Battle against Ryō Utagawa

The Battle against Ryō Utagawa is the second subsequent battle against the beings known as Bount. It is the first battle of Ichigo Kurosaki and the forces allied with Soul Society and the Urahara Shop against Ryō Utagawa.

Prologue
After Ichigo's battle against Yoshino Sōma, the group return to Ichigo's house and discuss the Bount situation. Ichigo asks Rukia if Soul Society knows anything about them, but Rukia is unable to help. After Renji shows up and subsequently starts arguing with Ichigo, Rukia mentions to Orihime and Sado how it’s a little strange that there are now three Shinigami present since it’s normally one per 50,000 people. Ichigo then asks Rukia what she’s going to do about the next day, and of course it is Rukia’s intent to go back to school. With the use of the handy device that allows her to manipulate her classmate’s memories of her, Rukia has no trouble re-assimilating into school life. The whole group gathers to relax during lunch, but Ririn senses something and so Ichigo and the others run off. As they are running they inadvertently leap over Hanatarō, as they were unaware of his presence in Karakura Town. They find Ryō in a truck yard, who has already consumed a human soul, and is about to consume another. Ichigo asks him a few questions, but the Bount refuses to answer them, and he responds by asking how delicious a Shinigami’s soul is.

Battle
With that, he summons Fried and begins turning several nearby objects into snakes, including the strap Orihime is using for Kurōdo's plushie. While keeping Ichigo and friends at bay with Fried, Ryō notices Uryū, who isn't helping the others fight, and attacks him. Ichigo blocks the attack and Ryō simply notes how natural it is to attack the weakest enemy first, and becomes interested in how the Quincy would taste. Ryō Utagawa holds a human woman hostage until Uryū steps up to take her place. Ichigo signals the others to act when Utagawa tries to eat Uryū’s soul, but the snake holding Uryū smashes his head into the pavement. Utagawa has a taste of Uryū’s blood, but then a fireball comes out of the sky. Utagawa is forced to drop Uryū in order to block the attack. Yoshino gets her hands on Uryū, but then disappears behind the flames. Once the flames clear, the group is still left with Utagawa and his snakes to fight. Fortunately for them, Renji brings Tessai, Jinta, and Ururu to help and ward off Utagawa, who then withdraws from the battle.