Overcome Your Limits!

Overcome Your Limits! is the forty-fifth episode of the Bleach anime.

Statistics

 * Original Airdate: August 16, 2005
 * English Airdate: August 11, 2007
 * Opening Song: D-tecnoLife
 * Ending Song: Happypeople
 * Manga Chapters: Chapter 127, Chapter 128, Chapter 129.
 * Kanji: 限界を越えろ!
 * Romaji: "Genkai o koero!"
 * Arc: Soul Society: The Rescue arc

Summary
Kaname Tōsen, defeated Uryū Ishida, muses on the Ryoka invasion and the senseless fighting. Meanwhile, Yoruichi Shihōin explains to Ichigo Kurosaki that it takes well over ten years for even talented Shinigami to achieve Bankai, but that she has a way which will help him achieve it in only three days. She has a spirit-transfer doll that pulls out the spirit of his Zanpakutō. As he achieved a draw with Kenpachi Zaraki, Yoruichi believes that he is at the level of materialization. She explains that he has to defeat the spirit of his Zangetsu in three days. Zangetsu summons a large number of Zanpakutō, and tells Ichigo that there is only one that can defeat him. Ichigo must find this sword and use it to defeat Zangetsu.

Yasochika Iemura is writing in his diary about the Ryoka disturbance. He complains about the 11th Division men who are being admitted frequently, and is incensed because they have admitted Ryoka, citing Jūshirō Ukitake and Shunsui Kyōraku as people who requested the Ryoka be admitted. It is revealed that Kaname Tōsen requested that Ishida be admitted.

Sentarō and Kiyone are present at Hanatarō's disciplinary hearing. Retsu Unohana, his captain, decides that he is to be punished in some way for aiding the Ryoka, but his punishment is not revealed. He later voices his misgivings to Isane Kotetsu. Meanwhile, Renji Abarai is having flashbacks about Rukia Kuchiki, and decides to break out of his cell and go save Rukia.

Izuru Kira lieutenant of the Third Division, is sitting in his cell in a straitjacket having flashbacks about his battle with Momo Hinamori. Gin Ichimaru comes up, and offers to let him out. Ichigo coughs up some blood, and Yoruichi yells at him that there is not any time to waste, and to get up. Zangetsu threatens to make him get up.

Makizō Aramaki is groveling at Yachiru Kusajishi, lieutenant of the Eleventh Division because she found him carrying Orihime Inoue back to the 11th Division headquarters. He explains that Orihime has the ability to bubble out of walls, and Yachiru is entertained by that. Ikkaku Madarame and Yumichika Ayasegawa inquire about Ichigo, and Orihime mentions she hopes he is alive. Kenpachi hopes this is the case too, so he can fight him again. For this reason he decides to aid Orihime.

At the 4th Division headquarters, Ganju, Ishida, and Sado are in a prison cell. They talk about why they have been treated, and Sado mentions that they are probably being kept alive because they are suspected in Sōsuke Aizen's murder. They have no way of escaping, as their Reiatsu is sealed by their handcuffs, and they conclude that Orihime, Ichigo, and Yoruichi are all out there somewhere, they just have to find them. Sado makes the decision that they wait.

Back in the hidden training ground, Ichigo is still losing his fight with Zangetsu because he is relying too much on what is familiar to him in his heart. He has to find his strength among his weaknesses, and defeat Zangetsu.

Kon-sama's Ultimate Shinigami Illustrated Guide
The featured character is Kiyone Kotetsu.

Characters in order of appearance

 * Uryū Ishida
 * Kaname Tōsen
 * Yoruichi Shihōin
 * Ichigo Kurosaki
 * Zangetsu
 * Renji Abarai
 * Zabimaru
 * Kenpachi Zaraki
 * Yasochika Iemura
 * Yasutora Sado
 * Nurse
 * Shunsui Kyōraku
 * Sentarō Kotsubaki
 * Kiyone Kotetsu
 * Hanatarō Yamada
 * Retsu Unohana
 * Isane Kotetsu
 * Rukia Kuchiki
 * Byakuya Kuchiki
 * Renji's Prison Guard
 * Izuru Kira
 * Sōsuke Aizen
 * Momo Hinamori
 * Gin Ichimaru
 * Makizō Aramaki
 * Yachiru Kusajishi
 * Orihime Inoue
 * Yumichika Ayasegawa
 * Ikkaku Madarame
 * Ganju Shiba
 * Sōken Ishida

Powers and Techniques used
Zanpakuto Released:

Shikai:
 * (flashback)
 * (flashback)

Bankai:
 * (flashback)

Techniques Used:
 * Quincy Final Form: (flashback)