Ichigo Kurosaki vs. Sode no Shirayuki

 is a fight between Substitute Shinigami Ichigo Kurosaki and manifested Zanpakutō spirit Sode no Shirayuki which takes place in Karakura Town at the beginning of the Zanpakutō Rebellion.

Prelude
After the Zanpakutō of the Gotei 13 manifest in their spirit forms and begin to rebel against their former masters, Rukia Kuchiki and 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai are caught up in the commotion as some of the high-ranking Shinigami are defeated by their Zanpakutō, including 7th Division Captain Sajin Komamura and 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki. Before either Renji or Rukia can check on the status of Byakuya, they are ambushed by Rukia's Zanpakutō spirit, Sode no Shirayuki, who attacks them with Tsugi no mai, Hakuren.

Losing Renji in the scuffle, Rukia escapes to the Human World via Senkaimon. When she arrives in Karakura Town, Ichigo senses her and arrives just in time to catch her as she falls toward the ground. As an injured Rukia tries to tell Ichigo not to worry, he states she should look at the state she is in before telling him to do something like this. As another Senkaimon opens, Ichigo moves Rukia away from it using Shunpo just as Sode no Shirayuki steps into Karakura Town.

Battle
As Sode no Shirayuki sets foot on the ground, the grass around her freezes in an expanding circle. As the circle of ice approaches him, Ichigo moves to a nearby hill and sets Rukia down. Wondering who the woman is, Ichigo wonders if she is a Hollow. As he notes she does not have a mask or Hollow hole, the woman turns and states Ichigo is Karakura Town's Shinigami.

When she asks if this is correct, Ichigo gets up and demands to know who she is. Snorting in derision, she sends a wave of ice towards him, prompting Ichigo to draw Zangetsu and fire a Getsuga Tenshō in response. Obliterating the ice, the blast travels towards the woman, who moves away before it hits her. As the blast smashes into the ground, Ichigo looks at the bridge, which the woman is standing on top of. When she says she will take Rukia now, Ichigo expresses confusion.

Looking at Rukia, who is sweating, Ichigo turns to the woman and proclaims he does not know who she is, but she is not going to take Rukia. Stating she sees now, the woman moves to Ichigo and says he is the Substitute Shinigami. Leaping away, Ichigo lands and asks how the woman knows him. Drawing her sword, the woman uses Some no mai, Tsukishiro, causing the white circle to form on the ground around Ichigo. As Ichigo moves away with Shunpo, a pillar of ice forms and shatters.

As Ichigo recognizes the attack, the woman uses Tsugi no mai, Hakuren, sending a wave of ice from the tip of her blade towards Ichigo. Cursing, Ichigo fires another Getsuga Tenshō, countering the wave. Appearing in front of the woman, Ichigo slashes at her, only for his blade to sink into the ground as the woman shatters into ice. As the smiling woman appear behind him, Ichigo turns and demands to know who she is and proclaims Some no mai, Tsukishiro and Tsugi no mai, Hakuren are Rukia's techniques.

Confirming this, the woman says this makes them her techniques as well. As Ichigo expresses confusion, the woman puts her hand up to her face and blows, sending an icy wind towards Ichigo, who shields himself. As the wind dies down, Ichigo sees the woman standing within a Senkaimon. As he tells her to wait, the doors close as the Senkaimon vanishes. Cursing, Ichigo runs over to Rukia. Acknowledging she is badly hurt, he asks who the woman was.

Aftermath
Rushing to Rukia's side, Ichigo learns their attacker was none other than her own Zanpakutō, which is why she was able to use Rukia's techniques. Taking her to the Urahara Shop, Ichigo summons his friends, including Orihime Inoue, who heals Rukia's injuries. When she recovers, Rukia explains what happened to her in the Seireitei, and how her own Zanpakutō attacking her had come about. Later, Yoruichi Shihōin arrives and assures everybody the Gotei 13 are not as defeated as they seem, and they are preparing to counter the attack.