Ichigo Kurosaki vs. Ikkaku Madarame

 is a fight taking place during the Ryoka Invasion between Ichigo Kurosaki and 11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame, acting as the first conflict between a Ryoka and a high-ranking member of the Gotei 13.

Prelude
To break into the Seireitei and rescue Rukia Kuchiki, the Ryoka infuse the Reishukaku with their combined Reiryoku in order to create a cannonball that can penetrate the Shakonmaku; however, Ichigo Kurosaki is unable to lower his Reiryoku output to match that of his friends and distracts Ganju Shiba while the latter is reciting the second incantation for Kagizaki, the spell guiding their cannonball, at a crucial moment, resulting in the unstable cannonball exploding, which sends the Ryoka flying in four different directions across the Seireitei.

Having grabbed onto Ichigo prior to the explosion, Ganju pushes him back and uses Seppa, turning the ground they hit into sand as the impact creates a large explosion of energy. After a moment, Ichigo and Ganju pop up out of the sand pit and begin spitting out sand, leading Ichigo to note that Ganju's strange spell saved them. As he expresses gratitude for this, Ichigo sees Ganju still coughing up sand and kicks him in the back to help the process while questioning how long his spell is supposed to make him cough, and when Ganju accuses him of being ungrateful for doing this, Ichigo explains that this is his way of saying thanks, which surprises Ganju.

Suddenly, 11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame appears beside 5th Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa on the rooftop behind Ichigo and declares that he is lucky before jumping down alongside Yumichika. Landing in front of Ichigo and Ganju, Ikkaku explains that they were hiding out here because they did not feel like being deployed and observes how the intruders fell into their laps regardless as he declares it is not a lucky day for Ichigo, who expresses confusion. Shortly afterward, Ikkaku completes his Tsuki-Tsuki Dance as Yumichika watches, and with Ichigo and Ganju remaining silent while standing in the sand pit, Ikkaku demands to know what they are waiting for.

Pointing out how he was performing his dance in order to give them time to crawl out of there, Ikkaku questions if they do not recognize generosity of spirit when they see it while a perplexed Ichigo wonders who he is. After drawing Ichigo's attention, Ganju suggests they flee and responds to Ichigo's questioning of this plan by pointing out that Ikkaku and Yumichika have way more Reiryoku than most Shinigami. As he wonders what they are talking about, Ikkaku tells Ichigo and Ganju they can take as much time to argue as they like because it will not make them any luckier, but Yumichika observes waiting will force them to share credit with anyone else who shows up.

Ikkaku realizes this is true and declares that they have until he finishes his Tsuki-Tsuki Dance to get out of the sand pit. However, Ganju proclaims that Ichigo can fight on his own if he wants to stay and gets out of the pit before running away from them, leading Ikkaku to inquire if they had a quarrel. With Ichigo semi-confirming this as he begins to exit the pit as well, Ikkaku has Yumichika begin chasing after Ganju. After Ichigo gets out of the pit, Ikkaku asks him why he did not run even though Ganju fled upon sensing his and Yumichika's considerable power, which he considers a wise decision. Ichigo states that it would be pointless to run because Ikkaku would catch him if he is more powerful than Ichigo, and as Ikkaku stares at him, Ichigo asserts that he just has to beat Ikkaku if the latter is weaker than him while gripping the handle of his Shikai, Zangetsu, prompting Ikkaku to call him a fool for thinking this before unsheathing his Zanpakutō with his left hand and slashing at Ichigo.

Battle
While Ichigo leaps back in surprise, Ikkaku realizes that Ichigo dodged his attack and sees him draw Zangetsu. Mentally praising his skill, Ikkaku intercepts Ichigo's slash by using his other hand to block with his scabbard at the base of the blade and handle of Zangetsu. Stunned by Ikkaku using his scabbard in such a way, Ichigo sees Ikkaku's Zanpakutō approaching his head and steps on top of Ikkaku's scabbard, allowing him to dodge by leaping high into the air, to Ikkaku's shock. With Ichigo spinning in midair and striking at him, a grinning Ikkaku merely responds in kind as the two of them cut each other's temples on opposite sides.

Afterwards, Ikkaku decides to ask Ichigo for his name, and upon learning it, he notes it is a good name, which Ichigo admits no one has ever told him before. Ikkaku claims men whose names begin with the "Ichi" kanji are often good-looking and talented before revealing his own name and position, only for Ichigo to decline his offer to be friends due to their similar names. When Ichigo wipes the blood away from his eye and the cut above it with his hand, Ikkaku admits he does not understand this course of action because only a novice would remove a hand from the hilt of their sword at this range, prompting Ichigo to assert he cannot fight with blood in his eyes.

With Ichigo concluding that he had to do something about it, Ikkaku details how even shallow wounds above the eyes will bleed profusely and concludes that it is better to apply a styptic than to wipe it away while uncapping the bottom of his Zanpakutō's hilt and scooping out a tan substance from within it that he spreads onto the cut over his own eye. Ichigo declares that it is unfair for him to be using something that stops the bleeding, but an irate Ikkaku claims that it is simply him being prepared and that Ichigo should be lauding his professionalism. Telling Ichigo that he is a strange one, Ikkaku observes that he does not look or act like a proper warrior, yet has first-rate reactions, powerful swings, and movements close to Ikkaku's own in skill.

With Ichigo confused by this, Ikkaku assures him that this is a compliment and clarifies that he is saying Ichigo is too good to be dismissed as a lucky battle-crazed novice before inquiring who his master is. When Ichigo admits that somebody did teach him how to fight even though he is not sure he should call him his master because their training only last for ten days, Ikkaku reiterates his desire to know who, only to be stunned when Ichigo reveals that it was Kisuke Urahara. After deciding that it would be disrespectful to kill Ichigo the easy way if Urahara was his master, Ikkaku releases his Shikai, Hōzukimaru, transforming his Zanpakutō and scabbard into a wooden spear.

Jamming the bladed end of Hōzukimaru into the ground, Ikkaku proclaims that there is no time for Ichigo to be surprised before ripping the end of Hōzukimaru out of the ground as he tells Ichigo to not misjudge it, which Ichigo declares that he will not before narrowly dodging Ikkaku's subsequent thrust with Hōzukimaru and blocking the end of it with Zangetsu, only to find Ikkaku jabbing at him repeatedly with the tassel end of Hōzukimaru instead. As he blocks Ikkaku's attacks, a grinning Ichigo questions if Ikkaku thought he would misjudge the long reach of his spear, but Ikkaku denies this, to Ichigo's surprise, and slashes at him with the bladed end once more while gripping Hōzukimaru near its tassel. With Ichigo blocking Hōzukimaru near his hand on its wooden pole section, Ikkaku commands Hōzukimaru to split, causing it to separate into three segments connected by chain links and bend around the back of Ichigo's head at 90 degree angles as the end of the bladed segment hurtles toward his face.

At the last second, Ichigo blocks the bladed end with his forearm, receiving a deep cut to it, and moves back as Ikkaku pulls Hōzukimaru back and bends it around his neck while noting that this is what he expected Ichigo to misjudge. Explaining that Hōzukimaru is a sansetsukon rather than a spear, Ikkaku observes that the pain Ichigo is feeling from his wound will probably prevent him from holding his sword with that arm and assures him that he would normally capture Ichigo so he can live because he is a man of generous spirit before concluding that he does not get credit unless he kills Ichigo. However, Ichigo merely wraps the cloth on the handle of Zangetsu around his bleeding arm and ties it up before slashing at Ikkaku, who leaps away. While Ikkaku expressing shock upon seeing Ichigo's attack destroying a large portion of the wall behind where he was standing, Ichigo asserts that this fight is not over because he has not yet shown Ikkaku what his sword can do, which an intimidated Ikkaku grins at.

When Ichigo promising Ikkaku that he will soon be the one who cannot hold his weapon, Ikkaku comments that he is very confident and inquires what the basis of this confidence is as he jabs the bladed end of Hōzukimaru at Ichigo, who narrowly blocks it with Zangetsu. After noticing that Hōzukimaru is still in its sansetsukon form, Ichigo looks forward to see Ikkaku leaping toward him with the tassel end of Hōzukimaru in hand. As he declares that Ichigo is too slow, Ikkaku smashes Hōzukimaru into Ichigo, who grabs at the tassel end with his free hand, and turns around as he lands just in time to block Ichigo's subsequent slash with Zangetsu using the chains connecting Hōzukimaru before reconnecting the two segments on either side of Zangetsu, knocking Ichigo off-balance.

Ikkaku propels the remaining segment at Ichigo, sending him flying back with the force of the impact, and Ikkaku spins the tassel segment of Hōzukimaru as he wonders if Ichigo was all talk. However, while Ikkaku notes that attacks with Hōzukimaru can confound a novice due to how difficult they are to read, Ichigo denies this and reveals that his eyes are already used to Ikkaku's attacks as he drops the remnants of the tassel of Hōzukimaru from his hands, which leads Ikkaku to see that the tassel end of Hōzukimaru is broken and realize that Ichigo did this with his bare hand during their previous skirmish. With Ikkaku distracted, Ichigo leaps into the air above him, surprising Ikkaku with his speed, and reiterates his assertion that Ikkaku will soon no longer be able to hold his weapon before slashing into him with a small Getsuga Tenshō. Blood spurts into the air and splatters on the ground as Ikkaku stands with a large cut in his chest, the tassel segment of Hōzukimaru having been cut cleanly in two by Ichigo's attack.

Looking at Ichigo, who stands in front of him with Zangetsu held out to the side, Ikkaku questions if he is done already and declares that he can still hold his weapon as he begins spinning the bladed segment of Hōzukimaru above his head. As Ikkaku asserts that Ichigo will need to cut his arms off if he does not want Ikkaku to hold a weapon, Ichigo calmly tells him to put Hōzukimaru away, but Ikkaku refuses, and when Ichigo frantically tells him to put it away because he knows that he has lost this fight, Ikkaku simply tells him that a battle is only over when one of the combatants are dead before leaping toward Ichigo while proclaiming that he was not born a coward who would surrender in order to escape death. Reminded of his training with Kisuke Urahara by Ikkaku's approach, Ichigo claims that he is too slow by comparison and unleashes a second small Getsuga Tenshō upward, cutting Ikkaku's arm all the way up to his shoulder and shattering Hōzukimaru.

Aftermath
Ikkaku praises Ichigo's skills and states that he himself is unlucky before collapsing, only for Ichigo to note that they are both unlucky. Some time later, Ikkaku opens his eyes and questions why he is not dead, and when Ichigo greets him while sitting on a piece of rubble nearby, Ikkaku asks him why he is still here. When Ichigo holds up Ikkaku's sealed Zanpakutō and admits that he did not know a Shinigami's Zanpakutō returns to this state when its owner loses consciousness, a shocked Ikkaku demands that he give it back, which leads Ichigo to assure him that he does not intend to steal it and only wanted the styptic substance contained in the handle before observing that he used it all up and that it is very effective as Ikkaku realizes that his chest wound has been completely sealed up with the styptic substance. Angered by this, Ikkaku claims that Ichigo does not know what he has done, though Ichigo assumes he is referring to not being asked permission first.

Asserting that he knew the wound should have killed him, Ikkaku details how having his life saved has shamed him and proclaims that he would kill Ichigo if he could move right now, prompting an annoyed Ichigo to state that he would have let Ikkaku die if he knew the latter would be so belligerent about it. As he stands, Ichigo explains that he does not care how Ikkaku feels about this and just wants some answers, prompting Ikkaku to note that this is just his luck before sarcastically inquiring if Ichigo wants to know his birthday. However, Ikkaku is shocked when Ichigo asks him where Rukia is, and when Ichigo reveals that he plans to save her, Ikkaku demands to know how big his team is, only to be further dumbfounded when Ichigo flatly states that it is composed of five people and a cat, leaving him laughing in disbelief at the apparent hopelessness of Ichigo's situation.

Ikkaku reopens his chest wound from laughing too hard, to Ichigo's bemusement, and instructs Ichigo to head south from here in order to reach the Gotei 13 barracks. Though Ichigo is bewildered that he is learning this so easily, an irritated Ikkaku asserts that he will not continue his explanation if Ichigo does not listen without interrupting before informing him that he will find Rukia in a white tower at the west end of the barracks. Though Ichigo is hesitant to believe this information, Ikkaku declares that Rukia means nothing to him and that he has no reason to prevent Ichigo from rescuing her as he tells Ichigo to leave before the others find him.

When Ichigo thanks him for his help, an annoyed Ikkaku requests that he not get sentimental over this. Suddenly, as Ichigo begins walking away, Ikkaku realizes something and asks him who the strongest in his team is. When Ichigo confirms that he is the strongest, Ikkaku warns him to beware his captain, Kenpachi Zaraki, because the latter will likely go after Ichigo and ignore his weaker friends. With Ichigo noting that he must be tough, Ikkaku asserts that he will find out if Ichigo lives long enough to face him, prompting Ichigo to nervously inquire what Kenpachi's name is. After Ikkaku is recovered by the Fourth Division for treatment, at the Sōgō Kyūgo Tsumesho in the Fourth Division barracks, 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi angrily blasts a small hole into the wall behind Ikkaku.

Mayuri stands with his lieutenant, Nemu Kurotsuchi, and angrily observes Ikkaku is refusing to talk while the latter lies on a bed with multiple bandages and looks away from him. When one of the nurses pleads with him to stop due to such post-combat interrogation being forbidden within the Sōgō Kyūgo Tsumesho, Mayuri blasts a hole into the door frame next to her and orders her to shut up before threatening to break Nemu into pieces again when she begins to speak up, which she meekly apologizes for. Seeing this, Ikkaku clarifies he is not refusing to talk and asserts he does not know anything about the Ryoka's destination or objectives, and when an irate Mayuri inquires if Ikkaku is saying he lost and came here without obtaining any intelligence, Ikkaku confirms this as he claims he also did not see the enemy's face or hear his voice.

With Ikkaku concludes that he consequently has nothing to tell him, a furious Mayuri raises his hand and declares that Ikkaku's punishment shall match his failure, only for Kenpachi to appear and grab his wrist as he observes the irregularity of Mayuri being authorized to punish Shinigami from other divisions. Mayuri frees himself from Kenpachi's grasp and decides to retreat due to the latter's presence before ordering Nemu to leave as well, which she complies with. Watching this, Kenpachi turns back to Ikkaku, and as the latter greets him, his lieutenant, Yachiru Kusajishi, pops up from behind his shoulder and greets Ikkaku, who expresses surprise as he returns the greeting. With Yachiru asserting that they were worried about him and calling him "baldy", Ikkaku calmly reminds her that he instructed to not call him this as Kenpachi observes that he seems to have lost his fight.

Affirming this, Ikkaku admits that he knows it is shameful to lose and return alive, but Kenpachi brushes this off and inquires if the one he fought was that strong, which Ikkaku also confirms. Upon being asked to describe Ichigo, Ikkaku details how he has orange hair and a sword as long as he is tall before noting that he was heading for the Shishinrō in Senzaikyū, leading Kenpachi to realize that he is after Rukia. Ikkaku explains that he warned Ichigo to be wary of Kenpachi and observes that the latter should enjoy a great fight when he meets Ichigo because his strength is still growing despite how strong he already is, meaning that he should be quite powerful by the time he meets Kenpachi. Intrigued by this, Kenpachi asks Ikkaku for Ichigo's name.