Battle against Hō & Ban

The Battle Against Hō and Ban is a battle that initially takes place in Karakura Hospital but eventually goes out into the streets of Karakura Town. It is the first true victory that Ichigo and the others have over the Bount.

Prologue
Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends go to see Uryū Ishida in hospital, where he tells them about Yoshino Sōma and how it is forbidden for a Bount to consume a human soul because of the imbalance in power it would create. Despite this, a Bount name Jin Kariya is trying to do just that and Yoshino wants to stop him. Uryū, as a Quincy, was told he was the key to Kariya's plan and must be protected at all times although he's not sure why they need him. Ichigo wonders if they can trust her but Uryū reminds him that she rescues and returned him safely. Kisuke Urahara decides to come up with a plan and the others go to see him off. While alone, Uryū thinks os how Yoshino's saddened eyes were like his mother's.Meanwhile, Ryō asks Kariya if it's really all right to leave Yoshino alone; he states that they have a deal and she won't leave him. Two young Bount are then shown to be in the room as well.

In hospital, a nurse helps Uryū, telling him he's the only patient on this floor and gives him something to call her attention with. Uryū explains that he's the only patient because his father owns the hospital. The others tell Uryū to get some rest. Later, Yasutora Sado wonders why the Bount need a Quincy causing some arguments between Ririn and Kon. Meanwhile, Hanatarō Yamada has a job at a store, amazed at how the Human World works. Hanatarō is sent to investigate a crash outside and finds Ganju Shiba, who has scared people off. Surprised, Hanatarō takes Ganju away before the police arrive.

With no enemies at the hospital, the group wonders if they should stay while the two young Bount observe the lack of power their enemies have and the the amount of resistance they'll show. After a short argument between Rukia Kuchiki and Ichigo, Rukia notices a constant drip from a tap, however her attempts to stop it cause more water to flow from the sink. Renji Abarai and Orihime Inoue bring buckets to stop the water from the sink.

Orihime notices that at the current rate the water is going to overflow and she suggests that she gets a nurse. Orihime then notices a noise coming from a room and she opens the door for it, only for water to flow out everywhere from it. Uryū suddenly wakes up from what's going on and Ichigo tells him to just focus on sleeping. As this happens, the mod-souls sense a Bount in the area and Noba remarks that there's a doll. The overflowing water suddenly takes on a mind of its own and begins attacking the group.

Battle
Uryū is encased in the water and begins drowning so Sado tries to save him but he is unable to get rid of the water with just his hands but Ichigo frees him using his Zanpakutō. The water continues to attack them, so they run out ofthe room and try to use a towel to stop the water from coming under the door. The young Bounts remark that they should reveal themsevles to their opponents soon. The group runs away but more water quickly confronts them. Renji slashes it and it recedes so Orihime wonders if the water is some sort of Bount's doll. They decide to head downstairs.

They are attacked by more water downstairs and Uryū states that the Bount must be controlling the water. Ichigo attacks the water while Sado and Uryū are encased in water and begin drowning. Renji gets rid of the water but they are quickly encased again. Warning everyone, Rukia fires a '''Hadō #31. Shakkahō''' with an incantation at the water, successfully saving the two of them. The group runs away and the Bount remark that the Shinigami are making their task troublesome.

The group check a map to see where they can go as Uryū insists nobody else is being attacked because the Bount are after him. They decide to take the elevator as the Bount decide to finish this soon. Ichigo gets angry over the grou hitting a dead end as they turn another way. The hallways get dark then as the group reaches a door guarded by Hō and Ban. The Bount summon their dolls, Guhl and Günther, which prompts the group to decide to escape.

Kurōdo reveals that Noba's powers are limited while in plushie-form so he can't get data on the Bount. Eventually the group comes to the elevators, however, water starts pouring out of them, forcing them to retreat. Renji and Rukia use '''Hadō #31. Shakkahō''' however, they're not strong enough so Ichigo uses a lighter and gas tank to destroy the water. Water is then forced from the surrounding rooms so Renji and Ichigo stay behind to fight the water as the others head into the elevator to escape, encouraged to do so by Ichigo.

As the elevator descends, Ichigo and Renji continue to battle the dolls with Renji eventually releasing his Zanpakutō to keep up with the battle although their efforts still fall short. When the elevator arrives at the bottom, Ichigo breaks the doors and the two of them jump down the shaft to quickly escape. Reuniting with the others, they are stunned to see it raining outside. Hō and Ban reappear and continue their assault on the group, combining their dolls to finish their opponents. Ichigo demands that Sado, Orihime and Uryū escape as the others begin to fight again.

Renji releases his Zanpakutō and swings at the water, but the it continuously forms back together. Rukia fires off a Shakkahō at the water but the attack is unable to do anything. Ichigo and Renji are then encased in the water and they begin drowning and this causes Orihime and Sado to stop running. Rukia herself is then encased in water and Uryū tells Sado that he wants to give himself up since he doesn't want to be a burden to the group. However, Ichigo tells him to be quiet and then tells the three of them to run away while they still can. Orihime tries to object, but Sado tells her that Ichigo is correct and that he'll be okay. He states that their objective right now should be to just protect Uryū and Orihime reluctantly agrees. They then begin running away again.

Meanwhile Yoshino is shown standing in front of a store and she is soon confronted by Ryō. He informs her that Kariya is worried about her and that she should come back to him. Yoshino refuses and Ryō asks if this is the case even for the man she loves. However, Yoshino explains to him that love grows old eventually and that it grows old even faster when you're deprived of your freedom. Ryō then changes the subject and states that it seems as if Kariya is going to make his move soon, but Yoshino states that she doesn't care about that since the Bount are self-reliant to begin with and she states that he can do whatever he wants. Ryō wonders why Kariya is so tolerant of Yoshino's behavior and he states that she seems so unworthy for him, but Yoshino tells him that he's more naive than he looks. She then tells Ryō that one of these days his lust for power will end up being his undoing.

At the convenience store, Ganju is shown to have been given a job at the store and he and Hanatarō leave once work is over. Hanatarō then asks Ganju why he came here and Ganju explains that he was sent to investigate by Kūkaku because she felt a strange presence coming from this town. Hanatarō states that he had the same reason for coming here as well, with the only difference being that Unohana gave him the order. Ganju suddenly senses some type of reiatsu and wonders what it is. Back at the battle, Rukia tries to free herself and everyone else by firing off another Shakkahō, but the water quickly encases the three of them again. Ichigo then swings his Zanpakutō to try and free himself but he is unsuccessful. As they try to free themselves, Hō and Ban state that they need to hurry up because they can't let Uryū get away. The two then decide to head towards Uryū, but they are forced to free Ichigo and the others in the process.

Meanwhile, Sado tells Orihime that they have to get out of this rain and they decide to head towards a nearby factory. However, they are soon stopped by a large ball of water and the water begins attacking the group. Sado is eventually hit in the foot by the water and he ends up dropping Uryū because of this. The water then goes to attack Uryū but Orihime appears and defends him with Santen Kesshun. However, the water breaks through Orihime's shield and Hō and Ban inform them that they can't escape. Sado tells Noba and Kurōdo to protect Uryū and Sado activates his armored arm. Sado fires off a blast of spiritual energy at the water but it is unable to do any damage to it. Hō and Ban tell them that they can't win as long as it's raining and they send their doll after them. Sado continues attacking with his armored arm, but it is unable to do anything to the water. Sado then sends a blast of spiritual energy towards the two Bount and the two of them quickly get out of the way. Hō tells Ban that they have to stay together, but Hō is quickly hit by a blast of spiritual energy from Sado. The water goes away because of Sado's attack and the group quickly uses this opportunity to escape.

As this happens, Ichigo and the others are shown running towards Uryū's location and Ichigo points out that while they were being attacked, they never attacked them separately. Ichigo deduces that because of this it must mean that the two of them have to stick together to use their power and that if they want to win they'll have to separate them. Meanwhile at the Bount Mansion, a person named Maki Ichinose is shown sitting down and reading a book. A Bount named Gō Koga enters the room and he tells Ichinose that it's too dark, but Ichinose informs him that he can read just fine. Koga simply calls him stubborn and Ichinose tells him that he should have some tea. Koga declines and then asks if he knows where the others are, but Ichinose tells him that he's the first one to show up.

Sado and the others arrive at the factory, but Kurōdo points out that water is in there because the place is leaking. Sado simply apologizes and points out that it's better than being outside. Orihime notices that Uryū's fever is getting worse and Sado remarks that that isn't good. As Uryū states that he doesn't want to be a burden to them anymore, Hō and Ban reappear and tell Uryū that he should just come along with them then, since he'll have to anyway. They then send water after the group and Uryū is grabbed by the water. Sado activates his armored arm to save him but the two Bount tell him not to and they begin strangling Uryū with the water as a demonstration as to what will happen if they try to save him. Ichigo and the others suddenly enter the room and Ichigo orders the two Bount to let Uryū go. Hō and Ban refuse and they tell them that they should have gotten away while they had the chance. They then decide to show Ichigo and the others the true ability of their doll.

A ball of water is sent towards Ichigo, but the Shinigami destroys it with a swing of his Zanpakutō. However, the bits of water form back together and forms itself on top of Ichigo's face. The water does the same to everyone else and water goes into the mouths and noses of everyone. Hō and Ban explain that they can go into anywhere there is water and that 70% of the Human body is water. Hō and Ban then order for their doll to tear Ichigo and the others bodies from the inside out. Everyone begins suffering immense pain and the mod-souls wonder what they should do. Noba suddenly uses his powers to teleport Ban away from Hō. They try to get next to each other again, but Noba continues separating the two of them. This ends up causing their dolls power to stop and Ichigo and the others are saved from the water.

Ichigo realizes that his deduction from earlier was correct and that they really do have to separate the two of them. Hō goes up to Ban, who is now unconscious due to falling a good distance because of Noba's teleportation and tries to wake him up so they can continue using their power. As he does this, Ichigo swings his Zanpakutō at the water holding Uryū and saves the Quincy. Ichigo tells Hō that he should just quit since it's all over now, but Hō tries to fight by just using his doll alone. Rukia tries to dispatch of the water with a Shakkahō, but her attack misses and Hō uses the water to attack everyone. Rukia continues trying to attack the water with Shakkahō, but her attack is too weak and she is hit away by the water. Ganju suddenly breaks through a nearby wall with Seppa and the sand from the wall encases the water and destroys it. Hanatarō is also with him and a shocked Ichigo asks them what they're doing here. The water suddenly reforms to attack the group, but Ganju throws a firework at it and destroys the water.

Aftermath
Hō and Ban grab onto their chests in pain and their bodies suddenly grow old and turn into dust, much to the shock of everyone else. Rukia remarks that even though they looked like children, they were most likely very old and well past their limits. She states that once their dolls were lost, there was nothing left to hold them together and that's why they just died. Orihime suddenly realizes that Uryū is missing and outside Uryū is shown walking towards somewhere. At the Bount Mansion, Ichinose and the rest of the Bount are shown together. Kariya enters the room and Ichinose welcomes him back. Kariya tells Ichinose that he did a good job and then asks Ryō where Hō and Ban are. Ryō states that they were most likely defeated, but Kariya simply laughs at this.