Every member of the group manages to survive the collision. Orihime and Uryuu manage to stay undetected, as do Chad and Yoruichi. But Ichigo and Ganju, who fell down together, have to defend themselves right away. Two powerful Shinigamis from Court's 13th squad, Madarame Ikkaku and Yumichika Ayasegawa, were lucky enough to be hanging around near Ichigo's and Ganju's crash site. Ichigo soon finds out that Madarame and his Soul Slayer, Houzukimaru, are a powerful foe. Meanwhile, Ganju is trying his best to avoid fighting against Yumichika.

The confrontation between Ichigo and Madarame continues. Madarame's tri-section staff isn't only a powerful weapon, but also capable of surprising its targets. However, after a few setbacks, Ichigo gets a chance to show his true power. Meanwhile, Ganju keeps using dirty little tricks to keep his opponent at a safe distance. Both Uryuu and Orihime are trying their best to avoid any altercations as well.

Using rather cowardly methods, Ganju manages to flee from the fight between him and Yumichika. Orihime and Uryuu get into their first fight in Soul Society, when Jiroubou Ikkanzaka, 7th squads 4th ranked member appears in front of them. He bears the title of Kamaitachi, the ultimate projectile master. His Soul Slayer, Tsunzakigarasu, consists of countless blades flying in the air. Uryuu Ishida gets a chance to show what he has learned under the guidance of Yoruichi.

Ishida exhibits his new, frightening strength by destroying Jiroubou's Soul Slayer with a single shot from his bow. He uses his Quincy powers to finish Jiroubou off by stripping him of his Death God powers. Meanwhile, Ichigo and Ganju are reunited. While running away from a group of countless Death God's, they run into Hanatarou Yamada, a weak boy who is eager to save Rukia as well. He agrees to escort Ichigo and Ganju to Shrine of Penitence, the tower Rukia is being held at.

With Hanatarou as their guide, Ichigo and Ganju are able to use Court of Pure Spirit's underground water tunnels to avoid confrontations. Hanatarou became very fond of Rukia while cleaning her prison cell, which is why he is so eager to help the intruders. Unfortunately, the tunnels can only go so far and eventually they have to exit near a huge stairway leading to the core of the Court. They are greeted by Abarai Renji, the lieutenant of 6th squad and the person responsible for bringing Rukia back to Soul Society. Sure enough, a fight immediately breaks out between Ichigo and Abarai.

A fierce battle between Ichigo and Abarai begins. Despite his best efforts, Ichigo's first fight against a real Soul Society lieutenant doesn't start as planned. Fortunately, Ichigo's hard training under Kisuke is starting to pay off when his control of his immense soul powers increases.

Ichigo manages to defeat Abarai. While lying on the ground in a state of helplessness, Abarai reminisces about his childhood in South Rukongai's 78th district known as Inuzuri. More light is shed on Abarai's and Rukia's shared past.

Don Kan'onji is back in action. He convinces Ichigo's sister Yuzu and Jinta to join his special force, Karakura Super Heroes, which aims to protect Karakura City. The special force is immediately needed when several hollows target Ichigo's other sister, Karin. The battle isn't as easy as the special force thought, but a stray cat Karin found earlier helps his saviour in a very special way.

Ichigo, Ganju and Hanatarou have retreated back to the underground sewers. Hanatarou is doing his best to heal Ichigo's serious wounds. Meanwhile, captains of every squad gather to decide what to do about the intruder problem, which has become a real threat to Soul Society. To stop Ichigo and his friends, Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni, the leader of Soul Society, announces that special wartime orders are in effect, permitting the constant carrying of Soul Slayer's for top officers in Soul Society.

Soul Society is in chaos after 5th division's captain Sousuke Aizen is found dead. 5th division's lieutenant, Momo Hinamori, is grief-stricken by the loss of the man he admired so much. Momo confronts the man who she thinks is responsible for Captain Aizen's death, Ichimaru Gin. Meanwhile Ichigo is recovering from his previous battle against Abarai Renji, whilst Chad is making good progress in his solo journey towards Shrine of Penitence.

Ichigo, Ganju and Hanatarou continue their journey towards Shrine of Penitence. However, soon after climbing the huge stairway, they are stopped on their tracks by an insanely huge spirit force. They've finally ran into the man Madarame warned Ichigo earlier about, 11th division captain Kenpachi Zaraki. Thus begins the Ichigo's hardest fight yet. Meanwhile, Momo receives a letter Captain Aizen wrote before his death.

While hurrying to reach the Shrine of Penitence, Chad keeps knocking Shinigami's down with his incredibly powerful hand. But he is about to meet a foe he can't dispose of so easily when 8th division's lazy and seemingly worry free captain Shunsui Kyouraku finally decides to do something about the intruder problem. Chad's conviction to help Ichigo on his quest to save Rukia impresses Shunsui, but that alone isn't enough to defeat an enemy of his calibre.

Kenpachi reveals some of the secrets which make him such an incredibly powerful fighter. It seems that Ichigo can't do anything against Captain Zaraki in his current state. However, slowly but surely, Ichigo's hidden powers reveal themselves, taking the battle to another level.

In order to awake Zangetsu's, his Soul Slayer's, true powers, Ichigo must defeat a clone of himself in Zangetsu's realm. Ichigo, now wielding both his and Zangetsu's soul powers, once again engages in battle with Kenpachi Zaraki.

The battle between Ichigo and Zaraki is over. Despite both of them being unable to move, Ichigo managed to come out as the winner by a narrow margin. Kenpachi however isn't discouraged by his defeat, but instead swears to become much, much stronger. Meanwhile, Ganju and Hanatarou have finally reached the Shrine of Penitence. However, when they finally meet Rukia, Ganju is shocked to find out that Rukia is in fact the Death God who killed his brother! And to make matters worse, a powerful Death God is making his way to their destination.

Byakuya Kuchiki has arrived to the Shrine of Penitence to stop Ganju and Hanatarou from saving Rukia. Even though Ganju bears a huge grudge against Rukia, he bravely steps forward and challenges Byakuya. Meanwhile, Ichigo wakes up in a shack and finds Yoruichi standing beside him. Before he knows it, Yoruichi reveals his, or actually her, true form. It's time for Yoruichi to take Ichigo's skills to completely another level.

Ichigo and Yoruichi arrive in time to stop the confrontation between Ganju from getting killed. But before Ichigo and Byakuya get to fight, Yoruichi retreats with Ichigo on her shoulders using her incredibly fast flash steps. Before vanishing, she announces that with her help, Ichigo will become strong enough to beat Byakuya in three days time. While Orihime and Uryuu are making their way towards Shrine of Penitence, Abarai, with a little help from his Soul Slayer, finds a new reason to fight.

Uryuu is in a serious pinch. He must fight head-to-head against 12th division captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi. This mad scientist is a tough man to harm, let alone defeat. Uryuu must put all of his Quincy powers into use if he is to beat this mysterious captain.

Uryuu's will to protect the Quincy clans, and especially his grandfather's, reputation gives him amazing powers in the battle against Mayuri. His Heavenly Wild Suit Puppet was long thought to be a forgotten technique, but Uryuu has mastered it already at his young age. However, Mayuri, responsible for deaths of countless Quincy's, isn't an enemy not to be taken seriously.

Ichigo begins his training under the guidance of Yoruichi. His aim is to reach Bankai, Zangetsu's second, incredibly powerful form. He must find the right Soul Slayer and use it to defeat Zangetsu's "human form." However, Ichigo soon learns that this task isn't nearly as easy as it sounds. Meanwhile, Chad, Ganju and Uryuu find themselves incarcerated. Furthermore, Hanatarou is being judged for helping the intruders.

A flashback happens where, Abarai Renji, Izuru Kira and Hinamori Momo are training for the first years as a Shinigami. As this training ends, the entired class is attacked by gaint sized Hollows. It takes out two of the 6th year Shinigami trainiees and just leaves Hisagi Syuuhei by himself. Renji, Momo, and Kira, have to choices, listen to him in running away or go to save him. They choice to help him. They run until they are all four are pinned down, by a lot of huge hollows. As the hollow is about to strike Vice Captian Ichimaru Gin and Captain Aizen Sousuke save them.

Hinamori escapes from the cell she being held in and is looking for the 10th Division Captain Hitsugaya Toushirou. The reason why Hinamori is looking for him, is because a letter the Aizen left for her before he died explained the truth about Rukia’s execution. It is to the blade of execution, that power is more then million soul slayers, but during the execution itself the blade is as 10 times more powerful than the original state. The letter states who is behind and it is 10th Division Captain - Hitsugaya Toushirou. Hitsugaya is confused how could Aizen write such things about him. He defends himself against Hinamori attacks, and then goes after Ichimaru, who watched the whole thing. Ichigo finishes off day one of his training, and is resting up for the 2nd day.

The battle between Hitsugaya and Gin starts. Not to long Hitsugaya releases his shi-kai and uses it on Gin. Gin releases his shi-kai at Hitsugaya, but he dodges and Gin aims it for Momo. Mastumoto appears and asks Gin to stop fighting. Everyone, including Rukia finds out Rukia's execution is being moved up to 29 hours . Ichigo starts training for his 2nd day of ban-kai training when Renji comes in and wants to train for his ban-kai. He tells them Rukia will be executed in 29 hours. Ichigo now has to noon to achieve his ban-kai. Rukia then remembers the day Kaien was killed.

After Rukia here the news that she will be executed in 29 hours, so surprised but didn’t really bug her. Because of the dream so had the night before when she joined up with the 13th Division. So remembers something that she regrets to this date.

With Don Kan'onji show ratings slide, he decides to try to boost his ratings by creating the Karakura Superheroes Team. His first recruit is Kon, followed, by Ururu, Jinta, and Yuzu end up joining his team. After receiving some abuse from the others Kon runs away and ends up being captured by a Hollow.

Zaraki Kenpachi is running though the Soul Society with Orihime and Yachiru on his back. They are after Ichigos friends in the prison cell, that holds Ishida, Chad and Ganju. He gets lost again on his way to find Ichigo, and runs into Captain Tousen and Captain Komamura and their vice captains. Tousen asks Zaraki why he is helping the ryoka. He doesn’t reply, but only challenging them to a 4 on 1 battle. Back at the cavern Renji finishes his training and ask Yoruichi if Ichigo will be able to finish his training.