Kariya! Countdown to the Detonation

 is the one hundred and fifth episode of the Bleach anime.

As the Shinigami learn more about the Jōkaishō, Ran'Tao confronts Jin Kariya and recalls her past efforts to aid the Bount in gaining the protection of Soul Society.

Summary
At nighttime in the Seireitei, a group of Shinigami stand outside the Tenth Division barracks and are startled to see their captain, Tōshirō Hitsugaya, approaching them. With the Shinigami cheering for his return and kneeling before him, Hitsugaya assures them that he is alright and has defeated the Bount. When Hitsugaya tasks them with retrieving Gō Koga once the ice from his Shikai, Hyōrinmaru, thaws out in the southern district, the confused Shinigami question if he is still alive.

Hitsugaya denies this and explains that they instead need to give Koga a burial if he left a corpse behind instead of simply leaving it there, which the Shinigami affirm. After informing Hitsugaya of his lieutenant, Rangiku Matsumoto, helping 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai get medical treatment for the wounded, one of the Shinigami reveals that Ichigo Kurosaki is here as well, to Hitsugaya's surprise and confusion. Following this, Hitsugaya enters his office to find Rangiku, Renji, Ichigo, and Yasutora Sado.

Having gathered around the injured Uryū Ishida, who rests prone on the floor, with her friends, Rangiku asks Hitsugaya about what happened with Koga and learns that Hitsugaya managed to take care of it. Upon being informally addressed by Ichigo when the latter asserts that he is using the office, an irritated Hitsugaya assumes he is doing this on purpose and reminds Ichigo that he must use Hitsugaya's title and last name when addressing him, though Ichigo claims that it does not matter. As he refutes this, Hitsugaya inquires about why they are here to begin with, prompting Ichigo to recount how he and Sado happened to run into Rangiku while pursuing Jin Kariya.

With Ririn interjecting to clarify that they needed a place for Uryū to rest because he was wounded and declaring that this was perfect timing, Kurōdo echoes this while pointing out that their lack of a base of operations in the Seireitei made this truly lucky, leaving Noba to apologize for the intrusion as Ichigo requests that Hitsugaya allow them to rest here despite the inconvenience, which Hitsugaya observes he has no choice for. On the floor, Uryū grunts in exertion, and as he promises Ririn that he is alright, Hitsugaya wonders if he is in pain, only for Uryū to state that he will take full responsibilities for any injuries he incurs since he brought the Bount to Soul Society.

Sado observes that Orihime Inoue would know how to treat these wounds and Kurōdo insists that her absence cannot be helped due to the Seireiheki preventing her from joining them while Renji details how the Bount invasion has left many injured across the Seireitei and kept the Fourth Division busy, though someone should be coming soon to help Uryū because he contacted them. When Hitsugaya assures him that he will be alright since his life is not in danger despite his injuries preventing him from fighting, Uryū protests this on the grounds that he came here to fight, but Hitsugaya warns him against being hasty and relays the defeat of Mabashi and Sawatari to him.

Counting his recent defeat of Koga, Hitsugaya concludes there is only one Bount left in Soul Society. Though Kurōdo praises Hitsugaya for so easily dispatching Koga's metal Doll, Dalk, when it gave the group so much trouble before, Hitsugaya denies it being easy and brings up how Koga was acting strange during the battle by not even seriously injuring the Shinigami he encountered. Upon being asked by Hitsugaya about what has happened to Kariya, Ichigo informs him of Kariya's acquisition of a great power, with Renji identifying this as the Jōkaishō, and his intention to blow up the Seireitei with it, which leads Hitsugaya to note these actions were extreme to Koga.

With Sado lamenting their inability to stop Kariya before he could access the Jōkaishō, Ichigo bluntly states that there is no point in worrying about it now that it is done, and when asked by Hitsugaya about the fate of Maki Ichinose, Rangiku informs him that 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki managed to defeat Ichinose. Suddenly, the group is alerted when Orihime runs into the room with 3rd Division Lieutenant Izuru Kira and expresses concern for Ichigo, who is shocked by their arrival. Orihime explains that she finished healing Jidanbō Ikkanzaka and found members of the Third Division guarding the gates when she went looking for her friends.

After Izuru concludes he elected to bring Orihime here, Sado apologetically asks Orihime to begin tending to Uryū's wounds right away, which she agrees to as she kneels down beside Uryū. However, Uryū tells Orihime he does not need to be fully healed and just wants to get back on his feet as soon as possible. In response, a baffled Rangiku demands to know if Uryū has been listening to what they have been discussing and asserts he must rest if he wants to fight properly, which Ririn concurs with, before pointing out how everyone has been on the move since the previous night as Renji promises Uryū they will receive word right away if anything happens.

Acknowledging this, Uryū closes his eyes and relaxes while Orihime begins healing him with Sōten Kisshun. When Hitsugaya turns to him and inquires about who is still available, Izuru observes the remaining able-bodied Shinigami are primarily from the Eleventh Division since their captain being busy prevented them from receiving any orders, prompting Renji to further note their lack of involvement in the afternoon clashes means they are the healthiest division left at the moment, with Hitsugaya realizing he did not send any orders to them. Elsewhere, 11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame and 5th Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa stand in an intersection.

Ikkaku laments his inability to fight the Bount before only one was left and Yumichika echoes this as he expresses a desire to get revenge on the Bount for what they did to him in the Human World. When Ikkaku brings up how Kenpachi has not yet returned, Yumichika mentions he was fighting Ichinose after the latter allied himself with the Bount and presumes Kenpachi is cheerfully sightseeing right now, which leads Ikkaku to angrily note he wanted payback on Ichinose for humiliating him during their previous clash. With Yumichika telling Ikkaku the last remaining Bount is powerful and asserting he will definitely find Kariya, one of their subordinates approaches them.

Upon being told by the Shinigami that no suspicious activity was observed in the northern district of the Seireitei, Ikkaku reminds him the other divisions being exhausted from the afternoon conflict means the Eleventh Division can do whatever they want to Kariya if they find him before ordering the Shinigami to track him down no matter what. Meanwhile, in Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's office in the First Division barracks, 8th Division Lieutenant Nanao Ise tells him she has a report from her captain, Shunsui Kyōraku, and 13th Division Captain Jūshirō Ukitake, whom Yamamoto observes was supposed to be in poor health.

Learning Ukitake lied about this in order to go to the Seireitei Library and find data on the Bount, Yamamoto dismisses this and inquires about the report, prompting Nanao to relay the discovery of Ran'Tao's data that details an explosive power held within the Jōkaishō, which Yamamoto observes means Kariya was not lying. Nanao elaborates that Ran'Tao's research indicates a short period of time is required after activating the Jōkaishō in order to draw out its full power prior to clarifying it takes roughly a full day, and as he deduces this is why Kariya decided to wait for a day before destroying the Seireitei, Yamamoto muses on him incorporating this into his tactics.

As he proclaims they cannot let their guard down against Kariya, Yamamoto decides to send directives to each division for the immediate capture of Kariya and observes they do not even have time for a captains meeting. After Nanao acknowledges this, Yamamoto instructs her to have Shunsui and Ukitake continue examining the data, which she affirms. Back in the Tenth Division barracks, Ichigo and his friends join a feast with the Shinigami as 4th Division Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu relays 2nd Division Captain Suì-Fēng's slow recovery leaving her on standby in her quarters and 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi's injuries hindering his return to Hitsugaya.

With Isane revealing Shunsui and Ukitake have secluded themselves in the Seireitei Library in order to gather information, Hitsugaya learns 7th Division Captain Sajin Komamura is guarding Yamamoto and expresses understanding of the situation prior to praising Isane for her good work. Suddenly, while Isane attempts to depart, Rangiku runs over and pulls her away to taste the food Rangiku has prepared, leaving Hitsugaya to smile despite himself at Isane's protests of still working before he looks up. Later, as the sun begins to rise over the Seireitei, Kariya stands on the narrow rooftop lining an elevated pavilion and looks over the area with a grin.

However, Kariya is alerted when someone lands on the rooftop adjacent to him and turns around to see Ran'Tao wielding her Kidō Gun, which leads him to recognize her prior to Ran'Tao firing several violet Kidō blasts at him. Running along the rooftop to evade the blasts, Kariya expresses disbelief at there being a gun that can fire Kidō and leaps high into the air just as one of them crashes into the rooftop, creating a large and powerful explosion. Upon seeing Ran'Tao aiming the Kidō Gun at him in midair, Kariya summons wind around his right arm and releases it as a concentrated blast to counter Ran'Tao's subsequently-fired Kidō projectile.

Engulfed by the ensuing blast, Kariya crashes into the rooftop, damaging the tiles with his impact, and gets to his feet as Ran'Tao leaps over to his location, where he inquires about how she found him. Confirming Kariya's assumption that she used a Bount sensor, Ran'Tao reminds him she knows the most about the Bount of anyone in Soul Society and responds to Kariya questioning why she did not share this technology with the Shinigami by declaring she intends to settle everything by herself and leveling the Kidō Gun. With the left side of his coat blown off to expose his crest and his upper body injured by the blast, Kariya states the Kidō Gun is not enough to defeat him.

Noticing Kariya's crest, Ran'Tao is left speechless and remembers seeing Eugene Currier while recalling how she and her team were sent to the Human World shortly after the explosion caused by their failed experiment, where they heard about a large number of Humans possessing strange powers and trying to live among normal Humans despite being confused by their strength, only to quickly fail and be persecuted because of the same strength. Ran'Tao details how she attempted to get close to the Bount and save them since they were victims of her team's experiments, having approached the young boy who attacked his bullies with a rock golem.

In the past, Ran'Tao rounds up the Bount in the cave system on the outskirts of Karakura Town and advises them to hide together while she returns to Soul Society and makes arrangements to place them under its protection. When one of the surprised Bount wonders if this is possible, Ran'Tao affirms this, but acknowledges it will likely take several years to accomplish, which leads the Bount to agree to wait here until she returns. Despite this, Ran'Tao finds herself and her team placed under arrest upon returning to Soul Society because the Central 46 of the time decided everything related to the experiment, including the Bount, would be buried.

While standing before Central 46, Ran'Tao demands to know why they are turning their backs on the Bount, and when one of them admits the experiment which led to their creation was inhumane, Ran'Tao asks him why they will not save the Bount if this is the case and points out how the amazing power of the Bount could lead to them becoming a danger to Soul Society if they are ignored. Another member of Central 46 reminds Ran'Tao that Bount who cannot control Reishi have no way to pass through the Dangai while a third asserts they will never be a threat to Soul Society, only for the first to clarify this is not true for the Human World and that they regulate the cycle of Souls.

With the member concluding the Bount represent a potential threat to this equilibrium, a shocked Ran'Tao deduces he means the Bount must be exterminated and furiously inquires if the Central 46 really believes something like this can be allowed, and as they claim that they will live with the burden of their mistake and strive to never repeat it, Ran'Tao internally refuses to give up on the Bount. Soon afterward, the Gotei 13 raids the cave system with orders to take all of the Bount into custody and kill those who resist, where they begin ruthlessly cutting down the fleeing Bount and blasting them with '''Hadō #33. Sōkatsui''' until parts of the cave begin collapsing.

Having gone to the Human World without permission in order to save the Bount, Ran'Tao protects a Bount from his three pursuers by blasting the latter with '''Hadō #33. Sōkatsui''' and learns there are still comrades of the Bount inside the caves, leading her to run off to help them after the Bount thanks her and departs at her insistence. Within one of the caves, Ran'Tao finds Eugene huddled against a rock and asks him if he is okay as he looks up at her in fright. Shortly after this, Ran'Tao runs through one of the tunnels with Eugene on her back, but accidentally encounters three Shinigami, who recognize her face after initially demanding to know who she is.

As the Shinigami wonder why she is here if the Bount investigation unit already returned to Soul Society and three more Shinigami run up from behind her, a panicking Ran'Tao runs into a side tunnel, where the Shinigami follow her, and fires a '''Hadō #33. Sōkatsui''' back at them, engulfing the tunnel in dust while one of the Shinigami calls her a traitor. In a storage room, Ran'Tao sets down Eugene and instructs him to run away to join the other Bount outside while she distracts the Shinigami. When Eugene expresses concern for her, Ran'Tao assures him she will be fine and gives him a small, square metal amulet on a necklace with which to draw out his hidden Bount power.

Ran'Tao apologizes for the suffering Eugene will have to endure and insists he must live before urging him to run up the stairs leading outside and flee while the Shinigami approach their location. Soon afterward, Ran'Tao is apprehended by the Shinigami and taken back to Soul Society, where she is held solely responsible for the Bount and a seal is put on the incident as the Bount take advantage of the power hidden in the square she gave to Eugene in order to perfect their control over their Dolls and attempt to take revenge on the Seireitei many times, but are repelled and massacred by the Shinigami each time until their numbers are reduced to almost nothing.

In the present, Ran'Tao concludes she never forgot about the Bount and identifies Kariya as the present-day Eugene. With Kariya absorbing Reishi to repair his body and coat, Ran'Tao asserts the crest on his chest must have appeared when he used the amulet that she gave him and declares she has lived to save him. However, though Ran'Tao attempts to promise him there are no other Shinigami who remember the past and Soul Society itself has changed since then, Kariya dismisses her story as irrelevant to bring up now, prompting Ran'Tao to declare she is not lying and begin to warn Kariya against using the power of the Jōkaishō sealed in the Seireitei.

Informing Ran'Tao he absorbed the power of the Jōkaishō into his body long ago, Kariya proclaims he will use this power to destroy the Shinigami. Simultaneously, a healed Uryū leaves his friends sleeping in Hitsugaya's office and senses Ran'Tao's Reiatsu, which he deduces must be where Kariya is located as well since she must be in a battle and Kariya is the only Bount left. Back on the rooftop, Kariya mocks Ran'Tao for being too late since he is the only Bount left, only for Ran'Tao to insist she will save him regardless. In response, Kariya reminds Ran'Tao she created the Bount and observes he planned to kill her after she had seen the Seireitei destroyed.

After deciding to kill Ran'Tao right here instead of giving her time to repent for what she has done, Kariya summons swirling wind around his right fist, prompting a startled Ran'Tao to fire another blast of Kidō at him. However, Kariya's subsequent blast of wind powers through the Kidō and slams into Ran'Tao, pushing her back and disarming her of the Kidō Gun, which flies into the air.

Shinigami Illustrated Picture Book
Having prepared a hot pot of food, 10th Division Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto announces the completion of her division's specialty and invites those present to dig in. When Orihime Inoue slides over to marvel at the food, Rangiku reveals that she made lots of bean paste dishes as well, but while Orihime thanks her for this, Ichigo Kurosaki, Yasutora Sado, Uryū Ishida, 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai, Ririn, Kurōdo, and 4th Division Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu are disgusted by the taste of the food. Upon seeing 9th Division Lieutenant Shūhei Hisagi insisting that everyone take their portion, Orihime questions why he is serving the others, leading Rangiku to explain that she asked him to help because he seemed to have free time, which leaves Hisagi aghast as Ichigo points out how he is just being used.

Events

 * Bount Empowered (concluded)

Powers and Techniques Used
Kidō Techniques:

Other Techniques:

Zanpakutō released:

Shikai:
 * (flashback)
 * (flashback)

Bankai:
 * (flashback)
 * (flashback)

Dolls summoned:
 * (flashback)
 * (flashback)
 * (flashback)

Other powers:

Other weapons:
 * Kidō Gun