Casual Soul Realm Assault Trip!

Assault on Trip at Sacred Ground! is the tenth episode of the Bleach anime.

Statistics

 * Original Airdate: December 7, 2004
 * English Airdate: November 10, 2006
 * Opening Song: *~Asterisk~
 * Ending Song: Life is Like a Boat
 * Manga Chapters: Chapter 27, Chapter 28, Chapter 29, Chapter 30, Chapter 31, Chapter 32.
 * Kanji: ぶらり霊場突撃の旅!
 * Romaji: "Burari reiba totsugeki no tabi!"
 * Arc: Agent of the Shinigami arc

Summary
A TV Show is being recorded in Karakura Town, as everyone gathers and looks on from the crowd. The announces get a round of applause from the crowd and a man comes parachuting in from a helicopter high above, and introduces himself as Don Kanonji.

The episode's storyline begins at Karakura High School, where Orihime Inoue greets Ichigo's entrance into their classroom, arms crossed across her chest with fingers clutched like claws, bellowing a loud and awkward "Bwahahah!!" Ichigo's startled and perturbed expression tells her instantly that Ichigo is not "in" on the news. But Ichigo takes a guess at what the fuss is about, mumbling, "Drop-in?", with a lack of enthusiasm. Orihime smiles and exclaims what a great show it is, and invites him to watch it with her. Tatsuki interrupts her excitement, pushing her away from Ichigo and insisting that she watch the show with her instead. As Ichigo observes still somewhat stunned, his friends approach him from behind. Chad, Keigo, and Mizuiro greet him, arms crossed, hands clutched, with a disturbing trio of "Bwahahah!" Ichigo is completely dumbfounded. Later on, Ichigo finds himself in a vocal battle with Keigo. "What do you mean you're not going? It's one of the most popular shows in Japan!" his friend insists, explaining how rare it is for the show to be filmed live in their own city. Ichigo stares out the class window, completely unconvinced. "I even invited Kuchiki-san!!" Asano cries, almost as if a last resort. Ichigo stares over at Rukia, who greets him in her phony, high-school girl type of way. He watches disgusted by her improving performance as Keigo charms her into going to the show.

Before he knows it, Ichigo is also watching in disgust amongst the crowds at the live broadcast of "Drop-In Holy Ground". The scene returns to where it commenced from the very start of the episode, with Don Kanonji standing smugly on the stage. He declares that he will let everyone hear the whispers of the spirits. He can smell bad spirits all around the hospital, and at once, the crowd choruses "SMELLS LIKE BAD SPIRITS!" (in exactly those words), followed by Don's loud and rumbling "BWAHAHAHAH!!". The crowd follows his lead as if in an idiotic trance, and Ichigo nearly twitches in a crowd of loony "Bwahahah-ers." The stage fills with smoke, and somewhere off-set a voice cries, "Going to commercial!". The scene fades black, and Ichigo's thoughts sift to the viewer:

I HATE ghost shows.

Back on set, stagehands direct the crowds to the "exorcism area". Orihime approaches Ichigo and apologizes for the other day, telling him that she didn't know he hated ghost shows. He insists he's cool with it anyway, pointing out Keigo and Mizuiro, who are completely aware that he hates ghost shows and still Bwahaha like mad men. She then asks why he came to the show despite hating it, and he explains that his dad, Isshin, and little sister, Yuzu, are big fans, and he didn't want to be a drag and not go along with them. Orihime smiles at Ichigo's kindness, complimenting him. He's surprised, saying that he thinks his behavior is perfectly normal. Orihime is also surprised by his response, and there is a subtle awkward moment between them. "Yes, it's normal," she agrees faintly, and then goes off to regroup with Tatsuki. Ichigo continues his sulk in the crowds. "What's wrong Ichigo?" Rukia's voice comes from behind. Ichigo turns to face her. "BWAHAHAHAH!!!" Rukia explodes.

Ichigo scowls at her, and she approaches him inquisitively with her arms still locked in position. Ichigo insists he's not sulking. Rukia feels he must be tired from all the Shinigami work and schoolwork. She wants him to relax.

As they watch what's going on together, Ichigo ponders aloud if there are really spirits in the hospital. He asks Rukia whether the Shinigami would have put them to rest. She explains that they wouldn't have necessarily, because the ghosts would have been earth-bound ghosts (a plus spirit), usually absorbed in the ground. They almost never show up on Soul Society's sensors. She further explains that there is only one reason for earth-bound ghosts to show themselves, and that's when a human enters their territory. At that same instant, a cameraman takes one wrong step closer onto the hospital grounds, and a long cry is heard in the distance. Chad, Orihime, Tatsuki and Karin all pick up the sound of the deep wail. Rukia points out to Ichigo that the cry is from the earth-bound ghost. He asks her if it is the voice of a Hollow. She explains that this particular Hollow cry is the sound of an earth-bound ghost with a strong attachment to the world, degrading into a Hollow as it is neglected. They conclude that this ghost is a plus on its way to becoming a Hollow, called a Demi-Hollow.

Ichigo observes the ghost from afar, noting that it does not have the white mask or the large, open chest-hole of regular Hollows. Rukia tells him that the hole in a Hollow's chest is a mark that they have lost their heart, and live purely on instinct. The white mask protects that instinct from the physical world. She also explains that when a person dies, their spiritual chains to the body are severed. However, those who have regrets in the world are chained down by the objects of those regrets: "His heart is imprisoned in the hospital". The ghost begans yelling that the hospital is his, and he will become rich, and on and on and on. "What a shallow loser," Ichigo mumbles.

The lights dim, and Rukia explains there's nothing to worry about, because it takes months and months for a ghost to become a Hollow. She explains that the ghost will be screaming and writhing in pain if they are about to turn into a Hollow, and the ghost in the hospital looked just fine. She also tells Ichigo that so long as the ghost doesn't receive any strange stimuli to the hole on his chest, it would take at least 6 months for the transformation. The brilliant Don Kanonji begins his exorcism, wielding a "Super Spirit Stick", which of course he plunges into the poor ghost's chest hole, causing him severe pain. "What the hell's he doing!?" Ichigo runs over to the set, yelling at him to stop speeding up the transformation process, but he is tackled by security. Rukia is also tackled when she offers to change him into a Shinigami with her glove.

The ghost cries fiercely, and the chains on him break. Suddenly, Ichigo's Shinigami form is expelled. Kisuke Urahara, who was responsible for releasing him, and Tessai show up, telling him to hurry up and stop the transformation. Ichigo, now invisible to the rest of the crowds, darts in front of Don Kanonji (who is able to see him), telling him to stop. But the ghost is already crying in fury, and smoke erupts everywhere. The ghost vanishes. The crowds cry in excitement, thinking that Don successfully expelled the spirit, but it reappears on the roof of the hospital as a full-fledged Hollow.

Don Kanonji pushes Ichigo out of the way, proclaiming that he will fend off the dangerous spirit (whom he thinks is the "boss" of the spirit he defeated and has come to seek revenge). Ichigo interferes and they both insist that the other run away. Ichigo continues to save Don's butt as the Hollow lunges after them. They disappear into the hospital, with Ichigo dragging Don by the collar. Kanonji explains that he cannot run away because of his fame, because 1 in every 4 people watch his show, and little children learn lessons of courage. Ichigo keeps Don from fighting outside, not wanting to risk harming the spectators. The Hollow reappears from the hospital floor and Ichigo hauls out his Zanpakutō, only to get his giant sword stuck in the ceiling. He yanks it out moronically, aware that the area is too crowded to swing his Zanpakutō effectively. The Hollow spits out green goo onto Ichigo's arms, sealing them and the sword handle together. Although Ichigo can't aim right because of it, he still manages to hit the shoulder of the Hollow.

It then drags him onto the roof of the hospital, where Ichigo is spat at with goo a second time and sealed to the roof fence. As the Hollow lunges at him ferociously, Ichigo is saved by the unpredictable Don Kanonji, who uses his Spirit Stick to keep the hungry Hollow's mouth pried open. The showman insists that he too has some power, and he can understand the difference in power between himself and his enemies. He is inspired by Ichigo's consideration of others, and summons his "Kanonji-ryuu Final Super Attack: Kanon ball!!!". After a somewhat impressive show of light, a tiny, bumbling ball of energy slowly approaches the dubious Ichigo, which then, much to his bewildered surprise, lands on the green goo and makes it explode. During this time, the Hollow breaks Don's Spirit Stick in half, and whacks the man aside. Don feels his purpose in life is still achieved so long as he didn't run, teaching them what it means to be courageous. Ichigo takes advantage of his newfound freedom and attacks the Hollow. He slices it effectively down the middle of its white mask, defeating it in one blow.

Kanonji dances giddily around him (he quickly recuperates), saying how great Ichigo is. But Ichigo watches the Hollow body with a serious expression, as the Hollow exterior crumbles away and reveals the earth-bound ghost that Kanonji had thought he expelled from earlier. Kanonji recognizes the ghost, horrified. Ichigo explains what had happened, telling him how his actions provoked its advanced transformation into a Hollow. Don Kanonji is grieved by a lifetime of failures, because he had not understood what he had been doing. Ichigo tells him to go back to his earnest crowd and continue being the hero that he had prided himself on being. Don Kanonji thanks him for everything, for inspiring him with his strength, wit and bravery. The two shake hands and Kanonji promises to make Ichigo his number one pupil, an offer which Ichigo (with a horrified look) calls "a demotion."

Characters in order of appearance

 * 1) Orihime Inoue
 * 2) Tatsuki Arisawa
 * 3) Yasutora Sado
 * 4) Yuzu Kurosaki
 * 5) Karin Kurosaki
 * 6) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 7) Don Kanonji
 * 8) Keigo Asano (flashback)
 * 9) Mizuiro Kojima (flashback)
 * 10) Rukia Kuchiki (flashback)
 * 11) Isshin Kurosaki
 * 12) Kisuke Urahara
 * 13) Tessai Tsukabishi
 * 14) Jibakurai

Fights

 * Ichigo Kurosaki & Don Kanonji vs. Jibakurai (concluded)

Powers and Techniques used
Other powers:
 * Don Kan'onji Ultimate Attack