In the aftermath of the Shunkō attack, Suì-Fēng is revealed to be standing in the middle of a trench, dug out by the Shunkō, still burning at its edges. Suì-Fēng and the ground behind her though are unaffected. Yoruichi says she didn't tell her former partner of this technique because she knew it was too dangerous. Enraged, Suì-Fēng attacks, but Yoruichi stops her with Hanki. Suì-Fēng fails to understand how Yoruichi still surpasses her after a century of isolation. As she resumes her Shunkō and attacks again she recalls on her childhood and her previous relationship with Yoruichi until the day Yoruichi left the Soul Society and Suì-Fēng alike. In her rage, Suì-Fēng moves again to attack with a Shunkō..

In a flashback, Suì-Fēng recalls seeing Yoruichi for the first time, and training with her, and eventually being taken under Yoruichi's wing. Suì-Fēng idolized Yoruichi and was happy with her, even in the midst of battle. Then one day, Yoruichi disappeared from Seireitei, and Suì-Fēng was overcome by her Senpai's betrayal.

Back in the present, Suì-Fēng continues her Shunkō assault, and launches a wild attack that Yoruichi easily blocks with Shunkō. Her resolve collapsing and tears beginning to flow down her cheeks, Suì-Fēng begs Yoruichi for an explanation as to why she was left behind, and finally collapses in tears at Yoruichi's feet.

Ikkaku sees a lightning strike and tells Iba they would have been hit if they were raising their swords. Iba corrects him though saying that it was a Kidō spell and scolds Ikkaku for not knowing. He tells Iba that he doesn't care about Kidō and that he's a not a do-it-all guy unlike him. Iba tells him that he wasn't a do-it-all guy in the beginning either, but he became one because he wanted to become a lieutenant. Ikkaku tells him that he didn't sound to happy to say that and Iba defends himself. The two begin to argue and they decide to fight again after Iba drinks all of the alcohol. They play rock-paper-scissors, Iba wins, and he decides to take the high ground. Before they fight though Iba asks who is fighting Byakuya at Sōkyoku Hill and Ikkaku tells him it's most likely Ichigo. Iba mistakes him for an eleventh division member and Ikkaku corrects him and tells him it's a Ryoka. Iba is impressed by this and wishes to fight him and Ikkaku thinks to himself that Iba is still one of the eleventh division members. The two of them finally begin their battle and they explain the rules that the loser will have to get alcohol while the winner gets to rest. They then attack each other.

Byakuya and Ichigo are shown continuing their battle and Byakuya realizes that he's mastered Shunpo as well. Ichigo interrupts him and asks if it's a good idea if he should be analyzing his strength. He then mocks Byakuya asking if that's all he is able to do and tells him to use Bankai. Ichigo then reiterates that he will defeat him and tells him that he won't say he'll execute Rukia in front of her again and that he'll make him apologize to her. Byakuya tells him that he won't change his mind and uses his Shikai to attack Ichigo. However, Ichigo uses Getsuga Tenshō to destroy the attack.

Byakuya asks Ichigo if that flash of light was his Zanpakutō's ability and he confirms it. He explains to Byakuya that the technique he used absorbs his spiritual energy and puts it into the tip of his blade and releases a huge blast. He admits to Byakuya that he was never able to aim this technique and that until today didn't even know how to make it happen. He then tells Byakuya that Urahara once told him that preparation is the only thing that he could teach him and admits that he didn't know what it meant until he trained with Zangetsu.

Ichigo then has a flashback of his training with Zangetsu and is successfully able to fire the technique. Zangetsu congratulates him and tells him that knowing the techniques name and not knowing it causes a huge difference in strength and tells him that the technique is called Getsuga Tenshō.

Ichigo tells Byakuya the name of the technique as well and reiterates that he should use his Bankai to fight him. Byakuya finally gives in and activates his Bankai. Many tiny blades then go after Ichigo and he uses his Getsuga Tenshō to destroy it, but it doesn't work. The blades then surround Ichigo and attack him at the same time causing him to fall to the ground. Byakuya explains to him that his Bankai allows many blades to form and attack the enemy at the same time. He then mocks Ichigo and tells him that a slow attack like Getsuga Tenshō would never destroy his Bankai. Ichigo admits to Byakuya that he was foolish to think he would be able to beat him with only the initial release of his Zanpakutō and that he completely underestimated him. Byakuya tells him to use his choice of words carefully since it sounds as if he has achieved Bankai and Ichigo tells him that was exactly what he was implying.

Ichigo decides to prove to Byakuya that what he said was true and begins to activate his Bankai. Byakuya thinks to himself that Ichigo must be bluffing since even the strongest Shinigami in the noble family's only achieve Bankai every few generations and that Ichigo was never even a proper Shinigami to begin with. However, Ichigo emits enough spiritual pressure of someone with Bankai and finally activates his Zanpakutō's final release, Tensa Zangetsu. Oddly enough, his Bankai takes the shape of a Zanpakutō in it's sealed form and Byakuya gets mad at this and tells Ichigo that he really likes stepping on their pride and that the penalty for that is death. Ichigo immediately appears in front of Byakuya with his Zanpakutō up to his neck and asks him if his pride has to do with executing Rukia. He tells him that if it does he will step on his pride just like he said and that that's the reason he's obtained Bankai.

Byakuya attempts to attack Ichigo with his Bankai, but he is able to dodge the tiny blades. Byakuya thinks to himself that he has no time to react to Ichigo's immense speed and asks him why he moved his blade away from his neck. He tells him that if it was because of over confidence then that will be the cause of his downfall. He continues to mock Ichigo and tells him that he hasn't achieved Bankai since his Zanpakutō takes the form of something so small. Byakuya then decides to finish the battle and tells him he should have pierced his neck when he had the chance since miracles only happen once. He sends his blades to attack Ichigo yet again, but he is able to successfully dodge all of them and gets in close to attack Byakuya. However, the blades protect him and Ichigo attempts to find another opening. Byakuya notices that his Bankai can't keep up with his speed and Ichigo boasts that he can go even faster. However, Byakuya makes his Bankai go even faster as well and the blades surround Ichigo attacking him at the same time. Ichigo doesn't have time to dodge so he decides to attack all of the blades and successfully does so. Byakuya looks on in shock and Ichigo asks him if this would be called a miracle as well and appears directly behind him. He swings his blade at him and Byakuya barely dodges it. Byakuya realizes that his Bankai is just a lot of power condensed into one small form which allows to move at intense speeds. Byakuya than vows to destroy this power.

Chad, Orihime, Uryū, and Ganju, accompanied by Makizō Aramaki, are making their way up the Sōkyoku, following Ichigo's Reiatsu. Having reached the top, they encounter Eleventh Division Lieutenant, Yachiru Kusajishi, who informs them that Rukia Kuchiki has already escaped. Uryū speculates that Ichigo is fighting someone powerful, saying that just freeing Rukia wasn't enough, and that it was also necessary to thoroughly defeat the enemy to prevent him from capturing Rukia again.

Makizō questions their devotion to Rukia, but Orihime responds by saying that Rukia is more than just a friend, because she means that much to Ichigo. Because it was Rukia that changed Ichigo's life and Ichigo that changed all of their lives.

Meanwhile at the execution sight, Byakuya pushes Ichigo's blade away. He then proceeds to use his Senkei, saying it is Senbonzakura's true form, when he abandons all defense and risks everything to kill his enemy. He remarks that Ichigo is only the second person to witness it. Ichigo thanks him, and the duel commences and huge amounts of spiritual pressure are released. Uryū suggests they find a safer place to wait, but Orihime insists on staying, even clenching her body to stop it from doing any actions. Uryū then tells Ichigo, although indirectly, that he must win or he will never forgive him.

Ichigo and Byakuya continue their battle, but neither can gain the upper hand. Ichigo thinks to himself that Byakuya has gotten a lot faster since he used this technique, but he is still calm as he can go faster as well. However, Ichigo can't keep up with his speed and Byakuya mocks him. Byakuya then uses one of the swords surrounding them to stab Ichigo's right foot and casts Hadō #4 Byakurai which fires a powerful lightning bolt through Ichigo's chest. Byakuya then takes the blade out of Ichigo's foot and tells him he's at his limit. Ichigo tells him he can still fight, but realizes he can't move and Byakuya explains that the technique he used is meant for the full purpose of killing the enemy, but it doesn't increase his speed, but actually decreases Ichigo's. Byakuya decides to finish the battle, but before doing so congratulates Ichigo for how far he's gotten. He then begins to swing his Zanpakutō and Ichigo does everything in his power to move, but can't. All of a sudden Ichigo is able to grab Byakuya's Zanpakutō and says that if he were to die it would be bad for him. Byakuya looks on in confusion and asks who he is. Ichigo lifts his face up and is revealed to have part of a Hollow mask on. He then answers Byakuya's question and says that he's nobody.

Ichigo, now severely injured, struggles to move his unwilling body while Byakuya's blade nears him. Ichigo fades towards death, and in his desperation, his Inner Hollow appears as the mask is being formed on Ichigo's face, blocking Byakuya's fatal blow with one hand and responding with two slashes to Byakuya's body.

The Inner Hollow tells Ichigo that his own body can't handle the strains involved with using the Bankai. Saying he will show Ichigo how to use the Bankai properly, the Hollow attacks using a black Getsuga Tenshō, much to the surprise of Byakuya, who escapes using Shunpo twice before finally getting hit by a surprise attack from the back.

The Hollow is about to continue his attack when Ichigo intervenes and rips off the mask. He apologizes to Byakuya for the interference. Byakuya replies that he won't ask him about what just happened, and says that neither of them have enough strength to keep fighting for much longer. He suggests they finish the fight with one final attack. Ichigo agrees, but once again asks why Byakuya did nothing to save Rukia. Byakuya replies that should Ichigo defeat him, then he will answer that question.

Byakuya uses his Shūkei, focusing all the cutting power of Senbonzakura into one blade. Ichigo complements the beauty of the technique, but says all he can do is focus all of his Reiatsu into one single attack. Black Reiatsu collides with white Reiatsu and as their swords clash, the effect is so powerful it can be seen and felt throughout the Seireitei.

After the last clash, both Ichigo and Byakuya receive heavy injuries, but Ichigo tells himself that he can't fall now. Byakuya remembers when they clashed, Ichigo's sword shattered his blade. Then he explains to Ichigo the reason for his support to Rukia's death. It's because one who commit a crime must suffer the consequences. That's the rule. Sibling bond means nothing. In light of the rules, all personal feelings have no value. Also, something as useless as emotions, he never had them to begin with. The Kuchiki family is a noble family, they are the role models for all Shinigami. If they don't obey the rules, then who will? Ichigo tells Byakuya that he still doesn't get it. If he was Byakuya, he would definitely fight the rule. Ichigo's expression at that time, reminds Byakuya of Kaien. Byakuya then understand that Ichigo has been fighting the rules of Soul Society from the beginning, not him. Ichigo is the same as the "infuriatingly liberal man" Kaien. Then he tells Ichigo that he can no longer pursue Rukia and the victor of this battle is Ichigo. Then he disappears. Ichigo screams in joy, but because of that he almost falls. But Orihime appears behind him, so his head hits hers. Ichigo realizes that Ishida and Chad is there too. He is happy that no one is hurt. Orihime then thanks Ichigo for staying alive. Ichigo thanks her too.

Hitsugaya and Rangiku arrive at the Central 46 Compound, only to realize that the entire Central 46 has been wiped out.

Tenth Division Captain, Tōshirō Hitsugaya, and his lieutenant, Rangiku Matsumoto, enter the Central 46 Chambers' compound. At the entrance to the main hall, they stop cold and gaze in horror at the sight before them: The entire Central 46 Assembly has been slaughtered. Upon inspection, Tōshirō finds that the blood is already black and flaking, he quickly comes to a realization that all the orders issued by Central 46 ever since Renji Abarai's defeat by Ichigo Kurosaki were fake. He decides that Gin Ichimaru couldn't possibly have done all of this by himself and probably had help.

While he is inspecting the bodies he is surprised to hear the voice of Izuru Kira, Gin's lieutenant in the Third Division, saying he figured he'd find Captain Hitsugaya there. Tōshirō questions his involvement, but Izuru turns back and runs away. Tōshirō and Rangiku give chase.

Outside, Tōshirō attempts again to interrogate Izuru. The latter replies that he was ordered by Central 46 to unlock the door so that Tōshirō could enter the Compound, he then suggests that instead of chasing him asking pointless questions, Tōshirō should worry about Momo Hinamori who broke out of her prison cell and has been following him the entire time. Tōshirō is shocked, and immediately departs to find Hinamori and leaves Rangiku to deal with Izuru.

Having only Rangiku on his trail, Izuru stops and releases his Zanpakutō, Wabisuke, surprising Rangiku.

Back in the Central 46 chamber, Momo is surprised by Gin, who welcomes her. Tōshirō is seen hurrying back to the Central 46 chamber.