Zommari survives Byakuya's attack, but Byakuya uses kid to block Zommari's control ability, and quickly dispatches him. Mayuri initially seems unable to fight back against Szayel, who uses his voodoo doll ability to destroy all of Mayuri's organs. However, he reveals that he has made himself immune to Szayel's ability by replacing all the organs in his body with dummies after learning about the ability from bacteria he implanted in Ury . He then activates his bankai, which poisons Szayel, and subsequently swallows him.

Rukia regains consciousness, and Byakuya tells her to rest and regain her strength for the battles ahead. Kenpachi continues to battle Nnoitra, and Orihime heals Nel at Ichigo's request. While swallowing Szayel with his bankai, Mayuri inadvertently poisons Ury and Renji, and Szayel seizes the opportunity to resurrect himself by absorbing Nemu's spiritual particles through his Gabriel technique. However, he ingests a "superhuman" drug from inside Nemu in the process that increases all of his senses to the point where his body cannot respond to the flood of sensory information, immobilizing him. Mayuri then stabs him through the hand before stabbing him in the heart.

Kenpachi continues his fight with Nnoitra but can't seem to land a blow, but despite this Kenpachi is having the most fun of his life.

After Nnoitra is unable to defeat Kenpachi he releases his sword apparently leading to Kenpachi's defeat.

The fight between Kenpachi and Nnoitra reaches it's end with both sides going all out.

Aizen seals Ichigo and the others in Hueco Mundo before heading for Karakura Town with his strongest Espada. When he arrives however he is confronted by the remaining Captains of the 13 Protection Squads.

Back in the real world again. Lurichiyo appears at school and attempts to talk to Ichigo but he gets annoyed with her and she leaves. The gang eventually find her at the Urahara shop. They then encounter Kenryuu and discover that the reason Lurichiyo left Soul Society was over a soccer tournament. This leads to Kenryuu and Lurichyio having an argument and it is up to Ichigo and friends to come up with a plan to reconcile the two friends. As such Ichigo, Ishda & Kenryuu comes up with the Seppuku Persuasion Strategy. Although this works at first Lurichiyo and Kenryuu ultimately decide to settle their differences with a soccer match.

Lurichiyo and Kenryuu attempt to settle their differences with a very unusual game of soccer. However, the group must be careful that Soul society does not discover that they are illegally using a barrier as the pitch so when Ikkaku arrives to investigate what is going on they tell him that Ichigo is undergoing intensive training. They then get him to join the game although he doesn't understand what is happening and ends up battling with Ichigo whilst the game continues around them. however, their battle soon attracts a hollow and the group must join forces to fight it off. This causes Lurichiyo to lose the game. But Shuu soon arrives to explain how all of the commoners back in Soul Society are really looking forward to the soccer tournament and Kenryuu is forced to concede that it is a good idea after all.