Enter! The World of the Shinigami

Ichigo, Uryū, Orihime, Chad, and Yoruichi cross over into Soul Society using the gate. They run through the space between the two dimensions and Uryū gets caught by it. Chad rips off his cape to free him. Uryū then pulls out another cape claiming to have a spare. Chad then throws Uryū over his back and they continue to run. Yoruichi tells them not to look back, claiming that it will only slow them down. They are then chased by something called the Cleaner. It nearly catches them but Orihime uses her Santen Kesshun to block it.

They arrive in Rukongai, where normal spirits reside. Almost immediately after they arrive, Ichigo quickly and carelessly tries to enter Seireitei, where the Shinigami reside. Yoruichi yells to stop him but he still continues. As he is about to reach, a large wall falls from the sky and finds himself in a battle with the gate watcher Jidanbō. Chad and Orihime run to help but Jidanbō slashes the ground with his axes and sends up some of the floor beneath them, stopping Chad and Orihime and calling them 'Country Bumpkins'. He then attacks Ichigo with his axe but Ichigo blocks. He then pulls out another axe and attacks Ichigo with both but thanks to Urahara's training, Ichigo easily defeats Jidanbō and breaks his axes. Jidanbō starts to cry but Ichigo feels sorry and apologises for breaking the axes. Jidanbō then admits defeat and says he'll open the gate for him. When Jidanbō opens the gate, Ichigo encounters the 3rd division captain, Gin Ichimaru.