Casual Soul Realm Assault Trip!

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

Ichigo battles against a Hollow after going to Don Kanonji's show with the rest of his family.

Summary
In Karakura Town, at a condemned hospital, are large television set has been established with a large crowd watching as the broadcast announcer introduces them to the show, hinting that you can hear the screams of the angry spirits. He then announces the arrival of the host, Don Kanonji, who jumps down from above, leaping out of a helicopter that is hovering above, declaring that the "The Spirits are always with you". He glides towards the stage before a parachute and the television titles for the show appear.

At Karakura High School, Orihime Inoue greets Ichigo Kurosaki as he enters into the classroom with her arms crossed across her chest, 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, exclaiming what a great show it is and invites him to watch it with her. Tatsuki Arisawa interrupts her excitement, catching her arms above her head, tell her to calm down. Shocked, Orihime stares at her friend before allowing Tatsuki to push her away from Ichigo, insisting that she watch the show with her instead.

As they leave, Ichigo barely watches as they go, his expression still somewhat stunned and confused by what has just taken place. Still standing at the classroom door, his male friends approach him from behind, with Keigo Asano calling out his name to get his attention. Ichigo turns from the classroom to find Keigo, Yasutora Sado and Mizuiro Kojima greeting him in the exact same fashion as Orihime had, leaving Ichigo completely dumbfounded. Sado holds his hands in that same way, however, he does not participate in the "Bwahahaha" that the other two act out after introducing themselves excitedly.

After this, Ichigo is standing by the classroom window as he is approached by Keigo, who demands to know what he means when he says he is not going to the show. Keigo maintains that the show is the most popular show in Japan and that Ichigo has to come with them. He insists that since it is coming to Karakura Town to be shot live, for a resident of the town not to go to such a special event, they might as well be dead. Ichigo insists that he is fine being a zombie in that case before motioning for Keigo to get away from him and leave him alone.

Refusing to give up, Keigo recoils before smiling brightly, excitedly informing Ichigo that he has to go since he has even invited Rukia Kuchiki to attend the event. Ichigo is stunned, swinging round to find Rukia standing behind him, acting like a polite student, bowing before him, asking him how he is. Ichigo sweats a little before Keigo asks Rukia to imitate him doing the "Bwahaha" pose but Rukia sweetly refuses to do so, insisting that she would be just too embarrassed to do it. As Keigo tries to encourage her some more, Ichigo mentally notes that Rukia's number of personalities she acts everyday is gradually expanding over time.

Ichigo finds himself in the crowd at the event, feeling bemused by the fact that he is there. On stage, Don Kanonji asks the crowd how they are all feeling, maintaining that tonight he would allow all of them to hear the whispers of the spirits. A nearby reporter asks him what he thinks of their location, and Don replies that his nose is filled with the scent of horrible spirits. The crowd then choruses in on cue that it "Smells like bad spirits!" Don follows this up by bellowing "Bwahahaha" which the crowd follows his lead and also bellow it in an animated fashion. Smoke then begins to cover the stage as it is announced that the television show is taking a commercial break.

Ichigo declares then that he despises Ghost Shows. Stagehands begin directing the people towards the area the supposed exorcism is going to take place, insisting the follow the officials. Orihime approaches Ichigo and apologizes for how she greeted him several days ago in school. She informs him that Tatsuki has told her now that Ichigo has never liked Ghost Shows. Ichigo tells her that she doesn't need to apologize especially since his friends are well aware of his dislike for the shows and yet they still continue to make those bellows around him and behave like that.

Orihime reminds him that despite his dislike of the shows, he still came to the even anyway and asks why he has done so. He informs her that his little sister, Yuzu Kurosaki, and his father, Isshin Kurosaki, are both huge fans of the show, pointing towards them, where they are excitedly mimicking the "Bwahaha" together with Karin Kurosaki looking bored beside them. Orihime asks if that's the reason he came and Ichigo confirms this stating that it would be a bit sad to let them come on their own. Orihime smiles and tells Ichigo that he is so nice but he refutes that his actions are merely normal. For a moment she doesn't say anything before softly agreeing with him that it was normal.

Suddenly Tatsuki calls out to her and she replies, running off to regroup with her friend. Ichigo is then approached by Rukia, who asks him what is wrong before doing the "Bwahaha" pose and freaking him out. She asks him what is wrong, stating that he should relax or else he will miss out on all the fun and stop being so grumpy. Ichigo admonishes her, insisting that this was his normal expression. Rukia maintains he is wound up after juggling school work with Shinigami work that that he should take the chance to relax and have fun while he can before even tougher battles are upon them. Ichigo moves to ask Rukia something but she interrupts asking what type of festival they are attending. Ichigo loses his cool demanding to know why she would attend something she knows nothing about.

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 might not have, because the ghosts would have been earth-bound ghosts, which are usually absorbed into the ground. She states these types of spirits 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.

Sado, Orihime, Tatsuki and Karin all pick up the sound of the deep wail coming from the hospital and it makes them all uneasy. Sado asks Keigo and Mizuiro whether or not they heard the noise but both of them deny it, with Keigo chiding Sado for trying to freak him out. Mizuiro suggests that it might have bee Sado's imagination given the event they are currently attending. Although still uneasy, Sado reluctantly agrees with him. Standing with her family, Karin mumbles that she should have stayed at home, causing Isshin to enquire whether or not she is alright. Karin smiles mockingly stating that everything is fine. Both Orihime and Tatsuki look worriedly at each other but don't speak.

Rukia informs Ichigo that the cry is clearly one from an earth-bound ghost, acknowledging that the event was actually taking place where a spirit had taken root. Ichigo is surprised by this as he thought it was the scream of a Hollow but Rukia explains the difference to him. She elaborates that earth-bound cries, while like Hollow cries, are made by souls attached to areas that are being neglected and thus they degrade into Hollows the longer the area is neglected. Thus Ichigo realizes he is on his way to becoming a Hollow, and is currently a Demi-Hollow. He notices that it does not have a mask and that its hole is not fully opened.

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. Rukia states that this ghosts heart is imprisoned within the hospital. The ghost begins yelling that the hospital is his and he will become rich.

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 would be screaming and writhing in pain if they are about to turn into a Hollow, but 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 he plunges into the ghost's chest hole; causing him severe pain. Ichigo runs over to the set, yelling at Kanonji to stop as he is 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 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 which has come to seek revenge. Ichigo interferes and they both insist that the other run away. Ichigo continues to save Kanonji 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 one in every four 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, 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 effectively 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. The light then, much to Ichigo's 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 him 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, as 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 and is 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) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 3) Tatsuki Arisawa
 * 4) Keigo Asano
 * 5) Mizuiro Kojima
 * 6) Yasutora Sado
 * 7) Rukia Kuchiki
 * 8) Don Kanonji
 * 9) Karin Kurosaki
 * 10) Yuzu Kurosaki
 * 11) Isshin Kurosaki
 * 12) Fishbone D (flashback)
 * 13) Shrieker (flashback)
 * 14) Acidwire (flashback)
 * 15) Hexapodus (flashback)
 * 16) Kisuke Urahara
 * 17) Tessai Tsukabishi
 * 18) The Demi-Hollow

Fights

 * Ichigo Kurosaki & Don Kanonji vs. The Demi-Hollow (concluded)

Powers and Techniques Used
Other powers: