Supersonic Battle! Determine the Goddess of Battle

 is the fifty-sixth episode of the Bleach anime.

Yoruichi Shihōin battles 2nd Division Captain Suì-Fēng.

Summary
Walking down one of the streets of the Seireitei while humming to himself, 11th Division 5th Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa hums to himself as he reaches an intersection and turns to the right upon deducing that his captain, Kenpachi Zaraki, is likely this way. Up ahead, Kenpachi sits on the destroyed bridge with his Zanpakutō embedded in the ground in front of him as he sighs, and when Yumichika spots him from afar and inquires if he won, Kenpachi reveals that 7th Division Captain Sajin Komamura ran off in search of Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.

With Yumichika confused by his description of Komamura as a wolf-man, Kenpachi notes that Yamamoto seems to have begun fighting somewhere. However, when Yumichika cheerfully admits that he can sense this and performs a small dance, a confused Kenpachi questions why he is in such a good mood and looks over his shoulder to see that Yumichika is completely uninjured, leading him to assume with surprise that the latter won his battle without being hit, which Yumichika confirms.

After Yumichika clarifies that he did have to change his clothes after they got dirty, Kenpachi observes that he seems to be more energetic than he did before his fight, only for Yumichika to interpret this as Kenpachi believing he is more beautiful now and begin gyrating his hips in happiness, to Kenpachi's disgust. Apologizing, Yumichika explains that he is simply happy because it has been a long time since he has been able to fight like this. Elsewhere, a sweating and panting 9th Division Lieutenant Shūhei Hisagi lies on a rooftop and complains about the unfair power of Yumichika's Zanpakutō, having had his Reiryoku drained by it.

Suddenly, Hisagi is alerted by a massive fire raging in the forest behind him and recognizes the Reiatsu within the flame as belonging to Yamamoto, who stands before 8th Division Captain Shunsui Kyōraku and 13th Division Captain Jūshirō Ukitake with his Shikai, Ryūjin Jakka, released. With the fire coiling in the air above Yamamoto, Ukitake internally wonders how long it has been since he law saw Yamamoto like this and felt a fear like the weight of the deep sea, with Yamamoto exerting transcendent Reiatsu even in his Shikai state and producing heat that consumes the clouds above, wielding a blade that turns everything before it to ash as the oldest and most powerful fire-type Zanpakutō.

Yamamoto requests that Shunsui and Ukitake release their Zanpakutō so that they do not turn to ash without putting up a fight, and after Shunsui observes that it cannot be helped, Ukitake looks at Yamamoto and agrees. As Ukitake releases his Shikai, Sōgyo no Kotowari, transforming his sword into two identical swords, each with a second blade extending from the back toward the handle, connected at the hilt by a long cord decorated with five charms, Shunsui follows suit by crossing his two Zanpakutō perpendicularly and releasing his Shikai, Katen Kyōkotsu, transforming the two swords into Chinese scimitars with silver edges.

Looking over Shunsui and Ukitake as they stand with their Shikai, Yamamoto mentally notes that Katen Kyōkotsu and Sōgyo no Kotowari are the only two dual-bladed Zanpakutō in all of Soul Society, leading him to declare them magnificent. With Yamamoto asserting that he and Ukitake have not changed at all, Shunsui thanks him, and as Ukitake confirms that they are ready to begin anytime, he clashes with Yamamoto alongside Shunsui in an explosion of force that scatters the flames around them and obscures the surrounding area with dirt ripped from the ground. Meanwhile, in the Rukongai, Jidanbō Ikkanzaka punches the floor of the hut he is in twice with his left arm.

Within the hut, three villagers stand across from Jidanbō and inquire if he feels any pain from this, as well as if he is really alright, which Jidanbō confirms before thanking them for their help. While the other two villagers downplay this, the third villager notes that Jidanbō should be thanking Orihime Inoue because his arm likely would not be healed without all the long hours of hard work she spent trying to save him. As one of the villagers comments on how attractive Orihime is, another observes that it has been five days since the Ryoka entered the Seireitei, prompting Jidanbō to express hope that they are alright if this is the case. Suddenly, Kūkaku Shiba inquires if he is really this concerned.

With Jidanbō and the villagers turning in surprise at the sound of her voice, the door to the hut is lifted up by Koganehiko and Shiroganehiko to reveal Kūkaku, who grins and walks inside while casually affirming the intimidated villagers' greetings as they stand at attention on either side of her. Upon being asked by Jidanbō what she wants with him, Kūkaku notes that he has been sleeping for five or six days, which she claims must have left him feeling gloomy, before suggesting that he join her for a walk while she goes to see Yoruichi Shihōin, leaving Jidanbō to ponder this for a few seconds before smiling in unison with Kūkaku. Meanwhile, in a forest within the Seireitei, a leaf falls from a tree.

As Yoruichi rapidly approaches on the ground below, the leaf floats through the air, only to be caught between clashing kicks from Yoruichi and 2nd Division Captain Suì-Fēng, causing it to be shredded by the force as they separate and land on opposite tree branches. Seeing Yoruichi smirking at her, Suì-Fēng asserts that she has not gotten any stronger despite spending so many years in hiding, leading Yoruichi to observe in turn that Suì-Fēng has let her skills get dull. Annoyed by this, Suì-Fēng brings up the Shihōin Clan symbol on the Tentōken that Ichigo Kurosaki was wearing and concludes that Yoruichi gave it to him, which Yoruichi confirms.

When Yoruichi remarks that Ichigo needed it in order to fly so he could save Rukia Kuchiki, Suì-Fēng mocks the Shihōin Clan as becoming corrupt despite their title of Tenshiheisōban and theorizes that they will lose their place as one of the Four Noble Houses if it were discovered that they were helping a Ryoka. With Suì-Fēng stating that the fall of a noble family like the Shiba Clan is never pretty, Yoruichi simply points out how talkative Suì-Fēng is today and wonders if she is excited to see the senior she adored after so many years or if she is simply expressing her pent-up frustration like usual, further irritating Suì-Fēng as she narrows her eyes.

Yoruichi questions if taking on her role of Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukidō was too much of a burden for Suì-Fēng, who grips her Zanpakutō as she admonishes Yoruichi for overestimating herself when Suì-Fēng is in charge of both the Onmitsukidō and the Keigun. Proclaiming that Yoruichi's time has passed, Suì-Fēng draws her Zanpakutō and embeds it in the tree branch she is standing on, resulting in a surprised Yoruichi being surrounded by dozens of Keigun as they suddenly appear in the nearby trees. Indicating this as the difference between them, Suì-Fēng reminds Yoruichi that the Corps Commander drawing her sword signals an execution.

After concluding that this means any and all who oppose the Corps Commander must die, which even includes former leaders, Suì-Fēng declares that Yoruichi has no place to run away to after discarding this title, only for a grinning Yoruichi to rapidly defeat all the Keigun around her by moving around so fast with Shunpo that she leaves afterimages, leaving Suì-Fēng shocked as her subordinates fly past her. With Yoruichi asserting that Suì-Fēng has forgotten who she is dealing with and points out that she did not abandon her epithet as she did her post, Suì-Fēng identifies her as the "Flash Goddess" and begins tearing off the sleeves of her shihakushō.

As she unties the sash around her waist and removes her haori to reveal her sleeveless, backless Keisen Shōzoku, Suì-Fēng proclaims that she has no choice but to strip Yoruichi of this title with her own hands. When Yoruichi admits that seeing the Keisen Shōzoku brings back memories, Suì-Fēng encourages her to think back further and determine which of them is the better warrior while crouching on the tree branch before leaping forward and kicking at Yoruichi, who blocks Suì-Fēng's foot with her wrist before repeatedly and rapidly matching Suì-Fēng's kicks with punches and grabs. Suì-Fēng and Yoruichi trade one last blow and move back to their separate branches.

Upon noticing a bruise on her left shoulder, Suì-Fēng observes that both she and Yoruichi got a hit in, making this a draw, as Yoruichi bleeds from her mouth and admits this is true. With Yoruichi questioning if she is being aided in some way by her Keisen Shōzoku because of how much her movements have improved, Suì-Fēng is left incredulous by this line of thinking and appears behind Yoruichi with Shunpo as she holds her Zanpakutō in front of the latter's face. While Yoruichi stares in shock, Suì-Fēng releases her Shikai, Suzumebachi, transforming her sword into an ornate gauntlet on her right hand with a long stinger covering her middle finger.

Though Yoruichi attempts to escape with Shunpo, Suì-Fēng catches up to her in midair and declares that she will not get away before stabbing Yoruichi in the chest with Suzumebachi. Yoruichi and Suì-Fēng move to opposite tree branches once more, and as Yoruichi clutches her wound, Suì-Fēng berates Yoruichi for not considering that Suì-Fēng may be superior and could have been holding back earlier, leaving Yoruichi stunned. Reminding Yoruichi of her warning to not overestimate herself, Suì-Fēng orders Yoruichi to pay the price of being away from the battlefield for one hundred years with her life as Yoruichi finds a Hōmonka appearing over her wound.

While blood drips from Suzumebachi, Suì-Fēng inquires if Yoruichi remembers the power of her Shikai and details how it is a death mark etched on the body of her target with her first strike, which she admits had not been perfected during her time with Yoruichi one hundred years ago before revealing that she has completed it in the intervening period of time. Suì-Fēng recommends that Yoruichi run away to avoid taking a second hit because the power of killing power of Suzumebachi lies in the second strike, where a second hit on a wound marked by a Hōmonka kills her target, and appears behind Yoruichi as she alerts and attacks the latter once more.

Having been slashed on her back and right shoulder by this, Yoruichi flips into the air and handsprings off another branch into the forest, where she begins leaping between trees while Suì-Fēng pursues and mocks her for showing her back to an enemy as she flees. With two more Hōmonka appearing over Yoruichi's wounds, Suì-Fēng assumes that Yoruichi is running away to buy time, which she decries as useless due to the Hōmonka having gone from disappearing after an hour to vanishing only when she wants them to. However, Yoruichi instead stops herself on a tree branch with her hands and swings her right leg through the air to send two Anken hurtling toward Suì-Fēng.

As Suì-Fēng deflects the two Anken with the gauntlet portion of Suzumebachi and asserts that this is not good enough, Yoruichi lands on Suì-Fēng's braced right arm with her left foot and attempts to bring her right leg down onto Suì-Fēng, only for the latter to grasp Yoruichi's left foot with her left and pin Yoruichi's right foot between her feet before pulling back her right arm and striking with Suzumebachi, forcing Yoruichi to cross her arms in front of the wound on her chest. After getting cut on her left cheek, Yoruichi lands on the forest floor and pants heavily as her bleeding cheek is covered in another Hōmonka while Suì-Fēng stands before her.

Inquiring if Yoruichi understands now that she is superior, Suì-Fēng decides to finish her off and is surrounded by swirling wind-like energy, which she claims to have invented as a combination of Hakuda and Kidō that she only perfected a few days ago and which Yoruichi will be the first victim of. However, when Suì-Fēng asserts that it does not even have a name yet, Yoruichi denies this and identifies the technique as Shunkō, and as a stunned Suì-Fēng questions what she is talking about, Yoruichi inquires if she knows why the Keisen Shōzoku opens at the back and shoulders while holding out her fist, which crackles with electricity-like energy.

After noting that fabric on the back and shoulders would be wasted because the technique envelops those areas in dense Kidō that draws power to the arms and legs before exploding outward, Yoruichi concludes that any fabric on the back and shoulders would be blown off the moment that the technique is activated as she activates her own Shunkō, blowing the fabric off the back and shoulders of her outfit as she gains an aura of crackling electricity-like Kidō. With Suì-Fēng stunned by this, Yoruichi admits that she did not want to use this move against her and raises her left hand at Suì-Fēng before revealing that she still cannot control this very well as she unleashes a massive blast of energy.

Kon-sama's 'What in the World?!' Diary
Kon, in Ichigo's body, puts his stuffed animal body in a drawer because he believes nothing good happens while he is in it before exiting the Kurosaki Clinic, where he finds a ball in the street and kicks it so high into the air that it vanishes from sight as he laments that no one remembers his enhanced leg strength as a Kaizō Konpaku. Suddenly, Karin Kurosaki's Friends, who were watching this in astonishment from behind a nearby pole, run over to Kon and beg him to help them win a kickball game because the playground is at stake. Though Kon is initially hesitant, Ryohei Toba offers to give him an erotic magazine, prompting Kon to immediately agree to help.

Fights

 * Shunsui Kyōraku & Jūshirō Ukitake vs. Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto
 * Yoruichi Shihōin vs. Suì-Fēng

Powers and Techniques Used
Hakuda Techniques:

Hohō Techniques:

Kidō Techniques:

Zanpakutō Techniques:

Other Techniques:
 * (flashback)

Zanpakutō released:

Shikai:

Items Used:

Music

 * 01:46 - Bleach OST 1 - 9 - Enemy Unseen
 * 03:56 - Bleach OST 1 - 4 - Oh so Tired
 * 04:49 - Bleach 5th Anniversary Box CD 1 - 01 - BL_29
 * 05:08 - No Official Release
 * 07:14 - Bleach OST 1 - 18 - Battle Ignition
 * 09:54 - Bleach 5th Anniversary Box CD 1 - 03 - BL_73
 * 11:24 - Bleach 5th Anniversary Box CD 1 - 05 - BL_86
 * 15:15 - Bleach OST 1 - 08 - Raw Breath Of Danger
 * 17:57 - Bleach 5th Anniversary Box CD 1 - 04 - BL_75
 * 19:49 - Bleach OST 1 - 21 - Number One

Anime Notes
Removed Content:
 * Shūhei Hisagi identifying the location that Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto is fighting in as the Third Old City.
 * Two villagers commenting on Jidanbō Ikkanzaka's recovery from outside the hut and being intimidated when Kūkaku Shiba inquires if Jidanbō is inside.
 * Four of the arm/leg clashes during Yoruichi Shihōin and Suì-Fēng's initial Hakuda spar.
 * Suì-Fēng internally criticizing Yoruichi as too slow when the latter lands on her arm and attempts to kick her.
 * Suì-Fēng observing that Yoruichi took a hit from Suzumebachi.

Added/Expanded Content:
 * Yumichika Ayasegawa dancing while Kenpachi Zaraki is noting that he is more cheerful than usual.
 * A flashback to Yumichika releasing his true Shikai against Hisagi.
 * A flashback to Orihime Inoue healing Jidanbō's arm with Sōten Kisshun.
 * Jidanbō smiling after realizing what Kūkaku means by paying Yoruichi Shihōin a visit.
 * Yoruichi running through the forest prior to her clash with Suì-Fēng.

Censorship:
 * Kenpachi does not have any blood on his haori when speaking to Yumichika.
 * Kūkaku's shirt is pulled up higher, obscuring most of her cleavage.
 * In the manga, Suì-Fēng's Keisen Shōzoku leaves the sides of her breasts and her outer thighs exposed; both are covered by her white undergarment.
 * The blood from Yoruichi's mouth after Suì-Fēng's first hit is not dripping off and spattering on her scarf.
 * Suì-Fēng's first attack with Suzumebachi does not cause blood to spurt from the wound.
 * The wounds inflicted by Suì-Fēng's strikes on Yoruichi's back and right shoulder do not bleed aside from when the Hōmonka forms on them.
 * In the manga, the remnants of Yoruichi's upper outfit exposes the sides of her breasts and torso; here, both are covered by her clothing all the way up to the underside of Yoruichi's shoulders.

Changes:
 * In the manga, the clash between Yamamoto, Shunsui Kyōraku, and Jūshirō Ukitake resulted in an enormous blast of flame; here, it instead creates an explosion of force that disperses the ring of fire encircling them and covers the surrounding area in a cloud of dust.
 * In the manga, after one of the villagers reveals that it has been five days since the Ryoka entered the Seireitei, another villager expresses concern for Orihime being alright; here, Jidanbō is the one to react to this news, and he expresses hope that all the Ryoka are alright.
 * In the manga, the leaf caught between Yoruichi and Suì-Fēng's attacks is simply cut in half; here, it is cut in half, then the two halves are shredded into smaller pieces.
 * In the manga, Suì-Fēng asks Yoruichi if the latter believes she really needs a trick to be this adept while appearing behind her with Shunpo; here, she merely expresses disbelief at Yoruichi believing this and appears behind the latter silently.
 * In the manga, Suì-Fēng decides to remind Yoruichi of the power of Suzumebachi right before the first Hōmonka appears on the latter's torso; here, she does so after the Hōmonka appears.
 * In the manga, Suzumebachi was clean after Suì-Fēng's first attack on Yoruichi; here, it is dripping with blood.
 * Yoruichi's cheek wound continues bleeding after the Hōmonka forms on it instead of stopping as it does.
 * There are no shreds of Yoruichi's over-shirt remaining on her sash after she activates her Shunkō as there were in the manga.
 * In the manga, Yoruichi unleashes her Shunkō before warning Suì-Fēng that she cannot fully control it yet; here, she unleashes the blast after her warning.