Ichigo Kurosaki vs. Muramasa

Ichigo Kurosaki vs. Muramasa was a battle which occured during the Zanpakutō Rebellion. It is the final fight in the Rebellion, focusing upon the conflict between Substitute Shinigami Ichigo Kurosaki and the instigator of the Rebellion, Muramasa.

Prologue
As Ichigo is immersed in Muramasa's reiatsu, he travels unconsciously inside the crimson-red reiatsu. However, he emerges from the water in Kōga Kuchiki's inner world, wondering where he ended up. He hears Muramasa's footsteps upon the water, as the Zanpakutō spirit states that he is surprised to see him inside the inner world of his master. He asks Ichigo how he managed to reach this place, to which Ichigo responds that he has no clue either.

Ichigo asks Muramasa what this place is. Muramasa informs him that he used to have an inner world like other Shinigami. As Ichigo realizes where he is, he protests, stating that Muramasa's Shinigami master is dead. Muramasa only plainly says that it is beyond his comprehension. Muramasa wonders why he came here, postulating whether this is merely an illusion, or that his reunion with Kōga manifested this place from memory. He states that their time here is short, as a pillar plunges into the water below.

That aside, he thanks the fates that kept the two of them intertwined, stating that it has given him the chance to finish off their previous fight. His sword materializes into his hand and he appears before Ichigo with Shunpo.

Battle
As the two clash in mid-air, Ichigo questions why they have to fight, as there is no longer any reason to do so. He pushes Muramasa away, who simply states that Ichigo is weak, and that his power will nourish his body. He states that he must fight until there is no strength left in his body, pointing his sword towards Ichigo. The blade glows a purple hue, as he tackles Ichigo into the body of water. This causes a huge explosion, as Muramasa prepares to strike Ichigo with his blade. However, Ichigo states that will not work and deflects Muramasa's strike with a Getsuga Tenshō.

The result is a typhoon within the inner world, which Ichigo cuts in half with one swing as he emerges from the water. Muramasa appears behind him, raising an outstretched hand towards him. Ichigo states that his trickery will not work twice and backs away, tracking the spirit threads through the water's reflection. He then fires a Getsuga Tenshō at Muramasa, who uses Shunpo to evade his attack. Suddenly, Ichigo is bound in mid-air, held in place by Muramasa's threads.

He appears once more, stating that Ichigo will never defeat him if his strategy is to blindly swing his sword around. Ichigo wonders how Muramasa was able to bind him through his ability, glancing down at the water and notices the multitude of hands binding him. Muramasa states that it is all over and materializes his sword, laughing wildly while doing so. However, a pillar collapses behind him and disrupts the technique. Ichigo then uses a Getsuga Tenshō to completely disperse the spiritual threads below him.

Muramasa is surprised at this, as Ichigo states the true nature of Muramasa's abilities is that he disguises his attack in reflections in order to trick his opponent to believe that his attack is invisible and unforeseeable. With this in mind, Ichigo proceeds to counter this by churning up the water with his Getsuga Tenshō and immediately pushes Muramasa back, clashing forthwith. He charges up at a seemingly offguard Muramasa and runs him through with Zangetsu.

Muramasa merely smiles, fading away from Ichigo's blade. He appears behind Ichigo, lightly cutting him on the arm. Ichigo turns back to face him, but the illusion fades away to reveal another figure. He clashes with Muramasa, who explains that he has other abilities despite his full powers being inaccessible whilst in Kōga's inner world. Muramasa intentionally allows himself to get pushed back by Ichigo, who runs through him again, only to disappear.

Ichigo is surprised at this, and is instantly surrounded by several replicas of Muramasa. Muramasa explains that Ichigo had already fallen within another of his techniques ever since they began fighting. The figures then charge at Ichigo and promptly overwhelm him, as he was unable to land a hit on them. He is sent back when the real Muramasa appears behind him and knocks him down onto one of the pillars. Ichigo pants heavily, wondering how he will be able to counter the illusions of Muramasa's Shikai.

Zangetsu interjects, stating that his hypnosis abilities do not have any effect upon him. He says that he can be his eyes, but that they will have to utilise the bond between Shinigami and Zanpakutō. Ichigo states that he understands what is required of their partnership and closes his eyes promptly. He faces off against Muramasa, knocking him into a nearby pillar. However, Muramasa propels himself off of it, returning to fight Ichigo. They clash briefly as Muramasa smirks.

Muramasa uses his illusions, appearing behind Ichigo. However, Ichigo is able to block the strike due to his heightened awareness; the Zanpakutō spirit realizes that he has seen through his power. He sends Ichigo crashing into a pillar but Ichigo emerges unscathed. Ichigo immerses his blade in black reiatsu as Muramasa charges from behind. He then uses Getsuga Tenshō to send Muramasa crashing through several pillars.

Muramasa appears heavily damaged by his attack, realizing that Ichigo has Zangetsu fighting with him. He charges at Ichigo once more, clashing briefly. However, Muramasa is repelled and is sent hurtling to the ground, stumbling up once more. Ichigo states that he finally understands what Zangetsu means, in which a Shinigami and a Zanpakutō must acknowledge the existence of each other. He asks Muramasa whether he understands that simple fact, causing Muramasa to writhe in anger.

Ichigo starts berating him upon his beliefs, as the pillar crashes abruptly into the water. They slide across the surface of the water, clashing along the way. As Ichigo stops to examine his surroundings, Zangetsu states that time is nearly up, as Kōga’s inner world is starting to destabilize because of the resent held by the many Hollows he has consumed. Muramasa takes Ichigo by surprise, emerging from the water behind him.

They fight briefly, but Ichigo forces Muramasa backwards, who collides with a ruined pillar. As Muramasa emerges from the ruin, he notices that the pillar is beginning to collapse on him. Muramasa falls to the bottom of the ocean alongside the rubble, as Ichigo watches on in shock. As Muramasa begins his slow descent, he contemplates that Kōga’s voice never reached him. Muramasa appears resigned to his fate, closing his eyes with reassurance.

Ichigo calls out to Muramasa, snapping him out of his stupor. Zangetsu warns Ichigo that they have to leave, unless they want to remain trapped here. Muramasa rushes out of the water, landing on a nearby pillar. Ichigo questions his motives behind the Rebellion. Muramasa states that it is none of his concern, to which Ichigo counters that his own master even refused him. Muramasa explains that Kōga was powerful enough to have ruled over Soul Society, and that it was his pride in Kōga’s abilities that motivated him. Muramasa states that he is still able to fight, using Shunpo to clash with Ichigo.

Ichigo again questions Muramasa's motives, saying that it was him who vowed to free the Zanpakutō from their Shinigami. However, Muramasa only reacts in amusement and reveals he just said that to deceive the Shinigami. Muramasa then charges at him, shortly before taking refuge on a nearby pillar. Ichigo states that Muramasa even said that he was directly responsible for his master’s death, and that he probably knew that Kōga couldn’t care less about his Zanpakutō. Ichigo goes on, saying that despite all this, he still fought to release Kōga from his seal because deep down, he still desired to communicate with his Shinigami master.

Muramasa glances at his hand, noticing that it is becoming transparent. He realizes that his goals were fleeting, and could not last forever. Muramasa moans in pain momentarily, and a Hollow hole forms in his chest. He pants heavily as he tries to suppress the Hollows. Zangetsu repeats his warning, stating that Muramasa’s body of reiatsu could destroy Karakura Town if he turned into a Hollow. However, Ichigo strongly believes that Muramasa would never allow himself to permanently become a Hollow. Ichigo asks Muramasa why he made a mockery of the bond between a Shinigami and a Zanpakutō, since he very well knew the strength of this connection.

Muramasa ignores his question, stating that his powers merely allow for a Zanpakutō to assume a material form. Ichigo tells him that Zanpakuto aren’t just tools for destruction, and that he did not have to obey his Shinigami master. As a tidal wave consumes everything in its path, a Hollow mask gradually forms upon Muramasa’s face causing Muramasa to realize that he has run out of time. Zangetsu states that they must finish things now, as Ichigo releases an outburst of reiatsu.

Muramasa tears his Hollow mask off, promptly doing the same. Meanwhile, in Karakura Town, the Shinigami and Zanpakutō alliance kill off all of the remaining Hollows. As Muramasa’s reiatsu dome crackles with red energy, Hitsugaya wonders what on earth is happening in there, as Ichigo and Muramasa charge at each other for one final time. As they clash together, they are submerged by a tidal wave. The dome proceeds to dissipate, cracking into pieces, much to the surprise of the external forces.

Aftermath
Muramasa sinks in the water once again, as Ichigo calls out to him repeatedly. He comments upon the ironic nature of their fight, in which Ichigo’s voice was able to reach his soul. As he raises his hand out, Ichigo grabs it promptly and rescues Muramasa. At the shoreline, Rukia wonders what transpired inside of the Dome. Sode no Shirayuki observes that the Hollow reiatsu has disappeared. Sado wonders if Karakura Town will be safe now. They then notice Ichigo sitting next to Muramasa on the main island, as the Zanpakutō spirit wonders whether this is what it feels like to understand one’s soul.

Ichigo confirms this. Muramasa goes on to blames himself for Kōga’s downfall, coughing out spatters of blood. He reassures Muramasa, stating that everyone makes mistakes so they just have to accept that and do what they can. Rukia and Orihime come across to the island. Muramasa falls to the ground, unable to complete his sentence (that he will someday...). Ichigo tries to pick his hand up, but Muramasa dematerializes back into a sword, which clatters, broken, to the ground. It then disappears into energy, leaving Ichigo surprised.

He asks the others whether they are alright, to which they confirm this. Orihime asks whether Muramasa disappeared, to which he explains that he kept his pride as a Zanpakutō until the very end. Byakuya appears before the three of them, as it begins to rain. The Zanpakutō then return back to their Shinigami’s swords, as Byakuya states that this is the second time he has thanked him. Byakuya leaves the area with Shunpo, as Ichigo accepts his thanks, and they proceed to leave alongside him.