Shocking Revelations for the Gotei 13! The Truth Buried in History

 is the seventy-eighth episode of the Bleach anime.

Uryū Ishida tries to understand more about Yoshino Sōma as Ichigo Kurosaki spars with 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai and Ganju Shiba in order to regain his fighting spirit.

Summary
Within the Urahara Shop at nighttime, Uryū Ishida and Yoshino Sōma lies on bed mats under blankets in bandages while Ururu Tsumugiya has Jinta Hanakari carry a tub of hot water across the room and place it next to her, Tessai Tsukabishi, and Kon, though she points out that he did not need to boil so much water since they are not helping someone give birth to a child, prompting an irritated Jinta to tell her to shut up and assert that it may be of some use anyway.

However, Tessai reveals that he will be healing Uryū and Yoshino using a special method that does not require hot water, to Jinta's surprise, as Kon mocks his intelligence. Angered by this, Jinta picks up Kon and begins stretching out his head while claiming he is dirty, frightening Kon, before deciding to clean him and throwing Kon in the hot water, only for a pleased Kon to admit that it actually feels nice because the water is just the right temperature while relaxing with apple juice.

An enraged Jinta demands that Kon stop relaxing and stomps him underwater, where Kon complains about his stuffing coming out, leading Tessai to admonish them for being loud around injured people with enough force to send them both flying into the double doors on the other side of the room, followed by Kon meekly apologizing while Jinta crashes partly through the material. Meanwhile, in the central room, Ichigo Kurosaki sits silently around the main table with Rukia Kuchiki, Orihime Inoue, Yasutora Sado, 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai, Kisuke Urahara, Yoruichi Shihōin, and the Mod-Souls in their plushie bodies while he looks down despondently, to Orihime's concern.

An unnerved Urahara requests that Ichigo be more cheerful and Renji comments on how bleak and stagnant the atmosphere is as Rukia asks Yoruichi about the new information she has received from Soul Society, which prompts Yoruichi to note that there was progress at the Shinigami Research and Development Institute. In 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi's laboratory in the SRDI in the past, he stands before the main computer terminal with his lieutenant, Nemu Kurotsuchi, 8th Division Captain Shunsui Kyōraku, 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya, and 13th Division Captain Jūshirō Ukitake as the computer analyzes a large amount of data on the screen.

Upon being asked by a confused Hitsugaya what this is, Mayuri points out how there should not be any data that he cannot access as the President of the SRDI and states that he was able to remove the lock within the system, though it took him some time, before turning to Nemu, who begins bringing up images of the Bount in Jin Kariya's group while Mayuri identifies them as the ones causing trouble in the Human World and describes them as a tribe who can extend their lifespans by feeding on Human Souls, but is annoyed when Nemu does not continue bringing up images and orders her to hurry up, which she complies with by bringing up images of Quincy.

With Mayuri revealing that the Quincy and Bount clashed in the past, the screen displays footage recorded by the Onmitsukidō of giant bat, man-shaped wolf, and sword-wielding clay construct Dolls rushing toward a group of Quincy, who destroy them with Heilig Pfeil fired from various Heilig Bogen before they are engulfed in a torrent of flame released by a dragon-like Doll, ending the recording with static. A separate recording shows another group of Quincy being felled by the weapons and attacks of similar Dolls that also ends abruptly, which Mayuri points to as evidence that the Bount were specifically attacking a single Quincy during this battle.

When asked by Shunsui what happens next, Mayuri clarifies that this is the only recording he has due to how old it is, leading Shunsui to express interest in learning about the rest of the skirmish, and reveals that he does not know if the leading Quincy in the video were killed by the Bount as he turns to Nemu to explain what happened next. At Mayuri's prompting, Nemu recounts how the Bount continued to devour the Souls of living Humans for a while afterward, stunning Hitsugaya, and details the single law of the Bount prohibiting them from absorbing non-dead Souls before pointing to data displaying a decrease in the quantity of Souls as proof that they began defying this law after the battle.

However, Mayuri cuts Nemu off by chastising her for saying something unnecessary, and when Ukitake asks him what happened afterward, Mayuri reiterates that he does not know, but warns Shunsui, Ukitake, and Hitsugaya that the Bount begin breaking their law and attacking living Humans whenever they come together as a group and need a certain Quincy for their purposes. After admitting that he does not know if the current incidents are related to the battle detailed in this old record, a grinning Mayuri concludes that the Bount will definitely begin to openly attack living Humans, leaving Shunsui, Ukitake, and Hitsugaya staring at him in shocked silence.

Back in the Urahara Shop in the present, a stunned Ichigo inquires if this is true, leading her to observe that she would not believe it if anyone other than Ukitake had come to her in a panic to relay the information, which means that there is no reason to question it. Bringing up Kariya's intention to use Uryū's Quincy powers to open a portal to Hueco Mundo, Rukia questions if this is why the Bount need the energy of Souls from living Humans and why Kariya needs Quincy abilities to do this, but Yoruichi reminds her that they only have circumstantial evidence right now and cannot easily make a decision before asserting that they must stop the Bount from attacking Humans.

Ichigo interrupts Yoruichi and explains that he does not understand the purpose behind Kariya's plan to absorb the Souls of Humans and use a Quincy's power simply to go to Hueco Mundo, only for Yoruichi to state that they would not have any problems if they understood this. As he recalls Kariya restraining and overpowering him with a single finger during their previous fight, Ichigo wonders what someone as powerful as he is plans to do by gaining even greater power, and with Rukia concerned by his train of thought, Ichigo points out that Kariya is incredibly strong without relying on cheap tricks, prompting Urahara to inquire if he is afraid of Kariya.

Though he denies this, Ichigo admits that he does not believe he can win in his current state when he thinks calmly about the situation, astonishing his friends. Suddenly, the group hears a rumbling outside the shop, leading Renji to express confusion at the sound, as Ganju Shiba rides a boar through the glass doors at the front and is sent crashing through the doors leading to the central room, where he breaks the circular table while the others stand up in shock. Sitting up, a laughing Ganju observes that it has been a while since he appeared, to Ichigo's irritation. Simultaneously, at the convenience store, 4th Division 7th Seat Hanatarō Yamada hands a customer his groceries.

Upon being asked by his manager where Ganju went, Hanatarō recalls him being in the store earlier, which leads the manager to believe that Ganju has gone to the bathroom and insists on this being the case despite Hanatarō being uncertain about it, to the latter's confusion. Back in the Urahara Shop, Urahara notes the damage that Ganju has inflicted and requests that he clean it up later, but Ganju simply laughs this off and tells Urahara to not worry about the small details while the boar wanders around the room. When Rukia asks him why he came here on a boar and where he even found one, Ganju mounts the boar and declares that there are unusual animals in the Human World.

Hearing this, Sado realizes that Ganju got the boar from a zoo as Ganju clarifies that this boar is nothing like Bonnie and brings up how Rukia has never met Bonnie. With Rukia reiterating her question about why he came here, Ganju recalls sensing a gloomy Reiatsu somewhere in Karakura Town and describes himself as the type to be bothered by such a thing, which led him to the Urahara Shop, before leaning down to Ichigo and identifying him as the gloomy one. While Ichigo reacts angrily to this, his friends notice that he indeed has a gloomy aura about him and are concerned by it while Urahara instruct them to open the windows, further irritating Ichigo with this insinuation.

However, Ganju proclaims that Ichigo is the same as rotten garbage and needs to be freshened as he demands to know if Urahara knows a good place for this. Insulted by Ganju calling him an old man, Urahara mentions that he is quite friendly with Kūkaku Shiba despite his appearance and opens a hatch in the floor to reveal the ladder leading to his Study Chamber before inviting the others to go underground, prompting Ganju to thank him and pop a Yuki Gikongan into his mouth, allowing his Soul to exit his Gigai. When told to exit his Gigai as well, an annoyed Ichigo begins to clarify that this is his real body, only to be interrupted when Rukia pushes his Soul out with her Gokon Tekkō.

Before Ichigo can demand to know what Rukia is doing, Renji, now out of his Gigai as well, grabs Ichigo by the arms alongside Ganju and proclaims that he will be helping as well, which Ganju thanks him for as they pull Ichigo over to the entrance despite his protests. With Urahara watching in amusement, Ganju and Renji throw a screaming Ichigo down the hole. Meanwhile, at the burnt ruins of the Bount Mansion, Maki Ichinose watches as Jin Kariya walks through the wreckage and moves aside a large chunk of rubble to reveal a broken grandfather clock. Upon being asked by Ichinose if they can still use it, Kariya admits that he does not know and suggests fixing it to find out.

Kariya begins searching for a set of tools to do so in the wreckage, and when the other Bount approach, Ichinose stops them from advancing with an outstretched hand and offers to search for the tools himself, but Kariya assures him that it is fine and continues searching. Back at the Urahara Shop, Kon hangs on a clothesline by two clothespins outside and is prodded by Jinta with a stick until he begins spinning rapidly around the clothesline. Though Ururu complains about this, Jinta claims that he will be able to dry Kon off faster this way, and despite Kon requesting to not be dried off with clothespins in the middle of the night, Jinta smacks him with the stick to get him spinning again.

Poking his head out of the nearby window, Tessai orders them to stay quiet since they are disrupting the injured inside, cowing Jinta enough to meekly apologize as Ururu declares that she told him so, to his irritation. Inside, Uryū opens his eyes and looks over at Yoshino while asking her if it hurts, leading her to observe that the pain is not too bad thanks to the healing performed on her. When Yoshino apologizes for getting Uryū involved in something he has nothing to do with, Uryū counters that he is involved because the Bount are targeting him since he is a Quincy even without his powers. Pondering this, Yoshino recalls Kariya apologizing for getting her involved as well.

Despite this, Uryū notes that this is not what Kariya really felt, which Yoshino concurs with as she states that this is what shocked her most due to no one knowing what Kariya is truly like. With Uryū bringing up Kariya's plan to enter Hueco Mundo, Yoshino admits that she does not know what Kariya plans to do once he gets there, though she is certain that it is not worth breaking the law of the Bount and sacrificing Humans. Suddenly, Yoshino reveals that she also attacked living Humans, to Uryū's shock, and asserts that she is despicable before informing Uryū that the numbers of the Bount have been decided ever since they first appeared, leaving him confused.

Yoshino elaborates that Bount appeared among Humans during a certain period of time as a mutation and have never appeared since before concluding that no new life can be born from Bount, meaning they are a race that only dies slowly over months and years. Down in the Study Chamber, Ganju declares once again that Ichigo is scared and needs his cowardice straightened out, which Ichigo challenges him to do as he frees himself from Ganju's grasp. Bemused by this, Ganju leaps back and observes that Ichigo finally wants to do this as he tells Renji to go first, only for Renji to wonder why he has to do so. Inquiring if an irritated Renji is scared as well, Ganju pushes him toward Ichigo.

While Ichigo questions where Ganju is going when the latter backs off, Renji announces his attack and rushes toward Ichigo with his Zanpakutō drawn before leaping into the air and coming down on Ichigo with a slash, which Ichigo blocks with his Shikai, Zangetsu. Blocking several more strikes from Renji, Ichigo finds himself being pushed back along the ground by Renji's fierce assault, though he manages to come to a stop and push back against Renji in a blade lock. Upon hearing Ganju claim that even he could take on Ichigo in his current state from a rock bluff behind him, Ichigo looks back at Ganju and demands that he come down here.

Suddenly, Renji warns Ichigo to not let his guard down and kicks him in the abdomen, sending Ichigo skidding across the ground on his back, and as Ichigo gets to his feet, Ganju uses Seppa to turn the top of the bluff into sand that flows down and completely engulfs a surprised Ichigo. As Ichigo pops out of the resulting mound of sand, Ganju performs Senpen Banka, detonating several fireworks next to Ichigo that create a rainbow plume of sparkles, only to find himself caught in the subsequent smoke cloud as well, causing him to cough violently and run away while Ichigo angrily swipes at him with Zangetsu. Running up another bluff, Ganju taunts Ichigo to catch him.

A lightly charred Ichigo orders Ganju to come down, but Ganju proclaims that there is no way he would ever come down before being interrupted by his cell phone ringing, leading him to answer a call from Hanatarō and learn that the convenience store is full of impatient customers while the manager believes that he has gone to the bathroom, meaning he has to return quickly. After assuring Hanatarō that he will be there soon, Ganju hangs up and explains why he has to leave to a confused Ichigo and Renji while walking away, leaving Renji to furiously berate him for inviting Renji here and leaving alone, though Ganju simply reiterates Hanatarō's request and bids them farewell.

With Ganju running off, Renji expresses disbelief at this manner of departure, but declares that it does not matter and turns around to slash at Ichigo horizontally, forcing the latter to duck as Renji slides past him. When Ichigo looks behind him, Renji has released his Shikai, Zabimaru, and leaps into the air to deliver a downward strike that sends Ichigo tumbling across the ground upon blocking it with Zangetsu. Admonishing Ichigo for being in a pathetic state that is full of openings just like Ganju said he was, Renji inquires if Ichigo is afraid of Kariya, and as Ichigo denies this, Renji questions when Ichigo became such a wimp, which Ichigo also denies.

While dust begins billowing away from him and Ichigo, Renji extends Zabimaru toward Ichigo, who runs forward and deflects Zabimaru with a swing of Zangetsu before blocking it with Zangetsu held overhead when the end segment crashes down onto him as he and Renji yell fiercely. Meanwhile, at the convenience store, Hanatarō bemoans how many customers there are and offers to warm up a customer's bento, which the customer accepts. When asked by the irate customers if there are no other employees to help them, a flustered Hanatarō requests that his manager take over the cash register, leading the manager to comment on Ganju still being in the bathroom.

The manager decides to go check on Ganju and runs off, leaving Hanatarō to urge him to take over the cash register instead before being confronted by more angry customers. At the bathroom door in the back of the store, the manager calls out to Ganju, who crashes through the wall and opens the door while apologizing for the delay and claiming to feel refreshed. With Ganju walking away to take over the cash register, the manager points to this as proof that he was right about Ganju being in the bathroom the whole time. Back at the Urahara Shop, Uryū asks Yoshino if she has any pride as a Bount and states that he has pride as a Quincy, to her surprise.

Detailing how Quincy are a tribe who were given power by God to protect people from Hollows, Uryū asserts that he will fulfill his heavenly duty with pride as a Quincy even if he is the only one left and closes his eyes, leaving Yoshino to muse on how nice the concept of pride sounds. Down in the Study Chamber, Renji clashes repeatedly with Ichigo and puts him in a blade lock as he demands to know when Ichigo began calculating his chances of winning or losing a battle, which he considers unsightly and the reason why Ichigo is scared. As he pushes Ichigo back, Renji points out how he never thought about being scared of losing when he charged into Soul Society.

With Renji jumping high into the air and extending Zabimaru down at him, Ichigo swings Zangetsu at the end segment, resulting in green energy surging outward from the point of contact while and Renji yell before the energy turns blue and blows Renji away. Ichigo walks out of the swirling and crackling dust cloud with Zangetsu over his shoulder and approaches Renji, who observes that he seems to have gained a little determination. When Ichigo continues to silently glare at him, an unnerved Renji claims that he was just giving Ichigo a friendly push and that the latter does not need to be mad about this, only for Ichigo to turn away and thank Renji as he departs.

Above them, Yoshino removes her bandages and kneels down beside a sleeping Uryū as she admits that he is right about there still being some pride in her. After leaning down to kiss Uryū on the forehead, Yoshino silently closes the door to the room and leaves the Urahara Shop while bidding Uryū farewell and thanking him, with Yoruichi and Urahara watching her depart from the entrance. Yoruichi notes that Yoshino will die this time, but Urahara asserts that some people cannot settle things without doing this, and when Yoruichi expresses confusion at his wording, Urahara clarifies that Yoshino will be settling the score with her life.

In response, Yoruichi informs Urahara that she will be traveling to Soul Society since she cannot stand being led by vague information like this and wants to check out the truth with her own eyes before disappearing in a flash of light, leaving Urahara to acknowledge this and stand silently in the road. As dawn breaks, Uryū wakes up and discovers that Yoshino has departed, to his shock.

Shinigami Illustrated Picture Book
As Ichigo Kurosaki, Rukia Kuchiki, Orihime Inoue, Yasutora Sado, 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai, Kisuke Urahara, Ririn, Kurōdo, and Noba sit around the table in the central room of the Urahara Shop with cups of tea, Renji asks Ichigo what kind of powers Jin Kariya had, prompting Ichigo to admit that he could not tell. With an incredulous Renji insulting him for not being able to tell after fighting Kariya directly, Ichigo angrily tells him to shut up and points out how Renji did not see anything either before demanding to know why he did not come with them despite being contacted, and when Renji begins to claim that he did not know anything about it because his Denreishinki never received any alerts, he realizes that its batteries are dead, causing the others aside from Sado to fall backward.

Events

 * The Fall of Yoshino Sōma

Powers and Techniques Used
Quincy Techniques:
 * (archive footage)
 * (archive footage)

Other Techniques:

Zanpakutō released:

Shikai: