A New Enemy! The Materialization of Zanpakutō

'''A New Enemy! The Materialization of Zanpakutō''' is the two-hundred thirtieth episode of the Bleach anime.

A mysterious man releases the spirits of many Zanpakutō from their swords and attacks Soul Society.

Summary
A group of individuals wait inside a cavern, some more patiently than others. A man enters the cavern with a "new friend" and instructs them to look after him. He then reassures one of the others that the rest will awaken soon and the era of the Shinigami will come to an end.

While Ichigo Kurosaki awakens inside his inner world and tells Zangetsu that he cannot hear anything beside his voice, Renji Abarai and Byakuya Kuchiki spar in Soul Society. During their duel, Byakuya is surprised to be cut by his own Bankai. Denying that anything is wrong, he promptly departs, leaving those watching bemused by his actions. Elsewhere, Tōshirō Hitsugaya communes with his Zanpakutō's spirit, but it dissipates as he asks it what is wrong. He is distracted from his thoughts by Rangiku Matsumoto throwing a tantrum after conversing with her Zanpakutō. Momo Hinamori and Isane Kotetsu arrive and ask what Rangiku was doing. When she complains about being unable to materialize Haineko, Hinamori gently criticizes Rangiku's words. Isane notes that her Zanpakutō has not been very responsive for the last couple of days, which worries Hitsugaya.

A group of Ryoka arrives at Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's office. As Yamamoto senses their presence outside, Lieutenant Chōjirō Sasakibe goes to see who is there.

Immediately afterwards, the senior members of the Gotei 13 are summoned to an emergency meeting on the Sōkyoku Hill. As they discuss why they might have been summoned, Lieutenant Sasakibe suddenly appears and collapses in front of them. Muramasa appears before them, claiming that Yamamoto would not be attending the meeting. An incensed Captain Sajin Komamura tries to force Muramasa to explain what happened to Yamamoto and releases his Bankai. When Komamura tries to attack, Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō instead attacks its wielder, stunning Komamura and the other Shinigami. The confused Komamura watches his Bankai vanish and is then attacked and defeated by Tenken's true form.

The captains and lieutenants try to release their Zanpakutō in order to attack, but discover that they cannot and that there is no longer any Reiatsu in their blades. Muramasa tells them that he has freed the Zanpakutō from their imprisonment. Explosions begin to ring out across Seireitei as the freed Zanpakutō spirits wreck havoc, easily defeating many Shinigami. Responding to Muramasa's summons, they then gather alongside Muramasa. As Hitsugaya realizes that the Zanpakutō have taken on physical form, Muramasa states that this is merely a greeting and that the Zanpakutō will soon rule over the Shinigami.

Shinigami Zanpakutō Introductions
Mayuri Kurotsuchi introduces the Zanpakutō of Ichigo Kurosaki, Zangetsu.

Fights

 * The Rebellion Begins: Rise of Muramasa

Powers and Techniques used
Techniques used:

Zanpakutō released: Shikai:

Bankai: