Rukia Retaliates! Release the Desperate Kidō

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

As Rukia Kuchiki battles Kaien Shiba, she struggles to figure out who he truly is.

Summary
6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai is startled to sense Rukia Kuchiki's Reiatsu rising and attempts to learn if she is winning by concentrating, only to admit in frustration that she is too far away for him to tell. Suddenly, Renji is mutually shocked alongside Dondochakka Birstanne to find the latter standing in front of him and angrily demands that he not show his face because it puts Renji at risk of a heart attack from fright.

When Renji wonders why he was so surprised, Dondochakka explains that he was startled by Renji screaming so suddenly and talking to himself, which leads him to ask Renji if something is wrong with him. However, Renji denies being low enough to need Dondochakka to worry about him and rushes off with Dondochakka frantically following him as he expresses concern for Rukia. Meanwhile, in Aaroniero Arruruerie's palace, Rukia appears in front of Kaien Shiba with Shunpo and slashes at him with her Shikai, Sode no Shirayuki, only for Kaien to evade and move behind her with Shunpo as well, forcing Rukia to leap up to a high platform to dodge while Kaien follows her.

Clashing with Kaien twice more, Rukia is pushed back the second time, with part of her cloak being ripped by Kaien's Zanpakutō in the process, and narrowly avoids being caught by a thrust from Kaien by falling on her back, leading her to roll away along the ground when Kaien begins gleefully and repeatedly stabbing his Zanpakutō down at her. Upon following Rukia and cornering her in front of a wall, Kaien laughs maniacally for several seconds and attempts to stab her once more, but Rukia manages to counter him with an upward strike and leap to her feet before attacking Kaien with an overhead slash that he easily blocks.

With Kaien pushing her sword back with his own and grinning ferally at her, an unnerved Rukia disengages from their blade lock by moving far back with Shunpo and rushes forward alongside Kaien to clash fiercely several more times with him. After leaping high into the fog above to dodge one of Rukia's attacks and disappear from sight, Kaien comes down on Rukia with a downward stab from her other side that causes her to stumble, which he capitalizes on with a powerful slash that she is knocked down by when she blocks it. When Rukia manages to deflect his subsequent attack with a strike of her own and slash at him again, Kaien jumps back into the fog.

In turn, Rukia extends the ribbon on the hilt of Sode no Shirayuki and shimmers as she initiates Some no mai, Tsukishiro, creating a tall and wide pillar of ice that she leaps away from the creation of and which prevents Kaien from completing his attempted downward stab on her, though he avoids being frozen and simply laughs while questioning if this is all she has got and falling down to a lower level. As a panting Rukia stands on the platform above him in front of the ice pillar, Kaien brings up Rukia's Some no mai, Tsukishiro and Tsugi no mai, Hakuren techniques to remind Rukia that he knows them very well.

Declaring that he is the person Rukia invented and practiced those techniques with, Kaien wonders if Rukia really believes that they will work against him while Rukia internally asserts that he is not the real Kaien. Suddenly, Rukia notices the Reiatsu of Yasutora Sado and Uryū Ishida fighting, prompting Kaien to pick up on her concern and inform Rukia that her friends are fighting Privaron Espada, and when Rukia expresses relief at them not being proper Espada, Kaien counters that they are still not to be taken lightly due to being former Espada and reveals that one of Rukia's friends took significant damage when defeating a Privaron Espada.

With Kaien assuming that she can sense him too, Rukia mentally affirms that this is indeed Ichigo Kurosaki's Reiatsu and expresses shock at what she senses, which leads Kaien to observe that there was no need to ask her after all and smirk as he states that her friends are going to die soon. In response, an angered Rukia flourishes Sode no Shirayuki, and when a laughing Kaien wonders what she is going to do, Rukia performs Tsugi no mai, Hakuren to release a flood of ice and snow downward off the platform toward Kaien, who simply leaps high into the air. However, Rukia quickly follows him to attack directly with Sode no Shirayuki.

Though impressed by Rukia using Tsugi no mai, Hakuren as a diversion for her real attack as he blocks this strike, Kaien proclaims that this plan will not work and forces Rukia back, throwing her back against one of the pillars on the far wall and leaving her to fall to the ground in pain/ When Rukia gets up and levels Sode no Shirayuki at him, Kaien assumes that she has either forgotten who he is or has nothing better to muster and twirls his Zanpakutō around to release his own Shikai, Nejibana, transforming it into a long trident that releases a wave of water while he warns a shocked Rukia that the battle is over now.

Kaien levels Nejibana at Rukia and tells her to raise her sword before lunging forward to attack, which forces Rukia to frantically block the tip of the trident inches from her head with Sode no Shirayuki. Kaien proceeds to rapidly twirl Nejibana in his hand and strike it into the ground underneath Rukia to rip it out upward, and with a startled Rukia sent flying into the air on a chunk of rock by this, Kaien twirls Nejibana once more along the ground to bring it crashing down onto her. When she frantically blocks this as well with one hand on the blade of Sode no Shirayuki, Rukia sees a torrent of water massing above Nejibana.

With Rukia managing to free herself and move backward, Kaien brings Nejibana crashing down onto the ground in front of him, destroying a large portion of the floor in the process. As she lands behind Kaien, Rukia mentally observes that the unorthodox style, high-held weapon, style of spinning, dance-like technique, and method of trapping the enemy between the trident and massive waves of water are all Kaien's moves, which her eyes and body know even if her heart does not want to believe it. However, Rukia internally asserts that she must instead believe in the Kaien of her memories while defending herself from a grinning Kaien's subsequent attacks.

As Rukia recalls her past with Kaien and concludes that she has to believe in the warm-hearted Kaien who taught her how to fight and helped her find her place in the world, Kaien disarms Rukia of Sode no Shirayuki with a flick of Nejibana. Elsewhere, Ichigo stops running with Nel Tu under his arm upon sensing Rukia's Reiatsu, though he quickly realizes that Sado and Uryū are fighting as well and clenches his body while insisting that they will be alright despite the blows they are taking. Suddenly, Nel tells Ichigo that she cannot breathe, leading Ichigo to realize that he has been unconsciously clenching Nel hard against his side.

Ichigo quickly sets Nel down and apologetically explains that he was thinking about something, and when Nel lies down as though she is dying, Ichigo frantically begs her to recover, only for Nel to open one eye and assert he can prove he is truly sorry about this by letting her ride on his shoulders. When a startled Ichigo declares there is no time for them to fool around like this, Nel begins throwing a tantrum over Ichigo refusing to grant her request even though he was choking her, leading a panicking Ichigo to claim it is alright and pick up Nel under his arm once more. After confirming that it is alright, Nel tells Ichigo to put her on his shoulders.

Shortly afterward, Ichigo runs down the hallway with Nel happily riding on his shoulders and curses her. Back in the palace, Sode no Shirayuki embeds itself in the ground several meters away from Rukia, who is told by a smiling Kaien that it is over while he prepares to attack. In response, Rukia holds out her hand in front of a startled Kaien's face and fires '''Hadō #33. Sōkatsui''', which Kaien dodges by moving his upper body to the side, leaving the spell to blast through the wall behind him. Though Kaien praises Rukia's skill and strength in using Eishōhaki, he stops in surprise upon seeing the hole left in the wall behind him.

Kaien quickly moves several meters away to a high platform with Shunpo, which prompts Rukia to wonder why he is fleeing. Recalling Kaien asking her to come inside when they first met here and how that did not make sense, Rukia acknowledges he is not the real Kaien and his words are all lies, but questions why he only removed his mask after going indoors and decides her theory is worth confirming prior to restraining Kaien with '''Bakudō #4. Hainawa'''. Initially assuming Rukia is trying to buy herself time to escape, Kaien sees Rukia reciting an incantation for two different spells and realizes she is performing a Nijū Eishō.

After restraining Kaien's entire upper body with '''Bakudō #61. Rikujōkōrō, to his chagrin, and dispersing the original restraints in the process, Rukia unleashes Hadō #73. Sōren Sōkatsui''', a massive blast of energy that destroys a large chunk of the wall directly behind Kaien to let in the sunlight, causing Kaien to scream as his flesh falls off to reveal a large glass capsule containing fluid and two spherical Hollow heads floating inside. With Rukia staring in bewilderment and wondering what this is, Aaroniero Arruruerie expresses annoyance at his disguise coming off and introduces himself once more with both heads.

Responding to a stunned Rukia wondering what he is by expressing irritation at having to repeat his introduction, Aaroniero warns Rukia to not say anything about his appearance, since he has heard it all before. Aaroniero turns his attention to the '''Bakudō #61. Rikujōkōrō restraining him, which he shatters, and comments on it being 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki's specialty, to Rukia's shock, before admitting that there is nothing in his memory of Rukia being able to use such advanced Kidō techniques and calling her foolish because she might have wounded him had she aimed her Hadō #73. Sōren Sōkatsui''' at him instead of the wall.

However, Rukia counters that this was of secondary importance compared to her need to learn Aaroniero's true identity and her suspicion that sunlight would neutralize his ability to mask himself, and as she pulls Sode no Shirayuki out of the ground, Rukia assumes a battle stance and concludes that she can now cut down Aaroniero without hesitation. In turn, Aaroniero muses on Rukia believing she can defeat him and reappears behind her with Sonído while clarifying that while he cannot use his powers in the sunlight, he can use them without constraint in the shadows, which he demonstrates by reforming Kaien's head around his capsule.

With Rukia left speechless by this, Aaroniero complains about the surveillance method employed by Sōsuke Aizen involving the construction of a sun in a dark world like Hueco Mundo when there are beings like himself who can only use their powers in darkness. After asking Rukia if she believes he has the power to transform, which she nervously affirms, Aaroniero criticizes her for not knowing better, to her confusion, and informs her that he is the only Gillian among the Espada. When Rukia bluntly wonders why this matters, Aaroniero elaborates that Gillians do not possess the abilities necessary to be Espada, but notes that he is an Espada despite this.

Aaroniero informs Rukia that he was able to join their ranks because he is the only Arrancar with unlimited evolutionary potential, which allowed him to gain Metastacia's Spirit Body Fusion ability by consuming the latter's rotting body when it returned to Hueco Mundo. As Rukia picks up on his mention of consuming Metastacia, Aaroniero pulls the glove off his left hand to reveal his Zanpakutō, a circular mouth with several fleshy tendrils taking the place of his left hand, and reveals that it lets him absorb the Reiatsu and powers of dead Hollows by consuming them, which is what let him take Kaien's appearance by consuming Metastacia.

While Rukia realizes what this means, Aaroniero confirms that the recognition she felt was not an illusion because he is using Kaien's real spiritual body containing all of his thoughts and experiences exactly as they happened, meaning that Aaroniero only had to act upon those memories. Seeing Rukia rendered speechless by this, Aaroniero declares that it is over and decides to show her an Espada's release as a parting gift before activating his Resurrección, Glotonería, creating a massive, blob-like mass beneath his main body with dozens of tentacles and a massive face akin to a blobfish that looms over Rukia.

Arrancar Encyclopedia
Gin Ichimaru announces that he will be talking about the creatures in Hueco Mundo today and begins with the small Hollows who live by consuming the ambient Reishi in the atmosphere, which allows them to absorb nutrients. Suddenly, Bawabawa enters the stage, causing Gin to assume that he survives in a similar manner, but demonstrates that he cannot speak to Gin, who is left disappointed that he cannot understand this. When Bawabawa attempts to eat Gin, the latter asserts that this is problematic and releases his Shikai, Shinsō, to stab Bawabawa from within, causing him to reel back in pain as Gin lectures him for trying to eat everything.

Fights

 * Rukia Kuchiki vs. Aaroniero Arruruerie

Powers and Techniques Used
Zanpakutō Techniques:

Hohō Techniques:

Kidō Techniques:

Arrancar Techniques:

Zanpakutō released:

Shikai:

Bankai:
 * (flashback)

Fullbring:

Resurrección released:

Other Powers:
 * (flashback)

Anime Notes
Added/Expanded Content= Censorship= Changes=
 * Renji Abarai being startled by Dondochakka Birstanne while sensing Rukia Kuchiki's battle, which leads him to berate Dondochakka for being concerned for him.
 * Rukia clashing with Aaroniero Arruruerie several times and finding herself overwhelmed by his strikes until he begins leaping in and out of the fog to catch her by surprise, leading her to use Some no mai, Tsukishiro against him.
 * Rukia sensing Yasutora Sado and Uryū Ishida's respective battles, prompting Aaroniero to inform her that they are fighting Privaron Espada and claim that her friends are going to die soon, which leads Rukia to attack him with a combination of Tsugi no mai, Hakuren and Sode no Shirayuki itself until Aaroniero throws her against a wall.
 * An extended flashback to Rukia's time with Kaien.
 * Ichigo Kurosaki sensing his friends' battles and being coerced into letting Nel Tu ride on his shoulders as he continues running through Las Noches.
 * Rukia noting that Aaroniero could have killed her with one strike while she was unarmed.
 * Rukia is not covered in blood and scratches when confronting Aaroniero on top of the platform.
 * Kaien's face melting off is largely portrayed in black and white.
 * In the manga, the attack that Aaroniero dodges just before releasing Nejibana is a blast of ice and snow akin to Tsugi no mai, Hakuren; here, it is instead Some no mai, Tsukishiro.
 * In the manga, Aaroniero has an annoyed expression when reminding Rukia as Kaien Shiba that he was there when she invented her Zanpakutō techniques; here, he is instead smiling.
 * In the manga, Rukia attacks Aaroniero with Sōkatsui while she is still in midair; here, she instead lands on the ground first.
 * In the manga, Rukia's Hainawa mainly wraps itself around Aaroniero's right arm; here, it instead wraps itself around most of his torso.