BLEACH

A mysterious man who calls himself “Muramasa” appears in the Seireitei to declare war against the Soul Reapers. Using his powers, Muramasa gives physical form to the Zanpakuto and liberates them from the captains and lieutenants of the 13 Court Guard Squads. Without the use of their weapons, the Soul Reapers now find themselves in a tough battle against the Zanpakuto.

Having sustained severe injuries in battle, Rukia escapes to the World of the Living and is saved by Ichigo. A mysterious woman then arrives through the Senkaimon and proceeds to attack the two using the same Zanpakuto as Rukia. Rukia tells a confused Ichigo that the woman is in fact the manifested form of her Zanpakuto, Sodenoshirayuki.

After hearing that Byakuya has gone missing, Rukia returns to the Seireitei to search for her brother and in the process comes across Sodenoshirayuki. Having no desire to fight, Rukia tries to persuade her Zanpakuto to stand down. But Sodenoshirayuki, who is out for revenge, refuses and goes on to attack Rukia.

Muramasa appears before Ichigo and explains how he freed the Zanpakuto from the Soul Reapers, as well as gave them a physical form to exist. Muramasa then attacks, and during the course of the battle, Zangetsu is freed from Ichigo. Unable to use his Zanpakuto, Ichigo falls before Zangetsu’s Getsugatensho.

The Zanpakuto rebellion has left the Seireitei in a state of destruction with many Soul Reapers still missing, including Squad Six captain Byakuya Kuchiki. Hoping to find some clues, Renji returns to the place where Byakuya was last seen, when the manifested Zabimaru appears to challenge him.

Inside Ichigo’s mind, Muramasa meets Hollow Ichigo. Taking an interest in him, Muramasa attempts to manifest Hollow Ichigo like he did with Zangetsu, only to discover that his spell does not work on Hollow Ichigo. Meanwhile, Shuhei and Renji find themselves confronted by Kazeshini and Zabimaru.

Ichigo has regained his Shikai and battles Muramasa. But Zangetsu, who has sided with Muramasa, steps in to fight Ichigo. Elsewhere, Renji has also regained his Shikai and battles Zabimaru. However, both Ichigo and Renji must come up with another plan when their Zanpakuto release their Bankai.

Ichigo and Renji’s victories against their own Zanpakuto has proven that a Soul Reaper can reclaim his Zanpakuto by defeating it in battle. However, the Zanpakuto still remain in their manifested state even after being freed from Muramasa’s mind control. While Renji struggles to deal with Zabimaru’s mischief, Ichigo goes to visit Rukia, who is still recovering from her battle with Sodenoshirayuki.

Haineko and Tobiume, two Zanpakuto who do not get along, are walking through the woods when they spot Ichigo, who is in pursuit of Senbonzakura and Byakuya. Hoping to have some fun, the two attack Ichigo to see which one of them can defeat him first, but are stopped by lieutenants Rangiku Matsumoto and Momo Hinamori.

The battle of Rangiku and Momo versus Haineko and Tobiume heats up, as both sides try to outsmart their opponents. Elsewhere, captain Toshiro Hitsugaya has located his Zanpakuto Hyorinmaru. But to Toshiro’s surprise, Hyorinmaru has lost all trace of his memory following his release by Muramasa.

Results from Mayuri Kurotsuchi’s experiment using Marechiyo Omaeda’s Gegetsuburi show that a manifested Zanpakuto cannot revert to its original sword state when defeated by someone other than its master. Meanwhile, Ichigo is gaining the upper hand in his re-match against Muramasa, when the battle is suddenly interrupted by the appearance of Byakuya’s Zanpakuto Senbonzakura.

The Thirteen Court Guard Squads, particularly Renji and Rukia, are shocked by the news of Byakuya supposedly working with Muramasa. Meanwhile, inside Muramasa’s hideout, the Zanpakuto cannot hide their discomfort over having Byakuya join them. Senbonzakura is especially distrustful, and demands his former master to prove his loyalty to Muramasa by cutting down Rukia’s Zanpakuto Sodenoshirayuki.

At the Squad Six Barracks, Renji and Rukia are determined to know why Byakuya has betrayed the Soul Society to work with Muramasa. Their conversation is cut short by the arrival of the manifested Zanpakuto, followed by Ichigo and the other Soul Reapers, and battle soon breaks out between the two sides.

The Soul Reapers find themselves in a tough battle against the manifested Zanpakuto, including Ichigo who is struggling against Senbonzakura.

The battle between Soul Reapers and Zanpakuto heats up as Kenpachi joins in the fight. Kenpachi easily overwhelms the Zanpakuto with his incredible Spirit Energy and then goes off to challenge Byakuya.

Ichigo, Renji, Rukia, and Izuru collapse after being exposed to Konjiki Ashisogijizo’s poison. Konjiki Ashisogijizo then seeks for its next prey but is stopped by Yachiru Kusajishi.

Yoruichi has located Muramasa’s hideout where Head Captain Yamamoto is being held. A team comprised of Ichigo, Shunsui, Jushiro, Kenpachi, and Yoruichi sets out to rescue the Head Captain, but the group soon encounters the Zanpakuto who were anticipating their arrival.

Ichigo battles Muramasa in order to save Head Captain Yamamoto from captivity. Meanwhile, Yoruichi, Shunsui, and Jushiro notice that the Zanpakuto are trying to prevent them from reaching Ichigo, and quickly realize that he was the key to Muramasa’s plan all along.

Muramasa’s true objective is revealed to be in Karakura Town. Ichigo and the other Soul Reapers try to go after Muramasa, but the manifested Zanpakuto of Genryusai’s Ryujinjakka stands in their way.

Uryu, Chad, and Orihime confront Muramasa who has entered the World of the Living. Using teamwork, Uryu and Chad at first appear to gain the upper hand in battle, when Senbonzakura appears to assist Muramasa.

Centuries ago, Ginrei Kuchiki, Byakuya Kuchiki’s grandfather, and his son-in-law Koga Kuchiki were assigned to bring down the rebel forces threatening the Seireitei. With his Zanpakuto Muramasa’s power, Koga wipes out the renegade Soul Reapers one after another, and soon his strength becomes known throughout the Soul Society.

Koga Kuchiki escapes his confinement and in the process, kills the Soul Reapers who framed him. Although Ginrei sympathizes with his son-in-law’s situation, he reprimands Koga for his rash actions. Enraged, Koga severs his ties with the Kuchiki clan and begins killing Soul Reapers and innocent people.

To uphold the honor of his family, Byakuya Kuchiki fights the resurrected Koga Kuchiki. Meanwhile, the despair of being abandoned by Koga takes its toll on Muramasa’s body.

Koga’s betrayal causes Muramasa to lose control over all of the Hollows he absorbed to sustain himself. To make matters worse, his immense Spiritual Pressure begins to attract other Hollows to Karakura Town. As Ichigo, Uryu, Chad, Orihime, and Rukia work together to deal with the situation, Muramasa fires a massive Cero towards them.

Uryu and the others attempt to save Ichigo, who has been engulfed by Muramasa, but with little success. Meanwhile, the Soul Reapers of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads team up with their own Zanpakuto to fight the Hollows that have appeared in the World of the Living.