Miracle! The Mysterious New Hero

 is the thirty-third episode of the Bleach anime.

In the Human World, Yuzu Kurosaki finds a cat named Raku and is drawn into an adventure with Don Kanonji and his Karakura-Raizer Team.

Summary
In Karakura Town, dozens of people curiously inspect a crop circle that has been left in the grass of a local park. When Karin Kurosaki declares that this is pointless and leaves while carrying her soccer ball, her sister Yuzu Kurosaki chases after her in protest. Walking down the steps to the street with her sister, Yuzu observes that there have been many incidents like this lately with people seeing UFOs and poltergeists, prompting Karin to conclude that it is likely due to "them" as she looks up, only for Yuzu to question what she is looking at.

Karin watches two small Hollows flying around in the air above and assures Yuzu that it is better for her to not see them because they will only make her sick. Suddenly, Karin sees a twinkle in the sky, and as she wonders what it was, Raku falls down and lands on Yuzu's face, to her shock and fright. Alerted by this, the Hollows dive toward Karin and Yuzu, and while her sister begs for her to remove Raku from her face, Karin admits that she does not know what is happening before refusing to lose regardless as she kicks her soccer ball at the Hollows, who are left stunned and spinning in midair by the impact.

As Karin grins maliciously and notes that this will teach them, Yuzu succeeds in removing Raku from her face and excitedly points out to Karin that his face looks like that of Ichigo Kurosaki, which a startled Karin agrees with. Though Karin believes something is strange about Raku, Yuzu explains that she has the strange feeling of having seen Raku somewhere before. When Raku meows at her, Yuzu interprets this as him being hungry and declares to a bewildered Karin that this is a woman's intuition. Admitting that she does not remember where she saw Raku before despite this, which leaves Karin at a loss for words, Yuzu decides to get cat food for Raku and walks off with Karin.

Behind them, the two flying Hollows land on the ground, one on top of the other, and merge into a larger Hollow which stares at them. Meanwhile, outside the Urahara Shop, Jinta Hanakari complains about how useless it is to clean up the front of the store because no one shops there as he and Ururu Tsumugiya sweep the ground outside. Ururu protests this, but is unable to come up with an answer when an annoyed Jinta asks her how many customers they have had this month, prompting Jinta to grind his fists into her head while proclaiming that they have not had a single customer while Ururu expresses pain and flails her arms around in response.

However, upon noticing a Hollow clambering down the roof of the Urahara Shop, Jinta and Ururu immediately stop squabbling as the latter jumps and sends the Hollow flying into the air with a powerful kick. With the Hollow roaring as it disintegrates, Ururu lands on the ground and declares that the disposal as been completed while Jinta observes that the number of Hollows in the town has increased since Ichigo Kurosaki left. After realizing something, Jinta slides open the door to the Urahara Shop by a few inches and looks inside to see Kisuke Urahara claiming he has gained weight recently from not getting enough exercise as he stocks some products on the shelves.

Claiming to have a solution for this, Tessai Tsukabishi holds up a box of "Karugaru-kun", the original weight-loss remedy, and reveals that he bought it off a shopping channel. When Tessai reacts negatively to him stating that this sounds questionable, Urahara clarifies that he simply does not believe in such products, but Tessai asserts that the results were amazing when he tried it as he pours a mound of the remedy into his hand from a bottle before swallowing it. While Urahara inquires if something is wrong upon hearing Tessai's stomach growling, Ururu tries to get Jinta's attention, only for him to silence her by slapping a hand over her mouth.

Jinta proclaims that it is time for them to exterminate the Hollows for the good of Karakura Town, and when Ururu attempts to remind him that they will get scolded if they do not clean up, Jinta resumes grinding his fists into her head while claiming that he cannot understand what she is saying. Meanwhile, as she walks with Yuzu, who is still holding Raku, Karin reiterates her belief that something is wrong with Raku, though she cannot determine what exactly it is. With Yuzu addressing Raku by name to affirm that nothing is wrong with the cat, Karin questions what "Raku" is, prompting Yuzu to explain that she chose the name Raku for the cat due to its color reminding her of a camel.

Suddenly, as they reach the Kurosaki Clinic, Karin and Yuzu are shocked to find a large pink car parked in front of the entrance. While Karin decries it as obstructing their business, Don Kanonji opens the passenger door of the car and addresses Karin and Yuzu, who are startled when a flock of doves flies out of the door, before stepping out and proclaiming that spirits are always with them, delighting Yuzu and embarrassing Karin. However, as he lands on the ground after performing multiple poses in midair, Don Kanonji breaks one of his toes and is sent crashing into the nearby shrubbery by his resulting loss of balance, prompting Yuzu to express concern for him.

Upon being asked by Don Kanonji if they are the family of the "boy" after he apologizes for startling them, Yuzu expresses confusion, only to be awestruck when Don Kanonji clarifies that he is referring to Ichigo, whom he claims is his number one pupil. With Yuzu screaming in excitement over her brother being his number one pupil, Don Kanonji explains that he came here incognito to spend time with Ichigo due to having a rare day off before inquiring where he is. As Karin expresses disbelief at this being Don Kanonji's way of traveling incognito, Yuzu reveals that Ichigo is not home right now, and as Don Kanonji screams in shock, Karin tells him to go home if he is done here.

The flying Hollows roar as they fly overhead, interrupting and surprising the sisters and Don Kanonji, before diving down toward them. Identifying the Hollows as bad spirits, Don Kanonji pulls out his Super Spirits Stick and tells the sisters to stay back as he runs forward and swings at the Hollows, who fly apart to dodge his strike. When Yuzu calls out to Don Kanonji and questions what the Hollows are, Karin is left astonished that she can actually see them now, leading Yuzu to realize the difference as well. After apologizing for going straight to the finish, Don Kanonji forms and unleashes his Golden Kan'onball, only for one of the Hollows to evade it.

With the Hollows rushing toward him, a frightened Don Kanonji screams and runs away, only for the Hollows to quickly catch him and pull him into the air as he comments on their mercilessness. Though Yuzu is concerned and Karin is apathetic toward Don Kanonji's fate, Jinta suddenly leaps into the air and destroys three of the four Hollows carrying Don Kanonji with a swing of his Muteki Tekkon, surprising the two sisters. After landing on and leaping off of a telephone pole, Jinta declares that he is the legendary "Red Bat" and smashes his Muteki Tekkon into the last Hollow, destroying it and causing Don Kanonji to smash into the ground below as he concludes that the mission is complete.

Running up to Don Kanonji alongside Karin, a concerned Yuzu asks him if he is okay, only for a battered Don Kanonji to ignore this and instead ask her if she has been hurt, which Yuzu denies. As a crowd gathers around them upon recognizing Don Kanonji, Isshin Kurosaki calls out to his daughters from the back and claims to be jealous over them being saved by Don Kanonji, who performs his signature pose and laugh while the crowd copies him in unison. Isshin puts his arm around a member of the crowd and invites Don Kanonji to join his family for some good tea, but Don Kanonji runs off with Karin, Yuzu, and Raku under his arm, leaving Isshin to wonder where he is going.

Later, in a park, an out-of-breath Don Kanonji pants heavily as Karin, Yuzu, Jinta, and Ururu stand behind him, with Yuzu still carrying Raku. When Karin asks them who they are, Jinta introduces himself as the future clean-up batter in the Major League Championship while Ururu simply states her name and bows, prompting Yuzu to introduce herself while bowing in return. Picking up on Yuzu having the last name Kurosaki, Jinta inquires if they know the guy with the orange hair, and when a surprised Yuzu questions if they know her brother, Ururu downplays this and shares a look with Jinta, who details how Raku's Reiryoku is luring Hollows to it.

With Karin realizing that he is referring to the monsters that just attacked them, Jinta confirms this and suggests that they let Raku's spirit pass over peacefully. Confused by this, Yuzu asserts that Raku is not a spirit and admonishes Jinta for saying such a thing when he reiterates his statement. Upon being told by an angry Jinta that Raku is already dead, Yuzu denies this and begins crying as Jinta berates her and Karin for not being able to figure this out despite being Ichigo's sisters. Expressing his amazement at kids with such talent gathering here even though they pale in comparison to him, Don Kanonji proclaims that they will all be his disciples, only for Jinta and Karin to punch him.

As he reels back from this with a bloody nose and one of the lenses of his glasses cracked, Don Kanonji shoves a tissue in his bleeding nostril and states that he is liking them more and more before declaring that he has been seeking out those with youthful power. While Don Kanonji invites the children to come with him, an irritated Karin inquires if he wants to be punched again, resulting in a dejected Don Kanonji promising to acknowledge the power hidden within them by examining their powers. When an intrigued Jinta declares that this is his chance to show off his true power, an equally intrigued Karin claims that she has not gotten serious yet either.

Jinta and Karin begin bickering over their superiority in relation to one another as Don Kanonji praises their energy and runs off while commanding them to follow him, which they do, leaving Yuzu and Ururu behind. When Ururu informs her that Raku will be attacked by Hollows again if left as is, a concerned Yuzu notes that Don Kanonji is gone and wonders what she should do, leading Ururu to decide to tell Urahara. However, upon arriving at the Urahara Shop, Ururu and Yuzu find that Urahara and Tessai are out to lunch, to Ururu's disappointment. Assuring Ururu that it is fine, Yuzu explains that she will simply wait for Urahara since he can do something about the situation.

With Ururu remaining dejected despite acknowledging that there is nothing else they can do, Yuzu thanks her, to Ururu's surprise and delight. Suddenly, Ururu's eyes go wide as she whips around upon detecting Hollows approaching. Multiple flying Hollows land in front of her and Yuzu, whom Ururu pulls into the Urahara Shop and brings to the back alley before telling her to run as she dashes back toward the Hollows with her Senren Bakusatsu Taihō in hand. As Raku meows in concern, Yuzu promises to protect the cat and runs off. Elsewhere, in an alleyway, Jinta stands in front of a door with Karin and questions how long Don Kanonji will make them wait.

However, Jinta and Karin are alerted when Don Kanonji apologizes for keeping them waiting, and as they assume battle stances, the door in front of them swings open to reveal Don Kanonji standing before them in a new outfit. Upon being told by Don Kanonji that he is at their service as the charismatic medium of the new century, Jinta and Karin declare that they will show him what they have got while rushing toward him, only for Don Kanonji to order them to halt before clarifying that he is not their opponent, to their confusion. Questioning why heroes should fight each other, Don Kanonji explains how he wants to put together a team of like-minded children in order to protect the town.

Don Kanonji dubs this team the Karakura Superheroes and details how it is natural for children who have undergone rigid auditions in the entertainment world to take active parts while he concludes that Jinta and Karin have potential. With Don Kanonji requesting that they form a team with him and help protect Karakura Town, Jinta and Karin are left believing that this is stupid and a waste of their time. However, when Don Kanonji reveals that the "Red" position on the team is open due to them being the first two individuals he has scouted, Jinta and Karin are astonished and expresses further interest as Don Kanonji elaborates that he will be turning this into a segment of his television show.

Convinced by the idea of being on television, Jinta and Karin agree to join as they pretend to have no choice in the matter, pleasing Don Kanonji with their enthusiasm. Though Jinta asserts that he will be Red, Karin angrily declares that he cannot decide like this and that she will be Red, only for Jinta to claim that a girl cannot be Red, further enraging Karin, who demands to know if he is looking for a fight. While Jinta brushes this off, Karin stomps her feet and refuses to let him be Red. Suddenly, Don Kanonji hears a Hollow roaring and realizes they are after Yuzu before ordering Jinta and Karin to get ready for their first job, though they do not understand him.

Meanwhile, Yuzu runs from four identical green Hollows with a single back limb each through another alleyway while carrying Raku and runs up a stairway to the top of a building, where she reaches a railing and takes a moment to catch her breath before looking up in surprise. In the air above Yuzu, nine flying Hollows appear and dive toward Yuzu, who closes her eyes and looks away in fear. However, as the Hollows approach, Raku glows pink and emits a pulse of energy that repels the Hollows away from Yuzu, prompting her to open her eyes and express surprise while Raku hisses. Upon arriving, the green Hollows are also held at bay by a still-glowing Raku.

One of the flying Hollows lands on the roof and roars as it charges at Yuzu. Suddenly, Don Kanonji leaps into the air and proclaims that it smells like bad spirits before firing another Golden Kan'onball at the Hollow, which it dodges by leaping into the air, only for Jinta to appear behind it and smack the Golden Kan'onball into the Hollow's back with his Muteki Tekkon, disintegrating it on impact while Don Kanonji cowers. As Raku stops glowing and meows at her, Yuzu smiles and looks up to the billboard ad behind here, where Don Kanonji stands alongside Jinta and Karin while apologizing for keeping Yuzu waiting because they are here now.

While Karin introduces herself as Karakura Red, Jinta claims to be the real Karakura Red, which leads Karin to grab the back of his pants and berate him for not hearing her call herself Karakura Red. With Jinta and Karin continuing to argue over which one of them is Karakura Red, Don Kanonji declares that they will decide who Karakura Red is based on their performance today, resulting in Jinta and Karin ceasing their bickering as they agree to this. When the remaining flying Hollows dive down at a distracted Yuzu, Don Kanonji leaps down to the rooftop between her and them alongside Jinta and Karin before transforming his Super Spirits Stick into its Super Spirit Javelin form.

Don Kanonji advertises the Super Spirit Javelin as allowing one to reach a bad spirit at any distance with its extending bladed section, only to be interrupted when a flying Hollow forces him to duck as it hurtles over him. As Don Kanonji shouts angrily at the Hollow for this, Karin grabs the Super Spirit Javelin from him and waves it wildly at the Hollows, impressing Don Kanonji, who decides to entrust it to her. With Karin chuckling over having the lead, Jinta announces himself as the clean-up batter with jersey #55 while he leaps into the air and slams his Muteki Tekkon into a Hollow's jaw, prompting Don Kanonji to praise him as a memorable superstar.

Bemused by this, Jinta states that this is due to him being Karakura Red. Upon being told by Karin to run away, Yuzu begins running toward the stairway, but this results in several flying Hollows pursuing her, to Karin's surprise. Though Karin chases after the Hollows as Yuzu trips and falls to her knees, the Hollows are all destroyed by a barrage of blasts from Ururu's Senren Bakusatsu Taihō. The smoke clears to reveal Ururu, who walks up to a stunned Yuzu as Don Kanonji expresses delight over meeting another potential candidate for the position of Karakura Red, which leads Jinta to admonish Ururu for showing up out of nowhere before asserting that she will not take the title from him.

With Karin reiterating her refusal to let Jinta be Karakura Red, Don Kanonji proclaims that only the one who gives the number one performance is worthy of the title of Karakura Red. Having had their rivalry further inflamed by this, Jinta and Karin begin furiously attacking the remaining Hollows to outdo each other, delighting Don Kanonji as he declares that Karakura Superheroes is born. However, a confused Yuzu inquires if Don Kanonji is not going to fight as well, and as he is caught off-guard by this, Don Kanonji pulls out a bullhorn and criticizes Karin as not fighting well enough to earn the title of Karakura Red, prompting her to throw away the Super Spirit Javelin in response.

Upon noticing a soccer ball on the rooftop, Karin kicks it at a Hollow that Jinta is about to attack, sending it flying away and leaving him stunned while she declares that this is the power of Karakura Red, though Jinta continues to contest this. Suddenly, all the remaining Hollows land on the rooftop and begin glowing with red Reiatsu before converging into a single, massive blue Hollow with a snake-like lower body that roars loudly. While a stunned Jinta wonders what this is, Don Kanonji addresses the Hollow as the Bad Spirits King and asserts that it has revealed itself as the Hollow begins advancing on them by pulling itself forward with its arms.

Don Kanonji tells the children that this is a job for the Karakura Superheroes, and as all but Yuzu prepare to fight, he claims that they should plan their strategy first, only for Jinta and Karin to angrily remind him that they do not have time for this. As it reaches the group, the Hollow slams its head into the stairway behind them, shattering the ground and scattering them across the rooftop, before noticing Yuzu and swiping at her with its hand, with the resulting impact sending her flying over the side of the building while still holding Raku after she narrowly evades the attack, leading Karin to cry out to her while the others stare in shock.

However, as the Hollow pulls itself over the side of the building as well and begins climbing down the side of it in pursuit of them, Raku separates from Yuzu and glows pink once more, to her confusion, before transforming into a lion-like creature with a flaming mane and red armor, astonishing the other Karakura Superheroes watching from above. After propelling past Yuzu, Raku catches her on its back before she hits the ground and gently lays an unconscious Yuzu against a wall while Ururu wonders if he is an ally, prompting Don Kanonji to declare that he is a miracle called forth by their unified desire for justice while Raku roars and leaps up at the Hollow.

Crashing into the Hollow, Raku pushes it upward and slams it into the rooftop behind the Karakura Superheroes as Don Kanonji describes him as a Hero Robot sent to them by the gods and names him Karakura Lion Jet. With the injured Hollow getting up and roaring, Raku's body is engulfed in flame as he runs forward before slamming headlong into the Hollow, sending them both flying off the other side of the building. Upon seeing this, Don Kanonji commands the children to join it, and the four of them run down the stairway and reach the ground right before the Hollow crashes into it. With Don Kanonji ordering the Karakura Attack Formation, Karin, Jinta, and Ururu prepare to attack.

As he performs several hand seals, Don Kanonji unleashes a Golden Kan'onball that splits into two spheres of energy, which Jinta smacks into the roaring Hollow by using his Muteki Tekkon to perform Jinta Home Run, followed by Karin kicking her blazing soccer ball into the Hollow's head with Karin-Style Death Shot. With the Hollow flying overhead and Jinta telling her that it is coming, Ururu unleashes a barrage of blasts with her Senren Bakusatsu Taihō, obliterating the Hollow. Afterwards, Don Kanonji proclaims that the first mission of the Karakura Superheroes is complete as he laughs and poses with Karin, Jinta, and Ururu.

When Karin questions if his attack really did anything, Don Kanonji claims that it was the finish blow, only for Jinta to deny this while Raku watches from atop the building before dissolving into a swirl of pink energy that dissipates. Yuzu recalls having met Raku before at a construction site while it as raining, where she found Raku hiding from the rain in a stack of pipes and gave him some cookies to eat before attempting to leave, only for Raku to follow her into the nearby road and be struck by a car as a result. Later that day, as the sun begins to set, Yuzu sits on a bench with Raku in her lap and admits that she thought Raku would hold a grudge against her for this.

Calling out to Yuzu, Karin stands in front of her alongside Don Kanonji, Jinta, and Ururu before hugging Yuzu in relief over her being okay. Upon being told by Don Kanonji that the Karakura Lion Jet which was summoned with their power of justice saved her, Yuzu is left confused as Karin lets go of her and excitedly explains how they summoned something awesome. While Jinta wonders where he went and agrees that he was amazing, Yuzu looks down at Raku and tearfully agrees to keep this a secret from them, prompting Raku to smile before glowing pink, to the astonishment of the others, and transforming into a ball of energy that flies off into the sky.

Jinta theorizes that this was Raku finally passing over, and as Karin expresses astonishment at him actually being a spirit, Ururu concludes that he was able to resolve any regrets he had. Upon seeing Yuzu crying over being unable to do anything for Raku in return, Jinta bashfully claims that Raku thanked her as he passed over and asserts that a man senses these things when Karin expresses doubt. With Yuzu crying into her shirt, Karin pats her head and soothes her as Yuzu mentally thanks Raku. Afterwards, Ururu introduces herself as Karakura Pink, Karin and Jinta resume their argument over who deserves to be Karakura Red, and Don Kanonji proclaims himself Karakura Gold as well as the leader and producer of the group. However, as Don Kanonji tells them to follow him, Jinta and Karin are angered enough by his title to punch him in the face and quit.

Next Episode Preview
Praising the story that was just told as excellent, Kon demands that whoever was responsible for his lack of involvement show themselves, only for Ichigo Kurosaki to assert that no one cares about his existence as Kon bemoans how he was waiting after getting new stuffing.

Powers and Techniques Used
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