is to ask if Ishida came all the way in his weird outfit. But before they can get into a full blown argument Urahara shows up to explain how they'll get to Soul Society. They have to listen carefully or they might die before they even get there.

    The last page shows Yuzu discovering the message on Ichigo's door while she's cleaning.

    Differences in episode 20:

    • Nothing!
70. Where Hollows Fear To Tread
    Corresponding TV Episode - episode 21
    Characters Appearing - Orihime Inoue, Uryuu Ishida, Kon, Rukia Kuchiki, Ichigo Kurosaki, Yasutora "Chad" Sado, Yoruichi Shihouin, Tessai Tsukabishi, Kisuke Urahara
    Kidou - None
    Locations - Dangai, Urahara's Store
    Released Soul Cutters - None
    Relevant Terminology - gate, hollow, Soul Society

    When Chad, Ishida, and Orihime are introduced to the secret training grounds Orihime is quite impressed, which makes Tessai happy. However, Urahara doesn't give them time for small talk as he calls everyone over and summons the gate, saying now he'll explain how they use it without dying. Then we see the title page: Rukia caught among black cords stretching from ceiling to floor.

    Next Urahara punches Ichigo out of his body, impressing Chad, Ishida, and Orihime immensely to Ichigo's annoyance. The Kon shows up (it turns out he was found outside by Urahara), saying he'll be using Ichigo's body soon. The others are shocked at a talking plushie as Kon says Orihime is free to touch Ichigo's body, but then Chad grabs him by the head as Kon says he'll be going with Ichigo.

    Urahara finally gets their attention again and explains that this gate is not a normal gate to Soul Society because you need to be a soul to get into Soul Society. However, everyone there except Ichigo would be chained to their physical bodies and would have a hard time moving. His door is special because it will convert physical matter into the spiritual, allowing the others to go through the door as is. Going through it is safe and painless for them, but they only have 4 minutes before the door closes and they're stuck in Dangai, the place between the real world and Soul Society, forever. There's also a current in there, which is used to protect against hollows entering, and if they get caught in that they won't make it through in time. When Orihime asks what they should do, Yoruichi shows up and says they just move forward and that those who can do that follow him. Ichigo is the first to say he'll be going. Then the door begins to activate. Urahara reminds them to run in as soon as it opens. Kon, who is now bound and gagged tries to say something until Ichigo asks him to take care of his family. Then the gate opens and they run inside. Inside Dangai looks like a hallway made of sludge. They're shocked by its appearance, but then Yoruichi reminds them to hurry.

    Back in Urahara's Store, Urahara attempts to enter, only to get his hand shocked. We then see everyone inside Dangai running as fast as they can. Urahara then says that it's all up to Ichigo.

    Differences in episode 21:

    • Nothing!