A New Enemy! The Materialization of Zanpakutō

'''A New Enemy! The Materialization of Zanpakutō''' is the two-hundred thirtieth episode of the Bleach anime.

Statistics

 * Original Airdate: July 28, 2009
 * English Airdate:
 * Opening Song: Shōjo S
 * Ending Song: Mad Surfer
 * Manga Chapters: None
 * Kanji: 新たなる敵！斬魄刀実体化
 * Romaji: "Arata naru teki! Zanpakutō jittai-ka"
 * Arc: Zanpakutō Unknown Tales arc

Summary
A group of Ryoka, led by a mysterious man, attacks Soul Society. Meanwhile, the Gotei 13 members feel a strange disturbance occurring within their Zanpakutō. The group of Ryoka first appears at the entrance to the 1st Division barracks. The first to encounter them are Vice-Captain Chōjirō Sasakibe and Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto. Immediately after the encounter, an emergency meeting is called by Captain Yamamoto at Sōkyoku Hill. Captain Kenpachi Zaraki would not attend, claiming that he was too bored. With all of the captains and vice-captains waiting for Yamamoto's appearance, Vice-Captain Chōjirō Sasakibe suddenly appears before them, collapsing in front of everyone.

A mysterious Ryoka, calling himself Muramasa, appears before them, claiming that Yamamoto would not be attending the meeting. An incensed Captain Sajin Komamura releases his Bankai, even while Muramasa claims that his Zanpakutō attacks will not work. When Komamura attacks anyway, Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō instead attacks its wielder. Confused, Komamura can only watch his Bankai disappear, just before Tenken's true form appears before him physically and attacks, causing him to collapse after losing a short battle.

When Muramasa cries blood, explosions promptly occur in the nearby housings and other manifested Zanpakutō spirits, in their true form, attack the other Shinigami. This includes Shūhei Hisagi's Kazeshini, Rukia Kuchiki's Sode no Shirayuki, Ikkaku Madarame's Hōzukimaru, Momo Hinamori's Tobiume and Rangiku Matsumoto's Haineko. Then, all of the manifested Zanpakutō spirits gather on a raised area on top of the Sōkyoku Hill, where Muramasa claims that the Zanpakutō will now control the Shinigami, effectively declaring revolution. In addition, the materialized forms of Tōshirō Hitsugaya's Hyōrinmaru, Byakuya Kuchiki's Senbonzakura, and Mayuri Kurotsuchi's Ashisogi Jizō appear seemingly out of thin air and move past their former masters in order to go to Muramasa's side.

Shinigami Zanpakutō Introductions
Mayuri Kurotsuchi introduces the Zanpakutō of Ichigo Kurosaki, Zangetsu

Powers and Techniques used
Techniques used:
 * Hikōtsu Taihō (狒骨大砲, Baboon Bone Cannon)

Zanpakutō released:

Shikai:
 * Suzumebachi (雀蜂, Hornet)
 * Wabisuke (侘助; "the Wretched One", translated in the English manga as "the penitent one")
 * Zabimaru (蛇尾丸, Snake Tail)
 * Senbonzakura (千本桜, Thousand Cherry Blossoms)
 * Muramasa (村正, Village-Just)
 * Tenken (天譴, Heavenly Punishment)
 * Kazeshini (風死, Wind Death)
 * Sode no Shirayuki (袖白雪, Sleeved White Snow)
 * Hōzukimaru (鬼灯丸, Demon Light)
 * Tobiume (飛梅, Flying Plum Tree)

Bankai:
 * Hihiō Zabimaru (狒狒王蛇尾丸, Baboon King Snake Tail)
 * Senbonzakura Kageyoshi (千本桜景厳, Vibrant Display of a Thousand Cherry Blossoms)
 * Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō (黒縄天譴明王, Heavenly Punishment of Kokujō's King)