Hisagi is wounded in a surprise attack by Kazeshini, but Izuru intervenes to help him, and using kido, binds Kazehini long enough for the two of them to escape. Renji's fight with Zabimaru continues, and Zabimaru takes the advantage when they are able to activate bankai while Renji, no longer able to control them, cannot. Renji considers his own weaknesses, and tricks Zabimaru into taking his sword, then breaks it with a Red Flame Cannon kido spell and uses Higa Zekkou to defeat Zabimaru by firing the broken shards at them. Ichigo fights Zangetsu, and struggles when Zangetsu activates Bankai. He uses a new Getsuga Tenshou working together with his inner hollow to defeat Zangetsu, and forces Muramasa to retreat. Zangetsu reveals that Muramasa is using a technique to awaken the zanpakutos' instincts and by doing so, he can control them.
Ichigo recupera su Shikai y lucha contra Muramasa. Pero Zangetsu, que se ha aliado con Muramasa, se adentra para luchar contra Ichigo.
村正との戦闘中に始解を取り戻した一護は、改めて村正に戦いを挑むが、そこに村正側に付いた斬月が現れた。斬月は卍解し、一護に襲いかかる。一方、恋次も始解を取り戻しており、蛇尾丸を倒そうと目論むが...。
Hisagi continua a scontarsi con Kazeshini, e Renji e Ichigo a combattere contro Zabimaru e Zangetsu. Renji riesce a sconfiggere la sua zanpakuto facendo uso del kido, da sempre suo punto debole, mentre Ichigo ricorre alla sua parte Hollow.
