Ichigo finds Rukia injured in the world of the living, and that she is being attacked by a strange woman, who uses rukia's abilties. It is revealed to be that this woman is Rukia's Zapakuto, Sode no Shirayuki. Ichigo successfully forces the renegade zapakuto into submission, and Sode no Shirayuki retreats back to soul society. Ichigo brings Rukia to the Urahara shop, where she reveals that the Shinigami's zanpakuto's have attacked their masters, and reveals that Byakuya was seemingly defeated fighting by his own zanpakuto, Senbonzakura. The remaining shinigami of the gotei 13 squads regroup to the 4th Division headquarters while they try to re-establish their defenses, and learn more about the zanpakuto rebellion. and Urahara observes that only the Zapakuto in Soul Soceity are affected and that those in the real world are unaffected, and decides to try to capture one of the materialized zanpakuto in an attempt to learn more about their new enemy. In the middle of the night, Rukia leaves for Soul Society, apparently in search of Byakuya. Ichigo and Yoruichi leave for soul society in an attempt to go after Rukia and save soul society.
Llena de graves heridas, Rukia escapa al mundo de los vivos y es rescatada por Ichigo. Una misteriosa mujer llega por el Senkaimom y ataca a ambos utilizando una zanpakuto igual a la de Rukia.
虚退治をしていた一護は不穏な気配を察知。そこには瀕死の状態で現世に逃げ込んできたルキアがいた。さらに、穿界門からルキアを追う謎の女が出現。ルキアと同じ斬魄刀で向かってくる女に一護は驚く。
Muramasa rivela ai capitani di aver liberato gli spiriti delle Zanpakuto e che presto queste governeranno sugli shinigami. Le Zanpakuto attaccano la Seireitei e i danni sono incalcolabili. Durante lo scontro, Byakuya svanisce.
