Byakuya's anger, collapse of the Kuchiki family

Byakuya's anger, collapse of the Kuchiki family is the two hundred and fifty-sixth episode of the Bleach anime.

Statistics

 * Original Airdate: February 2nd, 2010
 * English Airdate:
 * Opening Song: Anima Rossa
 * Ending Song: Tabidatsu Kimi e
 * Manga Chapters: None
 * Kanji: 怒りの白哉！朽木家崩壊
 * Romaji: "Ikari no Byakuya! Kuchiki-ka hōkai"
 * Arc: Beast Swords arc

Synopsis
A party is being held at Byakuya's mansion for Sixth Division. Renji thinks this is a good time for the division members to fraternize with their captain, while Rukia notices how nervous everyone looks. Renji is surprised that Byakuya is hosting the party in his own home, while Rukia says he should be grateful Byakuya's looking after his men. Renji is whisked off by one of his underlings while Rukia is lecturing him; annoyed she returns to her quarters, when she hears a scream. She investigates, and discovers two interlopers smashing up one of the rooms. She moves to engage them, but remembers she doesn't have her Zanpakutō. She narrowly avoids their attacks, until Sode no Shirayuki arrives. She drives off one of them, but is ambushed when she tries to prevent him escaping. She is saved by Senbonzakura. Rukia is shocked to see them in spirit form again; they tell her they never agreed to just be swords; an argument is cut short by Byakuya's arrival, and one Tōjū's body combusting, revealing a Zanpakutō.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi reveals he never intended to return the spirits to sword form. Mayuri says that the Zanpakutō before them is another product of Muramasa's plot; these Zanpakutō were never pacified, and some killed their Shinigami. While this would normally kill the Zanpakutō too, these are abnormal. Mayuri identifies this as something new, and tasks Rukia with capturing the one that escaped earlier; he warns her that these Tōjū are effectively in constant Bankai.

Rukia ponders the difficulty of the task, but Senbonzakura and Sode no Shirayuki are both keen to fight. Renji arrives to inform them of a change of guard; Byakuya leaves Rukia in charge while he deals with this. Senbonzakura and Sode no Shirayuki both suggest large scale destruction to lure out the target; Rukia quickly discounts this. Sode no Shirayuki suggests something else; another party, this time at Tenth Division's headquarters. Hitsugaya is not happy with this, but allows it anyway. The plan fails, as there is no sign of the target.

Rukia and Sode no Shirayuki have a quiet chat afterwards. Sode no Shirayuki reveals her inner turmoil regarding the events revolving around Muramasa. Rukia tries to remind her of the times when it was her who needed saving. This is cut short when the Tōjū arrives. Capturing him proves more difficult when he assumes a tornado-like form. They defeat him with a combination of her Shikai abilities and Kidō. Rukia reports to Kyōraku and Ukitake that the Tōjū was delivered to the Shinigami Research and Development Institute. Ukitake reveals that similar reports are coming in from elsewhere.

Arrancar Encyclopedia
Gin gives some already established information about the Tōjū; When Ichigo asks why him what he is doing there, Gin replies he thought they would be getting screen time again. It turns out Ulquiorra never bothered to tell Gin directly that the Hueco Mundo arc isn't resuming yet. Instead, he passed it to Yammy, from whom it was supposed to pass to Wonderweiss, Starrk, Baraggan and Gin in that order, but it was obviously lost or distorted somewhere along the way. Ichigo asks if they were playing the telephone game.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * 1) Renji Abarai
 * 2) Rukia Kuchiki
 * 3) Byakuya Kuchiki
 * 4) Two Tōjū
 * 5) Sode no Shirayuki
 * 6) Senbonzakura
 * 7) Mayuri Kurotsuchi
 * 8) Nemu Kurotsuchi
 * 9) Ashisogi Jizō
 * 10) Rangiku Matsumoto
 * 11) Haineko
 * 12) Tōshirō Hitsugaya
 * 13) Kaien Shiba (flashback)
 * 14) Aaroniero Arruruerie (flashback)
 * 15) Shunsui Kyōraku
 * 16) Jūshirō Ukitake
 * 17) Sōgyo no Kotowari

Powers and techniques used
Kidō used
 * Hadō #33, Sōkatsui (蒼火墜, Blue Fire, Crash Down)

Techniques used:
 * Hohō (瞬歩, Flash steps)
 * Tsugi no mai, Hakuren (次の舞・白漣, Next Dance, White Ripple)
 * Some no mai, Tsukishiro (初の舞・月白, First Dance, White Moon)
 * San no mai, Shirafune (参の舞・白刀, Third Dance, White Sword) (flashback)

Zanpakutō released:

Shikai:
 * Sode no Shirayuki (袖白雪, Sleeved White Snow)
 * Senbonzakura (千本桜, Thousand Cherry Blossoms)