The Devilish Research! Szayelaporro's Plan

 is the one hundred and fifty-third episode of the Bleach anime.

As Ichigo Kurosaki leaves Dordoni Alessandro Del Socaccio and Uryū Ishida battles against Cirucci Sanderwicci, Rukia Kuchiki is confronted by Espada #9. Aaroniero Arruruerie.

Summary
In response to Dordoni Alessandro Del Socaccio attacking him after being healed by Nel Shower in order to continue their battle, Ichigo slashes through Dordoni's Zanpakutō, injuring him again in the process, and reappears behind him at the hallway leading out of the chamber with a concerned Nel Tu in his arms before running off, leaving a chuckling Dordoni to notice something and welcome Rudbornn Chelute and his Exequias just as they appear before him with Sonído.

Rudbornn states that they have orders to eliminate the injured intruder and declines to tell a curious Dordoni who gave this order, leading Dordoni to wonder if they wish to pass him. Though Rudbornn observes that Dordoni's Zanpakutō being broken and his Resurrección being inaccessible would make it hopeless for him to attempt to resist them in his condition, Dordoni merely grins and demands to know if this is so as he assumes a combat stance to meet the charging Exequias. In his mind, Dordoni admits that he is lucky to have attacked Ichigo when he did, as the latter would still be here if he had not, and thanks Ichigo for accepting his request to Hollowfy.

Because he is aware Ichigo knew that he could have won with just his Bankai and the act of Hollowfying depleted his strength, Dordoni decides to repay him for this by holding off the Exequias. However, Dordoni mentally warns Ichigo that those he faces ahead will not be so kind and that he must kill them without hesitation because any wavering will cost him his life and healing those enemies will only give them an opportunity to kill Ichigo, whom Dordoni concludes must put all thoughts of mercy from his mind and leave his kindness behind in order to become powerful and ruthless like a demon because there is no other path to victory besides turning his heart to stone.

With Dordoni being mortally wounded after his Zanpakutō is broken further and despite briefly overwhelming Rudbornn, an injured Yasutora Sado falls to his knees in exhaustion against Gantenbainne Mosqueda while a bloodied Uryū Ishida stares down Cirucci Sanderwicci and curses. Meanwhile, in Sōsuke Aizen's outdoor throne room, an Arrancar attendant informs him that Dordoni was defeated by an intruder moments ago, only for Aizen to casually note that Ichigo seems to have found it more difficult than Aizen expected him to and clarify that he believed Ichigo would defeat Dordoni quickly as he stands up from his chair.

Dismissing this as irrelevant, Aizen exerts his Reiatsu and inquires about who sent the Exequias after Ichigo because the information is being withheld, causing the attendant to begin quaking under the intense pressure. As Aizen questions what is wrong, Szayelaporro Granz steps into the room and reveals that he gave the order, which Aizen acknowledges, before immediately kneeling and emphatically apologizing as the attendant collapses. After explaining that he did not want to miss the opportunity to eliminate Ichigo while the latter was wounded, Szayelaporro declares he is prepared to accept his punishment because he made the decision without authorization.

However, Aizen assures Szayelaporro it is alright while returning to his throne and states that he does not mind this so long as the latter had a good reason, which Szayelaporro thanks him for. Before Szayelaporro can leave, Aizen comments that he would have preferred a more complete report and brings up Szayelaporro extracting a record of Ichigo's Reiatsu from Dordoni under the assumption that it will help him in his research. In response, an unnerved Szayelaporro confirms it will, which Aizen is pleased by. After Szayelaporro leaves and Aizen stands up once more, Gin observes Aizen seems to be enjoying this even though he has lost one of his subordinates.

when Aizen wonders if this is how it looks, Gin elaborates that he believes Aizen thinks the intruders defeating everyone in their way and getting closer by the minute is as fun as it gets, which Aizen admits is close to the truth. When asked by Aizen if this is strange, Gin denies this and admits that he feels the same way. Meanwhile, Uryū frantically runs between destroy pillars and leaps away as the blade disc of Cirucci's Zanpakutō crashes down onto the ground where he was standing from the pillar she is standing atop, prompting a maniacally laughing Cirucci to proclaim that it is useless to hide from her and that there is no way Uryū can escape her.

Simultaneously, a babbling Dondochakka Birstanne runs along a corridor while carrying 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai over his head prior to slamming the latter head-first into the ground. When Dondochakka wonders what he is doing, Renji angrily kicks him in the head while still upside-down and reminds Dondochakka that the latter brought him here after getting excited from detecting Nel's Reiatsu, only for Dondochakka to reiterate his excitement and state that he cannot help it, leaving Renji in disbelief as he continues kicking Dondochakka for piledriving him and in an attempt to get him to keep going.

Suddenly, Dondochakka realizes that Pesche Guatiche is not with him and begins tearfully asking Renji where he is, prompting Renji to hold him back and point out how Pesche was not even present when Dondochakka first showed up here. Interpreting this as Renji referring to when they first met, Dondochakka assumes that Pesche has been an illusion all along, to Renji's further chagrin. Back in her area, Cirucci wonders how many times she has to tell a hiding Uryū that he cannot escape from her, only to be interrupted upon seeing Uryū exit his cover with Hirenkyaku just before a Heilig Pfeil hurtles toward her from behind a pillar behind her.

Yanking the blade disc back up, Cirucci blocks the Heilig Pfeil with it, causing the latter to disperse, and requests that Uryū not attack her while she is speaking with an annoyed expression. While criticizing Uryū for his lack of tact and rapidly spinning the blade disc through the air to her right by the handle of her Zanpakutō, Cirucci questions if all Human men are this rude prior to letting go of the line and sending the blade disc crashing down into the base of the other pillar that Uryū was hiding behind, forcing him to dodge once more. With Uryū calling her a hypocrite for insulting his choice in clothing, an unimpressed Cirucci throws the blade disc at him again.

Uryū evades this by running behind a pillar to his left and emerges to fire another Heilig Pfeil up at Cirucci, who reiterates that this is useless and pulls her blade wheel up just in time to use its broad side as a shield against the Heilig Pfeil, though the force still propels her backward into the air as Uryū smirks. After Cirucci lands on top of another pillar and grimaces down at the ground, Uryū mentally observes that Cirucci's attacks are still light due to her being a woman even though she is an Arrancar, which means that he can repel her attacks and must simply hold out long enough until there is an opportunity for a clean shot.

Upon emerging from cover, Uryū fires another Heilig Pfeil at an irritated Cirucci, and when she throws her blade disc down at it, Uryū makes the Heilig Pfeil move from side-to-side in midair to bypass the blade disc and continue hurtling toward a startled Cirucci, who jumps off the pillar just before the Heilig Pfeil strikes and destroys the top of it. With Cirucci landing on a nearby pillar and calling his personality bad, an encouraged Uryū notes that all of her attacks move in a straight line both forward and back, meaning that he just has to dodge all of them and attack Cirucci from directions she is not expecting.

Seeing Uryū fire a Heilig Pfeil far away from her, Cirucci mockingly wonders where he is aiming and throws her blade disc back down at him, only to see the Heilig Pfeil curve toward her and leap back just before it smashes into the pillar it was standing on, leaving her frustrated while Uryū concludes that he only needs to control his Heilig Pfeil with his Reiatsu. Uryū proceeds to fire three more Heilig Pfeil that bounce off the floor and ceiling of the area, forcing Cirucci to slash her blade disc through the air in front of her when they converge on her location, and continues firing more as he runs between the pillars.

After dodging one of the Heilig Pfeil and narrowly missing Uryū with her subsequent attack, Cirucci continues hopping between the tops of the pillars while the Heilig Pfeil destroys them and admonishes Uryū for running around just before she sends her blade disc plunging into the ground where he is running, causing it to continue rolling through the ground after Uryū leaps away with Hirenkyaku until it hits and destroys another pillar at the base. However, when Uryū sees an opportunity to attack following the destruction of several more pillars and bounces three more Heilig Pfeil off the ceiling toward her, Cirucci simply smirks.

As she notes that now might be a good time, Cirucci throws her blade disc through the air in a curving arc that lets it block and disperse all three Heilig Pfeil, to Uryū's shock, and reveals that she tricked Uryū into exposing himself by destroying so many pillars in order to create an opening for her to attack, since it would be annoying to do so by herself, prior to proclaiming that she can now curve her blade disc in any direction she wants and demonstrating this by throwing it down to chase Uryū across the area, with it easily curving over and around pillars as Uryū runs between them while not giving Uryū time to counterattack.

Wondering if Uryū is giving up already, Cirucci sends the blade disc hurtling straight toward him once he lands on the ground, forcing Uryū to block it with his Heilig Bogen, Ginrei Kojaku. While Uryū struggles to protect himself, Cirucci points out that he is not wielding a shield and consequently cannot get too cocky before the disc rips through Ginrei Kojaku and slashes Uryū's shoulder, sending him flying back toward a nearby doorway. As Uryū gets to his feet and curses, someone stares at him from the doorway behind Uryū. Elsewhere, Rukia Kuchiki runs up a long flight of stairs and notes the fluctuation of Sado and Uryū's Reiatsu.

Though initially concerned at the prospect of them encountering enemies, Rukia tells herself that she cannot worry about them and must instead focus on getting to Orihime Inoue as soon as possible. Suddenly, Rukia finds herself outside in daylight and standing on a bridge across from a massive building. Completely bewildered by this, Rukia begins walking across the bridge and wondering how there can be a blue sky within the walls of Las Noches, only to be interrupted when Aaroniero Arruruerie appears behind her and offers to explain. In response to Rukia whirling around at this, Aaroniero moves past her with Sonído to the door of the far building.

Aaroniero encourages Rukia to come inside with him, and once Rukia rushes after him to enter the dimly-lit room, Aaroniero expresses relief at finally being able to relax and apologetically explains that he has never been fond of sunlight, which cannot penetrate this room, before identifying himself as Espada #9. and taking off his mask to reveal that he is actually Kaien Shiba, to Rukia's utter shock.

Shinigami Illustrated Picture Book
In the Seireitei, 10th Division Tōshirō Hitsugaya is shocked to hear that the Eighth Division will not be helping guard the transportation of the Ōin, prompting 13th Division Jūshirō Ukitake to explain that they had a huge party last night to celebrate being assigned a first-class mission and all got extremely drunk, prompting Hitsugaya to note they had a little too much fun. Stating that it will just be their two divisions doing this, a coughing Ukitake suddenly collapses and is carried off on a stretcher by 13th Division 3rd Seats Kiyone Kotetsu and Sentarō Kotsubaki as he apologizes for not being in good condition that day. Standing with his lieutenant, Rangiku Matsumoto, while the wind blows, Hitsugaya observes that they are the only ones left.

Fights

 * Yasutora Sado vs. Gantenbainne Mosqueda
 * Uryū Ishida vs. Cirucci Sanderwicci

Powers and Techniques Used
Quincy Techniques:

Zanpakutō released:

Bankai:

Spirit Weapons:

Anime Notes
Removed Content= Added/Expanded Content= Censorship= Changes=
 * The Arrancar attendant reacting with confusion to Sōsuke Aizen mentioning that he believed Ichigo Kurosaki would find Dordoni Alessandro Del Socaccio easier to defeat.
 * Dordoni mentally noting that he is glad to have attacked Ichigo when he did so because it ensured the latter would not be here when the Exequias arrived.
 * An additional chunk of Dordoni's Zanpakutō being broken off in a clash with Rudbornn Chelute.
 * Dordoni grabbing Rudbornn by the collar as he attempts a final attack.
 * Dordoni's Zanpakutō falling from his hand as he dies.
 * The Arrancar attendant collapsing after Aizen stops exerting his Reiatsu.
 * Uryū Ishida running between damaged and collapsing pillars prior to Cirucci Sanderwicci throwing her blade disc down at him.
 * Cirucci seeing Uryū move out from behind cover with Hirenkyaku prior to him firing a Heilig Pfeil up at her.
 * Uryū realizing that he can bypass Cirucci's linear attacks by redirecting his Heilig Pfeil mid-flight and performing several attacks against her that destroy dozens of the pillars, only for Cirucci to reveal that she was baiting him into doing so in order to clear a path for her to attack him and demonstrate the ability to curve her own attacks as well, prior to Uryū being forced to block the blade disc with Ginrei Kojaku.
 * Yasutora Sado and Uryū are not bleeding at the start of their respective battles.
 * Uryū being wounded by Cirucci's Zanpakutō draws less blood and does not leave any blood on Uryū's skin or clothing afterward.
 * In the manga, prior to Rudbornn and the Exequias appearing, Dordoni notes that they have made it in time and greets them once they show up; here, he instead greets them prior to their appearance without noting that they have made it in time.
 * In the manga, Dordoni thanks Ichigo mentally; here, he instead does so verbally.
 * In the manga, Szayelaporro Granz is sweating when apologizing to Aizen; here, he is instead not.
 * In the manga, Dondochakka Birstanne's realization that Pesche Guatiche is not with him occurs after Pesche comes across Uryū's battle against Cirucci; here, it instead occurs after Uryū hides from Cirucci behind a pillar and prior to Pesche's arrival.
 * In the manga, when spinning her blade disc around at high speeds, Cirucci holds the other end of the cable it is on between her index and middle finger on her right hand to keep the radius of the spinning disc at a manageable length, then lets go of it to send the blade disc hurtling down toward Uryū; here, she instead retracts the cable into her Zanpakutō's hilt to reduce its length while spinning, then extends it outward again when attacking Uryū.
 * In the manga, Rukia Kuchiki encountering Aaroniero Arruruerie occurs after Nnoitra Gilga defeats Sado and is consequently initiated by Rukia rushing toward Sado's plummeting Reiatsu in an attempt to save him; here, it instead occurs while both Sado and Uryū are still battling their respective opponents, where Rukia tells herself to not worry about them and instead focus on rescuing Orihime Inoue.