Ichigo Dies!

Ichigo Dies! is the seventeenth episode of the Bleach anime.

Statistics

 * Original Airdate: February 1, 2005
 * English Airdate: January 5, 2007
 * Opening Song: *~Asterisk~
 * Ending Song: Thank You!
 * Manga Chapters: Chapter 55, Chapter 56, Chapter 57.
 * Kanji: 一護、死す!
 * Romaji: "Ichigo, shisu!"
 * Arc: Agent of the Shinigami arc

Summary
Ichigo falls to his knees after Renji's attack, and he readies to attack again. As Renji lifts his sword to bring it down on Ichigo, Rukia Kuchiki grabs Renji's arm and jumps onto his back, restricting him as she yells for Ichigo to run. Ichigo then reaches out and grabs his Zanpakutō, and Renji who is surprised he can still move, but also slightly happy because he wanted a little more of a challenging match, throws Rukia aside.

Ichigo slowly stands as Rukia tells him to run once more, but then notices something strange. Suddenly Ichigo gets a huge boost in his spirit power and charges at Renji jumping and slashing him along his left shoulder. Surprised by this sudden burst in power Renji turns to Ichigo who, with a suddenly enhanced speed, rushes at him again. This time Renji blocks the attack but is still knocked back by Ichigo's blow and is sent flying into the air. Renji gets a cut right above his nose and blood trickles down his face. Ichigo then taunts Renji, saying that he has gotten slower. Renji thinks to himself that it is not him that has gotten slow, but Ichigo who has gotten faster. Renji then swings his Zanpakutō out at Ichigo but Ichigo simply steps to the side to dodge it the first 2 times, then deflects it back on Renji's third swing.

Now chasing after Renji, who has no options but to dodge, Ichigo has gained control of this fight. Renji is on his knees astonished by Ichigo's continually rising spirit power, as Ichigo jumps into the air and is coming down on Renji swinging his Zanpakutō in a downward motion right for his head. Ichigo lands on the ground and suddenly the blade of his Zanpakutō has been cut off. Ichigo realizes it could not have been Renji, and turns to Byakuya. He is confused of how he could have done anything from the distance he is standing from himself and Renji. He then notices the removed blade of his Zanpakutō in Byakuya's hand, as Byakuya casually drops it to the ground.

Byakuya slowly raises his hand to the handle of his sheathed Zanpakutō as Ichigo readies for an attack. Suddenly Byakuya is behind Ichigo, who never even had a chance to react. Suddenly a wound appears on Ichigo, and as he falls he has no idea what just happened, not even from what direction he was attacked from. Byakuya then appears beside him and once again attacks with lightning fast speed, stabbing through Ichigo's back and piecing through the front of his body then quickly sheathing his sword again. Renji then claims he could have finished Ichigo off himself, but Byakuya says even his skills will get rusty if he just stands by and watches all the time.

Rukia then attempts to run to Ichigo's side but Renji grabs her by the neck and pushes her up against a pole. Rukia tries to get him to let go, but Renji then claims angrily that Ichigo is dead. Even touching his dead body, he explains, would lengthen her sentence in prison by 20 years. Ichigo then reaches a hand out and grabs the bottom of Byakuya's clothes. Byakuya, without even looking down at him, tells Ichigo to let go, but Ichigo tells Byakuya to look at him when he speaks. Byakuya then threatens to cut off Ichigo's arm. Rukia runs up and kicks Ichigo's hand off of Byakuya. Ichigo is then shocked as Rukia starts to willingly leave with Renji and Byakuya. Ichigo questions what she is doing, and she then tells him to never think of coming after her to rescue her or she will never forgive him. Byakuya decides not to give a finishing blow as Rukia had stated it would be a waste, but explains that he has shattered the souls two fatal areas, the chain link and the soul sleep. He says that Ichigo will most likely die in under an hour, but even if he lives, all his Shinigami powers will be gone. Renji then uses his Zanpakutō to open a Senkaimon - a portal to Soul Society. Ichigo watches helplessly in the rain as Renji, Byakuya, and finally Rukia walk through the portal, and the door shuts and fades away. Suddenly out of the darkness and rain, Urahara Kisuke approaches.

Ichigo thinks to himself he must finally be dying, as he was just cold and now he has no pain and is warm. He then awakes to see Tessai Tsukabishi laying on top of him in a small bed on the floor. Tessai calls for Urahara saying that Ichigo has awakened as Ichigo pushes him out of the bed and sits up quickly, suddenly feeling a sharp pain in his left arm. His chest and shoulders are bandaged up. Ichigo realizes he is not dead and also not at his own house. Urahara then enters the room telling Ichigo that his wounds are not yet fully healed, and that if he moves too much he will die. Ichigo then realizes he is in Urahara's house, and that it was Urahara who saved him. Kisuke also informs Ichigo that Uryū Ishida was also healed by him, but went home as his wounds were not too serious. Urahara tells him that Ishida said Ichigo is their only hope in saving Rukia. Ichigo says its impossible to save her since she has returned to Soul Society.

Urahara then informs Ichigo that there is a way he can get into Soul Society and save Rukia, but in exchange Ichigo must let Urahara train him for 10 days. Ichigo is outraged at first and says they must get there faster or else Rukia may be killed, but Urahara explains that at his current strength Ichigo would definitely die in Soul Society, and that there is a one month grace period before executions. He says it will take 10 days to train, 7 to open the gate to Soul Society, and then they will have 13 days when there. Ichigo remembers Rukia leaving through the gate, and questions if he really can get stronger in just 10 days, but agrees.

Kon-sama's Ultimate Shinigami Illustrated Guide
The featured character is Tōshirō Hitsugaya.

Characters in order of appearance

 * 1) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 2) Renji Abarai
 * 3) Rukia Kuchiki
 * 4) Uryū Ishida
 * 5) Byakuya Kuchiki
 * 6) Kisuke Urahara
 * 7) Tessai Tsukabishi
 * 8) Yoruichi Shihōin (flashback)

Powers and Techniques used

 * Senka (閃花, Flash Blossom)

Zanpakutō Revealed
Shikai:
 * Zabimaru (蛇尾丸, Snake Tail)