Ichigo vs. Ginjō! The Secret of the Substitute Badge

 is the three hundred and sixty-fifth episode of the Bleach anime. As the battle between Ichigo Kurosaki, Uryu Ishida, and Kūgo Ginjō intensifies, the truth behind the Substitute Soul Reaper Badge surfaces.

Summary
Ichigo and Uryū continue their battle with Ginjō, and Ginjō fires an Energy Blast, but misses. Ginjō then asks if they are taking their time to analyze the situation. Uryū, while hiding in an alley, notes that the power of Ichigo’s Fullbring that Ginjō stole didn't only become his own, but his attacks are also combined with Ichigo’s Reiatsu. Ichigo then appears behind him, asking if Uryū came up with any good ideas. The two bicker for a moment, and Ichigo then leaves to face Ginjō.

Ginjō asks if he came up with a plan to fight him, but Ichigo replies that he just checked, and there were no ideas, so he decided to come out. He then proceeds to fire a Getsuga Tenshō, while Ginjō taunts him. Ginjō easily cuts through his attack and fires his own Getsuga Tenshō, much to Ichigo’s surprise. After the attack lands, Uryū appears behind Ginjō and fires a barrage of arrows at him, all of them missing. Uryū tries to tell Ichigo about Ginjō’s abilities, and end up arguing again.

Tsukishima, having been defeated, asks Byakuya if he feels no remorse for killing the one who he claims to owe a debt to. Byakuya says he does regret to being able to pay him back, but since he one of Ichigo’s enemies, he will have no mercy.

Elsewhere, Kenpachi and Yachiru arrive to where Ikkaku is, and Ikkaku notes that Kenpachi got out pretty fast. Renji arrives as well, then Captain Hitsugaya and Yukio, who is still trapped in ice. Yukio tells Hitsugaya that this was not a part of the deal they had. Hitsugaya simply say that he’ll free him after all the others are confirmed to be safe. Yukio starts to complain, and Byakuya arrives carrying an unconscious Rukia. Byakuya tells Renji to look after her and says that she sustained minor injuries and her Reiatsu is normal. However, no corpse or traces of the enemy's Reiatsu were found. Yukio says that he doesn't know if Riruka's alive or not. Yukio then asks again if the ice trapping him can be melted. Hitsugaya directs Yukio to the chat room above them, the one where Ichigo and Uryū are fighting Ginjō, but he states that he cannot remove that one. Hitsugaya points his Zanpakutō at Yukio, who says he's telling the truth. Yukio explains that when he and the others first joined Ginjō, they all traded a some of their powers as a sign of loyalty and placed a small restriction on those powers. He continues, saying that 'if Kūgo is within range of my abilities, then I cannot undo them unless he orders me to.'

Ichigo and Kūgo both fire a Getsuga Tenshō at each other, and the attacks collide. The two clash, and Kūgo comments that Ichigo is putting himself at risk. He then asks if he has changed his reason to fight, as Tsukishima is dead, causing Ichigo's eyes to widen. Kūgo pushes Ichigo back and corrects himself, saying that Tsukishima is in a near-death state. Kūgo proceeds to inform Ichigo that when a Fullbringer dies, all traces of their abilities will disappear, meaning that all the people under Tsukishima's influence will return to normal. He then asks again if he has a reason to fight anymore and if he's even fighting the right person.

At the Urahara shop, Orihime and Sado are resting and Isshin comments that they have stabilized. Urahara prepares to leave, saying that he will provide healing. Isshin suggests that he comes along to assist in Ichigo's fight, saying that if he doesn't the he may find out the truth about Kūgo. Urahara insists that it's fine, saying that he would eventually find out sooner or later.

Back inside the last remaining chat room, Ichigo tells Kūgo that he's had enough of his mind games, and Uryū appears behind Kūgo, and says that Ichigo's words are correct. Uryū states that Kūgo sees himself at an disadvantage and tries to pressure Ichigo in order for him to think of joining him. Ginjō turns his head back towards Ichigo, and asks him if he knows why a Substitute Shinigami is given a combat pass. Ichigo claims that he does not and Kūgo tells him to listen closely. He tells Ichigo that it doesn't matter whether the Shinigami is beneficial or not to Soul Society, the combat pass is still given. Ichigo says that he knows, prompting Kūgo to question if he ever felt the badge's authority, causing Ichigo to ask Kūgo if that means that the combat pass has another function. Kūgo explains that the combat pass is to keep watch and control, meaning that Soul Society was able to constantly track and control the Reiastu of whoever was in possession of a combat pass. Kūgo continues, stating that Ichigo simply pushed all his suspicions into the back of his mind. He reveals that the man who came up of the combat pass was Jushirō Ukitake, shocking Ichigo. Kūgo claims that they were both fooled, used as pawns and could be eliminated without a second thought. Uryū interrupts, telling Ichigo not to listen. Ichigo tells him to shut up, and activates his Bankai.

Outside, Rukia awakens and Renji asks if it hurts anywhere. Rukia then turns around to see the other Shinigami in front of the pocket dimension. She realizes that they are waiting to see Ichigo's decision. Then, all of a sudden, a large crack begins to forms on the chat room. Reiatsu violently blasts out from the crack. As the smoke clears, Ichigo is revealed with his Bankai. Kūgo calmly asks if he annoyed him so much that he activates his Bankai to kill him immediately. Ichigo says that he did think that what Ukitake said to him sounded strange, but he did not want to suspect him of anything. Ichigo explains that Ukitake is a lot smarter than him, but he told him about the combat pass in a way that he could figure it out on his own, and he soon noticed that the pass did not work the way he expected. Kūgo, saying that it seems that there's not point in negotiating, activates his Bankai as well. After exchanging a few words, they both charge at each other and their swords meet. They attack each other a few more times, creating a large explosion.

Shinigami Illustrated Picture Book
Kon, who is all neatly dressed up, announces that this is the last Shinigami Illustrated Picture Book and begins to tell a story of what he did to cheer up Sado and Orihime, when Ichigo had lost his powers, but he is then cut short of time and ends up complaining at the camera.

Fights

 * Ichigo Kurosaki & Uryū Ishida vs. Kūgo Ginjō

Powers and Techniques Used
Techniques used:
 * Energy Blast
 * (flashback)
 * (flashback)
 * (flashback)

Shinigami techniques

Zanpakutō released:

Shikai:

Bankai:
 * Kūgo Ginjō's unnamed Bankai
 * Kūgo Ginjō's unnamed Bankai

Fullbring used:
 * Ichigo Kurosaki's unnamed Fullbring (flashback)
 * Ichigo Kurosaki's unnamed Fullbring (flashback)
 * Ichigo Kurosaki's unnamed Fullbring (flashback)