I Want to Live...! Nozomi's Zanpakutō

 is the three hundred thirtieth episode of the Bleach anime.

As the remainder of the Gotei 13 try to recover, Nozomi Kujō decides she wants to help the others.

Summary
Ichigo tells his family about Nozomi, saying that Rukia is the only relative she has left following the break up of her family. Yuzu pleads with Isshin to allow Nozomi to stay with them, likening her story to a movie. Isshin, also saddened by the story, grants the request as Karin says she has heard this before. Yuzu tells Nozomi that she can ask her for anything. Nozomi asks her what movies are, while Isshin happily exclaims that it feels like he now has four daughters. Karin tells Nozomi that they are a loud family, but that she should not let that bother her.

After Isshin, Karin and Yuzu leave to do some shopping, Rukia receives an order about a Hollow on her Denreishinki. Ichigo tells Nozomi to stay and watch TV. He switches with Kon and they leave. Outside the Kurosaki Clinic, Sado and Orihime see Kon and Orihime asks if Nozomi is home. Kon tells them that she is probably bored and asks them to keep her company. He then walks off, leaving Orihime wondering what is wrong with him.

In Soul Society, Captain-Commander Yamamoto, who is receiving treatment from Captain Unohana, asks Renji about the situation. Renji reports that they have lost contact with the other captains. Yamamoto recalls Unohana assisting him following his battle with the Reigai, with Unohana urging him to fall back and regroup, as the Gotei 13 would fall apart without him. Renji continues, saying that it is hard to believe that the captains were defeated so easily, suggesting that the signal Urahara had received may have been incomplete. Yamamoto tells the lieutenant that there is no need to comfort him.

Pointing out that the only battle ready people are the lieutenants and Ichigo's group in the Human World, he says that they must prepare for an invasion. Unohana notes that she has noticed Hollows appearing in large numbers. Yamamoto explains that this is due to the power balance between Soul Society and the Human World being disrupted. Yamamoto tells Renji that protecting the Human World from Hollows is important, but they must not give Inaba an opportunity to invade. After Renji leaves, Unohana turns to Yamamoto, who tells her that she does not have to say it, which she relents to.

In the Human World, Ichigo defeats a Hollow. Ikkaku and Yumichika ask him how Nozomi is doing. Ichigo tells them that she seemed a bit tired. Rukia asks why they are interested, but they do not reply. Meanwhile, Kon walks through Karakura Town, recalling Nozomi's revelation that she is a Modified Soul. He wonders what he can say to her now. He is given a toy lion as a promotional offer, but it comes apart. Kon goes to throw it away, but stops, commenting that if it is not going to be made correctly, then it should not have been made in the first place. Kon returns home to find Ichigo waiting impatiently for him in his Shinigami form. He asks him to swap back to their normal bodies. Kon watches Nozomi and Orihime cooking before walking off without changing forms.

At Urahara Shop, Rukia asks Urahara about Nozomi. He tells her that he thought it was unusual that he could not sense any Reiatsu from her when they first met. He reveals that he became certain that she was a Modified Soul when she healed Ichigo, noting that her power was similar to Kidō, but different, possibly artificial. They wonder what Inaba wants with Nozomi.

Back in the Kurosaki home, Orihime has finished preparing the meal, one of her specialties and presents it to the others. While Ichigo and Sado are confused by it, Nozomi states that it is delicious. Karin invites Orihime to come back later to make dinner. When she asks if she could, Isshin agrees, saying that he will be a father to them all, earning him a thump from Ichigo. Nozomi smiles as she watches, before going up to Ichigo's room, where she sees Kon. The two struggle to say anything to each other. Orihime calls her and she leaves.

An injured Inaba awakens from a dream. He goes to the green haired man and asks him why he is worried. He tells him that everything is going according to plan. Inaba asks if he is worried about Nozomi, saying that it is only a matter of time. Coughing up blood, he explains that he expected to be injured by the originals as they are not fools. He tells the man that he will see to it that the world will learn of his wish.

Rukia walks in on Kon talking about how he is not himself. He leaps at her, asking to be punched. She kicks him instead.

While Nozomi, Sado, Orihime and Ichigo are shopping for groceries, they sense a Hollow overhead. Ichigo rushes off to fight it. He finds the Hollow, but without Rukia or Kon to transform him into his Shinigami form, he has to evade the Hollow until Uryū kills it. Ichigo thanks him and after Uryū notes that it is lucky that he was passing by. Ichigo invites him for dinner, saying that Kon needs to be cheered up.

At Ichigo's house, an energetic Kon, in Ichigo's body, eats Orihime's cooking for dinner with the others. Karin and Yuzu comment on his behavior, thinking that he is Ichigo. Upstairs, Ichigo talks with Renji, Ikkaku and Yumichika, who want to question her. Ikkaku comments that they know too little about her. Ichigo asks them if it is not enough that he protects her. Yumichika tells Ichigo that the Gotei 13 captains were defeated by Inaba's invasion force. With Nozomi listening from outside the room, Ikkaku continues by saying that they will now have to face that army in Karakura Town. Yumichika remarks that it is ironic that the Modified Souls were meant to reduce Shinigami causulties, but now many Shinigami have been injured protecting Nozomi. Ichigo tells them that as long as someone is born into the world, they have a right to continue existing.

That night, as the members of the Kurosaki household are in bed, Nozomi leaves the house. Kon, reflecting on Nozomi's revealation about being a Modified Soul, goes to talk to her, but discovers she has left. While she is wandering around Karakura Town, a Hollow appears near Nozomi. She tries to run from it, but is attacked. Recalling how the others had been injured protecting her, she wishes that she was not alive. Kon finds her and urges her to hurry up as the Hollow attacks.

Nozomi decides that she wants to protect and her Zanpakutō appears. As she fights the Hollow, she changes into Shinigami form and she quickly dispatches the Hollow. Kon reminds her that she said she did not have a Zanpakutō. Nozomi tells him that she had thought that to be the case. When Kon asks why she was outside, she falls to her knees, saying that she is a burden. Kon tells her not to let them being Mod Souls stop them from living. She attaches the lion toy to her Zanpakutō.

Shinigami Illustrated Picture Book
As Unohana enters the room, Yamamoto notes that it is time for dinner. Changing into a chef's outift, he releases his Zanpakutō's flames. Unohana tells him that she has taken care of it and shows him some bento boxes. Yamamoto offers to make tea instead, but she has that as well. Before he can offer to do anything else, she reveals various utensils. A dejected Yamamoto comments that she is well prepared.