Unohana and her imposter engage in a kido conflict, with Unohana escaping. The Fake Kyoraku and Ukitake are unable to defeat the head captain, who criticizes their claim that they retain their pride. Fake Unohana arrives and heals their wounds, revealing their strategy to exhaust the head captain. Elsewhere in Seireitei, Byakuya is stopped by the Fake Hitsugaya, and the two unleash their bankais in a brief battle. Byakuya asks the imposter why someone would fight for Inaba, and Fake Histugaya claims that he want to protect some one, whom the original also want to protect but the original one does not have the power to do it,which he has. Byakuya criticizes his motives and eventually manages to defeat him, though narrowly escaping Hitsugaya's Hyoten Hyakasso. Back in the living world, Ichigo asks Urahara to send him to Soul Society. He is advised not to go due to his declining spirit energy. However, Nozomi steps up and reveals a type of healing kido that restores some of Ichigo's lost spiritual power. He then proceeds with heading to Soul Society, where Inaba meets with Nozomi's unconscious soul claiming she will return.
I Reigai di Kyoraku e Ukitake continuano a scontrarsi con Genryusai, e arriva a dare man forte anche il Reigai di Unohana. Nel frattempo, Byakuya si ritrova a dover combattere contro la copia di Hitsugaya.
Emocionada por los esfuerzos de Ichigo y sus amigos para protegerla, Nozomi decide quedarse con ellos y usar sus poderes de curación sobre Ichigo. Mientras tanto, en la Sociedad de Almas, Byakuya se enfrenta al Reigai de Hitsugaya.
現世での戦いを見ていた望実は、一護たちが自分を護ろうとする理由がわからずにいた。しかし、一護の「1人じゃない」という言葉、そして仲間たちの想いに、一護たちと共にいることを選択しようとする。
