It's All A Trap...Engineered Bonds!

It's All A Trap...Engineered Bonds! is the two hundred and ninety-fifth episode of the Bleach anime.

Aizen reveals to Ichigo that all of his battles have taken place exactly as he desired.

Summary
After Aizen is hit by the Kidō spell Ittō Kasō and realizing that he underestimated Yamamoto, he is immediately pummeled by a Hollowfied Ichigo Kurosaki. Ichigo launches a Getsuga Tenshō at him, sending him crashing through a building and wounding his shoulder. As Ichigo continues his attack, Aizen blocks his blade and tells him that he missed his final chance to kill him. However, Ichigo points out that he did enough since he injured him, but Aizen questions where he hurt him as his wound begins to close up. Ichigo wonders if this is High-Speed Regeneration, but Aizen tells him it isn't, claiming that he wouldn't undergo "mere" Hollowfication. He states that this is simply the protective instinct of a servant towards his master, and he rips his shirt open to reveal that the Hōgyoku is implanted in his chest.

Aizen notes that Ichigo's reiatsu is well developed and states that it's just as he planned, shocking his opponent. Aizen explains that his meeting with Rukia and battle with Uryū awakened his Shinigami powers, his battle with Renji enlightened him to the importance of his Zanpakutō, his battle with Kenpachi was a foundation for his learning of Bankai, his battle with Byakuya was a step towards becoming a Hollow, his battle with Grimmjow had him attain Hollow side mastery, and his battle with Ulquiorra revealed a greater power within. Aizen finishes off by calmly stating that all of Ichigo’s battles until the present moment have taken place exactly as he desired.

In a flashback, Aizen is shown looking at a monitor displaying Ichigo when he first gained his Shinigami powers. Later, Aizen is shown watching Ichigo undergo Hollowfication during his final battle with Byakuya at the Soul Society. As he does this, Gin comes over and asks if Ichigo has already gained Hollowfication. As he says this though, Ichigo is able to regain control of himself and Gin is disappointed. Aizen tells Gin that there is nothing to worry about as everything is going according to his plan, and that it all begins now.

Shinigami Illustrated Picture Book
Ichigo wonders how his life would have looked like if he hadn't pursued the career of a substitute Shinigami. Uryū maintains that it's quite simple: If Ichigo wasn't fighting Hollows he would be fighting bullies in the streets. Ichigo asks why Uryū believes he would be fighting either way, Uryū replies that's because Ichigo is a delinquent. Ichigo vigorously denies this.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * 1) Sōsuke Aizen
 * 2) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 3) Renji Abarai (flashback)
 * 4) Rukia Kuchiki (flashback)
 * 5) Byakuya Kuchiki (flashback)
 * 6) Kenpachi Zaraki (flashback)
 * 7) Fishbone D (flashback)
 * 8) Uryū Ishida (flashback)
 * 9) Hiyosu (flashback)
 * 10) Akon (flashback)
 * 11) Kisuke Urahara (flashback)
 * 12) Zangetsu (flashback)
 * 13) Hollow Ichigo (flashback)
 * 14) Gin Ichimaru (flashback)

Fights

 * Rukia Kuchiki & Ichigo Kurosaki vs. Fishbone D (flashback)
 * Ichigo Kurosaki & Uryū Ishida vs. The Menos Grande (flashback)
 * Ichigo Kurosaki vs. Renji Abarai & Byakuya Kuchiki (flashback)
 * Ichigo Kurosaki vs. Renji Abarai: Rematch (flashback)
 * Ichigo Kurosaki vs. Kenpachi Zaraki (flashback)
 * Ichigo Kurosaki vs. Byakuya Kuchiki: Rematch (flashback)

Powers and Techniques used
Kidō used
 * Hadō #96.
 * Hadō #4. (flashback)

Hollow techniques used
 * (flashback)
 * (flashback)

Shinigami techniques used
 * (flashback)

Techniques used
 * (flashback)
 * (flashback)
 * (flashback)

Zanpakutō released Shikai:
 * (flashback)
 * (flashback)
 * (flashback)

Bankai:
 * (flashback)
 * (flashback)

Other powers