Battle of the Females? Katen Kyōkotsu vs. Nanao!

'''Battle of the Females? Katen Kyōkotsu vs. Nanao!''' is the two hundred and sixty-fourth episode of the Bleach anime.

Nanao tries to relate to the smaller of Katen Kyōkotsu while they battle a Tōjū

Summary
Captain Shunsui Kyōraku of the 8th Division is drinking saké with the two spirits of Katen Kyōkotsu under a blooming plum tree, when his lieutenant, Nanao Ise, interrupts him. She insists that her captain should behave a little more responsibly during the Tōjū crisis. In fact, she has come to remind him that they are meant to be on a Tōjū hunting mission. The captain declines, suggesting that Nanao go in his stead and that she take his Zanpakutō spirits with her. However, the more mature side of the Zanpakutō also refuses to go and Nanao is left with the masked half as her partner.

Nanao soon encounters problems with the spirit when she tries to make small conversation but gets no response. When she puts her hand on the spirit's shoulder, Katen Kyōkotsu materializes her sword and attacks, forcing Nanao to dodge the blow, before dissipating her sword and stepping away. Nanao is then startled by Rangiku Matsumoto, lieutenant of the 10th Division, tapping her shoulder. While Nanao explains to Rangiku that they are on a Tōjū hunting mission, she notices the spirit running off and then senses the Reiatsu of a Tōjū and follows her.

When she catches up to her, Nanao finds Katen Kyōkotsu on a rooftop, torturing a Tōjū by repeatedly slashing him without landing a killing blow. Distraught by the Zanpakutō spirit's apparent lack of emotion, Nanao ensnares her with Hainawa, telling her that the hunting of a Tōjū is not a game. Katen Kyōkotsu breaks the spell and proceeds to attack again, but Nanao stops her by shooting Byakurai in her path. The Tōjū uses the distraction to run away, immediately followed by Katen Kyōkotsu.

Back at the headquarters, Nanao explains herself and apologizes to her captain. Kyōraku consoles her by saying the Tōjū probably won't get very far after being injured, but he also tells her that she and his Zanpakutō spirit do not have to work together if they can't get along, since they can each finish the job on their own. Nanao is offended by his suggesting she can't handle her orders and walks off angrily. The mature half of Kyōkotsu explains that the masked half is fond of cruel games, which doesn't sit well with the "stiff-necked vice-captain."

Nanao finds Katen Kyōkotsu's masked half staring at a budding cherry tree. When she greets her the spirit again responds violently, and Nanao understands that whenever she is startled, she will take the offensive. Nanao explains that she is partially responsible for the Tōjū escaping, but that there was a problem with the way Katen Kyōkotsu behaved during the fight. When Nanao looks back at where the spirit was standing, she once again sees only air. Later on Nanao meets with Rangiku again and the latter offers to help get Nanao closer to Katen Kyōkotsu, saying she has a way with wayward youths.

The two lieutenants find the spirit at the tree again. Rangiku is surprised to see how cold she is, so different from her master. Rangiku tries to reach Katen Kyōkotsu's heart through clothes, boys, and candy, but when those three fail she gives up and tells Nanao that she should do the same. The Zanpakutō spirit returns to the cherry tree and Nanao comes to think that perhaps the spirit likes the surroundings of the tree. Nanao decides to throw a party under the tree to get closer to Katen Kyōkotsu, but during the party the spirit gets up and walks away again, and Nanao follows her.

Nanao finds Katen Kyōkotsu at the dwindling plum tree. When the last flower drops from the tree, Nanao catches it and suddenly realizes that the spirit must enjoy flowers. She puts the fallen flower into Katen Kyōkotsu's hair. Realizing the spirit has been staring at bare trees waiting for them to blossom, Nanao takes her to the blooming peach tree, explaining that the peach always blooms after the plum blossoms drop. When Katen Kyōkotsu wants to use her sword to pick the blossoms, Nanao stops her and asks her to set the sword down near the tree.

As the two are looking at the flower Nanao just picked, Nanao is sideswiped by the Tōjū from before, who leaves a cut in her arm. The Tōjū targets Katen Kyōkotsu because she tortured him during their last encounter. Unarmed, Katen Kyōkotsu tries to reach her sword by the tree, but the Tōjū blocks her path, forcing her to dodge his blow. The Tōjū picks up the sword and throws it away before attacking. Katen Kyōkotsu manages to dodge a few blows but eventually takes a hit and falls to the ground. He picks her up off the ground and informs her that he intends to play with her the same way she played with him the last time, but Nanao stops him by firing Shakkahō at him, causing him to drop Katen Kyōkotsu.

The angered Tōjū informs Nanao that now she has become his target as well. He attacks, but is stopped by Katen Kyōkotsu grabbing his arm. He effortlessly throws her away, sending her flying through a brick wall and incapacitating her. The Tōjū attacks again, but before he can land a blow on the petrified Nanao, Kyōraku arrives at the scene and blocks him. Realizing he is now facing a captain, the Tōjū moves to Katen Kyōkotsu's side, threatening her life if Kyōraku makes a move, but the captain uses Shunpo and kills him with a single blow.

Later, at a party with all of the Gotei 13 and their Zanpakutō spirits, Rangiku asks Nanao if Katen Kyōkotsu has changed at all, to which Nanao replies that perhaps there wasn't need for her to change at all. When Katen Kyōkotsu heads off again towards the peach tree, Nanao follows her and, to Nanao's surprise, the spirit puts a peach flower into her hair.

Arrancar Encyclopedia
Gin reveals how the Espada have been burning time on their forced break from the studio. Starrk and Lilynette are asleep; Baraggan is playing chess with Tōsen; Harribel appears to have been caught in the shower, but as the camera zooms in it turns out to be Gin himself. The image on the monitor changes to a close up of Harribel warning Gin not to spy on a lady. Gin promises to be more careful.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * 1) Katen Kyōkotsu
 * 2) Shunsui Kyōraku
 * 3) Nanao Ise
 * 4) Rangiku Matsumoto
 * 5) Bearded Tōjū
 * 6) Four unnamed Shinigami
 * 7) Tetsuzaemon Iba
 * 8) Zabimaru
 * 9) Renji Abarai
 * 10) Shūhei Hisagi
 * 11) Izuru Kira
 * 12) Haineko
 * 13) Momo Hinamori
 * 14) Tobiume
 * 15) Sentarō Kotsubaki
 * 16) Hyōrinmaru
 * 17) Kiyone Kotetsu
 * 18) Tōshirō Hitsugaya
 * 19) Jūshirō Ukitake

Powers and Techniques Used
Kidō used Techniques used Zanpakutō released
 * Bakudō #4,
 * Hadō #4,
 * Hadō #31,

Shikai: