The Depleting Reiatsu! Ichigo, Death Struggle of the Soul

 is the three hundred and thirty-fourth epsiode of the Bleach anime.

Summary
Yamamoto glares defiantly at the onrushing blast of energy, preparing the flames of Ryujin Jakka, but Nozomi suddenly steps in front and raises Arazomeshigure to block the attack. Yamamoto and Inaba voice their disbelief, and Kon shouts out Nozomi's name as the blast connects.

Rukia, Renji, who is tending to the fallen Ichigo, and Yamamoto watch Nozomi's struggle against the onrush of power. Nozomi grimaces in pain as the sheer volume of Inaba's redirected energy pushes her beyond her limits. Inaba shouts out in concern for Nozomi, saying "It's too much for you!" Nozomi just grits her teeth and struggles on. Yamamoto wonders if Nozomi is trying to protect him. Arazomeshigure chimes, and Nozomi gasps. Inaba states that she can't absorb any more, and shouts for her to get away. Nozomi refuses to give in, and Arazomeshigure begins to crack as the amount of energy it is absorbing exceeds its maximum capacity. Inaba begs Nozomi to stop, as she'll die if she keeps trying. Arazomeshigure finally shatters, and Nozomi is overwhelmed. Yamamoto catches her as she is blasted backwards, and yells for her to get out of the way. He promptly splits the blast down the middle with Ryujin Jakka and steadily forces the head of Inaba's attack back towards him with his own. The stalemate continues for a short while before the sheer volume of energy creates a vast explosion that engulfs both combatants and all the observers.

Both Yamamoto and Inaba fall out of the sky, Yamamoto's garments set on fire. Rukia runs over to him, shouting out in concern. Kon runs after her, but then sees Nozomi falling as well and attempts to catch her, but she steps on him and runs over to the captain commander's side. Kon laments how she ignored him while Nozomi asks Yamamoto why he saved a Mod-Soul like her. Yamamoto snaps at her not to get too full of herself, and that it would take another one thousand years for him to need to be protected by the likes of Nozomi. Besides that, he adds, despite being a Mod Soul, she's still a young girl. Kon grows agitated and demands that the captain commander be more honest with Nozomi.

Yamamoto collapses, and everybody shouts out in concern. Renji suddenly senses something, and shouts to Rukia, alerting her to an advancing Inaba. Rukia, Nozomi, and Renji steel themselves for their foe's approach, but Renji's attention is drawn as Ichigo coughs and asks where Inaba is. Renji points in the general direction of the scientist, and Ichigo sits up. As the dust settles, Inaba raises Raiku and barely manages to struggle to his feet. Kon comments that "that bastard won't stay down." Inaba looks up and notes how Nozomi is alright. He grins maliciously and voices his relief. Nozomi and Rukia brace themselves for combat. Inaba chuckles, and tells her that it won't do Nozomi any good to resist, as she can't fight with Arazomeshigure in its current state. Inaba advances, but Ichigo and Renji block his path.

Inaba halts and asks why Ichigo blocks his path. Ichigo states that it's because Nozomi doesn't want to go with him. Inaba asks why he says that. Ichigo is startled by this comment. Kon demands to know what is wrong with Inaba; "of course she doesn't want to go with you!" Inaba chuckles and states that he is Nozomi's creator, thereby making him her father. He states that the research is about to become complete. Ichigo wonders what he means; Kon assumes he means the takeover of the World of the Living and Soul Society. Ichigo tells him that they will never allow that. Kon adds that such a thing would never make Nozomi happy. Inaba states, however, that it would make him happy, therefore Nozomi should be happy as well. Kon shouts for Inaba to "Stop spouting nonsense!" Ichigo agrees, saying that Nozomi is not like Nozomi.

Inaba laughs, unnerving everybody. Ichigo wonders what's so funny. Inaba notes how Ichigo talks like he understands Nozomi and continues to laugh. He tells them that no one understands Nozomi better than he does and laughs on as Nozomi looks away in shame. Ichigo asks what he means. Inaba explains that he and Nozomi were born from the reishi of a single Soul Reaper. Kon wonders what he means; Inaba just states that it means exactly how it sounds. Kon asks for Nozomi to clarify, but Nozomi doesn't respond. Kon presses her for an answer, but is brought to a halt when Nozomi falls to her knees.

Inaba chuckles and notes how she hasn't forgotten. Kon grows angry and yells at Inaba to stop laughing at every little thing. Inaba ignores him and states that Nozomi always knew that if she was ever captured, she and Inaba would become one, making her their enemy. That was why she tried to keep her distance from Inaba. He asserts that she tried to push everybody away, but began to feel an attachment to those who tried to protect her. Nozomi begins to remember a number of moments beginning with the time she met Kon, remembering various people but many of those moments centering around Kon. After all the flashbacks, Inaba shouts how thats why she couldn't tell them anything. Kon shouts for Inaba to quit saying everything like he knew about it and to stop telling Nozomi how she feels. Inaba finally gets to the point: Nozomi is him, and he is Nozomi. Inaba challenges them to ask Nozomi the truth of his statement. Kon turns towards Nozomi, who cannot bring herself to look in his eyes as Inaba continues his laughter.

Kon gets annoyed once