Volume 10 TATTOO ON THE SKY

We stretch out our hands
To brush the clouds and go through the sky
Even if we could grasp Mars and the moon
The truth is we still will not reach it

80. Shooting Star Project
81. Twelve Tone Rendezvous
82. Conflictable Composition
83. COME WITH ME
84. The Shooting Star Project 2[Tattoo On The Sky]
85. INTRUDERZ 2[Breakthrough the roof mix]
86. Making Good Relations, OK?
87. Dancing with Spears
88. SO UNLUCKY WE ARE
    
    88.5 KARAKURA SUPER HEROES

Author's Comments

Recently I've almost gave up. I haven't been able to do it well ever since I was born. At the very very end, I was able to braid it up very nicely. You learn every day in life, don't you?

Concering it, to all of you who asked just now "What are your hobbies?" the full answer is executing the "the very very end" campaign. There's a time limit so you need to be fast.

General Overview

Kuukaku quickly explains that she's going to shoot them into Court of Pure Spirits using a big cannon. But for it to work, they need to learn to use something called a spirit core to get through the spiritual wall that surrounds the Court of Pure Spirits like a dome. She immediately sends off Ichigo, Ishida, Orihime, and Chad to learn how to use it from her servants. Everyone but Ichigo quickly picks up the knack and goes to eat to replenish the spiritual energy the expended in using the spirit cores. Ichigo remains behind to practice more and Ganjuu gives him a tip on using it, which doubles as the basics of using kidou as well, and Ichigo finally manages to do it.

Meanwhile in the Court of Pure Spirits the emergency meeting turns out to be about Gin, who is the last to arrive, and his failure to kill the intruders when he encountered and fought them (which wasn't in his jurisdiction to begin with). But the meeting is ended prematurely when another intruder alarm goes off and Kenpachi Zaraki runs off to go fight them. Before the rest leave Toushirou Hitsugaya, captain of the 10th division notices Aizen threatening Gin that he knows he's up to something and he'd better stop.

At Kuukaku's house, everyone has gathered so they can go to the Court of Pure Spirits. They're all going in one sphere, including Ganjuu, so they all get into the cannon and are launched by Kuukaku. They successfully penetrate the spiritual wall, but end up getting scattered: Ichigo and Ganjuu form one pair while Orihime and Ishida form another. Yoruichi and Chad end up alone. Using their various powers, all of the intruders emerge unscathed, but Ichigo and Ganjuu are immediately confronted by a pair of shinigami. They split up: Ganjuu runs and is pursued by one of the shinigami named Yumichika, while Ichigo holds his ground and fights a shinigami named Ikkaku.

It turns out Ikkaku's soul cutter Hoozukimaru is a spear that can separate into a three piece nunchuck and has some of healing balm hidden in a secret compartment in the "butt" of the spear. At first it looks like Ikkaku has a clear upper hand in the fight, but Ichigo eventually gets the hang of his attack style and slices off a section of Hoozukimaru, getting a clean hit on Ikkaku's chest in the process. But Ikkaku refuses to surrender and insists on continuing the fight. As he makes another attack Ichigo can see Urahara attacking in his mind's eye and moves to counter.

While all this is going on, back in Karakura, Karin notices something flying (a hollow) and decides to follow it because she's seen it a lot lately. But it's suddenly destroyed by Don Kanonji. After explaining that it was a hollow he recruits her to a new group he's forming by promising she can be the red ranger in it (since the hero or heroine is usually red). The other members turn out to be Ururu (pink ranger) and Jinta (who also wants to be red). He and Karin fight over it until they hear that Don is the gold ranger. But they stick with the group and start exterminating hollows, much to the chagrin of Rukia's replacement shinigami, Zennosuke Kurumadani, who now has nothing to do. He's shocked even further when Tatsuki spots him and tells him to not skulk around.

In Depth Summaries

80. (+) Shooting Star Project
    Corresponding TV Episode - episode 24
    Characters Appearing - Renji Abarai, Momo Hinamori, Tetsuzaemon Iba, Orihime Inoue, Uryuu Ishida, Koganehiko, Ichigo Kurosaki, Rangiku Matsumoto, Yasutora "Chad" Sado, Ganjuu Shiba, Kuukaku Shiba, Yoruichi Shihouin, Shiroganehiko
    Kidou - None
    Locations - Court of Pure Spirits, Kuukaku's House, Meeting Hall, Rukongai, Soul Society
    Released Soul Cutters - Zangetsu
    Relevant Terminology - captain, kidou, shinigami, Kaien Shiba, spirit core, spiritron, lieutenant

    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 Spirits. 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.

    Differences in episode 24:

    • Kuukaku just had a cut off right arm, rather than a fake one.
    • In the anime, rather than showing an illustration of the spiritual wave around the Court of Pure Spirits while Kuukaku is explaining about the walls and the barrier, it shows her illustrate with a stone.
    (!)
81. (+) Twelve Tone Rendezvous
    Corresponding TV Episode - episode 24
    Characters Appearing - Sousuke Aizen, Fong Soi, Gin Ichimaru, Orihime Inoue, Uryuu Ishida, Koganehiko, Sajin Komamura, Byakuya Kuchiki, Ichigo Kurosaki, Karin Kurosaki, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Shunsui Kyouraku, Yasutora "Chad" Sado, Ganjuu Shiba, Kuukaku Shiba, Yoruichi Shihouin, Shiroganehiko, Kaname Tousen, Retsu Unohana, Genryuusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Kenpachi Zaraki
    Kidou - None
    Locations - Karakura, Kuukaku's House, Meeting Hall, Rukongai, Soul Society
    Released Soul Cutters - Zangetstu
    Relevant Terminology - captain, kidou, shinigami, spirit core, lieutenant

    We first see that Ichigo is the only one who hasn't figured out how to use the soul core yet, so their hungry from their spiritual exertions. 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.

    Then we go back to the shinigami. The meeting has started with Gin being the last to arrive.

    The last page is Karin spotting a hollow in the sky thinking it's a weird sort of bird and noting she's seen it a lot lately.

    Differences in episode 24:

    • Kuukaku has a fake right arm.
    • They leave out the side story about Karin seeing a hollow in the sky (thinking it's a bird).
    (!)
82. (+) Conflictable Composition
    Corresponding TV Episode - episode 24
    Characters Appearing - Sousuke Aizen, Fong Soi, Gin Ichimaru, Orihime Inoue, Uryuu Ishida, Koganehiko, Sajin Komamura, Byakuya Kuchiki, Ichigo Kurosaki, Karin Kurosaki, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Shunsui Kyouraku, Yasutora "Chad" Sado, Ganjuu Shiba, Kuukaku Shiba, Yoruichi Shihouin, Shiroganehiko, Kaname Tousen, Retsu Unohana, Genryuusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Kenpachi Zaraki
    Kidou - None
    Locations - Karakura, Kuukaku's House, Meeting Hall, Rukongai, Soul Society
    Released Soul Cutters - Zangetsu
    Relevant Terminology - captain, kidou, shinigami, spirit core, lieutenant

    The captains are all at the meeting (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.

    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.)

    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 Spirits!

    The last thing we see is Karin chasing after the hollow she saw in chapter 81.

    Differences in episode 24:

    • Kuukaku has a fake right arm.
    • The 13 Gotei Divisions meeting isn't broken up and after Ichigo manages to use the soul core.
    • There as extra scene at the end with Rukia saying Ichigo.
    • They leave out the side story about Karin chasing after the hollow.
    (!)
83. (+) COME WITH ME
    Corresponding TV Episode - episode 25
    Characters Appearing - Renji Abarai, Sousuke Aizen, Ganjuu's gang, Toushirou Hitsugaya, Gin Ichimaru, Orihime Inoue, Uryuu Ishida, Mitsuru "Fever" Ishino, Itzuru Kira, Sajin Komamura, Koganehiko, Ichigo Kurosaki, Karin Kurosaki, Yachiru Kusajishi, Shunsui Kyouraku, Taichi "Hawk" Miyamoto, Yasutora "Chad" Sado, Sadatomo "Danbell" Saionji, Ganjuu Shiba, Kuukaku Shiba, Yoruichi Shihouin, Shiroganehiko, Fong Soi, Tetsuzaemon Iba, Kaname Tousen, Unnamed shinigami, Retsu Unohana, Genryuusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Sanji "Top" Yamashita, Kenpachi Zaraki
    Kidou - None
    Locations - Karakura, Court of Pure Spirits, Kuukaku's House, Meeting Hall, Rukongai, Soul Society
    Released Soul Cutters - None
    Relevant Terminology - Kaien Shiba, shinigami, lieutenant

    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.

    Meanwhile at Kuukaku's place Ichigo is sleeping fitfully in the practice room while Ganjuu is busy with something. Ichigo 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. Ichigo quickly changes the subject to ask what Ganjuu was doing. 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.

    Kuukaku doesn't object, but she does tell him to give it his all and not run away in the middle. Ichigo then grab's Ganjuu's shirt and tells Ganjuu to watch his back. Kuukaku then asks if everyone's ready and they all walk towards the cannon.

    The last page shows Karin watching the hollow and something shoots it from the ground, killing it.

    Differences in episode 25:

    • Kuukaku's right arm is fake.
    • The end of the shinigami meeting is moved after the events in a later chapter.
    • The lieutenants hearing the alarm isn't shown.
    • You actually see the events up to when Ichigo pulls Yoruichi's tail (but you don't realize what happened until Ishida tells him after Ichigo's woken up.)
    • Instead of Ichigo asking Kuukaku what Ganjuu was doing, Kuukaku asks where Ganjuu is.
    • When Ganjuu is talking about Ichigo being different from other shinigami, you see a flashback of Ichigo explaining to Ganjuu why he wants to save Rukia.
    • Kuukaku doesn't tell Ganjuu to give this everything he's got and not run away in the middle.
    • Yoruichi asks if everyone's ready instead of Kuukaku and they don't need to walk to the base of the cannon because they're already there.
    • The part about Karin was cut.
    (!)
84. (+) The Shooting Star Project 2[Tattoo On The Sky]
    Corresponding TV Episode - episode 25
    Characters Appearing - Renji Abarai, Sousuke Aizen, Momo Hinamori, Uryuu Ishida, Orihime Inoue, Misao "Don" Kanonji, Byakuya Kuchiki, Koganehiko, Ichigo Kurosaki, Karin Kurosaki, Yachiru Kusajishi, Yasutora "Chad" Sado, Ganjuu Shiba, Kuukaku Shiba, Yoruichi Shihouin, Shiroganehiko, Kenpachi Zaraki
    Kidou - Kakaku Shahou 2: Kagizaki, Kakaku Shahou 2: Follow Up Encantation
    Locations - Karakura, Court of Pure Spirits, Kuukaku's House, Rukongai, Soul Society
    Released Soul Cutters - None
    Relevant Terminology - kidou, shinigami, spirit core

    Ichigo is yet again holding a spirit core and asks if everyone is going to just use one of them for the cannonball. He then wonders if Yoruichi can use one and 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 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.

    Inside the cannonball 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.

    Meanwhile in the Court of Pure Spirits, Kenpachi is complaining because he and Yachiru searched all night for the intruders in vain. But then looking up, he sees their cannonball flying towards him. Others notice it, too.

    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.

    The last page we see is Karin with Don Kanonji, who is dressed as a superhero. Karin recognizes him, but just wonders what he's doing there since the guy is famous and Ichigo isn't around.

    Differences in episode 25:

    • Kuukaku has a fake right arm.
    • Kuukaku tells Ganjuu to give it his all and not to run away before Ichigo grabs Ganjuu by the shirt.
    • Ichigo doesn't asks if they'll all be in the same cannonball before he asks if Yoruichi can use the spirit core.
    • Kenpachi and Yachiru were only searching a short time before they notice the cannonball in the sky.
    • A scene showing Rukia watching the sky is shown when the other shinigami notice the cannonball. This scene occurs in the next chapter.
    (!)
85. (+) INTRUDERZ 2[Breakthrough the roof mix]
    Corresponding TV Episode - episode 25 and episode 26
    Characters Appearing - Sousuke Aizen, Yumichika Ayasegawa, Orihime Inoue, Uryuu Ishida, Misao "Don" Kanonji, Rukia Kuchiki, Ichigo Kurosaki, Karin Kurosaki, Ikkaku Madarame, Yasutora "Chad" Sado, Ganjuu Shiba, Yoruichi Shihouin
    Kidou - Sebba
    Locations - Karakura, Court of Pure Spirits, Shrine of Penitence, Rukongai, Soul Society
    Released Soul Cutters - None
    Relevant Terminology - shinigami

    First we see Rukia watching the sky and noticing that it's getting brighter. Next we see other shinigami watching the cannonball hit the barrier. Aizen realizes it must be made of dense spirit energy for it to be able to hit the barrier without getting destroyed.

    Inside the cannonball, they've passed the barrier, but haven't begun to descend yet. The cannonball was totally destroyed by the impact against the barrier, so Yoruichi shouts at them not to separate. Yoruichi 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.

    Next we see Chad powering up his arm so he can land safely. Inoue and Ishida land safely thanks to Inoue's fairy shield trio, and Ganjuu uses some of his earth magic to change the ground into sand and cushion his and Ichigo's fall. We don't see Yoruichi land, but we do see him think getting separated from the others might not be such a bad thing for him.

    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 last page shows Don Kanonji talking to Karin more. He says he's collecting people to form a group called "Karakura Super Heroes" and since he senses Ichigo isn't home, he wants to collect Karin, since she shows some potential by seeing the hollow (which he tells her about). Karin thinks he's pretty dumb, though.

    Differences in episode 25:

    • The scene with Rukia occurs before the cannonball hit the barrier.
    • Ichigo shouts go through as the cannonball penetrates the barrier.
    • Episode 25 ends with Zaraki watching the four groups going in different directions in the sky.
    • Ikkaku is shown dancing when he and Yumichika first encounter Ichigo and Ganjuu
    • Yoruichi comments that perhaps he's better off being alone after he lands.
    • The side story about Don Kanonji telling Karin about hollows and his superhero group and inviting her to join isn't shown.
    (!)
86. (+) Making Good Relations, OK?
    Corresponding TV Episode - episode 26
    Characters Appearing - Yumichika Ayasegawa, Orihime Inoue, Uryuu Ishida, Misao "Don" Kanonji, Ichigo Kurosaki, Karin Kurosaki, Ikkaku Madarame, Yasutora "Chad" Sado, Ganjuu Shiba, Yoruichi Shihouin
    Kidou - None
    Locations - Karakura, Court of Pure Spirits, Rukongai, Soul Society
    Released Soul Cutters - Hoozukimaru, Zangetsu
    Relevant Terminology - shinigami

    First 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.

    Inoue wakes up to the sound of someone calling her name. She thinks it's Ichigo and tries to get up, but her arm twinges in pain. She then realizes that the person calling her was Ishida, who had bandaged her arm since she hurt her shoulder in the fall. Luckily there was no one around where they fell. Ishida apologizees for not being Ichigo and 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 get to watch the bald shinigami that confronted them do a bizarre dance. 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.

    The bald one comments he's surprised Ichigo didn't run, 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 attacks again as the bald shinigami readies for an attack as well. 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.

    On the last page Don Kanonji tells Karin that he's reserved the special "red" part for her in his superhero group. She seems excited at that idea because the "red" one is usually the main character in Power Ranger type shows.

    Differences in episode 86:

    • Yoruichi comments that perhaps he's better off being alone after he lands.
    • Inoue just dreams about Ichigo rather than she mistaking Ishida's voice for Ichigo's when she wakes up. Ishida does not apologizes to her for not being Ichigo.
    • More fighting is shown between Ichigo jumping off Ikkaku's sheath and both of them getting cut above their eyes.
    • The side story about Karin joining Don Kanonji's superhero group isn't shown.
    (!)
87. (+) Dancing with Spears
    Corresponding TV Episode - episode 26
    Characters Appearing - Yumichika Ayasegawa, Jinta Hanakari, Misao "Don" Kanonji, Ichigo Kurosaki, Karin Kurosaki, Ikkaku Madarame, Ganjuu Shiba, Ururu Tsumugiya, Kisuke Urahara
    Kidou - Sebba
    Locations - Karakura, Court of Pure Spirits, Rukongai, Soul Society
    Released Soul Cutters - Fujikujaku, Hoozukimaru, Zangetsu
    Relevant Terminology - released, shinigami, soul cutter

    This chapter starts out with Ganjuu, who is annoyed with how persistent Yumichika is, running from Yumichika, who 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. He 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, but his reactions are quick, his attacks are strong, and his body movements are close to Ikkaku's. He wonders 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 dressed up in 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. This time it slices Ichigo's arm 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. Ichigo then tells him that soon he won't be able to hold his sword.

    The last page shows Don Kanonji introducing Karin to the rest of the team: Jinta (red) and Ururu (pink). Jinta and Karin immediately start bickering because they both want to be red.

    Differences in episode 26:

    • Ganjuu turns two walls into sand before reaching the pit.
    • Ganjuu calls Yumichika pretty (which he takes as a compliment) and then insults him before Yumichika makes his offer.
    • Ichigo and Ikkaku fight more while Ikkaku compliments Ichigo on his movements, etc.
    • A part with Ganjuu throwing sand into Yumichika's eyes, changing the edge of the pit into sand, falling into the pit, and using the spirit core to float up happens. Yumichika tries to cut the canonball with his soul cutter, and when it doesn't work, releases it. Then he slashes the cannonball with his released sword and cuts it. However, Ganjuu then purposefully looses concentration and makes the cannonball blow up. He gets propelled across the pit and blasts a hole in the far wall and runs off. Yumichika is thoroughly annoyed that Ganjuu tries to kill him and that Ganjuu got away and jumps off.
    • The side story about Karin meeting Jinta and Ururu and then arguing about who is red wasn't shown.
    (!)
88. (+) SO UNLUCKY WE ARE
    Corresponding TV Episode - episode 27
    Characters Appearing - Jinta Hanakari, Misao "Don" Kanonji, Ichigo Kurosaki, Karin Kurosaki, Ikkaku Madarame, Ururu Tsumugiya, Kisuke Urahara
    Kidou - None
    Locations - Karakura, Court of Pure Spirits, Rukongai, Soul Society
    Released Soul Cutters - Hoozukimaru, Zangetsu
    Relevant Terminology - soul cutter

    This chapter starts with Ikkaku responding that Ichigo talks big, saying he won't be able to hold his sword soon. He then resumes attacking, and although Ichigo doesn't get hurt again, he does get knocked off his feet. Ikkaku then cockily asks if all Ichigo can do is bluff and that there's no way a rookie could keep up with Hoozukimaru's ever-changing form. Ichigo says that's wrong and he's already getting the hang of it, and to prove it he drops some material from the pompom at the end of the "spear." Only then Ikkaku realizes the end of Hoozukimaru is damaged and is stunned that Ichigo was able to stop it with one hand. Ichigo then attacks and Ikkaku is stunned at his speed. He attempts to block, but Ichigo simply cut through one of Hoozukimaru's sections and lands a direct hit straight down Ikkaku's chest. Ikkaku claims that he can still fight though and starts swinging the "spearhead" section of Hoozukimaru over his head, saying that the only way he'll admit to not being able to hold his soul cutter is if his hands are cut off. Ichigo tells him to put down the weapon and Ikkaku refuses. Ichigo says he's lost and to back down, but Ikkaku says he won't back down from a fight and moves in to attack.

    In Ichigo's mind's eye he can see Urahara doing the same thing and he shouts that Ikkaku is too slow. He breaks off Hoozukimaru close to where Ikkaku is holding it and slices a gash up Ikkaku's sword arm. Ikkaku comments that Ichigo was too strong and collapses. We then see that blood has seaped through the bandage around Ichigo's arm.

    The last thing we see is Don Kanonji announcing that he is the special gold ranger, which upsets both Karin and Jinta.

    Differences in episode 27:

    • There is a scene at the beginning with Yoruichi Shihouin watching shinigami run, go the wrong way and run back. Yoruichi then runs off. After that we're introduced to Hanatarou Yamada, who is bringing Rukia a food tray to her old cell. He steadily ignores the ruckus around him, though he does get dizzy from all of the running shinigami, and is very shocked to hear she's been moved. So shocked, in fact, he drops the tray. Next there is a scene with Rukia Kuchiki wondering if that light in the sky was Ichigo coming and that she can't sense any spirit aura in the Shrine of Penitence.
    • Ikkaku attacks a lot before Ichigo grabs the pompom and damages Hoozukimaru. After this there's a scene with Kenpachi Zaraki and Yachiru Kusajishi from chapter 89. Next we see Orihime Inoue and Uryuu Ishida running from a ton of shinigami. Yasutora "Chad" Sado notices the smoke from that and runs after them. Next Ichigo attacks Ikkaku, but Ikkaku makes no comment about his speed.
    • The story with Don Kanonji, Karin, Ururu, and Jinta is left out.
    (!)